Bulan Priorities: Local Technology and Environmental Protection

by: jun asuncion

 

THE STATUS OF BULAN. Bulan has all the basic  infrastructures needed to develop itself  to an economically strong town and the potential of becoming a city in the future. Bulan has the sea port integrated in the Central Nautical Highway program of the national government and fully-developed Maharlika  highway that connect it to the rest of the Philippines. And with the addition of the Bulan Airport which is supposed to be operational by 2010, Bulan has completed the requirements for mobilization and transportation and will be practically connected with the whole world. What else does Bulan need? Is it consciousness of  its powerful potentials? A dynamic and proud LGU? A business and technologically- oriented community? A politically active constituency?

BE PROUD OF YOUR TOWN. In any case, Bulan is moving forward, slowly but surely, to the place it is destined to, to a status worthy of its inhabitants. This is something each one of us should be  proud of. To be proud of your town- this is applied Utang na Loob, which is a way of looking back to pinanggalingan, to one’s origin,  a topic we have deliberated  quite at length already. Let us as individual Tagabulans redefine our relationship to our town and ask how we can help each other realize our common dream of a progressive Bulan. If you are a student, study well and perform well and just think of giving out your best. The same way if you are a teacher, a fisherman, a farmer, a businessman, a policeman or a politician- altogether the effect is the enhancement of our town. This is synergia, a Greek concept first demonstrated by the Spartans in ancient Greece, which means  that combined effect of two or more forces is greater than the sum of their individual effects. This concept of synergy should guide our town planning and management.

BULAN DEVELOPMENTS. Development is not only the production of ideas but also the realisation of these ideas materially. Since we know that Bulan is also endowed with marine and agricultural resources, the focus of economic thinking should be not only on the available local raw materials, capital and labor but also in encouraging and supporting new  technologies developed locally geared at harnessing the local resources to the maximum of profitability. This is the other factor needed to boost local economy aside from the infrastructures. From an agrarian and fishing community to a modern IT-Community? From Tricycles to BLRT- Bulan Light Rail Transit System- plying from the Bulan Airport to the other reaches of Bulan? How about a Bulan Mall? A Technorama, a Zoological Garden, a Planetarium, a Bulan Symphony Orchestra, a Concert Hall and a huge Sport Stadium? 

 THE ENVIRONMENT FIRST. It’s all a matter of time, of creative time starting now. A town, once its momentum of  growth  has been set to motion at the right time, develops itself to completion, obeying an inner logic. The main concern is that a town tends to be blinded by its  achievements – becoming a city but forgetting the very foundation of  its success- the natural environment. This has been the case of many cities of today: hardly perfected, are already in the brink of collapse because the rivers and seas are already dead, trees cut, water, soil and air polluted, people sickened-  like some parts of  China today. It is therefore imperative to have a sincere desire to protect and conserve the ecosystem right from the start: each Tagabulan by doing  all the things he knows about environmental protection and the government by educating the public continuously, building and maintaining the appropriate infrastructures and investing in technological research and environmental programs.

THE IMPORTANCE OF A COMMUNITY SEWAGE SYSTEM: But before everything, we should pay attention to this question: What happens when you pull the plug, wash your clothes, have a shower or flush the toilet – where does all the water and wastes go?”. For me, this is the central issue in any environmental program and this should complement solid waste management. Bulan should start realizing this concept for otherwise its environmental program will remain incomplete. This question suggests to us the necessity of a  community sewage system to which ideally every household must be connected. Network of pipes (reticulated sewerage systems) underneath Bulan should be built and should carry sewage from homes to modern sewage treatment plant located in any ideal place in the outskirts of  Bulan. Once treated, only then is this water released into the environment, i.e.. back to the rivers, streams or seas. I am aware that at present this costly project lies somewhere above every Bulan household but this should at least be taken into account in community planning by now.

 MARKETING  BULAN AND ITS PRODUCTS. Marketing of local products is the core of economic life. The Bulan  airport will be a big factor in marketing the local products and in rousing the interest of local, national or maybe international investors. But for the marketing of Bulan, we are all task to do that. Let’s be positive this time and help one another in introducing our town to the rest of the nation and the world. We know that Bulan has made a name in our nation because of its Waste Management Concept and the Ecopark. That’s already a substantial achievement indicative of the vast developmental potentials of Bulan community. But it’s no reason now to rest on one’s  laurels for it is just the beginning. We should defeat this attitude of complacency  which seems to be inherent in us if we want to improve the quality of life and living standards in Bulan, should not be satisfied with little achievements but continue on raising the standard of our concept of quality and on improving already existing and well-recognized programs.

Market synergy means creating an environment that is conducive to business and entrepreneurship growth by developing a local  investment strategy that promotes networking among local  and regional business people, products providers, raw materials suppliers, retailers, consumer organizations, local policy makers, local and regional academe, technological and marketing  research institutions, transportation, etc. The existing town  industry clusters- fish ( marine) and  rice (agricultural) industries in Bulan should be intensified in order to assert their  regional and national competitiveness. The Bulan Airport will bring with it the emergence of new industry clusters like tourism, etc. but an open eye must be kept for other local products that would significantly enhance investments once fully developed and marketed.

A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR BULAN. What is of utmost importance  is a functioning LGU with stable and modern bodyof political concepts translated into actions by visionary yet competent and professional local politicians. A performance-oriented and transparent LGU who leads the people to new frontiers. This is the foundation, a transparent politics and efficient leadership  anchored in public trust without which nothing can be achieved. It’s not a question then of who is running the administration and for how long but of how is Bulan being administered and for whom.

BE READY TO WELCOME GUESTS. Start cleaning your surroundings not only today but everyday so you will not be ashamed when tourists come. Put permanent trashcans in every corner of the town and along the seashores so that people will stop throwing their wastes directly into the  sea or seashores. Now we have in Bulan many good environmental programs like Fiesta Sa Kabubudlan, Ecopark, Tree planting activities, etc. How about calling to life a program like Clean Bulan- whatever you name it- whose goal is community cleaning on a big scale, and this should be held annually. Special attention should be given to our rivers, streams and sea and their natural regeneration. To this effect, the LGU-Bulan should let its creativity work in devising environmental protection programs which involve partnership with the private sectors. Remember that Bulan was twice the cleanest and greenest town of Sorsogon under Mayor Guillermo De Castro, Sr. Our concept of cleanliness should be divorced from the ningas cogon attitude that is somehow always within each of us.

The town should always remain clean and presentable even when there is a change in the administration so that the people- especially the children- will feel good. Take note that children growing up in dirty and squalid places will have a very poor concept of hygiene standards. The town should start now educating the young Tagabulans by example and by regular cleanliness program. As in many other things, cleanliness also begins in the head (consciousness).’This is of high priority that pays off in the long run.

FEATURED ARTICLE. In this post I feature an article from DOST V ( Department Of Science AndTechnology ) I found in the net which was written by my brother Engr. Jerry Asuncion- DOST- Provincial Science Officer- where he introduces the newly-developed technology of Pili pulp oil extraction. Pili is one among the raw materials that could help define positively the future of Bulan if farmers and investors are given the incentives to grow them locally, or at least stimulate investment  in the development of mechanical Pili pulp press  in diverse models and capacities from manually-operated machines that would meet a household need for Pili oil extraction to motorized units for industrial production purposes. For as Jose Dayao- the Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Executive Director for Bicol – said  “The government is revitalizing the Pili nut industry in Bicol through a program designed to commercialize production of the crop and transform it into one of the Philippines’ export winners”. Bulan should venture into this dream of our national government and find local ways to help realize it. Pili nuts and oil are products unknown yet to European markets but- as to my observation- these are quality products that will easily find its place  in the European palate once introduced to them.

Bulan Observer

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Technology

 

DOST V Develops Pili Pulp Oil Extraction Technology

            
Written by Engr. Jerry N. Asuncion, S&T Media Service
Friday, 18 July 2008                                                                                             

 
The Department of Science and Technology’s provincial office in Sorsogon developed a simple method of producing oil from pili nut pulp. The process extracts oil from freshly harvested pili nuts using minimal heat and simple cooking and filtration tools. Because the process retains the aroma and natural green color of pili pulp, the resulting oil can be considered of premium or virgin quality.

DOST-Sorsogon provincial office initiated the development of the technology as an alternative to the process introduced by National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at University of the Philippines in Los Baños, which uses enzymes in extraction and chemicals in refining pili pulp oil. This technology, while more efficient, is rather complicated and requires substantial investment and may not be suitable in a micro or village scale pili nut-processing venture.
There is also a need to satisfy the demand of local organic groups, which took interest in the product for naturally processed, chemical-free, and virgin quality pili pulp oil for food, health, and cosmetic applications.

 
Oil Yield                                                                                                                       


Using manual extraction, the technology was tested using different varieties of pili obtained from different areas in Sorsogon province. Oil yield, computed as percentage by weight of whole fresh pili nut, varies widely and is clearly associated with the variety of pili nut. However, the maximum yield recorded so far is about 6 percent, which translates to about 65 ml/kg of fresh whole nuts.
Establishing the varietal differences in oil yield requires further study. But oil recovery is expected to increase if a suitable mechanical pulp press or extractor becomes available.

Oil quality


Analyses conducted at DOST V laboratory showed that the oil produced by the process has a very low free fatty acid (FFA) content of 0.06% and moisture content (MC) of only 0.04%, which favors a longer shelf life of the product.
Chemical and Nutritional Analyses
Chemical and nutritional analyses of pili pulp oil are very similar to olive oil. However, pili pulp oil have more beta carotene, a known vitamin A source, and carotenoids, which makes it more nutritious than olive oil.

Other Benefits


Pili oil has always been featured in traditional medicines and herbal remedies in Bicol region where it abounds. Indigenous knowledge gathered attest to its efficacy in treating skin diseases such as scabies and de-worming capability for livestock such as pigs and chicken. Recent testimony to its ability to cure diabetes was published by Fernando Simon of YAMANKO enterprises.
Some groups that advocate and promote organic products reportedly believe in the potential health benefits of pili pulp oil, which they claim could equal or even surpass that of virgin coconut oil.

 

 

Technology Transfer


The simplicity of the technology allowed for its easy diffusion through technology transfer trainings to pili processors, traders, and farmers in Sorsogon. Since October 2004, DOST Sorsogon provided technology transfer training to the following:
Melinda Yee[proprietor of Leslie Pili Products, Sorsogon City]
• Pili Producers Association of Sorsogon (PPAS)
• City Agriculture Officers/personnel of Sorsogon City LGU
• The Lewis College
• Prieto Diaz LGU
• Gubat LGU

 
Developing the industry


The introduction of the technology generated renewed interest among local stakeholders and is paving the way for the establishment of the pili pulp oil production industry in Sorsogon. At present, raw pili pulp oil sells at P100 per liter. In support of the industry’s development, DOST V is currently working to develop technologies on mechanical extraction and other non-chemical approach in oil refining.    (Engr. Jerry N. Asuncion, S&T Media Service)

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Note: I have included here other sources of informations about Pili for further studies. / jun asuncion

 

New Crop Fact SHEET:

Pili Nut                                                                                                           pili-nuts


Contributor: Francis T. Zee, USDA-ARS, National Clonal Germplasm Repository, Hilo, HI.
Copyright © 1995. All Rights Reserved. Quotation from this document should cite and acknowledge the contributor.

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English: pili nut
Philippines: pili, anangi, basiad, liputi, pilaui, and pili-pilauai.
Scientific Names
Canarium ovatum  Burseraceae        

                                         canarium_ovatum_pili_small
Uses.

Pili nut kernel is the most important product. When raw, it resembles the flavor of roasted pumpkin seed, and when roasted, its mild, nutty flavor andtender-crispy texture is superior to that of the almond. Pili kernel is also used in chocolate, icecream, and baked goods. The edible light-yellow color oil from the kernel is comparable in quality to that of olive oil, containing 59.6% oleic glycerides and 38.2% palmitic glycerides. The young shoots and the fruit pulp are edible. The shoots are used in salads, and the pulp is eaten after it is boiled and seasoned. Boiled pili pulp resembles the sweet potato in texture, it is oily (about 12%) and is considered to have food value similar to the avocado. Pulp oil can be extracted and used for cooking or as a substitute for cotton seed oil in the manufacture of soap and edible products. The stony shells are excellent fuel or as porous, inert growth medium for orchids and anthurium.
Origin


Philippines: abundant and wild in Southern Luzon, and parts of Visayas and Mindanao in low and medium elevation primary forests.
Crop Status


A minor crop produced only in the Philippines. The bulk of the raw nuts are supplied from wild stands in the mountains around Sorsogon, Albay and Camarines Sur in the Bicol region. The average annual production between 1983-1987 was 2925 tonnes of dried nuts from an estimated 2700 ha. Pili nut has the potential to become a major nut crop. Improvement of nd knowledge in efficient vegetative propagation, ecological and cultural requirements of pili as a commercial crop, and the mechanization for commercial processing are needed.

Taxonomy


Synonyms: Canarium pachyphyllum Perkins, Canarium melioides Elmer.
Description

                                                                                                                       
Pili is a delicious evergreen tree up to 20 m tall with resinous wood pili_tree1and resistance to wind. Leaves are compound and alternate with odd-pinnate leaflets. Flowers are borne on cymose inflorescence at the leaf axils of young shoots. Pollination is by insects. Flowering of pili is frequent and fruits ripen through a prolonged period of time. The ovary contains three locules, each with two ovules, most of the time only one ovule develops. Fruit is a drupe, 4 to 7 cm long, 2.3 to 3.8 cm in diameter, and weight 15.7 to 45.7 g. The skin (exocarp) is smooth, thin, shiny, and turns purplish black as the fruit ripens: the pulp (mesocarp) is fibrous, fleshy, and greenish yellow in color, and the hard shell (endocarp) within protects a normally dicotyledonous embryo. The basal end of the shell (endocarp) is pointed and the apical end is more or less blunt; between the seed and the hard shell (endocarp) is a thin, brownish, fibrous seed coat developed from the inner layer of the endocarp. This thin coat usually adheres tightly to the shell and/or the seed. Much of the kernel weight is made up of the cotyledons, which are about 4.1 to 16.6% of the whole fruit; it is composed of approximately 8% carbohydrate, 11.5 to 13.9% protein, and 70% fat. Kernels from some trees may be bitter, fibrous or have a turpentine odor.

                                                                                                                                                                                          

 

Crop Culture (Agronomy/Horticulture)                     

                                                                                                          
Cultivars
There are three pili cultivars in the Philippines, they are : ‘Katutubo’, ‘Mayon’, and ‘Oas’. ‘Poamoho’ is the only cultivar in Hawaii.
Production Information

 
Pili is a tropical tree preferrring deep, fertile, well-drained soil, warm temperatures, and well distributed rainfall. It can not tolerate the slightest frost or low temperatures. Refrigeration of seeds at 4 to 13C resulted in loss of viability after 5 days. Seed germination is highly recalcitrant, reduced from 98 to 19% after 12 weeks of storage at room temperature; seeds stored for more than 137 days did not germinate. The seedlings take 40 to 50 days to emerge; year old seedlings can be used for rootstock. Asexual propagation is best through patch budding, which claimed to have a success rate of 85-90% in the Philippines. Marcotting is too inconsistent to be used for propagating in commercial  production. Production standards for a mature pili tree is between 100 to 150 kg of in-shell nuts. Most of the production in the Philippines are from seedling trees and are highly variable in kernel qualities and production.
Harvesting

Harvesting is from May to October, peaking in June to August, and requires several pickings. Fruits are de-pulped, cleaned and dried to 3 – 5% moisture (30C for 27 to 28 h). Nut in shell with a moisture content of 2.5 to 4.6% can be stored in the shade for one year without deterioration of qualities.
Germplasm
Collections
College of Agriculture, University of the Philippines at Los Banos, College, Laguna 4031, Philippines.
USDA/ARS, National Clonal Germplasm Repository, Hilo, P.O. Box 4487, Hilo, HI 96720 (limited).

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 Latest News About Pili:


Gov’t to make pili nut industry more globally competitive

03/19/2009

The government is revitalizing the pili nut industry in Bicol through a program designed to commercialize production of the crop and transform it into one of the Philippines’ export winners, Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Executive Director for Bicol Jose Dayao said.

Dayao said the proposed P150-million Pili Development Program (PDP) will involve a massive replanting of seven pili varieties in the Bicol provinces of Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes and Sorsogon, which account for 82 percent of the supply of the crop. “Pili has high potentials for being a top export commodity for the Philippines, as it can very well compete with macadamia, cashew, almond and walnut in terms of quality,” he said.

The PDP, Dayao said, will kick off with the production and distribution of quality planting materials through the DA nurseries, the private sector, local government units (LGUs) and research outreach stations. Through the LGUs, the department will also put up technological demonstration farms and pili orchards; distribute organic fertilizers and provide soil analysis services; conduct training and provide extension support to farmers; undertake research and development work, marketing activities and monitoring and evaluation of the PDP.

Dayao said the target areas under the PDPcover5,000 hectares that will include 3,750 hectares in the municipalities of Bacacay, Malilipot, Malinao, Sto. Domingo, Tiwi and Tabaco City; Rapu-rapu, Camalig, Daraga, Manito and Legazpi City; Guinobatan, Libon, Ligao, Pio Duran, Oas, Polangui and Jovellar in Albay.

For Camarines Norte, Dayao said the target area is 150 hectares, while for Camarines SurtheDA is aiming to expand pili production in 600 hectares. For Catanduanes, the covered area is 150 hectares, and Sorsogon, 350 hectares, he added.

Under the PDP, the DA will promote production and processing technology through model farms to be put up at the local level, particularly within the region’s Strategic Agricultural and Fisheries Development Zone.

Dayao said the research, promotion and development efforts under the PDP would involve the production of quality products with vast market potentials; establishment of strong marketing linkages between users and producers; and improvement of the packaging of pili products and by-products.

 

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Kidnapped ICRC Workers: Good News And Bad News

by: attybenji 

 

The good news is – Filipina hostage Mary Jane Lacaba was rescued and recovered alive from the kidnappers (April 2, 2009). Some reports alleged that she was handed-over formally by the captors to the negotiators, not rescued, upon payment of ransom!

The bad news is – the Swiss Andreas Notter and Italian Eugenio Vagni are still under captivity, sad to say, a day after freeing Lacaba, the kidnappers threatened to execute these two remaining captives. We do not know when? May awa ang diyos, huwag po naman sana!

With this new development, authorities are readying the evacuation of over 21,000 residents in 5 towns of Sulu for a possible worst case scenario or armed confrontation between security forces and the Abu Sayyaf bandits, as reported in various newspapers (April 3, 2009)

In retrospect: Filipina Mary Jean Lacaba, Swiss Andreas Notter and Italian Eugenio Vagni have been kidnapped and remained in the jungles of Sulu since January 15, 2009. They were abducted after a visit to a local prison where the Red Cross is funding a water project.

Recall that barely an hour before the ultimatum would lapse, Philippine Red Cross Chairman Senator Richard Gordon asked the Abu Sayyaf kidnappers for proof that the three Red Cross volunteer workers were alive as government troops and tanks moved closer amidst the threats to behead the captives. (April 1, 2009)

Senator Gordon’s messages to the captives, while uttering the words of comfort and inspiration, suddenly tears fell from his eyes, saying – “The whole family of Red Cross prays for you and I’m proud of the way you’ve comported yourself”. “I’m sorry I should be stronger than you because I’m not in the midst of the ordeal you are in now.”

And to the captors he pleaded, – “There was no glory in what the captors are doing. You are just pinning yourself down. These people are not your enemies. They were here to help the prisoners in the city jail by providing them with water and other needs”.

As the crisis deepens, the Catholic Church is urging Filipinos to pray for the release of the kidnapped ICRC workers.

The CBCP circulated copies of a pastoral letter in all catholic churches exhorting all Filipinos as brothers and sisters to reach out to both kidnappers and their hostages with prayers, saying that let it be a whole nation praying that all may experience true freedom and security. Likewise The CBCP is appealing to both kidnappers and the government to use every peaceful means to address thought peaceful process what ever is the root of this on going problem of kidnapping in Jolo, Sulu and the whole country.

We, as peace loving Filipinos, are sympathizing with the plight that the hostages are facing right now in the hinterlands of Sulu. They are facing the uncertainty of tomorrow, “nangangamba tayo na baka gagawin ng mga bandido ang kanilang banta”, God forbids!

– Just try to sympathize with their families, and imagine the sufferings, anguishes, mental torture, psychological-emotional pains, sleepless nights, mental shocks, fears and insecurities. As, anytime from now, the captives would be caught in the crossfire of the battle between the kidnappers and government forces once the latter commences its rescue operations. Also, anytime from now, they can be executed and beheaded by their captors.

From a distance, we can only offer our prayers for the lasting solution to this horrible situation in Sulu and for the release of the two other captives from the hands of the Abu Sayyaf bandits.

After freeing the Filipina, the fate of the hostages is still uncertain and unknown, and the fear of bloodshed is inevitable once the military begins its rescue operations in Sulu. Madaming inosenteng civilians ang madadamay sa bakbakang militar at mga bandidong grupo!

– Also, try to dramatize the situation, and imagine a scenario, or put yourself in the shoes of the families or relatives of one of the hostages, or of all the hostages, coupled with the shocking news update every now and then that the kidnappers are threatening to behead the hostages one by one. For sure, “hindi ka mapapakali, hindi ka makakain, maiihi ka, matatae ka, iikot ang tumbong mo at hindi ka makakatulog”, why? Because these group of kidnappers are known for their barbaric acts in the past. By all means, they have the capacity to exterminate the captives when their demands for ransom, or otherwise, are not heeded, and not taken seriously by the government negotiators, etc.

In fact, I was monitoring this incident for weeks now, and believe me guys while I was watching the news update on TV, a day before Lacaba was released, “naluha ako at naiyak”, because I could not help but to reminiscence the sad memories of the past, similar to the ordeal and nightmare that the hostages have gone thru for months in the mountains, and the tormented mind of the victims’ families as well, …… I cried, and tears fell from my eyes because some years ago my father, Ceferino was kidnapped by the NPAs, and my brother, Edilberto, was also victim of kidnapping years back in Nigeria.

In local parlance, malungkot ang alaala ng kahapon, kaya hindi ko mapigilan ang maiyak at maluha sa ganitong sitwasyun!

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RE; Kidnapping of my father, Ceferino!

Sometime in 1995, my father was kidnapped by the NPAs in San Ramon, Bulan. While my brother, a seaman-engineer, was held captive by the Nigerian rebels in Warri of 2007.

My father, a municipal councilor then, and was active in local politics in Bulan. All of the sudden, one gloomy afternoon, the NPAs had snatched my father in our house and was forcibly brought to the jungle of the unknown, and of place of no return, where most, if not all, of the civilians, who have been held hostage by the rebels were buried thereat after being strangulated, stabbed, or buried alive according the reports; my father used to describe the place as between the boundary of the towns of Juban and Magallanes overlooking the sea from a far. He was held in captivity for almost a week, blindfolded and his hands were tied, and could not sleep well due to the pestering sounds and bites of the mosquitoes, known carriers of malaria virus (hindi pa uso nuon ang sakit na dengue).

Fear of not seeing his husband anymore, my mother has already entertained a thought of committing suicide due to hopelessness, frustration and despair. No news, no update of the incident, or the whereabouts of my father is still unknown, no means of communication, no telephone, no text, no cellular phone to connect thru to the captors at that time. But, worst, the NPAs had advised my mother not to tell anybody about the incident, nor report the kidnapping to the authority, which my mother obligingly did.

Despite said warning, some concerned citizens reported the said incident to the police, and minutes thereafter, the police proceeded to our house in San Ramon to confirm the reported kidnapping of my father, but my mother, for fear of reprisal from the captors opted to remain silent about it and when asked about the incident, she even diverted the interrogation made by the men in uniform saying that my father was in Manila for his regular medical check up, but the men in uniform did not believe her claim, because my mother at that time was uneasy and crying and tears were falling from her eyes uncontrolled by cotton handkerchief.

Luckily, prayers really paid off, because after week long of captivity my father was finally released unharmed somewhere in the mountainous barangay in Irosin.

The reason why he was kidnapped? According to them, my father is a spy for the military, and is having an illicit relationship with another woman. Oh my Gulay, this is a silly accusation? This is a blatant lie and not true. A fabricated and concocted charge purportedly made by his political rivals, who have personal grudge to grind against my father, “mga inggitero” in our barangay. But, this is politics anyway, a dirty politics I should say!

In consideration of his release, a board & lodging had been charged to my father’s account, he was asked to defray of the amount of P45-Thousand pesos, which we obligingly complied with (note: from the first demand of 100thousand pesos, natawaran hanggang umabot ng 45thousand nalang), on the condition that said amount would be treated not as a payment for ransom, but to be referred to as sort of a Donation to the KILUSAN, or as payment for the board & lodging of my father while under captivity. Silly, is it not?

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RE; Kidnapping of my brother, Edilberto!

My brother, Edilberto, a seaman-engineer, was kidnapped along with the other 23 Filipino crew while their ship was navigating along the Delta River in Warri, Nigeria.

They were held in captivity for 24 days in the jungle of the Warri by the rebels who called themselves, the Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (or, “MEND”), the dreaded and most notorious group of rebels in Nigeria, engaged in piracy, kidnapping and extortion, whose leader opted to remain as a mysterious leader of the group, called “General”.

Within 24 days of captivity, we, the families, have suffered several days of sleepless nights, anxieties and mental shock, and like the ICRC Workers’ hostages, we’re also facing the same fate of uncertainty at that time. Because, the MEND rebels also threatened to execute one by one the Filipino hostages as reported in the CNN and BBC if the government of Nigeria and the ship owner would not heed to their demands. To resolve the problem, the Nigerian government has already called its men in uniform to prepare for the worst case scenario to rescue the captives at all costs, but luckily the purported plan did not push through, because the rebels threatened to use their hostages as human shields once the military pursues its plan.

We were then in constant contact with the representatives of the DFA, OWWA and the Hamonia Shipping Agency, the local manning agency, for more updates, these representatives would always advise us (families of the hostages) not to allow each one of us to be interviewed by media people in order not to jeopardize the on-going negotiations between the Nigerian government and the rebels, as well as the representative of the shipowner.

Amidst the advisory from the DFA and OWWA to shun away interviews by media people, feeling uneasy and worried of the situation, I then defied said warning, and taken the cudgel for all the families of the seamen-hostages by writing a letter of appeal to a local newspaper in Nigeria (the “Guardian”) via email. The contents of my letter was published in Nigeria and in also in various newspapers in Manila. Because of that incident, I was summoned by the DFA and that of Hamonia representatives in their office advising me to please avoid further making an appeal to the MEND rebels because in so doing I might be able to complicate or jeopardize the on-going negotiations. Their reason is “lalaki daw ang ulo ng mga rebelde at mas lalong magdedemand ng malaki dahil umaapela ang pamilya ng biktima for humanitarian considerations”.

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The Picture below, (courtesy of CNN) – where kidnappers displayed their high-powered guns to the Filipino crew hostages in the undisclosed place in Warri, Nigeria.

pix-of-hostages_1

Hereunder is my letter to the Guardian newspaper in Nigeria which was published thereat, viz:

Families’ Plea to Captors: Release Seamen in Nigeria
02/03/2007 | 10:48 AM
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Families of 24 Filipino seamen abducted in Nigeria last month appealed anew to the captors over the weekend to release their hostages.

In a letter published Friday in the Nigerian newspaper “The Guardian” (www.guardian.newsngr.com), Benjamin Gaspi of Manila sought a win-win solution to end the crisis.

“We, the families of the abducted Filipino seamen, are hereby appealing to the Nigerian militants for the immediate release of the seafarers from weeklong captivity … Once again, we appeal to the kidnappers to release the captives,” Gaspi said in his letter.

“We hope and pray that both the government and the militants should find a way to come up with a win-win solution to end the crisis. The families of these hostages in the Philippines are suffering from severe anxiety, stressful days, wounded feelings, moral shock, depression and sleepless nights,” he added.

Although Gaspi did not specify his relation to any of the abducted seamen, he indicated he was writing the letter on behalf of the families of the abducted seamen.

He said the crewmen should not have been abducted because they were “not interfering nor are they intervening in the internal and political affairs of Nigeria.”

“These seamen have nothing to pay because they have no money to pay the ransom (if any). If they really want money they can let go the crew, then take full custody of the vessel and its cargo, then the owner can now pay as well as all those people who have interest in the vessel and cargo,” he said.

Negotiations are still ongoing for the release of the 24 Filipino seafarers and crew of Baco Liner 2, a German owned-vessel held hostage by Nigerian militants last Jan. 19.

At least seven of the crewmembers were brought to a safe house while the others remained inside the ship under the control of the militants.

Gaspi also voiced concern that the hostages may contract malaria and diarrhea.

“We are very much worried and anxious because we do not even know the names of the seamen who were taken ashore and those who were held hostage inside the ship,” he said.

———————————

 AT HINDI PA RIN PO AKO MAPAKALI, kaya sumulat ako sa Ambasador ng Pilipinas sa Abuja, Nigeria. Ito ang nilalaman ng follow-up letter ko kay Ambasador Umpa, thru email, viz:

February 1, 2007

HON. MASARANGA R. UMPA
Ambassador Plenipotentiary
Philippine Embassy in Abuja
Abuja, Nigeria

Dear Mr. Ambassador,

Warmest Greetings!

Sir, unless the those captives are released from nearly month long of captivity; anxiety, mental anguish, low morale, boredom, sleepless nights, despair and depressions will always be part of the day to day routine of the wives, families and relatives of the 24 abducted Filipino seafarers since they were held hostage last January 19, 2007 by the so called Nigerian Militants-MEND.

Considering Sir, that the DFA has imposed a news black-out on the progress of the negotiation and even told the families to cooperate with them by not entertaining interviews from the local media so as not to derail the negotiations, may we respectfully ask an update or breaking news directly from your good office on the progress or status of the negotiation between the rebels and the delta state government, including the chances of having them released as soon as possible.

We understand also that your good office is doing its best to fast track the release of the hostages. Just to calm down, pacify and appease the feeling anxieties among the families of the kidnapped seamen, please give us an update on this incident.

We hope also that you will not get angry at us for being so “MAKULIT” in asking an update from your office every now and then, after all, the lives of the Filipino people are at stake here.

Thank you so much sir for accommodating always my request.

Very truly yours,

BENJAMIN G. GASPI & FAMILY

——————————

Another picture, (courtesy of CNN) – where kidnappers performed their native dance and rituals carrying with them loaded high-powered guns, firing their guns down the soil and up in the air.

pix-of-hostages_2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upon receipt of my letter, the Honorable Ambassador Umpa readily replied to my query, as follows:

PASUGUAN NG PILIPINAS EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES
ABUJA

01 February 2007

Mr. Benjamin G. Gaspi
benjiegaspi@yahoo.com
MIS- 43 -2007

Dear Mr. Gaspi:

The Philippine Embassy in Nigeria acknowledges receipt of your letter dated
01 February 2007.
We understand your concern for the welfare of your brother and the rest of the
Filipino seamen abducted in Warri. Rest assured that the Embassy is doing all
its best to work out the release of our Filipino brothers.
I have personally led a six-man Embassy team to make sure that negotiations
are fast-tracked and that the Filipinos are treated well and are in good
condition. Daily contacts with the chief government negotiator are maintained
since Embassy personnel and the Delta State Government officials involved
are staying in the same place.
As regards the conflicting reports, the Embassy assures you that we are
closely monitoring every phase of the negotiations and as such, has the
higher authority to verify and confirm what transpires in the course of the talks
to release the hostages, in close coordination with the chief government
negotiator and other Delta State officials.
Thus, more weight should be given to the Embassy reports than to the articles
written in Nigerian local papers. We reiterate that the 24 Filipinos are safe and
are in good condition. The German office of the ship’s owners, as well as the
representatives of the local manning agency here in Warri have denied being
contacted whatsoever by anyone regarding the critical situation of some of the”
hostages.
Further, the Embassy would also like to inform you that it is coordinating with
the German employers in the event of release of the 24 seamen.
Finally, we are hoping for the best and we are counting on your prayers and
the rest of the Filipino nation’s so that we could see light at the end of the
tunnel soon.

We appreciate your continued support and please feel free to communicate
with the Embassy any time and be up dated with any developments.
Thank you once again and best regards.

Very truly yours,

MASARANGGA A.R. UMPA
Ambassador

——————————

Also, picture below (courtesy of CNN), as told by my brother, sometimes kidnappers would point the barrels of their guns to the captives to intimidate them, and more significantly to catch the attention of the international community. (you see how worried they are in this picture).

pix-of-hostages_3At Last, after marathon negotiation with the kidnappers, the 24-Filipino crew, who were held hostage by the MEND militant rebels, were finally released upon paying of, allegedly more or less, 50M U.S. dollars as ransom.

Released Finally: as published in Manila Times, and other local newspapers and tabloid, viz:

Emotional Reunion for Released Seamen

Monday, February 19, 2007
REUNITED with her husband Roberto, chief engineer of the ship seized by rebels in Nigeria, Jocelyn Arcangel said she and her family would take a holiday before deciding on their future.
Roberto was among the 24 Filipino seamen recently released after being held captive at gunpoint for 24 days. They flew home Saturday to an emotional reunion with loved ones.
“We will have a very long family vacation after this incident and we’ll decide after whether he [Roberto] should leave again,” Jocelyn said.
“My sons don’t want him to leave anymore. It was very traumatic. We have not heard from them for a long time and there are fears that they were harmed,” she said.
Roberto said he just wanted to be with his family before declining to talk further with reporters.
Glenda Cagas said her husband, Herculano Cagas, the ship’s third engineer, would probably ship out again after resting in Manila, despite his traumatic ordeal.

“It is difficult, but we don’t have any other choice. We need the livelihood for the family,” Cagas said, noting that their two children aged six and four have yet to enter primary school.
“The hardest part for us was when we saw them on cable television being threatened with guns by their captors in masks,” she said.
Looking haggard after their ordeal but smiling and waving, the men were met by government officials and a throng of journalists after disembarking from a commercial flight at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
“We are very happy. Thank you very much President [Gloria] Arroyo,” they said in unison to an explosion of camera flashes.
They were quickly taken to Malacañang and tearfully reunited with family and friends.
Gunmen seized the oil workers on January 20 from a Nigerian-flagged, German-owned cargo ship off the coast of Nigeria.

They were held captive under constant threat by masked gunmen in muddy swamps of the oil-rich Delta region, as Philippine and Nigerian negotiators worked for their release.
It is still unclear who was responsible for the seizure, although a high-profile militant group, the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, has fingered a rival outfit identified as Fndic.
The men declined to comment on negotiations that led to their freedom on February 13 for fear of jeopardizing the safety of two other Filipinos seized separately. Filipino diplomats are in Nigeria working to free them.
A Filipina woman was abducted on February 7 in Port Harcourt in Rivers State. Gunmen abducted the woman from the center of the city, at the heart of Nigeria’s oil industry.
A day earlier a Filipino employee of Netco Dietsmann-the Nigerian arm of a Monaco-based oil services company-was seized from a company car heading for the airport in Owerri, the capital of Imo State.
Nigeria is one of the biggest employers of Filipino workers in Africa, with some 3,900 Filipinos employed there at the end of 2006.
The Philippines is one of Asia’s biggest exporters of manpower, with an estimated eight million of its citizens working as maids, seafarers, oil rig workers and in other labor-intensive jobs.
President Arroyo has banned further deployments to Nigeria in the wake of the kidnappings.
On Sunday she instructed embassy officials assigned in conflict areas to ensure the safety of Filipinos in their areas.
Besides Arcangel and Cagas, the crewmembers of Baco Liner 2 are Ruben Roble, master; Elmer Nacionales, chief officer; Carlos Abellana, 2nd officer; Mauro Agacid, 3rd officer; Cirilo Nebit, 2nd engineer; Engr. Edilberto Gaspi, electro tech officer; Sukarno Landasan, Rogelio Garcia, Jonel Bernales, Manolo Isidro, Marlon Mendez, Ronaldo Corpuz, Joven Hidalgo, Jose Talde, Samson Mayo, Henry Sebastian, Jonie Saguid, Edgardo Ellera, Evelio Nacionales, Marcelino Caladman, Nelson Aquino and Herman Valez.

The President said the government would maintain close watch over the welfare of Filipino workers worldwide.
“We continue to pray with the same fervor for the remaining hostages in Nigeria in the hope that their situation will also come to a happy ending,” she said.
The President also thanked the officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs who were involved in the release of the Filipino seafarers.
“To those who work to ensure the safety of our Filipino men, thank you, particularly Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Estevan Conejos Jr. and Special Ambassador to the Middle East Roy Cimatu,” she said.
-AFP and Sam Mediavilla

——————————

The Picture below of jubilant Filipino crew upon their arrival at the NAIA, after being released from the 24 days of captivity. My brother, Edilberto, is at the center raising and waving his left-hand to the media people. He is the tallest among the crew.

freed-hostages4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PGMA Welcomes 24 Freed Seamen and their Families in Malacañang

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2007 | OFW

Twenty-four Filipino seamen, who were freed recently after almost a month of captivity by their Nigerian captors in the oil-rich Niger Delta in Nigeria, thanked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last night for her immediate action to secure their release.

The seamen, who arrived at 6:40 p.m. at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from Nigeria via Hong Kong, proceeded to Malacañang to personally extend their gratitude to the President.

The President, together with Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, hosted a sumptuous dinner for the 24 seamen along with their family members, relatives and friends at the Palace Heroes’ Hall.

During the emotional family reunions, the President went from table to table and had brief talk with the newly-arrived seamen and their family members.

“Maraming salamat po, Madame President, sa inyong mabilis na pagtugon sa aming panawagan na kami ay mapalaya agad,” said the seafarers as they echoed their gratefulness to the President.

“Welcome back to the Philippines. Praise God! Salamat sa inyong pag-sakripisyo. Have a nice reunion sa inyong mga pamilya,” the President told them.

The Chief Executive had earlier thanked Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo for “taking a direct hand” in the release of the Filipino seamen.

She also lauded all diplomats who were involved in the immediate release of the 24 seamen, particularly Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos Jr. and special envoy to the Middle East Roy Cimatu.

“Salamat sa mga nagtrabaho nating diplomat para masiguro ang inyong kaligtasan, katulad ni Usec Conejos at Ambassador Cimatu. Araw-araw ay sinasabi ko na siguraduhin ang inyong kaligtasan at 24 oras silang
nagtrabaho. Praise God that everything had ended well,” she said.

The released Filipino crew members of Baco Liner 2 who called on the President at Malacañang were Ruben Roble, master; Elmer Nacionales, chief officer; Carlos Abellana, 2nd officer; Mauro Agacid, 3rd officer; Roberto Arcangerl, chief engineer; Cirilo Nebit, 2nd engineer; Herculano Cagas, 3rd engineer; Engr. Edilberto Gaspi, electro tech officer; Sukarno Landasan, Rogelio Garcia, Jonel Bernales, Manolo Isidro, Marlon Mendez, Ronaldo Corpuz, Joven Hidalgo, Jose Talde, Samson Mayo, Henry Sebastian, Jonie Saguid, Edgardo Ellera, Evelio Nacionales, Marcelino Caladman, Nelson Aquino, and Herman Valez.

They were abducted by Nigerian gunmen on Jan. 20 and freed unharmed last Feb. 13 without any ransom paid.

Meanwhile, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye said President Arroyo is hopeful that the two remaining Filipino hostages in Nigeria would also be released soon by their captors.

“The government maintains a close watch over the welfare and well-being of our workers all over the world, and President Arroyo always takes a personal hand in critical events such as the last one,” Bunye said.

“Active diplomacy at a high level and the active presence of our diplomats on the ground will continue to be our strategy to keep our beleaguered workers from harm’s way and to bring them home,” he added.
– – – xxx

Actually, may isa pa akong kapatid na seaman na si Alberto, ay muntik na rin makidnap ng mga Somali pirates in 2007, buti nalang daw nai-locked nila lahat ang doors ng ship, kaya hindi nakapasok sa loob at umalis agad,,, the rest is history na.

SANA WALA NG SUSUNOD NA INSIDENTE NG KIDNAPPING NG MGA FILIPINO O BANYAGA SA MINDANAO O SAAN MANG SULOK NG PILIPINAS AT MATIGIL NA RIN ANG SUNUD-SUNOD NA PAGKIDNAP NG MGA PIRATANG SOMALIA SA MGA FILIPINO SEAMEN.

GOD BLESS US ALL. SHALOM!

Long live Bulan Observer.

attybenji

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Chip Tsao: His Missing Chip

Or: When The Servant Is Noblier Than The Master

by. jun asuncion

The article War At Home written by Chip Tsao -where he arrogantly ridiculed his Filipina maid and the whole of the Philippines as a nation of servants -seems to me rather a war inside Chip Tsao after losing the Chip that’s holding his brain together. His case must have been a post-traumatic decompensation to the Mao- indoctrination he underwent, a kind of what the Germans call Dachschaden- a Rooftop (cranium) damage. For his otherwise literary-schooled brain became fragmented like the Spratley Islets he has claimed to be rightfully belonging to China, the master, and not to the Philippines, the servants. Well for sure, I yield to the fact that his fragmented Spratley brain belongs to his China, not to my Philippines. But I do not yield to his arrogant attitude to the Filipino people.

Before I go on, I have to make it clear that this is my personal response directed to the person of Chip Tsao alone in reference to his insulting remarks to his Filipina maid Louisa and to my nation the Philippines.
They said Tsao has written a number of satirical books- books I will surely not want to see-, came from a family of writers, studied English literature, worked for BBC and for diverse newspapers and magazines in Hong kong. All these, even far from being a Nobel candidate, are achievements that attest to intelligence and sanity before March 27, 2009, for from this date on he attested to us quite sarcastically that he no longer can hide the mental derangement that has been dissolving him inwardly- most of all his brain and common sense. He lost his professionalism, his Asian cultural sensitivity- and soon his Filipina maid and the sales of his books.

Symptomatic of decompensation is a diminished ability to think including loss of long and short term of memory.
Chip Tsao admits that “We can live with Lenin and Stalin for they were once the ideological mentors of all Chinese people” and that “The Japanese That’s no big problem-we Hong Kong Chinese love Japanese cartoons, Hello Kitty, and shopping in Shinjuku, let alone our round-the-clock obsession with karaoke”. This is a proof of Tsao’s remaining memory content- which is nevertheless a shallow one, already symptomatic of progressive mental deterioration and regression to infantile developmental stage as shown in his fascination with Japanese cartoons.

Actually, these are all his personal problems and these should bother him alone, not us. What bothered me was where in the world did he derive his justification to viciously ridicule and belittle before the world the Philippines and the Filipina maid working in his household? The problems of one country should not be used by any outsider for insulting honestly and peacefully working Filipinos in Hong Kong and the rest of the world. Chip Tsao is sick; his distorted face seems to reveal to us a long history of pains from feats of convulsions and epileptic seizures, or of a man drowned in alcohol day-in and day out, or of a man’s face adopting itself to the cartoon figures he is watching everyday.

 spratlymap2The Philippines’ claim of some islands, notably the Kalayaan Island Group,  of the Spratley Islands, is not just a product of whims and fancies of the Philippines for it has a long standing historical and legal ground. And as a matter of fact, the Philippines is about to present her Philippine Archipelagic Baseline  Law on May 13, 2009 to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

This was probably the latest news that triggered the convulsions and distorted Chip Tsao’s face – and intellect. Now he lost quite a big deal in his life: Aside from being declared by the Philippines as persona non grata, for sure the Filipinos will boycott his books and anything about him aside from attacking him in Internet- and probably in the streets of Hong Kong. The Internet has been boiling from heated attacks by Filipinos against Chip Tsao since end of March and this will go on, enough for Tsao and his relatives to read for a lifetime- and even beyond that. Many families in Hong Kong with Filipina maids will hate Chip Tsao for now they are no longer sure about the noodle soups being served them and about the security of their children when they (the parents) are working. Not that the Filipinas would go amok for it’s not in their nature, but the minds of these Hong Kong parents have been polluted, made paranoid by Tsao’s unpatriotic misdemeanor.

Louisa should take Tsao on a wheelchair and walk with him into the deeper regions of Chinese history after his meditation on Mao’s teachings or after he has watched his favorite face- distorting Japanese cartoons or doing his round-the-clock obsession with karaoke (round the clock? lack of sleep causes amnesia).

Anyway, here are other facts not mentioned by Chip Tsao of why he can forgive Lenin, Stalin, Mao and love the Japanese:

 1. Lenin and his Bolsheviks  murdered around 4 million people – men, women and children – by mass executions, death camps, and state-caused famine.

2. Stalin and his Regime slaughtered around 20,000,000 people in USSR.
3. The Chinese Mao was not a lesser criminal for Mao Zedong’s  regime butchered around 40,ooo,ooo Chinese, probably including Chip Tsao’s ancestors.
And how about Chip Tsao’s fascination of Japan that makes him forgiving when he writes,  “The Japanese planted a flag on Diàoyú Island. That’s no big problem”.
No big problem? How about this fact he forgot to mention:
1. The Nanking Massacre, 13 Dec. 1937-Feb. 38, when the Japanese butchered around 400,000 Chinese. If  Tsao loves and used photography as an investigative journalist, here are some photos  for him of this Nanking Massacre.  My warning: He should visit this site only if he  has the gut for these are very face-distorting photos. The same with this video:
 
No Dogs, No Chinese- A myth or reality? I have never seen such a signboard and I would never like it if this indeed happened. To my martial arts  idol  Bruce Lee,  it looks like this was a reality. If it were, then at least he was aware of it and protested against it directly and honestly:
Quite earlier than that, in 1882, the U.S. Congress passed  the Chinese Exclusion Act, an immigration law which excluded Chinese labor from entering the United States.
In April 28, 1888, our Dr. José Rizal was in the US – six years  after the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was passed.  He wrote a letter to his parents in the Philippines after his bad experience in America because of this Chinese Exclusion Act:

“Here [in San Francisco] we are in sight of America since yesterday without being able to disembark, placed in quarantine on account of the 642 Chinese that we have on board coming from HongKong where they say smallpox prevails. But the true reason is that, as America is against Chinese immigration, and now they are campaigning for the elections, the government, in order to get the vote of the people, must appear to be strict with the Chinese, and we suffer. On board there is not one sick person.”

 It should be clear by now to Chip Tsao that he missed the lessons of history and failed to notice that the Philippines is not to be found in the list of nations that butchered tens of millions of their own people or other people; it should be clear to Chip Tsao by now that his success in Hong Kong did not really offer him the answer to his search for identity and the right therapy for his feelings of inferiority. Inwardly Chip Tsao is torn between worlds: he wants to be a Chinese but he doesn’t trust his own people, he loves the European nobility but he looks Chinese. Unlike Bruce Lee, he cannot express himself honestly. His article War At Home is double- edged: he attacked his society and his own people by way of attacking the Filipinos. The communist indoctrination has made the Chinese suspicious about each other. A Chinese would rather trust a  foreigner than a Chinese he doesn’t know. This is simply the result of oppressive totalitarianism, not really of an inherent Chinese character. It would take time to overcome this. We understand now how Tsao is divided within himself- at one point he is inside the Great Walls Of China, at another point he is outside of it. This pains his Dasein terribly.

Chip Tsao was said to have made a public apology for this article War At Home. I do not accept such insincere behaviour after callously making fun of the Philippines’ position on the Spratley issue by way of insulting Louisa and the rest of the OFW who are serving the world and their own families back home. Chip Tsao also insulted the Chinese-Filipinos  in the Philippines for many of  them are also workers at home and abroad, servants of lesser degree as Chip Tsao declared, not worthy of self-assertion. Indeed, Tsao is missing his  Chip since March 27.

 

Bulan Observer

 —————–

 

 Here’s Chip Tsao’s Clinical Document:

The War At Home
March 27th, 2009

The Russians sank a HongKong freighter last month, killing the seven Chinese seamen on board. We can live with that-Lenin and Stalin were once the ideological mentors of all Chinese people. The Japanese planted a flag on Diàoyú Island. That’s no big problem-we Hong Kong Chinese love Japanese cartoons, Hello Kitty, and shopping in Shinjuku, let alone our round-the-clock obsession with karaoke.

But hold on-even the Filipinos? Manila has just claimed sovereignty over the scattered rocks in the South China Sea called the SpratlyIslands, complete with a blatant threat from its congress to send gunboats to the South China Sea to defend the islands from China if necessary. This is beyond reproach. The reason: there are more than 130,000 Filipina maids working as $3,580-a-month cheap labor in Hong Kong. As a nation of servants, you don’t flex your muscles at your master, from whom you earn most of your bread and butter.

As a patriotic Chinese man, the news has made my blood boil. I summoned Louisa, my domestic assistant who holds a degree in international politics from the University of Manila, hung a map on the wall, and gave her a harsh lecture. I sternly warned her that if she wants her wages increased next year, she had better tell every one of her compatriots in Statue Square on Sunday that the entirety of the Spratly Islands belongs to China.

Grimly, I told her that if war breaks out between the Philippines and China, I would have to end her employment and send her straight home, because I would not risk the crime of treason for sponsoring an enemy of the state by paying her to wash my toilet and clean my windows 16 hours a day. With that money, she would pay taxes to her government, and they would fund a navy to invade our motherland and deeply hurt my feelings.

Oh yes. The government of the Philippines would certainly be wrong if they think we Chinese are prepared to swallow their insult and sit back and lose a Falkland Islands War in the Far East. They may have Barack Obama and the hawkish American military behind them, but we have a hostage in each of our homes in the Mid-Levels or higher. Some of my friends told me they have already declared a state of emergency at home. Their maids have been made to shout “China, Madam/Sir” loudly whenever they hear the word “Spratly.” They say the indoctrination is working as wonderfully as when we used to shout, “Long live Chairman Mao!” at the sight of a portrait of our Great Leader during the Cultural Revolution. I’m not sure if that’s going a bit too far, at least for the time being.

 

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Please Release Mary Jean, Andreas And Eugenio

After turning off the lights during the Earth Day, Bulan Observer will now turn on additional lights to signal our solidarity with and help save the lives of  the kidnapped  International Committee on the Red Cross (ICRC) workers in Jolo, one of them being threatened to be beheaded on the 31th of March should the government forces do not pull out : They are the Filipina Mary Jean Lacaba, Swiss national Andreas Notter, and Eugenio Vagni, an Italian.

We appeal to the Abbu Sayyaf  group to show their side with Kabutihang Loob (good naturedness) to the World Community and release these humanitarian workers whose main purpose is to help the needy without regards to race, color, religion and political affiliations. Kami po ay nakikingutang ng loob na  pakawalan nyo po sila at huwag po silang sasaktan.

                                                                                                

moon2We choose the moon which is maybe the last  neutral thing we could use to remind us all of the beauty when the day is over and darkness begins to fall and how it provides us with light and  payapang kalooban (inner peace). The moon is also called Bulan among our Muslim brothers in Mindanao, Indonesia and Malaysia. Let Bulan connect us altogether to the kagandahang loob (noble mindedness and generosity) that is in each one of us.

                                        We all would be happy to welcome back   Mary Jean, Andreas and Eugenio so that they could resume helping our people in need. Please help them and release them.sunrise And this will be daylight again!

 

jun asuncion

Bulan Observer

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Be A Responsible Bulan And Earth Citizen

 

Bulan Observer congratulates the LGU- Bulan under the leadership of  Mayor Helen De Castro for joining this year’s Earth Hour campaign! Your post have been read throughout the world and is now one of the most viewed posts.

It’s a good sign of solidarity and of  an ever  increasing global consciousness of Bulan community to join this Earth Hour event. One hour without carbon emission, electronic smog or electric consumption for millions of people around the globe- and also one hour of lesser noise pollution when many motors and machines are switched off . It is said that the United Nations building will participate this year for the first time and for an hour it “will save 102 dollars”. Not a big deal really but with all the other millions of buildings participating this year, it would be a saving in billions of dollars for an hour.

But the main thing in this Earth Hour is not saving the dollars but saving our environment- and life on Earth. Many critics of this event claim that it is “too late for such a campaign to have a meaningful impact”. Another critic Andrew Bolt opined that the total savings in Sydney, Australia for instance during  the 2007 Earth Hour event was  “A cut so tiny is trivial – equal to taking six cars off the road for a year”.

I think these critics have missed a very important aspect that is at the root of this Earth Hour campaign and that is the development of consciousness in each individual of environmental protection in general and of a wise and economical use of electricity in particular. Here is the long range effect of this one hour campaign: it could change the attitude of  millions of individuals for a lifetime, that when they go home after this event, they would for instance switch on one instead of three or more light bulbs in their houses, would switch off  TVs, stereos, computers. etc., that have always been left on a standby mode for years. It is said that in Switzerland, if people would not let their electronic gadgets on standby mode for a year, it would lead to the closing of one of their nuclear reactors. A big deal of saving and environmental relief.

So it’s not really late to repair the damage if each individual would combine all the strategies he or she has learned in conserving the environment like using the car less, using  energy-saving light bulbs and avoiding standby modes, segregating household wastes, avoiding chemicals and synthetic materials, not dumping your wastes in the nearby river or sea, planting trees, etc. There are many ways an individual can do to help conserve the ecosystem and contribute to a better quality of life for all  humans, animals and plants, cleaner air, soils, rivers and seas. In short, a happy planet Earth.

So why not give it a try, it’s never too late, join the Earth Hour today and be a responsible Bulan and Earth citizen for a lifetime.

 

jun asuncion

Bulan Observer

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LGU Bulan Joins the Earth Hour Movement

Submitted on 2009/03/26 at 8:37am
 By: PIO-LGU Bulan

Bulan, Sorsogon, March 26, 2009.

 

 Bulan Town in the Province of Sorsogon, in the Philippines is joining the Earth Hour movement!

Mayor Helen C. De Castro of the Local Government Unit of Bulan leads her community in joining the Earth Hour event on March 28, 2009 from 8:30-9:30 in the evening of Saturday.

In her communications sent to all sectors of the Bulaneno Community – the media, youth, business, labor, religious and academic sectors – Mayor De Castro is exhorting every Bulaneno, young and old alike, to wholeheartedly join and support this event by sacrificing one hour on the evening of March 28 by switching off their lights, electricity, the use of cell phones and the internet.

The three local radio stations -One FM, Veritas FM, and Padaba FM are now airing her taped Earth Hour message every two hours until March 28. These stations will have a countdown to the Earth Hour.

The local cable station, BSTV, is now airing a round-the-clock environment film showing featuring the Earth Hour, the Panahon Na! presentation on Climate Change and the Bulan Environment Program until the Earth Hour event.

The local parish church will be pealing the church bells as a countdown to Earth Hour and will be ringing the bells ten times every tenth minute until the Earth Hour is concluded. The local fire department will sound its sirens to signal the start of the Earth Hour.

One innovation started by Mayor De Castro is that since this is school graduation and closing season, all schools, even after the Earth Hour on March 28, will shut off their lights ten minutes before the start of their graduation ceremonies, as a show of solidarity to the Earth Hour movement-and they will hold numbers to dramatize concern for the environment.

A Texters’ Brigade has been organized to send “Pass an Earth Hour message” to friends and texters around.

In its own little way, the Bulan Community is one with the world in helping Mother Earth.

In the Province of Sorsogon, Bulan Town has been in the forefront of protecting and preserving the Environment. In 2008, Bulan Town was declared a DILG GO FAR Model Town for Solid Waste Management in the whole country. The Local Government Unit also conducts an annual Feast of the Mountains every first Saturday of October and has converted its dumpsite into an ecological park.  (PIO)

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The Woman Warrior Of The Philippines

by: jun asuncion

 

It’s astonishing that Senator Loren Legarda and Jing Magsaysay still manage to write me personally in spite of their very tight schedules. These are small gestures that tell  a lot about the character and professionalism of these two super busy people. That in spite of Loren being a national and international figure, her no non-sense legislative duties, her works for her environmental and educational foundations, all the representations that she does, the many visits to her constituents across the country and the many invitations she’s receiving from them and- last but not least-  her children who also occupy a great portion of her time, she still has the time to swift scan Bulan Observer and even write her replies personally. A big honor, indeed.

This tells us that sincerity is part of her natural character, her strength manifesting  in each single action she does which ultimately has carried her up to where she is now. Sincerity is earnestness, seriousness in intent and purpose. In German it is called Aufrichtigkeit, a word which also connotes straightforwardness, singleheartedness and veracity. Aufrichtigkeit is one of the the seven virtues of Bushido- The Way Of  The Warrior- a Samurai code which also emphasizes frugality(simplicity), loyalty and honour- and martial arts mastery. 

A warrior? Little is known of the fact that Senator Loren Legarda, while working as a broadcast journalist, “obtained a master’s degree in National Security Administration from the National Defense College of the Philippines, where she emerged as topnotcher (NDCP awarded her gold medals for Academic Excellence and Best Thesis) and where she was the youngest in the class. She is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force Reserve Corps!” A woman warrior, not in a violent sense, but in a progressive moral sense. And a high-performance senator.

I thank Loren and Jing for their support for our little efforts here in Bulan Observer and wish them more power in their daily fight for progress.

Here are some little concrete samples attesting to their professionalism, earnestness and Aufrichtigkeit of character:

-Re: Thank you for your works and visions! Wednesday, February 11, 2009 11:21 AM
From:  “Jing Magsaysay”
jingmag@yahoo.com  To: junasun05@yahoo.com, loren_b_legarda@yahoo.com.ph

Greetings Jun,

Please tell us which photos you would want to use so we can send you HiRes versions of the photos.

best,

Jing Magsaysay

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On Wed, 2/11/09, Loren Legarda <loren_b_legarda@yahoo.com.ph> wrote:

From: Loren Legarda <loren_b_legarda@yahoo.com.ph>
Subject: Re: Thank you for your works and visions!
To: junasun05@yahoo.com
Cc: “jing magsaysay” <jingmag@yahoo.com>, “honeyrose mercado” <hnyrosemercado@yahoo.com>
Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 2:13 PM

Dear Jun:

 I am endorsing your concerns and propositions to my staff, namely, my press relations head Jing Magsaysay, and Luntiang Pilipinas in-charge of day-to-day activities Honey Rose Mercado, whose respective emails are indicated in this letter. You may directly coordinate with them.

Thank you for your support.

 Loren

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From: Loren Legarda <loren_b_legarda@yahoo.com.ph>
Subject: Re: Thank you for your works and visions!
To: junasun05@yahoo.com
Date: Saturday, January 31, 2009, 1:04 AM

Dear Jun:

Thank you for your enlightening words of encouragement. There is really hope in the Filipino. Together, we must give our share in our moral crusade.

Best regards,

Loren

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Loren Legarda: Avenue Of Green Trees, Poetry And Dreams

by: jun asuncion                                                                           

 

 

Loren Legarda, Joyce Kilmer and The Sniper – What connects them together? It’s their love or need for trees.

loren1Loren Legarda, a  Filipina senator. Loren’s love for trees is known,  a love which manifested itself early in childhood. She claims to have had a happy childhood “climbing trees and playing jackstones” in that Malabon compound where she grew up. She took this love for the trees with her all her life. Last year,  her “Luntiang Pilipinas” (Green Philippines), the urban forestry program founded by Loren which has already planted millions of trees across the Philippines, celebrated its 10th Anniversary launching at the same time the 10 million trees campaign. It’s a plus for all of us Filipinos, for nature and for  the other species dependent on trees. Indeed, it’s much more pleasant to imagine to have 10 million trees more, than to have 10 million trees less in the few years to come.

 

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kilmer_joyceJoyce Kilmer, an American writer, poet and soldier, a man from another place and time. He was born on December 6, 1886 in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Joyce Kilmer wrote the famous poem  “Trees” on February 2, 1913, in the Kilmer home in Mahwah, New Jersey. Every pupil on earth taking up American literature  knows this poem- or has to memorize this poem at one point in his elementary years. Let’s visit this poem again: 

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                  –  Trees –

   I think that I shall never see
   A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

        

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sniperThe Unknown, a German sniper.

He, too, was sent to France probably the same year as Kilmer. The training of a sniper was hard and demanded precision in all kinds of situations. Imperial Germany was the first to use snipers in war and they were dreaded by their enemies for their deadliness and efficiency because of their training and their high-quality manufactured scope lenses mounted on their equally high quality rifles. Yet snipers were taught not only to pick off their targets but above all to respect and be one with the environment that conceals them, with the stones, grass, vines and green trees.

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 A Filipina legislator between an American Poet and a German Sniper. Three for the road, three kinds of trade, three nationalities that met in the avenue of green trees, poetry and dreams.

The End. The poet and soldier Kilmer fought for the United States during the First World War against Germany and was killed in France on July 30, 1918 at the age of 31-  by this  unknown German sniper who probably was himself on a tree or beside it when his scope spotted the scouting Kilmer somewhere  on a hill. His bullet pierced through Kilmer’s soft, poetic head, killing him instantly.

“It was a dirty way to die!
To put a bullet through your head
And make a silly woman cry!”

The irony of fate never dies. These lines above were authored also by Kilmer before he went to war, from his poem “To a Young Poet Who Killed Himself”. Time  and space transcending, this German sniper would have  cried out himself:

“It was a dirty way to kill!
To shoot a bullet through your head,
Oh, poor poet Kilmer.
And make a woman senator cry!”

Three events in history, three people doing their duty- and a love that connects them, the love for the tree. The poet Kilmer immortalized the tree with his poem, and if the target in his scope shared his love or need for the trees, that German sniper had no way of knowing it. He was  just doing his duty.

The Beginning. And so is Loren until now, just doing her duty as she keeps on planting trees. For her, it’s a sacred duty, a homage to that old love for the trees in Malabon compound that gave her coolness and shades during those hot summer vacation days, trees that she climbed and in whose bosom she perhaps dreamed of the possibilities that life would offer her once she gets to Manila to study- and to work.

Dreams came true but this was no reason to stop working for long ago she was saddened by the fact that Kilmer’s Trees were disappearing, landslides and floods were taking the lives of farmers and that  the global warming has now come to take its toll.

But now is no time for tears but is high time to act,  to resort to the power of the pen by writing legislation and to take up the shovel and help plant trees. Loren authored a number of legislation including those for our environment which have been passed into laws and her Luntiang Pilipinashas been building urban parks for years already. As she admits, her greening campaign is not aimed at competing the tree planting program by other organizations from other sectors or the annually held Arbor Day but to supplement them by focusing on restoring green in cities and municipalities by developing Forest Parks and planting trees along roadsides.

Sincerity is seen in the constancy of action over long period of time, a moral value that is scarce in a ningas-cogon infested political landscape. We all know that politics is never an easy arena in the Philippines and it is virtually impossible, if not naive, to expect to find a spotless, angelic public servant. For no matter how a politician tries to stay honestly to his belief and good principles, there are just moments in a politician’s life where principles and values collide with each other, where one has to make compromises even between two or more good arguments that seem to contradict each other at a given point in time and situation. But what counts is that the politician stays by his  duty and good intentions for his constituents- which he cannot always please- and that he  is aware that he is sacrificing a good principle for a more higher one. This is not always easy to explain to the conditioned public mind. For man’s perception of things around him is greatly influenced by the past and current events and that man even tends to re-interpret the past differently depending on the current events, also the reason behind why Luntiang Pilipinas is becoming more and more of a necessity than just a style and why Kilmer’s poem- which turned ninety-six years old this month-  is gaining popularity again because of current destruction of trees and the life threatening effects of global warming.

Be that as it may, today’s Filipinos should free their mind from the myriad of trivial things that divert it from the most essential in Philippine politics. Our judgment should never be based upon trivialities that we hear and see that only muddle our mind but on the essence and substance of a political argument or result. Loren’s legislative achievements, the laws and pending  Bills which she authored for us and her staunch engagement to ecological preservation and restoration are solid facts that attest to the essence and substance of this lady senator. These facts should simply guide our judgement when we contemplate about our future.

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 Bulan Observer

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Note: Official photos provided to Bulan Observer by Senator Loren  Legarda through her press relations head Jing Magsaysay. / jun asuncion

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  For The Record:

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Loren seeks Senate probe on relief aid for Bicol folk.

 
Publication: Manila Bulletin
Date: Sunday, August 12 2007
Senator Loren Legarda said the other day she would call for a Senate investigation into complaints by Bicol victims of last year’s disastrous typhoons and floods that the foreign relief assistance intended for them had not been sufficiently distributed.
Loren was reacting to an interview
over radio DWAR in which she was asked to react to the report of Bicol Bishop Lucilo Quiambao that many victims of the previous year’s typhoons and floods in Bicol had complained that foreign and local relief assistance intended for them did not reach them.
“I think this calls for a Senate investigation,” Loren said.
In the same interview, Loren also urged the government and civil society to step up the program of reforestation and dredging of rivers to prevent floods that cost heavy damage to lives and properties during the rainy season.
Loren said that more trees should be planted in urban and rural areas, as well as in deforested localities, to control floods during the rainy season.
She also declared that the national and local governments, as well as the barangays, should conduct sustained and intensified efforts to clean canals, rivers and other waterways of garbage and other debris so as to enable rainwater to flow smoothly.
Loren said she would intensify the activities of her Luntiang Filipinas (Green Philippines) Foundation which has already planted two million trees throughout the country to improve the environment and prevent floods.
Informed about complaints by Bicolresidents that millions of pesos in foreign and local financial assistance given to them in connection with last year’s disastrous floods have not reached them in adequate amounts, Loren agreed that there is indeed need for a Senate investigation on the matter.
Loren said that the Department of Welfare and Social Development and other government relief agencies should see to it that relief assistance to victims of typhoons, earthquakes and other natural or man-made calamities should be fully and immediately given the victims to accomplish the desired relief.
“I think Congress should pass legislation that would ensure that disaster and emergency relief aid should be totally and properly distributed to calamity victims by providing for penalties for fraud and negligence in the distribution of relief goods,” Loren explained.
Asked to react about the latest survey finding of Pulse Asia that she was the “most trusted” public figure in the Philippines, Loren declared that she was indeed thankful to the people for giving her this distinction. “I consider this a great responsibility and a further obligation to work harder for the good of our people in order to fulfill their expectations,” Loren told radio station DZAR.
Informed that the survey could encourage moves to make her run for president in 2010, Loren said that she is not at present thinking of the presidential elections.

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7  of 30 measures passed by Senate penned by Loren                                                                      

loren-official-photo3

Sen. Loren Legarda authored seven of the 30 bills that had been passed on third reading by the Senate, just one year into the 14th Congress.
“I’m inspired and elated considering the number of my colleagues who are all pushing for the passage of their respective pet bills,” said Legarda.

She stressed that the passage of her bills and the veritable adoption by the House of bills for which she had filed counterpart measures at the Senate are motivating her to work doubly hard.

“It’s work, work, work for me, in and out of the Senate session halls. If it’s not physically impossible, I’d like to be a 24/7 senator since there’s no end to what we can do, in and out of the Senate, to fight poverty and improve the quality of life of our people,” Legarda said.

Legarda is also an environmental advocate, being the chair and founder of Luntiang Pilipinas. Likewise, she’s been working to alleviate poverty, improve education, and push women’s health and empowerment through foundations she had established.

Her seven bills that had been passed by the Senate are the Batas Kasambahay Act, the Cheaper Medicines Act, Environmental Awareness through Education Act, Decriminalizing Vagrancy, Strengthening and Expanding the Special Program for the Employment of Students, the Pre-Need Code, and Act Lowering the Amusement Tax on the Film Industry.

Of the 52 bills passed on third reading by the House, seven have Senate counterparts that Legarda also authored.

Theseare House Bill 375 or the Billion Trees Act, HB 3293 on amendments to the Bureau of Food and Drugs Act, HB 4114 amending the Provincial Water Utilities Act, HB 4253 creating the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, HB 3956 or the Career Executive System Act, HB 4193 or the Renewable Energy Act, and HB 1387 creating the Disabilities Affairs Office.

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RP’s Sen. Loren Legarda: The first to be appointed “Champion” for disaster risk reduction
December 2, 20086:44 pm by pna
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 2 – The United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) secretariat has appointed Senator Loren Legarda of the Philippines as the first “champion” for disaster risk reduction.
The is the first time UNISDR, the UN body which promotes disaster prevention, is engaging a high level parliamentarian to champion and support its advocacy work.

UNISDR Director Salvano Bricenoannounced the appointment at a news conference in conjunction with the Third Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction which began here today at the Putra World Trade Centre.

Speaking to reporters, Legarda said, the appointment would inspire her to work harder.

“There is no more fitting time to say that reducing disaster risks is a moral imperative, a social responsibility, than in these times of growing vulnerabilities and persistent poverty and suffering caused by disasters,” she said.

She said now was the time to translate political commitment into concrete actions at national and local government levels, as countries were still far from achieving the goals of the Hyogo Framework for Action.

Legarda, a former broadcast journalist, among other things, founded the “Luntiang Pilipinas” (Green Philippines) in 1998 to promote public awareness on various issues concerning the environment and had also received the Philippines’ Ten Outstanding Young Men and Women Award.

More recently, in October this year, Legarda, together with UNISDR, convened the first consultative meeting with parliamentarians on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in Manila.

The Philippines is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. (PNA/Bernama)

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People urged to remain vigilant on Cha-cha drive

 
Sen. Loren Legarda called on the people yesterday to be vigilant in discerning the true intentions of those pushing to amend the Constitution.
Legarda said Filipinos have reason to be wary that the government may be floating the idea of Charter change anew to extend the term of the present administration.

She lauded the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines led by its president, Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, for taking a stand against tampering with the organic law of the land to serve ulterior motives.

“Charter change per seis not bad, but because of the seeming underhanded intention of the government, people are left wondering why Charter change is being pushed,” Senator Legarda said.

The senator was among the first to question the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on Ancestral Domain between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). She said the Arroyo administration may have seen it as an opportunity to revive the call for Charter change when constitutional issues were raised on certain provisions in the MoA.

“Now that the MoA is scheduled for a thorough review, there is no apparent necessity to revive the call for Charter change at this time” Legarda said.

…..

Manila Bulletin Online

Loren wins Indian environmental award

Former senator Loren Legarda will be conferred the prestigious Global Award in the Field of the Environmentby the Priyadarshni Academy of India during its 20th anniversary celebration at the Hotel Oberoi Towers in Mumbai, India on Sept. 19.
Listed in 2001 in the Global 500 Honor Roll of the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), Legarda was recognized by the Indian organization for leading a successful environmental conservation program and helping craft Philippine conservation laws while serving as senator.

“It affords us great pleasure to inform you that the Priyadarshni Academy has decided to confer upon you its prestigious Global Award,” said academy chairman Nanik Rupani and Global Awards advisory committee chairman Dr. Ram Tarneja in their letter to Legarda.

“The Academy�s awards function is an opportunity for us to accord acknowledgment and felicitate outstanding achievements of distinguished individuals in their respective disciplines like literature, fine arts, athletics, environment protection, science and technology and such endeavors that promote social welfare and contribute to national and global development,” they said.

Legarda would be joining the ranks of Priyadarshni honorees like Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri, former British Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, Sir Adrian Cadbury of Cadbury Schweppes, and Sharp Corp. Japan President Katsuhiko Machida, among others.

The academy is a sociocultural organization founded in 1985 to promote internal relations, national integration and brotherhood, adult and children�s literacy, nutrition, and care for the handicapped and to raise awareness about drug addiction and diseases like AIDS.

Like the UNEP, the Priyadarshni Academy has decided to make Legarda its honoree for the protection of the environment for her highly successful environmental campaign that includes planting over a million trees all over the country through her Luntiang Pilipinas Foundation.

She was also cited for her active participation in the enactment of significant environmental legislation like the Philippine Clean Air Act (RA 8479), Mt. Kitanglad Protected Area Act (RA8978), Batanes Protected Area Act (RA 8991), and the Integrated Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003).

Among her priority measures when she was a senator were the Clean Water Bill, Sustainable Forest Management Act, and the National Landmarks Conservation Act.

 

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Loren tops Pulse Asia survey on RP’s most trusted public figures
By HANNAH L. TORREGOZA

Senatorial candidate Loren Legarda, a consistent survey topnotcher, is also the most trusted public figure in the country, according to the latest Pulse Asia nationwide poll conducted from April 21 to 25.
The Genuine Opposition candidate garnered 65 percent of the votes of 1,800 respondents.

Legarda is followed by Senator Manny Villar, 57 percent; Representative Francis Escudero 54 percent; Senator Francis Pangilinan, 52 percent; Representative Noynoy Aquino, 51 percent; Senator Panfilo Lacson, 50 percent; Representative Alan Peter Cayetano, 48 percent; Senator Edgardo Angara, 48 percent; Senator Mar Roxas, 47 percent; and Senator Joker Arroyo, 44 percent.

“I am honored by this survey result as it is not easy to earn someone’s trust, much more the trust of the entire nation,” Legarda said.

Like Legarda, Villar, Escudero, Aquino, Lacson and Cayetano are running under the opposition slate.

The former senator also topped the Pulse Asia survey held on the same dates getting a 59.6 percent acceptance rating.

In the same trust rating survey, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo only got 26 percent while former President Fidel V. Ramos was two points lower with 24 percent.

On the other hand, former Presidents Corazon Aquino and Joseph Estrada got 42 percent, and 38 percent respectively.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) scored 32 percent, but Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. got a measly 18 percent.

The election watchdog National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) got 33%.

Independent senatorial candidate former Senator Gringo Honasan and 1990 bar topnotcher Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III have trust ratings of 43% and 39%, respectivel

For more Facts about Senator Legarda, please click here  for the Archives of Manila Bulletin Online

or here  for the Senate Press Release Archives.

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Arroyo’s AO 255: The Last Insult To The Filipino Mind

 

Chiz Escudero seems to be reading Bulan Observer for now he just dared President Arroyo to “show sincerity in her moral renewal campaign”, this just after I have posted Strengths And Weaknesses Of  The Filipino Political Character where I used the concept of sincerity as the foundation of a sustainable political culture. Yet,  kidding aside, such a simple concept as sincerity can make a big world of difference to the status of a nation. This is the very reason why the Philippines is not Switzerland – it’s because of the lack of sincerity among our heads of states. Take away sincerity among the Swiss politicians and you’ll get a poor and languishing Switzerland, perhaps poorer than the Philippines because its geography is poor, just piles of gigantic rocks and ice.  No matter how  the Philippines islands abound with natural wealth, poverty is everywhere when leaders are not sincere,  though one thing  is sure to abound: corruption.

But Eduardo Ermita declares that corruption is unknown in Malacanang, suggesting that his president is a very sincere public official when he points out that, “There’s no question whatsoever that President Arroyo has the highest moral standard to make a call on moral recovery” being elected president and head of some 89 million Filipinos.

Again, such statement can only come from the logic of greed – that’s why the distortion of facts. First, Arroyo achieved the highest ascendancy of power by electoral fraud  and vote buying, not by having the highest  ascendancy of moral standard during and after the election. The end does not always justify the means. She partly bought herself to power ( ask Joc-Joc Bolante for details) and partly “called”  herself to power (call Garci also for details). Second, becoming a president by whatever means does not automatically put you into the highest ascendancy of moral standard, you  have to work for it once in office and in case of Mrs. Arroyo she should have instructed her husband Mr. Arroyo to stay away from Broadband and World bank projects and other frauds.  An Abbu Sayyaf rebel, were he to become president would not automatically remove the terrorist in him. Third, she’s head only to those who elected her legally and out of free will and choice but certainly not the head to all the other Filipinos who

  • elected her not by by free choice,
  • did not exist or once existed before 2004 but dead since then ( but whose names appeared on the list of voters)
  • and to those who did not elect her at all.

Ermita is good at reminding us that there are now 89 million Filipinos, but his logic of greed would want us to believe his shallow  trick again with this figure by associating it with  calculated subtlety the pleasant adjectives “elected” and “head of state”, suggesting to our subconscious the  mandate of 89 million Filipinos to Arroyo. What a head is this Ermita. I guess, he attended some lectures in general psychology, if not, a magician school somewhere in Quiapo. Without Arroyo, he might have been a successful executive magician by now. Again, be that as it may, I hope the Ifugaos, Igorots, Tausugs, Samals and all the other national minorities, the MILF including  Abbu Sayaf and his people, the  communist NPA and the opposition sector, the many OFW’s, the missing student and union leaders and journalists, those millions of jobless, those parents and relatives of the victims of extra-judicial killings, the Smoky Mountain people, those  living families housing in cemeteries, those children in prisons or children working in mines and all the sex workers  were also included in this 89 million Filipinos who- as Mr. Ermita claims- consider Mrs. Arroyo as their head. Again, what a head.

In summary, the 2004 election was not an affirmation of Arroyo’s moral ascendancy, as Ermita claims, but a negation thereof.

Do you consider somebody your president even if you did not elect her? Perhaps a good performance would change your mind, but in Arroyo’s case the Philippines plummeted into abysmal depths of corruption scandals and human rights violations, rated very low internationally in all categories, so I don’t think you would change your mind. It’s  not only too late, but your trust is simply not there. And she is not being sincere. And without sincerity, how would she lead a moral renewal program-  and all that  in the last minutes? She reminds me of Jose De Venezia whose logic is familiar to us; he also called for a last minute- moral revolution.

Arroyo implemented last January 30 the Administrative Order 255 (AO 255) “directing the heads of the executive departments to lead moral renewal in their agencies”. Again, a tricky order for if you examine it closely, this is an empty order for the agencies for it doesn’t hit the core of the issue- i.e., the whereabouts of the stolen money or money to be stolen in the future. But this maybe is  substantial for her own interests in connection with the corruption charges facing her husband. Empty for it doesn’t provide solid legal  mechanisms that could help investigators in the corruption hearings  in the senate to-date and in the future. All in all, this AO 255 sounds fairly similar to a Sunday sermon that people listen to but forget the next moment.

Escudero countered and showed more substance when he –  in conjunction with this AO 255- dared Arroyo to “show her sincerity by endorsing the passage of SB No. 1746, which aims to exempt government officials from the Bank Secrecy Act, and SB No. 1242 that seeks to penalize influence peddling or the mere act of representing oneself to another person having a transaction or request with the government.”

That’s what has been lacking in this administration,- substance,  a substance that would have assured each Filipino family three square meals a day and send their children to  school and find employment. We know that Arroyo neglected our educational system, sacrificed national interests for her own private interests, that her administration has practically squeezed out everything that is positive in the Filipino and stripped the country of its remaining decent clothing before the world. Now, she wants to make up for everything by calling for a moral renewal, which is the last-  we hope – of her series of  insults to the Filipino mind. For her dance with Cha-Cha we know that she has no more chance and barely the time that should hold her calculating, capricious mind.

 Hence, it is propitious that we have vigilant young senators like Escudero, Lacson and Legarda that serve as our windbreak from the typhoons that come from Malacañang that have  for years blown the Filipino spirit to apathy and catapulted millions of citizens out of the country. We have to respect these young senators, judge them not according to some trivial issues, but to the substance of their legislative works and political arguments.

 

 jun asuncion

Bulan Observer

 

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Senate Press Release

February 18, 2009

Show sincerity in moral renewal drive
Chiz dares Arroyo to back 2 anti-corruption measures

Senator Chiz Escudero on Wednesday dared President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to show sincerity in her “moral renewal” campaign by backing two anti-corruption bills seeking the exemption of government officials from the Bank Secrecy Law and imposing penalties on influence peddlers in government.

He made the call after Arroyo ordered Cabinet officials to lead a “moral renewal” campaign following the latest allegations of corruption involving the First Gentleman and other former solons and officials of her administration. “A legacy of corruption is the last thing you want the public to remember you by when you step down from office,” he said in a statement.

Escudero said Arroyo can show her sincerity by endorsing the passage of SB No. 1746, which aims to exempt government officials from the Bank Secrecy Act, and SB No. 1242 that seeks to penalize influence peddling or the mere act of representing oneself to another person having a transaction or request with the government.

He pointed out that the allegations of bid-rigging in the World Bank road-building project, as well as the purported payoffs in the case of the “Alabang Boys”, requires immediate, strong corrective responses from government.

“The law should not be a refuge of scoundrels posing as public servants,” said Escudero.

Last January 30, Arroyo issued Administrative Order 225 ordering cabinet officials to launch “moral renewal” campaigns in their respective agencies.

“The public trust in government has been eroded by numerous allegations of wrongdoing by government officials and personalities close to the administration,” the opposition senator said.

As chair of the committee on constitutional amendments, revision of codes and laws, Escudero held a hearing last Tuesday on proposed changes to the government procurement act. He filed SB No. 1476 in 2007 in a bid to plug loopholes in the Government Procurement Act.

“Transparency and open governance should be the norm because that’s the only way we can truly clean up the system and restore public trust,” he emphasized.

Escudero said it is the poor who are ultimately the victims of corruption in government, pointing out that it diverts funds intended for crucial social services – such as healthcare, education and housing.

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PGMA’s election in 2004 affirmed her moral ascendancy, says Ermita , Press secretary

As an elected leader of the land, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has all the qualifications, particularly the moral ascendancy to lead the nation in the implementation of a moral renewal program for government agencies.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita pointed this out in reply to some administration critics questioning the credibility of the President in the implementation of Administrative Order 255 (AO 255), which she signed on Jan. 30 “directing the heads of the executive departments to lead moral renewal in their agencies.”

“There’s no question whatsoever that President Arroyo has the highest moral standard to make a call on moral recovery,” Ermita said noting that in 2004 she was elected president of the philippines and head of some 89 million Filipinos.

Last week, the President issued AO 255 tasking all her Cabinet officials and agency heads to implement a moral renewal program in their respective agencies in coordination with religious and civic groups that include measures for values formation and zero tolerance for corruption.

Under the AO, the President wants all Cabinet officials and heads of offices to ensure that all attached agencies and bureaus adopt and implement the Integrity Development Action Plan (IDAP), which is part of the National Anti-Corruption Framework for the executive branch.

The President said the department heads should also expand and strengthen the membership of the integrity committee in every department, agency, bureau and office and the moral renewal should also include the conduct of values formation activities with the Presidential Council on Values Formation.

All agencies shall submit their respective action plans for their Moral Renewal Program to the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC), copy furnished the President, within 90 days upon the effectivity of the administrative order.

Agencies were also directed to allocate a portion of their maintenance, operations and overhead expenditures budget to fund values formation and anti-corruption programs.

The President said the PAGC would monitor and evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of the moral renewal program to include surveys of personnel from all levels.
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Cactus Of The Week

cactusWho likes Cactus? From afar, no doubt Cacti are beautiful ornamental plants especially when in bloom, but Noli Mi Tangere- Dont’ Touch Me, or Stay Away From Me- is the clear message of this thorny succulent plant that we find everywhere in Bulan. Hence, for security purposes, Cacti are often used by homeowners as fences around their houses to prevent intruding animals or persona non grata (unwelcome or unauthorized person) from entering private properties.

Now, since February 2009 we have a new species of cactus in Bulan called the Fabricae Cactaceae, Fabrican Cactus, for the failure of Mayor Helen de Castro and her PIO-chief Tony Boy Gilana to officially inform the public about the alleged NPA attack on the property of the mayor in Fabrica is a clear message of Noli Me Tangere to the general public. The public is considered unauthorized to know more about the truth of the said NPA raid. However, the mayor cannot contend that it was purely a private affair for the quality and magnitude of that incident in her household warrants public interest and scrutiny- and being the mayor she is- also in such events- accountable to the people anytime and anywhere.

We can only hope that the sharp thorns of this Fabrican Cactus fence around the house of Mayor Helen De Castro will be enough to provide security, to deter and hurt only real intruding persona non grata in the future- but not the concerned and observing people of Bulan.

For all their efforts in evading public information regarding the NPA raid, Bulan Observer awards the Cactus Of The Week to Mayor Helen De Castro and Tony Boy Gilana.

Bulan Observer

/jun asuncion

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Comment:

Dondon De Castro

donge81@yahoo.com

203.87.179.166

Submitted on 2009/03/20 at 7:25am

Good day to all, this is the first time I visited your website and this is also the first time I read this article of yours. The NPA raid that occurred in our home was not in Brgy. Fabrica, our home is currently located in Brgy. J.P. Laurel. It occurred on February 3, 2009. At that time, Mayor Helen de Castro and former Mayor Guiming de Castro was not at home. They were both in Manila at that time. I was the only person left in our home and I was the one who encountered the armed men. On that day itself, after the raid I immediately reported the incident to the proper authority and on the same day also some of the members of the media came to our home. This included the ABS-CBN, local radio stations from Sorsogon City, media men from Bulan Sorsogon and on the next day, Bombo radyo of Legaspi City also called and asked about the incident. As I also believe, that my interview on ABS-CBN was also aired on ABS-CBN Legaspi on Feb. 4, 2009.

Mayor Helen de Castro, arrived in Bulan on Feb 12. My parents Ex-Mayor Guiming as being the father of the house and Mayor Helen de Castro as a public official made a press con on February 15, 2009 to talk and react about the incident. Almost all of the media from the province of Sorsogon was there; you can verify it to them. A press release was also made by the NPA that they were responsible for the said raid. The incident was tackled and talked about in the media for almost a week not just here in Bulan but also in the whole province of Sorsogon and Legaspi City. The Bombo Radyo legaspi also published the incident in their website as well as the Philippine Star and the Manila Tonite.

The truth is, we did not hinder the public to be informed about the incident. We were open for interviews because we know that the whole town is concern about the incident. Although we may have short comings of not publishing it on the internet, rest assured that next time an issue should be informed to the public. We will try to ask for your help in informing our other kababayans from abroad knowing that your website is garnering more and more viewers and visitors from different countries each day. I am also willing to further enlighten you of the incident if you are interested.

DIOS mabalos sa ato.

Comment:

junasun

bulanobserver.wordpress.com

junasun05@yahoo.com

84.74.185.231

Submitted on 2009/03/20 at 11:26pm

To Mr. Dondon De Castro

It’s good to have you here in Bulan Observer to address your Kabungtos a first-hand report of the NPA raid that happened in your household. I thank you for that and I know that your visit already generated much interest from our Kabungtos and other readers as well who are interested about our town Bulan for as you can see under the Ten Most Viewed Posts Today -which is a site statistics automatically generated (counted) by wordpress.com – this quick post Cactus Of the Week rose quickly to the top.

You know that we meet here in Bulan Observer for only one purpose, and that is to put our views and concerns for our town, there is really nothing personal in intention, though I cannot discount the possibility that people’s feelings are never touched just because I say nothing is personal. I cannot seek protection from this phrase “nothing is personal”for politics is always dealing primarily with people, not with non-living things. But I can only assure you and everybody else that- like you- my purpose is to help put our town forward. If we are aware of the fact that politics- as anything else that points to civilization- begins in the mind, then Bulan Observer has also a role to play in the progress of our town for here one will find the thoughts and emotions of our Kabungtos- as reflected in their views and concerns they post.

Information is extremely important and we all know that distance has been made virtually non-existent with today’s technology. I can be first informed about- let’s say a house fire in Bulan if a friend from there would send me right away an sms (text)- than the neighbor (or even dweller) of that burning house who is watching television, for instance. At the same time I could be instantly mis-informed also by the same technology. What I am driving at is the importance of using this technology to the fullest to one’s advantage.

The LGU-Bulan should use this technology to its advantage now. It’s no more an excuse for today’s young leaders who grew up with this technology to be the last to be informed about what is going on in his constituents’ mind or how the nation or the world is watching his town. Obama’s extensive use of this technology has helped him a lot to become the first black president. Senator Escudero and Senator Legarda are active in Internet beside their full agendas. They even visited Bulan Observer.

For the errors in this post Cactus Of The Week, I take the Cactus back- however only the half of it, the other half should remain by Mayor Helen de Castro and Tony Boy Gilana. For as you said you have informed several media agencies after that NPA raid. This is true for I have read them all. But about that press conference and interviews called by Mr. and Mrs. Mayor De Castro, there was no record of it. All the printed news related to this event were just normal news, written in concise form and addressed to an unknown public. What I was expecting was a clarifying official report of our Mayor addressed specifically and directly to the people of Bulan- for it was no ordinary event, it was a state of emergency for our little town- and for you being held at gun-point. But she might have done this over the local radio station as she used to do in the past- usually Radio Fm1, and Mr. Imbing Asuncion of Radio Patrol may not have uploaded the recordings of this report or maybe he is no longer working as a radio man. But this can be verified easily.

To recapitulate, it was a case of not using actively today’s technology to the advantage of Bulan. I used the technology immediately to condemn that raid (see We Condemn Violence in Bulan) even while at work right after I have read about it. I asked other people about it, some knew about what happened, some didn’t know. It is for this “some didn’t know “- group of people who heard about it only later but who wanted to catch up and know more about the details that we could draw our advantage from today’s technology by using it in time to place any audio or visual (video or printed) documentation that would help this group. In politics, you can secure your position only by helping your people.

Bulan Observer is there to help and support publicly any argument that puts our town forward. Feel free to make use of this platform for future messages.

I thank you for your post – and for your works for our town. For A Brighter Bulan!

jun asuncion

Strengths And Weaknesses Of The Filipino Political Character

by: jun asuncion

Part 1: The Virtue Of Sincerity As The Foundation Of Sustainable Political Culture

Lack or flawed sincerity  underlies our socio-political underdevelopment. What is sincerity? Webster dictionary defines it as honesty of mind and intention. It is therefore closely related to honesty. The political Filipinos have the fondness of making things complicated; they corrupt a simple thought or action habitually and they are now trapped within this system they created themselves. The whole nation seems to have been trapped by this system. Personal interaction is reflected in national politics. For after all, the individual trees define the quality of the forest.  This is implied in the Confucian’s Analects which contain the following statement in Chapter I:

(主忠信。毋友不如己者。過,則勿憚改。)Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles. Then no friends would not be like yourself (all friends would be as loyal as yourself). If you make a mistake, do not be afraid to correct it.”

Simply put, a sincere leader produces sincere followers. A sincere president gathers around him sincere public officials.  Just look at what the insincere presidents in the past and the insincere incumbent president have done: They have ruined the political culture and the national economy. These presidents produced insincere politicians all over the country and an overall primitive and stupor political culture, making all existing political structures dysfunctional. While blessed with abundant natural resources and enough labor force inside and outside (OFW), and while the world organizations are sincerely sending their developmental funds to Manila, the  character-deformed and greed-driven politicians were- and are busy channeling these funds to their own bank accounts under the protective shields of  Bank Secrecy laws  and the constitutional Right Of Privacy.

Lack of sincerity complicates and weakens human transactions of all kinds. Not to support Abbu Sayaf, Al-Qaeda  and any form of terrorist or mafia organisations or rebels like the Tamil Tigers, NPA or MILF, etc., but I guess,  viewed within their organisational and operational context, sincerity is not a rare commodity among these people for the price of insincerity is very high. The result of their success is obvious for until now government forces the world over have failed to destroy them and the truth of their indestructibility is proven with each day. On the other side, our laws paradoxically protect the insincere and erring government servants. It appears therefore that all efforts displayed publicly of fighting poverty, corruption, insurrection and a better political system are helpless for  until now we still do not have a government that’s sincerely addressing these issues.

It’s not that we Filipinos are born thieves but we are not sincere with our ethical-moral standards, leading us easily to transgress them in case of  material insufficiency, opportunity or  power afforded to one by virtue of his office. The Philippines is one of the most plundered nations in the world- by its own civil servants. And when a president, a state prosecutor or an agrarian under-secretary steal public funds, it is definitely  not only a case of character weakness but  an act of treachery. This logic of greed cascades from top to bottom at high speed from the national to the local governments down to the barangays, thus destroying the very foundations of political culture and the socio-economic structures of the nation almost irretrievably.

What is Character?

Again our Webster: 1. Character is the sum of qualities by which a person (or a thing) is distinguished from others ; 2. Charater is the stamp impressed by nature, education or habit.

Filipino Weaknesses: 

1. Utang Na Loob (Debt Of Gratitude). Up to a certain point it is a virtue, but too much is a trap in itself.  We Filipinos exaggerated this trait unwittingly believing this was natural to us, hence, good. In truth, this is a colonial residue. This is not strength but rather a weakness for it is built upon our belief that we Filipinos were of lesser value. This resulted to over-subjugation in order to survive. Filipinos did survive, but heavily damaged from within. This exaggerated Utang Na Loob prevented the Filipinos from developing that Selbst-Bewusstsein or Self -Confidence necessary to get out of our miserable situation. The revolutions freed the Filipinos from the oppressors physically, but the oppressed has remained in their psyche. Applied into  politics, this trait is at the core of corruption for this prevents the mind from siding to the ideals of common good but rather reduces it to side with things or with people whom the political Filipinos are indebted to -or beholden to- in one way or another.

2. Crab-Mentality. This is what divides the Filipinos as one people and therefore prevents the building of a  progressive nation. For instead, we pull each other down out of envy or just plain egotism. We cannot replace  burdensome administration  if each of us chooses rather to solo his fight and achieves nothing. This is the weakness of the opposition against the incumbent administration: Each prominent opposition politician is running for presidency instead of rallying their forces together behind one candidate of their own. The opposition in the Philippines is splittered, kanya-kanya. In politics, nothing great is accomplished by a lone wolf. The administration has the greater command because aside for its  established political machinery, they have the support of local governments who are dependent on them, and so it is  most likey that the administration’s candidate will win the election. And so the stupor of governance remains; our nation doesn’t move forward but rather backwards- like a crab.

3. Ningas-Cogon. This reinforces the crab in us for this means total retreat after taking a few steps to the front. Good politics can achieve something substantial if it is held on a steady course over time. The same way with fighting for a cause. Nothing will happen if the people cannot stay and fight to the end. To come and go as you wish is never a big help to your team. With this, nothing will ever be accomplished.

4. Mañana Habit. This is the reason why everything has been delayed in our country. We push everything for tomorrow, so don’t ask for progress now for with this habit, progress will never be a thing of today but will always be a thing of tomorrow. This habit, combined with ningas-cogon, utang na loob and with the crab on top with bad choice and lacking in sincerity, then you have the perfect picture of the Philippine society of today – and, maybe, of tomorrow. A number of beautiful laws have been created but their implementations are pushed for tomorrow, good bills are made to wait for years before passed into laws therefore allowing crimes  to happen which could have been prevented.

Hiya or Shyness, false modesty, self-deprication are interrelated qualities which are typically overemphasized among Filipinos. Again, depending on the degree of manifestation they could be “strengths” in that they give the Filipino character that distinctive flavor or even attractiveness for other observers. Psychologically, it is an expression of a deep-seated complex of inferiority – being hit by the rod for centuries.

 Filipino Strengths:

1. Strong Family Orientation (Family-ties). After all these years, I still consider this trait as our strongest strength for it is the reason behind why the Philippines is still existing even in the face of high migration, internal conflicts, political and economic crises: The Filipino families just stay together. Filipinos abroad normally go back home even after years of being away simply because of their loyalty to their family and relatives. This is not class-specific for it is indeed a strong trait observed not only among the poor but even among the affluent Filipino families.

2. Utang Na Loob (Debt Of Gratitude). As mentioned, this is a Filipino strength when kept in proper place (private life), hence doesn’t rob us of our objectivity and correct performance of our public duty. This trait shows our thankfulness- or of looking back- to people and situations that have touched our lives positively. This is inherent in all other strengths of the Filipinos.

3. Pakikisama (Social Flexibility).This is the result of long experience and contact with foreign cultures since the beginning of Philippine history. Closely related to Pakikiramdam or Pakikipagkapwa-tao, I translate this as social flexibility for this what is all about being a Filipino in a social setting – that of striving for harmony in our interpersonal relationships. This makes us attractive to other nationalities for we can easily connect with them and give them the feeling that we understand and accept them. To this belongs the habit of subordinating ourselves to others- especially to the white skinned-nationals, which I consider a learned reflex developed during our long history of ambivalence-eliciting colonialism. The rod had for centuries shaped our reflexes that we still have today, conditioned our pattern of responses to certain social ideas and situations. The idea for instance that to be involved in politics is “meddling” with the affairs of others (the politicians) when in fact politics is everybody’s business.

But Filipinos’ early exposure to other languages like Spanish, English, Chinese and Japanese contributes to this flexibility and social competence facilitating social connections even in international settings. The many Oversea Filipino Workers scattered all over the globe has also the effect of contributing to the Philippines’ linguistic know-how for many of these OFW and expatriates bring with them the languages they have learned in their many years of working and living in many countries of the world. I suppose the Philippines is one among the polyglott countries in the world.

4. Endurance. Also a product of our difficult historical struggles. Extreme social, political and economic problems resulting from colonizations, wars and recurring natural catastrophies have moulded the Filipinos into a strong people when it comes to dealing with difficult situations over an extended period of time. This is the foundation of our patience. Patience is never a natural gift but is a result of experience. With this strength, Filipinos survive difficult situations at home or away from home. Resoluteness is very much related to this, a trait we badly need in our political leadership and for us to counter the ningas-cogon tendency.

 As you can see, strengths and weaknesses of character of the people are to some extent interrelated and dependent on the context and to the degree in which they are manifested. Like the trait of Utang na loob, this is inherently a social strength but its presence in political affairs seems to rob the Filipinos of their objectivity and sense of duty. Endurance is in itself a positve attribute but this reinforces the mañana habit in a certain way which in turn prevents the Filipino to develop that attitude of urgency, causing him not to look for solutions to the problems immediately. Strong family orientation is a virtue but it easily slides to clanism, hence builds up political dynasties,  augments expediency, kanya-kanya attitude and crab mentality but diminishes the  perception of common good and  nationalism.

Technically, if character is a collection of habits, and habit  a conditioned behaviour or sets of responses, and character determines our behavior to a particular situation or groups of situations, modifying habits through training can therefore effect a change in character and ultimately our behavior.

This is what the politicians, civic and church leaders mean by moral revolution, which is a term so vague that they end up not really knowing what to do but  to the  false belief  that reciting long litanies and holding hands together in circles  they could already solve this national dilemma.

Of course, nature (genetics) also accounts for the development of character but this is another topic by itself. What interests us is the effect (stamp according to Webster dictionary) of culture and habit (experience)  for this is the more practical way of explaining the Filipino political character and of devising a model of political character building with the habit as the starting point of modification.

 Part II: Is Utang Na Loob- Debt Of Gratitude Or Debt Of Goodwill?

We begin with the language by agreeing that Debt Of Gratitude is the commonly accepted English translation of Utang Na Loob in our Philippine culture. Taken at face value, this English translation suffices to explain what Utang Na Loob means to a non-Tagalog speaker,- and it’s just alright if we Filipinos, not the Americans, have decided to use Debt of Gratitude as the equivalent English translation. The main point now is not to debate about the suitable English translation for there is none, but to describe what Utang Na Loob means in our culture. Utang Na Loob really means more than Debt of Gratitude if one would dig deeper beyond the semantic usage. The source of confusion is surely in its English translation, for as Filipinos we know exactly what is meant by Utang Na Loob. Debt of Gratitude should be shipped back to America where it is rightfully used and understood.
Utang Na Loob is more than just being able to pay back the performance you received and then to have no more obligation thereafter- as in a contractual transaction between you and a plumber whom you hired to fix your drainage. In interpersonal relations the western people will thank you for the favors you have given them- and that’s it, the thing is settled, no other obligations.
In our country favors received are paid back with a moral obligation that is long lasting. It is not merely being indebted to somebody that ceases once repaid, but it is being unquantifiably indebted to somebody be it your parents who nurtured you, your older brother or sister who sent you to college,  your doctor who saved your life- or the politician who gave you the job or your share of the graft.

Translated literally, Loob means within, interior, inside, internal, inward, inner, deep : hence Utang Na Loob could mean by way of:

1. Negative definition- as to be deeply indebted to somebody morally, obliging involved party or parties to a reciprocal responsibility;

2. Positive definition -as the Filipino attitude of Sincere Deeper Thankfulness.

Debt Of  Gratitude-as we understand this English equivalent is more of common ethical condition of being indebted , whereas Utang Na Loob as we practice it is a cultural attitude of sincere deeper thankfulness.

This is my understanding or definition of this traditional Filipino value. Debt of Gratitude is very much similar to Schuld der Dankbarkeit– its German counterpart. At the surface, these two foreign equivalents mean the same as our Utang Na Loob. The difference enters in practical application for then other cultural traits mingle with it and so the resulting different expressions causing observers to a qualitatively different observation and understanding of it, hence the incongruence and inadequateness of the English and even German translation.

Other traits/constructs that may explain the difference:

Personalism vs. Impersonalism:

Personalism emphasizes the rights and centrality of the individual human being in his or her social, political, intellectual, etc. milieu.

Impersonalism is the practice of maintaining impersonal relations with individuals or groups.

To simply illustrate: Filipinos are often heard complaining about the Westerners as cold, lacking human emotion or warmth, lacking in compassion. The Whites or Westerners in turn complain about the emotionality, close to hysterical reactive behaviour and exaggerated friendliness of the Filipinos. The reason for this is the personalistic trait or approach of the Filipinos and the impersonalistic trait or approach of the Whites. This trait explains partly the difference between Utang na Loob and Debt of Gratitude or the German Schuld der Dankbarkeit; personalized approach to life and events are as a rule is emotionally charged. In general, Filipinos put a higher emotional value to his experiences than say a white American or European who take things rather with a business-like, impersonal attitude. In other words, Filipinos tend to sentimentalize experience and cling longer to its effect as opposed to the emotional distance observed among Westerners.

This personalistic approach to life and events has its advantages in areas and situations where “human touch” or feelings are sought for by the recipients, Orientals or Westerners alike. An example to this are our medical and health workers who are in demand abroad for their known compassionate approach in nursing their patients and in their dealing with their patients’ relatives as well as with their co-workers and superiors.

Personalism permeates the Filipinos society- among people in the streets, in business and politics. This is evident in the bondingswe Filipino unconsciously form among ourselves in our social transaction. Men address each other as Pare (Kumpadre) or Brod, Kuya, Kapatid and women call each otherAte, Kumare or Tita even when they are not blood- related at all or even among strangers who just met.

Hence, it can be said that we have an inclusive attitude in our dealing with one another and even with strangers or guests- as opposed to the exclusive, separatistic and individualistic Western attitude. The term Kapwa (fellow, togetherness or own kind)) along with Pakiramdam (one’s estimation of other’s emotions or sensitivities) also play a big role in our social psychology. Our famous Hospitality Trait can only come about because of these elements mentioned.

Circular Thinking:

If our social approach can be characterized as not direct, less offensive and considerating, then we can already infer that our thinking also follows a circular pattern, a pattern which we share with our fellow Asians. This thinking is largely guided by emotional contents and intuitive elements and the centrality of human sensitivities. Our considerate and inclusive approach leads our thinking to take circuitous ways as opposed to the Aristotelian Western logic which is a more linear, hence focused, style of thinking-  goes direct from point A to point B without much regards to feelings and emotions; this thinking is guided primarily by concepts and structures. Asian philosophical, medical and religious traditions- represented in the works of Lao Zu(Taoism) are examples of circular and inclusive thinking; a good outcome of this is the Chinese Traditional Medicine which is primarily based on Chinese old philosophical concept of the interdependence of things and events.

It is in the emotional intelligence that Filipinos excel- a kind of intelligence which Salovey and Mayer (1990) defined as “the ability to monitor one’s own and others’ feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them and to use this information to guide one’s thinking and actions.” On the other side of the globe, conceptual and structured thinking- or cognitive intelligence has produced brilliant minds from Einstein to Beethoven, From Darwin to Karl Marx.

However, this fact should not lead us into wrong conclusion that the West is more intelligent than the East. Intelligence – when we mean by it as the capacity of abstract reasoning- is not a monopoly of the Western people; intelligent- as well as retarded- people are found in any country and an IQ of 160 in a European child has the same quality in a Filipino child when both have taken the same standardized Intelligence Test and scored the same. It is in the different cultural context that the expression of cognitive intelligence differs. A child – Asian or European- with an IQ of 160 raised in a culture where linearity, conceptual and structured thinking is emphasized will have more of his 160 IQ translated into high material performance than if the same child is raised in a culture where circularity, emotionality and intuitive thinking is emphasized.

We are familiar with the idea that Westerners are extroverted type of people, ready to solve the problems and to change the world so it  fits their needs; colonization was (and is) propelled by this type of thinking. While the Easterners are more introverted type of people, concerned with their inner world, ready to adjust their desires to the realities of the world and live with them; hence as a rule no desire to go out and colonize others (except the Imperial Japanese during World War II).

Though we have been exposed to Western mentality, I still consider that our fundamental mindset is still Eastern. Perhaps this explain why we have problem with western concepts as bureaucracy and democracy in our nation: they just do not work as they should. These concepts are products of linear thinking and impersonalism. We all know that we Filipinos are Western in written form, – our Constitution is Western style and is one of the best written body of laws and political concepts in the world, – yet we cannot fullfil the promises of our Constitution because in practice we are simply the Eastern Filipinos, our practical actions being propelled by our very own type of circular thinking and personalistic view of the world.

Democracy and bureaucracy are too abstract for us for they demand equality, rule of law and justice, loyalty not to somebody but to rules and regulations, professionalism, exactness in procedures- concepts that the Western mind adore and put with passion into actions. Whereas we Filipinos also adore them theoretically, but in practice they collide with our passions.

Democracy- as we have taken it over from the West, or forcefully injected in our mind- doesn’t fit with the strengths and weaknesses of our political character. The question that I’ve been carrying a long time already is this: Shall we change ourselves to fit to the concept of Western democracy or shall we slowly adopt a form of government that fits to our strengths and weaknesses? Or, is it easier to change ourselves or the system of government? You may help me wrestle with this question.

Back to Utang Na Loob. From the discourse above, it is implied that the Western mind would see favors as a “problems” to be solved at once, while our mind would see them as “problems” to live with. And all these elements discussed above seem to weave in and out together in our daily social interactions thus giving us a clue to a better understanding of Utang Na Loob and that of typical Filipino social personality profile.

There is more inside our Loob than just Utang Na Loob if we would examine ourselves much deeper.
Loob is a core concept in the psychology of the Filipinos which has been studied in depth by Filipino psychologists. From the very beginning, our culture seemed to have been fascinated with what is inside the Filipino and this word or concept of Loob has been a very useful tool in describing complex internal (emotional, mental and spiritual) events in the Filipino personality leading to the coining of a series of words denoting value contructs with the suffix –loob. I consider this psycho-linguistic phenomenon a very original Filipino achievement and I am even inspired to consider it as a new branch of psychology- the Loob Psychology (or Filipino Depth Psychology), which could easily fit the department of Ethnopsychology.

Loob

Here are some of the compilations by Filipino psychologists in their efforts to understand more the Filipino mind:
Nakikingutang ng loob, to seek a favor from someone
Ipagkaloob – to entrust
lagay ng loob – mood, one’sstate of mind or feeling
lakas-loob – courage
tibay ng loob – inner strength
tining ng loob- clarity of thinking, feeling, volition
kababaang loob – humility, literally “lowness of the inside”
kabutihang-loob – good naturedness
kagandahang loob – generosity, noblemindedness
may kusang-loob- one who does his work without prodding
payapang loob – a peaceful, calm person
mapagkaloob – a generous person
mahina ang loob – a coward
malakas ang loob- a daring person
malamig ang loob – an indifferent person
pikit ang loob – one who is blind to injustice
mabigat ang loob- the state of being sad, heavy-hearted
maluwag sa loob – one’sexperience of a state of being willing, cheerfully ready, literally to feel “loose/open on the inside”
wala sa loob- a state of beingunwilling, literally to “not have it in oneself”
tapat na kalooban- the state of havinga sincere inner being
masasamang-loob – criminals, literally, “those with bad inner beings”
kapalagayang loob – confidante, intimate
pampalubag-loob – consolation
kagaanang-loob – something to pacify intense emotion such as anger
The word loob, simply taken as “inside” and not a construct, is also used for “looban,” which means an interior compound, or community; and for the term “manloloob”, which means “robber,” literally “someone who enters.” (source: wikipedia )

You see now that it is worth examining the Filipino soul- or Loob. I just observed that “Walang Utang Na Loob” is not in the list above (or are there some more ?). Now, it is interesting how you would translate this into English- No Debt Of Gratitude or No Debt Of Goodwill?

But I do think that how we understand it  when somebody tells us “Wala Kang Utang Na Loob!”  is the key to understanding now the real meaning of Utang na Loob. It is not only about being indebted, but of possesing- and expecting from others-  the attitude of sincere and deeper (loob) thankfulness.

Part III   From Code Of Kalantiyaw To Mt. Sinai

 This post is not intended as an academic work but just my personal thoughts on this Independence Day and as my reply to a comment on my earlier post Strengths And Weaknesses Of The Filipino Political Character.

 A Hindu-Muslim Archipelago. We know of Datu Puti as one of the Bornean Datus who ruled in the south during the pre-Hispanic period. During the Spanish time Raja Colambu was the King of Limasawa, Rajah Humabon of Cebu, Sultan Kudarat Of Maguinadanao, Datu Lapulapu of Mactan, Rajah Lakandula of Tondo, Datu Macabulos of Pampanga, Datu Urduja of Pangasinan and Rajah Sulaiman III of Manila. There were many other Datus and Rajas all over the archipelago whom the Spanish colonial power called Las Islas Filipinas, the Islands of the Philippines. Hinduism came to the Philippines via traders between 1350 and 1389 from the island of Java during the Majapahit Empire (1293-1500) and exerted great influence on the natives of the archipelago only to be superseded within a short time by the Islamic conquest of Majapahit empire and the coming of Islamic Indonesians and Arab missionaries in the 15th century.

Hence, the archipelago was dominantly a Hindu- Muslim archipelago as Sultans, Datus and Rajahs are all Hindu-Muslim titles of rulers and nobilities. If I identify myself with the pre-Hispanic archipelago, then I’m a Hindu- Muslim; if I identify myself with the time and culture I was born in then, I am a Christian.

Genetically of Malay race, our dominant ancestral, pre-Hispanic civilized society was a Hindu- Muslim society. However, not all people at that time were Hindu-Muslims as there were people who were trapped or isolated themselves up in the mountains who were not islamized when the Muslims came nor catholicized with the coming of the Spaniards. They still exist today as “cultural minorities” (a label I dislike) like the Igorots, Aetas, Ati (Negritos ethnic group) etc. with their own culture, political organisation and system of beliefs.

The very first people who inhabited the archipelago- or some places of it- long before the invention or evolution of today’s dominant religions were animistic in their belief and world view. If I identify myself with those primal ancestors of 20-30 thousand years ago – in the belief that my family and genetic lineage can be traced back to them- then I am an animist, a being who is one with the forces of nature and see spirits in them, or much later a syncretist of Hinduistic origin who believes in Anitos, Diwatas or Bathala.

Hindu-Muslim Social Hierarchy. The independent Hindu-Muslim barangays in the archipelago and the sultanates in the south all attest to existing social communities, communities with hierarchical systems of Ruling class as Sultans, Datus or Rajahs, of Intermediate class as the Freemen or Maharlikas and of the Ruled or Unfree-class as the Alipins or slaves.

There were interbarangay commerce, cultural exchanges, etc., all transactions suggesting a kind of confederative co-existence,yet no common identity, no common laws, no central government that kept them together or a court that settled interbarangay conflicts. The mythical legal code of Kalantiyaw which was supposed to bring order to the folks of Negros was proven to be a forgery.

From Code of Kalantiyaw to Mt. Sinai. This changed with the coming of the Spanish colonizers who already have in them the concept of national government, of a nation or country, of a central powerful monarchy that rules over vast territories and colonies. But before that there was this catholization that took place, the biblization of the Hindu-Muslims, and later the changing of names, like Rajah Humabon becoming Carlos, or Mariano Kagalitan to Mariano Asuncion.

But the social structures remained the same, more or less. Allowed to keep up their lordships over their barangays, the now catholized datus had to subjugate themselves however to the new ruling class, the Spaniards, or to the new omnipotent Catholic King of Spain. In effect, the whole archipelago with all its barangays was reduced to the lower class level, if not to that of oppressed or slaves, the Alipins. In fact the new ruling class introduced a new form of intricate slavery- the polo y servicio which is a system of forced labor within the encomienda throughout the island colony.

From Suppression to Explosion. The suppression of emotions through centuries of encomienda and  hacienda slavery and injustices ultimately led to explosion. This big-bang in the history of the archipelago gave birth to the concept of freedom and nation during this colonial period which culminated by the end of the 19th century; by June 12,1898, 112 years ago, the Spanish dominion (which historically started in 1649 with the Sumoroy uprising in Samar) has ended and the first Philippine Republic was born.

This short historical review is not meant to refresh our knowledge but to remind us that the past explains a lot of things the way that the Filipinos are now, our character strengths and weaknesses and offer us clues as to why reciprocity. “debt” of gratitude, passive-aggressive traits and the like are so intense and complex among the Filipinos for the Western observers.

As one Western commenter has observed about Reciprocity and Utang Na Loob:

“I am guessing that this (Reciprocity) basically a very deep instinctual drive in all cultures, but I am curious as to why it is so exaggerated and complex in Philippines…Philippines has intensely hierarchical family and tribal structures, probably even before the foreign oppressors arrived. Within such a system those beneath perceive themselves to be powerless and lacking in rights. Without rights, any act of support would therefore seem like a gift rather than a duty. I am guessing the intensity of Utang Na Loob is derived from this.”

Utang na Loob is a form of reciprocity which, as the name suggests, a Filipino version or expression of it. The short historical review has shown that for the majority of the Filipinos- before, during and even after colonial times- their history is a history of slavery or servantry, from our tribal past to the alipin sagigilid or mamamahay during our Hindu- Muslim past and to encomienda, hacienda and peonage slaves during the catholization. (It is said that peonage was the employed by the conquistadores wherein the Filipino workers were granted debt to their own slavery afterwards for failure to work off the debt, becoming permanently tied to their Spanish employers). Even up to now, the servantry is still very much a part of our socio-economic culture. Only that now, the government exports this “labor force” to other countries.

With the coming of other colonizers, the Americans and the Japanese, the Filipinos were again forced to assume the slave mode and to suppress aggression in order to survive.

Nature or Nurture?Against this historical backdrop and if we believe that personality is also moulded by external forces, then we can rightly assume that the Filipino collective personality is a product of his total experience which is layered in complex mixtures of genetics and external circumstances over a long time. The resulting product is a distinctly Filipino character. This explains the complexity of our traits when juxtaposed against other Asian people and other cultural groups.

We Have Our Own Identity. Hence, this cry for the search of Filipino identity is a travesty, a political distortion in my view aimed at controlling the masses by sneakily activating their slave mode. We already have our own identity. I’m very cautious when I hear such phrase as “landslide victory” for then I suspect that the old trick has functioned again, that psychology has been politically abused or misused again. Also, it’s not wrong when a Westerner observes that there is exaggeration in our reciprocity trait, wrong maybe in the sense that it collides with their Western concepts of democracy and bureaucracy but in themselves our Filipino traits can never be wrong. It is not the search for identity but it’s about the search for a political system that fits our own character without sacrificing universal virtues as justice, freedom, human rights, etc.

In truth, the past still lingers in us and this is where self-serving politics get their power. Our Western commenter has mentioned that “a number of deep human traits… could potentially be exploited. One of these was called reciprocity”.

Landslide Win.When politics is just about power, then it’s only there to exploit available resources to support that power. This is very visible in our politics especially during elections. The character traits of the people are the number one target of this exploitation, material resources comes next to it. It’s not the vote that’s being bought but that Utang Na Loob of the people. A politician who is good in that will have that landslide win.

Still In Progress. Indeed, the trait of Utang na Loob- as all other Filipino traits- has evolved out of this collective past, of the confluence of events and the need to survive physically, psychologically and socially. All traits had developed and been retained because they have this survival value. And while our social evolution is still in progress, I think that these traits that we have are also undergoing some mutations. Our Filipino traits are not static and final, we are changing or are being changed by events and time. We ourselves are witnesses to how these traits conflict with things new to us or which requires other cultural tools or constructs that are either foreign or less develop in us.

Our Utang Na Loob is easily related to our slave mode than to our noble or lordship mode. This trait can only develop with such intensity and character out of social and economic survival necessity. You cannot experience the attitude of thankfulness with such intensity for things that are natural to you or that you have in abundance. Hence, for those who live in paradise, don’t expect Utang Na Loob; the same with our Tabon man in Palawan, our pre-historic ancestors who inhabited our caves thousands of years ago. I don’t think they knew Utang Na Loob as we know it now- or Hiya, Delicadeza, Freedom, Corruption, Alipin or Injustice. These things came to the archipelago with Islamization and Catholization. With these foreign oppressors, heaven is won but paradise is lost.

You’ll find this Utang Na Loob in abundance for those who experienced hell or deprivation of basic things. For the majority of us our history was a history of deprivation. Those were hellish times under foreign enslavement. There were some Filipino families who profited from these periods of hell, who maintained their feudalistic vast haciendas even until now, who still practise landgrabbing and colonial slavery practices as peonage and force labor and many of them are in the government posing as public servants. But in truth they are masters of exploiting Utang Na Loob, Hiya and Pakikisama.

Passive-Aggression. Certainly, with such a background of slavery where it was not safe to express anger or opinions but rather safer to resort to suppression and pakikisama in order to survive, we can only expect that passive-aggression is a part of colonized Filipinos coping or defense mechanisms. We know in psychology that families who forbid or deny their children the natural need to express feelings of hostilities produce adults who have this disorder. But it’s out of context to say- as our Western commenter has said- that it is a form of national sabotage if he means by it that Filipinos are using passive-aggression actively and consciously to destroy their nation and political development.

A Happy Nation? Though I can confirm the presence of this negative trait in our society, I disagree with its willful or conscious use of national sabotage. Instead, I look at it as post-colonial form of sabotage. Destruction of the people through colonial oppression doesn’t end with the disappearance of the oppressors but it continues, this trauma, this learned helplessness and passivity. Combined together, i.e. Spanish, Americans, Japanese, those were 425 years of trauma, suppression and slavery, of abuse and insult to the Filipino psyche. And add to that those nightmare decades under Marcos and Arroyo. Do you expect a healthy and happy nation by now?

Still, I wish the Philippines a happy Independence day !

(To be continued)

  jun asuncion

Bulan Observer

We Condemn Violence In Bulan

Bula Observer Quick Press

As stated, Bulan Observer condemns any violence or direct threat to the life of any person in Bulan. The attack on the house of Mayor Helen De Castro and her family last February 3, 2009 by several gunmen was not to the favor of any peace-loving and democratic citizen of Bulan. Though we are not in possession of further details related to the incident, and therefore not in the position to give full objectivity on our judgement, we however consider the act itself of using forced entry and armed threat as a clear violation of  Article 3, Bill Of Rights,  Section 2, which states:

” The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures of whatever nature and for any purpose shall be inviolable,..”

We ask  this armed group of people who were involved in this unlawfull act of violence to respect the people of Bulan and to leave them secure in their persons and houses.

We  now wish Mayor Helen De Castro full recovery from this traumatic incident.

jun asuncion

Bulan Observer

…………………

News

 

February 06, 2009 05:21 PM Friday
Rebels rob local chief exec’s house

By: Alfred P. Dalizon

SUSPECTED New People’s Army rebels raided the house of Bulan, Sorsogon Mayor Helen de Castro and took away several valuables, including a 12-gauge shotgun and 12 units of hand-held radios last Tuesday morning.

Police Regional Office 5 director, Chief Supt. Paterno Bangui said the suspects, who were clad in camouflage uniforms, surprised people at the house of De Castro.

At gunpoint, the armed men ordered them to lie down on the ground before ransacking the place.

The suspects then escaped towards Barangay Calomogan, also in Bulan town, where they engaged pursuing policemen in a gunfight.

Bangui said no casualty was reported in the exchange of fire while troops are still tracking down the suspects.

People’s Journal

____________

 

Source: The Earth Times

Manila –  Communist rebels raided the house of a town mayor in the eastern Philippines, carting away a shotgun and 12 handheld radios, a regional police spokesman said Wednesday. Superintendent Eliazar Bron said no one was injured when about 20 heavily armed guerrillas barged into the house of Mayor Helen de Castro of Bulan town in Sorsogon province, 390 kilometres south-east of Manila, on Tuesday.
Bron said government troops have been dispatched to pursue the rebels who fled to nearby mountains.
Communist rebels have been fighting the Philippine government since the late 1960s, making the movement one of the longest-running leftist insurgencies in Asia.

 

Or visit R. Gersalia’s Off The Beaten Path

 ______________

Talking With The Mouse Only

 

The Mouse says : “The rapacious desire to amass great wealth for own satisfactions. It is a never ending want for more money until the bleeding country falls into catastrophic chaos of pathetic despair and bankruptcy”.

It is a blessing that mice do not need money, that all they need are crumbs of bread (if they are lucky, maybe they’ll find crumbs of cheese) and little shelter to house their families. Mice are unemployed, don’t have salaries, don’t own acres of lands but they don’t  plunder the house where they happen to live, or hide. We know that they also collect in their nests little things they find along the way but we still cannot attribute to them Greed as we know it among us human beings. I was convinced at one point in my life that the Earth would have been better off without the human beings walking on it and making all the mess of wars, pollutions, bankings, ideological and religious extremisms, perverse politics and- according to you Mouse, – greedy and plundering politicians.

As I look  across the clear sky one night, I imagine the planets talking to one another and try to listen what our Mother Earth has to report to her (humans declared the Earth feminine) fellow planets: Is she proud of the humankind that populates her, the bloody wars that occur on her skin, the man-made cities built deep within her surface with all its toxic and pungent refuse, the giant industries, the billions of motorized vehicles, the oppression of man toward man, and man toward animals and plants, rivers and seas. And how about the moralizing Popes, the Jihad-preaching Imams and the brutal types of men in the likes of Marcos, Hitler, Stalin, Polpot, the noises of politics across the globe? And how about social injustice and poverty amidst plenty? Mother Earth finally says, ” It’s heavy with each passing day…”

The other planets pity the Earth, and Mars, being close to the Earth and has witnessed all these events, comes quick with comforting words: ” Well, don’t worry sister, all things shall pass, the human species, too, just a little patience more and soon you’ll have a break “. All the other planets agree and cheer their sister Earth.

The Sun from the other aside has heard the conversation among her children and, being the mother, cannot see any longer how her daughter Earth suffers and so, fair as she is, she comes with the final word: ” My daughter, I think you need a break now, give me right away all these that worry you and I’ll take care of them.” The Moon in between them smiles after he hears everything and shines that night even brighter.

You may wonder Mouse what kind of things will the Earth hand over to her mother Sun before she takes a break. I think you already know that the Earth will never give you away for she’ll keep with her things not greedy and destructive and noisy so that she’ll peacefully enjoy her break. As once a wise man said, “The meek shall inherit the Earth…”.

 Back to our town , I hope that our children above will inherit a brighter smiling Bulan, too, when their elders have grown old after years of hard work. Nothing is given free, everything requires us to exert effort. Even these children have to start fighting for a brighter Bulan now that they are bigger already; fight for their own kind of democracy when they’re old enough to sense the imbalance of events happening around them.

When one of them would someday emerge as their town mayor, I do wish that he would manage the town not with this logic of greed that has destroyed many in the past but wit the logic of compassion and the vision of an eagle. And he should not own vast acres of land to prevent him this feeling that he owns the town and the people are beholden to him, that he is the lord and the rest are his vassals, that only those who can donate land are allowed to lead. Here comes the illusion of power, the illusion of medieval politics, this Feudalism, which was the source of revolutions that changed the face of Europe. In Bulan, this would be the start of his own destruction- as a leader. Great leadership springs only when the mind is free from the burden of material wealth and obsession of one’s security and when the heart is dedicated to serve only.

The world could be so distorted, fractured and broken down that she is, but true models of leadership still exist. Don’t gaze toward Manila to look for it for there you’ll find only countless crooks, but look across the ocean  right into the Capitol Hills, and witness how their new leader who owns nothing leads a big nation which was handed over to him already in the brink of total collapse, and yet manages everything with such a graceful dignity, with Audacity Of  Hope. Yes, it is still possible these days, Mouse. Just never give up hoping.

 jun asuncion

Bulan Observer

Politics and Greed

By Dora The Mouse

Politics is defined as “the process by which groups of people make decisions. The term is generally applied to behavior within civil governments, but politics has been observed in all human group interactions, including corporate, academic and religious institutions. It consists of “social relations involving authority or power” and refers to the regulation of a political unit and to the methods and tactics used to formulate and apply policy.”
Some people enter politics because of their desire to serve their country and to make a change for a better tomorrow. I truly believe that some politicians when they enter the world of politics, their intentions were honest, noble, patriotic and have that great sense of duty to serve the people. They have this belief that they could make a big difference in the way the government operates. There is this euphoria that when elected, change can be done. Some of the elected politicians were good to their promises and did the best they can for the country. They were a rare breed of leaders. They have respectability, integrity and value their honor first before material things and they left us a legacy to follow their footsteps. Unfortunately, there were very few of them.

We elect politicians expecting them to act in the public interest. By electing them, we give them access to public resources and the power to make decisions that impact our lives. By giving them these privileged positions, they can immensely inflict great damage if Greed overcomes their good judgment. Majority of the elected officials fell under the claws of greed. Greed is a powerful motivator. Acquisitiveness and envy are the prime reasons for the corruptions that existed today. The desire to acquire a Mansion or mansions, expensive cars, jewelries, power over the people, billions of money, the demi-god feeling of being on top of the world. That is what happened with these so-called leaders of our country. The rapacious desire to amass great wealth for own satisfactions. It is a never ending want for more money until the bleeding country fall into catastrophic chaos of pathetic despair and bankruptcy. Our elected leaders forgot the promises they made to the people to alleviate their sufferings and poverty. They became callous and blind to the fact that a few kilometers from Malacanang Palace were desperate poor people hungry and barely surviving and living literally amongst the dead. The cemetery became their homes and playground for their children.

Again, in the world of politics today, GREED is the driving force why some people engaged in politics and work hard to get elected for public service. Once elected, greed and corruptions begin. According to the late President Kennedy and I quote “Ask not what the country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” It is a beautiful quotation but do our leaders believe it? Once elected, it is what the elected officials can get out of the government treasury, stash it away to some foreign banks, and put the bank accounts in several pseudonyms protected by our banking systems. It is not because they love the people and they want to serve them, it is the ticket to acquire wealth and power. The ineptness and inadequacy of the responsible government officials who are supposed to be the watchdog also have their hands tarnished and muddied by corruptions. Everywhere you look, there are so many corruptions that people can not trust their elected officials anymore than they will trust a mad dog nearby. This is what Politics and Greed can do to a person. I hope that one day we will have that special person, honest, dignified, respectable with honorable character to lead the Philippines once more into prosperity.

Senator Francis Escudero’s Senate Bill No. 1476

“AN ACT REQUIRING PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND  EMPLOYEES TO SUBMIT A WRITTEN
PERMISSION OR WAIVER IN FAVOR OF THE OMBUDSMAN TO LOOK INTO
ALL DEPOSITS OF WHATEVER NATURE WITH BANKS OR BANKING
INSTITUTIONS BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THEPHlLIPPINES INCLUDING
INVESTMENT BONDS ISSUED BY THE GOVERNMENT  OF THE PHILIPPINES,
ITS POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS AND INSTRUMENTALITIES AND PROVIDING
PENALTIES THEREFOR.”

 

This is so far the most solid Bill filed supporting anti-graft and corruption efforts of the government authored by our  Sorsogon man in the Senate, Senator Chiz Escudero. Banking secrecy laws have always been used to their advantage by criminals be it corrupt public officials and dictators, mafia and drug bosses (money laundering), terrorist organizations and multi-millions tax evasion or tax fraud cases. In my own opinion, if passed into law this Bill would be a milestone in the legal system and criminal justice in the Philippines and a solid tool for investigators. Let’s be simple: Assuming Escudero’s colleagues in Congress had no government money to hide in their private bank accounts, we don’t see any reason for them not to support this Bill if they really are well-meaning public servants. jun asuncion

 

Read for yourself the original document  and the report reprinted hereunder. Included below are articles about Bank Secrecy and related news articles from other sources:

 

 

“No Financial Privacy For Public Servants”

2611
Senator Escudero

Chiz:  Gov’t officials should not hide behind banking secrecy laws
Senator Chiz Escudero on Thursday called on his colleagues in Congress to work for the passage of a bill he filed which, if approved, would enable the government to examine the bank accounts and investments of civil servants

Escudero said that had Senate Bill No. 1476 been passed into law, government officials like State Prosecutor John Resado and former Agriculture Secretary Joc-Joc Bolante may not be able to evade questions in any hearing about their financial standing, especially in congressional inquiries.

The bill, which puts in place a mechanism that allows the government to audit the finances of a civil servant, was among  those filed by the senator during his first year as a member of the Philippine Senate.

“To ensure that the civil servant does not use his position to enrich himself, there must be transparency in the financial standing of the civil servants. Once passed, this bill will serve as deterrent to graft and corruption,” he said.

Escudero explained that once passed into law, the bill requires public officials and employees to submit a written permission or waiver in favor of the anti-graft body, Office of the Ombudsman, to look into all deposits of whatever nature with banks or banking institutions.

This will effectively put a certain class of people, in this case civil servants and high government officials, beyond the protective mantle of banking secrecy laws, which are often times being used as shield in investigations involving corruption.

Escudero said people like Resado and Bolante are emboldened by the cloak of the bank secrecy law, which also leaves lawmakers’ hands tied from further digging into their questionable finances.

“This covers both those within and outside the Philippines including investment bonds issued by the government” Escudero added.

The waiver, he said, should be contained in the SAL (statement of assets and liabilities) of all government officials and employees.

The senator said the passage of this bill is timely as it will not only plug loopholes in the anti-graft and corruption efforts of the government, assuming that they have some, but it will also aid the government to recover ill-gotten funds.”

29 January 2009

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On Bank Secrecy (articles from various sources)

1. The  Swiss Bank Secrecy

“If You Are Not A Criminal”

 In Switzerland, once the world champion of banking secrecy, bank secrecy can now be “lifted for matters such as inheritance, divorce and debt and bankruptcy by order of a legal authority“.

  • “Swiss bank accounts are so popular because of political stability, safety stable currency backed by gold, excellent quality of banking services and privacy- if you are not a criminal.
  • “Political stability – Switzerland has not been at war with another country since 1505
  • Safety – Swiss banks are extremely safe. There is only an extremely remote chance of losing money deposited in a Swiss bank.
  • Stable currency backed by gold – the Swiss francs is probably the most stable currency in the world
    Excellent quality of banking services – internet banking, sophisticated investment services, multiple currency accounts and many other high-level services are available in Swiss banks.
  • Privacy – if you are not a criminal, it is almost impossible for anybody to get any information about you out”

 

“For The Sake Of Public Interest

” Swiss bank secrecy is most often lifted for criminal cases such as narcotics trafficking, extortion, terrorism, etc. The objective of a criminal trial is not to plead in the interest of the parties, but for the sake of public interest, and so the client’s right to bank secrecy gives precedence to the interest of justice. As such, bank secrecy is not an obstacle to criminal prosecution. Both the justice system and the Swiss banks take active part in the fight against money laundering.

.

 The limits to Swiss bank secrecy

There are a limited number of exceptions to Swiss bank secrecy that are strictly regulated by law.
In theory, bank secrecy can be lifted for matters such as inheritance, divorce and debt and bankruptcy by order of a legal authority.
In practice, Swiss bank secrecy is very difficult to lift, for the plaintiff must first prove before the Swiss court that the account exists in Switzerland, e.g. by producing a bank statement.
Note that tax evasion is not considered sufficient grounds for lifting Swiss bank secrecy.

_________________

Bank secrecy
By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 18:05:00 01/27/2009

Filed Under: PDEA-DOJ bribery issue, Banking, Congress, Graft & Corruption
MANILA, Philippines — State Prosecutor John Resado, who is in the center of a scandal involving alleged for government lawyers to dismiss a drugs case against three scions of prominent families has refused to waive his right to the secrecy of his bank account.

“The undersigned expressly manifests to this Honorable Committee that he is not waiving his rights under the Law on Secrecy of Bank Deposits and other related laws, over his bank account with Banco de Oro, SM Bacoor branch, Bacoor, Cavite,” Resado said in a letter to the oversight committee on dangerous drugs, which is conducting an inquiry into the so-called “Alabang Boys” controversy.

Resado said he was also “invoking his constitutional right to privacy which should be respected by everyone.”

Cebu Representative Antonio Cuenco said Resado’s refusal to waive his right to bank secrecy indicated that the prosecutor “is hiding something.”

“This fortifies the suspicion created among members of the committee that, indeed, Prosecutor John Resado is hiding something,” Cuenco, vice chairman of the oversight committee, told reporters at a news conference.

It was, Resado recommended the dismissal of the drug case filed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) against Richard Santos Brodett, Jorge Jordana Joseph and Joseph Ramirez Tecson.

Soon after, the PDEA aired the allegations of bribery.

Both houses of Congress are now undertaking their respective inquiries into the controversy.

Last week, both Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez and the PDEA disclosed an anonymous letter claiming on the day he recommended the dismissal of the drugs case, Resado and his wife each received P800,000 in their respective bank accounts, or a total of P1.6 million.

At least week’s House hearing, Resado acknowledged the P800,000 deposit on December 2 but said this were the earnings from a money lending business he and his wife ran in Tarlac but did not register because they considered it part of the “underground economy.”

However, a number of congressmen were unconvinced by Resado’s claim and dared him to waive his bank secrecy rights.

Cuenco said the committee will resume hearings on January 29.

Invited to appear are Resado’s wife, Rowena, and representatives of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Central Bank of the Philippines) and Bureau of Internal Revenue.

_________________

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS; The Philippines Moves Against Bank Secrecy

By MARK LANDLER
Published: October 13, 2001
Last month, the United States thrust this Asian country into an awkward spotlight, declaring that Muslim militants in the southern Philippines had financial ties to Osama bin Laden.

The Philippines has pledged to help the United States pursue the flow of money from Mr. bin Laden’s movement, Al Qaeda, to terrorist organizations here. The trouble is that the country’s strict laws on bank secrecy make it nearly impossible to trace the movement of money into local bank accounts.

”We are impeded by the law,” said Juan de Zuniga Jr., the general counsel of the Philippine central bank. ”We are almost sure the banks would not allow us to have access to suspicious accounts.”

Among the many collateral effects of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks is a heightened scrutiny of cross-border money laundering. For developing countries like the Philippines, it is forcing a recognition that old laws are wholly inadequate against new methods of disguising illicit gains.

The banking law here was passed in 1955, a decade after the Philippines emerged from 400 years of colonial rule. As the country struggled to attract foreign capital, the law’s guarantee of confidentiality reassured potential investors that they could trust local banking institutions with their money.

Now, the Philippines has an established banking system. But the once-salutary law has helped turn the country into a haven for the laundering of proceeds from drug trafficking, kidnapping and gambling.

”Nobody knows the extent of money laundering in the Philippines,” Roberto Romulo, a former foreign minister, said. ”But in the context of transparency, we are hardly role models. We had to change our ways.”

On Sept. 30, the Philippines passed a law against money laundering, intended to address the deficiencies of the banking law. It requires banks to disclose suspicious deposits of more than four million pesos, or $80,000, to the authorities. Previously, banks did not have to disclose deposits of any amount unless investigators obtained a court order as part of a pending legal case.

”These are giant strides,” said Mr. de Zuniga, who helped draft the law. ”We have for the first time criminalized money laundering.”

Mr. de Zuniga said the Philippines was seeking to end a legacy of official corruption that extended from Ferdinand E. Marcos, the dictator accused of looting billions of dollars in the 1970’s and 1980’s, to Joseph Estrada, the former president toppled in a popular revolt last January.

Indeed, the Philippines is bowing to international pressure. The Financial Action Task Force on money laundering, a group convened by the major industrialized nations in 1989, had threatened to impose sanctions on Manila by Sept. 30 if it did not take steps to curb the practice here.

Four months earlier, the task force had put the Philippines, along with Russia and Nauru, on a list of countries making ”inadequate progress” in the global campaign against money laundering. The task force said it would hold off on sanctions while it studied the new law.

Critics say the Philippine Congress watered down the law. They note that the threshold amount for banks to disclose deposits is eight times that in the United States. Under American law, banks must disclose suspicious deposits of more than $10,000 to the Treasury Department.

The committee that drafted the legislation proposed setting the threshold at $20,000, twice the level in the United States. But in a heated debate, the House and Senate quadrupled that number.

Some say the lawmakers are protecting ethnic Chinese tycoons, who like to keep their finances under wraps, in part to reduce their tax bills. Many of these tycoons are generous campaign contributors.

Still, even critics acknowledge that the law will enable investigators to catch the most flagrant cases of money laundering. Mr. Estrada, a movie actor who became president in 1998, is a case in point.

During his impeachment trial in the Senate, prosecutors asserted that Mr. Estrada had laundered more than $8 million in proceeds from illegal gambling rings through various bank accounts.

Published: October 13, 2001
While backed by testimony from people involved in the scheme, the case against the former president was weakened because the banks did not release records of deposits made by Mr. Estrada or his associates.

Only when one bank, Equitable PCI, allowed a clerk to testify about the president’s use of an account under a fictitious name did the extent of his suspected wrongdoing become evident. Officials said that under the new law, the deposits into that account could have been easily traced by the authorities.

”It would have been labeled as a suspicious transaction because the identification on the account was not complete,” Mr. de Zuniga said. ”That would be a red flag under an anti-money-laundering program.”

Mr. Estrada’s impeachment trial was suspended, but his criminal trial on charges of plunder began here Oct. 1.

Despite its origins in domestic corruption, the new law may get its first test in the American-led war against terrorism. On Sept. 24, the Bush administration froze the assets of 27 organizations suspected of terrorism. Among those was a Philippine Muslim rebel group, the Abu Sayyaf.

Officials here acknowledge they have little clue where the group’s assets are. But the law gives them fresh tools. They said it was likely that terrorists would open accounts under aliases, or in the names of spouses. By having access to deposit records, the police have a better chance of tracking that money.

”If it comes through banks, there are several trigger points,” Mr. de Zuniga said. ”From the moment it enters the country, it can be flagged. Even if it is broken down into smaller amounts, it can be flagged.”

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2. The Philippine Bank Sercrecy: A Primer

With recent events putting in issue the confidentiality of bank deposits and the identification process by the banks for their depositors, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, in coordination with the Bankers Association of the Philippines, deemed it advisable to come out with the following primer on frequently asked questions.
This primer seeks to clarify any misunderstanding or misapprehension that may have arisen on the subject and, more importantly, emphasizes that the secrecy of bank deposits remains sacrosanct and that their disclosure remains subject to strict safeguards and compliance with legal requirements. Trust accounts and other investments are partly included in the discussion.

A. Secrecy of bank deposits

Q. What guarantees on confidentiality do depositors enjoy under the law?

A. For peso deposits, Republic Act No. 1405 (Bank Deposits’ Secrecy Law) declares all deposits of whatever nature with banks in the Philippines, including investments in government bonds, as of an absolutely confidential nature and prohibits the examination or inquiry into such deposits or investments by any person, government official, bureau or office, as well as the disclosure by any official or employee of a bank of any information concerning said deposits.

There are only four (4) instances under the law where bank deposits or investment in government bonds may be disclosed or looked into, namely: (1) upon written permission of the depositor; or (2) in cases of impeachment; or (3) upon order of a competent court in cases of bribery or dereliction of duty; or (4) in cases where the money deposited or invested is the subject matter of the litigation.

It may be noted that RA 1405 covers not only bank deposits but also investments in government bonds.

For foreign currency deposits, Republic Act No. 6426 (The Foreign Currency Deposit Act) similarly declares that these deposits are of an absolutely confidential nature and cannot be examined, inquired or looked into by any person, government official, bureau or office whether judicial or administrative or legislative or any other entity whether public or private. There is only one instance for disclosure under said law and, that is, upon the written permission of the depositor. RA 6426 also exempts foreign currency deposits from attachment, garnishment, or any other order or process of any court, legislative body, government agency or any administrative body whatsoever.

For investments in trust accounts or in deposit substitutes, if these are in the form of investments in government bonds or deposits, the protection under RA 1405 and RA 6426 extends thereto accordingly. If these are in other forms of investments, the disclosure of information related thereto is covered by Section 55 of the General Banking Law of 2000 (Republic Act No. 8791) which prohibits, unless there is an order of a court of competent jurisdiction, the disclosure by any director, official, employee or agent of any bank any information relative to the funds or properties in the custody of the bank belonging to private individuals, corporations or any other entity.

Q. How do banks respond to an order of a competent court?

A. For peso deposits, banks comply with orders for disclosure in court cases subject to these requirements: (a) there must be a court order; (b) the order must be issued by a competent court specifically directing the bank concerned to disclose the required information; and (c) the bank should check and satisfy itself that the deposits or investment in government bonds being inquired into are either the subject of a case of bribery or dereliction of duty of public officials, or of a case where the deposit or investment itself is the subject matter of the litigation. If these requirements are not met, there would be basis for the bank to request the court to excuse compliance with the court order.

In impeachment cases, it is necessary that there be an order issued by the impeachment court or by its authorized officer. For foreign currency deposits, the law does not provide an instance for disclosure upon a court order. As mentioned above, there is only a single instance for disclosure under RA 6426 and, that is, upon written permission of the depositor. Thus, for foreign currency deposit accounts subject of a court order, the bank can invoke RA 6426 to excuse compliance.

Q. What is the liability of the banks and/or its officers and employees for violating the laws against disclosure?

A. Violations of the prohibitions against disclosures under RA 1405, RA 6426 and under the General Banking Law of 2000 are subject to stiff criminal penalties.

Under RA 1405, the offender is subject to imprisonment of not more than five years or a fine of not more than P20,000, or both, in the discretion of the court. Under RA 6426, the penalty is imprisonment of not less than one year not more than five years or a fine of not less than P5,000 nor more than P25,000, or both, in the discretion of the court. The violation of Sec. 55 of the General Banking Law of 2000, the penalty is imprisonment of not less than two years nor more than 10 years or a fine of not less than P50,000 nor more than P200,000, or both, in the discretion of the court; and in addition, if the offender is a director or officer of a bank, he is subject to suspension or removal by the Monetary Board.

B. Use of alias or number in opening deposit accounts

Q. Are banks allowed to open accounts using an alias or a number?

A. There is no specific banking law up to the present prohibiting banks from opening deposit accounts using an alias or a number. Prior to July 7, 2000, there is also no banking regulation providing for such prohibition. On July 7, 2000 and in seeking the adoption of anti-money laundering measures, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) issued a regulation, Circular No. 251, providing that, unless otherwise prescribed under existing laws, anonymous accounts or accounts under fictitious names are prohibited.

The exception referred to under Circular No. 251 was RA 6426 (The Foreign Currency Deposit Act) which explicitly allows the keeping of numbered accounts for the recording and servicing of deposits.

For peso accounts, when banks allow the opening of deposit accounts under pseudonyms, it is assumed that: (1) they have exercised due diligence to ascertain the identity of their clients; and (2) they are aware of the legal provisions and requirements on the use of pseudonyms.

The above notwithstanding, it may be pointed out that in the Manual of Regulations issued by BSP, or even before the issuance of Circular 251, there were already regulations requiring the banks to: (a) adopt systems to establish the identity of their depositors; and (b) require to set a minimum of three (3) specimen signatures from each of their depositors subject to regular updating. Even for numbered accounts as authorized under RA 6426, BSP has required banks, under Circular 258, to take necessary measures to establish and record the true identity of their clients, which identification may be based on official or other reliable documents and records.

Q. Are there other laws governing the use of pseudonyms or aliases?

A. Art. 178 of the Revised Penal Code penalizes the: (a) publicly using of a fictitious name for the purpose of concealing a crime, evading the execution of a judgment, or causing damage; and (b) concealment by any person of his true name and other personal circumstances.

On the other hand, there is also Commonwealth Act No. 142, as amended by Republic Act No. 6085 (Regulating the Use of Aliases) which provides that, except only as a pseudonym for literary purposes and athletic events, it is unlawful for any person to use an alias, unless the same is duly recorded in the proper local civil registry. Related thereto, Articles 379 and 380 of the Civil Code provide that no person shall use different names and surnames except the employment of pen and stage names provided it is done in good faith and there is no injury to third persons.

What can be noted is that the above provisions allow the use of aliases under certain circumstances. Conversely stated, the use of aliases is not absolutely disallowed. Moreover, the sanctions for any violation of the above provisions on aliases are mainly directed to the one using the unauthorized alias.

Q. How does Circular No. 251 apply to existing numbered accounts?

A. For peso accounts, the banks should have their respective programs of compliance with the Circular. For foreign currency deposit accounts, they are allowed to continue maintaining numbered accounts opened in accordance with RA 6426 subject to the requirement that the banks shall take necessary measures to establish and record the true identity of their clients.

Q. What penalties/sanctions are applicable for violating the laws/regulations?

A. Article 178 of the Revised Penal Code is directed to the person concealing his identity publicly or using a fictitious name and the penalty would range from one day up to six months imprisonment and/or a fine up to P500,000. For violation of Commonwealth Act 142, which is likewise directed to the person using an unauthorized alias, the penalty is imprisonment from one year to five years and a fine of P5,000 to P10,000. For the violation of Circular 251, it is subject to the administrative sanction on the bank and/or responsible directors/officers of fine up to P30,000 per transaction.

C. Continued confidentiality/secrecy of deposit transactions

Q. Is confidentiality/secrecy of deposit accounts compromised with the issuance of Circular 251?

A. No. Circular 251 merely disallowed the opening of fictitious and anonymous accounts and has not in any way modified nor lessened the safeguards and protection to depositors under RA 1405. This means that, notwithstanding Circular 251, deposit accounts cannot be examined or looked into except under the limited circumstances provided for in RA 1405.

Q. Why are the BSP and the BAP advocating the amendment to bank secrecy laws?

A. The proposal of BSP and BAP is for access to deposit accounts only under exceptional circumstances, such as deposits only above the P50-million level and in relation to the commission of serious offenses like racketeering and illicit drug trade. Except for these instances, depositors and those with legitimate transactions remain protected under RA 1405. The objective of the proposal is to institute this measure as an anti-money laundering campaign so as to delete the Philippines as a non-cooperative country in the list of the Financial Action Task Force against money laundering.

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MANILA, Philippines – Former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante admitted on Tuesday that he withdrew a “small” amount from some of his bank accounts which were ordered frozen by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).
During the resumption of the Senate investigation into the P728-million fertilizer fund mess, Bolante made the admission but declined to disclose specific details of the transactions.

“Maliit lang (Just a little)… I’m sorry I cannot disclose the specifics,” Bolante said.

When asked if he withdrew the amount from the bank after the account was unfrozen, Bolante said replied in the affirmative.

Bolante’s answer prompted AMLC executive director Vicente Aquino to inform those at the hearing that the bank where Bolante made a withdrawal may face sanctions for allowing the withdrawal, saying the Anti-Money Laundering Act requires official confirmation from the AMLC for any such withdrawal.

“May possible liability ang bank for not getting official confirmation from AMLC (The bank faces a possible liability for not getting an official confirmation from AMLC),” Aquino said.

Aquino admitted that such information is covered under the Bank Secrecy Act, and it is up to Bolante as the account owner to disclose it.

During the hearing, Sen. Panfilo Lacson expressed dismay over the situation, saying: “Talong-talo ang gobyerno rito. Ang bank secrecy act dapat ma-amend (The government is one big loser here. The bank secrecy law needs to be amended).”

This, as he pushed for the exclusion of government officials from the Bank Secrecy Act.

“(I had filed) an amendment to the Bank Secrecy Act, all government officials and employees should have automatically waive their rights once they are in government. That will solve a lot of problems of corruption in this country. Unfortunately wala ni isang hearing sa committee level for three Congresses I have been filing (not even one hearing was held for it in the three Congresses I filed it),” Lacson said.

He asked Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile to include his bill in the list of priority measures, now that they are in the majority bloc.

Lacson also pointed out that when he was being “vilified” in 2001 by then Armed Forces intelligence chief Victor Corpus, he waived his right to bank secrecy.

Enrile, for his part, said it was a “good proposal” but it needs study to make sure it is not used for harassment.

“My bill involves government officials and employees while in government service,” Lacson said. – GMANews.TV

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Senate seeks lifting of Bank Secrecy

 
Mario B. Casayuran

The Senate led by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile pressed yesterday for the immediate amendment of Republic Act 9160 (Anti-Money Laundering law) to lift secrecy on bank deposits following the controversial P728 million fertilizer fund scam.
The amendment, Enrile said, is needed to arrest criminality in the country, particularly on the unabated illegal drug industry, corruption and other illegal activities.

Yesterday, opposition Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson filed for the third time in three years his bill seeking to amend the law.

Sen. Richard J. Gordon, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, said he is now terminating the committee hearing on the fertilizer scam with various proposed recommendations foremost of which are proposed amendments to the AMLC law.

Lacson complained that, based on the current provisions of the AMLC law, the government is at the losing end in the fight against criminality, terrorism and terrorism financing, trafficking in human beings and migrant smuggling, sexual exploitation of children, corruption and bribery, illicit arms trafficking, currency counterfeiting, forgery and environmental crime.

The filing of the bill came after controversial former Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary Jocelyn ‘’Joc Joc” Bolante told senators in yesterday’s public hearing by the Gordon committee that he was able to withdraw a part of his four bank accounts earlier frozen by the Court of Appeals.

The testimony of Bolante, who continues to face senators following allegations that he is the architect of the fertilizer fund scam that preceded the May 2004 presidential elections, surprised Gordon and Vicente S. Aquino, executive director of the AMLC secretariat.

Bolante said he was able to withdraw a small portion of his bank account after the court had lifted its freeze order.

Pressed by Lacson, Bolante refused to disclose the amount he was able to withdraw and the specific bank because of the Bank Secrecy Law.

The former Philippine National Police (PNP) director-general had filed a bill that those entering the government service should waive their right to invoke the Bank Secrecy law but Congress has not acted on it favorably.

Aquino said he is supporting the Lacson bill because the ALMC cannot examine bank accounts that are criminally-tainted because the ALMC law is mandated to give advance notice to depositors on the release of questioned bank deposits based on the Eugenio decision of the Supreme Court.

This led Aquino to blurt out that the unspecified bank that allowed Bolante to withdraw his deposit has violated the law.

He stressed that he had asked the President of a bank association to remind its members to seek the approval of AMLC before allowing withdrawals of questionable bank accounts.

Aquino earlier assured Gordon that Bolante could not withdraw his four bank accounts because the bank needs clearance from the AMLC although the Court of Appeals lifted last Dec. 10 its freeze order on 23 questionable bank accounts. Bolante maintained that he only has four bank account covered by the CA freeze order based on the petition of the AMLC.

He also denied an allegation of a senior official of the Blue Ribbon committee officer as submitted to Gordon that he (Aquino) notified the banks that they could now release the deposits of Bolante after the freeze order had been lifted. ‘’I never misled anyone,” he added.

Aquino said there was never a lapse on the part of the council as he has already recommended the filing of civil forfeiture cases.

He confirmed that he wrote the banks last Jan. 5 that the freeze order has already expired and they should now be guided accordingly.

‘’It means they should be guided by the rule or that they should ask for confirmation from AMLC before releasing the accounts. We complied with the rule,” he added. ‘’The bank account (of Bolante) is still intact,” he added.

Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera assured the senators that her office has, under the law, done its job on bank account preservation.

Enrile, a taxation expert, asked Aquino to specify the weaknesses of the AMLC law, particularly on its operations, to arrest problems in the country.

The law creating the AMLC ‘’is not a real law because it is liable to be breached, than obeyed,” Enrile said.

Enrile said there is a need to revisit the AMLC law ‘’not to oppress people but to arrest criminality in the country such as the (illegal) drug industry, any other illegal activities and corruption.”

He cautioned his colleagues that crafting a policy to lift secrecy on bank accounts should now endanger any sector of society or used to harass people.

Gordon noted that the AMLC law ‘’can be pierced’ ‘by inaction of government agencies such as the Office of the Ombudsman which has not acted upon the recommendations of the Senate agriculture committee then chaired in succession by Senators Ramon B. Magsaysay Jr. and Joker Arroyo 1,020 days ago that Bolante and others should be criminally charged because of the P728 million fertilizer fund scam.

He said the current AMLC law should now be altered because the AMLC cannot reveal its investigation in congressional hearings and that the current six-month freeze on questionable bank deposits should be lengthened.

AMLC, according to Aquino, also lacks manpower and is crippled by a string-bean budget.
Gordon emphasized that government, in furthering its investigation into allegations of money laundering, should be given the power to seize high-profile assets of depositors such as yachts or cars like Bolante’s expensive Porsche sports car.

The Lacson bill stated that the AMLC should be allowed to retain 25 percent of the forfeited assets not only as an incentive to intensify the drive to file more civil forfeiture cases for the State, but also to ameliorate AMLC’s budget.

Early passage of the bill, according to Lacson, would guarantee the Philippines’ recognition to the global efforts against money laundering.

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Swine loan scammers cannot hidebehind bank secrecy law: Escudero

BY JP LOPEZ

OPPOSITION Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero yesterday belied the claim of Malacañang that the Quedan and Rural Credit Corp. (Quedancor) could not publish the names of its borrowers because of the bank secrecy law.

Escudero said the bank secrecy law covers only deposits and not loans.

An anomaly involving the Quedancor was made public by lawyer Harry Roque who said the Commission on Audit has discovered that at least P1.4 billion of the P2.5 billion that Quedancor released for the swine industry remains unliquidated. He said the farmers who supposedly received hogs were paid P200 to P300 to sign papers that indicated they received the livestock.

Escudero has asked Quedancor to publish the names of the borrowers. But Apostol, invoking the bank secrecy law, said Quedancor “would be liable to borrowers if it publishes their names without their permission.”

“Bank secrecy law covers deposits. Quedancor is not a deposit-taking institution. It is a non-bank financing institution. Only banks are allowed to use deposit instruments,” Escudero said.

R.A. 1405 (Bank Deposits Secrecy Law) states that all deposits of whatever nature with banks in the Philippines, including investments in government bonds, are absolutely confidential in nature. It prohibits the examination or inquiry into such deposits or investments.

Escudero said Quedancor could not hide behind the bank secrecy law. “All I’m asking for is to make public the list of borrowers. What was used in this program is public funds and is therefore subject to public accountability. The public has the rightful claim to information on where our taxes go,” he said.

Escudero said the loans are automatically subject to government audit because they are government funds.

He asked what the COA, the primary institution in charge of examining proper use of public funds, is doing. “If they have already audited Quedancor, we also want to see their findings and recommendations,” Escudero said.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson earlier called for an investigation.

He said President Arroyo might have a direct hand in it because it coincided with the 2004 presidential elections, the year the supervision of the financing agency was transferred to the Office of the President from the Department of Agriculture.

Escudero also expressed the same apprehension that the swine-raising funds could have been diverted to the administration campaign fund for the 2004 polls.

He said the publication of the list of delinquent borrowers would remove speculations the fund was pocketed by corrupt officials or was diverted to the administration’s campaign chest.

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jun asuncion

My warmest greetings to all of you!

jun2I have decided to join the views and concerns and visions of the children above and this I can do only by showing my face with them. Like them I’m mighty proud of our town Bulan and its town people and we will keep on working together for a much more brighter future of Bulan. There is no reason to be incognito to our visitors for we mean it good for our town people. Democracy is not about hiding but of being able to stand for what you say, and the first step to that is to show your face. This is transparency and accountability, things that we’ve been demanding from our leaders about which we also fall short. Now, I ask all our people to unite together in the face of the economic crisis and recession that loom in many countries today, rich or poor countries, no exception. Bulan will survive this crisis for sure as it had survived almost everything before. We just have to forget things that are not necessary for survival like politics and hatred but instead help one another creatively master this economic crisis for we are one people, we love peace and we all want a good life for everyone in Bulan. This is not the right time now to oppose just to obstruct but we should rather  think of ways to help.

I ask Mayor Helen de Castro to be with our people in this difficult time  and I wish her and her team the energy and the wisdom they need as they carry on with their task of helping our people.

Thank you and my warmest greetings to all of you!

  jun asuncion

 Bulan Observer

The Many Voices Of Bulan Democracy: The Highlights

Compiled here are some of the excerpts from articles and comments of people who help built as a result  Bulan Observer as a Platform to express views and concerns for all Tagabulans and Bikolanos alike.

 “As in any democracy, plurality of views and opinions is an integral part of the society. Nevertheless, we should strive for responsible way of expressing such opinions and the public should exercise a differentiated reaction to such opinions.”  jun asuncion  About Bulan Observer

“The Bulan Municipality is maintained to look clean but it has obviously a powerful-secured- indoor Corruption Hall. ” prodebate4

“After this era, i should admit im still indirectly struggling with the remnants of the 20 years deep rooted corruption or evils in all sectors of our society. But–this is my country. It will take time to re-educate and create a new breed of disciplined, self-reliant, intelligent Filipinos loving their own country and trusting their fellowmen” prodebate4

“pagod na rin po ang mga nakakaraming sambayanan ngunit may takot sa isip na baka balikan kong sila ay maki-alam at lumaban sa mala diktadurang pamumuno ng mayora at ex gimeng. patunay lamang na isang instrumento ang pananakot na ginagamit ng administrasyong ito para manatili sa poder.” gmbaula

“This is the main damage that is overlooked when we talk about the havoc of corruption, i.e., that corrupt older generation practically kills their young ones by leaving them a broken society that cannot hold them together. Here the young ones cannot win but only lose. It’s not primarily the lost Kaban Ng Bayan stolen by the adults that renders the youth hopeless and lifeless but it is the archetypal hero that is stolen from them that brings the greatest damage to the youth.” jun asuncion The Fight For Progress

“Self-reliance leads to creativity and deep reflections. A dependent being is weak and crippled, devoid of creativity, helpless. Such is a society which has not learned to do -it-herself. A helpless being is vulnerable to manipulation and slavery. Such is the destiny of a society, it will  perinially  have to do with dictators and corrupt government officials.” jun asuncion On Self-Reliance

“My congratulations to you dahil sayo ka palan na supporter ni nonong guyala. Yadto tabi na sinabi ni ex-mayor de castro “kun dire niyo gusto kung pano i-administrar an bulan, humali kamo”, may partikular lang tabi ini na grupo sin mga tawo, sayo na doon si nonong guyala. Dire man intero an taga-bulan.” Senior Citizen to jun asuncion

“Basi tabi gusto mo bisitahon an sadire mo na bongto kay binanggit mo pa an pagdonar nira san sayo na hektarya para bugsukan san terminal, na pinangaranan mo pa na “de castro terminal”, kay nano tabi, kaya mo man magdonar? Haputa daw tabi an sadire mo kun nano man an na contribute mo sa ikadidianes san bulan? Umuli ka tabi basi maaraman mo an problema san bulan nyan an progreso niyan na eenjoy san mga taga-bulan” Senior Citizen to jun asuncion

“Nobody can deny the fact that indeed there is no place like home. And we are proud in Bulan for people like Jun who are doing their best and they carry the name of Bulan with them..” Office Of The Mayor- Bulan

“Second, we would like to disown that blogger who commented about our political leaders, the great late Mayor Adonis Asuncion, your grandfather, who had done so much for our town, especially at a time we needed most our leaders during the Japanese Occupation. He was a hero to us.” Office Of The Mayor- Bulan

“I have been scanning the messages in your blog. I am with the office of the mayor in Bulan. I find the comments very interesting, proof of the awareness that many of our people in Bulan has. I am particularly glad about Benjie, who was my former student in QA. It’s good to hear that he is now a lawyer. It fulfills a lot somewhere inside your being to find out your students are doing well.” Tony Boy

“Diri po nagpapakaraot an mga Guyala kan Guiming o kan Mayora. Si Guiming asin si Mayora po mismo an ngararaot sin pagkatawo nira base sa kanira himo2. Ang mga Guyala lang tabi, lalo na si Nonong Guyala, na may pagmakulog sa Bulan an nagsisiwarat sin mga ini sa ato kabobongto sa mga articulo niya sa kaniya blog na KABATAS.”  Nenette Guyala-Bustillos   comment To Senior Citizen 

“Para sabihon mo tabi na an intotokoy lang ni Guiming de Castro sin sinabi niya an “humali kamo sa Bulan kun diri niyo gusto kun pan-o i- administrar an Bulan” ay para lang sa partikular na grupo, sayo na si Nonong Guyala. Diri po ini tama. Surmaton lang ini sin sayo na bata ha!.” Nenette Guyala-Bustillos comment To Senior Citizen 

“I know, some partisans may again scoff at this. We don’t care. You see, we were trying to look and find for these so talkative people, who were candidates once or twice during election time and we haven’t seen even their shadows. They were in the comfort of their beds, while some of our truly heroic ordinary citizen- volunteers were out there sacrificing themselves in the floods, in the storm, in the soup kitchen feeding our evacuees.” Berting

“Come on, the truth is, inbabakal tabi niyo ang sagrado na boto san mga taga bulan on the dawn of the election day… if you want to tell the truth, for the sake of those bulanons who are not presently living in bulan, please tell them the whole truth: half-truth is still a lie. And please, be transparent in all government transactions, kung wara man po kamo intatago, nano kay habo niyo ipaaram sa publiko?” Burudikbudik  comment on An Kaayadan Niyo, Obligasyon Mi

“The above has taught me that success in life is not measured by what or how much we achieved but by how much we bring out the best in us.” attybenji  comment  To Senior Citizen

 “Bulan, in particular, is now looking for the principled leader whose integrity cannot be compromised in exchange of financial advantage, political affiliation and other monetary consideration…. We are looking for the real “mr. clean” in public service, who will become future leader of bulan, the incorruptible with progressive mind, so that we can translate the word politics at least into positive and progressive thing in public service” attybenji’s  comment on The Future Of Bulan

“The challenge to all tagaBulans that – “Unless the poor are determined not to be poor, poverty cannot be solved.” Nato tabi an hihimuon ta sine? Deri man pwede na makurunol nalang kita, ala juan tamad syndrome… Siempre kinakaipuhan tabi na an mga nasa kapangyarihan o nasa pwesto maghimo sin mga remedyo o estratihiya para makalampas kita san sobra na pagtios, deri pagparalabutan an pundo san gobierno, dapat an mga tawo an makinabang san gracia san gobierno, an kadaghanan liwat san nasa pwesto nato puro kickback o komisyun lang san project an iniirisip….. ayaw man tabi sun!” attybenji  Tagabulans To Fight Poverty

“Maybe someday, or in the years to come, the town of Bulan will step forward as a progressive & first class municipality in the country thru the initiative of our local executives and politicians, sans political bickering and animosity.” attybenji  Cooperation And Unity Among Tagabulans

“I hope the battlecry of this present administration, “AN KAAYADAN NIYO, OBLIGASYON MI”, would not end-up as a mere lip-service or just a mere political propaganda by the present leadership in Bulan in order to perpetrate themselves to power in the next elections and other succeeding elections. ” attybenji comment on “AN KAAYADAN NIYO, OBLIGASYON MI”

“In the town of BULAN per se, political dynasties are also prevalent long time ago and up to the present time, we have the de Castro clan and the Gotladera-Gillego clan, (for the Gotladera-Gillego i.e, then ex-Mayors, Taleon and wife, Nena Gillego-Gotladera, and ex-Congressman Boning Gillego, a brother of Nena, and now, Olap, grandson of Taleon & Nena), and for the de Castro clan, i.e., then, Assemblywoman, Nene de Castro, ex-Mayors Luis de Castro, Vito de Castro and Guiming deCastro, and now, Rosa de Castro, wife of Guiming – all in the family affair, a family business and source of livelihood. ” attybenji  Political Dynasties in Local Politics-a Lucrative Family Business

“The people of Bulan should sharpen their senses so that they may rightly distinguish a constructive from an obstructive critical stand towards the local government. An obstructive opposition has at its nucleus the motive of revenge, therefore, it has no place in a town that’s fighting for progress.”  jun asuncion  Assuming Without Admitting

“The Philippines is not a safe place for people in the government, guilty or not, to declare that they did not resort to vote-buying”  jun asuncion

“When you claim to  feed the poor children with a banner behind that says “Nutrition Program by the Municipal Mayor” then you are just making a fool out of these poor people. For obviously you’re using their empty stomach to prepare for your second term on the next election. When you call out loud on your constituents as your “manga padaba” (my dearest ones), you’re actually  indirectly buying their votes- and cheating them when by the same token you refuse to tell the truth about your expenses. The Kaban Ng Bayan normally belongs to the people- but not to you and your own family. So don’t empty it. This is a fact that stands in any democratic political primer.” jun asuncion Quid Pro Qou Democracy

“… there is also this problem of definition. Every now and then the government would release statistics saying the economy grew. The people would not ask nor require the government an explanation why this figure and that. As a result, the government became comfortable and believed its own propaganda to be true.” J. A. Carizo Chicken And Egg Question

“I strongly agree with Rudy B. especially on the aspect of technology development. But the problem here lies not just on the “guts” or  “political will” of those in the government but also on their  “personal interests”.  J. A. Carizo  comment on Lessons We Should Have Learned Long Ago

“With regards the report of Mayor Helen de Castro on education, well, that is a way of helping the people of Bulan change intellectually. With an increasing number of educated citizens of Bulan, we can expect a decreasing number of gun-toting citizens harassing or killing others for the sake of money. With education, magkakaroon na kasi ng karagdagang oportunidad ang mga tao na makapaghanap ng trabaho. Kung may trabaho na, siyempre di na gagawa ng illegal. Bawas holdapan, bawas patayan, bawas nakawan. So kudos to Mayor de Castro.” J. A. Carizo  comment on The Pen Or The Sword

“Who is replacing the old corrupt politicians?  Their children!  Their children found out in their early age that to be successful and rich, you have to be in politics. The family of  de Venecias, the Macapagals, the Arroyos, the Estradas, the Marcoses etc, etc” The Call Of The Wild  Sad for my Country

“Take pride in your work. When you work, give your 100% effort. You will feel better when you are honest with yourself.  At the end of the day, you can honestly say that you earned every centavo you made that day. It is a good feeling. For once in your life, you were honest and didn’t cheat.”  Tiger Of Serengeti  Poignant Memories Of  The Distant Past

“These people were uncorrupted by greediness. They live in harmony with nature. The Aetas, the Ifugaos, the Igorots, and other native tribes lived in this beautiful land long before this country was called the Philippines. The native people had taken care of this land with the best of their ability as dictated by their beliefs and conscience” Tiger Of Serengeti  Poignant Memories Of  The Distant Past

“Kay lakas ng iyong sigaw
Nagbabadya ng isang banta
Sa sasakop sa iyong tropa
Matatalim na matay nakadilat na
Kitang-kita na handa ka na”  Milagros  Uwak  in Poetry

“i have no doubt that the future indeed lies upon the youth of today. you’re right in saying that they are the tangible present entity that connects us in the future. that’s why, every time i open this site i can’t help myself pause for a while and focus on the picture, scrutinize and analyze the faces of the children.” mr. rudyb  They Need Someone, A Leader

“… in my response I mentioned the “dead” Managanaga river how it became the longest dumping garbage site of our town. during my high school days I remembered it as the longest toilette, I graduated from Quezon Academy and our alma mater is guilty of contributing to the degradation of the river. ” mr. rudyb comment

“going back to your report, this is really laudable and praiseworthy as this is the first step or even several steps ahead in bringing up environmental consciousness and awareness amongst the residents of Bulan. But I also sincerely hope that the administration can take measures in saving our natural resources, habitat and surroundings.”  mr. rudyb on Garbage Site now an Eco Park 

“Ang pobreng tatay ay nag-aararo sa bukid sa ulan at sa init siya’y nakalantad
Ang pobreng nanay ay nagluluto ng kanin na may halong camote,
Toyo ang ulam at kong minsan ay asin.
Ang kahirapang dinaranas nila , dibdib nila ay sumisigaw
Nasaan ang katarungan, Nasaan ka, bayan ko, saklolohan mo ako”  Dora The Mouse  Bayan Ko, Nasan Ka?

“I traveled and went to far places to search for that elusive HAPPINESS. It was a lonely road. I’ve seen poor people on the sidewalk begging for food, a mother with a child in her arms sitting and trying to breastfeed her child but the child continued to cry. I know that the woman probably does not have enough milk. She herself looks emaciated and hungry” Dora The Mouse  When Money is Not Everything

“So, what is it? It’s been there for many years and had been serving the poor people for a long time. Maybe it already served some of you but you don’t know who is behind the scene for I don’t seek glory or praise. I am just happy and contented doing it and thankful to God for  guiding me find my niche and  giving me the courage and wisdom to do my mission in my small humble way.” Dora The Mouse  When Money is Not Everything

“Prioritize the municipal hospital. The health of the constituents should be placed as one of the top of priorities. Don’t have to close the hospital; just upgrade the facilities, re-train the personnel (especially on how to treat the patients regardless of economic status), and add doctors to suit the needs of the people.The people don’t need lip service but public service. The leaders owe this to the people.” Karl comment on Authors

“When I first encountered your site, I thought  “bulan” refers to an ilocano word which means buwan (moon or month). And as I read along, I learned that Bulan Observer was launched as a Sorsogon mouthpiece.”  TJ Tesoro on Authors

 “The League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) cited Mayor Helen C. De Castro of Bulan, Sorsogon as one of the Most Outstanding Mayors in the Philippines in the area of ecological protection during the League’s 2008 General Assembly at the Manila Hotel on November 19-21, 2008. Vice-President NoliDe Castro, representing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo presented Mayor De Castro a Special LMP Medallion and a Plaque of Commendation for her efforts.” PIO-Bulan Tony Boy Gilana

“Personally, I have observed that in Bulan one can talk with our people and with our leaders. One should only transcend negative emotions and be open-minded without losing one’s objectives for the town. It is this “town-first” position that gives us the courage to say what we think and pushes us to continue finding ways to engage in a constructive dialogue with our people and with our leaders.” jun asuncion One year Bulan Observer

“This Christmas Day of 2008, let us honor Nanette Vytiaco, Tony Ariado and the rest of their group who died with good visions in their minds for Bulan and who activated good things within each of us we didn’t know  existing”  jun asuncion   Nanette Vytiaco And Tony Ariado: A Retrospect

“Back to Bulan, I ask you all political leaders and public officials to draw significant lessons from Obama’s political culture and to try to integrate them in your daily political thinking. Remember to put the town first. This is one step to transcendental politics.” jun asuncion  Transcendental White House

“In this way colonization was not really put to an end – and most of us do not realize this- but practically continues  until this day in our country in the form of Catholicism and Trapos(traditional politicians) who share a common mission: to keep the Filipino masses just where they are- poor and dependent, wherein the Catholic Church is interested only in the life thereafter and in the collection of offerings and its shallow crusade for moral betterment  but not in birth/population control, while the political dynasties keep the monopoly of  political rule to themselves” jun asuncion   The Perfect Society

“I admire your work on the Bulan Observer. Its long-term goal of creating a huge non-partisan Bulan On-line Community that let members post their thoughts on corrupt practices and injustices in the town is impressive. It is really admirable that you harness new technology in encouraging pro-activeness and vigilance among people. Continue your good work! ” Chiz Escudero to jun asuncion

“Kaya ngane, nahiyom na lang ako , kun may mga tawo, na dahil sa politika, an paghuna mo sira lang an maaram magmakulog sa komunidad . As if patriotism and love for community is exclusive! Didi ko naimud nan nareparo an ati san politika na may mga nagkapira na tawo na dahil gusto man magpakila na padaba nira an komunidad hihimuon an entero na ratakon, dustaon nan pakaraoton ka.” Mayor Helen De Castro 2008 Year-end Report

……………

Those were the voices of last year, the highlights of Bulan democratic dialogues that established Bulan Observer as a platform for Tagabulans and Bikolanos to exchange their views and concerns. The Bikolanos are famous for their oppositional nature. We are principled people who would be willing to rather eat copra or die of hunger than to trade his principle for a plate of rice. This explains why we cannot understand  and accept erring Bicolano politicians for they simply do not fit our expectations. We expect straight  and morally upright Bicol politicians to lead us locally or represent us in Manila. Some of them failed but at the moment we see a ray of hope in the person of Francis Escudero, whom Bolante himself admitted that Francis would never accept the FF -Scam money no matter how his (Bolante’s) people tried to convince him at that time. A Bicolano who involves himself in such scams and accepts stolen money has lost the support of the people, his face and moral authority no matter how he pretends that he cares for Bicol; a sad example of this is Cong. Solis.

Now, I think we have achieved a small step with our peaceful method of change by being able to establish a dialogue with our fellow Tagabulans. Significant change was in  our perception of our local officials. Before, everything about our local government  seemed to be shrouded in black, that our local officials were kind of unknown and secret identities who had nothing in mind but to cheat the people and enrich themselves. This negative picture was due in part to the things that others had written about our local municipal officials and partly due to the lack of communication in the past of our local officials. There was no transparency and in the light of the Bus Terminal Scandal of last year, the mayor had informed the people very little but instead just let the Guyala Group publish their own view of the matter. It was not the the Guyala Group was wrong in doing so but- due to De Castro’s passivity and ineptness- it had the effect of giving us a one-sided estimate of the matter.
I myself was searching for answers at that time, browsed the internet  day and night and visited the LGU-Bulan Website many times in the hope of finding some case-related publications from our mayor. I did not find anything but irritations for their Website was devoid of any useful actual information; nothing substantial in there and not even a single photo of our mayor as I was trying to find out how she looks like or that of other municipal officials and workers or even that of her projects like the Bus Terminal, etc. The Website was not being updated. It was then when I began to doubt the credibility of our Local Government. It was a simple logic: If there is nothing to hide, then things should be shared, i.e., be published. Just like Iriga City with its very friendly and useful Website upon which I accidentally landed in my search for Bulan. This impressed my hopeless situation that’s why I quickly placed a link to it in our site as a sign of appreciation. In Bulan, the Office Of Our Mayor had published nothing about the hot issues, so something must be wrong, I thought. This is the normal human reaction to such situations, which actually may not be right but the lack of information reinforces such a reaction. The mistake here was on the side of the mayor’s Public Information Office for it did not publish any official position paper at that time. I listened to the taped radio interviews available but they did not help clarify things for either Ex-Mayor Guiming had only attacked the Guyala and Atty. Deri group or Tony Boy Gilana had not substantiated his words with facts. What the public needed at that time was an objective and documented official publication defining the position of the De Castros and at the same time providing the public (local, national and international! ) with an overview of the controversy, instead of using the word “court” ( “The case is already in the court“, or “It’s up to the court to decide”, etc.) to pacify the people’s cry for clarity, accountability and transparency. The  court or courtroom is no substitute for good politics and it does not constitute the town itself.

Now we hope that we have learned from experience and as we journey together the whole year through, the roads to Bulan may at times be  rough and uninviting. Yet this should not rob us of our good intentions.

Best Regards To All Of You!

 

jun asuncion

Bulan Observer

Rose Of The Week To LGU-Bulan

Quick Pressbaccara_rose  Bulan Observer                                                                 

For the efficient response  of the LGU-Bulan under  Mayor Helen De Castro to the floodings that hit Bulan leading to evacuation of a number of families  last Sunday, Bulan Observer presents the Rose Of The Week to Mayor De Castro together with the Public Information Office under Tony Boy Gilana and the Municipal Social Welfare And Development Office and Bulan Municipal Administrator Luis De Castro.

For their prompt help in forms of emergency shelter, clothings, food supplies, etc., given to our affected people, our officials receive our recognition for doing their duties and for preventing damage to life to occur in such a record flood in Bulan. Accept our Rose Of The Week!

                                                                                            -Bulan Observer-

A Greeting From The Mouse

Hello Jun and family,
… Happy New Year! I know it has been awhile since I communicated with you. I had been busy the past months. I read your latest articles and other contributors of the Bulan Observer. Bulan Observer is a great channel for people to express their thoughts, opinions, concerns, ideas, inspirations, experiences and most of all it opens the way for people to freely express their voices and to be heard and not to be intimidated. I am writing a few articles and will be ready in the next few weeks. Again, I want to thank you as the administrator and one of the authors of Bulan Observer for the dedicated services it offers. God Bless You and your family.

Dora the Mouse

2008 REPORT TO THE PEOPLE OF BULAN

Submitted on 2008/12/30 at 5:09am
We are here posting the 2008 Year-end Report of Mayor Helen C. De Castro to the People of Bulan. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all! – From LGU- Bulan PIO…

Mayor Helen C. De Castro
Bulan, Sorsogon

2008 REPORT TO THE PEOPLE OF BULAN

INTRODUCTION:

Sa Entero na mga Taga-Bulan,
Sa Pinapadaba Ko na mga Kabungto:

Ini tabi an saiyo Mayor nan Ina san Bungto, si Helen “Baby” De Castro.

Ihahatod ko tabi sa iyo niyan an taunan na report san ato Gobierno Lokal, sa paagi san ako Opisina. Ini tabi an 2008 Year-end Report to the People of Bulan.

Naging tradisyon na san Administrasyon De Castro an magreport saiyo taun-taon tungkol sa mga accomplishments, mga proyekto, mga programa nan mga puwede pa o dapat himuon basi mapakay-d lalo nato an komunidad Bulaneno.

Ini tabi sayo na obligasyon na inhihimo ta sa ngaran sin transparencia nan accountability sa mga taga-Bulan. Didi sa Probinsiya san Sorsogon, solamente an Bulan lang an may irog sini na pag-impormar sa tawo.

Pilosopiya political san ako administrasyon na dapat aram san tawo kun nano an inhihimo o mga nahimuan namo na mga lideres na inhatagan tiwala nan mandato na mao an magkaput nan magmanehar san komunidad, Dire tabi nawawara sa amo isip na kaya kami hinatagan kumpiansa kay basi magiyahan an komunidad sa inlalaoman na kaayadan, pag-unhan, prosperidad sa butnga sin sayo na matuninong nan trangkilo na kapalibutan. Education and Information empowers the people. Empowerment of our constituents help promote and build a participatory governance.

Daghanun na an narecibe ko na mga positibo na feedback nan komentaryo tungkol sini na Annual Report. Nan aram ko na mayoriya san ato mga ciudadano naghuhulat nan nag-aapresyar sini na annual report.

THE HELEN PROGRAM:

Ini na Report mapaisi gihapon san mga accomplishments nato sa HELEN Program. An HELEN Program mao baga tabi an manungod sa H para sa Health o Salud, E para sa Education, L o Livelihood o Pagbuhay-buhay, E for Environment o an Kapalibutan, nan an N para sa Nutrition. Programa nato ini para sa kaayadan san komunidad ta.

Sa sulod sin lima na kataun, padagus nato na indadagdagan an mga maitindog ta na na pundasyon nan mga accomplishments. Organizado ta na an kada opisina na maasikaso sa pagdeliber sini na mga mayor na serbisyo nan programa.

A. HEALTH PROGRAM

Unahon ta na muna an programa sa Health o Salud.

San Disyembre 12, inresibe ko an award para sa mga taga-Bulan hale sa Provincial Government komo sayo kita sa mga bungto na inrecognisar sa Sulong Salud Sorsoganon Annual Recognition of Best Health Practices. Patutuo ini na an saato Rural Health Unit ungod nan dedikado sa paghatag serbisyo sa ato mga kabungto.

Sa Maternal and Child Health Program, o programa para sa mga ina nan mga kabatan-an, huyaa an mga nahimo san RHU ta: An para sa mga Ina nan Burod mao an mga minasunod, para sa entero na 63 na barangay:

1. Poco mas o menos 1,700 na burod an inasikaso san mga midwife nan mga nurse ta;
2. Sa mga burod na ini, depende sa situasyon san pagburod nira, nakarecibe sin atensiyon medical nan hinatagan sin bulong na TT1, TT2, TT3, TT4, TT5, TTL, TT2+. May nakarecibe man sa kanira sin partial iron o complete iron supplement para sa pagburod;
3. An mga midwives nan nurses nato sa RHU nakapagpaanak sin 1,743 na burod sa bilog na Bulan. An 178 sini nakadeliber sa RHU Center sa Obrero, nan an 47, sa Otavi Barangay Health Center;
4. Pakapanganak sini na mga burod, kada saro sa kanira nakarecibe sin at least sayo na post partum care-visit san mga midwife, nan naayudahan sira para sa breastfeeding o pagpadudo san ina. Entero man ini na mga nanganak na ina nakarecibe sin Iron nan Vitamin A Supplementation.
5. Importante lang na impormado an mga ina nan mga burod ta san iskedyul san mga centers nira sa kada barangay.

An para naman san mga Bata o Kabatan-an mao ini an mga nahimo para sa kanira san Municipio , sa paagi san Rural Health Unit:

1. Sa Expanded Program of Immunization o pagbakuna, poco mas o menos 1,900 na kabatan-an o mga baby edad 0-11 months old an hinatagan libre bakuna san ato mga health workers sa entero na 63 na barangay. Ini na mga baby, depende sa kanira edad o bulan, nakarecibe libre bakuna sa BCG, Anti-Dipthteria 1, DPT2, DPT3 , Kontra Polio OPV1, OPV2, OPV3, Kontra Tigdas o measles, Kontra Hepatitis B1, Hepatitis B2, Hepatitis B3, nan Vitamin A supplementation;
2. Sa Programang Garantisadong Pambata 2008, nakahatag an RHU sin Vitamin A Supplementation para sa 1,466 na babies an edad 6-11 months; 11,442 na mga bata na an edad 1 hasta 5 anyos; 2,765 na bata na an edad 5 hasta 7 anyos;
3. Sa Deworming o paghimulate san mga bata: 2,910 na mga bata an edad 1 hasta 2 anyos an nahimulatehan, nan 10,020 na mga bata edad 2 hasta 7 anyos an nahimulatehan;

Sa household Salt Testing, basi maggamit sin iodized salt, 1,627 na kabalayan an salt tested san RHU.

Sa Sight Saving program san Municipio, 16 na pasyente na may katarata an in-eksamin ta, nan 6 sa kanira an napa-operahan ta.

Sa sexually transmissible disease, 21 na pasyente an in-aasikaso san municipio sa mga hapdos na ini.

Sa National Tuberculosis Program, o may mga TB, 623 na pasyente an indanunan san municipio. Manlaenlaen na proceso sin pagbulong an inhimo san RHU basi madanunan ini na mga pasyente.

Sa Rabies, 19 na pasyente an dinara sa mga health centers ta nan ini inasikaso man. Sa Filariasis Program, 83, 692 katawo sa bilog na Bulan an pinahatodan ta sin tomada na bulong kontra sa Filariasis o tibak o hapdos na dara san kagat san namok

Sa Diarrheal Disease Control Program o pag-asikaso san mga bata na suka basyada, 461 na bata edad 1 hasta 14 anyos an binulong nato. Puwera suon, 1788 pa na mga bata an nagkaigua kita sa RHU sin Under Five Clinic.

Sa RHU man nan mga Barangay Health Stations ta, nakapakonsulta sa ato an 7,534 na pasyente; nakahatag kita laboratoryo o laboratory Examination para sa 4,647 na pasyentena nagpa-urinalysis, fecalysis, Hemoglobin test, Blood typing, Platelet Count, FBS, nan Sputum examination; 244 sa mga pag-asikaso sa mga samad; Nan 101 na medico-legal cases an inatenderan san ato RHU doctors. Puwera pa tabi sini na laboratory tests san RHU, an ako opisina nag-ayuda sa 174 na mga tawo para makabayad sa mga pagpa-ultrasound nan iba na klase sin laboratoryo sa pribado na clinic.

Sa Dental Program nato, batog na preschoolers hasta daragko na, 2,404 na pasyente an nahatagan sin dental preventive nan curative treatment.

Sa Family Planning Program, 5,425 na inasawhan an presente indadanunan san RHU sa kanira pagplano san pamilya sa mga metodo sin pagpamilya. Puwera pa ini sin pagkondukta sin mga Responsible Parenting Movement Activities na may tig-narapulo na mag-arasawa sa mga barangay san San Franciso, Palale, Cadandanan, JP Laurel, San Juan Bago, Calomagon, Sta Remedios, Fabrica, San Vicente nan Zone 2.

An RHU nagkondukta man sin Environmental Sanitation Program. Invuelto didi an inspeksiyon sin mga water facilities nan mga Food Establishments, pati na an mga sanitary practices san mga punerarya. Nan padagus man an Information, Education, communication campaign nato kontra sa Dengue. Komprehensibo man an monitor nato sa Dengue Watch basi maibitaran ta ini na peligroso na hapdos.

Huyaa pa an mga iba na aktibidades san RHU:

1. Enero hasta Pebrero: IEC tungkol sa Philhealth Card Usage; Filariasis Elimination campaign; Operation Timbang; Implementation of Private-public MIXS DOTS System Health Ptogram Implementation Review; Blood letting and Bloodtyping sa SSC; nan IEC tungkol sa sexually transmitted diseases;
2. Marso-Abril::Buntis Class para sa mga burod na ina; bloodletting activites; Pap smearing test ; RHU Lakbay aral sa mga lugar na may best practices;
3. May: Medical-dental mission sa Bulan South na in-sponsor san LGU, PNP nan Bantay Bayan;
4. Filariasis Test sa 83 na barangay san Bulan;
5. September: Provincial Congress para sa Buntis Congress
6. October: Medical Dental mission para sa mga senior citizens;

Gusto ko man po gihapon ipadumdom na an ato RHU may on na sin duwa na doctor, si Dra. Payoyo nan si Dra. Kates Rebustillo kay talagang kulang na kita mga medical professionals sa mga public health centers ta. Pinasiguro ko na mabudgetan ini na position sin additional doctor sa RHU.

Puwera suon, an Pawa hospital dire na pareho san dati na kulang sa doctor. Niyan, mayon kita inhuron na duwa Visiting Doctors, si Dr. James Apin nan Dr. San Jose, na maalalay kan Dra. Palad lalu na kun Sabado nan Domingo na napahuway man an ato Resident Doctor. Aram man baga nato na ini na Pawa Hospital dire man ini sakop san municipio ta kundi san Gobierno Probinsiyal sa irarum san Gobernador. Pero, ako na mismu an naghimo paagi basi mapagaan ta an situasyon san mga kabungto ta, lalo na an mga pobre na ciudadano na dire makabayad sa mga pribado na hospital o clinic. Nan sayo sa positibo na resulta dahilan san mas naatenderan san mga doctor ta an mga narani sa Pawa, an record na mas daghan na niyan na tawo an nagrarani sa Pawa Hospital kesan sadto na nakaagi na mga panahun na kulang kita sa doktor. Sadto grabe an reklamo sa media tungkol sa maluya na serbisyo san Pawa Hospital, dire na tabi niyan. Kun may-on man, ipaabut po niyo sa ako opisina kay ako mismo an mapaabot kan Gobernadora Sally Lee.

Padagus man an continuing training san ato mga BHWs sa kada barangay kay sira an mga nasa frontlines san health care. Bilog an suporta ko sa budget nan professional development para sa mga BHW.

An ambulancia san municipio nakabiyahe sin 84 beses para sa mga emergency na pasyente puwera lang kun may diperensya ini na sakayan, pero an ako opisina dire nagpapahuway sa pagdanun na makadisponer an ato mga pamilya san pasyente kun emergencia. Nan wara kita sin mga disease outbreaks o epidemics kay ensigida na aktibar an ato RHU nan mga public health service providers sa ananuman na mga problema pangkalusugan.

B. PROGRAMA SA EDUKASYON:

An masunod na programa mao tabi an Education.

Aram man nato na an pag-asikaso sa edukasyon nasa sayo na nasyonal na ahensiya, an Department of Education o DepEd. Pero dire ini nagangahulugan na dire nagrereparo an gobierno local sa mga puwede himuon basi makasuporta nan makapaunhan sa mga aspeto sin pag-adal san ato mga kabungto na nangaipo sini, lalo na an mga kawaraon nato na ciudadano. Kaya ngane, maski kulang an pundo o budget san municipio padagus kami naghihimu sin mga programa o proyekto na makasuporta sa edukasyon.

Batug pa san mag-asumir si Guiming nan ako bilang Mayor, sayo na ini na sector sa inpokusan namo. Sa katunayan sa panahun ni Ex-Mayor Guiming, pito na barangay public high schools an naitindog nan na-establisar, sa Beguin, San Juan Bag-o, Gate, Butag, Otavi, Cadandanan, nan JP Laurel. An nagkapera sa mga escuelahan na ini mga national high schools na sa paagi sin congressional legislations. Sa turno ko niyan, batog san 2004, insusuportahan san municipio an honorarium san mga volunteer teachers sa mga high schools na ini. Nan daghanun na na infrastructure improvement nan development an indagdag san gobierno local. Testigos sini an mga residente suon na mga barangay.

Puwera suon, intindog ta an Heavy Equipment nan Roadbuilding Program kay basi maabrihan, mahingayad, marehabilitar, mamantenir an entero nato na mga tinampo. Sa paagi sini na mga infrastructure programs nan projects, naging masayon o facil an pagbiyahe san mga maestro/maestro nato nan madali na an transportation services para sa mga escuela ta. Dako ini na katipiran sa ato mga magurang, nan deri na delikado an pagbiyahe san mga nasa sector san edukasyon.

Insaysay ko gihapun ini kay konektado ini sa entero na improvements nan mga educational promotion nato sa presente na panahun. Mayad na mapadumdum ta gihapon an ato komunidad sa bagay na ini.

Niyan na taon 2008, daghanun man na mga accomplishments an gusto ko tabi ireport saiyo tungkol sa suporta nato sa Education Program.

San Mayo, iuntindog ko an The Mayor Helen Scholarship Grant na an katuyuhan himuon na iskolar san municipio an entero na high school valedictorian hale sa mga barangay high schools. Sa niyan onom (6) na iskolars an suportado san municipio. Nasa second semester na sira, an lima(5) nag-eescuela sa Sorsogon State College sin BS Accountancy, an sayo(1) sustentado ta sa Technological University of the Philippines sa Manila, BS Accountancy man an inkukuwa na kurso. Entero ini na mga kabatan-an kaya mag-adal pero kawaraon. Kaya an municipio an nagbalukat sa kanira pag-adal.

Dies y siyete (17) na high school graduates an pinaescuela san municipio sa TESDA-sponsored technical-vocational course sa Bulusan National Vocational and Technical School. An gobierno local an nag-tuition sa kanira sa sulod sin sangtaon, may diyo man sira na allowance. Nakatapos na an dies y sais (16) sa kanira. Opat na sa niyan an nasa On-the job Training sa Manila. An iba sa kanira inhuhulat na ma-iskedyul.

Sa Scholarship Facilitation Program, inasistehan san municipio ta an pagkuwa scholarship exams san mga high school graduates nato. 78 an nakapasar nan sa niyan, sa paagi san TESDA, nag-eerescuela na sira sa AG Villaroya, Solis Institute, ACSAT nan sa Bicol Mechant Marine College sa Sorsogon. Sa Ladderized Education Program, inasistehan ta an duwa na graduate na maka-scholarship sa Sorsogon State College sa Sorsogon City.
San Mayo, bilang danun san municipio sa mga estudyante, sitenta (70) na mga estudyante an kinuwa nato para sa Special Program for the Employment of Students o SPES na kapartner an Department of Labor and Employment o DOLE. An sisenta porsyento san suweldo nira kargo san budget san municipio, nan kuwarenta porsyento an sa DOLE. An nakuwa nira na suweldo mao man an inpang-tuition nira san nakaagi na semester.

San school vacation san Abril nan Mayo, inlunsar nato an Career Explorer and Counseling para sa 488 na mga estudyante basi makapili sira sin tama na kurso sa college para sa school opening niyan na First Semester 2008.

Sayo sa mga programa sa edukasyon na insusuportahan san ako Opisina mao ini na Alternative Learning System o ALS, sayo na non-formal education scheme san DepEd para sa mga kabungto ta na dire nagpakatuntong pag-eskuela o kaya dire nakatapos sin elementary o high school. Sa sulod sin pera na semana na pag-eskuela surosabado san mga naka-enroll sa klase na ini, hahatagan sira examinasyon, nan kun makapasar sira san test, tatagan sira sin sayo na completion certificate na katumbas sin pag-adal sa elementary o high school na magagamit nira bilang education credentials. May mga ALS schools kita na in-organizar sa Zone 2, Fabrica, San Francisco nan an mga escuelahan na invuelto mao an Bulan South District nan Saint Louise de Marillac School o dating CIC.

Sa sulod man sini na taon 2008, Siyento Sisenta y nuwebe (169) na mga estudyante hale sa manlaen-laen na escuelahan nan mga barangay an intagan ta sin Educational Assistance. An kantidad san naihatag ta na assistance bale P354,268.10. Entero ini mga pobre na escuela. May sistema man kita sin pagpili o pag- screen sini na mga estudyante.

Sayo sa pinakadako na kadanun san ako opisina sa pagpatupad sin irog sini na social service program mao an Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office o MSWDO, sa pamumuno ni Mrs. Adelfa Espenocilla nan an kaniya mga kaurupod, na mga mayad nan maasahan na mga professional social workers.

Importante sa mga programa na ini an Child and Youth Welfare Program. Kaakibat naman sini an mga programa para sa womens’ welfare nan para sa mga differently abled.

Sa lado san mga kabatan-an: Establisado nan mantenido nato an Day-Care Service Program na saro na mandato san gobierno nasyonal. Sa tutuo, maski may-on sin mga national programs na inpapatupad sa mga lower local governments, madepende man gihapon ini sa mga lideres local na maimplementar suon na program. Maski nanu kamayad na programa nasyonal kun dire ipautob sa local, wara suon mangyayari. Pero dire kita irog suon didi sa Bulan. Deteminado kita na maimplementar ini na mga programa nan puwera suon may mga innovations o improvements pa kita na indadagdag basi lalo maging episyente an programa.

Isaysay ko na niyan an mga programa serbisyo sosyal na nakatakod sa programang pan-edukasyon san ako administrasyon:

1. Day-Care Service Program: Programa ini para sa mga bata edad 3 hasta 6 anyos lalo na sa mga barangay, kun haen kadamay an gobierno sa pag-asikaso san pundasyon sa edukasyon san mga bata na inbibilin san mga magurang sa centers. Programa ini para sa bilog na taun. Integrated ta man sa programa na ini an Early Childhood Care and Development o ECCD, na programang pangnasyonal nan pinakusog ni Governor Lee. May counterpart kita didi na 200,000 pesos;

Sa niyan may-on kita sin 67 na Day Care Centers sa 58 na barangays, nan ini nag-aatender sa 1,050 na mga pres-schoolers. Nan makusug an suporta san municipal government sa pagtrain nan pagdevelop san ato mga Day Care Workers. Maski baga subsidia ini san mga barangay budgets, dako na porsiyento sa training nan capability building sini na mga volunteers an kargo san municipio. May-on kita sin 12 na bag-o na day care workers hale sa Montecalvario, G. Del Pilar, Sta.Teresita, Magsaysay, Pawa, Lahong, Zone 7, Namo, Bical, Osmena, Quezon, San Jose, Calomagon, nan Somagongsong.

Gusto ta man pasalamatan si Gobernadora Sally Lee sa paghatag sin mga uniporme para sa mga Day Care workers nato sa Bulan. Niyan na Disyembre, pinaogma ta man ini na mga mahigos nato na mga day care workers sa paagi sin sayo na Christmas Party.

2. Sa sector san mga Working Children: In-organisar ta an 18 na mga taga-San
Vicente na kabatan-an nan inhatagan ta sira sin psychological and educational intervention kaupod na an mga sessions para sa group work, value formation and self-enhancement. Ini man na mga bata benepisyario san ato Back-to-School Program nan kaupod didi an paghatag sa kanira sin mga kagamitan sa escuelahan basi maka-erescuela guihapon. Tinipon ta man an mga magurang sini na mga bata nan inturukduan san MSWDO sin mga self-enhancement activites nan an tungkol sa derecho sini na mga kabtan-an. An tutuo, dire ta intotolerar ini na mga working children kay bawal ini sa batas, kaya an inhihimo ta sa niyan na matukduan an magurang sa direcho san mga bata nira na dire dapat nag-tatrabaho kundi nasa escuelahan. ;

3. Unlad Kabataan Program o An programa sa Out-of-School Youth o
OSY: Sa taon na ini, may-on kita sin 124 na mga kabatan-an na dire na nag-eerescuela an inasikaso san municipio sa paagi san MSWDO. Hale sira sa San Isidro, Libertad, Laurel, Inararan, Fabrica, San Ramon, Zone 7, Lahong, San Francisco, Aquino, San Vicente, Obrero, Dolos. Sa paagi sini na Unlad Kabataan Program, nakapartisipar sira sa sayo na Orientation Training san Marso 8-9 sa Irosin , Sorsogon. Kaupod man sa mga training o edukasyon nira an team building activities manungod sa self-development, positive values and team work. Intukduan ta sira sin manera sin mga business ventures o pagnegosyo pareho san t-shirt printing. Pasalamat kita sa mga SK Councils san Laurel, Aquino, San Francisco, Libertad, Lahong, Inararan nan San Vicente sa incontribuer nira na pondo basi maging pasil ini na mga programa.

4. Importante man na parte san education program nato an manungod sa pamilya. Kaya mahigos kita sa mga Pre-marital counseling activities san MSWDO. Sa taon na ini, nakaserbi kita sin 210 na pades sin maarasawa bilang preparasyon sa pagpamilya.

5. Mantenido nan insususteneran ta man an ERPAT Program o Empowerment
and Reaffirmation of Paternal Abilities para sa mga padre de pamilya. Nag-pakondukta kita sin sayo na educational orientation san Oktubre 6-7 sa irarom san Gender and Development Program. 23 na mga ama ng tahanan hale sa Zone 7, Aquino, Zone 8, Laurel nan Santa Remedios an nag-atender. In eenganyar ko entero an mga padre de pamilya o mga ama didi sa Bulan na mag-entra sini na ERPATS program san municipio. Kontakon lang tabi an ato MSWDO. Daghanun na positibo na bagay an maaraman ta didi.

6. Sayo tabi sa mga programa na harani sa puso ko mao ini na SpEd o Special Education para sa mga bata na buta, ngula, bungol (mga deaf-mute), o mga bata na may kapansanan, na programa san Department of Education o DepEd na nasa Bulan South District. 16 na bata an naka-enroll sa klase na ini. Puro ini mga pobrehon na bata na in-aasikaso sin sayo na mahigus na Special Education Teacher na si Mr. Edmund Morata. May mga kaurupod man siya na mga paratukdo, pero ini si Edmund sayo na bayani sa pag-asikaso sini na mga may kapansanan. Sayo man sa mga kadanun pa niya an saato Municipal Administrator Luis De Castro na matukdo sin computer for the Blind. Dahil ngane sa malumoy man an puso san pamilya ko sa mga irog sini, bulan-bulan, personal na nag-aayuda ako nan an mga bata ko na si Konsehal Dondon nan si Dr. Marlon De Castro na nasa Amerika sin 5,000 pesos para sa kanira pamasahe nan allowance. Nag sponsor man si Konsehal Joey Guban sin sayo na bata na buta na taga-Polot.

Kun sin-o man tabi sa iyo an may mga mayad na buot lalo na an mga nasa abroad, mahuron tabi kami na makadonar kamo sin mga Braille storybooks para sa mga bata nato na may kapansanan.

Sa hanay san ato Sangguniang Bayan, sa pamumuno ni Vice Mayor Awel Gogola, permi man sira naaktibar sa mga barangay na nangaipo sin ayuda sa paagi sin lehislasyon para mapasarig nan mapaunhan ta an sector sa edukasyon didi sa Bulan.

Niyan na taun, maski baga kapus nan kulang an saato mga pundo pero inhinguha san ako opisina, nan sa suporta san Sangguniang Bayan, na makadanun sa mga pangangaipo infrastraktura san nagkapera na barangay didi sa Bulan. Halimbawa, sa Bulan North District Central School -A, in pa-improve nato an School Clinic sa kantidad na 10,000 pesos; in danunan ta an Barangay Otavi na mahingayad an kanira Day Care Center sa kantidad na 32,000 pesos; repair nan rehabilitasyon san classroom sa Calomagon, 150,000 pesos an hinatag san municipio; nagpatindog kita classroom extension sa Fabrica, kantidad 100,000 pesos. Nan yuon tabi na tinampo pasulod sa Bulan National High School, parte suon an patrabaho tabi san municipio, san ako opisina.

Daghanun pa na mga solicitations nan request san mga escuelahan ta, sa elementary, high school o colehiyo man, publiko o pribado, kaupod na an mga teachers groups o student organizations an inhinguha nato tabi na maaktibaran. Dire ko naman kaipuhan isaysay didi an mga padiyo-diyo na mga ayuda o aktibidades pangedukasyon na pag tiniripon ta tabi nakadanun sa ato academic sector. Kaupod na didi an mga sa scouting activites, sports non athletic meets, school trainings, mga pacontest san Deped sa luwas san Bulan, mga extracurricular activites, mga school pageant and cultural presentations nan manlaen-laen pa. Ini tabi sakop san ato paghinguha na maonra ta ini na programa para sa ikaayad san ato komunidad. Nan sayo sa ugali ko na kun kaya man lang san ako iskedyul, nahinguha talaga ako na mabisita an mga escuelahan lalo na kun may mga imbitasyon sira sa mga programa o aktibidades nira.

San Disyembre 12, Biyernes, hinimo ta didi sa Bulan an ikalimang taun na selebrasyon san Bulan Teachers’ Day. Ini na Teachers’ Day sayo na aktibidad na inbatugan ko sa bungto ta san 2004 bilang paghatag onra nan recognisyon sa propesyon nan bokasyon san ato mga paratukdo o edukadores sa Bulan. Maogmahun nan puno sin kahulugan an adlaw san Teachers’ Day didi sa Bulan. Nagtiripon an entero na mga paratukdo sa Bulan, publiko o pribado man, formal o non-formal education man, nan kaupod na an mga retirees nato sa mga naimbitaran. An program na panggabi san Teachers’ Day an sayo sa pinakamakolor nato na aktibidad didi sa Bulan niyan na taun.

Ionabi ko ngay-an tabi na san 2005, nakarecibe ako sin Presidential Plaque of Recognition hale kan Presidente GMA dahilan sa pag-organize ta sini na Teachers’Day.

C. LIVELIHOOD O PROGRAMA PANGKABUHAYAN:

Pakatapus san Health nan Education Programs, makadto naman kita sa report ko para sa Livelihood component o programang kabuhayan san HELEN Program.
Unahon ta muna an naging mga aktibidades san PESO o Public Employment Service Office san municipio. Ini inkakaputan ni Mrs. Anilin Diaz.

Sayo sa problema nato dire lang didi sa Bulan, kundi sa bilog na Pilipinas, an pagtrabaho o employment. Kaya ngane, naghihinguha an gobierno local ta na maki-tie up sa mga employment agencies basi mahatagan ta oportunidad an mga kabungto ta na naghahanap sin masuludan na trabaho. In-establisar ta an Employment Facilitation Services.

Para sa local na employment, nakitie-up kita sa nagkapera na ahensiyas para sa placement sin mga trabahador. Nagkanhi sa ato an Taytay sa Kauswagan, Inc., Gervasio Security and Investigation Agency, nan an Jolibee Bulan. Sa 388 na aplikante, may nakapasar na 139 na aplikantes, nan niyan may trabaho na.

Para sa trabaho sa abroad, naki-tie up kita na ma-facilitate an pag-apply nan processing san mga aplikante sa tulo na placement agencies pareho san Zontar Manpower Services, Inc., Novation Resources Philippines, Inc., AU Management Services, Inc., na puro accredited san POEA. 150 na aplikante an nakuwa na nan an mga ini nasa proceso na sin final interview nan training. Puwera suon, inaayuan ta sin deployment report ini na mga ahensiyas kay basi masubaybayan ta an mga kababayan na matrabaho abroad.

Para sa Self-employment Program, an KALIPI o Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina, sayo na grupo sin 50 na mga kababayehan sa Bulan, indanunan man san municipio na mafacilitar an financial grant para sa kanira na kantidad 98,000 mil pesos hale sa DOLE para sa kanira livelihood program para sa paghimo sin sabon. Parte man san Women Welfare Program para sa mga kababayehan hale Aquino, Zone 7, nan Laurel an pagkondukta sin Basic Business Management Training san DSWD, nan an flower arrangement training san Provincial Agriculture Office. Inupod ta na sa training na ini an Persons with Disability o may mga kapansanan.

An PESO man tabi nakaigua sin Career Guidance Services o Career Explorer/ Employment Counselling para sa 538 na mga tawo na naghahanap sin trabaho. Sa paagi sini na-igigiya sira kun diin nababagay na trabaho.

Inimbitaran ta man san Septyembre an Department of Foreign Affairs-Regional Office na magkanhi sa Bulan para sa kanira mobile passport processing. Durante san pagkanhi nira, nakaparelease na an DFA sin Machine Readable Passport para sa 65 na mga aplikantes.

Basi man madanunan ta an nasa sector san Transportasyon o pagpasada na makatipidtipid man san kanira mga bayadan sa Land Transportation Office, naki-tie-up kita sa Land Transportation Office o LTO na magkanhi sa Bulan para sa kanira E-Patrol Mobile Registration batug na Agosto 4-hasta Septymebre 15. Maski ngane baga may oru-aberiya san telecommunication lines nira, alagad daghan na mga drivers nato nakakuwa sin mga rehistro, lisensiya nan iba pa na mga papeles sa LTO sa mas barato na kantidad dahil dire na nagkadto pa sa Sorsogon City. Pasalamat tabi kita kan LTO Regional Director Atty Ramon S. Roco, Mr. Juan Bandola nan Mr. Francis Nelmida nan an bilog na staff san LTO Region V sa serbisyo na in extender nira sa ato. An sabi sa LTO, otro taun mabalik guihapon sira didi kay dako na bungto an Bulan para sa vehicle registration.

An agricultura an pinakadako na sector na inhahalean san pagbuhay nan pagkaon san mga tawo didi sa Bulan. Kaya ngane, sa paagi san Municipal Agriculture Office, inhinguha san municipio na makapaabut sa mga paraoma nan paraisda sin mga ayuda sa kagahuman nato nan sa paagi sin mga pakikoordinar nan koneksiyon sa mga ahensiyas na makadanun sa ato.
Sa sulod sini na 2008, ini an mga nahimuan ta sa lado san Agrikultura:

1. Distribusyon sin 35 na orig para sa 35 na paraoma
2. Paghatag sin onum(6) na karabaw sa onum na paraoma
3. San panahun san Krisis sa Presyo san Bugas san Agosto, pagtanum maritatas an pinokusan ta, kaya nagdistribuer kita mga pisog nan itaranum sa 1,700 na kabalayan nan 77 na escuelahan;
4. Nakaayo kita 350 kilos na hybrid yellow corn sa opisina ni Congressman Escudero, pinanghatag ta ini sa 295 na paraoma;
5. Hale sa Department of Agriculture, Gahi sin paray an indistribuer ta libre , 1,683 na sako an inpanghatag ta sa 1,462 na paraoma basi makatanum sa 1683 na hektarya sin pasakay;
6. Nanghatag an municipio sin 100 na pakete sin Zinc Phosphate kontra sa peste na iraga;
7. 57 na paraoma sa kalubihan an nahatagan ta sin agricultural salt fertilizer;
8. Nakikoordinar kita sa Department of Agriculture para sa discount sin abuno sa paray, sa kada bag sin abuno may diskuento na 250 pesos. 1,129 na paraoma an nakinabang sa 2,254 sako sin fertilizer;
9. Naghatag man kita sin 2,000 na pakete sin Bio-N Seed Innoculant sa 500 na paraoma;
10. Naghatag an municipio sin sayo na hand tractor, mechanical Thresher nan Blower sa sayo na kooperatiba sin mga paraoma sa Antipolo, Nasuje, Namo, Inararan nan Calomagon
11. Inayuan ta man sa sayo na Spanish NGO Accion del Hambre an Gate Irrigators Association, kompuesto sin 25 na paraoma, sin sayo na hand tractor;
12. Nagpaloan kita sin 30 sakos na gahi sa 30 man na hybrid rice users;
13. Nagkondukta an MAO sin 3 na Farmer Field Schools sa mga barangay san San Francisco, Lahong, nan Gate para sa 106 na paraoma nan paratanum gulay. 16 na semana ini inkondukta;
14. Nakakuwa man tabi kita sin flatbed mechanical dryer para sa Lafapara cooperative , o mga paraoma san Fabrica, Lahong, Pawa, San Rafael;
15. Sayo na grupo hale sa University of the Philippines an inasistehan ta sa
Pagkondukta/ pag-adal sin pili resin for commercial production;
15. Nakikoordinar man kita sa Provincial Veterinarian para sa condukta sin
pahimulate sa 79 na mga hayup, karabaw, baka, nan inupod ta man an
bakuna kontra rabies para sa 752 na mga kaayaman.
16. Nakadistribuer man kita sin 200 na pidaso sin mga educational materials nan mga basahun para sa mga paraoma nato.

Sa lado naman sin Fisheries o pangisda, na mao an sayo sa mayor na pagbuhay san mga taga-Bulan, ini an mga inhinguha tabi san municipio ta:

1. Nagdistribuer kita sin 13 na bottom set gill nets o hikot para sa pili na mga
paraisda hale sa coastal barangay;
2. Nagpalit -hikot man kita sin legal na hikot didto sa 15 na paraisda na illegal na hikot an ingagamit;
3. Naghatag man kita sin nets nan crablets sa grupo sin Butag Aquasilviculture Fishermen Group. 15 na parakasag an nakinabang sini;
4. Hale man sa Department of Agriculture nakaayo kita sin 11,000 na fingerlings o piyak sin isda, nan ini inbuhian ta sa mga salog, dam nan open water sa 11 na barangay didi sa Bulan;
5. Sa sayo na demo farm sa San Rafael, nagkondukta kita sin semi-intensive milkfish culture training;
6. Padagus an implementasyon ta san Fishery Laws mala ngane kay 20 na paraisda an nadakop ta na nan duwa sini sinang-atan ta na kaso sa korte, dahil sa paggamit dinamita; Sini lang na nakaagi na Disyembre 22, kinumpiskar nato sa relanse an dininamitahan na sobra 80 kilos na sibubog.
7. Sige man nato an monitor san Red Tide na niyan apektado an Sorsogon waters; Sa katunayan nagkumpiskar an ato Market administration sin mga baduy na hale sa Sorsogon Bay na dire dapat ipabakal sa relanse;
8. Hinatagan ta man insentibo an 10 na paraisda na nagsalbar sin pawikan nan mga dolphins didi sa kadagatan san Bulan;
9. Pormal nato na in-organisar san Oktubre, sa danun san Municipal FARMC, Maritime Police, PNP, Market Administration, MAO, an Bantay Dagat Task Force, na kompuesto sin 75 na miembros san mga coastal barangays para magdanun sa municipio sa pag-priber sin illegal na pangisda.
10. Dahil sa Fish Scare na nangyari o nagkaharaduk an mga tawo na magkaraon isda dahil sa balita na an mga isda possible nahiluan sin endosulfan hale sa lumubog na barko Princess of the Stars san Hunyo, naapekataran an pagbuhay san mga paraisda ta nan an mga paratinda sa relanse. Kaya an hinimo ta, kaupod an taga- Provincial Agriculture Office nan MAO, nanguna ako sa Fish-eating Demonstration sa may relanse nan ipaimud sa tawo na dire man kita apektado. Bilang lider dapat ako manguna sa mga bagay na ini na dire mawaraan pag-asa an mga kabungto ta dahil pagbuhay nira an nakataya.

Sa lado sin Kooperatibismo, o an programa para sa mga Kooperatiba, pormal na inluchar san ako Opisina an Municipal Cooperative Development Program nan an pag reorganisar san Municipal Cooperative Development Council san nakaagi na Hulyo 17. An in-appoint ko na consultant sini na programa mao tabi si dating Board Member Joy Dellomas, na labi kaaktibo sa cooperative movement. Siya an magiging kadanun ko basi lalo nato mapakusog ini na programa kun haen daghan an makinabang. Sa katunayan, nakiistorya an cooperative council sa Land Bank of the Philippines basi madanunan an mga grupo na ini na mapaunhan an kanira mga negosyo nan madanunan an mga miembro san kada grupo. Sa paagi san MCDC may-on na kita sin sayo na coordinating agency .

Sa presente tabi, padagus an konstruksiyoin nato san bag-o na Wet Market para sa mga paratinda isda nan karne, nan pag nahuman ta na ini na Wet Section duon ta ibalyo ini na mga paratinda nan yadto na mga dry goods traders didi sa may pader ni Mr. Benjamin Yu sa Padre Diaz Street sa sulod san relanse basi mapaayos ta man an sector san transportasyon sa luwas. An kantidad sini na wet market labi un milyon de pesos.

San Enero, inbatugan ta na tabi an operasyon san Municipal Slaugherhouse didto sa Barangay Zone 7. Didi na tabi an pagbuno nato sin mga orig nan mas malinig,dianis na lugar ini kumparar sadto na luma na carneceria didto sa barangay Obrero. Nan sa paagi sini na karnecieria, mas nakaseguro kita sin mas malinig nan mayad na karne na nag-aagi sin inspeksiyon san ato meat inspector.

Sayo sa inmamalaki nato na programa ini na Tinampo-para-sa-Progreso Program. Dapat marealizar san ato mga nagkapera na kabubungto na dako-dako an impact o epekto san programa patinampo sa pag-unhan san kamonidad. Kun mayad an tinampo, madali an komersiyo, madali an pagbiyahe san tawo, madali an progreso. Kaya ngani mantenido tabi nato an Heavy Equipment Program. Maski luma na an mga kagamitan nato na naipundar pa san gobierno local san panahun ni Ex Mayor Guiming, padagus ini sa pag-asikaso nan pagmantenir san ato mga tinampo sa barangay farm-to-market roads. Idagdag pa nato didi an padiyo diyo na mga pasemento nan imprastraktura na kaya pondohan san municipio. An mga tinampo padagus nato inmantener sini na taon maski ngane kada y vez, nararaot san mga maraot na panahun. Pero dahilan sa padagus an ato programa, maski puropano, an Bulan an bungto didi sa Sorsogon na may mga mayad na barangay road:

1. Kun matatandaan nato, daku-dako na baha, sayo sa pinakadako sa kasaysayan san Bulan nan Sorsogon an nag-agi sa ato san nakaagi na Pebrero 21-22. Naraot an 80 porsyento san mga tinampo ta. Pero dahil san ato Heavy Equipment Program padagus nato na narehabilitar, in-improve, inmantenir, inrepair, in regravelling: Lahong to Beguin Road, Pawa to Lahong Road, Fabrica to San Rafael Road, Abad Santos to San Juan Daan Road, San Juan Bag-o to Abad Santos Road, Fabrica Crossing to Otavi Road, San Ramon Crossing to Butag, Beguin to Jamorawon Road, Jamor-awon to Liman Road., Liman to San Francisco Road, Jp Laurel NIA Road, Hiway Crossing to Somagongsong Road, Hiway to BLISS Road, Buntay to Calomagon Road, Calomagon to Antipolo Road, Barangay Taromata Road, Busay to Calpi Road. Aram ko daghanun pa an mga bisayon ta na tinampo pareho san Calpi-Bical to Dolos Road, nan Padre Diaz Road pero dire kita nagpapahuway sa pag-asikaso san Farm-to-Market Roads na mao an pinakabuhay san ato mga barangay.

2. May mga padiyo diyo man kita na mga Infrastructure projects na importante man sa pagbuhay san tawo sa barangay; pareho san mga minasunod: Jamora-awon construction of riprap, Dolos road concreting, Zone 4 road concreting, Marinab road concreting, San Rafael construction of footbridge, Magsaysay repair of bridge abutment, Concreting of Fabrica-San Rafael Approach, Marinab Approach concreting, Pawa Approach concreting Calpi construction of river control/ slope, Inararan repair of spillway nan construction of flood control.

San Abril 28, 2008, onra san mga taga-Bulan na bisitahon kita ni Presidente Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo sa pagluchar niya san Central Philippine Nautical Highway para sa RORO. Kaupod ni President GMA si DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza nan mga haralangkaw na opisyales san Bicol Region. Kun madagos ini na RORO, dako an magiging kaambagan sini na programa para sa ekonomiya san ato bungto.

D. ENVIRONMENT o PROGRAMA SA KAPALIBUTAN:

San Octobre 3, inrecibe san bungto san Bulan hale kan DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno an National Level Award bilang Model Town on Good Practice in Local Governance-Facility for Adaptation and Replication (GO-FAR) Program.

San November 20, inrecibe ko man tabi hale kan Vice-President Noli De Castro an Punong Payan Award of Excellence for Solid Waste Management Category- National Award san League of Municipalities in the Philippines.

San sayo kataon, kita tabi an Regional Saringgaya Awardee for the Ecology.
Entero ini na mga premyo o award na narecibe ko o san bungto ta alay nato sa kada taga-Bulan.

Dahilan san nakikilala na an bungto ta sa Ecological Protection nan Solid Waste Management Program, indadayo na kita san mga hale sa iba na lugar basi adalan lang an programa ta o imudon an lugar ta lalo na an Ecopark. Yaa tabi an listahan san mga grupo sin tawo o LGUs na nagbiista sa ato para sa kanira mga educational tours on Solid Waste Management:

1. Agosto, mga taga-Cataingan , Masbate an nagbisita;
2. September 19-20, mga estudyante hale sa U.P. National College of Public Administration and Governance, Diliman Campus;
3. Octobre 28, mga estudyante hale sa bilog na division san Sorsogon para sa kanira Youth for Environment in Schools o YES-O;
4. November 20-21, 20 na buses sin mga estudyante hale sa Sorsogon National High Scool;
5. December 15, Study Tour san Liga ng mga Barangay hale sa Tigaon , Camarines Sur;
6. December 22, Learning Journey san mga Barangay Officials hale sa Poblacion, Sta. Elena, Camarines Norte.

Niyan na Enero nan Pebrero, inaasahan ta na maarabut an nagkapera pa na mga LGU’s basi mag-adal san Good Practices nato sa Solid Waste Mangement. An Magarao, Camarines Sur, Bato, Catanduanes, nan Paracale , Camarines Norte, nan iba pa para sa kanira Inception Workshop na kita na mga taga-Biulan an matukdo sa kanira.

An programa ta sa kapalibutan mao niyan an sayo na modelo sa bilog na Pilipinas kun kaya ngane, indadayo na kita nan nakikilala na an Bulan. Dire ini mangyayari kun dire tabi sa kooperasyon nan partisipasyon niyo.

Sa sulod sini na taon, san March 24, pinal na nato in-implemetar an Waste Segregation policy nan an “no- segregation , no- collection policy” san basura. Nan dahil may mga programa kita sa recycling and re-use, an dati na 20 metric tons per day na basura na nakukuwa san mga truck ta, niyan nabawasan na, naging 15 metric tons na lang per day.

Daghanun an mga aktibidades nato sa bilog na taun 2008. Huyaa tabi an mga minasunod:

1. San Marso, inkondukta nato an “Bayabay sa Tinampo” o Information, edication campaign tungkol sa environment programs nato;
2. Pebrero hasta Marso, in-implementar nato an Mayor Helen Poblacion Improvement Program; paayus, palimpiya san mga kanal sa poblacion, pagayun san mga parking areas , pagpintura san mga gutters nan mga poste san ilaw;
3. Inluchar ta man san Marso an Search for the Cleanest, Greenest and Model Poblacion Barangays on Solid Waste Management . Katuyuhan sini na ma-enganyar ta an mga barangay sa poblacion na maghiringuha sa pagpakay-ad man san kanira mag lugar bilang parte san kabilugan na paghinguha nato entero sa municipio. Huyaa tabi an resulta kada bulan batug san iluchar nato ini na pakontest:
Marso: Zone 8, First Place; Zone 1, second; Zone 5, third
Abril: First Place an Zone 8, Zone 4, second; Zone 1, third
Mayo:Zone 8 an First Place; Obrero, second, Zone 5, third
Junio: Zone 8, first; Obrero, second, Zone 4, third

San Hulyo, inbarahin ta ini na mga barangay sa duwa na kategoriya, nan an pag-evaluar, naging quarterly o kada tulo kabulan na.. Category A an entero na Zona san Poblacion; nan Category B an entero na Adjacent Barangays. Kaya mao ini an minasunod na mga resulta:

July, August, September Quarterly evaluation:
Category A: Zone 8 first, Zone 4 second, Zone 5 third;
CategoryB: Obrero first; Sta Remedios second; Managa-naga, third

An para sa 4th Quarter evaluation tabi, October, November nan December,
sa Barangay Night 2009 na nato i-anunsiyo.

4. San Agosto hasta Septyembre, inkondukta nato an duwa ka bulan na Symposium/Infromation drive tungkol sa solid waste management nan global warming and climate change sa mga escuelahan san pobalcion nan roadside barangays

5. San Septyembre, inkondukta san DILG Regional Office an Capability
Building Activity for Bulan Good Practice Project Team sa irarum san DILG GO-FAR Program. Intukduan na an project team ta kun pan-o i-handle san municipio an mga maarabut na bisita sa Bulan.

6. San Octubre 3-4, inkondukta nato an ika-opat na Annual Fiesta sa
Kabubudlan 2008 didto sa Calomagon Ecopark. Labi 5,000 na mga tawo, hale sa mnalaen-laen na lugar sa Bulan an nag-entra sa mga aktibidades nato lalo na an tree-planting activites ta . Nagkaigua man kita sin Laro ng Lahi, Environmental Film showing, overnight camp-out, pa disco nan banal na misa.

Gusto ko tabi pasalamatan an entero na barangay, escuelahan, mga organisasyon nan mga fraternity sa padagus niyo na pakisumayo sa ato programa pangkapalibutan. Nan gusto ko man tabi hatagan onra nan pagpasalamat an Technical Working Group sa pamumuno ni Ms. Kelly Tan kay sira an dako ko na kadanun basi maisulong ko ini na bisyon para sa Bulan.

An goal o katuyuhan nato tabi sini na environment program mao an ” Building a small space of hope in the big wide face of Mother Earth.”

E. NUTRITION:

An programa nato sa nutrisyon o pagpakay-ad sa salud san ato mga kabatan-an nakasulod man tabi sa mga departamento san Rural Health Unit, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, Municipal Agriculture Office nan koordinado man ini sa Department of Education.

In-appoint ko tabi sa Municipal Nutrition Committee bilang Action Officer mao si Annie Lolos. Siya an nagsusubaybay san entero na aktibidades sini na comitiba.

Sa sulod sini na taun, pareho man san sayo kataon, in monitor san ato Nutrition Committee an status san nutrition san ato mga kabatana-n batug sa pre-school hasta sa elementary level. Kumpleto an mga datos nato hale sa DepEd, MSWDO, RHU nan ini in-eebalwar nato bulan-bulan basi masubaybayan nato an kamutangan san mga bata.

May-on kita na-monitor na 598 pre-schoolers nan 195 na elementary-level pupils na undernourished hale sa 13 na barangay san Bulan.

Batug na Oktubre hasta niyan na Disyembre, nagkondukta kita sin supplemental feeding tolo kabeses an semana para mapakay-ad nato an nutrition status sini na mga bata, nan ini na aktibidad inhihimo nato didto sa Alberto De Castro Elementary School sa Sabang, Zone 2. Naniwala kita na kaipuhan consistent an feeding program para maka-cope up ini na mga bata. May sistema kita sin pagmonitor kun na-attain na nato an obheto.

An municipio san Bulan ungod sa pagpatupad san Over-all Implementation san Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition. Sa katunayan sayo kita sa mga bungto san probinsiya na positibo an ebalwasyon sa pagpatupad sini. Nan sayo kita sa pinakadiyo an prevalence of malnutrition.

Sayo na grupo na kadanun ta sa comprehensibo na implementasyon san programa mao an BNS o Barangay Nutrition Scholars. May-on kita sin 72 enrolled BNS sa 57 na barangay. Onum na barangay an wara pa BNS. Maski baga nasa subsidiya san barangay ini na mga BNS, alagad, nag-aasiste pa gihapon an municipio sa kanira.

San nakaagi na Disyembre 18, nagkondukta kita sin sayo na feeding program para sa 1,500 na kabatan-an sa Plaza Rizal. Inpapasalamatan ta man tabi an nagkapera na mga kabungto ta na personal nan pribado na nag-pi-feeding sa mga lugar nira. Salamat po sa bulawan niyo na mga boot na madanunan ini na mga undernourished na mga bata. Ingagahuyan ta man an mga kabungto nato, lalu na an mga fraternities nan civic groups o an mga nasa abroad na kabungto na gusto magdanun, open po an municipio sa magiging pagdanun niyo. Ikoordinar lang po nato sa Municipal Nutrition Committee.

San nakaagi na Disyembre 28, binisita kita sin sayo na grupo sin mga Canadian nan Australian Nationals na nagdonar sin weighing scales o timbangan san mga bata. Ini na pakikoordinar sa paagi san kagahuman san Municipal Nutrition Committee.

F. PUBLIC SAFETY AND DISASTER RISK REDUCTION PROGRAM:

Sini na taun 2008, inagihan man kita sin mga kalamidad na nangaipo sin aksyon san ato gobierno local, lalo na san Municipal Disaster Coordinating Council o MDCC. San Pebrero , sobra sayo kasemana kita inuran sin makusugon nan naranasan ta an sayo sa pinakadako nan pinakahararum na baha didi sa bungto ta san Pebrero 20 hasta 22. Ini an ikaduwa sa daragkuon na baha na tuminama sa ato sa sulod sin duwa kataun. An sayo nangyari san Mayo 2007.

An kaayadan lang sa naging paghanda nato kay Pebrero 15 pa lang naghinguha na kita makikoordinar sa Provincial Disaster Council nan Pebrero 18, inaktibar ko na an MDCC nan an mga BDCCs. Naging ungod an pabayabay nato sa radio, mobile patrols, BDCCs, nan entero na klase na alarm system inhimu ta.

Dahilan sini, wara kita sin nai-rehistro na namatay dahil sadto na baha. Pero dire nato naibitaran an destroso sa mga pananum, mga negosyo, fishponds, nan mga imprastraktura. Nadanyos an agrikultura nato sa kantidad na 11 milyones pesos, nan sa imprastraktura umabot sa 30 milliones pesos. Daghanun na pamilya an in-ebakwar ta nan inayudahan san MSWD nan MDCC sa mga evacuation centers. Entero an 63 na barangay puro may mga evacues na nairekord. Alagad naging preparado kita sa sitwasyon na ini.

San Hunyo 20-22 uminagi an Bagyong Frank nan san Septyembre an Bagyong Pablo, alagad sa entero na mga maraot na panahun na ini, permi naging preparado an MDCC. Wara sin buhay na nabutang sa peligro dahil sa kahandaan san mga taga-Bulan.

San Nobyembre 14, nasunog an sayo na block kun haen daghan na negosyo an nakatindog. Pasalamat kita sa mga nagresponde na bumbero hale sa iba na bungto, nan lalo na an Bulan Fire Protection Unit nan Bulan Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce Fire Brigade nan an manlaen laen na organisasyon na nag-akuder basi dire na ini magkalat sa iba na lugar sa Sona 6.

Sayo sa inhimo nato dahilan sini na paghampang nato san mga kalamidad mao an pag-organisar nato san Bulan Rescue Team na pinamumunuan ni Konsehal Simmy Gerona. Ini na action team kompuesto sin lima katawo na magagahuyan maski nanu na oras kaipuhan lalo na kun panahun sin kalamidad o emerhensiya Ini na grupo may pormal nan propesyonal na training sa disaster situations.. Nan sa koordinasyon sa Pulis, Kabalikat, BEAT, nan MDCC, epektibo ini na grupo na makaayuda kun kaipuhan. Pasalamatan ta man tabi an National Office of Civil Defence dahil sa an Bulan tinagan nira sin duwa na lifeboat na magagamit sa mga emergencia.

An Bulan Rescue Team nakaayuda man sa pag retrieve sadto na unom na bangkay na napadpad didi sa kadagatan san Bulan hale sa Romblon sa lumubog na Princess of the Stars san Sulpicio Lines dahil sa Bagyong Frank.

Sa niyan tabi, lalu nato inpapakusog an koordinasayon nato sa RDCC nan Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council, lalo na ini na in organizar ni Gobernadora Sally Lee na Provincial Public Safety Office.

Sa lado tabi san transportasyon. An Bulan sa niyan may-on na sin dako na volume sin public transport vehicles lalo na sa poblacion. Nakarehistro na kita sin sobra sangribo na pedicabs, 1400 na motorized tricycles, 40 na public utility jeepneys na miembro san asosasyon didi sa Bulan, 12 na minibuses, 10 na aircon vans, nan poco mas o menus, 30 na manila bound buses, Idagdag pa didi an ginatos na mga single motorbikes, mga bisikleta nan mga private vehicles nan trucks. May-on man mga kolorum na mga sakayan na ingagahuyan nato na magparehistro na san kanira mga sakayan. San 2005, nakarekord kita sin 199 na aksidente, nan san 2006, 225 na aksidente sa tinampo , kadaghanan sa single na motor nan tricycle. Nan kada taun nagdadagdag ini na statistika sin aksidente.

Sa niyan, mahigpit kita sa pag-implemntar san Annual Orientation Seminar para sa mga nagkukuwa sin MTOP o MPOP. Dire ta in tatagan prangkisa an mga nasa tricycle o padyak na wara sini na seminar. Kaya kun wara sin permit an sakayan san mga nagpapasada puwede ini masita dahil sa pagiging kolorum. Ikatolong taun na ini na inhihimo ta.
Sayo pa sa katuyuhan sini na seminar an basi makaaram an mga drivers ta sin traffic rules and regulations nan makaibitar sa aksidente.

San Disyembre 2-5, nagpakondukta ako sin opat kaadlaw na seminar training workshop para sa treinta na tanods san poblacion, onum na traffic officers, mga pulis na naka-assign sa traffic section nan mga empleyado san municipio. An nagtukdo sa kanira sayo na eksperto hale sa LTO. Sa Enero niyan na masunod na taun, pormal na matrabaho na tabi an traffic management team nato sa poblacion, basi tabi maging trangkilo nan disiplinado an saato trapiko.

Gusto ko man tabi ireport sa iyo na ini baga na paradahan san mga traysikol ta sa hampang san Botika Mayralda, hampang san Diamond Bakery, hampang san Plaza Rizal nan sa may kara Dopols, inpaayus man tabi nato yuon bilang parte san ato programa sa mas bisay na pagparada. Kun mahuman na tabi an wet market section, ibabalyo ko na tabi entero ini na mga paratinda didi sa almacen ni Mr Bina Yu, nan ipapahingayad ko man nan pagayunon an mga paradahan san mga paratraysikol duon. Pati na tabi yadto na sa may Zone 6 area. Sayo man ini sa mga magayun na plano na naisip ni Konsehal Dondon De Castro bilang Chairman san Committee on Public Utilities., nan gusto ko maimplementar nato ini sa 2009. Sa otro taun, magiging magayun na yuon na lugar sa may paradahan san relanse apesar na mas dire na peligroso sa mga pedestrians nan motorista nato.

G. SERBISYO SOSYAL:

Madagdag pa ako sin report tungkol sa mga Social Services Program, puwera san mga namensiyonar ko na kanina.
Kun iisipon baga tabi, entero ini na mga programa nato puro social services, o mga programa para sa tawo, particular para sa mga taga-Bulan.

Pilosopiya political san ako Administrasyon na , “Man is the center of all development”. Kaya ngane tabi, sa abut san kakayahan san municipio, entero an programa nato puro para sa kaayadan san mga taga-Bulan.

1. Sa paagi san Department of Environment and Natural Resources, nan sa ayuda sa pagproceso san ato Tasador Municipal o Assessor’s Office, narealizar nato an pagdistribuer sa programang “Handog Titulo Program” sin 600 hektaryas na ingod sa Barangay Sagrada nan Quezon para sa 275 na recipients;
2. Inasistehan san municipio an mga residentes san Barangay Somagungsong para sa kanira socialized resettlement site para sa 210 na lote;
3. Sa lado san social care san MSWDO, may nai-rekord sa municipio na 18 na kaso sin Children in Conflict with the Law o mga bata na delinquente, inasikaso ini san mga personnel ta basi madanunan an mga bata na ini segun sa Child and Youth Welfare Code.
4. Sa lado san Women Welfare Program, may naireklamo sa municipio na 31 na kaso sin pang-abuso sa kababayehan, 19 an physically battered women., 7 na kaso sin economic abuse, 5 na kaso sin emotional and psychological abuse. Tolo na sini an nasang-atan ta sin kaso dahil sa pagmaltrato sin babaye. Inpapatanidan ta an sin-o man na ugali an mag-pakulog babaye o asawa o bata na dire maalang-alang an gobierno local na idemanda an sino man na naglalabag san batas sa pagprotehir san kababayehan.
5. Sa problema sin pang-abuso sa mga kabatan-an , nakarecibe kita sin 34 na kaso sin pang-aabuso sa mga bata; 13 na kaso sin rape, 8 an insang-atan na kaso, 5 an nasa imbestigasyon; sa kaso sin acts of lasciviousness o pangbastos sin bata , may 6 na recorded, nagsang-at na kita sin sayo na kaso, 5 an nasa proceso; sa kaso sin pagpakulog bata, 9 an naireklamo, 1 an may kaso; sa kaso sin trafficking, 6 na hale sa Matnog an inbalik ta sa Matnog for referral sa kanira MSWDO. In papadumdum nato an sino man na tawo na mang-abuso bata, lalo na kun kapamilya, na dire kami mapahunod sa iyo kun an kaayadan san bata an nakataya.
6. Sa lado man sin paghatag mga ayuda pinansiyal sa mga nangaipo: 1,173 katawo an nagrani sa ako opisina para ma-ayo sin mga ayuda medical, pangpalubong, nan iba pa na asistensiya na nagkakantidad sin 1,485,245 pesos; Para sa Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation o AICS, nakahatag kita para sa 230 katawo sin 77,675 pesos;
7. Sa serbisyo san truck sa mga burial services, nakapahudam kita san sakayan sin 135 na beses;
8. Sa lado san Senior Citizens, padagus an saato pagimplementar san Senior Citizens Act, kun haen nag-iisyu kita sin Senior Citizens Discount Booklet nan IDs para sa mga benepisyo san mga kagurangan ta. Sa niyan naka-isyu na kita suon na mga papeles para sa 3,185 katawo . Organizado ta naman an harus entero na mga senior citizens sa kada barangay. Si dati Konsehal Joe Tan an in-appoint ko na OSCA chairman o Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs.

H. MGA PROGRAMA SA REHISTRO SIBIL:

An opisina san Civil Registrar may-on man mga programa basi mapakay-ad nato an civil registration san mga taga-Bulan. Batug na Enero hasta Disyembre 2 sini na taon, nakaisyu an opisina sin sertipiko para sa 2,095 na mga bag-ong panganak na babies, 228 na kinasal, nan 478 an binawian sin buhay sa mga taga-Bulan. An presente ta na populasyon nasa poco mas o menos 95,000 katawo na.

Nagkondukta man sin mga Mobile Activities an LCR basi makakadto an opisina sa mga barangay nan makadanun sa civil registration. An mga lugar na nabisita san LCR mao an mga Barangay san Obrero, Namo, Calomagon, Zone 4, Zone 6, Padre Diaz, Managanaga, Zone 2, Beguin, San Isidro, Nasuje. Nagpa-Mass Wedding kita sa Calomagon san Mayo.

I. AN SANGGUNIANG BAYAN:

An Sangguniang Bayan sayo sa dako na kadanun san ako Opisisna nan san mga departamento sa paghimo sin mga programa san Gobierno Lokal sa paagi sin mga kaipuhan na lehislasyones o mga batas-lokal. Ini sa pamumuno san ato Vice-Mayor na si Honorable Manuel Gogola.

Sa sulod sini na taun, nakahimu nan nakapasar an Sangguniang Bayan sin 68 na mga resolusyunes nan 9 na ordinansa. Presente man sira naghihimu sin mga pag-adal para sa pag rebisa san Municipal Revenue Code nan Comprehensive Land Use Plan.

Basi mapakay-ad lalo an kanira mga pagtrabaho sa sulod san Konseho, ini na mga miembros san Sangguniang Bayan nagpakondukta para sa kanira kaayadan sa trabaho sin sayo na Training -Workshop on Parliamentary Procedures and Administrative Investigation san nakaagi na Oktubre 20-21. Ini inasistehan san ato DILG Office.

J. BULAN INTEGRATED TERMINAL PROJECT:

San Disyembre 17, eksakto sangtaon na san abrihan nan mag-operate na an Bulan Integrated Terminal.

Ini na terminal sin mga bus, sayo baga na plano segun sa Urban Expansion Program san Municipio , sa dahilan na nag-dadako an bungto ta nan kaipuhan ta na i-plano an paghiwas nan pagdako san poblacion. Sa sulod sin 10 o 20 anyos batug niyan, ini na presente na poblacion maiswag na an development paluwas san Banuang Daan River . Sayo pa, maski diin kita na ciudad o bungto magkadto, kadaghanan san kanira terminal yadto na sa luwas san boundary san poblacion o sentro, Sayo ini na long term-planning na nangaipo sin pagsabut san ato mga kabungto.

Batug na iplano nan intindog hasta na mag-operate na ini, naging kontrobersiyal ini na proyekto. Sa katunayan, an mga tawo na dire naruyag sini lalo na an mga nasa lado san opsisyon sa politika local nagsang-at sin kaso o reklamo kontra sa ako bilang mayor.

San Oktubre 2007, san sayo kataun, kinasuhan ako san mga nagpetisyon, sa pamumuno ni Atty Redentor Guyala nan Albino Guyala, kaupod an siyam na iba pa sin kaso sibil na mandamus, temporary restraining order nan writ of preliminary injunction sa Regional Trial Court Branch 65. Alagad san Enero 10, 2008, binasura san Korte ini na kaso nira kontra sa ako. An hinimo nira nagsang-at gihapon sin Motion for Reconsideration. San Abril 10, 2008, In orderan ako san Korte na maghatag sin sinumpaan na kasuratan na entero an papeles san Terminal in sumiter ko na sa COA o Commision on Audit. In himo ko tabi ini.

Pakatapus sini na order san Korte, nagsang-at gihapon ini na mga kalaban mi sin panibag-o na Motion to Suspend Operation of Bulan Central Bus Terminal sadto mismo na Abril niyan na taon. Dinagdagan pa nira ini sin sayo na klase sin supplemental petition para sa COA. Alagad san Oktubre 20 niyan na taon, binasura na naman san Korte an kanira Motion to Suspend Operation san Terminal, pero tinugutan sira na marekesa an mga papeles sa COA tungkol sa Terminal. Komo wara man kami intatago, kumporme ako sini na desisyon.

Pero dire pa sira nakuntento san desisyon san Korte san Oktubre 20, nagsang-at gihapon ini na mga nagpetisyon sin sayo na Motion for Partial Reconsideration. Alagad, san nakaagi na Disyembre 12, binasura na naman san Korte an kanira petisyon.

Dire ko aram kun san-o man lang ini maurudong na mga tawo, an imud ko ngane dire ini maurudong. kaya ako man preparado sa paghampang sa kanira. Aram ko na an permi motibo sini politika . Kunsabagay sayo kita na demokratiko na nasyon, nan may derecho man sira maghaput maski hanggang sa Korte Suprema. Alagad, naoogma ako na maski porupano maaram an Korte ta maghatag sin desisyon nan hustisya nan ini na mga petisyon nira ibarasura san Korte.

Sa niyan tabi, fully operational na an Terminal ta. Otsenta porsyento san mga nag-aagi didi mga hale sa Isla san Ticao nan Masbate Mainland. Nan daghanun na na positibo na karanasan o pangyayari an ato nairekord. Mas organizado, mas trangkilo, mas malinig, mas kumbeniente, mas disiplinado an transport system nato dahil sa terminal. Tutuo na may mga nai-encuentro pa kita na mga problema o may narerecibe pa kita na mga reklamo, pero insigida nato ini inaaktibaran, lalo na san Terminal Management nan kapulisan ta. Sangtaun pa lang tabi ini nan kun baga sa tawo, bataonun pa, pero, maski ngane sa niyan pa lang in-place na an entero ta na kaipuhan para sa kaayadan san mga nagbibiyahe nato na mga kabungto nan kapuwa kataraning na bungto. Maabut an oras na lalo nato ma-iimprove an sistema nato sa Terminal. Mismo an mga tag-ibang lugar na apresyar sa ato dahilan sa inhihimo ta sa terminal. Dire ko na tabi isaysay pa an mga positive records nato kay halabaon ini.

Batug san itindog an terminal, nakarehistro na kita sin poco mas o menus 300,000 mil katawo na naggamit paluwas nan pasulod san terminal. Nakapadispatsa na kita sin poco mas o menos 8,500 na biyahe paManila puwera pa san biyahe hale Manila, nan nakalikom na kita sin gross income na 2.6 milyon pesos. Maabut an panahun na marerealizar nato na mayad an foresight o pananaw sa puturo san ato mga lideres sini na bungto.

KONKLUSYON:

Daghanun pa tabi an gusto ko ipaabut na accomplishments san Administrasyon ko, pero insumada ko lang an mga sa paniwala ko mga importante na puntos na dapat maaraman tabi niyo sa paagi sini na Report.

Bilang lider, ina nan mayor san padaba ta na komunidad, pagsadire niyo ako. Nan ini inpanuga ko sa iyo sa kampanya, nan oro-adlaw ko indudumdum. Nan ini inpapanindugan ko. May mga panahun na sa katrangkiluhan san ako pagturog kun katutnga may napukaw sa ako sa balay kay may nangaipo san desisyon ko o aksyon ko bilang lider. May mga panahun na nadesisyon ako na aram ko may makukulugan sin buot lalo na kun kaapin sa politika o parientes, alagad inpipiyongan ko ini kun kaayadan san kadaghanan o san bungto an nakataya. May mga panahun na habu na magkiwa san lawas ko kay pagal na ako maghapun sa opisina pero napirit ako na himuon yuon na trabaho dahil obligasyon ko bilang lider nan mayor. Wara man tabi sin Mayor na otso oras lang an adlaw para sa trabaho pareho san ordinaryo na empleyado.. Magurang ako san bungto ta nan an sayo na magurang dapat aligmata sa pangaipo san kaniya pamilya.

Kaya ngane, nahiyom na lang ako , kun may mga tawo, na dahil sa politika, an paghuna mo sira lang an maaram magmakulog sa komunidad . As if patriotism and love for community is exclusive!. Didi ko naimud nan nareparo an ati san politika na may mga nagkapira na tawo na dahil gusto man magpakila na padaba nira an komunidad hihimuon an entero na ratakon, dustaon nan pakaraoton ka. PERO, didi ko man naimud nan namatean an rinibo na mga taga-Bulan, bata nan gurang, pobre nan mayaman, na silensyo na nagpapadaba sini na bungto nato sa paagi sin pagpartisipar sa mga programa nan mga aktibidades san komunidad.

Dire tabi ako nagrereklamo o nag-aagrangay sa gub-at san responsibilidad nan obligasyon san katungdan na intiwala, inkumpiar nan inhunod niyo sa ako. Gusto ko ipaliwanag na kun may mga kakulangan man kami na opisyales niyo, o ako bilang mayor niyo, an saiyo pagsabut nan pagpasensiya o dispensa an inaayo namo. Abierto tabi an saako opisisna sa mga agrangay man niyo tungkol sa amo kakulangan. Naniwala ako na mas may bunga na dianis an dialogo kaysa komprontasyon nan pakihiran o pakaraot..

Naging tradisyon na didi sa bungto ta, batug san mag-ingkod mayor si Guiming nan magsalida man ako, an municipio nato an sponsor san New Year’s Eve Mass sa simbahan. Sa atubangan san Altar nan sa hampang niyo entero, nagpapakumbaba kami sa mga kakulangan , kaluyahan, mga imperfeksiyon namo bilang lider sin sayo na komunidad. Nan permi kami naayo pangadye hale sa iyo na gabayan kami sin sayo na solomonic wisdom para sa Bulan.

Sa solod sin 12 y media kataon, batug san 1995, intugutan niyo kami sin pambihira na tiwala sa pagrenda san komunidad ta. Inpapaisi tabi namo kamu na dire namo yuon insasayang na tiwala niyo. Gusto namo makabilin sin sayo na legasiya sin liderato na may onra nan integridad lalo na para sa mga kabatan-an nato didi sa Bulan.

Bag-o tabi ako magtapos sini na Report, imbitaran ko tabi kamo sa tradisyonal na New Year’s Eve Fireworks Display pakatapos san New Year’s Mass na i-sponsoran san Gobierno Lokal. Makadto tabi kirita pakatapos san Misa sa may Pier 2, dire na sa Plaza, kay basi maibitaran ta an aksidente o sunog. Puwede man kita mag-imud sa may Pier Uno. Matatan-aw man ini na fireworks display hale sa baybayon san Zona 2 pakadto sa may Zona 7.

Asahan po niyo na padagus an pagpadaba namo sa komunidad ta. Wara madanun sa bungto ta kundi kirita.

Sa ngaran san ako Pamilya, ini an saiyo mayor, HELEN DE CASTRO, nagpapakumbaba tabi sa iyo. Inpapaabut ko tabi an sayo na Maogmang Pasko nan pangadye ta an Progresibong Bag-ong Taon 2009!

The Perfect Society

 

Man has always been moved by tendencies to dominate, be dominated and be free. These have given rise to man’s  various political philosophies and forms of government throughout history: Monarchy, Dictatorship, etc. Political Dynasties were also the result of  these instincts; few families’ instinct to dominate is made possible by the peoples’ instinct to be dependent, to subjugate themselves and surrender their fate to the stronger families. And man’s instinct to free himself from any form of subjugation arises not only because of his capacity of reflection but because of the imperfection of the ruling parties and their imperfect system of government which causes him to suffer. Pain and sufferings are sensations that activate the instinct to flee. Hence, flight reaction is the biological foundation of this thing we call freedom. This is the main difference between man and animals; the world of animals is perfect than man’s world when by perfect we mean their stable form of government and the members dedication to their leaders and to their duty. The society of the ants or bees is a perfect example of a perfect society that has been around for millions of years already, never changing because every ant or bee benefits from the system and the system benefits from every ant or bee. So there is no reason for ants or bees to shout “yes, we can !”, no need for  freedom, for change or rebellion.

In man it’s a story and history of wars and rebellions because our society is built upon these tendencies mentioned. Our story started with tribal clans to divine kings and dynasties  and dictatorships of all kinds. But most of these monarchies and dynasties had been wiped out; and brutal dictators all over the globe have mostly met with tragic end. Today we can count the remaining  dictators and monarchies in the world and most of them are disappearing. There is really nothing essentially wrong with political dynasties in the Philippines if  these people were equipped to govern rightly but unfortunately this is not case, hence the unstable Philippine economic and political situation for  in any country with flawed or no democracy, ‘only the worst gets to the top’ according to the Austrian 1974 Nobel Laureate in economics Dr. F. A. Hayek. The Philippine politics is the most obvious proof to Dr. Hayek’s observation. Political dynasties in the Philippines have brought the country to a dead-end for, propelled only with greed and equipped with their capital and political power, political dynasties’ only task is to stop any political candidate from the grassroots or win him to work for them. In this sense, there is really no democracy in the Philippines for the elective office is reserved mostly to  few moneyed families. Our system of governance has been built around the vested interests of these families. Progressive and truly democratic countries  are devoid of political dynasties, hence the system of  check and balances is a reality. The USA has some powerful political families (Kennedys, Bush, etc.) ,too, but they are not dynasties as we Filipinos understand it  for  anyone among them with political ambition still has to prove his worth. And  though it is a country with problems of corruption also, power has long been decentralised with their system of checks and balances. They had it in their minds when these waves of liberal  and democratic Europeans fled Europe being fed up with their feudal lords and kings and powerful church bishops and founded the USA with the intention of never ever repeating their bad experience with tyranny in  Europe.

But in our case, this group of Europeans who landed in the Philippines- the Spaniards- were not fleeing but were looking for new territories for their king where he could extend and establish his dominion. He was successful and it lasted long. When they had to leave because of their imperfect governance that had led to rebellion, they left us with their churches and powerful and infuential land owners all over the country out of  which  some of the present political dynasties came. In this way colonization was not really put to an end – and most of us do not realize this- but practically continues  until this day in our country in the form of Catholicism and Trapos (traditional politicians) who share a common mission: to keep the Filipino masses just where they are- poor and dependent, wherein the Catholic Church is interested only in the life thereafter and in the collection of offerings and its shallow crusade for moral betterment  but not in birth/population control  while the political dynasties keep the monopoly of  political rule to themselves. We know that poverty and lack of education diminish the people’s sense of independence and augment the people’s weaknesses and feeling of debt of gratitude. This explains why we are overly-thankful when a Congressman or President releases funds for a project in our city or town as if the the money originated  from their own wallet, not from the people’s taxes. With increasing population and poverty, the Catholic Church is actually supporting the continued existence of our political dynasties; for like the Church, political dynasties  feed  themselves on poverty and ignorance of the greater population. An aspiring politician from the base is forced to sycophancy and blind obedience to the one on top to reach his goal in politics but at the expense of his moral integrity and independence of the mind. By being corrupted, he joins the big machinery that tramples the rest of the population and the chance of some equally able- or may be much better- political aspirants but cannot and do not want to buy a government office. Lack of  morals among these politicians prevents the whole nation or town from shining and of correcting the equally corrupted perception of the people towards election. For people themselves can be very mean towards candidates who cannot or do not want  to buy votes; they are simply ignored and belittled if they cannot buy them a drink. Political reality is far from just being one way affair- it is a two way affair. As the politicians used to say “The people just get the government they deserve”. That ‘s why our government is  more often than not very unsatisfactory partly because of people’s poor choice.

Democracy is not the invention of the politicians but a reflection of the people’s political maturity: an immature society of people produces an immature- or flawed democracy. In short, when things get boring and difficult in our country, we’d rather start blaming first ourselves rather than the politicians that bought us. So don’t complain when Arroyo presents us yearly  with high statistical figures during her SONAs and claims before  our Asian neighbors that the Philippine economy is on the verge of take-off. You know that this is fiction yet  you have been paid to believe it. On the other hand, honest citizens know that Arroyo’s figures are not the proof of a shining country or town. The best indicators of a shining country or town are the people themselves: If they look dark (poor), then those figures presented were fictional, written in a dark room. In contrast to the poor people, it is again this logic of greed, not poverty, that augments  the character weaknesses of our rich oligarchs and  politicians that,  while they shamelessly amass their wealth by plundering the national resources, they continuously destroy the already fragile pillars of  the Philippine society and threaten the whole nation to sink in the deep and dark bottoms of the Pacific.

Back to the ants and the bees I’m tempted to say that they are happier than human beings. And although they seem to be greedily working the whole day, what really moves them is not greed but their loyalty to their group and dedication to their duty. Work hard and save for the rainy day… Hence, the ants and the bees are perfect politicians, concerned about their tomorrow and the welfare of each. They may appear  just blindly obeying a genetic programm or look like robots without the faculty of thinking. But who told you that they are not happy and that they do not think? Though neither an ant nor a bee has ever whispered to me that he is happy, I prefer to consider him  happy for apart from working hard together, they always go back home and never rebel against their society. Filipinos have rebelled and many who left home are not interested in coming back to the same situations that have literally driven them away. And in all corners of the earth human beings have fought wars, turned vast acres of land to  sticky red, killed their kings and presidents. So would you rather prefer the life of an ant or a bee or your life as a human being? Or you  still prefer to be where things still need to be done?

“To each his own”, commented the reader  Marianne Gotladera in this site to the topic of Political dynasties in the Philippines. Well, if each one does not own things that do not rightfully belong to him or to her, why not? But this is far from being realized in the Philippine setting. Our president knows why. For with EDSA II she drove Erap from his seat because of Jueting only to continue it with her husband and sons. This is the face of our politics- makapal. And with this “Kanya-Kanya” attitude (To each his Own), we Filipinos will never be able to build up a cohesive society let alone produce political leaders that think in this direction. I, Me, Mine and To Each His Own are things that sound familiar to us but they are like the blue and sometimes dark waters that separate the many Philippine islands, Bulan from San Jacinto and Masbate.

On the other side, I tend to play play with the idea that Filipinos  are not made to succeed. For if we were we would have gotten it long ago. Yes, maybe we do not need success for we  fear we cannot handle the tremendous responsibility and costs that success brings with it. Success would rob us of our freedom to violate laws and leisurely life-style and perception of time, would make us irritable and impatient, would cover more fields with asphalts and cements, would congest our towns with high-rise condominiums, would break down our family structures, would increase heart attacks and suicide rates, would have us pay more taxes, would increase working hours, would produce more volumes of garbage and CO2-emissions that would pollute more our environment, etc. Who knows, it could be that our present socio-economic and political situation is already perfect for our Filipino character, so why desire for more? We only accomplish that which is directly proportional to our strengths and weaknesses, what we can and what we cannot and our present situation is maybe that what fits to us, that which keeps us apart from the Japanese or Thais. So why change ourselves and be like them? For this, our debt of gratitude should go to the greed of political dynasties and to our people’s uncommitted attitude towards politics; they have saved us from the discomforts of being rich and progressive. Indeed, our society is perfectly made for us, by us.

 

jun asuncion

Bulan Observer

Nanette Vytiaco And Tony Ariado : A Retrospect

Or, Bulan’s  Past Brothers And Sisters in Arm

Every political ideology began by man finds its end also in man. First, people killed for communism and in the end people killed communism. Fascism (National Socialism), Anarchism, Monarchism, Imperialism, etc., had also met the same fate. What we still have in abundance today in Asian continent are political dynasties, which is not really a political ideology but a political practice with roots in feudalism and the smell of  decomposing corpse of colonialism buried beneath the earth. But this (political dynasty) is also subject to natural death as history has shown us: it dies due to lack of next generation that will continue or the shift in interest or lack of energy of the new generation, or continued strife with other political dynasties has led to total annihilation of the dynasty/clan members, continued political turmoils and rebellions leading to mass murder of clan members, loss of  properties (lands, houses) and financial capital, internal strife among dynasty members, or simply sickness and death of all the remaining members. Along with that, political dynasties will all disappear when democracy reaches its full development in each Asian country.It’s just a matter of time. Today’s highly democratic countries in Europe and in other continents are practically devoid of political dynasties. Europe was once the bastion of powerful political dynasties with Kings and Queens, Emperors, Dukes, Princes, Counts, etc., as their rulers for centuries and now they’re mostly gone, and of the some still existing, they really have no more real political power and are slowly becoming extinct. The need for economic progress had shown them that only through democratic system of governance and democratic dealing among men could a country solve its problems, not by swords and guns and titles of nobility. And they succeeded.

Marcos may have succeeded in killing thousands of  the leftist fighters, at that time legitimate freedom fighters, intellectuals whose educated minds had been insulted by the human-negating policies of the dictator. But Marcos failed to kill the spirit of freedom in our country. I was young when I saw the lifeless body of  Tony and that of  his comrades, all aligned on the bare cemented ground in front of the old Municipal building of Bulan. In another time, I went alone inside the Bulan Parish Church one morning to bid farewell to Nanette Vytiaco, where she was kept in a coffin, ready for the last trip to eternal peace. They had fought for a cause- for freedom and social justice. My lack of understanding about what really was going on at that time did not prevent me from sympathizing with these fallen Tagabulans. For me, they were simply one of us and it was sad and horrifying to see more and more mutilated, bullet-ridden dead bodies almost everyday being displayed inside the Municipal vicinity, as I used to pass by it after school just to check and see-  and count, something that became routinaryfor me. But deep inside, my purpose was to capture conversations among the adults around for I wanted to understand. For this reason I wanted to meet my older dear cousin L. Asuncion hoping to get some answers to some questions, but in vain. I had not seen him even once before I left Bulan, met him finally three years ago in Bulan after over thirty years but time constraints prevented me again from talking with him. Must I wait another 30 years? In Manila, year 1981, just a few weeks after college, I was told by my mother that a classmate of mine came by looking for me. I knew who it was and his intention. He wanted me to join their ranks in the mountains. But at that time- as now- I aready knew that revolution of such kind is not the answer to our social and economic problems.

But Nanette Vytiaco, Tony Ariado and their comrades did not die in vain. For today we still remember them and they’re just part of our time in Bulan. These people had a dream for their country and countrymen. And they were sincere and courageous, fought and died for their cause. They were the noble men and women of Bulan, our local heroes. Within the context of their time, what they did was justified. Even as we now know that communism did not survive the test of time, these freedom fighters were after all not prophets, but human beings of flesh and blood driven by their idealism. Their fight, however, was not only for communism but first and foremost  a fight against the Marcos dictatorship. If I were at their age at that time, I would have been surely one amongst them roaming the hills of Bicol, fighting not really for communism but for freedom from Marcos’ tyranny.

That’s the difference of their group with today’s armed people roaming around the hills. Idealism has been lost but what survived is a kind of ism that’s defined only by their action now. In any case communism has failed and Marcos is no longer around. Today there are still communist political parties in the world, not only in the Philippines, and in some countries they are just any other legal political party. Though the social and economic preconditions that made communism popular in the past still exist today in many countries, I think most people know by now that communism is only beautiful as a theory but in practice it’s ugly as hell for it negates freedom and human instincts. I have personally talked with Russian, Czech, Polish, former  East German, former Ex-Yugolavian, Albanian, Bulagian, Romanian and Chinese friends or colleagues of mine and asked them about their experiences of communism (and indeed variations of communism for each of these countries had each version of communism). Most of them described their experiences and the system negatively and would never want to experience communistic life again and those who answered rather indirectly said that it is nice to live in freedom, be respected, be paid for your work and to own what you can afford. In the Philippines, the mountain rebels of now are sort of stragglers who do not want to recognize that their battle has already ended, whose legitimate officers have already left them long ago and are now helping the fight for progress by working just like the rest. Devoid of a valid cause and legitimate leaders, these armed men and women are vulnerable to manipulation by any moneyed private individual or corrupt politician. It is  a sad  for it does no justice to the original freedom fighters who had respected the people and had  paid with their lives. This is the irony of the story for these people represent now the exact opposite of the original cause, indeed, a sort of a  heraclitic enantiodromic phenomenon.

I was 12 when Martial Law was declared in 1972. I think it was a certain Sgt. Magno who was killed the very first in an ambush somewhere between Bulan and Irosin, aboard an army jeep, in that sharp uphill curve whose local name I have already forgotten. It was dark but I went to the Municipio to check and see that ambushed jeep. I had not seen Sgt. Magno anymore but what had stuck in my memory were  the huge bullet holes behind the driver’s seat; it sent chills down my spines. Astonishing is human memory, for until now as I write, after more than 30 years, I can still see clearly the details of that jeep. Indeed, the details of Bulan from my standpoint throughout those 17 years I spent there are well stored in my mind. Now ambushing still occurs sporadically in Bulan but this has no longer a deeper meaning for the people. In fact, people are now being outraged to hear such a senseless but violent attack for it runs counter to the aspirations of the people- to live in peace and unity, fight for progress by hard work and respect for all.

This Christmas Day of 2008, let us honor Nanette Vytiaco, Tony Ariado and the rest of their group who died with good visions in their minds for Bulan and who activated good things within each of us we didn’t know  existing. We should remember our genuine freedom fighters and draw lessons from them in our fight for progress the peaceful way. I personally express my highest respect to the man who knew and suffered with  Nanette Vytiaco more than anybody else, and that is Mr. Antonio Vytiaco, Sr., of Sta. Remedios, the father of Nanette. To you sir and the rest of your family I wish you a Merry Christmas. Now is the time to celebrate for justice has been served.

 For A Brighter Bulan!

jun asuncion

Bulan Observer

Dire Straits – Brothers In Arms
Album: Brothers In Arms
Year: 1985

Lyrics:

These mist covered mountains
Are a home now for me
But my home is the lowlands
And always will be
Some day youll return to
Your valleys and your farms
And youll no longer burn
To be brothers in arms

Through these fields of destruction
Baptisms of fire
I’ve witnessed all your suffering
As the battles raged higher
And though they did hurt me so bad
In the fear and alarm
You did not desert me
My brothers in arms

There’s so many different worlds
So many different suns
And we have just one world
But we live in different ones

Now the suns gone to hell
And the moons riding high
Let me bid you farewell
Every man has to die
But its written in the starlight
And every line on your palm
Were fools to make war
On our brothers in arms

 

………………………………………………related News……………………………….. 

Bicol Mail Online

December 04, 2008

Anti-Marcos heroes hailed
QUEZON CITY — Addressing a crowd here of illustrious men and women and relatives and friends of the victims of the bloody “Dekada 70”, Naga City Mayor Jesse M. Robredo underscored that the lives sacrificed by our heroes and martyrs duringthedark years of Martial Law would not be in vain if we, the living, continue the fight against deceit, decadence and oppression which are once again threatening the nation.

Robredo has been invited as guest of honor and speaker at the Bantayog ng mga  celebration honoring this year’s martyrs and heroes last Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 2, 2008.

The site of the celebration was the Bantayog Memorial Center located at the intersection of Edsa and Quezon Avenue here where the names of over 170 heroes and martyrs are etched on the black granite Wall of Remembrance near a 45-foot sculpture by Ed Castrillothatdepicts a defiant mother holding a fallen son.

This year’s honorees are: Prudencio Nemenzo, Sedfrey Ordonez, Lucio de Guzman, Alfredo Jazul, Bayani Lontoc, Catalino Blas, Nimfa del Rosario, Pastor Mesina, and Alex Torres.

An estimated 10,000 Filipinos, mostly young students, are believed to have suffered and died during the Marcos dictatorship that ended in 1986.

“Perhaps the reason [why I was invited] here is that I come from Naga, a small city of Bicol martyrs and heroes in the time of rage against a dictatorship,” Robredo told his audience that include former Sen. Jovito R. Salonga, chair emeritus of Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation, and its Chairman, Alfonso T. Yuchengco.

He said Naga City is in the heart of Bicolandia that in the time of Marcos was a forsaken land in search of liberation from poverty and oppression “where the blood of a hundred or so young heroes and martyrs were spilled over its abandoned hills and barren farmlands”.

Robredo said he could remember the names of some of these heroes from Naga and Bicol: Tony G. Ariado; Jemino L. Balaquiao, Jr.; Floro Balce; Alex Belone; Dr. Juan B. Escandor; Romulo Jallores alias Kumander Tangkad, and his brother Ruben, also known as Kumander Benjie; the brothers Ramon, Jesus and Tomas Pilapil, and; Nanette Vytiaco, among others.

“Some of their names, I believe, are etched on this Wall of Remembrance,” the mayor said.

Robredo said he was a second year high school at the Ateneo de Naga when the wounded Romulo Jallores, alias Kumander Tangkad of Ocampo, Camarines Surwascornered and peppered with22 gunshots by Philippine Constabulary agents inside his relative’sapartment along Ateneo Avenue in the afternoon of December 30, 1971.

Ka Jemino Balaquiao, too, died a horrible death in the hands of Marcos soldiers. While lifeless, his face was desecrated and his bloodied body dragged by a tricycle on the way to the Army camp.

His brutal death in 1980 prompted a Naga-based local paper to strongly condemn it. His fellow students at the NagaParochialSchool where he finished his elementary grades before entering the Philippine Science High School and UP honored him so deeply. They kept vigil over his sealed body at the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral where he used to be a student-altar boy.

During those times, even Naga’s and Camarines Sur’s prominent political leaders were fiercely anti-Marcos. These men included human rights lawyer Joker Arroyo, constitutionalist lawyer-priest Joaquin Bernas, House Minority Floor Leader Ramon H. Felipe, Jr. the late Justice Francis Garchitorena, then ConconDelegate Ramon Diaz, and local practicing lawyers Luis General Jr., J. Antonio Carpio, and Ramon San Andres. Inquirer columnist Conrado de Quiros was then a young activist who edited an underground news magazine.

Acknowledging the heroes’ courage and unwavering love for liberty and freedom, the mayor said their deaths were for a higher purpose that should be carried on by the present generations by continuing to serve the people in the best way that they can.

“Let us all be heroes [like them], more so in the absence of tumult and war,” Robredo stressed.

 

………………………………………….(News article referred by mr.rudyb)

 

The case of 2 ‘missing’ girls   

By Nikko Dizon

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:42am (Mla time) 12/27/2008Filed Under: Youth, Armed conflict, Civil unrest
MANILA, Philippines-Since the Supreme Court adopted over a year ago extraordinary measures to curb human rights abuses, the Armed Forces of the Philippines has been on the defensive, receiving a barrage of complaints in connection with extrajudicial executions and disappearances.
But in a little publicized case in February, the AFP’s Civil Military Operations (CMO) found itself in an unusual court battle: Helpingparents secure information from leftist groups about two missing teenage girls who they believed had joined the New People’s Army (NPA).
The parents of Khristine Calido and Marissa Espedido sought a writ of amparo, from the Spanish amparar-to protect-adopted by the high tribunal from a successful judicial procedure in Guatemala to combat military abuses in the midst of a rash in political killings and kidnappings of activists.
This time, the respondents were leftist groups that, the parents averred, had recruited Calido and Espedido to pave the way for their membership in the NPA.
The girls were barely 18 years old when they left their homes and abandoned their studies, says Col. Buenaventura Pascual, CMO head.
“Filing the writ of amparo was the only solution so that those who knew where the girls were would be compelled to produce them in court,” Pascual says.
The case was lodged in the Regional Trial Court in Antipolo City against leaders of the Kabataan party-list group, Bayan Muna and individuals who included youthleaders accompanying Khristineand Marissa when their parents last saw them before they went missing.
The groups vehemently denied that they were responsible for the girls’ disappearance.
Volunteer educator
One respondent claimed Khristine gave “volunteer education to tribal folks and farmers” in Tanay, Rizal, on Dec. 26, 2007, but that she had never been seen after that.
Pascual says the court case uncovered the lives led by the girls since they joined the leftist youth organization Anakbayanwhile attendinga national high school where they were both enrolled.
Searching amongthe girls’ belongings, their parents discovered their diaries where they detailed their activities that included joining lightning rallies, “MOBs” or mobilizations, and campaigning for Bayan Muna in last year’s midter

One Year Bulan Observer

After a year, and with positive reactions from its visitors and from our Local Government of Bulan, I think Bulan Observer’s plan to continue its existence is justified. And with Senator Escudero’s statement to “Keep Up The Good Work”, Bulan Observer is more than just motivated to face the coming 2009 and to continue helping through this way in connecting our people together. We have defined our goals from the very beginning and we will hold on to them  throughout the coming year again. I’m optimistic that more people will be joining us on-line to share their views and concerns for our town.

Personally, I have observed that in Bulan one can talk with our people and with our leaders. One should only transcend negative emotions and be open-minded without losing one’s objectives for the town. It is this “town-first” position that gives us the courage to say what we think and pushes us to continue finding ways to engage in a constructive dialogue with our people and with our leaders. People who think only about themselves could only end up quarreling and cutting communication with others, thus leading to isolation, in turn, an isolated person will never be able to help solve any problem facing the town. Democratic interaction is only possible if we transcend our personal emotions and find ways to work with one another. I have pointed out before the example of Obama and Hillary Clinton. If the whites can do that why not the browns? In good politics, nothing is personal. Or simply said, it is about the town, not about you and me. To round up here’s a line from the French philosopher Voltaire: “A long dispute means both parties are wrong”.

My big thanks again to my sister Edna’s  pupils above for smiling for  us the whole year by now and I hope they have not lost this smile they showed me three years  ago when I took this photo and that they are still willing to be with us in 2009. I guess this photo sums up everything about Bulan. My special thanks to Atty. Benji, Rudy Belen, J.A. Carizo, Dora and Milagros and to LGU-Bulan under Mayor Helen De Castro with its PIO Tony Boy Gilana and to all our readers and visitors.

Have Yourselves A  Merry  Little Christmas!

 

jun asuncion

Bulan Observer

Continue Your Good Work!

I have been contemplating whether to share or not share with you this email I got just this afternoon. This cold evening, after thinking things out over a cup of coffee, I finally decided to share this with you. The way that this mail has warmed my heart after reading it, I also hope this would do the same to all observers of Bulan as well as to our Mayor Helen De Castro and her Team. I firmly believe that we can reach our good sides and most importantly that of our public servants if we establish a way of constructive communication with one another and focus on good intention and reward for any good work done.

Bulan Observer was launched with this objective in mind, and not to cultivate hate among us; it doesn’t support anybody indiscriminately but support only his/her good intention and achievement for our town. “Continue your good work!” are words that summarize our approach in politics, words that should motivate us to do good works in any form for our community. By the way, these words came from a fellow Bicolano, from Senator Francis Escudero, words that I just cannot keep for myself  for his message is for all of us. Here’s his email:

 

Thursday, December 18, 2008 9:16 AM
From
To:
junasun05@yahoo.com
Asuncion:

Good afternoon! Thank you for sending an e-mail through my Online Office. Feel free to browse the website. It was put up in order to provide Filipinos a venue for understanding my legislative work and position on national issues. Through features like the forum and comment box, site visitors can send their thoughts and criticisms that serve as an opportunity for self-reflection and self-improvement.

I admire your work on the Bulan Observer. Its long-term goal of creating a huge non-partisan Bulan On-line Community that let members post their thoughts on corrupt practices and injustices in the town is impressive. It is really admirable that you harness new technology in encouraging pro-activeness and vigilance among people. Continue your good work!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Chiz

——————–
I join Chiz in wishing  you all in Bulan  a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year!
 
 
 
 
jun asuncion
Bulan Observer

Position Paper of the Municipal Government Of Bulan Regarding Margaja Mining In Bulan.

Note: from PIO-Bulan to Jun Asuncion

Hereunder is a copy of the Position Paper of the Municipal Government of Bulan on the issues you raised regarding Margaja mining in Bulan.

November 8, 2008

Honorable Iggy T. Arroyo
The Committee Chairman

The Honorable Committee Members
Committee on Natural Resources
House of Representatives
Metro Manila

POSITION PAPER OF THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF BULAN, SORSOGON ON HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 177, “ RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, INTO THE ILLEGAL EXTRACTION/QUARRYING/MINING OF MAGNETIC SAND IN THE PROVINCE OF SORSOGON PARTICULARLY IN THE MUNICIPALITIES OF SANTA MAGDALENA AND BULAN, SORSOGON”.

Section 138, Chapter 2, Book II of RA 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991 states, “ xxx . The permit to extract sand, gravel and other quarry resources shall be issued exclusively by the provincial governor, pursuant to the ordinance of the sangguniang panlalawigan…”

We respectfully submit to the Honorable Committee that the issue on the granting of approval and permits to prospectors of and operators on quarry resources is beyond the jurisdiction of the municipal government.

What the municipal government does, upon application by the quarry operation applicant, as part of the application procedure, is to issue a certificate of endorsement that it interposes no objection prior to the securing of the necessary permits and license from the concerned DENR agencies and the provincial government.

It is up to the concerned DENR agencies and the provincial government to judiciously decide whether the necessary requirements have been complied with. Given their technical expertise, which is beyond the scope of this local government, the former can very well determine and decide on the granting of permits on these resources.

As far as the Municipal Government is concerned, we were informed that there was a permittee of magnetite sand quarrying in our locality, first in late 2006, and then the permit was renewed in August of 2008.

On the matter of taxation, it will be up to the provincial government to remit the share to our municipal government and to the concerned barangays where the quarrying is taking place, for the utilization of our local resource.

As to the matter of operation, while it is within our territorial jurisdiction, we are of the presumption that the supervision on compliance to standards set forth by law rests with the agencies concerned who have issued the permit to such an activity.

(Sgd.) HELEN C. DE CASTRO
Municipal Mayor