Bikol Reporter January 4 - 10 Issue

8/9/2019 Bikol Reporter January 4 - 10 Issue

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BIKOL REPORTER2 JANUARY 4-10, 2015OPINION

Our year-end economic fundamentalsare strong enough. It can withstand bothdomestic and global disturbances. Thereare old and new obstacles but with thenever-say-die resolve of Filipinos, weshould expect another positive year forour economy. With the liberalization ofbusiness and industry within ASEAN theresilient Filipinos are expected to spiritedlyght it out in the open arena of trade andindustry.

EDUCATION: The big changes arein the eld of education as the K-12

Program comes into full gear. A lot ofadjustments have to be made and thebudgetary funding therefor has beenprovided. Bigger challenges lay beforeour educational institutions. They needadditional classrooms, and technicallyqualied teachers. Some colleges anduniversities now have problems in theemployment of teachers and professors.

Effective this year, some institutionsof higher learning adjusted their school

Most likely, we will miss most of the 8 Millennium

Development Goals(MDG) which reckoning year is

2015 particularly the rst which hopes to eradicateextreme hunger and poverty, even if the targets

set are already minimal, to say the least.Natural disasters, like Yolanda, have made

matters worse, i.e. they frustrated the attainment

of these targets, as they showed how our

governments disasters programs are geared

more towards rehabilitation and relief distribution,

than preparation and mitigation.

Social interventions, like the so-called PAPs

and CCTs (more popularly known as 4Ps), have

not been much of a source of relief or offering a

light at the end of the long and dark tunnel of our

countrys poverty situation.

In Bicol, for instance, an independent surveydone in the rst quarter of last year showed thatalmost 70% of those pooled believed that the 4Ps

have not made much of a difference to the lives of

the beneciaries which now reached 305,379 as ofJanuary last year.

These gures are supported by and consistentwith other statistics which glaringly show thatnot much have improved in our peoples lives

Bicols poverty incidence reached 34.1 percent in2012 which made us the seventh poorest region in

the country.

State apparatuses, like the national budget

for instance, can be our source of hope. Yet, we

must make sure that allocations for the poor and

poverty alleviation should not go to waste or to

graft and corruption, as shown for example by the

PDAF scam, or locally by the dismissal of three

city ofcials last year by the Ombudsman foroverpricing fertilizers meant for farmers.

To be fair, the government has set in place

safeguards that these will not be so, such as the

Grassroots-Based Budgeting (which replaced theerstwhile Bottoms-Up Budgeting scheme); which

hopes to ensure that the budgets are reective ofthe real needs of the people.If we are failing the MDG targets, then we should

look towards a post-2015 scenario of recticationand correction, by ensuring that henceforth, we

should closely watch and ensure that government

programs and budgets should be for sustainable

development, i.e. the economy, society and the

environment are factored in the equation andcoherently reinforcing each other.

The natural calamities and the graft-ridden

Philippine political economy, should remind us

that we should not leave governance alone to

politicians.

That is the least we can do in ensuring that

indeed, 2015 as the Year of the Poor, should

indeed be a year of reckoning for us, that we are

truly a nation which cares for the sick, shelter the

homeless and feed the hungry.

years, aligning start of classesand graduation periods. This is tocalibrate their schedules with thoseof other countries, especially from theadvanced and industrialized world. Acomplementary (unpopular) policy isthe downgrading of Filipino subjects (as

non-technical course). We agree withour nationalist educators that this policyshift is negative!

ECO-POLITICS: The nextpresidential elections are still seventeen(17) months away. But this early -politicalalignments and strategic campaignsare already on. There are signs thatmoney will again be the deciding factorin many contests, especially the road toMalacanang. The Filipino voters mustbe re-educated so that selling of votesto highest bidders can be negated.Candidates must learn that money givenaway does not guarantee that they willget the votes.

There are many political familieswhose members lost almost totally in thelast elections because of family identity.But there are still those who continueto dominate the political scenario.

Voters should teach these domineeringgroups by shifting voting preferencesto new leaders. We need young inour government with novel styles ofapproaches and leadership governance.We have available, qualied aspirantsjust waiting to be tapped.

NEW YEARS WISH: May you staystrong and healthy ever looking up tothe One source of our life.

(PICPA past president and Hall-of-Famer, and ACPAPP Lifetime AchievementAwardee).

YEAR 2014: It was a tumultuous,challenging year with weatherdisturbances wreaking damages to manyregions of our country. But surprisingly,

we did not just survive we also attainedsome sort of economic progress registering strides ahead of our ASEANneighbors. Collection of revenues tosupport our economic and service activitieswas commendably high, setting positivepatterns for the years to come.

Opinions Unlimitedis apprehensive thatas the ASEAN Integration goes into effectnext month (2015) we may be caughtstill unprepared in many aspects, moreso in matters of production, technologyand sciences. Our government mustwork double time so that our moreadvanced neighbors may not beat us onthe draw. We should analyze our presentcapabilities. Continue doing those wherewe are good at and just rely on our ASEANallies to export to us cheaper products andservices.

LOOK AHEAD: One bright light in the

immediate horizon is the ofcial visit toour country of our most revered PopeFrancis. We have so much to learn fromHis Holiness in terms of his pragmaticways in leading the 1.2 billion worldwidemembers of the Roman Catholic Church.He can be the long-awaited uniting forceso that Filipinos can be one regardlessof sex, gender, color and creed. We canlearn from his gentle and simple leadershipstyle.

It seems that the aim is to make theopposition weak and paralyzed before the2016 election with the incarceration of itsleaders. Will it succeed?

* * * * *A team of Justice Sec. Leila de Lima

recently raided the National Bureau ofPrison in Muntinlupa and discovered thatconvicted drug lords are still able to control

a signicant portion of the illegal drugs inthe country. It was reported that they founddrugs, money, drug paraphernalia, guns,bullets, air-conditioning units, Jacuzzi, hotelbeds which cannot enter the prison buildingwithout the approval of the NBP ofcials.

Dr. Ramon Ricardo Roque wrote thefollowing in the Tempo dated Dec. 23,2014: This is plain, simple and clear

illustration of how the government, bothpersonel and system becomes partnerin committing crimes. The raid negateswhatever claims the government hasabout good governance in the country.I agree with him.

I think thats one of the reasons whySen. Tito Sotto announced he is goingto le a case reviving death penalty forviolation of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Law. Itsonly for drug pushefrs. He said, there isno hope that drug lords can be reformedwith imprisonment. It is true that Godcommanded Thou shalt not kill. ButI look at Sottos bill as killing in self-defense of would-be victims of illegaldrugs and not just killing for bad intention.This deserves a serious study. I believeGod will judge us on a case to casebasis. Illegal drugs sent to the Philippinesbecause we do not have death penalty

here. During the Martial Law days, wehad the death penalty. When drug Lord,Lim Seng over shot, drug lords stoppedsending their drugs here.

* * * * *

As the year 2014 is ending this monthof December, several unprecedentedthings happened. These never happened

before.Three justices of the Flora Division of the

Sandiganbayan inhibited themselves fromthe plunder and graft cases of Sen. JinggoyEstrada. This happened after they heardthe testimony of star witness Ben Hur Luy.The reason they gave was for personalreason. They are Justices Rolando Jurado,the chair, Alexander Gesmundo and MariaTheresa Dolores Estoesta.

It was published in the national dailiesthat they allegedly were being pressured. Ofcourse this will be denied. They are beingasked to explain their reason.

Rep. Rodriguez said that if they refuseto explain, the Supreme Court should forcethem to do so. Rep. Rodolfo Albano III saidthat the three justices should resign if theyrefuse to explain.

According to rumors from grapevinesources, the alleged pressure is to convict

Sen. Estrada even if there is no evidence.But these are only rumors. It may be trueor not, only the Justices to heard the callof of PNoy.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada belongs to theopposition and is a vice presidentiable.

In my early years, I was happiest whengiving bent to my wanderlust. My feet hadtaken me to almost every corner of thisover 7,000 islands. It was a carefree life.The future? I had nothing to worry. I wassingle, a blessedness I treasured.

If there was already an exodus ofFilipinos to distant lands in those days ,I would have joined the diaspora. I wasready to settle in the worlds remotest

parts.This high point in my life abruptly ended,

when I was mesmerized by a youngbeauty in northern Catanduanes in one ofmy sojourns there. It was the beginning ofthe end of a carefree bachelors life. I hadfound the woman of my hearts desire.

When my two boys came, one after theother in a space of 9 years, my hungerfor distant, exotic places had taken abackseat. There were moments, however,when I had found myself yearning forthe excitement of going places , ofadventure.

But whenever I looked into the facesof my little boys,my untamed longing for a

life on the go would recede.Catanduanes in early 70s particularly

the northern Caramoran town was verypeaceful. There was a time when it hadzero crime rate. Because of the peaceand quiet, ideal for my restless spirit, Idecided to make it a home for my smallfamily.

There was one thing the provincelacked:electricity. Except for capital townVirac which had a daily 3-hour power

supply, the rest of the provinces l0towns were pitch dark during moonlessnights. The province was alive onlyduring full moon.

People stayed out late to enjoy thebright evening, listening to the hootingof owls. Most communities had forestedareas nearby.

It was former United Nationsambassador Leandro Verceles, Sr.

who became governor who energizedthe whole province.

An owl from nearby forest across ariver in Caramorans barrio Tucao paidus a visit one moonlit evening. It ewstraight into our kitchen through anopen window disturbing our cat dozingnearby.I tried to catch the intruder butits sharp claws sunk into my hands. Icried in pain.

Caramoran in those days was linkedto Virac by a rough highway built onthe side of a mountain range. Travelwas ve hours by jeepney over bumpyroad.

EDITORIAL

02082606

LEE G. DULLESCO II

Head, Advertising Associates

0920-533-7766

Tel. No. (054) 475-6262

ED G. YU

Editor

0939-604-3144

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BIKOL REPORTER 3JANUARY 4-10, 2015

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UNC H/S CLASS 68 CHRISTMAS PARTY 2014Ofcers and members of the University of Nueva Caceres High School Class of 1968 Alumni Association held their ChristmasParty last Dec. 13 at the Childrens Educational Center along Magsaysay Avenue, Naga City.

KBP OFFICERS 2015

ROY SAN RAMON OF DWKMVice Mayor Nelson S. Legacion of Naga City administered the oath of the new electedofcials of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas-Camarines Sur Chapter, led byEdwin Lara (BBS-DWLV).

Naga City Vice Mayor

Nelson S. Legacion led the

oath-taking of the new of-

cers of the Kapisanan ng

mga Brodkaster ng Pilipi-

nas -Camarines Sur Chap-

ter (KBP-CamSur), head-

ed by its president, Edwin

Lara of BBS-DWLV.

Aside from Lara, ofcials

of the KBP this 2015 are:

Romar Vasquez of Love Ra-

dio, vice president; Reyna

Betare of RPN Iriga, trea-

surer; Janet Hirang of PBN

5, secretary; Alex Parfan of

Radyo Aguila, auditor; and

Rick Arnedo of FBN-DZGE,

performance ofcer.

In the induction ceremony

held last Dec. 17 at Eurotel,

Dinaga, Naga City, Lega-

cion congratulated KBP-

CamSur for supporting the

city government of Naga in

disseminating accurate in-

formation on city programs,

policies and activities , as

well as for promoting the

highest standards of quality

in the broadcast industry.

Legacion, however, coun-

seled the media practitioners

to always observe fair playin their reporting and com-

mentaries.

Legacion inducts new KBP ofcers

Madrigal Foundation eyesRinconada expansion

Climate fund proposalsreview set in Mid-2015

Gov. SALCEDA

By FLOREO G. SOLMIRANO

LEGAZPI CITY -- TheGreen Climate Fund (GCF)

Board will likely start re-viewing funding proposals

in the second half of 2015,according to Albay Gover-nor Joey Sarte Salceda.

Under Salcedas co-chair-manship of the GCF Board inOctober 2013-2014, the Boardachieved, despite skepticismand deep divisions, two majormilestones -- the completionof the eight prerequisites foroperationalization; and rais-ing of USD 10.2 billion forthe initial resource mobiliza-tion.

"Apparently 2015 augurswell for developing nationsthat face threats of climatechange," he noted.

The GCF was establishedto act as a central vehicle forclimate nance under whichindustrialized countries wouldassist developing countrieswith new nance for publicand private sector projects and

programs, Salceda said.It offers unlimited oppor-

tunities for deploying resil-ient and clean solutions thatwill foster economic growthand employment globally, headded.

We are fully condenton GCFs ability to start dis-bursing funds next year and

encourage more countries tocome forward with contri-butions and for contributingcountries to further raise theirambition, Salceda quotedManuel Pulgar-Vidal, Min-ister of the Environment of

Peru and president-designateof the United Nations Frame-work Convention on ClimateChange (UNFCCC) Confer-

ence of the Parties (C0P), assaying.The Albay governor also

remembered Pulgar-Vidal assaying that the GCF is theepicenter that determines thedirection of both public andprivate investment over thenext decades and the capital-ization of the Fund is one ofthe wisest investments in the21st century.

This creates a positive at-mosphere for the start of suc-cessful negotiations in Limain less than two weeks, thePeru ofcial added, as quotedby Salceda.

The UNFCCC-COP hadits 20th session in Lima onDec. 1-12 and will have its21st session in NovemberDecember 2015.

It encouraged governmentsthat have not yet contributed tothe Fund to continue pledging.

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NAGA CITY --- The

Consuelo Chito Madrigal

Foundation (CCMF) Bi-

col honored its empoweredwomen and their big role

in shaping the economy in a

simple yet notable ceremony

held over the weekend at the

Jesse M. Robredo (JMR)

Coliseum here.

All the key players and

ofcials of the Foundation

also graced the occasion with

their presence as a testimony

of their untiring support and

commitment to alleviate pov-

erty particularly here in the

region and provide pro-poor

programs that will sustain the

communitys need for eco-

nomic stability.

Speaking before a multi-tude of almost 8,000 bene-

ciaries, CCMF Board of Trust-

ees President Atty. Gizela M.

Montinola lauded their wom-

en-beneciaries for being the

foundations active partners in

pursuing development and by

engaging in projects that will

ght poverty through respon-

sible entrepreneurship.

Im happy to see all of

you here. There are so manywomen in the Coliseum. This

means that in the eld of mi-

cro-nance, indeed women

are enterprising. CCMF will

not succeed if not for you. We

will not succeed in what were

doing if not for you. Your tri-

umph is our triumph. I think,

and as I see it, youre all lucky

not because of us, but be-

cause of your perseverance

and your effort, Montinola

added.

The lady President also

took the opportunity to chal-

lenge the members to do

three things: rst, to realize

the Pay it forward schemewhich means to help others

since they were also blessed,

and nd someone that they

can also help; second, to love

their work and third, love their

neighbor and their country for

it is in these three essences of

lifes values that prosperity

and total development will

happen.Fr. Wilmer S. Tria, CCMF-

Bicol Chief Executive Of-

cer (CEO) gave his words of

thanks to everyone for con-

tinuously giving their support

to the programs of CCMF

and vowed that the Founda-

tion will continue to exist to

empower more and more in-

digent people through their

programs.

Fr. Tria announced the ex-

pansion of the CCMF-Bikol

Micronance Program to

the Rinconada Area which

includes, among others the

towns of Iriga, Buhi, Baao,

Nabua, and Bula. He addedthat CCMF is targeting 15,000

members before the end of

2015. Currently, CCMMF has

Celebrating a decadeof Wawas legacy

Dr. ALFELOR

IRIGA CITY --- It couldhave been a decade now

since she saw the light 98years ago. Yet to this date,her memories and the legacyshe left behind remains asthriving as she rst started

making her dreams come

true years back. Her demisetwo years ago never stoppedher vision from unfolding.

Dr. Remedios Dy-SanchezRigoroso-Alfelor, Universityof Northeastern Philippines(UNEP) matriarch, will belovingly remembered on herbirthday come December 30.She might have physicallyleft her mortal abode, but theinspiration and love she hadunselshly shared will be re-membered till innity.

Fondly called Wawa byfamily members, loved onesand those close to her heart,Wawa has left a priceless lega-cy the love for learning, put-ting great value in education.She has instilled high regardand appreciation for teachingand believed that embracingthis profession will help hermold future leaders. And itdid! Now UNEP is dubbed asthe Home of Global leadersfor producing top of the linegraduates competing with theworlds best professionals.

It was her dream to havean affordable yet quality edu-cation, especially for her con-stituents in the Rinconada area.

A dream which saw its fulll-ment over the years and madeUNEP- her beloved institutionof learning what it is now- theHome of Global Achievers.

Wawa was also so rich inlove and showed the generos-ity of heart to those she left be-hind. She also made her religi-osity so pronounced that otherswere also drawn into puttingChrist in the center of theirlives. Her immediate fam-ily members, especially UNEPExecutive Vice President andEVP For Finance Deli Alfelor-Tibi, continued this devotion.

Her 100th birthdate will besimply remembered through asolemn mass.

Ms. Deli, one of Wawasdaughters, took care of Wawawhen she was already oldand ailing. She never misseda chance to sing her favoritesong Let Me Call You Sweet-heart before going to work.

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BIKOL REPORTER4 JANUARY 4-10, 2015HALO-HALO

jokee BOTOR-REYES

PELL-

MELL

2015. What is in store for the Filipinos?X First Holy Communion

We are an optimistic people. We do not lose hope easily.Maybe because we are a praying people. No matter what

comes, they are only to make us even stronger. 2014 broughtabout calamities. Typhoon Yolanda was the worst that hit thecountry. Until now many have not yet recovered but still hoping.

We were likewise hit by Typhoon Glenda but we have moved on.We celebrated Christmas happily. We sang Christmas carols thesweetest way, we gave gifts, no matter how simple but straight

from the heart. We were short of nances but gladly survived.Our bills were all paid before the year ended.

The Yuletide season was lled with joy. Finishing the nine-daymisa de Aguinaldo was very satisfying and spiritually uplifting.Although the season was marked with rain, we still found a

lot of time having fun with friends and relatives. The Year-end

Pagka-kaiba/han

kan magpoon sindang magtanom bakona lang para sa saindang pagkakan,

kundi nganing magkaigwa nin kwartanganing makatransaksyon sinda sabagong merkantilistikong sistema o

pagkabuhay. Nangangahulugan ini ninpaggamit nin mga kemikal asin abono

nganing magin produktibo an saindangmga oma. An resulta iyo an pagluyakan pagooma sa katasan.

May kontemporaryong leksyon anbiological diversity sa satong vidapolitika.

Kun pirme-pirmeng parehongapelyido an mamamahala sa satong

gobyerno, maabot an panahon namareynar an ley kan ekonomiya an inaapod na law on diminishing

returns. Mababangkarote sinda samga bagong ideya kaya nasibog sindasa tradisyonal asin probadong mga

pormula: gamiton an kapagtiosan kankadaklan bilang kakusgan kan saindang

kapangyarihan.Sa huri, an mga namamanwaan an

pierde sa pagreynar kan political dynasty

kan mga luma asin tradisyonal na

pamilya sa gobyerno. Panahon namanna magkaigwa nin diversity, nin iba.

Kun may patarikmas na kurit sa sakongtitulo, ini ta boot kong ipahiling an rarom

kan satong tataramon. Naghahanapakong dakitaramon kan diversity saBikol asin sakong narisa na an ugat na

tataramon na iba sakop asin dakop naan sakong hinanahap.

Inbwelto ako ngonyan sa sarongproyekto sa pagdakitaramon kan saronglibro na pinag-adalan an tradisyonal na

gawi nin pagtanom sa mga katasan nalugar kan bukid kan Iriga, Isarog asin saMasaraga kan mga katutubong Agta.

Nahiling kan pag-aadal na sarosa dahilan kan haros pagkawara na

kan gawing ini, apwera sa migrasyonkan mga katutubo pasiring sa lantad,iyo an pagkawara man kan diversity

o pagkakaiba kan mga pananom naitinatanom kan mga katutubo.

Kadto kaya, apwera sa paroy,

nagtatanom pa an mga katutubong Agtanin iba pang produktong makukuahan nin

pagkakan arog kan batag, duma asin mgaprutas. An pagkakaibang ini nagsiguro naan daga sa katasan, dai mapapagal asin

mawawara an mga taba o nutrients sa

sobrang pagtatanom o sa kontemporaryoasin usong tataramon sustainable.

Nawara an kaibahan na ini huli sakolonyal na kasaysayan kan satong

nasyon si mga dating inaapod nangonyan na ancestral domain kan mga

katutubo napatitulohan kan mga taga-lantad asin sinda mismo nawaran ninderechos igdi. Sa irarom nin kolonyalismo,

an luma nindang konsepto nin espasyo,nasanglian nin legalidad na an epektoiyo an pagkawara ninda nin istaran o

displacement.Kinakaipuhan man nindang

makisabayan sa angat kan mga para-oma sa lantad asin sa ley nin merkado,

PAMA-AN

Conference cum Christmas Party of the Iriga City Water Districtwas most enjoyable. Everyone one went home happy. Every

employee won rafe give-aways.Everyone had a reunion to attend...with batchmates in school,

with friends who were out of town for some time and came home

for the holidays. I missed Rosabel Guevara-Angeles and thereunion of her high school class at the Mabini Memorial Collegesafter fty years. Its too bad but I also missed the party at the

ofce of the City Tourism. It was a formal party and I missed itbecause I did not have a formal dress to wear to the occasion, he

he. I also missed Trisha Amarantos Little Angel Kiddie SchoolsChristmas get-together

Yuan Corporal. Rose Blasco-Corporals daughter turned 7

last December and she was the picture of a very lovely mini-debutante. Mrs. Corporal runs the local Kumon.

My darling granddaughter X, 9, received her first Holy

Communion last December with some 200 Grade III pupils of

the University of Saint Anthony Montessori School. It was amost memorable and exciting event for the children and equallyexciting for their parents and teachers. X had looked forward toit much glee. Dressed in immaculate white with white shoes and

white stockings with a white veil decorated by white owers, shewas very pretty as all other young girls her age. She told me she

can now receive Jesus in Holy Communion regularly.So, whats in store for 2015? We start hoping that when the

next elections on 2016 come, we will elect good and responsible

national leaders and lead the country sa daang talagangmatuwid at hindi gaya ng matuwid na daan kuno ni Pinoy na

bumaluktot ng husto. We hope the Philippine economy will

be better. We hope there will be no new taxes to pay, no farehikes, no increase in electric bills. Casureco III has not been

very kind to its consumers. During the last two weeks, we havebeen experiencing brown outs.

I hope we will have less crimesless domestic violence

less child exploitation. I hope we be freed from serious illness.I hope our children will grow up not just healthy but respectfulto their elders and to authorities.

The Pope is coming to visit us. Thats a most welcome thing.

I have seen Pope John Paul II (now a Saint) two times and Iwill cherish that wonderful memory as many Filipinos who sawhim too felt the same.

May Pag-asa. Welcome 2015.

INNER CHESSBY j. HENRY DANICAN

Mawot kong magdanay sa saimong puro O Sabang

dawa dai itugot kaining hawak, kaining panahon,kaining kinamumuktakan ngunyan.

dawa pa an gabos an sako umulang.

Mawot kong magtukaw giraray sa gilid kan saimong baybayon

na garo baga naghahalat sana ako sa kun isay na dai man maabot.an pagmate garo yaon na akong gayo sa pinakaibong kaining kinaban

kun yaon ako diyan O Sabang, diyan sa saimong puro.

Mawot kong makamata giraray nin mas amay, abutan sa saimong puro

an sinarom. Asin sa sakuyang hampang maatubang an kagayunan

kan palibot mo O Sabang: an alon, an baybayon, an tubig-askadkan San Miguel Bay, kahiwasan sana kan langit an limitasyon.

Mawot kong madangog an mga sulog, mga sampalingkan tubig-askad sa saimong break water.

Daing kasagkudan siring sarung mahamis na pagkamoot

Sarung pinapangaputan na paglaom.

Mawot kong sabaton an duros na hali pa sa kun saen

na lugar na dai ko pa nadudukayanasin mahiling an saimong huyom mantang

dinuduyan kan saimong alon an mga paralahod.

Mawot kong mahiling liwat an paggibsawsa mga balde kan lumang baroto

na perang aldaw na yaon sa tahaw kan dagat

hidaw an mga ngisi kan aki, nagkikirikilyab agid sa mga bituon.

Kaya dawa pa magayon an oras maglakaw

Magpasiring sa kun saen darahon kaining mga bitis

Mawot ko man giraray magpawalat nguna igdi sa taid mona garo baga dai na ako mahali sa saimong baybayon.

jerome M. HipolitoNagtutukdo sa Central Bicol State University

of Agriculture, Calabanga Campus

Nagin fellow sa 12th Ateneo National Writers Workshop

Mawot kong magdanaysa saimong Puro O Sabang

By jEROME M. HIPOLITO


5/8


HOMAR MURILLO

TIP OF ANICEBERG

PurgatoryoKan si Lola Vacion nabubuhay pa asin ako aki pang sadit, sabi

sako ni lola an kada daa tipasing bagas o maluto na sinasayangsarong aldaw sa purgatoryo an karibay. Kun totoo man na may

purgatoryo perang taon kaya sa purgatoryo an mga tawong pa-sosyal na naheheling ko sa mga food courts kan malls na kunsaen kabanga lang kan inorder na maluto an kinakakan? pano

pa kaya si mga opisyales kan gobyerno sa NFA na sako-sakongbagas an sinasayang asin napapabayaan magkaralapa sa mga

bodega? Siguro kun totoo an purgatoryo kulang an sanribongtaon para sa mga tawong arog kaini!

Sa balyong lado, dae ta man talaga maiwasan na dae

magsayang nin paroy, bagas o maluto. Kadakli sato dae mantinutoyo arog sana halimbawa kan mga parabunag sa tinampo.Dawa gurano ninda sigidon para tiponon an binunag na paruy,

ugwang matatada sa tinampo o makakaiba sa mga rida kannag-aaging mga sasakyan. Siring man kun masapna kita asin

may mga mauulang bagas sa bangerahan sa paghugas tanin bagas. Kun isasapna naman minsan dae man tinutuyo namatututungan. Idagdag pa igdi an mga nasasayang dahil sa

mga aki na mawarakon kun magkakan. Minsan man napanosna an bahaw na maluto asin dae na pwedeng isanlag. An mgadae tinutuyong pagsayang nin paruy, bagas o maluto dae man

talaga totalmenteng nasasayang ta nagagamit pang pangbahogsa ido o kaya panghalo sa sagmaw para sa orig.

Alagad an makasura asin dapat kundenahon iyo anpagsasayang asin kapabayaan kan nagkakapirang nasagobyerno na garo baga mayong pagmakulog sa dakol an

nagugutom na Filipino. Kun satong matatandaan, napabaretana sobra sa 11 million na sako nin imported na bagas (550,000metric tons)an napabayaan magkaralapa sa mga bodega kan

NFA. Ini kinakalkula na 16.5 billion pesos an kantidad. Pwedena kuta ining magpakakan nin kulang-kulang sa sarong milyong

pobreng pamilya sa laog nin sarong taon! Ini iyo an mga bagasna nagkabarasa dahil sa bagyo o an iba man napabayaan onalingawan isubasta kaya kinarakan na nin bokbok o tinuruboan

na nin alamag. Totalmenteng dae na ini pwedeng kakanon

kan tawo asin maski ataman na hayop dae naman pwedengmagkakan kaini. Idagdag pa an insulto sa perwisyo ta an mga

bagas na ini bako man binakal hali sa mga paraomang Filipinokundi hali sa ibang nasyon. Kun uugkuron ini saro man klaseng

pagsabotahe sa satong ekonomiya asin agrikultura.Base sa sarong pag-aadal na ginibo kan Food and Nutrition

Research Institute of the Department and Science and

Technology(FNRI-DOST), minalaog sa 16 grams o one-fourthcup na maluto an nasasayang kan kada Filipion sa sarongaldaw. Ini minakantidad nin nagkakaperang milyones pesos na

garo ta man lang sinusulo ara-aldaw.Ngonyan na katatapos pa lang kan selebrasyon kan

kapaskohan asin bagong taon, dae man maiwasan na ugwangmga nasayang na bagas asin iba pang pagkakan. Ini siguropwede pang mapatawad kumpara sa mga sinasayang kan mga

taga NFA. Kun totoo man an sabi ni Lola Vacion na an mgatawong nagsasayang nin mga tipasi nin bagas mabakasyonsa purgatoryo, ini siguro kulang na pasakit sa mga tawo sa

gobyerno na ginigibong impyerno an buhay kan mga nagtitiosna Filipino arog na lang kan iba na napwepwersang magkakan

nin pagpag hali sa basura. REFERENCES:1.) http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_

content&task=view&id=736

2.) http://www.interaksyon.com/business/9075/group-says-11-

million-sacks-of-rice-rotting-in-nfa-warehouses

Email: [email protected]

CSur Energy Press Corps ofcers inductedNaga City. PIA--Cam-

Sur provincial head, Lizel

S. Macatangay led the of-

cers of the newly-organized

Camarines Sur Energy

Press Corps who were in-

ducted by Naga City May-or John G. Bongat during

the Media Appreciation

Day hosted by the Nation-

al Grid Corporation of the

Philippines(NGCP) on De-

cember 23, 2014 at the Av-

enue Plaza Hotel, here.

Macatangay is joined by

Melvin Machado of Radyo

Singko as VP for Radio; John-

ny Escandor of Inquirer/ Bicol

Mail as VP for Print; Sarah

Imperial of Manila Bulletin/Bicol Mail as Secretary; Ruel

Saldico of Inquirer/Bicol Mail

as Treasurer; and Ruben Babar

of Bikol Reporter as Business

Manager. Kate Delovieres of

ABS-CBN as VP for TV and

Ric Arnido of DZGE as Audi-

tor failed to make it on time

for the oath-taking.

The occasion which also

served as an advanced Christ-

mas Party, was facilitated by

NGCPs Dale Q. De Vera, Pub-lic Affairs Ofcer-South Luzon

Regional Communications Di-

vision and Mr. Nelson Bautista,

NGCPs Division Head of the

Regional Communication Divi-

sion who gave the inspirational

message.

Edwin Lara, President

of the KBP-Camarines Sur

presented the Ofcers.

The NGCP also awarded all

the media entities a Certicate

of Appreciation for their sup-port to the Corporation, and for

their cooperation in bringing

transmission-related informa-

tion, anti-pilferage campaigns,

and transmission line safety

awareness to a wider audience.

scheme.

Started in 1997 by the local

government unit here to speed

up the business permit process-

ing of the citys business estab-

lishments, the BOSS program,

which was later adopted by oth-

er LGUs in different parts of the

country, has proven to be an ef-

fective approach in business tax

assessment, using the Enhanced

Tax Revenue Assessment andCollection System (e-tracs).

Mayor John Bongat said that

for 2015 BOSS the process-

ing of such documents would

be more expeditious and a lot

easier because the usual 5 steps

adopted in business permit

and licensing approval in 2013

which was reduced to four steps

in 2014 will be further reduced

to three steps in 2015. This is

what we got from our efforts to

always look for possible means

BUSY BOSS IN JANUARY SEEN . . .

to innovate and improve our

services, he added.

This coming scal year,

what our business owners have

to do is to le only an accom-

plished application form, pay

for its processing and thereon

get the permit applied for,

Bongat said.

Ofcer-in-charge Gregoria

Nilda B. Abonal of the City

Treasurers Ofce (CTO) saidthe transaction is shortened be-

cause of some procedures that

were simplied, unlike in previ-

ous years when every client had

to spend an hour or two to se-

cure the document, which were

already relatively fast and short

compared to other LGUs.

The matter is expected to

provide each of our clients with

transaction time that will not go

beyond 30 minutes, excluding

their waiting time she said in

an interview.

The BOSS will operate from

January 5 to 31, 2015. Securing

of business and mayors permit,

taxes, fees, and charges beyond

January 23 will be charged with

penalties and surcharges.

Abonal appealed to busi-

nessmen or their employees to

avail of BOSS services at thesoonest possible time as it was

observed in previous years that

more clients only start to avail

of the one-stop shop services

when it was drawing to a close.

She also enjoined bookkeep-

ers who are securing permits or

renewals for 10 to 20 business

establishments to transact their

business after 5:00 oclock in

the afternoon, to give way to

those who are transacting with

lesser number of business per-

mit applications.

Frontlining the BOSS team

as in past years are: the busi-

ness permit and licensing ofce

of the CTO, the Ofce of the

Building Ofcial for building

clearance, City Health Ofce

for sanitary permit and health

cards, City Planning and De-

velopment Ofce for zoningclearance, and the Bureau of

Fire Protection for re safety

inspection certicate.

Government-owned-and-

controlled corporations (GOC-

Cs) like the Government Ser-

vice Insurance System (GSIS),

Pag-IBIG Home Mutual De-

velopment Fund, and the So-

cial Service System (SSS) are

encouraged to join the BOSS

where they will be provided

with desks to assist their respec-

Wawa would surprisingly re-spond amidst hum and facialexpression to let her daughterknow that she appreciates hergesture of love.

UNEP President Atty. Re-melisa Alfelor-Moraleda, oneof Wawas beloved grand-daughters, continue to fulllWawas wishes and vision,making UNEP now on the toplist of academic institutionswith strong adherence to qual-

ity education.Indeed, its been a decade

now yet the legacy that thisstrong-willed woman leftbehin d remains as s turdy asthe University of Northeast-ern Philippines (UNEP) pil-lars, standing proud amidstthe passing of time. Justa living proof that Wawaslegacy will still serve thenext and upcoming genera-tions.

CELEBRATING A DECADE . . .

tive clients.

In 2014, the local gov-

ernment generated a total of

P169M from 6, 938 business

establishments, overshooting

the target set by the treasurers

ofce by more than P1M.

The effective tax campaign

that the city government is un-

dertaking resulted in the judi-

cious delivery of economic

and social services which in-

clude the implementation of

various projects that enhanced

the citys prosperous business

landscape.

BONGAT BAUTISTA DE VERA LARA MACATANGAY VERDADEROVERDADERO


6/8

BIKOL REPORTER6 JANUARY 4-10, 2015

AFFIDAVIT OF SELF-ADjUDICATIONOF THE ESTATE OF SOLEDAD I. YAGO

Notice is hereby given that ANGELO R. YAGO is theonly child of Ramon I. Yago who died intestate onSeptember 9, 2000 in Pasig City who predeceased

his parents, Sps. Soledad I. Yago and Pablo D. Yago,who died on June 21, 2014 and February 24, 2006

respectively in Naga City; the deceased Soledad I.Yago died without any will nor debts and left behind aparcel of land located at San Pedro, Buhi, Camarines

Sur under OCT No. 2013000078 containing an area of356 square meters; a parcel of land containing an areaof 36,002 square meters located at Buhi, Camarines

Sur under OCT No. 28767; pursuant to Sec. 1 Rule 74of the Revised Rules of Court of the Philippines, said

party Angelo R. Yago hereby adjudicated unto himselfthe described parcels of land; as acknowledged beforeNotary Public Atty. Grace C. dela Torre, Doc. No. 647,

Page No. 116, Book No. 1, Series of 2014.

BIKOL REPORTERPublished: Dec. 14, 21, 2014 and Jan. 4, 2015

For the Greater GoodBy SANNY P. AMISOLA

Private School Multigrade TeacherBaao Adventist Multigrade School, Inc.

Bagumbayan, Baao, Camarines Sur

It was proclaimed throughout the nation andit will bedone.

Around 5 years ago, Malacaang was rattled by the resultsof a survey taken at that time wherein Philippines was recordedas one of the 3 countries that still hadnt taken up the 12-year

education cycle currently known as K-to-12. With the futureof the country and its global competitiveness and connection atthe line, we had no choice but to solve the problem. Fortunately,the President knew that the most likely solution to this isimplementation of K-to-12.

And so, it was implemented. As of now, people know whatK-12 is. The government sees it as the hope for the hope.After all, it was all meant for the benet of the children. Sadlythough, it not all of it shows the effect a benet should give.Even before it was implemented, K-12 was the most likelytopic in a debate. It was debated whether it would have moreadvantages or just the opposite. It was expected that thenumber one concern by most parents is not the improvementof education of the children but rather the upcoming increaseof school nances as well as the additional 2 years at school,which will eventually result to greater nancial crisis. That wasthe main concern of the parents before K-12 was implemented.Now, it proved to be true.

However, the complainants are no longer just the parents.After it was implemented, complaints can now be heard fromthe student body. Aside from the increase of projects and

activities, the difculty of the advanced lessons is startingto get to every students mind. The lessons that were oncetaught to college students were now taught to the 7th, 8 thand9thgraders. Some say it was too advanced...or too difcult forthem. Both parents and students are difcultly but slowly takingin shock of this sudden change. Is K-12 really an advantage tous? If you think about it, what is the worth of this suffering if youcould be successful in life? K-12 is now the only way to assurea graduated students life abroad because it will enable us toslightly, if not completely, match up to other countries, though itprobably will take a long time.

Coping with K-12 may be hard for now, but soon enoughwe will be fully adjusted to it. When we have done so, we cannow start coping with other countries on educational basis andimprove not just the state of our nation but also our businessrelationship with the whole world. This is meant for us and weneed to accept it to further improve our current state. This is forthe greater good.

EXTRA-jUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATENotice is hereby given that the named parties are the

surviving spouse and only child and sole heirs of thedeceased ANDRES BERNALES PEONES who diedintestate in Naga City on August 7, 2014 with no known

debts or obligations due against the estate, leaving realand personal properties (1/2 of the conjugal properties ofthe decedent) located in Naga City, Sagay and Tigaon,

Camarines Sur more particularly described as follows: a)Residential House and Land located at Naga City; b)

Toyota Revo (2002 Model) with Plate No. PLW 985;c) Residential and Agricultural lands located at Sagnayand Tigaon, Camarines Sur; the parties adjudicate among

themselves in pro-indiviso equal shares the entire estateparticularly the real property described, in the manner setforth in the Extra-judicial Settlement, as acknowledged

before Notary Public Atty. Carlo C. Villanueva, Jr., Doc. No.315, Page No. 63, Book No. 121, Series of 2014.

BIKOL REPORTERPublished: January 4, 11 and 18, 2015

received the award.. They wereaccompanied by Mayor Olivia

Bermillo, DA RFO 5 OIC Re-gional Executive Director Abe-lardo R. Bragas, and Aloha GigiI. Banaria, DA regional GawadSaka Coordinator.

Secretary Alcala said thatwhile the agriculture sector isgreatly affected by numeroustyphoons and the heightenedcompetition in the ASEAN mar-ket, the DA is intensifying itsinterventions to help farmers/sherfolk increase their income.He added that despite the fre-quent typhoons, the agriculture

S'SOGON RIC GETS . . .

sector maintained its upwardtrend in the rst three quarters

of the year, with the crops sub-sector registering 1.2 % growthand 1.05% for livestock sector,although the sheries and poul-try sector are in the negative dueto typhoon Glenda and Yolanda.Over all, the agriculture sectormanaged to achieved P1.1 tril-lion prot based on current pric-es, which is 9.55% higher thanlast years prot.

Alcala said that these growthshave been possible because ofthe interventions particularlyfocused on agricultural infra-

structure such as irrigations andFarm-to-Market roads and themechanization and moderniza-tion of agriculture. In the rst

three quarters of the 2014, theDA has constructed 314 smallirrigation projects in areas thatwere not reached by national andcommunal irrigation. Togetherwith PhilMech and other gov-ernment agencies, the DA hasfabricated postharvest facilitieswhich can be availed by farm-ers thru direct purchase fromaccredited fabricators or fromPhilMech, and thru counterpart-ing scheme for qualied farm-ers organizations. -- Lovella P.Guarin - RAFIS 5

Malamag beach, in the town ofPio. V Corpuz.

Smiling faces of people whoreceived gifts which consistedof a pack of rice and groceryitems, from governor bright-ened up, however, what could

have been a gloomy day.One of the recipients namedAlito said he often felt the es-sence of Christmas every timehe received a gift from any-

body, which is, this time, an op-portunity because it is not onlya gift but a bundle of grocery

items that will answer his fam-ily's daily needs, at least for afew days.

Village ofcials and support-ers of Lanete made themselvesavailable at the beach.

Public school teachers

formed a group and do the "ma-nanita," or early dawn birthdayserenade at the governor's mainquarters.

Municipal mayors and vicemayors, including some of theSangguniang Bayan ofcials,also attended the birthday bash.

MASBATE GOV PLAYS SANTA . . .

is set to fast track seedling

production to augment the

tree planting and seedling

growing activities of the

DENR Gonzales said.

Given the seedling pro-

duction capacity, the mecha-

nized nursery can produce at

least 200 seedlings an hour,

and for 2015, we are targetingto produce an estimated 26

million seedlings, to which

from the aggregate number,

16.8 million will be allocated

for DENR Bicol and 5.6 mil-

lion for Region 4A RD Gon-

zales added.

Forestry experts posit that

mechanized nursery would

put prime on quantity as

well as quality seedling pro-

duction, the unconventional

way of speeding up seedling

DENR MECHANIZED NURSERY . . .

production and generating

high-quality saplings would

strengthen reforestation ef-

forts under the NGP that set

to be completed in 2016.

Engr. Raymond Sipin,

head of the Project Manage-

ment Unit reported that the

Sooc mechanized nursery

is nearly completed with atleast 87% work accomplish-

ment as of October 2014.

He said the facility will

operate in March 2015 or as

soon as all the machineries

and facilities are completed.

We must give other con-tributors the chance to surpriseus, Salceda also quoted the re-mark of Henrik Harboe, newlyelected co-chair of the GCFBoard and Deputy Directorof the Norwegian Ministry ofForeign Affairs.

The GCF Board now hasthe critical role of translatingthese pledges into nancingdecisions for climate projectsand programs in developingcountries, the Filipino greeneconomist added.

The Berlin Pledge heldearlier, the UN-named climatechange champion said, demon-strated that there is true prog-ress in providing nancial sup-

CLIMATE FUND PROPOSALS . . .

port to developing countriesthat are willing to shift to moreclimate-resilient development

pathways, and at the same timeto lower their emissions.

The Funds pledges consti-tute the largest resource mobi-lization for adaptation nancefor vulnerable countries.

The Pledging Conference

of the Green Climate Fundyielded unprecedented USD10.2 billion.

Governments unite behindthe Fund to leverage privateinvestment ows to provideclimate nance.

The pledges were made by21 countries, including contri-

butions from four developing

countries.Their combined contribu-

tions provide for the largestamount the international com-munity has ever mobilized fora dedicated climate nancemechanism within a time frameof less than ve months, Sal-ceda said.

Resources allocated to theGreen Climate Fund will serveas a multiplier to unlock -

nance ows from the privatesector.

Private investment owsare essential for the transitionto a low-emission, climate-resilient future, the world-re-nowned Filipino nancial andinvestment expert claimed.

These investments can bestimulated through applicationof concessional public nanc-ing from the Fund, he said.

8,844 micronance members.

City Mayor John Bongat

was also invited to grace the

occasion. The Chief Execu-

tive was all hats up to the ac-

complishments of CCMF,

most specially for serving as

a tool for community transfor-

mation.

This is a classic example

of a partnership and pagta-

tarabangan ( helping each

other) . There is the academe,

the Ateneo de Naga, there is

the private sector the CCMF.

We are being taught on how

we, the private sector and

the government can help in

the development of our com-munity, our province, and our

nation. The bonus here is that,

we have the support of the

church, not only to help us to

be responsible citizens or Fili-

pinos, but to help us realize

that we have a responsibility

to also help the government

thru our own effort, Bongat

stated.

Under this years Durun-

gan sa Pag-Uswag, sa Hawak

asin Kalag theme which

MADRIGAL FOUNDATION EYES . . .

means total development, inbody and soul, Archbishop

of Caceres Most Rev. Ro-

lando Tria Tirona focused on

the value of sharing which is

the very purpose of the bless-

ings and graces received from

God. He emphasized the role

of prayer to deepen our re-

lationship with God and the

devotion to Mother Mary

as our model to our modern

society.

CCMF-Bikol), a subsidiary

organization of the CONSUE-

LO CHITO MADRIGAL

FOUNDATION (CCMF), be-

gan operations in 2004. This

was after the late Doa Con-suelo Chito Madrigal ap-

proved the grant of Php 200M

for Bikol as her way of shar-

ing her blessings to the poor

segment of the society. The

initial phase started off with

then Ateneo President Fr. Joel

E. Tabora, SJ.

The partnership was even

strengthened when Dona

Consuelo learned that the late

Archbishop Emeritus Most

Rev. Leonardo Z. Legaspi,

O.P.,D.D. belonged to the Do-

minican Order, she extended

the service of her Foundation

to Bicol. Accounts says thather family owed so much to

the Dominicans because her

father, Vicente Madrigal, used

to be Dominican scholar at

San Juan de Letran. The rest

is history.

CCMF will continue to

empower the less privileged

by giving them a decent place

to live in, a job that they can

be proud of and a community

where love and harmony ex-

ist. -- LSMacatangay


7/8


Campus Journalism: Training Studentsfor Professional Journalism

By MARICEL BERIA BERNAL, Teacher IIIRinconada National Technical Vocational School

Sto. Domingo, Iriga City

Starting em young. Thats a very common saying. Thatjournalism can be learned at a very young age is indeed verylaudable. This could be one of the most important objectives ofthe Elementary and Secondary PressCon which are an annualundertaking of the Department of Education. The idea is noless than to get students at their very young age to involve inall aspects of journalism, both print and broadcast. To manystudents, involving in the annual competition in journalism isenough reason to be proud. It is also a chance for them to learnthe ropes of the trade and subsequently use what he has learnedin the future should be opt enter in the journalism world. It is giventhat before the competition, participants in the presscon havebeen given thorough coaching from their mentors. Probably,the intensive coaching may not even be premised on the factthat their contestants the presscon have to learn but that theyhave to win. Well, after all, it has always been the culture of theFilipinos that participating in any contest means winning whichis not exactly very ethical.

But no matter, campus journalism is aimed primarily to developjournalism among the young. In the process, the young campusjournalists with the training given them, the competition itself andthe feeling of being a proud member of the fourth estate can betaken as a guarantee of a making of a professional journalist.

Journalism is a wonderful career. It is a profession that givesthe practitioner the chance to rub elbows with others, especially

men and women of prominence and leaders of the world. Itgives one the chance to see the world while he reports on whatshappening there. Journalism might not prove lucrative a career,but the fact that one is doing a most wonderful job of reportingthe events of the world or even just in the domestic front canalready very fullling.

The campus journalist can take it upon himself that young thathe is and no matter how limited his areas of reporting is, which isonly his campus, he is doing the different publics of his school andhis community a big service, something he could be proud of.

Campus journalism can reward him a nice feather to his capand a badge he can wear, a feather and a cap that could pavethe way to professional journalism.

Campus journalism is no different from professional journalismexcept for the fact that the campus journalist is a young studentwho is not working for a remuneration while the professionaljournalist is working to eke a living.

days traditional Christmas Partywhich also marked the yearendmerrymaking of City Hall of-cials and employees.

National awardsLast October, its exceptional

performances in local governanceonce again put the city govern-ment in the limelight for win-ning three national championshipawards in a row.

On Oct. 15, the city wasawarded as one of the countrystop three most livable cities in thesearch called the Liveable CitiesDesign Challenge organized bythe National CompetitivenessCouncil (NCC), Asia-PacicEconomic Cooperation (APEC)2015 National Organizing Coun-cil NOC), World Wildlife Fund(WWF), Alliance for Safe andSustainable Reconstruction (AS-SURE) and Asia Society and Ur-

ban Land Institute (ULI).In the ranking among the

three, Iloilo came rst, this citysecond and Cebu third.

By launching this DesignChallenge, its organizers have

been able to start a movementfor better urban planning acrossthe country to make cities fun,

vibrant, and safe places to live,work, invest in and visit.

A week later or on Oct. 21 thecity was given the Galing Pooknational championship award forthis year.

This award program is a jointinitiative of the Local Govern-ment AcademyDepartment ofInterior and Local Government(LGA-DILG), the Ford Founda-tion, and other individual advo-cates of good governance fromthe academe, civil society and thenational government.

The Public-Private Partner-ship (PPP) program won for thecity the award under the TenOutstanding Local GovernancePrograms as it was able to show

positive results and impact, pro-motion of peoples participation

and empowerment, innovation,transferability and sustainability,and efciency of service deliv-ery.

On the same day, the most-coveted Silver Governance Trail-

blazer (SGT) award for excel-lence in local governance given

by the Institute of Solidarity inAsia (ISA) for its Public Gover-nance System (PGS) awards wasalso received by the city govern-ment.

In this contest, the city gov-ernment garnered a score higherthan 8.5 in the public revalidaor performance report in accom-

plishing the Compliance Stage inISAs program for institutionaliz-ing its PGS making the city theonly winner among the countrysLGUs this year.

Tourist successAfter receiving over half amillion tourists last year for awhopping increase of 32.27 per-cent from the previous years list

2014 VERY FRUITFUL . . .

of arrivals, the city this year isclosing in on some 700,000 arriv-als for another tremendous tour-ism development performance.

As recorded by the regionalofce for Bicol of the Depart-ment of Tourism based here, thetotal arrivals of both domesticand foreign tourists in the city forthe whole year of 2013 reached579,470, which was higher by141,370 over the 2012s 438,100gure.

That was good enough forlast year as we surpassed eventhe 523,832 arrivals that the en-tire province of Albay posted in2012. This year, we already havealmost 700,000 and still counting.Our goal is to hit the one-millionmark by 2016, Rosal said.

Tourists now visit Legazpinot only for the breathtaking viewof Mt. Mayon, one of the worldsmost active volcanoes made fa-mous by its magically-congured

perfect cone form, but also for itssparkling metropolis loaded withheavy tourism-related activitiesand exciting places to relax, playand enjoy a healthful living, Ro-sal said.

Convention Capital

After hosting 30 conventionsand similar big gatherings thisyear, this key Bicol metropolisknown in the worlds travel in-dustry as the City of Fun andAdventure believes it is scoringhigh to become one of the coun-trys a leading convention city.

This year, we are condentof being recognized as one of thecountrys ve favorite venues of

big regional, national and inter-national gatherings like conven-tions, summits and similar grandoccasions, Rosal said.

He based his condence onthe citys being chosen this yearas host to at least 30 big ofcialgatherings organized by variousnational and international groups,among them the Association ofSoutheast Asia Nations (ASEAN)

and the United Nations WorldTourism Organization (UNWTO)which held last May their seriesof conferences on InternationalTourism and Climate Change.

That UNWTO-ASEAN con-ferences and all those other gath-erings brought in to the city the

bulk of visitors from almost allcorners of the world who enjoyednot only the view of majestic Mt.Mayon but also the ambiance ofthis city as a world-class traveldestination, according to Rosal.

Our quest for preference asa venue of big national and inter-national gatherings is anchoredon our being highly capable nowof hosting and properly handlingfriendly visitors from any part ofthe world, Rosal said.

Tourism is indeed taking a

crucial role in the citys continu-ing pursuit of inclusive and hori-zontal growth that benets notonly big investors such as hoteloperators but also the people in

the countryside, where most of itstourist destinations are located, by

providing more opportunities foremployment and business ven-tures, the city mayor stressed.

Infra developmentThe city government and the

Department of Public Worksand Highways (DPWH) arenow jointly implementing thePhp300-million urban drainageimprovement project funded bythe national government to putan end to the ooding problemsconstantly confronting the centraldistrict of this city.

The project is covered by thefunding worked out by Rosalwith Pres. Aquino and releasedduring the middle of this yearvia the 2014 General Appropria-tion Act (GAA), which was madeas part of the Php2-billion oodcontrol program approved by thePresident for the city last year andnow ongoing implementation.

The entire program will pro-vide giant pumping facilities to

pump out into Albay Gulf oodwaters from three strategic lo-cations around the citys urbancenter covering the entirety of itscommercial, industrial and resi-dential areas.

The widening of the Yawa

Bridge, a major bridge along thenational highway connecting thecity with the rst district of Albay

province, has also been startedthrough the Php50-million ini-tial appropriation under the 2014GAA released by the DBM.

Yawa Bridge is a 64-meter-long concrete structure whosetwo-lane make has grown toonarrow for the burgeoning trafc

between the city proper and itsurban barangays on the northernside down to Tabaco City and vemunicipalities of the provincesrst district.

The trafc congestion beingcaused by the bridge as the bot-tleneck would be eased by wid-ening it to four lanesa projectapproved by Malacaang for anamount of Php140 million.

Works are at the same time inprogress on the Php 200-milliontourism mega highway that willopen a direct link between thistourist city and the South LuzonInternational Airport (SLIA) now

being constructed in the nearbyDaraga, Albay.

It will be a 10-kilometer con-crete road whose prime section isthe now-famous Legazpi Boule-vard in Barangay Puro, a four-ki-lometer stretch of wide concreteroad bordering the long beach ofAlbay Gulf and serving as an ar-tistic milieu for physical tnessactivities that is well-lighted atnight, clean, easily accessible,secure and free from air pollu-tion.

The mega highway willtraverse several upland villagesalong the southern sector of thecity and become the new localinvestment haven and anothersite for tourism industry develop-ment. -Danny O. Calleja

For the rst time in the history of the Catholic church, a Popein the person of Pope Francis listed 15 ailments of the VaticanCuria, during his annual greeting to Cardinals, bishops and priests.Im writing it here because it is also applicable to all priests andCatholics. It was published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer datedDec. 24, 2014:

Ailments of Curia, according to Pope FrancisVATICAN CITYPope Francis listed 15 ailments of the

Vatican Curia during his annual Christmas greetings to thecardinals, bishops and priests who run the central administrationof the 1.2-billion strong Catholic Church. Heres the list.

1. Feeling immortal, immune or indispensable.A Curiathat doesnt criticize itself, that doesnt update itself, that doesntseek to improve itself is a sick body.

2. Working too hard. Rest for those who have done theirwork is necessary, good and should be taken seriously.

3. Becoming spiritually and mentally hardened. Itsdangerous to lose that human sensibility that lets you cry withthose who are crying, and celebrate those who are joyful.

4. Planning too much.Preparing things well is necessary,but dont fall into the temptation of trying to close or direct thefreedom of the Holy Spirit, which is bigger and more generousthan any human plan.

5. Working without coordination, like an orchestra thatproduces noise.When the foot tells the hand, I dont need youor the hand tells the head Im in charge.

Spiritual Alzheimers6. Having spiritual Alzheimers. We see it in the people

who have forgotten their encounter with the Lord in those whodepend completely on their here and now, on their passions,whims and manias, in those who build walls around themselvesand become enslaved to the idols that they have built with theirown hands.

7. Being rivals or boastful.When ones appearance, thecolor of ones vestments or honoric titles become the primaryobjective of life.

8. Suffering from existential schizophrenia. Its thesickness of those who live a double life, fruit of hypocrisy thatis typical of mediocre and progressive spiritual emptiness thatacademic degrees cannot ll. Its a sickness that often affects thosewho, abandoning pastoral service, limit themselves to bureaucraticwork, losing contact with reality and concrete people.

9. Committing the terrorism of gossip.Its the sickness ofcowardly people who, not having the courage to speak directly,talk behind peoples backs.

10. Glorifying ones bosses.Its the sickness of those whocourt their superiors, hoping for their benevolence. They arevictims of careerism and opportunism, they honor people whoarent God.

11. Being indifferent to others.When, out of jealousy orcunning, one nds joy in seeing another fall rather than helpinghim up and encouraging him.

Funereal face12. Having a funereal face.In reality, theatrical severity

and sterile pessimism are often symptoms of fear and insecurity.The apostle must be polite, serene, enthusiastic and happy andtransmit joy wherever he goes.

13. Wanting more.When the apostle tries to ll an existentialemptiness in his heart by accumulating material goods, notbecause he needs them but because hell feel more secure.

14. Forming closed circles that seek to be stronger thanthe whole.This sickness always starts with good intentions butas time goes by, it enslaves its members by becoming a cancerthat threatens the harmony of the body and causes so muchbadscandalsespecially to our younger brothers.

15. Seeking worldly prot and showing off.Its the sicknessof those who insatiably try to multiply their powers and to do soare capable of calumny, defamation and discrediting others, evenin newspapers and magazines, naturally to show themselves asbeing more capable than others. AP

FROM MY WINDOW . . .

Once, a woman with a very sick child boarded a jeepney inbarrio Datag for an emergency hospital in Pandan, 7 barriosaway.The hapless child died before reaching the hospitalbefore my eyes.I could not bear the sight of a distraught mother,howling, clutching her dead child close to her breast.

The memory of that tragedy still lingers in my mind.When the New Peoples Army gained a foothold in

Catanduanes a few years back, the military followed to driveaway the rebels.The rst casualty was the peace and quiet ofmany communities.

The experience of Catanduanes was the experience of myCaramoan hometown in the Bicol province of Camarines Sur.Free of rebels during my high school days,I was shocked tolearn when I came home after the decade that it was rebel

infested.Residents talked of the time when the townhall was stormed

by insurgents who surfaced aboard a truck. They also talkedof l3 civilians who were killed by armed men who red at aspeeding jeepney full with passengers.

Those dark days are seemingly past.Today, the once sleepy coastal barrio Paniman, connected

to the town proper by a 3-kilometer road, which had remainedunnished for half a century, has become a tourist haven.It isnot unusual to see foreign tourists strolling down the beach onearly mornings.The unnished road is now well-paved.

Paniman is my birthplace.I rarely come for a visit.unlike before when home was

Paniman with my grandparents. Home is now Legazpi City. Butit was in Catanduanes years ago.

My years of wandering are over.

A QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE . . .


8/8

BIKOL REPORTER

REGIONAL EXPONENT FOR PROGRESS

OUTSTANDING LOCAL NEWSPAPERFor Five Consecutive Years by the St. Peter

Baptist Catholic Mass Media Awards

8

JANUARY 4-10, 2015

BICOL RIC NATIONAL WINNER jUN COLLANTESThe Bicol delegation headed by RED Abelardo Bragas posed with Secretary Alcala during theawarding ceremony for the Gawad Saka 2014.

SUDOKU SUPER CHALLENGE AT SM CITY NAGAMath wizards from various schools in Bicol competed for the Sudoku Super Challenge Regionalelimination round recently conducted by the Mathematics Trainers Guild at SM City Naga. Atotal of 274 high school students from Hope Christian School, Camarines Sur National HighSchool, Blessed Lights International Christian Academy, Universidad de Sta. Isabel, AquinasUniversity and Naga City Science High School took part in the competition. Winners of theelimination round have qualied for the National Finals of Sudoku Super Challenge which willbe held in SM North EDSA on January 31, 2015. Winners from the National Finals will get thechance to compete for other world Sudoku contest in different countries.

By Norman B. Tamar

MASBATE CITY -- Thesaying "It is better to give

than to receive" was the

spirit Masbate Governor

Rizalina Seachon-Lanete

shared to her constituents in

celebration of her birthday

on Dec. 30, which coincided

with the 118th death an-

niversary of the country'snational hero, Gat Jose P.

Rizal.

The lady provincial chief

executive said people have

been receiving gifts from her

since the time when she was

still a congresswoman.

She added that more or less

7,000 families beneted fromthe gift-giving activity.

The weather was not good

on Dec. 30 here, but people

braved the rains and support-

ed her birthday celebration at(Turn to page 6)

(Turn to page 6)

PICC, PASAY CITY The Rural ImprovementClub(RIC) of Miluya, Castl-la, Sorsogon is this yearsnational outstanding RICawardee, one of the total oftwenty-two (22) individu-als and organizations thatpassed the agencys most

prestigious search.The award which consisted

of a P300,000 project grant,P50,000 cash award, trophyand plaque of recognition, wasgiven by Agriculture Secre-tary Proceso J. Alcala duringthe 44th national awardingceremony of the Gawad Saka2014 Outstanding Achieversin Agriculture and Fisherieson December 18 at the Philip-pine International ConventionCenter in Roxas Boulevard,this City.

The club president JenieMatamorosa together withMiluya Bgy. Captain andRIC committee on livelihoodchairperson Vilma Marticio

SALUBONG SA BAGONG TAON

PROGRAM

JANUARY 5

8:00 AM Flag Raising Ceremonies

8:30 Opening of Business One Stop Shop (BOSS)

9:00 Inauguration / Blessing of Daet Go Negosyo Center

(Business and Investment Development Center)

10:00 Awarding of 2014 Outstanding Taxpayers

1:00 PM Go Negosyo Stakeholders Meeting Conference Room

JANUARY 6

7:00 AM Three Kings Celebration& Parade

(Central Plaza to Elevated Plaza Plaza Pineapple Fountain

9:30 Groundbreaking Ceremonies:

G2D Waste Recycling Facility and Metro Daet Satellite Market

(Barangay Bibirao and Camambugan)

3:00 PM Barangay Ofcials Assembly (Heritage Center)

Awarding of Paskong Kumukutitap winners

Launching of Gayon Daet, GayonBikol 2015

Launching of Gayon Bicol: Festival of Festivals

5:00 Gift-giving to Indigents of Daet Heritage Center

JANUARY 7

9:00 AM LGU-Daet Program Review and Planning Workshop

11:00 Meeting League of Municipalities of the Philippines

S'sogon RIC gets nat'l award

Documents

Bikol Reporter January 4 - 10 Issue