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MabuhayLINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980

ISSN–1655-3853 • JULY 3 - 9, 2009 • VOL. 30, NO. 27 • 8 PAHINA • P10.00

‘Ako naman ang sasakaybukas,’ ani Sahjid Bulig sa ina

NI DINO BALABO

BOCAUE, Bulacan—“Nay,ako naman ang sasakaybukas.”

Ito ang mga katagangbinigkas ni Sahjid Bulig sakanyang inang si Erlindaisang gabi bago maganapang trahedya ng paglubogng pagoda ng Krus saWawa sa bayang ito noongHulyo 2, 1993 na nagingsanhi ng pagkamatay ng265 iba pa.

Marahang naglalayagnoong gabi ng Hulyo 1 sailog ng Bocaue ang pagoda

ng Krus sa Wawa na nai-ilawan ng iba’t-ibang kulayat sakay ang mahigit 200katao.

Si Erlinda naman atanak na si Sahjid ay nasapampang sa bahagi ng Ba-rangay Bambang kasamaang mga kababayang na-nonood at nagdarasal ha-bang naglalayag ang pa-goda.

Ilang minuto pa, umuwina ang mag-ina, at bagotuluyang matulog nagta-nong pa sa ina si Sahjid.

“’Nay, ano ang pagkainng mga kaluluwa sa la-

ngit?” tanong ng binatil-yong 13-taong gulang saina.

“Ano ba namang tanongiyan,” sagot ni Erlinda.

“Sige na, ‘Nay,” maypaglalambing pang pangu-ngulit ni Sahjid sa ina nahindi naman mapahindianang anak, kaya’’t pabironiya itong sinagot.

“Eh, di hopia,” naka-ngiting sagot ni Erlinda sabinatilyo na hindi kum-binsido sa kanyang isi-nagot.

“Si Nanay, binibiro na- sundan sa pahina 5

BOCAUE, Bulacan—Ma-sayang nagbasaan ng tubigang mga sakay ng mgabangkang lumahok sa mu-ling pagsasagawa ng pru-sisyon ng Krus sa Wawa sailog ng bayang ito noongLinggo, Hulyo 5.

Mula naman sa pam-pang ng ilog ay may mganaghahagis ng mga “plas-tik” na may lamang tubigsa mga nasa bangka. Samay tulay, inilawit mula satrak ng bumbero ang isanghose na bumubuga ng tu-big sa mga nasa bangka.

“Ayan na,” sigaw ng

mga nasa tulay at nasapampang habang naliligosa tubig mula sa hose angmga nakasakay sa bangka.Sinundan ang nasabingsigaw ng nagkakatuwaanghiyawan.

Ito ay ilan lamang samga tagpong namasdan ngMabuhay sa muling pag-sasagawa ng pagoda festi-val sa dito sa Bocaue, kungsaan ay parang tuluyannang naglaho ang alaala ngmalagim na trahedyanoong Hulyo 2, 1993 kungkailan ay tumaob angbangkang pinaglagyan ng

pagoda ng Krus sa Wawana tinatayang aabot sa 266katao ang namatay.

Ang pagoda festival ngBocaue ay muling binuhaynoong 2006, 13 taon mata-pos ang trahedya na nagingdahilan kaya’t ipinasyangitigil iyon sa mga sumunodna taon.

Para sa mga ilang ma-nunuod sa pampang ngilog, may mga pagkakataonna nagbabalik ang alaalang mga yumao. Gayunpa-man, minabuti nilang ma-kilahok sa pamamagitan ng

sundan sa pahina 5

Batang bayani sa trahedyang pagoda inalalaBatang bayani sa trahedyang pagoda inalala

BASAAN — Nagbasaan ang mga nakasakay sabangka at ang mga taong nasa pampang nananonood sa prusisyon ng pagoda ng Krus saWawa sa ilog ng Bocaue, Bulacan. Animo’yumuulan ng malakas nang sabuyan ng tubigmula sa trak ng bumbero ang papalapit na pa-goda ng patron ng bayan. Nagpatayo ng rebultoni Sahjid Bulig (ibaba) sa pampang kung saannamatay ang mahigit 260 katao sa paglubog ngpagoda noong 1993. Ang batang bayani aysumagip sa pitong bata na kasakay niya sa pa-goda. Ikinamatay ni Sahjid Bulig ang ipinakitangkabayanihan. Nakaukit sa ibaba ang larawan ngkanyang inang si Erlinda. — Kuha nina DinoBalabo at Michael Aquino

Prusisyon sa ilog masaya;mga yumao’y naalala pa rin

2 MabuhayLINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980 JULY 3 - 9, 2009

EDITORIALAlfredo M. Roxas, Jose Romulo Q. Pavia, JoseGerardo Q. Pavia, Joey N. Pavia , Jose VisitacionQ. Pavia, Carminia L. Pavia, Perfecto RaymundoJr., Dino Balabo

ADVERTISINGJennifer T. Raymundo

PRODUCTIONJose Antonio Q. Pavia, Jose Ricardo Q. Pavia,Mark F. Mata, Maricel P. Dayag,

PHOTOGRAPHY / ARTEden Uy, Allan Peñaredondo,Joseph Ryan S. Pavia

BUSINESS / ADMINISTRATION

Loreto Q. Pavia, Marilyn L. Ramirez,Peñaflor Crystal, J. Victorina P. Vergara,Cecile S. Pavia, Luis Francisco, Domingo Ungria,Harold T. Raymundo,

CIRCULATIONRobert T. Raymundo, Armando M. Arellano,Rhoderick T. Raymundo

The Mabuhay is published weekly by theMABUHAY COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES —DTI Permit No. 00075266, March 6, 2006 toMarch 6, 2011, Malolos, Bulacan.

The Mabuhay is entered as Second Class MailMatter at the San Fernando, Pampanga PostOffice on April 30, 1987 under Permit No. 490;and as Third Class Mail Matter at the ManilaCentral Post Office under permit No. 1281-99-NCR dated Nov. 15, 1999. ISSN 1655-3853

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MabuhayLINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980

Jose L. PaviaPublisher/Editor

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Promdi DINO BALABO

Doon po sa amin, lalawigan ng Bulacan

Kastigo BIENVENIDO A. RAMOS

Mga dapat baguhin sa KonstitusyonKUNG talagang hindi na maii-wasan ang pagbabago o pagpa-palit sa mga tadhana ng kasalu-kuyang Konstitusyon, makum-baba kong imumungkahi angmga sumusunod:

• Ang prubisyon sa anti-dy-nasty ay gawing tuwirang pag-babawal — hindi na kailangan angenabling law (na siguradong hindipagtitibayin ng Kongreso — dahilkontra sa kanilang interes).

• Takdaan ang “presidentialprerogative” ng Pangulo — lalo nasa pagpapatawad ng malalakingtaong nahatulan sa karumal-dumal na krimen. Ito ay sumisirasa sistema ng katarungan.

• Ang pagkakaloob at pagre-release ng pork barrel ng mgamambabatas ay gawing auto-matic — na hindi na kailangangang Pangulo ang magdesisyonkung sino ang dapat o kanino angpork barrel na ini-release ngDBM. Sa ganito, lahat ng distritosa bansa ay mapagkakalooban ngmejora at kailangang serbisyo.

• Dapat takdaan ang pag-hirang ng mga retirado o nasa

Kapabayaan angsanhi ng trahedya

Baliktanaw: Narito ang editoryal ng Mabuhay sa isyu nito noongHulyo 9, 1993 matapos lumubog ang pagoda sa Ilog ng Bocaue napinagbuwisan ng maraming buhay. — Patnugot

ANG ika-2 ng Hulyo 1993 ay isang luksang araw. Namatay ang266 katao sa pagbagsak at paglubog ng pagoda sa maburak naIlog Bocaue kaugnay sa taunang prusisyon sa tubig sa pagdiriwangsa kapistahan ng santong patron ng naturang bayan sa Bocaue.

Kailangan bang ibuwis ang ganito karaming buhay, ng mgalalake, babae, mga bata’t matatanda? Kaiba sa mga naganap nalindol sa Hilagang Luzon, pagsabog ng Mt. Pinatubo sa GitnangLuzon at ng trahedya sa Ormoc sa Kabisayaan na pawang likha ngkalikasan — ang trahedya ng Bocaue ay kagagawan ng tao!

Mismong ang tao at wala nang iba pa ang dapat sisihin sanangyaring ito sapagkat umaabot sa 600 katao ang iniulat nasumakay sa pagoda na may kakayahan lamang na magdala ng300 pasahero.

Marahil ay hindi pa ninyo nalilimutan ang paglubog ngsasakyang dagat na MV Doña Paz. Libo-libong katao ang nasawinang sumalpok ang motorized vessel sa isang tanker sa laotmalapit sa isla ng Mindoro. Sobra ring pasahero ang naging sanhing paglubog ng naturang sasakyang pandagat.

Batay sa mga pangyayari , ang mga kasakunaang naturan aynaiwasan sana kung hindi nagpabaya ang mga kinauukulan sapagpapatupad ng mga tuntunin ukol sa karampatang bilang ngmga pasahero na dapat sumakay.

Sa aming palagay ay hindi lamang ang mga sasakyang pang-dagat ang dapat higpitan ng ating pamahalaan at ng mga kina-uukulang ahensiya tungkol sa pagbabawal sa overloading. Marapatding saklawin ang mga sasakyang pang-lupa tulad ng mga bus,dyipni at iba pang uri ng transportasyong pampubliko na nakikitanating bumibiyahe na siksikan ang lulang mga pasahero.

Sa trahedya ng Bocaue ay hinihingi ng pangyayari angpagsasagawa ng isang masusing pagsisiyasat. Sino ba ang dapatmanagot sa naturang kapahamakan? Matibay ba ang pagkagawang pagoda o may depekto ito na naging sanhi ng paglubog nito?Ito ay ilan lamang sa mga tanong na dapat liwanagin. Kailan tayomatututo sa mga aral na itinuro sa atin ng mga sakunang gawa ngtao bago ang trahedya ng Bocaue?

Kalakip ng ating pakikiramay sa mga naulila ng mga biktimaang dalangin at hangaring nawa’y hindi na maulit pa ang ganitongmalagim na kapahamakang maaari namang maiwasan. Hindi rinnatin maaaring kaligtaang papurihan ang pagsaklolo ng Philip-pine National Police (PNP), Philippine Navy, ang Philippine Na-tional Red Cross, ang mga pinunong bayan, at mamamayan ngBocaue, Office of Civil Defense (OCD), ang mga pinuno ngpamahalaang panlalawigan ng Bulacan at ang di mabilang na taomula sa pamahalaan at pribadong sektor na tumulong sa rescueoperations sa Bocaue tragedy.

EDITORYAL

aktibo pang opisyal ng AFP atPNP — ang nagretirong opisyalay kailangang isang taon munangnakapagretiro bago hirangin saisang pusisyon sa pamahalaangsibil.

• Ilagay na palagiang tadhanasa Konstitusyon ang pagbabawalo pagtatakda sa pagpapalit ngpartido. Yamang tatlong taon angtermino ng isang halal na publicofficial, dapat na dalawang taonmunang manatili siya sa par-tidong dala niya nang mahalalbago siya makalipat sa ibangpartido.

• Dapat nang ibawal sa Kon-stitusyon na makaboto pa omakakandidato ang isang na-hatulan na ng hukuman, kahitmay apela pa sa Hukuman saPaghahabol o Korte Suprema. Saganito, maiiwasang gamitingkatwiran ng akusado o nahatulanna (lalo na ang maimpluwensiya)ang pagkakahalal niya (habangnakapiit o nahatulan na)—napinawalang-sala na siya ng ma-mamayang naghalal sa kanya sakarumal dumal na krimeng gi-

nawa niya.• Ang paghirang sa mga ka-

gawad ng malaya at kahiwalay nasangay ng pamahalaan (Consti-tutional body), tulad ng Hu-kuman sa Paghahabol, KorteSuprema, Comission on Election,Ombudsman, Sandiganbayan atibang kauri, ay dapat ialis sakamay ng Pangulo.

Ang kapangyarihan humirangng mga bumubuo ng nabanggitna mga Constitutional body ayinabuso ni Gng. Gloria Maca-pagal-Arroyo at naging dahilanng pagkasira ng sistemang kri-minal ng katarungan, kinasang-kapan sa dayaan sa halalan, atnaging sanhi ng pagkasira ngmga institusyon ng demokrasya.

Ito lamang, sa palagay ko, angmga dapat baguhin o dapat pa-litang mga tadhana sa kasa-lukuyang Konstitusyon upangmaging maayos at tumino angpag-ugit sa pamahalaan, mai-wasan ang pag-aabuso at ka-tiwalian, at maging pantay angpaggagawad ng katarungan salahat.

Doon po sa amin, lalawigan ng BulacanMalayo pa ang halalanMga pulitiko’y gayak na gayak naParang maiiwan ng biyaheng nanghahalina.

Sabit dito, pako doonSa mga lansangan sa dako paroonTarpaulin poster nila’y hindi mabilangKaya’t maging mga driver ay naiilang.

Larawang makukulay ay mga nakangitiKahit mga kababaya’y sa hirap nanggagalaitiLayunin ay face at name recallPara halalang hindi malaman kung ukol.

Uy,nagpapakilala na si TamulmolLarawa’y inihanay sa kapwa pulitikong gaholMukha sa litrato’y ipinaretoke, digitized ‘ika ngaKulubot at tagihawat at naglaho na nga.

Alok nila’y paglilingkod sa bayanKaya’t mga kababaya’y ayaw lubayanTingnan mo ang mga larawang di mabilangHindi ba’t parang natutulog lang.

Santa Mariang garaponKung mahalal sila’y nawa’y hindi matulad sa hiponLaging nagpapatangay sa agosKaya’t sa hirap bayan ay hindi matubos.

Sabi nga ni Ka Blas, malalambot kanilang gulugodKaya’t sa prinsipyo’y laging hilahodNakakatulad nila’y alulodUmula’t umaraw ay nakasahod.

O bayang nakatulog, ikaw ay gumisingMga lingkod mo’y sa kapangyariha’y nalasingBumangon ka’t iyong husgahanSa kinabukasan ba, sila’y maasahanan.

Gising, o bayang nahimbingSuriin silang mga balimbingSa nagdaang halala’y tupa ang kahambingNgunit ng maposisyon, asal ay kambing.

Suwag dito, suwag doon.Lahat ay nais baguhin maging KonstitusyonUpang mapalawig sa kapangyarihan kanilang salinlahiKahit ano ay gagawin manatili lamang sa paghahari.

Doon po sa amin, bayan ng HagonoyKalsaday nilulumot, sa tubig naglulunoyHanggang tuhod, hanggang bintiHatid ay alipungang nangangati.

Tambak dito, tambak doonKalsada’y itinaas, mga bahay ay nabaonKonstruksyon ay ubod ng tagalKung umusad, talo pa ang pagong sa bagal.

Pagawaing bayang naturinganPagbatid ng pagpapagawa’y nasilipanHindi malaman kung kailan matataposDi malaman kung sino ang kontraktor na igagapos.

Doon po sa amin, bayan ng HagonoyMga lansangan ay bukol-bukolSabi nga ng Ilonggo, kawawa ang baysikolMaging ang traysikol ni Bukol.

Kahit umaaraw kami’y binabahaHatid ng high tide na walang sawaHigit na malalim kung may ulanApektado maging ang kalakalan.

Doon po sa amin, bayan ng HagonoyKayang-kaya naming lumangoyKahit ang tubig ay nangangamoyNa tulad ng kawawang palaboy.

Doon po sa amin bayan ng HagonoyHuwag kayong mahiyang tumuloyKahit mga paa’y sa baha naglulunoyHinding hindi kayo itataboy.

Puso namin ay laging bukasSa pag-asang laging may bukasMaaliwalas at tiyak na buwenasHiling lang nami’y huwag kang kakalas.

Kakampi mo ang Batas ATTY. BATAS MAURICIO

Walang karapatang magmuraTANONG: Good morning Atty.Batas. Matagal na pong hindinakakabayad ng credit card dahilsa financial crisis... Eto po angsituation ... Okay lang po bangmurahin at takutin ng collectionagency at sabihan ng magnana-kaw via phone? Okay lang po ba’yun? Salamat po ...–jhon.deoro@eppi.epson.com.ph

Sagot: Salamat din po sa inyoat sa inyong e-mail sa amin. Sailalim ng Republic Act 8484, o angbatas na nakakasakop sa mgacredit cards, at maging sa ilalimng Civil Code of the Philippines,ang sinumang nakautang sapamamagitan ng credit card aymay obligasyong magbayad sacredit card company. Ang obli-

gasyong ito ay nananatili kahitna nawalan ng trabaho ang mayutang. Sa kabilang dako, walanamang karapatan ang creditcard company at ang mga taga-kolekta nito na mambastos atmagmura sa mga nagkakautangsa kanila.

Kung may mga ganitong pag-kilos ang credit card company,kailangang demandahin sila samga hukuman, at maging sa Na-tional Telecommunications Com-mission (NTC), upang papa-nagutin sila sa danyos perhu-wisiyos batay sa pinsalang idi-nudulot nila sa mga minumuranila, at upang tanggalin angkanilang mga teleponong gina-gamit nila sa pambabastos.

Krimeng ginawa sa labas ngPilipinas, di puwedeng litisin ngkorte sa bansa dahil sa kawalan

ng jurisdictionTANONG: Good Day! Atty. Iwant to seek help from you onwhat specific case/s can we fileagainst our father who aban-doned us for almost 15 years. Wefound out that he is in Canadaright now living with his new wifeand son. Kasal po siya sa babaeat alam ko na pwede silamakasuhan ng bigamy. But wedon’t know po kung paano. Ac-tually noon pa po sana namingusto lumapit sa abogado regard-ing this matter dahil talagang

sundan sa pahina 4

JULY 3 - 9, 2009 MabuhayLINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980 3

Depthnews JUAN L. MERCADO

We owe Cory

Regarding Henry

HENRYLITO D. TACIO

Cebu Calling FR. ROY CIMAGALA

Spiritual and moral auditing

To forgive and forgetFAMILY chitchat over dinnerfaded when evening news’ cam-eras panned on the frail lady. Sup-ported by children, a visibly-thin-ner Corzaon Aquino gingerlyshuffled to the hospital elevator.She started, this month, her lat-est clash in a year-and-half longbattle with colon cancer..

Corazon Cojuangco Aquino isnow 76. Like many daughters ofthe landed rich, Aquino gradu-ated from the best schools hereand abroad. She became the firstwoman president of the Philip-pines, as well as in Asia. In thatrole, she has won numerous hon-ors from the Freedom Award tothe Ramon Magsaysay annualhonor for governance.

For ordinary Filipinos, like us,Cory was more.

We saw her as the quietwoman whose husband, BenignoAquino, now a national hero, hadbeen jailed, then murdered by thedictatorship.

“Ninoy? He’s nobody. AndCory? She’s just a woman,”Ferdinand Marcos sneered, as.people pressed her to challengethe dictator. . “And the place of

AUDITING need not only be fi-nancial. More important than fi-nancial, it should be done toverify the spiritual and moralconditions of our life. Are we ingood shape? Are we aware of theproblems? Are we already think-ing of the appropriate solutionsand remedies?

This spiritual and moral au-diting is done mainly through theexamination of conscience, whichwe should try to do regularly, ifnot daily, just before going to bed.It will give us a good picture ofour spiritual life, monitoring itsdevelopments and challenges,and defining its directions forgrowth and fruitfulness.

More importantly, it gives anoccasion to say sorry to God, topatch up things with him and tobegin again. It’s where the theo-ries of spirituality are poised topractice, where desires are posi-tioned to action.

The examination of conscienceis a wonderful tool for our spiri-tual maintenance, where we do alittle tweaking here and there, alittle tightening and oiling of thedifferent parts of our life, a little

“SEAT number C21 … ,” I readmy seat number. It wasn’t easyto decipher from the nowcrumpled and soggy stub. I wasglad –at least I thought– to aban-don the purgatory of a waitinglounge whose air-conditioningunit got busted. I was, however,totally dismayed to find myself ina much worse condition as adense humid Amazonian curtainof humanity –a mixture of co-logne, perfume, deodorants andsweat– greeted me as I enteredthe plane whose air-conditioningwasn’t yet on.

I waded through the obstaclecourse of people crammed in thenarrow aisle. They seemed lost ina jungle of sweaty arms, luggagestraps and multi-colored plasticbags. It’s amazing how we Filipi-nos literally want to bring every-thing with us whether taking aplane or riding a bus. I guess it’sto save some extra pesos.

Forward to Basics FR. FRANCIS B. ONGKINGCO

‘E-ncompatible’

THE major investors in inte-grated area development (IAD)know what they are looking for,and so it is really a plus to inte-grate planning at the area level,to make it more attractive to thefund sources. The question nowis how to define the scope of theplanning area, and how big itshould be.

A new trend in IAD planningfollows the mindset that the uni-verse of the plan should be thenatural biosphere that encom-passes the area being planned;including of course all the lands,mountains, waterways, air spaceand watersheds around it. Thisapproach departs from the oldpractice of planning along artifi-cial political boundaries that werecreated by national laws.

It is my good fortune to haveknown top officials in local andinternational development orga-nizations, and I am getting tomeet more contacts now becauseof my TV show. Putting two andtwo together, it is now very logi-cal and practical for me to bringthese officials and contacts to-gether, so that they could all sup-port IAD planning, using ofcourse the biosphere approach.

It seems that we often takeIAD planning for granted. We of-

Fair & Square

IKE SEÑERES

self-motivating exercise for ourtired if not harassed selves.

We cannot deny the fact thateven without major trials andsins, we need to do some regularcleaning of our spiritual life. Ev-erything else needs that—ourbody, the car, the garden, ourtables, our cabinets, etc. Withoutthis frequent dusting and wiping,things just pile up into a mess.We always collect dirt all day long.

And these days when we aresubjected to so many competingelements, we cannot deny the factthat we have to contend with anenvironment whose spiritual andmoral ecology is complicated, ifnot downright polluted. Precisely,the complicated and confused aircan unleash and create more de-forming factors.

Even our most civilized meth-ods of communication areswamped with twisted and dis-torted values. If we are not care-ful, we would unknowingly im-bibe these contaminated values,slowly building up a disaster thatcan explode sooner or later.

We have to be more sensitiveto our need for examination of

conscience. In it, we put ourselvesin the presence of God, who is afather to us, ever understandingand quick to forgive, and whogives us light to see things objec-tively.

When done well, we can seethe roots of our problems, andcan have an idea of what to dowith them. We should never re-main only in the level of symp-toms. And solutions and anti-dotes, one way or another, arealways available to our problemsno matter how difficult they are.

It’s amazing that if throughthe examination of conscience wemanage to micro-manage ourspiritual life well, always comingup with prompt resolutions nomatter how small they are, thenwe can really take giant steps inour spiritual life. Impossibledreams, like chastity, become athrobbing reality.

Truth is we just cannot allowourselves to go namby-pamby inour lives, letting ourselves to driftto any direction our moods, feel-ings and instincts may take us.We need to be quite serious, put

continued on page 7

It was a pity to see shorterpassengers sink into the quick-sand of humanity and fortunatelyrescued by a stewardess puttingon her best “trying-hard-not-to-ruin-her-make-up-smile.” Otherswere less lucky after beingsquashed by baggage compart-ment traps that spew its contentsactually belonging to passengerssitting elsewhere.

“C18…, C19…, C20…, C…?”I was surprised to see C21 alreadyoccupied. I quickly grabbed mystub to verify. The people behindme grumbled when they felt I wasdelaying the flow. The almostfaded letters read: C21. To topthis all the entire row next to theEXIT hatch was occupied by onlytwo people. Next to the EXIT wasa lady, and beside her was anenormous gelatinous gentlemansnoring his way to Netherland ashis excess vibrating mass oozedinto my seat.

“Ed, you’re engulfing myseat!” I already classified theoversized protozoan-of-a-walrusbasking on two seats.

“Huh, wuzzup?” Ed camearound when the woman gavehim a stab in between one of hislayers. She was lucky enough tostill pull out her elbow intact. Irealized Ed didn’t recognize mesince I was wearing my “barong”and not my usual black clericalattire. “Oh, [SNORT] it’s you,Fathu Francis! This is indeed apleasant surprise!”

“Yup, but always in the sametight situations, Ed. Mind if Itake my seat?”

I had second thoughts aboutputting my bag in the overheadcompartment. I relented uponseeing a dozen items randomlydangling out of its gap: shoelaces,camera and Velcro straps, rubberbands, etc. Ed’s things were ob-

continued on page 7

ten presume that local govern-ment units (LGUs) would haveIAD plans and that they are prob-ably implementing these whetherwe know it or not. The truth is, ifwe do not know or hear about it,there are probably no such plansat all.

After interviewing hundredsof local mayors, I arrived at theconclusion that they are not ableto plan for the development oftheir local jurisdictions, becausethey have no money to beginwith. They would often gripeabout the fact that their internalrevenue allocation (IRA) is toosmall, that is if they have notheavily borrowed against it yet.

Almost traumatized by whatI heard, I have always kept myeyes and ears open for a possiblesolution to their problem. Per-haps due to good fortune again, Iactually found not just one, butfive solutions to their problems.The only challenge now is how toconvey this good news to them.

The Local Government Code(LGC) allows LGUs to enter intoBuild-Operate-Transfer (BOT)infrastructure projects under theBOT Law (R.A. 7718). The BOTscheme does not require anymoney on the part of the LGUs,

continued on page 7

Integrated area development

women is in the bedroom”“A nation of 60 thousand cow-

ards and two sons-of-bitches”,was how a U.S. senator describeda Philippines then. Murder,threats and bribes of what ImeldaMarcos boasted was the “NewSociety chained us” — until Corystood up.

Then, ordinary Filipinos rosetoo. And People Power spilledover into similar non-violent up-risings: Czechoslovakia’s “VelvetRevolution”, the “Cedar Revolt”of Lebanon and Ukraine’s “Or-ange Revolution”.

Filipinos thrust Malacañangon her. And unlike FerdinandMarcos, Joseph Estrada and nowGloria Macapagal Arroyo, shedidn’t scheme to retain power.When her term ended, she re-turned to her modest home onTimes Street, untainted bysleaze.

“What is the price of a valiantwoman?” asks the Book of Prov-erbs. “Her value is far beyondpearls.”

We owe Cory. Distracted bypolitical leeches, we’ve forgottenhow much that IOU is. And ordi-

nary families, like ours, join oth-ers in prayer for her. Perhaps, it’dbe useful to re-read, as I havethese past days, what she had tosay of the country today:

“Why did (People Power) hap-pen?,” she asked in 2000 when acorrupt Estrada administrationseem entrenched. “How did ithappen? … When did the Filipi-nos decide — each one alone andwithout prodding — that it wasnow or never?

“Suddenly, they were there,standing tall like Ninoy, as hewent down the stairs to his deathbecause it is better to die in thatposture than to go on living onyour knees … To such questions,I will not even try to give an-swers. (These) are known alreadyto those who actually lived them.…

“Inside all true Filipinos is asense that there is a point beyondwhich wrongdoing can not be al-lowed to go on: that point is whenthey will take action. Hence, theinstantaneous reaction to thosefew simple words: Tama na.Sobra na. Palitan na.

continued on page 7

JONATHAN (not his real name)came from a very poor family.There were seven of them in thefamily and he was the eldest. Hisfather was a farmer while hismother used to wash clothes oftheir neighbors. He wanted tofinish his studies, get a course,and find a good job.

Mario (again, a fictitiousname) was the only son of awealthy family. Whatever hewanted, he could have it. He hada nanny who took care of him. Hedidn’t worry about his futuresince his father owned a big busi-ness.

The two crossed their pathwhen they were in high school.It was an exclusive school, whereJonathan was a working student.He worked as janitor and was astudent at night. Oftentimes, hewent home famished. But despitethis, he still managed to be oneof the top students.

Mario, on the other hand, wasvery popular among ladies be-cause he was very handsome.However, he was always defeatedby Jonathan when it comes toacademic. Mario didn’t like theidea of not graduating as classvaledictorian; so he told his fa-ther about it. The father went tothe administration and talk withthe faculty.

As expected, Mario was chosenas class valedictorian althoughtheir classmates knew that itshould have been Jonathan. Itwas not the honor that Jonathanwas after but the scholarship thatwent along with being a valedic-torian.

But life went on. Jonathan at-tended a not-so-popular college,where he met Alice, the womanwho loved him despite his beingpoor. As fate would have it, Mariocourted Alice but her heart al-ready belonged to Jonathan.When Mario learned about shehad chosen Jonathan over him,he fumed.

In retaliation, he kidnappedAlice. At their beach house, he

raped her several times. She wasstabbed to death but survived.Despite what had happened toher, Jonathan still married Alice.Today, the happily marriedcouple is blessed with three chil-dren.

When asked if he has alreadyforgiven Mario of what he and hisfamily had done to him, Jonathanreplied, “Yes, a long time ago. Thehatred I had for him was buriedwhen I married Alice. ”

Had someone not asked him,he would have not rememberedit at all. Henry W. Beecher wasright when he said, “Forgivenessought to be like a cancelled note,torn in two and burned up, sothat it never can be shownagainst the man. ”

If we forgive someone, shouldit be quick and fast? Or should ittake time to heal all wounds?“Forgiveness is not act – it is aprocess,” explained DavidAugsburger, author of The Free-dom of Forgiveness. “It is not asingle transaction – it is a seriesof steps. Beware of any view ofinstant, complete, once-for-allforgiveness. Instant solutionstend to be the ways of escape, ofavoidance, or of denial, not of for-giveness.

“Forgiveness takes time – timeto be aware of one’s feelings, alertto one’s pain and anger, open tounderstand the other’s perspec-tive, willing to resolve the painand reopen the future,” he added.

It is not easy to forgive, muchless to forget the wrongs theother person had done to you.Our tendency is to revenge: aneye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.“We are most like beasts when wekill,” someone reminded. “We aremost like men when we judge. Weare most like God when we for-give. ”

In some instances, we can for-give someone but not totally for-get. “Forgiving and forgetting arerelated,” pointed out Americantheologian Frank Stagg, “but

continued on page 7

4 MabuhayLINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980 JULY 3 - 9, 2009

Murmurings ARIEL HANS C. SEBELLINO

‘Gone too soon’

iniwan kami ng father ko without anycommunication. Pati financial sup-port wala rin. Kaso lang wala kamingpera para lumapit sa mga abogadokaya natagalan lalo. Hanggangngayon po ay hirap pa rin kami kahitI’m working na because I am the onlyone who supports my family. Mymother told me na baka nga raw pomatulungan ninyo kami. Lalo nangayon na alam na namin ang ad-dress ng father ko sa Canada. Ano poba ang dapat naming gawin paramapagbayaran ng father ko angkasalanan niya. Actually po nakausapna namin sya just last month perohindi na naman po namin siya ma-contact ngayon. Parang pinaputol nayata niya ‘yung phone line nila saCanada. Kaya po we are asking foryour help dahil sobrang masakit napo ang ginagawa niya at ng mgakamag-anak niya sa amin. Sana poay matulungan ninyo kami...

—JasminJ@pcmall.comSagot: Thank you very much for

this e-mail. Regarding your problem,we will discuss them one at a time.Let us go to your complaint that yourfather committed bigamy. Kailangangmalaman ninyo kung saan nagpa-kasal ng pangalawang beses ang amaninyo—dito ba sa Pilipinas, o doon nasa Canada? Kung dito sa Pilipinassiya nagpagkasal ng pangalawangbeses, maaaring masampahan siya ngkaso dito sa Pilipinas, kahit na siyaay nasa ibang bansa sa kasalukuyan.Ayon sa Revised Penal Code, bastadito sa bansa nangyari ang krimen,ang mga hukuman sa Pilipinas angsiyang may karapatang maglitis ngkasong kriminal na bunga nito. Kungwala ang akusado ng krimen sabansa, itatabi lamang ang mga recordnito sa husgado at kung siya aybabalik dito sa anupamang kadahi-lanan at siya ay nahuli ng mga auto-ridad, bubuhaying muli ang usapin,aarestuhin siya kung hindi pa siya na-

kakapagpiyansa, at lilitisin ang kaso.Sa kabilang dako, kung ang panga-lawang kasal ay naganap sa Canada,magiging imposible ang pagsasampang kasong bigamya laban sa inyongama, kasi, ang isang elemento ng kri-meng bigamya—ang pagpapakasal ngpangalawang beses gayong buhay paang unang kasal—ay naganap salabas ng Pilipinas, kung saan walanang karapatan ang ating mga hu-kuman. Sa financial support, nani-niwala akong maaari siyang sam-pahan ng kasong paglabag sa AntiChild Abuse (Republic Act 7610),kahit na matatanda na ang kanyangmga anak, sapagkat ang paglabag na-man ay naganap na, bagamat nang-yari ito noong matagal nang panahon.

Hindi liable ang eskuwelahansa refund kahit hindi nakapag-aral

ang estudyanteTANONG: Good day, I am wonder-ing if you could help educate me inthe matter that I long to refund aninitial payment made to St. DominicCollege at Bacoor, Cavite that wasdated last 2003. I had enrolled my-self in a caregiver course they offeredbut unfortunately I went away andwasn’t able to even start classes. Imade an authorization letter beforeto my wife to claim the said paymentbut my wife wasn’t able to pursue itand it is only now made to my under-standing that she hasn’t able to re-fund the said tuition fee, so last weeki went there and was told to wait aweek but apparently now they claimthat i can’t make a refund for the staffthat use to handle transactions wereno longer with them and there is nosuch file to be found on my 201 fileindicating that i dropped out. Myquestion is “can they do this?” coz inthe registrar it clearly shows and theyadmitted that I had made paymentand the receipt number was indi-cated.

— gabriel_joselauro@yahoo.comSagot: Thank you very much for

this e-mail, but I have some bad newshere. It would seem that the enrolleewas unable to attend the caregivercourse where he enrolled because “Iwent away and wasn’t able to evenstart classes.” If this is the case, itwould seem that the school had nofault whatsoever that could make itliable to refund whatever was paid toit. True, there is a contract betweenthe school and the student that theschool would endeavor to educatewhoever will enroll with it, but if itdid not have any fault on the matterof the student being unable to attendhis classes, it will not be held liableat all. It will not even have any liabil-ity to refund any amount thus farpaid to it. In fact, it could even havethe right to compel the student, whowas unable to attend his classes, topay the balance of the agreed schoolor tuition fees. In our legal system inthe Philippines, he who is at faultbecomes liable for the damages he hascaused to his fellows. On the otherhand, he who is clean will not be li-able for anything.

* * *PAALALA: Panoorin po si Atty. BatasMauricio sa worldwide TV sa Internet,sa YouTube, metacafe at iGoogle, atpakinggan siya sa kanyang mgaprograma sa radyo: DZRB RADYONG BAYAN 738 khz. Sa Luzon,Lunes hanggang Biyernes, ika-5:30 ngumaga (at sa www.pbs.gov.ph); DZRMRADYO MAGASIN, 1278 Khz. saLuzon, Lunes hanggang Biyernes, ika-6:45 ng umaga (at sa www.pbs.gov.ph);DYKA 801 khz. sa San Jose, Antique(at sa www.wowantique.com, owww.kiniray-a.com), Lunes hanggangBiyenes, ika-10:00 ng umaga; atDYMS Aksiyon Radyo saCatbalogan City, Samar (at sawww.samarnews.com), Lunes hang-gang Biyernes, ika-11:00 ng umaga.

Buhay Pinoy

MANDY CENTENO

‘Sistemang PalayCheck’Dito sa Bulacan mga magsasakaPangunahing layon tumaas ang kitaInatasan sila ni Gob. Jon-jon MendozaPag-aralan nila bagong teknolohiya.Mga magsasaka ang tanging tanggapanDito ang nagturo ay mga teknisyanSistemang PalayCheck ang pinag-aralanNang upang dumami inaaning palay.Ano ang PalayCheck? Ito’y isang gabaySistema, paraan sa pagpapalayanIpinakikita, pinakamahusayNa teknolohiya pag-ani ng palay.Hinihikayat din mga magsasakaNa ikukumpara ang paraan nilaSa rekumendado, napatunayan naAni ay mataas, malaki ang kita.Hakbang na susundin kinakailanganGrupong magsasaka dalwampu ang bilangMagkikita-kita at pag-uusapanTungkol sa resulta, maging kaibahan.Ang pamamahala mahalaga ditoPaglaki ng palay, obserbahan itoSukatin, itala lahat ng aspetoTapos ikumpara sa ibang proyekto.Kalidad ng binhi unang pag-aralanMataas ang uri mahalagang tunayAsul na tarheta ang magpapatunayIto’y tag sa sako binhi ay mahusay.Mga katangian na sertipikadoMalinis ang binhi at ito ay puroAng laki at hugis ay pare-parehoAntas ng pagsibol 85 por siyento.Kalidad ng binhi ang kahalagahanMalusog ang punla, paglaki ay pantayNakakatulong pa aanihing palayLima hanggang sampu por syentong kakamtan.Ang rekumendasyong nauukol ditoBinhing gagamitin ay setipikadoAni ay mabili, tiyak sa merkadoKaragdagang kita dito’y sigurado.At itong kasunod pangalawang hakbangLupang paghahanda mahalagang tunayNa walang mataas o mababang lugarHuling pagpapatag ito’y kailangan.Ang kahalagahan ng gawaing itoMaayos, matipid ang patubig ditoMadaling puksain ang kuhol at damoSabay ang halaman sa paglaki nito.Ang rekumendasyon marapat na gawinLinisin, ayusin kanal at pilapilDamo at dayami sabay araruhinAng pinaggapasan dito’ykasama din.Dal’wa o higit pa suyurin tanimanNa may isang lingo ang maging pagitanPataging mabuti ang pagtatanimanTiyak ang layunin ay magtatagumpay.

Susunod ang ika-3 hakbang

WHEN I was in high school, I dancedto the beat of Billie Jean and Beat It.That was the height of Michaelmaniain my tender years whose albumThriller would go down in music his-tory as the undefeated highest sell-ing record of all time and he, to thisday, an icon. He was unstoppable; hissignature and thematic dance moveswhere either strange or just ahead ofanybody else’s.

I thought I was just made to danceto some cheesy beats. I shunned thecrotch move. Then came Heal TheWorld, Black Or White, Man In TheMirror and Gone Too Soon. Theseparticular hits made me realize therewasmuch more to the peculiar char-acter, that at some point even over-shadowed his own music. A string ofcontroversies — from black-skinnedto fair, his fascination for kids andmarriage to Priscilla Presley — weremore than enough to quench thepublic’s thirst for cutthroat enter-tainment. The media were unforgiv-

ing amidst the fans’ unruffled adula-tion.

In 1996 I scrambled last minutefor a ticket to his concert inParañaque. Wearing shorts, black teeand sneakers, I did not mind if I wasat the farthest back of the venuealong with a throng of non-fan spec-tators. The hi-tech production, hugevideo wall and his music were enoughto endure the three-hour event. I hadto force myself to be impressed withthe voice. I wasn’t bothered at all.The message was loud and clear. Itwas worth every cent.

A week after his death, I lookedfor the torn concert ticket and aphoto-puzzle of Michael Jackson Ikept as memorabilia. Both were gone.An old photo of a school programwhere us boys in the class in whitegloves danced to Beat It was gone too.I regret not buying his penultimatecompilation album released last yearwhose price now if I am not mistakenhas nearly doubled. But then again,

the supplies have run out.They say it usually comes in

threes: Marilyn Monroe, ElvisPresley and Michael Jackson. Un-timely demises are always shockingand people like them whose stellar ca-reer are bigger than their immortalpersona usually reveal dark secretsthat people love to know about. Thenwe begin to realize they are an ex-tension or projection of our innerselves wanting to burst. We too aresaddened because our own curtainswill close any given time. We ask our-selves: What legacy will we leave?

Here are some lines from the poi-gnant song Gone Too Soon:Like a cometBlazing ’cross the evening skyGone too soonBorn to amuse, to inspire, to delightHere one dayGone one nightLike a sunsetDying with the rising of the moonGone too soon

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Kakampi mo ang Batas mula sa pahina 2

from page 5finding team from the Department ofEnvironment and Natural Resources(DENR) found out that parts of thepagoda were merely fastened insteadof being nailed together.

Bocaue Mayor Serafin dela Cruzsaid only 36 people survived the trag-edy.

President Ramos visited Bucauelast Sunday; ordered the immediaterelease of P2.6 million fromMalacanang’s calamity fund for thevictims’ relatives; and directed theDepartment of Interior and LocalGovernment to find out whether any-one could be held liable for the trag-edy.

Some people said that the disas-ter was “an act of God” to punish thetownfolks for the vices in Bucaue.

Bocaue is known for its killer fire-crackers industry and its rows offunhouses, which remained openedthe night of the tragedy.

Mayor dela Cruz said deaths dur-ing the annual fluvial parade werenot new. He said one or two worship-

pers usually drowned before or dur-ing the town fiesta due to what hesaid was total carelessness.

The fluvial procession is held an-nually for nine consecutive nightsuntil the eve of the town fiesta ONTHE FIRST Sunday of July in thehonor of the Krus ng Wawa. The feastdates back to the Spanish colonialtimes.

Over a century ago,, fishermen

found a wooden cross floating on theWawa river and when brought toshore, it grew bigger and shone muchbrighter.

That got the residents to decide tobuild a chapel in Barangay Bambangand thereafter celebrate their townfiesta with a nine-day fluvial paradein honor of the Krus ng Wawa. — This article was first published in the

Mabuhay issue of July 19, 1993

Olivas investigators: Pagoda poorly built

Bayan muna, bago sarili!

JULY 3 - 9, 2009 MabuhayLINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980 5

Bocaue river tragedy yields a heroBY RUBEN B. CAL

PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY

TRAGIC events have away of yielding unlikelyheroes. The recent Bocaueriver disaster came up witha 13-year-old boy who losthis life in saving kids sixlike him.

The “Pagoda sa Wawa”tragedy hero was identi-fied as Sajid Bulig. Bulighas swum to safety. But hewent back into the murkywaters of Bocaue’s Wawariver six times to save, one

by one, six children agedbetween two and 12.

Bulig who was a goodswimmer died when apiece of wood from thecrumbling pagoda fell onhim.

Norita Santos, a wit-ness, recounted to thePhilippine NewsAgency , the ordeal ofscreaming victims and theheroism of the teenager.

Santos said Bulig hadalready saved himselfwhen he spotted thedrowning children.

“Unmindful of his ownsafety, Sajid went back tothe river and rescued atwo-year-old baby,” thewitness said.

Upon reaching anewthe safety of the riverbank,Santos said Bulig saw fivemore children who werepopping in and out of thewater.

“Again without anyhesitation, Sajid swamback and forth, bringingthem in one by one tosafety,” she choked almostin tears.

Death came to Sajid ashe was swimming back tosafety. A falling piece ofwood cracked his skull,killing him instantly.

“There were countlessheroes in the Bucaue rivertragedy but Sajid’s braverywas beyong compare,”Sonia Lazaro, 18, one ofthe survivors, told this re-porter.

Sonia who does notknow how to swim miracu-lously survived the July 2nd

nightmare by clinging toae piece of wood.

Her sister, Emilita, 30,was not as lucky.

Sonia said Emilita wasseated in the middle of thecrowded floating shrine.She said she and two cous-ins, who also survived, wereseated on the left side.

“When the boat tilted tothe right, my sister waspinned down by the hugecrowd,” Sonia said.

Her cousins GildaBautista and Norie Andressaved themselves by cling-ing to floating wood.

Sonia said Andres saved

a two-year old baby, whileanother survivor, AlmaBruno, 18, rescued anothertwo-year-old.

Pablo R. Lazaro, 70, fa-ther of Sonia and Emilita,said he was planning to filecriminal charge againstthose in-charge o the flu-vial procession for negli-gence.

He said the pagoda wasconstructed hastily andmade of weak material.

— This article was first pub-lished in the Mabuhay issue

of July 19, 1993

mula sa pahina 1panunuod sa sa pagdiri-wang ng Piyesta ng krus saWawa.

Kabilang ang pahaya-gang Mabuhay sa mgalumahok sa prusisyon sailog sa pamamagitan ngbangka at pagdedekora-syon nito.

Ayon kay Marites Pageng Barangay Taal sa ba-yang ito, ang makukulayna dekorasyon sa mgabangkang lumahok sa ta-unang festival ay ang isa samga nakaakit sa kanilaupang manood.

“Dati, isang malakingpagoda lang at ilangbangka ang pinapanoodnamin, ngayon, mas ma-rami na ang bangka napuro dekorasyon,” ani Pagena dalawang kaanak angnasawi sa trahedya noong1993.

Sinabi niya na mag-kahalo ang kanyang na-dama habang pinanunuodng mga bangkang kalahoksa festival.

“Nalulungkot din akokasi naaalala ko 'yung mgakamag-anak kong nama-tay,” aniya.

Gayundin ang nagingpahayag ni EleuterioCueto, isang jeepney driverna nakatira sa bayan ngMarilao. Isang tiyahin atdalawang pinsan ni Cuetoang nasawi sa trahedyanoong 1993.

“Bilang isang jeepney

mula sa pahina 1man ako,” sabi ni Sahjid.

“Ewan ko, basta ma-tulog ka na, hindi ko alamang sagot sa tanong mo,”ani Erlinda sa anak, atsila’y natulog na.

Kinabukasan, halos ika-6 pa lamang ng gabi aybihis na si Sahjid at han-dang sumakay sa pagoda.

“Bakit iyang bagongdamit mo ang suot mo? eh,sa misa sa Linggo mo dapatisuot iyan,” ang bating-pansin ni Erlinda sa anak.

“’Nay, dapat magandaang suot ko, kasi may inu-utos pa ang teacher ko saakin,” sagot ni Sahjid.

Ilang sandali pa ay ma-sayang lumisan si Sahjid.Sinabi sa ina na dapat aymaaga siyang makasakaysa pagoda dahil unang Bi-yernes ng buwan ng Hulyoat tiyak na marami angsasakay doon pagkataposng misa sa parokya ni St.Martin of Tours, ang pa-tron ng bayan ng Bocaue.

Iyon ang huling pagka-kataon na nakita ni Er-linda ang ngiti sa labi nganak. Wala sa kanyang hi-nagap na ang kasunodnoon ay trahedyang mag-ii-wan ng malalim na sugathindi lamang sa kanyakungdi maging sa alaala ngbayang ito na mula panoong 1850 ay ipinagdiri-wang na ang isang linggongprusisyon sa ilog bilangpagpupugay sa Krus saWawa.

Ilang oras ang naka-lipas, ikinagulat ni Erlindaang pagkakagulo ng mga

tao sa kalsada sa labasan.Lumubog daw ang pagoda.

Agad siyang lumabas ngbahay kasunod ang mgakaanak. Iisa ang kanilangnasa isipan. Sakay ng pa-goda si Sahjid. Ano na angnangyari sa kanya?

Matagal na hinanapnina Erlinda si Sahjid.Ipinagtanong sa mga naka-salubong at mga taongdinatnan malapit sa nilu-bugan ng pagoda.

Hindi magkamayaw angmga nandoon. Kanya-kan-yang hanap sa kanilangmga kapamilya.

Isang kakilala ang nag-sabi kay Erlinda. Nanana-gip daw ng mga nalulunodsi Sahjid. Nawala ang pa-ngamba ng ina. Alam niyana mahusay lumangoy anganak dahil tuwing baka-syon ay kasama ito ng mgakaibigan at mga pinsan sapaliligo sa ilog.

Dahil dito, kampantengumuwi si Erlinda upang sabahay na lamang hintayinang anak, ngunit ilang oraspa ang nakalipas ay maysumugod sa kanila at ibi-nalitang isinakay sa ambu-lansiya si Sahjid.

“Akala ko ba ay nanana-gip siya, bakit nasa ambu-lansiya siya ngayon,” aniErlinda at agad na ringsumugod sa ospital.

Ginalugad nila ang mgaospital sa Bocaue, ngunithindi nila nakita si Sahjid.

“Natakot na ako, kasi'yung mga nakita ko saospital ay iba na ang kulay,may mga kulay talong na,tapos hindi pa namin ma-

kita si Sahjid,” ani Erlinda.Ilang beses silang nag-

pabalik-balik sa mga os-pital sa Bocaue sa pag-aa-kalang nagkasalisi sila nganak.

Ngunit tuwing mada-daan sila sa FunerariaVillarin sa BarangayBunlo, parang may nagbu-bulong kay Erlinda na“Nanay, nandito ako.”

Sa huli, pumasok si Er-linda sa punerarya sa ka-bila ng pagpigil sa kanya ngmga kaanak.

At sa loob nga ng pune-rarya nila nakita si Sahjid.

“Humihinga pa siya atmaganda pa ang kulaykumpara sa ibang biktimana nakita namin, kaya langhindi na siya makausap,”ani Erlinda na nagsabingnaisugod pa nila sa ospitalang anak, ngunit dahil sadami ng pasyente noonggabing iyon ay hindi na rinnaagapan ang pagkamatayni Sahjid sa edad na 13taong gulang.

Isinalaysay ni Erlindasa Mabuhay na nang su-riin nila ang katawan nganak ay nakita niya na maymalaking sugat ito sa ulo,may butas sa noo at nama-maga ang mukha. “Parangnabagsakan siya ng mgakahoy ng pagoda kaya ma-raming injury,” aniya.

Ilang taon ang naka-lipas, si Sahjid Bulig aykinilala bilang bayani satrahedya.

Isang rebulto ang iti-nayo sa kanyang pangalansa gilid ng ilog sa BarangayBambang ‘di kalayuan sa

nilubugan ng pagoda at sakanilang tahanan.

Ang rebulto ay bilangpagkilala sa pagsagip niSahjid sa pitong batangmay edad dalawa hanggang10 taong gulang nanglumubog ang pagoda.

Para kay Erlinda, nata-nggap na niya ang sinapitni Sahjid, ngunit inaminniya na masakit pa rin angmawalan ng anak, 16 nataon matapos ang tra-hedya.

Ikinagagalak niya angpagkilala sa kanyang anakbilang bayani, ngunit si-nabi niyang mas gusto niyana buhay ang kanyanganak.

Hinggil naman sa mu-ling pagsasagawa ng pru-sisyon sa ilog kung pista ngKrus sa Wawa, sinabi niErlinda na ikinagagalakdin niya iyon dahil isa iyonsa palatandaan na naka-bangon na sa dalamhatiang bayan ng Bocaue.

Ang prusisyon sa ilog aynatigil mula noong 1993hanggang 2005. Noong2006, muling isinagawaang taunang tradisyon,ngunit marami na ang pag-babago.

Minsan na lamang angpagsagawa ng prusisyon atsa araw na lang ng pista,hindi katulad noon na ha-los walong gabing sunod-sunod ang paglalayag ngpagoda sa ilog.

Bukod dito, hindi na sagabi isinasagawa ang pru-sisyon, sa halip ay sa arawna lang at limitado na angsumasakay sa pagoda.

driver, naaalala ko silatuwing dadaan ako diyansa Bocaue, pero ganoontalaga ang buhay,” aniya.

Matatandaan na 266 nakatao ang nasawi sa pag-lubog ng pagoda sa ilog ngBocaue noong gabi ngHulyo 2, 1993. Iyon anghuling taon ng pagsasa-gawa ng prusisyon sa iloggabi-gabi sa loob ng isanglinggo, at simula noon aynatigil na ang taunangselebrasyon.

Noong 2006, ay mulingbinuhay ang tradisyon,ngunit sa araw na lamangisinasagawa ang prusisyonsa ilog, at sa araw ng ka-pistahan na lamang ngKrus sa Wawa.

Ayon kay Fr. Jovi Se-bastian, ang kura ng pa-rokya ni St. Martin ofTours ng Bocaue, ang tra-hedya noong 1993 ay mai-tuturing na isang paalalasa mga tao upang magbaliksa simpleng pagdiriwangng pista ng Krus sa Wawa.

Mas makabubuting angpagdiriwang ng piyesta aymas itukoy sa panalanginat espiritwal na panga-ngailangan ng tao, ani Fa-ther Sebastian.

Ayon pa sa pari, angsalaping ginugugol sa ma-rangyang pagdiriwang ayhigit na magkakaroon ngkabuluhan kung iyon aymagagamit sa iba pangmga proyekto.

—Dino Balabo

Prusisyon sa ilog masaya;naalala pa rin ang mga yumao

Batang bayani sa trahedya inalalaPrusisyon ng pagoda ng “Krus sa Wawa” sa ilog ng Bocaue, Bulacan, Hulyo 5, 2009. – Kuha ni Richel Cedenio ng Unipas

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga—Defective constructiondesign and overloadinghave been blamed by policeinvestigators for the rivertragedy in Bocaue, Bu-lacan, on the night of July2, 1993.

Supt. Joselito GutierrezJr., chief of the CampOlivas Criminal Imbes-tigation Service (CIS), saidon July 9 that most of thematerial used in the con-struction of the ill-fatedwaterborne pagoda orshrine was out-lumber andweak pieces of wood.

The three-tiered float-ing shrine disintegratedwhen it capsized and col-lapsed, hitting most of theKrus sa Wawa devoteeswho died from downingand injuries, according tothe CIS probers.

Gutierrez said that atleast 276 persons, mostlychildren died and five oth-ers were still missing in thefluvial parade tragedy.

Citing some defects inthe construction design ofthe pagoda, Gutierrez saidthat several empty drumswere used in building theshrines in previous fluvialparades at the murky ofWawa river in Bucaue. The

Olivas investigators:Pagoda poorly built

drums insured the pagodafrom either tilting or cap-sizing.

This year’s pagoda, ac-cording to CIS investiga-tors, was mounted on thethree bancas or boatswhich could only load some300 people.

Gutierrez said that thepagoda had more than 500people when the tragedyoccurred.

The CIS probers alsosaid that they found outthat the floating shrinetilted on its right side whenmost of those on boardwent to that side to get abetter view of the fireworksdisplay on that bank of theriver.

Gutierrez said thatwhen the pagoda tilted, itcollapsed and disinte-grated.

The National Bureau ofInvestigation (NBI) and aspecial body created by theBucaue municipal counciland the office of the mayorwere conducting separateinvestigations of the trag-edy, according to Gutierrez.

Aside from the recycledpieces of lumber and out-lumber recovered by policeinvestigators, another fact

continued on page 4

6 MabuhayLINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980 JULY 3 - 9, 2009

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINESSUPREME COURT

OFFICE OF THE EX-OFFICIO SHERIFFMALOLOS CITY, BULACAN

LAND BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES

Mortgagee,

- versus -

SPS. CLEMENTE ANDMARILYN DOMANTAY,

Mortgagor/s,

X————————————X

NOTICE OF THE SHERIFF’S SALEUpon extra-judicial petition for sale under act 3135 as amended by Act4118 filed by LAND BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES, with principal officeaddress at Land Bank Plaza, 1598 M. H. Del Pilar St. cor. Dr. J. QuintosSt. Malate, Metro Manila with branch office address at Land BankBulacan Lending Center, Sumapang Matanda, McArthur Highway,Malolos, Bulacan against SPS. CLEMENTE and MARILYN DOMANTAY,with residence and postal address at No. 257 L. Hernandez St., Partida,San Miguel, Bulacan the mortgagor/s to satisfy the mortgage indebt-edness which as of December 24, 2008 amounts to SIX HUNDREDFORTY FIVE THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED NINETY TWO & 40/100 PE-SOS (P645,192.40) Philippine Currency, including/ excluding interestthereon, including/excluding _____of the total indebtedness by way ofattorney’s fees, plus daily interest and expenses and thereafter, alsosecured by said mortgage, and such other amounts which may be-come due and payable to the aforementioned mortgagee, the Ex-Offi-cio Sheriff of Bulacan through the undersigned Sheriff hereby givesnotice to all interested parties to the public in general that on JULY 30,2009 at 10:00 A.M. or soon thereafter, in front of the Office of the Ex-Officio Sheriff of Bulacan, located at the back of the Bulwagan ngKatarungan, Provincial Capitol Compound, Malolos City, Bulacan willsell at public auction through sealed bidding to the highest bidder forCASH and in Philippine Currency, the described real property/ies be-low together with all the improvements existing thereon:

TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF THE TITLE NO. RT-2886 (T-298855)

“A parcel of land (Lot 2392-A-2-A of the subd. plan LRC Psd-328000,Approved as a non-subd. project, being a portion of Lot2392-A-2 LRCPsd-227243 LRC Cad. Rec. No. 707), situated in the Bo. Of Partida,Municipality of San Miguel, Prov. of Bul. Is. of Luzon. xx xx xx Contain-ing an area of FIVE THOUSAND (5,000) SQ. M. more or less.”

This Notice of the Sheriff’s sale will be posted for a period of twenty(20) days in three (3) conspicuous public places in the municipalitywhere the subject property/ies is/are located and at Malolos City,Bulacan where the sale shall take place and likewise a copy will bepublished for the same period in the Mabuhay a newspaper of generalcirculation in the province of Bulacan, once a week for three (3) con-secutive weeks before the date of the auction sale.

All sealed bids with its accompanying transmittal letter addressed tothis office must be submitted to the undersigned on or before theabove stated date and hour at which time all sealed bids thus submit-ted shall be opened.

In the event the public auction would not take place on the said date, itshall be held on AUGUST 6, 2009 at 10 A.M. or soon thereafter withoutfurther notice.

Prospective bidders or buyers are hereby enjoined to investigate forthemselves the little to the property/ies and encumbrance thereon, ifany there be.

Malolos City, Bulacan, June 30, 2009

EMMANUEL L. ORTEGA

Ex-Officio Sheriff

SILVESTRE J. ESGUERRA

Sheriff IVCopy furnished: All parties concerned

Mabuhay: June 26, July 3 & 10 , 2009

E.J.F. NO. 159-2009

EXTRA-JUDICAL FORELOSURE OFREAL ESTATE PROPERTY/IES

UNDER ACT 3135 AS AMMENDEDBY ACT 4118

WARNING: Do not remove,deface or destroy this noticeon or before the date saleunder penalty of law

Republic of the PhilippinesREGIONAL TRIAL COURT

Third Judicial RegionCity of Malolos, Bulacan

Branch 21

SP. PROC. NO. 143-M-2009

IN THE MATTER OF A CHANGE INMIDDLE NAME OF DELOS SANTOS TOSANTOS

NESTOR DELOS SANTOS CUSTODIO,

Petitioner,

- versus -

THE CIVIL REGISTRAR OF MALOLOSCITY, BULACAN, THE SOLICITORGENERAL AND THE CITYPROSECUTOR OF MALOLOS,

Respondents,

X————————————X

ORDERThis is a verified petition “Re: In the Matter of a Change of MiddleName of delos Santos to Santos”, filed by the petitioner through coun-sel, who alleges that he is of legal age , Filipino, widower and a resi-dent of Barangay Balite, Malolos City, Bulacan; that he was born onSeptember 8, 1955, and his father’s name is Marcial Custodio, whilehis mother’s name is Conrada delos Santos; that his birth certificateshows that his middle name is Delos Santos; that his school recordsuntil he finished college bears the middle name Santos; that he hasbeen using the middle name Santos for a very long period of time asshown in the following identification cards:

Date of Issue Issued by:

a. TIN October 31, 1991 B.I.R.b. Home Development Mutual fund HDMFc. Voter’s I.D. COMELEC

that he has been employed with Cooperative Rural Bank of Bulacansince 1978 and is now its General Manager; from the time of his en-gagement with the said bank to this day he has been known to use themiddle name of Santos as certified by the bank’s Human ResourcesDepartment head Ms. Marivic dela Peña; that he desires to change themiddle name from delos Santos to Santos in his birth certificate toavoid confusion and because he has been known to use the said middlename since childhood and not merely for convenience.

WHEREFORE, the instant petition is hereby set for hearing on Novem-ber 24, 2009 at 2:00 P.M. before this Branch located at the NewBulwagan ng Katarungan, Provincial Capitol Compound, City of Malolos,Bulacan, on which time and place all persons concerned may appearand show cause why this petition should not be granted.

Let copies of this Order, together with the Petition and its annexes, befurnished the Local Civil Registrar of Malolos City, Bulacan, the Na-tional Statistics Office, Edsa Corner Quezon Avenue, Quezon City, theOffice of the Solicitor General at the expense of the petitioner. Further,He is also directed to cause the publication hereof once a week forthree (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation inthe province of Bulacan. Finally, the Local Civil Registrar of MalolosCity, Bulacan and any person having or claiming any interest under theentry whose correction is sought herein, may, within fifteen (15) daysfrom notice or from the last date of such notice, file their oppositionthereto.

SO ORDERED.

City of Malolos, Bulacan, June 17, 2009

Original signed

JAIME V. SAMONTEPresiding judge

Copy furnished: All parties concerned

Mabuhay: June 26, July 3 & 10 , 2009

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINESSUPREME COURT

OFFICE OF THE EX-OFFICIO SHERIFFMALOLOS CITY, BULACAN

PHILIPPINE SAVINGS BANK

Mortgagee,

- versus -

SPS. MINA A. GUTIERREZ &MARIO FERNANDO C. GUTIERREZ

Mortgagor/s.

X————————————X

NOTICE OF THE SHERIFF’S SALEUpon extra-judicial petition for sale under act 3135 as amended by Act4118 filed by PHILIPPINE SAVINGS BANK, with principal office ad-dress at PSBank Center, 777 Paseo de Roxas corner Sedeno Street,Makati City, the mortgagee/s, against SPS. MINA A. GUTIERREZ &MARIO FERNANDO C. GUTIERREZ, with given address at Blk. 4, Lot10, Samantha Heights, Dulong Bayan, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan,the mortgagor, to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of June18, 2009 amounts to TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED ONE THOUSANDNINE HUNDRED FIVE PESOS AND 30/100 (P2,501,905.30) PhilippineCurrency, including/ excluding interest thereon, including/excluding 25%of the total indebtedness as and by way of Attorney’s fees, plus dailyinterest and expenses and thereafter, also secured by said mortgageand such other amounts which may become due and payable to theaforementioned mortgagee. The Ex-Officio Sheriff of Bulacan herebygives notice to all interested parties to the public in general that onAugust 4, 2009 at 10:00 o’clock in the morning or soon thereafter, infront of the Office of the Ex-Officio Sheriff of Bulacan, located at theback of the Bulwagan ng Katarungan, Provincial Capitol Compound,Malolos City, Bulacan will sell at public auction thru sealed bidding tothe highest bidder in CASH and in Philippine Currency, the real prop-erty/ies below together with all the improvements existing thereon:

TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF THE TITLE NO. T-271584

A parcel of land(Lot 62 Blk. 2 of the subd. plan LRC Psd-124367,being a portion of lot 3, Psu-16621, LRC GLRO Rec. No. 42308), situ-ated in the Bo. of Tabang, Guiguinto, Bu. Is. of Luzon. Bounded on theNE pts. 1 to 2 by lot 63 blk. 2 on the SE pts. 2 to 3 by road lot 2. on theSW pts. 3 to 4 by lot 61 blk. 2, all of the subd. plan; on the NW pts. 4 to1 by property of Benigno Villafuerte, claimed by Francisco Hilario,Recoleto Est. x x x containing an area of TWO HUNDRED EIGHTEEN(218) SQ. M. more or less. x x x

This Notice of the Sheriff’s sale will be posted for a period of twenty(20) days in three (3) of the most conspicuous public places in themunicipality where the subject property is located and at Malolos City,Bulacan, where the sale shall take place, and likewise, a copy will bepublished for the same period in the Mabuhay a newspaper of generalcirculation in the province of Bulacan, once a week for three (3) con-secutive weeks before the date of the auction sale.

All sealed bids with its accompanying transmittal letter addressed tothis office must be submitted to the undersigned on or before the abovestated date and hour at which time all sealed bids thus submitted shallbe opened.

In the event the public auction would not take place on the saiddateAugust 4, 2009, it shall be held on August 27, 2009 at 10 A.M. or soonthereafter without further notice.

Prospective bidders or buyers are hereby enjoined to investigate forthemselves the title to the property/ies and encumbrance thereon, ifany there be.

Malolos City, Bulacan, June 9, 2009

EMMANUEL L. ORTEGA

Ex-Officio Sheriff

Copy furnished: All parties concerned

Mabuhay: July 3, 10 & 17, 2009

WARNING: Do not remove,deface or destroy this noticeon or before the date saleunder penalty of law

E.J.F. NO. 171-2009

EXTRA-JUDICAL FORELOSURE OFREAL ESTATE PROPERTY/IES

UNDER ACT 3135 AS AMMENDEDBY ACT 4118

Republic of the PhilippinesREGIONAL TRIAL COURTTHIRD JUDICIAL REGIONCity of Malolos, Bulacan

BRANCH 21

SP. PROC.NO. 161-M-09

IN RE: IN THE MATTER OFCORRECTION OF ENTRY IN THE BIRTHCERTIFICATE OF MARIA RIA G.BREEDING AS TO HER SEX/GENDERFROM “MALE” TO “FEMALE”, MARIARIA G. BREEDING, REPRESENTED BYROMINA G. BREEDING,

Petitioner

-Versus-

OFFICE OF THE LOCAL CIVILREGISTRAR OF SAN MIGUEL,BULACAN,

Respondent,

x————————————————x

ORDERThis is a verified Petition for Correction of Entry in the Birth Certificateof Maria Ria G. Breeding as to her sex/gender from “male” to “female”filled by the petitioner, through counsel, who alleges that she is of legalage, a Filipino and a resident of Tigpalas, San Miguel, Bulacan, repre-sented in this case by Romina G. Breeding; while public respondent isa local government office with address at Municipal Building, San Miguel

Bulacan; that Romina G. Breeding is the sister of Maria Ria GuanioBreeding who was born on January 13, 1984 at San Miguel, Bulacan;that however, there was an erroneous entry in the said birth certificateas it was registered thereon “male” as the sex (gender) of Maria Ria G.Breeding when in the truth and in fact, her sex (gender) is “FEMALE”;that there is therefore a necessity for the correction of the said errone-ous entry on sex (gender) of Maria Ria G. Breeding from “MALE” to“FEMALE” in order to reflect her true and correct sex (gender).

WHEREFORE, the instant Petition is hereby set for hearing on Septem-ber 8, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. before this Branch located at the New Bulwaganng Katarungan Building, Provincial Capitol Compound, City of Malolos,Bulacan, on which time and place, all persons concerned may appearand show cause why this Petition should not be granted.

Let copies of this Order, together with the Petition and its annexes, befurnished the Local Civil Registrar of San Miguel, Bulacan, the NationalStatistics Office, Edsa corner, Quezon Avenue, Quezon City and theOffice of the Solicitor General at the expense of the petitioner. Further,he is also directed to cause the publication hereof once a week forthree (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation inthe province of Bulacan. Finally, the Local Civil Registrar of San Miguel,Bulacan and any person having or claiming any interest under the en-try whose correction is sought herein, may, within fifteen (15) daysfrom the last date of such notice, file their opposition thereto.

SO ORDERED.

City of Malolos, Bulacan, July 1, 2009

JAIME V. SAMONTE

Presiding Judge

Copy furnished

Mabuhay: July 3, 10 & 17, 2009

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINESLOCAL CIVIL REGISTRY OFFICE

PROVINCE: BULACANCITY/MUNICIPALITY: OBANDO

NOTICE FOR PUBLICATIONIn compliance with Section 5 of R.A. Act No. 9048, a notice is herebyserved to the public that PRISCILA DE JESUS ANASTACIO has filedwith this Office a petition for change of first name from PRESIE toPRISCILA in the bir th certificate of PRISCILA E. DE JESUS who wasborn on 16 January 1957 at Obando, Bulacan, Philippines and whoseparents are Pascual De Jesus and Pilar Elarco.

Any person adversely affected by said petition may file this writtenopposition with this Office not later than -0-.

SGD. PEDRO SEVILLAMunicipal Civil Registry

Mabuhay: June 26 & July 3, 2009

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINESLOCAL CIVIL REGISTRY OFFICE

PROVINCE: BULACANCITY/MUNICIPALITY: OBANDO

NOTICE FOR PUBLICATIONIn compliance with Section 5 of R.A. Act No. 9048, a notice is herebyserved to the public that PRISCILA DE JESUS ANASTACIO has filedwith this Office a petition for change of first name from SALOMONPASCUAL to SOLOMON in the bir th cer tificate of SOLOMON B.ANASTACIO who was born on 08 May 1961 at Obando, Bulacan,Philippines and whose parents are Esteban Anastacio and MagdalenaBaltazar.

Any person adversely affected by said petition may file this writtenopposition with this Office not later than -0-.

SGD. PEDRO SEVILLAMunicipal Civil Registry

Mabuhay: June 26 & July 3, 2009

Pangalagaan ang kalikasan Juan Cauilan, Sr., one of 11 original PNAers, 90MANILA – Juan Cauilan Sr., former Philippines NewsAgency Staff member, died on June 30, 2009 at theEvangelista Hospital at Pacita Complex in San Pedro, La-guna. He was 90.

Cauilan, also a former employee of the defunct Philip-pine News Service, (PNS) was among the 11 individualswho comprised the original editorial staff of the state-ownedPNA when it was launched on March 1, 1973 by the De-

partment of Public Information Secretary and later onSenator Francisco S. Tatad.

Juan or “Johnny”, as he was fondly called, was also thefather of PNA staff member Oscar and former PNAersCesar, Jojo and Lily Cauilan-Diomampo.

His remains lie in the state at the Santo Rosario ParishChurch at Phase I-C, Pacita Complex, San Pedro, Laguna.

Place and date of interment will be announced later. —PNA

JULY 3 - 9, 2009 MabuhayLINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980 7

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Regarding Henry from page 3

“There is a dark wind blowingacross our country again — thewind of ambition, the wind of tyr-anny,” she said at the Quirinograndstand, on the 25th anniver-sary of imposition of martial law.“We are here to tell those who wantto stay in power by martial law orCharter change: no way and neveragain … We are here not merely tofight Charter change for term ex-tensions. … We are here also tofight the old amnesias

“The presidency is so great anhonor, no one deserves to have itagain. It imposes a duty so important— to guide a whole country and pro-tect a whole nation — that you mustdo it well. And if you did it well, youwon’t deserve to do it again …

“Finally, to the man I supportedin 1992, my friend Fidel ValdezRamos, I say: Marami ka nang

nagawa, kaibigan kong Presidente.Marami ka nang maaaringipagamalaki. We both know that thereal saviors of this country are thepeople, not any one of us.

“Trust the good people to continueyour good work. I trusted in you whenmy term was over. Trust in the Fili-pino.” (After that speech, FidelRamos threw in the towel on his bidto rewrite the Constitution and seeka second term.)

At the Ramon MagsaysayAwardees Forum, Cory said: “Thosewho believe that political powergrows out of the barrel of a gun willnot be interested in what I have tosay. The events of the past decademust leave them cold, specially thereplication of Edsa people power revo-lution through Eastern Europe LatinAmerica and East Asia — until tocame to a dead end at Tiananmen

Square.“People power is not culture

bound, appears to have little to dowith living standards, formal educa-tion … The most educated people inthe world today lives contentedly inSingapore …

“But there seems to be strong con-nection between people power andmoral goals. (It’s) most notable fea-ture is mass scale. But the basic unitis the solitary decision to stand upand say no without any regard to oth-ers sharing the risk …

And after People Power II, shesaid:”I have a more commonplaceview of People Power. It is just thevoice of decency in the mouths of thebrave. It is the predictable manifes-tation of simple moral indignationwhen brazen injustice takes placeright before its face.”

— juanlmercado@gmail.com

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Forward to Basics from page 3

viously crammed inside. Opening it would only pro-nounce my death sentence. Ed was smiling as he waitedlike a hunter to see if I would open the trap.

“Sorry, Father,” he sniggered. He then tried to lowerthe arm rest which didn’t go all the way down and re-mained slightly diagonal. “I just thought of takin’ ad-vantage, ye know.., the seat was empty.”

“It’s okay, Ed,” I shrugged my shoulders. “I’ll just holdmy breath during the entire flight so I could sit.”

“Hee, hee, hee,” the woman couldn’t control hermuffled laughter. All this time I hadn’t paid much atten-tion to her.

“Oh, Fathu…[EHEM!], I’m really sorry, how stupid ofme. Let me introduce my wife, Alice.”

“I’m delighted,” I extended my hand to meet hers. Edcoughed and took a deep breath. His tummy expandedbetween us that I only managed to nip the tip of Alice’sfingers.

“Sorry, folks that wasn’t intended,” he laughed. “Yuhsee, Alice here is a ballet teacher, Fathu.”

“I glanced at Alice as I tried to squeeze into C21. Eddid his best to give me a bit of micro space. I tucked myluggage under the seat. I finally settled down and glancedat Alice –whose face was split in half by Ed’s orangutanhead– and saw she was totally the opposite of her hus-band.

She was not top heavy or too bony. Her face revealed acalm personality conveyed by her gentle grey-blue eyesand a natural smile that was attractively decorated by aslight but well placed dimple on her right cheek.

“So how did you cra…I mean, bump into her, Ed. Didyou enroll in ballet lessons?” Alice giggled at this com-ment.

“Fathu, when it comes to women, they are actuallythe ones who crash into me,” he smiled proudly.

“Really? So how did you two meet?”“Well, to make a looong story short, yuh see Alice here

isn’t compatible with technology.”“What does that have to do with your meeting,” I was

a bit lost.“Oh, she’s allergic to technology, yuh see. In fact, up

to now, I have to do everything for her. Yuh can say I’mher personal secretary when it comes to e-mailing, cellcalls and the like,” he rolled his eyes.

“…and how is that supposed to…?” I looked at Alice.“Father, it happened after one performance…” she

tried to begin.“Nah, nah! That wasn’t how it happened, dear,” Ed

interrupted her.“Easy, Ed,” no harm in hearing both sides,” I said.“It’s okay, honey,” Alice said gently, “You can tell him

your version.”“”Well, I was checking out the shows in the theatre,

yuh know…days when yuh can’t make up yuhr mind onwhat on earth to do...and…”

“And…?”“…and as I read the schedule [WHAM!] a cell phone

from nowhere hits me on the head!”“…no, dear, it was your tummy,” she corrected him.“Whatever! Yuh hit me just the same,” he said defen-

sively.“…but I didn’t mean to…,” she tried to explain.“Anyways,” Ed sighed, “Yuh know women, Fathu…,

well, that’s how we got to know each other and we nowlive happily ever aftuh!”

“…but why did you throw your cell at him?”“Father, you won’t believe it,” Alice’s face lightened

up. “…I was trying to call my driver to pick me up afterrehearsing for an upcoming performance…but the phonewouldn’t work.”

“Ha, ha, ha!” Ed was enjoying himself. “That’s be-cause you didn’t know how to unlock the keypad.”

“…but actually,” Alice said while regaining her com-posure. “It was an answered prayer.”

“Hey! Wey a minute,” Ed retorted. “I didn’t know thatpart of the story!”

“Answered prayers?” I became very curious.“Well, I been praying to St. Joseph to help me find me

the right man …,” she said giving Ed a half smile.“…and, am I the right one?” Ed asked jokingly.“Of course dear,” she looked at him lovingly. “Why

would I doubt that?”“So what happened?” I asked.“I made a Novena asking for a good husband. I even

asked a friend to put the picture of St. Joseph as myphone’s wallpaper. It was already quite late when we fin-ished our rehearsal. I looked at the picture and told himthat the ninth day was about to end and I had not yetmet the right man.”

“…and…?” Ed’s face was excited with all the suspense.“I got impatient when I couldn’t get the phone to work.

Then I don’t know what came to me, but I suddenly gotangry at St. Joseph and threw the phone. I was soashamed after I realized what I did… That’s when Edcame asking if I dropped my cell.”

“Ha, ha, ha! …that’s a good one, Alice. You said itslipped off your hand,” Ed cracked up and with him hisentire body mass.

[Ladies and gentlemen, we are about to take off…]the PA system announced.

We all became quiet. I was astonished to see how Edeven managed to fasten his seatbelt.

“Father?” Alice interrupted my amazement. “Wouldyou like to say the Rosary?”

“Of course? But don’t you think that Ed could lead?We can hear him better since he’s between the two ofus.”

“I perfectly agree with you,” she gave Ed an affection-ate wide grin.

“Sheesh… Why do you guys always have to win?” Edsaid.

“You mean, why does God always have to win?” Alicecorrected him.

“Whatever…,” Ed quipped.“Sides, prayer is compatible with everything and

makes us more compatible with God,” she added.“Amen,” I said.“In the name of the Fathu, and of the Son and of the

Holy Spirit…,” Ed started.

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Depthnews from page 3

forgiving precedes forgetting. Toforgive, one must first remember theinjury, the impact, the injustice done.

“To forget ignores the needs of theoffender and injures the offended bydriving the sense of being wrongeddeep into one’s own being where re-sentment does its slow destructivework. Forgetting is negative, passive;forgiving is positive and creative. ”

According to Stagg, both the of-fended and the offender must worktogether if total forgiveness can beattained. “Before one forgive and for-get, both offender and offended mustremember together, recall the wrong-doing together, finish the feelings to-gether, reconstruct the relationshiptogether and then they may forgettogether. In the remembering, recon-structing, forgiving and forgettingeach regains the other. ”

Oftentimes, if someone has donewrong to us, our first line of defense

is anger. Gandhi, the great Indianleader and teacher of non-violence,had this motto on his wall atSevagram: “When you are in theright, you can afford to keep yourtemper. When you are in the wrong,you cannot afford to lose it. ”

Seneca, the ancient Greek philoso-pher, wrote: “He is a fool who cannotget angry, but he is a wise man whowill not!” After all, anger can beharmful to us – physically, emotion-ally, socially and medically.

A girl was being treated for sev-eral months for anemia but withoutany success. So her doctor decided tosend her to a sanatorium faraway.The first she got there, she under-went a thorough physical examina-tion.

The examining doctor found herblood count to be completely normal.The referring doctor double-checkedit and could not believe his eyes. So

he called in the girl and asked her,“Has anything out of the ordinaryhappened in your life since your lastvisit?”

“Yes,” she admitted. “Suddenly, Iwas able to forgive someone againstwhom I had borne a nasty grudge allmy life. At that moment, my angerdisappeared and I felt completelychanged inside. ”

Right there and then, the doctorknew the answer. Her mental atti-tude had changed, and the very stateof her blood had changed with it. Be-ing angry at someone can be stupidbecause the other person might noteven be aware of it. So, the only onebeing harmed is the person who hashatred to other fellow.

Just remember this: Forgivenessfrom others is charity; from God,grace; from oneself, wisdom.

For comments, write me athenrytacio@gmail. com

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Fair & Square from page 3

but they have to develop a projectconcept that would attract investors.

The Clean Development Mecha-nism (CDM), a system that was bornout of the first Kyoto Protocol allowsLGUs to develop and build their ownprojects that would produce carboncredits, enabling them to makemoney as they sell these credits.There are many investors for thiskind of projects too.

Debt for Nature (DFN) swap, asystem developed by the World Wild-life Fund (WWF), allows LGUs toearn money from the recovery of lostnatural environments, in cooperationwith Non-Government Organizations(NGOs). National debts are “par-doned” in exchange for natural recov-ery. The national government thenpays the LGUs for the value they cre-

ated.Official Development Assistance

(ODA) objectively targets localprojects, but the LGUs have to de-velop good project concepts thatwould attract international fundingagencies. As always, projects that in-crease access to public services areprime attractions.

The legal basis for Municipal BondOfferings (MBO) already exists, butthe LGUs have to show good reasonthat they could create future valueadded that would justify and attractforeign and local investors, includingtheir own town mates here andabroad.

Taken as a whole, these fivesources of funding namely BOT,CDM, DFN, ODA and MBO wouldactually become more attractive to

investors if LGUs within a broaderbiosphere could integrate and coor-dinate their plans to support commonobjectives that would improve theireconomies of scale.

This is now the top priority projectof the United National IntegratedDevelopment Alliance (UNIDA), toorganize economic cooperation fo-rums at the local biosphere level,based on the Asia Pacific EconomicCooperation (APEC) model. Whoknows, we might even get fundingfrom APEC?

Watch my TV show Bears &Bulls, a daily coverage of the Philip-pine Stock Exchange. 9:00 AM to 1:00PM in Global News Network. Emailiseneres@yahoo.com or text+639293605140 for local cable list-ings.

continued from page 3ting reason infused by faith and char-ity as the lead agent of our life.

Obviously, this would need a cer-tain discipline and training. And asthey go, they will always require ef-fort and a lot of sacrifices. We haveto convince ourselves that these areimportant. They are indispensable.We need to rebel against that envel-oping culture that makes us long onlyfor the good time and rot in compla-cency.

Our true joy, our genuine libera-tion, as our Lord has told us, can onlybe attained through the cross.There’s no other formula. Our lov-ing can only be put right, with theproper motive, content and direction,when purified by the cross.

We have to help one another learnthis most indispensable skill. At themoment, most people are yet igno-rant of this practice, and those whoknow are often stifled by awkward-ness and sheer incompetence.

We need to know, more or less, theparameters involved in our spirituallife, so we would know how to developit and not feel lost. For this, we needto study and get advice from expertsand spiritual directors.

While the examination of con-science can always be done in simpleways, I think we also need to knowsome arts we can borrow from thefields of accounting, medicine andmilitary science, like inventory re-ports, intelligence work, diagnosis,

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Cebu Calling proper prescriptions of “pills,” specialdiets and regimens, etc.

With our challenging times, we

cannot remain in the level of the“provinciano.” We have to be very lit-erate in our spiritual affairs!

8 MabuhayLINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980 JULY 3 - 9, 2009MabuhayLINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980