EDITORIAL

How To Save Money
In The Face of High Taxes

by ERNESTO T. SOLIDUM

December is usual reckoning month for settling financial obligations to the government, and also to the private people. This is because there is more cash inflows from productivity incentives, overseas remittances and farm receipts. It is also the end of the year. Recently I joined the throng of taxpayers frantically getting a chance to beat the deadline.

Paying correct taxes and on time are the citizens’ basic duty. It also provides a citizen 20 percent discount. It is preferable to pay taxes at the earliest part of the year to avoid paying penalties. It makes paying easier as it prevents lining up for hours at Revenue Collection counter. As I procrastinated in the past, I learned this as bitter experience.

Our modest semi-permanent house at Oyo Torong St. was taxed an average of P1,899.48 per year from 2006 to 2009. Notice of Advice from Municipal Assessors’ office, Kalibo came very late. Their reason: they could not trace my address. Good grief. Again through oversight for the two year period from 2010-11, I was taxed P1,637.10 simply because I paid it second week of December or only recently.

Had I settled this burden at the start of the year, I could have save P310.92 or 27.46 percent of total fees for the current year. If paid before the year ends, there is an additional P310.92 discount. A total of P621.84 savings from cost of taxation is a treasure had I been prudent enough.

I know there are many taxpayers who tend to forget their tax obligation as law abiding citizens of this Republic. We clamor for more public work projects, responsive governance and tangible changes, some people do not fulfil their role in the bargain. Actually governance is a two way process between those who are governed and those who govern.

Indeed taxes are the lifeblood of any civil society. One author aptly said, there are only two inevitable occurrences in life: death and taxes. At best we ruin the best intention of our elected leaders to govern if our coffers are empty or funds are insufficient. Pity Mayor William S. Lachica who courts or begs from members of the Legislature and Cabinet Secretaries for financial aid for his pet projects which enthusiasm and resourcefulness I greatly admire.

The Province of Aklan is decidedly on the right track in auctioning off several parcels of land whose tax obligation landowners failed to settle for several years. This public auction happened last November 18, 2011 at the Provincial Capitol building. This event was done before and may be held regularly each year to compel taxpayers to pay their taxes due. Moral lesson is to instil financial responsibility among stakeholders otherwise it will be too late to recover their property.

Apparently, this moral crisis does not happen in our Treasury but in the National Irrigation Administration as well. My cousin, Mrs. Dometila I. Tansiongco (US Balikbayan) who has a family property of irrigated rice land in Dongon, Numancia is confronted with a financial liability of P90,000. The total area is only 7,500 square meters but was not paid by her lessee since the early 1970’s. Based on Agrarian Reform Code leases are personally obliged to pay corresponding irrigation bills otherwise leasees are ejected from the land they are cultivating. Worse the farmer has several years of arrears in his lease contract payment in kind to the landowners. Keeping one’s cool can be difficult even though how sweet or gentle one is as this problem arises.

The above scenario is not isolated but pervasive. Engr. Rizalo Concepcion, Planning Manager of Capiz – Aklan NIA confides that starting in 2012, management of NIA be turned over to bonafide Farmers Irrigators Association. Indeed this can be a Herculean task given the pathetic revenue collection, deficient technical and management skills and largely aged farmers. The average age of Filipino farmers is 57, sickly and impoverish and obviously a declining force with no youth replacements.
Love of country is not manifested only through words but positive action. Let not the dream of our fallen heroes be undermined or cast in a bad light. Each one of us has a vital role to play in the art of nation building. The call to duty is to pay your taxes like irrigation fees promptly and continuously. This is the only chance whereby each one could be a hero.

Here’s a rejoinder from Julia Child. "The measure of achievement is not winning awards. It’s doing something you appreciate, something you believe is worthwhile". /MP

Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ambrosio R. Villorente

Launching National Slum

Upgrading Project

May I give way in this column to publish the report of Vice President Jejomar Binay on the National Slum Upgrading Project. I believe this is not only of national importance but local as well. Almost all cities and big towns in the Philippines are inhabited by slum dwellers. This is a huge eyesore and national embarrassment.

Vice President Jejomar C. Binay led recently the launching of the country’s National Slum Upgrading Strategy (NSUS) project that will guide the efforts of national and local government units in upgrading slum communities and improving the living conditions of settlers in the cities.

Funding for this Project will come from the US$455,000 grant from Cities Alliance, a global coalition of cities and their development partners committed to scaling up successful approaches to slum upgrading, city development strategies, and poverty reduction. The Cities Alliance is housed at the World Bank.
　

"Slum communities in the Philippines endure poor living conditions such as cramped living spaces, lack of proper housing and insecure tenure, inadequate access to basic services such as water and sanitation, and exposure to health risks," Binay explained.

"The formulation of a national slum upgrading strategy, supported by this Project as well as the resources of the government, will boost Philippine efforts to alleviate the plight of communities and improve the liveability as well as the global competitiveness of our cities," he added.
　

The Philippines is among the rapidly urbanizing countries in Asia with 60 percent of its population living in urban areas. At its current urbanization rate, its urban population is expected to account for 75 percent of the total national population in 25 years.
　

Binay said that Metro Manila alone houses an estimated 12.5 million Filipinos - three million of whom are considered informal settlers. Of this number, about 525,000 live in vulnerable areas near waterways, esteros and under bridges completely exposed to and unprotected from the hazards of urban living and climate change.
　

As part of the process of developing a national slum upgrading strategy, the Project will provide resources for coming up with a comprehensive assessment and database on the condition, issues, opportunities, and risks confronting slum communities. This assessment will form the basis for possible interventions related to slum upgrading.

"Community empowerment is at the core of any slum upgrading initiative. More than ever, we need to step up and effectively address the repercussions of urbanization," he pointed out.

"We will ensure that informal settlers are empowered by involving their organizations in the preparation of the strategy. They will be engaged in the process, as well as be able to collaborate with the concerned LGUs in designing a strategy that actually responds to their needs and aspiration." Binay added.
　

According to Binay, the national slum upgrading strategy will help local government units identify policy and program options for local slum upgrading that will be integrated into the local planning process.

"As we move forward to bring the shelter programs and services closer through the Pabahay Caravan, we are sharing this NSUS initiative with the LGUs," Binay said.
　

Binay calls on the LGUs to support the government in this endeavor, share success stories and best practices in slum upgrading, so that we will move towards achieving sustainable urban development.
　

The launching was attended by representatives from the country’s Key Shelter Agencies, World Bank, United Nations Habitat, Metro Manila Development Authority, and local chief executives of the National Capital Region.
　

Members of Cities Alliance include local government units, govern-ments of Australia, Brazil, Chile, Ethiopia, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Nigeria Norway, Philippines, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, and the United States; non-government organizations including Slum Dwellers International and Habitat for Humanity International; and multilateral organizations including the European Union, United Nations Environmental Protection Agency, UN-HABITAT, and the World Bank.

I sincerely greet my readers "may you have the happiest Christmas ever this 2011". /MP

Pretty Women & Strong Men In Ati-Atihan 2012

Shown are Mutya It Kalibo Ati-Atihan 2012 gorgeous candidates in swimsuit pre-pageant competition held in Boracay Garden Resort, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan. Mutya Balyn dela Cruz-Castro won the Best in Swimsuit award and Lakan Ramon Alexis Melgar Daguno won the Best In Swimwear. (BRZ photo)

The Kalibo Sto. Niño Ati-Atihan Foundation Inc. (KASAFI) in cooperation with the LGU Kalibo presented the 32 lovely and charming ladies and adorable men who are the candidates to the "Mutya and Lakan" of the Kalibo Ati-Atihan 2012.

The Mutya and Lakan hopefuls are mostly of indigenous beauties, some are with foreign blood, and are teenagers. Some are above 20 years old. Accompanied by their immediate family members, they posed before the Kalibo LGU officials at the Kalibo Municipal Building. Dressed in white T-shirt and denim pants, Mr. Albert Meñez, KASAFI chairman presented them to the public.

A Fil-Lebanese Daisy Batch, 16 is among the 16 candidates for Mutya it Kalibo Ati-Atihan. The other 15 are: Fil-Am Amanda Pilcher, 15; Fil-French Olive Absalon, 16; Ma. A-Rose Olive Joy Martinez, 18; Alea Kane Macavinta, 17; Balyn Castro, 16; Erika Evangelista, 19; Cherry Belle Dioso, 18; Therese Lachica, 18; Ivy Rose Vidal, 22; Jeso Solidum, 20; Krisna-K R. Marcelino, 19; Marifel Melgarejo, 16; Flor Zorayda Reyes, 20; Liezel Dumaguin, 20; and Arrah Julia Dela Cruz, 16.

The Lakan candidates consist of Don Amiel Rogan, 19; Frederick Austin Arguelles, 19; Jowel Magalit, 15; Elvin Tiel, 19; Leonard Lachica, 24; Janzen Jontilano, 18 Keisler Quintos, 22; Benedict John Romero, 22; Christian Roldan, 20; Ramon Alexis Daguno, 22; Filomar Conanan, 18; Shem Regalado, 25; Nixon Igtanloc, 18; Patrick Reyes, 20; Jan Erickson Meñez, 21, and Ken Cahilig, 17.

These 32 young ladies and gentlemen will show their beauty, charm, and fitness in a grand coronation night to be held on January 6, 2012 at ABL Sports and Cultural Center, Kalibo. /MP

Mindanao Flood Toll Exceeds 1,000

More than a thousand people are dead and hundreds are missing after flash floods ravaged the southern Philippines, the government said Tuesday as cities prepared for mass burials.

Some 957 people have been killed and 49 others are missing after tropical storm Washi (Sendong) lashed the southern island of Mindanao and surrounding areas over the weekend, said civil defence chief Benito Ramos.

Washi brought heavy rains that swelled rivers, unleashing flash floods and landslides that struck in the dead of night and swept away shantytowns built near river mouths.

The toll rose sharply as the bodies of people who were swept out to sea were recovered.

"They were underwater for the first three days but now, in their state of decomposition, they are bloated and floating to the surface," Ramos told AFP.

A British national was among those killed by the storm, Britain’s Foreign Office said.
Pres. Benigno Aquino flew to Mindanao on Tuesday, Dec. 20 to survey the devastation by air, coordinate the relief effort, and express his condolences to the victims’ relatives, aides said.

Aquino said the impoverished nation of 94 million people is now in a "state of calamity", his spokesman Ricky Carandang told reporters.

The southern port cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan were the worst affected with 579 and 279 fatalities respectively, but other areas were also hit and needed immediate aid from the national government, Carandang said.

Authorities in both cities are preparing mass burials of unidentified bodies to address health concerns as well as the overpowering stench from huge numbers of dead that have overwhelmed mortuaries.

With dead bodies lying everywhere, there was controversy over Cagayan de Oro authorities’ decision to bring at least 20 unclaimed cadavers to a nearby landfill for temporary storage.

Pictures of the bodies, kept under a tent just a few metres (yards) away from the dump where scavengers picked through piles of garbage for items to salvage, caused outrage as they circulated on social networking sites.

Christian Caballes, the chief medical-legal officer of Cagayan de Oro, said a government team is collecting fingerprints and DNA samples from the victims’ bodies which are to be interred in mass graves elsewhere.

"This is just temporary," Caballes told AFP.

The disaster area, located about 800 km (500 miles) from the capital Manila, is normally bypassed by typhoons that ravage other parts of the far-flung Philippine archipelago every year.

Many residents were caught by surprise when floods suddenly hit their homes as they slept.

More than 284,000 people have been displaced by the storm with over 42,000 huddled in crowded, makeshift government evacuation centres, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.

Authorities likened the impact of tropical storm Washi to Ketsana, one of the country’s most devastating storms which dumped huge amounts of rain on Manila and other parts of the country in 2009, killing 464 people. /MP

Corn Husks Handicrafts Production

by Sally R. Villasis

"Once considered waste, corn husks can now be turned into a valuable resource."

This is according to Prof. Eva S. Montero, Research and Development Associate Director of Northen Iloilo Polytechnic State College, Batad Campus. She is also the Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center Manager. She served as resource person during the Training on Corn Husk Based Craft Making and Utilization.

The training was held to enhance the knowledge and develop skills of the participants on cornhusk craftsmanship using cornhusk as raw materials by the Agricultural Training Institute-Western Visayas. It was held at the ATI Training Hall, ASU Compound, Banga, Aklan recently.

Some 35 participants composed of agricultural extension workers, youth leaders and members of Rural Improvement Clubs from 10 municipalities in Aklan attended the three-day training.

The training focused on the importance of corn husk industry in the Philippines and hands-on demonstration on the mixing of dye; dyeing process; making flowers from corn husk like cabbage rose, tulip, poinsettia, baby’s breath, corsage, lei; and Christmas decors like corn husk wreath, and angels.

According to Prof. Montero, corn husk is usually considered a farm waste. In many parts of the country it is either simply left to rot in the farm or burned. Burning corn husk poses health and environmental hazards to people.

"To solve the problem on waste utilization after corn harvests, FITS Batad converted corn husk products into novelty items – an important strategy to help the farming community maximize the utilization of by-products which involves the corn growers and showcase the ingenuity of the Batad community," Prof. Montero pointed out.

Corn husk contains several layers of papery tissue that encloses the flower organs, and later the grain kernels. It has interesting surface structure and natural color. It can be patterned into desired shapes in its damp state. When dried its shapes and color are stable.

Today, corn husks can be used as material in making artificial flowers, wreath, lei, corsage, Christmas decors, twines, bags, and coasters. The husks are transformed into attractive decorations after dyeing with vibrant colors. The creative mind and skillful hands can make this material come to life.

A person only needs around P50 as working capital to produce 1,000 worth of products. This means instant livelihood to many people without big money involved. Just pick up the corn waste available, use their creativity to turn these into money. Cornhusk products are durable that may last for years. Many thinks of cornhusk production as laborious, but with proper training, imagination and ingenuity even children can earn a living from it.

The industry started as a leisure activity among the students during the Summer Job extended by the Local Government Unit of Batad and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in partnership with the Batad FITS Center.

To strengthen their camaraderie, cornhusk production is formally conceptualized with a "community service" two years ago with 15 student participants from NIPSC Batad Campus, Batad, Iloilo. With its success, the Creative Young Cornhusk Crafters Association was organized.
　

The Creative Young Cornhusk Crafters Association is an organization of poor but deserving and skilled students formed in January, 2009 under the Farmers’ FITS Center. a joint project of Northern Iloilo Polytechnic State College-Batad Campus and LGU Batad.

Cornhusk crafters produce different items in bulk and being sold to local buyers which in turn sell them to both local and international buyers in USA, Japan, Germany, and some parts of Asia. /MP

Ex-general Palparan Faces Arrest Over Kidnappings

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A Philippine court has ordered the arrest of a retired army general who has been accused of involvement in the kidnappings of two student activists.

Malolos Regional Trial Court officer Melba David says a warrant of arrest against retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan covers the June 2006 abductions of University of the Philippines activists Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan who until today remain missing.

David said Tuesday that Palparan will not be allowed to post bail. He is one of the highest ranking army officers facing arrest on rights violations. He has denied wrongdoing.

Left-wing activists have linked Palparan to several abductions and killings of activists when he led an army command that battled Marxist guerrillas. /MP

Pinoys in Toronto Unite In times of Sorrow

by ALEX P. Vidal

TORONTO, Ontario — The gestures displayed by members of the caregiver community here in assisting the two caregivers who passed away recently is very admirable. In times of sorrow, we can always count on the benevolence and humility of our compatriots in this part of the world.

Before Maria Cleofe Tadia, 41, and Maria Precy Limpiado, 40, succumed to illnesses one after the other, "their legacy has touched so many lives especially among the caregiver community," Faye Arellano wrote in the community news of the Filipino Bulletin here.

"Everyone agrees that the two certainly impressed upon them a new and meaningful relationship founded on the real spirit of love and friendship."

Arellano narrated that "the death of Cleofe on November 1 brought together members of the community from far and wide in an overwhelming support to repatriate her remains to her native town of Oton in Iloilo, Philippines.

EFFORTS

"The concerted efforts of the faith community, led by Fr. Ben Ebcas Jr., Pastor of the Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, made it possible to satisfy fully the cost of the funeral arrangements which amounted to $7,500. An additional $4,000 was also sent to Cleofe’s aging mother, Magdalene, in Iloilo shortly following the wake in Toronto."

Arellano wrote further that "despite having no family or relatives in Canada, Cleofe’s friends demonstrated an out-pouring of support in order to fulfill her mother’s plea to see the remains of her daughter for one last time.

"It has been more than five years ago that Magdalena last saw her daughter who left home to work overseas. Cleofe first worked in Taiwan then Hong Kong prior to coming to Canada in September of 2009.

"Filipino staff from Balmoral Funeral Homes assumed the responsibility of preparing the funeral service for Cleofe without seeing any deposit to do the work. A word from Fr. Ebcas was good enough for them to start the necessary work from picking up Cleofe’s body from the hospital morgue to rendering a dignified funeral service at a North York chapel.

"By the evening of November 6th, a throng of people from the Legion of Mary; OLA; St. Joseph Convent, to name a few, attended the chapel together with Cleofe’s personal friends for a one-night vigil service led by Fr. Ben who will visit Cleofe’s mother and deliver in person any remaining donation for the latter’s welfare when he goes home to the Philippines early next year."

CANCER

Cancer-stricken Limpiado, on the other hand, passed away in her mother’s arm on October 7, added Arellano. "It was so beautiful and touching to see everyone in the community do their part to help someone in need," Arellano quoted Caregivers’ Ministry volunteer Marife as saying during the wake. "This is very reassuring to see especially by those of us working as caregivers who do not have families and relatives in Canada."

Limpiado was surrounded by her loved ones from Bacoor, Cavite, Philippines when she died. Arellano said Limpiado’s plight came to light when she appealed for help to the Filipino community in 2009.

"Without a job," Arellano disclosed, "stripped of OHIP coverage and with mounting hospital bills, Limpiado sought the help of the community through the Caregivers’ Resource Centre (CRC) led by Terry Olayta. The community appealed to Immigration Minister Jason Kenney to grant Limpiado permanent status on the basis of humanitarian and compassionate ground.

"Limpiado also actively took part in the community consultation with Minister Kenney, who eventually granted her permanent residence status. The consultation, along with community mobilization, resulted in reforms to the immigration laws and regulations in April 2010." /MP

11 Words To A Happy Christian Living

JESUS CHRIST

Christmas time, a time to give, forgive, and forget. Above all, Christmas is remembering the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. As Christians, we live by His words. To make our Christian lives more happy, follow and practice the following:

1. Justness. Being fair to everyone will make positive responses and feedbacks. Thus only good words will be heard.

2. Eagerness. Willing to work for the betterment of one’s self and family. When accomplishing a job with enthusiasm, it is self-fulfilling.

3. Simplicity. Simple living requires simple wants. One will not sacrifice just to compete or surpass to what others have.

4. Understanding. Learn to put yourself in the shoes of others. By this, you can realize how things go through.

5. Satisfaction. Be happy and contented of what you have and what you are. Anyway, what you do is what you get.

6. Caring. When you look upon the welfare of your fellowmen, God sees it. It will go back to you in hundred folds. Not in material things but through Prayer that you will always be blessed and healthy.

7. Humility. No matter what is our profession, what is our position in the government, what is our level of financial status in life, Jesus Christ is our example. He stepped down from heaven just to reach His people.

8. Respect. "Respect is not bought, it is gained". By giving it, you will receive it. it starts by respecting yourself that it will radiate to others.

9. Integrity. We should live an honest and decent life, doing what is right and just. A good character reaps love, trust and respect.

10. Selective. God has given us conscience for us to discern what is wrong and what is right. Select things that would make you someone to look upon.

11. Thankful. Be thankful of everything you have. God is just a prayer away. All things we have are lent from Him. Why not thank our Master?

JESUS CHRIST is our guide to a happier Christian living. Let us make everyday a Christmas day. (by MYRA A. POLESTICO) /MP

Alleviating Human Suffering*

* Message of Mr. RAMON "Toto" CUA LOCSIN, member, National Board of Governors PRC & Chairman of PRC, Iloilo Chapter, delivered on the occasion of the 55th Founding Anniversary of PRC – Aklan Chapter on Saturday evening, December 17, 2011, held at APSTAA Center, Kalibo, Aklan.

Greetings!

I am most pleased to join you tonight on the occasion of your 55th Foundation Day. Thank you for inviting me. Being here with you gives me immense pleasure.

More than a century has passed, since the Red Cross was founded under the inspiration of Henry Dunant, yet the noble movement has not for a moment, ceased to be relevant until our times. In fact, in the world over, the Red Cross – now with the Red Crescent – has even surpassed expectations to become a major force to reckon with the sphere of service to humanity.

The Nobel Peace Prize, back in 1901, referred to the Red Cross as the "supreme humanitarian achievement of the nineteenth century."

Everyone who volunteers for the Red Cross, then, should be profoundly proud to be part of this great force, to be an heir or heiress of this great tradition of selfless service. You, our dear Red Crossers in Aklan, should be highly esteemed, just as we commend you for your efforts and sacrifices in enabling the Red Cross here in Aklan to accomplish its mission.

It’s been more than a hundred years ago, since Dunant began this ennobling work, yet, I must emphasize that the purpose set by Dunant and the pioneers is still the same: elimination of human sufferings. Perhaps, we could just add and that the only difference is that the suffering confronted by Dunant and those who closely followed him now come in so many complex forms. Human suffering is now multi-faceted.

This is precisely the reason why, it is my conviction that the Red Cross is still the supreme humanitarian achievement of the twenty-first century. This is echoed in the vision of the Philippine Red Cross, which is to be the "foremost humanitarian organization in the Philippines."

Realizing this vision in the Philippines – and in Aklan in particular – lies in the hearts, minds and hands of people like you who do not mind sacrificing time, talent and other resources to alleviate the suffering of those in disasters, in armed conflict, in vulnerable situations and many other faces of human sufferings.

In your 55th Foundation Celebration, I would like to request you to continue your dedication to the Red Cross as more and more people in crises situations need us and our voluntary service.

• We exist to bring timely, effective and compassionate assistance to the most vulnerable without consideration of nationality, race, religion, gender, social status or political affiliation.

• We strengthen our capability to assist the most vulnerable by expanding our donor base and by increasing the number of our well trained volunteers.

• We honor ourselves, our donors, and volunteers by managing and utilizing our resources effectively, efficiently, with integrity and transparency.

• Our work ethics encourages and rewards teamwork, excellent performance and the achievement of goals.

• We value our staff and volunteer and encourage them to grow their full potential in the organization.

• We are stalwart member of the International Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement and advocate staunchly its fundamental principles and the International Humanitarian Law.

• We cooperate with our sister National Societies, government and other organizations engaged in humanitarian services and complement each other’s competencies thereby maximizing the delivery of assistance to the vulnerable.

• We are Filipino and by the consistent excellence of our conduct, performance and achievements, we aspire to be worthy representative of the best Filipino values and skills.

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for your commendable volunteerism. I hope that through you, the Philippine Red Cross – Aklan Chapter, will play its full and destined part in the service of humanity along with other Red Cross chapters to afford all possible relief and help to the suffering and distressed people wherever and whenever possible.

I wish you all the best even as I assure you of my constant support.

God bless us! /MP

Sugilanon Ni Tita Linda

Ni Tita Linda Belayro

Niños Inocentes

Pagkataliwan ko paskwa, nagasunod ro Niños Inosentes. Rondaya ro adlaw nga guina papatay ro mga eapsag nga natawo idto sa Jerusalem nga mangin hana kay Haring Herodes nga basi maga boeos kana bilang hari.

Sa kaharian ni Haring Sokor, ro dugo it eapsag ro guina haead sa hari agod padayon nga mangin bata guihapon ro hari. Perming naga panugbati ro mga soldado sa bag-ong tawong mga eapsag ag kada isaea guina boe-an it dugo. May una nga namamatay ag may una mat-a nga nabubuhi. Kon owa sanda it makit-an nga eapsag, naga pataas it edad hasta sa daywang dag-on ro andang guina usoy.

Owa it nakasayod kon pila ro edad ni Haring Sokor. Suno sa mga lolo ag lola, bata pa sanda hay bata eon man ro hari, ogaling hasta makaron bata pa guihapon. Agud makalibre ro mga guinikanan, guina tago ro pagnabdos nanda. Kon mabahoe eon ro andang tiyan ko mga naga nabdos, nagapanago sanda idto sa mga eungib agod indi matiktikan it mga soldado. Rondaya ro kabangdanan kon ham-an it naga sangkurot ro mga tawo una sa kaharian ag ro mga eaeaki hay owa naga asawa tongod sa kahadlok.

Bangod sa pagpinangamuyo ko mga tawo, may nag-abot nga propeta. Suno kanda hay sangka ermitanyo tongod imaw paeang nanda hakita una sa lugar. Guin painom ko ermitanyo it tubi nga benditado ro kutob nabdos nga mga babaye.

Adlaw-adlaw nana guina obra ra ag guina bantayan hasta sa pag-unga ko mga babaye. Haeos guina putos it ka kugmat ro mga nanay tongod paga daehon ro andang eapsag sa palasyo. Ka’t idto eon ro mga eapsag, guin pang boe-an eon sanda it dugo. Matsa nauhaw guid nga guin inom ko hari ro dugo. Tumaliwan ro sang oras, pag eatum it dugo, golpe nga natumba ro hari ag nagkisay-kisay parabil mamatay.

Tongod sa pagkamatay it hari, naghugyaw ro tanan, pagkasayod nga mamatay eon ro hari. Mingko nahubad ro andang kahadlok nga nakagapos kanda ko mabuhay eon nga dinag-on. Nag pasaeamat sanda sa ermitanyo, ogaling owa eot-a nanda makita ay nangin dueaan imaw it golpi. Tapos eot-a ro anang misyon. Guin sugo imaw it Diyos bilang sabat sa pangamuyo it mga tawo nga naga kilaea kana nga nagtuga ag manunubos imaw naton. /MP

Retirees of Libacao

Picture shows officers and members of the Government Retirees of Libacao (GROL) which was taken during their quarterly meeting held on Sunday, December 18 in the residence of former Libacao Mayor Gerardito A. Villorente and Dr. Daphne Y.O. Villorente in Poblacion, Libacao, Aklan.

Shown is Dr. Daphne Y.O. Villorente presiding the quarterly meeting. She is the president. The GROL was formed about 15 years ago. It is composed of members who retired from the government offices such as DepEd, PNP, GSIS, DA, Philpost and others.

GROL is formed aimed to provide leisurely activities to the members in order that they will enjoy the remaining times of their lives. They meet once every 3 months for fellowship. The birthdays and wedding celebrants sponsored the food and drinks during meeting.

Last December 18 meeting coincided with the 44th wedding anniversary of Engr. and Mrs. Gerardito A. Villorente. /MP

AKTOA Induction of Officers

Malinao Vice Mayor Josephine I. Equiña was inducted President with other officers of the Aklan Tourism Officers Association (AKTOA) in a launcheon meeting held on Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at Niños Ihaw-Ihaw Restaurant, Bulwang, Numancia.

Hon. Jose Enrique M. Miraflores, chair SP Committee On Tourism administered the oath of office to the officers for 2011-2014.

Atty. Diego M. Luces, Aklan Provincial Administrator represented the Aklan Provincial Governor. He read the message of Gov. Carlito S. Marquez.

The affair should have started at 9:00 o’clock in the morning but due to the late arrivals of the officers and members who came from the 17 towns of Aklan, the program started at 11:00 o’clock.

Lunch followed the induction ceremony. Afterwhich, the officers and members met in a plenary session to formulate plans, projects, and programs of AKTOA.

The activities ended with the Christmas Party, exchange gifts, and games.

Ms. Roselle Q. Ruiz, Aklan Provincial Tourism Officer give the words of welcome./MP

NVC-Theatre Arts Guild Comes With “KUYA”

The Northwestern Visayan Colleges (NVC), one of the leading institutions in Aklan through its Theater Arts Guild (TAG) will come with another breathtaking show: "Kuya" This will be showcased on January 6, 2012.

This stage play is a musical-theatrical that encompasses the life of Gen. Paciano Rizal-Mercado, the older brother of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal.

Paciano, in his young age as an attendee at Ateneo de Manila University, was already exposed to the vindictiveness of the friars ruling the country. He witnessed the brutal execution of his close friend, Jose Burgos, one of the three Filipino martyrs.

Due to his desire to heave the Filipinos’ standing, he insisted Jose to pursue his studies abroad since he is being eyed by the government. Paciano stood as the family’s padre de pamilya by managing their hacienda and supporting Pepe’s study. His greater love for his country and family even withdrew his love, Luisa, causing the latter to dump him.

The Thespian group envisions theatre to be a vessel to educate the Filipino youth in the cultural heritage of our country. Hence, the guild wants to offer Gen. Paciano to the hearts of the many having done great deal of heroism for the liberty of the nation. The group desires to give the due honor Paciano deserves as having seen with lesser value compared to Jose Rizal despite his patriotic contributions during the Spanish era.

This show will mask Paciano as someone who is good-natured yet with full passion and conviction to fight for his fatherland. His critical views had kindled our hero’s perspectives on the cruelty of the Spanish friars, inequity in the society, and exposed Pepe on the occurrence of crab mentality even within relatives just to gain power and security.

Moreover, the production also inhibits twist on the character of Paciano as someone who is romantic, family’s refuge and loving and protective brother.

NVC-TAG before having this gigantic production went through series of workshops, seminars, and researches to prepare the cast for the character they will portray. There were basic acting, event management, make-up, stage management and marketing workshops done to fully elevate the talents of the members.

Kuya is a sequel to the last year’s performance of the group, the Noli Me Tangere, in commemoration of the sesquicentennial death of Dr. Jose Rizal. This is written by Jemimah Villanueva and Churchill Gumboc under the direction of Ms. Rebecca T. Barrios to be performed at NVC Carmen Salas-Quimpo (CSQ) Gymnasium.

Kuya is a show that will surely captivate the hearts of the Aklanons since it talks about love— a kind of love different from the stereotypical. That is the greater love that transcends the personal interest for the freedom of the country.

For Sponsorships & Tickets please inquire at the SSC Office, 2nd Floor RSQ Building, NVC or call the following numbers, 0946-2635950, 0909-7740429 and 262-3439 /MP

The Jumping Board Bridge

These pictures portray the condition of the bridge constructed in Daguitan, Banga, Aklan to connect Banga to Madalag, but it does not.

The bridge is all steel with cement posts, about 250 meters, the width is enough for two motor vehicles to pass by simultaneously. However, while the east end is connected to the Libacao - Banga road, the west end is about 150 meters from the riverbank, Madalag side.

As seen, the bridge will best serve as jumping board for swimmers practicing for local, national and international competitions. But wait, the depth of the water is too shallow for diving practices.

As a passage for at least 4-wheeled vehicles, it may not served. There is water flowing between the west end of the bridge and the river bank in the Madalag side.

Presently, only motorcycle can pass through the bridge using the pile of sand connecting the riverbank and the bridge. However, water might erode the sand pile even by a shallow flood as the pictures will show. /MP

EDITORIAL

Communication State of the Art

by MEGS S. LUNN

In the Global Business Conference held at the Aklan Training Center, Kalibo, Aklan, Professor Enrique M. Soriano shared the Language of New Media (Facebook, Twitter and others) to the participants. Soriano is the Turnaround Advisor of Asia and Eastern Europe. He teaches Global Marketing and Services at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business, Quezon City.

According to Steve Rubel, quoted in "The Guardian", March 2006 issue, "People don’t trust business the way they used to….For the first time we found that the most trusted source is ‘a person such as yourself or a peer’. World events have led to that and blogging has led to that."

Now a day, people don’t need advertising anymore to tell them about products. If they want to find out, they will find it on their terms. In the Philippines, of the 94 million population, based on the 2010 Population by Generation, Gen Y are 36.1 million. Meaning, this generation belongs to the people ages 19 to 36 years old. The Philippines is one of the top Asian countries in the world which has 29.7 million internet or 31.5 percent internet users and 16.2 million or 16.3 percent facebook users compared to Indonesia with only 12.3 percent internet users and 11.3 percent facebook users. Thailand has 26.3 percent internet users and 7.7 percent facebook users.

Today, social media is about building relationships, telling a story, listening, showing trans-parency and being accountable. The Philippines ranked 12th with 67.7 percent of the population in the Global Mobile Phones users. Since 80.0 percent of her population has mobile phones compared to China which ranks 1st, India 2nd and USA 3rd in the Global Mobile Phones survey. The internet growth in the Philippines from year 2000 was 2.6 percent; 2005 was 9.3 percent; 2008 was 1.6 percent, 2009 was 24.5 percent, and in 2010 was 31.5 percent. With all these surveys, it made the Philippines the 5th largest country on Facebook with 20,302,540 users as of January 2011.

Traditional media started when there are Radio, Television, Newspapers and Magazines that continuously diversify as it evolves, the landscape changes in CD/DVD player, I-pod, Ipad, Macbook, Website/own domain, Facebook, Twitters, Blog, Teleconferencing. On radio listening itself, generation Y/young generations who compose the largest scales of the total population want more control over music they want to hear, though listenership levels are healthy during mornings (6:30-9:30 am) and in the afternoon (4:00-5:30 pm). What’s the future of radio and TV? It’s at the tip of your fingers – the mobile phones. Even the declining newspapers readers are higher and equally experienced by those from the upper-middle and lower class homes.

To read or to surf? As an information medium, the internet may substitute for print. "I just download news from the internet and read my morning news from the internet, too." These are the normal conversation today.

Television is the triumph of machine over people. Perception now, 80 percent of CEO’s believe that their brands provide a superior customer experience, but unfortunately, only 8 percent of their customers agree (Bain & Company).

Social networking now dominates the new era. Internet growth is driven by the young and upscale audience. Home internet access continues to grow with engagement levels increasing with growth in private access. The Philippines’ enormous appetite for social networking could accelerate the emergence of "selective socialization." Engaging in social networking makes it reciprocal, lively, empowering, collaborative, consumer-driven, vigorous, dynamic, transparent and open. Above all, it lessens the cost for advertisement. From creator to Radio/TV Ads to consumer vis-à-vis from creator (minus down production cost, gone duplication cost and gone distribution cost) to consumer

What’s the future of communication? Prof. Soriano advised the following: STOP interrupting, shouting, high-powered messages, reacting, return on investment, big promises and explaining. START engaging, connecting, enticing, engaging content, interacting, return on involvement, intimate gestures, revealing and discovering.

The future of advertising marketing and solutions should go beyond commercial messages, solve something, involve and enable people, allow people to participate and create brand fans. It will make people feel better. The experience should be at the center of more of what we do. One idea should be brought to life in different ways in different places.

In advertising, we can only remember one thing. Our Future – creating a powerful story that makes peoples’ lives better. William Gibson once quoted, "The future is here, it just isn’t widely distributed yet". /MP

Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ambrosio R. Villorente

Morality Crisis

The Department of Education and other institutions of learning had a very enormous tasks to perform. The Philippines does not have constitutional crisis, what it has is "morality crisis". The feud between the executive and the judiciary is morality related.

Of the children born in 2009, according to Mr. Blas Solidum of the National Census and Statistics Office, Kalibo, 48 percent are illegitimate.

This crisis is a menace to society, a great damage to home and family, to the community and the country. And this morality crisis is brought about by mal-education learned in schools, church, family and society. The nation starting from the family must reform with the view to rebuild damaged virtues, instil desirable virtues among the new generation, and the adults must exercise proper, good behaviour, good manners and right conduct.

In Kalibo, Aklan, a woman disappeared and reported missing by her family. Her husband, via the media, announced his offer of P50,000 to whomsoever can supply precise information that will lead to the recovery of his beloved wife.

About eight (8) months after her disappearance, her fast decomposing body tied with electric cord was found in the septic tank at the back of her residence in Poblacion, Kalibo on December 7, 2011.

Her husband is now the prime suspect. He is out of jail as there is no complaint filed against any alleged suspect.

In Tabon, Batan, Aklan, an 11 year old girl was found missing. After 24 hours of searching, her dead body was found. The Batan PNP revealed the young girl was sexually abused and stabbed to death. She was left in the most isolated and grassy place of Tabon.

In Lipag, Banga, Aklan, a six year old girl was bumped by an on-rushing tricycle on Sunday evening Dec. 11. The girl with her mother was walking by the road side when the tricycle driven by an intoxicated man bumped them.

The girl was pronounced dead on arrival in the hospital.

In Kalibo Pilot Elem. School, Kalibo, Aklan, a teacher left her bag on her table inside the classroom while attending to a certain matter by the corridor of the building.

A pupil from other class entered her room, asked a pupil near the teacher’s table to get the bag for him. The pupil refused which prompted that pupil of other class to box the boy, grabed the hand bag himself, and promptly left the room.

Inside the bag which the teacher lost were few thousand pesos cash; identity cards and personal belongings.

In the Aklan Rehabilitation Center in Nalook, Kalibo, Aklan, some people who visited their relatives complained of the ways the jail guards conducted security checks on them.

These jail guards could not have done it to them if in the past, no prohibited materials were smuggled in. There were some jail breaks as inmates destroy windows and doors with the use of smuggled tools. The behavior of the jail guards is influenced by the behavior of the inmates and their visitors. Jail visitors have no reason to complain against regulation but to obey it. There is no reason to be lenient in the enforcement of jail regulations which have been previously abused that led to prisoner escapes and drug addiction.

These incidents mentioned above proved the existence of morality crisis in Aklan in particular and in the Philippines in general.

Most people want special treatment. They wish enjoyment they do not deserve. They like to eat delicious food they didn’t produce. They want many other life’s amenities for free, to grab it by any means.

This morality crisis is placed on the shoulders of DepEd officials, teachers, and of other educational institutions. They must produce graduates who are really educated, men and women who can correctly act in any given situation. There is urgency to review the objectives of education and re-examine its curriculum with a view to develop all citizens into loyal and loving to their country, the Philippines.

The churches and our government leaders must "walk their talks". They must behave according to norms and strive to be models in "good manners and right conducts". Is good manners and right conducts still taught in schools?

I doubt, even our drivers don’t understand and practice road courtesy. /MP

Red Cross In The Hearts of Volunteers

by AMBROSIO R. VILLORENTE

Some 711 delegates from all over the Philippines trooped to the Manila Hotel, Manila to attend the 29th Biennial National Convention of the Philippines Red Cross (PRC). It was held in the Centennial Main Hall on December 7 – 8 attended by Red Cross volunteers from 79 Red Cross chapters who are chapter officers, chapter administrators, and members of the National Board of Governors.

Atty. Ronquillo C. Tolentino, Vice Mayor Madeline A. Regalado, Engr. Roberto J. Cabigas, Ms. Remia H. Donguines, Ms. Aracely P. Pelayo, and Dr. Ambrosio R. Villorente represented the PRC Aklan Chapter. Ms. Vicky Ramos Antonino, Ms. Nieva Mendoza, and Mr. Bernabe Bacani rep-resented PRC Boracay sub-chapter.

The convention activities revolved around the theme: "Red Cross 143 In The Heart of Every Volunteer". The two day convention had Dr. Jacqueline Badcock as the keynote speaker. Dr. Badcock is the United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Philippines. She discussed the United Nations participations in the mitigation of calamities, effects of wars, and other humanitarian programs.

The keynote speech over, the accomplishment report was presented by former senator Richard J. Gordon, PRC chairman, National Board of Governors. He revealed all the last year’s calamities that devastated the Philippines like floods, typhoons, and fires. He pictured what PRC did to alleviate the flights of the victims, where the assistance came from and how the PRC utilized the donations. Gordon also cited the assistance PRC donated to victims of calamities in other countries.

After Gordon, the Treasurer’s Report followed presented by Ms. Leonida B. Ortiz, PRC treasurer. Ms. Corazon Alma G. de Leon, presented the PRC Strategic Plan 2012 – 2016 to the delegates.

Another highlight of the convention was the election of nine (9) members of the National Board of Governors for a four (4) year term. The election was hot but very peaceful. This year’s campaigning was intense compared to the last three elections I attended. The voting was automated that some 408 voting delegates were able to vote in two hours.

Immediately after voting was closed, the top nine (9) winners were announced.

They are: 1. Leonida Ortiz, 2. Mabini Pablo, 3. Leslie Espino, 4. Sherwin Gatchalian, 5. Celso Lobregat, 6. Dakila Carlo Cua, 7. Rosalind Wee, 8. Ma. Carissa Coscolluela, and 9. James Dy.

Some success stories and prospects in the "Red Cross 143 Challenges" were discussed with PRC Governor Juan Miguel F. Zubiri presiding. But it was not all work, for the convention included fellowship, cultural and awards presentation by the delegates. Pangkat Kawayan entertained the delegates with the love songs. Ballroom dancing was held in the evening.

There were four workshop groups which were: 1. Reducing impact of disasters, climate change, public health emergencies and diseases; 2. Improving family, and community health and well being; 3. Reducing unnecessary suffering on armed conflict and other situations of violence; and 4. Strong and well – functioning PRC. /MP

Aklan AIDS Council Aims Zero HIV/AIDS

The Aklan Provincial Aids Council of the Province of Aklan celebrated the 11th year of combating AIDS with the theme: Zero New HIV Infections, Zero Discrimination and Zero Aids-related death. It was held on December 9, 2011 at the Aklan Training Center, Old Buswang, Kalibo, Aklan. The millennium development goals showcase of the long-week celebration.

The council seeks the accountability from societies and communities action to meet the global goal to: Halt and Reverse the spread of HIV by 2015.

The Provincial HIV/AIDS Program is implemented by a network of government agencies headed by the Aklan Provincial Government. The non-government sector is represented by the organizations of adolescents at the provincial and community levels. In the report of Dr. Cornelio V. Cuachon (Provincial Health Officer I), the vulnerable sectors namely the Butterfly Brigade (a gay group) and the PLHAS (People Living with HIV/AIDS) form part of the implementing structure and are among the most active program partners. The Municipal Health Offices facilitate the implementation of services at the community level and advocate for local level municipal AIDS Councils.

Does the need for HIV/AIDS services exist? According to Dr. Cuachon, there was Peter’s case in 2002. He is now being assisted through counselling and anti-retroviral medicine. Then in 2005, another Aklanon was monitored to have advanced state of AIDS, but has chosen not to reveal his condition. He had foregone assistance from the PHO. There are more vulnerable sectors that are at greater risk.

The report also reveals there are 100 registered sex workers in Kalibo alone. The sex trade in Boracay is prevalent and peaks during the summer season, coinciding with the arrival of more tourists. In most cases, tourists bring sex workers with them. It was in 2005 when Aklan launched comprehensive and integrated HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Program.

The study in 2002 on MSM (Me Having Sex with Men) in the resort island of Boracay, Malay, Aklan showed high prevalence of risky sexual behaviour among male sex workers and homosexuals. The study pointed out the need for a program to reverse potential spread of STD cases and arrest the incursion of HIV in the area. With these results in the study, the first comprehensive, community-based HIV/AIDS Program in Aklan was launched.

Gov. Carlito S. Marquez signed Executive Order No. 16 in March 2006 geared to sustain the program of HIV/AIDS Council. It provided the budget allocation out of the Provincial Development Fund. The capability-building program has the biggest share of the budget of more than Php1 million for the upgrading of facilities, procurement of supplies, franchising of the POPSHOP project (A DKT-International Project for the provision of contraceptive supplies at minimal cost) and some initial supply of reagents for the Voluntary Counselling, Screening and Testing Centers (VCST), Anti-retroviral medicines and initial procurement of STI medicines.

Getting to Zero of AIDS Council is not only in Aklan but of the whole Philippines. In Aklan, the cases declined to 27 percent from 939 cases to 688 in 2005. The decrease is attributed to the spirit of volunteerism of the youth, government agency partners, UNFPA-TAP, DOLE, TESDA, DepEd and the US Peace Corp volunteers.

Dr. Cuachon strongly requested the media practitioners to help and act now to help foster government, civil society and private sector partnership in the prevention of HIV/AIDS.

In Western Visayas, there are 44 new cases of HIV/AIDS victims as of October 2011. On the whole, HIV/AIDS cases by provinces are as follows: Aklan – 22, Antique – 4, Iloilo – 70, Capiz – 7, Guimaras – 3, and Negros Occidental – 59 or a total of 165.

Those highly vulnerable and susceptible to HIV/AIDS are the younger, more restless males ages 20-29 years old, sex workers, males who have sex with other males, drug users, and clients of sex workers. /MP

Woman’s Evolution

by Alex P. Vidal

LOS ANGELES, California – Never mind that she was a veteran socialist. What is attractive to Evelyn Reed’s book, Woman’s Evolution, is the research she made for over 20 years for the book called "an impressive and absorbing reconstruction of human history" by Sociology.

She takes us on a million-year expedition through prehistory from cannibalism to culture, and covers the world of the ancient matriarchy.

Tracing the origins of the "incest taboo," blood rites, marriage, and the family, she reveals the leading role women once played. By pinpointing the relatively recent factors that led to patriarchal domination, she offers a fresh insight into the issues raised by today’s feminist movement—and refutes the myth that "human nature" is to blame for the male supremacy, greed, wars, and inequalities of modern society.

According to Reed, the early history of half the human species—womankind—has largely been hidden from view. "To bring it to light requires a reinvestigation of anthropology, where the role and accomplishments of women in prehistoric society are buried," she explains. Her book is a contribution to unveiling that remarkable record.
　

RESURGENCE

She stresses that the resurgence of the women’s liberation movement in the 70’s has thrown the spotlight on certain dubious assumptions and disputed questions regarding the past. Foremost among these is the subject of the matriarchy. Reed asks, "Was there a period in history when women held a highly esteemed and influential place? If so, how did they lost their social eminence and became the subordinate sex in patriarchal society? Or is the matriarchy, as some said, a myth that has no historical basis?"

She contends that the matriarchy is one of the most hotly contested issues in a hundred-year controversy between contending schools in anthropology. Reed’s book affirms that the maternal clan system was the original form of social organization and explains why. It also traces the course of its development and the causes of its downfall. Such partisanship on the side of the matriarchy would alone make her book controversial. But it contains other challenges to long-held opinions on prehistoric society.

"Disagreements are to be expected in a field that covers so vast a stretch of human evolution, extending from the birth of our species to the threshold of civilization, and where the available data derived from biology, archeology, and anthropology are fragmentary and uncoor-dinated," Reed writes.
　

SCIENCE
　

Anthropology is founded as a distinct science in the middle of the 19th century. Most of the founding fathers (women entered the profession only later) had an evolutionary approach. Reed says Morgan, Taylor, and other pioneers regarded anthropology as the study of the origin of society and the material forces at work in its progress. They made brilliant beginnings in illuminating the main stages in human development.

Reed says Morgan delineated three great epochs of social evolution—from savagery through barbarism to civilization. Each was marked off by decisive advances in the level of economic activity. The most rudimentary stage: savagery was based on hunting and food-gathering. Barbarism began with food production through agriculture and stock-raising. Civilization crowned the development of the ancient world by bringing it to the point of commodity production and exchange.

These three epochs, she explains, are of extremely unequal duration. Savagery is sometimes differentiated into an earlier "primeval" and a later "primitive" stage, both of these rested upon a hunting and gathering economy. Savagery has a span of million-odd years, comprising more than 99 percent of human existence. Barbarism began about 8,000 years ago; civilization only three thousand years ago.

　SAVAGE

The early investigators of savage society, to their own surprise, came upon a social structure totally different from ours, adds Reed. "They found a clan and tribal system based on material kinship and in which women played a leading role," she elaborates. "This stood out in sharp contrast with modern society which features the father-family and male supremacy. Although they were unable to tell how far back the maternal system went, we propose to show that it dates from the beginning of humankind."

They observed that savage society had egalitarian social and sexual relations, arising from collective production and communal possession of property.

Reed says these features too were at odds with modern society, based on private property and class divisions. Thus the maternal clan system, which gave an honored place to women, was also a collectivist order where the members of both sexes enjoyed equality and did not suffer oppression or discrimination.

"Subsequently, these discoveries evoked doubts and resistance from the schools of anthropology that became dominant in the 20th century," Reed points out. "There arose a deep division between evolutionists and anti-evolutionists that has persisted to the present day. It is only through the evolutionary approach, however, that the concealed history of women –and of men—can be uncovered."

UNIVERSAL

The principle of universal evolution had already been applied to the problem of the genesis of Homo sapiens with the publication in 1871 of Charles Darwin’s book, The Descent of Man.

After he demonstrated that the earliest sub-humans, the hominoids, arose out of the anthropoids, the question was posed: How did this transformation come about? In the following decades, biology, archeology, paleontology, and anthropology jointly assisted in the detective work required to clarify this problem.

Reed’s book adheres to the evolutionary and materialist method in utilizing these findings. It also presents a new theory about totemism and taboo, among the most enigmatic institutions of primeval and primitive society. Anthropologists of all persuasions held the view that the ancient taboo on sexual intercourse with certain relatives, like our own taboo, arose out of a universal fear of incest. Reed’s book challenges that assumption. The ancient taboo existed—but it was primarily directed against the perils of cannibalism in the hunting epoch.
　

THEORY
　

Reed says the elimination of the theory of a universal incest taboo removes one of the most serious obstacles to understanding other savage institutions, such as the classificatory system of kinship, exogamy and endogamy, segregation of the sexes, rules of avoidance, blood revenge, the gift-exchange system, and the dual organization of the tribe. It clears the way toward an understanding of how society arose—and why it arose in no other form than the material clan system or matriarchy.
"The question of the matriarchy is decisive in establishing whether or not the modern father-family has always existed. The very structure of the material clan system precluded it," Reed explains. "Instead of being the basic social unit from time immemorial, as most anthropologists contend, it is a late arrival in history, appearing only at the beginning of the civilized epoch." /MP

Sugilanon Ni Tita Linda

Ni Tita Linda Belayro

Busay Ni Apo Lakay

Pinuno it mga Igorote si Apo Lakay sa isaeang ka tribu sa lugar ir mga Igorot idto sa probinsya it Benguet. Guina tahod imaw ko anang mga nasakupan. Bukas perme ro anang paead sa mga naga dangop kana. Guina patihan nga may bubon si Apo Lakay sa sueod ko anang baeay ag guina patihan man nga rikara imaw naga bo-oe it tubi nga guina boeong sa mga tawo.

May naga hambae pa guid ngani nga puno it bueawan rondayang bubon. Owa it bisan sin-o man nga makasueod sa anang baeay tongod may matabo eon sa tawong nag pangahas nga sumueod sa anang baeay.

Nakaabot ro balita sa ibang tribu hanungod kay Apo Lakay. Ro ibang datu hay bu-ot man mag pangayo it tubi, maskin bayluhan nanda it sari-saring manggad. Ogaling guina kotatan ro pagta-o it tubi ni Apo Lakay. Tongod sa kahakog it iba, guin handum nanda nga boe-on ro mga bueawan ag ro may boeong nga tubi ni Apo Lakay. Isaea eon si Hangaway sa pihak nga bukid it Sierra Madre naga estar.

Nagtukad imaw sa kabukiran agod maka-abot sa lugar ni Apo Lakay. Pag abot sa lugar nga maeapit eon sa minuro ni Apo Lakay, nagpakuno-kuno imaw nga magueang nga manogpakalimos. Hakit-an imaw ko mga tawohan ni Apo Lakay busa guin daea si Hangaway sa baeay it Apo.

Guin pakaon pa anay imaw parabil paimnon it tubi halin sa bubon. Pagkakita nana sa naga idlap nga bubon, nagpati imaw nga puno it bueawan ro bubon. May sumueod nga tentasyon sa anang paino–ino. Bumangon imaw ag pinatay si Apo Lakay.

Guin ubos ro tubi sa bubon, naatas ogaling owa it bueawan nga hakit-an. Nagmaea ro bubon ag owa eon it mabo-oe ro mga tawo. Pati ro mga nagamasakit hay owa eon it pang boeong. Halin kato, owa eon it nagka enteres sa bubon ni Apo Lakay. Nawasak man ro anang baeay ag imbis nga gub-on ro baeay, may busay nga nagtunga, durong tubi, masueog, busa inanod ro baeay.

Nangin mabahoe nga bulig ro busay sa mga tawo. Rikara naga bo-oe it pang tug-on ag pagpainom sa mga hayop. Ko olihi, napan uhan nanda nga madaeum ro tubi. Puno gali it bueawan nga naga iba sa mga bato. Guin saeok nanda ro mga baeas ag ayagon agod makatipon it bueawan.

Nag mayad ayad ro pagpangabuhi ko mga tawo tongod sa bueawan. Bangod sa busay nga may bueawan, guin tawag nanda nga Busay ni Apo Lakay. /MP

Girl Scouts Hold Encampment In Libacao

by MYRA POLESTICO

The District of Libacao hosted the Aklan Provincial Senior Girl Scout Encampment from December 8 to 11, 2011. It was held at the Libacao National Forestry Vocational High School (LNFVHS), Libacao, Aklan as the host school.

Some 200 participants came from the 17 Districts in the Division of Aklan. This number included the adult scouters.

This year’s theme is: "Girls Worldwide Say, Discover Your Potentials". This aims to promote friendship, unity and self – confidence among the girls. They will be trained to become independent, self-disciplined and competitive.

The first day activities of encampment included the registration, opening ceremony and orientation. Mr. Peter S. Soriano, Secondary School Principal II of LNFVHS welcomed the participants in behalf of the school. Mr. John Razie Z. Isagan, PSDS of Libacao District, Hon. Am S. Zapatos, punong barangay of Poblacion, and Hon. Aizel M. Villorente also gave their respective welcome remarks. Hon. Vincent I. Navarosa, senior SB member of Libacao, Aklan served as resource speaker during the opening program.

"I am very happy that you visited our place again because I consider this Encampment a big event", Navarosa said. Scouters will be trained in Arts and Crafts like plant propagation, meat processing (tocino making), T-shirt printing and Rave Dance.

The usual activities were held, like the Friendship Night where the girls enjoyed and met new friends, Campfire Presentation exhibited their talents, and Coronation Night for Miss Senior Encampment 2011.

On Sunday, Holy Mass was held at St. Catherine of Alexandria church, then explored Poblacion, Libacao through a Hike-out and Cleanliness Drive.

Mrs. Eva Nalangan, LNFVHS GSP Coordi-nator when asked of her impression said, "This event is both educational and enjoyable". /MP

EDITORIAL

The Christmas Story

The story of Christmas dates back over 4000 years. During this era, Rome was a great empire ruled by Caesar Augustus and Israel was governed by King Herod.

Mary and Joseph

In the small village of Galilee in Nazareth, Israel, lived Mary a young virgin who was engaged to be married to Joesph, a Jewish carpenter. An angel visited Mary in her dream who told her she had been chosen to bear a Son of God and his name was to be Jesus. And thus, it happened that when Mary was still engaged to Joseph, she miraculously became pregnant through the Holy Spirit. When Mary told Joseph, naturally he felt betrayed, but an angel visited him in his dream and assured what Mary had told him to be true. He thus took Mary to be his wife despite a possible public disgrace.

The Nazareth & Bethlehem

At that time, Caesar Augustus declared that a census should be taken of every person in the entire Roman empire. And, everybody had to go to the place to which they belonged to register. As Joseph, was of the line of David, he and Mary had to go to Bethlehem to register. Joseph and Mary left Nazareth for Bethlehem. Mary who was with child, and close to the birth, rode on a donkey while Joseph walked beside her.

They traveled for many days and only rested at night. When they reached Bethlehem, it was night. They looked for a place to rest but there was no empty room when they reached the inn. As they were being turned away, Joseph mentioned that his wife was with child and close to birth. The inn keeper took pity on them and told them of some caves in the nearby hills where shepherds would stay with their cows and sheep.

Jesus Is Born

So Joseph and Mary went up into the hills and found the caves. In one cave was a stable room. Joseph cleaned it and made beds of fresh hay. He found a feeding trough which he cleaned and filled with hay to use as a crib. The next night, Mary gave birth to a son and they named him Jesus, as the angel had said.

The Shepherds

When the child was born a shining star appeared over Bethlehem that could be seen for miles around. In the fields nearby were shepherds who were tending their flocks of sheep. An angel appeared to them surrounded by bright light. The shepherds were frightened and tried to run.

"Fear Not," said the angel, "For I bring you tidings of great joy. For unto you is born this day in Bethlehem - a Savior who is Christ the Lord."

"And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."

Suddenly the sky was filled with angels, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth peace, good will toward men."

After the angels departed the shepherds set out for Bethlehem. When they reached the cave they found the stable and inside was the child wrapped in swaddling clothes. The shepherds left, praising the lord and soon spread the news about this miraculous child who was to be the Savior of the world.

The Three Kings

As the star shined over Bethlehem, three kings of the east saw it. They knew it was a sign and they set off to follow the star. There was Caspar - the young king of Tarsus, Melchior – the king of Arabia who was a long bearded old man, and Balthazar - the king from Ethiopia. They traveled on camels for many days over mountains, through deserts and plains always following the shining star.

When they finally arrived in Bethlehem they found the child in the manger. The three kings bowed to the child and offered gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They stayed the night in the cave and returned the next day to their lands to spread the news.

Significance of Christmas

The Significance of Christmas is known to men, all over the world. Though it is true that Christmas is celebrated as the day of the Birth of Christ into this world, yet it also symbolizes a very deeply significant truth of the spiritual life. Jesus Christ is the very personification of Divinity. He was born at a time when ignorance, superstition, greed, hatred and hypocrisy prevailed upon the land. Purity was forgotten and morality was neglected.

In the midst of these conditions, Christ was born and He worked a transformation in the lives of people. He gave a new and a spiritual turn to the lives of man. There came a change upon the land. People started upon a new way of life. Thus, a new era dawned for the world.

In that period the seeker has no thought of God or higher spiritual life. He lived a life of lust, anger, greed, deluded attachment, pride and jealousy. If the seeker must enter into a new life of spiritual aspiration, purity and devotion, then the Christ-spirit must take its birth within his heart. That is the real Christmas when the Divine element begins to express itself in the heart of the man. From then onward, light begins to shine where darkness was before.

A very small, but very beautiful, point of deep significance is attached to Christmas. It is the time and the manner of the birth of the Lord upon the holy Christmas day. Jesus Christ was not born in a grand palace. He was not born to very wealthy or learned parents. Jesus Christ was born in a simple lowly place, a corner of a stable. He was born to humble and poor parents, who had nothing to boast about, except their own spotless character and holiness.

The above point of deep significance tells that the spiritual awakening comes to the seeker, who is perfectly humble and "meek" and "poor in spirit." The quality of true humility is one of the indispensable fundamentals. Then we find simplicity, holiness and the renunciation of all desire for worldly wealth and pride of learning. Thirdly, even as Christ was born unknown to the world and in the obscurity of darkness, even so, the advent of the Christ-spirit takes place in the inwardness of man when there is total self-effacement self-abnegation. /MP

Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ambrosio R. Villorente

The Victory of Vietnam

One place I visited in Vietnam is Cu Chi Tunnels situated North of Ho Chi Minh City in Hau Nghia province. After seeing the tunnels, I got the idea of courageous, tenacious, patient, brave, loving and loyal the Vietnamese are to their country.

The tunnels were originally dug in 1940s when the Vietnams were fighting French colonialism, as hiding places for the guerrillas and bomb shelters for the village people. When the war with the Americans started in 1960’s, the Viet Cong dug more tunnels. They linked them together from one village to another that it reached 250 kilometers long if stretched. There were street signs placed in the tunnels so guerrillas from other parts of Vietnam could find their way.

In 1966, the American Army constructed their military base in Cu Chi. This enabled the Viet Cong living in the tunnels to pick off American soldiers, dove back into the tunnels, the trap doors hidden by leaves. Some snipers surfaced inside the barbed wire of the American base, stabbed US soldiers.

The tunnels were deep, narrow about five feet in diameter that even if American soldiers have to crawl. Only few dared to enter the tunnel who were stabbed in the dark with a knife. A soldier has only one chance to fire a gun; the sound of it set the man temporarily deaf and stunned.

Off the passages, the guerrillas built larger rooms for sleeping, cooking, meeting, and storage. They dug daily. The Vietnamese of all ages and gender constructed the tunnels. Old men made baskets for carrying soil, old women did the cooking, young men and women dug the soil. The children gathered leaves to cover the trap door.

Le Van Nong, a guerrilla related the tunnels were very hot. They always sweat. They went out of the tunnel to cook rice in the evening to be eaten next day. If they got no time to cook, they went hungry the next day. It was not possible to cook in the tunnel.
As the war continued, the guerrillas ate food, left around by troops on patrol like canned rations, meat and chocolates eaten cold without cooking.

They also depended upon the American soldiers for weapons.

In 1966, one battalion of US soldiers fired 180,000 artillery shells in one month, fired a trillion bullets, 10 million mortars and 4.8 million rockets.

Those which did not explode were taken into the tunnels, sawed gently through the shell casing and used the explosives to make new mines. The used Coke cans the US soldiers left are made into grenades.

There were poems written for propaganda materials distributed to promote and sustain morals, courage and support to the guerrillas like poems and songs. There were entertainment like songs, dances, and dramas for the guerrillas in the tunnels.

A line of a lyric of a song states: "We are Cu Chi people who go forward to kill the enemy. Our country is a fortress standing against the Americans.

Cu Ch is a "heroic land". A guerrilla surgeon Dr. Vo Hoang Le treated his patients, the wounded in the tunnel, most of them died because there was no medicine.

The women in the tunnels got no rags for menstruation. They were ashamed of their smell. They went above ground at night to wash their clothes and to bathe. Inspire of their mega hardships and extreme sacrifices, the Vietnamese persisted and prevailed.

Tet Offensive

The Viet Cong Tet offensive in 1968 revealed the truth to the world which the American government had been keeping from the Americans.

On Tet, the North Vietnamese Army with the guerrillas assaulted Saigon with Cu Chi tunnels as their base. What happened in Saigon was widely projected to the world via TV, radio, and newspaper. There were fighting in the Hue, Ben Tre and other cities of Vietnam. The Tet 1968 offensive revealed the truth of the Vietnam War the American people did not know.

The Tet 1968 offensive generated world protest against the American bombings and shooting in Vietnam. The Buddhist Monks organized protest. Even if the Viet Cong were badly annihilated, they were winning the sympathy and admiration of the world including the American public. Why did the US soldiers killed the people who did nothing against them. Women were raped, tortured and killed. Minors were killed, Vietnamese of all ages were killed. The country was heavily bombed and destroyed. Remember the Mai Lai Massacre? That was investigated but only one colonel of the military was found guilty and put in jail for a few weeks.

Protests

So there were protests done against the Vietnam War. There were protests held in US universities by the faculty and students like in the University of Michigan, California, New York and many other state universities by the hundreds of thousand participants. There were protests against the "draft". Mohamad Ali refused a draft even his world title in boxing were removed. He was banned from boxing. The black people protested the draft which included the human rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Presiden Lyndon Johnson succumbed to the pleasure. He refused General Westmoreland’s request for additional 206,000 troops for Vietnam.

Even some soldiers and World War veterans protested against the war in Vietnam. Some soldiers deserted, came went absent without leave.

In 1970, they come open against the war", came together for a festival of political speeches and rock music. About 206,000 people refused the draft as recorded.

In 1970, the GIs stopped fighting. The Pentagon went desperate. The morale, discipline and battle worthiness of the US Armed forces went lower and worse. Some US Navy personnel sent a petition to the US Congress saying: "there is nothing we can do about putting an end to the Vietnam Conflict". Some 1000 personnel signed the petition. There were sabotage made like what was done to aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk.

In 1972, there were demonstrations against the US presence in Vietnam held in US bases in Japan, Germany, Thailand, and Guam.

In view of the pressure to stop the war in Vietnam, the Washington DC government signed a peace deal in Paris, France. The White House agreed to withdraw all US soldiers from Vietnam and to give North Vietnamese massive aid – US$ 5 billion. The last American troops left Vietnam in 1973.

On March 24, 1975 the victorious army, on a hand made cardboard sign along the road were jubilant with their "Victory Without Bloodshed".

Three movements have defeated the United States in a 20 years war. They are American ruling class, American Peace Movement, the GI’s revolts and the guerrillas.

The Vietnam is a history of horror, of rape and atrocity. It is "a story of unimaginable, endless courage of what brave men, women and children are capable of when they fought for a fair share of their labor and a world run by decency". /MP