Kalibo Becomes A Huge
Commercial Complex
Viva kay Senior Santo Niño, Viva! The street of Kalibo has improved, minimally only. Congressman Joeben T. Miraflores has completed the asphalt overlay at C. Laserna Street just on time for the 795th Kalibo Sto. Niño Ati Atihan. The portion of Regalado Street starting at corner Martelino to corner L. Barrios St. was also asphalt overlaid. It was done rapidly despite of the inclement weather condition.
Congressman Miraflores has also effected a substantial improvement of Pastrana Park in Poblacion, Kalibo. The perimeter sidewalks and the fence stand elegant. The interior part of the park is rehabilitated. Bravo! and our resounding applause to your concern and effort.
Poblacion Kalibo is now transformed into a huge commercial complex. By the side of the Aklan Catholic College and at the back of the Cathedral are stalls of vendors making passage difficult. Martelino Street is also occupied by vendors. Over and both sides of the streets of Poblacion, Kalibo are filled up with commercial advertisement. Inside Magsaysay Park are buntings, billboards, and streamers selling liquor, soft drinks, cellphones and many others. Magsaysay Park is now converted into a commercial complex and entertainment center with live band on the center. The promotion of the Sto. Niño Festival with more marketing of products starts with the series of streamers overhanging the national road in Bulwang, Numancia.
Almost all the streamers advocate for the public to join the Sto. Niño Ati Atihan, drink liquor and soft drink, use cellphones. I have yet to see a streamer which enjoins the people to love, to adore or to pray to our dear Sto. Niño to make our community more peaceful, to stop graft and corruption in public office and weed out corrupt officials from public offices.
POISON IN THE 12TH ASEAN SUMMIT
The Arroyo Administration claimed the 12th ASEAN Summit held in Cebu City last week was a great success. Inspite of the billions of pesos spent for the occasion, the returns expected will be much more than the investment spent. Among others, the administration claimed those 11 agreements signed by the ASEAN leaders will provide much social and economic benefits to the Filipinos and the Philippines.
However, will it really provide the Philippines the expected result? That remains watching. For one thing, what the ASEAN leaders signed are not legally binding which a member country can compel another signatory state to comply. These will only be complied with if that state or her leaders accepted that to implement the agreement is for the best interest of their country.
On the other hand, it should have been a disaster to the Filipinos if the poisoning of some 100 dancers happened to any of the ASEAN leaders or even to any of the foreign guests.
IS BASIC EDUCATION PURELY FREE?
Our political leaders at all levels often brag that basic education in the Philippines is purely free. Basic means from grade 0 to grade X, the school expenses of the students are shouldered by the state. The parents of the students do not pay.
But that is not really happening. The students pay assorted contributions beginning day one of the school year. Parents share with the monthly salary of security guard, school board teacher, water and electric bills. Some parents even share expenses for the repair and repainting of tables and chairs in the school room. Name it, they have that contribution to pay.
To the parents, to hear that basic education is free from officials concerned and actually asked to share the payment of school expenses is not only frustrating, it is also revolting.
It is much better accept that basic education is not purely free. School officials must frankly reveal to the parents their financial obligations rather than them, "all children" must be accepted in the public school without paying financial obligation.
If I may add, utilize all school days for instruction and minimize "no classes". Activities like athletic meet, teachers meeting are not valid reasons to "declare a no class day or days".
CONGRESSMAN’S LADY
Ms. Lourdes Miraflores, Lulu to friends, the first lady of Congressman Joeben T. Miraflores ably represented her congressman husband in the blessing and opening of the Kalibo Ati Atihan Product Showcase 2007. She read the message of the Congressman during the said affair.
For the last nine years that Congressman Miraflores was governor of Aklan and now Congressman, it was only last Tuesday, January 16 that I heard and watched Ms. Miraflores represented and talked in behalf of her husband. I found her sincere and articulate in her talk.
Hon. Mark Quimpo represented Mayor Raymar A. Rebaldo in the said affair. He read Mayor Rebaldo’s speech which pointed out that the products being exhibited "reflect the way of life of the Kalibonhons".
In his message, Governor Carlito S. Marquez congratulated the exhibitors in the showcase who are now producing world class products. Marquez bared his program that will further assist and improve both quality and quantity of products be it food, furniture, loom and fabrics, gifts and house-wares and horticulture. /MP mailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com
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