EDITORIAL - April 8 - 14

Fellow Ilonggo

Congressman Juan Miguel "migz" F. ZUBIRI, while in Kalibo, Aklan stressed his being an Ilonggo. "My parents are form Negros Occidental and I have so many relatives in Panay," Zubiri said.

Zubiri was in Kalibo on April 9 to campaign among the Aklanons to vote for him in the senatorial election on May 14. He spoke Ilonggo while in Kalibo to prove his being an Ilonggo. Zubiri is an incumbent congressman of Bukidnon, a province where Ilonggo language is spoken widely.

Zubiri campaigned on the basis of his accomplishment as congressman for nine (9) years. He also campaigned on the basis of his being an Ilonggo. He emphasized his sense of belongingness and stressed the point of giving priority projects to Aklan and Western Visayas if elected senator.

HOW TO VOTE RIGHT

"How to vote right" is being taught in the grade school. It teaches the pupils how to choose the most qualified and fitted candidates for the specific position. It teaches that a person to vote is not enough that he/she is a relative, member of the clan or a close friend. How to vote right teaches the students to vote candidates who are the best and the brightest, the candidates most qualified, capable and with proven integrity and morality.

Shall we choose a man/woman who left his/her spouse and live with another man/woman? This is dishonestly to another person. If he/she coveted another person’s wife/husband, will he/she also covet public resources such as public funds, misuse government facilities like vehicles and others? It is difficult to gamble or vote for those candidates whom the public knows are dishonest to their spouses, children and other members of the family.

EL SHADDAI

Mr. Mike Velarde of El Shaddai announced his congregation will come out with a long list of 18 senatorial candidates from where his group will select 12 to vote on May 14 election. Mr. Velarde did not tell what are the factors he will use in the selection of the 18 senatorial candidates.

THREE (3) C’s

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines suggested to consider the three (3) C’s of the candidates to be voted. The three C’s are: 1. Conscience, 2. Competence, and 3. Commitment. These three C’s are very common and simple words readily understandable to everybody, and among Filipino voters.

Conscience refers to one person’s knowledge or sense of right and wrong. It is one’s moral judgment that opposes the violation of a previously recognized ethical principle and that leads to feelings of guilt if one violates such principles.

Voters have the duty to God, country and people to elect officials who can distinguish the "right" from "wrong" and choose the "right" action to take on matters demanding action . Voters must consider that "public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiently, act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives." Voters must vote persons who can obey this provision in the Philippines Constitution.

Competence – this is the ability of a person or officer to fulfill commitments. This is the ability of a leader to find and solve problems of the community, the nation or his constituents. In Kalibo, there is a candidate who propose scholarships for students. There are candidates who promise jobs, to stop graft and corruption. Since the 1950’s, promises to stop graft and corruption are repeated during elections, yet until today graft and corruption are here and it had gone to worst. Vote for competent persons to lead solve our problems and realize people’s aspirations.

Commitment is a pledge or promise to do something. Is that candidate for an office committed to improve the welfare of the people and the place? Many candidates will commit several things, even the moon and the stars, matters so unrealistic. He will commit and forget.

So that for a voter to "vote right" he may consider to vote candidates to the respective office who have conscience, committed and competent to fulfill proposals, responsive to the needs, problems and aspirations of the people. /MP

Entrepreneurial Farmer

By Ambrosio R. Villorente

10 Doable Points

A reader has reacted to this column of last issue which reads as follows:
Hello,
I think it is a duty of the Aklan press to ask the candidates (maybe limit it to governor and representative) to have a 10 point doables if they win the election. The doables should SMART (Simple, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timebound meaning it can be achieved in 3 years). These 10 doables should then be posted in all public places for voters to read. It should also be discussed in the media so that voters in Aklan will know about it.
With the doables, the voters can evaluate the candidates as to:
1. How the candidates understand the needs of the province?
2. Who has the right skills and tools to respond to those needs?
3. The proper experience and resources to answer those needs; and
4. Who are just blueskying the voters and do not know any better?
Let us help our candidates and our voters (get) away from the usual political rhetoric which does not result into anything meaningful to understand how the candidates will affect our people when the candidates win.

The 10 doables will serve as a road map for the winning candidates and be a guide for the voters to evaluate him or her come next election in 2010."

A copy of your comments is sent to Ms. Melrose S. Lunn, Tibyog Media Coordinator for their possible action.

IBAJAY GRAIN CENTER

A reader e-mailed EF commenting on the Grain Center in Laguinbanua, Ibajay. According to him, "that grain center has been constructed at the time when Congressman Joeben T. Miraflores was governor of Aklan. But until today, that grain center is not operational.
If that facility is functional, it will greatly help the farmers reduce grain processing cost, increase the grain quality which is very good for the consumers."

EF has been asking Governor Carlito S. Marquez about this grain center project. I got favorable answers, but his answers are not yet operationalized until this writing. I brought the grain center project three times to Governor Marquez, yet it still remains just a project.

You are right "agriculture is the twin project with tourism", of the United Leadership of Aklan but agriculture just means a slogan still to the leaders in the capitol, Kalibo.

Ibajay Grain Center is a multi million pesos project designed to modernize agriculture. But has that grain center became a factor in the grains production program? You are right when you say: "Ibajay Grain Center is a decoration, a way to waste people’s money, time and effort."
One main responsible office in the construction of the Ibajay Grain Center is the Department of Agriculture (DA) as it provided the millions of pesos cash for the project. DA has neglected its duty to monitor the project until its full completion and made operational.

BANGA BAGSAKAN CENTER

Former Congressman Billie V. Calizo has allocated P3 million out of her countrywide development fund for the Banga Bagsakan Center. The center construction was finished three years ago but until today, it is still a "bagsakan" without any operation, therefore still useless.
The center is constructed on about one hectare of land owned by Aklan State University situated just at the outskirt of Poblacion, Banga along the road going to Balete.

This project is intended to serve all the farmers and fisherfolks as a convergence place between them on the one hand to sell their goods and the consumers on the other to buy goods. But until today, the Banga Bagsakan Center remains useless and becoming a monument of government waste, inefficiency and neglect not only of the servant leaders but also the constituents.

I asked Governor Marquez about this for two times at two different places. I got no answer, but a sweet smile. So I just felt good. /MP

Zubiri: To Improve Poor GSIS Services

By Ambrosio R. Villorente

Zubiri (7th from left) with the members of the Aklan Tri-Media posing for souvenir picture after a press conference on April 9, 2007. (ARV Photo)

Migz Zubiri with Madyaas Pen Editor/Publisher Dr. Ambrosio R. Villorente

Migz with Ms. Melrose "Megs" Lunn - Madyaas Pen, Assistant Editor

Juan Miguel "migz" F. Zubiri pledged to work for the improvement in the way the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) renders poor services to the state employees and GSIS pensioners.
In a press conference he presided, he presided, Congressman Zubiri accepted the GSIS has been badly treating the government workers in terms of granting and servicing loans, payment of retirement benefits and others. Zubiri specifically lamented the use of the "No e-Card, No Pension" policy of the GSIS which is giving more pain rather than comfort to GSIS pensioners.
Told that most of the GSIS pensioners have not been paid their monthly pensions since January 2007, Zubiri promised to work for its immediate payment. Dr. Ambrosio R. Villorente brought the GSIS pensioners problem with Congressman Zubiri who is now a candidate for the Senate in the May 14 2007 election. Once elected to the Senate, Zubiri vowed to institute remedial legislation in the GSIS which is not performing according to the expectations of state employees and government pensioners.
At present, records in the GSIS do not reflect accurate records of some loans of state employees and repayment of loan amortization. Some are still compelled to pay their loans when they have fully paid it. Some employees’ records with the GSIS show they were granted loans when in fact they were not.
The GSIS pensioners in Aklan decry the use of e-Card as their reflexes have deteriorated making it hard for them to go to the bank to withdraw their money. Moreover, GSIS pension fund is deposited in the Union bank which in Panay, has only one branch located in Iloilo City. To withdraw pension money from ATM of some banks, the pensioners are compelled to pay charges.
The press conference was held in the Guest House, Office of the Provincial Governor, Kalibo, Aklan on April 9.
Zubiri is a three term Congressman which enabled him to enact laws of national significance like the Optional ROTC Act; Biofuels Act of 2006; Rent Control Act; Wildlife Conservation Act and Solid waste Management Act. Zubiri also co-authored with some other bills approved into law of local and of national significance. /MP

Mass and Peace Covenant Signing

Above picture shows candidates for various positions in the municipal and provincial levels of Aklan with Bishop Jose Romeo O. Lazo after the mass and signing ceremonies of the peace covenant.

To assure honest, orderly and peaceful election on May 14, 2007, the candidates for various positions in the municipal and provincial levels, a mass and peace covenant was signed in the morning on April 11 by the candidates. The mass was held and signing ceremonies were held in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Kalibo, Aklan. It was officiated by Bishop Jose Romeo O. Lazo, bishop of the Diocese of Kalibo.
The covenant was signed by candidates who are representing their respective political parties. (Text and photos by AFVillorente, Jr.)

THE CANDIDATES FOR CONGRESSMAN

THE ASPIRING GOVERNOR

CANDIDATES FOR VICE GOVERNOR

They pledge - reading their pledge to abide with the election laws and rules during the May 14 election.

CAPIZ BAY RESORT....

CAPIZ BAY, HAVEN OF PEACE

for Reflection and Comfort

By MEGS S. LUNN

"Let loose of what you can’t control. Serenity will be yours," Anonymous.

The author, Megs Lunn with Resort owner Mr. Ruben Yap

About eight (8) kilometers from the City of Roxas, one will wonder where one of the roads will take you, to the beach or to the bay?! Capiz Bay Resort in Libas, Roxas City, Capiz made a difference in my life just recently while I was on an out-of-town training. The owner of the 18 hectares property of beach and fishpond is Mr. Ruben Yap. He hosted me for three days and two nights. Mr. Yap is a very humble and simple man amidst his wealth and power.
As I entered the resort, I was awed by the cleanliness, orderliness and warmth of the place. No wonder, for one of his caretakers is a fellow Aklanon. She is called Manang Tita, from Altavas, whose Aklanon husband from Estancia, Kalibo is called Manong Carling. Instantly, I belonged to the family – my "kababayan" in a secluded place away from the crowd and people of the city.
Yes, Capiz Bay offers fresh, cool breeze air to breath. The place is not only for relaxation, but more. I lost myself, and indeed, serenity was mine. During the first day of my stay at Capiz Bay Resort, I reflected on the people I met everyday. Hundreds of them who filled my mobile phone with numbers, e-mails and addresses. I discovered Capiz Bay as a new horizon and reminded me to appreciate God’s beautiful creation.
At Capiz Bay Resort, one can feel the serenity of the place. As I wandered around the resort, I noticed the beautiful, artistic but simple cottages in the center of the fishponds. I didn’t only become awed with the harvest from it, but also, the taste of the fresh fish from the ponds, Manang Tita cooked it into the Filipino’s favorite "sinigang" and "paksiw".
The resort boost of an eight (8) nice-looking cottages so peaceful and comfortable for 15 people, for honeymooners, or just for oneself at a very reasonable rates ideal for family. There is the fishing lagoon for fresh bangus, retreat and picnic area for the family, too.
When one is at the resort, he can more reflect if he does the nature trail up to the mountain where he can view the fascinating Barangay Libas. I can’t help but mesmerized by the wonders and the creation of God. The attractions from the mountain hill are so amazing that I didn’t like to walk back to the foot of the hill and end my nature trail. The pursuit of happiness is not what life is about. Only as we remember that life is a test, a trust, and a temporary assignment. Will the appeal of these things lose their grip on our lives?
I have reflected on how many friends I have encountered, met, talked to and shared with them, the beauty of what life offers. As Rotary founder Paul P. Harris said, "He who has a thousand friends has not a friend to spare." The blessing of friendship has been tremendous in my life since the death of my hubby. It’s been a year and 6 months, loneliness has changed to happiness because of the presence of my old acquaintances, new found friends and more friends to come. Deep inside, I remembered the loving kindness my late hubby, my only daughter and I shared.
I am not alone on this battle of loneliness, for there are more people out there who share the same fate. Rather, we convert this loneliness for us to live life simply and peacefully.
It was another journey of my life that I have shared thru this article. The journey to happiness with friends is a never ending saga. I walk daily like a pencil that is being sharpened; the people I meet, some with character, while some with attitude. "Nobody is good at everything and no one is called to be everything." What’s important is to remain calm and serene, like the serenity at Capiz Bay Resort. As Eleonor Roosevelt said, "It isn’t enough to talk about peace, one must believe it. And it isn’t enough to believe, one must work for it." /MP

Cardinal Sin Statue to Rise In New Washington

By JUAN P. DAYANG

A towering statue of Jaime Cardinal Sin, the late archbishop of Manila, will soon rise in his birthplace, the bustling and scenic coastal town of New Washington, Aklan.

To be sculpted by the renowned Castrillo design studio, the statue will be erected on the town’s sprawling public plaza which has been named after Cardinal Sin, the prelate who helped transform the Philippines from dictatorship to democracy in the 1986 "people power" revolt.

Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua, a philanthropist and a long-time friend of Cardinal Sin, will finance the project to honor and preserve the memory of the "prince of the Church" and for his devotion as a servant of God.

The statue will be unveiled on August 31, 2007, Cardinal Sin’s birthday.

Aklan Bishop Jose Romeo Lazo earlier described the proposed statue as a "beautiful and laudable project." He said the local diocese is very much honored to be part and parcel of this "magnificent endeavor."

New Washington Mayor Edmund Peralta said local officials and the people of Aklan eagerly await to seeing the rise of Cardinal Sin’s statue on the town plaza just in front of the church.

"The plaza is where Cardinal Sin used to play when he was still a child," Mayor Peralta recalled, noting that the playground is just across the ancestral homes of the Sin family.

He said, the plaza is being spruced up as part of the preparation in the run-up to the unveiling of the statue which is expected to be witnessed by provincial and national government officials and religious leaders.

Plans are afoot to hold a colloquium in New Washington where invited speakers will share their thoughts about the life and times of the late Cardinal Sin, one of the central figures in the 1986 civilian-backed military revolt.

Expected to speak at the colloquium are leading personalities during the Edsa revolution and those from the academe, media, religious, laymen and other sectors.

Mayor Peralta said the local government in New Washington and Aklan province will leave no stone unturned in ensuring the success of all commemorative activities honoring the late Cardinal Sin, widely hailed in Aklan for his various missionary and charity projects.

"As a proud son of Aklan, Cardinal Sin’s memory will reign forever in our hearts and that the statue to be erected in his honor is also our own way of saying thank you to a great man," Mayor Peralta stressed. /MP

IBOTO!

INDEPENDENT

ABAYON

PARA KONSEHAL

NEW WASHINGTON

MAY 14 ELECTION

SA SERBISYO MASALIGAN, KAABAGA IT BANWA!

Paid political ad to Madyaas Pen by relatives of Efren Abayon

A Journey Into The Light For Aklan *

* Speech of Ms. Gabrielle "Billie" V. CALIZO delivered

during press conference, April 04, 2007, Kalibo, Aklan.

I have accepted the draft to run again in Aklan since I firmly believe that this is consistent with my vision to serve my own province and people.

As an aspirant for Vice Governor, I know many people would ask why I slid when I could have run anew for a congressional seat. The answer is crystal clear. Vicky and I share the same vision for a self-reliant and globally competitive Aklan and we are one in working hard to maximize the full potentials of this province.

Moreover, I see my running as my own journey to see the light and let this light guide all of us in ending the decades of leadership that has never given her people a better deal.

It is this cartel type of leadership who claims to be united in vision, consultative and transparent in practice but in reality, it is a leadership that is anchored on lust for power, self-interest and political patronage, giving no chance at all to develop a new breed of leaders who are independent minded, principled, dynamic and innovative. It is this leadership that opposes anyone who stands in the way of their bullish determination to stay in power at all costs that has shrouded the vision of many Aklanons who have been condemned to high poverty incidence, people who live in want while those in the upper rungs of power enjoy the best things in life for free. It is this leadership that has made livelihood out of pubic service. This is condemnable.

Here is Aklan which is regarded to be the primary tourist destination of the country yet its tourism infrastructures are a far cry from the established global tourism standards, a blatant result of the lack of vision, management skills and political will to design and implement a holistic and effective tourism development program tailor fit to the needs of this very dynamic industry.
Here is Aklan that stands to lose the goose that lays the golden eggs in its primary tourist destination "Boracay" because of greed and total disregard to the island’s fragile ecology.

Here is Aklan that should have employed thousands of Aklanons in its tourism services but sadly, Aklanons have been relegated to menial jobs due to lack of sustained government program to develop human resource capabilities to cater to the growing needs of the local tourism industry.

Here is Aklan that should have profited from its multi-billion pesos tourism industry yet a great majority of its people particularly in the barangays are hungry and poor because of the unregulated investment policy where millions of revenues have been funneled out of the country instead of circulating within the province to pan-prime its economy.

Here is Aklan tolerating wanton development in the Island of Boracay and allowing the unregulated sale of its land to foreign investors which could ironically result to an island which in the next few years might no longer be owned by the Aklanons and the Filipino people.

Here is Aklan whose supposed all-weather jetty port in Caticlan, Malay is riddled with controversy and corruption. To start with, its design is faulty, too grandiose and inefficient for its purpose. The quality of construction is sub-standard lest, it looks worn-out and dilapidated only after a few years. The port proved to be unusable during monsoon season that it is not really an all weather port as claimed by the proponent. While millions in revenues have been generated in entrance and porterage fees, these were not reported accurately over the years. God knows who pocketed the money and this anomaly was supposed to have been found out and addressed, the much increased revenues from the tourism traffic which should have been plowed back to tourism development in Boracay and mainland Malay were generally used to subsidize non-viable projects of the province which are deep in indebtedness and worst, to pay-up the remnants of corruption of the previous administration.

My fellow Aklanons, our province is now faced with a garnishment order from the court to the tune of over 50 million pesos of unpaid bills to the contractor of the Caticlan Jetty Port. It is interesting to note that the appropriations for this project have already been fully dispersed and in fact, the Provincial Engineering Office took over the project and spent additional provincial funds for its completion.

The people of Aklan whilst a beneficiary of a beautiful provincial hospital building are still forced to beg for the basics of health services from those in power contrary to the mandate and moral responsibility of our provincial government to provide free access to health services for all its citizenry.

A highly questionable sense of priority to place the hospital as part of the province’ economic enterprise before it has even fulfilled its basic obligation to provide free healthcare to the Aklanons particularly those in dire need of medical help but unable to afford. It would have been more prudent to have improved the existing hospital building, installed modern equipment, hired and trained qualified medical staff rather than borrow money in the millions to put up a huge building without the necessary compliments to operate an efficient and viable hospital that will self-liquidate its indebtedness.

Here is Aklan that has rich soil and large manpower pool and yet its agriculture is underdeveloped considering the growing demand for vegetables, fruits, fishery, poultry and livestock by its tourism industry and growing population. Ironically, we have to buy even eggs from other provinces and Manila.

Aklan farmers are also bedeviled by rough roads and insufficient agricultural infrastructure. Rough roads are the rule in the backlands as provincial leaders pay little heed to the demand for better roads. The only roads maintained well in the province are those managed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and they are all national roads. The provincial
roads leading to Libacao, Malinao, Madalag and Buruanga remain unpaved and in a sorry state after repeated promises over the years to improve these roads. It was only during my incumbency as Representative of the Lone District of Aklan when I shared my meager resources to start the concreting of Libacao and Madalag roads.

Our intelligent students also suffer much from insufficient modern learning facilities. It is to the discredit of provincial officials that many schools do not have computer systems even as Filipino scientists themselves have invented both hardware and software to raise the level of information technology.

Fully 3 out of 10 Aklanons are dirt poor and this ratio would still deteriorate unless the priorities of the provincial government are changed.

Unless we generate more jobs and our people enjoy a higher level of disposable income, there will be little demand for local products.

There has been no master plan for the comprehensive development of agriculture and fisheries for decades and this explains why there has been a steady outflow of professionals and college graduates to the National Capital Region (NCR) and abroad. There simply are no jobs available for our professionals. This brain drain will not end unless a visionary leadership takes over the helm of the provincial government.

Vicky Ramos and I might be considered by some quarters as Amazons out to conquer the male–dominated provincial capitol.

They are partly right. We are fighters for a noble cause – to end corruption and institute an efficient and effective government.

We believe that the battle is for principles.

As Vice Governor, my duty will be to marshal the collective wisdom of the provincial board, and I had the chance to serve in that board before, and pass ordinances that would hew closely to the development program Vicky Ramos and I have set out to implement.

I intend to be the diametrical of my opponents since I am committed to make every peso in taxpayers’ money count.

I am running for Vice Governor and I want Aklan to prosper and be a real world class province as we claim. Vicky Ramos and I pledge to restore your faith in Aklan and its leaders.

Mga igmanghud ko riya sa Akean binag-binaga ninyo ro akon ngarang pamisaea. Raya hay puro kamatuuran nga naga kaeatabo riya sa atong probinsya. Ibhi ninyo kami ni Vicky sa among kausa para maimplementar namon ro among sinsiro nga handum para kinyo tanan ag sa atong probinsya. /MP

Sugilanon Ni Tita Linda

Ni Tita Linda Belayro

Luki Ag Ritzi

May isaeang ka manog pangahoy nga nabaeo kato pa eamang. Haaywan kana ro daywang ka mga onga nga si Luki ag Ritzi. Bata pa ro daywa busa ha-isipan ko manog pangahoy nga mag-asawa it uman agod may kaibahan imaw nga maga atipan ko anang mga onga.
May isaeang ka daeaga nga naila-an ko manog pangahoy. Nagkasugot sandang daywang magpakasae. Ogaling pagtaliwan it kasae, mapintas gali sa daywang ka onga ro bag-ong tapik nga ina. Kon owa ngani rong manogpangahoy, guina pintasan nana ag owa guina pakan-a ro daywang ka onga. Ko olihi, owa makatakod ro daywa, busa nag ea-as sanda ko isaeang gabi-i ngaron. Idto sanda umadto sa kagueangan. May hakita sanda nga iwag. Guin eapitan ko daywa ag hakita nga isaea gali ka baeay nga putos it tsokolate, tinapay ag mga dulce. Sa kagutom ko daywa, sige sanda nga habnit it pagkaon. Ka’t busog eon sanda, sumueod sanda sa baeay agod magkatoeog sa mahumok nga katre.
Pag-abot it tungang gabi-I, umabot ro tag-baeay nga bruha ag guin halin sanda sa isaeang ka kulungan. Pagbugtaw ko daywa ko pagkaaga, hakulong sanda sa isaeang ka sae-saeon nga kulungan.
Raya gali nga bruha hay naga kaon it mga onga. Guina putos nana it mga tsokolate, cookies ag dulce ro anang baeay agod abong mga onga ro maganyak mag-adto.
Ko hapon ngaron, nagpakita ro bruha kanda. Bu-ot nana nga magtambok pa ro daywang ka onga, ngani guina tinaw-an nana sanda it pagkaon. Ka’t bu-ot eon nga kan-on ro daywa, guin paeapitan nana ro kulungan agod tan-awon kon matambok eon ro daywa. Guin dawat nana ro anang alima sa daywa. Maabtik nga nagbo-oe it toe-an it manok si Luki ag tina-o nana sa bruha. Tongod madueom ro anang mata, nagsinghan imaw nga kueang pa sa katambok sanda ngani kinahangean nga pakan-on pa. Imaw nga imaw ro andang guina obra kada mag-abot rong bruha.
Ko olihi, owa eon it matambok nga onga nga makaon ro bruha, ngani guin paguwa nana ro daywa. Guin pasag-ob si Luki samtang si Ritzi ro naghaling it kaeayo sa dapog agod initon ro tubi sa kawa.
Maangan-angan, nagsinggit rong bruha.
"Abe Ritzi, tan-awa baea kon mainit eon ro pugon!" Ro maaeam nga si Ritzi nag sabat, "Paalin ro pagsueod sa pugon? Indi ako kaantiguhan." "Para magtan-aw eang it pugon, indi ka kaantiguhan?" sabat it bruha. Sumueod ro bruha sa puertahan ag guin pakita kon paalin magsueod.Ka’t nakasueod ro bruha ag magling-ling sa pugon, golpe imaw nga tinoeod ni Ritzi sa kaeayo ag sinarhan ro puertahan. Nasunog ag namatay ro bruha. Dali-dali nanda nga guin buhi-an ro iba pa nga maniwang nga preso ag mga hayop. Dayon umuli sanda sa andang dating baeay.
Guin daea pa nanda ro mga alahas it bruha. Pag-abot sa anda nga baeay, nalipay ro andang ama sa andang pagbalik. Guin sugid man nanda kon paalin sanda guin trato ko andang madrasta. Guin bueagan ko andang ama ro andang mapintas nga madrasta ag nagkabuhi sanda nga bugana ag malipayon. /MP

Reliving The Story: The Gift of Easter *

* Easter Message of Archbishop Angel Lagdameo,
Archbishop of Jaro & CBCP President

"The Lord is raised as he has foretold. Alleluia."
It is with that message that we climax the celebration of Holy Week which started with Palm Sunday, leading to the Last Supper in Holy Thursday, with the night vigil, and Visita Iglesia, then the Stations of the Cross and its Veneration on Good Friday.
A lot of people listened and reflected on the Seven Last Words of Jesus from the Cross. The real message of Holy Week is not only that Jesus Christ died for us, but that Jesus Christ also gave us hope for new life by rising to life from the dead.
And so: "The Lord is risen as He has foretold. Alleluia."
All four Gospels narrate the event of the Resurrection with their respective nuances, indicating the individual author’s reflection with insight on the historic event. All four evangelists — Mark, Matthew, Luke and John — narrate that it was the women-disciples of Jesus, led by Mary Magdalene, a former sinner, who bravely came to the tomb and found Jesus was no longer there.
This Gospel detail shows that sinners are also objects of the Resurrection news and can be channels through whom the Good News will spread. It was through the witness of women that the male-disciples of Jesus came to know about the Resurrection. Mary Magdalene and the other women were the ones instructed: "Go tell His disciples and Peter that He is going ahead of you to Galilee, there you will see Him" Mk. 16/17).
St. Mark includes the initial and logical reaction of the women. Faced with an extraordinary and unexpected event, it was natural for them to doubt and not to immediately act. In St. Luke’s and St. John’s accounts that was also the initial reaction of the apostles: one of disbelief and wonderment (Lk. 24/41, Jo. 20/9).
The Resurrection account in the Gospel of St. Matthew emphasizes one detail to solve doubt and unbelief.
The appearance of an angel at the tomb, while frightening to the soldiers, was intended to dispel the fear of the women: "Do not be afraid. I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here. He has been raised, as He said. Come and see the place where He lay" (Mt. 28/5-6).
Matthew emphasizes the role of seeing in believing and in dispelling doubt. That is what happened to the women. That is what happened also to the other disciples. They were told "not to be afraid" (Mt. 28/10).
They were told to see, to look at the empty tomb. For somehow, to see is to believe. This is told in particular about the "beloved disciple" who reached the tomb ahead of St. Peter: "He saw and believed" (Jo. 20/8).
But here, seeing can also mean seeing not only with the eyes, but also with the open mind. And for us in our time to see the resurrection is to believe in the witness of credible lives down through the centuries.
The Resurrected Jesus Himself removed the disciples’ doubt and disbelief, "by opening their minds to understand the scriptures" (Lk. 24/45).
He told them to remember: "Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified and on the third day rise again" (Lk. 24/6).
And they remembered. Seeing the empty tomb, they remembered. The Easter Celebration followed by six weeks called "post Easter" is one long season of remembering of the Church. The season includes the many apparitions of the Risen Lord to strengthen the Christian community with the significance of Easter for life.
The gift of Easter is what Christ gives to whomever He appears "Peace be with you" (Jo. 20/21), the peace which enables even a doubting Thomas to believe and say "My Lord and my God" (Jo. 20/28).
The gift of Easter is what the disciples then received, and the whole Church now receives: "Receive the Holy Spirit," (Jo. 20/22).
The gift of Easter is in being able to say once more to God "Yes, Lord, You know that I love You" (Jo. 21/15) and to say also to one another "Yes, and I love you too."
The gift of Easter is to see Jesus again, to remember what He taught and did, to live and celebrate our resurrection in Jesus.
Yes, indeed, the Lord is raised as He has foretold. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! /MP

e-Mail To The Editor

A reader has e-mailed his comment on the paid political ads of Hon. Madeline A. Regalado published on April 7 issue in this paper: ‘Kusog it Akean Ibalik ro Limog nga Mapuslan ag Kinahangean it Kalibonhon.
Thus, he said:
Can you please explain how Ms. Ragalado will implement her plan to:
1. Oppose the 40 M Loan?
2. Oppose, I assume, the acquisition of cell phones;
3. As for proper accounting of CBIS fund;
4. Oppose, I assume, the conversion of plywood from hardwood; and
5. Have the submission of proper accounting of KAMB Fund by the required party
She can show how effective she is if she can achieve the above things in the shortest time possible. So that beyond this rhetoric, there is an implementation plan to achieve the objectives.
A copy of your e-mail was furnished Hon. Regalado. She will consider your suggestions and may furnish you a copy of her action to take.
Kindly furnish her your name and address for mailing purpose.-Editor

8th Aklan Piña & Fiber Festival Launches New Products

Aklan Province, the acknowledged Piña Capital and Handloom Weaving Destination of the Philippines, will hold the 8th Aklan Piña & Fiber Festival (Fiber Fest) on 23 – 27 April 2007. This will be one of the major events to highlight the week-long celebration of the 51st anniversary of Aklan (25 April) separation from Capiz. The venue will be at the Provincial Capitol Grounds, Capitol Site, Kalibo, Aklan.
The Fiber Fest will showcase Aklan’s best products of blended loomwoven fabrics, fashion accessories and furnishings from piña, abaca, raffia and other fibers. Mixed-media-based (indigenous fibers, like abaca, sea grass, nito, lampakanay, agzam, rattan, wood, bamboo, steel/iron) gifts and housewares as well as furniture and furnishings will be of the latest designs and concepts. Deboned bangus, meat-based processed foods, and bakery products will also be highlighted. Horticulturists, landscape artists and hobbyists will appreciate anew the beauty of nature while buying from our ornamental plants and cutflower exhibits.
Special features of the Fiber Fest are the Fairtrade Zone that will be set-up at the theme setting and the contemporary lifestyle setting of living spaces by the world-renowned lifestyle designed by Mr. PJ Arañador. He is the regular designer–consultant and visual merchandiser of the show.
Aside from the assisted SMEs, the seventeen (17) municipalities of Aklan and several community-based organizations/agencies will exhibit their agri-industrial products. Likewise, a One Town One Product (OTOP) corner will be mounted to showcase the OTOP of each municipality.
Fiber Fest is a joint project of the Provincial Government of Aklan, the Congressional District Office, the Department of Trade and Industry – Aklan provincial Office and the Advocate of Philippine Fair Trade, Inc. in coordination with the Aklan Piña Manufacturers and Traders Association, Inc. and the Hugod Aklanon Producers Association, Inc.
Alongside the Fiber Fest is the Tsibugan sa Kapitolyo, a nightly dinner event at the Godofredo P. Ramos Park, Provincial Capitol Grounds. Local restaurants will showcase their various native gourmets’ amidst music from live bands. This is a special project of the Aklan Ati-Atihan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (AACCII) and the Provincial Government of Aklan. Around 90 exhibitors will join the Fiber Fest, Tsibugan and Agri-Fair.
The Festival opening/Theme Setting Unveiling will be on 23 April, 3:00 in the afternoon. /MP

EDITORIAL - April 1-7 Issue

Peaceful Election

Is Love of God and Country

The annual period of mourning and repentance began last Monday among the Catholic faithful and set the mood for the Holy Week.
Holy Monday is the start of the time-honored "pabasa" in the Philippines. The Filipinos literally chant the story of Jesus Christ’s life, passion and death for two straight days and nights.
Lenten tradition starts that altar cloth and priestly vestments are in black, while the tabernacles and other religious figures are draped in black or deep purple clothing to highlight the suffering of Jesus in the last days of the 33 years He lived on earth.
In the catholic world, church doors are kept open in anticipation of the big crowds expected to receive the sacrament of confession while tracing the 14 Stations of the Cross with prayers as an act of penance.
Holy week retreats also continue to be held not only in churches but also in other religious places such as in convents. Lenten is a form of sacrifice to address the spiritual needs of those seeking to amply prepare themselves for Christ’s Passion as an action of atonement.
Thos who attended holy masses last Holy Monday must have heard the priest in his homily asking the people to focus on the events of Holy Monday that saw Jesus Christ chasing away the money changers in the temple which made a mockery of the house of God and condemning the barren fig tree for its failure to yield fruits.
After Palm Sunday, Jesus in the temple taught and preached. However, He was greatly disappointed upon His discovery that money changers short changed those who needed money badly.
For those who committed sins, this Holy Week celebration is your chance to cleanse yourselves. However, after your repentance, your confession, your payment by way of prayers, while repeating the same or even more and worst of it will not bring you somewhere. It will just be futile. Anyway, next year 2008 and many more years and annually, Holy Week is being celebrated. You may repeat, confess, pray and pay the penalties. To do these means it becomes your habit and it will develop you into a habitually terrible christian individual. There is no other way but to be a devoted faithful by following the teachings of Christ. One way to demonstrate your love and faithfulness to God and country, the Philippines, is your participation in the honest, orderly and peaceful election on May 14, 2007.

POPE’S APOLOGY
MARKS START OF LENT

Pope John Paul II, apologized for the errors and shortcomings of the church over the past 2,000 years. The apology read into the liturgy of the mass marking the beginning of Lent in St. Peter’s Square.
"We cannot recognize the betrayal of the Gospel committed by some of our brothers, especially in the millenium," said the Pope. "Recognizing the deviations of the past serves to reawaken our consciences to the compromises of the present.
We are deeply saddened by the behavior of those who in the course of history have caused these children of yours to suffer, and asking your forgiveness, we commit ourselves to genuine brotherhood with the people of the Covenant." This is the church’s humility that ennobles the Holy Father." May we immulate him. /MP

Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ambrosio R. Villorente

Congratulations! To Taxpayers

Aklan Gov. Carlito S. Marquez, in his message delivered during the 110th anniversary of the XIX Martyrs of Aklan, congratulated the provincial assessor, Mrs. Jane A. Rebaldo because of the huge increase of real estate taxes collected.
Some tax payers reacted thus: "Governor Marquez congratulated the tax assessor but not the taxpayers who paid the taxes, not even the tax collectors are recognized.
When the reaction was transmitted to him, Governor Marquez assured, the taxpayers will be properly recognized during the Tax Day Celebration. Is there a schedule for tax day celebration?

NEPHEW TO UNCLE

During the press conference of Tibyog Akean, a question was addressed to Kalibo Mayor Raymar A. Rebaldo as to the effect of the candidacy of his uncle Atty. Anthony Acevedo for congressman of the lone district of Aklan. Mayor Rebaldo gave indirect answer and finally told the audience he has no idea as he has yet to meet his uncle Tony.
Many found Mayor Rebaldo’s response "so strange" and quite near to incredible. The Acevedo – Rebaldo family is one of the most prominent families in Aklan especially in Kalibo. It is known that Atty. Acevedo is very close to the Rebaldo family and a very important factor in the educational and political progresses of his nephews, particularly Mayor Rebaldo.
Shall we believe that Mayor Rebaldo has not given his "welcome to Kalibo to his Uncle Tony?" Is he deprived in the use of "information technology" to say "Hello Uncle Tony" on his arrival or several days after his arrival to Kalibo? Mayor Rebaldo should have been an ungrateful nephew if it is true what he said, "we have not crossed our path since his arrival in Kalibo."
With that question, Mayor Rebaldo was really placed in the hot seat so that his answers reached his audience as warm white lies."

ZARZUELA IN IBAJAY

Ibajay is the second biggest town of Aklan as far as voting population is concerned. It is located in the western part of Aklan.
Aklan is represented to the House of Representatives by an Ibajaynon, Congressman Florencio T. Miraflores who is a three-termer provincial governor of Aklan. After his third term as governor, Miraflores ran for congressman and won in the 2004 election.
In the Sangguniang Panlalwigan of Aklan, two members of the 10 – member SP come from Ibajay. They are Hon. Pedro Garcia and Hon. Ramon Gelito. Hon Pedro Garcia has a brother, Hon. Roberto Garcia, Jr., the present mayor of Ibajay. His wife is Mrs. Mabeth Mobo Garcia, a professional banker.
The Garcias are not happy to serve the Ibajaynons as Mayor of Ibajay and the people of Aklan as member of the SP. They want to occupy more elective positions. Is this public service? Is this greed for power? Are the Garcias the brightest and the best of Aklanons? This is one way to deprive some one half million Aklanons access to public service.
Mrs. Mabeth Mobo Garcia, wife of Mayor Garcia, resigned her position as a bank branch manager and now a candidate for governor of Aklan. Their brother Victor is also a candidate for Sangguniang Bayan member of Ibajay. This is making politics a way of life of the Garcias.

FAMILY VERSUS FAMILY

In Ibajay, it is Garcia family versus Miraflores family. Mayor Roberto Garcia, Jr. could have won his re-election hands down, without any opponent on the May 14 election. However, despite of all his efforts to stop his loving wife, Mabeth, from becoming a candidate for Provincial Governor of Aklan, Mabeth persisted and filed her certificate of candidacy just before the deadline elapsed.
Mabeth’s becoming a candidate for governor of Aklan and with the support of her husband Jun Garcia, Congressman Miraflores was constraint to field his wife Lourdes "Lulu" Martin – Miraflores as rival of re-electionist Mayor Jun Garcia.
"This is one of the difficult decisions in my political career," declared Miraflores in an interview. The decision was reached after Maria Bettina "Mabeth" Mobo Garcia filed her candidacy for Aklan Governor," Miraflores added.
Mabeth’s husband, Mayor Jun Garcia is the nephew of Congressman Joeben T. Miraflores. Mabeth is now contesting for governor two women and the re reelectionist governor Carlito S. Marquez.

EMBARASSMENT

Whoever wins in the May 14 election for Mayor of Ibajay will bring great embarrassment to either the Miraflores family or Mobo – Garcia family. Will it bring happiness to Mobo – Garcia family if Roberto Garcia, Jr. is re elected? On the other hand, will it bring joy to the Miraflores family if Ms. Lulu Miraflores is elected?
This Lulu – Jun fight for Mayor of Ibajay is a blue litmus paper test to prove who is most loved between the two clans by the Ibajaynons.
Congressman Joeben’s mobility in Aklan to campaign for Tibyog Akean candidates and for himself will be greatly hampered. He cannot just leave his beloved wife traveling alone in the wide rolling hills traversed by rivers with cascading waters of Ibajay.
Is Lulu’s candidacy sustainable? Is Mabeth’s candidacy sustainable? Can the two reach the finish line and wait for the Ibajaynons’ votes counted? Or will they just fade away by the roadside so that both families will burry each candidacy to the records to stand and the two families be reunited for a happy ending? Let it be a lesson learned to Akeanons and for everyone. /MP

Kusog it Akean

Ibalik ro limog nga mapuslan ag kinahangean
it Kalibonhon

For an honest and sincere governance.

NO to:

1. 40 M Loan
2. cell phone
3. no proper accounting
of CBIS fund
4. plywood from hardwood
5. none submission of proper
accounting of KAMB Fund

Haeoñgan ro Pundo it Kalibo!

Re-elect!

MADELINE ANG REGALADO

Para Konsehal

"Public office is a public trust"

Ombudsman Suspends Cebu Officials

Ombudsman Ma. Merceditas N. Gutierrez this week placed under a six-month preventive suspension two City Mayors and 17 other local and public works officials for the Cebu lamppost controversy.
In a six-page Order, Ombudsman Gutierrez ordered the preventive suspension for six months of Mayors Thadeo Ouano of Mandaue City and Arthuro Radaza of Lapu-Lapu City; OIC-City Engr. Hidelisa Latonio, Asst. City Engr. Gregorio Omo, and Engrs. Mario Gerolaga, Alfredo Sanchez, Sr., and Rosalina Denque, all of Mandaue City; City Engr. Julito Cuizon, Asst. City Engr. Fernando Tagaan, Jr. and Engr. Rogelio Veloso, all of Lapu-Lapu City.
Also included in the Order are DPWH Region VII Dir. Robert Lala, former Asst, Reg. Dir. Gloria Dindin, Asst. Reg. Dir. Marlina Alvizo, OIC-Chief Maintenance Div. Pureza Fernandez, OIC-Asst. Chief Maintenance Div. Cresencio Bagolor, Reg. Legal Officer Agustinito Hermoso, Planning and Design Div. Chief Luis Galang, Administrative Div. Chief Restitutio Diano, and Construction Div. Chief Buenaventura Pajo.
Based on investigation conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas, "the subject lighting facilities, as acquired and/or paid for by the government, were highly overpriced."
The OMB investigating panel arrived at the said conclusion after comparing the costs of the lampposts as indicated in the Programs of Work prepared by Mandaue City and as reflected in the importation documents. It said "comparing the costs above, the cost of each lamppost, apparently, was expanded to almost ten (10) times its actual cost."
It was also discovered that the Programs of Work prepared by Lapu-Lapu City are almost the same with those contained in the Programs of Work prepared by Mandaue City.
The OMB panel also stated that the DPWH-Region VII which prepared the Programs of Work for the procurement and installation of decorative lampposts for Cebu City and other parts of Lapu-Lapu City pegged the total cost of the assembly at P50,172. It stated that based on importation documents, the cost would have amounted to only P6,737.79 per assembly.
Ombudsman Gutierrez said, "the glaring difference in the actual cost and the price quoted by the said officials as supported by documents and other evidence gathered by the OMB investigating panel constituted strong evidence of guilt."
The Anti-Graft Chief directed the Dir. of the Dept. of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Reg. VII, Cebu City and the Sec. of the Dept. of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to immediately implement the Order. (By Anna Soriano-Sanchez). /MP

DIGITAL AUDIO EXPERT FIGHTS BACK

Ilonggo Couple Files TRO vs 6 National Media Outfits

By Alex P. Vidal

-Articles posted in the websites of the media outfits
made "malicious" and "untrue imputations" on the couple.

A couple from Molo, Iloilo City has filed a civil case for permanent injunction with prayer for the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) and/or preliminary mandatory injunction against six media outfits composed of five Manila newspapers and the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) before the regional trial court in Quezon City last March 29.
Jonathan M. Tiongco and wife Ma. Rona V. Tiongco, who now both reside in Don Jose Heights, Fairview, Quezon City, filed the case with a prayer to restrain the six—The Daily Tribune, The Malaya, The Manila Times, Inquirer Interactive, and the PCIJ— from further broadcasting on the internet or publishing certain "assailed" articles that made "malicious" and "untrue imputations" on the couple.
In their "urgent motion", Tiongco husband and wife claimed that the media outfits published and broadcast (by ABS-CBN TV Patrol) the "defamatory" charges made against Jonathan, who is a digital audio engineer, by Senior State Prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco and Prosecutor Diosdado Solidum "without even getting the side of the slandered petitioner."
Velasco, the couple said, slandered Jonathan by announcing in open court during a hearing at the Makati City RTC Branch 150 on the case of former Batangas governor Antonio Leviste for murder that Jonathan was trying to bribe him so he may go soft on Liveste.

UNVERIFIED TEXT MESSAGE

"Ironically, the only basis Prosecutor Velasco has, was an unverified text message and the allegations of his co-prosecutor who alleged that a person he did not know approached him the day before and offered to give P50,000 to go soft on Leviste," said the urgent motion.
"On record, despite the serious allegations, no complaint was filed against the so-called bribe giver (herein petitioner) at that time."
The couple also demanded that the "illegal wiretapped recordings and transcripts of the "Hello Garci" tapes be surrendered by the PCIJ to the Honorable Court for debate and scientific authentication."
The Tiongcos asked the court that after the trial, the injunction be made permanent and judgment be rendered in their favor ordering the respondents to pay them damages in the amount of P1 (with reservation to demand for compensation) and ordering the respondents to pay the costs incurred in attorney’s fees and costs of suit.
Tiongco, 37, who is also record producer since 1991, has been helping the government determine the authenticity of the "Hello Garci" recordings since July 2005. He complained that he and his family "have been habitually maligned and ridiculed by partisan members of the media who rabidly criticized the Arroyo Administration."

DIRECT INJURY

Tiongco, in his capacity as digital audio engineer, assisted the government through then DENR Secretary Michael Defensor in examining the authenticity of the infamous tapes on August 12, 2005.
Two specimens of the recordings containing the President’s purported recordings taken from the PCIJ website were sent to renowned audio forensic expert Barry Dickey of Audio Evidence Lab in Texas, USA.
Dickey’s findings found the "Hello Garci" recordings anomalous and were presented by Defensor to media. However, Tiongco said, majority of the media, especially those from the PCIJ were displeased with the findings.
On the same day, Tiongco added, or almost immediately after Defensor’s presentation, the PCIJ posted a libelous article on its website entitled"Mike Defensor’s Expert".
The article stemmed from the comment of Teresita Ang See (who had no role in the Garci tape issue), and a "falsified" paper which the PCIJ called the "PNP Dossier."
"Revoltingly, the libelous article aimed in discrediting the Petitioner Jonathan Tiongco by making it appear that he was falsely facing a string of criminal cases, which had no relation whatsoever in his capacity as audio engineer," said the motion.
"Moreover, attacks to petitioner’s personal and private life were also published after the PCIJ wrote that he had two spouses, which prompted petitioners to sue the PCIJ in 2005."
Tiongco said after the filing of a civil case in Quezon City, a 20 day TRO was issued by Judge Ralph Lee of the Quezon City RTC Branch 83.
"However, since I was due to travel abroad for a series of technical trainings at the time, we withdrew the complaint, the TRO eventually expired, and the court had to dismiss the civil action," Tiongco added.
He said: "Despite the incident, which included preliminary presentation of evidence to prove the information false, the PCIJ arrogantly posted the libelous article again."
Tiongco said he had no choice but "to bear the public humiliation as a result of the re-posting."
"To our minds at that time, the libels had already greatly affected our income so we opted to concentrate on our family’s survival. For short, we played blind and just presumed that all these defamations would eventually fade away, but we were wrong. Thus, this petition," he said in the motion. /MP

My Sad Republic

A Portrait of the Philippines In My View

By Pietros Val Patricio

There is this country of mine nestled in the haven waters of the western Pacific, a tropical sanctuary of diverse flora and fauna yet still mysterious with its long history and social diversity. It is an archipelago tucked within the tropic of Cancer and Capricorn just below the earth’s equator in a Pacific-drenched beltland with adequate rainfall and humid sunshine that has destined these islands to evolve as a food granary and a mineral paradise of endless natural resources with its sole fertility.
It is sad to know that this cosmic wealth has not been utilized and conducted properly to its full potential because of the social selfishness and incapability of its people who, themselves, are diversely unique and insane just as the world’s complexities and mysteries itself are hard to understand. According to geography alone, this place is blessed with breathtaking natural wonders that the rest of the world could only dream of. The vast marine sanctuaries of endless coral reefs and the wide valleys, visionary islands, picturesque mountains and seascapes, the lush forests and its bountiful landscapes have resulted to the foundation of a dynamic and empowered people living in human dignity that makes this piece of the earth the only one of its kind.
The country’s essential soul and frontier are in its water, for it is laced with myriad pristine lakes, streams and wetlands. Like the remote paradise in a distant dimension, these islands are probably one of the world’s best kept secrets. It very much resembles a sacred grotto isolated from the broke austerity and industrialized chaos of today’s technological automated world. But every domain that refuses to reveal its secrets must also be hiding many harsh realities that its very own society faces every day. Does seclusion from the rest of the world necessarily equal a nirvana paradise? Or could this be an under-dimensional nightmare?
Just try set your cards right for once and let’s have a game of poker the way destiny jumbles this world up around so badly that we often tend to overlook the mixed realities of our society. Let us undertake a second viewpoint of reality to understand the truth that the deadly joker of fate has always deprived of granting us and have a look twice before judging humanity from a narrow point of view. This Philippine dream has already gone way too far, indeed too compound by now for malice to plant its seeds forth. Beyond the broad horizons of this natural haven, inhumane mass poverty stretches out beyond the boundaries and plagues the virtues of this dreamland.

THE GLIMPSE PHILIPPINE POLITICS
ENTERS MENTAL HOSPITAL

There are endless appalling slums in every corner of every major urban city, while the industrial upper class continues to play the game of state monopoly, dominating every possible wealth to secure prestige and prosperity. Ethnic and social tensions arouse perpetually in every imaginable period of time. Spiritual clashes provoke and awaken an outbreak of civil unrest. The free-wheeling democracy promises to be one of the world’s most vibrant despite the abundance of human rights violations in the country. Taking a glimpse in Philippine politics is no different from entering a mental hospital and witnessing a bunch of clowns quarrelling and bashing each other in their assemblies.
It is often hard to trust the press and media since it is generally almost impossible to figure out what is true from false. This society is like a monstrous cake filled with too many ingredients, maybe too overdone that it eventually produced an overflow of sweetness eager to attract and swallow up its victims alive. Yet migrants, rich or poor, still continue to flock the country like locusts to attain a slice of this adventurous Wild Wild East of the Orient. Some 20 years ago, Filipinos invented a political tool that would later leave its mark to the rest of the world and make the visage of democracy change dramatically.
This instrument has lead down to the downfall of many vicious regimes and has since then made governments afraid of their own people. But throughout these years, barely anything has changed the lives of the common Filipino citizens. It is only the height and quantity of the private corporate towers that have grown taller along EDSA.

SURVIVAL OF THE URBAN POOR

Everyday, it is state of survival for the urban poor. Not long ago, the country’s agricultural dairy production and agrarian research laboratories have greatly contributed to the reduction of world hunger and the creation of innovative food sufficiency. Foreign agriculturists came to the country just to study agrarian production technology until the Philippines lost self-sufficiency in food production itself. Today, around 20 percent of the country’s children underage are malnourished and an estimated 2 million Filipinos experience famine or barely have access to a proper daily diet. In the Philippines, one in every six children is forced into child labor. Despite government restrictions, the country has a hefty black market in the sex industry, having a huge amount of laborers in this illegal business that is as large as the country’s manufacturing workforce itself making it among the world’s largest prostitution havens for sex tourism. Human trafficking alone accounts for the exploitation of around 50,000 women and children every year. The country’s lawmakers, police officials and judiciaries are indeed three blind mice who either do not notice or refuse to look at the malaise of society that is happening around them.
So true it may be that the Philippines has emerged as a drug smugglers’ paradise.

ILLEGAL DRUGS

The illegal drug trade in the Philippines is a billion US dollar business industry with even insurgent group dipping their hands into the finance operations. "Money makes the world go round" as they always say, from the immigration up to the customs bureaus, and to the police, the prosecution service and the judiciary, drug money can always make wonders. From Colombia to Afghanistan, the drug rings are now setting up shop in the Philippines, finding easy opportunities to manufacture methamphetamine hydrochloride in hidden laboratories.
These drugs are often imported through Chinese jars, garments and other apparel shipments that easily clear the Bureau of Customs. These drug manufacturing operations enjoy the protection of wealthy and influential drug lords in the country.

EDUCATIONAL ATTRITION

The standard of the country’s educational background itself is among the world’s tail enders and illiteracy is high since statistical data proclaim that in an average enrolment of 100 students in a public school, only 20 would finish the elementary level, only ten would graduate high school and only one would complete a college degree. But surprisingly, the Filipino talent and genius are being praised and rewarded throughout the globe. Reading and writing efficiency levels mark at a high 95 percent, which is unusually high for a developing nation.
Every now and then, huge industrial plants and commercial high rises would sprout throughout the cities and its rural economic growth areas. Philippine assets are set up abroad while foreign investments continue to flow into the bullish economy and its vast consumers and stock market. The rise of property growth rates in the real estate sector has never been this high since the Asian economic crisis in the mid 1990’s. Every year, many Filipino industrial magnates are frequently included in the Forbes Magazine’s top list of World Billionaires. National income would often vanish into the pockets of the abusive government and military officials.

CHURCHES’ ROLE

The Catholic Church itself is an influential dictator to the country’s social activities and has long brought conscience to the people’s minds in the evolution of a conservatively Catholic society. A country with one of the world’s lowest condom use rates may have brought a surprising HIV/AIDS miracle that has kept the country free from disease but is still responsible to about a million illegal abortions every year. Annually, masses of tourists would come and travel in the country’s seventh heaven sanctuaries. Early this year, a deadly human stampede has occurred in an arena in Manila in the dream of overcoming poverty. Later, an unexpected natural calamity followed in the countryside of Leyte. A massive landslide buried thousands people alive in the hilly town of St. Bernard. Government enemies and opposition leaders now take a second round in the crusade of ousting the current cute administration of president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, one of the world’s most powerful women despite her mini size. Her administration tried to pursue a charter change that would have shifted the country’s presidential to a federal parliamentary system of government. Whatever has happened to the constitution of Asia’s first republic in 1989? The 20th anniversary of the EDSA Revolution was celebrated by civilian protests led by opposition leaders and rebellious military coup d’ètat attempts. Is this the way Filipinos celebrate their nationhood? I think I must be daydreaming but the world could be laughing at us right now. Living in a magic-realist republic where the unusual and unexpected occur everyday and its very own people seem to achieve the impossible, all these events surprisingly appear to be like a fictional soap that has been lifted up to reality from the Land of Oz. Are we in Never-never land? /MP

Sugilanon Ni Tita Linda

Tita Linda Belayro

Ozomundo

Isaeang ka soldado rong nag-uli sa andang lugar pagkatapos it giyera. Malinong eon rong tanan ngani bu-ot man imaw mag pahuway. Tongod patay eon ro anang mga ginikanan, idto imaw magdayon sa anang magueang nga eaeaki, ogaling owa imaw pag batuna tongod abô man ro mga onga ko anang magueang.
Nagpanaw eon lang imaw nga owa it direksyon kon siin ma-agto. Maangan-angan, may nagpakita kana nga isaeang ka eaeaki nga naka suksok it berdeng jacket.
"Sayod ko kon ano ro imong problema. Kon maipakita mo ro imong kaisog sa pagpatay ko royong oso, tanan ro imong problema hay maeubad", hangkat kong eaeaki. Owa mag daywang isip rong soldado. Sinunggaban eagi nana ro oso ag binali ro anang li-og hasta namatay. Parabil nana guin ta-o ro premyo sa soldado, may isaea pa gid nga kondisyon nga gin patuman ro eaeaki. Kinahangean nga isuksok nana ro berde nga jacket. Indi imaw magpaligos, magpanudlay ag indi man mag-ilis sa sueod it pitong dag-on. Kon mamatay ro soldado parabil magpitong dag-on, ana ko eaeaki ro anang kaeag. Ogaling kon makaeampas imaw sa pitong dag-on, mangin hilway eon ro soldado.
Guin tao sa soldado ro berdeng jacket. Sa kada ibutang ro anang alima sa boesa it jacket, may kwarta imaw nga maku-ot. Naduea dayon ro eaeaki nga owa it iba kundi rong Diablo.
Sa primerong dag-on, maugan pa ro anang pamatyag. Pirme imaw nga may kwarta ag naga pinamasyar maskin si-in. Sa masunod nga dag-on, amat-amat nga nagdamoe ro anang buhok ag bungot. Naghaba man ro anang kuko ag mingko halimaw eon ro anang hitsura. Tanan ro mga onga hay nahadluk kana ag owa man it naga baton nga hotel ag restaurant tongod basi maapektuhan ro andang negosyo. Bangud sa abô ro anang kwarta, guin doble nana ro bayad sa isaeang ka kwarto agud ona imaw maga estar.
Isaeang gabi-i, samtang naga pahaum imaw it pagkatoeog, may nabatian imaw nga pagpinanghayhay. Sa anang pagtan-aw, isaea gali ka tatay nga sobra ro problema tongod ro anang baeay hay guina remate it bangko bangud owa imaw makabayad ko anang utang. Na eo-oy imaw sa anang tatlong ka onga nga babaye nga puro daeaga. Sa anang ka eo-oy, guin taw-an nana it kwarta ro tatay agud eokaton ro anang baeay. Sa abong kalipay, guindaea nana ro soldado kon siin idto ro anang pamilya.
Pag-abot nanda sa baeay, guin papili imaw kon sin-o sa tatlo ro anang pakaslan. Hinadlukan ro daywang ka magueang ag nagpanago sanda sa sueod. Ogaling ro kamanghuran hay nag pasugot nga magpakasae bangud sa kaeo-oy sa anang ama. Guin kasae ro daywa. Pagka kasae kanda nag ea-ong si Ozomundo nga magpanaw. Guin-aywan nana ro kapihak ko anang singsing sa anang asawa. Guin hambae nana nga kon indi imaw makabalik sa sueod it tatlong dag-on, nagakahueogan nga patay eon imaw.
Tumaliwan ro pitong dag-on. Guin bawi eon nana ro anang kahilwayan sa Diablo. Guin limpyuhan pa imaw parabil pumanaw ro Diablo. Nag-uli eon imaw sa anang asawa. Gwapo imaw ag owa it nakakilaea kana.
Pag abot sa baeay ko anang panugangan, nagpakilaea imaw nga isaeang ka General. Matsa indi masayran kon ano ubrahon ko daywang ka magueang nga onga. Nag sueod sanda sa kwarto agod mag pagwapa, samtang ro kamanghuran hay naka beste it itom nga nagapungko sa isaeang ka sofa. Guin paeapitan imaw ko owa nakilaea nga asawa. Guin taw-an imaw it aeak sa baso. Pag inom ko babaye, nakita nana ro pihak nga sigsing. Guin bo-oe ko babaye ro ka pihak nga naga kabit sa anang kulentas. Nagkilaea sanda nga daywa. Pag-guwa ko daywang ka magueang, Hakibot sanda sa pag kasayod nga ratong hitsurang halimaw hay imaw gali rayang gwapohon nga Heneral. Sa kaakig nanda, nag eompat ro sambilog sa kantil ag ro sambilog hay naghikag paagi sa paghigot it eobid sa anang li-og.
Nagpakita it oman ro Diablo kay Ozomundo. "Naduea kakon ro sambilog ogaling may baylo nga daywa," ea-ong it Diablo nga naga hinaeakhak. /MP

NEWS PICTORIALS

BSP Aklan Awards Eagle Scouts

By Ambrosio R. Villorente

The National Court of Honor for Eagle Scouts & BSP National Awards started with Processional which was led by the National Court of Honor headed by its chairman Ernesto F. Melgarejo, Dr. Ambrosio R. Villorente, Ms. Leila P. Leonida -Pamati-an, Christian Rey Tulio and Yogie Ben S. Obsiana.

Upper photo shows Eagle Scout Paul Mersil S. Carillo with his mother, Medsil S. Carillo being conferred the rank of Eagle Scout by Vice Governor Ronquillo C. Tolentino - Chairman BSP, Aklan Council.

Picture above shows the new Eagle Scouts reciting the Eagle Scout Pledge. They are (l to r) Chiato D. Diaz of Malinao School for Philippine Craftsmen; Jorhem Lee I. Ingalla, Daja Sur National High School, Banga; Malvin T. Taladtad, Anselmo B. Legaspi National High School, Cayangwan, Makato; Paul Mersil S. Carillo, Daja Sur National High School, Banga; and GerroT. Maatubang, Anselmo B. Legaspi National High School, Cayangwan, Makato.

The Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) Aklan Council honored its five (5) members who are awarded the highest rank of Eagle Scout in the BSP hierarchy. The award ceremony was held at Capt. Gil Mijares Bldg., Kalibo, Aklan in the afternoon of March 27, 2007.
The five Eagle Scout Rank awardees are: 1. Paul Mersil S. Carillo of Daja Sur National High School, Daja Sur, Banga, Aklan. He is the son of Mr. & Mrs. Medsil C. Carillo. His adviser is Mr. Reynaldo Celis; 2. Chiato D. Diaz – Malinao School For Philippines Craftsmen, Malinao, Aklan. He is the son of Ms. Maria Vivian Dolendo Diaz. His adviser is Mr. Johnny Q. Galicha; 3. Jorhan Lee I. Ingalla – Daja Sur National High school, Banga, Aklan. He is the son of Mr. & Mrs. Josenry I. Ingalla. His adviser is Mr. Reynald I. Celis; 4. Gerro T. Maatubang – Anselmo B. Legaspi National High School, Makato, Aklan. He is the son of Mr. & Mrs. Davill F. Maatubang. His adviser is Mr. Blas T. Tordecillas; and 5. Malvin T. Taladtad, Anselmo B. Legaspi National High School, Makato, Aklan. He is the son of Mr. & Mrs. Ereneo T. Taladtad. His adviser is Mr. Blas T. Tordecillas.
Kalibo Mayor Raymar A. Rebaldo was also honored with a Gold Medal of Merit. The distribution and pinning of medals for Eagle scouts and BSP National awards were done by Vice Gov. Ronquillo C. Tolentino – chairman; Mr. Ernesto F. Melgarejo – Vice Chairman; and Dr. Ambrosio R. Villorente – Treasurer, all of BSP Aklan Council.
For purposes of the awards, a National Court of Honor was formed composed of Vice Governor Ronquillo C. Tolentino – inspirational speaker; Ernesto F. Melgarejo – chairman and Dr. Ambrosio R. Villorente, Yogie Ben D. Obsiana, Christian Rey Tulio and Leila P. Leonida–Pamati-an, members.
In his inspirational message, Vice Governor Tolentino restated the program of the BSP in youth leadership development and training as well as the accomplishment of the BSP Aklan Council.
Mrs. Leila P. Leonida–Pamati-an Council Scout Executive did the introduction and recognition of Eagle Scout awardees, parents, outfit advisers, institutional heads and supporters.
Christian Rey Tulio – BSP Capiz Council led the recitation of the Eagle Scout Pledge. The award ceremony ended with the scout benediction led by Jolly A. Cabangon – BSP Aklan Council.

13th Annual Meeting

Meanwhile, the BSP Aklan Council will hold its 13th Annual Aklan Council meeting on Thursday, April 12. It will be held at 9:00 o’clock in the morning at the CAP Bldg., Arch. Reyes St., Kalibo.
The meeting aims to receive reports of the Council Chairman and Council Treasurer, and to discuss matters affecting Aklan Council Scouting Operations. It will also hold election to elect four (4) new regular members to the Executive Board (EB). The EB is composed of 12 members which term of office is three (3) years each.
According to Ms. Leila P. Leonida – Pamatian, the EB members, Municipal/District Scouting Committee Chairmen, Municipal/District Scouting Commissioners, Institutional Heads and District Field Scout Commissioners are invited and expected to attend this annual meeting. /MP