Paje hails Palawan Underground River as ... - Pilipinas Ngayon

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School to help
jobless Capicenos
TAON III BLG. 50
DISYEMBRE 3-9, 2012
P-NOY: GAT BONIFACIO
DAPAT NATING TULARANPAGE
Paje hails Palawan
Underground River
as ‘unending source
of national pride’
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7th Pamaskong Handog
sa Pamilyang OFWs
gaganapin sa Dis. 13-14
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OPPORTUNITIES UPDATE
LIVELIHOOD
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P 10
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Technologies seminar for
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paaandarin na sa UP ngayong buwan
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2 DISYEMBRE 3-9, 2012 Nation
PILIPINAS NGAYON
P-NOY: GAT BONIFACIO
DAPAT NATING TULARAN
Ni RICKY MENDOZA
Binigyang-diin ni Pangulong Benigno Aquino III na
dapat tularan nating mga Pilipino si Gat Andres Bonifacio.
Ito ang pinakabuod ng mensahe ng Pangulo nang
kanyang pangunahan ang paggunita noong nakaraang
Biyernes sa ika-149 taon anibersaryo ng kapanganakan
ni Gat Andres Bonifacio na ginanap sa Dambana ng
Pinaglabanan, Lungsod ng San Juan.
Ang pagdiriwang na may temang: “Bonifacio: Dangal
at Kabayanihan” ay tinampukan din ng paghahawi
ng Bonifacio@150 logo na naghuhudyat ng pagsisimula
ng isang taong kaganapan tungo sa ika-150 kaarawan
ng pambansang bayani sa susunod na taon.
Sa mensahe ng Pangulo, sinabi niya na dapat gampanan
ng bawat Pilipino ang tungkulin sa paghuhubog ng
bayan tulad ng ginawa ni Bonifacio at iba pang bayani.
Sinabi pa nito na ang Pilipino ay lahi ng mga bayani
na handang tumugon sa tawag ng bayan.
“Lagi nating tatandaan, lahi tayo ng mga bayani.
Hindi tayo mauubusan ng Bonifacio. Hindi tayo mauubusan
ng Rizal. Hindi tayo mauubusan ng Ninoy. Hindi
tayo mauubusan ng mga Pilipinong handang tumugon
sa ngalan ng bandila at bayan,” pahayag ng Pangulo.
Inihalintulad din ng Pangulo ang katapangan, hirap
at pagkabigo na dinanas ni Bonifacio sa kanyang pakikipaglaban
sa pakikipaglaban ng mga Pilipino sa kasalukuyang
panahon.
“Mahalaga ring mamulat ang mga tao sa katotohanan:
na sa bawat sagupaang kaniyang pinamunuan, ni
minsan, hindi nanaig si Bonifacio. Gayunpaman, ang
bawat munting kabiguan, ang bawat buhay na naibuwis,
ang bawat patak ng dugong dumanak, ay siyang
dumilig sa lupang uhaw sa kalayaan; siyang nagpataba
sa mga tigang na bisig ng mga Katipunero, siyang
nagpasibol sa diwa ng kabayanihan sa bawat sulok ng
ating kapuluan. Makailang beses man siyang nabigo,
hindi nagbago ang paninindigan ni Bonifacio: lalaban
tayo, hangga’t hindi natin nakakamit ang kalayaan. Nakatutok
siya sa kaniyang adhika: matalo man tayo sa
mga munting laban, hindi magtatagal ay magtatagumpay
rin tayo sa digmaan; makakamit din natin ang tunay
na kasarinlan,” pahayag pa ng Pangulo.
Sinabi pa ng Pangulo na ngayong nakamit na natin
ang kalayaan, napatunayan na natin sa mga nagtangkang
sumakop sa atin na tayo’ý lahi na hindi pasisindak,
at handa tayong ipaglaban kung alin ang tunay na
sa atin.
CJ Sereno calls on public
to support judicial reforms
Chief Justice Ma.
Lourdes Sereno has
asked the public to support
judicial reforms that
will be carried out so that
the role of judges in administering
justice will
be fully understood.
Sereno, who is entering
her third month in office
as chief justice, said
she has started working
on judicial reforms that
will be visible to the
public for them to understand
how judges take
on their role in the whole
system of meting out justice.
The reforms include
unclogging court dockets,
jail decongestion and
decentralization of the
High Court’s administrative
functions which are
to be carried out in the
next three years.
Sereno was the keynote
speaker the other
Friday (Nov. 23) in the
three-day convention
of the Philippine Trial
Judges League, Inc. from
Nov. 22 to 24 at the Fort
Ilocandia Resort Hotel in
Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.
“But there will be
many internal reforms as
well that will not be seen
as visibly by the public,”
she told more than 100
judges coming from Regions
1 to 13, including
the Sharia court.
Sereno upheld lower
court judges as “modern-
Every Dec. 9 is now
Anti-Corruption Day
President Benigno S. Aquino III, by virtue of Proclamation
No. 506, has declared every Dec. 9 as National
Anti-Corruption Day to raise public awareness on issues
of corruption.
This is also in line with the General Assembly of the
United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNAC)
which designed Dec. 9 as International Anti-Corruption
Day.
The Philippines is a signatory to the UNAC.
In his statement, Pres. Aquino said that corruption
poses serious problems and threats to the stability and
security of societies, undermining the institutions and
values of democracy, ethical values and justice, and jeopardizing
sustainable development and the rule of law.
In Western Visayas, the Office of the Ombudsman
and the Civil Service Commission, in partnership with
the Regional Association of Government Executives
(RANGE) and the Association of Resident Ombudsmen
(ARO) will hold a simultaneous Integrity Parade on Dec.
9, which will be participated in by all anti-corruption
partners and crusaders from both the public and the private
sectors in Iloilo City.
day heroes” who deserve
to be given the proper
amount of attention, resources
and support as
they go about their role
in the delivery of justice.
Citing records, Sereno
said at least 605,000
cases remain pending in
lower courts as of June
this year.
She said the cases are
spread out unevenly with
some courts having less
than 20 cases while others
are toiling on as high
as 4,000 cases.
Sereno said judges
need administrative support
and human resources
to ease their dockets to
a manageable 300-case
level.
“Many of you are raring
to close or terminate
your dockets. But how
can you do that if you
don’t have prosecutors
and PAO (Public Attorney’s
Office) lawyers appearing
before you? This
is a usual problem,” she
said.
She said she will sit
down with Justice Secretary
Leila De Lima to
ensure the commitment
of prosecutors in cases
they are called to appear
including members
of the Integrated Bar of
the Philippines to fill in
the dearth of government
lawyers appearing for the
defense of the accused.
“We need to have a
national conversation
on how to observe the
CJ SERENO
speedy trial act considering
these constraints.
While the judiciary is
ready, the other sectors
of the justice system are
simply not there,” she
added.
On decentralizing the
high court’s functions,
Sereno said reforms to be
made include devolving
functions from the lower
courts’ budget planning
to administrative processes
to regional levels.
Monumento ni Gat Andres Bonifacio sa Maynila
BSP advises public vs
misuse of banknotes
Gone will be the days when you see peso bills defaced
and mutilated, intentionally.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has advised
and warned money changers and bank tellers to be cautious
in handling currency notes and must not destroy
the money to see its security features. The warning
holds true for people who doodle on it.
Marian Suazo of BSP said Presidential Decree No.
247 prohibits any person to deface, mutilate, tear, burn
or destroy in any manner currency notes and coins issued
by Central Bank of the Philippines.
Any person caught violating this law will be fined
not more than P20,000 and imprisoned not more than
five years.
Suazo said the new generation currency (NGC) features
and its design highlights are important to safeguard
people against fake Philippine peso bill.
Among the security features of NCG banknotes
includes the embossed prints, serial number, security
fibers, watermark, see-through mark, concealed value,
and security thread which should all be there in determining
the money if it is genuine.
Embossed prints are the raised prints that feel rough
to the touch like the words “Republika ng Pilipinas”
and “Dalawampung piso,” portrait, signatures, and
value panels on the face of the note said Marcilla Romaraog,
BSP currency operations officer.
“The serial number, on the other hand, is composed
of one or two prefix letters and six or seven asymmetric
digits located at the lower left and upper right corners
of the face of the note. For the security fibers, these are
red and blue visible fibers embedded on the paper at
random and glow in two colors under the ultraviolet
light, a device use in the banks to detect fake currency,”
says Romaraog.
A shadow image of the portrait and the numeral 20,
50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 are seen at the blank space
of the note when viewed against the light from either
side of the note, she also said on the watermark feature.
Moreover, Romaraog said the see-through mark is
the word “Pilipino” written in Baybayin (pre-Spanish
Philippine writing system) which can be seen in complete
form when the note is viewed against the light.
“The denominational value superimposed on the
smaller portrait at the upper left side of the note becomes
obvious when the note is rotated 45 degrees and
tilted down can be referred as the concealed value as
the security thread is an embedded thread running vertically
across the note which is visible from either side
of the note when viewed against the light,” she said.
Coloma encourages
gov’t info officers
to tap social media
in info dissemination
Presidential Communications
Operations Office
(PCOO) Secretary
Sonny Coloma encouraged
government information
officers to tap
social media in disseminating
development information
for the benefit
of the public.
Coloma, who was the
guest of honor during
the Local and Regional
Information Officers
Assembly at the Hotel
Roma in Tuguegarao
City in Isabela, said communication
to be effective
needs the utilization
of social media channels
such as facebook, twitter,
SMS and cellphones,
among others because
of its reach and speed in
sending out information.
“Various forms of
social media are very
powerful tools of communication
because it
can reach many types of
audience at an immediate
period. These types of
media will be the fastest
means of communicating
relevant, timely and
accurate development
information to our audience
in the next years to
come,” Coloma said.
He also advised government
information officers
to serve the public
with high integrity and
honesty as the sovereignty
of the government rest
among the people.
“Government is created
for the people and
therefore we should
serve them with utmost
dedication, honesty and
commitment as public
servants,” Coloma emphasized.
The communications
secretary also underscored
the need and importance
of offering the
public development news
and information where
they can be assisted in
making right decisions
and intelligent choices.
Because of public demand, PhlPost to reprint
additional Calungsod commemorative stamps
The Philippine Postal Corporation (PhlPost) will
soon reprint 500,000 more copies of commemorative
stamps in honor of St. Pedro Calungsod, the second
Filipino saint.
Pedro Calungsod commemorative stamps
launching recently at the historic Mary Queen of
Peace Shrine along EDSA in Mandaluyong City
“Due to insistent public demand, we would be reprinting
500,000 more Calungsod stamps. We would
be using the same design,” said PhlPost Postage and
Philatelic Department manager Elenita San Diego in a
statement.
She also said that new copies have been made available
to the public since Tuesday due to high public demand.
The new batch of stamps was presented and launched
last Wednesday (Nov. 28) at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral,
ahead of the Thanksgiving Mass for Calungsod’s
canonization last Thursday.
PhlPost decided to release the copies earlier due to
demands to issue more stamps on the second Filipino
saint.
Last Oct. 21, PhlPost launched the Calungsod stamps
at the historic EDSA Shrine in Quezon City coinciding
with the Canonization of St. Pedro Calungsod in Rome.

3
PILIPINAS NGAYON Metro Manila
DISYEMBRE 3-9, 2012 3
Unang monorail na gawang Pinoy,
paaandarin na sa UP ngayong buwan
Paandarin na sa unang
pagkakataon ngayong
buwan ang monorail sa
paikot ng bakuran ng
University of the Philippines
(UP) sa Diliman,
Quezon City.
Kinumpirma noong
nakaraang linggo ni Science
and Technology
Secretary Mario Montejo
na tuluy na tuloy ang
gagawing test-run sa nasabing
monorail para masiguro
ang kaligtasan ng
mga sasakay, partikular
na ang mga estudyante.
Bahagi ito ng pagha-
handa sa nakatakdang
pagsisimula ng operasyon
nito sa unang mga
buwan ng 2013.
Matatandaan na sinimulang
kinonsepto ang
monorail sa loob ng UP
mula nang magsimula
ang administrasyong
Aquino noong 2010.
Wala pang dalawang
taon nang matapos naman
ang konstruksiyon
ng konkretong elebasyon
na siyang tatakbuhan ng
monorail.
Muling ipinagmalaki
naman ni Montejo na 100
porsyentong gawang
Pilipino ang kabuuan ng
istraktura ng proyekto
at maging ng mismong
coaches ng monorail.
Base sa disenyong ipinalabas
ng UP, dalawa-
ng kilometro ang haba
ng unang bahagi linya
ng monorail na nagkakahalaga
ng P22 milyon.
Itatayo ang nasabing
istraktura ng Miescor
Builders Inc. na isang
pribadong sektor na
nabigyan ng kontrata
ng Metals Industry Research
and Development
Center (MIRDC) ng Department
of Science and
Technology.
Ayon pa kay Montejo
na iyong haba na
dalawang kilometro na
monorail line ay inisyal
pa lamang.
Kapag nagsimula
na ang aktuwal na operasyon
ng monorail,
magkakaroon ito ng 13
istasyon paikot ng UP
magsisimula sa Philcoa,
C.P. Garcia, Lakandula,
Delos Reyes, College
of Engineering, Science
Complex, Katipunan,
Vinzons Hall, International
Center, Laurel,
Commonwealth Avenue,
Commission on Human
Rights hanggang sa makarating
ng UP-Ayala
Techno Hub.
‘Gov 101: A New Voter’s Guide to the
Philippine Government’ is launched
The Kaya Natin!
Movement for Good Governance
and Ethical Leadership
(KN) and the Friedrich
Naumann Foundation
(FNF) have launched the
the “Gov 101: A New
Voter’s Guide to the Philippine
Government” the
other Thursday (Nov. 22)
at the Ateneo de Manila
University-School of
Government.
“Gov 101” is a manual
that outlines and explains
how the Philippine gov-
ernment works. It aims to
educate ordinary Filipinos
in the roles and functions
of government officials,
agencies, and offices.
Kaya Natin! (KN) and
FNF believe that education
on governance is crucial
to political maturity
and people participation
and that knowing the basics
of how the government
works is the first
step to making sure that
educated and enlightened
citizens are developed.
Harvey Keh, lead
convenor of KN, said he
has often asked ordinary
citizens if they know the
roles of their government
officials such as the
vice president. “’Pag tinatanong
ko ho sa kanila
kung anong trabaho ng
vice president, ang sinasagot
nila ‘yun ang papalit
sa presidente ‘pag namatay
(Whenever I ask them
if they are aware of the
duties and responsibilities
of the vice president,
the answer I always get
is that the vice president
will be the one replacing
the president in case he
dies),” Keh said.
With the “Gov 101”
booklet, Keh hopes to
educate more Filipinos
on how the government
system really works. “By
knowing what to expect
from our leaders, we can
choose the right leaders,”
Keh added.
FNF country director
Friedrich Naumann,
Valenzuela City unveils
‘flood-proof’ hospital
The local government
of Valenzuela City unveiled
the new city-funded
P120-million three-storey,
50-bed capacity Valenzuela
City Emergency Hospital
last week, along with
other several completed
landmark projects to boost
its health and social wel-
fare services programs,
during its 389th Foundation
Day last week.
Valenzuela Mayor
Sherwin T. Gatchalian described
it as “a bigger and
better modern hospital to
replace the flood-prone
old emergency hospital is
more accessible to resi-
dents of both districts and
is ‘flood-proof.’
“The very reason we
built this hospital in a better
location is to enhance
the delivery of health services
to those from Valenzuela,”
the Mayor emphasized.
The new primary
1,200 Philhealth cards ipinamahagi sa
mga mahihirap sa lungsod ng Maynila
May 1,200 na Philhealth cards ang ipinamahagi
ng pamahalaang lungsod ng
Maynila sa mga mahihirap na taga-lungsod.
“Ang card na ito ay magagamit ninyo
kung kayo ay magkakaroon ng karamdaman,
kahit saang ospital, kahit anong oras,
kahit hanggang sa gabi ipiprisinta lang
ninyo ang health card,” sabi ni Mayor Alfredo
Lim.
Sinaabi ni Lim na importanteng dala
ang Philhealth card upang tanggapin ng
ospital kahit walang pangdeposito.
“Itong Philhealth card ang magiging deposito
ninyo. Ito ay mula sa kagandahang
loob ng ating Pangulong Noynoy Aquino,”
pahayag pa ni Lim.
Ang pamamahagi ng Philhealth card ay
nakatakdang gawin sa iba’t ibang bahagi
ng lungsod: sa City College of Manila, Pa-
Sec. MONTEJO
tricia Covered Court, Dapitan Sports Complex,
Sarmiento Covered Court at mga piling
pampublikong paaralan sa Manila.
Patuloy na gagawin ang pamamahagi
hanggang sa katapusan ng taong ito. Ang
mga nakatalagang PhilHealth Marketing
Officers assigned sa Manila ang magpapaliwanag
sa mga card recipients tungkol
sa PhilHealth benefits at kung paano
magagamit ito.
Kasama din sa pamamahagi ng Philhealth
cards sina Department of Public
Service head, Ret. Col. Carlos Baltazar,
Raffy Jimenez, Chief, Health Insurance
officer Roman Balgomera, at Philhealth
Marketing officer Claryn Sevilla.
Hinihimok rin ang mga pasyente ng
mga ospital ng Maynila na mag aplay ng
sa kanilang Manila Department of Social
Welfare district offices.
healthcare facility, which
will officially start serving
under the management of
the local government on
Dec. 1, features modern
services and equipments,
such as, ultrasound, x-ray,
laboratories, emergency
and normal delivery room,
and a dialysis division with
six machines to cater to local
residents, especially to
the city’s indigent patients.
It has a provision to
expand for a third floor,
which, once completed,
will increase its bed capacity
to 100 which is
400 percent more than the
former 20-bed capacity
emergency hospital in Barangay
Poblacion which
has gained much attention
from media because of
the extreme flooding there
during rainy season.
Also unveiled as part of
the celebration of Valenzuela
City’s 389th Foundation
Day anniversary
celebration were the new
16-classroom, two-storey
building for the students of
Valenzuela City Polytechnic
College (Valpoly) and
the newly-renovated Valenzuela
City Astrodome.
meanwhile, said that they
are glad they have found
KN to partner with in promoting
freedom from corruption.
“With KN, you
really look at people who
have made the utmost effort
and sacrifices for the
country,” Naumann said.
The FNF official also
said that he is proud to
work here in the Philippines
where people want
change and have the desire
to make their country
better.
The Friedrich Naumann
Foundation is a
non-profit organisation
that promotes liberal
democracy, economic
freedom, rule of law and
respect for human rights.
Also present in the
launch was Senator TG
Guingona, also a KN
champion, who said that
“Gov 101” is the first step
in empowering the Filipino
people. “When people
are informed, puwede sila
makilahok,” (When people
are informed, they can
be involved,”) he said.
Guingona also stressed
Monorail na gawang Pinoy
Ecosavers, bagong
recycling campaign
sa Metro Manila na
kabataan ang bida
Sa National Ecosavers Program (NEP), kabataan
ang pangunahing kikilos para sa malinis na kapaligiran.
Ang NEP ay magkatuwang na programa ng Department
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),
Department of Education (DepEd), Department of the
Interior and Local Government (DILG), Metropolitan
Manila Development Authority (MMDA), at ng Galing
Pook Foundation na naglalayong turuan ang mga
kabataan na mapangalagaan ang kanilang kapaligiran.
Dahil na rin sa lumalalang problema ng basura sa
Metro Manila kaya unang ipatutupad ang NEP sa abot
sa 763 na pampublikong elementarya at sekondaryang
paaralan dito.
Sa ilalim ng programang ito, ang mga estudyanteng
magbibigay ng mga kagamitang patapon na maaaring
i-recycle ay magkakaroon ng mga puntos na maaaring
ipagpalit ng school supplies.
Ani Senador Loren Legarda, na pangulo ng Komite
ng Senado sa Climate Change at may-akda ng R.A.
9003 o Ecological Solid Waste Management of 2000,
ang NEP ay dapat may kaakibat na paglilinis sa mga
estero, ilog, at iba pang daluyan ng tubig, pagtatanim
ng mga puno, at mga programang makapagpapabawas
sa mabilis na pagbaba ng lupa.
Samantala, pinuri ni Legarda ang kasisimula pa
lamang na NEP para sa mga pampublikong paaralan,
na magbibigay ng mga insentibo sa mga mag-aaral na
magdadala ng mga basura o kagamitan na maaaring
muling magamit.
“Ikinagagalak ko na hustong ipinatutupad ngayon
ang Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
Mahalagang mahalaga ang paggamit muli sa mga bote,
papel, at plastic dahil kung itatapon lamang sa mga
estero at ilog ay magdudulot ito ng masamang epekto
sa kalusugan at kapaligiran. Higit pa dito, matututo rin
ang mga mag-aaral tungkol sa kahalagahan ng pagkakaroon
ng malinis na kapaligiran,” pahayag ni Legarda.
Parañaque launches
FB, Twitter accounts
To meet the demands of today’s generation, the city government of Parañaque
recently launched its own Facebook and Twitter accounts.
In a recent press statement, said social media accounts will help keep residents
and the public well-informed at the same time, promote the Parañaque City and attract
more investors to the city.
“We have continuously been establishing channels for communication with our
constituents aiming to provide them with accurate and timely information and at the
same time, get feedbacks. With these social media accounts, information dissemination
and exchange will be faster,” Bernabe said.
Netizens can now get the latest updates like suspension of classes, red tide ban,
latest projects of the local government, and can even express their views and opinions.
Just log on to the city government’s website at www.paraaque.gov.ph and click
on the Facebook and Twitter links or via www.facebook.com/parañaquecity or via
www.twitter.com/iloveparanaque.

DISYEMBRE 3-9, 2012 Opinion and Features
4 PILIPINAS NGAYON
EDITORYAL
GEORGE ARBAN ARRIOLA
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
CAROLINE A. MACADANGDANG
Publication and Printing Manager
EMILY BERAN
Circulation Manager
Ang pahayagang PILIPINAS NGAYON ay bilingual (sa wikang
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Publishers Association
of the Philippines
CHRISTINE A. ROQUE
Marketing Director
MA. LANI PEDREGOSA
Marketing Consultant
Atty. VICENTE MILLORA
Atty. THADDEUS VENTURANZA
Atty. FRANCO DE GUZMAN
Legal Counsel
Philippines
News Agency
Pres. Quirino, inspirasyon
ng mga Pinoy sa pag-unlad
Isang magandang inspirasyon sa mga Filipino ngayon ang buhay
ni Pidiong o Presidente Elpidio Quirino, lalo na sa pagpapa-unlad ng
kondisyon sa ekonomiya at lipunan sa bansa.
Ayon sa mga libro ng kasaysayan ng Pilipinas, ginamit niya
ang ‘Total mobilization program’ upang makamit ang progreso sa
ekonomiya. Ito ay sa pamamagitan ng mga yaman sa bansa, kaalamang
teknikal at ‘credit facilities’ ng bayan.
Upang matulungan ang mga magsasaka para maipagbili ang
kanilang mga produkto at iligtas sila sa mga usurero, nagtayo siya ng
Agricultural Credit Cooperative Financing Administration (ACCFA).
Ipinatayo niya ang mga banko rural sa mga probinsiya upang magbigay
ng kapital sa mga magsasaka sa mababang interes.
Ipinatayo din niya ang mga bagong ahensiya sa gobyerno upang
maasikaso ang mga problema ng mga manggagawa, at maibigay ang
mga tulong sa mga mahihirap na pamilya at mga biktima ng mga
kalamidad tulad ng baha, bagyo at sunog.
Upang mapalakas pa ang ekonomiya ng bansa, sumang-ayon siya
sa Quirino-Foster Agreement. Ang pagkakasundong ito ang bumuo
ng pagkakaibigan ng Pilipinas at Amerika na kung saan ay nagbigay
ng pondo at payong teknikal ang Amerika. Ang Pilipinas naman ang
nagbigay ng mga trabahador at ng iba pang pondo. Dito lahat ng
proyekto sa ekonomiya ay sinubaybayan ng Philippine Council for
United States Aid at ng Foreign ,Operations Administration.
Kabilang din sa kanyang programa sa gobyerno ang pag-reorganisa
sa gobyerno upang maging maayos ang lahat ng antas ng burukrasiya,
madaliang pagpapalaki ng produksiyon upang magbigay ng trabaho
sa libu-libong manggagawang walang trabaho, istrikto at totoong
pagpapatupad ng batas sa buwis, preserbasyon ng integridad ng bansa
at pagpapatuloy na pakikipagkaibigan sa mga iba’t-ibang bansa sa
mundo.
Araw ni President Elpidio Quirino ang Nob. 16 tuwing taon sa Ilocos
Sur bilang paggunita sa kapanganakan ng kauna-unhang Ilokanong
Presidente ng Pilipinas at ikalawang Presidente ng Republika.
Sa taong ito ipinagdiriwang ang ika-122 anibersaryo ng pagsilang
niya. Ipinanganak siya ni Gregoria Mendoza Rivera noong Nob. 16,
1890 sa mismong loob ng kwarter ng wardeng ama na si Mariano
Quirino . Namatay naman siya sa atake sa puso noong Peb. 29, 1956.
Bilang politico, naging diputado si Pidiong sa sariling probinsyang
Ilocos Sur, senador at bise presidente ng bansa bago naging Presidente.
Si Pidiong (tawag sa Presidente noon) ay nag-aral sa elementarya
sa Aringay, La Union, at sekondarya sa tatlong paaralan -- sa San
Fernando, La Union, sa Vigan High School at Manila High School.
Siya ay ulirang estudyante at anak dahil kahit na paiba-iba ang
paaralang pinasukan ay naging tsampiyon pa siya sa pagbigkas
(oratory) at pagtalastasan. (debate).
Upang matapos ang pag-aaral sa University of the Philippines
College of Law nagtrabaho siya sa Manila. Nagtapos at nakapasa siya
bilang abogado noong 1915.
Sa mga turista ngayon sa World Heritage City ng Vigan, Ilocos Sur,
malalaman nila kung ano ang naging buhay ng Presidente sa piling ng
asawang si Alicia Syquia sa Syquia Mansion Museum na natatagpuan
sa kalyeng ipinangalan sa kanya -- ang Elpidio Quirino Boulevard.
Labis ang paghanga ng PILIPINAS NGAYON kay Pidiong o
Presidente Elpidio Quirino na tunay na inspirasyon nating mga Pinoy
sa pagpapa-unlad ng ating ekonomiya.
PAALALA: Tumatanggap ang PILIPINAS
NGAYON ng news at photo releases gayundin ng
mga feature articles at reklamo bilang suporta sa
Anti-Corruption Campaign ng ating pamahalaan.
Kailangan lamang na ang news, feature articles at
complaints ay nasa Word format habang ang mga
litrato ay nasa Jpeg format. – EDITOR
2012 Presidential Lingkod Bayan Awardee Robert Bassig: Behind repatriation lines
By BENJIE S. DE YRO
It was dark, extremely risky, and dangerous. More than a thousand people
were on board trucks, in a convoy, negotiating the lonely Middle East road
towards a safe border to escape a war gone mad. The passengers are to be
brought to seaports before the situation caught on them. Inside the vehicles,
not a single word was spoken. Only the eyes wide open and bitten lips captured
the emotions of the passengers. Checkpoints were everywhere. To add
to the already hostile situation, there was no guarantee that those manning the
checkpoints were of friendly forces.
The truck, which carried an Ibanag native from Tuguegarao City, was
flagged down. He was with four Filipino Moslem scholars who had been
sponsored by the government of Libya. Heavily armed men told him to alight
from the vehicle. Questions were asked. One of the men touted an AK47.
Travel documents were presented. Good thing, one of the passengers knew
Arabic and the convoy was allowed to move on. From afar, sporadic sounds
of gunshots and bombs could be heard. Except for the erratic sounds of the
machines, the silence inside the trucks was deafening.
The vehicles should reach the border safe by early morning.
This was war-torn Libya and the scene is not from any Hollywood blockbuster.
It was for real.
The Ibanag from Tuguegarao City was Robert Bassig, regional director
of the Department of Labor and Employment-Overseas Workers Welfare
Administration (OWWA). He was assigned in Tripoli to join the Team Philippine
Overseas Labor Office (POLO) Libya to rescue more than 3,000 overseas
workers in the Middle East February to March of last year.
Sacrificing his life and limbs together with team leader Nasser Mustafa,
Labor Attache and Rosauro Octaviano, Bassig merited the Presidential Lingkod
Bayan (group category) award in the 2012 Search for Outstanding Public
Officials and Employees of the Civil Service Commission (CSC).
No less than Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said the dedication
of the team has upheld the best characteristics amongst all public servants
in the realm of labor and employment which made them worthy of
such national recognition.
Bassig, who started his career at OWWA in 1987 and a labor veteran as a
welfare officer in Tokyo in 1995, was handpicked by the Secretary of Labor
to assist in the evacuation of Filipino workers when war erupted in Libya last
year as a result of an earlier move by Libyans to oust President Muammar
Khadafi.
It paid that he was earlier assigned to the country in 2007. He knew the
terrain as he has likewise established links with other groups in the country.
“But it was a different thing. It was war. The Tripoli airport was full of
panicky people of various nationalities eager to get out. At the embassy, more
than 800 workers were there to be attended,” Bassig recalled the situation.
As the war escalated, he said the skies of Libya has been declared as a
“no fly zone” and there were only the sea and land travel to count on. Earlier,
close to 1,000 Filipino workers had already been shipped out of the country.
Land travel has been deemed very risky but the workers had to leave,
he added. Before the war broke out, Libya was host to some 15,000 documented
overseas Filipino workers. At least 28,000 overseas workers from
eight countries including the Philippines found employment in the country
before the war.
“We stayed at the border to assist them and we assessed the situation,”
he said.
Bassig and his team defied the odds and braved the hostilities and praised
his team leader Nasser Mustafa’s exceptional bravery and commitment to
ensure the welfare and safety of every overseas Filipino worker for the successful
rescue operations.
“The CSC award is farfetched from our mind. We just did what we have
to do as government workers. Just the same, we thank the government for
recognizing our concerted efforts,” Bassig, supervising the concreting of his
new office at the government center in Tuguegarao City, said.
The award is conferred to an individual or group of individuals in recognition
of their exceptional or extraordinary contributions which resulted from
an idea or performance that had national impact on public interest, security
and patrimony.
Bassig claims that the experience provided him the rare chance of providing
unconditional service to his fellow Filipinos who were in a gravely-life
threatening situation and considered it, like Mustafa, a priceless achievement
and fulfilment of their duties as public servants.
If you think the danger that Libya had daunted Bassig, you’re wrong. He
has assured his Secretary he will go back to Libya early next year.
But why Libya?
He said he already established rapport with the OFWs there and is so familiar
with the terrain and other government agencies in that middle east
country.
“My being a labor and employment officer is temporary but my being a
Filipino is permanent,” Bassig said as a matter of fact. (BSY-PIA 2, Cagayan)
A closer look at the 2012 Ten Outstanding Freeport Workers of Subic
By CARLO LORENZO J. DATU
“We need to make heroes out of ordinary people; we need to make heroes out
of ourselves.”
These were the words of the late Interior and Local Government Secretary
Jesse Robredo.
Last Friday, Subic Bay Workforce Development Foundation Inc. and Subic
Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Labor Department recognized 10 individuals
who in their own simple ways found how to make heroes out of themselves
through discipline, dedication and commitment to excellence.
This year’s roster of honorees consisted of Jed Sprint Piño of Pacific Ocean
Underwater Solutions Corp., Engineer Gilbert Buhain of Philippine Coastal Storage
and Pipeline Corp., Ryan Griva of Subic Enerzone Corp., Charo Guerrero
of Polarmarine Inc., Mark Anthony Magno of Subic Marine Exploratorium,
Christine Manamtam of Wistron Infocomm Philippines Corp., Dandy Millama
of Wistron Infocomm Philippines Corp., Maria Luisa Pulanco of Nicera Philippines
Corp., Daisy Tagnipes of Wistron Infocomm Philippines Corp. and Virginia
Umbina of Subic Water & Sewerage Corp.
“A heroic act in the midst of chaos and confusion. No one had the same courage
and selflessness as he had. I owe him my life,” says Piño’s HR specialist and
administrative officer after he stopped a fire that could have led to loss of lives
and properties. His commitment, passion and devotion to his job best described
him who firmly believed that “no job is too difficult to handle if one truly believes
in his self.”
“The Action Man,” as he is widely known in his organization, Buhain is described
by his colleagues as accurate and precise in the designs and execution of
innovative projects. He co-authored the formulation of activated carbon toward
elimination of fumes of MOGAS. He is regarded as a key person in every critical
situation.
Griva had come up with the Subic Enerzone’s Adopt-an-Area Program. This
initiative has lessened unscheduled power interruption and has made the Freeport’s
power distribution more efficient and reliable. His exceptional leadership
has resulted in the enhanced performance of his team, responding to 95 percent
of customers’ emergency needs within 15 minutes and 100 percent in an hour.
Guerrero has been in her company for more than 10 years. She handles Quality
Management System and ISO programs to ensure that her organization kept
abreast with quality demands of the global industries. She also handles spare
parts sales which is instrumental in capturing the market worldwide despite time
zone differences. Guerrero managed to help her organization post $852,700 in
sales, or 39 percent higher from the time she assumed post in 2008.
Magno is the assistant supervisor for the Creative and Performing Arts section.
His exceptional skills have been of great help to the different departments
in his company. He conceptualized and developed artistic direction to shows that
made every visit to Ocean Adventure a memorable experience.
Manamtam is one of her organization’s ISO14001 trained coordinators. She
is responsible for determining and evaluating the ISO14001-related legislations
applicable to her company. Manamtam authored different ISO and departmental
procedures that elevated the quality of performance standards. She is responsible
for maintaining significant transactions with IBM and Lenovo and served as the
client’s main contact window for purchase orders.
Millama is employed for 14 years in his organization and handles the position
as safety supervisor. He was able to maintain a companywide zero-accident mark
through the creation and implementation of effective health and safety proce-
dures. He established strong company linkages with government and nongovernment
agencies that further promote and enhance health and safety practices
in the workplace.
Pulanco has been with her company for 10 years. Several times she was sent
by her organization abroad where she displayed exemplary work performance
and was recognized as one of the few individuals who received the highest appraisals
from her Japanese supervisors. She is a proactive and persistent leader
with excellent ideas for process improvement that greatly enhanced work flow
and created effective production systems.
Tagnipes managed to control effectively the activities of 38 different warehouses,
composed of two different plants. She is an expert in the use of the company’s
global inventory system related to materials management and a key person
in the management section for every auditing body such as ISO9000, ESD
S2020, and DELL QPA. Her 17 years in the company has equipped her with
knowledge both in manufacturing and after-sales service operations.
Before her deployment to the Customer Service Division, Umbina was the
billing supervisor whose prime responsibility was to ensure that all of Subic Water’s
35,757 customers are billed correctly and on time. She is a hardworking
employee who rose though the ranks to become Subic Water’s dedicated supervisor.
Despite her demanding role as a mother to two teenaged daughters, she
managed to give her 100 percent devotion at the workplace and provide excellent
customer service.
In a message during simple rites at Ayala Harbor Point, SBMA Administrator
and Chairman Roberto Garcia said, “These individuals represented the best of the
92,000-strong workforce who are regarded as the heroes of the Freeport for their
role in making Subic a catalyst in the economic development of the country.”
For his part, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Undersecretary
for Special Concerns and board of judges head Jose Mari Oquiñena
told the winners: “Because of the stories you have shared with us, you made us
more proud to be Filipinos. Thank you for being a source of good news about
the Filipino.”
Oquiñena said: “What you have accomplished today will be part of your
legacy to your families or future families that when your kids grow up and they
will be asked ‘why are you excellent?’ they will answer, ‘Because my parents
are excellent.’ If I ask you now, ‘Why are you so excellent?’ For sure you would
also answer because you came from great families. If each Filipino family would
have in mind producing great sons and daughters, then maybe we shall soon see
the ideal Philippines we all wish for.”
The PCOO official reminded the recipients to “always prove right the organizers
of this award that they have been right in choosing you, that you will always
be a good example to your co-workers.”
Conceived in 2001, the Ten Outstanding Freeport Workers is an annual accolade
given by Subic Bay Workforce Development Foundation and SBMA Labor
Department to employees who have demonstrated excellence in their own fields.
Winners were drawn from dozens of nominees submitted by locator-companies
within the zone.
Apart from Oquiñena, other members of the selection committee were Maribeth
Gopez of National Conciliation and Mediation Board and Ricardo Ednave
of Department of Education.
The 2012 Ten Outstanding Freeport Workers of Subic have managed to
overcome great battles in life. They did not spend time remembering the difficult
times but rather focused on the joy of having passed yet another life’s tests.
(WLB/CLJD-PIA 3)

PILIPINAS NGAYON Regions
DISYEMBRE 3-9, 2012 5
Pasko sa
Mindoro
at Palawan
Handang-handa na
ang mga taga-Mindoro at
taga-Palawan ng MIMA-
ROPA Region sa darating
na Kapaskuhan.
Sa Calapan City, Oriental
Mindoro, ay isinasagawa
na ang Salong
Dagitab na isang gawaing
naglalayong bigyan
ng higit na saya, liwanag
at kulay ang Pasko ng
mga Mindoreño.
Matatandaan na noong
nakaraang taon, tinawag
itong Paskuhan sa Kapitolyo
- ang maliwanag at
makulay na pagdiriwang
ng diwa ng kapaskahan
sa loob ng kapitolyo. Sa
pamamagitan ng masining
at malikhaing pagtatanghal,
ipinakita ng
mga empleyado ng pamahalaang
panlalawigan
ang sari-saring laki,
kulay at hugis ng mga
bagay na sumisimbolo sa
Pasko.
Ngayong taon, tatawagin
itong Salong Dagitab
2012 na sisentro sa temang
“Christmas Around
the World”.
Ang salitang Salong
Dagitab ay mula sa mga
salita ng katutubong
Mangyan na nangangahulugan
ng mga kumukuti-kutitap
na ilaw.
Kaugnay nito, sinaksihan
ng mga mamamayan
kamakailan ang opisyal
na pagbubukas nito sa
Provincial Capitol Complex.
Kasunod nito ay
ang Konsyerto Para sa
Mindoreño na tinampukan
ng live band.
Ito ay isang kumpetisyon
na nilahukan ng
mga tanggapan sa loob
ng kapitolyo na nahahati
sa dalawang kategorya
-- By Office at By Cluster
Category kung saan
hahatiin sa limang grupo
ang mga magkakatabi o
magkakalapit na opisina.
May nakatalaga rin
na kani-kaniyang kontinente
ang bawat cluster
-- ang South America
para sa cluster 1 mula
sa tanggpan ng Philpost
hanggang Tourism Office,
Asia para sa Cluster
2 mula sa Department of
Trade and Industry (DTI)
hanggang Provincial
Government Services
Office(PGSO), North
America para sa Cluster
3 mula sa Philippine National
Red Cross hanggang
sa Provincial Assessor’s
Office, Europe
para sa Cluster 4 mula sa
Center for Health Development
(CHD) hanggang
sa Provincial Social Welfare
Development Office
(PSWDO) at ang Africa-
Egypt para sa Provincial
Health Office.
CORAL REEF PROJECT. Isinagawa ng Department of Science and Technology,
pamahalaang bayan ng Mabini, University of San Carlos at Batangas
State University ang paglulunsad ng Filipinnovation Coral Reef Restoration
project kung saan kumuha ng mga buhay na coral reef at inilalagay
sa coral nursery upang matapos ang dalawang buwan ay ililipat sa mga
bahagi ng karagatan na sira na ang mga coral reef.
Industriya ng pili
palalawakin sa
Camarines Norte
Palalawakin ang industriya
ng pili sa lalawigan
ng Camarines
Norte upang lumaki ang
produksiyon at ani ng
mga magsasaka sa pagtatanim
at sa kanilang
pangkabuhayan.
Kaugnay ito sa dalawang-araw
na pagsasanay
na sinimulan
noong nakaraang Miyerkules
sa Little Theater
ng kapitolyo ng probinsiya
sa pamamagitan ng
“Training on Pili Production,
Post Harvest and
Processing.”
Binigyan ng pagsasanay
ang mga magtatanim
ng pili at mga
nagpo-proseso ng mga
produkto nito upang
kanilang maipamahagi sa
kanilang lugar ang mga
natutunan sa naturang
pagsasanay at mahikayat
rin na magtanim ang mga
magsasaka.
Tinalakay ni Harold
R. Gestiada, inhinyero at
pili coordinator ng Office
of the Provincial Agriculturist
(OPAg), ang mga
katangian at uri ng pili,
sustansiyang taglay nito,
gayundin ang pakinabang
at mga produktong mula
rito.
Tinalakay din ang
mga pamamaraan sa pagtatanim
at pangangalaga
sa mga binhi, lugar na paglalagyan,
at paghahanda
sa lupang pagtataniman at
ang tamang pag-aabono.
Ipinahayag naman ni
Pedro Oliver, pathologist
ng Regional Field Unit 5
ng Department of Agri-
culture (DA), na ang mga
peste at kulisap ng pili at
ang pagkontrol dito.
Ayon kay Oliver, tinalakay
sa pagsasanay ang
mga karaniwang sakit
ng mga pili at binigyan
ng mga pamamaraan ang
mga magsasaka kung
paano mapipigilan ang
peste at sakit na kumakapit
sa tanim.
Sinabi ni Oliver na ang
DA ay maraming proyekto
para sa pili at kailangan
na ang mga magsasaka
dito sa rehiyong Bicol
ay magtanim nito upang
magkaroon ng maraming
produksiyon at tumaas
ang kita ng mga magsasaka
gayundin lumaki
ang industriya ng pili sa
Camarines Norte.
Ayon pa rin kay Oliver,
ang pili ay isa sa mga katutubong
punong-kahoy
ng rehiyong Bicol dahil
ito ay matibay sa init ng
araw kung saan ang mga
magsasaka ay magkakaroon
ng pagkakataon na
magtanim at hindi rin ito
magastos sa abono.
Bagong munisipyo ng
Los Banos, pinasinayaan
Pinangunahan ni Mayor Anthony
Genuino ng Los Baños, Laguna, ang
pagbubukas ng bagong munisipyo ng
bayang ito kasama ang mga opisyal at
kawani ng munisipyo, mga opisyal ng
University of the Philippines-Los Baños
(UPLB), LB Science Community,
LB Tourism Council, at ng iba’t-ibang
personalidad at non-government organizations
(NGOs) na katuwang sa pananaw
ng punumbayan para sa “Bagong
Los Baños.”
Ang bagong munisipyo na matatagpuan
sa panulukan ng Jamboree Road at
National Highway, Barangay Timugan
ay moderno, malawak, at napakaganda
sang-ayon sa paglalarawan ng mga tao.
“Makalipas po ang halos 100 taon,
ngayon lamang po nagkaroon ng
bagong munisipyo ang Los Baños na
isa lamang sa maraming simbolo ng inyong
Bagong Los Baños,” pahayag pa
ni Genuino.
Taong 1921 nang itinayo ang dating
munisipyo kasabay ng pagtatayo
ng pamilihang bayan sa Baybayin. Sa
lumang marker na makikita sa loob ng
palengke, ang gusali ay itinayo noong
1921 ng Amerikanong contractor na si
A.E. Hally sa ilalim ng pamahalaang
bayan sa pamumuno ni Faustino Pantua
na tinaguriang presidente; Lorenzon
Lantica, kalihim; Emilio Deang, ingatyaman;
at J.V. Bagtas, district engineer.
Makailang ulit nang binago o sumailalim
sa renovation ang lumang gusali
nguni’t ang masikip at dilapidadong istruktura
nito ay hindi na angkop sa dami
ng transaksyon at sa bilang ng mga taong
nagpupunta sa munisipyo.
2,826 mahihirap na
pamilya sa Mauban,
benipisyaryo ng 4Ps
Umabot na sa 2,826
na mahihirap na pamilya
sa Mauban, Quezon, ang
benipisyaryo ng Pantawid
Pamilya Program o 4Ps
ng Department of Social
Welfare and Development
(DSWD) simula
nang ipatupad ang nasabing
programa noong nakaraang
taon.
Sinabi ni June Aquino,
team leader ng programang
4Ps ng DSWD, Region
4A, na ang bawa’t
pamilyang benipisyaryo
ng 4Ps ay tumatanggap
ng halagang P300
na tulong sa pag-aaral
sa bawa’t isang anak na
nag-aaral sa elementarya
samantalang P500 naman
para sa tulong pangkalu-
sugan ng bawa’t isang
pamilya. Ang pagbibigay
ng tulong sa pag-aaral ay
depende sa bilang ng mga
anak na nag-aaral kung
saan ay hanggang tatlong
bata sa bawa’t pamilya
ang natutulungan ng tulong
pinansiyal sa pagaaral.
Sinabi pa ni Aquino
na katuwang ng kanilang
tanggapan sa pagsubaybay
at pagmo-monitor
ng programang 4Ps ang
mga barangay captain o
opisyal ng barangay at
mga guro sa publikong
paaralan.
‘Nagsasagawa rin
kami ng counselling sa
mga magulang na hindi
nakakasusunod sa mga
Tindahang Pinoy bilang
one-stop-shop ng OTOP,
bubuksan sa Clark Airport
Nakatakdang buksan ngayong kapaskuhan ang Tindahang
Pinoy sa loob ng Diosdado Macapagal International
Airport (DMIA) sa Clark Freeport.
Kinumpirma ito ni Department of Trade and Industry
(DTI) Undersecretary for Regional Operations
Merlie Cruz sa ginanap na 14th Likha ng Central Luzon
Trade Fair noong nakaraang linggo sa Megatrade
Hall ng SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City.
Ayon kay Cruz, ang Tindahang Pinoy ay isang One-
Stop Shop ng mga One Town, One Product (OTOP)
upang maging madali sa mga lokal at dayuhang turista
na makabili ng mga ipinagmamalaking produkto ng
gitnang Luzon.
Layunin aniya ng DTI na palawakin pa ang merkado
ng OTOP at matulungan ang mga small- and mediumenterprises
(SMEs) na madagdagan pa ang kanilang
kita.
4 pulis pinarangalan bilang
Outstanding POs ng OrMin
Pinarangalan ang apat
na pulis sa Oriental Mindoro
bilang 2012 Outstanding
Police Officers ng
Oriental Mindoro noong
Nob. 13.
Sa isang simpleng
seremonya sa kapitolyo
sa may Calapan City
isinagawa ang parangal
upang gawaran sila bilang
pinakamahuhusay
na kasapi ng PNP ng lalawigan
sa pangunguna
nina Gob. Alfonso V. Umali,
Jr. at Philippine National
Police (PNP) Provincial
Director P/SSupt.
Ronaldo F. De Jesus.
Ngayong taon, kinilala
at binigyang-parangal sina
SPO3 Ismael L. Historillo,
Chief Investigator ng
Mansalay Police Station;
SPO1 Wilfredo Sta. Maria
Carandan, Intelligence
Section Chief ng Naujan
Municipal Station; SPO1
Tobias R. Solas, Assistant
Investigator-Police Non-
Commissioned Personnel
ng Gloria Municipal Station;
at PO2 Alexander P.
Buñag, Intel Operatives-
Technical Support Platoon
ng Provincial Public
Safety Company-MIMA-
ROPA.
Bukod sa plake ng pagkilala,
tumanggap sila ng
tig-P10,000 insentibo.
Pinasalamatan ni De
Jesus ang pamunuan ni
Umali sa aniya’y pagkilala
sa mabuting gawain
at maayos na paglilingkod
ng mga pulis sa lalawigan,
kasabay ng paghiling sa
kanyang mga kapwapulis
na gawing ehemplo
ang paglilingkod ng apat
na pulis na pinarangalan.
alintuntuning dapat sundin
sa ilalim ng programang
pantawid pamilya’,
pahayag pa ni Aquino.
Ang mga benipisyaryo
ay pinili ng DSWD sa
pamamagitan ng isinagawang
national household
targetting system kung
saan pawang mahihirap
na pamilya ang natutulungan
ng programa.
RDC tinalakay
ang isyu at
programa sa
pagsugpo ng
‘climate change’
Nagsama-sama ang
mga miyembro ng
Environment Sector
Committee (SeCom)
ng Regional Development
Council Region
1 (RDC-1) sa San Fernando
City, La Union,
noong Nob. 23 upang
talakayin ang mga isyu,
kaganapan at mga nagawa
nila ngayong taon at
plano sa 2013 tungkol
sa bantang dulot ng pagbabago
ng klima.
Ayon kay Regional
Executive Director
Samuel R. Peñafiel ng
Department of Environment
and Natural
Resources (DENR),
tinalakay rin ang kasalukuyang
lagay ng
pagmimina sa Region
1 kung saan sinabi ng
National Economic Development
Authority 1
(NEDA-1) ang kontribusyon
ng pagmimina
sa trabaho at ‘poverty
incidences’ sa mga minahan.
Iba’t-ibang unibersidad
at kolehiyo sa rehiyon
tulad ng Mariano
Marcos State University
(MMSU) sa Batac, Ilocos
Norte; Don Mariano
Marcos Memorial State
University (DMMMSU)
Bacnotan campus sa
Bacnotan, La Union;
University of Northern
Philippines (UNP) sa
Vigan City; at Pangasinan
State University
(PSU) ang naatasan rin
sa pagbibigay ng status
at epekto ng kanilang
pag-aaral sa climate
change.

6 DISYEMBRE 3-9, 2012 Special Feature: Agriculture and Environment
PILIPINAS
P-Noy sa mga Pinoy: Makibahagi
sa pag-abot ng rice self-sufficiency
Hinikayat ni Pangulong Benigno Aquino III ang lahat
ng Pilipino na gawin ang kanilang parte sa pag-abot ng
rice self-sufficiency pagsapit ng 2013.
Sa isang mensahe na binasa noong nakaraang linggo
ni Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala sa paglulunsad
ng National Year of Rice (NYR) at awarding ng mga
nagwagi sa Gawad Saka, sinabi ni Aquino na idineklarang
NYR ang 2013 upang paghandaan at lalong mapabilis
ang pagiging rice self-sufficient ng Pilipinas.
Subalit anumang proklamasyon ang gawin ng pamahalaan,
kung hindi makikilahok ang taumbayan, para na
rin itong pagsasayang ng ilang pirasong papel.
Iginiit ng Punong Ehekutibo na anumang programang
ilunsad ng gobyerno ay nagbubukal sa mga hinaing at
pangangailangan ni Juan dela Cruz, at magtatagumpay
lamang ito kung handa rin siyang maki-ambag dito.
Ano man ang larangan aniya- mambubukid mula sa
Cagayan, o mangingisda mula sa Davao; researcher mula
sa Nueva Ecija, o negosyante mula Zamboanga— bawat
isa ay may maitutulong, bawat isa may magagawa.
Sinabi pa ni Aquino na sa tuloy-tuloy na bayanihan,
hindi lang sapat na bigas ang mapapasakamay ng mga
Pilipino kundi makakamit din ang ibang minimithi gaya
ng nag-uumapaw na edukasyon, kalusugan at katarungan;
dangal sa bandila’t bayan, at kaunlaran at kapayapaan.
Pres. AQUINO Sec. ALCALA
Idineklara ni Aquino ang 2013 bilang NYR sa bisa
ng Proclamation No.494 upang kumuha ng suporta mula
sa mga magsasaka, konsyumer at mga opisyal tungo sa
hangad ng bansa na maging rice self-sufficient.
Ang paggunita, na naka-angkla sa temang “Sapat
na Bigas, Kaya sa Pinas”, ay naglalayong hikayatin
ang mga magsasaka na gumamit ng mga modern farm
technologies habang ang mga konsyumer naman ay
pinakikiusapan na bawasan ang pagsasayang ng kanin.
FIDA confident that Philippine abaca industry will
remain strong, maintain foothold in global market
By DANNY O. CALLEJA
With Bicol on top of the producers’ bracket, the Fiber
Industry Development Authority (FIDA) regional office
in Legazpi City is confident the country’s abaca industry
will continue to compete internationally and maintain
Philippine’s strong foothold in the global market.
“Such confidence emanates from the fact that advocacy
on ‘going natural, going green’ amidst the growing
awareness and concern over the protection and care of
the environment is becoming more intense worldwide,”
Bicol FIDA regional chief Mary Anne Molina said here
last week.
Putting this advocacy to practice, among others are the
Montreal Protocol and Kyoto Protocol, which practically
impose on participating countries the use of biodegradable
materials to protect the ozone layer and tackle the
issue of global warming and greenhouse gas emission.
The imposition makes eco-friendly materials like abaca
in greater need and importance to industrial products
down to home furnishings and house wares, fashion and
its accessories, food packaging, apparels and other items.
Molina said that abaca, as a renewable resource, could
be an excellent part of the overall solution to climate
change as the plant absorbed more carbon dioxide than its
emission. It does not pose any harm to the environment
being hundred percent biodegradable.
Abaca in composite applications
The development of new end-use for abaca fiber in
composite applications for the automotive industry in
Germany contributed to boost the demand for the fiber.
Car manufacturer, Chrysler-Daimler, according to Molina
has cited the very good ecological balance of abaca
combined with its excellent technical properties similar
to those of glass fiber, the material previously used in the
underbody protection of the car.
The use of abaca fiber, instead of glass fiber, brought
about primary energy savings of 60 percent, thus significantly
reducing carbon dioxide emission.
Other car manufacturing companies, especially in the
European Union are expected to use natural fibers as material
for their car parts in compliance with the End-of-
Life-Vehicle Regulation of the European Parliament.
Likewise, Molina said that with the stricter policies
against dumping of synthetic fishnets and cordage materials
in open sea as enforced by most European nations,
users are returning to the use of natural biodegradable materials
like abaca fiber.
Synthetic ropes may have some technical advantages
but abaca has qualities that meet the needs for special purposes
specifically for oil drilling, navies, merchant shipping
and construction.
In the United States, the movie-making industry is reportedly
using abaca rope which, unlike synthetics, does
not reflect when exposed to klieg lights.
Abaca pulp, meanwhile, has been gaining more popularity
owing to the expanding demand for specialty papers
for tea bag, meat and sausage casings, currency papers,
metallized papers, cigarette papers, filters, hi-tech capacitor
papers and other non-wovens and disposables also
mean high demand for abaca pulp.
Most specialty papers require high porosity and excellent
tear, bursting and tensile strength which characterize
abaca fiber.
The environmental protection factor
As the environmental protection movement heightens,
many countries are becoming more protective of their
ecology, particularly the timber forest, the source of wood
pulp which is the traditional material for pulp and paper
production.
This provides an entry point for substitutes such as ab-
aca. Although abaca pulp is priced higher than wood pulp,
its higher substitution ratio (4:1) and better qualities in the
production of specialty papers make it more attractive.
Quality considerations play a predominant role in the
choice of fiber for the major specialty end-uses, and technical
properties provided by abaca outweigh price advantages
of abaca substitutes like wood pulp or sisal.
Japan continues to import abaca pulp from the Philippines
for the manufacture of its currency notes and Japanese
bills of Y10,000, Y500 and Y1,000 denominations
have 60 percent abaca components.
Other applications of abaca pulp in Japan include capacitor
and insulation papers, tea bag, masking tape, paper
cloth, stencil paper, filter oil absorbent paper, casings and
other specialty paper products.
A showcase of Filipino intrinsic artistry
On the other hand, innovative and functional fibercraft
from abaca have continued to evolve and introduced in
both the local and international markets with the Filipino
intrinsic artistry, ingenuity and world-class craftsmanship
coupled with the versatility of abaca fiber.
Molina said the Gifts, Toys and Housewares (GTH)
sector has made wider use for abaca, especially for home
furnishings, house decors and accessories and fashion as
well. With the current advocacy of lifestyle market promotion
wherein several product lines are packaged as one
to promote a specific theme, demand for abaca crafts is
expected to strengthen further.
For the local fibercraft and weaving industries, high
grades abaca fiber and “tinagak” or knotted abaca are the
most highly valued commodities as demand for such materials
has been on the rise not only in the local market but
also in China, now considered as the biggest competitor
for the supply of semi-processed fiber.
Other uses
Abaca had also entered the cosmetic and wellness industries
as cosmetic manufacturers also makes use of
abaca enzymes in the production of natural, organic, handcrafted
skin care products like abaca soap and lotion which
reportedly have anti-aging and therapeutic properties and
are now exported abroad.
Several other uses of abaca have been emerging as researches
on product development could further open up
more opportunities for abaca fiber especially as composite
material for aerospace, packaging and other industrial applications.
The construction industry is also making use of abaca
for light structural walls, insulation materials, floor and
wall coverings and roofing while apparel makers use it as
raw material component for organic denims.
Marketing strategies
But FIDA, Molina said, wanted to maximize next year
Abaca plants
and onward the popularity of Philippine abaca with the
agency’s commitment to sustain and enhance the demand
in both the domestic and international communities under
its major thrusts being undertaken in trade promotion, market
information exchange and institutional linkages.
Trade promotion is aimed to expand the market base for
the Philippine abaca industry through participation in local
and international trade fairs and exhibits, multi-media
promotions and fashion shows, among others.
Market information exchange is aimed at keeping
FIDA and other concerned government agencies and private
stakeholders abreast of industry developments, issues
and concerns, including trade possibilities in the global
market.
Institutional linkages are done through establishing
direct market linkages among fiber producers, processors
and end-users to ensure stable and more regular markets
and better prices for producers.
It also guarantees stable supplies for manufacturers and
end-users and strengthening direct linkages with other relevant
sectors to expand trade for Philippine abaca fiber
and manufactures.
Bicol as abaca industry leader
Bicol, Molina said would continue to be the country’s
abaca production leader, a status it grabbed from Eastern
Visayas starting in 2009 and continued to hold until today.
From among the abaca-producing provinces, Catanduanes,
with its production of 18,971 metric tons (mts)
representing 33.2 percent of the total national output remained
as the biggest producer last year. Leyte ranked
far second with a production of 7,089 mts, FIDA records
show.
With an 84-percent share of the world’s abaca fiber
production, the Philippines is considered the international
abaca capital since the Spanish era, with Albay as center
of the trade.
For the past 10 years, Philippine exports of abaca fiber
averaged 13,434 mts per annum as the demand of the
country’s major trading partners – the United Kingdom
and Japan, contracted substantially, particularly in 2009
when financial crisis hit the global economy.
From 2001 through 2010, the country’s production of
abaca fiber averaged 65,701 mt per year and had been decreasing
at a minimal rate of 0.8 percent per annum caused
by the devastating typhoons in 2006 coupled with abaca
viral diseases that continued to affect the plantations.
With an 84-percent share of the world’s abaca fiber
production, the Philippines is considered the international
abaca capital since the Spanish era, with Albay as center
of the trade.
For the past 10 years, Philippine exports of abaca fiber
averaged 13,434 mts per annum as the demand of the
country’s major trading partners – the United Kingdom
and Japan, contracted substantially, particularly in 2009
when financial crisis hit the global economy.
In 2010, however, there was a substantial increase in
the abaca imports of the major buyers including emerging
market China following their gradual recovery from the
global economic recession.
Europe, specifically the United Kingdom, is the premier
destination of Philippine abaca fiber, absorbing an
average of 6,663 mt or 49.6 percent of the ten-year average
exports.
The country posted an amount of US$ 120 million in
abaca export earnings last year or an over P5 billion on the
back of increased demand for abaca pulp and cordage in
the Philippines’ major markets, the FIDA said.
Production expansion
To maintain and enhance the abaca production side,
Molina said FIDA has been continuously undertake measures
towards increased production of quality abaca fiber.
These measures include an expansion program aimed
at establishing new agribusiness lands and generating
employment which as of 2010 had established a total of
48,931 hectares new abaca plantations bringing the overall
hectarage to 167,144,9 hectares
DENR partne
UN to boost L
biodiversity c
The Department of Environment and
sources (DENR) has partnered with the
tions (UN) last week to boost conservati
tainability of biodiversity by aligning th
and ecological development initiatives in fi
geographic regions of the country.
The project, called Partnerships for
Conservation: Mainstreaming in Local
Landscapes/Biodiversity Partnerships Pro
synergize systems, policies and capacitie
place at the local level, according to DENR
“Unabated destruction of habitat, from t
conversion as dictated by human consump
tion of local policies on biodiversity conse
“We need to come up with measures th
activities are friendlier to biodiversity and
Paje explained that the recently launche
ernment units (LGUs) to work hand in h
indigenous peoples and other stakeholders
tivities within the eight identified key biog
area of more than 700,000 hectares.
KBAs are sites considered significant fo
cern because of the species they contain.
The project will be implemented by the
Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) in pilot province
2; Mindoro and Palawan in Region 4; Anti
in Region 6; Surigao del Norte in Regio
Agusan del Sur in Region 13.
The total cost of the project is US$ 17
come from a grant by the United Nations
lion in counterpart funds from the gover
partner organizations.
Aloha Natural Fa
Farming is one thing; organic farming is
put them together, they sum up to Permacultu
of ecological design, ecological engineering,
mental design that develops sustainable arc
man settlements and self-maintained agricul
modeled from natural ecosystems.”
Permaculture is said to be where the disc
ganic farming came from since it is about
principles or the conceptual foundations” inv
science of systems ecology and the study of p
examples of sustainable land use. Thus, it i
that organic farming is the intelligent and su
of lands no matter how small or large, and in r
areas.
Defined as a type of agriculture “that depe
ods like crop rotation, green manure, compos
cal pest control,” organic farming is undeni
popularity in rural areas where most farm
that own small pieces of rice paddies and fie
enough funds to purchase high-priced ferti
cides and other herbicides to yield enough cro
Remarkably, it is also becoming a fad in la
Puerto Princesa for families that have spaces
and backyards to use and can provide at lea
they can put on their tables.
In Barangay Sta. Monica, Puerto Princesa
a family that operates a 2.8-hectare piece of la
the disciplines and principles of organic farmi
ha Natural Farm owned by Keith and Narcy M
Applicability to City Farmin
Notable about the Aloha Natural Farm is t
up in a high-end community in Puerto Princ
place where it can be found is, in fact, called “
Village” for the mansions and bungalow ho
be seen there.
In fact again, on another side, overlookin
ing landscape and greenery, is the residence
Governor Abraham Kahlil B. Mitra; and the B
the city’s local version of Disneyland.
But Aloha Natural Farm is not just your re
crops, fruits, vegetables and herbs. They also
rooms, flowers and livestock such as dom
hogs, ducks, chicken, goats, bees and fish.
feeding on processed “kitchen and crop wast
the technology that is known as aquaponics.
They also process its produce – they tu
cheese, pickles, salsa, oil, soap and alike tha
turn, produce and sales benefit Aloha House

NGAYON
PILIPINAS NGAYON Special Feature: Agriculture and Environment DISYEMBRE 3-9, 2012 7
rs with
GUs’
onservation
Natural Re-
United Naion
and suse
economic
five key bio-
Biodiversity
Agricultural
ject, aims to
s that are in Sec. PAJE
R Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje.
the forests to the seas, aggravated by their
tion and need, indicates that implementarvation
has been weak,” Paje said.
hat would ensure that our developmental
are more sustainable,” he added.
d project would enable capable local govand
with non-government organizations,
s in planning and managing economic acgeographic
areas (KBAs) covering a land
r biodiversity conservation of global con-
e DENR through the Protected Areas and
s, namely Cagayan and Quirino in Region
ique, Capiz, Aklan and Negros Occidental
n 10; Davao Oriental in Region 11; and
million, of which US$ 4.8 million will
Development Programme, US$ 10.2 milrnment
and another US$ 2 million from
rm in Puerto Princesa makes organic farming work
another. But
re, a “branch
and environhitecture/hutural
systems
cipline of ort
the “design
volved in the
pre-industrial
s safe to say
stainable use
rural or urban
nds on metht
and biologiiably
gaining
ing families
elds have not
ilizers, pestiops.
rge cities like
in their front
ast crops that
City, there is
nd following
ing – the Alo-
Mikkelson.
g
that it was set
esa City. The
Millionaires’
uses that can
g the sweepe
of Palawan
aker’s Hills,
gular farm of
have mushestic
cattles,
All of them
es,” and uses
rn them into
t they sell. In
e (located in-
side the farm) which caters to orphans aged zero to three
years that the couple manage since 1998.
The unique thing about the farm is that it is an incredible
biodiversity in such a small area. Pest and weed management
are seen as part of the fertility management. Crop
residue and weeds are utilized for compost as well as pest
control. Aloha farm created soil fertility through resource
recovery.
Sustainability
Aloha Natural Farm is beyond organics. Not only does
it practice organic farming for farm-to-table staple for their
wards, it has also adapted much of what it has read in principle,
adjusting for the particular tropical climate of Palawan
and clay soil structure. Through this, Narcy and her
husband quickly learned what local substitutions were appropriate.
Crop rotation, legume usage, companion planting
and composting are a few of them. They also made
ponds and rain catchments, making them well-irrigated
all-year long.
Aloha Natural Farm’s main principle is to feed the
soil, as the couple believes that inoculation is the means
of quickly stabilizing the farm system. Through microbial
action the plants will have all they need.
They practice what they call “the Ten Fundamentals of
Sustainable Farming”. According to Mikkelson, these ten
building blocks will create a storehouse of organic matter
that will become humus and give you better soil, hence
better yields. She said these ten fundamentals are the main
keys of success why Aloha Natural Farm yield quality
nutrient-dense, chemical-free produce, yet cost-efficiently.
First is proper crop rotation to beat the disease and pest
cycle. Narcy and her husband believe that this is the easiest
to do. She advises a farmer to just plant different families
of crops and for sure this will eliminate many problems.
Another is legume usage for nitrogen fixation. “Think
free fertilizer!” Narcy said, adding that selecting the proper
species and chemical fertilizers will no longer be needed.
“Let the nitrogen appear out-of-thin-air!”
Green fertilizers to feed the next crop efficiently, comes
third. She says that properly plowing a crop under takes
considerable effort, but swears that it’s worth it!Another
fundamental to sustainability is composting. This is to
build up humus -- aerobic, anaerobic, vermicast kinds.
But then, she says that this is where the work will kill the
farmer, if one doesn’t do it properly.
Inter-cropping, or companion planting for insect control
is also on her list. Low energy planning is all it takes.
Pesticides will no longer be needed. Deciding which crops
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park
Forestland Management Program,
inilunsad ng DENR sa Nueva Ecija
Inilunsad kamakailan
ng Department of Environment
and Natural
Resources (DENR) -- sa
pamamagitan ng Forest
Management Bureau --
ang Forestland Management
Program (FMP) sa
akademya ng ahensya sa
Carangglan, Nueva Ecija.
Inihayag ni DENR
Regional Executive Director
Maximo Dichoso
na layunin ng 10 taong
proyekto, na popondohan
ng bansang Japan, na i-
reforest pagsapit ng taong
2022 ang hindi bababa sa
44 libong ektaryang kalbong
kagubatan sa Upper
Pampanga Basin sa pamamagitan
ng pag-oorganisa
at pagkuha ng suporta ng
mga lokal na komunidad
at peoples organizations
mula sa pitong barangay
na nakapalibot sa watersheds
ng Carranglan-Talavera
at Pantabangan.
Dagdag pa ni Dichoso
na hangad rin ng programa
na makatulong sa
“disaster risk mitigation
efforts” ng pamahalaan
at isulong ang pag-unlad
ng mga nakatira rito sa
pamamagitan ng pagkakaroon
ng mga proyektong
pangkabuhayan at
paggawad ng land tenure
rights.
Dalawang iba pang
kritikal na river basins --
ang Jalaur sa Iloilo, Upper
Magat sa Cordillera at
Cagayan sa Cagayan Valley
region -- ay saklaw din
ng FMP.
Organically grown fresh lettuce in the farm of
Aloha House in Palawan
should neighbor each other is called companion planting.
Planning which plants should follow each other is called
crop rotation.
Next is mulching to conserve topsoil and moisture.
Mikkelson says that this takes some work, gathering and
spreading the cover over the exposed soil, but it saves
from weeding and watering. The herb crew comes down
the mountain with some Chinese parsley, Indian coriander
and garlic chives.
Also a fundamental that she considers is cover cropping
to conserve topsoil and moisture, or living mulch.
Impact of Yield
In organic farming, the issue is always: “Can organic
farming produce enough food for everybody?”
Accordingly, many critics of organic farming argue
that compared to regular farming, “its yield is much lower
and therefore, needs more land to produce the same
amount of food, resulting in more widespread deforestation
and biodiversity loss, and thus undermining the environmental
benefits of organic practices.”
For the Aloha Nature Farm, Narcy and Keith employed
a wide-ranging meta-analysis to study the relative
yield of organic farming versus the traditional type. Available
data showed them that indeed, most organic yields
are lower, but is highly circumstantial, in that it actually
depends on the system that will be used, and the traits of
the site where it will be set up.
The success in yields also depend largely on the consideration
of the (1) kind of management practices; (2)
types of crops to be planted; (3) studying and understanding
the factors that limit organic yields; and (4) assessment
of what possible impact it may have on the environment,
the community where it is located, and what are
its benefits.
Paje hails Palawan
Underground River
as ‘unending source
of national pride’
Environment and Natural Resources
Secretary Ramon J .P. Paje was elated over
the new international recognition given to
the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River
National Park (PPSRNP) as a “Wetland
of International Importance” under the
Swiss-based Ramsar Convention, saying
it is a big boost to tourism and a source of
national pride.
In November last year, the protected
area known for its spectacular limestone
formations was also proclaimed among the
world’s New 7 Wonders of Nature, which
sealed Puerto Princesa’s place as top tourism
drawer in the Philippines.
“The Puerto Princesa Underground
River has earned its rightful place as an unending
source of national pride and a top
drawer for tourists,” Paje said in time for
the unveiling of PPSRNP as a Ramsar site
on Dec. 4 in Sabang, Puerto Princesa City.
PPSRNP is the fifth Ramsar site in the
Philippines, after Agusan Marsh Wildlife
Sanctuary in Mindanao, Naujan Lake National
Park in Oriental Mindoro, Olango
Island Wildlife Sanctuary in Cebu, and
Tubbataha Reefs National Park in Palawan,
which were all included in the 1999
list.
The five Philippine wetlands have made
it to the Ramsar List because of their ecological,
botanical, zoological, limnological
or hydrological importance.
The Ramsar Convention cited PPSRNP
as “unique in the biographic region” for it
connects a range of important ecosystems
from the mountain-to-the-sea, including a
limestone karst landscape with a complex
cave system, mangrove forests, lowland
evergreen tropical rainforests, and freshwater
swamps.
The underground river is home to 800
plants and 233 animal species, some of
which are endemic, the convention said.
Adopted in 1971 in Iran, the Ramsar
Convention is a treaty among 163 countries
aimed towards the conservation and
wise use of wetlands. To date, it has listed
2,062 wetlands of international importance.
Under the convention, wetlands are
classified as natural and man-made habitats
which include rivers, coral reefs, swamps,
marshes, billabongs, lakes, mudflats, mangroves,
fens, peat bogs, or bodies of water.
It urges countries to nominate sites with
rare or unique wetlands, or wetlands that
are vital for biodiversity conservation, for
the Ramsar List. A member-country plans
and oversees a framework to conserve a
declared Ramsar site to maintain its ecological
character.
Prior to its proclamation as one of the
world’s top natural attractions last Jan. 28
and as a Ramsar site, the 22,202-hectare
PPSRNP was declared a National Geological
Monument by the National Committee
on Geological Sciences on Dec. 14, 2003,
and was inscribed in Biosphere Reserve
and World Heritage Site of the United Nations
Educational, Scientific, and Cultural
Organization on Dec. 4, 1999.
Gawad Saka Awards tumutulong sa
pagsasaka, pangingisda sa Ilocos Sur
Saksi ang mga magsasaka at mangingisda sa Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, na ang kahirapan
ay puwedeng malabanan.
Ito ay sa pamamagitan ng mga trabahong nasa mga barangay mula pa noong unang
panahon – ang pagsasaka at pangingisda, ayon sa Municipal Agriculture Office
(MAO) ng bayan.
Ipinaliwanag ng MAO na ang pagsasaka at pangingisda ang dahilan kung bakit
hindi bumababa ang ekonomiya ng mga pamilya sa 33 na barangay ng bayan, bagkus
ay tumataas pa dahil unti-unting sumusunod ang mga residente sa bagong teknolohiya
sa agrikultura. At ang pagkapanalo ng tatlong mamamayan sa Gawad Saka Awards
ang nagpapatingkad sa pagpupursigi nila sa mga trabahong ito.
Tatlo ang nanalo sa paligsahang probinsiyal ng Gawad Saka na kinabibilangan nina
Joenah Sevilleja na Outstanding Agricultural Extension Worker; ang barangay captain
ng Turod Patac na si Edgardo Sonido bilang Outstanding Integrated Rice-Based
Farming System; at si Elpidio Mejia na Outstanding Small Animal Raiser.
Sila ay mga “regional nominees,” ayon kay Provincial Agriculturist Teofilo Quintal,
noong naigawad ang mga premyo sa Regional Gawad Saka Awarding Ceremony
ng mga Outstanding Achievers in Agriculture and Fisheries sa Nueva Segovia Consortium
of Cooperatives Plaza sa bayan ng Caoayan noong Okt. 30.
Ang Gawad Saka Awards ay nagpupugay sa mga magsasaka at mangingisda na
nakagawa ng magandang ehemplo sa sambayanang Filipino sa pamamagitan ng
kanilang hanapbuhay. Ito ay taunang ibinibigay ng gobyerno nasyonal sa pamumuno
ni Presidente Aquino. Nagsisilbi itong inspirasyon at hamon sa lahat ng mga Filipinong
agrikultura ang piniling pinagmumulan ng kabuhayan.
Sinabi ni Municipal Agricultural Extension Worker Joenah Sevilleja na nagbibigay
ang Gawad Saka Awards ng pagkakataon sa mga magsasaka at mangingisda na pagandahin
pa ang kanilang mga trabaho upang umunlad ang agrikultura sa bansa at ang
mga itinuturo ng Kagawaran ng Agrikultura (DA) na magpaparami ng produkto ay
kanilang gagawin at gayundin ay huwag silang mawalan ng pag-asa kung hindi man
sila magtagumpay sa una.
Sinabi pa ni Sevilleja na dapat lang makipagtulungan sila sa DA at sa lokal na pamahalaan
upang maituwid ang anumang pagkakamali sa pagtatanim at pangangalaga
ng mga isda at nang sa ganoon ay hindi malayo ang kanilang tagumpay.
Inspirasyon ang Awards na ito, sabi pa ni Sevilleja, upang huwag magbago ang
magandang pagtingin at paniniwala ng mga magsasaka at mangingisda sa trabahong
agrikultura. Dahil ito ang nagpapaliwanag sa kanila na ang kasipagan, teknolohiya
at kooperasyon ng mga ahensiya ng gobyerno pati na mga pribadong grupo ang nagbibigay
ng progreso sa mga pamilya sa mga barangay.

8 DISYEMBRE 3-9, 2012 Opportunities Update and People, Places & Events
PILIPINAS NGAYON
OPPORTUNITIES UPDATE
JOBS: School to help jobless Capicenos
Out-of-school youths (OSYs) and other interested individuals in Roxas City, Capiz, will now
have an opportunity to join skills training program for gainful employment. This initiative to
help jobless Capiceños has been formalized by the Roxas City government thru a memorandum
of agreement (MOA) with the Mobile Technology School (MTS) implementers in the
province. MTS in the city will cover skills training on Basic Arc Welding, Shielded Metal Arc
Welding (SMAW), Beauty Care, Dress Making, Commercial Cooking, Refrigeration and Air
Conditioning, Consumer Electronics Servicing, Furniture and Cabinet Making, Meat Processing,
Food Technology, Electrical Installation and Computer Hardware Servicing. It is a brainchild
of the Capiz State University (CapSU) – Roxas City main campus and implemented in
collaboration with the Capiz provincial government, Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority (TESDA) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). Hundreds of
OSYs have already graduated from the MTS trainings in various parts of the province. Aside
from OSYs, graduates from the training courses also included inmates and police dependents,
among others. The MOA signing was led Roxas City Mayor Angel Alan Celino, Capiz Gov.
Victor A. Tanco, Sr., and representatives William Dungog and Dr. Pedro Gabino of DOLE –
Capiz and CapSU, respectively. Roxas City Press Bureau (RCPB) staff Jonathan Palomar
said that Celino has conveyed his appreciation during the MOA signing activity that MTS will
benefit OSYs and other jobless residents of the city. He added that the training sessions on
designated venues will be conducted every weekend. Initial registrants for the upcoming MTS
classes particularly on Basic Arc Welding, SMAW and Beauty Care are those who requested for
the training during the conduct of the city government’s barangay caravan in the past months.
(JCM/AAL/PIA 6 Capiz)
LIVELIHOOD: Waterlily katuwang sa pag-aaral
Hindi dahilan ang kakapusan ng perang pangmatrikula upang hindi makapasok ang isang
kabataang Calumpitenyo. Pinatunayan ito ni Analyn Barquillo, na nasa unang taon sa kolehiyo
sa kursong Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRM), na kahit mula siya sa isang mahirap na
pamilya, ay kaya niyang pag-aralin ang sarili kahit pa sa pribadong eskwelahan. Ito ay dahil
sa tulong ng kanyang kabuhayan sa paggawa ng mga produktong yari sa waterlily. Ayon kay
Analyn, na kasalukuyang nag-aaral sa Our Lady of Manaoag College, kusa siyang nagsanay sa
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) mula nang malaman niyang may livelihood training
program na ipinagkaloob ang ahensiya sa kanilang barangay. “Talagang hindi ko pinalagpas
ito dahil sabi ko sa sarili ko, kaya kong mag-aral sa eskwelahan na gusto ko kahit mahirap lang
kami. Kaya napakalaking tulong na natuto akong gumawa ng mga handicrafts at produkto na
gawa sa waterlily,” pahayag ni Analyn. Taong 2008 nang magsimulang magsanay ang dalaga
sa DTI at ngayon ay sanay na sanay na siyang gumawa ng bag, wallet, tsinelas at iba pang
maaaring gawin gamit ang materyales na waterlily. Lumalahok na rin siya sa mga malalaking
trade fairs tulad ng ginanap na National OTOP (One Town, One Product) Trade Expo kamakailan
kung saan ibinida sa pambansang merkado ang mga produktong likha sa bawat bayan
ng Pilipinas. Layunin nito na patuloy na ipakilala at palakasin ang larangan ng Small and Medium
Enterprises (SMEs) sa pamamagitan ng programang OTOP na nabuo sa pamamagitan
ng Executive Order No. 176 na ipinalabas ng Tanggapan ng Pangulo ng Pilipinas noong 2004.
Taong 2003 nang isulong ang pagpapaunlad ng kabuhayan sa kanayunan sa pamamagitan ng
paggamit ng mga katutubong material upang maging isang produktong pagkakakilanlan ng
isang bayan. Ayon sa tala ng DTI, pinakamatagumpay na OTOP ang istratehiyang Tatak Bulakenyo
na sa taon ding iyon naisilang bilang tugon ng administrasyon noon ni Gobernador
Josefina Mendoza dela Cruz sa pambansang programa na lumikha ng maraming trabaho sa
pamamagitan ng SMEs. Kaya naman hanggang ngayon ay agresibo ang Pamahalaang Panlalawigan
na patuloy na isulong ang pagtatanghal sa mga produktong Tatak Bulakenyo sa tulong
ng OTOP ng DTI. Sa bayan ng Calumpit, nauna nang ipinakilala bilang Tatak Bulakenyo
ang pamosong longganisa nito. Ngayon, maging ang dati’y hindi pinapansin na mga hibla
at dahon ng waterlily ay hindi na tinatapon kundi isa nang pinagkukuhanan ng kabuhayan ng
mga tagarito, partikular na ng mga kabataan na pursigidong makatamo ng mataas na antas ng
edukasyon. Sinabi pa ni Analyn na: “Kung masipag ka talaga, maliit lang ang puhunan sa
waterlily at kaya mo nang kumita ng pang-tuition fee.” Lahat aniya ng uri ng waterlily ay
uubrang gawing materyales basta’t patutuyuin lamang sa loob ng isang linggo sa pamamagitan
ng pagbibilad sa init ng araw.
INVESTMENT: CV image brand launched
The Regional Development Council (RDC) in Tuguegarao City launched last week the new
image brand of Region 2, “Bountiful Cagayan Valley Region,” a tagline which is expected to
attract more investors for Region 2. RDC 2 Acting Chair and National Economic Development
Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Mary Anne E.R. Darauay said through the slogan,
Cagayan Valley Region will be distinguished from other regions and it will have the opportunity
to market its investment potentials not only in the country but also in the international market.
The logo consists of radiant amber rays which symbolize the five provinces, Batanes, Cagayan,
Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino. The fiery red stroke symbolizes the energy and passion
of the five provinces working together in improving the quality of life of the people and the
verdant peaks and valleys represent the region’s rich aquatic and marine resources. Overall,
the Cagayan Valley region believes that with its bountiful resources, the sun will shine in it. In
Batanes, its rich ecological resources and biodiversity contribute to its beauty and bounty. The
province is also nominated to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) World Heritage Site List under the cultural landscape category. Cagayan province,
on the other hand, is blessed with 430,000 hectares of arable land suitable for corn, rice,
and high value crops production. It has huge grasslands which support its growing livestock
industry, an abundant forest cover and a highly productive fishery industry. The Cagayan Special
Economic Zone and Freeport (CSEZFP) in Sta. Ana which is being developed as a major
transshipment point for trade in the Asia-Pacific rim, plays an important role of promoting trade
with international markets such as China and Japan. The province of Isabela is the country’s top
grain producer with 13 percent production rate for rice and 16 percent for corn. It has become a
land of investment of the Isabela Special agro-industrial Economic Zone and the Multi-industry
Clusters located in the western portion of the province.
BUSINESS: Seminar for would-be entrepreneurs
Seventy-six business owners, most of them members of the respected General Trias Business
Club, would-be entrepreneurs, and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-
Cavite participated in the half-day Small and Medium Enterprise and Entrepreneurial seminar
organized by the local government in partnership with PLDT SME Nation and Sun Cellular.
Dubbed as “Kapihan with PLDT and Sun,” the seminar, which was held at the municipal audio-visual
room, aimed to empower the participants with relevant strategies from the industry
experts and empower them with the latest technologies readily available to make their business
more productive and competitive. Rico Chavez from the Department of Trade and Industry –
Cavite presented and explained the basic concepts on “starting-up a business” and the current
government regulations. Joey Espiritu, an entrepreneur and faculty member from the Lyceum
of the Philippines University – Cavite campus, meanwhile, discussed marketing strategies and
his own personal experience in managing his family’s business. Representatives from the
PLDT and Sun Cellular presented their latest business solution products intended to equip business
owners with modern tools for them to manage their own business creativities.
Bulacan nanatiling
SME capital ng CL
Wala pa ring makatalo
sa Bulacan bilang lalawigang
nangunguna sa
larangan ng mga Small
and Medium Enterprises
(SMEs) sa Gitnang Luzon
o Central Luzon (CL).
Kinumpirma ito ng
Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI) sa maraming
pagkakataon lalo na
tuwing may ginaganap na
pagtitipon ang mga negosyanteng
nasa sektor ng
SME.
Ayon kay Zorina Aldana,
director ng DTI sa
Bulacan, pangunahing
dahilan kung bakit ang
lalawigan pa rin ang itinuturing
na SME Capital ng
rehiyon ay sapagkat 35
porsyento ng mga SMEs
sa Gitnang Luzon ay
matatagpuan sa Bulacan.
Matatandaan na nagsimulang
makuha ng Bu-
lacan ang nasabing titulo
nang ilunsad noong 2003
ang programang Tatak
Bulakenyo. Isa itong
inisyatibo ng Pamahalaang
Panlalawigan ng
Bulacan upang palakasin
ang mga SME sa lalawigan
sa pamamagitan
ng pagkakaroon nito ng
sariling pagkakakilanlan
o logo upang maitaas
ang kalidad ng paggawa
at makapasa sa pamantayan
ng pandaidigang
merkado.
Noon pa man, aabot sa
halos 40,000 na mga Bulakenyo
ang nakarehistro
bilang mga SME ayon
sa tala ng Provincial Cooperative
and Economic
Development Office
(PCEDO).
Makailang ulit na ring
nakatamo ng mga pagkilala
at karangalan ang
mga produktong Tatak
Bulakenyo bilang mga
modelong SMEs sa Pilipinas
na nagbunsod sa paglulunsad
ng One Town,
One Product (OTOP)
program ng DTI sa bisa
ng isang Executive Order
ng Tanggapan ng Pangulo
ng Pilipinas noong 2004.
Patunay dito ang 30
porsyento na nagmumula
sa industriya ng wholesale
at retail industry habang
20 porsyento mula
sa manufacturing industry
habang ang natitira
ay umiikot sa mga serbisyo,
pagtitingi o retailing,
rental at iba pa.
Kilala ang Bulacan
na lalawigan na may natatanging
produkto o dito
lamang nakikita tulad
ng Ensaymadang Malolos,
Inipit ng Guiguinto,
Kapeng Tagalog ng
Dona Remedios Trinidad,
Tinapang Bangus
ng Hagonoy, Minasa ng
Bustos at Longganisang
Calumpit.
Engineered bamboos tampok
sa Likha ng Central Luzon 2012
Tampok ang mga
produktong engineeredbamboos
(E-Bamboos)
na gawa ng mga Kapampangan
furniture makers
sa ika-14 na Likha ng
Central Luzon (LCL) na
ginanap kamakailan sa
Megatrade Hall 2 ng SM
Megamall sa lungsod
ng Mandaluyong. Ang
display, na konsepto ni
Vina Domingo Roy ng
1001 Strategies Product
Development Consultancy,
ay magpapakita ng
iba’t ibang gawa ng Betis
Crafts, Calfurn Manufacturing
Philippines, Country
Accents, Dale Mathis
Studio, Homebrew Furniture,
Philiana Design, at
South Sea Veneer.
Ayon kay Department
of Trade and Industry
(DTI) Regional Director
Blesila Lantayona, nagiging
tanyag na sa buong
mundo ang kawayan dahil
sa pagiging eco-friendly
at epektibong alternatibo
sa tropical timber.
Ang pagsulong aniya
ng mga engineered bam-
boos ay nagbukas ng
pintuan para sa furniture
makers ng Pampanga
na magkaroon ng mga
bagong kliyente dito at sa
ibayong dagat.
May 150 micro-,
small-, and mediumentrepreneurs
mula sa
mga lalawigan ng Aurora,
Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva
Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac,
at Zambales ang sumali sa
LCL ngayong taon.
Ibinenta sa limangaraw
na bazaar ang mga
regionally-produced envi-
ronment-friendlyChristmas decors, processed
foods, home furnishings,
ceramics, jewelry, fashion
accessories, bags, footwear,
at novelty products.
Ang LCL ay magkasamang
inorganisa ng DTI 3
at Philexport 3 at suportado
ng Regional Development
Council 3, Philippine
Information Agency,
at Central Luzon Growth
Corridor Foundation Inc.
Pumalo ng P30.85 milyon
ang total sales ng fair
noong nakaraang taon.
Balanga City, maglulunsad ng sariling encyclopedia
Maglalabas ang Pamahalaang
Panlungsod
ng Balanga, ng 192-pahinang
encyclopedia na
ayon sa mga matataas na
opisyal ay naglalaman ng
mga hindi pa nakikitang
detalye tungkol sa lungsod.
Ang paglulunsad ng
aklat ay bunsod na rin ng
inspirasyon mula sa mga
tao na ipreserba ang kasaysayan
ng probinsiya
ng Bataan.
Nakapaloob sa Balanga
Encyclopedia, na
sinimulang gawin noong
2010, ang mga impormasyon
tungkol sa mga
prominenteng tao, lugar
at kaganapan sa lungsod
na masusing sinaliksik at
pinatunayan ng City of
Balanga Historical Committee
(CBHC).
Ipinahayag ni Mayor
Jose Enrique Garcia III
na hindi pa nagkaroon ng
Director ALDANA Ex-Gov. DELA CRUZ
ganitong ka-informative
na resource material na
makulay na nakuha ang
mga larawang nagpapakita
ng mga kahangahangang
kaganapan at na
naglalarawan sa paghihirap
at tagumpay ng mga
dakilang tao ng Balanga.
Sinabi naman ni Governor
Enrique Garcia Jr.
sa kanyang mensahe na
trabaho ng mga lokal na
pamahalaan na lumikha
ng mga ganitong kalipunan
ng impormasyon
ngunit madalas aniya
itong naisasantabi.
Ayon sa CBHC, mayroong
tatlong librong naisulat
tungkol sa Bataan
at Balanga sa nakalipas
na limang dekada. Nakapaloob
dito ang mga urban
legend at haka-haka.
Layunin ng Balanga
Encyclopedia na mag-
Pangasinan journalist wins
Bright Leaf agri journ award
A Pangasinan journalist was
among this year’s awardees during
the annual Bright Leaf Agriculture
Journalism Awards night held recently
at Hyatt Hotel in Manila.
Philippine Daily Inquirer correspondent
and Aksyon Radyo-
Pangasinan station manager Gabriel
Cardinoza received the award after
his article, “Weather-proof Fish
Cage Seen as Savior of Aquaculture
Industry” published last year in the
Philippine Daily Inquirer, was chosen
Best Agriculture Feature Story
(National).
Cardinoza, a veteran newsman in
the province, got a certificate and
P20,000 cash.
“I’m happy that my story was
chosen. It was something I did not
expect because the article was just
another success story. But I realized
that it also reflected the effort of our
government agencies to find ways to
prevent man-made disasters, such as
fish kills, and protect the environment
in the process,” Cardinoza told
the Philippine Information Agency.

3
PILIPINAS NGAYON Pamilyang OFWs
DISYEMBRE 3-9, 2012 9
The Department of
Labor and Employment
(DOLE) has designated
the Overseas Workers
Welfare Administration
(OWWA) as the official
and only authorized entity
to handle pre-departure
orientation seminars
(PDOS) for household
service workers (HSWs).
The Labor Department’s
decision for OW-
WA’s mandatory conduct
of such seminars to service
workers is geared to
prevent cases of culture
shock, maltreatment,
rape, and other severe
untoward incidents gathered
by welfare officers
abroad.
OWWA’s “takeover”
Baldoz: OWWA is the only authorized agency
to conduct pre-departure seminars for HSWs
as the official and only
authorized entity to handle
PDOS was based on
the instruction of Labor
Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz
that aims to standardize
the implementation
of culture familiarization
and language training for
household service workers.
Prior to the instruction,
the seminars were also
carried out by recognized
PDOS-service providers
in the private sector.
In its latest news release,
OWWA said in line
with the order, the agency
trained 43 of its language
instructors and PDOS
trainers to further hone
their presentation skills in
language instruction and
culture familiarization for
the benefit of these would
be overseas workers.
They also conducted
a training to enhance the
conduct of Comprehensive
Pre-Departure Education
Program (CPDEP)
to acquaint the overseas
Filipino worker (OFW)
on life overseas and prepare
him for any eventu-
alities.
OWWA said that language
instruction is important
to familiarize
OFWs on simple words
integrally used in every
day conversation such as
alphabets and numbers,
basic food items, parts of
the house, cleaning materials,
common sensations
(in care-giving), basic
directions and/or expressions
are taught to help
HSWs interact responsively
with their foreign
employers in performing
their jobs.
The agency added
that knowledge on language
used in the country
where an OFW intends
to go will also aid them
in comprehending the
thoughts of other people
when they go outside
the employer’s house
and transact in markets,
malls, police, embassies,
and the like.
According to OWWA,
mandatory trainings are
given in basic Arabic,
Hebrew, Italian, Mandarin,
Cantonese and English,
as most HSWs are
deployed to Middle East
and Chinese-speaking
countries, while a recognizable
number is sent to
Italy.
Publiko pinag-iingat
vs cargo forwarders na
walang akreditasyon
Nagbabala sa publiko ang Kagawaran ng Kalakalan at
Industriya o Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) sa
Lungsod ng San Fernando, La Union, laban sa mga cargo
forwarders na walang akreditasyon.
Kasabay ng babala ang payo ng DTI sa mga Pilipinong
manggagawa sa ibang bansa o overseas Filipino workers
(OFW) na maging maingat sa pagpapadala ng kanilang
mga balikbayan box lalong lalo na ngayong panahon ng
kapaskuhan.
Ito ay upang tulungan ang mga OFW na siguraduhin ang
kaligtasan at pagdating ng mga padala sa tamang oras, paliwanag
ni DTI Region 1 Information Officer Amelia Galvez.
Magbibigay din ng akreditasyon sa mga sea cargo forwarders
ang DTI sa pamamagitan ng kanilang Philippine
Shippers Bureau (PSB), pahayag ni Galvez.
Dahil sa mga sumbong na natanggap ng DTI na maraming
balikbayan box ang hindi nakararating sa destinasyon,
ang ahensiya ay naglathala ng kanilang blacklist foreign
consolidators at cargo forwarders upang mabigyang babala
ang publiko lalong lalo na ang mga OFW at kanilang pamilya.
“Dito sa rehiyon, wala pang naitalang sumbong hinggil
sa mga hindi naiparating na balikbayan box,” ayon kay
Galvez.
Inilathala ng DTI ang mga sumusunod bilang blacklist
Foreign Consolidators/Principals: Sa United Arab Emirates:
Al Rodah Marine Cargo, Cityline Cargo, Dagupan Cargo
Packaging Services, Express Link Cargo Services and
Smooth Express; United States of America: AAA Cargo
Express Inc., ABS-CBN Star Kargo, Aerosend, Alas Cargo,
Associated Consolidations Express, FRS Philippine Freight
Services Inc., Shipping Express and South Atlantic Cargo;
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Cargo Net Worldwide Services
(dating FAL-World Express Cargo), Fil Asia Cargo Forwarders
Philippines, Global Cargo, RJM Freight Forwarders
(isang bahagi ng Al-Zagel Cargo), at North and South
Express Cargo; Singapore: Hagibis Express Pte. Ltd., at
Maru Cargo Logistics LLP; Ireland: Maharlika Enterprise
Cargo Services and SCRL Cargo; at sa iba pang bansa:
Bayanihan Express sa Malaysia, Dausan International
Forwarder sa Australia, Ford Cargo International sa Hong
Kong at Trico International sa Cyprus.
7th Pamaskong Handog
sa Pamilyang OFWs
gaganapin sa Dis. 13-14
Isang exposition na
titiyak sa transpormasyon
ng karamihan sa overseas
Filipino workers (OFWs)
at kanilang pamilya bilang
mga negosyante
sa kanilang mga komunidad
ang gaganapin sa
Dis. 13-14 sa Philippine
Trade Training Center ng
Department of Trade and
Industry sa Pasay City, ipinahayag
kahapon ng Pamilyang
OFWs-Small and
Medium Entrepreneurs
Network Foundation Inc.
(Pamilyang OFWs).
Pinamagatang 7th
Pamaskong Handog sa
Pamilyang OFWs at
MSMEs (micro, small and
medium entrepreneurs),
ang aktibidad na makakasabay
ng Handog kay P-
Noy Jobs and Livelihood
Expo (Part 4) ay isang
one-stop-shop para sa mga
oportunidad sa trabaho,
kabuhayan, pamumuhunan
at pagnenegosyo na
iniaalok ng private, government
at non-government
organization (NGO)
sectors.
Sinabi ni Pamilyang
OFWs president George
Arban Arriola na ang twin
event ay bilang suporta sa
OFW Month at 12th International
Migrants Day gayundin
sa vision ng Pamilyang
OFWs na matiyak
ang transpormasyon ng
karamihan sa pamilyang
OFWs bilang mga negosyante
sa kanilang komunidad.
Ipinahayag naman ni
Pamilyang OFWs special
projects director Ma.
Cristina Garcia na itatampok
sa expo ang isang
press conference at open
forum, overseas at local
jobs fair, libreng livelihood
at business opportunities
seminars, libreng overseas
calls, libreng legal advise,
at daily raffle.
Inaasahang dadalo sa
dalawang-araw na expo
na inisponsoran ng Manulife
Philippines at MIMA-
ROPA (dating Pamilyang
OFWs) Theme Park and
Resort ang mga nagbabalak,
nagbabakasyon at
dating OFWs at kanilang
pamilya; nagbabalak, kasalukuyan
at dating MSMEs
at kanilang pamilya; at ang
mga may kinalaman sa
overseas employment and
MSME industries.

10 DISYEMBRE 3-9, 2012 Classified Ads
PILIPINAS NGAYON
W A N T E D
Provincial Dealers of
PILIPINAS NGAYON
Interested parties, please call:
Tel. No. 400-6072
Cellphone No. 0908-1117142
WANTED
Livelihood
Trainors for
Pamilyang OFW-SME
Network Foundation Inc.
(Pamilyang OFWs/OPO)
Interested parties, please call:
Tel. No. 400-6072
Cellphone No. 0908-1117142
FOR SALE
Special Dried Tilapia
P100 per ¼ kilo pack
For details, contact:
Tel. No. 736-2401
Cellphone No. 0949-3525458

2 DISYEMBRE 3-9, 2012 Nation
PILIPINAS NGAYON
P-NOY: GAT BONIFACIO
DAPAT NATING TULARAN
Ni RICKY MENDOZA
Binigyang-diin ni Pangulong Benigno Aquino III na
dapat tularan nating mga Pilipino si Gat Andres Bonifacio.
Ito ang pinakabuod ng mensahe ng Pangulo nang
kanyang pangunahan ang paggunita noong nakaraang
Biyernes sa ika-149 taon anibersaryo ng kapanganakan
ni Gat Andres Bonifacio na ginanap sa Dambana ng
Pinaglabanan, Lungsod ng San Juan.
Ang pagdiriwang na may temang: “Bonifacio: Dangal
at Kabayanihan” ay tinampukan din ng paghahawi
ng Bonifacio@150 logo na naghuhudyat ng pagsisimula
ng isang taong kaganapan tungo sa ika-150 kaarawan
ng pambansang bayani sa susunod na taon.
Sa mensahe ng Pangulo, sinabi niya na dapat gampanan
ng bawat Pilipino ang tungkulin sa paghuhubog ng
bayan tulad ng ginawa ni Bonifacio at iba pang bayani.
Sinabi pa nito na ang Pilipino ay lahi ng mga bayani
na handang tumugon sa tawag ng bayan.
“Lagi nating tatandaan, lahi tayo ng mga bayani.
Hindi tayo mauubusan ng Bonifacio. Hindi tayo mauubusan
ng Rizal. Hindi tayo mauubusan ng Ninoy. Hindi
tayo mauubusan ng mga Pilipinong handang tumugon
sa ngalan ng bandila at bayan,” pahayag ng Pangulo.
Inihalintulad din ng Pangulo ang katapangan, hirap
at pagkabigo na dinanas ni Bonifacio sa kanyang pakikipaglaban
sa pakikipaglaban ng mga Pilipino sa kasalukuyang
panahon.
“Mahalaga ring mamulat ang mga tao sa katotohanan:
na sa bawat sagupaang kaniyang pinamunuan, ni
minsan, hindi nanaig si Bonifacio. Gayunpaman, ang
bawat munting kabiguan, ang bawat buhay na naibuwis,
ang bawat patak ng dugong dumanak, ay siyang
dumilig sa lupang uhaw sa kalayaan; siyang nagpataba
sa mga tigang na bisig ng mga Katipunero, siyang
nagpasibol sa diwa ng kabayanihan sa bawat sulok ng
ating kapuluan. Makailang beses man siyang nabigo,
hindi nagbago ang paninindigan ni Bonifacio: lalaban
tayo, hangga’t hindi natin nakakamit ang kalayaan. Nakatutok
siya sa kaniyang adhika: matalo man tayo sa
mga munting laban, hindi magtatagal ay magtatagumpay
rin tayo sa digmaan; makakamit din natin ang tunay
na kasarinlan,” pahayag pa ng Pangulo.
Sinabi pa ng Pangulo na ngayong nakamit na natin
ang kalayaan, napatunayan na natin sa mga nagtangkang
sumakop sa atin na tayo’ý lahi na hindi pasisindak,
at handa tayong ipaglaban kung alin ang tunay na
sa atin.
CJ Sereno calls on public
to support judicial reforms
Chief Justice Ma.
Lourdes Sereno has
asked the public to support
judicial reforms that
will be carried out so that
the role of judges in administering
justice will
be fully understood.
Sereno, who is entering
her third month in office
as chief justice, said
she has started working
on judicial reforms that
will be visible to the
public for them to understand
how judges take
on their role in the whole
system of meting out justice.
The reforms include
unclogging court dockets,
jail decongestion and
decentralization of the
High Court’s administrative
functions which are
to be carried out in the
next three years.
Sereno was the keynote
speaker the other
Friday (Nov. 23) in the
three-day convention
of the Philippine Trial
Judges League, Inc. from
Nov. 22 to 24 at the Fort
Ilocandia Resort Hotel in
Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.
“But there will be
many internal reforms as
well that will not be seen
as visibly by the public,”
she told more than 100
judges coming from Regions
1 to 13, including
the Sharia court.
Sereno upheld lower
court judges as “modern-
Every Dec. 9 is now
Anti-Corruption Day
President Benigno S. Aquino III, by virtue of Proclamation
No. 506, has declared every Dec. 9 as National
Anti-Corruption Day to raise public awareness on issues
of corruption.
This is also in line with the General Assembly of the
United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNAC)
which designed Dec. 9 as International Anti-Corruption
Day.
The Philippines is a signatory to the UNAC.
In his statement, Pres. Aquino said that corruption
poses serious problems and threats to the stability and
security of societies, undermining the institutions and
values of democracy, ethical values and justice, and jeopardizing
sustainable development and the rule of law.
In Western Visayas, the Office of the Ombudsman
and the Civil Service Commission, in partnership with
the Regional Association of Government Executives
(RANGE) and the Association of Resident Ombudsmen
(ARO) will hold a simultaneous Integrity Parade on Dec.
9, which will be participated in by all anti-corruption
partners and crusaders from both the public and the private
sectors in Iloilo City.
day heroes” who deserve
to be given the proper
amount of attention, resources
and support as
they go about their role
in the delivery of justice.
Citing records, Sereno
said at least 605,000
cases remain pending in
lower courts as of June
this year.
She said the cases are
spread out unevenly with
some courts having less
than 20 cases while others
are toiling on as high
as 4,000 cases.
Sereno said judges
need administrative support
and human resources
to ease their dockets to
a manageable 300-case
level.
“Many of you are raring
to close or terminate
your dockets. But how
can you do that if you
don’t have prosecutors
and PAO (Public Attorney’s
Office) lawyers appearing
before you? This
is a usual problem,” she
said.
She said she will sit
down with Justice Secretary
Leila De Lima to
ensure the commitment
of prosecutors in cases
they are called to appear
including members
of the Integrated Bar of
the Philippines to fill in
the dearth of government
lawyers appearing for the
defense of the accused.
“We need to have a
national conversation
on how to observe the
CJ SERENO
speedy trial act considering
these constraints.
While the judiciary is
ready, the other sectors
of the justice system are
simply not there,” she
added.
On decentralizing the
high court’s functions,
Sereno said reforms to be
made include devolving
functions from the lower
courts’ budget planning
to administrative processes
to regional levels.
Monumento ni Gat Andres Bonifacio sa Maynila
BSP advises public vs
misuse of banknotes
Gone will be the days when you see peso bills defaced
and mutilated, intentionally.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has advised
and warned money changers and bank tellers to be cautious
in handling currency notes and must not destroy
the money to see its security features. The warning
holds true for people who doodle on it.
Marian Suazo of BSP said Presidential Decree No.
247 prohibits any person to deface, mutilate, tear, burn
or destroy in any manner currency notes and coins issued
by Central Bank of the Philippines.
Any person caught violating this law will be fined
not more than P20,000 and imprisoned not more than
five years.
Suazo said the new generation currency (NGC) features
and its design highlights are important to safeguard
people against fake Philippine peso bill.
Among the security features of NCG banknotes
includes the embossed prints, serial number, security
fibers, watermark, see-through mark, concealed value,
and security thread which should all be there in determining
the money if it is genuine.
Embossed prints are the raised prints that feel rough
to the touch like the words “Republika ng Pilipinas”
and “Dalawampung piso,” portrait, signatures, and
value panels on the face of the note said Marcilla Romaraog,
BSP currency operations officer.
“The serial number, on the other hand, is composed
of one or two prefix letters and six or seven asymmetric
digits located at the lower left and upper right corners
of the face of the note. For the security fibers, these are
red and blue visible fibers embedded on the paper at
random and glow in two colors under the ultraviolet
light, a device use in the banks to detect fake currency,”
says Romaraog.
A shadow image of the portrait and the numeral 20,
50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 are seen at the blank space
of the note when viewed against the light from either
side of the note, she also said on the watermark feature.
Moreover, Romaraog said the see-through mark is
the word “Pilipino” written in Baybayin (pre-Spanish
Philippine writing system) which can be seen in complete
form when the note is viewed against the light.
“The denominational value superimposed on the
smaller portrait at the upper left side of the note becomes
obvious when the note is rotated 45 degrees and
tilted down can be referred as the concealed value as
the security thread is an embedded thread running vertically
across the note which is visible from either side
of the note when viewed against the light,” she said.
Coloma encourages
gov’t info officers
to tap social media
in info dissemination
Presidential Communications
Operations Office
(PCOO) Secretary
Sonny Coloma encouraged
government information
officers to tap
social media in disseminating
development information
for the benefit
of the public.
Coloma, who was the
guest of honor during
the Local and Regional
Information Officers
Assembly at the Hotel
Roma in Tuguegarao
City in Isabela, said communication
to be effective
needs the utilization
of social media channels
such as facebook, twitter,
SMS and cellphones,
among others because
of its reach and speed in
sending out information.
“Various forms of
social media are very
powerful tools of communication
because it
can reach many types of
audience at an immediate
period. These types of
media will be the fastest
means of communicating
relevant, timely and
accurate development
information to our audience
in the next years to
come,” Coloma said.
He also advised government
information officers
to serve the public
with high integrity and
honesty as the sovereignty
of the government rest
among the people.
“Government is created
for the people and
therefore we should
serve them with utmost
dedication, honesty and
commitment as public
servants,” Coloma emphasized.
The communications
secretary also underscored
the need and importance
of offering the
public development news
and information where
they can be assisted in
making right decisions
and intelligent choices.
Because of public demand, PhlPost to reprint
additional Calungsod commemorative stamps
The Philippine Postal Corporation (PhlPost) will
soon reprint 500,000 more copies of commemorative
stamps in honor of St. Pedro Calungsod, the second
Filipino saint.
Pedro Calungsod commemorative stamps
launching recently at the historic Mary Queen of
Peace Shrine along EDSA in Mandaluyong City
“Due to insistent public demand, we would be reprinting
500,000 more Calungsod stamps. We would
be using the same design,” said PhlPost Postage and
Philatelic Department manager Elenita San Diego in a
statement.
She also said that new copies have been made available
to the public since Tuesday due to high public demand.
The new batch of stamps was presented and launched
last Wednesday (Nov. 28) at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral,
ahead of the Thanksgiving Mass for Calungsod’s
canonization last Thursday.
PhlPost decided to release the copies earlier due to
demands to issue more stamps on the second Filipino
saint.
Last Oct. 21, PhlPost launched the Calungsod stamps
at the historic EDSA Shrine in Quezon City coinciding
with the Canonization of St. Pedro Calungsod in Rome.

Page 12
DISYEMBRE 3-9, 2012
Laguna gymnasts garner
13 trophies at Singapore
gymnastics competition
CALAMBA CITY,
Laguna -- Six members
of the Laguna College
of Business and Arts
(LCBA) - Calamba
gymnastics team bagged
six gold, six silver, and
one bronze trophies for
a total of 13 and three
medals at the 21st Prime
International Invitational
Gymnastics Competition
held last Nov. 16-18
at Bishan Sports Stadium
in Singapore.
Ariel Maranan and
Sharon Maraman, trainer
and coach, respectively,
said the team was
composed of Xylene
Sagayaga and Sheena
Mae Cruz, elementary;
Ruth Mae Elemos, Cherwin
Lei Malabanan and
Jolina Juinio, secondary;
and Jasmine Yu, sole tertiary
representative.
Maranan said, 30
clubs and over 500
participants from 11
countries: Australia,
Hongkong, New Zealand,
Thailand, Myanmar,
Indonesia, India,
Singapore, Philippines,
Wales, and United Kingdom
participated in the
international invitational
gymnastics competition.
Xylene Sagayaga, the
individual all-around
champion brought home
three gold and one silver
trophy in the elementary
level; Sheena Mae Cruz
won silver and bronze
trophies.
In the secondary level,
Cherwin Lei Malabanan
was second in
the individual all-around
won gold and silver trophies,
while Jasmin Yu
got two gold and one silver
medal in the tertiary
level.
With the performance
and honor gained by the
team in the recently concluded
event, Maranan
is optimistic that concerned
authorities will
provide the gymnasts
with the necessary training
equipment to better
equip them and become
‘Run for Balili River’
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet
-- Be counted and
make a difference in
saving the Balili River
through a fun run slated
this month.
The Balili River System
Revitalization Coalition
(BRSRC) will spearhead
a fun run on Dec. 15
dubbed “Run for Balili
River” which aims to
raise awareness and enlist
commitment to the ongoing
campaign to save
the Sagudin-Balili River
system.
The fun run is coordinated
by the University
of the Philippines Baguio
and co-coordinated by the
Benguet State University
(BSU) and the local government
units of Baguio
City and this town.
The assembly time will
be 5 a.m. followed by a
short program until 6 a.m.
at Teacher’s Camp, Baguio
City. The run starts
more competent in joining
future competitions.
Despite the lack of
financial assistance to
defray uniforms, foods,
payments of quarters and
other miscellaneous expenses
from concerned
authorities that the parents
accompanying the
team members in the
competition observed,
the team excelled and
brought honor not only
to the school but to the
entire country as well.
at 6 a.m.
BSU College of Arts
and Sciences (CAS) Dean
Aurea Marie Sandoval
said the fun run does not
entail any distance to run
but follows the course
from Teacher’s Camp to
wind through a number of
streets to end all the way
to BSU grounds.
College students, professionals,
LGUs of Baguio
City, and this town
particularly the barangays
are encouraged to participate
in the event.
A registration fee of
P130 will be charged
students while P350 will
be charged to professionals
and other participants
which entitles each participant
a t-shirt and certificate.
Proceeds of the fun run
will be used to support
projects and activities of
the BRSRC which operates
on a voluntary basis.
Jireh Ibañes,
ipinagmamalaki
ng Calapan City
Ni LUIS T. CUETO
CALAPAN CITY, Oriental
Mindoro -- Alam
n’yo ba na may sariling
basketball celebrity na
maipagmamalaki ang
mga Calapeño pagdating
sa hard court?
Kasalukuyang namamayagpag
sa Philippine
Basketball Association
(PBA) ang ipinagmamalaki
ng Calapan City na
si Rain or Shine Captain
Ball Jireh Ibañes, isang
lehitimong Calapeño, na
ngayon ay namumuno sa
koponang nagpataob sa
grupo at nag-alis ng titulo
ng kampeyonato nina
James Yap ngayong taon.
Isa si Ibañes sa maipagmamalaking
Calapeño na
patuloy na umaarangkada
at sumisikat sa larangan
ng sports na basketball.
Bukod sa pagkakahirang
sa kanya bilang isa sa
2011-2012 Best Defensive
Player ng PBA, nagwagi
rin siyang kampiyon
sa ginanap na 37th PBA
Governor’s Cup kung
saan nagtunggali ang
kanyang koponang Rain
or Shine Elasto Painters
kontra B-Meg Derby Ace
Llamados.
Kilala rin si Ibañes sa
lungsod dahil sa palagian
niyang ipinamamalas
ang kanyang angking
galing sa basketball sa
mga kapwa- Calapeňo sa
pamamagitan ng paglalaro
sa iba’t-ibang lokal na
paliga sa syudad maging
sa buong lalawigan ng
Oriental Mindoro.
Pangalawa sa apat
na anak ni Pastor Ralph
Ibañes ng Calapan Bible
Baptist Church at Marilou
Ibañes, sa Calapan
lumaki at nagtapos ng
elementarya sa Adriatico
Elementary School at
sekondarya sa Jose J. Leido
Jr. Memorial National
High School si Ibañes.
Bata pa lamang ay
kinakitaan na siya ng
pambihirang galing sa
paglalaro ng basketball sa
tulong na rin ng paggabay
at pagiging coach ng kanyang
ama.
Nagtapos siya ng kolehiyo
sa University of
the Philippines (UP) sa
Diliman, Quezon City,
kung saan doon ay naging
manlalaro siya ng UP
Fighting Maroons sa Universities
Athletic Association
of the Philippines
(UAAP) mula 2000-
2004. Dahil dito, lalo
pang nahasa ang kanyang
talento sa basketball.
Sumabak din si Ibañes
sa amateur league, ang
Philippine Basketball
League (PBL), sa ilalim
ng koponang Granny
Goose-General Milling
Corporation mula 2004-
2006. Ito ang naging
daan upang makuha siya
noong 2006 ng Wellcoat
na ngayon ay kilala bilang
Rain or Shine basketball
team at lumalaro
sa professional basketball
league ng PBA.
Anim na taon mula
nang ma-draft sa Wellcoat,
si Ibañes na lamang
ang natira sa original
line-up ng Rain or Shine.
Sa nakalipas na taon ay
nagpursige siya upang
iangat hindi lamang ang
sarili ngunit lalong higit
IBAÑES
ang kanyang koponan laban
sa ibang beteranong
basketball giants tulad
ng Ginebra Kings, San
Miguel, Talk ‘n Text at B-
Meg Llamados.
Sa tulong ng magaling
na depensa ni Ibañes,
mula sa pagiging underdog
ay naging isang threat
ang Rain or Shine sa
ibang team nang itala nito
ang record na 8 wins - 1
loss sa single round robin
elimination ng nakaraang
Governor’s Cup. Tunay
ngang lumabas ang tatag
at husay ni Ibañes sa paglalaro
ng makailang ulit
niyang sirain ang diskarte
at opensa ng mga kalabang
imports at star players
tulad ni James Yap at
Mark Caguia na maigting
niyang binantayan at
dinepensahan.
Unang tinalo ng Rain
or Shine ang B-Meg
Llamados sa semi-finals,
at muli, nagharap ang
dalawang team sa finals
ng Governor’s Cup.
Nakamit ni Ibañes ang
bunga ng kanyang pagsusumikap
kasama ang
buong koponan ng Rain
or Shine Elasto Painters,
nang sa kauna-unahang
pagkakataon mula nang
umentra ang koponan nila
sa PBA noong 2006, ay
In Pangasinan province, chess marches on
naging kampiyon ito ng
PBA sa 37th Governor’s
Cup kontra Bmeg Llamados
sa record na 4-3.
Matapos hiranging
kampiyon kamakailan
ang Rain or Shine ay kasunod
ding pinarangalan
ang team captain na si
Ibañes ng Smart/PLDT
19th PBA Press Corps
Award bilang Best Defensive
Player for 2011-
2012. Ayon sa kanya,
dream come true ang
kanilang championship
at bonus na lamang ang
mga awards na natanggap
niya.
Sa panayam ng Inside
Calapan kay Ibañes kamakailan,
masaya siya
sa pag-unlad ng Calapan.
Aniya, ibang-iba
na ang lungsod na dati
niyang kinalakihan. Pangarap
niya na bumalik
sa Calapan pagkatapos
ng kanyang professional
career sa PBA. Hangad
niyang makatulong pa sa
mga kabataang Calapeño
sa pamamagitan ng paglulunsad
ng basketball
clinics na magsasanay
sa homegrown talents
ng Calapan na maaaring
sumabak din sa PBA.
“Imahe ng isang modelong
Calapeño, ‘yan si
Jireh Ibañes -- pursigido,
mababang loob, nagsusumikap,
naging isang
matagumpay na basketbolista
at higit sa lahat,
tumutulong at naghahangad
na umasenso rin
ang mga kapwa Calapeño
at matupad ang pangarap
na magtagumpay sa
larangan ng basketball.
(PIA)
other routing. By the 31st A year later, Fischer the country’s hosting of 20, breaking Eugene lowed suit with the
move, the younger man’s became the youngest the world championship Torre’s long-standing re- establishment of the Pan-
position was already win- grandmaster in history match in Baguio City in cord of being the younggasinan Chess Federation
ning, but on the very next at that time and after an- 1978, the World Junior est grandmaster in the (PCF) in 2009.
turn he made a blunder, other 14 years took the Championship in 1985 Philippines.
Before then, there was
CARDOSO
By ALEX ROMEO R.
FERNANDEZ
He was poring over
his move. Down a
game in this eight-game
match, the 19-year-old
Rodolfo Tan Cardoso
was again on the verge
on losing but still struggling
to keep his chances
alive. His opponent, four
years his junior and who
was already crafting
some of the best chess
allowing the older International
Master (IM) to
reverse the game starting
with a knight check.
Seven moves later,
with no hope of rescuing
his position, the younger
master resigned.
It took another five
games--winning the next
game, drawing the next
and sweeping the last
three---for the younger
master to seal the match.
Cardoso lost the match
but he was the only
Filipino to win a game
world chess championship
crown from the Russians.
Cardoso, however, remained
an IM.
The native from Anda
town in Pangasinan has
put the country on the
chess map by earning the
title, the first one in Asia
to do so.
Cardoso never fulfilled
his promise of becoming
a grandmaster, and chess
in the Philippines languished
for several years.
Even Eugene Torre’s
and the Olympiad in 1992
did not elicit much interest
in the game.
Between 1990 and
2000, the country produced
two new grandmasters,
Rogelio Antonio
Jr. and Bong Villamayor,
but this also failed to
draw much interest.
But recently, the country
experienced a resurgence
of chess, with
Mark Paragua’s and Wesley
So’s break into the
international chess scene.
Paragua gained promi-
That record, however,
proved short-lived, as So
later earned the title at
13, the eighth youngest in
history.
So’s stint in international
scene, particularly
his winning the tough
Corus Tournament in
the Netherlands in 2009
and the Dubai Open and
the Aeroflot Tournament
in Russia, both in 2008,
brought much media attention
to the game, slowly
reviving interest in it.
While chess in the
no governing body that
regulated chess, much
more conducted tournament,
in the province.
But the PCF changed
that landscape. By securing
legitimacy through
registration with the Securities
and Exchange
Commission, the federation
was able to gain
patronage from private
sponsors and local officials,
ensuring that chess
activities can now be
done regularly.
Chess tournaments
TORRE
son and fiestas in many
areas. These include the
towns of Malasiqui, Sta.
Barbara, Calasiao, Bugallon,
Mangaldan, San
Fabian, Lingayen and
the cities of Dagupan,
Alaminos and San Carlos.
The province, itself,
holds the annual Chess
Festival, consisting of
chess clinic for children,
provincial chess championship,
age-group
championship and open
games in history, was on against Bobby Fischer. It earning the grandmaster nence by earning the country is gaining popu- became regular sports tournament from Octo-
his way to delivering an- was 1957.
title at age 22 in 1974, grandmaster title at age larity, Pangasinan fol- events during holiday seaber to December.