holy angel university strike continues - Headline Gitnang Luzon

HeadlineGitnang LuzonAUGUST 28, 20135No one should remain nobody.It’s ridiculous how mostof us flaunt the notion thatthose degree holders in college arealways better than those who arenot.This misconception is an open disgraceto the creators of excellencethat came beforeus. It is a direct insultto the intellectof great thinkersand workers whoredefine success.So, if you thinkthe same way, youshould run nowand save a face,for I will list downOutsidea squad of bignames that wereLooking Inhigh school and Mark Lendle L. Tolozacollege drop-outsbut succeeded in life: Bill Gates, AlPacino, Mark Zuckerberg, Kobe Bryant,Steve Jobs, Johnny Depp, Robertde Niro, Princess Diana, RingoStarr, Robert Downey, Jr. and MarilynMonroe. And these are just someof those standing on the frontline ofthousand names and beyond.Don’t get it twisted, the truth thatI want to elevate here is not a questionof having a college diploma as agateway to success. If you think thateducation is the key, so do I. A fact tocomplement this is that even I wantmy younger brothers and my daughterto finish their formal education,and have a college diploma in the future.For this will open many doorsof opportunity for them. One mustpursue his education, there is no discussionon that.But, the issue that I cannot evenstomach is when people act like havinga college diploma is the only barometerto success; like it’s the onlymark of a knowledgeable person; likeLast Monday was a truly a historicday to remember. It wasthe Million People March Day.It was the main discussion on everycorner of the country and even in thesocial media as hundreds of thousandspeople marched to voice theiroutrage over the graft-taintedpriority development assistancefund ( PDAF) alsoknown as the pork barrel.It was the first in the historyof the Philippines thatFilipino people demandedthe total abolition of the porkbarrel in the streets. Filipinosall over the globe expressedtheir support to the cause byprotests and slogans. Priests,celebrities, militant groups,private citizens and studentsjoined the rally to expresstheir sentiments over the controversialpork barrel.Discoveries upon discoveries of thescam were laid down to the public inthe past weeks. Still, we could notget hold of the primary suspect of thescam, for she is missing in action asof the moment. And the sad truth, nobodyknows where Janet Napoles is.Speculations that some governmenthigh officials were behind herdisappearance are somewhat authentic.Pictures of her rubbing elbowswith top government officials is proofthereof that she was a prominent personalityin Congress--the reason whythe long arm of the law seems futile inNeminemit’s the criterion of credibility andthe only touchstone of competency.That is stupidity in it’s purest form.That mentality should go like a darndirt that should be flushed out, then,after some good wiping and sanitizing,gone.It’s true, we need the expertise ofprofessionals to rebuild a competitivecountry. But we shouldnot undermine those high“Meanwhile, more andmore college drop-outswith intrinsic abilities arelike winter clothes in summermonths of a tropicalcountry--they remainunused and unnoticed.”A million march away from porkits search for Janet Napoles.Billions of pesos were squanderedby a few individuals and no one, as in,no one was held accountable. Fictitiousnon government organizationswho received humongousfunds were disclosed and“I could foresee that in thenext national election, therewould no be more candidatesin the House of the Representativeexcept, of course, tosome nationalistic and patrioticindividuals who wantto serve the country withoutvested interests.”Now WeKnow!ELLEZ J. DAVIOschool and college drop-outs withpotential just because they do nothave a diploma. Otherwise, we willhave a nation that does not produceleaders, but a breeding ground of superficialindividuals full of bravadoand lacking substance.Kabayans, let us realize the factthat there are out-of-school youth,college dropouts and undergraduateswho are intellectual, talentedand full of innate abilities but manyare just stagnating. Some of themabandoned and failed to pursue theirformal education due to financial incapability,self-destructive attitude,poor emotional quotient, externaland environmental factors or lifechangingevents like early marriageand college pregnancy.Please, don’t propose an argumentto me that all college graduates arecompetent. I can scribble down hundredsof legitimate college graduateswho, until now, cannot even solve asimple algebraic expression or constructa decent essay less of spellingerrors, or grammatically unsoundstatements. Some of them survivedjust by eliminating or minimizingnumber of absences in each schoolyear;others participated in extracurricularactivities to improve theirgrades; and a few used the power ofcharm to form friendship with classmatesand teachers.Meanwhile, more and more collegedrop-outs with intrinsic abilitiesare like winter clothes in summermonths of a tropical country--theyremain unused and unnoticed.Let us build up, and not tear downundergraduates with potential, abilitiesand skills competent enough tokickstart the rise of our country,positioning itself to honor and pridethat we long deserve.I propose building scholarship programsnot only for those financiallyincapacitated students, but also forthose talented, skilled and brilliantindividuals to finish their studiesand capitalize their strengths. I alsosuggest adding up subjects for personalitydevelopment, solidifyingE.Q. and good attitude, characterbuilding, and self-discipline lessonsto our curriculum, just like what Japanand other powerful countriesare doing. These are what we reallyneed.My fellow Filipinos, let us recognizewhat’s beyond the tangible. Letus judge not by the diploma alone.Let us choose substance over superficialand potential over praise.But, still, there are some who like todownplay the potential of their rivalsand their dire move is to questiontheir opponent’s capability based onthe educational resumè; fronting asthe better person after they declaredtheir educational merits. For them,let my squad of big names shout inunison: “Wow! That’s cute!” •nobody was held liable to date.Even the richest man in the worlddoes not own 28 houses and more than400 accounts as Janet Napoles has.She could be in the list of theForbes magazine as one of the richestwomen in the planet with suchassets and money. She enjoyed thecomfort of being affluent at the expenseof the Filipino people.Personally, I am in favor of thescrapping of the pork barrel to avoidcorruption. Instead of handling thefunds to one representative of eachdistrict, it should be directed and rechanneledto the basic social serviceslike education, health, and povertyalleviation programs of everydistrict.Contracts on infrastructuresshould be black and white. No moreunder the table scheme to eradicatecorruption.There should be a revampin our budgetarysystem. No more porkbarrel to both the legislativeand the executivedepartments of the governmentto prevent corruption.I could foreseethat in the next nationalelection, there would nobe more candidates in theHouse of the Representativeexcept, of course, tosome nationalistic andpatriotic individuals whowant to serve the countrywithout vested interests.We should vanguard ourselvesfrom the rotten political aspirants toprotect our integrity as Filipinos. Acountry free of corruption is a countryof fairness and honor.I wished I was there to express myposition and to witness the historicevent. I was invited by my fellowPeyups to join the rally but, unfortunately,I was confined to my obligationsas a mother.I may not be visibly present, butmy faith to the cause is very muchappreciated by them. Now, is thetime to catch the big monster that iseating our pork on our table. •Mga OFW sa EgyptKung makailang beses lang, nanawagan muli ang atingbansa sa mga kababayan nating nasa bansangEgypt na umuwi na dito sa Pilipinas upang makaiwas samga kaguluhang nangyayari doon.Nanawagang muli si Secretary Albert Del Rosario ngDepartment of Foreign Affairs sa mga Pilipino na nandoonsa nasabing bansa, na lumisan na at samantalahinang “repatriation program” ng ating gobyerno na pagpapauwisa ating mga Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW).Samantala, hinikayat ni Del Rosario ang mga kababayannatin doon na kung maaari ay manatili muna silasa loob ng kanilang bahay na tinitirhan o sa kanilangmga establisyimentong kinalalagyan habang pino-prosesong mga tauhan ng ating pamahalaan ang pagpapauwisa kanila sa ating bansa.Matatandaang nagsimula angmga sunud-sunod na karahasansa nasabing bansa noong nakalipasna buwan nang mapatalsik sakaniyang puwesto si dating PangulongMohamed Morsi sa isangkudetang naganap na kung saankulang lamang sa isang libo angmga namatay.Bunsod ng mga kaguluhan mulanoong ibinaba sa kaniyang puwestosi Morsi, ang ating embahada sanasabing bansa ay patuloy na nakikipag-ugnayansa ating mga kababayandoon na kung maaari aymagsiuwi na sa ating bansa bagopa mahuli ang lahat.Mayroong tinatayang 6,000mga Pilipino ang nasa Egypt atkaramihan sa kanila ay nagtatrabahobilang mga “skilled workers”at ang iba ay bilang mga kasambahay.Kagaya ng iba pa nating mgaOFW sa iba’t-ibang parte ng daigdig,sila ay nagtitiyaga na maghanap-buhaysa mga malalayong lugarupang kumita para sa kanilangmga pamilya dito sa Pilipinas. Tinitiisnila ang hirap ng trabaho,ang lungkot at kung minsan angpagma-maltrato ng ilang mga“employer” upang mayroon lamangmaipakain sa kanilang mganaiwan sa ating bansa.Kasalukuyang nasa “state ofemergency” ang Egypt dahil na rinsa kabi-kabilang mga kaguluhanWalangBiro!Ka Dencio Pacheco“Kagaya ng ibapa nating mgaOFW sa iba’tibangparte ngdaigdig, silaay nagtitiyagana maghanapbuhaysa mgamalalayonglugar upangkumita para sakanilang mgapamilya dito saPilipinas”at away ng mga taga-suporta ni Morsi at ng mga tauhanng pamahalaan nila.Kahit may mga panganib sa kanilang mga buhay,ayaw lisanin ng ating mga OFW sa nasabing bansa angkanilang mga trabaho. Kunsabagay, hindi rin natin silamasisisi sa bagay na ito dahil mas pipiliin nilang manatilidoon kaysa naman sa magutom ang kanilang mgapamilya na naririto sa Pilipinas.Kung mayroon lamang mga disenteng trabaho ditoang ating mga kababayan na kung saan ay magkakaroonsila nang sapat na kita para sa kanilang mga pamilya,natitiyak kong hinding-hindi na sila lalayo para lamangkumayod at magbanat nang mga buto sa ibang bansa.Sa kabila nang mga panawagan ng ating pamahalaanna sila nga ay umuwi na sa ating bansa, wala namangsapat at angkop na programa ang ating pamahalaanpara sa kanila sakaling magpasya silang umuwi na ngadito. Ang tanong ay kung may madadatnan kaya silangmga trabaho dito na maaari silang kumita nang sapatna halaga sakaling sila ay magpasya nang manatili saating bansa?Marami na rin sa ating mga OFWs ang umuwi na ditosa Pilipinas pero ninanais pa rin nila ang bumalik sa kanilangmga banyagang “employers” dahil wala man o disapat ang oportunidad para kumita dito sa ating bansa.Wala ring mga programa ang ating pamahalaan parasa mga nagbabalak na umalis nang bansa upang mahikayatang mga magagaling na mga propesyonal natingmga kababayan na manatili na lamang sana dito paramaghanapbuhay.Kung ating mapapansin, marami sa ating mga duktor,inhinyero at arkitekto ang nagpupumilit na makapagtrabahosa ibang bansa sa dahilang hindi nila nakakayananang murang pasahod o maliit na kita nilasa Pilipinas. Sayang nga naman ang kanilang galing atpanahon kung hindi ito matutumbasan nang sapat nakita dito sa atin.Magiging epektibo at magkakaroon nang tugon angating mga kababayan sa Egypt at sa iba pang mga bansasa panawagan ng pamahalaan na sila ay umuwi na saPilipinas kung matitiyak sana nito na may magandangtrabaho silang naghihintay dito. Kung makakasigurowalang biro!... Page 7

Life goes on forthis tricycle driverhowever high thetide is in LimjocoStreet, City of SanFernando.FEATUREVOLUME II • NO. 56 • AUGUST 28, 2013 • WEDNESDAYA broken escayola rebultoof Mother Marywhich was left as adebris of the housesthat were swallowedby the rampagingriver in Valdez lastAugust 20.Catching fish at therotunda--MonumentoFernandino, City of SanFernando, PampangaKalesa became a primarymode of transportationwhere motorized vehiclescannot pass through.The People of Pangpang:Resiliency ofthe Human SpiritIt’s playtime inSan Jose, Gandara!On the eve of typhoon Maring, I already preparedmy camera systems to set them on“floody” battle which I already anticipatedthe soonest I heard on the news that a strong typhoonwill hit the country.I remember last year that I got maimed andgot off guard when power shortage impeded meto charge my batteries and, as it turned out, Imissed a lot of “photographable” moments whichI later on regret.My half-charged camera then only got somefew shots and never witnessed all the compellinginstances that happened around Pampanga duringthat ferocious “Habagat” August of 2012.My urge to shoot was not really to see theprovince suffering from this natural calamity.My urgency was actually coming from the ideaon capturing how Kapampangans deal with situationsin “decisive moments” and how humanspirit is best represented and shown that is lifereaffirming.In fact, the Kapampangans have been in along-standing endurance against different typesof calamities and floodwater, not to mention theirsurvival against the rampage of lahar after theeruption of Mt.Pinatubo in the early ‘90s. TheKapampangans, as history tells, were the peopleof “pangpang”, the people near or by the water orriver, which simply defines that water has been away of life and part of the culture of this uniquespeakingrace, which now only has 2 million inpopulation.On the first hour of the morning of August 20,while the rain continued to sink the lowland areasof the province, I got news from a friend reporterthat a saddening incident happened in the upperPampanga. In his text, he said the ravaging GumainRiver swallowed the entire 7 houses alongSanchez Street, Barrio Valdez, Floridablanca, leavingonly debris of dilapidated concrete walls andwood.In an hour, I was able to arrive on the scene.One resident narrated that a night before, the risinglevel of water became ferocious that signaledthe evacuation of the families housed in their shelters.No casualties were recorded but a fallen treeblocked the road, which also cut the electricity.I never saw any remorse from the people, butsmiles and “hellos” greeted me while going aroundthe area. Some even wanted me to photoshootthem for a possible publication, which will makeyou feel that hope is a burning characteristic ofthese people—despite the fact that seven familieslost their homes in a blink of an eye. The volunteercrew even joked about the fallen tree and said thatthey have now a wood to start building new housesfor the lost ones—an optimistic view that showsan uncompromised resiliency and that indeed, “LifeGoes On”.I stacked a lot of images and sorted some of thebest photos of the day, starting from Floridablancato Guagua, where you can see kids on a frolic playunder the rain and floodwater up to the town ofSan Fernando where a group of young boys triedto capture fish within the Monumento Fernandino;and a tricycle driver doing his regular battle to earnan income while his bike is half-sunk.The photos in this article are not just merelyphotos but “pictures” of hope and life-reaffirmationthat speak for them--no more, no less. •Clearing the San Juan Bridge.A man helps to cut in pieces a fallen tree whichimpeded the road of Valdes in Floridablanca in theaftermath of typhoon Maring.Happiness in times of calamity.A whole line of townsfolk fishing on a local river.