holy angel university labor strike - Headline Gitnang Luzon

4EDITORIALTaking sidesHeadlineGitnang LuzonSEPTEMBER 13-15, 2013Parents and students of theHoly Angel University in AngelesCity are evidently torn betweentwo lovers--the managementand the striking employees.The strike, the first in decadesfor the school, is on to itsfirst month with the managementand Holy Angel UniversityTeachers and Employees Union(HAUTEU) still failing to come toterms over the computation ofshares the employees are supposedto get from the revenuesof the school.Early this week, some parentsreportedly took a stand in the issue,and it is beside the strikingteachers and employees. Theywere quoted to have said thatthey will not allow their childrento attend school until the strikeended.The parents stepping into thepicture should be wake-up call toboth parties and not necessarilyfor only one camp as the opposinggroups both benefit from thetuition paid by these parents.If this strike will drag on, HAU,one the region’s largest universities,may find a huge blow inits enrolment volume this comingOctober. This will be a loss,not only to the management, butalso to the employees who areseeking a fair share from theschool’s income.If this happens, the bone ofcontention between the twoparties will be lost without theirknowledge while they are in theheat of the bickering.HEADLINE Gitnang Luzon is a Daily Regional NewspaperGeneral Manager: Atty. Gerome n. TubigAsst. Manager: atty. rOWENA S. CUNANAN-MUNDOEditor-in-Chief: albert lacanlaleLayout Artist: JP ManalangPhotojournalist: Leo villacarlosReporters: CHARLENE CAYABYAB /MARNA D. DEL ROSARIOAdministrative Staff: sherylin l. riveraMarketing Head: ELAINE MAPILESMarketing/Circulation: Marlo francoAccount Executive: caren m. garcia/JOAN d. montemayorPublisher: I.N.I. NewspaperEmail: headlinegitnangluzon@gmail.comWebsite: www.headlinegl.comDISCLAIMER: Views expressed by columnists are theirown and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position ofHEADLINE Gitnang Luzon or its internet website: www.headlinegl.com. Thepublisher does not knowingly publish false information and may not be heldliable for the views of its columnists exercising their right to free expression.All rights reserved. Subject to the conditions provided for by law, no article orphotograph published by HEADLINE GITNANG LUZON may be reprinted orreproduced, in whole or in part, without its prior consent.Office Address: 2nd Floor, U2 Building, MacArthurHighway, Dolores, City of San Fernando, Pampanga, 2000Tel. Nos. (045) 435-0938“During extraordinary timeswe need extraordinary leadersto keep things movingin order for citizens to go onwith their normal lives”These are abnormal times.There is war in the South. Myheart goes out to the peacelovingpeople of Zamboanga City whonow live in fear after armed confrontationbetween the MNLF and governmenttroops erupted right in theheart of the city. The battle betweenthe MNLF and government forces inZamboanga City has paralyzed operationsof public and private establishments.According to ZamboangaCity Mayor Beng Climaco, a total of12,907 individuals, or 3,159 families,have been in evacuation centers asof last Wednesday due to the armedconflict that reportedly also causedthe burning of several houses. Climacois desperately calling for anend to the siege that already killeda number of people, displaced hundredsof civilians, kept some peopleas hostages by rebels and destroyedproperties as the armed confrontationcontinues.These are abnormal times. Whilethe government forces are engagedin the renewed armed conflict withthe MNLF, China is losing no opportunityto widen its encroachment inthe West Philippine Sea to the detrimentof the country’s territorialinterest and security. China’s navykeeps entering Philippine waters atwill and continues to build fortresseswithin a short striking distance toPhilippine shores in total disregardof international laws.These are abnormal times. The nationalgovernment is also under siegeby people’s growing disenchantmentover the pork barrel scam that hasStaying normal during abnormal timesgut feelLeny Manalostirred up a growing number of protestactions in various formats. Theperceived syndicated plunder of thenational coffers by high governmentofficials is definitely a destabilizingthreat. Already, a nationalbroadsheet reported that a group ofdisenchanted soldiers has issued amanifesto calling for change in thegovernment. The dailybarrage of news on moreincriminating informationon the pork scamand related issues haskept the nation agitatedand the political climatevolatile.These are abnormaltimes. The world is stillholding its breath overthe current brinkmanshipbeing applied by USPresident Obama on theissue of chemical weaponsin Syria. The USCongress was about to decide on therequest of Obama for an authorityto use military action against Syriabut was just postponed to give achance to the initiative by Russia toput Syria’s chemical weapons underinternational control. The threat toworld peace has been so great thatPope Francis himself called for a dayof fasting and prayer last Saturdaythat was considered the biggest indecades by Vatican.Keeping things normal during abnormaltimes is the biggest challengefaced by government executives fromthe President down to the barangaycaptains. In whatever calamity thatcomes our way, man-made or natural,people have to eat, rest and beattended to when sick. With whateverthreat that we run into, work inthe fields and offices must continueto sustain the nation and society.During extraordinary times we needextraordinary leaders to keep thingsmoving in order for citizens to go onwith their normal lives. It is the executivebranch of government reinforcedby the wisdom and intent ofthe Local Government Code that cansustain governance in this countryduring abnormal and extraordinarytimes.Last Tuesday, Pampanga GovernorNanay Pineda was in a general meetingof doctors and hospitalofficials of the province togetherwith some Philhealthstaff. She was in her usualpassionate mood for the pooras she scrutinized item byitem how the poor patientsshould be served. She remindedeveryone presentabout their duties and responsibilitieswhile promptlyaddressing needs to improvemedical service provided bythe province. Before this,Nanay was hopping fromone place to another personallydistributing assistance to herconstituents affected by the recentstorm and flooding. Watching herwork endlessly and listening to hersingle out specific problems gaveone that feeling of confidence that inPampanga we have an extraordinaryleader who will simply keep servicesfor the people moving normally evenduring abnormal times.I have the gut feeling that this issimilarly the case with the citiesand other provinces. The local executivesare trying their best to copewith the present national situationto keep things as normal as possiblefor their constituents. With so muchhumiliation the country is experiencingfrom the reported massivecorruption in high places of governmentand from the exposed weaknessesin the country’s national security,our saving grace might justcome from how the localities willsurvive despite their national leaders.•