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09-23-12 <www.demotix.com>
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oPinion
(Atty. APA chairs Acyatan & Co., CPAs-DFK International is PICPA past president and Hall-of-Famer, past chair of ASEAN Federation of CPAs, and ACPAPP Lifetime Achievement Awardee). ECO-GROWTH: The Philippines registered 5.9% Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate for the second quarter of 2012. The progress is anchored on increased revenue collections and recognized government actions against corruption highlighted by the impeachment of the SC Chief Justice and the filing of anti-graft cases against former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Analysts pointed out one other major factor our young workforce! Economists credit our country for having a population of which 61% are of working age (15 to 64). These are our present producers, even as they also energize economic demand for their consumption. Our young workers also assure our senior citizenry that their pensions and healthcare will be funded. These recent observations are strong arguments against the RH bill which is anchored on the theory that overpopulation is bad for our economy. PEOPLE POWER: The need for more babies is now recognized by our wealthy neighbors in order to sustain their economic growth. In Singapore, females of marrying age either stay single or defer their marriage as they enjoy their single-blessedness. Their government has issued pronouncements urging them to be patriotic by getting married and rearing children. This song is echoed by
Weekly Reflection
HSSSSH!!!
The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy of the Vatican Council II promotes the full, conscious and active participation of the faithfuls in the liturgy, however, inside every church while .... The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day. Mark 9:31 is commemorated every time the Holy Eucharist is celebrated, there are also many things that are going on among our massgoers. There are those ... But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask him. Mark 9:32 and also ... But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.. Mark 9: 34 From our own homes... on the road... to our work places..., there are just many distractions around which mercilessly confront us. So much so that, sometimes, when we want to have peace and quiet of mind or we want to be all alone, we would rather choose to go to a church for the precious silence that it can still offer us. However, in time, even our churches are not anymore free from all the secular distractions. There are even some priests who, while celebrating the Holy Eucharist, are easily distracted when babies cry out aloud or children shout and play inside the church. So, their parents are always advice to bring and let them play outside. Whats next ? There are massgoers who, while the mass is going on, their minds and words dwell on other venues. They are busy planning and talking about the various places or activities where they could possibly go or do to enjoy the rest of their weekends. There are even some men who, while the homily is going on would go out and have a smoke with friends and acquiantances whom they saw in church. Valid or just feigning about, we even have some parishioners who decided not to go regularly for mass because they are distracted by the way some massgoers are inappropriately dressed. There are really some parishioners who needed to be reminded that going to mass is not like attending a gala fashion show. In fact, conspicuously posted in some church entrances are the recommended proper attire for both male and female massgoers. Worst is that there are also some pseudomassgoers who are in church however with a different malicious agenda. They are in hot pursuit of the expensive stuffs of others like their mobile phones, digital cameras and, of course, the most important of them all, their thick purses and wallets. In our region, we just celebrated the biggest Marian festival wherein millions of devotees came to express their devotion. However, there were a number of them who while they were in church attending the Holy Eucharist, were robbed of their belongings. All of us love peace and quiet. Sometimes we cannot find it anywhere but in church. How about you, what are the things in our churches which distract you from fully, consciously and actively participating in the liturgy?
HB 4820 to be taken up in Senate Plenary on October and Ambassador Sonia Bradys notes revealed
House Bill 4820 that proposes to create the Province of Nueva Camarines is already in the Senate Plenary to be taken up this October when session resumes. This bill was filed on August 25, 2011, and it cannot be said there is railroading. What the oppositors want is to kill this bill by letting it sleep in the Senate Committee on Local Government for more than one year and submitting a Committee report on or before the deadline for filing on August 16, 2012 so that it cannot be calendared and be discussed in the Senate Plenary session. This happened for HB 4820. But the other Committee on Constitutional Amendment and Revisions that is jointly hearing this House Bill chaired by Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago submitted its Committee report on the last day of the deadline. So, House Bill 4820 was taken up in the Senate last Wednesday where Sen. Bongbong Marcos sponsored it. Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV stood up, made a privilege speech where he called Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile a lackey of former Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Trillanes said Arroyo personally called up Enrile and asked him to speed up the measure. Sen. Enrile and
from my window
NENITA FuENTEBELLA-PEONES
Elena Horns, spokeswoman of GMA, denied that the former President called the Senate President. Trillanes refused to be interpellated by Sen. Enrile and he walked out. Trillanes belongs to the group that wants to kill the HB 4820 by not allowing it to be taken up in the Senate plenary. His many interviews with the media show this. But the Senate has a duty to act on this House Bill because it was endorsed to the Senate by 229 Congressmen and only one dissented. It is the Senate as a whole
that should decide whether to approve or disapprove House Bill 4820 and not the Committee on Local Government because it is not the Senate. The Senate Plenary session will act on this HB 4820 this coming October. Dilatory tactics are already in the making with privilege speech and it seems that the oppositors want to delay it until it is past the deadline for filing certificate of candidacies for the 2013 election. But this cannot prevent the conduct of a plebiscite. The Commission on Elections will have to extend date for filing certificate of candidacies if the people approve the creation of the new province, Nueva Camarines. The Comelec is a Constitutional Body and no one can intervene or dictate on it. Oppositors keep saying that the people are against the creation of Nueva Camarines. So, why are they preventing the holding of a plebiscite where the people can express their sentiment. The proponents of the bill only want the people to decide in a plebiscite and they will respect the peoples decision. *****
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A QuEstiOn Of priviLEgE
salvador d. flor
his office at the Hall of Justice to see if anything similar to earth-shaking events was about to surface. You know mediamen are always on the lookout for something of news value, perhaps a scoop, or even a tsismis for their papers hungry society page readers. In those days,a prosecutors office was sometimes abuzz with exciting occurences, some very good materials to print. It still is today. I described myself today as an inactive member of the media. But I run a regular
column in one of Bicol Regions top weeklies, the Bikol Reporter of Ben Babar, a multi-awarded regional newspaper. writing about almost everything under the sun. There is a saying that old journalists like old soldiers never die. In other words, they die hard. They just fade away. Fading away, however, is not yet a dream that I nurture. Growing old, probably yes. But believe it or not, I have found the antidote to aging. Looking at beautiful thingslovely wild flowers, peaceful seas during summer, blue skies, shapely legs-has slowed down my passing years. The late Doming Alarkon, editor of the Naga City-based Peninsula Monitor said when I mentioned in my column my secret of keeping at bay the onslaught of old age that his boss, Rep. Luis R. Villafuerte, had his own secret, much better than mine. The veteran solons secret? Smelling flowers along the way, according to my late friend Doming. No wonder, the Camarines Sur lawmaker is still youthful-looking despite his years.
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Bikol reporter
A rusH Of WELDErs
DANREY
Professional welders from all over the province rushed anew to the Provincial Capitol as Gov. LRay Villafuerte decided to raise the number of initial deployment of welders to Australia. Mr. Francis Narito, Marketing Executive of ELJARS, is shown in above photo while he briefs applicants on the latest developments of the program.
Bikol reporter
etCeterA
pellmell
jokee BOTOR-REYES
3. Coastal areas of San Fernando, Bula, Minalabac, and Pasacao, its beach resorts and marine life observation and sight-seeing 4. Bicol River Transport CruiseThese would emphasize the services and products for which the LGUs along the river could provide. These tourism hubs were identified considering its potentials as staging points for expansion and establishment of other tourism destinations outside of the core areas of development. Worth mentioning are the researches being conducted on the
a question of . . .
Half of my passion is writing and half, teaching. I have learned to love both. Years back after leaving the Commission on Human Rights, teaching was not one of my options. I wanted to go into business I was a trader in Northern Catanduanes before I moved my family to Legazpi City to engage in newspapering. Business was good. In a little over two years, I prospered. But despite the money flowing in like water, I was ill at ease. I felt my business had robbed me of my wanderlust. It was Dr. Pete M. Marcellana, Jr., the dynamic president of Bicol College who introduced me to teaching. Every semester, he would assign me one or two subjects. Little by little, I learned to love the work. After I finished PhD, he invited me to join him as head of the
Press Office. I became a press secretary. My task included editing the Bicol Collegian, Bicol College publication for professionals. And teaching. My passion for teaching appears to be waning, perhaps because business seems more enticing. I was a successful trader before. But my first love, writing, is as strong as ever. The journalist in me refuses to die. I have witnessed important events around me occurring at close range.And the people involved. I have seen their misfortunes and their eventual triumphs, their failures and successes. Not everybody has the chance to see life as it unfurls before ones eyes. It is one great advantage of a journalist over other professionals. He is always at the center of the human drama, recording what takes place for posterity.
unEp links up with the 1st Bicol Career and Education Expo
Unearthing more hidden chances and opportunities for UNEPians, Atty. Remelisa Alfelor-Moraleda, University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP) President linked up with the first ever Bicol Career and Education Expo happening from September 27-28 to raise the awareness of the upcoming college students what career path should best suit their skills. Spearheaded by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA)- Camarines Sur Chapter, the three-day exposition, which is basically conceptualized for 3rd and 4th year High School students, will be held at SM City Naga Event Center. In support of the said endeavor are the local government of Naga City, Metro Naga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI) and the Department of Education-Region V. Through the said activity, UPAA aims to address the prevalent problem of job career mismatch which is specifically affecting our fresh graduates. Moraleda said that this is a perfect avenue for students who will be graduating from high school this year. Seldom do we find chances like this. This expo will not only showcase variety of courses that our students can choose, but will also significantly guide them what is the best career path to take, in line with what they love and where their skills and talents will be nurtured more. To date, 6 (six) universities/ exhibitors from Bicol Region and 10 (ten) from Metro Manila and the National Capitol Region (NCR) already confirmed their attendance to the said event. The organizers have already fitted in 40 booths in their blueprint to accommodate more participants from visiting high schools. UPAASCCI President Clarine P. Tobias said that the exposition will also provide a one-stop venue for students and their parents who are scouting for the best educational institution and will link up students to various private and government institutions offering scholarships for undergraduate studies. In the same light, the participating universities or institutions will also be given an opportunity to showcase their courses and programs offered through the exhibit booths. Sharing the same vision and optimism, UPAA, together with its partners are encouraging the exhibitors and the participants to promote courses that will match the demand of the industry in the next 5 to 10 years.
inner chess
BY J. HENRY DANICAN
Bikol reporter
CALifOrniA CELEBrAtiOn
Bikol reporter
President Benigno S. Aquino III, assisted by Civil Service Commission (CSC) chairman Francisco Duque III, presents the Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award (posthumous) to the late Secretary Jesse Robredo of the Depertment of the Interior and Local Goverment represented by his daughter Jessica Marie Aika Robredo, during the Awarding rites for the 2012 Outstanding Public Officials and Employees at the Rizal Hall of the Malacaan Palace on Wednesday (September 19). Robredo was cited for exemplifying the ideal in public service as Naga City Mayor and DILG chief. The Lingkod Bayan Award is given to an individual or group of individuals exceptional or extraordinary contributions resulting from an idea or performance that had nationwide impact on public interest, security and patrimony.
JAY MORALES
BU president Fay Lea Patria Lauraya said that the renaming was contained in the schools Board of Regents (BOR) resolution No. 040, series of 2012 approved last September 3. We are now officially launching this institute that offers diploma course in Local Governance and Development Management housed at the BU Graduate School (BUGS) which caters to the 30 percent of the graduate students in Bicol Region, Lauraya said. BUGS dean Norma Licup said that the late DILG secretary was an affiliate professor of the BU graduate school, teaching subjects in local governance from 2008 to 2010 during weekends. In his (Robredos) stay as professor in Local Governance and Development Management at BUGs, the late secretary wholeheartedly shared his knowledge and expertise in local governance being a Naga City mayor for 19 years. He was indeed a very generous person, Licup said in the launching rites. Representatives from the private sector, national and local government agencies, the religious groups, and the academe also delivered their tribute and statement of support to the launching of the JMR Institute of Local Governance. The audience was moved to tears when Dr. Milwida Guevarra, president of the non-government organization Synergeia,
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09-23-12 <www.dti-bicol.com.ph>
By REY M. NASOL LEGAZPI CITY In the early 1980 the use of indigenous bags has started to wane when the plastic counterparts took its place until this very recently. But the next time you see somebody use a bayong, take a closer look! That person must be in, once again. Soon, at the Market Week Philippines a Bayong special setting will feature the Best of Bayong from all over the country, which means all the regions that are into Bayong Development will showcase three (3) of their best bayong. Region 5, being the bayong champion will feature the three (3) best bayong products each per province, DTI regional director Jocelyn Blanco told this writer.
The regions under the program are the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Southern Mindanao, and SOCCSKSARGEN. The Bayong special setting would tell that bayong has evolved from traditional to high end uses. It has evolved into various kinds and designs. From bayong pamalengke, pang opisina, pang eskwela to bayong pang fashionista. With the product developments, new markets both domestic and international are reached. Why Bayong? Natural resources like karagumoy, pandan, buri, bacbac, abaca, tikog, sabutan and romblon abound in the countryside.
It also conveys the green advocacy by making a shift in the use of the traditional, non-biodegradable plastic materials to the use of ecofriendly raw materials. The program, indeed, contributed significantly to the local economy aside from its role in protecting and preserving the environment. The Bayong Development Program was conceptualized with the two-fold benefit of boosting the economy and diminishing ecological imbalance, Blanco explained. Market Week Philippines, a trade fair and showground of home, food and fashion products from all the regions of the country will be held at the MegaTrade Halls of SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City on Sept. 19-23, 2012, the official said.
Bikol reporter
Bikol reporter
ecutive Director as chairperson, the regional rice coordinators, regional information officers, regional focal persons from the NIA, BSWM, ATI, BPI, IA Regional Presidents, and other pertinent officials of DA. The action teams should also coordinate with corresponding local government units and Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils. Once created, the teams shall immediately convene to assess the rice situation in their region, get updates from the appropriate regional or national government agencies, and plan out activities or interventions in consideration of the impending effects of El Nino and other climate change-related phenomena to rice production, Delima said. Action planning workshops should be undertaken, to assess the projected impact of El Nino on regional rice production, broken down into the provincial level, and considering various possible scenarios, he added. Mitigating measures should be identified to minimize the projected impact of El Nino on rice production, along with its budget requirements, monitoring and reporting mechanisms, and information management strategies in all stages should be in place, Delima said. Earlier this year, the countrys January-June 2012 palay production was 7.89 million MT, 4.2% higher than last years level of 7.58 million MT. Increases in production were reported in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, MIMAROPA, Northern Mindanao, SOCCSKalso file their applications within the registration period. For those who intend to register as transferee from one voting municipality to another, a voter must be a resident of the barangay where he or she presently resides for at least six months, unless otherwise disqualified by law. There are also registered voters that need to come to their municipal election registrars office to complete their biometric data.
piLgEM
WEEKLY REFLECTION
PAWNSHOP
Notice is hereby given that all pawned items for the month of May 2012 which were not redeemed will be auctioned on October 12, 2012, at 8:30 a.m. BIKOL REPORTER Published: SEPTEMBER 23, 2012
AuCtiOn sALE
pell-mell . . .
a cellphone these days, one text or a call is enough to merit a reply. Presto! there is no reason to fret. I know their girl friends and their parents and their girl friends know my family too. That puts all of us in safe hands. In Iriga, there is no reason to worry about getting jammed in traffic or getting submerged in knee-deep water. And Irigas commercial districts close at 8:00 in the evening. If there are events in school at night, they can always be fetched by the motorcycle. Both drive the motorcycle now and I know they would be safe because they are responsible riders except sometimes when they are apprehended for not wearing helmets. But these are ordinance violations and since these TVR have to be paid by a minimal fine, the imposed fine keeps them away from the same violations. Incidentally, my younger grandson has joined a fraternity called Scout Royal Brotherhood/Sisterhood or SARABA for short. But I understand it is very humane. No reason to worry.email jokeebotor_reyes@yahoo.com
alBay pdea . . .
Operatives seized around 8 p.m. Thursday from the suspects two medium heat-sealed plastic sachets containing 10 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride popularly known as shabu with a street value of P60,000. Christian Frivaldo, PDEA deputy regional director, said in a telephone interview that the PDEA team led by Estrellado and the suspect were on board a red Toyota Innova car while negotiating Rizal St. in Barangay 27 was attacked by a motorcycle-riding tandem believed to be members of a drug syndicate operating here. The drug operatives were on their way to the PDEA headquarters to book the illegal drug trader when the suspects overtook their service vehicle and fired a handgun that led to a brief firefight, Frivaldo said. Sinforoso who was at the scene of the shootout was hit by a stray bullet. The attackers immediately fled. Estrellado was rushed to the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital (BRTTH) while Sinforoso was brought to the Aquinas University Hospital for treatment. Estrellado is in stable condition but is still under observation as the bullet that hit him is still embedded in his body. Frivaldo said Lateral is a drug distributor operating in this city and is included in the PDEA drug watchlist. He said Barangay Sabang is tagged as shabu engagement area where drug pushers and users thrive. Sabang is on top of the list of illegal drug hotspot villages here that also includes Barangays Pigcale, San Roque, Oro Site and Cruzada.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
Bikol reporter
CEB connects AsEAn, phl leisure spots with seat sale as low as p688
The Philippines largest national flag carrier, Cebu Pacific (PSE:CEB) promotes travel from Southeast Asian countries to the Philippines top tourist destinations, with a seat sale from September 17 to 20, 2012 or until seats last. For travel from November 1, 2012 to January 31, 2013, passengers can buy P688 seats to Manila from Kota Kinabalu; P1,088 seats from Brunei, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Siem Reap and Singapore; or P1,488 seats from Bangkok, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur. CEBs newest international routes (Kuala Lumpur-Cebu and Bangkok-Cebu) are also available for P888. These are for travel from December 8, 2012 to February 28, 2013. From Manila and Cebu, tourists can book P888 seats to some of the Philippines leisure destinations. For travel from October 15, 2012 to January 31, 2013, passengers can buy P888 seats from Manila to Busuanga, Caticlan, Dumaguete, Kalibo, Legazpi, Naga, Puerto Princesa or Tagbilaran; and from Cebu to Caticlan, Puerto Princesa or Siargao. Domestic and international fares are exclusive of checkin baggage, fuel surcharge and country-specific taxes. Cebu Pacific continues to play its part in boosting tourism to the Philippines, and proudly supports the Philippine Department of Tourisms Its more fun in the Philippines campaign. Planning a trip with our trademark low fares is the first step to that fun Philippine vacation, so we invite everyJuan to take advantage of our seat sale, said CEB VP for Marketing and Distribution Candice Iyog. For bookings and inquiries, guests can go to www.cebupacificair.com, or call the reservation hotlines (02) 7020-888 or (032) 230-8888. The latest seat sales can also be found on CEBs official Twitter and Facebook pages. CEB currently operates 10 Airbus A319, 21 Airbus A320 and 8 ATR-72 500 aircraft. Its fleet of 38 aircraft with an average age of 3.6 years is the largest aircraft fleet in the Philippines. Between 2012 and 2021, Cebu Pacific will take delivery of 21 more Airbus A320 and 30 Airbus A321neo aircraft orders. It is slated to begin long-haul services in the 3rd quarter of 2013.
Bu graduate institute . . .
retold her personal experiences with the late secretary in different visits to depressed communities across the country. There I saw everybody was important to Jesse. He always listened to people big or small. He wanted to be an example to everyone. In one occasion Jesse patiently queued to enter a forum where he was in fact one of the guests, Guevarra said, as she shed tears, too, like the audience. His widow Leni expressed gratitude to BUs move to rename one of its graduate units after her husband Jesse. In behalf of my family, I would like to thank the BU administration for this very humbling gesture of recognizing the contribution of my husband Jesse as part time professor here for Richard D. Madrilejos of Tabaco City. Still the most hotly-contested, the rawitdawit category received a total of 26 collections this year. Authors of the shortlisted entries will be awarded the Premio Arejola diploma of merit in the Pagrokyaw sa Pinakamarayrahay na Panurat kan Taon (Celebrating the Best Literary Works of the Year) slated on September 29, 3PM at the St. Vincent de Paul Auditorium of the historic Holy Rosary Minor Seminary in Naga City. The winning works will announced in the said awards rites and shall be awarded the Premio Arejola gold medallion and a cash prize of P7, 000. The over-all winner, chosen from among the category winners, will be awarded an additional cash prize of P12,000, the Sumaro Bikolnon trophy and shall then be called Parasurat kan Taon (Writer of the Year). Sharing the stellar billing in the much-awaited literary gathering are the winners of Premio Bibiano Sabino sa Librong Bikol, the regions only book prize, and the Masirang na Bituon kan Literaturang Bikolnon, the PTALB Lifetime Achievement Award. two years, Mrs. Robredo said. The truth is he did not want to be absent from his classes despite his very busy schedule. He told me that he felt very much ashamed when he failed to attend to his classes due to very hectic schedules, she said. The Institute already graduated at least 57 students, most of whom were local officials, from 2009 to 2010 with the late secretary as affiliate professor. The unit was established in September 1994.
so doing these concerned LGUs under the Metro Naga Development Council will provide the support through assistance in the needed paperwork, feasibility studies to be provided from researches conducted under this project. Noteworthy is the fact that there must be a continuing sharing of ideas and information among various tourism stakeholders. This is critical in more ways than one in the maintenance of support network for tourism. Along this course of action private sponsors and partners must work hand in hand with MNDC in the continuous roundtable discussions as well as forums, seminars and conventions which are all geared towards the realization of a support network for tourism to succeed in Metro Naga Growth Area. These are intended to improve the operations of major tourism stakeholders all for the purpose of attracting higher volume of tourists.
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