Vol 20, No. 16 - April 20 - 26, 2015 by Pahayagang BALIKAS

April 20 - 26, 2015 | Vol. 20, No. 16 | Php 12.00/copy : balikasonline@yahoo.com |  0912.902.7373 | 0926.774.7373

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Pag-ikot ng Medical-Dental Sistemang BOSS ng Batangas Missions sa mga barangay, City, ipatutupad din sa nagsimula nas a Sto. Tomas Itogon, Benguet >>>NEWS...P/3

>>>BUSINESS...P/6 A proud member of:

Philippine Press Institute National Association of Newspapers Since 1964

Welcoming investigation. Bauan mayor Ryanh Dolor (left) personally appeared before the press to answer querries on the allegations of his hand into the Magsino killing. With Dolor are former mayor Bienvenido Castillo (right) and a supporter being bullied in social media.|

WHILE the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have both started their respective investigations, the camp of Bauan mayor Ryanh Dolor disowns the killing of former jounnalist Melinda “Mei” Magsino. >>>INVESTIGATION.. turn to P/3

HINDI nagpahuli ang mga volunteers na nakiisa sa malawakang pagtatanim ng mga puno bilang bahagi ng pagdiriwang ng National Earth Day na itinaguyod ng Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. sa Sitio Silangan, Brgy. Ambulong, Lunsod Batangas, noong Sabado, Abril 18.

BATANGAS City — “We are deeply saddened by the untimely death of Melinda “Mei” Magsino. We denounce the brutal killing and wish to express our deepest condolences to her family and love ones. The Dimacuha family categorically denies any participation or involvement in the act. We can never participate in the killing of lives and the destruction of No basis. Lawyer Erwin Aguilera reads the Official State- civil liberties. We have always dealt with ment of Batangas City mayor Eduardo B. Dimacuha on critics and criticisms with due and proper the alleged death threat as Secretary to the Mayor, lawyer regard to the Bill of Rights.” RD DImacuha looks on.| BALIKAS PHOTO >>>THREAT....turn to P/2

>>>CLIMATE CHANGE... sundan sa P/3

Combating Climate Change. Pinangunahan ng Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) ang malawakang pagtatanim ng puno sa Brgy. Ambulong, Lunsod Batangas bilang bahagi ng pagdiriwang ng National Earth Day.| BRYAN CASADO

APRIL 20 - 26, 2015

NEWS

balikasonline@yahoo.com

Water filtration device, nadikubre ng 3 estudyante ISANG power water filtration device ang naimbento ng tatlong electrical engineering students mula sa Batangas

State University at ibinigay nila sa City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) sa

Batangas City upang gamitin tuwing may kalamidad. Ang nasabing proyekto na subject ng thesis ng mga

nasabing estudyante ay pinatatakbo ng solar panel at generator, two-way powered, at gagana kahit walang

kuryente. Sa device na ito. ang water filtration ay dumadaan sa limang stages kagaya ng sediment filter, anti-bacterial filter, carbon filter, water softener at ultra violet light. Dahil dito, sila ay pinagkalooban ng pamahalaang lunsod ng Certificate of Appreciation kamakailan. Ayon kay Engr. Marjorie Balensay, thesis adviser ng grupo, magagamit ang naturang device upang maging malinis at ligtas ang mga inuming tubig na ipamamahagi sa mga tao kung may kalamidad kahit walang kuryente dahil ito ay solar-

powered. Bahagi din ito ng advocacy ng kanilang paaralan na makatulong sa komunidad. Malaking tulong aniya ang naturang device upang mabawasan ang gastos ng pamahalaan sa pamamahagi ng maiinom na tubig sa mga relief operations. Gumugol anila sila ng P37,000 para sa raw materials P 12,000 naman upang ipa-test ito. Nananawagan ang grupo sa mga nagnanais tumulong sa kanila upang mai-mass produce ang hybrid power water filtration device.| RONNAE. CONTRERAS

Inter-Island News By JOMAR PARAN

Mahigit 1,500 payente, nakinabang sa MedicalDental Mission Worthy discovery. Ipinakikita ng mga student-inventors na ito ang kung paano i-operate ang water filtration device na kanilang nadiskubre at ngayon ay ibinigay sa City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council.| ELMER ZARASPE ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................

<<<THREAT.... from P/1

Dimacuha denies involement in Magsino slay Thus, the Official Statement issued by city mayor Eduardo B. Dimacuha on the alleged death threats on slain former journalist Magsino reads. In a news report published by Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI), the Dimacuhas ere implicated to have issued death treats way back in the past. The PDI source allegedly gave the information that about a decade ago Magsino related to the said news source who was a friend of Magsino herself, that the Dimacuhas has put up a bounty for her life and another higher offer for Nomer a.k.a. “Bong” Macalalad. Magsino and Macalalad are staunch critics of the Dimacuhas and consistently posting their accusations and tirades against the city administration in public pages in the social media, particularly in Facebook. Mayor Dimacuha stands as Mag-

sino’s wedding sponsor when she tied the knot with Armando Lubis more than a decade ago. Years after her marriage, Magsino separated from Lubis. At the time of her death, Magsino is cohabiting with Reyes, a chiropractor, also for several years already. She has no child neither with Lubis nor with Reyes. P200,000.00 Cash Reward In separate developments, Sen. Ralph G. Recto and 4th District Congressman Mark Llandro “Dong” L. Mendoza, will be individually giving Php 100,000.00 cash reward to anyone who can help the authorities identify or who can provide significant information that will lead to the arrest of the suspect in the murder of Magsino, a former media practitioner. Continuous and thorough follow up operation was then conducted by the Batangas City Police Station headed by PSupt. Manuel DC Castillo, city Chief of

Police. Likewise, a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) “MAGSINO” was created headed by PSupt. Dennis A. Esguerra, Deputy Provincial Director for Operations. Said Group was tasked to handle the case for its speedy resolution and eventual conviction of the perpetrators. Further, the Batangas PNP under the command of PSSupt. Omega Jireh D. Fidel, provincial director, with the support of the Local Government Units, hope that this reward system will draw reliable witnesses to come out with a credible information for the solution of the case. The Batangas PNP also assures the public that they are exhausting all possible avenues and are doing their best for the resolution of this case.| JOENALD MEDINA RAYOS

Ebola ready. The Regional Epidemiological Surveillance Unit (RESU) of the Department of Health Region IV A recently conducts a 3-day training on the Management of Ebola Virus Disease for the Batangas City Hospitals and Community Response Team at the Teachers Conference Center. Participants include disease surveillance officers, nurses and ambulance drivers from the different hospitals in the city. Meanwhile, City Health Office (CHO) personnel are scheduled to undergo the same training on April 22-24, 2015.| RONNA ENDAYA CONTRERAS

ROMBLON, Romblon — Mahigit 1,500 ang napaglingkuran sa medical at dental mission na isinagawa kamakailan sa Magnificat Center sa bayan ng Romblon na pinangasiwaan ng Sagip ng Bayan Foundation, Inc. ng St. Luke’s Medical Center. Ang nasabing aktibidad ay inisyatibo ng Diocese of Romblon sa pakikipagtulungan ng Provincial Health Office at Rural Health Unit kung saan nagkakaloob ng libreng cataract at pterygium surgery, cysts at warts surgery, circumcision, at tooth extraction. Ayon sa tagapagsalita ng Diocese of Romblon na si Fr. Ric Magro, mahigit 1,500 ang napaglingkuran ng Medical and Dental Mission na pinangunahan ng mga doktor at medical workers ng St. Luke’s Medical Center na nakabase sa Maynila kung saan nagkaloob ito ng libreng serbisyo sa mga taga-Romblon. Ang aktwal na gamutan at operasyon sa mga pasyente ay dalawang araw na isinagawa sa Magnificat Center at Romblon District Hospital na sinimulan sa umaga hanggang hatinggabi upang lahat ng mga nagpasuri ay mapagkalooban ng libreng gamutan. Ang medical mission ay maituturing na nagkakaloob ng “total services” o mula sa pagsusuri hanggang sa pagkakaloob ng sapat na gamot sa tulong ng Sagip ng Bayan Foundation, Inc. Nagbitaw naman ng pangako ang mga kinatawan ng Sagip ng Bayan Foundation, Inc. at mga doktor ng prestihisyosong ospital na sila ay babalik sa Romblon sa lalong madaling panahon upang muling magsasagawa ng libreng panggagamot.| DINNES MANZO ........................................................................................................

Puerto Galera, nakasama sa ruta ng Philippine Hobie Challenge CALAPAN, Oriental Mindoro – Mapalad na napabilang ang bayan Puerto Galera sa mga islang kasama sa ruta ng Philippine Hobie Challenge, ang pangunahing extreme sailing event sa bansa na pinangangasiwaan ng Philippine Inter-Island Sailing Foundation. Para sa taong ito, 13 team ang nag-tagisan ng pabilisan ng paglalayag ng kanilang hobie na nagmula sa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo. Ang hobie ay isang uri ng bangkang walang katig. Ito ay pitong araw na kumpetisyon na sinimulan kamakailn sa Laiya, Nasugbu, Batangas dumaan sa Marinduque at pagkatapos sa Verde Island patungong Puerto Galera sa Oriental Mindoro, Ambil Island sa Occidental Mindoro, Corregidor sa Bataan at magtatapos muli sa Nasugbu, Batangas. Pinakatampok sa gawain ang pagtawid ng mga kalahok sa Verde Island Passage na itinuturing na pinakamalalim na strait sa buong bansa at tinaguriang ‘center of the center of marine shorefish biodiversity’ patungong Puerto Galera. Ayon kay Eddie Legarda, Director ng Philippine Inter-Island Sailing Foundation at Co-chair ng Philippine Hobie Challenge, may 15 taon na nila itong ginagawa at taun-taon ay iba’t ibang rehiyon sa Pilipinas ang kanilang pinupuntahan. Sinabi naman ni Sarah Turnbull ana mula sa Australia at grand master champion ng World Hobie Challenge, ito na ang ika-10 taon nila ng partner niya na pagsali sa Philippine Hobie Challenge na maituturing na napakagandang karanasan para sa kanila. Ibinahagi rin nina Legarda at Turnbull na bukod sa sailing challenge, mahalagang bahagi ng gawain ang kanilang outreach program.|

APRIL 20 - 26, 2015

NEWS

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Peace & Order Update Collated By JACK L. AQUINO

Dolor, et al submit themselves to PNP investigators IN order to shed light on the on-going investigation of the Batangas Provincial Police Office (BPPO) on the death of former journalist Melinda Magsino, three individuals who are commonly subject of Magsino’s tirades and bickering before presented themselves to police authorities, Friday. April 17. During the 3 rd Case Conference of Special Investigation Task Group “Magsino”, SITG Commander, PSupt Dennis A. Esguerra, said that in respect to the invitation made by the SITG, Thursday, Bauan municipal mayor Ryanh Dolor, municipal councillor Kelvin Gimeno of the same town and Ms. Shiela Marie Roa visited his office and expressed their willingness to cooperate with the PNP/SITG in its investigations pertaining to the death of Magsino. They further averred that they will submit their respective affidavits in response to the posts made by the victim on Facebook prior to her death. On the other hand, the SITG had also created the Task Force Magsino Facebook Account for those witnesses who wants to give reliable and credible information to shed light on the killing of Magsino. Continuous f ollow up operation and in-depth investigation is being undertaken by the SITG for the soonest possible resolution of the case.|

Pag-ikot ng Medical at Dental Missions sa mga barangay, nagsimula nas a Sto. Tomas DINAYO ng Pamahalaang Bayan ng Sto. Tomas ang Brgy Sta Cruz, pinakadulong barangay ng bayan upang magbigay ng tulong medical at dental sa mga nasasakupan nito sa nasabing barangay, Abril 10. Ang proyektong Baranggayan ay taunang ginagawa sa bayan ng Sto. Tomas upang ilapit ang mga serbisyo publiko sa mga malalayong lugar sa bayan. Malaki rin ang matitipid ng mga kanayon sa pamasahe dahil na rin sa paglapit ng mga serbisyo sa kanila kabilang ang pasedula, payo tungkol sa lupa, business permit at license. Pinangunahan ni Mayor Edna Sanchez ang mga Erradicating rabies. Sinamantala ng mga pet owners sa Sto. Tomas, Batangas, ang libreng pinuno ng iba’t ibang opisina bakuna ng Provincial Veterinary Office para sa mga alang aso upang matiyak ang paglipol ng pamahalaang bayan. sa rabies mula sa mga alagang hayop. | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Mainit man ang sikat ng araw, magiliw na tinanggap gamot mula sa Municipal and Lesbian Association panahon upang ihatid ang ng mga taga-Sta Cruz ang Health Office ang programa (UGLA) para sa mga babae mga serbisyo publiko sa mga mga bisita mula sa munisipyo para sa mga Tomasino gaya at lalaki. Tomasino. Sa panahon na Sinasamantala ng ito, nasa bahay ang mga sa pangunguna ni Kapitan ng gamot sa sipon, ubo at lagnat. May pa-libreng gupit Pamahalaang Bayan ang kabataan dahil walang pasok Edwin Mendoza. May hatid na libreng rin ang mga taga United Gay bakasyon at magandang sa mga paaralan.| ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Marinduque’s Pride: Bar Topnotcher who benefitted in Flavier’s Oplan Sagip Mata ........................................................................................................

<<<MAGSINO.... from P/1

Dolor disowns Magsino killing In a press conference held in Batangas City, Friday noon, Mayor Dolor said he finds no reason why he himself and his family have to be linked to the killing of Magsino whom he said has no opportunity to meet him face to face. “I had no opportunity coming face to face with her, and had no chance of getting interviewed by her. I don’t know her personally; we just ignore her detractions,” Dolor said. In several reports published and broadcasted days after the death of Magsino, the family of Mayor Dolor was among those linked to the killing as they were among those personalities that were subject of Magsino’s bickerings months and weeks prior to her death. “It’s not our way of life (to kill people). We are civilized individuals and we don’t run after our detractors,” the mayor said. Dolor even said that he believes that Magsino herself is not their real oppositor. “There’s a group behind her attacks, there’s a powerful force behind her and her team,” Dolor hinted. Dolor was joined by lawyer Bienvenido Castillo, a former mayor and probably one fo the longest serving public official of Bauan. “The Dolors have been our opponent for so many years; but our differences have something to do only with political principles. I firmly believe that the Dolors will not do any harm, moreso, killing a detractor,” Castillo said. Magsino was killed at high noon last Monday, April 13, shortly after leaving her residence at Barangay Balagtas, Batangas City. The National Bureau of Investigation said the bureau has already commenced its independent investigation even without the formal complaint being lodged with the agency. NBI-Calarazon Regional Director Constantino Joson said the investigation was looking at all possible angles, including a “love triangle”. Magsino, 40, was married to Armando Lubis of Batangas City whom she last contacted way back in 2008. Police investigators said Lubis was already invited for questioning but was not tagged a suspect in the killing. The family of the slain former journalist said the killing may be linked to the alleged irregularities in some local government units, particularly the municipality of Bauan. Bauan mayor Dolor said he has presented himself already to the police investigators to clear his name. “We already assured our police investigators that we are ready to appear anytime should they (police) needs us in their continuing investigation of the case,” Dolor said.| JOENALD MEDINA RAYOS

Sandra Mae has Stra- were overjoyed upon hearing 2010 at the University of MORE than 20 years ago, the Department of Health (DOH) bismus or born cross-eyed: the existence of Oplan Sagip Philippines – Diliman and under then Secretary (later the eyes are not aligned and Mata. After undergoing Cum Laude at the UP College Senator) Juan Flavier not coordinating with one operations through Oplan of Law in 2014. She scored the launched a program for poor another. Sagip Mata, Sandra Mae’s life third place of the 2014 Bar Examinations. Sally, her mother said, has changed forever. families who cannot afford Sandra Mae credited Sandra Mae’s condition eye health care services. A naturally-gifted stuFlavier for most of her Among those availed the might affect her personality dent, Sarah Mae was conacademic accomplishments: “Oplan Sagip Mata” program when she enters school as sistently on the top of her her testimony was one of the were Ed and Sally Magalang children with imperfections class from elementary to high school. She graduated celebrated tributes to the late of Barangay Poras, Boac, were targetted by bullies. They could not afford eye Summa Cum Laude when she legislator and former Marinduque who enrolled one of their children, Sandra operations to correct Sandra completed Bachelor of Arts in secretary of Health.| BALIKAS NEWS TEAM Mae’s condition; hence they Public Administration in Mae. ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................

<<<CLIMATE CHANGE.... mula sa P/2

Tree Planting sa National Earth Day Katuwang ng Pilipinas Shell sa batid nila ang papalaki pang gawaing ito ang mga kinatawan ng pangangailangan para sa mas City-ENRO, DENR, mga opisyal ng malawakang pagkilos ng pribado at barangay at maging ang pribadong pampublikong sektor sa pagharap sa kontratista ng gingawang Star Trec mga challenges ng Climate Change. project ng Shell. Mahigit pang 300 punla ng mga Ayon kay Cesar Abaricia, Corporate mahogany, banaba, molave at narra Communication Relations Officer ng ang itinanim sa naturang lugar. Hindi Pilipinas Shell, bagaman at ang lang basta itinanim ang mga naturang nasabing proyekto ay bahagi rin ng mga punla kundi binakuran din ang mga Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) ito uopang matiyak na hindi makakain approaches ng kanilang kumpanya, ay ng mga hayop sa ilang at madaling seryoso nilang isinasagawa ang mga maimonitor.| ganitong klaseng proyekto sapagkat DHALENDZ R. LANDICHO ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Moratorium on “No Plate No Travel” Policy or face zero budget for incompetence – Cayetano SENATE Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano reiterated his call for a 30-day moratorium on the implementation of the No plate, No travel or else he will block the Land Transportation Office’s budget for 2016. “Walang mawawala sa LTO at sa gobyerno kung sa loob ng 30 araw ‘wag muna ipatupad ang no plate no travel policy. Ito ay habang inaantay ang supply ng plaka at nirerepaso ang systema ng

pag rehistro at pagkuha ng plaka,” Cayetano said. “Threatening vehicle owners with stiff penalties for a problem LTO created is grossly unfair and must stop. At the same time, a moratorium will allow the LTO enough time to set its house in order by fully servicing backlogs of vehicle owners and car dealers.” The senator said taxpayers deserve real change or tunay na

pagbabago by providing their plates immediately because that’s what government service is all about. “We remind the LTO that it collected more than 17.16 billion pesos in 2013, and 11 billion pesos collected from Road User’s Tax,” Cayetano said. “The failure of DOTC and LTO to serve their mandated tasks is inexcusable and unacceptable, yet they have the temerity to invoke the law penalizing

victims of their inefficiency.” Cayetano filed Senate Resolution number 1288 to investigate the issues on delayed plates and driver’s licenses and pointed to the continued embarrassing inefficiency of the LTO. “Government agencies’ tact of causing inconvenience and punishing the public for their inefficiency and incompetence must stop,” Cayetano said.|

Be a part in shaping public opinion. Email your comments/reactions to: balikasonline@yahoo.com APRIL 20 - 26, 2015

OPINION

In Defense of Marriage: Why is divorce no good?

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IF not allowing divorce is something we should not be proud of, neither should we be ashamed of it. Lest the Church be misunderstood again for making this stand, let it be known that it is not a matter of what the Church will or will not allow. Not permitting divorce is something that Christ Himself taught. It is a teaching that is solidly COLLECTION BOX rooted in the Scriptures (Matthew Fr. Jerome Secillano, MPA 19:4-6). Hence, the Church is dutybound to reject something that Christ himself declared unallowable even when an overwhelming sixty percent (60%) of our population are for it. The mandate of the Church is to teach and to safeguard doctrines and not to change them to suit the preferences of the populace. No less than the Family Code of the Philippines also sees marriage as something permanent. It states, “Marriage is a special contract of permanent union between a man and a woman entered into in accordance with law for the establishment of conjugal and family life” (Title 1, Chapter 1, and Art. 1). The definition is evidently a testament to the State’s recognition of the sanctity and dignity of marriage that some of our lawmakers today want to bastardize. If that is not enough, the 1987 Constitution further mandates the protection of marriage as an institution when it says, “Marriage, as an inviolable social institution, is the foundation of the family and shall be protected by the State.” (Art. XV, Sec. 2) If our laws very clearly protect marriage as a lasting and permanent union, it is perplexing why some of our “honorable” lawmakers would want to make a mockery out of it. Even if they argue that it is for the pursuit of one’s rights and freedom to be out of a troubled union, there are provisions, both in Church and State laws, which guarantee such. Now, if the declaration of the nullity of marriage, legal separation and annulment are unpopular with couples that are on verge of separation because they take a long time, are costly and burdensome, then why don’t our lawmakers simply pass a law that will reform the process instead of favoring divorce that is purportedly destructive? Pope Francis moved along these lines when he instructed a group of canon lawyers to make the Church’s declaration of marriage nullity accessible even to poor people. Writing against divorce, David Hume, in his essay entitled “Of Polygamy and Divorces”, claimed that if spouses know they can divorce at will and seek their marital bliss with another partner, the relationship dynamics within marriage would be radically altered in a manner that diminishes marital stability and marital happiness. With no sense of obligation to stick together through thick and thin, they would be less inclined to work together to iron out their differences and keep their conjugal relationship alive. For Hume, the secret to happy marriages involves the principles of freedom and constraint. He said, “The heart of man naturally delights in liberty, but it also naturally submits to necessity.” They seem to contradict each other but Hume explained, “What is man but a heap of contradictions.” One has to understand that marriage does not magically work by itself. Couples have to work on their marriage. Failures do occur but the Church sticks to her belief that a valid marriage may never be invalidated through a bill of divorce. For the Church, the declaration of the nullity of marriage is the only way for couples to formalize their separation. With this, there is no marriage to speak of because from the very start, the “marriage” is null and void. With legal separation, the bond of marriage between couples remains. They are physically separated but they are still technically married to each other. “Annulment” applies to a marriage that is considered valid, but there are grounds to nullify it as provided in Article 45 of the Family Code. It feels weird to be writing about how couples should separate (at least legally), when we should be talking about saving troubled marriages. We have to discuss them, though, especially since divorce is looming in the horizon. As essentially established, the no-divorce-option in marriage is something that binds spouses together through strong social and legal obligations and gives them permanent incentives to sustain and deepen their mutual friendship and love. For some, who cannot offer a substantial criticism of the Church’s stand in defense of marriage, the position of the Church may be archaic or medieval in approach. For clarity’s sake though, not all things from the past are bad in much the same way that not all products of modernity are good. All things considered, the Scriptures still give us the most valuable insight in defending marriage. “What God has joined together, let no man put asunder.” (Mark 10:9)|

Fight against Animal Cruelty

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Assault on Justice FEW weeks ago Senator Antonio Trillanes IV accused two members of the Court of Appeals of bribery. He claimed that he could prove that CA Justices Jose Reyes, Jr. and Francisco Acosta received a twenty five million pesos each in exchange for the temporary restraining order (TRO) that nullifies the suspension order of the Office of the Ombudsman and keeps Junjun Binay mayor of Makati City. The public has a mixed reactions. Critics of VP Jejomar Binay readily believed the accusation and expressed support for Trillanes’ renewed attacks on the beleaguered vice-president. For those who know the two justices, especially Justice Jose Reyes, Jr. the accusation is nothing but a reckless assault not only on their integrity but against the Court of Appeals as well. When pressed for evidence, Sen. Trillanes was quick to say that he had no documentary evidence but an eyewitness could prove his accusation. The accusation against that the two justices is continually being played up in the mainstream media in spite of the lack of evidence of the alleged bribery. As expected, some netizens had joined the fray by bashing the two justices even without endeavoring whether there some basis on Trillanes’ claim. It was mostly unfair for these two justices to be dragged down with the politics behind the suspension of Mayor Junjun Binay. For all we know, they might just doing their job when they nullified the suspension order. While they might have known the political complexity attending the petition, they could shirk from their duty to rule over the issue before them. Their decision may be overturned by the Supreme Court later on but that would not signify that they did their job with malice. With the prevailing public cynicism about

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corruption, they could no longer redeem themselves before the eyes of the people even if the truth is on their side. Their names will always be remembered whenever judicial corruption hits the headlines. Trillanes’ accusation had done them permanent damage. The injuries inflicted by his reckless assault on the integrity of the judiciary will not just go away. They would not heal unless Trillanes himself admitted that he wrongfully accused Reyes and Acosta. Corruption is so endemic today that it seems to have become the general rather than the exception. This aggravates the situation of Justices Reyes and Acosta. Disproving the accusation against them in public will occupy most of their time. It will not do well for them if they will fight in their accuser’s territory. Unfortunately for them, the public has become Trillanes’ home court for a long time. In our country where people put more trust on memes than on courts, Reyes and Acosta stand on the losing end. People will not listen to them. The more they talk about truth and innocence, the more their accuser will depict as low and vile creatures. More tales of corruption will come out in the media in the coming days. As such, they should prepare themselves and their families for more assault on their integrity. The second best situation for them is to keep their peace and continue hoping that truth shall vindicate them. If truth is really on their side, even politics has to give in eventually to clearing their names. Sadly, it seems that a politician needed only ten minutes to destroy a magistrate’s reputation which he gained after more than fifteen years of hard work and legal practice.

Publisher / Editor-in-Chief

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Ang pangalang “BALIKAS” ay hango sa mga salitang ‘balik’ at ‘kalikasan’. Hangad ng pahayagang ito na maging kasangkapan sa paghahatid ng mahahalagang impormasyon upang maibalik ang dating anyo ng ating inang kalikasan.|

APRIL 20 - 26, 2015

OPINION balikasonline@yahoo.com

Save Mary Jane Veloso, save the Filipino people THE family, relatives and friends of Mary Jane Veloso, with the help of Migrante International and other progressive groups, the Catholic Church, and concerned citizens are trying to move heaven and earth to save her life and spare her from the death sentence. Mary Jane Veloso has been sentenced to death by an Indonesian court after 2.6 kilos of heroin was found stitched inside the lining of the luggage that she was told to use by her neighbor who recruited her to work as a domestic helper abroad. Mary Jane’s plight is typical: of poor, desperate Filipinos lured into leaving their homes with the promise of gainful employment abroad only to be used and abused. If an overseas Filipino gets in trouble abroad, they are left on their own with, at most, an interpreter, supplied by the Philippine embassy. Citing budget considerations, lawyers are provided by the Philippine government only after the OFW has been sentenced. If the distressed Filipino is sentenced to death, the Philippine government will act with urgency only when the execution is about to be promulgated. Mary Jane Veloso was arrested in April 2010 and the Philippine government has been acting with a sense of urgency only now, five years later. Her plight has been made known to the public only after Mary Jane Veloso’s family sought the help of Migrante International. Worse, the family was left in the dark as to the status of the case while the Philippine government did nothing. They were even instructed not to approach Migrante International and the media. This same pattern has been going on and on. No matter how many denials the Philippine government issues, the fact that this happens again and again shows that this pattern is true. But Mary Jane Veloso’s case does not only represent the typical plight of overseas Filipino workers. Her situation is typical of millions of unemployed and underemployed Filipinos who are willing to go to unknown or even known risky and dangerous places just to find work so that their respective families would

Philippines stands on just ground. The provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, specifically with respect to the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) upon which we mainly base our sovereignty claims, are clearly in our favor. China has refused to participate in the arbitration process (and it can’t be compelled to do so). It claims that the contested areas do not fall under ITLOS jurisdiction, as they are sovereign “Chinese territory” within its “9-dash line” map that covers 90 percent of the disputed area. (China drew the map in 1947 but submitted it to the UN Secretary General only in 2009. No other country has recognized its validity under the UNCLOS.) However, China cannot forever evade facing up to the issues raised because it is a signatory to the UNCLOS, from which the ITLOS derives its authority and jurisdiction. Briefly, here’s the core of the Philippine case: According to Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio, who has publicly presented a scholarly legal study on the issue, the case involves a purely maritime, not territorial, dispute. (Territorial disputes require the two sides’ consent to resolve.) Carpio questions and opposes China’s claim that the “9-dash line” negates the Philippine exclusive economic zone guaranteed under UNCLOS. The Philippines also urges the tribunal to rule on two other issues: 1) whether rocks above water at high tide, such as Scarborough/Panatag Shoal (now occupied by Chinese ships), generate a 200-nautical mile EEZ or only a 12-nautical mile territorial sea; and 2) whether China can appropriate for itself low-tide elevations, such as Mischief Reef and Subi Reef, which are within the Philippines’ EEZ. Whatever ruling it may hand down after the oral arguments, the Arbitration Tribunal cannot alone enforce it. Nonetheless, a favorable ruling can elicit wide international support for the Philippine case and

READERS of this 10-something-year-old column have likely observed that the essays I write are mostly political in nature; an outcome of my being a social activist from way back when. But once in a rare while and for good reason, the theme becomes more personal. Then again as the feminists of the late ‘60s phrased it so elegantly — the personal is political. And so here goes. Someone, intrigued by the note at the end of this column that describes me as a “doctor by training, activist by choice, columnist by accident, proud mother of two and happy partner to a liberated spouse,” once asked me what that meant. I wish today, on the 70th birthday of the “liberated spouse,” to expound on what that means for a radical reformer such as myself. In the process I wish to publicly give credit where it is due, something that has truly been a long time coming. I met my future husband, Miguel “Mike” Araullo, as I entered the state university, a wide-eyed and eager ex-colegiala. He was on his way out, prolonging his stay in Delaney Hall (DH), the hang-out of members of the University of the Philippines Student Catholic Action, only because he was reviewing for the engineering board exams. As an old Filipino adage goes, a bit paraphrased, papunta pa lang ako, pabalik na siya. (I had just embarked on the journey; he was already on his way back.) Having been born “old” — I was given the moniker “granny” for having an oversized ego and constantly reminding all the kids to behave — I didn’t mind the age gap at all. Of course his being good-looking caught my eye. More than that, he struck me as a mature, kind-hearted person with a straightforward, even mockingly honest manner, that I found refreshing compared to the self-conscious cockiness of the younger males at the DH. In time his perseverance in courtship paid off despite the physical distance (by then he had started working in Laguna) and my growing involvement in radical student politics (which meant interminable discussion groups, non-stop teach-ins, and a constant stream of protest rallies and marches on and off campus). Our relationship withstood the sudden separation from my going underground when martial law was declared and my arrest upon reenrollment at UP. Still he did not join the revolutionary movement just to be closer to me; he knew that decision had to come from one’s own conviction and commitment. But he respected me enough and was sufficiently progressive politically himself not to dissuade me from acting in accord with my beliefs. After my release from detention, he patiently waited for me to finish an extended Bachelor of Arts course, then another four years of medicine (with summer vacations spent in “social immersion” among peasants in the countryside) while he continued to seek economic stability, first as an employee, then as an independent, small-scale entrepreneur. At last upon graduation we agreed to get married, although I managed to irk him by a sudden attack of panic that neither of us knew how to cook, so how could we embark on our own away from his and my mother’s reliable kitchens? But that was to be the least of our problems. He readily assumed the role of breadwinner while taking up the slack from the untalented and perfunctory homemaker that I turned out to be. Mike’s progressiveness was certainly tempered by his determination to have a viable family life amid the trials and tribulations of an economy in the doldrums and a spouse whose promising professional career wasn’t meant to be; more so, of a politically repressive martial law environment and even more terror and harassment under the supposedly liberal democratic regime that followed, forcing me to once again go underground for a time, leaving behind two bewildered young children. Many times he was mother and father to our kids, especially when I was hard-pressed by the demands of being a full-time activist. Through his dedication and perseverance (and, to be fair, my wholehearted cooperation), our two children grew up to be well-rounded, self-assured and disciplined individuals with athletic, theatrical and other extracurricular accomplishments to boot. Mike has largely been the “invisible” partner, quietly in the background while wife and kids drew some kind of limelight for achievements or, in some people’s eyes, notoriety. A couple of years ago, our daughter surprised him with a text message on his birthday saying, “you are the wind beneath my wings.” And he is affirmed each time he reads in published interviews of our son that the latter credits his father for the solid values he imbibed as he grew up and the opportunities to develop whatever God-given talents he had. We had tried not to be defensive about our being “economically challenged,” especially when hard times hit his fledgling business and our kids had to wear their cousins’ hand-me-downs. A proletarian lifestyle, while something that we were not philosophically averse to, was still a source of tension and instability in the family. Happily, we never really quarreled about money or the lack of it. Mike suffered silently through my mother’s harangues about why he would let his wife pursue risky, even dangerous and time-consuming and time-away-from-kids kind of “work,” instead of hunkering down to a respectable medical practice. But he never actually pressured me to stop my activism. He not only resigned himself to the fact that a large part of what defines me as a person is my activism, he grew to love and respect me all the more for it. Mike is a spouse who is most of all a dear friend, and always will be. He is great to have light, silly chats with in early-morning jogs and late-night telenovela-watching bonding time; as well as great to have serious conversations with whenever this activist needs a sounding board, especially a contrary but nonetheless thoughtful and honest view about controversial issues of the day. What is so much clearer to me now, as we grow mellow in our senior years, is that I would never have been able to pursue a life of dedicated

>>>OCAMPO...turn to P/7

>>>ARAULLO....turn to P/7

survive their worsening lives here in the country. No amount of stories of abuse, difficulties, and even war could stop Filipinos from going abroad to work. This is a testament to the economic and social crisis enveloping the country. This desperate situation of majority of Filipinos could not be masked by rosy economic figures of supposed growth and promises by the government that the Philippines would soon be raised from backwardness and poverty. How could that be when around 5,000 Filipinos leave to work abroad every day? Mary Jane’s sister Maritess Veloso Laurente risked working abroad as a domestic worker even after Mary Jane was arrested. Mary Jane’s plight is not only typical of the daily struggles of the working masses. Mary Jane’s parents were seasonal sugar farm workers or sacadas of Hacienda Luisita, which is owned by President Benigno Aquino III and his family, up to the 1980s when the current president’s mother Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino was the president and the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law was enacted. Her family’s plight is a testament to the failure of the government’s land reform program, which has been extended several times already but has not been able to give the millions of peasants their right to the land that they have been tilling for decades. The campaign to save Mary Jane Veloso’s life has become more urgent now, as the Indonesian government has not yet commuted her death sentence. It only granted a stay in the execution. Thus, there is an urgent need to intensify the campaign even more. At the same time, Mary Jane Veloso’s case highlights the need for the Filipino people, especially the poor majority to intensify the struggle to put an end to the system and to government policies that worsen the economic, social, and political crisis and result in ever worsening poverty and backwardness. For starters, the Filipino people should pursue the fight for a genuine agrarian reform program to uplift the millions of peasants from poverty and landlessness.|

Benjie Oliveros

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Prudent diplomacy best in handling maritime row OUR dispute with China over its claims on certain islets, reefs and shoals in the South China/ West Philippine Sea may not be resolved soon. Of late, China’s aggressive unilateral acts have been making news – it has been frenetically undertaking land reclamations and construction in some of the contested maritime areas. This has spurred, besides protests from all the aggrieved contending parties including the Philippines, ominous military reaction by the United States. Specifically, satellite images taken in March show that China has done reclamation on Subi Reef, constructed an airstrip and harbor and various facilities on the new island. More recent images on Mischief Reef (135 miles off Palawan, which China occupied much earlier) show heavy equipment dredging sand from the seabed and building another island on it. The Philippines has protested these unilateral actions and accused China of destroying 300 acres of coral reefs, causing “irreparable and widespread damage to the biodiversity and ecological balance” of the area. Thus we who are outraged ought to exercise utmost judiciousness and urge the Aquino government to do the same so as not to prejudice what it has done right on the matter thus far. It was diplomatically prudent and legally correct that the Department of Foreign Affairs filed in March 2013 a case against China at the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea. The ITLOS has referred the case for hearing by its Arbitral Tribunal in The Hague. The DFA has already submitted two memorials (documentary evidence and written arguments) and is preparing for the oral arguments in July. (It should be noted that the DFA filed the case only after failing to get US assurance of military support – by invoking the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty – in the event of a confrontation with China. The US has averred that the treaty doesn’t apply in the case of our maritime sovereignty claims in the West Philippine Sea.) In seeking recourse through the ITLOS, the

The personal is political

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BUSINESS Sistemang BOSS ng Batangas City, ipatutupad din sa Itogon, Benguet NAGLAKBAY-ARAL sa Batangas City ang delegasyon mula sa Itogon, Benguet noong ika-17 ng Abril upang matutunan ang operasyon ng Business One Stop Shop (BOSS) ng lungsod partikular ang streamlining ng business registration. Sa isang maikling orientation program ay tinalakay ni Business Permits and Licensing Officer Ditas Aguado Rivera ang mga repormang isinagawa sa kanilang opisina upang maging mas efficient at madali ang proseso ng issuance at renewal ng business permit. Naisakatuparan aniya ito sa tulong ng USAID INVEST Project. Tinalakay naman ni Local Economic and Investment Promotion Officer (LEIPO) Erick Anthony Sanohan ang ilan sa mga proyekto ng kanilang tanggapan. Binigyang diin niya ang kahalagahan ng pagkakaroon ng political will sa

pagpapatupad ng naturang mga reporma o pagbabago. Nagbahagi din ng mahahalagang impormasyon si Information Technology Officer Raymund Sadiwa sa proseso na kanilang isinagawa para sa full automation ng BPLS. Ibinalita niya ang ipatutupad na automated Batangas City Inspection

Management System sa susunod na buwan. Ayon kay Angela Carino, municipal treasurer ng Itogon, hanga sila sa automation na isang magandang innovation na ipinatupad ng BPLO gayundin sa magandang koordinasyon ng mga tanggapan sa BOSS. Ang delegasyon ay binu-

buo ng humigit kumulang sa 40 katao na kinabibilangan ng mga pinuno ng ibaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ibang departamento at barangay officials ng Itogon. Ang Itogon, Benguet ay first class municipality na matatagpuan sa Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR). Pangunahing kabuhayan dito ay pagmimina.

Nagcourtesy call din ang grupo kay Mayor Eduardo Dimacuha at pagkatapos nito

ay nilibot nila ang BOSS at ang Building Permit OneStop- Shop (BPOSS).| REC

JUDICAIL NOTICE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT FOURTH JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 85, LIPA CITY IN RE: PETITION FOR CANCELLATION OF REGISTRATION OF BIRTH OF RIZIEL JOY DELA ROCA REYES REGISTERED AT THE OFFICE OF THE CIVIL REGISTRAR, LIPA CITY EDWIN C. REYES and EVANGELINE P. DE LA ROCA, Petitioners, -versus-

SP. PROC. NO. 02-2015-0091

LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF LIPA CITY, And all Persons who may be affected by this Petition, Respondents. x----------------------------------x ORDER COURTESY call of Itogon, Benguet delegation with Mayor Eduardo B. Dimacuha.| JERSON SANCHEZ

A verified petition was filed by Edwin C. Reyes and Evangeline P. De La Roca, a resident of 90-A Mabini St., Brgy. Sabang, Lipa City. Among others, the petitioners pray that after due notice, publication and hearing, judgment be rendered ordering the Local Civil reguistrar of Lipa City to cancel the registration of Live Birth of minor Riziel Joy De La Roca Reyes under Registry No. 2009-0444. Finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, notice is hereby given that the same be set for hearing on May 27, 2015 at 8:30 oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;clock in the morning at the Session Hall of this Court. All interested persons may appear on that date, time and place and show cause why the petition should not be granted. Let a copy of this Order be published at the expense of the petitioner once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Province of Batangas, including the Cities of Lipa, Tanauan and Batangas. Likewise, let a copy of the petition and this Order be furnished the Office of the Solicitor General, the Lipa City Prosecutor, Local Civil Registrar of Lipa City for their information and appropriate actions. SO ORDERED. Lipa City, March 24, 2015 (Sgd.) WILFREDO P. CASTILLO Presiding Judge I hereby certify that copies of this order have been sent to the Office of the Solicitor General, Prosecutor G. Butch I. Escano, the Local Civil Registrar of Lipa City, and the petitioner, this __ day of March, 2015. (Sgd.) ATTY. REGULUS R. ROCAFORT Branch Clerk fo Court Pahayagang Balikas | April 20, 27 & May 4, 2015

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Mayor Edna Sanchez Cup 2015: Inter-Barangay Sports Competition NGAYONG tag-init, puspusan na ang pagsasanay ng mga koponan ng basketball at volleyball ng iba’t ibang barangay sa kakabukas lamang na Mayor Edna P. Sanchez Cup 2015, InterBarangay Sports Competition nitong Abril 18, 2015 na ginanap sa Municipal Gymnasium. Pinangunahan ni Mayor Edna Sanchez ang pagbubukas ng liga kasama ang tumayong Chairman ngayong taon na si Konsehal Renante Arcillas. Tampok ang

iba’t ibang kasapi ng Liga ng mga barangay sa pangunguna ni ABC President Wilfredo Maliksi, nagsamasama ang mga manlalaro sa ngalan ng sports. Ginanap ang parada ng mga koponan sa Poblacion ng bayan na pinangunahan ng mga Muse o Lakambini ng bawat Barangay. Sumama rin sa parada ang mga kawani ng munisipyo na kasama sa Committee na nag-aayos ng mga aktibidad para sa liga. Matapos ang parada, ginanap ang pormal na

................................................................................. <<<OCAMPO.... from P/5

Prudent diplomacy best in handling maritime row generate moral pressure on China to yield. Also it can gain considerable leverage for the Philippines should there be bilateral negotiations, which China has persistently insisted is its preferred way. Avowing to uphold the rule of law, the Aquino government can best serve the national interest by assiduously pursuing this course of action. Sadly the DFA recently took a foolhardy turn. On television, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario welcomed with alacrity new Defense Secretary Ashton Carter’s announcement that the US intends to deploy in the Philippines “various advanced air force, naval, and maritime-domain equipment” in reaction to China’s using its “sheer size and muscle” to elbow smaller nations aside in the South China/West Philippine Sea, as President Obama had charged.

As usual the DFA had no foreknowledge of the publicly announced American plan. “This is the first time we are hearing about it. We have not engaged in discussion so we will find out more about what these plans involve,” del Rosario said. In two weeks, he added, he would travel to the US hoping to meet with Carter, State Secretary John Kerry, and some US legislators. Note this: The equipment, which may include weapons, would be manned not by Filipinos but by US personnel. Ergo, “it will require US presence,” del Rosario conceded. Up to what extent he couldn’t say. Under the EDCA (Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement) — should the Supreme Court uphold the “executive agreement’s” questioned constitutionality — that would practically mean restoring US military bases in the country.

................................................................................. <<<ARAULLO.... from P/5

The personal is political activism and somehow still manage to have happy, healthy and level-headed children and a reasonably functioning home were it not for a partner who has been ______________ Carol Pagaduan-Araullo is a medical doctor by training, social activist by choice, columnist by accident, happy partner to a liberated spouse and proud mother of two. Personal e-mail address: carol_araullo@yahoo.com Published in Business World & Bulatlat.com

supporting me through thick and thin, good times and bad. He has been the more mature, the more understanding, the more forgiving, the more accommodating, the less bull-headed of the life partnership, and for that I am most blessed, a truly “happy partner to a liberated spouse.” Like us: www.facebook .com/Balikas

Marinduque’s Pride: Bar Topnotcher who benefitted in Flavier’s Oplan Sagip Mata MORE than 20 years ago, the Department of Health (DOH) under then Secretary (later Senator) Juan Flavier launched a program for poor families who cannot afford eye health care services. Among those availed the “Oplan Sagip Mata” program were Ed and Sally Magalang of Barangay Poras, Boac, Marinduque who enrolled one of their children, Sandra Mae.

Sandra Mae has Strabismus or born cross-eyed: the eyes are not aligned and not coordinating with one another. Sally, her mother said, Sandra Mae’s condition might affect her personality when she enters school as children with imperfections were targetted by bullies. They could not afford eye operations to correct Sandra Mae’s condition; hence they

seremonya ng pagbubukas na kinatampukan ng mga pananalita ng mga opisyal ng Sto. Tomas LGU. Nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na nanumpa sa pagiging mabuting sportsman ang mga kasali sa liga kasama na ang ceremonial basketball toss na pinangunahan ni Mayor Sanchez bilang

hudyat ng pagsisimula ng laro. Nanalo bilang Best Muse si Ana Minorka Carandang ng Brgy. San Bartolome. Samantala sa pambungad na laro ng basketball nanalo ang San Vicente kontra sa San Roque. Nanaig naman ang Brgy Sta Anastacia kontra sa San Bartolome.|

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PA L A IS IPA N 1

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PAHALANG 1 Silid-tuklasan 4 Magaspang ang ugali 10 Sapi 12 Pangingitim sa balat 13 Chicken sa tagalog 15 Tindahan 16 Tanikala 18 Diwata 19 Kagat: Ingles 20 Apid 22 Lubos 24 Kasali 27 Unang lalaki 30 Alyas 31 Hidwaan 33 Paghahati ng mana 35 Sandata 37 Init 39 Asawa ni Simba 40 Taal 41 Pantukoy sa pangalan ng tao

PABABA 1 Lumayas: Ingles 2 Wari 3 Sakit an nagbalik 5 Isang pandiwa 6 Barkilyos 7 Lunan sa NCR 8 Daras 9 Litrato 11 Imbakan ng tubig 14 Kenya: daglat 15 Punglo 17 Taling 19 Kahoy na ginagawang panggatong 21 Grupo ng apat 23 Granula ng ginto 25 Sapantaha 26 kapa 28 Gabok ng bigas 29 Sabi nila 32 Ishmael Bernal 34 Si Sayaff 36 Ilagay: Ingles 38 Bulalas ng panunudyo

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were overjoyed upon hearing the existence of Oplan Sagip Mata. After undergoing operations through Oplan Sagip Mata, Sandra Mae’s life has changed forever. A naturally-gifted student, Sarah Mae was consistently on the top of her class from elementary to high school. She graduated Summa Cum Laude when she completed Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration in

2010 at the University of Philippines – Diliman and Cum Laude at the UP College of Law in 2014. She scored the third place of the 2014 Bar Examinations. Sandra Mae credited Flavier for most of her academic accomplishments: her testimony was one of the celebrated tributes to the late legislator and former secretary of Health.| BALIKAS NEWS TEAM

Taurus (Abril 20-Mayo 20) - Kusang lalapit ang magandang pagkakataon na dapat hindi palagpasin dahil minsan lamang ito kakatok sa pintuan. Naaayon ang paglagda ng papeles o kontrata. Lucky numbers at color ang 14, 18, 25, 39 at Orange. Gemini (Mayo 21-Hun. 21) - May mabubuong transaksyon na siyang makapagpapabago sa takbo ng buhay o kaunlaran ng negosyo. Magiging maligaya sa pag-ibig kung iiwasan ang usaping pera at selos. Lucky numbers at color ang 7, 20, 24, 28 at Dollar Green. Cancer (Hun. 22-Hul. 22) - Iwasan ang usapin na makakasira sa buhay ng iba para hindi masangkot sa gulo at magkaroon ng masamang karma. Lucky numbers at color ang 4, 8, 11, 16 at Purple. Leo (Hul. 23-Ago. 22) - Ang mapagmahal at maalalahanin ang magbibigay harmonya sa pamilya at sa mga kasamahan. Maaasahan na walang suliranin sa tahanan gayundin sa negosyo o hanapbuhay. Lucky numbers at color ang 15, 23, 28, 38 at Brown. 10, 16, 33 at indigo. Virgo (Ago 23-Set. 23) - Laging ihanda ang sarili sa anumang magaganap. Taimtim na panalangin ang kailangan para maiwasan ang masamang mangyayari. Lucky numbers at color ang 11, 19, 36, 37 at Beige. Libra (Set. 24-Okt. 23) - Maisasakatuparan ang binabalak sa paglipat ng bahay o pinapasukan. Kung may transaksyon, sa umaga gawin dahil palpak kung sa hapon o gabi kikilos. Lucky numbers at color ang 6, 14, 25, 33 at Tangerine. Scorpio (Okt. 24-Nob. 22) - Maaliwalas ang buong araw at tiyak magiging maayos ang takbo ng lahat ayon sa gusto. Hahantong sa samaan ng loob at tampuhan ang pagpatol sa mangungulit na kamag-anak. Lucky numbers at color ang 18, 22, 31, 45 at Pink. Sagittarius (Nob. 23-Dis. 21) - Kung sa umaga ay kaligayahan ang madarama, malamang mapapalitan ng kalungkutan sa dapit-hapon dahil sa masamang balitang matatanggap o sa isang hindi inaasahang pangyayari. Lucky numbers at color ang 8, 32, 40, 45 at White. Capricorn (Dis. 22-Ene. 19) - Mabuting magbago ng masamang ugali para dumaloy ang swerte. Magaganap ang pagbabago kung itutuwid ang maling landas na tinatahak. Lucky numbers at color ang 1, 5, 10, 14 at Jade Green. Aquarius (Ene. 20 - Peb. 18) - Ang suliranin ay sariling kagagawan kaya’t huwag isisi sa iba. W alang ibang dapat gawin kung hindi maging totoo at tanggapin ang nagawang kamalian. Lucky numbers at color ang 6, 16, 20, 25 at Purple. Pisces (Peb. 19 - Mar. 20) - May panauhing darating mula sa malayo na may dalang magandang balita, na siyang magpapasaya sa iyo. Lucky numbers at color ang 9, 25, 29, 47 at Flaming Red. Aries (Mar. 21 - Abril 19) - Mapagtutuunan ng pansin ang problema at madaling mahahanapan ng tamang solusyon. Maluwag ang pinansyal subalit dapat paghandaan ang bukas. Lucky numbers at color ang 6, 24, 28, 39 at Maroon|.|

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>>>FESTIVALS & FEASTS..., EVENTS..., SHOWBIZ & SPORTS...TRAVEL & TRENDS<<<

BCWD, kinilala ng DoH A unang pagkakataon, tumanggap ng parangal ang Batangas City Water District (BCWD) mula sa Department of Health (DOH) sa larangan ng Water Safety Plant Development and Implementation sa awarding ceremony noong March 24 sa Clark, Pampanga. Ayon kay BCWD Manager Yolanda Oyao, isa ang kanilang tanggapan sa sampung pinagkalooban ng Certificate of Recognition ng DOH na pasado sa Philippine National Standard for Drinking Water. Patunay aniya ito na ligtas inumin ang tubig na kanilang isinusuplay sa kanilang mga konsumidores sa lunsod. Ang audit ay isinagawa ng DOH noong buwan ng Enero kung saan binigyang puntos kung gaano ka ligtas ang tubig mula sa well patungo sa mga kabahayan, paraan ng pagrerepair ng leak, pagtanggap ng mga reklamo, ang kanilang service connection at maging

ang paraan ng paglilinis ng kanilang mga elevated tanks. Bukod sa BCWD, kabilang din sa sampung pinarangalan ang San Pablo City at Dasmarinas Water District sa Region IV. Siniguro din ni Oyao na sapat ang suplay ng tubig ngayong tag-araw kumpara sa ibang lugar na nakakaranas ng krisis sa tubig. Hinggil naman sa mga maintenance repair na kanilang isinasagawa, magpapatuloy pa din aniya ito sa loob ng susunod na tatlong taon upang higit na mapahusay ang kanilang serbisyo sa kanilang mga costumers. Kailangan ng palitan aniya ang mga linya ng tubig dahil dito nagsisimula ang mga tagas kung saan ito ang tinatawag na non-revenue water. Ito ang mga nasasayang na tubig mula sa main line na kailangang pangalagaan at resolbahin.|RONNA E. CONTRERAS

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BSU’s Lopez tops ECE Board Exam BATANGAS State University alumnus Engr. Angelo Tirao Lopez was this year’s Top 1 in the Electronics Engineer Licensure Examination. With 88.40% rating, Lopez bested 892 passers of the ECE Licensure Examination 2015. The Professional Regulations Commission announced on April 17 that out of 2,552 takers, only 892 or 34.95% made it to the list of ECE passers. Engr. Lopez of BatStateU and Engr. Rodolfo Catolico Salvador

Jr. of AMA Computer University tied on first place for ECE board. Other topnotchers came from University of the PhilippinesDiliman, De La Salle UniversityManila, Eastern Visayas State University, University of San Carlos, Malayan Colleges Laguna, Mapua Institute of Technology – Manila, Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology, FEU-Institute of Technology. Congratulations Batangas State University!|

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Domino’s Pizza, now in Lipa City DOMINO’S Pizza marked another milestone in the Philippines as it celebrated its Grand Opening and Store Blessing, April 15. The event was highlighted with the inaugural ceremony and ribboncutting by the Perkins Twins, Domino’s Pizza Philippines Brand Ambassadors; Ms. Pinky T. Yee, DPP Express President; and Ms. Liza Dimaculangan, SM Lipa Mall Manager.

Domino’s Pizza SM Lipa is the 17th store in the country to date and the first in the city of Lipa. Certainly, Batangueños now get to enjoy the goodness and freshness of pizzas right from the oven that is truly distinctive of the Domino’s Pizza brand. As the main highlight of the event, the Perkins Twins’ performance wowed the crowd with their good looks and talent. And, the finale

concluded the celebration with the giant pizza slicing. With the World’s No.1 Delivery Expert now in the locality of Lipa, Batangas – Domino’s Pizza will truly be a game changer in the pizza market category. So, when you crave for your next pizza, come and visit us at 2F SM City Lipa, Barangay Marauoy, Lipa City, Batangas. And, for delivery, dial now at 757-3030. Why wait! Buy Now!| ADVT.

Jobs fair everywhere ALOS isang linggo na lang ang nalalabi at Mayo na. Kadalasan ang unang sumasagi sa isip natin kapag buwan ng Mayo ay ang isang sikat at matagal ng nakatatak sa kultura ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino, ang Mayo-han o tuklungan, o Santacruzan -- ano man ang tawag sa inyong lugar sa araw-araw na pag-aalay ng bulalak sa Mahal an Birheng Maria na nagtatapos namans a isang simple hanggang sa magarbong tapusan o fiestahan. Pero, bago ang isang buwang pag-aalay ng bulaklak, ang buwan ng Mayo ay nagsisimula rin sa Araw ng mga Manggagawa. Tauntaon, hindi nawawala ang paulit-ulit na mga rally, pero taun-taon rin naman ay may mga isinasagawang jobs fairang ilang malalaking malls na suportado naman ng mga local government units. Tulad ngayong taong ito, sa May 1, muling magdaraos ng Jobs Fair ang SM City Batangas at SM City Lipa. Kasabay ito sa NationwideJob Fair sa lahat ng malls ng SM Group sa buong bansa . Mula alas-8:00 ng umaga hanggang ala-5:00 ng hapon ay inaasahang dadagsa na naman ang mga magsisipaghanap ng trabaho. Sa isang komunikasyon ng SM Malls, maraming mga kumpanya gaya ng mall retail stores at mga food outlets ang inaasahang lalahok sa Job Fairs na ito na inaasahan ding makapagbibigay ng trabaho sa papalaki pang bilang ng mga Batangueñong walang trabaho. Katuwang ng SM Malls sa gawaing ito ang Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) at Public Employment Service Office (PESO). Napag-alaman pa na nagsimula ang tradisyong ito ng SM Job Fair noong May 1, 2008. Hangad namin na makapagbigay-impormasyon sa mga job-seekers. Nawa’y makita ninyo ang tamang trabaho para sa inyo.

Marine Conservation Camp for Filipino Youth Leaders Practicing Environmental Protection CALATAGAN, Batangas — The Luzon Sea and Earth Advocates (SEA) Camp, a project of Save Philippine Seas and the U.S. Embassy Manila, kicks off at Lago de Oro in Calatagan, Batangas, recently. The SEA Camp aims to empower youth aged 18 to 23 to play bigger roles in conservation. The thirty Luzon SEA Camp participants visited the Calatagan Mangrove Development Alliance, Ang Pulo Mangrove Forest Conservation Park, and the Calatagan

Floating House. The week-long camp was fully-packed with fun and educational activities, such as panel discussions, workshops, scuba diving, snorkelling, and mural painting. The program was designed to increase their knowledge on coastal and marine issues, and build practical skills to encourage them to pursue conservation work. The SEA Camp is also supported by bobble, CP Kelco, Havaianas, Humane&Nature, Lagu, Nipa Foods, and Smart Communications, Inc.|

“Kape sa Sining”Art Workshop, umarangkada sa Sto. Tomas

In photo (from left to right): Christian Perkins, Ms. Pinky T. Yee-3030 DPP Express President, Ms. Liza Dimaculangan- SM Lipa Mall Manager, and Jesse Perkins

MGA kabataang Tomasino ang sumali sa kakaibang art workshop na inayos ng Malvar Historical Landmark sa pakikipagtulungan ng Sto. Tomas LGU. Binuksan ang workshop noong Abril 13, 2015. Naging panauhing pandangal sina Ms Rebecca Labit ng Department of Tourism IV-A, Mr Angelo Aguinaldo ng Aguinaldo Museum, Atty Arth Jhun Marasigan bilang kinatawan ni Mayor Edna Sanchez at Konsehal Renante Arcillas. Ang workshop ay pangungunahan ni Bb Zarah Escueta, curator ng Malvar Historical Landmark at Jorge Corong, bilang expert artist na magtuturo sa mga kabataang Tomasino sa workshop na tatagal mula Abril 13-19, 2015. Sa mga pananalita ng mga panauhin, labis ang kanilang pasasalamat sa pagbuo sa nasabing programa upang palitawin ang pagiging malikhain ng mga Tomasino sa

paggamit sa kapeng barako bilang art medium. Ayon kay G. Aguinaldo, ang Kapeng Barako ay napatunayan niyang mas matapang at may sipa kung ikukumpara sa Kapeng Amadeo Cavite na nasa highland o mataas na parte ng bundok. Hinikayat niya ang mga Tomasino na patunayang may sipa ang art medium na kapeng barako. Natatangi umano ang kasanayang ito kung maipapakilala sa buong Pilipinas dahil wala pang promal na workshop na nagtuturo nito. Tinitignan ang coffee art medium bilang maipagmamalaki ng Batangas, lalo na at nagmula sa Sto. Tomas, Batangas. Sa unang araw ay binigyan na ng assignment ni G. Corong ang higit sa limampung mag-aaral ng painting gamit ang kapeng barako bilang medium.| BALIKAS NEWS TEAM