Vol. 21, No. 2 | January 11 - 17, 2016

January 11 - 17, 2016 | Vol. 21, No. 2 | Php 12.00/copy balikasonline@yahoo.com | 0912.902.7373 | 0926.774.7373

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Pamamanata at Debosyong nakaukit sa kasaysayan ng Lunsod Batangas ANG maringal na Fluvial Procession mula sa Brgy. Wawa papasok sa Ilog ng Calumpang, isang taunang pamamanata ng mga nagdedebosyon sa Mahal na Poong Sto. Nino ng Batangan, ang patron ng lunsod. Isa ring pag-alaala sa kasaysayan ng pagkatagpo sa imahen ng Mahal na Poon na natagpuang nakasakay sa isang batang (troso) na palutang-lutang sa ilog. Insets [L-R] Iniluklok sa kaniyang karosa ang Mahal na Patron pagkababa sa Calumpang Bridge para sa pagpuprusisyon sa mga lansangan ng lunsod; ang pagpasok sa Basilica ng Inmaculada Concepcion; at isang tagpo sa kahabaan ng P. Burgos Street habang isinasagawa ang fireworks display sa pagtatapos ng prusisyon.| JOENALD MEDINA RAYOS

USEC Ronnie Geron, Civil Disturbance Mng’t Ang Maikling itinalagang hepe ng Gear, ipinagkaloob sa Kasaysayan ng Sto. Bureau of Immigration Batangas PNP Niño ng Batangan >>>NEWS....turn to P/2

>>>NEWS....turn to P/3

>>>LIFETIMES....turn to P/7

2

OCTOBER 12 - 18, 2015

OPINION

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JANUARY 11 - 17, 2016

USEC Geron, bagong hepe ng Bureau of Immigration PORMAL nang naupo bilang pinuno ng Bureau of Immigration si Deputy Executive Secretary Ronaldo A. Geron, noong Miyerkules, Enero 6, bilang kapalit ni dating BI chief Siegfred B. Mison.

Bitbit ang mahabang panahong karanasan sa government service, haharapin ni Usec. Geron ang mga hamon na linisin ang kawanihan at isaayos ang mga alingasngas ng pinalitang pamumuno rito. Si BI Chief Geron ay ilang terminong naglingkod bilang Provincial Board Member ng Batangas.

Ang Bureau of Immigration (BI) ay isang attached agency ng Department of Justice (DOJ).

Tinanggal sa pwesto si Mison matapos kaharapin nito ang mga kasong administratibo kaugnay ng paulitulit na pagtakas ng Koreanong at ang umano’y kaugnayan ng opisyal sa pagtakas na ito.

Sa imbestigasyon ng National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), lumalabas na liable si Mison sa grave misconduct for allowing the “illegal” detention ng Koreanong si Cho Seongdae sa isang lugar sa Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces Compound (ISAFP) sa military headquarters sa Camp Aguinaldo na umano’y kulang sa seguridad. Ito umano ang dahilan ng pagkakataong makatakas muli si Cho noong Oktubre 21.

“Commissioner Mison’s administrative lapses results in grave misconduct,” pahayag ng 21-pahinang ulat ng NBI. Si Cho, na iniuugany sa serye ng mga kasong human trafficking at ekstorsyon,ay inilipat sa ISAFP noong Oktubre 10, o halos 11 araw lang makalipas na siyang makatakas mula sa Bureau of Immigration Warden Facility (BIWF) sa Bicutan, Taguig City noong Setyembre 29 sa pamamagitan umano ng may P1-milyon payola sa mga opisyal ng imigrasyon.

Unang naaresto si Cho noong Agosto 7 at idinitine sa BI custody noong Setyembre 11 ngunit naka-takas naman noong Setyembre 29 sa pinaniniwalaang pakikipagkasundo ng isang Koreanong kaibigan sa tauhan ng BI. Muli siyang maaresto ng mag-kasanib na pwersa ng BI at ISAFP operatives sa Pagsanjan, Laguna noong undras, at idinitine sa NBI headquarters sa Manila.

May mga kinakahrap ding kasong criminal si Cho sa kaniyang bansang Korea.

Sa ulat ng NBI sa DOJ, luma-labas na may 17 tauhan ng Bureau of Immigration at ISAFP guards and officers ang liable for criminal and administrative charges dahil sa janilang kapabayaan, mga kaluwagan at kawalang kooperasyon sa nga isinagawang pagsisiyasat ng NBI sa

IN this file photo, USEC Ronaldo Geron attends the 6th Conference of the State Parties to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) at St. Petersburg, Russia. (Photo from USEC Geron’s FB Account). ....................................................................................................................... paglalabas-masok ni Cho Seongdae sa piitan.

Idinagdag pa sa ulat na nagkulang si Mison sa pagpayag nito na na maidetine si Cho sa isang military facility na walang batayang ligal.

Inihayag ng Malacanang ang pakapagtalaga kay Atty.

Geron bilang kapalit ni Mison sa BI nitong Enero 6.| JOENALD MEDINA RAYOS

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Balik-Armas sa Batangas

SA patuloy na pagpapatupad ng OPLAN Katok at ng pinalakas na kampanyang BalikArmas, patuloy din ang pagbuhos ng suporta ng publiko, patunay ng pagiging mga

responsableng gun owners sa pamamagitan ng pagsurrender ng kanilang mga baril for safekeeping purposes o tuluyang isurrender habang pinoproseso ang mga lisensya.

4 katao, mga armas at shabu, huli sa unang araw ng gun ban CAMP MIGUEL MALVAR, Batangas City – SA hudyat na pagsisimula ng Election Period, nagpalabas na ng resolusyon ng Commission on Eelctions para sa pagpapatupad ng pagbabawal (ban) sa pag-iingat, pagdadala, o pagbi-biyahe ng anumang uri ng armas at pasabog kaugnay ng National Election sa Mayo 9.

Kaugnay nito, inilunsad ng Batangas Batangas Police Provincial Office (BPPO) at 730th Combat Group ng Philippine Air Force ang simultaneous COMELEC Check-point operation upang matiyak an gang epektibong pagpapatupad ng gun ban mula Enero 10 hanggang Hunyo 8.

Impunto alas 12:-01 ng hating-gabi noong Linggo, personal na pinamunuan nina Police Senior Superintendent Arcadio Lescano Ronquillo, Jr, Officer-In-Charge, Batangas PNP at Provincial Election Supervisor IV, Attorney Gloria G. Ramos-Petallo ang inspection and monitoring team sa mga checkpoints sa mga estratihikong lugar sa buong lalawigan.

Mismong mga hepe ng pulisya sa bayanbayan at mga city/municipal election officers

ang namuno sa mga naturang check-points sa bawat lunsod at bayan.

Sa naturang operasyon, nasam-polan kaagad ang dalawang kalala-kihang lumabag sa Republic Act 10591 (Illegal Possession of Firearms and Ammunition) at Violation of Omnibus Election Code (COMELEC Gun Ban) ng masakote ng Balayan Municipal Police Station sa pamu-muno ni Police Chief Inspector Salvador Espina Solana, Officer-InCharge.

Una, bandang ala-1:55 ng umaga sa Brgy.

Langgangan, Balayan, Batangas nakorner ang isang tricycle driver na nakilalang si Ruel Malapitan y Sepolino, 41, may-asawa at residente ng Brgy. Lumbang na Matanda, Calaca, Batangas at nakumpiska sa kaniya ang isang (1) 38 Special Revolver Squires Bingham may serial number 1098091 at kargado ng dalawang (2) buhay na bala at walang kaukulang dokumento.

Sinundan naman ito bandang alas-2:10 ng madaling araw ng pagkadakip sa embalsamador na si Frederick Escaño y Baldonaza, 42, residente ng Brgy.

>>>GUN BAN.... sundan sa P/3 .......................................................................................................................

Hotel owner sa Batangas, patay sa pamamaslang PERSONAL na humarap si Sta. Teresita mayor Ma. Aurea V. Segunial para i-turn over ang kaniyang STI Cal. 40 Pistol, may serial number CM15264 kay PSI Allan Castillo Nidua, hepe ng pulisya, habang nakamasid sina SPO2 Dominador Trencio at PO1 Hazel Joy D. Molina sa pinalakas na Oplan Balik-Armas.|

IPINAGKATIWALA ni Timoteo Cabatian y Bilan kay PCInsp Diana Dela Cruz Del Rosario, Office-in-Charge ng Nasugbu Municipal Police Station ang kaniyang Armscor Cal. 45 Pistol kasama ang 50 live ammunitions at isang magazine.|

STO. TOMAS, Batangas – Binawian ng buhay sa St. Frabces Cabrini Medical Center ang mayari ng isang hotel sa bayang ito matapos isugod kasunod ng pamamaril ng mga di pa nakikilalang suspect nitong nakaraang lunes ng umaga, Enero 4.

Sa ipinadalang ulat ni Superintendent Noel Nuñez, Sto. Tomas police chief, kay PSSUpt. Arcadio L. Ronquilio, Jr., kinilala ang biktimang si Jussein San Juan y Uy, 36-taong gulang, tubong Lunsod ng Tanauan at residente ng Ayala Village, Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

Ayon pa sa ulat, pumasok umano sa Junction Inn Mansion Hotel sa Barangay Uno, Sto. Tomas, Batangas na pag-aari ng biktima ang dalawang kalalakihan bandang alas-10:45 ng umaga at nagpanggap na mga guests ng hotel.

Nang makita umano ng isa sa mga suspek si San Juan sa lobby ng naturang hotel, kaagad nitong dinukot ang isang .45-caliber pistol at malapitang binaril ang biktima ng makailang ulit.

Kaagad din namang naisugod sa nabanggit na ospital ang biktima ngunit binawian din agad ito ng buhay sanhi ng matitinding sugat na natamo nito; samantala’y kaagad din namang tumakas ang mga salarin sakay ng isang galbanisadong tricycle na di nakuha ang plaka, dala ang armas na ginamit sa krimen.

Inaalam pa ng pulisya ang posibleng motibo sa pamamaslang samantala’y naglunsad na nag malawakang follow-up operation ang pulisya para sa posibleng ikadarakip ng mga salarin.

Samantala, nabatid naman na si San Juan ay may-ari rin ng San Juan Jewelry and Pawnshop, isang gasolinahan at isa pang drive-in motel sa Barangay Pagaspas, Lunsod ng Tanauan.

“Unfortunately, walang CCTV (closedcircuit television) ang hotel, ngunit patuloy rin naming inaalam kung may CCTV ang ilang kalapit na establishment para maidentify ang mga suspek,” pahayag pa ni Nuñez.| JOENALD MEDINA RAYOS

JANUARY 11 - 17, 2016

3

NEWS

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Civil Disturbance Management Gear, ipinagkaloob sa Batangas PNP SINIMULAN ni Batangas Governor Vilma Santos ang kanyang panunungkulan sa taong 2016 sa pagharap nito sa mga kapulisan na binubuo ng Batangas PNP Provincial Command mula sa Camp Miguel Malvar na bumisita sa kanyang tanggapan para sa tradisyunal na PNP New Year Courtesy Call, Enero 5.

Ang Batangas PNP Command ay pinangunahan ng kasalukuyang Officer-in-Charge, PSSupt. Arcadio Lescano Ronquillo, Jr. kasama ang mga Chief of Police mula sa 31 bayan at tatlong lunsod ng lalawigan ganun din ang kabuuan ng Provincial Command at National Support Command ng PNP na nakabase sa Batangas.

Sa pagsisimula ng pagtitipon, pinasalamatan ni Governor Vi ang lahat ng bumubuo ng Batangas PNP sa pagpapanatili ng kaayusan at katahimikan ng lalawigan ganun na rin ang ibinigay na suporta ng mga ito sa adhikain at programang pangkapayapaan na inilatag ng pamahalaang panlalawigan sa ilalim ng administrasyong Santos Recto.

At dahil na din sa magandang track record at malinis na pamamahala sa larangan ng peace and order, ipinagkaloob ng Gobernadora sa Batangas PNP ang mga bagong Anti-Riot Gear na gagamitin para sa Civil Disturbance Management ng kapulisan.

Ang mga kagamitan para CDM ay personal na tinanggap ni OIC

PERSONAL na tinanggap ni PSSupt. Arcadio L. Ronquillo, Jr. , Officer-in-Charge ng Batangas Provincial Police Office (BPPO) ang mga kagamitan para sa Civil Disturbance Management Unit ng Batangas PNP mula kay Governor Vilma Santos Recto at mga opisyal ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan na kinabibilangan nina Provincial Administrator Atty. Joel Montealto, Executive Assistant Victor Reyes, 4th District Board Member Amado Carlos Bolilia at Chief of Staff to the Governor Pedrito Martin Dijan Jr., Enero 5, sa ginanap na New Year Courtesy Call sa pagitan ng Batangas PNP Command at ng pamunuan ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan para sa pagpapatupad ng mga isasagawang security preparations para sa taong 2016.| LOUIE HERNANDEZ Provincial Director Ronquillo at sinaksihan ng mga kasama nito mula sa buong Batangas PNP Command.

Binigyang komendasyon ng Gobernadora ang mga ito sa mahigpit at epektibong na pagpapatupad ng batas laban sa indiscriminate firing tuwing sasapit ang panahon ng pagsalubong sa

New Year.

Sa pagtatapos ng taong 2015, walang naitalang nabiktima ng ligaw na bala bunga ng bawal na pag papaputok ng baril sa hanay ng mga sibilyan at ganun na rin sa mga unipormadong kasapi ng sandatahan sa lalawigan sa pagsalubong ng mga ito sa taong 2016.| EDWIN V. ZABARTE

......................................................................................................................................................

Gov't remains open to peace dialogue with CPP, NPA, NDF MANILA -- Malacañang said on Sunday that the government remains committed to resolving any conflict in a peaceful manner.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the government is open to a dialogue with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), New People's Army (NPA) and the National Democratic Front (NDF) that would lead to understanding and agreement.

"Nananatiling bukas ang peace table ng OPAPP (Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process) para sa CPP-NPA-NDF alinsunod sa commitment ng pamahalaan sa pagkakaroon ng isang makabuluhang proseso na maaaring humantong sa

pagkakaunawaan o kasunduan," said Coloma in an interview over Radyo ng Bayan.

However, Coloma said that while the government is open to a dialogue, it also has a responsibility to ensure the safety of its citizenry.

"Ang military operations ay isinasagawa upang pigilan ang karahasang ginagawa ng NPA laban sa mga mamamayan at upang magkaroon ng seguridad at kaayusan sa mga komunidad kung saan sila naghahasik ng ligalig," he explained.

Coloma said the government is pushing for programs to deal with poverty, which is the root cause of insurgency in the country.

"Kaalinsabay nito, patuloy din ang pagsusulong ng mga programa

na tumutugon sa kahirapan at kawalan ng oportunidad na siyang ugat ng insurgency sa bansa," he said.

Noting President Aquino, Coloma stressed the need for the other parties to take the initiative to join the peace process and return to negotiations.

"Tulad ng sinabi ni Pangulong Aquino sa mga nakaraang panayam, ang pagbubukas ng usapang pangkapayapaan ay nakasalalay sa kanilang pagkukusang muling makilahok sa proseso at bumalik sa negosasyon," the Palace official said.

The holiday season ceasefire between government troops and communist rebels ended last January 3.|

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74.55% passing rate ng LET sa CLB kinilala NATUTUWA si Mayor Eduardo Dimacuha at may mga trabaho na ang mga licensed teachers na graduates ng Colegio ng Lungsod ng Batangas.

Kaugnay nito, nagbigay siya ng citation award sa may 44 na Bachelor in Education graduates ng CLB na nakapasa sa Licensure Examiantion for Teachers (LET) noong September 27, 2015.

Ayon kay Dr. Fely Adarlo, Dean of Instruction ng CLB, 44 sa 55 na kumuha ng LET ang nakapasa o katumbas ng 74.55% ng kabuuan.

Para kay Stephanie Dela Cruz ng barangay Dumantay, masaya siya at sobrang proud na natupad na ang kanyang pangarap na maging isang licensed teacher.

Ipinagmamalaki niya na siya ngayon ay isang elementary teacher sa isang international school sa lungsod. Marami aniya siyang natutunan sa CLB na nagamit niya katulad ng pagkakaroon ng tiwala sa sarili kung kayat siya ay kaagad natanggap sa Stonyhurst. Hangad niya na makakuha ng Master’s Degree in Math at maging isang

A proud member of: Philippine Press Institute National Association of Newspapers Since 1964

principal sa hinaharap.

Aniya, saludo siya kay Mayor Dimacuha sa pagkakatayo ng CLB sapagkat maraming mahihirap na kabataan ang natutulungan at gumaganda ang buhay.

Ayon naman kay Raquel Esguerra ng Calicanto, ang kanilang tagumpay ay bunga ng malaking suportang ipinagkakaloob ng pamahalaang lungsod sa mga graduates at board takers. Bukod sa free college education, nagbibigay din ng libreng review classes ang CLB na tinutustusan din ng city government.

Si Raquel ay nagtatrabaho ngayon bilang isang teacher-tutor sa Princeton Science School. Plano niya na magturo sa pampublikong paaralan.|RONNA E. CONTRERAS

................................................................................................... <<<GUN BAN.... mula sa P/2

4 katao, mga armas at shabu, huli sa unang araw ng gun ban Langgangan, Balayan, Batangas sanhi naman ng pag-iingat ng isang (1) caliber .22 Pistol V. Bernardelli Gardone na walang anumang dokumento ngunit kargado ng dalawang (2) buhay na bala.

Samnatalang sa Lunsod ng Lipa, inaresto naman ng team ni Police Senior Inspector Domingo D. Ballesteros Jr. sa superbisyon ng hepe nilang si PSupt. Barnard Danie V. Dasugo si Ranilo Co y Barsaga, 35, at ang live-in partner nitong si Ma. Cristina Aban y Lucilo, 29 ng

Doña Crisanta Subd., Brgy. San Roque, Rosario, Batangas sa pagiingat ng apat (4) na sachet ng shabu na may timbang na 15.15 grams, iba’t ibang drug paraphernalia at digital weighing scale.

Nabatid na nagtangkang umiwas sa isang checkpoint ang dalawa banadang alas- 2:10 ng medalingaraw habang lulan ng isang motorsiklo sa kahabaan ng B. Morada Avenue, Brgy. 1, Lipa City, ngunit nakorner pa rin ng mga pulis-Lipa.| RINCI REI F. MENDOZA

Applications for Gun Ban exemptions may be filed online THE Commission on Elections (COMELEC) announced Friday that applications for the issuance of Certificates of Authority to bear, carry or transport Firearms or deadly weapons in connection with the 2016 Elections may be accomplished and submitted online.

Spokesman James Jimenez said a special link is already available in the poll body's official website, www.comelec.gov.ph, for the purpose.

During the Election Period, from January 10, 2016 to June 8, 2016, it is prohibited to bear, carry or transport firearms or deadly weapons outside of residence or places of business, and in all public places, including any building, street, park and in private vehicles or public conveyances, even if a person is licensed or authorized to possess or carry the same, unless authorized by the Commission, through the Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Personnel (CBSFP).

For purposes of the May 9, 2016 National and Local Elections, the CBSFP is headed by COMELEC Commissioner Al A. Parreño as Chairman and Senior Officers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) as Members.

In Resolution No. 10015, which outlined the "Rules and Regulations on the ban on the bearing, carrying or transporting of firearms and other deadly weapons and the employment, availment or engagement of the services of security personnel or body guards during the Election Period of the May 9, 2016 Synchronized National and Local Elections," promulgated 13 November 2016, the COMELEC En Banc ruled that "only the Commission, through the CBFSP, has the sole and exclusive power to issue Certificates of Authority (CA)."

For more information on the 2016 Gun Ban, the public is encouraged to visit the official COMELEC website www.comelec.gov.ph or call the COMELEC Hotline 525-9294.

(COMELEC).|

4

OCTOBER 12 - 18, 2015

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OPINION

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JANUARY 11 - 17, 2016

OPINION

POLITICS and mercy can and should be together. Contrary to what many people may think, politics is in great need of mercy, otherwise it has no other alternative but to go to the dogs.

It should never be thought of as an anything-goes affair, an open field for all kinds of shenanigans to take place. We need to break away from that mindset, for the simple reason that it does us no good, it corrupts us as a person and as a people, it can only generate a vicious cycle of evils.

When politics is merciless, one evil generates another which reinforces the former that again spawns another evil, and so on and so forth, until the whole atmosphere is completely polluted and poisoned. The worst thing that can happen is when this unfortunate state of affairs becomes normal to us.

Just like any human endeavor, politics should be done in the framework of charity and mercy.

Mind you, that framework does not undermine the realism we need to have when doing politics. On the contrary, it enhances such realism, but prevents it from deteriorating into a heartless and inhuman activity. We need to explode the myth that charity and mercy would hinder the workings of politics.

With mercy, our politics can remain human and with a heart, capable of seeing things with utmost objectivity and realism, and with the proper priorities preserved and defended. Charity and mercy can only sharpen our desire for truth, justice, and the common good, without taking immoral and illegal short-cuts.

What good does a general political culture of bashing, mudslinging, and fault-finding do? If that’s our idea of being objective and realistic, we as a people are still light-years away from the spirit of Christ whom most of us profess to believe and follow. Put in another way, we would seem to be in the primitive stage yet as a people insofar as politics is concerned.

Christ precisely was undeterred by sin and the many miseries of men. In fact, sin and the human miseries made him to be most solicitous of us, showering us with an abundance of his mercy.

What only got his goat was the self-righteousness of some people who were quick to judge others, to find fault in them, even if they themselves have their own shortcomings and other worse things.

This self-righteousness is precisely what is most opposed to the spirit of Christ. It’s not men’s sins, weaknesses, and other miseries. This selfrighteousness is an attempt to make oneself his own god, his own creator, and lawgiver.

Now that we are in the Year of Mercy, as declared by Pope Francis, let us try our best to be kind, compassionate, and understanding with the others, including the politicians, especially those with whom we are at odds.

After overcoming as soon as possible our initial automatic reaction of disgust, disappointment, and disapproval when we see the defects and alleged crimes of politicians, let us pray for them and see how we can help them. This is the Christian way.

Let us see instead their qualities and accomplishments to see if they deserve our vote. If in the end, we decide not to vote for them, then let’s make that decision without falling into lack of charity and mercy.

If we feel that they have to answer for their alleged crimes so that the requirements of justice can be met, then let’s do so without being uncharitable and unmerciful.

In this way, our political life and culture would be cleansed of impurities that only block the proper political effort to pursue our common good. The Year of Mercy can be a good occasion to make a good, if not a quantum, leap in the quality of our politics.

Let’s hope that we can realize more deeply that being uncharitable and unmerciful in our political life can do a great harm to us as a people. It is what can constitute as a big obstacle to our true development and progress, since it harms our soul much more than our body. It strikes us at the most essential part of our life.

Everyone of us should make a deep examination of conscience if only to make some adjustments in our attitude and practice of politics. Special mention should be given to the politicians themselves and to the media who play a crucial role in this field.

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Politics and the Year of Mercy

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Policies against the poor ONE doesn’t need to labor much to see how many of our public policies are directed against, or incidentally prejudicial to, the poor.

Whether intended or not, these public policies perpetrated the sad state of our poor—dependent, ignorant, insecure, invisible and voiceless. Whether intended or not, these public policies convert private institutions into private warehouses of privileged few.

The prejudicial treatment of the poor in existing laws programs is real. It is not imaginary. It is not speculative. Its harm to the poor is penetrating and real.

Look at how local officials manage the traffic. Traffic routes are usually changed to ease the plight of private cars at the expense of PUJs that serve commuters.

Enforcers are quick in issuing citation tickets to erring PUJ drivers but too clumsy in detecting violations committed by private vehicles. Most often than not, double parking of private cars along minor and major streets are seldom check but unauthorized stops of jeepneys are quickly accosted and fined. It is no wonder that only PUJS are fined for the offense of obstructions and illegal terminals. Indeed, our streets are fast become private properties to the prejudice of the public.

Delivery of social services is no different. Relatives and political allies usually come first in the list of beneficiaries of grants and programs from national and local governments. Because requirements for medical and financial assistance from government agencies and government-owned institutions are very strict, many unschooled claimants are discouraged from pursuing

their claims since compliance with these would prove too difficult for them. In the end, such assistance oftentimes end up in the lap of those who have padrinos or friends in these institutions.

Taxes are no different.

Individuals are taxed as much as 32% of their incomes while corporations are taxed only as much as 30% of their profits. And since corporations may employ all legal strategies to lessen the taxes that they will actually pay, individuals usually end up paying so much more.

Thus, when corrupt officials steal from the public coffers, they actually steal more from the poor than the rich.

Education is a classic example of public policies’ prejudice to the poor. Whereas those who have the luxury of choosing the best and biggest universities in the land can only complain of boredom, many poor students will eventually be denied of the opportunity to finish school because of the two additional years that the government put in place for secondary education.

It is now longer and much costly to finish high school.

While its impact to the rich may be negligible, it will be enormously burdensome to the poor.

Since the poor is powerless, they do not have any impact on public policies. They rarely affect or redirect the courses of public institutions. On the contrary, they are ignored. They are treated incognito and mostly considered as non-entities whose worth to politicians are recognized only during elections. They are condemned to endless suffering by no less than the laws that politicians crafted.

This is the sad state of the poor in our country.|

Many of us may consider this a pipe dream. But let’s realize that the pursuit for truth, justice, and the common

good starts with a dream that is continually worked on until the dream becomes a reality.|

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JANUARY 11 - 17, 2016

5

OPINION

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Full time and all the way GENUINE recognition of revolution entails a concrete consideration of the human condition. One aspect of which is how people live and die as revolutionaries. This book bears witness to the Philippine revolution, which is easily cast against the language of peace and order prescribed by a government that functions mainly for the protection of the rich and powerful in society. More Than A Red Warrior shakes the reader out of the hidden mechanisms of family, profession, ambition, even love.

The habits cultivated in these relations more often than not, compels many of us to seek occasional spontaneity, regulated adventure, relative comfort, and stability above all.

More Than A Red Warrior— an earnest and thoughtful contribution to the literature of freedom— highlights revolutionary labor. In AJ’s letters, as well as in his comrades’ notions of work are effortlessly rattled. We would find no romanticism for revolution here. Revolution is work in the era of capitalist time, making this very moment a time for revolution.

In his numerous letters, Ka Ambas talks about the nature of his job, his workload, and the urgencies therein. What is truly striking about the publication of these letters is the opportunity to see what we would have normally lost sight of: the very crucial importance of the non-commodity nature of revolutionary labor.

For someone who is gainfully employed and shares a communist view of the world, the non-commodity nature of revolutionary labor is arguably one of the most unsettling and humbling achievement in the history of human relations so far. It is an unspoken principle mediating between and among revolutionaries and their families, friends, and a whole society that normalizes the sale and exploitation of human labor.

The non-commodity nature of labor is a situation that defines the lives of revolutionaries who work full time for the struggle for national liberation toward socialism. It poses a challenge to our expectations from full time revolutionaries and provides a better understanding of revolutionary capacities, which include but are not limited to the following: 1) the revolutionary’s capacity to surmount difficulties; 2) the collective ability of revolutionaries to adapt to their position as producer of enabling conditions for people to contribute to significant change in the deeper texture of Philippine economy and politics; 3) their capacity to expand and consolidate democratic interest groups into a mass movement whose bid for change are both structural and redistributive; 4) the ability to offer something concrete for big dreams like democracy to come to life without reducing

the same into personal liberty and a minimized opportunity to enjoy hints of social welfare; 5) the capacity to win the confidence and love of the people whom full time revolutionaries serve.

More Than A Red Warrior shows that the non-commodity nature of labor— perhaps the most humane aspiration there is—is already here. And it shapes the life-making of full time revolutionaries and red fighters. And if only for this reason, is it not our duty and honor to cherish the New Peoples Army and our full time comrades?

The red fighter who stood by Ka Ambas in his last moments finds herself writing his commander’s children the concluding lines in what this book now labels as “The lone survivor’s account of the Guingguinabang incident:” “Your father was, no chismis, Abra’s man. There is so much of Abramin him and Abra has so much of him. When the time comes when you get to visit the place, hug the people tight—they loved your father in a way no one among us can love him. They loved him because he was one of them, fought for them, lived his life like them so that they could change their lives for the better. When he died, some houses closed some rooms permanently; “ni Ambas laeng daytan,” kuna da (That is only for Ambas). These were the rooms used for office work when he had to write. The Tinggians believed that the barrios are forever positively haunted by his spirit. In a way, it’s true. Umiiyak ang mga matatanda, bata, babae, lalake. Like us naulila sila (302303).”

Now more than ever, we see the fatal impact of neoliberal market systems vis a vis contemporary colonialism on the lives of peasants caught in the commercialization of agriculture, specifically where this involves large agribusiness production, large-scale mining and logging. These business ventures have resulted in extra-judicial killings, militarization of indigenous communities, and all sorts of human rights violations.

The national democratic revolution, guided by the party of the proletariat understands that contemporary colonialism must be confronted and destroyed. There are perhaps two ways of reading the current crisis along the lines of sorting out long-standing problems.

One reading would be a liberal defense of so-called democratic institutions believing they can exist and function independent of the interests of the ruling elites who dominate them. The other view would be a reading asserted by the oppressed and exploited who have been politicized and organized by a movement that goes beyond movementism. It is a movement that aims to

>>RAYMUNDO...turn to P/6

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Better late than never  FR. CARMELO O. DIOLA, SSL Spaces of Hope TOO bad my good friend, Inting Visarra, and I arrived three weeks later. We were at House no. 20 East at 72 St. between Madison and Fifth Avenues in Manhattan.

This was Pope Francis’s residence when he visited New York City last 24 and 25 September 2015. But then, even if we had arrived earlier, we would not have been able to make it to first base. Still, once in a while, we can imagine, can’t we?

Inting’s Talibon kababayan, Archbishop Bernie Auza, Permanent Observer of the Vatican to the UN, had been Pope Francis’s point man in the Big Apple. He had graciously invited us for supper along with some priests from New York and Utah.

This turned out to be a very pleasant and informative evening.

Inting had been my student at the theology seminary of Cebu where he succeeded at knowing what his vocation was. This former seminarian is now married to Dindin and they have four girls, ages 9-15.

He had graciously provided me much-needed company and mobility support.

The house of the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations is a six story concrete building, 10,960-square-foot, of neo-Renaissance style, whose interior is mostly made of high-quality wood. It had been donated to the Archbishop of New York in 1975 by the heirs of the late Hugh J. Grant, who served as New York City mayor from 1889-1892. The building does not have an imposing exterior.

As the evening progressed, so did rchbishop Bernie show a good grasp of many current issues that were of

interest to his guests from New York City and Utah.

His ready wit fueled much laughter.  The good prelate from Bohol had shown his mettle in the aftermath of the earthquake that demolished much of Haiti in 12 January 2010 and killed about 200,000 people. He was Papal Nuncio there.

He reminisced about a local painter in Haiti who had approached him on a beach and could tell that he was a priest although he was not in a clerical attire. He had since purchased some of the painter’s works, one of which hangs in his present residence.

He also showed us the room where Pope Francis had stayed for two nights and told us how “Lolo Kiko” had shown up thirty minutes early for a morning fellowship with his (Archbishop Bernie’s) family last 25 September. If my memory serves me right, Monsignor Bernie’s parents will soon be celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary and they still travel together!

This brief meeting with Abp. Bernie had been part of my effort to invite delegates to the 51st International Eucharistic Congress to make a side trip to Tacloban and Tagbilaran to “experience the joyful and resilient faith of Filipinos”.

This side trip had been part of the plans of the Solidarity and Communion Committee (SCC) of the 51st IEC. The SCC is tasked with ensuring the dignified participation of the poor during the IEC. This plan, however, took a back seat in the face of the many demands of the SCC, like identifying and preparing 500 street and other very poor children. This also means coordinating with parishes and groups who will actually reach out to and catechize the children.

>>SPACES...turn to P/7

May 2016 Usher in Peace and Prosperity!

TIME flies so fast. Christmas has passed and the New Year is now here.

May the 51st International Eucharistic Congress in Cebu from January 25 to 31, 2016 be a successful one, especially with the theme “Christ in you, our hope of glory.” The choice of the Philippines as the venue was announced

by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI during the Eucharistic Congress held in Dublin, Ireland in June 2012. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines hopes that the congress will deepen the Eucharistic devotion in the Philippines and prepare for the 500th anniversary of evangelization in the country in 2021.  We pray that the Extraordinary Year of Mercy ushers in peace and prosperity in the whole Philippines. In this Holy Year, let us follow and observe what Pope Francis said: “We look forward to the experience of opening our hearts to those living on the outermost fringes of society: fringes modern society itself creates. How many are the wounds borne by the flesh of those who have no voice because their cry is muffled and drowned out by the indifference of the rich! During this Jubilee, the Church will be called even more to heal these wounds, to assuage them with the oil of consolation, to bind them with mercy and cure them with solidarity and vigilant care. Let us open our eyes and see the misery of the world, the wounds of our brothers and sisters who are denied their dignity, and let us recognize that we are compelled to heed their cry for help! May we reach out to them and support them so they can feel the warmth of our presence, our friendship, and our fraternity! May their cry become our own, and together may we break down the barriers of indifference that too often reign supreme and mask our hypocrisy and egoism!”  The Episcopal Installation of Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio “Ambo” David as the 2nd Bishop of the Diocese of Kalookan was a huge success. Attended by 3 cardinals, Their Eminences Luis Antonio Tagle, Orlando Quevedo, and Gaudencio Rosales; the Apostolic Nuncio Archishop Giuseppe Pinto; 9 archbishops – Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan, Jose Palma of Cebu, Paciano Aniceto, Archbishop Emeritus of San Fernando, Florentino Lavarias of San Fernando, Ramon Arguelles of Lipa, Jose Advincula of Capiz, Rolando Tirona of Nueva Caceres, Romulo dela Cruz of Zamboanga, Ernesto Salgado; 28 bishops and hundreds of clergy from the Diocese of Kalookan, Suffragan Dioceses of Manila and Pampanga, other Dioceses in the country, the male and female members of religious congregations, who travelled from far and wide just to be with Bishop Ambo’s Canonical Possession of the Diocese of Kalookan.

The cities of Caloocan, Malabon, and Navotas comprising the Diocese prepared a simple civil ceremony before the Installation Ceremony where the symbolic key of each city was presented by the mayors to Bishop Ambo, witnessed by congressmen and vice mayors.

In his homily, Bishop Ambo read the Gospel as a 3-fold lesson on what it takes to be a good presentor of the Messiah to the world, like John the Baptist. “First point: Knowledge of Oneself (Pagkilala sa sarili); Second Point: Knowledge of the One Being Presented (Pagkilala sa Ipinakikilala); Third Point: Emptying of Self (Paglimot o Pagbuhos ng Sarili).”

Knowledge of Oneself. “Knowledge of who we are goes with it knowledge of who we are not.” He thanked the People of God of the Diocese for the warm welcome. He said he is not Christ; he is “Ambo” and prefers to be called “Ambo”, which according to his American friend, “ambo” is the English word for stand from which the Word of God is proclaimed.

Knowledge of the One Being Presented. He said the Jesuits of San Jose and Loyola School of Theology had taught him 3 things: “to see God clearly, to love God more dearly, and to follow God more nearly in Jesus, day by day… All of us, members of his body… are called to represent Him.” He told his brother priests that “ours is a call, not just to talk about Christ but to make Him truly present: to speak so that he is heard, to touch so that his hand is felt, and to lead in such a way that he himself leads.” This he said, can be done by totally forgetting ourselves.

Emptying of Self. Kenosis. Bishop Ambo mentioned that John the Baptist stated that required of every Presenter of the Christ “He must increase and I must decrease;” that Christ himself went for a total emptying of self; that St. Paul describes this as the “gracious act of God, who for our sake became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich.”

He pointed Pope Francis’ words when he said, the higher in rank, the humbler he expects us to be. “We are, after all, miserando atque eligendo; wretched but chosen.”

His message to the Caloocan clergy. “Dear brothers, like John the Baptist, I know who I am and who I am not. I have no illusion about shepherding the faithful of Kalookan alone. Like you, I count on the grace of ordination that binds us together so that together, we can truly become sacraments of Christ, the One True Shepherd of the Church. As we grow together in discipleship and mission, let us try to know ourselves and one another well; let us know Him whom we are called to present to the world; but above all, let us learn to empty ourselves.”  We greet the clergy from the Diocese of Kalookan, January birthday celebrators, Msgr. Alex Amandy, Fr. Adrian Magnait, and Fr. Leo Gilbero and those celebrating their sacerdotal anniversary Fr. Alberto Caballero, and Fr. Benedict Cervantes; also Archbishop Ramon Arguelles of Lipa City. Happy Birthday also to Jun Hio and Gigi de Lara of Radio Ministry and Hello Father 911 Saturday Edition and Marlon Laquio of the Diocese of Kalookan.|

6

OCTOBER 12 - 18, 2015

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JANUARY 11 - 17, 2016

BUSINESS PDIC turns over Full time and all the way houses to Gawad Kalinga beneficiaries <<<RAYMUNDO... from P/5

Turnover ceremony. Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation President Cristina Que Orbeta (2nd

from left) and Vice Mayor Raul Gade (5th from right) led the turnover ceremony of houses to the PDICGK Village beneficiaries on November 28, 2015 in Sitio Malmangan, Lawaan, Eastern Samar. The PDIC-GK Village is part of PDIC's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) which advocates the protection of the environment and balanced development of communities. Also in photo are PDIC Vice President for Corporate Affairs Jose G. Villaret, Jr., Councilor Elmo Abayan, GK Regional Coordinator Kevin Caballero, other local government officials and PDIC-GK Village beneficiaries. The PDIC-GK Village provides disasterresilient shelter homes for survivor-families whose houses were destroyed during the onslaught of supertyphoon Yolanda|

organize the people into a solid force that would smash and seize the state apparatus and implement a program for the re-organization of society.

These two readings are not irreconcilable. They may converge in ways that are productive of organized resistance depending on the well-informed and empowered analyses of the party of the proletariat. In whichever ways they might converge, the point is not just to arouse and mobilize only to end up going to court to explore empty constitutional promises.

Before us is a work of labor that was created beyond the logics of market forces. Before us is perhaps the most difficult book one can ever read. It will not be a smooth and uninterrupted transition from the beginning to page 345. It is a struggle to read this book. Yet is is arguably a great testimony of our age, one that is defined by the necessity to turn crowds or masses of people into a party of the proletarian revolution.

This book is not only about the life and death of a communist cadre.

“What is to be done” is here.

One does not have to share a communist view of the world to join the families and friends of the Lacub martyrs in their campaign for justice. The violations of International

Humanitarian Law and peace agreements by Philippine state security forces in the brutal killings of the victims of the Lacub massacre are undeniable. These violations are an insult to and diminish the importance of revolutionary labor.

No law in this country allows anybody to kill a criminal, an insurgent, a revolutionary.

While consensus on the issue of revolutionary violence is not likely at this point, it is not even the purpose for this book’s publication, it is my hope that readers of More Than A Warrior will find empowerment in refusing the willful forgetting of the Lacub massacre imposed by the insidious mechanisms of the daily grind.

(HTTP://BULATLAT.COM)

___________ Sarah Raymundo is a full-time faculty at the University of the Philippines-Center for International Studies (UP-CIS Diliman) and a member of the National Executive Board of the All U.P. Academic Employees Union. She is the current National Treasurer of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) and the External Vice Chair of the Philppine Anti-Impeiralist Studies (PAIS). She is also a member of the Editorial Board of Interface: A Journal for Social Movements.|

JANUARY 11 - 17, 2016

7

LIFETIMES balikasonline@yahoo.com

Pamamanata at Debosyong nakaukit sa kasaysayan ng Lunsod Batangas MULING ginunita sa Lunsod Batangas ang makasaysayang pagkakatagpo sa batang si Jesus o sa imahen ng mahal na Poong Sto. Niño sa pamamagitan ng taunang Fluvial Procession mula sa bunganga ng Ilog Calumpang sa Barangay Wawa.

Masasabing isa ang fluvial procession ng Sto. Nino sa Calumpang River sa pinakamagandang religious activities na idinadaos tuwing kanyang kapistahan sa Batangas City sapagkat ipinakikita sa isang espesyal na paraan ang malaking pananampalataya ng mga deboto sa Mahal na Patron.

Kasunod ng isang mahabang motorcade, isinakay ang imahen ng Mahal na Patron sa isang decorated improvised pagoda na nakahimpil sa bunganga ng Maruya River. Mula dito ay lumabas muna sa karagatan ang pagoda at iprinunsisyon ang Poon papasok sa bunganga ng Iog Calumpang papasok hanggang sa makarating sa bahagi ng Pallocan West sa paanan ng Calumpang Bridge habang dinarasal ng

mga deboto ang Santo Rosario at inaawit ang Dalit sa Mahal na Poong Sto. Niño Matiyaga namang nagsipaghintay ang maraming deboto sa ibabaw ng tulay ng Calumpang hanggang sa makarating at maiakyat dito ang imahen bandang takip-silim. Sinalubong din ng maraming fireworks, palakpakan, na sinundan ng pagdarasal ng Rosario at pag-awit ng dalit ang muling pagtawid ng Poon sa ibabaw ng tulay.

Mula sa Calumpang ay nagpatuloy ang land procession sa mga pangunahing lansangan ng lunsod habang bawat bahay naman sa dinaanan ng prusisyon ay may kani-kaniyang imahen ng Sto. Niño na may tirik na kandila.

Bago tumuloy sa pagpasok sa simbahan, may 20-minutong inihimpil muna ang imahen ng Mahal na Patron sa harapan ng cityhall at hinandugan ito ang isang magarbong fireworks display.

Ang taunang Fluvial Procession ang naghudyat din ng pagsisimula ng Misanobenaryo o pagsisiyam sa karangalan

ng Mahal an Patron.

Ngunit bago ang lahat ng ito, bandang ala-una ng hapon ng Enero 7, nang sunduin ang imahe ng Sto. Niño sa Basilica ng Inmaculada Concepcion ng ilang mga city officials at nagmotorcade patungong Batangas City Convention Center kasama si Rep. Fr. Aurelio Dimaapi, lingkod-pari ng Basilica parish, kasama ang iba pang pari at lay ministers.

Iginawad naman ang cultural presentations sa karangalan ng mahal na patron na nilahukan ng 10 paaralan sa lunsod.

Pagkatapos ng cultural presentations, ipinagpatuloy ang motorcade ng Sto. Nino papuntang Barangay Wawa kung saan isinakay ang imahe sa “decorated banca” kasama sina Mayor Dimacuha, dating Mayor Vilma Dimacuha at ilang mga city officials at department heads.| JOENALD MEDINA RAYOS may kasamang ulat ni Ronna Endaya Contreras

<<<SPACES. from P/5

Better late than never

Capricorn (Dis. 22-Ene. 19) - Maraming bagong karanasan ang yayanig sa iyong pagkatao. Mas magiging maunawain ka ngayon. Lucky numbers at color ay 6, 25, 11, 41 at wine red.

Aquarius (Ene. 20 - Peb. 18) - Ayusin ang iyong schedule, gumawa ng work plan para ma-set mo ang iyong priorities. Lucky numbers at color ay 10, 22, 37, 44 at carrot orange.

Pisces (Peb. 19 - Mar. 20) - Magiging makapangyarihan ang iyong mga salita.

Maraming maninira sa iyong pananaw pero maaakit mo pa rin ang mga followers mo.

Lucky numbers at color ay 5, 19, 22, 17 at red.

Aries (Mar. 21 - Abril 19) - Mapapansin mo ang isang bagong kakilala na laki sa ibang lugar at may ibang kultura. Maaaring maging masalimuot ang friendship kapag pangmatagalan na relasyon ang hangad.

Lucky numbers at color ay 4, 19, 21, 7 at maroon.

Taurus (Abril 20-Mayo 20) - Unawain ang isang teenager na kasama mo.

Makakabuti ang family forum para maplansa ang gusot sa relasyon. Lucky numbers at color ay 5, 8, 11, 38 yellow.

Gemini (Mayo 21-Hun. 21) Matutulungan mong maging totoo sa sarili, sa paglabas ng sama ng loob. Kahit hindi ka sangkot sa problema, inako mo ang responsibilidad dito. Lucky numbers at color ay 6, 11, 31, 33 at indigo.

Cancer (Hun. 22-Hul. 22) - Ang opportunity na darating ngayon ay dapat yakapin ng buong-buo. Mag-ingat sa paghawak ng budget. Lucky numbers at color ay 7, 21, 15, 29 water melon red.

Leo (Hul. 23-Ago. 22) - Ikagugulat mo ang iyong pagsikat, ingatan ang salapi na hawak. Lucky numbers at color ay 3, 8, 37, 44 at jade green.

Virgo (Ago 23-Set. 23) - Isang kaibigan ang tutulong para magbati kayo. Magiging masaya ang buong maghapon sa piling ng pamilya. Lucky numbers at color ay 9, 11, 29, 33 at ruby red.

Libra (Set. 24-Okt. 23) – Makakapaginvest ka ngayon para sa sisimulang negosyo. Ang iyong generosity ang magpapaunlad sa’yo. Lucky numbers at color ay 5, 3, 17, 27 at lavender.

Scorpio (Okt. 24-Nob. 22) - Makinig sa payo ng heath professional tungkol sa iyong kalusugan. May mga sitwasyon para makinig ka sa sinasabi ng kapwa. Lucky numbers at color ay 1, 17, 33, 45 at coffee brown.

Sagittarius (Nob. 23-Dis. 21) - Isang childhood love ang darating. Ngayon ang second chance na magreresulta ng forever. Lucky numbers at color ay 17, 29, 11, 55 at sky blue.|

their house from a blaze that gutted their neighbors’ places above them and immediately to their side.

In two separate occasions, two prominent priests from NY and from LA, after I told him of my mission, spontaneously said, “You Filipinos keep our parishes alive.”

Another one even more boldly said, “If there is a group of people who deserve to be visited twice by Pope Francis, it is you,” after I told him the Pope would not be there for the 51st IEC. I had entrusted this trip to the Virgin of Guadalupe.

She saw to it that doors were opened, even unexpected ones. Riding in an Uber taxi in Washington DC on my way to Union Station, I got to know the driver, an AfricanAmerican named Neil. When he found out I was Catholic, he opened up since he too was Catholic who daily reads the Bible. When he found out I was a priest, he started talking about holiness and the need to strive to be one.

“What is holiness for you?” I probed him. After some moments of reflective

Last September, the plan was revived due to a confluence of factors. SCC decided to do social marketing and actual legwork in the US to invite more delegates and include the said side trip. This is named the Break Bread campaign. The travel itinerary emerged on a daily basis.

It was also my first handsone experience in social marketing. Using Archbishop Palma’s unforgettable expression, I am still not a “resident” of social marketing but I am “moving there”.

We targeted FilipinoAmericans who would then invite friends of other nationalities.  Seven states were visited, each with its own distinctive surprises. People offered hospitality. I was inspired by how our Christian faith enables Filipinos not only to cope with but also to become stronger in their struggles as immigrants. I had a deepened appreciation of the everpresent altars in Filipino homes. One family in NYC even attributes to their altar the miraculous sparing of

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5 Panali sa kimono 9 Esposa

Maikling Kasaysayan ng Sto. Niño ng Batangan ANG mapaghimalang Sto. Niño ng Batangan ang pangunahing patron ng bayan ng Batangas (noon ay Batangan) simula pa noong circa 1581. Ayon sa nakatalang kasaysayan ng bayan ng Batangan, ang mapaghimalang imaheng ito ng pinaniniwalaang lulan ng isang barko ng mga Kastila mula sa Maynila na nagbibiyahe patungong Sugbu (ngayon ay Cebu). Sa tindi ng sama ng panahon, napilitan umanong dumaong sa Look ng Batangan ang barko. Kinuha ng mga tripulante ang imahen ng Sto. Niño at dinala sa altar ng lumang simbahang Katoliko ng bayan ng Batangan. Matapos makapagdasal ay inawit ng pari at ng mga mananampalataya ang Te Deum Laudamus at di kalaunan ay humupa ang masungit na dagat. Nagpatuloy ng paglalakbay ang barko patungong Cebu.

Ilang panahon makalipas ito, isang batang pipi’t bingi na naglalaro sa may pampang ng Ilog Calumpang ang namangha nang Makita ang isang imahen ng Sto. Niño na nakapatong isang batang na lulutang-lutang sa ilog. Kaalinsabay naman nito, nagpahatidbalita naman ang parokya ng Cebu na nawawala ang banal na imahen at ipinalalagay na maaaring naanod ito patungong Batangan.

Sinikap ng mga mananampalatayang Cebuano na maibalik sa kanila ang naturang imahen ngunit nabigo ang mga ito sapagkat muling nagiging masungit ang panahon kapag isinasakay na muli sa barko ang imahen para dalhin sa Cebu. Dahil ditto, nagpasya na ang mga otoridad ng simbahan na panatilihin sa Batangan ang imahen. Dito nagsimulang umusbong ang mas malawak na debosyon sa Mahal na Patron.

Nobyembre 30, 1999, natupok ang orihinal na imahen ng Sto. Niño ng Batangan nang masunog ang buong kumbento ng parokya at ang Kapilya ng Santissimo Sacramento.

Ang nasabing imahen ay iniingatan sa silid ng kura-paroko.

Tanging ang sapatos na pilak, setro, korona at globo na hawak ng Sto. Niño lamang ang natira sa naturang sunog.

Kasunod nito, nagpasya ang si Reb. Mons. Rafael Oriondo, HP, kura-paroko ng Basilica ng Inmaculada Concepcion, na ipabuo ang isang replica image kung saan inilangkap ang mga natirang bahagi ng nasunog na orihinal na imahen.

Sa kabila ng trahensyang ito, mula noon at sa pag-usap ng panahon, lalong umigting at nag-alab ang debosyon ng mga Batangueño sa Mahal na Patrong Sto. Niño na pinaniniwalaang Siyang nagiging tagapagsanggalang at protektor ng ngayon ay Lunsod Batangas at kaniyang mamamamayan sa mga panganib at trahedya.| BALIKAS Research team silence, he answered, “It is to with a toll free International think good and pure thoughts number (+001-855-432and to try to behave as much 7445). There is still some as possible like Jesus.” I must window of opening to join the said campaign. say, he is right on the dot.

Better late than never.| There is now a call center for the Break Bread campaign 10 Bigote 2 Pagtakas ng 12 Hagilap magkasintahan 13 Mangkok 3 Itim na ibon 14 Tungtong 4 Musika ni Francis M. 15 Tabako 5 Kilometer: daglat 17 Kasalanan: Ingles 6 Awit papuri 18 Ipiltro 7 Gamit s pagtungga 19 Dahilan 8 Ms. Villania 21 Ihabi 9 Ulupong 22 Sikat na boksingero 11 Igapos 24 Swimmer na Thomson 15 Sanktuwaryo 25 Daluyan ng dugo 16 Pag-ibis sa sasakyan 26 Iwas 18 Paghingi ng ambag 27 Bati sa Hawaii 19 Taba ng alimango 28 Sabog 20 Hiyas sa katawan 30 Alagad ng batas 21 Ihanda ang baril 31 Marahil 22 Palengke sa San Juan 32 Malaking pulang 23 Tabak langgam 24 Parak 25 Tubig mula sa langit PABABA 26 Katawagang pambabae 1 Ilagay sa ilalim bilang 27 Barkilyos proteksyon 29 Ikaw

January 11 - 17, 2016 | Vol. 21, No. 2 balikasonline@yahoo.com

F.E.S.T. Cultural Presentations, inihandog sa Sto. Niño >>>FESTIVALS & FEASTS | EVENTS | SHOWBIZ & SPORTS | TRAVEL, TOURISM & TRENDS<<<

Debosyon at pamamanata ipinakita sa Children’s Art BATANGAS CITY - Gamit ang oil pastel, illustration board at pencil, dalawang oras ang ibinigay sa mga estudyanteng lumahok sa Children’s Art Competition upang maguhit nila ang tema na “Ako, ang Sto. Nino at ang Fiesta”.

May 80 elementaty students mula sa public at private schools ang lumahok sa kumpetisyong ito na ginanap sa SM City Batangas Events Center noong January 8.

Call or Text us: 0912.902.7373 0926.774.7373

MULING nagtanghal ng iba’t ibang performances ang mga paaralan sa isinagawang Alay sa Sto Niño Cultural Presentations sa Batangas City Convention Center noong ika-7 ng Enero.

John Rosales ng Bolbok Elementary School, Gino Bell Christian Corea ng Calicanto Elementary School, Allyssa Seane Plata ng Saint Bridget College at Yean Melody Regine Malos ng Batangas City South Elementary School.

Unanimous ang desisyon ng mga naging hurado na pawang mahuhusay na Kunst Artists na sina Lino Acasio mula sa bayan ng Lemery, Nante Carandang ng bayan ng Tuy at Zorrick

ANG mga baylerina ng Scoula Maria.|

Nanalo ang entry #46 bilang first place na likha ng 11-taong gulang na Grade 6 student ng Ilijan Elementary School na si Kurt Lawrence Alejo.

Ikalawang pwesto naman ang nakamit ng entry #10 ni Sarah Gwyneth Cabungcal ng Kumintang Central School at 3 rd prize ang entry #79 ni Glen Pagcaliwagan ng Bucal Elementary School.

Tumanggap din ng special award sina Mykel Vhon delos Reyes ng Good Shepherd Elementary School, Lawrence

Enriquez mula sa Batangas City. Ayon sa kanila, hangad nila na mapalawig pa ang sining sa lalawigan kung kayat willing sila na sanayin ang mga kabataan na nakitaan nila ng potensyal sa pagguhit.

Naging batayan sa pagpili ng mga nagwagi ay ang relevance to the theme, composition, originality at style.

Ang mga paintings ay naka exhibit sa SM City Batangas Events Center mula January 10 hanggang January 16, 2016.| RONNA ENDAYA CONTRERAS

Sinimulan ang naturang okasyon sa pamamagitan ng pagtugtog ng Casa del Bambino Emmanuel Montessori Rondalla.

Sinundan ito ng isang sayaw mula sa mga ballerina ng Scoula Maria na dumadakila sa Sto Niño bilang kanlungan sa mga unos ng buhay.

Ipinakita naman ng mga mag-aaral ng BANAHIS at Golden Gate Colleges ang kanilang angking husay sa modern dance.

Sa pamamagitan ng isang awit ay ipinakita ng estudyante ng Divine Child Academy ang angking galing sa pagkanta.

Hindi rin nagpahuli ang mga mag-aaral ng Colegio ng Lungsod ng Batangas na nagpakita ng natatanging bilang hinggil sa pangangalaga sa kapaligiran.

Isang makabagong sayaw din ang itinanghal ng mga estudyante ng Westmead International School at ng Lyceum of the Philippines University

– Batangas Dance Machine.

Lumitaw ang galing ng UB Dance Company ng University of Batangas sa contemporary dance habang ang Batangas State University Dance Company naman ay sa jazz-hip hop.

Ang mga katutubong sayaw naman ang itinanghal ng mga mag-aaral ng Marian Learning Center and Science High School bilang pasasalamat kay Santa Maria na isang ina na nangangalaga at nagmamahal sa ating mga Batangueno at ng Indak Bambino bilang pasasalamat sa pagiging ilaw ng Poong Sto. Niño sa landas tungo sa daang matuwid na nais nilang tahakin.

Musical-drama ang itinanghal ng Cristo Rey Institute for Career Development na nagpapasalamat sa Sto Niño dahil Siya ang nagsisilbing bigkis na nagbubuklod sa mga mamamayan ng lunsod.|Ronna Endaya Contreras| RONNA E. CONTRERAS

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