Vol. XIX, No. 12 - March 24 - 30, 2014

>>Start the P900-million Malampayascam prove > News. ...P/2 Vol. 19, No. 12 | March 24 - 30, 2014 E-mail: balikasonline@yahoo.com Telephone: (043) 417.1662 Smart/TNT: 0912.902.7373 Globe/TM: 0917.512.9477 Php 12.00/copy

Sharing Good News..

Bridging Communities..

Towards Development

A proud member of:

Philippine Press Institute National Association of Newspapers Since 1964

Tricycle driver’s son got it!

FRESH LAWYERS. Then baristers Jenefer G. Jocson, Rudy V. Ortea and Sheyna Marie M. Extra were all smiles in this file photo taken during the Bar Operations last October 2013... nobody could predict then that this trio will be among the successful examinees and be announced new lawyers, March 18, by the Bar Committee headed by Suopreme Court Associate Justice Arturo brion (inset). Ortea (center) even landed on rank 3, the first in the history of the UB College of Law.|

BATANGUEÑOS have more to be proud of these days. Not only that its youth are doing well in different fields from passing and topping the board examinations up to landing to prestigious companies here and abroad.

Moreso, the province of Batangas also proved that it is a home to prestigious universitlies and other learning institutions, not just at par with its contemporaries in the region, but in national level.

In last October 2013’s bar examinations, the University of Batangas’ College of Law produced six (6) new lawyers, with Rudy Ortea landing on the Top 3! >>>BAR...turn to P/2

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

Tuktok ng Bundok Banahaw, nasunog! Kauna-unahang ATM sa Talisay, LUNSOD NG LUCENA – Humigit-kumulang 50 ektaryang lupaang balot ng damo at kagubatan sa tuktok ng Bundok Banahaw ang nasunog mula gabi ng Marso 19, 2014 hanggang kinabukasan.

Ito ay ayon sa opisyal na ulat ni DENR Regional Executive Director Arnulfo Juan sa isinagawang emergency PAMB meeting at Press Conference sa AVR Conference Room ng Quezon Convention Center matapos ang isinagawang arial survey ng Mts. Banahaw-San Cristobal Protected Landscape – Protected Area Management Board (MBSCPLPAMB), DENR at iba pang ahensya ng gobyerno.

Namataan bandang ala-seis ng gabi ng Marso 19, 2014 na lumiliyab ang tuktok ng Bundok

Dear Graduates...

Banahaw o mas kilala sa katawagang “Durungawan” at nai-proklama na fire-break na ito ng Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) bago magtanghali ng Marso 20, 2014.

Ayon sa ulat ng PAMB at ng DENR, batay sa kanilang ginawang surveillance kasama ang opisyal ng Armed Forces of the Philippines – SOLCOM Command, Bureau Fire Protection at Provincial Government ng Quezon, hindi natural ang sanhi ng naturang sunog bagkus ay gawa ito ng tao. Ayon sa BFP walang contributing factor sa lugar ng nasunog na bahagi upang magkaroon ng natural na forest fire at hindi rin naman sobra ang init ng nasabing

>>>BUNDOK... sundan sa P/4

itinayo sa ilalim ng PPP program

TALISAY, Batangas –Dalawang automated teller machines (ATMs) ng Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) ang itinayo sa tagiliran ng munisipyo sa bayang ito kamakailan.

Ang ATMs ang siyang kaunaunahang automated teller machines na itinayo bayang ito sa pagtutulungan ng pamahalang lokal bilang programa ng pagpapaunlad ng ekonomiya ng bayan at ng pamunuan ng BPI.

DENR mulls permanently closing p. 4 Mt Banahaw from public entry .......................................................................................................................

Batangas’ streamlined business p. 9 p. 6 permitting process showcased

Natanuan na mas lalong madaling maisakatuparan ang pagpapapaunlad ng ekonomiya kung mas maraming mamumuhunan ang magnenegosyo sa bayan.

“Matagal nang pangarap ng mga mamamayan ito dahil sa kawalan ng bangko o anumang financial institution kailangan pang magtungo sa lunsod ng Tanauan o Tagaytay,”

>>>EKONOMIYA... sundan sa P/2

My first Burma visit

p. 7

2

NEWS

Balikas

March 24 - 30, 2014

Seek truth for the people’s sake

Start the P900-m Malampaya scam prove and corruption in government.

He added that once Congress resumes session in May, he will push for other reforms in the country’s criminal justice system such as the Whistleblowers Act, the strengthened Witness Protection Program and the designation of special criminal courts that will conduct daily trials for high-profile cases and heinous crimes.

“Let’s investigate, expose then prosecute, but let’s also strengthen institutions by putting in needed reforms,” he said.

In urging the Senate to start looking into the Malampaya funds scam, Cayetano referred to Senate Resolution No. 271 he filed last year directing the Blue Ribbon panel to look into allegations that the funds were funneled to bogus NGOs established by detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.

The resolution also directs the committee to determine the alleged involvement of some government officials, particularly in the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), in the controversy.

Cayetano emphasized the need for government to shed light into the issue given its magnitude. He stressed that there is no viler form of corruption than stealing from those who were devastated by calamities.

“Alam naman natin kung gaano ang pinsala sa buhay at sa kabuhayan ang dala ng mga bagyong Pepeng at Ondoy, lalo na sa ating mga magsasaka. Itong P900 million ay dapat nagamit upang sila ay tulungan na makabangon,” he explained.

“Wala parin takot ang mga kurakot sa atin bansa. Dapat maexpose, maimbestigahan at makasuhan ang mga gumawa ng mga scam na ito. Isa-isahin ng Senado, hangang buong katotohanan ay mailabas.” |

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

“KARAPATAN ng mga tao na malaman kung bakit imbes na mapunta sa mga magsasaka na apektado ng kalamidad ang pera ng Malampaya ay kinurakot pa ng mga taong walang kunsensiya.”

Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter “Companero” S. Cayetano is calling on the Senate to commence its probe on the the alleged plunder of P900 million in Malampaya gas funds that were supposed to aid farmers affected by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng in 2009 but ended up in the pockets of the corrupt.

“This is another atrocity that has been committed against the Filipino people who are still in outrage over the P10-billion pork barrel scandal. Dapat nating malaman kung sino ang mga ito at parusahan,” Cayetano said.

Following recent developments in the pork barrel anomaly, the Senate leader urged his colleagues to also start its probe on the Malampaya scam to hold individuals accountable for cashing in on the misery of the calamity victims.

“Ang tingin ko ay dapat magkaroon na ng partial report itong PDAF. Then Malampaya na dapat ang susunod,” he said, adding that he already asked Blue Ribbon chair Teofisto Guingona III to start scheduling hearings for the Malampaya probe.

“Hiningi ko sa kanya na dinggin at simulan ang hearing sa Malampaya scam para ang bawat isyu na lumabas ay maimbestigahan upang makita ng mamamayan kung sino ang mga nangungurakot at kung saan napupunta ang pondo.”

Cayetano also asked both Malacanang and Congress to prioritize the enactment of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill, saying it is the Filipino people’s most effective “insurance against graft

BALIKAS NEWS TEAM

INSPECTION. President Benigno S. Aquino III, accompanied by Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. chairman and president Edgar Chua and Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, tours the facilities of the Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-Power project, Onshore Gas Plant in Tabangao, Batangas City in this file photo. The US$ 4.5-billion project is a joint undertaking of the national government and the private sector and spearheaded by the Department of Energy (DOE) and developed and operated by Shell Philippine Exploration B.V.| JOENALD MEDINA RAYOS

..................................................................................................................................................... <<<EKONOMIYA... mula sa P/1

Kauna-unahang ATM sa Talisay, itinayo... sabi ni Natanuan.

Kaugnay nito, sinabi ni Eugenio Salisi, executive assistant on economic development, na kapag may nagagawing mga mamumuhunan sa kanilang bayan ang unang hinahanap ay bangko ngunit sa kawalan nito kung kaya’t hindi natutuloy ang pagnenegosyo ng mga ito sa bayan.

“Nakipag-ugnayan na kami sa mga iba’t ibang mga bangko at ang BPI ang unang tumugon sa aming pakikipag-ugnayan,” wika ni Salisi.

Samantala, sinabi ni Gerardo Magpantay, vice president at area business director ng BPI na malugod

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

Bagong liderato ng KALIPI, magpapakinang sa women empowerment sa Batangas

nilang tinanggap ang panawagan ng pamalaang bayan na makapaglingkod sa mga mamamayan ng Talisay.

Binigyang diin ni Magpantay na maaring kasunod ng paglalagay ng ATMs ang pagtatayo ng sangay ng kanilang bangko kung kaya’t pinaalalahanan ang lahat na pakaingatan at protektahan ang mga ATMs. Ang paglalagay ng ATM na isang public-private partnership

program ay sinuportahan ng Sangguniang Pambayan sa pamamagitan ng Resolution 055-2014 at pinagtibay sa memorandum of agreement (MOA) na nilagdaan ng magkabilang panig.

Ang bayan ng Talisay ay isang 3rd class municipality at ilan sa mga pinagkikitaan ng mga mamamayan dito ay ang paghahalaman, turismo at pangingisda sa lawa ng Taal.| BHABY DE CASTRO

.............................................................................................. <<<BAR...from P/1

UB Law School records Top 3; tricycle driver’s son got it!

Rudy Ortea is off to a great start.

When he graduated from criminology, he topped the board exams in 2008. Six years later, he was the top three in the 2013 Bar exams.

It was no ordinary feat, and Ortea said he can only attribute his success to his father, Romeo, who raised him by working as a tricycle driver.

The young Ortea got 89.2 percent in the criminology board exams. He got 84.2 percent in the latest bar.

“I learned hard work and patience from my father. The way he works, he doesn’t get tired” said Ortea.

A consisteng dean’s lister during his stay at the UB College of Law, Ortea, brings the University of Batangas into the roster of topnotcher producing law schools in the country today that is formerly dominated by big universities in Metro Manila and other metropolis in the country.

Ortea was also grateful for his mother, a cooperative clerk whom he described as a “tiger mom”, pushing him to the limit that he may got the best for him in school.

The 27-year-old new lawyer graduated with a degree in

criminology from the Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas in 2008, finishing his studies through a scholarship grant.

Teaching criminology subjects in his alma mater helped Ortea finished Juris Doctor program at the University of Batangas in 2009.

He juggled both work and studies while in law school. He said he sacrificed his rest day reading the voluminous readings for law.

“My rest is my work,’’ said Ortea, who was also a forensic laboratory custodian in Lyceum.

Ortea also said he owed his accomplishments to his strong Catholic faith. He prayed the Novena to St. Jude nine days before the Bar month and before the Bar exams.

Last Tuesday, ortea said he is about to finish his novena when he heard the news and receive calls of the great blessing he received – that of passing the bar and be on Top 3.

The new list of passers also include Atty. Mickel Borigas and Atty. Jenn Kristel Zaraspe of Batangas City; Atty. Jenefer G. Jocson, Atty. Sheyna Marie, and Atty. Gerald F. Rabena of Lipa City; and Atty. Christian Paul Mangubat of Taal, Batangas.|

FLASH BACK

Pag-Balikas A pagbabasa ng karaniwang pahayagan, ang hinaing ng marami ay tila ba walang nagbabago.

Ang mga balita ay pawang tungkol na naman sa mga katiwalian na hindi mahuli-huli, mga paratang na di mapatunayan at mga mandarambong na di maparusahan.

Napakadaling sabihin na dahil dito ay wala nang pag-asa. Kung hindi natin susuriin ang maliliit at di hayag na pagbabago, masasadlak talaga tayo sa kawalang pagasa. Kailangan ng masusing panunuri ng pagbabago upang mabuksan ang mga pagkakataong magbubunsod ng mas malaking pagbabago.

S

UNANG LABAS. Ito ang itsura ng kauna-unahang isyu ng noon ay Balik-Kalikasan na ngayon ay Pahayagang Balikas.|

Ronalina B. Lontoc-Elarmo, Speacial projects Editor

THROUGH THE YEARS. Ilan sa mga naging isyu labas ng Pahayagang Balikas...

May ilang taon na ang lumipas mula ng bigyan ng bagong pangalan, anyo at pinupuntirya ang pahayagang marahil nakilala ninyo sa pangalang Balik Kalikasan. Pinalitan ang pangalan nguniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hindi ang tutok ng nilalaman. Masyadong mahaba at tunog-pampamahalaan daw ang dating pangalan.

Ang BALIKAS ay maraming maaaring maging kahulugan.

Ang pinakasimple ay pinaghalong Balita at Kalikasan. Nguniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ang KAS ay maaring maging kasama o kasangga na nagpapahiwatig na lahat ay sangkot sa balitang pangkalikasan.

Maaari rin namang bigyan ng pakahulugang mas matindi ang ugnayan gaya ng kasintahan, kasiping, kasambahay.

Mahalaga ito dahil ang pag-inog ng kalikasan ay dapat makilala ng mga pamayanang nakasalalay dito gaya ng pagkakilala niya sa kanyang ginigiliw.

Mas nakakagising pa ang pagkakataong lagyan ng titik W sa gitna upang mangahulugang pagaalsa. Balikwas ang kailangan upang magbago ang mga kasalikuyang pananaw na hindi nauubos ang kalikasan at na walang mangyayari sa kalusugan ng tao kahit anong pang-aabuso ang gawin sa kapaligiran.

Sa Kabikulan ay may kabastusan daw ang salitang Balikas nguniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tugma pa rin sa nais mangyari ng pahayagan. Ang kahulugan doon ng Balikas ay paglilislis ng palda ng babae. Kung gagamitin bilang simbulo ng pahayagan, ito ay maaaring bigyan ng kahulugang paghuhubad ng katiwalian, pagsisiwalat ng nakatago. >>>BALIK-TANAW... sundan sa P/11

March 24 - 30, 2014

3

4

NEWS

Balikas

March 24 - 30, 2014

DENR mulls permanently closing Mount Banahaw from public entry DOLORES, Quezon -- The massive fire that ravaged some 50 hectares of forest and grasslands around the mystical Mount Banahaw has prompted the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to consider making the protected area off limits to the public in perpetuity.

With the cause of fire still to be determined, DENR Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje in a statement said closing the natural park to public access for good is one of the solutions being contemplated to prevent its further degradation and ensure the recovery of areas affected by the blaze.

“The DENR is now studying the permanent closure of Mount Banahaw to the public, particularly mountaineers and pilgrims, to avoid future incidents of forest fires stemming from human activities,” Paje said.

He noted that the recent fire, which also razed some 92 hectares of plantation within Mt. San Cristobal, was the third reported to have hit the Mounts Banahaw-San Cristobal Protected Landscape (MBSCPL) since 2010. In 2010, two fires damaged portions of the protected area in San Pablo City in Laguna and Dolores town in Quezon, covering a total of 80 hectares.

ment Board (PAMB) has declared certain portions of the protected area closed to the public until 2015 to allow the rehabilitation of its natural resources damaged by human activity. Unfortunately, people have been able to slip past the cordons into the prohibited area.

At the same time, Paje said he has already ordered the DENR Region 4-A (Calabarzon) to file charges against those responsible for the blaze.

The environment chief described the massive forest fire as “sad, condemnable and unacceptable” given the extent of the damage it had caused.

The Protected Area Manage-

“We deeply condemn this act,

THE mystic Mount Banahaw that spans the provinces of Quezona nd Laguna.

............................................................................................................................................... <<<BUNDOK....mula sa P/1

Tuktok ng Bundok Banahaw, nasunog! araw, bukod pa dito pagabi na ng mangyari ang nasabing sunog.

Iniimbestigahan ngayon ng tanggapan ng DENR at MBSCPLPAMB sa pamamagitan ng Protected Area Superintendent (PASu Office) sa pangunguna ni PASu Salud Pangan kung sinong grupo o tao ang responsable sa naturang sunog. Hinala nila, maaaring isa sa mga grupo na humihingi sa kanila ng permiso upang maka-akyat sa Durungawan na hindi niya pinayagan subalit maaaring

pumasok pa rin ito at sa ibang lagusan dumaan.

Matatandaan na may moratorium o sarado ang bahagi ng nasabing lugar sa publiko batay sa resolusyon na ipinasa ng PAMB noong Pebrero ng taong 2012 ng karagdagang tatlong taong closure order.

Taong 2009 ng maipasa ang Republic Act No. 9847 o “An Act Establishing Mounts Banahaw and San Cristobal in the Provinces of Laguna and Quezon as a Protected

Area under the Category of Protected Landscape, Providing for Its Management and for other Purposes.”

Batay sa batas na ito, may kaukulang multa o pagkakulong ng isang taon hanggang anim na taon ang paglabag sa mga regulasyon ng PAMB. Isa ring paglabag sa nasabing batas ay pagsasagawa ng kaingin o anumang gawain na magdudulot o magiging dahilan ng forest fire sa loob ng MBSCPL.|

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

5,000 elementary pupils, makikinabang sa 'Nutri-Juice' program Season 4 LUNGSOD NG LUCENA, Quezon, --Tinatatayang may 5,000 magaaral sa elementarya mula sa iba’tibang bayan ng lalawigan ng Quezon ang makikinabang sa Nutri-Juice Program - Season 4.

Ang programa na magkatuwang na ipatutupad ng pamahalaang panlalawigan, Coco-Cola Company Philippines at Department of Education (DepEd) ang nakapalaman sa memorandum of agreement (MOA) na nilagdaan nina Quezon Governor David “JayJay” C. Suarez at Atty. Adel Tamano, vice-president for Public Affairs and Communications ng Coca-Cola Far East Ltd. Sinabi ni Gob. David Suarez na ang naturang supplemental feeding program ay hindi katulad ng mga feeding program na isinasagawa lamang sa loob ng isang araw

sapagkat ang programang ito ay isasagawa ng tuloy-tuloy sa loob ng 120 na araw.

“Matapos makinabang ang mga piling mga mag-aaral sa elementarya ay makikitang mas tumangkad ang mga ito at bumaba ang bilang ng mga batang hindi pumapasok sa paaralan at tumaas din ang kanilang academic performance,” wika ni Suarez.

Sinabi naman ni Tamano, na patuloy na makikipagtulungan ang Coca-Cola Philippines sa nutrition program ng lokal na pamahalaan dahil upang maging matagumpay ito, kailangan ang patuloy na pagtutulungan ng business sector, government at civil society, at nongovernment organizations.

Ang Nutri-Juice program ay pinasimulan sa lalawigan noong 2010 sa layuning masolusyunan

ang problema sa malnutrisyon sa mga pampublikong paaralan sa elementarya.

Ang Nutri-Juice ay orange juice na nagtataglay ng iron, zinc, vitamins A & C na ibinibigay sa mga batang mag-aaral sa pampublikong paaralan na may edad anim hanggang labindalawang taong gulang sa loob ng 120 na araw o apat na buwan upang mabawasan ang kaso ng Iron Deficiency Anemia sa mga bata.

Sa kasalukuyan, 90 porsyento na sa 5,000 mga batang mag-aaral sa pampublikong paaralan sa lalawigan ang sumasailalim sa nutri-juice program at apat na bayan na lamang sa lalawigan ng Quezon ang hindi pa napagkalooban nito, ito ay ang bayan ng Sariaya, Lucban, Tayabas at Catanauan.| R. ORINDAY

whether incendiary or accidental, for it not only endangered the lives of nearby communities, but more importantly caused damage to the flora and fauna within Mount Banahaw,” he said.

Paje said suspects in the forest fire could face charges for violation of Republic Act No. 9147, or the Wildlife Resources Conservation

and Protection Act, which prohibits the killing of wildlife species and destruction of their habitat.

Mount Banahaw is home to a rich biodiversity of endemic and indigenous plant and animal species. The mystical mountain is a famous site for trekkers and religious devotees during the Lenten season.|

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

DOE releases findings on Feb 27 Mindanao incident THE Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Transmission Corporation (TransCo) presented at a press briefing last Friday the findings of their investigation on the total loss of power in Mindanao on 27 February 2014.

A supply-demand imbalance caused by the reduced generation of STEAG coal-fired power plant due to a technical problem and the defective equipment of the government-owned Agus 1 hydro power plant led to the incident.

The National Power Corporation (Napocor) acknowledged NGCP’s assistance in correcting and restoring the defective Napocorowned capacitor voltage transformer inside the switchyard of the Agus 1 plant.

For its part, NGCP is pushing for power plants to coordinate and check with the system operator their own respective plants’ protection settings.

Measures to uphold the security and integrity of the grid were in place at the time when two major events, namely STEAG’s generation reduction and the tripping of Agus 1, happened within seconds of each other. In just 85 seconds, around 870 megawatts were dropped from the grid.

“It was practically impossible for

the system to recover from the steep decline in overall system frequency, which directly resulted from STEAG’s generation reduction and the tripping of Agus 1.This, in turn, triggered the safety systems of the remaining generating plants as part of their equipment protection,” stated Mr. Eugene Bicar, NGCP’s Head for Mindanao Systems Operations.

This “con-fluence of uncommon events,” as described by TransCo President, Rolando Bacani, was an unprece-dented occurrence in the grid.

NGCP fully cooperated with the inter-agency team that sought to solve the Mindanao power situation.

NGCP’s internal investigation, which was submitted to the Department of Energy and TransCo, included the voltage and current profile at the time of the incident, and showed that there was no fault in any of NGCP’s transmission equipment.

NGCP remains steadfast in fulfilling its mandate as system operator, “We are one with the power sector in resolving this. As the system operator, NGCP will continue to uphold the security and integrity of the power grid,” said Atty. Cynthia D. Perez-Alabanza, NGCP Spokesperson.|

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

GSIS nag-alok ng condonation sa “Study Now, Pay Later,” “Fly PAL, Pay Later” accounts NAGBUKAS kamakailan ang Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) ng one-time condonation program para sa mga estudyanteng nakinabang noon sa “Study Now, Pay Later” (SNPL) at sa member-borrowers ng “Fly PAL, Pay Later” (FPPL) na may outstanding accounts. Bukas ang programa hanggang Hulyo 24, 2014.

Magbibigay ng 100% condonation ang GSIS sa lahat ng surcharges ng SNPL grantees (at co-makers nila) at FPPL borrowers na magbabayad nang buo ng kanilang outstanding balance sa loob ng tatlong buwan matapos makapagsumite ng kanilang application form para sa condonation.

Kung hindi makakapagbayad sa loob ng naturang panahon, maaari uling magsumite ng application ang program availees bago sumapit ang Hulyo 24, 2014.

Ayon sa GSIS, iko-compute ang interes ng account hanggang sa buwan ng full payment.

Ang SNPL ay isang educational program na sinimulang ipatupad noong 1976 alinsunod sa iba’t ibang pamamaraang nakasaad sa Presidential Decree No. 932.

Tinawag na Educational Assistance Loan ang SNPL noong 1988, at sinusugan ng Republic Act 8545, ang batas na nagkakaloob ng tulong na pinansyal sa mga estudyante at guro sa pribadong sektor ng edukasyon.

Ang FPPL program naman ay kahawig na credit facility, na inialok ng GSIS bilang travel assistance at tumagal mula 1978 hanggang 1989.

Sinulatan na ng GSIS ang lahat ng SNPL grantees at FPPL borrowers na may outstanding accounts upang ipaalam ang condonation program.

Maaaring magtungo sa pinakamalapit na GSIS branch office ang interesadong program availees o tumawag sa Contact Center sa telepono bilang 847-4747 para sa iba pang detalye.|

March 24 - 30, 2014

Peace & Order Update Collated By JACK L. AQUINO

New Ranking NPA leader yields; arms cache revealed

NEWS

Balikas

5

MTRCB brings Matalinong Panonood in Batangas City BATANGAS CITY -- The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) held a forum at Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) and University of Batangas (UB) last March 14 as part of their campaign “Matalinoong Panonood para sa Pamilya ni Juan at Juana.”

The forum, attended by students, faculty members, and administrators aims to empower every Filipino community in understanding the application of the

classification rating system for movies and television programs implemented by MTRCB. Aside from empowering the audience on the dynamics of media classifications and media literacy, other topics like rise of independent film in Philippine cinema and protection in media of vulnerable sectors like women, children, persons with disability and senior citizens were also discussed.

The MTRCB contingent led by

chairman Eugenio “Toto” Villareal and other board members also conducted inspections of movie advertisements in public utility vehicles (PUVs) at the Batangas City Grand Terminal and Batangas Port to monitor compliance with the General Audience (G) and Parental Guidance (PG) classification ratings.

The group also posted stickers and hang tarpaulins in public areas for awareness of their campaign.|

CAMP GUILLERMO NAKAR, LUCENA CITY – A ranking New People’s Army leader operating in South Quezon surrendered to the elements of 74th Infantry Battalion under 201st Infantry Brigade headed by BGEN ALEX CAPIÑA AFP at its headquarters recently.

SOLCOM Commander LtGen Caesar Ronnie F. Ordoyo, AFP disclosed that the rebel returnee identified as Arjie Bulalaque, alias Jared, is a former finance officer of the Berto Platoon of the NPA’s guerilla unit and staff member of Anak Pawis since 2010.

Bulalaque decided to voluntarily surrender to the government troops and leave the CPP-NPA movement after learning the surrender of most of his comrades and the recent surrender of his brother Arnel.

BHABY P. DE CASTRO “Nagbalik loob na ang karamihan, kapatid ko, at kamag-anak ko! ........................................................................................................................................................

Kelangan ko na din gawin ito. Di rin naman natupad ang pangako ng NPA sa akin dati na libreng lupa”, Bulalaque said during the custodial debriefing.

Bulalaque also revealed that he belongs to a revolutionary family in Quezon. His father known as Ka Black and a hardcore rebel in Quezon died due to illness. He recalled that his father never received any medication and support from NPA organization while he was active. Moreover, LUNGSOD NG BATANGAS (PIA) -- Baby Joy Decina, isa sa naging ginagampanan sa lipunan.

Bulalaque mentioned that his brother Arnel was recruited by the NPA at an Nag-ulat din ito ng kanyang Isang forum na tinaguriang kinatawan sa Soroptimist 2014 early age but he had abandoned the rebel movement last November 2013.

“Inspiring Change” ang isinagawa womens opportunity award at mga accomplishments sa pagpasok Arner is now about to receive livelihood incentives from the Office of the ng Soroptimist International naging regional runner up kung sa Pag-ibig Fund kung saan nakita Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) under its Batangas sa Batangas City saan inihayag nito ang lahat ng na sa panahon ng kanyang Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP).

Convention Center noong ika-10 ng pinagdaanan sa kanyang buhay na panunungkulan ay naging mas Meanwhile, Bulalaque, upon realizing that the light for a normal and lalong nagpatatag ditto bilang tao, mataas kumpara sa parehong Marso. peaceful life is to surrender genuinely, pinpointed the location of an NPA panahon na pinamamahalaan ng Ang naturang forum ay ina, kapatid at anak. arms cache that led to the recovery of one springfield rifle with two “Ang mga babae ay may iba. nilahukan ng iba’t ibang miyembro magazines, a Colt 45 caliber pistol with magazine, Smith & Wesson 9mm “Bilang babae naniniwala po ako ng Soroptimist Batangas,mga mag- kanyang angking katangian na caliber pistol with magazine, 100 rounds of caliber 30 and 62 rounds of aaral at mga kababaihan mula sa dapat ay lalong payabungin at na tayo kasabay ng makabagong 7.62mm ammunitions, two M16 magazines, backpacks, and subversive pangalagaan upang pagdating ng panahon ay hindi maaaring maiwan iba’t-ibang barangay sa lungsod. documents.

Sinabi ni Fely Go, presidente ng panahon ay mapakinabangan at na lamang sa isang sulok at Ordoyo said aside from the P50,000.00 cash livelihood assistance Soroptimist Batangas, na malaki ang maging kapuri puri sa lahat," ani pumayag sa mga nangyayari kung from OPPAP, Bulalaque will also receive monetary incentives in exchange nakikita naman natin na marami papel na ginagampanan ng mga Decina. for his guns under the Gun for Peace Program of the Armed Forces of the Nagsilbi naming panauhing tayong pwedeng gawin o maikababaihan sa makabagong Philippines. panahon.Kung noon ay nasa pandangal si Pag-ibig CEO and contribute para sa ikauunlad ng “The increasing number of NPA leaders surrendering to the government likuran lamang ito ng mga president, Atty. Darlene Marie bawat isa. Dapat nating gamitin ang only manifests the continuing quest of the rebels to live in a safe and kalalakihan ngayon ay Berberabe na nagpaalala sa mga anumang talent na ipinagkaloob sa peaceful life. nakikipagsabayan na ito upang kababaihan na alamin ang kanilang atin at ipakita na tayo ay kapakiThey now come to realize the importance of living in a peaceful ipakita ang kanilang kontribusyon kahinaan at kalakasan at gamitin pakinabang sa lipunan," dagdag pa environment. From here they can now pursue their own livelihood and ito upang lalo pang mapayabong ni Berberabe.| BHABY P. DE CASTRO sa lipunan. become productive members of the society and partners for economic Nagbigay inspirasyon naman si ang pagkatao at maipakita ang development under the social integration program”, the SOLCOM chief added.

The CLIP provides interventions to address the physical, psychological, intellectual, social and economic development needs of former rebels.| mula sa Diyos ang taong iyon, sapagkat hindi Pinagaling ni Jesus ang isang bulag .............................................................................................

SA paglalakad ni Jesus, nakita niya ang isang niya ipinapangilin ang Araw ng Pamamahinga. lalaking ipinanganak na bulag. Tinanong siya Ngunit sinabi naman ng iba, Paanong ng kanyang mga alagad, Guro, sino po ang makakagawa ng ganitong mga himala ang isang nagkasala at ipinanganak na bulag ang lalaking makasalanan? At hindi sila magkaisa.

Kaya't tinanong nilang muli ang dating bulag, ito, siya ba o ang kanyang mga magulang?

PALUAN, OCCIDENTAL MINDORO – The elements of “B”Coy of the 76IB Sumagot si Jesus, Ipinanganak siyang bulag, At ikaw, ano naman ang masasabi mo tungkol recorded another gain from the attack of the New People’s Army believed hindi dahil sa nagkasala siya, o ang kanyang sa kanya, dahil pinagaling niya ang iyong mga to be a merged group of Sangay sa Platoon (SPN) PLAGUER and CALOY mga magulang, kundi upang mahayag ang mata? of the Yam-Ay guerilla front of the CNN’s Southern Tagalog Regional Isa siyang propeta! sagot niya. kapangyarihan ng Diyos sa pamamagitan niya.

Party Committee (STRPC) at the vicinity of Sitio Agsigang, Brgy. Mananao, Ayaw maniwala ng mga Judio na siya'y Kailangang gawin natin a ang mga ipinapagawa Paluan, Occidental Mindoro on March 15, 2014. ng nagsugo sa akin b habang umaga pa; malapit talagang dating bulag kaya't ipinatawag nila ang The NPA rebels fired at the troops who were on a regular patrol, but na ang gabi, at wala nang makakagawa kanyang mga magulang. Anak nga ba ninyo ito? scampered in different directions after a ten minute firefight. The troops pagsapit niyon. Habang ako'y nasa sanlibutan, Talaga bang siya'y ipinanganak na bulag? Bakit nakakakita na siya ngayon? tanong nila. recovered one ICOM radio, one long magazine for AK-47, 27 rounds of AKako ang ilaw ng sanlibutan.

Sumagot ang kanyang mga magulang, Anak Pagkasabi nito, dumura si Jesus sa lupa at 47ammunitions , two pieces charger for cellphone, 20 meters wire clip as nga namin siya at siya'y ipinanganak ngang gumawa ng putik.

Pagkatapos, ipinahid niya detonator, one piece pouch for binocular, one piece bond paper with code ito sa mata ng bulag. Sinabi ni Jesus sa bulag, bulag. Ngunit hindi po namin alam kung bakit names, 14 pieces Sim card for cellphones, one piece memory card and six Pumunta ka sa deposito ng tubig sa Siloe at nakakakita na siya ngayon, o kung sino ang hundred twenty pesos (Php 620.00) cash. maghilamos ka roon. Ang kahulugan ng salitang nagpagaling sa kanya. Siya na po ang tanungin No casualty on the government side was reported while the enemy Siloe ay Sinugo. Ganoon nga ang ginawa ng ninyo. May sapat na gulang siya at makakaobtained an undetermined number of casualties. bulag, at nang magbalik siya ay nakakakita na. pagsalita na para sa kanyang sarili!

SOLCOM Commander LtGen Caesar Ronnie F. Ordoyo, AFP said the Ganoon ang sabi ng kanyang mga magulang Nagsalita ang mga kapitbahay niya at ang mga terrorists’ attack at the cell site and the harassment on government’s dahil takot sila sa mga Judio. Alam nilang nakakita sa kanya noong siya'y namamalimos troops are clear manifestations on the NPA’s desperate attempt to cling on pinagkaisahan ng mga Judio na itiwalag sa pa, Hindi ba iyan ang pulubing bulag? to their unlawful cause to overthrow the government. However, SOLCOM Sumagot ang ilan, Iyan nga! Sabi naman ng sinagoga ang sinumang magpahayag na si Jesus intensifies its military operations against the NPA in the area to preempt iba, Hindi! Kamukha lang. Kaya't nagsalita ang ang Cristo. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit sinabi them from launching attacks particularly on helpless areas. ng kanyang mga magulang, Siya'y nasa tamang dating bulag, Ako nga po iyon.

He also added that NPAs are now resorting to terroristic activities out gulang na, siya ang tanungin ninyo.

Paano kang nakakita? tanong nila. of desperation.

Muli nilang ipinatawag ang dating bulag at Sumagot siya, Ang lalaking tinatawag na Jesus ay gumawa ng putik at ipinahid iyon sa sinabi sa kanya, Sa pangalan ng Diyos, magsabi aking mata. Pagkatapos, sinabi niya sa akin, ka ng totoo. Alam naming ang taong iyon ay FOR SALE Pumunta ka sa Siloe at maghilamos. Pumunta makasalanan.

Sumagot siya, Hindi ko po alam kung siya'y nga ako doon at naghilamos, at nakakita na masamang tao, o hindi. Isang bagay po ang ako!

Nasaan siya? tanong nila sa kanya. Hindi ko alam ko; ako'y dating bulag, subalit ngayo'y Solna 124 Offset Machine | Japan-made Vertical nakakakita na. alam, sagot niya.

Platemaker |3-Phase Power Motor Converter Ano ang ginawa niya sa iyo? Paano niyang Nagsiyasat ang mga Pariseo Push-Button Switch Set up pinagaling ang iyong mga mata? tanong nila.

Tungkol sa Pagpapagaling Sumagot siya, Sinabi ko na po sa inyo, at Dinala ng mga tao sa mga Pariseo ang dating For details, Call / Text ayaw naman ninyo akong paniwalaan. Bakit bulag, dahil Araw ng Pamamahinga nang 0912.902.7373 or 0917.521.9477 gumawa si Jesus ng putik at nang pinagaling gusto ninyong marinig muli? Nais ba ninyong niya ang bulag. Tinanong din siya ng mga Pariseo maging alagad din niya? At siya'y kanilang SERVICE kung paano siya nakakita. Kaya't sinabi niya minura, Ikaw ay alagad niya! Ngunit kami'y sa kanila, Pinahiran niya ng putik ang aking mga alagad ni Moises.

MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES Nalalaman naming nagsalita ang Diyos kay mga mata, ako'y pinaghilamos at ngayo'y Company Registration Consulancy & Processing Moises ngunit ang taong iyon, ni hindi namin nakakakita na ako.

E-mail: balikasonline@yahoo.com Ang sabi ng ilang Pariseo, Hindi maaaring alam kung saan siya nanggaling!|

Soroptimist International, nagsagawa ng forum para sa mga kababaihan sa Batangas

Ang Mabuting Balita

SOLCOM gains anew from NPA attack

Offset Printing Machine

OPINION

Balikas

6

March 24 - 30, 2014

The US trains its guns on Latin America once more: Venezuela in crisis?

MUCH has been written about America’s bombing and eventual occupation of Iraq, as well as its occupation of Afghanistan. Recently, the US announced its pivot to Asia, which would translate into deploying 60 percent of its naval vessels and troops overseas to the region. For a while, Central and South American countries, popularly called Latin America, were almost left on their own. This somehow opened the doors for the election of progressives in government such as Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, Evo Morales of Bolivia, Michelle Bachelet of Chile, Dilma Vana Rousseff of Brazil, among others.

It would be remembered that during the 70s and 80s, the US, in an effort to protect its backyard against the rise of the Left, deposed left-leaning heads of state such as Salvador Allende of Chile and installed and propped up dictators in the region such as Augusto Pinochet of Chile, Jorge Rafael Videla of Argentina, General Carlos Humberto Romero of El Salvador, Hugo Banzer of Bolivia, the Somozas of Nicaragua, among others. Thousands of activists disappeared, became victims of death squads, or were imprisoned.

However, by the end of the 1980s and beginning of the 1990s when George H.W. Bush, who owns an oil company, rose to power, the US trained its guns on oil-rich Middle East. It was a time when erstwhile socialist countries had began dismantling its socialist structures and policies and the US was in need of an enemy to justify its ever-increasing military budget. This supposed enemy took the form of “Islamic militancy and terrorism” in the Al-Queda. Thus began US efforts to corner the richest sources of oil in the region.

Today, while tens of thousands of US troops and “defense contractors” are still in Afghanistan and Iraq, and US Pres. Barack Obama has announced plans to pivot to Asia, the US could not help but train its sights on Venezuela.

Venezuela is the fifth largest oil exporting country in the world, with the largest proven oil reserves at an estimated 296.5 billion barrels (20% of global reserves) as of 2012. It is the biggest headache to the US in the region, especially when Hugo Chavez, who died of cancer last year, was elected president. Chavez, who the US tried to depose through sponsoring a coup d’ etat in 2002, was an advocate of Bolivarianism, which aims for Latin American integration, and what he calls as Socialism of the 21st century. He also openly criticized and challenged US aggression overseas and tightened government control over the operations and revenues of the state oil company. Chavez exerted efforts to galvanize Latin American unity to counter US efforts to control the politics, trade, investments, and resources in the region. The US did succeed in deposing Chavez during the April 11, 2002 coup, which installed wealthy businessman Pedro Carmona. But the mass protests that followed caused the resignation of Carmona and the reinstallation of Chavez.

The hallmark of the Chavez presidency from 1999 to 2013 was his economic and social policies. Right after his election, the Chavez government supported the formation of 100,000 state-owned cooperatives and 30,000 communal councils. To solve the problem of malnutrition, Chavez imposed a price ceiling on food products and supported domestic production.

Between 1998 to 2006, malnutrition-related deaths went down by 50%.

Government spending on education was increased from 3.14 % of GDP during the Caldera government in 1998 to 5.1 % in 2006 to the current level of 6.9 % of GDP. (The Philippines spends a mere 2.3 % of GDP on education.)

perspective

>>>PERSPECTIVE..turn to P/9

A bilingual weekly newspaper of general circulation published by the PAHAYAGANG BALIKAS, INC., a corporation duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) with Certificate No. CS201401804.

Office: The BALIKAS Centre, Guades Comp., Purok 3, Brgy. Calicanto, 4200 Batangas City, Philippines  043.417.1662 |  0912.902.7373 | 0917.512.9477 E-mail: balikasonline@yahoo.com | www.facebook.com/pages/Balikas Lipa Office: San Sebastian St.,Brgy. 10, Lipa City Joenald Medina Rayos Publisher / Editor-in-Chief

Ronalina B. Lontoc

Columnists: Gerry M. Zamudio | Atty. Jose Sison Atty. Jesus Dureza | Atty. Ramel C. Muria

Circulation In-Charge

Contributors: Jack L. Aquino Jerome Jay C. Sapinoso Jessie delos Reyes PIO - (Provincial / Batangas City) Philippine Information Agency

Atty. Roberto Iñigo Sanchez Legal Consultant

Official Representative - Lipa Office

Special Project Editor

Nicetas E. Escalona Lifestyle Editor

Benjie de Castro

Cecille M. Rayos-Campo

Member: Batangas League for Alternative Development & Services (BLADES), Inc.

Ad rate:

Commercial : P200/col. cm. | Legal Notices : P160/col. cm

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.|

Congratulations Graduates & Honor Students

CBCP online

By BENJIE OLIVEROS

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

Dear Graduates YEARS ago, you have embarked in a journey with great hope and enthusiasm.

You believed that there is nothing that you could not conquer. With the energy and idealism flowing in your veins, you surmised that the world was too small to spread your wings over.

However, the passage of time has withered your hope and enthusiasm. The weight of responsibilities which were imposed upon your shoulders dried up the energy and idealism in your veins. This is to be expected since you have chosen a field of endeavour which demands more than what an ordinary human being could give—an adventure where the lukewarm and timid would not last half of the journey. But despite of this, you persevered until the race is finished.

You are here today ready to take up the rewards of your patience and perseverance. More than anything else, this day marks the rebirth of a new you. You are not the same person as before—you are now an offspring of your sacrifices and triumphs. You are the news of the day. To you belong the sunshine and the stars.

The past is expected to come back somehow.

However, the past is not about your family, teachers, friends or enemies. The past is not about broken dreams and shattered spirit. It is not about the confusion and worries of the yesteryears. It is not about your parents, siblings or relatives—no matter how you love or avoid them. It is not about your teachers—no matter how

amiable or awesome or wretched or wicked they are.

It is not about your friends— no matter how faithful or consoling or conceited or treacherous they are, or no matter how they turned-out to be your best enemies.

The past is about you. It has always been about you.

It is about how you deal with your family, teachers, friends or enemies. Your memories of people depend on how you see and receive them in your life. They exist for themselves; you—your existence does not depend on theirs.

The days following your graduation will still be euphoric. You will continue to walk in “cloud nine” for a few more days. Don’t hurry up. Reflect for a while.

Your new world will start to dawn upon you when you tread on the new path that you have chosen after leaving the one that you have travelled with your teachers.

Of course, there are certain lessons that you must always remember. After all, there are memories which could not be considered as prison. There are memories which bring you smiles and laughters. There are memories which make you feel proud and triumphant.

Sail on. Keep moving. Find new adventures. Make your life meaningful. Take risk.

Cry, if you must, but tell the world that you will never quit. Never quit—life is about advancing and challenging and conquering. Life is about not quitting!

>>>MURIA..turn to P/10 ........................................................................................................................................................

PNoy recognizes five organizations for performance excellence PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III led the conferment ceremonies of the 16th Philippine Quality Award (PQA) where five organizations received recognitions for performance excellence held at Rizal Hall, Malacañang, Palace on Thursday.

In his speech, President Aquino underscored the importance of quality in performance and setting high standards in services in both government and private agencies.”

Merely good enough is not enough. With the advent of new, scientific discoveries in almost every possible field of expertise, there are very few excuses left for substandard work, and it is up to all of us—whether in the public or private sector—to usher in an era of precision, of heightened standards for every possible product and service,” the President said.

While recognizing the achievements and competence of each awardee, the President likewise challenged them to strive harder and “play an even greater role in continuing empowerment, progress and prosperity of the Filipino people.”

“Let us reinforce the culture of quality and competence that has taken root in the Philippines. If we continue working together—whichever sector we may be in—we can ingrain a culture that shuns mediocrity, and consistently pursues excellence. We can build on our successes as one country, and complete our turnaround into a society of inclusiveness and

opportunity,” he said.

The five organizations that received Recognition for Commitment to Quality Management award were: Philippine Information Agency headed by Secretary Herminio Coloma; Department of Science and Technology Region XI headed by Dr. Anthony Sales; Lyceum of the Philippine University headed by Atty. Roberto P. Laurel; Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation headed by Dr. Rosita L. Navarro; and Zamboanga Polymedic Hospital (Ciudad Medical Zamboanga) headed by Mr. Erwin G. To. The Philippine Quality Award is the highest level of national recognition for the exemplary organization performance. It is the country’s counterpart to the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in the United States and other quality award system in 88 countries around the world.

PQA was established in 1997, through Executive Order 448 and was institutionalized through Republic Act 9013 also known as the Philippine Quality Award on February 28, 2001. The PQA sets the standard of excellence to help organizations achieve world-class performance.

The Department of Trade and Industry is the award manager of the PQA.PQA recipients are expected to share exceptional management practices as benchmarks with other organizations that are aiming for performance excellence.|

March 24 - 30, 2014

OPINION

Balakid na magmana ang anak sa labas ALAM na noon pa ng magkapatid na Harry at Regine na mayroon silang mayamang tiyuhin, si Uncle Raffy na nakatatandang kapatid ng kanilang ama. Ang kanilang ama ang nagsabi sa kanila ukol dito. Alam din nila na mga anak sila sa labas dahil hindi pinakasalan ng tatay nila ang kanilang ina.

Iniwanan na sila ng kanilang ina. Sa madaling salita, ang estado ng magkapatid ay kinikilalang natural na anak at hindi lehitimong anak.

Tanggap na ng magkapatid ang kanilang kapalaran at estado sa buhay. Patuloy silang nakatira kasama ng kanilang ama at hindi naman ito nagkukulang sa responsibilidad bilang magulang nila. Pinalaki at sinuportahan sila ng ama hanggang maging binata’t dalaga at tumuntong sa hustong gulang.

Parang patunay na tapos na ang trabaho niya bilang magulang kina Regine at Harry, tinapos na ng ama nila ang buhay matapos ang mahigit 50 taon. Ang magkapatid ang tagapagmana ng kanilang ama pero wala naman itong masyadong naipamana. Pero naiwan ang dalawa bilang potensyal na tagapagmana ni uncle Raffy na noon ay walang anak sa asawang si Auntie Noimee.

Nang mamatay si Uncle Raffy, naghabol sina Regine at Horacio bilang kapalit na tagapagmana ng kanilang ama na nakababatang kapatid nito. Ayon sa kanila, alinsunod sa batas (Art. 982 Civil Code) ang mga apo at iba pang kaanak ay may karapatan na magmana sa pamamagitan ng “right of representation” at ang karapatan ng ilehitimong anak o anak sa labas ay namamana ng kanilang mga kaanak kung sakaling sila

ay mamatay maging sila man ay legal na anak o anak sa labas. May karapatan nga ba ang magkapatid na maghabol sa naiwang ari-arian ni Uncle Raffy?  WALA. Ang batas na basehan ni Regine at Harry ay hindi magagamit sa pagkakataong ito. Ang batas dito ay Art. 992 ng Civil Code kung saan sinasabing ang anak sa labas ay hindi maaaring magmana mula sa mga lehitimong anak at maging sa mga kaanak ng ama o ina. Gayundin, ang legal na anak at mga kaanak ay walang karapatan na maghabol ng mana mula sa isang anak sa labas. Ang Art. 992 ay eksepsyon sa Art. 982, 902 ng Civil Code. Kahit sabihin pa na talagang magkamag-anak sila dahil sa dugong dumadaloy sa kanilang ugat ay hindi naman ito kinikilala ng batas dahil sa natural na hidwaan at galit na siyempre ay hindi mawawala sa legal na pamilya at sa pangalawang pamilya. Hindi uubra ang sinasabi nina Regine at Harry na ang pinatutungkulan lang ng batas (Art. 902) ay ang mga anak sa labas na talagang may naunang pinakasalan ang magulang at hindi tulad sa kanila na talagang hindi lang nakuhang magpakasal ng magulang. Hindi naman kasi nilinaw ang salitang “illegitimate” sa batas. Walang sinabi kung ito ay natural na anak tulad nila, “spurious” o iyong talagang may legal na pamilya ang magulang, “acknowledged” o kinilala ng magulang. Basta ang kinumpirma ng batas (Art. 176 Family Code), lahat ng itinuturing na “illegitimate child”, anuman ang kanilang kategorya ay hindi puwedeng magmana (Pascual V Bautista, 207 SCRA 661).|

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

Pagsibol ng mga bagong lider sa China bilang factor sa pagbabagong mukha nito ANG pagbabago sa mukha ng China sa pandaigdigang pakikitungo lalo na sa ilang bahagi ng ating teritoryo sa West Philippine Sea ay mahalagang matunghayan natin.

Matatandaan natin na dati, ang bansa China sa panahon ni Deng Xiaopeng bilang pinunu ng China ay ginamit nito ang soft approach sa pakikitungo sa mga bansa sa buong mundo. Kasabay ng panahong iyon ang pagbago ng kaisipan at kalakaran sa larangan ng kanilang ekonomiya. Dahan dahang nag-adopt ito sa free market system na siyang pinaiiral ng mas nakararaming bansa.

Ang mga teyoriyang pang-ekonomiya ng kapitalismo at unti unti rin nilang ginamit pero ito ay kanilang binago ayon sa kanilang sosyalistang pamamalakad.

Bumango saan mang sulok ng mundo ang bansang Tsina at dahil sa pagtatag ng ekonomiya nito, at patuloy na paggamit ng soft approach, halos burahin na nito ang masamang kasaysayan at imahen na nabuo noong panahon ng pagsibol ng komunismo doon pati na ang mga ginawa ni Mao Zedong na kinamumuhian ng mga malayang bansa. Regular na sa maraming bansa ang mga investments mula China, hindi lang dito sa Asya kundi pati na rin sa Timog Amerika, Africa, Europa, Middle East at pati na sa Estados Unidos.

Pero nitong mga nakalipas na ilang taon, kasabay ng pagsibol ng mga makabagong lider nito, biglang naging hard approach na ang pamamaraan ng bansang Tsina. Hindi na mapayapa at diplomatic ang pakikitungo nito sa kanyang mga karatig bansa. Sa rehiyon ng Asya Pasipiko, tahasang ipinakita na ng Tsina ang kanyang lakas militar hindi lamang sa pamamagitan ng pagpatrolya sa paligid ng mga internationally claimed territories kundi sa paggamit ng mga civilian branch ng Chinese government para palawakin ang mga teritoryong kanilang inaangkin.

Dito natin kinakailangang pag-aralan ang mga doktrinang realism at neo realism in international politics para mas maunawaan natin kung ano ang kahinanatnan nito at saan tayo lulugar.

Ipinaliliwanag ng realist doctrine na ang lahat daw ng bansa ay motivated ng kani-kanilang national

interests, lahat na bansa ay naghahangad na mai-preserve ang kanilang political autonomoy at territorial integrity. Kapag ang dalawang interests na ito ay nai-secure na, ang national interest ng isang bansa ay maaring magkaroon ng ibang anyo. Ang iba ay maaring maghangad ng karagdagang yaman o lupain o di kaya sa pagpalawak ng kanilang political or economic system sa labas ng kanilang teritoryo samantala ang iba naman ay gusto naman na huwag gambalain. Ang national power ay merong absolute meaning dahil ito ay dapat mailahad sa pamamagitan military, economic, political, diplomatic o di kaya cultural resources.

Sa panahon natin ngayon, ang pagkakaroon ng national power ay nakukuha sa pamamagitan ng mga alyansa ng mga bansa na merong common interest. Ito ang balance of power kung saan nakokontrol ang mga adhikain ng bawat bansa ang ninanais ng ibang bansa, malakas man o mahina ito. Example nito ay ang pagkaroon ng Marshal Plan pagkatapos ng World War 2, kung saan ginamit ito ng Amerika para magkaroon ng katapat ang paglaganap ng komunismo sa Europe.

Ang value para sa isang bansa ng pakikipag alyansa ang siyang primary motivator kung bakit pumapasok ang mga bansa sa isang treaty o kasunduan, kasama na ang pag gamit ng lakas militar, economic power at iba pang influences para mapanatili ang kanilang interest.

Ang paggamit ng puwersa para mapanatili ang isang decentralized system ang siyang ugat ng sistemang tinatawag bilang balance of power. Naging anak din nito ang economic interdependence sa pagitan ng mga bansa, na maaring makaapekto sa intentions at aksyons ng mga bansa.

Sa West Philippine Sea, mahalaga na tingnan natin ang common interest ng mga bansang nakapaligid sa China kasama na ang interes ng mga Amerikano upang tingnan kung papaano maaring magbago ang paningin ng mga gumagawa ng polisiya ng China. Alam naman natin na may mga tinatawag na moderate communist

>>>ZAMUDIO..sundan sa P/11

Balikas

7

My first Burma visit OPENING? --- Is once- recluse Burma ( now Myanmar) really “opening up” to the world? For decades, Burma closeted itself from the world -- as if it was in another planet. It banned media so no one knew what was happening inside. All we got was news about Aung San Suu Kyi, gutsy lady icon of Burma’s struggle to unshackle itself of repressive rule. She was imprisoned by the regime, recognized internationally for her efforts, but now released after years. Even taxi drivers told me they wanted her to be the next president. The problem is unless Burma’s constitution is amended or the rules changed, she is disqualified to be a candidate. Do you think the present leadership will change the rules? No way, if you ask me.

When I visited Yangon for the first time a few days ago, I was surprised. I saw swarms of foreign tourists in hotels and in the sidewalks.

Fascinated visitors in barefoot were outnumbering worshippers in their temples. My Thai Airways plane from Bangkok was full, mostly with chattering Koreans and Japanese.

When Hawaii-based East West Center (EWC) convened an international media forum in capital city Yangon to discuss “challenges of the free press”, about 400 journalists from all over the world came. The foreign press was previously barred from entering the country and discussing press freedom there was something not expected.  FEELING RICH ---Upon arriving one immediately becomes “feeling richer”. Our one peso is equivalent to about 43 Burmese “kiats” (pronounced as “chat”). A 30 minute taxi ride from the airport to the hotel costs 9,000 kiat (approx 400php). One US dollar is 100 kiats. Taxis don’t have meters so you have to haggle with sign language. One finger for one thousand kiats, two for two thousand and so on. Sign language because almost all don’t know any English at all. (We English-speaking Pinoys just don’t realize how those foreign visitors or tourists appreciate it when they come and visit.) Many Burmese men still wear the traditional “lung gee” or skirts instead of pants. I got a bit of “culture shock” when I went to the men’s restroom! (never mind the details! hahaha!)  LIKE POST-MARTIAL LAW -- During my visit, I immediately remembered our own Philippine post-martial law days in the 1980s right after martial law was lifted. Like our own post-martial law effort, today’s Burmese people are now engrossed in the classic struggle of restoring damaged institutions, recovering lost rights and voices, remembering and honoring fallen heroes, seeking justice with deep reforms and re-asserting inalienable freedoms -- all because its previous repressive regimes are gone.

Or so it seemed. Like a “late bloomer” of sorts compared to its other Asian neighbors. It was only early this year that the country became visa-free for the Asean. And this year, Myanmar is the chair of the ASEAN, an association of its Asian neighbors.

It is said that its old name “Burma” was dropped to instill ethnic “inclusivity”, Burmese being only one of many indigenous groups. Capital city “Rangoon” was also changed to “Yangon” ostensibly to erase colonial vestiges. Its present political leaders, although seemingly wanting to forget its dark past, are still composed of a mix of the old regime and the new. The military that previously governed is still a force to reckon with. About 1/3 of its parliament is reserved or allocated for the military. Being so, President U Thieng Sien, no matter how he wants to quickly change things today, is still doing a balancing act. Myanmar has still a long way to go. But “democratizing” slowly -- and not quickly -- seems to be the direction it is taking.

I met Presidential Spokesman U Yet Thut during the EWC media conference and we chatted a bit. When he learned I was a former press secretary, his face lighted up and said: “So, you know my problems”. Up to now, Myanmar’s press is still struggling to be free. No newspaper can be published unless the government issues a permit. “Ethnic media” or local publications and radio which focus on their specific localities and give some voice to the marginalized natives and their ethnic groups is emerging as a communications force. But Myanmar’s press still has a long way to go.  MADE OF PURE GOLD --- Where can you see a golden spire or a pagoda made of pure gold that rises 300 feet into the sky whose base is as big as a gymnasium? The Shewagonda Pagoda in the middle of YANGON capital city of MYANMAR was reputedly built after generations of bygone kings and rulers contributed enough gold to finally build a place of worship to Buddha some 2, 500 years ago. Being a holy place for prayers, everyone had to remove our shoes and walk barefoot in silence all around its base with all shapes and sizes of ornately carved images of diety that Buddhists worship. The intricate and mammoth work looked like some extraterrestial and intelligent beings thousands of years ago came and magically erected this place. I marvelled how human hands could make something like this happen.

Henceforth, I will watch with fascination Myanmar’s journey towards democratization. And I will return at the first opportunity.| 

Nicetas E. Escalona, Lifetimes Editor

BUSINESS

March 24 - 30, 2014

8

Banking industry sa Batangas, patuloy pa ring lumalago A SPECIAL REPORT

By JESZEL ANN ORUBIA & KIMBERLY DOROTHY LAQUI

PATULOY pa rin ang pagbibigay-tulong sa mga taong nanganga-ilangan ng mga bangko sa Batangas City na maaaring magbigay ng loan o pagpapautang ng pera sa mga taong nangangailangan nito.

Mapapansing tumataas ang bilang ng mga branches ng iba’t ibang bangko sa Batangas bunga na rin ng tinatawag nilang kumpetisyon sa industriya.

“The state of the banking industry here in Batangas is a healthy competition” pahayag ni Planters Development Bank - Batangas City branch manager Cora Gonzales.

Aniya, maraming suplay ng pera ang umiikot sa bansa ngunit dahil sa kumpetisyon ay nanatiling pababa ang interest rate ng mga nagdedeposit sa bangko. Hindi

tulad ng mga nakaraang taon kung saan mataas ang interest rate ng mga bangko kaya’t mas marami ang nahahalinang mag-impok dito.

Umabot na ngayon sa single digit ang interest rate na inaalok ng mga naturang bangko sa Batangas pati na rin sa ibang lugar. Ngunit patuloy pa rin ang pagtaas ng bilang ng mga nagsisipunta sa bangko upang magdeposito dahil na rin sa pagtaas ng krimen at lalo na dahil sa mga alok na pautang o loans ng mga bangko.

“But the loans are good for the comunity”, ani Gonzales.

Malaki aniya ang naitutulong ng mga pautang na ito sa tao kahit na malaki ang interest rate sa mga loans na ito. Gusto aniya ng local banking industry na mapalabas lahat ng pera ngunit sa mga piling pauutangin lamang para sa kasiguraduhan ng pagbalik ng pera sa pagbayad ng loans.

Kailangang may nakahandang collaterals, business records para hindi malugi ang mga bangkong ito.

Dagdag pa aniya ng Batangas Bankers Association, “In the near future,

numbers na lang ang bilang ng mga bangko dito sa Batangas. A lot of banks will try to merge to join effort in making the banking industry more consolidated in Batangas”.

Palaki pa aniya ang kumpetisyong nagaganap sa industriya ng banking kaya naman binibili ng mga universal banks ang mga maliliit na bangko tulad ng mga rural banks para lalong mapalaki ang banking system nila.

Sa nakaraang sampung taon, marami nang nag-

sarang rural banks sa Batangas tulad ng Rural bank of Calatagan, Sto. Rosario Rural Bank, Rural Bank of San Jose, Laurel

JUDICIAL NOTICE Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT FOURTH JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 85, LIPA CITY IN RE: PETITION FOR AMENDMENT AND/OR CORRECTION OF NAME OF REGISTERED OWNER IN TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 81182 PETITION NO. 01-2014-0017 GERARDO SIMPLICIO M. CASAÑAS, Petitioner. x——————————————————————x ORDER A verified petition was filed by Gerardo Simplicio M. Casañas. Among others, the petitioner prays that after due notice, publication and hearing an Order be issued directing the Register of Deeds of Lipa City to correct the name GERARDO M. CASAÑAS, one of the registered owners in Transfer Certificate of Title No. 81182, by inserting the name SIMPLICIO between the name GERARDO and the initial M so that the name GERARDO SIMPLICIO M. CASAÑAS shall appear in said title.

Finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, notice is hereby given that the petition is set for hearing on April 23, 2014 at 8:30 o’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 petitioners 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 copies of this petition and Order be furnished the Office of the Solicitor General and the Office of the Register of Deeds of Lipa City.

SO ORDERED. Lipa City, February 18, 2014.

(Sgd.) WILFREDO P. CASTTLLO Presiding Judge I hereby certify of this petition and Order have been sent to the office of the Solicitor General, Atty. Isabelita B. Manigbas, the Office of the Register of Deeds of Lipa City, petitioners and their counsel, this __ day of February 2014.

(Sgd.) ATTY. REGULUS R. ROCAFORT Brand Clerk of Court Pahayagang Balikas Batangas City March 3 , 10, & 17, 2014

FEASIBILITY STUDY OF A GUARANTEE FUND FOR MSMES --- Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. (holding microphone), during the panel discussion Wednesday (March 19) at the Chamber of Thrift Bank (CTB) 2014 Convention held at the Mandarin Manila, Makati City, said there should be a system that will support the expansion of the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). He explained that some financial institutions continue to exclude MSME borrowers from the entities they want to extend loans to because of risks like inability to pay the loans, which in turn, prevents the MSME sector from expanding as much as it could. The central bank chief said improvement of the MSME sector is a big factor for the sustained growth of the domestic economy in terms of employment, among others. Also in photo are CTB Trustee Argeo J. Melisimo (center) and Philippine Resources Savings Bank President/Chief Executive Officer Roberto P. Alingog.| PNA / BEN BRIONES

Rural Bank, Rural Bank of Sta. Teresita, Rural Bank of Balayan, at iba pa. May ilan ding thrift bank na nagsara gaya ng Bangko Filipino at LBC Bank Dahil nga sa kumpetisyong nagaganap, maraming bangko ang naglalayong masundan ang serbisyong naibibigay ng Bangko De Oro (BDO) na nangunguna ngayon sa industriya.

Maraming branches ng BDO na ngayon ang nagbubukas ng 24/7 upang mas makakuha ng kustomers.

Napakabenepisyal aniya ng ganitong uri ng serbisyo para sa mga mamamayan na kahit anong oras ay makakapunta sa bangko ngunit kabaligtaran naman ito sa mga tauhan ng bangko na 24/7 bukas para magtrabaho.

“Weekends will not be the off days of the employees but selected days in the near future”, dagdag pa ni Gonzales.

Hindi lamang BDO ang may ganitong alok na serbisyo ngunit pati na rin sa ibang lugar tulad ng mga bangko sa Navotas para sa

>>>PERA.. sundan sa P/9

AUCTION REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES FOURTH JUDICAL REGION LIPA CITY OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT & EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF

5446-B-2-A-1, Psd- 04-1736396; on the SW., points 2 to 3 by Lot 5446-B-2-B, Psd-4A-007625; and on the NW., points 3 to 5 by lot 5446-B-2-B of the subd. plan. X X X containing an area of FIVE HUNDERED (500) SQUARE METERS, more or less.

SHERIFF’S NOTICE OF SALE EJF NO. 2014-0018

Prospective buyers and bidders are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the title herein above describe and the encumbrances thereon, if any there be.

Upon extra-judical petion for sale under Act 3135, as amended

by Act 4118 feid by FERNANDO AIR BASE SAVINGS & LOAN ASSOCIATION, INC., mortgage, with postal address at Fernando Air Base, Lipa City, against HELEN LORZANO, mortgagor, with postal address at Dizon Village, Tambo, Lipa City, as Attorney in Fact (AIF) of MACARIO LORZANO and RESTY LAYLO, to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of February 2014, amounts to Php180,299.38 including/ excluding, interest and other charges agreed thereon and other expenses in connection with this sale, secured by the undersigned Deputy Sheriff of the Regional Trial Court and ExOfficio Sheriff, Lipa City, will sell at public on April 07, 2014 at 10:00 o’clock in the morning or soon thereafter at the main entrance of the Hall of Justice, Marauoy, Lipa City to the highest bidder for CASH and in the Philippine Currency, the described real property at its improvements thereon, to wit: TRANSFERM CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. T-174130

In the event that the Auction sale should not take place on said date it shall be held on April 14 ,2014, without further notice and re-publication.

“All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above stated time and place”.

Lipa City, March 07, 2014.

(SGD.) ARSENIOD LORZANO Note: Award of DULY RAFFLED: publication hereof in the HON.NOEL M. LINDOG “BALIKAS” drawn by Executive Judge raffle in accordance with law.

ATTY. ROBERT RYAN H. ESMEDA Clerk of Court & Ex-Officio Sheriff COPY FURNISHED: All parties concerned

A PARCEL OF LAND (Lot 5446-B-2-A-2-A 2 of the subdivision plan (LRA) Psd-403866 aprroved as non subdivision project, being a portion of Lot 5446-B-2-A-2, Psd-04-173639, LRC Cad. Rec. No. 1299 ), situated in barrio Banay-Banay, Lipa City, island of Luzon. Bounded on the NE., points 5 to 6

by Lot 5453; & points 6 to 1 by Lot 54444, both of Cad-218,Lipa cad; on the SE., points 1 to 2 by Lot

WARNING: It is absolutely prohibited to remove, deface or destroy this NOTICE on or before the date if sale, UNDER PENALTY OF LAW. Pahayagang Balikas Batangas City March 10, 17 & 24, 2014

BUSINESS

March 24 - 30, 2014

9

Batangas City’s streamlined business permitting process showcased in NCC’s roadshow BATANGAS City was invited to the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) National Competitiveness Council (NCC) Roadshow on March 7, 2014 in Baguio City to present its streamlined process for business permit applications.

Local Economic and Investments Promotion Officer (LEIPO) Erick An-

thony Sanohan and Business Permits and Licensing Officer (BPLO) Ditas Aguado-Rivera delivered the presentation in behalf of the city government.

More than 100 participants attended the event, representing local chief executives and technical staff, including BPLOs of 77 local government units in the region as well as private sector

members of the Regional Competitiveness Council and Baguio Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

At the end of the activity, DTI/ NCC expressed its desire for a CAR delegation to visit Batangas City to undertake a benchmarking exercise and learn further from the BPLS system of the city. | BALIKAS NEWS TEAM

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

DA honors top Agri-Pinoy rice achievers MANILA, March 14 (PNA) — National Rice Program and cities, including the exceptional IAs each received The Department of (NRP).

The provinces of Nueva P1-million worth of project Agriculture honored the country’s top rice-producing Ecija, North Cotabato, Nueva grants.

The top provinces, cities municipalities, cities and Vizcaya, Isabela, Pangasinan, and municipalities were Ilocos Norte, Bukidnon, provinces, farmers and irrigators’ associations, and Bulacan, Kalinga, Mindoro chosen based on the following incremental agricultural workers during Occidental, Laguna, and criteria: the third Agri-Pinoy Rice Lanao Del Norte were increases in rice harvest and Achievers’ Awards held declared as the country’s top average yield per hectare over 2012 levels, increases over Friday at the Resorts World rice achievers for 2013.

For surpassing their their 2012 targets, amount of Manila in Pasay City.

This year’s awards were palay production targets, budget devoted to rice conferred to 12 provinces, 48 attaining higher average projects and initiatives, municipalities and cities, 10 yield, encouraging more number of farmers benefited, irrigators’ associations, three farmers to use quality seeds and degree of quality seed small water impounding and appropriate technologies utilization, among others.

Meanwhile, the system farmers’ associations as well as prioritizing rice(SWISAs), and 496 related projects, the outstanding SWISAs got agricultural extension aforementioned provinces P500,000 each in project workers (AEWs) who took received a trophy and check grants, while the leading AEWs took home cash home a total of over P110 worth P4 million.

The top municipalities incentives of P20,000 each.| million in prizes from the DA .........................................................................................

<<<PERSPECTIVE.....from P/6

The US trains its guns on Latin America once more: Venezuela in crisis?

As a result, today 95.5% of adults and 98.5% of youth in Venezuela are literate and 95% of children complete their primary school.

Likewise, government spending on health increased from 1.6% of GDP in 2000 to 7.7% in 2006.

Poverty decreased from 50% in 1998 to 25% in 2012, according to World Bank

estimates. Inequality has also declined, as evidenced by the Gini Index, which fell from 0.49 in 1998 to 0.39 in 2011, one of the lowest rates in the region.

The minimum wage has increased annually by 10 – 20 percent. The unemployment rate hovered between a high 18% in 1999 to 8.2 in 2011.

Thus, during the

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ADDENDUM TO EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE NOTICE is hereby given that the newly discovered property forming part of the estate of the late AURORA L. VELASQUEZ, who died intestate on January 30, 2010 at St. Patrick’s Hospital, Batangas City, consisting of deposit in Banco de Oro, Rizal Ave., Batangas City, has been extra-judicially settled by and among her heirs by virtue of the “Addendum to Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate” on March 12, 2014 as per Doc. 496; Page No. 101; Book No. VIII; Series of 2014 of Notary Public ATTY. ALFREDA D. DE TORRES-BANUELOS, until December 31, 2015; Notarial Commission No. 2014-02; P.T.R. No. 2122965, January 2, 2014, Batangas City; IBP Official Receipt No. 916796, January 3, 2014, Batangas City; Roll of Attorneys No. 60969.

Pahayagang Balikas / March 24, 31 & April 7, 2014

presidential election of July 2000, Chavez won with 59.76% of the votes. During the December 2006 elections, he got 64% of the votes. When Chavez died in 2013, the US saw the opportunity for another attempt at “regime change.”

When Chavez died, his vice president Nicolas Maduro Moros took over as interim president until the latter won in a special election in April 2013. President Maduro, a former bus driver and trade union leader, was elected to the National Assembly in 2000 before serving in various posts in the Chavez government. His government is now being confronted by intensified attacks and demonstrations being led by the opposition.

What then is the basis for the mass protests happening in Venezuela now? Could it be purely US-instigated? That will be the subject of the next analysis.|WWW.BULATLAT.COM

INVESTMENT FRIENDLY --- Business Permits and Licensing officer Ditas Rivera of Batangas City presenting the city’s streamlined permit processing at the recent National Competitiveness Council Roadshow in Baguio City.| CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

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

DOE gets $1-B financing from U.S. Ex-Im Bank for liquefied natural gas and renewable energy QUEZON CITY — The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Export-Import (ExIm) Bank of the United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Wednesday for $1-billion worth of financing guarantees to further facilitate renewable energy (RE) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) industries in the Philippines.

Under the said MOU, DOE and Ex-Im Bank will exchange information on trade and business opportunities and explore options for utilizing up to $1 Billion in Ex-Im Bank medium and long term loan guarantees and/or direct dollar loans to finance U.S. exports in support of selected energy projects in the Philippines, a DOE statement said.

In particular, the DOE and Ex-Im will work together in promoting business development opportunities on renewable energy and LNG facilities including port, receiving terminals, regasification facilities, pipelines and other transportation infrastructures.

DOE Undersecretary Raul B. Aguilos and Ex-Im Bank Board of Director Patricia M. Loui signed the MOU in the presence of newly-designated Philippine Senior Official on Energy Leader DOE Undersecretary Loreta G. Ayson, DOE Undersecretary Ramon Allan V. Oca, DOE- Energy Policy and Planning Bureau Director Jesus T. Tamang, and US Department of Commerce Deputy Assistant

Secretary Holly Vineyard at the Audio Visual Room of the DOE in Taguig City.

Likewise, members of the DOE Management Committee, delegates from Ex-Im Bank, heads of Philippine National Oil Company and its subsidiaries, and heads of key industry player associations such as Philippine Independent Power Producers Association, Petroleum Association of the Philippines, Biomass Alliance of the Philippines and officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of American Affairs attended the event.

Currently, the DOE is formulating a fuel mix policy that would encourage energy diversification that is cleaner

and sustainable including RE and LNG. By 2030, the DOE also targets 9,930 megawatts increase in the country’s RE capacity.

For LNG, the DOE pushes for the development of a Natural Gas Master Plan with the technical assistance from the World Bank through its transaction advisors the Lantau Group and Arup.

Conducted in three phases, the phase 1 and 2 of the plan will be on the establishment of an investment and transactional framework, of which Phase 1 was already completed and Lantau is now working on the Phase 2 of the study. The Phase 3 will involve the creation of a Master Plan for the longer term.| DOE.GOV.PH

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

<<<PERA....mula sa P/8

Banking industry sa Batangas, patuloy pa ring lumalago kanilang fish production at NAIA na 24/7 na ring bukas dahil sa itoy isang airport.

Dahil nga naglalayon ang mga bangkong ito na mas maging epektibo ang serbisyong maiibigay nila sa publiko, kahit kakaunit pa lamang ang bilang ng mga bangkong 24/7, marami naman sa mga ito ang tumataas o humaba pa ang banking hours. Marami na rin ang nagsasara ng 4:30 o 5:30 ng hapon para sa publiko.

“The prospect of the banking industry in Batangas will be the port development as Congressman Ranie Abu is

pushing” dagdag pahayag pa ni Gonzales.

‘Pag nagkaroon ng mga bangko sa pier na galing sa Maynila, mas lalago ang banking industry dahil maraming international services ang pupunta sa Batangas dahil masyado nang masikip sa Maynila.

Pahabol pa aniya, “Kapag magiging international port na ang Batangas, magiging labor intensive ito, and a lot of people and money will be coming kapag marami na ang supply, and it will go up, and lot of transactions will be directed to the bank”.|

Tawag na sa Pahayagang Balikas Telephone No. (043) 417.1662 * 0917.521.9477 * 0912.902.7373 para sa inyong pagpapalathala.

>Wanna be featured here? Please contact us at 0917.512.9477 | 0912.902.7373 | 043.417.1662 for inquiries.

Ronalina B. Lontoc, Special Project Editor

F.E.S.T.

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

March 24 - 30, 2014

10

Motemaria at Punta Verde ONTEMARIA is a pilgrimage center dedicated to Mary, Mother of All Asia. The development is conceived as a shrine to attract devotees and pilgrims. It can also be considered as a tourism and/or retirement village.

MONTEMARIA is strategically located in Batangas City. The site is 30 minutes away from the central district of Batangas City, and accessible by concrete road and by sea. It is a plateau that overlooks Verde Passage and the entrance of Batangas Bay of almost all vessels coming from Southern Philippines and international vessels entering China Sea to use the Batangas International Port.

M

The main feature of the 129-hectare development will be the 50meter tall stainless steel monument of the Mother of All Asia on top of a 27-meter tall podium. The statue will be seen by all vessels coming to the Philippines. However, it will be primarily a pilgrimage center that will have a chapel and meditation gardens in strategic areas within the development. The Mother of All Asia mixed-used development has a total land area of 5-hectares.

Approximately 22 hectares of land will be allocated for the development of 1,000 condotel rooms and villas with average floor areas of 40 sqm and 120 sqm, respectively. These units will be available to pilgrims, devotees, tourists, retirees, and all others on a time-sharing basis or sale. Built in the areas around the vicinity of the shrine monument, this project was named Cloisters at Montemaria.

In addition to this, there will also be 2 residential subdivisions with a total land area of 37 hectares. La Vida Grande, a high-end residential subdivision, offers lots with an average size of 500 sqm, more or less, and will be made available to the public on a membership basis and/or outright sale of land. The other residential subdivision is Montemaria Heights which offers affordable house and lot package to the middle class. These two subdivision projects will be developed in joint venture

with Solar Resources, Inc. and Uniland Corporation, respectively.

A marina, amphitheater, club house, sports and recreation facilities, health and wellness center, and other amenities will likewise be built on a 5-hectare portion of the property to be known as the Sanctuary @ Montemaria. Lot and unit owners will automatically become members of this non-profit organization and will have the exclusive privilege of using the facilities and amenities of the club.

Part of the self-sustaining community development is a 38-hectare commercial business district; a 17-hectare hotel, resort and tourism district; and an institutional zone with an aggregate area of 5 hectares devoted entirely for religious and spiritual activities.

The 2,000 sq. m. land on which the Sto. Nino Chapel now stand is part of the 5-hectare property that was donated to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lipa. The chapel is a replica of the Chapel of the Holy Infant Jesus in Prague, Czechoslovakia.

Batangas’ strategic location makes it a natural gateway to the rest of the Philippines as well as the Asia Pacific Region. These factors enhance Batangas’ potential in industrial, residential and tourism development and extend business opportunities for those looking at Batangas as their prospective base of operations.

The project aims to create more than just a large tourism estate the goal is to realize a unique business environment comprising a package of complementary attractions which, taken together, will secure a strong market niche for the development as a whole.

There are a number of reasons for incorporating a significant residential component into the land development program, with integrated leisure facilities: The attraction of executive and professional staff to an enterprise location is a significant factor influencing locator decisions. While there are other residential opportunities within the sub-region, the attractiveness of the industrial product will be boosted if a suitable residential environment can be provided as a defined project component.

With the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) in place, the project area is within commuting distance to Metro Manila thus strengthening its position in the residential real estate market.

The environment provides potential for the project area as a second home/short break destination.|

.............................................................................................. <<<MURIA..from P/6

Dear graduates...

THE architech’s perspective of the Montemaria Statue to rise at Punta Verde, Batangas City.|

Do not forget your roots. Always touch the ground no matter how high you soar.

Do not forget the reason why you are here today. Be true to your words—make them your bond. Do not break the trust and confidence of your most loyal friends and love ones. Be true to yourself and you will always see the truth in others.

Be the best! The best is always the most upright and socially-committed to serve others—and if you are not the most upright and socially-committed to serve others, then you will not be the best. Do not forget the weak, the poor and the oppressed. Do everything to strengthen them, to improve

their lot, to vindicate their rights.

Do not fear to hold power or to be entrusted with it—in your hands are the greatest potentials for good and as such, the greatest responsi-bility for humankind.

Remember this. Always bear this in your mind—the future is yours and every good thing that your heart desires if you remain true, good and beautiful no matter what. So keep calm and be true, good and beautiful always.

Godspeed!

Advance, don’t quit!

Sail on!

HEALTH SERVICES. ABC President Dondon Dimacuha leads the distribution of the EBD Healthcard to the barangay officials of the 105 barangays of Batangas City. About 1000 barangay officials will benefit from this project which provides up to PhP30,000.00 for the hospital bills of the cardholders and their dependents for medical cases and PhP50,000.00 for surgical cases.

Nicetas E. Escalona, Lifetimes Editor

LIFE TIMES 36 at brown.

Libra (Set. 24-Okt. 23) Isang proyekto ang hahamon sa iyong talino. Kailangan ang mapaganda ng husto ang imahinasyon.

Project study ang kailangan upang makatiyak sa tagumpay. Huwag magpadalosdalos. Lucky numbers at color for the day ay 10, 23, 32, 43 at gray.

Scorpio (Okt. 24-Nob. 22) - Magiging masigla at nakatitiyak sa sarili kaya handang harapin ang ano mang pakikibaka. Madaling lapitan at kung tiyak, maganda ang pakay at mapagbigay. Masayahin at halos lahat ng kakilala ay magugulat sa asal na pinapakita. Maging matulungin.

Lucky numbers at color for the day ay 1, 9, 12, 28 at white.

Sagittarius (Nob. 23-Dis. 21) - Ang mga hinanakit personal o sa trabaho sa nakaraan ay mapapawi ngayon. Ang suliraning taglay ay may kalutasan. Kahit alam mong tama ka, huwag makialam sa pagdedesisyon ng iba. Kung may binabalak dapat simulan kaagad. Lucky numbers at color for the day ay 14, 19, 21, 39 at purple.

Capricorn (Dis. 22-Ene. 19) Malamang may mag-alok ng trabaho subalit dapat pag-isipan ng mabuti at timbangin ang kabutihang maidudulot kaysa sa kasalukuyang pinapasukan. Nasa pagitan ka ng mahalagang pagdede-sisyon kaysa pagaaral. Ikunsulta sa higit na nakakaalam ang nararapat bago pumalaot. Lucky numbers at color for the day ay 16, 20, 31, 42 at maroon.

Aquarius (Ene. 20 - Peb. 18) - Ang tunay na kaibigan ay sa kagipitan makikilala. Naaayon ang panahon upang iwasan ang kaibigan sa turing at wala sa gawa. Ang pagmamahal ay hindi nakikita sa salita subalit mapapatunayan sa gawa. Ngayon ang panahon upang magbigay ng handog sa minamahal. Magiging maligaya ang romansa. Lucky numbers at color for the day ay dollar green.

Pisces (Peb. 19-Mar. 20) - Malakas ang tiwala sa sarili at magiging positibo ang pag-iisip sa mga gawain.

Sa mga desisyon, gamitin ang praktikal na pamamaraan nang makita ang tagumpay. Nasa tamang landas ng kasaganahan. Walang suliranin tungkol sa pamilya o sa minamahal. Lucky numbers at color for the day ay 10, 14, 35, 36 at blue.|

PA L A IS IPA N 1

2

3

4

8

9 11

15

13

16

15

5

6

7

10

12 14 16

17

18

20

19

21

22

23

24

25

26

27 30

28

29

PAHALANG 1 Bigkis 4 Awit 8 Alyas 9 Ilista 11 Hagis 13 Inensayo 14 Simbolo ng Titanium 15 Aruga 16 Eroplanong pandigma 17 Ipinalilibot ang paninda 20 Tycoon na Lucio 21 Maraming ginagawa 22 Information Technology 23 Madulas 25 Mamarka 27 Itindig 28 Kasalanan: Ingles 30 Lusaw 31 Daglit

31

<<<BALIK-TANAW.... mula sa P/3

<<<ZAMUDIO..mula sa P/7

Pagsibol ng mga bagong lider Pag-Balikas... pagtatago ang isa pinakamabisang pasa China bilang factor sa saraanAng ng panloloko ng tao.

Dahil hindi natin nakikita pagbabagong mukha nito ang mga kwenta ng gassa China na maaring magpabago sa mayoryang pagiisip na mga communist hardliner. Ang kinakailangan lang dito ay ang patuloy na pagsusuri para malaman natin ang umaandar na kaisipan ng mga lider na nagpapatakbo sa bansang China para patuloy nating maitaguyod ang kapayapaan sa ating bansa at sa buong mundo.

Ang pagpapakitang gilas naman ng China ay, ayon sa mga political experts, ay pagpapakita lamang ng panibago nitong lakas at teknolohiya.

Pero ang decision na makipaggiyera ito, o lumikha ng aksyon na magdudulot ng

PABABA 1 Tunog ng sampal 2 ____47 3 Pasabi 4 Kutob 5 Handog 6 Unlapi 7 Luma 9 Pakuluan 10 Pinang-usapan 12 Sakit sa balat 13 Husto 14 Gilas 16 Mabilis 17 Ibenta 18 Damit ng pari 19 Langis 23 Paningin 24 Utos 25 Numero sa buwis 26 Nanay 29 Viva ___ Papa

giyera, ay mapipigilan kung mauunawan ng Chinese Politburo at ng People’s Liberation Army generals na maraming pangangailangan ang kanilang sambayanan ang kasabay na maaapektuhan kapag ito ay naging isang anarchist state.

Ang kakaibang kaalaman at mataas na antas ng pagsusuri sa mga isyu na may kinalalaman sa national security ay dapat pinagaaralan. Dito ko ngayon nakikita ang kalamangan ng mga graduates ng Master in National Security Administration or MNSA na inaalok ng National Defense College of the Philippines dahil

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

Aries (Mar. 21-Abril 19) Isang kaibigan ang uuwi sa kanilang probinsiya at gusto kang isama, kung ito ay mangyayari dapat tanggihan upang hindi mapahamak. Ano man ang gawin ngayon at sa mga susunod na araw, kailangan ang maayos na pagpaplano.

Huwag magpadalos-dalos sa gustong gawin. Lucky numbers at color for the day ay 3, 19, 24, 36 at beige.

Taurus (Abril 20-Mayo 20) - Hindi maiiwasan ang argumento subalit maiiwasan na mapaaway kung magiging mahinahon. Huwag patulan ang argumentong nagsisimula sa simpleng hindi pagkakaunawaan. Kung may hindi pagkakaunawaan, sikapin na hindi mapasok sa kompromiso. Lucky numbers at color for the day ay 7, 23, 34, 40 at jade green.

Gemini (Mayo 21-Hun. 21) - Nasa maayos na kondisyon ang mental na kakayahan. W alang puwang upang magkamali kaya kung may mga bagay na kailangan pagdesisyunan, gawin ngayon. Masarap kang kasama sa araw na ito dahil kahit saan ay maaari kang yayain subalit kailangan na mag-ingat. Lucky numbers at color for the day ay 2, 9, 26, 40 at pink quartz.

Cancer (Hun. 22-Hul. 22) - Magingat sa ginagawa. Tiyakin na hindi labag sa kagandahang asal at hindi magreresulta sa kapahamakan ng iba ang gagawin. Siguraduhin ang ginagawa ay nasa isip at hindi kung ano ang ipapagawa ng iba. Lucky numbers at color for the day ay 4, 13, 29, 33 at yellow.

Leo (Hul. 23-Ago. 22) - Isang magandang balita ang matatanggap na halos ipamamalita sa lahat ng maaaring mapagsabihan. Mag-ingat sa sinasabihan na tao dahil ang balitang sana ay maganda ay magiging pangit dahil sa paraan ng pagtanggap. Lucky numbers at color for the day ay 6, 18, 25, 37 at blue.

Virgo (Ago 23-Set. 23) - Gulong-gulo ka sa kaiisip kung ano ang dapat gawin sa relasyong napasukan.

Dahil unti-unting nauubos ang pasensya at gusto nang sumuko. Kung ito ang iyong dinaranas ngayon, ano man ang maging pasya at sa tingin ay walang mangyayari sa relasyon. W alang masama kung puputulin ito hangga’t maaga. Lucky numbers at color for the day ay 9, 18, 27,

March 24 - 30, 2014

tusin ng pamahalaan halimbawa, hindi natin masuri kung tama ba ang pinaggagamitan ng perang pampubliko.

Bukod sa pagbabago ng pangalan ay nais rin ng Balikas na kilalanin ang tunay na may karapatan sa mga balitang ito. Ang

pinupuntiryang mambabasa ng pahayagang ito ay mga mahihirap, kung kaya’t kasama ang kabuhayan sa nilalaman.

Partikular pang tutok ang mga mahihirap sa malalayong barangay. Sa aming palagay, ang mga mamamayang ito ang pusod na nagdudugtong sa tao sa kalikasan.

Sila ang may kabuhayan ng pagtitiyak na may patuloy na pagkukunan ng

nakikita nila ang ibat ibang dimensyon na umiikot sa mga usaping mayroong kinalalaman sa pambansang siguridad. Kaya gusto kung saluduhan ang lahat ng mga graduates ng MNSA dahil malaki ang maiitutulong nila para sa kapayapaan at kaun-

laran ng ating bansa. kasama po dyan ang ilang mga prominenteng tao sa ating bansa kagaya po ni dating pangulong Fidel Ramos at ng ating pangalawang pangulo na si Jejomar Binay na patuloy na nagbibigay inspirasyon sa mga graduates nito.

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

11

Pinoy recipes. Lutuing Pinoy Embutido

EMBUTIDO, which is the Spanish word for sausage, is another Filipino dish of Hispanic origin. Filipino embutido is our version of meatloaf and is considered one of the most favorite dishes in any feasts or special occasions. My mother used to make this for birthday celebrations, Christmas, New Year, and fiesta. But you need not wait for special occasions to make this. It’s very easy to prepare. Just mix everything together in a bowl, roll mixture into a log on a sheet of aluminum foil and steam.

You can also make this ahead of time and just store the steamed embutido in the freezer.

Embutido can be served as cold cuts or you can slice then fry it until the edges get lightly seared to a delicious crisp. I love it with sweet chili sauce while my husband likes dipping it in barbecue sauce.

My daughters love it with Filipino ketchup. But with or without sauce, it’s so delicious! You should try it!

Ingredients: 1 lb ground pork ¼ cup garlic, minced ½ cup onions, minced ¼ cup carrots, minced ½ cup red bell pepper, minced ½ cup green bell pepper, minced 1 Tbsp sweet pickle relish 2 Tbsp raisins 1 pc. chorizo, finely chopped 1/4 cup grated cheese 2 Tbsp liver spread 1 egg, beaten 1 Tbsp soy sauce 1 Tbsp Oyster Sauce 1 Tbsp Filipino Ketchup 1 Tbsp Flour 2 Tbsp Bread crumbs 2 slices whole wheat bread, flaked and soaked in 1/4 cup

evaporated milk 2 tsp salt 1 tsp ground black pepper For filling: 3 eggs, hard boiled & quartered 3 beef franks, halved lengthwise Cooking Directions: In a bowl, season ground pork with salt and pepper.

Add the garlic, onion, carrots, bell pepper (red and green), pickle relish, raisins, chorizo, cheddar cheese, liver spread, soy sauce, oyster sauce and ketchup. Mix well.

Add the bread and milk mixture, bread crumbs, flour and the beaten egg. Mix thoroughly.

On a slightly greased sheet of aluminum foil, place a cup of meat mixture and flatten it, leaving about 3 inches of space on both ends of the foil.

Put the sliced beef franks and sliced boiled eggs on the middle of the meat mixture.

Roll the foil to form a log locking the sausage and egg in the middle. Lock the foil by twisting both ends.

Over medium heat, cook in a steamer for 1 hour.

Remove from steamer and allow to cool down.

Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Unwrap and slice. Serve with hot rice and your choice of dip. Enjoy!

Cooking Tips : For dipping sauce, combined soya with lemon juice and birds eye chilli.

You can add or use fish sauce instead of salt.

For thicker sauce, combine 3 tbsp oyster sauce, 1 tsp sesame oil, 2 tbsp balsamic or Chinese black vinegar, 2 tsp honey and a small ginger finely chopped.|

pagkain ng mamamayan.

Sila ang pagkukunan ng mga aral kung paano muling makapamuhay ng malapit sa pag-inog ng daigdig. Sila ang pagkukunan ng tunay na kaalaman kung paano manirahan sa daigdig sa harap ng pagdami ng tao at pagunti ng lupang sakahan.

Dahil din sa kakulangan ng pang-araw-araw na gastusin, sila ang makapagbibigay ng mura at mainam na mga paraan para sa pamamahay— gaya ng paglilinis ang asis kaysa nabibiling iskoba; ang paggamit ng lagundi sa ubo sa halip na mula sa pabrikang gamot; ng paggamit ng gugo, langis ng niyog at sabila sa

pagpapaganda sa halip na mamahaling mga de boteng nagpapadami lamang ng basura sa paligid.

Ang pagbabawas ng basura, ang pagkain ng masustansya at iba pang aral ng buhay at kalikasan ay karaniwang naka-iwas sa paggastos ng salapi.

Sa mahihirap mapupulot ang mga ganitong aral.

At sa pagdaan ng panahon, mananatiling naririto ang Pahayagang BALIKAS; handang maglingkod sa publiko.. maghatid ng mabubuting balita at impormasyon.. magsilbing tulay ng mga pamayanan... para sa lalong ikauunlad ng bawat isa.|

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

>>> UB Law School records Top 3 in Bar Examinations

>>Front Page

F.E.S.T.

Ronalina B. Lontoc, Special Project Editor

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

March 24 - 30, 2014

12

World TB Day 2014 – Lubos na sinuportahan ni Governor Vilma Santos-Recto ang World TB Day Celebration sa Batangas nang maging guest speaker sa nasabing okasyon na ginanap sa Pontefino Hotel and Residences, Marso 21. Sa temang “Stop TB! Makialam Ala Eh Tayo na!”, ang pagdiriwang na ito ay binuo ng Center for Health Development IVA at ng Provincial Health Office sa layuning mapalawak ang kaalaman ukol sa sakit na tuberculosis at mabigyang pagkilala ang mga lokal na pamahalaan, namumuno, empleyado at mag-aaral na aktibong nakikiisa para sa pagsugpo ng pagkalat ng tuberkulosis sa lalawigan.| KRISTINA MARIE JOY B. ANDAL/LOUIE HERNANDEZ

Go away from drugs....

Harness your talents at

D’ BLADES JAMM We welcome home-grown bands, students, amateur jammers.

BLADES Centre, Fondevilla Comp., Purok 3, Calicanto, Bats. City For inquiries and schedule, Call of Text 0912-902-7373 to 74.

Services Offered: * Rehearsals * Rentals * Tutorial *Band Service We also offer: Photobooth Service for all occasions.

Call: 043.417.1662