Vol. XIX, No. 15 - April 14 - 20, 2014

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DOMINGO DE RAMOS. Hudyat ng pagpasok ng Mahal na MARTES SANTO. Misa ng Banal na Krisma BIYERNES SANTO. Siete Palabras o Pitong Huling Wika mula Araw para sa Sangkakristiyanuhan ang Domingo de Ramos o Linggo ng Palaspas. Ito’y tanda ng maringal na pagpasok ni Jesus sa Lunsod ng Jerusalem na nakasakay sa isang asno habang nagsisipagwagayway ng mga palaspas o dahon ng olibo ang mga tao.

Kuha ang larawang ito sa patio ng Basilica ng Inmaculada Concepcion sa Lunsod Batangas, Abril 13.|JOENALD MEDINA RAYOS

Shunning biases against the poor

p. 4

at Sto. Oleo at Pagsasariwa ng Orden ng Pagkapari ng kaparian ng Arsidiyosesis ng Lipa sa Katedral ni San Sebastian, Lunsod ng Lipa.

HUWEBES SANTO. Misa ng Huling Hapunan sa mga parokya at Paghuhugas ng Paa ng mga Apostol.

ala-1:00 hanggang alas-3:00 ng hapon sa Katedral ni San Sebastian at sa mga simbahang pamparokya. Parangal sa Krus sa alas-3:00 ng hapon at Pagtatanod sa Banal na Sakramento.

SABADO SANTO. Easter V igil. Pagbabasbas ng Apoy, Pagsasariwa ng Binyag at Misa ng Pagsalubong sa Pasko ng Muling Pagkabuhay.| BALIKAS REPORTORIAL TEAM

E-Code violations, itinatanggi p. 2 New Iloilo revisited umano ng JG Summit? .......................................................................................................................

DTI hones mediation and arbitration skills; new administrative order to speed-up p. 6 resolution of consumer complaints

p. 5

2

NEWS

Balikas

April 14 - 20, 2014

Batangas town's Mt. Maculot offers summit’s prayer for life and nature this Holy Week CUENCA, Batangas — Towering as one of Batangas province’s highest and famous peaks is Mt. Maculot in the southeastern coastal town of Cuenca which offers the Lenten Season goers and mountain trekkers a highland spiritual experience and prayer for life and nature.

For the mountain climbers, the peak’s side called the “Rockies” boasts of a breath-taking view and scenic wonder of the Taal Volcano as the world’s smallest active volcano and the surrounding Lake.

The “Rockies” dares anyone who ventures for scaling the heights and rappelling as extreme adventure sports to the highland.

But, for the soulsearching and spiritual retreaters, the “Grotto” as the other mountaineering site offers one religious destination.

The pilgrimage site is considered a prayer haven by the Lipa City’s Archdiocesan Ministry for Nature and

Environment (AMEN) when it spearheaded the National Day of Prayer for Life and Nature here last week.

Lipa City Archbishop Ramon Arguelles has since acknowledged the site a place of worship even during his younger priestly duties and devotional work.

The Catholic prelate and scores of devotees from Batangas various parishes ascended the “Grotto” for their prayer for life and nature activities.

Garbed in red raiment, the clergy and the faithfuls called on the religious devotees and the public to pray and pledge to hold sacred their love and conservation for life and nature in the province.

Archbishop Arguelles, an outspoken clergy on vital issues raised by the Catholic Church, advanced his position against excessive mining in the province and environmental issues as well as on the reproductive health law.

A Day of Prayer for Life and Nature. Suot ang kanilang damit na kulay pula, nakiisa ang mga debotong Katoliko sa pag-sasagawa ng araw ng pag-aalay ng dasal sa paanan ng Mt. Maculot sa bayan ng Cuenca upang manalangin para sa Selebrasyon ng Buhay at Kalikasan na pinamunuaan ng Archdiocese of Lipa sa pangunguna ni Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles kasama ang Archdiocesan Ministry for Environment and Nature (AMEN), Abril 7.| EDWIN V. ZABARTE The Archdiocesan Lenten activities included various parishioners’ processions from their respective churches towards the slopes of Mt. Maculot.

The convergence of the faithfuls proceeded with a

Holy Mass and the reading of the AMEN position written in Filipino which expressed “we are not against development and industrialization but we oppose any form of mining on the environment.”

Church clergy, laity members and proenvironment organizations signed the AMEN stance against environmental degradation.

The participants also recited the Rosary as they

ascended the 15 Stations of the Cross leading to the Mt. Maculot Grotto site.

Local officials also joined Archbishop Arguelles and the throng of devotees in the spiritual activities for God and nature. (PNA)|

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E-Code violations, itinatanggi umano ng JG Summit?

BATANGAS City – ITINANGGI ng mga kinatawan ng JG Summit Petrochemical Corp. sa pagdinig ng konseho na may kinalaman sila sa umano’y paglabag sa mga environmental laws gaya ng pagsusunog ng basura sa kanilang bisinidad.

Sa pagharap ng mga nasabing kinatawan sa pagninig ng Committee on Environmental Protection ng Sangguniang Panlunsod, sinabi ng una na hindi nila umano alam ang napaulat na pagsusunog ng kanilang mga basura na ikinagulat naman ng mga miyembro ng komite.

Matatandaang ibinunyag ni Kagawad Julian Villena na nakita umano niya ang ginawa ng JG Summit na pagsusunog sa mga nakatambak na basura ng kompanya.

Sa malayang oras ng regular na sesyon ng konseho kamakailan, sinabi ni Villena na marapat lamang na papanagutin ang mga concerned officials ng kompanya dahil binabalewala ng mga ito ang

mga batas na ipinatutupad sa lunsod.

Dahil dito, ipinatawag ng konseho ang kinatawan ng JG Summit at dumalo bilang kinatwan ng kumpanya si Konsehal Rey Amparo.

Bagama’t sinabing hindi niya nalalaman ang inirereklamong pagsusunog ng basura, nangako si Amparo na paiimbestigahan agad nila ito. Hihintayin naman ng komite ang resulta ng ipinangakong imbestigasyon ng kumpanya sa lalong madaling panahon.

Ayon pa kay Villena, bukod sa tuwirang ipinagbabawal sa ilalim ng Solid Waste Management Act o Republic Act 9003 ang pagsusunog ng basura, tuwiran din itong makakaapekto sa kalusugan hindi lamang ng mga residente ng nasabing barangay, kundi maging sa mga tauhan ng kumpanya na maaaring sumusunod lamang sa utos ng pangasiwaan ng planta.| BALIKAS NEWS TEAM

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Scheduled power interruption in parts of BATANGAS THE National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) serves notice of the scheduled shutdown of the following transmission facilities: Date: 17 April 2014 Time: 9:00AM – 5:00PM Affected Distribution Utility: * BATANGAS 2 ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE (BATELEC 2) / MERALCO Reason: Requested by MERALCO to facilitate commissioning of dis-connected switch.

Normal operations will imme-diately resume after work comple-tion. NGCP customers and the general public are advised to take the ne-cessary preparations and precautions for this scheduled interruption.|

NEWS

Balikas 3 Keeping our Faith, Culture & Tradition alive... Oplan SUMVAC sa Batangas, handa na sa Semana Santa April 14 - 20, 2014

‘PASYONG MAHAL’. An annual scene at the San Isidro Chapel at Brgy. San Agustin Silangan, Isla Verde every Good Friday is the singing of Pasyong Mahal which starts before dawn and last until late evening. | JOENALD MEDINA RAYOS

Big climate report: Poor countries hit hardest CLIMATE change is a present reality for many of the world’s poorest people.

The latest United Nations’ on climate change released early this week contains overwhelming warning on the adverse impact of the changing climate, especially on the world’s poor people living in low-lying nations.

For vulnerable countries like the Philippines that have experienced extreme climate disasters like the recent super typhoon Yolanda where more than 6,000 people died and millions of people left homeless, climate change is happening now.

Such is the case of Abigail Cajeles, 20, a mother of two whose situation is tough as her family and her neighbors cope with poverty and survival after a super typhoon destroyed their small houses, livelihood and everything they possess were gone.

“Maybe we are not just lucky in life. We are poor and

we are heavily devastated by typhoons and other calamities. But we still have faith and we need to be strong in order to survive,” Cajeles said.

The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report on the impacts of climate change to date, the future risks from a changing climate, and the opportunities for effective action to reduce risks. It paints a picture of a complicated future for humanity.

“Throughout the 21st century, climate-change impacts are projected to slow down economic growth, make poverty reduction more difficult, further erode food security, and prolong existing and create new poverty traps, the latter particularly in urban areas and emerging hot spots of hunger,” the report stressed.

The report warns that there will be massive impact on food security driving

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF THE INTESTATE ESTATE WITH WAIVER OF SHARE NOTICE is hereby given that the estate of the late MARCELINO M. CALALO who died intestate on September 2, 2010 consisting of a parcel of land and a building erected in this land, containing an area of 342 square meters and 60 square meters, respectively, covered by Tax Declaration of Real Property TD/ARP No. 02-0012-00373 and Tax Declaration of Real Property TD/ARP No. 02-0012-00374, respectively, both situated at Muzon 2.0, Alitagtag, Batangas, have been extrajudicially settled by ang among his heirs with waiver of share per Doc. No. 33; Page No. 07; Book No. V; Series of 2014 of ATTY. JOSE DOMINGO L. TAN, Notary Public.

Pahayagang Balikas / April 14, 21 & 28, 2014

global hunger in tropical countries and developing countries. It said that there will be “large and irreversible shifts” in marine species while food and farming will have negative impacts with or without adaptation measures. It also highlighted that food prices will increase with disproportionate impact to poor communities and rural areas.

With less capacity to produce food, poorer communities will be pushed further into misery. It warns that at just 1 degree Celsius of warming we’ll see negative impacts on major crops like rice, wheat and maize.

The report warns that impacts will worsen as temperatures rise and threaten people everywhere. It predicts, for example, that without adaptation “hundreds of millions of people will be affected by coastal flooding and displaced due to land loss.” The majority of these people will be in Asia.

Globally it finds that increasing climate change risks include: · Death, injury, and disrupted livelihoods in lowlying coastal zones and small island developing states, due to sea-level rise, coastal flooding, and storm surges; · Food insecurity and the breakdown of food systems linked to warming, drought and rainfall variability particularly in regions that are characterized by poorer populations in urban and rural settings; · Loss of rural livelihoods and income; · Severe harm for large urban populations due to inland flooding; · Loss of both marine and terrestrial ecosystems and the ways they contribute to many peoples’ livelihoods; · Systemic risks due to extreme events leading to

breakdown of infrastructure networks and critical services; · Mortality, morbidity, and other harms during periods of extreme heat, particularly for vulnerable urban populations; · Reduction of raw water quality and risks to drinking water quality and quantity.

Each degree of warming is projected to decrease renewable water resources by at least 20% for an additional 7% of the global population.

Inaction worsens impacts of climate change The latest IPCC report said “every society is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, but the nature of that vulnerability varies across regions and communities, over time, and depends on unique socioeconomic and other conditions.”

“Poorer communities tend to be more vulnerable to loss of health and life, while wealthier communities usually have more economic assets at risk. Regions affected by violence or governance failure can be particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts,” the report said.

Development challenges, such as gender inequality and low levels of education, and other differences among communities in age, race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and governance can influence vulnerability to climate change impacts in complex ways.

In the Philippines, climate activists said rich countries “lack political will” to address climate change, and that it is the poorest nations who suffer most of the worse effect of the changing climate.

Civil society groups, Aksyon Klima Pilipinas, Greenpeace and Oxfam urged the Aquino government to

HANDA na ang City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC) ng pamahalang lunsod ng Batangas sa pagdagsa ng mga biyahero at turista ngayong Semana Santa.

Noong April 14 pa lang, nagsimula na ang Oplan SUMVAC o Summer Vacation 2014 kung saan naglagay ang lokal na pamahalaan ng Emergency Assistance Desk at First Aid Station na syang tutugon sa mga pangangailangan ng mga biyahero. Ito ay tatagal hanggang April 20.

Ang mga ito ay ilalagay sa mga strategic points sa lungsod tulad ng Batangas Port, Grand Terminal sa Alangilan Diversion Road, gayundin sa mga public resorts tulad ng Lea Beach at barangay Sta Rita Aplaya.

Nakaantabay din ang WASAR team sa mga island barangays.

Sa pangunguna ni ABC President Angelito Dondon Dimacuha, makakatulong ng CDRRMC ang mga barangay response teams at BDRRM

sa pagmomonitor ng sitwasyon sa buong komunidad.

Mayroon ding Motorist Assistance Center sa Bolbok Diversion intersection na isa sa mga inaasahang magiging mabigat ang daloy ng trapiko sa Semana Santa.

Ang Operation SUMVAC ay kinabibilangan ng tauhan ng iba’t ibang tanggapan tulad ng City Health Office, Bureau of Fire Protection, Transportation Development and Regulatory Office, DSS, CDRRMO at Philippine Red Cross.

May kanya-kanyang tungkulin ang bawat isa upang masiguro ang kaayusan at katahimikan at matugunan ang pangangailangan ng mga mamamayan. Mas paiigtingin din ang visibility ng Batangas City PNP. Magsisilbing Incident Commander sa buong panahon ng operasyon ng SUMVAC o lakbay alalay si City Engineer Adela Hernandez.|

take the first step by allocating funds for the People’s Survival Fund (PSF), which by law should finance the adaptation plans of local government units (LGUs).

Adaptation plans include setting up early warning systems and contingency planning for extreme weather events such as droughts and floods.

In a statement, the groups said governments of the world also “need to honor their responsibility and commit to scale up their adaptation and mitigation actions. And that after Yolanda, we also need to adapt to the best of our own abilities and empower communities so they can be more climate-resilient.

Melvin Purzuelo, convenor of Aksyon Klima Pilipinas said, “Beyond the PSF, both disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation should already be incorporated in the postYolanda rehabilitation plan, and then into longer-term national and local development plans and budgets.”

“The IPCC report however states that adaptation is not enough. We therefore need to integrate adaptation with mitigation strategies, such as transitioning to renewable energy systems,” said Amalie Obusan, regional climate and energy campaigner of Greenpeace Southeast Asia.

On the PSF, Justin Morgan, Oxfam country director, added: “Congress must allocate at least P1 billion to the People’s Survival Fund as mandated by law.

President Aquino must also sign the revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Climate Change Act to make the fund operational.”

On the other hand, Gerry Arances, national coordinator of the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice said, “We have already witnessed with huge dismay, frustration and increasing outrage the failure of the international climate negotiations year after year to make progress on decisive measures to address climate change and its impacts.”| IMELDAABANO

RONNA ENDAYA CONTRERAS

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Balikas Who is afraid of the Reds?

4

OPINION

April 14 - 20, 2014

By BENJIE OLIVEROS LOOK beyond the name-calling and the labels – communist-terrorists, extortionists, ideological orphans, Stalinists, followers of a lost cause – what do you see?

Do you see people who have suspiciously amassed wealth and its trappings such as palatial mansions and houses, luxury cars, jewelry, money and capital that they could not spend in their lifetime, land, guns and other toys for the big boys, etc.? Do you see them hiring armed guards, the police and soldiers to enforce their claim over land that is not theirs in the first place? Are they being surrounded by a coterie of people, plus hangerson, who respond to their beck and call?

Well, you could say these things when looking at the lives of stockholders and CEOs of big foreign and local businesses, big landlords and hacienderos, high government and military officials including the president, and powerful political clans. But certainly one could not say the same thing when describing personalities identified with the Left, whether from the underground or legal Left.

Do you see them driving new cars, dining at nice hotels and restaurants, and sipping expensive wine and liquor while talking about how to address poverty? Do you see them sitting in air-conditioned offices, enjoying the perks of position, power and privilege?

One could see these from middle-level government officials and NGO bureaucrats, including those who used to be with the Left who now has the habit of launching vitriolic attacks at their former comrades. But the same could not be said about the lifestyles of those who chose a life of struggle underground and those who chose to work with people’s organizations that are bereft of funding and resources.

Do their children study in expensive private schools? Do they try to keep up with their friends and neighbors in accumulating properties and luxury items such as cars, widescreen TVs, the latest gadgets, and nice, shiny cars?

One could see these from among the middle class but not from those who chose to turn their back on the conveniences and opportunities being offered by a middle class life.

Do they kill, torture, abduct and disappear, and imprison people with impunity specifically targeting those who pose a threat to their personal interests and to those whose interests they represent?

The same could be said about a lot of government and military officials and big time criminals but not the leaders and members of the Left.

Do they steal, kidnap, extort money from people and murder those who get in their way to be able to line their pockets with money?

These best describe criminals and not those who have taken up arms to pursue justice and equality.

Are they stupid, blind followers with leaders who are irrationally obsessed with a failed ideology?

The Left is populated by some from the middle class with good educational backgrounds, with a substantial number having excelled in school, and by the majority coming from the working masses who have been tempered in the struggles of their daily lives and in fighting for the rights of their class or sector.

It is also quite a stretch to say that there are people who are stupid enough to choose to pursue a path with so many risks and sacrifices without an iota of hope and a good measure of certainty that their ideals of a better life for all could be achieved.

Look at the those from the Left who are in the list of the military and the government’s most wanted – Benito Tiamzon, Wilma Austria, Jose Maria Sison, Luis Jalandoni, Connie Ledesma, Alan Jasmines, Tirso Alcantara, Jorge Madlos, or even the late Ka Roger Rosal and Tony Zumel

>>>PERSPECTIVE..turn to P/7

CBCP online

perspective

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Shunning biases against the poor BISHOP Broderick Pabillo calls on the faithful to shun biases against the poor. “We should not belittle our poor brothers and sisters. We, as active members of the Church, should be acquainted with the Bible… It should not be the case that we will be the first ones to discriminate [against] them,” Pabillo said, noting that the Catholic faithful must learn how to perceive faith through the eyes of the poor (see <http:// www.cbcpnews.com/cbcpnews/?p=33919>).

The call of Bishop Pabillo pierced through the hearts of the faithful and the institutions of our society. The good bishop is telling us not to ignore the poor others even as we try to confront our own poverty. Poverty is all around us—this is the reality of our time. The news about life getting better in the Philippines are just propaganda; statistics may reflect them but the actual conditions of life discredit them. Life is not as the social media depicts it. There is no fairy tale happening in our country today. What we have are hunger games of the extreme kind.

Shun biases against the poor. Schools and universities must reflect whether they are teaching the young people values that will help them shun these biases. These institutions are in the forefront in forming the minds and shaping the beliefs of the young. Because

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

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Ang pangalang “BALIKAS” ay hango sa mga salitang ‘balik’ at ‘kalikasan’.

Hangad ng pahayagang ito na maging kasangkapan sa paghahatid ng mahahalagang impormasyon upang maibalik ang dating anyo ng ating inang kalikasan.|

>>>MURIA....turn to P/5

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Ang Mabuting Balita Ang Halimbawa ng Paghuhugasan ng Paa

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.

of this, they have the duty to help them form opinions about the reality confronting the society. They have the obligation to teach that poverty is not a curse from above but a product of personal and collective wrongs committed by people in the past and the present.

Their business is not only to teach ABCs and 123s to their paying patrons. Their mission should be to promote integral human development by providing education that liberates people from ignorance and poverty. Their vision should be the establishment of an equitable society that cares for all its members and provides opportunities for full human development.

Several thousand finish degree programs in big universities in the country every year. These several thousand would either join the work force or become notorious unemployed few months after graduation.

For many years, our universities have produced business and government leaders. Many have prospered in their chosen careers and endeavours. Despite of this, majority of our people remain poor. Food, clothing, shelter and medical care are getting far expensive every day.

Poverty continues to force people to move out of the country. Poverty continues to increase the number of

Bisperas na noon ng Paskwa. Alam ni Jesus na dumating na ang panahon ng kanyang pag-alis sa daigdig na ito upang bumalik sa Ama. Mahal niya ang kanyang mga tagasunod na nasa daigdig, at sila'y iniibig niya hanggang sa wakas.

Sa panahon ng hapunan, inilagay na ng diyablo sa isip ni Judas, na anak ni Simon Iscariote, na ipagkakanulo niya si Jesus sa mga Judio. Nalalaman ni Jesus na ibinigay na ng Ama sa kanya ang buong kapangyarihan; alam din niyang siya'y mula sa Diyos at babalik sa Diyos.

Kaya't siya'y tumayo mula sa hapag, nag-alis ng panlabas na balabal at nagbigkis ng tuwalya sa baywang. Pagkatapos, naglagay siya ng tubig sa palanggana, at sinimulang hugasan ang paa ng mga alagad at pinunasan ng tuwalyang nakabigkis sa kanyang baywang.

Paglapit niya kay Simon Pedro, tumutol ito. Sabi niya, Panginoon, kayo ba ang maghuhugas ng aking mga paa?

Sumagot si Jesus, Hindi mo nauunawaan ngayon ang ginagawa ko, ngunit mauunawaan mo rin pagkatapos.

Muling nagsalita si Pedro, Hinding-hindi ko pahuhugasan sa inyo ang aking mga paa! Ngunit sinabi ni Jesus, Malibang hugasan kita, wala kang bahagi sa akin.

Dahil dito'y sinabi ni Simon Pedro, Kung gayon, hindi lamang ang mga paa ko, kundi pati na rin ang aking mga kamay at ulo!

Sumagot si Jesus, Ang nakapaligo na ay hindi na kailangang hugasan pa maliban sa kanyang mga paa, sapagkat malinis na ang buo niyang katawan. At kayo'y malinis na, subalit hindi lahat. Dahil kilala ni Jesus kung sino ang magkakanulo sa kanya, sinabi niyang malinis na sila, subalit hindi lahat.

Nang mahugasan na ni Jesus ang kanilang mga paa, muli niyang isinuot ang kanyang balabal at nagbalik sa hapag. Siya'y nangusap sa kanila, Nauunawaan ba ninyo kung ano ang ginawa ko sa inyo? Tinatawag ninyo akong Guro at Panginoon, at tama kayo, sapagkat ako nga iyon. Dahil akong Panginoon at Guro ninyo ay naghugas ng inyong mga paa, dapat din ninyong gawin ito sa isa't isa. Binigyan ko kayo ng halimbawa upang inyong tularan.

Pakatandaan ninyo, ang alipin ay hindi nakakahigit sa kanyang panginoon, ni ang sinugo kaysa sa nagsugo sa kanya. Mapalad kayo kung nauunawaan ninyo ang mga bagay na ito at inyong gagawin.|

April 14 - 20, 2014

OPINION

Kahit magkatabi lang sa kama...

ANG paghuli sa akto ng isang taong gumagawa ng krimen ay kasing hirap ng paghuli sa palos na napakadulas. At talagang totoo ito lalo sa kaso ng pagtataksil ng isang asawa.

Ang direktang pruweba ng pagtataksil ay napakahirap hanapin at pakiramdam ng biktima na wala siyang magawa at napipilitan na lang magtiis at manahimik. Pero kailangan ba talaga ng direktang ebidensiya para mapatunayan na nagkasala ang akusado? Kailangan ba talaga, halimbawa sa kaso ng adultery, na magpakita ng katibayan na aktong nagtatalik ang misis at ang kanyang kabit bago siya mahatulan sa kaso? Isang mambabasa ang nagtatanong nito pero pinili niya na itago na lang ang kanyang pangalan. Ang kaso niya ay katulad ng isang partikular na kasong nangyari, ilang taon na ang nakakaraan.

Sa mga araw na nagdaan, napapansin ni Peter na parang kaduda-duda at may iba sa kinikilos ng asawang si Krista. Laging malayo ang tingin ng kanyang misis at parang umiiwas sa kanya. Halos walang nangyayari sa kanilang pag-iibigan at mas gusto pa nga ng babae na madalas puntahan ang tiyahin kaysa pumirmi sa kanilang bahay.

Isang gabi, nang dumating ng alas dies ng gabi si Peter ay hindi niya natagpuan sa bahay ang misis.

Naghinala na ang lalaki sa katapatan ng asawa kaya hinanap na niya ang babae. Ang unang inisip puntahan ni Peter ay ang bahay ng tiyahin nito. Totoo nga ang kanyang suspetsa, nandoon ang babae sa bahay. Pero pinili ni Peter na magmatyag at huwag pumasok sa bahay. Pinanood lang niya mula sa kalsada kung ano ang nangyayari sa bahay at sa kuwarto kung nasaan ang babae. Nang takpan ang bintana ng kuwarto, lumapit siya at sumilip sa isang butas. Nakita niya si Krista kasama sa loob ng kuwarto ang isang lalaki, si Mike na kanilang kapitbahay. Ayaw gulatin ni Peter

ang dalawa kaya ang ginawa niya ay agad na sumundo ng pulis na nagroronda sa lugar nila. Matapos pilitin ay nakumbinsi rin ni Peter ang pulis na samahan siya sa bahay ng tiyahin ng asawa.

Maingat silang lumapit sa bintana at nakita ng pulis ang dalawa sa kama kaya sabay silang inaresto.

Nang makasuhan para sa adultery, pinili ni Krista na huwag tumestigo para sa sarili. Si Mike lang ang tumestigo at umamin na noong arestuhin siya ay nasa isang kuwarto siya kasama ni Krista. Inamin din niya na nasa kama noon si Krista pero itinanggi niya na magkasama sila sa kama o na may bawal na relasyon sila ng babae. Kaya ayon sa kanya ay hindi sila puwedeng mahatulan para sa adultery. Tama ba sila?  MALI. Ang pag-amin ni Romeo ay sapat na para patunayan ang ginawang krimen. Ang hindi maipaliwanag na katotohanan ay bakit matatagpuan ang isang lalaki sa dis-oras ng gabi na nag-iisa sa kuwarto kasama ng isang babaing may-asawa na. Ang mabigat pa nito, nasa kama ang babae at walang pahintulot sa mister kung bakit nandoon siya at wala sa kanilang tahanan. Sa abot din ng pagkakaalam ng babae ay walang kamalay-malay ang kanyang mister kung nasaan siya. Lahat ng ito ay sapat na para mahatulan sila ng adultery.

Ang ebidensiya sa adultery tulad sa ibang kaso ay puwedeng base sa tinatawag na “circumstantial evidence” o pruwebang galing sa mga sirkumstansiya o pangyayari. Basta’t ang kailangan lang ay sapat ito para talagang walang alinlangan na ginawa ng mga akusado ang krimen. Madalas magkaroon ng paghatol sa mga ganitong krimen kahit pa walang direktang ebidensiya sa aktong batayan ng krimen. (U.S. vs.

Legaspi, 14 Phil. 38.)|

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

Kaya rin nating umunlad gaya ng Japan HABANG sinusulat ko ang kolum na ito ay dito po kami sa Tokyo, Japan para sa isang linggong RSDS o Regional Security and Development Study. Labing anim po kami dito at kasama po namin ang aming school president na si BGen Fermin De Leon.

Bahagi po ito ng programa namin sa Master in National Security Administration sa National Defense College of the Philippines na pag-aralan ang anim na dimensions ng national security. Ito ay ang dimension on Political, Economics, Socio-cultural, Techno- Scientific, Environment and military. Ang ibinigay sa akin ay ang economic dimension. Kaya sa pag-iikot namin sa Japan ay tungkol lang sa economics ang tutok ko at naglalaro sa akin isipan ang implikasyon nito sa security ng bansang Japan, sa atin sa Pilipinas at sa kabuuhan ng rehiyon ng Asia.

Tunay pong napakaunlad talaga ng bansang hapon.

Ang infrastructure ay nakamamangha, malinis, maayos, balanse ang pagsulong ng kaunlaran at pangangalaga sa kalikasan.

Ramdam mo na ang gobyerno at ang tao ay nagtutulungan! Hindi mo tuloy maiwasang itanong sa saiyong sarili, bakit sa Pilipinas hindi ganito?

Sa akin palagay, kayang-kaya nating mga Pilipinong umangat din kagaya ng bansang Hapon. Dahil sa mga briefing na pinuntahan namin. Ramdam ko na mas mayaman tayo sa lahat ng bagay. Magmula sa mga yamang mineral hanggang sa pisikal na anyo ng bansa natin. Kaya nga tinawag tayong perlas ng silangan.

Ang Pilipinas kung titingnan natin sa mapa ng mundo, napaka-strategic natin. Tayo ang maaring gawing sentro ng komersiyo sa regiyon na ito. Subalit, isa lang naman ang kulang sa atin, ang karakter nating mga Pilipino. Kung anong klaseng karakter, alam kung nagkakaunawan na tayo.

Ang mga hapon sa akin pagmamasid ay tunay na mataas ang antas pagdating sa displina, patriotism, paggalang sa awtoridad, integridad at napakaraming pang mga bagay na talagang dapat nilang ipagmalaki

bilang isang bansa. Ito ang taglay na lakas nila para maging makapangyarihan silang bansa sa larangan ng ekonomiya sa buong mundo.

Tayong mga Pilipino, dapat din nating maunawan na mayroon din tayong mga taglay na kaugalian at kultura na kung atin lang na huhubugin ay makakatulong din sa atin para maging malakas na bansa at igalang sa buong mundo. Napakasarap pakingan kung pagdating ng panahon ay tayo naman ang titingalain sa buong daigdig. Kung ang Japan nga ay naabot nila ang kanilang kinalalagyan ngayon, tayo pa kayang mga Pilipino?

Sa akin pong pagaaral, ang hapon po sa ngayon ay nahaharap din sa malaking problema pero buo sila at nagkakaisa. Makikita mong ang mga mamayan ay tumutulong na harapin ang problema ng kanilang bansa. Kagaya sa atin, ang Hapon ay nahaharap din sa malaking pagkakautang. Ang kanilang Gross National Product (GNP) ay patuloy na bumabagsak dahil sa ang kanilang population ay tumatanda na at mabilis na nababawasan dahil kulang sa mga mamayan nila ang nagaasawa at nanganganak. In short, shrinking ang population ng bansa Hapon. Sa economics, kung gusto mong dagdagan ang GNP mo dalawa lang ang maaari mong gawin, ito ay dagdagan mo ang working population mo o kaya dagdagan mo mo ang productivity ng ng mga mamayan mo. Sa presenting sitwasyon ng bansang Hapon ay mahirap na mangyari dahil kulang ang ipinapanganak sa kanila at lumalaki ang bilang ng mga tumatanda sa bansa nila. Isa pang problemang hinaharap nila ay ang trade deficit nila ngayon. Ang trade deficit po ay tungkol sa sobrang produktong inaangkat nila kumpara sa produktong ibinebenta sa labas ng kanilang bansa. Pag ito ay nagpatuloy, hindi po maiiwasang magkaroon din sila ng fiscal deficit na maaaring mag resulta ng pagiimprinta ng Central Bank nila ng dagdag na mga magong pera at ito ay maaari ding magresulta ng patuloy na inflation sa bansa nila.

>>>ZAMUDIO..sundan sa P/7

Balikas

5

A “new” Iloilo revisited I HAD a quick overnight revisit of Iloilo City -- my place of origin with Guimbal town as my birthplace -- over the weekend to attend the National Board Meeting of the JCI Senate and the swearing in of Businessman Ramiro Galanto as Iloilo JCI senate president. I still have many close relatives there although our family migrated to Davao when I was about one year old.

The face of Iloilo City has considerably changed since I last visited several years ago. Its main boulevard, called the Diversion Road, has been widened (would you believe?) to 6 lanes on each side or atotal of 12 lanes in all ! I personally crossed the wide boulevard by the Smallville complex and counted myself, including a bicycle lane.

All the way on the 25-kilometer strip from downtown to the modern International Airport in Cabatuan, a massive road expansion project is ongoing with houses and buildings being demolished on both sides of the road. I asked the taxi driver, in Ilonggo dialect of course, how come the authorities were able to convince the squatters (now euphemistically called “informal settlers”) to leave and give way to development. His answer: firm handling by the local government with relocation assistance.

The whole area, formerly swampy with squatters, is spruced up and now sprouting with new plush buildings, malls, entertainment areas, hotels and offices.

Being a Saturday night, swarms of Ilonggos were on a massive “gimmick” mode in the area, even spilling into the streets and sidewalks while jazz bands were almost in all beerhouses, bars, fine dining restos -- no, not the sleezy types -- but wholesome nooks and cozy hideaways.

My colleague in the JCI senate board Bobby Castro from Puerto Princesa, Palawan brought me to see and walk through the riverbanks that was before a slum area. The slum dwellers were properly relocated and the whole area lining the river has been converted into a fashionable pathway lined with mangrove greeneries, tiled walkways made of bricks snaking about 2 kilometers long. The place is referred to by all now as the river “esplanade” (meaning, open space for public walks or strolls.)

Hundreds of promenaders were just walking and strolling in the night.

Bobby who owns the famous “Palawan”pawnshop/cash transfer business that has now about 1,000 outlets nationwide (and therefore has been to almost all nooks of the country) was so impressed about the area development of Iloilo that he volunteered to walk me to the place and see for myself the esplanade.

I’ve been to many places but this one was something! A strategic development masterplan must have chartered the course of events that transformed Iloilo into what I saw.

Indeed, over dinner, Iloilo City’s Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, himself a JCI Senator and chief architect of the city’s transformation and spearheading preparations to host next year’s ministerial meetings of the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), simply said in understatement: “Iloilo City is now under construction”. In the former Airport area that was vacated with the new International Airport at Cabatuan, a multi-billion business complex of Megaworld is starting to rise and take shape. The new City Hall is considered a first in the country pioneering in “go green” technology. A modern hospital, a convention center, Marriott and Richmonde Hotels are all in the making or in the planning board. The city mayor being an avid biker himself, it is no surprise that bicycle lanes everywhere are in the development plans -- something already in integrated by advanced cities in the world in their infra masterplans.

I wish other chief executives of cities in the country go visit and see for themselves what’s happening there now in Iloilo City. I promised to myself to make my pilgrimage to my birthplace more often from now on!

Yes, we Ilonggos are jokingly called “tikalon” or overly boastful. But with what I saw, I don’t mind being called such -- for boasting about what Iloilo has truly become today. But, yes, the best is yet to come.| [Editor’s Note: Could this be done in Batangas City’s Calumpang riverbanks and along port diversion roads? If not that much, at least part of it..] ...............................................................................................

<<<MURIA....from P/4

Shunning biases against the poor

those who could not afford descent home and education. Poverty robs people of dignity and self-respect.

And unless society is decisive in finding solution to this, no human civilization will survive for indeed, the decline of society and the civilization come with the worsening human conditions in our time.

Shun biases against the poor.

This is the first step. Much is to be done of course. Educating the youth

about poverty and their mission to resolve it is primordial in this.

Helping them form commitment to stand with the poor should be a lifelong mission of people who are tasked to teach them.

Shun biases against the poor.

Work with them to find solutions to their deprived condition. Stand with the poor. This is the true message of Christ who died in the Cross.|

BUSINESS

April 14 - 20, 2014

6

DTI hones mediation and arbitration skills; new administrative order to speed-up resolution of consumer complaints THE Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) conducted a capacity-building seminar for Calabarzon’s consumer arbitration, adjudication and mediation officers at the DTI Region IV-A Office in Calamba City recently.

The training-seminar also discussed the provisions of the DTI’s Department Administrative Order No. 1302, Series of 2013 (DAO 1302: 2013), an amendment of previous administrative orders, to assure simple and easy access on the part of the consumers to seek redress for their complaints and grievances.

Among the DAO 13-02: 2013 notable clause is the speedy resolution of complaints, where the mediation and adjudication period shall not exceed 30 working days, of which mediation shall be done within 10 days while adjudication shall be completed within 20 days.

This means that immediate action shall take place not exceeding 10 working days from the date of filing the complaint.

Since most complainants do not know much about laws, the rule shall be liberally interpreted to carry out the objective of promoting just, speedy and inexpensive resolution of cases.

“Speedy” means no unnecessary delays but shall not be done hastily; and “inexpensive” means simply requiring the submission of position paper.

However, when parties of the mediation would not settle, the case will be elevated to an adjudication or

arbitration officer for decision.

During mediation, the legal merits of the complaint are not yet discussed; instead, steps are explored to settle the complaint.

Complaints are only valid when it involves defective products or services; not valid in cases like when a consumer buys a product then changes mind about the items purchased in favor of another color, model, size, etc.

The seminar also honed, strengthened, reinforced the skills of DTI officers that administers mediation and arbitration in resolving consumer complaints.| CHARLIE S. DAJAO

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

Hybrid rice key to PHL self-sufficiency TALAVERA, Nueva Ecija — Hybrid rice has brought a significant increase in the productivity of farmers and ensure food self-sufficiency in the country.

To showcase its benefits in agriculture, the SL Agritech Corporation (SLAC) has organized on Monday a harvest festival at Barangay Tabacao Multipurpose Hall here.

During the event, farmers testified on their experience in cultivating hybrid rice and its effects on improving their economic condition.

Godofredo Parcutela, a farmer from Gapan, Nueva Ecija, recorded a net income of P232,000 in harvesting 240 cavans of rice per hectare through the SL-8H rice variety.

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

Solon asks DA, BFAR to probe & stop spread of 'White Sport Syndrome Virus' threatening fishpond industry MANILA — A lawmaker has called on the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to immediately investigate and introduce appropriate measures to stop the spread of the deadly “White Spot Syndrome Virus” (WSSV), which has been threatening the country’s fishpond industry with the infection of crustaceans, especially shrimps.

The call was issued by neophyte Rep. Lilia Macrohon-Nuño (2nd District, Zamboanga City), a vice chairperson of the House committee on agriculture and food, who said the prevalence of the WSSV has been

affecting the livelihood of families dependent upon the fishpond industry.

Macrohon-Nuño said the virus was detected in 2010 when it affected fishponds in Cebu, Bulacan and Zamboanga del Sur. “Its presence is practically all over the Philippines as represented by the geographical location of the provinces that were attacked by said virus which are situated in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao,” said Macrohon-Nuño in filing House Resolution 783.

She explained the WSSV only attacks crustaceans like prawns, shrimps and crabs.

Recently, the virus made its presence felt recently in

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Zamboanga City affecting three barangays namely Vitali, Tictapul and Mangusu according to the legislator.

“It has been reported that the normal harvest of 1 to 1.5 ton per hectare per fishpond has been down to 200 kilos or less because of the prevalence of the virus, thereby affecting the livelihood of the families dependent upon the fishpond industry,” said Macrohon-Nuño.

Earlier reports have quoted BFAR Dagupan regional director Nestor Domenden as warning that the WSSV can wipe out all shrimps in a farm in only two to three days and the infection can eventually cripple the country’s shrimp industry. The country is currently the third largest exporter of shrimps in the

world.

According to experts, the WSSV is the sole member of the virus family Nimaviridae. It is a large doublestranded DNA virus that infects shrimp and other crustaceans. An overt clinical sign of an infected shrimp is the presence of white spots on the exoskeleton.

Wikipedia cited that the first reported epidemic due to the WSSV was from Taiwan in 1992. However, it said reports of losses due to white spot disease came from China in 1993, where it led to a virtual collapse of the shrimp farming industry. This was followed by outbreaks in Japan and Korea in the same year, Thailand, India and Malaysia in 1994, and by 1996 it had severely affected East Asia and South Asia.| PNA

BANKING

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"Hybrid rice has brought a tremendous increase in productivity in my farm," said Parcutela in an interview with the Philippines News Agency.

Parcutela said he used to harvest around 160 cavans per hectare when he started planting hybrid rice four years ago.

"Hybrid variety produces twice or thrice compared to inbred rice," he added.

The SL-8H variety, which was introduced by SLAC in

2002, generates an average yield of around 10 metric tons (MT) per hectare — about double the four to five MT per hectare yield on conventional rice seeds.

On the other hand, its latest variety SL 18-H yields 11.5 MT per hectare compared to a yield of 3.8 MT in inbred variety.

A farmer from Cabiao, Nueva Ecija also said he earns P263,000 per hectare as he harvested 261 cavans of rice.| AEROL B. PATENA

JUDICIAL NOTICE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES FOURTH JUDICIAL REGION REGIONAL TRIAL COURT BRANCH 87 ROSARIO, BATANGAS IN RE: PETITION FOR THE CORRECTION OF ENTRY IN THE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH OF ESTRELLA BABASA GOMEZ TO EFFECT CORRECTION IN THE ENTRY “JANUARY 11, 1955” THE BIRTH DATE OF THE PETITIONER, PROPERLY AS “JANUARY 21, 1954” ESTRELLA G. CADANO Petitioner; versus

SPEC. PROC. CASE NO. 2014-257

THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF IBAAN, BATANGAS, Respondent.

X------------------------------X ORDER A verified petition has been filed by the petitioner through counsel, praying the Court that after due notice, publication and hearing, this petition be granted ordering the Local Civil Registrar of Ibaan and the Administrator and Civil Registrar of the National Statistics Office, to correct the entry in the birth date of petitioner so that it will be properly entered as “January 21, 1954” after payment of the fees prescribed by law.

NOW THEREFORE, finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, notice is hereby given that this case be set for hearing on May 12, 2014 at 1:30 o’clock in the afternoon before the session hall of this Court, on which date, time and place, all interested party may appear and show cause why the petition should not be granted.

Let copy of this Order be published at least once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the province of Batangas, prior to the scheduled date of hearing at the expense of the petitioner.

Likewise, let copy of the petition and this Order be furnished the Office of the Solicitor General, the Local Civil Registrar of Rosario and the National Statistics Office for their Comment/Opposition thereto.

SO ORDERED. Rosario, Batangas, May 17, 2014.

(Sgd.) DORCAS O. FERRIOLS-PEREZ Assisting Judge Pahayagang Balikas April 14, 21 & 28, 2014

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

Nicetas E. Escalona, Lifetimes Editor

LIFE TIMES mababayaran sa tamang panahon.

Libra (Set. 24-Okt. 23) Ang mga taong malapit sa kalooban ay pahalagahan.

Mahalaga ang tulong na naibibigay ng iba at nakatulong noon. Magpasalamat sa pagtanggap ng suhestiyon o mungkahi.

Scorpio (Okt. 24-Nob. 22) - Tama ang panahon sa pagpapayaman ng katalinuhan at karanasan. Ang magmamalasakit ay dapat bigyan ng kaukulang pansin at pasasalamat.

Sagittarius (Nob. 23-Dis. 21) - Huwag patangay sa agos ng karangyaan. Magsimulang magbudget at mag-impok upang may madukot sa hinaharap. Ang walang pakundangang pamimili ay malamang mangyari. Ang tamang pagtitipid ay kailangan.

Capricorn (Dis. 22-Ene. 19) Kung may transaksyon sa negosyo dapat isagawa pagkalipas ng tanghali. Suriing mabuti ang proposisyon o suhestiyon. Iwasan ang mga mapagsamantalang kasamahan. May pagbabagong magaganap na dapat paghandaan.

Aquarius (Ene. 20 - Peb. 18) - Kung ang nasa kalooban ay tapat, nasa tamang landas ka ng tagumpay. Maaaring may pagsubok mula sa kahirapan, kakapusan, relasyon o malamang sa trabaho. Matutupad ang pangakong binitiwan.

Pisces (Peb. 19-Mar. 20) - Mayaman ang guni-guni na mapapakinabangan sa pagmumuni-muni sa kaunlaran. Taglay ang maliwanag at malikhang pag-iisip na angkop sa pagpaplano sa kinabukasan. Matatapos ang gawain na nasimulan.|

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

Aries (Mar. 21-Abril 19) Ang payo sa pinansiyal ay isaalang-alang at pag-aralang mabuti. May pagkakataon sa sosyal na aktibidad na magkakaroon ng bagong relasyon sa pag-ibig. Ang pagmamadali sa pagpapasya ay maglalagay ng sarili sa panganib.

Taurus (Abril 20-Mayo 20) - Ang komplikasyon tungkol sa pera sa nagdaang panahon ay magkakaroon ng kalutasan. Matatagpuan ang sarili na nahaharap sa alanganing sitwasyon. Huwag pansinin ang mga usapan na walang halaga at masasangkot lamang sa hindi pagkakaunawaan.

Gemini (Mayo 21-Hun. 21) - Huwag magpadala sa mungkahi ng iba. Huwag mag-alinlangan sa kasintahan o minamahal. Sa mga dalaga, ang labis na selos ang magbibigay ng malaking problema sa relasyon. Tiyakin ang sarili bago kumilos sa anumang bagay.

Cancer (Hun. 22-Hul. 22) Abalahin ang sarili sa paggawa sa loob ng tahanan. Sa paraang mahinahon, ang suliranin kasangkot ang ilang kasamahan ay madaling malulunasan. Maaasahan ang payo ng kaibigan tungkol sa suliraning pag-ibig.

Leo (Hul. 23-Ago. 22) - Ang kalusugan ay dapat bigyan ng sapat na pag-aalaga. Maaaring magpayo ang kaibigan o kamag-anak sa kalagayang pinansiyal na dapat bigyan ng halaga. Kailangan na magingat at magtipid sa hawak na salapi.

Virgo (Ago 23-Set. 23) - Malaking pasasalamat kung matutulungan ng isang kaibigan o kamag-anak. Huwag ituloy ang isang bagay kung hindi alam ang kahihinatnan.

Huwag mangutang o magpautang dahil hindi

Palawan Tourism Council officers take oath of office PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan --- The new set of Palawan Tourism Council officers took their oaths of office before Gov. Jose Pepito C. Alvarez at the Governor’s Conference Room, Provincial Capitol, Puerto Princesa City recently.

Debbie Q. Tan, owner of the Daluyon Resort in Sabang, Puerto Princesa City is the new council president.

Assisting her are three vice presidents namely Stephen Yee of SMY Travel and Tours and RAQ Pension-Vice President for Palawan Central; William Espina of Euro-Pacific Resorts, Inc.,Vice President for Palawan North and Amy Abrio,

municipal planning development coordinator and tourism officer designate of the Municipality of Balabac, as Vice President for Palawan South. Other officers of the council are Angeli Natasha Mendoza of the Sabang Zipline as secretary and Jamelyn Romero of Ipil Suites in Puerto Princesa City and El Nido as treasurer.

The sectoral representatives are Joel E. Paredes of Philippine Airlines for Transportation; Kharla Luneta of Hotel Centro for Accommodation; Eduardo Ahorro of the Puerto Princesa City Tourism Council representing the tour operators sector and Ms Maryvel

.............................................................. <<<PERSPECTIVE....from P/4

Who is afraid of the Reds?

– do you see any indication that they are enjoying the trappings of wealth, power and privilege? None at all.

Do you picture them as blood-thirsty terrorists who kill for the sake of killing or for personal gain as the military is wont to portray them? The government and military even have to resort to filing the most absurd cases against them and violate their right to due process by shortcutting its own judicial processes to be able to justify their arrest and continued detention.

Do they appear as irrational people who are obsessed with a failed ideology? Why should they when they could choose a simpler, safer, more convenient life?

One may or may not agree with their ideology or their way of pursuing their ideals but one could not deny that these people are doing it for a cause greater than themselves.

Why should one be afraid if what they are trying to change is the current system where people get poorer, justice remains elusive and social inequities are getting worse every year? If there is no genuine opposition – not one that pretends to be but is only interested in getting a bigger slice of the pie – nothing would compel those in power to address the worsening poverty and immiseration.

Only those who entrench themselves in power by the use of force, legal manipulation, and money and those whose power, wealth, and privileges are threatened by the ideology and struggle these people represent should be afraid of them. That is why they, who are in power, are doing everything to deny these people of their rights, liberty and capacity to pursue their aims.| WWW.BULATLAT.COM

Dygico of World Wildlife Fund for environment.

The Management Committees consist of the following: Lui Oliva of Kalui Restaurant for the membership committee; Leah Dalisay of Legend Hotel for finance; Leonara Rodriguez of Palawan Ecology Tours for product development; Liezl Ogdamin of the Provincial Tourism Council and Mr. Oliva for standards and skills; Jeanny Jinang of Intramedia for marketing and John Clerigo of the Association of Tourist & Transport Service of Puerto Princesa for security.

In his message, Gov. Alvarez urged the new council officials to work hand in hand with the Provincial Government towards the effective development and implementation of the provincial tourism program. With this new set of officers, Gov. Alvarez said he is confident that the province will surpass the one million target of tourist arrivals within the next three years of his term of office.

The Governor likewise encouraged the officials to coordinate with colleges and universities in the province to offer Mandarin language as a subject in tourism-related courses. He said that with the increasing number of Chinese tourists and travelers coming to Palawan, there is a need to equip tourism frontliners, tourist guides as well as those in the hotel and restaurant businesses with adequate skills so they can communicate with these foreigners.

On her part, Tan said that among the plans of the new council is the development of a new product that will symbolize the province; discovery of new tourism destinations in Southern Palawan and additional training programs for stakeholders particularly the tourism frontliners.

The term of office of the new set of officers will end in 2017.| VICTORIA S. MENDOZA

.............................................................. <<<F.E.S.T... from P/10

Kaya rin nating umunlad gaya ng Japan Kung pag-aaralan nyo po ang mga problema ng bansa Hapon, marami po kayong makikita. Ito ay dahil sa pagbabago ng anyo sa mga consumers natin sa regiyon ng Asya at maging dito sa Pilipinas. Pero bakit po sila patuloy pa ring iginagalang pagdating sa larangan pangekonomiya dahil nagkakaisa sila at mataas ang pagmamahal nila sa bansa nila. Kaya nga pag pumunta ka sa mga tindahan nila, wala

silang mga display na gawa sa China at maging ang mga sasakyan tumatakbo sa kalsada nila ay gawa sa bansa nila. Ito ay dahil sa kanilang pagkakaisa, disiplina at pagmamahal sa bayan nila. Kung tayo rin po kaya ay magkaisa at matutunan din natin mahalin ang ating bansa, hindi po kaya maging kasing lakas din po tayo ng bansang Hapon? Subukan po kaya natin?

7

April 14 - 20, 2014

Pinoy recipes. Lutuing Pinoy Tortang tahong

1 medium stalk green onion, sliced diagonally salt and pepper to taste (go easy on salt because there’s oyster sauce in this recipe) Cooking Directions: 1. Heat 1/2 TBSP oil in a skillet. Saute onions for 1 minute. Add tahong or mussels and saute for another minute. Add mung bean sprouts or asparagus; cook for 3-5 minutes or until veggies are cooked but still crisp. Remove from pan, then stir in oyster sauce. Cool and set aside.

2. Beat eggs until foamy.

Add cooled mixture from step 1, bell peppers and green onions. Season with salt and pepper according to taste.

3. In the same pan, heat 2 TBSP vegetable oil. Swirl pan to coat evenly with oil. Add egg mixture then, as some part of the omelette starts to set, make a few holes using a spatula to let uncooked portion run and cook underneath or flip the egg to cook the other side.

Serve warm and enjoy!|

TORTANG tahong recipe is quite unique. Torta can have an array of culinary meanings. The term can be applied to sweet or savory dishes. In Philippines, there is a pastry called torta which is popular in the Visayas region. A savory torta is usually made with either eggplant (tortang talong) or ground meat (tortang giniling). This recipe uses tahong or mussels. This tortang tahong recipe is also a great way to use leftovers.

Serve up something delicious and survive a meatless diet this special week of Lent.

Ingredients: 1/2 TBSP plus 1 TBSP olive oil or vegetable oil 1/4 of a small onion, sliced 1 cup tahong or mussels, cooked, removed from shells and sliced 1 cup mung bean sprouts or asparagus 2 tsps oyster sauce 4 eggs 1/4 cup bell pepper strips

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39 PAHALANG 1 Ms. Guiano, TV host 4 Magandang h al i mba w a 10 Karpintero 12 Huni ng butiki 13 Sambahin: Ingles 14 US President 16 Sinulid-tupa 17 Isang pandiwa 18 Paraan ng pagbuntong-hininga ng napagod (sinaunang Tagalog) 19 Mapasubsob dahil sa bigat ng dala 21 Pantukoy Kastila 22 Paraya 25 Dalawa 27 Malusog 30 Pagsusulit sa batas 31 Simbolo ng barrium 32 Paring Muslim 33 Daras 35 Lunan sa Imus 36 Simbolo ng tantalum 37 Panatikong tagasunod 39 Apoy na lumilipad 40 Pangalang pambabae

40 PABABA 1 Adiyos 2 Nene (Cebuano) 3 Ms. Alegre, dating artista 4 Inahing tupa: Ingles 5 Ano? 6 Negro: Kolokyal 7 Men in Black 8 Pag-alis ng tubig sa b a ng k a 9 Aprub 11 Ika-7 planetra mula araw 15 Sigaw ng nakahuli 17 Bundok sa Japan 20 Tipo ng dugo 21 Tao sa Timog Amerika 23 Yayo Aguila 24 Uri ng tela 25 Dalangin 26 Engkantada 28 Stoudemire ng NBA 29 Pinagtayuan ng tore sa Biblia na di natapos 30 Paslit 31 Punglo 34 Tumalbog: Ingles 35 Anak ng anak 38 Italy: daglat

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Ronalina B. Lontoc, Special Project Editor

F.E.S.T.

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

April 14 - 20, 2014

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Kabataang Batangueño, nag-tryout para sa PBA AY 200 kabataan mula sa iba’t ibang bayan sa lalawigan ng Batangas ang lumahok sa isinagawang try-out ng Coca-Cola Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Youngstars sa Batangas City Sports Center, Abril 10. Ito ang ikawalo at huling yugto ng nasabing tryout na pinangunahan ng pamahalaang lungsod ng Batangas bilang event host.

M

Ayon kay secretary to the Mayor Atty.

Victor Reginald Dimacuha, nakipagtulungan ang Batangas City sa PBA sa layuning makabuo ng isang grupo ng kabataang may edad 13-16 na taong gulang na maaaring kumatawan sa lungsod sa isasagawang liga ng Coca-Cola PBA Youngstars sa buong bansa.

Ayon pa kay Dimacuha, layunin din ng torneo na i-promote sa mga kabatan ang healthy living at sportsmanship, ang pagiging patas at fair sa laban at ang camaraderie na dapat maging simbolo ng isang atletang Batangueño.

Ayon sa format ng liga, 10 bayan ang maglalaban-laban para sa provincial title.

Ang magiging kampeon ang kakatawan sa probinsiya ng Batangas sa Regional Level at kung papalarin, maging sa National Level ng kompetisyon.

Ang sampung bayan at lungsod ay kinabibilangan ng Batangas City, Lipa City, Tanauan City, Balayan, Ibaan, Rosario, Bauan, San Pascual, San Jose, at Alitagtag.

Ang naturang liga ay nakatakdang magsimula April 20 sa Batangas City Sports Coliseum.

Nanawagan naman si Dimacuha sa

OPISYAL na nagbukas ang ika-8 yugto ng isinagawang try-out ng Coca-Cola Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Youngstars sa Batangas City Sports Center, Abril 10. Sampung bayan at lungsod sa lalawigan na kinabibilangan ng Batangas City, Lipa City, Tanauan City, Balayan, Ibaan, Rosario, Bauan, San Pascual, San Jose, at Alitagtag ang nakilahok dito.|

mapipiling mga players na pagbutihan ang paglalaro ng basketball at nakahanda aniyang sumuporta ang lungsod ng Batangas upang balang-araw ay magkaroon ng mga Batangueñong naglalaro sa Philippine Basketball Association.| JERSON J. SANCHEZ ......................................................................................................................

Generally peaceful across the country during Pacquiao-Bradley fight, PNP says MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday announced that no untoward incident was recorded during the fight of Filipino boxing icon Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao against Timothy Bradley in their rematch.

This was disclosed by Senior Supt. Wilben Mayor, the spokesperson of PNP Director General Alan LM Purisima.

Mayor said that only a small incident was reported but it was isolated.

The Chief PNP and the entire police force also congratulated Rep. Manny Pacquiao for the win to bring honor to the Filipino people, he said.

“Pacquiao’s win over Bradley will serve as an inspiration for all the Filipinos and the men and women of

the PNP are proud, Mayor told the Philippines News Agency (PNA) in a phone interview.

“The mark of a great athlete is his ability to come back and stand up with pride.

Congratulations to our Boxing Champion Rep. manny Pacquiao!,” Purisima said on his Twitter account.

Pacquiao regained the WBO world welterweight title in a unanimous decision on Sunday against Bradley.

Judge Glen Trowbridge scored the bout 118-110 for Pacquiao, while both Michael Pernick and Canada’s Craig Metcalf saw it 116-112 for the ‘Pacman,’ whose every move was cheered by the starstudded crowd of 15,601 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

It was Pacquiao’s 56th career victory against five

losses and two draws while Bradley suffered his first loss in 32 career fights.

The win came as redemption for Pacquiao, who got back the title he lost to the previously-unbeaten American two years ago in a controversial decision.| PNA

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Sports tournament opening, mistulang proclamation rally

BALAYAN, Batangas – Nagmistulang isang mini proclamation rally ang pagbubukas ng isang sports tournament sa municipal covered court ng bayang ito kamakailan, bagaman at mahigit pang isang taon bago sumapit ang susunod na eleksyon.

Ipinakilala sina 4th District Congressman Mark Llandro Mendoza at 4th District Board member Carlos Bolilla bilang mga susunod na gobernador at bise gobernador ng lalawigan. Bagaman at hindi kinumpirma ang nasabing proklamasyon, wala rin namang anumang sinyales ng pagtanggi ang dalawang opisyal.

Sina Mendoza at Bolilia ay kabilang sa

MAGKAKATABI sa pagkaka-upo sina Bokal Carlos Bolilia, Congressman Dong Mendoza at dating Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita sa pagbubukas ng Ermita Cup sa Balayan.|

Go away from drugs....

Harness your talents at

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

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

mga pangunahing panauhin sa pagbubukas ng 2014 Ermita Cup – Basketball and Volleyball Tournament sa pangunguna ng mag-amang sina dating Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita at 1st District Congresswoman Eilleen Ermita-Buhain na lalahukan ng mga manlalaro mula sa mga bayan ng unang distrito ng lalawigan.

Pitong koponan ang magtutunggali sa men’s basketball mula sa mga bayan ng Balayan, Calaca, Lemery, Lian, Nasugbu, Taal at Tuy habang may limang koponan naman ang ladies’ volleyball mula sa mga bayan ng Balayan, Calaca, Calatagan, Nasugbu at Taal.

Dumating bilang mga panauhing pandangal sa nasabing okasyon sina Senators Cynthia Villar at Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Samantala ay sumuporta rin sina Bokal Ramon Bausas ng Unang Distrito gayundin ang mga sikat na basketbolistang sina Alvin Patrimonio, Allan Caidic at Elmer Reyes.

Naroroon din ang Batangueñang volleyball player ng De La Salle University na si Kim Fajardo na tubong Calatagan.

Dumalo rin sa nasabing okasyon sina Mayors Manny Fronda ng Balayan, Jose Cerrado ng Tuy, at Isagani Bolompo; Vice Mayors Joel Arada ng Balayan, Raul Lagrisola ng Lian, at Renante Macalindong ng Calaca at ilan sa kaniyang mga konsehal.| BALIKAS NEWS TEAM

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