Vol. XIX, No. 8 - Feb. 24 - Mar 2, 2014 by Pahayagang BALIKAS

>>Michael Jay Escobar, natatanging Boy Scout...

> F.E.S.T. ...P/8

Vol. 19, No. 8 | Feb. 24 - Mar. 2, 2014 E-mail: balikasonline@yahoo.com Telephone: (043) 417.1662 Smart/TNT: 0912.902.7373 Globe/TM: 0917.512.9477 Php 12.00/copy

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SAN JUAN, Batangas -Mahigpit nang ipinatutupad sa bayang ito ang Pambayang Ordinansa Blg. 02-2013 na ipinasa ng Sangguniang bayan noong taong 2013 na nagtatalaga ng P20 tourism ecological fee sa mga establisimyento, mga bibisitang turista, beachcomers at mountaineers. Sinabi ni Frank Ilustrado, municipal administrator, na ang ordinansa ay noong 2005 pa naipasa at nagkakahalaga lamang ng P5 ang tourism ecological fee ngunit hindi maasyo na naipatupad ang mga beach owners kung kaya't isinulong na maamiyendahan at itinaas sa P20 ang bayad. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .>>POLITICS...turn . . . . . . . . . .to. P/2 ..

Mga suspek sa Lipa drug raid, Palengke, sariling kolehiyo at peace and pinakakasuhan na ng DOJ order, prayoridad ni Halili sa Tanauan LUNSOD NG LIPA – Ipinagutos na ng Department of Justice na sampahan ng kasong kriminal sa Lipa City Regional Trial Court ang umano’y mga taong sangkot sa nasabat na kilokilong shabu mula sa LPL ranch sa Barangay Inosluban, lunsod na ito, noong kapaskuhan. Sa 28-pahinang resolusyon ng panel of prosecutors, pinakakasuhan ng illegal possession of dangerous drugs si Jorge Gomez Torres na pinaniniwalaang siyang lider ng drug syndicate at sinasabing may-ari ng farm na rumerenta sa bahagi ng LPL Compound kung saan nasabat ang may 84 na kilo ng shabu. Kasamang pinakakasuhan ang Intsik na si Garry Tan.

“Respondent Tan’s denials of his possession of the drugs and weapons contraband and his elaborate version that his arrest was ‘stage managed’ are weak and lame,” saad sa resolusyong may petsang Pebrero 11 nina assistant state prosecutors Juan Navera at Irwin Maraya. Bigo anila si Tan na ipaliwanag kung bakit ang mga tauhan ng PNP-Anti Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Force ay magpupunta pa ng korte para mag-apply ng search warrant na partikular na pinapangalanan siya bilang isa sa mga respondents at kinalaunan ay inisyu ng korte para lamang i- “stage manage” o i-frame up siya.

>>>DROGA... sundan sa P/2

TANAUAN City – Kilala sa pagiging “City of Colors”, hindi na rin maikakaila ang patuloy na pag-unlad at pagyabong ng ekonomiya ng lungsod na ngayon ay nakikipagsabayan na rin sa mga mauunlad na Lunsod ng Batangas at Lipa. Sa kasalukuyan, nasa higit P980 Milyon ang naitalang kita ng lunsod noong nakaraang taon lamang. Sa panayam ng Pahayagang Balikas kay Mayor Anthonio Halili, ibinahagi niya ang mga proyektong nakatakdang isagawa para sa Tanauan. Nangunguna rito ang pagtatayo ng modernong pamilihang bayan ng lungsod na kung saan ay popondohan ng halagang P400Milyon.

CITY OF COLORS. Sa pamamagitan ng pagpipinta sa mga pampublikong pasilidad gaya ng street lights atwaiting sheds, ipinakikita ng Lunsod ng Tanauan na ang pagbabagong-bihis na ito ay simbolismo ng pagsulong ng lunsod at pagiging >>>BAGONG MUKHA... sa P/2 sentro ng komersyo sa hilagang bahagi ng lalawigan.|

Political Speeches, etc.. ‘Konstruksyon ng building-type p. 3 parking lot, kasado na’ - Espero

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DA tones down PED scare p. 6 on livestock industry

Netizens, watch out!

NEWS

Balikas

Feb. 24 - Mar. 2, 2014

Sec of the State Kerry emphasizes need to act on Climate Change MANILA — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, in a speech in Jakarta on February 16, noted overwhelming scientific consensus on climate change and its worsening impacts, and exhorted all nations to act immediately to worst consequences. “There is still time for us to significantly cut greenhouse emissions and prevent the very worst consequences of climate

change from ever happening at all,” the Secretary said. “But we need to move on this, and we need to move together now. We just don’t have time to let a few loud interests groups hijack the climate conversation.” The Secretary pointed out that “97 percent of climate scientists have confirmed that climate change is happening and that human activity is responsible.” He added: “The science is unequivocal. And those

who refuse to believe it are simply burying their heads in the sand.” The Secretary acknowledged that the United States is among nations perceived to be a major contributor to the problem of greenhouse effect. “But, ultimately,” he said, “every nation on Earth has a responsibility to do its part if we have any hope of leaving our future generations the safe and healthy planet that they deserve.”

Secretary Kerry also called attention to a “real progress” signified by the agreement that the U.S. and China signed the previous day. The two nations, he said agreed on an “enhanced policy of dialogues” to help the U.N. discussions in Paris next year in developing post 2020 limit to greenhouse emissions. “This is real progress,” Secretary said. “The U.S. and China are the

world’s two largest economies. We are two of the largest consumers of energy, and we are two of the largest emitters of global greenhouse gases – together we account for roughly 40 percent of the world’s emissions.” “But this is not just about China and the United States,” the Secretary clarified. “It’s about every country on Earth doing whatever it can to pursue cleaner and healthier energy sources.”|

<<<PABAHAY....mula sa P/1

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Ordinansa ukol sa eco-tourism fee, ipinatutupad na sa San Juan Ayon kay Illustrado, ang tourism ecological fee ay hahatiin sa apat na bahagi, ang unang 20 porsyento (P4.00) ay mapupunta sa Tourism Office upang magamit sa paglilimbag ng tiket at token, pasuweldo sa empleyado, gamit sa opisina, pagpapagawa ng brochures at pagpapatayo ng tanggapan nito nito, habang pangalawang 30 porsyento (P4.00) ) ay para sa barangay kung saan matatagpuan ang tourism establishments at negosyo na gagamitin lamang sa proyektong may kinalaman sa kapaligiran. Samantala, ang unang 30 porsyento (P6.00) ay gagamitin sa mga proyektong may kinalaman sa kalikasan at turismo at pangalawang 30 porsyento (P6.00) naman ay mapupunta sa local treasury upang maging bahagi ng general fund. Ilan naman sa mga bibigyan ng exemptions at discounts ang mga residente ng San Juan, senior citizens, mga opisyal o kawani ng pamahalaan na may opisyal na trabahong gagawin, persons with disabilities, mga batang may edad anim na taon pababa at mga bisitang magsasagawa ng scientific at

academic research. Sinabi ni Ilustrado na sinumang lalabag sa ordinansa ay papatawan ng kaukulang parusa. Ang sinumang tumanggi na magbayad ng ecological fee ay papatawan ng P2,500; sinumang magbibigay ng maling pagkakakilanlan at tirahan para hindi makapagbayad ng ecological fee ay may kaparusahang bayarin na P2,500; hindi pagbibigay ng resibo ng itinalagang kolektor ay may kaparusahang bayarin na P2,500 at pagkansela ng kapangyarihang mangolekta at sasampahan ng kaukulang kasong kriminal; sinumang maniningil ng ecological fee na walang pahintulot ay may kaparusahang P2,500 at pagkabilanggo ng hindi bababa sa siyamnapung araw batay sa pagpapasiya ng korte. Maging ang mga resorts, cottage at katulad na establisimyento na hindi kokolekta ng nasabing fee sa kanilang mga bisita ay papatawan din ng P2,500 para sa unang paglabag; P2,500 para sa ikalawang paglabag at babala na kakanselahin ang business permit; at P2,500 at pagkansela ng business permit para sa ikatlong paglabag.| BHABY DE CASTRO

AKSIDENTE. Ang simpleng pagkasabit ng isang trailer truck sa hulihang bahagi ng tricycle ang naging sanhi ng buhul-buhol na daloy ng trapiko sa Diversion Road, Brgy. Bolbok, Batangas City kamakailan. Karaniwan nang nakikita ang mga tricycle na bumibiyahe mula sa ilalim ng Bolbok Flyover patungong Batangas City Grand Terminal sa kabila ng pagbabawal ng pagbiyahe ng mga tricyle sa mga highways sapagkat hindi naman hinuhuli ng mga nagpapatrolyang tauhan ng Transport Development and Regulatory Office (TDRO).| JOENALD MEDINA RAYOS

Cessna plane bumagsak sa Batangas, piloto sugatan DALAWA ang sugatan nang bumagsak ang isang Cessna 172 na eroplano 1:45 p.m. noong Linggo sa Baradas Airstrip sa Tanauan, Batangas.

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Ang mga biktima ay nakilalang sina Richard Ricon, piloto, at Vic Roldan, mekaniko. Nagsasagawa ng test flight ang eroplano na may registration

number na RPC 993 at kakaangat lamang sa lupa nang tumama ang kanang pakpak nito sa runway at naging sanhi ng kaagad na pagbagsak nito.| BALIKAS NEWS TEAM

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<<<KABABAIHAN....mula sa P/8

<<<DROGA...mula sa P/1

Bagong liderato ng KALIPI, magpapakinang sa women empowerment sa Batangas

Mga suspek sa Lipa drug raid, pinakakasuhan na ng DOJ

Ito ay isang pandaigdigang pagkilos na naglalayong ituon ang atensyon sa issue ng katarungan sa lahat ng survivors of ng karahasan laban sa kababaihan. Ito ay nilahukan din ng mga daycare workers, mga kinatawan mula sa Dep Ed, GSP at Batangas City PNP. Nakalinya din sa kanilang mga gawain ang pagsasagawa ng Leadership Training Seminar para sa mga bagong halal na Pangulo ng Women’s Group ng bawat barangay

sa March 4. May 96 na KALIPI na may 16,000 aktibong miyembro mula sa iba’t ibang barangay ang nabuo na ng CSWDO. Para naman sa pagdiriwang ng National Women’s Month ngayong Marso na may temang “Juana, ang tatag mo ay tatag natin sa pagbangon at pagsulong”, magkakaroon ng Job Fair for Women sa March 5 at Fun Run kung saan ang beneficiaries ay mga kababaihang may

sakit na cancer. Bibisita din sila sa mga kababaihang inmates sa San Jose Sico City Jail. Magtatagisan naman ng angking galing at talento ang mga kababaihan sa March 10 kung saan sa araw ding ito nakatakdang pumili ng mga natatanging babae. Hinikayat ni Bagsit ang lahat ng mga kababaihan sa lunsod na lumahok at makiisa sa mga nabanggit na gawain.| RONNA E. CONTRERAS

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<<<BAGONG MUKHA....mula sa P/1

Palengke, sariling kolehiyo at peace and order, prayoridad.. Ang pamilihang ito ay magkakaroon ng ilang palapag at mayroon din parking lot. Sinasabi na ang pamilihang bayana y maihahalintulad sa isang mall dahil sa mga katangian nito. Prayoridad din ng lunsod ang pagpapanaliti ng kalinisan at pagpapalawak ng mga kalsada upang mabawasan ang trapiko. Isa rin sa mga proyekto ay ang kapayapaan at kaayusan sa lunsod. Kaugnay nito, sinabi ni Halili na bumili sila

ng 30 tricycle upang magmonitor sa lunsod. Tungkol naman sa turismo, inilunsad ng lunsod ang Regatta, isang paligsahan sa pagsagwan noong Pebrero 22 sa lawa ng Taal. Sa Marso 8 naman ang parade of lights na dadaluhan ng 28 stakeholders ng lunsod. Sa usapang pang-edukasyon, kinumpirma nito ang pagbubukas ng lunsod ng pampublikong kolehiyo “Tanauan City Colleges”.

Ang kolehiyong ito ay magbibigay ng associate courses para sa mga kababayan nitong kapus-palad at hindi kayang tustusan ang pagaaral. Ilan pa sa mga proyekto ng lunsod ay ang paglilipat ng bahay pamahalaang lunsod, anti-littering at ang pagbabawal ng paglalakad sa mga paglilibing at ang pagbabawal sa mga tricycle ng ibang munisipalidad sa Lunsod sa Tanauan.| A. FABRERO | J. TACLA

“As manager of the farm and everything within the premises, respondent Tan obviously had control of the contraband found in the house inside the subject compound on December 25, 2013,” dagdag pa ng DOJ resolution. Pinakakasuhan din sina Torrres, Tan, Jaime Ibarra Sanchez, Carlos Ochoa at isang di pa napapangalanang suspek ng transport of dangerous drugs dahil sa umano’y pagsasabwatan ng mga ito para dalhin ang mga nasabat na droga mula Greenhills, San Juan patungong Lunsod ng Lipa. Samantala, ipaghaharap na rin ng kasong illegal possession of firearms si Tan para sa nasabat na di lisensyadong mga baril mula sa kwarto nito. Dahil sa kawalan ng probable cause ay inabswelto naman ng DOJ sa kaso sa droga ang mag-asawang Arjay at Rochelle Argenos na napatunayang caretaker lamang ng nasabing farm. Abswelto rin sa kasong maintenance of drug den si Torres dahil sa kawalan ng ebidensya na magdidiin sa nasabing suspek.

Matatandaang mismong araw ng kapaskuhan ng isagawa ang drug raid ng PNP-AIDSOTF sa nasabing lugar sa bisa na rin ng search warrant at doon may nasabat na apat na maletang naglalaman ng may 84 na kilo shabu pati na ang di lisensyadong mga baril na 12 gauge Winchester rifle at kalibre 45 na may lamang mga bala. Samantala, tahasan namang itinanggi ni Batangas Vice Gov. Mark Leviste ang alegasyong may ugnayan umano ang kanyang pamilya sa Mexican Sinaloa at Chinese drug cartel na naunang napabalitang may koneksyon ang mga suspek. Nilinaw rin niyang hindi siya ang may-ari ng ni-raid na property ng pulisya kundi ito ay bahagi ng isang lagay na lupang pag-aari ng isa sa mga korporasyong pag-aari ng kanilang pamilya na kung tawagin ay Running Spring Real Estate, na pinaupahan naman ng LBJ Development Corporation kay Torres kaya wala siyang kaugnayan para maidawit sa nasabing kontrobersya.| JOENALD MEDINA RAYOS

Feb. 24 - Mar. 2, 2014

Peace & Order Update Collated By JACK L. AQUINO

Rebels surrender; troops clash with NPA in Camarines Sur CAMP GUILLERMO NAKAR, LUCENA CITY – Communist rebels in Camarines Sur and Occidental Mindoro gave up with their respective arms to the Southern Luzon Command forces recently after years of fleeing from government authorities. Ramil C. Burigas known as Ka Jake in the underground movement voluntarily surrendered on February 13, 2014 and consequently turned over his 9mm pistol and other war items including an improvised explosive device, one six wired blasting cap, detonating cords, electrical wires and one detonator switch. Likewise, he presented subversive documents and forty seven (47) compact disks to government authorities. Meanwhile, Pascual Rodigues, @ Adam/Arvin, 39 years old and a resident of Brgy. Armado, Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro yielded himself and his original shotgun with six (6) ammunitions to the government troops yesterday in Capitol Compound, Brgy. Poblacion 9, Mamburao of the said province. Rodigues is a self-confessed gunner of the Regional Yunit Guerilla, Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee (RYG-STRPC). Currently, a total of 13 rebels under SOLCOM’s area have been neutralized since January of this year including George Geluz/Mario Dela Cruz @ Mulong, the Secretary of the Bicol Regional Party Committee. “Ang patuloy na pagbalik loob ng mga rebelde ay patunay lamang na unti-unti nang nabubuwag at humihina ang organisayon ng mga komunistang terorista dahil na rin sa pagnanais ng mga miyembro nito na mamuhay ng tama at mapayapa. They have already realized the futility of engaging in armed violence of no significance to our country’s economic development,” SOLCOM Commander LtGen Caesar Ronnie F. Ordoyo AFP remarked. On the other hand, a firefight transpired between the government forces and NPA rebels on Sunday at about 10:40AM at the vicinity and boundary of Brgy. Salvacion and Brgy. Patalunan, Ragay, Camarines Sur. The troops were conducting regular combat patrol when more or less five heavily armed men suddenly fired at them. The dodging of bullets lasted for two (2) minutes without any casualty from the troops. Lt Gen Ordoyo stressed that while they are focusing on securing communities, SOLCOM also encourages more returnees especially those who want to abandon the armed struggle and start a new life. “As we continue to support national government’s thrust to maintain peace and development in the countryside, patuloy din po tayong nananawagan sa ating mga kapatid na bumaba na at sumuko para kanila rin maranasan ang maunlad at mapayapang pamumuhay. Tayo ay bukas at handang tumulong para sa mga nais magbalik loob. May mga programa ang ating pamahalaan na naglalayong umalalay at gumabay sa kanila hanggang sa sila ay tuluyang makabalik sa normal na pamumuhay. Kailangan lang natin magtiwala sa ating pamahalaan.” Lt Gen Ordoyo said.|

NEWS

Balikas

‘Konstruksyon ng building-type parking lot, kasado na’ - Espero LIPA City – Ikinakasa na ng pamahalaan ng lunsod ng lipa ang plano nito sa pagtatayo ng bagong parking lot ng pamilihang bayan ng lungsod ng Lipa. Ang kabuuang proyektong ito ng pamahalaan ay popondohan ng halaga na tinatayang aabot sa P300Milyon. Sa panayam ng Pahayagang Balikas kay G. Jerry Espero, OIC/Market Supervisor III, kinumpirma nito na sa darating na Abril ng kasalukuyang taon ay sisimulan na ang pagtatayo ng building-type parking lot na hindi umano bababa sa tatlong palapag ang taas na planong itayo sa pagitan ng building 1 at 2 ng pamilihang bayan. Sinasabing malaki ang maitutulong ng pagkakaroon ng dagdag na parking lot sa palengke ng lunsod na araw-araw ay dinadagsa ng mga kababayan nating mamimili.

Aniya pa, ang itatayong parking lot ay makakapagbigay ng ginhawa sa mga mamimili na mayroong dalang sasakyan. Karaniwang iniinda ng mga mamimili sa palengke ang kakulangan sa mga parking lot, dahilan upang mawalan ng gana ang mga mamimili at sa halip ay pumunta na lamang sa mall upang doon mamili. Sa pagtatayo ng building type parking lot, inaasahang ito ay makapagbibigay ng karagdagang espasyo para sa mga kababayan nating mamimili. Dagdag pa ni G. Espero, hindi lamang ang parking lot ang prayoridad nila sa pagsasaayos ng sistema ng pamilihang bayan ng Lipa, mayroon din silang mga ginagawang aksyon sa usapin ng

basura at mga illegal na nagtitinda sa palengke. Ayon sa kanya, mayroong oras ng pangongolekta ng basura at ito ay tuwing alas syete ng gabi. Samantala, ipinaliwanag naman niya sa mga magtitinda ang pagbabawal na magtinda sa mismong tabi o sidewalk sa paligid at hangad lamang nila ang kaayusan sa palengke. Isa pa ay ang pagdadagdag nila ng mga TMD sa mga babaan at sakayan ng palengke upang masolusyunan at mapanatili ang kaayusan sa daloy ng trapiko. Sa kasalukuyan, ang pamilihang bayan ng lungsod ay may wet at dry market, bigasan, prutasan at gulayan at mayroon din bilihan ng mga damit at iba pang kagamitan.| J. TACLA | P. TOLENTINO

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Nat’l Quizz Bee Winners, kinilala ng lunsod MULING humakot ng karangalan ang mga high school students na kumatawan sa Batangas City sa 11 th National Science Quest na ginanap sa Teachers Camp, Baguio City noong February 10-12. Champion sa On the Spot Painting Contest si Gwen Ysanth Ramirez ng Westmead International School; Jelmer John Ochoa ng Saint Bridget College sa Esay Writing at Hannah Mae Medes ng Batangas National Highschool sa Sci-Impromptu Speaking sa Filipino. Nakakuha ng 2nd place ang grupo ng mga mag-aaral mula sa NAVERA

National High School sa Jingle making at sa Essay Writing sa Filipino si Patricia Atienza ng Divine Child Academy. Nanalo ng ikatlong pwesto sa Sci-Impromptu Speaking sa Filipino si Flowerly Bobadilla ng Tabangao National HS; 5th place sa On the Spot painting – Teachers category si Nadia Divina Alviar ng King’s Kids Christian Academy at 8th place naman sa Science Quiz si John Michael Panganiban ng Pedro S. Tolentino Memorial National HS ng Ilijan.

Tinanghal na Bb. Kalikasan si Rochelle Gaspar ng Batangas National HS. Ang nasabing search ang highlight ng National Science Quest. Si Gaspar din ang napiling Best in Uniform, Best in Casual Wear, Best in Sports Wear at Best in Indigenous Attire. Siya ay nagkamit ng sash, certificate at trophy. Ang naturang mga awardees ay binigyan ng gawad ng pagkilala ng pamahalaang lungsod ng Batangas noong ika-17 ng Pebrero.| RONNA ENDAYA CONTRERAS

Solcom: “NPA burns 8 buses, JAM cries sabotage” LEMERY, Batangas – Some 14 armed members of the New People’s Army (NPA) burned eight (8) buses of JAM liner Bus company stationed in Lemery, Batangas at 2AM, 16 February 2014. The insurgents disguised in military camouflage uniform, disarmed the security guards and ordered the drivers and conductors sleeping inside the buses to descend before dousing the vehicles with gasoline and setting them on fire. LtGen ordoyo said the attack was meant to pressure the management into paying revolutionary taxes. “This incident manifests the NPA’s lack of concern for the welfare of ordinary workers. Their rampant extortion that leads also to closure of companies would ultimately make people jobless.” “Kaya hindi umuunlad ang Pilipinas dahil sa ganitong aktibidad ng mga NPA. These rebels are hampering the economic development of our country. They have practically sabotaged our development for four decades already”, he said. He also added that the NPA does not have the capability to mount large scale attacks against authorities; instead they sow violence against “soft targets” in order to support their propaganda war against the government. “The NPA cannot defeat the AFP head on; hence, they are waging a protracted war to destroy our economy. We should not be pressured by these terroristic acts but fight the NPA to effect their defeat”, he said.|

ECONOMIC SABOTAGE. Just a few among the eight (8) units of passenger buses burn down by attackers at JAM Terminal at Barangay Palanas, Lemery, Batangas.|

Mayor Eddie B. Dimacuha awards Certificate of Recognition to the winners of the National Science Quiz Bee held, Feb. 10-12, 2014, Teachers' Camp, Baguio City. Students are from Princeton Science High School -Mardon Justine Carl I. Bauan, Science Quiz (G6) CHAMPION (3-time National Champion); Jherelle H. Heleana, Science Quiz (G4) CHAMPION; and Princess Gwyne E. Abad, Sci-Writing Contest (G4) 3rd Place.| CITY PIO

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Proyektong imprastraktura, pabahay at kalusugan pinasinayaan sa 2 bayan sa Ikatlong Distrito APAT na proyektong imprastraktura ng pamahalaang panlalawigan ang pinasinayaan at binisita ni Governor Vilma Santos Recto sa bayan ng Mataas na Kahoy at Balete. Kabilang sa mga proyektong ito ay imprastrakturang pang kalusugan, pabahay at tulay para sa dalawang bayang nabangit. Inunang tinungo ni Governor Vi ang bayan ng Mataas na kahoy kung saan nakipagpulong ito sa mga opisyal ng bayan ito sa pangunguna ni Mayor Jay Ilagan kasama ang Sanguniang Bayan at mga Barangay Chairman. Sa pulong, personal na ipinaabot ng Gobernadora ang proyektong matatangap ng Mataas na kahoy batay sa mga resolusyong ipinasa at ng mga ito sa pamahalaang panlalawigan na may kabuang halaga na P23.1M.

Matapos nito ay tumungo ang gobernadora at ang delegasyon nito sa Brgy. Kinalaglagan upang personal na bistahin ang 25 pamilya na tumanggap ng proyektong pabahay sa ilalim ng Balay Project ng kanyang administrasyon. Inihandog ni Governor Vi sa mga ito ang sertipikasyon ng katibayan na pag-mamay ari nila ang bagong tayong tahanan at responsibilidad na ng mga ito na pangalagaan ang kaayusan at kalinisan nito. Matapos ito ay agad na tumungo ang delegasyon ng kapitolyo sa Mataas na Kahoy- Balete Bridge Approach upang pasinayaan ang bagong tulay na pangunahing nagdudugtong sa dalawang bayan. Pagdating sa bayan ng Balete ay

sinalubong ng mga opisyal ng Balete ang partido ng Gobernadora sa pamumuno ni Mayor Leovino Hidalgo upang pasinayaan ang modernong Balete Municipal Rural Health Building at bisitahin ang P6.6M Balete –Tanauan Road. Ang P10M Balete RHU ay may kakayahang magsagawa ng minor operations at dental procedures, pediatric ward at materinity at ilang admitting rooms para sa emergency cases bukod pa sa mga bago nitong kagamitan pang medikal. Tinapos ni Governor Vi ang kanyang pag-ikot sa dalawang bayan sa pamamgitan ng pagbibigay ng sertipikasyon at katibayan ng pag-aari sa 25 pamilyang recipient ng Balay project sa bayang ito.| EDWIN V. ZABARTE.

Balikas Should we be content with trimmed down anti-cybercrime law? 4

OPINION

Feb. 24 - Mar. 2, 2014

By BENJIE OLIVEROS THE Supreme Court once again came out with a Solomonic decision: it declared certain provisions of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 as unconstitutional but upheld some as constitutional. The decisions of the Supreme Court are, at best, Solomonic because it is not immune to the political environment it operates in. Historically, it acts according to the political atmosphere of that time and tries to come up with compromise decisions. With the recent decision of the Supreme Court, the Cybercrime Prevention Act could now take effect, minus the provisions that the high court declared as unconstitutional. What the Supreme Court essentially did was to stop the Aquino government from appropriating more powers – the authority to take down a website without a court order and to monitor traffic data on the internet – but it took away the freedom to express online by declaring the provision on cyber-libel as constitutional. In defending the Supreme Court decision, President Benigno Aquino III claimed that the anti-cybercrime law, particularly the provision on online libel, would not curtail the freedom of expression. He argued that all rights, including the freedom of expression, have a limit: for as long as it does not impinge on the rights of others. He also cited the fact that libel could already be applied in the print and broadcast media and the law merely applied it to the internet. Well, President Aquino was right about one thing: rights have limits and this limit is being determined by law. The rights of groups of people could and would impinge on the rights of others. Take for example the right to property. The right of landowners to the land they inherited or bought, or was able to grab through land titling for that matter, impinges on the right of peasants to the land they till and the right of the poor to shelter. In these cases, the law favors the right to property of landowners, which is why they are being paid a high price for their land whenever it is covered by agrarian reform and peasants are made to pay amortization. As for the urban poor, they are simply being swept away. The same is the true when the right of mining, logging, and agro-industrial companies, which is being granted to them by virtue of concessions/licenses issued by the government, clashes with the right of indigenous peoples to their ancestral domain. The law provides that all these companies have to do is to give a semblance of undertaking consultations with the indigenous peoples. Then the mining, logging and agro-industrial companies could already displace the people from their land with the help of the military and the police. President Aquino’s arguments for libel are fallacious, at best. Libel cases have been and are still being used to curtail the freedom of expression. From 2004 to 2007 alone, Mike Arroyo, the husband of then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, filed 46 libel cases against journalists. Defamation suits are so being overused and misused by giant corporations such that human rights and environmental defenders have coined a term for it: “SLAPP suit” (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation). In 2002, when Dr. Romeo Quijano, a toxicologist, and her daughter Ilang-Ilang, who is now a journalist with alternative news agency Pinoy Weekly, came out with a report on the health effects on the people of Kamukhaan village in Davao del Sur of the pesticides being used by the Lapanday Agricultural?Company (Ladeco) in its banana plantation since the 1980s, Ladeco filed a libel suit against the toxicologist and his daughter. The US-based Environmental Defender Law Center noted then that “the Philippines in particular has seen a huge proliferation of these lawsuits in recent years.” Also in July of 2007, Lafayette Philippines, Inc., a mining company,

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perspective

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Political Speeches and the Online Libel Provision MANY are shocked when the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the online libel provision of the Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act. Indignations have flooded the social media and the streets. Netizens wondered why the Supreme Court stamped the seal of legitimacy to the Damocles’ sword hanging over the head of those who love to tweet and navigate through the virtual world. The fear is not totally unfounded. What is libelous depends on the appreciation of the court. In the extreme, all conceivable statements about another person, both living and dead, may be interpreted as libelous. This notion feeds the public paranoia about the Cybercrime Prevention Act. Any criminal action against online statements which are deemed libelous can send chilling effect to the exercise of the freedom of speech and expression. Netizens’ paranoia that the administration will use this online libel provision to silence its critics is understandable. How should the right to freedom of expression be protected in spite of the online libel provision? The question is before the court again. Freedom of speech is a constitutional norm. It serves as a general rule. It cannot be treated merely as an exception even in the face of a clearly defined libel law. In our legal system,

freedom of speech enjoys primacy over the prerogative of the government to instill order in the society. The court must ensure that the exception will not swallow the rule by insisting on this primacy whenever it is confronted with cases involving the application of the online libel provision. Political speeches should be exempt from the online libel law. They are indispensable to the workings of democracy. They are the discourses that form the backbone of civilized society. As such, political speeches should remain untouched. They should be protected from the risks of castration and control. Freedom of speech is delicate. A mere threat to its exercise may extinguish its existence. Society should be worried when the government is threatening it with all types of devices and schemes. Courts should be vigilant to prevent the abuse of the online libel law by persons in authority. Otherwise, the gains of democracy can be set at naught by the whims of the immature intolerants who wield public power. No government true to its claim of democracy and the rule of law can exist without this fundamental freedom. If we are to save it for the future generation, then, we must make sure that it remains to be the general norm in our society.|

Ang Mabuting Balita Diyos o Kayamanan? (Lucas 16:13)(Lucas 12:22-31)

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.

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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.|

“Walang aliping makakapaglingkod nang sabay sa dalawang panginoon, sapagkat kapopootan niya ang isa at iibigin ang ikalawa, paglilingkuran nang tapat ang isa at hahamakin ang ikalawa. Hindi kayo maaaring maglingkod nang sabay sa Diyos at sa kayamanan. “Kaya't sinasabi ko sa inyo, huwag kayong mabalisa tungkol sa inyong kakainin at sa inyong iinumin d upang kayo'y mabuhay o kaya'y tungkol sa susuutin ng inyong katawan. Hindi ba't ang buhay ay higit na mahalaga kaysa pagkain at ang katawan kaysa damit? Masdan ninyo ang mga ibon. Hindi sila nagtatanim ni umaani man o kaya'y nagtitipon sa kamalig, ngunit pinapakain sila ng inyong Ama na nasa langit. Hindi ba't higit kayong mahalaga kaysa mga ibon? Sino sa inyo ang makakapagpahaba ng kanyang buhay nang kahit isang oras sa pamamagitan ng

kanyang pagkabalisa? "At bakit kayo nababalisa tungkol sa pananamit? Isipin ninyo kung paano tumutubo ang mga bulaklak sa parang; hindi sila nagtatrabaho ni gumagawa ng damit. Ngunit sinasabi ko sa inyo, kahit si Solomon na napakayaman ay hindi nakapagdamit ng singganda ng isa sa mga bulaklak na ito. Kung dinaramtan ng Diyos ang damo sa parang, na buhay ngayon, at kinabukasan ay iginagatong sa kalan, kayo pa kaya? Kay liit ng inyong pananampalataya sa kanya! "Kaya't huwag kayong magalalang baka kayo kapusin sa pagkain, inumin o damit. Hindi ba't ang mga Hentil ang nababahala tungkol sa mga bagay na iyan? Alam na ng inyong Ama na nasa langit na kailangan ninyo ang lahat ng iyan. Ngunit higit sa lahat ay pagsikapan ninyo na kayo'y pagharian ng Diyos e at mamuhay nang ayon sa kanyang kalooban, at ibibigay niya sa inyo ang lahat ng inyong pangangailangan.

KAYA'T huwag kayong labis na magisip kung saan kayo kukuha ng kakainin at iinumin. Huwag na kayong mangamba. Ang mga bagay na ito ang pinagkakaabalahan ng mga taong di nananalig sa Diyos. Alam ng inyong Ama na kailangan ninyo ang lahat ng iyan. Subalit, pagsikapan muna nang higit sa lahat na kayo'y pagharian ng Diyos, at ibibigay niya sa inyo ang lahat ng inyong pangangailangan." [Lk 12:29-31]

"Kaya nga, huwag ninyong ikabalisa ang para sa araw ng bukas; dahil ang bukas ang bahala sa sarili nito. Sapat na ang inyong mga suliranin sa bawat araw."|

Feb. 24 - Mar. 2, 2014

OPINION

Tagapagmana, naghabol sa lupang naremata - Unang Bahagi KASO ito ng mag-asawang Pepe at Celia. Mula Setyembre 1956 hanggang Oktubre 1957, kumuha ng iba’t ibang utang ang mag-asawang Pepe at Celia sa GSIS. Umabot ng P3,117,000 ang utang. Isinangla ng magasawa ang mga lupa nila sa Pasig na may mga titulong 26105, 37177 at 50356 bilang prenda sa utang. Sa ilalim ng unang kasulatan ng pagkakasangla na may petsang Setyembre 25, 1956, 199 na lote ang sakop ng titulo bilang 26105 ngunit hindi kasama sa kontrata ng sangla ang 78 lote. Hindi nabayaran ng mag-asawa ang kanilang utang at niremata ng GSIS ang mga lupa kahit pa nahati-hati na ito sa mas maliliit na parsela. Ang GSIS din ang nanalong highest bidder sa public auction. Noong Nobyembre 25, 1975, napatituluhan na ng GSIS ang lahat ng narematang lupa ng mag-asawa. Pagkatapos, sinimulan nang ibenta ito ng GSIS. Kasamang binenta ng GSIS ang 78 parselang lupa na hindi dapat kasama sa unang kontrata ng sangla. Noong Mayo 7, 1990, si Eddie, nag-iisang tagapagmana ng mag-asawa ay nagsampa ng reklamo sa korte para mabawi ang 78 loteng dapat hindi kinuha ng GSIS. Matapos ang paglilitis, nagdesisyon ang korte noong Dis-yembre 17, 1997. Ipinag-utos nito sa GSIS na ibalik ang 78 lote kay Eddie o kaya ay bayaran siya ng umiiral na halaga sa merkado ng nasabing lupa. Inutos din sa Register of Deeds na kanselahin ang titulo ng

GSIS o ng mga pinaglipatan nito ng nasabing 78 lote. Pareho rin ang naging desisyon ng Court of Appeals at ng Supreme Court. Naging pinal ang desisyon noong Pebrero 24, 2004. Nang ipinapatupad na ang desisyon, muling umakyat sa CA ang kaso dahil kinuwestiyon ng GSIS ang presyo ng lupa na nakasaad sa kautusan ng korte. Ang naging presyo kasi ng lupa ay P35,000 kada metro kuwadrado at lumalabas na P1,166,165.00 ang buong presyo ng lupa base sa sukat na 33,349 metro kuwadrado. Pinagbigyan ng CA ang apela ng GSIS at binawasan ang halagang babayaran na naging P399,828,000 na lamang. Muling umabot ang kaso sa Supreme Court dahil nagpe-tisyon ang GSIS. Ayon sa GSIS, karamihan sa nasabing lupa ay nalipat na sa pamamagitan ng iba’t ibang transaksiyon bago pa man magsampa ng kaso sa korte ang kalaban nito. Argumento ng GSIS, nagkaroon na raw ng paghahati-hati ng lupa na si Pepe mismo ang gumawa. Hinihingi ng GSIS na baliktarin ng Supreme Court ang desisyon dahil hindi naman na makatarungan ang naging desisyon ng korte. Kapag hindi raw binuksan muli ang kaso, magkakaroon ng ma-laking lamang ang kanilang kalaban dahil yayaman ito ng walang dahilan. Hindi rin makatuwiran sa batas ang mangyayari sabi ng GSIS. Tama ba ang GSIS? (Abangan ang sagot sa Lunes, Marso 3, 2014).|

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Nalunod ba tayo sa kasaganaang dala ng paglaya’t demokrasya?

SA ating buhay bilang indibidwal bilang kasapi ng lipunan, dumarating ang panahon ng pagninilaynilay tungkol sa mga bagay na may kinalaman sa ating kinabukasan. Tinatanong natin ang ating sarili kung tama ba ang landas na ating tinatahak o di kaya ay tama ang ating mga nagawa sa lipunan. Although walang definite na oras para sa isa’t-isa kung kelan ito, sa bandang akin, wala nang ibang mas tamang panahon kundi ngayon.  Dalawang dekada’t kalahati na ang nakalipas, ipinamalas natin ang pagkakaisang hinangaan sa buong mundo. Hindi lang paghanga ang isinukli sa atin ng sangkatauhan kundi ginawa pa tayong ehemplo para magbago ang kani-kanilang mga lipunan. Matapos ang EDSA People’s Power Revolution noong 1986, sunod sunod na nilabanan ng mga naaaping bansa ang mga rehimeng mapanupil. Andun ang pagbagsak ng diktador ng Romania, ang pagbukas ng mga dating saradong bansa sa foreign trade na sinimbolo ng pagsira ng Berlin Wall, at ang pagpalaya ng mga bansang sinakop ng mga malalakas na puwersa na sinimbolo naman na pagkawasak ng USSR at pagbalik ng identity sa mga bansang katulad ng Georgia, Ukraine, Kazhakstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan at iba pang mga satellite nations nito. Asan na ba ang ipinakita nating pagkakaisa bilang isang bansa? Bakit tila ata kulang ang ating pagkakaisa

na ipakita natin ang ating protesta laban sa Tsina na nais agawin ang ilang bahagi ng teritoryo natin? Wala na nga ba? O nalunod lamang tayo sa kasaganahan na dala ng paglaya’t demokrasya?  Ang pagsimula ng construction na magdudugtong ng SLEX sa NLEX ay isang oportunidad para batikusin ang pamahalaan. Mayroong nagsasabi na magdudulot ito ng monster traffic sa Kamaynilaan at kung bakit daw ngayon lang ito gagawin sa last two years ng termino ni Pangulong Aquino. Para sa kaalaman naman ng mga bumabatikos, hindi lang po Kamaynilaan ang Pilipinas. Kung bakit ikokonekta ang NLEX sa SLEX, sa tingin ko, ay para hindi na sumali pa sa kaguluhan ang mga lansangan ng Kamaynilaan ang mga bumibiyahe mula South Luzon papuntang North Luzon. Hindi naman po kasi lahat ng biyahe ay nagtatapos sa Kamaynilaan. Kung bakit ngayon lang ito gagawin. Ang pananaw ko diyan ay dahil sa higpit ng government procument law kung kaya’t ngayon lang ito uusad. Kung kagustuhan lang ang masusunod sana noon pa yan ginawa. Pero dahil nga sa batas na naninigurong tama ang lahat kaya ngayon lang ito sisimulan. Ang pakiusap ko na lang po sa ating mga kababayan, magtulung-tulong na lang po tayo para mas maging magaan ang impact ng trapiko na dala ng mga proyektong ito.|

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REMOVE JURASSIC PENAL SANCTIONS --- PPI We welcome and throw our full support behind the filing of a Motion for Reconsideration to enable the Supreme Court to take a second look at its ruling. It is not only in the Supreme Court where we can seek relief from the unconscionable provisions and jurassic penal sanctions of this new law. We can also go to Congress. Let us unite and support the move in Congress to deciminalize libel and remove penal sanctions in all statute books that impringe on our inalienable Freedom of the Press and Freedom of Expression. (Statement of Atty. Jesus G. Dureza, Chair/President, Philippine Press Instittute in re: Supreme Court Ruling on Cybercrime Law)

Balikas

Netizens, watch out! IF you are in FACEBOOK or TWITTER or in the internet, you should sit up and look closely at the new law called Cybercrime Prevention Law (RA 10175) that punishes cyberspace libel. Just to immediately clear the air at the outset, the original author of a libelous article or post is the only one held liable. Netizens who merely pass on or “share”, “like” or even make a “comment” of a libelous post or material is exempted or excluded from being penalized. Only the original author is answerable. However mark this: if in making a “comment”, you mention a new or additional derogatory information not found in the original posting, then you can be held liable for that as the original author of that new information. For example, Pedro accuses Ana of being a mistress of Juan in a post. Pedro can be charged under the new law. Upon reading Pedro’s post, you can share or like or comment or affirm or even criticize Ana for being a mistress of Pedro. But if you write a comment saying: "Ana is also a mistress of Angelo" then you can be liable for that additonal info on Ana's being with another person Angelo. So watch out.  DECRIMINALIZE -- As a consequence of this new law, there is a big debate now as to whether or not we should decriminalize libel as defined in both the old revised penal code and as recently contained in RA 10175. “Decriminalizing” libel means removing imprisonment or the penal sanctions from our laws. It does not remove its civil liability so an offender can still be hailed to court by filing a civil case. This was triggered by the recent ruling by the Supreme Court declaring in part as constitutional, the new cybercrime law that penalizes the original author with a maximum of 12 years imprisonment. This is much stiffer, by the way, than the penalty against journalists and mediamen under the revised penal code of the Philippines. Those who support this argue that the penal sanctions are violative of our constitutional right to press freedom and stifles free speech and expression. It brings a chilling effect on ordinary citizens who are generally not aware of the nuances of criminal libel. Truth to tell, veteran newsmen and those in professional media do not anymore mind or feel any chilling effect or are perhaps already inured to this. Over the years, they have learned how to creatively write or say things that have the same critical impact but evading elements of libel to prevent prosecution. But not so with our internet users. On the other hand, those who are against this move argue that this will make our press and the internet users more licentious and abusive and leaves the libelled citizenry without remedy or recourse. But here is a distinction between netizens and journalists. In media, one who is defamed will have to submit one's statement to the media for publication but cannot demand space to assure airing of that side. Whereas a blogger or a netizen can immediately give his/her side by also posting one's own side in the public domain without asking anyone's permission for space.  30 MILLION NETIZENS ---- The fact that this matter is now catching the attention of millions using the internet is a good sign. The estimated 30 million FilipIno netizens who are engaged in the so-called social media ( Facebook, Twitter, etc) are now rising up ( no, not in arms but in words) against the new law. Curiously, it is only when the Supreme Court, issued its ruling declaring the new law constitutional that a big howl of protest came. Not too many apparently noticed this when it went through Congress and then approved by the Philippine president. We were all caught napping because we could have stopped this on its tracks upon its inception during congressional deliberations and committee hearings. To belatedly block this in the Supreme Court invoking constitutional infirmity may be too late in the day, especially now that a decision has been rendered. The planned motion for consideration, which we should all support, may be futile at this time. It can be a bad law, done by badintentioned legislators but it can still be constitutional because it does not contravene any constitutional provision. But the furor now over this may be a good vehicle or platform for the long desired plan of decriminalizing libel. We definitely want to see this happen.  SELF-POLICING -- In print media involving members of the PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE ( PPI), there is an existing mechanism for redress against erring mediamen that is not known to many. The first line of redress for the maligned and the disciplining of the concerned erring media person is first left to the newspaper where the reporter or writer belongs. The editor or publisher or its designated "ombudsman" is given the first shot. Failing in that, the aggrieved can file a complaint before the PHILIPPINE PRESS COUNCIL which is composed of representatives from media and multi-sectoral groups like the academe,

>>>DUREZA..turn to P/7

BUSINESS

Feb. 24 - Mar. 2, 2014

IRRI releases new rice varieties Aerol B. Patena DA tones down PED scare on livestock industry THE International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has released forty four new rice varieties as part of its efforts to reduce hunger and ensure food security in Asia and Africa.

These varieties are resilient to climate change and would help farmers to efficiently harvest rice with minimal amount of resources, according to the IRRI. The new types of rice

AUCTION REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT & EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF RTC BATANGAS CITY SHERIFF’S NOTICE OF SALE EJF NO. 14-1452 Upon petition for extra-judicial foreclosure under Act 3135, as amended, filed by the HOME DEVELOPMENT MUTUAL FUND (otherwise known as PAG-IBIG Fund), as the mortgagee, with principal office address at Petron Megaplaza Building, 358 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City, against LEAH V. CHAND married to MOHAN CHAND, as the mortgagors, with postal address at Lot 17379-E-6-B PSD-404469 De Joya Capitol Village Ext., Barrio Sambat Ilaya and Calicanto, Batangas City, to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which amount to ONE MILLION THREE HUNDRED EIGHTY FOUR THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED THIRTY SEVEN PESOS and 77/100 (Php 1,384,137.77) inclusive of interest and penalty charges as of October 10, 2013. That likewise in case of foreclosure proceedings, the Mortgagor shall pay the Mortgagee, attorney’s fees equivalent of TEN (10%) percent of the total indebtedness plus the foreclosure expenses in connection with the sale also secured by the said mortgage, the undersigned Sheriff announces that on MARCH 6, 2014 at 10:00 A.M. OR SOON THEREAFTER at the main entrance of the CITY HALL BUILDING, BATANGAS CITY, he will sell at public auction for CASH in Philippine Currency to the highest bidder, the property described in the said mortgage together with all the improvements existing thereon, to wit: TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TILE NO. T-69869 “A parcel of land (Lot 17379-E-6-B of the subdivision plan, (LRA) Psd-404469 approved as a non-subdivision project, being a portion of Lot 17379-E-6, Psd-4A-012731; L.R.C. cad. Rec. No. 1705), situated in the Barrio of Sambat Ilaya & Calicanto, Batangas City, Island of Luzon. Bounded on the N., points 1 to 2 by Lot 17379-E-6-A of the subd. plan; on the E., points 2 to 3 by Lot 17379-P6, Psd-4A-012732; on the S., points 3 to 4 by Lot 17379-E-5; and on the W., points 4 to 1 by Lot 17379-E-8 (Right of Way) both of Psd-4A— 012731. Beginning at a point marked “1” on plan, being N. 32 deg. 57’E., 85.03 m. from BBM 22, Cad264, Batangas Cadastre; thence S. 86 deg. 54’E., 18.28 m. to point 2; thence S. 4 deg. 44’W., 5.98 m. to point 3; thence N. 86 deg. 54’W., 18.34 m. to point 4; thence N. 5 deg. 20’E., 5.98 m. to the point of beginning, containing an area of ONE HUDNRED NINE SQUARE METERS & FIFTYSQ. DECIMETERS (109.50) SQ.M., more or less. All points referred to are indicated on the plan and are marked on the ground as follows: points 3 & 4 by Ool P.S. & the rest by P.S. cyl. conc. mons. 15x60 cm., bearing true; date of original survey, executed by Quirino P. Clemeno, Jr., Geodetic Engineer, on Sept. 8, 2008.” Copies of this Notice of Sale shall be posted at the Bulletin Boards of the following conspicuous places, to wit: Post Office, Public Market, City Hall Bldg., where public auction shall takes place and at the Barrio of Sambat & Brgy. Calicanto, where the property is located, and at the Bulletin Board of the Hall of Justice, all in Batangas City Prospective buyers/bidders are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the title of the above-described property and the encumbrances thereon if any there be. In the event the public auction should not take place on the above scheduled date, it shall be held on March 14, 2014 without further notice and publication. All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above stated time and place and date of auction sale. Batangas City, January 29, 2014.

released in 2013 include nine salt-tolerant varieties in the Philippines, three floodtolerant varieties in South Asia, and six in sub-Saharan Africa. “Our partners are free to release these for farmers’ use or for more breeding work to suit local needs in their countries,” IRRI breeding division chief Eero Nissila said in a statement. Of the 44 rice varieties, 21 were in the Philippines, six in Bangladesh, five in Myanmar, three in Nigeria, two in Tanzania, two in India, and one each in Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Mozambique, and Rwanda. The IRRI is optimistic that these varieties would be able to respond to the

demand for quality rice in the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) region. "Releasing these rice varieties in ESA, including the aromatic ones, is a step toward meeting the demand of the region," IRRI scientist Dr. RK Singh who coordinated IRRI's regional plant breeding activities in the region stated. An independent assessment by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) show that Southeast Asian rice farmers in three countries are harvesting an extra USD 1.46 billion worth of rice a year as a result of the research work done by IRRI and its partners. A 13% boost in yield gave returns of

>>>AGRI-BUSINESS.. to P/7

JUDICIAL NOTICE Republic of the Philippines Fourth Judicial Region REGIONAL TRIAL COURT – BRANCH 8 Bulwagan ng Katarungan Pallocan West, Batangas City IN THE MATTER OF THE CORRECTION OF ENTRIES IN THE RECORD OF BIRTH OF DIANNE FLORES AMAGAN

SPEC. PROC. NO. 14-9650

DIANNE FLORES AMAGAN, Petitioner, -versusJOSEPHINE P. MARANAN, in her official capacity as the Civil Registrar of Batangas City, Respondent. x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - / ORDER A verified petition has been filed by Petitioner through counsel, Atty. Edgar L. Mendoza, praying that an Order be issued directing the Civil Registrar of Batangas City, to cancel the entry in the Registry of Birth of Batangas City Registry No. 94-6742, referring to the record of birth of petitioner DIANNE FLORES AMAGAN, that the entry on date and place of marriage of her parents appearing as “January 29, 1987 at Samar, Leyte”, be cancelled. It is hereby ordered that the petition be set for hearing on April 2, 2014 at 8:30 o’clock in the morning before this Court and notice is hereby given that any person having or claiming interest under the entry whose correction is sought may, within fifteen (15) days from notice of the petition, or from the last date of publication of such notice, file his/her opposition. Let copy of this Order be published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Province of Batangas including the cities of Batanags, Lipa and Tanauan, at the expense of the petitioner. Let a copy of this Order and the Petition be furnished the Solicitor General; the Office of the City Prosecutor, Batangas Cityand the Civil Registrar General, National Statistics Office, Quezon City. The Branch Clerk of Court is instructed to furnish the Office of the Clerk of Curt with a copy of this Order so that such notice may be published in accordance with the provinsions of Presidential Decre No. 1079. SO ORDERED.

undersecretary Joe Reaño. Usec Reano said livestock owners are however more worried about its effect on the livestock industry in the Philippines. “The global market of pork has receeded, and pork import has been reduced by 30 percent, which is a windfall to Filipino farmers, especially to the livestock owners,” Reano pointed out. However, officials of the Department of Health are suggesting the strengthening by government of its surveilance on the import of meat coming from countries with PED infected swine to reduce the spread of the virus in the Philippines.| PNA

AUCTION Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF BATANGAS FOURTH JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF Lipa City SHERIFF’S NOTICE OF SALE (EJF NO. 2014-0009) Upon extra-judicial petition for sale under Act 3135, as amended by Act 4118 filed by RURAL BANK OF SAN LUIS (BATANGAS) INC., mortgagee/s, with postal address at Pres. L. Katigbak Street, Lipa City, Batangas against ZENAIDA D. LANDICHO MARRIED TO RODOLFO LANDICHO mortgagor/s with postal address #2849 E. Zobel St. cor. JP Rizal St., Makati City to satisfy the morgagee indebtedness which as of May 31, 2013 amounts to SIX HUNDRED NINETEEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED SIXTY TWO PESOS (Php619,562.00) including/ excluding, interest and other charges agreed thereon and other expenses in connection with this sale, secured by the mortgagee/s the undersigned Sheriff IV of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 13, Lipa City, will sell at public on APRIL 14, 2014 at 10:00 o’clock in the morning or soon thereafter at the main entrance of the Hall of Justice, Maraouy, Lipa Citytot he highest bidder for CASH and in the Philippines Currency, the described real property/ies and its improvements thereon, to wit: TRANSFER CERTIFICATE TITLE No. 101453 A parcel of land (Lot 2-E of the subdivision plan Psd-04-080584, being a portion of Lot 2, Blk- 4. Psd-04027180, L.R.C. Record No. ), situated in the Brgy. Tambo, City of Lipa. Bounded on the NW., along line 1-2 by Lot 1 Blk- 4, Psd-04-027180; on the NE., along line 23 by Creek; on the SE., along line 3-4 by Lot 2-D of the subdivision plan; & on the SW., along line 4-1 by Road; Lot 1, Psd-04-027180. x x x x containing an area of THIRTY THREE (33) SQUARE METERS. Prospective buyers and bidders are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the titles herein above described and encumbrances thereon, if any there be. In the event that the Public Auction Sale should not take place on the said place on the said date, it shall be held on APRIL 21, 2014, without further notice and re-publication. “All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on thr above stated time and place.” Lipa City, February 13, 2014.

Batangas City, February 3, 2014. (Sgd.) NOEL M. RAMOS Sheriff IV

(Sgd.) ERNESTO L. MARAJAS Presiding Judge Copy furnished: Office of the Clerk of Court RTC Batangas City

DULY RAFFLED: Office of the City Civil Registrar, Batangas City

PUBLISHED AT ; PAHAYAGANG BALIKAS EDITED AT: GUADES COMPOUND, PUROK 3, CALICANTO, BATANGAS CITY DATE OF SALE: MARCH 6, 2014 COPY FURNISHED: ALLPARTIES CONCERNED.

Office of the Solicitor General Office of the City Prosecutor 134 Amorsolo St., Batangas City Legaspi Village Makati City Atty. Edgar L. Mendoza The Registrar General 2/F Star of David Bldg. National Statistics Office Evangelista Street cor EDSA, West Triangle Batangas City Quezon City Dianne Flores Amagan Office of the Civil Registrar San Francisco Samar, Leyte Mabini, Batangas

Pahayagang Balikas – February 10, 17 & 24, 2014

Pahayagang Balikas – February 17, 24 & March 3, 2014

(Sgd.) RAMON C. CANIEDO Sheriff IV

THE Department of Agriculture assured the public there is nothing to worry about the effect of the recent outbreak of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED) in the country. “PED cannot affect people who eat contamined meat, as only piglets can catch PED. PED causes no risk to human health, and PED infected meat is safe,” said Dr. Rubina Cresencio of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI). “PED has been in the country some five to seven years back and we have dealing with the problem ever since but so far we have not received reports about the PED problem,” said DA

Note: Award of publication hereof in the “BALIKAS” drawn by raffle in accordance with law.

HON. NOEL M. LINDOG Executive Judge ROBERT RYAN H. ESMENDA Clerk of Court & Ex-officio Sheriff

WARNING: It is absolutely prohibited to remove, deface or destroy this notice on or before the date of sale, UNDER PENALTY LAW. Pahayagang Balikas Batangas City February 24, March 3 & 10, 2014

Nicetas E. Escalona, Lifetimes Editor

LIFE TIMES pagkakagastusang mahalaga na hindi maiiwasan. Mabuti nang laging may naitatagong pera para sakaling kailangan, mayroong magagamit. Magtipid at simulan ang mag-impok. Libra (Set. 24-Okt. 23) - Kailangan na magdesisyon at magpasya kung sino nga ba ang gusto. Maaaring ang dalawang interesado ay magtatanong na kung sino sa iyo ang pipiliin o maaari ang kasintahan ay yayain ka nang pakasal. Tiyakin ang desisyon ay galing sa puso. Scorpio (Okt. 24-Nob. 22) - Huwag kaagad gumawa ng desisyon kung hindi tiyak ang sarili. Ang paggawa ng desisyon ay hindi minamadali at lalong hindi basta-basta. Alalahanin ito ay pinag-iisipan ng mabuti. Kung hindi nakakatiyak, kumunsulta sa higit na nakakaalam. Sagittarius (Nob. 23-Dis. 21) - Manatiling mapagkumbaba at huwag magmayabang dahil ang balik ay kahihiyan. Magiging mataas ang iyong pride na kapag walang self-control ay mapapasubo at mapapahiya sa karamihan. May sasalungat. Capricorn (Dis. 22-Ene. 19) - Iwasan na maging dahilan ng sakit ng ulo ng kapwa. Huwag hayaang mainis ang karamihan sa iyo. Kung ano ang gusto, huwag magpadalos-dalos dahil maaaring ito ang ikasira. Bawat kilos ay tiyakin ang pabor ay nasa panig. Aquarius (Ene. 20 - Peb. 18) - Ang pagpaparaya ay pagpapakita ng tunay na pagmamahal at hindi mababawasan ang pagkatao. Huwag mabahala dahil ang kapalit ng tiwala ay kaligayahan. Ang tiwala ay kakambal ng pag-ibig at pagmamahal kaya dapat lamang na alagaan nang hindi masira ang tiwala. |

Pisces (Peb. 19-Mar. 20) - Ang nararamdamang sakit ay mapapawi. Pagbigyan ang sarili na makapaglakbay sa ibang lugar upang maiba ang ihip ng kapalaran. Ang magbakasakali maliban sa sugal ay inaayunan ng panahon. Aries (Mar. 21-Abril 19) - May mga bagay na pinagdududahan sa minamahal. Upang makasiguro sa nais malaman, kausapin ng masinsinan ang sinisinta nang maliwanagan. Huwag kimkimin sa sarili kung may hinanakit. Maging tapat sa sarili at kapwa. Taurus (Abril 20-Mayo 20) - Nakakadismayang balita ang matatanggap. Maaaring may kinalaman sa trabaho, pinansiyal o buhay pag-ibig. Huwag hayaan na makaapekto ng husto sa sarili. Nasa tabi lamang ang solusyon ng suliranin. Gemini (Mayo 21-Hun. 21) - Hindi kailangan na maging magarbo o magastos upang matiyak na magiging maganda ang impresyon ng tao. Maging natural ay sapat na para makakuha ng mga kaibigan. Iwasan na magyabang dahil ang balik ay kahihiyan. Cancer (Hun. 22-Hul. 22) - Ang maging mapagbigay at maalalahanin ang tanging paraan upang mapalapit sa lihim na minamahal. Kung may gustong sabihin, walang masama na ipagtapat kung malinis ang pakay. Malalaman ang kasagutan kung magtatapat ng sadya. Leo (Hul. 23-Ago. 22) - Unti-unting makikilala ka sa larangan na kinabibilangan. Sa pag-ibig, ipadama sa minamahal ang tunay na nararamdaman. Maging malambing. Sa negosyo, magiging masagana ang kita. Virgo (Ago 23-Set. 23) - Huwag maging magastos kahit may pera dahil darating ang araw na tiyak na may

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<<<RETURN.. from P/8

<<<AGRI-BUSINESS.. from P/6

Netizens, watch out! IRRI releases new rice varieties Aerol B. Patena

business, etc. An investi- While PPI supports decrimigation is done and if there is nalization of libel, it is culpability the press council committed to do its share in USD 127 per hectare in Bangladesh, Indonesia, can impose sanctions. The seeing to it that the public is southern Vietnam, USD 76 Vietnam, and the Philippines. newspaper can even be amply protected from the per hectare in Indonesia, and The IRRI is an interdirected to give the aggrieved abusive press. It will take USD 52 per hectare in the national independent party space to ventilate or parallel efforts in getting its Philippines. research and training publish his side if this were media members capacitated Meanwhile, a study organization with headnot done so at the outset. to self-police effectively their commissioned by the Swiss quarters in Los Baños, However, the press council own ranks. Agency for Development and Laguna in the Philippines can acquire jurisdiction over Because an independent Cooperation (SDC) on the and offices in sixteen the complaint only upon the and free press is regarded as impact of investments in rice countries. submission of a written the “Fourth Estate” (separate research suggested that a The non-governmental waiver by the complainant and distinct from the 3 tra- million investment in rice organization (NGO) aims to that he will not resort to the ditional branches of govern- research has returned more develop new rice varieties and courts for redress. This ment -- the judiciary, legis- than million in benefits to rice sustainable rice crop administrative remedy is not lative and executive), it farmers and national management techniques to so much penal in character should be left on its own to economies in four Asian improve the well-being of poor but giving the complaining police and cleanse its own countries namely rice farmers and consumers. person an opportunity to ranks of its own share of The IRRI is credited for ................................... clear his name or give his side undesirables. Freedom and its contribution to the Green after being maligned publicly responsibility being coBut here’s a reality check Revolution which resulted to by a published material. It existent, the press must do its on this plan to decriminalize an increase on the producleaves to the independent part. But definitely, govern- libel through congress. Do tivity of rice in the developing press the task of policing its ment and especially its offi- you sincerely think our countries during the late own ranks. cials who are at the receiving legislators who have suffered 1960’s and 1970’s. There is now an on-going end of a free press, have no the brunt of a free wheeling The institute has already effort at PPI to revitalize or business interfering and press have the patriotism -- released around a thousand organize locally - based press playing policeman. That's and appetite -- to remove the improved rice varieties across councils to make available what press freedom is all penal sanction? Sorry, but I 78 countries since its estabthis mechanism to the public. about. doubt it! So don't bet on it.| lishment in 1960.| PNA .................................................................................................... .................

Pinoy recipes. Lutuing Pinoy Rellenong Pusit

sauce, lemon juice, salt and pepper for 30 about Minutes. Put the head in boiling water and cook until tender, then chop into small pieces. Heat oil in a pan, then add garlic,onion, tomato, chopped tentacles and shrimp,and sautéd for few minutes. Season with salt and pepper, add flour mixture keep stirring . Cook for another 2 minutes. Set aside. Let cool. Then stuff the squids with the above mixture. Secure the ends with a toothpicks. Heat up another wok; add oil, dip squid in beaten eggs and shallow fry for 3 minutes on each side.

STUFFED Squid with Sautéd shrimp, tentacles and vegetables like sweet turnips (singkamas), celery and tomatoes. You can put any stuffing you prefer, from ground meat, seafoods to any vegetables you want. Then after Sautéing and stuffing, your choice of frying or baking. Ingredients: 3 Large squids, cleaned 1/2 Cup shrimp, chopped 1/2 Cup sweet turnips, diced into small cubes 1/4 Cup celery, chopped 1 medium onion, chopped 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 medium tomato, chopped 1/2 Cup flour 1 Lemon 2 Tbsp soy sauce 2 Piece egg, beaten Salt and pepper to taste Cooking oil

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.|

Cooking Directions: Pull the head and squeeze to remove the ink sack and set aside. Remove both eye and the beak in the center of the tentacle. Marinate the squid in soya

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PA L A IS IPA N 1

6 11

21 24

WWW.BULATLAT.COM

broadcasted, and now, uploaded would not acquit the accused. One has just to impute malice to result in a conviction, and that is not so difficult to do because under the law “Every defamatory imputation is presumed to be malicious, even if it be true, if no good intention and justifiable motive for making it is shown.” So could we simply accept the Supreme Court decision declaring online libel as constitutional? Definitely not. We should fight against the promulgation of the fundamentally–flawed Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. While we are at it, let us also fight for the decriminalization of libel.|

Should we be content with trimmed down anti-cybercrime law? warrant of arrest once the case is filed in court. It is even worse if the accused is convicted. Under Article 355 of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines, the penalty for libel is “prision correctional in its minimum and medium periods or fine ranging from 200 to 6,000 pesos, or both, in addition to the civil action which may be brought by the offended party”. Remember Davao radio broadcaster Alex Adonis who was convicted of libel and imprisoned for two years at the Davao Prisons and Penal Farm on February 20, 2007 because of a case filed by then Rep. Prospero Nograles? Second, the truth of what has been published,

Guillao and her group’s opposition to mining operations. In most cases, it is the rich and powerful who file libel and defamation suits. The fact that libel is being used against people who print or broadcast stories critical of politicians, government officials and big business is bad enough, extending their reach to the internet, the last platform where the people could expose and oppose the wrongdoings of the rich and powerful, in real time, further closes all venues for exposes’ and expressions of dissenting opinions. Worse, the libel law in the Philippines is fundamentally flawed. For one, a person could be the subject of a

<<<PERSPECTIVE.....from P/4 filed a P10 million ($218.5 thousand) libel case against the trustees of the Center for Environmental ConcernsPhilippines, and its executive director Frances Quimpo, before the Pasig City Prosecutor’s Office, when the group came out with a fact finding mission report on the devastating effects of mining operations in Rapu-Rapu island in Bicol province, south of Manila. In October 2007, a charge of “grave slander” was filed by mining firm MTL Exploration Company against Barangay Runruno Landowners Association (Rulanas) Secretary Josie Guillao at the Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Villaverde and Quezon, Nueva Vizcaya because of

Feb. 24 - Mar. 2, 2014

37 PAHALANG 1 Kopa 6 Ginagawang alak 10 Ibaba ang daladala 12 Ms. Mercado 13 Kalahok 14 Anyaya 15 Overtime 16 Taguri sa santo 17 Gamit ni kupido 18 Hangin sa tiyan 20 Kapisanan: daglat 21 Simbolo ng tantalum 22 Ms. Sotto 23 Island: daglat 24 Libo 25 Gaya 27 Kaltas 29 Petrolyo 30 Tawag sa ina 32 Paglilibot ng paninda 33 Almusal 35 Pananong ng bilang

38 36 Diyosa 37 Waglit 38 Limit PABABA 1 Sen. Pangilinan 2 Pulis: pabalbal 3 Piñas o Vegas 4 Ibigay sa kasama 5 Inuming gawa sa luya 6 Alapaap 7 Hadlang 8 Uri ng bungang kahoy 11 Hinalughog 18 Paninda 19 Parte ng bibig 21 Kumpiyansya 24 Param 26 Esposa 28 State of the Nation Address 30 Paningin 31 Bulong 34 Halimbawa: daglat

>>Front Page

>>> Eco-Tourism Fee, kinokolekta na sa San Juan

Ronalina B. Lontoc, Special Project Editor

F.E.S.T.

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

Feb. 24 - Mar. 2, 2014

Micahel Jay Escobar, natatanging iskawt SANG Batangueño ang muling magiging kinatawan ng Region IV sa National Scout Venture Camp na gaganapin sa Lingayen, Pangasinan sa Mayo. Siya ay si Michael Jay Escobar, 15 taong gulang at 3rd year high school student sa Saint Bridget College. Si Escobar ang tinanghal na Regional Youth Representative sa isinagawang Regional Youth Forum kamakailan. Bawat lalawigan ay nagpadala ng anim na scouts sa naturang forum kung kayat mahigit sa 100 scouts ang naglaban-laban sa naturang titulo. Ang Regional Scout Representative ay magsisilbi ng isang taon at syang dadalo sa mga Regional Board meetings. Kung papalarin, si Escobar ang magiging ikatlong Batangueño na magiging National Youth Representative na magiging kinatawan ng bansa sa International Youth Forum. Si Escobar ay nanungkulan bilang City Boy Vice-Mayor at Mayor sa pagsasagawa ng City Boy Officials Week noong mga nagdaang taon. Sa pamamagitan ng proyektong ito ng Boy Scouts of the Philippines-Batangas City Council kung saan binibigyan ng pagkakataon na maging counterpart ng mga city officials at department heads ang mga batang scouts, nahahasa ang leadership qualities ng

mga boy scouts at nabibigyan sila ng pagkakataong makita ang paraan ng pamamalakad ng mga namumuno sa lokal na pamahalaan at kung paano ang mga ito nagbibigay ng serbisyo sa publiko. Lubos ang kagalakan ni Escobar sa pagkakapili sa kanya bilang Regional Scout Representative. “Malaking achievement sa aking batang edad ang pagkakapili sa akin kung kaya’t gagawin ko ang lahat ng aking makakaya upang magwagi dito,” sabi ni Escobar. Samantala, isang Council Peace Jamborette ang nakatakdang isagawa sa February 28 hanggang March 2 sa barangay Ilijan Sports Complex na inasahang dadaluhan ng may 2000 scouts sa lungsod. Ito ang unang pagkakataon na magsagawa ng peace jamborette na naglalayong gawing agents of peace ang mga participants. Panauhing pandangal sa naturang okasyon si Batangas 4th District Representative Dong Mendoza at Dep Ed Regional Director Dr. Diosdado San Antonio. Ilan sa mga nakalinyang gawain sa peace jamborette ay ang concert for peace, paghirang sa Mr. & Ms. Ambassador of Peace at ang oathtaking ng Council Executive Board. Ang tema ng Council Peace Jamborette ngayong taon ay “Scouts: Build Community”.| RONNA ENDAYA CONTRERAS

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NAGING kampeon sa 200-meter backstroke si Arian Neil Puyo ng Saint Bridget College at isa sa mga myembro ng delegasyon ng Batangas City sa Southern Tagalog Colleges Athletic Association (STCAA) competition ngayong taon. Siya ay nagkamit ng gold medal. Tumanggap din siya ng silver medal sa 100 backstroke at bronze medals sa 200 butterfly at 200 meter IM. Nakapag-uwi rin ng gold medal si Yerelle Gyle Sareno sa 100-meter breast stroke at bronze naman sa 200 meter breast stroke sa secondary – girls. Silver medalist naman si Robin Luise Tolentino sa 200 meter IM sa elementarygirls at bronze medalist din siya sa 100 backstroke at 100 meter fly at 100 meter breast. Nakakuha naman ng ikalawang pwesto o silver medalist si Jewelle Mae Macatangay sa 100 backstroke, 400 m freestyle at 50 meter backstroke sa elementary – girls. Sa swimming pa rin, gold medalists sina Puyo, Tolentino at Macatangay kasama sina Daphne Alexiel Mendoza at Stella Balatinsayo sa 400 m free 4x100 sa elementary-girls. Sa larangan ng chess, si Heidie Puno na isang ALS student ay nakakuha ng gold

NEIL PUYO

medal. Silver medal naman ang naiuwi nina Maria Eliz Lorena Suarez sa Taekwondo (Group 3-girls) at sina Marfred Marasigan at Leovic Macatangay sa taekwondo secondary – boys. Silver medalist din si Jamaica Cueto sa high jump sa elementary. Sa larong table tennis at arnis, tumanggap ng bronze medal ang mga kinatawan ng lungsod. May 400 guro at mag-aaral ang bumubuo sa delegasyon na lumahok sa STCAA ngayong taong ito. Ang Cluster 1 na kinabibilangan ng mga ball games ay ginanap sa noong February 714 sa Taytay, Rizal; ang Cluster 2 o kompetisyon sa swimming, taekwondo at table tennis ay noong ika-8 hanggang 14 ng Pebrero sa Tanauan City, Batangas at ang Cluster 3 o ang arnis at athletic games ay isinagawa noong February 15-21 sa Lucena City, Quezon. Bukod sa medalya, tatanggap ng P4,000 cash ang mga gold medalists, P3,000 para sa silver medalists at P2,000 naman sa mga bronze medalists mula sa Special Education Fund ng Department of Education–Batangas City. Lalaban sa Palarong Pambansa na nakatakdang ganapin sa May 4 sa Sta. Cruz, Laguna ang mga pambato ng Batangas City sa swimming. Rank 12 sa over all standing sa 2014 STCAA Meet ang delegasyon ng Batangas City mula sa 18 paaralang naglaban-laban dito.| RONNA ENDAYA CONTRERAS

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.

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Batangueño players, nagpakitang-gilas sa STCAA

MAINIT na tinanggap ng mga opisyal ng lunsod si Michael jay Escobar sa kaniyang pagbabalik sa lunsod mula sa Regional Youth Forum, at ibinigay ang mainit na suporta sa pagsabak nito sa National Youth Forum bilang kinatawan ng Rehiyon IV. Mula kaliwa, Mayor Eddie B. Dimacuha, Vice Mayor Jun Berberabe Jr., City Fire Marshall Col. Rommel Tradio at dating ABC Chairman Prudencio Cepillo.| RAMIL BORBON

Bagong liderato ng KALIPI, magpapakinang sa women empowerment sa Batangas INAASAHAN pa ang ibayong women empowerment sa Batangas City sa pagkakahalal ng bagong pangulo ng Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina (KALIPI) sa lungsod sa katauhan ni Zenaida Bagsit ng barangay Sorosoro Ilaya. Isinagawa ang eleksyon noong Pebrero 5 sa Gusali ng Bagong Pag-asa sa ilalim ng pangangasiwa ng City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWD). Lubos ang kagalakan ni Bagsit sa pagkakahirang sa kanya at aniya ito ay isang malaking karangalan. Hinalinhan niya bilang pangulo si Juanita Berania ng barangay Pallocan West. Layunin ng samahang KALIPI na maiangat ang antas ng pamumuhay ng mga kababaihan, mapalakas ang kanilang mga kakayahan, maipagtangggol ang kanilang karapatan at mabigyan ng pantay na pagkilala at pagpapahalaga sa lipunan. Ipinakilala sa publiko kamakailan ang bagong pamunuan ng KALIPI pagkatapos ng flag ceremony ng mga kawani ng lokal na

pamahalan. Pangalawang Pangulo ng KALIPI si Lorna Palo ng Sta Clara. Kalihim si Cecilia Bayani ng Sta. Rita Karsada, Ingat Yaman si Gilda Sorida ng Bilogo, Auditor si Lolinda Lilang ng Paharang West at PRO si Berlinda Perez ng Mahacot East. Sila ay manunungkulan hanggang 2016. Ayon kay Bagsit, ipagpapatuloy pa din ng grupo ang pagkakaloob ng mga gawaing pangkabuhayan (livelihood training) sa kanilang mga myembro. Plano rin aniya ng bagong pamunuan na maturuan ang mga kababaihan ng mga proyekto na maaari nilang pagkakakitaan tulad ng “one town, one product’ (OTOP) ng Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Unang gawain ng samahan ngayong taon ang pagsasagawa sa ikalawang pagkakataon ng “One Billion Rising for Justice” noong Araw ng mga Puso, sa Plaza Mabini na nilahukan ng may 300 kababaihan.

>>KABABAIHAN...sundan sa P/3

Services Offered: * Rehearsals * Rentals * Tutorial *Band Service We also offer: Photobooth Service for all occasions. Call: 043.417.1662