Vol. XX, No. 1 | January 5 - 11, 2015

> News.. P/3

>>New Year’s sea tragedy struck off Batangas Sharing Good News..

Bridging Communities Towards Development

Vol. 20, No. 1 | January 5 - 11, 2015

Southern Tagalog, Philippines

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“LUBOS ang kasiyahan ng mga mananampalatayang Katoliko sa Metropolitan See of Lipa sa pagkakahirang ni Papa Francisco kay Fr. Junie na magiging bagong pastol ng Diyosesis ng Boac sa Lalawigan ng Marinduque na mula naman sa kaparian ng Arsidiyosesis ng Lipa.”

Ito ang buod ng pahayag ng Lubhang Kagalang-galang Ramon Cabrera Arguelles, D.D., arsobispo ng Lipa, nang ihayag nito sa publiko sa

 Smart/TNT: 0912.902.7373 Globe/TM: 0905.753.3462

pamamagitan ng evangelization radio station dwAL-FM noong Disyembre 31, 2014.

Isinilang sa Maynila noong Mayo 18, 1969 sa mag-asawang Batangueñong sina Marcelino Maralit Sr. at Mercedita Malabanan ng Lunsod ng Lipa, si Reb. Padre Marcelino Antonio Maralit, Jr., kilala bilang Fr. Junie at ngayon ay Monsignor Junie. >>>ALAGAD....sundan sa P/3

ALALAY KAPATID. Nahuli ng kamera sa isang tagpong ito habang ginagabayan ni Obispo Reynaldo G. Evangelista, D.D., [kanan] dating obispo ng Boac, Marinduque si Bishop-Elect Junnie Maralit [kaliwa].|

FR. NONIE D.

Simplifying distortion Maka-kalikasang Lunsod Business one-stop permit

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Batangas, lalo pang procesing system ng pinakinang ng mga Lunsod Batangas, nasa patimpalak noong 2014 Lunsod ng Calapan na > NEWS... P/2 > NEWS.. P/3

Year-end random thoughts

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NEWS

2 PAHAYAGANG BALIKAS SULYAP-PASADA SA TAONG 2014 - Unang Bahagi

Maka-kalikasang Lunsod Batangas, pinakinang ng mga patimpalak noong 2014 SA kabila ng mga pagsubok na kinaharap ng Lunsod Batangas noong 2014, hindi maitatanggi na naging mabunga at payapa pa rin ang pamumuhay ng mga Batangueño. Narito ang mga mahahalagang kaganapan ng nakaraang taon.

ENVIRONMENT 2014 Gawad Punong Lungsod Muling ipinakita ng mga barangay sa lunsod ang kanilang pakikiisa sa programa ng pamahalaang lunsod ng Batangas sa 2014 Gawad Punong Lunsod Patimpalak Pagandahan ng Sitio sa Barangay.

Itinuturing na isa sa mga susi ng tagumpay ng proyekto ay ang pakikipagugnayan ng mga Cluster Coordinators sa mga barangay. Nagtalaga si Mayor Dimacuha ng may 50 kawani ng pamahalaan upang regular na magbisita at magmonitor tungkol sa patimpalak.

UNITED ACT. Regular na nagpupulong ang mga kasapi ng Technical Working Committee para matiyak an amaayos at matagumpay ang Gawad Pununglunsod sa Pagandahan ng mga Barangay at Sitio. | PALAKAT

RESIKLO. Isang mahalagang component ng Zero Waste management

ang pagkakaroon ng Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) kung saan inilalagak at iniipon ang mga bagay na patapon na ngunit maaari pang mapakinabangan at ipagbili upang iresiklo.| PALAKAT Kuminang ang pagkamalikhain ng mga Batangueno - makukulay na disenyo ng pinta sa electric posts na pagkakakilanlan ng mga sitio at barangay. Idagdag pa rito ang mga mural paintings at mga bakod na lalong pinatingkad at inayos upang makaagawpansin.

Dahil kasama rin sa criteria ang pagkakaroon ng operational Materials Recovery Facilities (MRF), naipaalaala muli ang kahalagahan ng pagbubukodbukod ng mga basura sa nabubulok at di-nabubulok. Napakinabangan ang mga basyo ng mga soft drinks bottle dahilan nagamit ito na palamuti lalo na sa panahon ng kapaskuhan.

Nabigyang-lakas din ang pagpapaigting ng community garden at backyard gardening ng mga halaman at gulay dahil isa rin ito sa pinagbabasehan ng patimpalak.

Sa kabuuan, naramdaman ang pagkakaisa ng mga tao sa mga bagay na nakapag-aangat ng kanilang pagpapahalaga sa kanilang kapaligiran. Isang inspirasyon ang naging papuri ng mga bisita na nagbuklod sa mga tao sa barangay. Alalaong baga, ayon sa mga panayam, kung hindi man lahat ay

magkamit ng mga premyo, ang pagkakaroon ng malinis at kaaya-ayang barangay ay isang kasiyahan na hindi matutumbasan ng kahit ano mang materyal na bagay.

Ayon sa isa sa mga hurado na si Executive Director Eligio Ildefonso ng National Solid Waste Management Commission, nagagalak siya sa inisyatibo ng pamahalaang lokal ng Batangas dahilan sa hindi lamang sa pangangalaga ng kapaligiran ang pakinabang nito kundi maaaring maisulong nito ang lokal na turismo.

Kitang kita aniya ang hospitalidad ng mga tao. Sa simpleng kakayahan ay naipadama ang katapatan at init ng pagtanggap ng mga tao sa barangay.

Nakatakdang gawaran ng parangal ang mga barangay na napakilos ang lahat ng sitio na kanilang sakop samantalang magbibigay rin ng parangal sa mga top sitios sa bawat barangay ng lunsod sa ika-12 ng Enero sa Batangas City Convention Center.

Ang naturang patimpalak ay nasa pangangasiwa ng Technical Working Committee (TWC) ng City Solid Waste Management Board na pinamumunuan ni Mayor Eddie B. Dimacuha.

Search for Best Innovative Environmental School Projects Nauna rito ay binigyang-pagkilala ni Mayor Eddie B. Dimacuha ang 19 na natatanging paaralan na nagwagi mula sa may 100 paaralan mula sa publiko at pribadong sektor sa lunsod noong ika31 ng Marso sa Batangas City Convention Center.

Tinanghal na Top Three Schools ang mga sumusunod: 1st Place- San Isidro Elementary School (ECO Patrol) P50,000 at trophy; 2 nd place ang Talumpok National High School (Project Organic Gardening) - P30,000 at trophy.

Kaugnay pa rin nito pinuri ng panauhing pandangal na si Dr. Lorna Dig Dino, Assistant Secretary ng Department of Education ang programa ng pamahalaang lunsod ng Batangas dahil sa maigting na “collaboration” ng paaralan at pamahalaan.

Kinilala rin ang Barangay 5 (Most Liveable Community) na ginawaaran din ng Hall of Famer Award dahil sa tatlong sunud-sunod na pagkapanalo bilang Huwarang Barangay noong 2009, 2011 at ngayong taong ito.

Tumanggap naman ng pagkilala ang mga Top Performing Barangay na kinabibilangan ng Ilijan, Paharang Kanluran, Tinga Itaas, Sta. Rita Aplaya, Maruclap, Talumpok Kanluran at Talumpok Silangan.

Ang naturang patimpalak ay pinangasiwaan ng Technical Working Committee (TWC) ng City Solid Waste Management Board at nagpapatuloy para sa susunod na gawad parangal sa Marso ng 2015.

Search for Most EnvironmentFriendly Healthcare Institution Bukod sa barangay at eskwelahan, mayroon ding patimpalak para sa mga ospital at klinika. Inilunsad ang kaunaunahang Search for the Most Environment-Friendly Healthcare Institution in Batangas City sa pangunguna ng Batangas Medical Society noong Agosto sa Amphitheater ng Plaza Mabini.

>>>SULYAP... sundan sa P/6

0905.753.3462 0917.807.9787 0912.902.7373

January 5 - 11, 2015

Inter-Island News Collated By RONALINA L. ELARMO

Business permit procesing system ng Batangas, nasa Calapan na CALAPAN, Oriental Mindoro – Kasunod ng isinagawang Lakbay-Aral ng mga pangunahing opisyal ng Lunsod ng Calapan sa Lunsod Batangas nitong nakalipas na taon, pormal nang ipinatutupad ngayon sa lunsod na ito ang business permit processing system ng Lunsod Batangas.

Sa ilalim ng bagong sistemang ipinatutupad, tiyak na malaking kaalwanan sa mga negosyante at mga nagpoproseso ng permits ng kani-kanilang negosyo.

Mula sa dating 21 steps sa pagkuha ng business permits, ginawa na lamang itong tatlong steps upang makaiwas sa congestion ang mga aplikante. Ang proseso ay binubuo ng tatlong aspekto: File, Pay, at Release.

Sa File, kinakailangang punan ang mga kinakailangang datos na nakapaloob sa Unified Registration Form. Ikalawa ay ang Pay na ibabase ang bayarin sa previous payments.

Ang ikatlo ay ang Release na kung saan ay agad na makukuha ang business permit at tanging ang Business Permits and Licensing Officer at City Mayor lamang ang lalagda.

Dahil dito, ang pagiging masigla at maunlad ng kalakalan ngayon sa lungsod ay resulta ng maayos na implementasyon ng mga polisiyang may kaugnayan sa kapakanan at kagalingan ng mga nagnenegosyo.

Samantala, anumang kakulangan sa mga requirements sa pagkuha ng permit ay pahihintulutan subalit ito ay sisiguruhing makokompleto sa loob ng 365 days sa pamamagitan ng binuong Joint Inspection Team na binubuo ng City Health and Sanitation Department, City Treasury Department, City Legal Department, City Assessors Department, Zoning Office, Building Official Office at Business Permit and Licensing Office.

Para naman sa taong 2016 ay hindi na kinakailangang magfill-up muli ng Unified Registration Form sapagkat ang mga datos ay nasa data base na ng City Government at kaunti na lamang ang kinakailangang requirements. Ang assessment ay ibabase sa BIR Income Tax Payment/Percentage Tax Payment.

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Mga bagong promote na kawani, nanumpa sa tungkulin ROMBLON, Romblon — Kabuuang 86 na miyembro ng Philippine National Police, tumanggap ng promosyon ang nanumpa sa kanilang bagong posisyon na ginanap kamakailan sa Romblon Police Provincial Office (RPPO) ground.

Ang mass oath taking at donning of rank ay pinangunahan ni Provincial Director PSSupt. Danilo M. Abadiano kung saan dinaluhan ito ng mga halal na opisyal ng bayan ng Romblon at mga kapamilya ng mga pulis na nabigyan ng promosyon.

Sa mensahe ni PD Abadiano sa harapan ng mga bagong promote na pulis, kanyang sinabi na ang nakamit nilang promosyon ay patunay ng kanilang mahusay na paggganap sa tungkulin at ang pag-angat ng ranggo sa kanilang hanay ay pagdagdag rin ng responsibilidad para mapangalagaan ang seguridad at katahimikan ng pamayanan.

Sa pag-angat aniya ng mga ranggo ay panibagong responsibilidad ang haharapin ng isang alagad ng batas kaya dapat manatiling tapat ang mga ito sa mga sinumpaang tungkulin tungo sa isang serbisyong makatotohanan.

“Hinahamon ko kayong lahat na mas lalo pang pagbutihin ang pagtupad sa inyong sinumpaang tungkulin, may disiplina sa sarili at huwag hayaang madungisan ang pangalan ng PNP,” pahayag pa ni Abadiano.

Ang mga na-promote na pulis ay kinabibilangan ng 3 Police Superintendent (PSUPT), 1 Police Chief Inspector (PCINSP), 7 Senior Police Officer IV (SPO4), 1 Senior Police Officer III (SPO3), 32 Senior Police Officer II (SPO2), 17 Senior Police Officer I (SPO1), 9 Police Officer III (PO3) at 16 Police Officer II (PO2).|

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P4-milyong pananim sa Romblon, apektado ng bagyong Ruby ROMBLON, Romblon — Mahigit P4 milyong halaga ng mga produktong pang-agrikultura sa lalawigan ng Romblon ang naapektuhan sa pananalasa ng bagyong Ruby.

Batay sa isinumiteng ulat ngayong tanghali ng tanggapan ng Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg) sa Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), may kabuuang P4,269,370 ang napinsala ng bagyo na kinabibilangan ng crops, fisheries at livestock.

Sa pinakahuling tala ng OPAg, umabot sa P3,735,970 ang halaga sa mga napinsalang pananim, P165,000 naman ang nasira sa pangisdaan at P368,400 ang naapektuhan sa mga alagang hayop o paghahayupan.

Ayon kay Provincial Agriculturist Geishler F. Fadri, ang kanilang mga nakalap na ulat sa iniwang pinsala ng bagyo sa agrikultura ay kagyat na ipararating sa Kagawaran ng Pagsasaka (Department of Agriculture) upang mabilis na matulungan ang mga apektadong magsasaka.

Patuloy pa rin aniya ang pangangalap nila ng datus sa mga iniwang pinsala ng bagyo sa agrikultura sapagkat mayroon pang mga Municipal Agriculturist na naantala ang pagpapadala ng damage assessment report sa kanilang lugar.|

January 5 - 11, 2015

Peace & Order Update Collated By JACK L. AQUINO

2 suicide incidents after New Year BAUAN, Batangas – On the 2nd day of 2015, An aged male person ended his life by jumping to death at the port of Bauan at around 8:30 in the morning.

Authorities reported that the unidentified person to be between 60 and 65 years old.

Reports said that the old man went inside the Philippine Ports Authority complex at Barangay Aplaya, this municipality, and jumped into the water for unknown reason.

Members of the Philippine Coast Guard were alerted and a team led by SN2 Sheramel Bencito conducted rescue operation and was able to retrieve the unconscious body of the victim.

Dr. Victor Bejer, municipal health officer, who arrived shortly after the incident declared that the death of the victim be caused by asphyxia by drowning.

Meanwhile, on or about 12:30 in the afternoon of the New Year’s day, the cadaver of Pedro Abe y Abdon, Punumbarangay of Brgy. Calumpit, was found hanging on a tamarind tree with a nylon cord tied around his neck in Sitio Malipa, of the same barangay in Lobo town.

Earlier, at around 7:30 a.m. of the same day, a male cadaver was found inside a semi-abandoned house of one Nilda Samiano at Purok 4, Brgy. Bolbok, Lipa City.

The fatality was identified as one Ruben Rosales y Dumaual, also of the same city.

SOCO assistance was requested for proper identification of the said victim.|

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NEWS

PAHAYAGANG BALIKAS 3

New Year sea tragedy struck off Batangas PORT of BATANGAS – A cargo vessel plying Luzon-Visayas route sank at around 5 nautical miles southwest of Malabrigo Point, in Lobo town, province of Batangas at about 4pm of Jan 1, 2015.

The cargo vessel identified as M/V Sea Merchant was loaded with 20,040 bags of cement and left Bauan Port enroute to Antique in Western Visayas with 20 crew on board.

Initial reports from the Philippine Coast Guard – 5th Coast Guard District said all of the 20 crews on board were rescued with one reported casualty.

Among these number, 11 survivors were rescued by M/V Mactan Is while nine (9) others were rescued by Montenegro Shipping Lines. The last 9 survivors were rescued from 7:21am to 8:30am of January 2, 2015.

Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) reported quoting PCG updates that the vessel was battered by big waves and strong winds from the port side (right side of the ship) that caused it to sink.

The sunken vessel was owned and operated by Fortune Sea Carrier and was piloted by Capt. Luzvimindo Casipong, 54.

Other crews rescued include:

FILE photo of M/V Sea Merchant while unloading copra in the Port of Gingoog in Mindanao.| Celso Rey Baiza, 48 – Chief Mate; Benildo Ligas, 32 – 2nd Mate; John Riel Nurad, 28 – 2nd Engineer; Philip Solomon, 31, Lester John Carinos, 21 and Rizaldy Subo, 37 - Oilers Manny Mendiola, 28; Ronnie Lebguban, 36; and Mon James Gabunilas, 25 – Able Bodied Seamen Franklin Ibañez, 34 – Bosun; Rochie Jakosalem, 32 and John Patrick Saplot, 20 – Engine Cadets; Rommel Zoleta, 19 – Deck Cadet; Constantino Torres, 30 and Leonard Roma, 52 – Crane Operators

Kirby Dan Ralph Rivera, 25 – Chief Cook; Frank Generalao, 22 and Michael Tagolgol, 21 – Apprentice Mates.

Captain Casipong and Subo were being treated at United Doctor of St. Camillus Hospital in Batangas City.

While the cadaver of the lone fatality, Chief Engineer Almarito Anciano, 64, was turned over to the Batangas City Police Office for proper disposition.

Anciano was apparently the oldest and the only senior citizen among the 20 crews of the sunken vessel.| JOENALD MEDINA RAYOS

............................................................................................................................................................... <<<ALAGAD...mula sa P/1

‘Bagong Pastol sa Taon ng Tupa’ KEEP SAFE. – PSSupt. Omega Jireh Fidel, Batangas Police provincial director led the destruction of the confiscated illegal fireworks.| BALIKAS PHOTO / JOENALD MEDINA RAYOS

Yuletide celebration in the Calabarzon, generally peaceful CAMP VICENTE LIM, Calamba City - PCSupt. Jesus T. Gatchalian, RD PRO CALABARZON stated that the celebration of the yuletide season in the CALABARZON was generally peaceful.

This is attributed to the concerted efforts of the men and women of PRO CALABARZON who unselfishly joined in the massive campaign regarding the “Oplan Ligtas Paskuhan 2014” of the PNP, an operational plan which aimed a peaceful yuletide season with zero casualty.

As early as December 2014, Gatchalian led the widest dissemination and advocacy of Iwas Paputok program through social media, radio programs and even distribution of safety tip leaflets regarding the dangers of firecrackers.

He also ordered the religious inspection of firecracker stores/stalls for possible illegal firecrackers and arrest of illegal vendors for violation of RA 7183, An act regulating the sale, distribution and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.

As of January 1, 2015, tons of illegal firecrackers with estimated amount of Php 806,056.00 were confiscated all over CALABARZON areas and were subsequently destroyed.

Seven (7) were arrested for illegal possession, sale/use of firecrackers; Twenty six (26) were recorded to have been injured by firecrackers; Five (5) were recorded to be victims of stray bullets as compared to 2013 which recorded six (6) victims; Six (6) incidents of indiscriminate firing were recorded, four (4) were arrested and two (2) were reported wounded compared to 2013 where two (2) incidents of indiscriminate firing were reported, two (2) were arrested and only one (1) was wounded; No incident of fire brought about by firecrackers was reported compared to 2013 where one (1) fire incident was reported.

The data collated as compared to the data the previous year (2013) showed that there is an 89.32% dramatic decrease in the number of casualties specifically to note that injuries recorded in CY 2013 were 252 compared to only 26 in 2014.

PNP PRO4A, among all its other anti criminality campaign will not stop its advocacy on IWAS PAPUTOK and it will continue until the number of injuries/casualties will decrease if not totally avoided.

As a public advisory coming from the leadership of PRO4A, the public is encouraged to celebrate the coming yuletide seasons without firecrackers and use of firearms.

The public is also advised to report immediately to the following hotline numbers: Twitter- @PNPhotline or Facebook Page-Philippine National Police.|

Tinapos niya ang pilosopiya sa St. Francis de Sales Major Seminary sa Lunsod ng Lipa at ang teolohiya sa Universidad de Navarra sa Pamplona, España at may titulong Licentiate in Sacred Theology. Di kalaunan, tinapos din ni Mons. Junie ang Licentiate in Church History sa Pontifical University of the Holy Cross sa Roma; at inordenang pari para sa Arsidiyosesis ng Lipa noong Marso 13, 1995.

Bilang pari, naglingkod siya bilang parochial vicar sa Parokya ng Inmaculada Concepcion sa bayan ng Bauan, Batangas (19951996); bilang propesor sa St. Francis de Sales Major Seminary (1996-1999).

Naging Deputy Director din siya ng Diocesan Commission for Vocations na kalaunan ay siya na rin ang naging Direktor ng naturang komisyon.

Naglingkod din siya ViceChancellor, Professor, Educator ay Dean of Studies at St. Francis Theological Seminary (2003-2009); at bilang Rektor ng St. Francis Theological Seminary (2009-2013).

Samantala, una at huli niyang hinawakan bilang lingkod-pari ang Parokya ng Invención dela Santa Cruz sa bayan ng Alitagtag, Batangas mula noong 2013 hanggang sa araw ng kaniyang paghirang. Naging kasapi rin siya ng Council of Priests ng arsidiyosesis ng Lipa.

Ang Diyosesis ng Boac na sumasaklaw sa buong islalalawigan ng Marinduque ay nasasakop ng Metropolitan Province of Lipa na binubuo ng Arsidiyosesis ng Lipa bilang sentro ng Metropolitan See, at ng mga Diyosesis ng Lucena, Gumaca, Prelatura ng Infanta at Apostolic Vicariates of Calapan at San Jose – o ng buong mga lalawigan ng Batangas, Quezon, Aurora, Marinduque, Oriental at Occidental Mindoro.

Para sa mga mananampalatayang walang pastol, isang malaking biyaya ang mabigyan sila ng bagong Pastol ngayong papasok ang tinatawag na Year of the

Sheep at dadating din sa bansa ang Punong-Pastol ng SImabhang katoliko, si Papa Francisco.

Mula pa noong Abril 2013, walang Obispo ang Diyosesis ng Boac matapos maitalagang Obispo ng Diyosesis ng Imus (Cavite) si Obispo Reynaldo G. Evangelista, D.D. na isa ring Batangueño.

Hanggang sa sandaling sinusulat ang balitang ito, wala pang naitatakdang petsa kung kailan isasagawa ang ordinansyon sa pagka-obispo ni Mons. Junie at maging ang pormal na pagtatalaga sa kaniya bilang Punong Pastol ng Diyosesis ng Boac.| JOENALD MEDINA RAYOS

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4 PAHAYAGANG BALIKAS

OPINION

January 5 - 11, 2015

Urbi et Orbi: Christmas Message Dear Brothers and Sisters, Happy Christmas!

Jesus, the Son of God, the Saviour of the world, is born for us, born in Bethlehem of a Virgin, fulfilling the ancient prophecies. The Virgin’s name is Mary, the wife of Joseph.

Humble people, full of hope in the goodness of God, are those who welcome Jesus and recognize him. And so the Holy Spirit enlightened the shepherds of Bethlehem, who hastened to the grotto and adored the Child.

Then the Spirit led the elderly and humble couple Simeon and Anna into the temple of Jerusalem, and they recognized in Jesus the Messiah. “My eyes have seen your salvation”, Simeon exclaimed, “the sal-vation prepared

by God in the sight of all peoples” (Lk 2:30).

Yes, brothers and sisters, Jesus is the salvation for every person and for every people!

Today I ask him, the Saviour of the world, to look upon our brothers and sisters in Iraq and Syria, who for too long now have suffered the effects of ongoing conflict, and who, together with those belonging to other ethnic and religious groups, are suffering a brutal perse-cution. May Christmas bring them hope, as indeed also to the many displaced persons, exiles and refugees, children, adults and elderly, from this region and from the whole world. May indifference be changed into closeness and rejection into hospitality, so that all who now are suffering may receive the necessary humanitarian help to overcome the rigours of winter, return to their countries and live with dignity. May the Lord open hearts to trust, and may he bestow his peace upon the whole Middle East, beginning with the land blessed by his birth, thereby sustaining the efforts of those committed effectively to dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians.

May Jesus, Saviour of the world, protect all who suffer in Ukraine, and grant that their beloved land may overcome tensions, conquer hatred and violence, and set out on a new journey of fraternity and recon-ciliation.

May Christ the Saviour give peace to Nigeria, where [even in these hours] more blood is being shed and too many people are unjustly deprived of their possessions, held as hostages or killed. I invoke peace also on the other parts of the African conti-nent, thinking especially of Libya, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and various regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I beseech all who have political responsibility to commit themselves through dialogue to overcoming differences and to building a lasting, fraternal coexistence.

May Jesus save the vast numbers of children who are victims of violence, made objects of trade and traffic-king, or forced to become soldiers; children, so many abused children. May he give comfort to the families of the children killed in Pakistan last week. May he be close to all who suffer from illness, especially the victims of the Ebola epidemic, above all in Liberia, in Sierra Leone and in Guinea. As I thank all who are courageously dedicated to assisting the sick and their family members, I once more make an urgent appeal that the necessary assistance and treatment be provided.

The Child Jesus. My thoughts turn to all those children today who are killed and ill-treated, be they infants killed in the womb, deprived of that generous love of their parents and then buried in the egoism of a culture that does not love life; be they children displaced due to war and persecution, abused and taken advantage of before our very eyes and our complicit silence. I think also of those infants mas-sacred in bomb attacks, also those

>>>EX-CATHEDRA....turn to P/5

Ang Mabuting Balita Ang Pagbautismo kay Jesus ITO ang ipinapahayag niya sa mga tao, "Ang darating na kasunod ko ay higit na makapangyarihan kaysa sa akin. Ni hindi ako karapat-dapat yumukod at magkalas man lamang ng tali ng kanyang sandalyas. Binautismuhan ko kayo sa tubig, ngunit babautismuhan niya kayo sa Espiritu Santo."

Nang panahong iyon, dumating si Jesus mula sa Nazaret sa Galilea, at siya'y binautismuhan ni Juan sa Ilog Jordan. Pagk a a h u n g pagkaahon ni Jesus sa tubig, nakita niyang bumukas ang kalangitan at bumababa sa kanya ang Espiritu na tulad ng isang kalapati. Narinig niya ang isang tinig na mula sa langit at nagsasabing, "Ikaw ang minamahal kong Anak; lubos kitang kinalulugdan."| ...............................................................................................

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Simplifying distortion SOME Catholic believers raised alarm when ABSCBN released its two promotional shirts for Pope Francis’ visit to the Philippines. They claimed that the shirts distort the Pope’s statements about diversity and homosexuality as the imprint gives the impression that Pope Francis expressed a dislike of religion in favor of diversity and a sweeping acceptance of homosexuality within the Church. The CBCP called on the Catholic faithful not to patronize the products. Because of this, ABS-CBN was reported to have recalled the shirts from the market.

The misstatement is clear. Those who read the papal messages from where the prints were based can see how the latter misquoted the Pope. It is unthinkable that Pope Francis can be conceived to be irreligious and reckless to restate a Church teaching and sow confusion among its believers. Quotable as he is, Pope Francis’ openness and humility put Catholic faith above all claims for reform because it is the foundation by which he vows to rebuild his Church.

The Pope has started many reforms in the Catholic Church. Like St. Francis of Asisi, Pope Francis is slowly becoming a pillar that holds the Church from crumbling down. He is revitalizing its institutions and spearheading its renewal to be able to face the challenges of the changing times. However, none of his pronouncements may be interpreted to cater post-modernism, moral relativism and secularism.

He stands for the teaching of the Church and calls for the evangelism of the world as the Holy Trinity commissioned the Catholic believers. He is a prophet and priest. He cannot be depicted as a secular reformer out to transform a church into collectives of religious

and non-religious believers and of different ideological persuasions.

The misplaced shirt prints may be due to honest mistakes though. It is not easy to simplify something that is already simple. Most often than not such attempt leads to confusion and obscurity rather than understanding and clarity. Hermeneutics teaches us the golden rule of construction or interpretation: do not interpret if the statement is clear. Artists and product manufacturers should be reminded of this basic rule.

For artists and product manufacturers, the temptation to simplify the Pope’s messages is not easy to resist. Many people have become absurdly simplistic today. After all, they are after people’s patronage and do things for profit.

Indeed, the preference of people for memes and processed information has become absurd. We are living in the age of “memes” generation. Most people no longer read original texts or engaged in spirited intellectual discourse. Many people accept computer graphics and memes in the online social networking sites as facts. Advertisers and propagandists have been using to the utmost the internet as primary tool to brainwash or lead people to do their biddings.

This trend demands more vigilance for those who believe that people’s morals and social values should be preserved. It seems that churches and schools could be more effective in giving moral guidance to the people with the use of the internet. The fight for morality and social coherence has gone to the internet. And as such, we need to educate ourselves more on how to maximize this technology to become effective game players in this battle.|

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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.

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Contributors: Jerome Jay C. Sapinoso Jack L. Aquino | Jessie delos Reyes

Columnists: Gerry M. Zamudio | Atty. Jesus Dureza Atty. Ramel C. Muria | Atty. Jose Sison Benjie Oliveros Cartoonist Janlei Benedict G. Rayos

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Official Representatives - Lipa Office Batangas League for Alternative Development & Services (BLADES), Inc.

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.|

OPINION

January 5 - 11, 2015

Pinalitan ng contractual KASO ito ng PCT. Idinemanda ang kompanya ng unyon ng mga empleyado nito sa National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) dahil ang mga posisyong binakante ng mga regular na empleyado ng kompanya ay pinapalitan ng mga contractual na empleyado samantalang tulad din ng mga regular na empleyado ang tinatrabaho ng mga ito. Hiningi ng union na bayaran sa mga contractual ang diperensiya sa suweldo at benepisyo ng mga regular.

Nagdesisyon ang Labor Arbiter sa kaso ng hindi na hinintay pa ang position paper ng PCT. Ang ginawa kasi ng kompanya ay nagsumite ng isang mosyon para i-dismiss ang kaso. Pinagbabawal ang mosyon na ito.

Dahil naiwang hindi nasasagot ang mga paratang ng unyon ay itinuring ng Labor Arbiter na totoo at tama ang mga nakasaad dito. Dineklara ng Labor Arbiter ang PCT na may sala ng unfair labor practice. Inutos ng Labor Arbiter na bayaran ng PCT ang diperensiya sa mga suweldo at magbayad din ng danyos (moral and exemplary). Kinampihan ng NLRC ang Labor Arbiter sa desisyong ito bagaman tinanggal ang babayaran sa danyos.

Nagpetisyon ang PCT sa Court of Appeals (CA) ngunit binasura din ito. Ang kailangan kasing sertipikasyon (verification and certification of nonforum shopping) ay pirmado lamang ng presidente

ngunit walang resolusyon na nagpapatunay na awtorisado siya ng board of directors ng kompanya. Tama ba ang CA?  MALI. Ang patakaran ay hindi tatanggapin ang anumang aktuwasyon ng isang opisyal ng kompanya kung hindi ito awtorisado ng board of directors. Sa mga kasong dinesisyunan ng Korte Suprema, makikitang kinikilala ang mga sumusunod na opisyal ng kompanya na may kakayahang pumirma sa sertipikasyon kahit walang kasamang resolusyon ng board: 1) Chairman ng board, 2) Presidente ng kompanya, 3) General Manager o Acting General Manager, 4) Personnel Officer at 5) ang tinatawag na employment specialist. Ang mga nasabing opisyal at kinatawan ng kompanya ay makapipirma sa sertipikasyon na walang kailangang resolusyon ng board. Sila ang mas nakaaalam sa takbo ng kompanya dahil sa hinahawakan nilang posisyon.

Nararapat lamang na ibalik ang petisyon ng PCT sa CA upang magkaroon ng pagkakataon ang korte na pag-aralan kung talagang inabuso ng Labor Arbiter at ng NLRC ang kanilang kapangyarihan sa kaso dahil hindi nila binigyan ng pagkakataon ang PCT na magsumite ng dokumento sa kaso.

Mas mabibigyang hustisya ang magkabilang panig kung pareho silang napakinggan at ang isyu ay niresolba ayon sa katibayang hawak nila. (PCT Travel vs. NLRC et al., G.R. 154379, October 31, 2008).|

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Positibong pananaw para sa kapayapaan HAPPY New Year po sa lahat! Ngayong bagong taon dapat positibo ang ating pananaw tungkol sa usapang pagkapayapaan dahil ang kapayapaan ang magiging susi ng tunay na kaunlaran para po sa ating lahat. Alam naman natin ang balakid sa usaping ito pero tingin ko kung tayong lahat ay magpapahayag ng ating kagustuhan na magkaroon ng kapayapaan sa ating bansa, nakakasiguro ako na mapupuwersa natin ang Communist Party of the Philippines- New Peoples Army -National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) na seryosohin ang alok na usapang pangkapayapaan ng goberno.

Dapat natin lahat maunawaan na maraming pagbabago na ang nangyayari sa buong mundo, na kung saan ang prayoridad ng bawat bansa ay ang survival nila. Ito ay dala na rin ng masalimuot na pagpapaligsahan nila sa halos lahat ng aspeto – nandyaan ang tungkol sa interes nila sa ekonomiya, politika, teknolohiya, kalikasan, socio-cultural, at minsan pati na rin ang kanilang kapangyariahangmilitar. Sa mga sitwasyong kagaya nito, kinakailangan nating isulong ang usapang pangkapayapaan upang manatiling buo ang ating bansa sa gitna ng lumalakas na paligsahan ng mga bansa sa buong mundo.

Ang kapayapaan sa ating bansa, sa totoo lang, ay madali nating makakamtan, kung magiging tapat lamang ang bawat panig sa mga isyu na pinaguusapan.

Sa panig ng pamahalaan, ramdam ko ang katapatan nito na maisulong ang kapayapaan sa ating bansa.

Maraming pagkakataon na pinagbigyan nito ang mga hiling ng CPP-NPA-NDF upang makamtan lamang natin ang kapayapaan sa ating bansa. Subalit, sa

kabilang panig, marami sa ating mga kababayan ang nakararamdam ng kakulangan sa katapatan ng CPPNPA-NDF na maging matagumpay ang usapang pangkapayapaan sa ating bansa.

Dito natin kinakailangan ang pagkakaisa upang pwersahin natin ang grupong ito na tuluyan nang itaguyod ang usapang kapayapaan, kung nais nating maging malakas ang ating bansa sa panahon ngayon na tayo ay nahaharap sa mga makabagong pagsubok, dala ng pagbabago sa mukha ng seguridad sa buong mundo kasama na ang mga kalamidad na nararanasan natin.

Ang bansa natin ay tunay na may taglay na kayamanan. Tayo ang may pinakamagandang hugis ng bansa, at strategic na lokasyon natin sa buong mundo ay kaya nating maging sentro ng pandaigdigang kalakalan. Dagdag pa dito ang pagkakaroon ng bansa natin ng produktibong lupain at mga natural na kayamanan na tunay nating maipagmamalaki na tayo ay isinilang sa bansang ito, kaya nga tayo ay tinaguriang “Perlas ng Silangan.”

Datapwat, ang kayamanang taglay na ito ng ating bansa ay nawawalang-saysay dahil sa higit na 40 taon na nating walang saysay na pagpapatayan, na kung saan maraming buhay na ang nasayang, maraming tao na ang naghirap, maraming pagkakataon na para sa ating bansa ang nawala, at higit sa lahat, ang karangalan natin bilang isang bansa sa mata ng buong mundo ay nawawalan ng saysay. Kaya ngayong bagong taon, ipanawagan natin sa grupo ng CPP-NPA-NDF na kanilang pagtuunan ng pansin ang kahalagahan ng pakikipag-usap sa pamahalaan para sa kapayapaan at kaunlaran ng ating bansa.|

........................................................................................................................................................ <<<EX-CATHEDRA.....from P/4

Urbi et Orbi: Christmas Message where the Son of God was born. Even today, their impotent silence cries out under the sword of so many Herods. On their blood stands the shadow of contemporary Herods.

Truly there are so many tears this Christmas, together with the tears of the Infant Jesus.

Dear brothers and sisters, may the Holy Spirit today enlighten our hearts, that we may recognize in the

Infant Jesus, born in Bethlehem of the Virgin Mary, the salva-tion given by God to each one of us, to each man and woman and to all the peoples of the earth. May the power of Christ, which brings freedom and service, be felt in so many hearts afflicted by war, persecution and slavery. May this divine power, by its meekness, take away the hardness of heart of so many men

and women immersed in worldliness and indifference, the globalization of indiffe-rence. May his redeeming strength transform arms into ploughshares, destruction into creativity, hatred into love and tenderness. Then we will be able to cry out with joy: “Our eyes have seen your salvation”.

With these thoughts I wish you all a Happy Christmas!|

PAHAYAGANG BALIKAS 5

Year-end random thoughts Part 1 of 2-Part Series AS I sat on my favorite siesta lounging chair on lush green bermuda grass by the beach looking out blankly at the blue waters in front of me on a lazy Saturday two days after New Year’s day, random thoughts, mostly from the year that just passed, came.  GETTING SICK --First, there’s this thing about getting sick. For one, I don’t have the explanation but for several years now, I always get sick with fever and physical weariness and fatigue starting New Year’s day.

No, it's not because of over indulgence during the holidays. Or of “senior moments”. It comes like clock work for several years now. It could be psychologically selfinduced or whatever. It's akin to a regular “pit stop” like some racecar driver who makes quick stops to check his car to win the race. My only consolation is that I don’t get seriously sick, as far as I can recall, the whole year round.

(Knock on wood!!) It's like getting my dose of physical ailments at this time -- in exchange for a whole year of good health. I could not ask for more.  PRESIDENTIABLES --- As I sat there musing, my thoughts were on the coming presidential elections. Mayor Rody "Digong" Duterte and his possible run for the presidency momentarily came to mind.

Knowing a bit about him, my sixth sense tells me he will go for it if there's a good chance he will make it. His political genes will compel him to.

This is not to mention some clear clarion call to duty that public servants like him cannot just totally ignore.

In the meantime, Vice President Jojo Binay is still the front-runner by a mile, inspite of his travails. Sen. Grace Poe is being groomed while Secretary Mar Roxas is still the candidate-in-waiting of the formidable administration machine. Senator "Bongbong" Marcos, meanwhile, is starting to make waves with the much touted "solid north" that is no longer just limited in the "north" but already penetrating all over the country.

I know Digong charts his political course through the time-tested political compass: surveys. So he will look at the survey numbers by mid 2015. If the numbers will be viable by then, he will go. Otherwise, he will "pass".

For sure, there are no limits to possibilities and scenarios given that May 2016 is just about 18 months away  POWER -- I looked across the gulf waters and from where I sat, I spotted the glistening COAL DOME of Aboitiz' Therma South Inc. that I visited the previous week. My thoughts felt relieved that in the near term, Mindanao will be able to address its critical power deficiency. There are other big coal -fired plants being built now like Ayala's GN Power plant in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte and Mr. Ramon Ang's power plant now rising in Malita, Davao Occidental. There are other projects elsewhere. Power self-sufficiency is a MUST for Mindanao's sustained growth. For the environmentalist, it may ease their angst knowing the government's stringent regulations will have to be strictly observed and they can devote their time and advocacy in monitoring strict observance of these internationally accepted standards. Unlike the "dirty coal" of the past, modern technologies are now seeing to it that the "cost benefit ratio" is on the side of clean environment and healthy living.  FISH CAGES -- Looking across the gulf towards the coal dome, my eyesight got entangled with the fish cages dotting the coastline. I once listened to the "p----ng i---a's" of Mayor Duterte over his TV Sunday program wishing those fish cages to disappear immediately. I recall our Seagull resort had a fish cage before for tourism and resort use but when former Mayor Sara Duterte ordered removals, we complied forthwith. Some operators sent word they would also comply but asked to let one harvest season to pass due to new stocks dropped in the cages. That was more than 2 years and many harvest seasons ago. Unfortunately, the other operators, mostly big names, lent deaf ears. In fact, more cages sprouted in clear defiance. There are reports that some operate without permits and without clearances from the agencies concerned. I recall the Punta Dumalag area was classified as a tourism, environment protected area and not a big septic tank for the pollution-prone commercially grown millions of bangus.

I was told that in order not to disrupt the business livelihood of those who invested already, the cages be transferred or towed somewhere else. It has not happened yet. Mayor Duterte had said his piece and bothering him to follow through is unnecessary. It may be advisable for the operators themselves to just comply and move somewhere else as directed. How could some be so openly and boldly defiant? In my case, I will patiently wait!

In the meantime, I got word that Aboitiz' Davao Light Co. which owns the tip portion of the "punta" has started area development to upgrade and transform the turtle sanctuary into a wholesome environment-friendly nature's park for city residents, especially students. Boardwalks and other amenities will be built to preserve the sanctuary ambience of the area. So,

>>>DUREZA..... turn to P/7

BUSINESS

Bill to establish palm oil research, development and extension center MANILA — A lawmaker has filed a bill establishing the Palm Oil Research, Development and Extension Center that will help improve the palm oil industry in the country.

Rep. Rogelio Neil Pepito Roque (4th District, Bukidnon) said the Palm Oil Research, Development and Extension Center being proposed under House Bill 5211, which will be established ati Central Mindanao University, will further boost the farmers’ socio-economic life and livelihood conditions in the region.

Roque said palm oil is being used as ingredients in many household products like cooking oil, baked goods, confectionery, canned goods, non-dairy creamers, shampoos, cosmetics, cleaning agents and washing detergents.

“The country shows an increasing trend in palm oil production volume and the establishment of the center will help improve the palm oil industry in the country especially so that Mindanao is accounted for 90% of the country’s palm oil production,” Roque said.

Roque said the center would foster the knowledge of farmers, develop technology, and increase the country’s production of palm oil.

“It will provide assistance on the processing and marketing of palm oil and its by-products,” Roque added.

Under the measure, the Center shall coordinate with the Department of Agriculture through the Bureau of Agricultural Research, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Trade and Industry, NEDA

and the Philippine Council for Agricultural Research and Resources Development in training stakeholders, conducting researches, extending technologies and analyzing demand and supply of palm oil in the domestic and international market.

The Center shall conduct agricultural, industrial and economic research and development of the palm oil industry for the benefit of the Filipino palm tree farmers.

The Center will train professionals, students and palm tree farmers and their children on various disciplines related to palm oil production utilization and marketing.

The Center shall design and implement, in coordination with institutions of higher learning local and foreign scholarships and

fellowship programs on academic fields that will enhance palm oil development.

The Center is also tasked to organize and hold local, regional or international conferences, gatherings, forums and seminars on the current trends and developments of the palm oil industry.

The Center shall consolidate all researches by other institutions, as well as to establish, maintain and operate an information and library center, design and implement a farm extension program to effectively transfer modern farm technology to palm oil farmers.

The Center shall publish and disseminate research finds and make appropriate recommendations to interested parties.| PNA

CLASSIFIED ADS KASULATAN NG PAGMAMANA AT BILIHAN NG ISANG LAGAY NA LUPA NA WALANG PASUBALI (EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH ABSOLUTE DEED OF SALE) NOTICE is hereby given that the estate of the late DIEGO ABRENICA who died intestate on October 30, 2000 at Bauan, Batangas consisting of a parcel of land covered by Tax Declaration No.: 05-0028-00119, stuated at Brgy. San Agustin, Bauan, Batangas, with an area of SEVEN THOUSAND AND THIRTY-FIVE (7,035) SQUARE METERS of Agricultural land has been extrajudicially settled by and among his heirs with Deed of Absolute Sale per Doc. No. 300 & 379; Page No. 60 & 76; Book No. IX; Series of 2014 of ATTY. MARIO DE CHAVEZ BEJER, Notary Public.

Pahayagang BALIKAS | Jan. 5, 12 & 19, 2015

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT FOUTH JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 84 BATANGAS CITY IN RE: PETITION FOR CORRECTION OF ENTRY IN THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE OF MINOR JELD GREGOR ILAG A.N MANALO, MORE PARTICULARLY THE DATE AND PLACE OF MARRIAGE OF PARENTS WHICH READS “APRIL 14, 1993, CALAPAN, ORIENTAL MINDORO” TO “NOT MARRIED” SP. PROC. NO. 14-9819 GREGORIO M. MANALO AND BERNARDITA I. MANALO, Petitioners, -versusJOSEPHINE P. MARANAN, in her capacity as City Civil Registrar, Batangas City, Respondent. x------------------------------------ x ORDER A verified Petition was filed by petitioners, through counsel, praying that after due notice, publication and hearing, a judgment be rendered ordering the Local Civil Registrar’s Office of Batangas City to correct the entry concerning the date and place of marriage of the petitioners appearing in the certificate

PRAYER TO ST. JUDE O St. Jude, Holy Apostle, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, you are honored and petitioned by the universal Church, as the patron of desperate, hopeless and impossible cases. Pray for me. I am so very helpless and I feel alone. Intercede for me that Almighty God may bring swift aid where it is needed most.

Come to my assistance in my great time of need! Pray for me that I may be given the comfort and help of Jesus. Most importantly, I ask that you pray that I may one day join you and all of the saints in heaven to praise God in consolation, rest and joy for all eternity. I will remember your prayers, O Holy St. Jude. I will honor you as my patron as so many have before me because of the graces God deigns to give freely at your request. Amen.

Pahayagang BALIKAS | Dec. 29, 2014 of Live Birth of minor JELD GREGOR ILAGAN MANALO from “APRIL 14, 1993, CALAPAN, ORIENTAL MINDORO” to “NOT MARRIED”.

WHEREFORE, finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, NOTICE is hereby given that this Petition will be heard on February 26, 2015 at 8:30 in the morning before the Regional Trial Court, Branch 84, Hall of Justice, Batangas City at which time, place and date, any interested person who has interest or opposing the instant Petition may appear or file an opposition.

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

The Branch Clerk of Court is hereby directed to furnish the Office of the Clerk of Court, RTC Batangas City a copy of this order for raffle among the publishers of the publication.

SO ORDERED. Batangas City, December 3, 2014.

(Sgd.) DORCAS P. FERRIOLS-PEREZ Presiding Judge I hereby certify that copies of this Order were personally sent to the Office of the City Prosecutor, OCC-RTC, Batangas City and by registered mail to the Office of the Solicitor General, the City Civil Registrar of Batangas City, Atty. Cipriano U. Asilo, NSO, and the Petitioners, this 4th day of December, 2014 (Sgd.) CHARLENE CLARA G. MENDOZA Clerk of Court V Pahayagang BALIKAS | January 5, 12 & 19, 2015

January 5 - 11, 2015

6

<<<SULYAP....mula sa P/2

Maka-kalikasang Lunsod Batangas, pinakinang ng mga patimpalak noong 2014 Isang komite ang binuo na syang bibisita sa mga klinika, ospital at laboratoryo upang masiguro na tumutupad ang mga ito sa batas hinggil sa tamang pagtatapon ng basura.

Itinakda rin ngayong Enero 2015 ang pagkilala para sa mga mananalo.

Community Environmental Programs Walong grupo mula sa barangay at paaralan ang sumailalim sa serye ng anim na buwan na seminar ng Leadership Communities (Leadcom) Program.

Ang Leadcom ay isang proyekto ng Ayala Group of Companies (AGC) para sa kanilang Youth Leadership Development Program na ang layunin ay ma develop, ma inspire ang mga kabataan na magkapaglingkod sa kanilang komunidad. Ang proyektong ito ay sa pamamahala ng AGC at ng City Council for Youth Affairs.

Bawat grupo ay binigyan ng tig P10,000 financial grant upang maipatupad ang mga proyektong pangkapaligiran at pangkabataan.

On Migratory Birds Naging usapin din ang araw-araw na pagdayo ng layang layang (migratory birds) sa kahabaan ng P. Burgos St. simula ala-seis ng gabi. Bagamat ito ani Mr. Oliver Gonzales, City Environment and Natural Resources Officer ay senyales na malinis ang kalidad ng hangin sa siyudad, ang mga ipot o droppings ng mga ito ay isang mabigat na trabaho para sa mga street sweepers.

Nakiusap naman ang kinatawan ng Batangas City Water District (BCWD) na ipaalam sa kanila ang cubic liters ng tubig na ipinanlilinis dito ng Bureau of Fire Protection dalawang beses isang linggo. Ito aniya ay kasama sa “losses” ng BCWD. Engaging aTree Pruning Expert Upang maisiguro ang kaligtasan ng mga mamamayan sa banta ng pagbagsak ng mga malalaking puno, naghire ng tree pruning expert ang City ENRO pagkatapos ng bagyong Glenda. Sa kasalukuyan ay halos 80% ang natapos sa kontrata sa pagitan ng JAS at pamahalaang lunsod ng Batangas.

Tie up with AMEN Nakipagtuwang din ang pamahalaang lunsod sa

Archdiocesan Ministry on Environment hinggil sa pagrerehabilitate ng Tinga Falls sa pamamagitan ng paglilinis at pagtatanim ng puno na itinatanim sa paligid ng Falls.

Total Ban on Thin Plastics effective January, 2015 Ipatutupad na ang total ban on thin plastik simula sa buwan ng Enero ng 2015.

Nakapaloob sa Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) ng E-Code na ipagbabawal na ang paggamit ng plastik labo at iba pang katulad nito at sa halip ay ang mga plastik na ang kalidad ay pasado sa Department of Science and Technology (DOST) ang dapat na gamitin.

NSWMC Visit Samantala, pinuri ni Director Eligio Ildefonso ng National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) ang inisyatibo ng pamahalaang lunsod ng Batangas dahil sa mapalalawig nito ang wastong pagtatapon ng basura sa barangay level. Si Ildefonso ay bumisita noong ika-24 ng Oktubre 24 sa lunsod upang alamin ang estado ng pagpapatupad ng RA 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000).

JG Summit IEC sa Start-up ng Naptha Cracker Plant Idinaos Isang Information Education Campaign (IEC) ang isinagawa ng JG Summit Petrochemical Corp. (JGSPC) noong Hulyo 3 sa JGSPC grounds para sa media upang maipaliwanag ang inirereklamong usok na ibinubuga ng planta.

Ayon sa tagapagsalita ng planta, malaking benepisyo ang planta sa manufacturing industry ng plastik dahilan sa 2/3 ng output nito ay gagamitin sa domestic market na inaangkat pa ng bansa.

Samantala ang 1/3 ay para sa export sa China at Vietnam.

Ito ang kauna-unahang naptha cracker plant sa bansa at may investment cost na $800M. Ilan sa mga produkto ng planta ay ang mga packaging films para sa fresh at frozen food; household items; crates and cases; microwave food containers; and tumblers and drinking cups.| Mula sa mga ulat ni LETTY CHUA, at mga kasama sa Public Information Office, Batangas City

Tawag na sa Pahayagang Balikas 0905.753.3462 * 0912.902.7373 para sa inyong pagpapalathala.

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34 36 38 PABABA 2 Walang natira 3 ___ Ben 4 Salungat ng off 5 Kanta 6 Nilikom 7 Pangatnig 8 Malapot na langis 9 Pangunahing tauhan 11 Mardi ___ 13 Pagbabantay sa burol 15 Mapuwersa 17 Libo 18 Chiu 20 Baby 23 ___ Fernando 24 Mark ___ 25 Ibabaw 26 Pinagkukunan ng pawid 28 Samyo 30 Kita 31 Sidekick ni Darna 34 __ Tse-Tung 35 Simbolo ng mercury 36 Simbolo ng antimony

<<<DUREZA....from P/5

Year-end random thoughts how can pollution-prone bangus production mesh gears with this planned nature's park next door? Don’t ask me! Don’t also ask Mayor Duterte for that matter!  BLOODY CARNAGE -- Then something flashed in my mind. I suddenly remembered the bloody carnage of innocent civilians hours before midnight struck for the New Year in Mlang town in North Cotabato. Some questions raced in my mind. How were the victims and their relatives in the 3 bomb explosions in north Cotabato and Bukidnon over the last few weeks coping and managing their sufferings in the midst of this merriment? Their being noncombatants and just innocent victims totally detached from the conflict that impelled the terrorism was something we could not comprehend nor accept.

I had a brief chat exchange with Gov. LALA TALINIO MENDOZA of North Cotabato. She was devastated by the incident that hit her constituents who were making last-minute buys for the medya noche.  BANGSAMORO --- Then my attention turned to the Bangsamoro agreement. I read a recent article by former North Cotabato Governor Manny Pinol asking pointed questions and worrying that such bloody incidents not being prevented or solved put a big question mark on the success and viability of the agreement with the MILF. He asked: "how can MILF bring their promised peace to their troubled land if they cannot even deal with its own breakaway groups?" Or words to that effect. Former Gov. Manny, by the way, has his roots and holds sway politically in Mlang town where 2 recent bombs killed and wounded his own people. Before he made his mark nationally and before his debut into politics, he was a bright, young reporter at the Mindanao Times. One day he walked into my editor's office and bade me goodbye saying he would sully into the bigger world out there in Manila to try his luck.

He never looked back. The rest, as we always say, is history To be continued.  [Atty. Jess Dureza is the president of the Philippine Press Institute, a national association of newspapers and served former Presidents Fidel Ramos and Gloria Arroyo. He previously served as chief government negotiator and Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process. Send your comments to jessdureza@gmail .com]

COLLEGE THESIS TUTORIAL, EDITING & PRINTING Call/Text: 09129027373 / 0905.753.3462

Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 20) Ayusin ang pakipagrelasyon nang hindi mapahamak. Magingat sa mga gamit lalo na ang mga alahas at pera, itagong mabuti.

Aquarius (Jan. 21 - Feb. 19) Malaki ang magiging bahagi ng isang Gemini o kapwa Aquarius na maaaring ikaligaya o ikalungkot. Mag-focus sa pag-invest, sa trabaho o may Huwag tanggihan ang darating na imbitasyon dahil maaaring dito makilala ang soulmate o twin-flame.

Pisces (Feb. 20 - Mar. 20) Malamang makasagupa ang isang Cancer o Leo na magbibigay ng hindi makakalimutang pangyayari. Mapaglalaanan ng panahon ang tungkol sa mga binabalak o ambisyon.

Aries (Mar. 21 - April 20) Ingatan ang kalusugan.

Magiging maaliwalas sa aspeto ng pag-ibig.

Kailangan ang magplano tungkol sa kalagayang pinansiyal.

Magplano at hanapin ang paraan para magkaroon ng ekstrang pagkakakitaan.

Taurus (Apr. 21 - May 21) Kung may balak na magbiyahe ng malapit o malayo, walang magiging sagabal.

Mauunawaan mo ngayon kung ano ang ipinagtatampo o ikinagalit ng kasambahay o katrabaho. Mahahanapan ng solusyon ang problema para manumbalik ang harmoniya.

Gemini (May 22 - June 21) Magkakaroon ng maraming activities. Pagtuunan ng dobleng pag-iingat ang anumang gagawin. Tapusin ang nasimulan bago magsimula ng panibago. Naaayon ang makipagsosyalan lalo na sa affairs na tungkol sa trabaho.

Melinda Rodriguez-Landicho, Lifetimes Editor

January 5 - 11, 2015

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Cancer (June 22 - July 22) Maisasaayos ang suliranin tungkol sa pinansiyal. Hahangaan ng isang Libra, Leo o Aquarius dahil sa kahusayan sa trabaho ngunit may kakaharapin na pagsubok tungkol sa pag-ibig.

Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22) May masayang pangyayari na maaaring maganap. Magiging pinakamasaya sa piling o sa pakikisama sa isang Capricorn. Makakasagupa ng kagipitan sa pera kung hindi mag-iingat sa paggastos.

Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 23) Kung walang asawa, nakasentro ang panahon at atensyon sa pagpaplano sa pag-aasawa o pagpapakasal. Kung may asawa, naka-focus ang pansin o atensyon sa kaunlaran ng pamumuhay, negosyo o pamilya.

Libra (Sept. 24 - Oct. 23) Huwag magpa­bigla­bigla sa aksiyon o desisyon. Mag-focus sa pag-iisip at sa pagkakaroon ng panahon sa pet care, general health o kung papaanong mapapaunlad ang ikakabuhay. Malaki ang magiging bahagi ng Gemini, Capricorn o Taurus sa gagawin.

Scorpio (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Kalituhan ang hatid ng kapwa Scorpio na maaaring pagsimulan ng sigalot, pagseselos o inggit. Malaki ang papel ng Sagittarius para mapa-focus ang atensyon sa pag-a-abroad o pagbili ng bahay at lupa.

Sagittarius (Nov. 23 - Dec. 21) Ma­laki ang magiging bahagi ng Scorpio na may kinalaman sa pangarap, edukasyon. Paglalakbay o promosyon.|

Strokes are rising fast among young, middle-aged STROKES are rising dramatically among young and middleaged Americans while dropping in older people, a sign that the obesity epidemic may be starting to shift the age burden of the disease.

The numbers, reported Wednesday at an American Stroke Association conference, come from the first large nationwide study of stroke hospitalizations by age. Government researchers compared hospitalizations in 1994 and 1995 with ones in 2006 and 2007.

The sharpest increase — 51 percent — was among men 15 through 34. Strokes rose among women in this age group, too, but not as fast — 17 percent.

“It’s definitely alarming,” said Dr. Ralph Sacco, American Heart Association president and a neurologist at the University of Miami. “We have worried for a while that the increased prevalence of obesity in children and young adults may take its toll in cardiovascular disease and stroke,” and that appears to be happening, he said.

Stroke still takes its highest toll on older people. For those over 65, there were nearly 300 stroke cases among 10,000 hospitalizations in the more recent period studied. For males 15 to 34, there were about 15 stroke cases per 10,000, and for girls and women in that age group there were about 4 per 10,000.

Several small studies had recently suggested an ominous rise among the young and among middle-aged women.

“We were interested in whether we could pick that up in a much larger, nationwide dataset,” said Dr. Mary George, a stroke researcher at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The researchers examined federal records from a sample of hospitals in 41 states, covering about 8 million cases each year. They looked at the percentage of all hospitalizations for stroke by gender and in six age groups.

For every 10,000 hospitalizations in 1994-95 compared with 2006-07, strokes rose: _51 percent, from 9.8 to 14.8, among males 15 to 34 years old _17 percent, from 3.6 to 4.2, in females 15 to 34 _47 percent, from 36 to 52.9, in males 35 to 44 _36 percent, from 21.9 to 30, in females 35 to 44 “The increases seen in children are very modest, but they are more so in the young adult age groups, and we feel that deserves further study,” George said.

Better awareness of stroke symptoms and better imaging methods for detecting strokes in young people could account for some of that change, but there is no way to know, she said.

Trends went the opposite way in older people. Strokes dropped 25 percent among men 65 and older (from 404 to 303 per 10,000 hospitalizations), and 28 percent among women in this age group (from 379 to 274). Doctors think better prevention and treatment of risk factors such as high

blood pressure in older people may be contributing to the decline.

At the University of California at Los Angeles, doctors are seeing more strokes related to high blood pressure and clogged arteries in younger people, said Dr. Jeffrey Saver, director of the stroke center at UCLA. Early estimates from 2007 death certificates suggest that stroke is now the nation’s fourth leading cause of death instead of the third, partly because of better treatments and prevention among the elderly. “But at the same time we’re seeing this worrisome rise in mid-life,” Saver said. Allison Hooker, a nurse who coordinates stroke care at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C., said her hospital also is seeing more strokes in younger people with risk factors such as smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, alcohol overuse and diabetes.

“I’d say at least half of our population (of stroke patients) is in their 40s or early 50s,” she said, “and devastating strokes, too.” Also at the conference: _A preliminary study raised concern about diet soda and stroke risk.

Researchers surveyed about 2,500 adults in the New York City area at the start of the study and followed their health for nearly 10 years afterward. Researchers found that people who said they drank diet soda every day had a 48 percent higher risk of stroke or heart attack than people who drank no soda of any kind.

Researchers adjusted for differences in other risk factors, such as smoking and high blood pressure. Lead researcher Hannah Gardener of the University of Miami had no explanation for the findings but said that for those trying to cut calories, “diet soft drinks may not be an optimal substitute for sugar-sweetened beverages.” _The same study also found higher risks for people consuming more than 1,500 milligrams of salt a day — the limit the American Heart Association recommends. Researchers found that stroke risk rose 16 percent for every 500 milligrams of salt consumed each day.

Those who took in at least 4,000 milligrams had a more than 2.5 times higher risk of stroke than those who limited themselves to 1,500 milligrams. A teaspoon of salt contains about 2,300 milligrams of sodium. About three-fourths of the salt we eat, though, comes from processed foods, especially tomato sauce, soups, condiments and canned foods.|

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F.E.S.T.

Ronalina L. Elarmo Special Project Editor

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January 5 - 11, 2015

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Southern Luzon’s First Fireworks Bb. Lungsod ng Batangas 2015 Candidates made public Competition at local SM malls THE province of Batangas will soon host the first fireworks competition in the Southern Tagalog Region this month of January.

The fireworks competition will start its eliminations on January 10 at SM Batangas while the second eliminations will be on January 16 on the same venue and just in time for Batangas City’s fiesta celebration.

Third eliminations will be at SM Lipa on January 17 while the finals will be on January

20, also at SM Lipa and in connection with the celebration of Lipa City’s fiesta celebration.

Dubbed as Fireworks Fiesta, the event aims to give the communities where SM has its malls a more festive fiesta celebration.

There will also be live band performances and food booths during the eliminations and the finals.

Aside from the Fireworks Fiesta, both SM Malls have provided their cities other

contributions such as a walking band (musiko), float and events that will highlight the culture of their cities.

VIP seats can also be availed with only one thousand pesos worth of purchases from January 5 to 16 at SM Batangas while for SM Lipa, purchases from January 9 to 20 will be honored.

For more inquiries please call (043) 7220276 for SM Batangas and (043)7840358 for SM Lipa.|

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TO VOTE: LNB POLL <NUMBER OF CANDIDATE> SEND TO 70023473 POLL DURATION: DECEMBER 27, 2014 – JANUARY 15, 2015

Dates to Remember: Dec. 28 | 9:00 a.m. Motorcade Dec. 28 | 10:00 a.m. Press Conference Jan. 13 | 6:00 p.m. Talent Show @ Batangas City Convention Center Jan. 15 | 7:00 p.m. Bb. Lungsod ng Batangas 2015 Quest @ batanags City Coliseum