ILOILO
the first business newspaper in metro iloilo
metropolitan VOL. I ISSUE NO. 39
times
developmental news | critical views www.iloilometropolitantimes.com
October 27 - November 2, 2013 Php 12.00
Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” HISTORICAL EXCHANGE RATE Weekly MIDPOINT Rates - Oct 18 - 24, 2013
USD/PHP
43.1600
43.1485
43.1459
43.1400 43.1200 43.1000 43.0800
43.0600 Oct 18, 2013
43.1000
43.0965
43.0821
43.0859 43.0658 Oct 20, 2013
Oct 22, 2013
Oct 24, 2013
DTI PRICE MONITORING Prime Commodities (6 Sep 2013) Prime Commodities (6 Sep 2013)
CANNED SARDINES Current Price INSTANT NOODLES Current Price
Paradiso (155g) Young’s Town Bonus (155g) Lucky 7 (155g)
12.15 Lucky Me! (55g) 13.00 Payless (50g) 13.25
PROCESSED MILK Current Price
7.10 6.30 Current Price
BREAD
Alaska Sweetened Filled 49.50 Milk - Condensed 300 mL Pinoy Tasty (400g) Alaska Filled Milk 34.50 Pinoy Pandesal Evaporated 370 mL Angel Filled Milk Evaporated 410 mL
35.75
37.00
(pack of 10 pieces) 22.50
DA PRICE MONITORING Processed and Manufactured Commodities (6 Sep 2013) Processed and Manufactured Commodities (6 Sep 2013)
Commercial Rice Regular Milled Well Milled Premium Special (Fancy) Sugar Refined Washed Brown Sugar Cooking Oil Lapad (bottle)
Current Price 33.00/kg 37.00/kg 42.00/kg 45.00/kg 45.00/kg 42.00/kg 38.00/kg
Meat & Poultry Pork Liempo Pigue (Ham) Beef Rump Brisket Chicken Fully Dressed Egg (Medium) Fish Bangus
Current Price
190.00/kg 180.00/kg
260.00/kg 200.00/kg 120.00/kg 4.50/pc
Current Price
AYALA ON TRACK FOR ‘A BRIGHT NEW ILOILO’ 20.00
120.00/kg
MULTI-COLORED CANDLES. Devotees light candles before saying their own prayers inside Jaro Cathedral. Each color has its own meaning. (Photo by Reymar Latoza/IMT)
BY REYMAR LATOZA
The Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) is on track in delivering its P15 billion property project in Iloilo City. The construction of the first phase tower in the first cluster had already started and it is expected to be completed by 2016. “We are actually very much ahead of the schedule in delivering the project”, Avida Land Corp. President Chris Maglanoc told Iloilo Metropolitan Times. “It is actually fast-paced because it
is 65% sold already,” he added. The first phase tower accommodates about 2.2 hectares with a total of 371 units while the second phase will be situated in 2.7 hectares with 138 units. Once the entire land development is completed, there will be 13 towers and 2, 500 units to be occupied. These are included in the 10-year construction plan at their 21-hectare planning area in Brgy. San Rafael, Mandurriao, together with the Atria Park District that covers 5.5 hectares.
It will be a mixed-use community to complement various uses such as residential condominiums, retail and business clusters, healthcare units, shopping centers, buildings, hotels and educational institutions. “We are probably considered to be the more affordable quality development in the country,” he said. There brand is more affordable than our sister companies and all of their buyers are those buyers who can afford premier brand name of Ayala Ayala on /p5
IMT Special: Barangay-based Best Practices
Barangay Calumpang is L.T.I.A. Awardee BY MARY JANE UBAY After winning the regional “Sandugo Award” for their blood donation advocacy, Barangay Calumpang, Molo was adjudged champion for the 2013 Western Visayas Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentives Awards in the recent for their outstanding performance in the highly urbanized category . The Lupon were recognized for showing great attention in mediating and resolving disputes in their community and managing peace in order in their barangay. Punong Barangay Roberto Niño Jr. said that aside from being an advocate of peace and order, his council is active in other programs. The community is also active in organizing feeding programs and clean-up drives. Niño also said that they are looking forward to making their place a child-friendly barangay. The said incentive award was
established under Section 406 (b) of the LGC of 1991 which mandates the DILG to grant economic and other incentives to Lupong tagapamayapa (LT) for their outstanding performances to attain the objectives of the Katarungang Pambarangay. The award was given to Barangay Calumpang on October 10, 2013 at SM City Iloilo event center.IMT
Bullish tourism and investment in 2014
BY KHARIZA JOY SOFIA Iloilo’s tourism is going stronger , according to Department of Tourism Regional Director Atty. Helen Catalbas. She said that they are geared up for a more vibrant Dinagyang Festival in January. DOT is assuming the management of the Kasadyahan Festival next year because it is a regional-based competition. “Kasadyahan is a cultural showcase and is more cultural side of the Dinagyang Festival”, said Catalbas. They are committed to attract bigger crowds for the event as well as investors to invest in the city. She also added that upgrading of facilities are ongoing for the upcoming hosting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit. On January 2014, around 300
Canadian and American investors will visit the region and tour on the different tourist attraction of Boracay, Iloilo, Roxas, Kalibo and Guimaras. “There will also be a table discussion where local government officials from the different provinces will showcase their city’s rich heritage and culture. The venue for the talk is still to be discussed”, Catalbas disclosed. Negros Occidental and Antique will not be a part of the investors’ 5-7 days itinerary but Catalbas assured that officials from these two provinces will exhibit their places through powerpoint presentation. Incoming investors are from Canada, New Jersey and New York. Meanwhile, when asked about the impact of the alleged food poisoning in the city, Catalbas pointed out that the case is isolated and is not affecting the over-all tourism of the city and province.IMT
METRO NEWS
2
METRO
on the road
DepEd DepEd-6 to cite best Brigada Eskuwela implementers for 2013 The Department of Education Regional Office (DepEd)-6 will be recognizing 32 public schools in Western Visayas which displayed exemplary performance in the annual school repair and maintenance activity dubbed as “Brigada Eskwela”. DepEd-6 Regional Information Officer Lea Belleza said that the awardees represent the top five performing schools in three categories for elementary and high school levels – small, big, and exceptional. The winning schools and their rankings as Best Implementer for Brigada Eskwela Program for 2013 will be revealed at an awarding ceremony set on November 5, 2013, in the Division of Kabankalan, Negros Occidental. PIA6- Leonard T. Pineda I
DOST More MSMEs pushed DOST-6 Regional Dir. Rowen Gelonga said that the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) has helped more than a hundred of micro, small and medium enterprises in Western Visayas with P150million worth of technology assistance for the last 10 years. He said that MSMEs in the region can now boost of improved packaging and quality products with the help of their interventions. On the other hand, DOST Assistant Sec. Robert Dizon strongly encouraged more micros, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) here to avail of the SETUP program to adopt technological innovations in order to improve their products, services, operations and increase their productivity and competitiveness. The project also enables MSMEs to fully address their technical problems and improve efficiency by infusing appropriate technologies. PIA6
DOE
DOE assures sufficient power supply during elections PIA6 NEWS ALERT: The DOE has enjoined all energy agencies and electric power energy participants to ensure stable and continuous power supply from October 21 to November 4 (seven days before and after) in time for the Barangay Elections on October 28. PIA6
CSC
Gov’t agencies undergo anti-red tape watch The Civil Service Commission-6 reported that it has conducted the Anti-Red Tape Act Watch in 49 government offices in Western Visayas as of Sept. 30: Aklan - 10; Antique - 6; Capiz -11;Iloilo - 13; Negros Occidental9.PIA6
October 27 - November 2, 2013
BIZ OKs traffic experiment extension
BY KHARIZA JOY SOFIA
Extension of traffic experimentation gets ‘OK’ from Iloilo Business Club (IBC). Executive Director Ma. Lea Victoria Lara said that it is the only way if a scientific approach is to be applied. However, Lara added that the problem is that it cannot get full appreciation from ther public but she said that Councilor Plaridel Nava , Chairman of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, is listening to every suggestion that they are providing. The only thing that worries them is the status of commercial establishments located along the old route of Villa PUJs, which was greatly affected after the rerouting. “The main reason why those establishments put up their business on that area is because of the accessibility. Now, there are almost no customers
coming in because it would take them a long way to pass those area”, Lara admits. The executive director further declared that the experimentation is part of the process but it is also important to weigh its economic impact. “Yes it is all part of the process and it will have cost, economic cost that is, but each of the sectors have their share of providing something to balance the system”, Lara added. Lara also said that they thought of lessening the area of the sidewalk but according to their Canadian speaker, they cannot address traffic by reducing the area of the sidewalk and that the only way to address congestion is to make the people get outside their car and make them walk. The one month traffic experimentation in the city is about to end but tNava and the Traffic
City gov’t slashes drug abuse fund BY MONTESA GRINO-CAOYONAN The Iloilo City government did not appropriate any fund for the drug abuse prevention program for 2014 budget proposal due to unused funds in some previous years. Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said that despite there is no appropriate budget for the said program, he has its own peace and order fund to be used anytime for the said purpose. Although, the mayor said that the city government has allocated P500, 000 for the year 2012-2013 and this is still unused. Supposedly, the fund for drug abuse prevention program will be used for anti-drug campaigns and advocacy, among others. Prior to this year, Mabilog admitted that the same allocated funds for the years 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 were not used for the advocacy and other related antidrug programs thus, the City Budget Office has decided to slash the budget. The mayor however, said the 2014 budget is still a proposal and it
is up for the City Council to adjust whatever appropriations they have. City Councilor Joshua Alim, chaired the Committee on Police Matters. Meanwhile, Mabilog said that illegal drugs in Iloilo City is manageable and under control of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency 6 (PDEA-6). Mabilog said according to PDEA6 director Paul Ledesma their agency is closely monitoring 15 drug-affected villages in the city. The barangays closely monitored are Malipayon, Tanza Esperanza and Veterans Village in the city proper; Simon Ledesma, Cubay and Desamprados in Jaro district; San Juan, Fundidor, Boulevard and West Habog-Habog, all in Molo district; Bakhaw and Tabucan in Mandurriao district; Railway and Aguinaldo in La Paz district; and Sto. Niño in Arevalo district. Mabilog said he already ordered PDEA to go against drug pushers and users. IMT
Waste-to-energy plant mulled BY MARY PAULINE BALMES A waste-to-energy plant is planned to be constructed in the municipality of Janiuay, Iloilo. This was after a feasibility study was conducted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to three towns in the country including Janiuay as confirmed by Mayor Frankie Locsin. The project aims not only to lessen the wastes among towns in the third district particularly in Janiuay but to provide the residents sufficient and cheap electricity by converting these wastes into energy. Locsin said the establishment of the said plant is expected to attract more investors to invest in the municipality. Big businesses in the processing and manufacturing industry, and in the business process outsourcing (BPO) are most likely to benefit should they decide to put plants and buildings in the area. “These investments would mean employment opportunities for Janiuaynons but for the residents in the neighboring towns as well,” he said. Locsin added the ADB, together
with the local government unit, discussed the details of the projects during their sessions and learned that it would cost around seven to 12 million dollars of which the financial contribution of the municipality is not yet determined until the study is done. However, he said a private firm will take charge in the management and operations of the plant thru private public partnership. All these development plans are part of Janiuay’s vision to be a city by year 2023. Two other waste-to-energy sites are located at Del Carmen in Siargao and La Trinidad in Benguet. The same plan is being discussed in the city council for the city as visitors from Korea introduced a new technology converting solid wastes from Calajunan dumpsite in Mandurriao into power energy which generates about six megawatts of power. It was learned that the city is generating approximately 170 metric tons (MT) of garbage from public areas and private establishments. IMT
Management and Transportation and Regulation Office (TMTRO) seeks to extend the experimentation. The Sangguniang Panlungsod
has already approved the request the extension of the traffic experimentation on Gen. Luna Street from October 21 until December 31 this year.IMT
Iloilo extends P 2.4M financial aid to quake victims BY MONTESA GRIÑO-CAOYONAN The Iloilo provincial government through the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) has extended P 2 million financial assistance to victims of recent 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit provinces of Cebu and Bohol. On Tuesday last week, Gov. Arthur Defensor, Sr., PDRRMC executive director Jerry Bionat and members unanimously approved a resolution extending financial assistance to two badly hit provinces. Defensor, chairman of the National Executive Board of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) said he sympathized Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto and Cebu Gov, Hilario Davide III for the tragedy. Meanwhile, the City Council through the request of Mayor Jed
Patrick Mabilog also approved its financial aid amounting to P 400, 000 to earthquake victims of two provinces. Mabilog said the aid is one way of returning the help they have extended to the city when Typhoon Frank hit Iloilo five years ago. As of Wednesday last week, the death toll rose to 144 in Cebu apart from damaged properties including centuries-old churches. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said 291 people were injured, three were rescued in Cebu, Bohol and Siquijor while 23 others were been missing in Bohol as of press time. The quake has so far affected 558,390 families or 2,841,956 people. The NDRRMC also said 823 aftershocks have been recorded on the same date. IMT
Displaced Sicogon residents cry over ‘fake claimants’
BY MONTESA GRIÑO-CAOYONAN A relocation site was assured by the Sicogon Development Corp. (Sideco) to 956 families living from three affected villages of San Fernando, Alipata and Buaya, all in Sicogon Island, Carles, Iloilo that will be displaced to give way for the multibillion island’s development. The island’s development has started last May but Federation of Sicogon Fisherfolk and Farmers Association (FESSIFA) president Raul Ramos claimed that majority beneficiaries who availed the relocation site and lands covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) of Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR-6) are allegedly ‘fake claimants’ or not residents of the affected villages. Ramos blamed Sideco behind those fake claimants and their interventions made were part of their plan to claim the entire island. He added those who preferred to remain on their respective residences were being harassed by the land owner – Sarrosa clan, who forced them to leave their respective homes. To show their objection, some 30 displaced residents held a protest rally by camping out across the office of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-6) in Iloilo City since October 14 to 19. Ramos stressed they have been frustrated with how other government agencies particularly the local government of Carles, DENR, DAR and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) treated their case and failed to act on their long-standing complaint against the said private company. Ramos urged the government to help them on their claims instead of protecting the interests of the Sideco. Earlier, Sideco president Edgardo Sarrosa said they have already set aside 30-hectare relocation site in Brgy. San Fernando where displaced families
could start building their homes. Apart from a relocation site, the Sideco assured displaced residents of a training center to train their personnel so that they are equipped with skills that suite to the needed qualification once the construction of five star hotel, airport and seaport will start anytime while some members will also be given livelihood program related to fishing activity. Meanwhile, the 259 CARP beneficiaries of Sicogon Island had their oath taking ceremony before Judge Kim Oliver Enojas of 1st Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) in town of Balasan, Iloilo Wednesday last week. DAR-6 assistant regional director Gideon Umadhay said the oath signified that all farmer beneficiaries were aware of their obligation under the department’s existing program. Umadhay said the 259 CARP beneficiaries will avail the 334-hectare land in three affected villages of Alipata, San Fernando and Buaya. The assistant director stressed those land awardees had undergone thorough screening to make sure that the program will go to the deserving beneficiaries. He said their office is now finalizing the land survey and once finished, they will award the land to respective beneficiaries so they could start cultivating their own farm. In related story, additional police personnel were requested by Gov. Arthur Defensor, Sr. from the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) to maintain peace and order situation of the island. The governor said a standby police team will remain at the island as long as the situation has not yet cool down. Defensor admitted that he already talked with the Sarrosa brothers and asked them to carry the situation peacefully. The governor added that he advised Sarrosa to bring the issue to proper court if both parties could not be settled to prevent any eventuality. IMT
METRO BUSINESS Candle, flower prices steady, demands down 3
October 27 - November 2, 2013
BY REYMAR LATOZA
The prices of candles and flowers in major areas in Iloilo City remained stable a week before the
commemoration of All Saint’s Day and All Soul’s Day on November 1 and 2. Flower and candle vendors near Jaro Cathedral and outside Iloilo
Illegal internet connection now a crime
BY MARY PAULINE BALMES The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has issued the implementing rules and regulation (IRR) on the anti-cable television and cable internet tapping law, just recently. The guidelines ban any person from intercepting signal by tapping without authority from the service provider. In accordance with the Republic Act No. 10515 also known as the “Anti-Cable Television and Cable Internet Tapping Act of 2013., NTC commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba said the guidlines will ramp up the government’s campaign against cable pilferage. Cordoba added that “it shall be the policy of the State to protect the general public and legitimate operators of cable television and cable internet services from unauthorized connections or tapping to existing facilities through wired, wireless, electromagnetic, and other means of cable pilferage”. President Benigno Aquino III signed the law last April 17 and mandated NTC to finalize the guidelines by being specific with the insertion of cable TV operators and cable internet service providers before
disseminating to the public. The said law sanctions whoever is caught in the unauthorized interception, reception or use of any signal or service over a cable television system or cable internet system and network. Unauthorized recording, replicating, distributing, importing or exporting of any intercepted or received cable TV system or network signals for commercial purposes are also prohibited. Violators caught may face imprisonment of between 2-5 years or a fine between P50,000-P100,000 or both. If the violator is a corporation or an association, the president, manager, or any officer will be tagged as direct participant. The Philippine Cable Television Association Inc. (PCTA) lauded the signing of the law, saying growth is expected in the cable industry because of the law. “All of us can now sigh with relief. I remember that we started working and pushing for this law in 2006 on my first term as president of PCTA because I believed then, and I still do now, that the cable industry will grow and revenues will increase once we have this law,” PCTA president Allan Dungao said. ABS-CBN/IMT
Central Market disclosed that there are no price increases in the candles and flowers they sell. However, flower vendors admitted that their sales slightly down compared last year, while the sales of candles remained steady. Ramil Gallo, a flower vendor for almost 14 years said that last year, a week before the All Soul’s Day they were receiving lots of advance orders. But now, the number of customers who booked for orders slightly decreased.
Leonora Tuvilla, also a flower vendor outside the Iloilo Central Market for more than 30 years, admitted that the number of their costumers slightly dropped of compare in the previous years. She added prices of flowers usually start to increase two days before the All Soul’s day. Here are the average prices of flowers as of October 26, 2013: Chrysanthemum : P120.00-P150.00/ dozen Mums: P300.00/dozen
Baby’s breath: P80.00 – P100.00/ bundle Carnation: P400.00 /dozen, P35.00 each Roses: P150.00 – P200/dozen, P15.00 – P20.00 each Manzanilla: P80.00 /bundle, P10.00 each Arranged flowers are ranging from P150.00 – P250.00 (Cheapest) ,P500.00 – P2,500.00 (Highest). Meanwhile, stick candle priced at P4.00, and vigil candle for P7.00 (#3) and P10.00 (#6).IMT
Meralco substation (called Pagcor-1 substation) would source its power from the Zapote substation. The ERC has given Meralco provisional authority to proceed with the construction of the almost P1.16billion Pagcor-1 substation and related facilities. Meralco said the project could add P3.6 billion to the power distributor’s annual sales. The proposed Zapote substation expansion project has two main components: the substation component consisting of a power transformer and related equipment, and the control and protection s y s t e m component
consisting of a substation automation control system, transformer protection and breaker failure relay. NGCP said the Zapote substation was one of the six existing substations serving Metro Manila. Space limitations and heavy loading condition of the existing transformers are the common concerns of the six substations. Philippine Daily Inquirer/IMT
NGCP’s P663M project awaits approval
BY REYMAR LATOZA
To support the electricity needs of the 120-hectare Entertainment City locators and surrounding establishments, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) is seeking the government’s approval for its P663-million substation expansion project in Parañaque City. In a report of Philippine Daily Inquirer published on October 18, 2013, the project was intended to augment the capacity of the Zapote substation, address load growth and provide single outage contingency, according NGCP. The substation project of Manila Electric Co (Meralco), which will serve the Philippine Amusement, and Gaming Corp.’s (Pagcor) hotel and casino complex in 120-hectare reclaimed area of the Manila Bay is considered as among the considerations for the said expansion. NGCP explained that the said
ILOILO METROPOLITAN TIMES The drops of colored wax stained on the gravestone, and the loose petals scattered on the ground were proofs of pain and longing. A statue of an angel with broken wing standing on the grave had been a witness of grief. The cross and other holy figures built inside the cemetery speak hope amidst of sadness. To say goodbye, especially for a lifetime separation, is the hardest part of life. For almost 30 years, this scene has been usual for ‘Budi’. His real name is Alejandro Ordaniel. He
A story of living in the world of dead
witnessed similar scenes for countless times. Weeping bereaved people and mourning family during burials became normal for a gravedigger whose life begins when someone’s life ends. His life with thousand graves inside the four walls of Jaro cemetery is peaceful. After a funeral, the place he considered his second home turned quiet again, and the only sounds that can be heard are that of the jeepneys and tricycles going back and forth. As an elementary graduate,
BY REYMAR LATOZA
he didn’t have anything to do aside from doing construction. From Negros, the opportunity brought him to Iloilo where he found the love of his life. He was working on one of the oldest mausoleum in Jaro cemetery when he met his wife who is a caretaker during that time. After his marriage which soon followed by having children, he was pressured to find sufficient income. He has three children, however, his first son had passed away many years ago. The father of his wife introduced him the life of a gravedigger, at first he is earning meager income, but not long after as he learned doing lots of things aside from cementing, his income increased. He dedicated his life for work and learned to live with the dead to support his family. He said his life was totally dependent on the dead. He earns a lot if there are burials, but in God’s mercy, he was able to send his children to school and provide them with foods in the table. Before, he is really doubling his effort to sustain his children’s need in school until they graduated and found their jobs. Now, he has a daughter working in Thailand, while the other one is working in Iloilo City hall. Manong Budi’s hard work paid off, seeing his family in a good living condition. He is much contended earning at least one thousand and maximum of three thousand
pesos a week. His work is much lesser now, because he didn’t have to dig to make a whole for corpses to be buried in the ground. All tombs are cemented and based on the new rule of Catholic Church; all bones will be transferred When asked if he is scared with the dead, he said at first he was but as time passes by he is used to this kind of life and he is no longer afraid. IMT
METRO ENTREPRENEUR
October 27 - November 2, 2013
5
GLORYTESS Beauty in the hands of an expert BY CRYSTALE MAY DE GUIA “I started as a dreamer, a dreamer who wants to help others wholeheartedly in any means. I want to share what I’ve got to people who need me the most especially the poorest of the poor”, said Tessie Distor Amancio, one of the owners of the newest top-notch beauty center and spa here in Iloilo City.
According to her, she can achieve her dreams like helping other people to earn a living if she will open a business. A percent of the business’ profit will be given to the homeless, needy, street children and other community works that can be extended. Tess, being a retiree, decided to open a business together with her sister, Gloria Amancio Quisumbing,
who is a renowned high-class beautician here and outside the country. “I will not let anyone down when I handle their hair, make-up and others because I am very much confident that this God-given talent will also help others bring back their confidence facing other people when they are indeed beautiful”, said Glory Amancio Quisumbing. proper care and adequate knowledge While it is true that beauty is in from the bearer herself in enhacing the eye of the beholder, Glory believes t h a t ones beauty is still important. Glorytess Beauty Center and Spa has already opened its doors officially to those who want to have the most deluxe make-over from head to toe with a very affordable price range. It offers very reasonable prices to all of their services. The beauty center boasts not only quality products and services but an experience that exceeds all expectations. “Every human is born beautiful yet we still need to enhance it to show more what we got. And that is why Glorytess Beauty Center and Spa is here for”, said Tess. IMT
Visit their beauty center and spa at M.H Del Pilar St., Molo, Iloilo City beside GT Mall, Molo or you may call them at telephone number 338-3758, text them at 09484287053 and 0909-1325849 or may also reach them at glorytess1@ yahoo.com or tnano12@yahoo.com. These are some of the services of Glorytess Beauty Center and Spa: Hair Cut, Hair Perm, Hair Treatment, Hair Color, Hair Rebond, Hair and Make-Up, Manicure, Pedicure, Foot Spa, Nail Spa, Nail Art, Facial, Diamond Peel, Warts Removal, Under Arm Peel, Whole Body Peel, Body Massage, Body Scrub and Waxing and others.
Ayala on...from page 1 He explained, “if I have P10 million, I can buy just one unit in other brand, wherein in Avida, I can get as much as 6 units with my P10 million. When asked about other upcoming projects in Iloilo, he said “right now, it is safe to say that this is the only project that we will be focusing on, because this is about 13 towers, so we are looking probably about 5 years or 10 years plan before we really fully develop the location.”
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ALI president and chief executive officer (CEO) Tony Aquino had said that their project will be the Iloilo City’s new business center, bringing a complete live-work-play experience for the Ilonggos in a sustainable community. Ayala Land Inc. is a top real estate developer in the Philippines that owns several residential and commercial developments in the different part of the country.IMT
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METRO OPINION
6 EDITORIAL
Barangay Reforms
E
very election is a history we’re making. It defines our future. It is the very day where we decide whether or not we are willing to give progress and development in the country a chance. But while we get so serious with participating in the national elections, we tend to disregard the importance of being able to take part in choosing our local leaders particularly in the community level. Barangay elections play an important role in developing our sense of transparency, self and community awareness, and social responsibility. What we see in our barangay leaders will most likely to influence our view and perception towards the state and the government as a whole. Furthermore, it will also indirectly affect one’s performance as citizen of this country. While family is the smallest unit of the society, our barangays and communities are the molding unit of our role in the country’s political system. However, as time goes by, this way of life seems to deteriorate. What we see now in the society is totally different from this kind of idealism. Barangay Council and Sangguniang Kabataan are now considered the ‘training ground for corruption’. Big things come from small things, a popular maxim says. Oftentimes we are too busy maximizing things that we forget to look at the details only to find out later that the big and long cracks were products of a small damage in an area of concern which we neglected. This is what is happening to our society today. We keep pushing through political reforms on a larger scale that we ignore the discrepancies on a smaller scale. What we need now is a system to support the national government and it should start on the collaborative effort of the family as the basic unit in forming values and the community as the environment to practice them. This week, we are deciding for another three years of our future in the hands of our local barangay leaders. We should not take this for granted. Let our votes be the beginning and/or continuation of good public service and a catalyst of change in the society.
Y
o u r “Bakunawa” story/movie explored literature, art, culture, mythmaking, and artfor-economics. What inspired you to write it? You’d be surprised if I tell you that there is not so much inspiration in the writing of the Bakunawa story compared to the audacity of turning it into a movie. I think that the story of making it a movie was inspired lunacy, but I’m so glad I ultimately did it. As for the writing, I’m always trying to write stories at least for the yearly Palanca competitions, Bakunawa is just one of them. If it was not the Bakunawa story for this movie, it could be any one
of my other stories: gay stories, magic realist stories, search for God stories. I mean, right now as we speak, I have at least seven ready-to-shoot movie scripts in my possession, and I have at least ten good stories that can be turned into movie scripts, if there are interested producers out there. How did you motivate your actors? It was all in the story. Since the roles where clearly written, the characters’ motivations are smartly real, I thought it was fairly easy for actors to identify with the characters. Jet Alcantara was pretty sure that my story was foul-proof so that he decided on the butt exposure and scenes with nudity without qualms. He played his part to the hilt as it was written, no questions asked. Even when I had no idea who Eman Abatayo was while I was writing the screenplay, he swears that the story is almost a blow by blow retelling of his own life story. As for Priscilla Fontana, I just reminded her that this was her big break, that her future career in the film industry rests on her performance in this particular movie. The other actors in the movie, mostly my townmates from Dumangas, already knew my work ethics and artistic integrity, so that they trust me so much that when I ask them to bend over or jump off the cliff, they just willingly do so without any question. How did you go about casting your film? By now, it is no secret that the movie’s lead stars were cast online,
SOULS M
y body fails me these days. I am not feeling well. I feel the need to rest. “I want to sleep,” my spirit, confined in my ailing body, tells me. This reminds me of November 1, a special non-working holiday when we traditionally visit the graves of our dear ones - “who have gone to their rest in the hope of rising again.” They “sleep” without us waiting for them to be awakened, without them expecting us to awake them. We bring them flowers, candles. Some bring tents, others food. Before their graves, we say some prayers: long or short ones. Sometimes, we go to the cemetery for some social reasons, to meet some friends or find some relatives or classmates for so long we have not communicated with. When I was with the Franciscan Conventuals in Quezon City, it was not on
November 1, the feast day of All Saints, that we did visit the cemeteries, but on November 2 – the feast day of All Souls. We went to several cemeteries, from the North Cemetery down to the South Cemetery in Metro Manila. I was younger then, but I remember that there were several blocks of graves, containing my surname. I did not know who they were, but I was thankful that I visited them, visited them for some indulgence, to offer prayers for the” souls of the faithful departed.” No one, not even myself, has a comfortable disposition, if the thing that is being talked about is grave, or death, except those who live everyday with death in mind. Fear usually overtakes before the topic is done. I know many who does not want to talk about death, more so, to suggest thinking about death, despite the fact that they cannot do otherwise, except to accept its imminent coming. I remember a catechist who had a way of convincing people to conversion to think of death, to imagine that oneself is inside the coffin. The next time he spoke some people no longer attend to hear him preaching. I think, we have to face the question now: Under normal circumstances, how would you like to find your body, after your death? Buried in the rubble? Thrown in the sea? Burned? Or how would you like to be buried? In my case, I want my body to be placed in a coffin, buried six feet below the ground, facing east. My older brother does not like me talking about this, not even my wife, but like taxes, trillions of which have already been stolen from the government coffers, death is certain to happen. But unlike taxes, death is uncertain when to happen. Some say that if one thinks of death as a
specifically via Facebook. I posted casting calls, asked friends for recommendations, and I started chatting up complete strangers for the roles. I private messaged Eman Abatayo, sent him the script, and he sent me links to YouTube videos of his performances. Jet Alcantara is another online blessing. It was just sheer luck on my part that he agreed to do this movie with me. When you come to think of it, other than me being a super nice person, why would Jet Alcantara even respond to my Facebook friend request? I gave Priscilla Fontana an acting workshop in May 2010, so I knew her from way back, but I did online interviews with her, and even had her audition key scenes from the movie via webcam. But believe it or not, most of the other actors with speaking parts only had something like three days to study their roles. I just grabbed most of them from the street. I think great credit should go to my intuitive intelligence as casting director, and as acting coach. I certainly think that I did very well in choosing and coaching the actors for my movie.
October 27 - November 2, 2013 Ilonggo artist extraordinare! Except for the particulars of the language and the bakunawa character, which is distinctively part of Hiligaynon literature, I do not think of this movie just in terms of Ilonggo culture. I think that it is very Filipino. This is a smart, entertaining, and, say-formulaic-if-you-will, but truly Filipino movie in the most glorious Hiligaynon language!
Your movie has been dubbed as the definitive Ilonggo film of the new millennium, if not in history. What makes this movie significant? “Gugma sa Panahon sang Bakunawa” is significant for no other reason but that it is a grand movie production, done in the Hiligaynon language, shot in Iloilo and Guimaras, with Ilonggo actors, made by Peter Solis Nery, the often discounted, but always unsinkable
How is your movie a vehicle of introducing and endorsing regional filmmaking? Although the movie was made primarily as part of the 1st Sineng Pambansa National Film Competition of the Film Development Council of the Philippines, in all honesty, I wasn’t really thinking about advancing any regional filmmaking agenda. I was just trying to make a damn good movie. Since I am a passionate consumer of world cinema, or the so-called foreign language movies, or simply movies that are not from Hollywood, I make no distinctions about regional or national cinema/ filmmaking. Because I live in the U.S. that has access to all kind of movies, there is really no strict distinction between Hong Kong movies and movies from mainland China or movies from Taiwan; or among Indian movies, between Punjabi movies and Hindi movies or Tamil movies. Hell, there is not even a distinction between Chinese movies and Indian movies; they are all Asian movies! And if you push it, they are all foreign language movies!
friend, think of death on a regular basis, one will not be surprised anymore to welcome death when it comes. Death will no longer be a stranger to that person. And fear will no longer overtake his or her courage to welcome death. Even those who does not believe in eternal life find death consoling as it gives them stillness, peace, tranquillity, and freedom. How much more for those who believe. Saints would exclaim: “O death! Where is your victory! O death! Where is your sting!” referring to the victory of Christ Jesus over death. When I was electrocuted more than fifteen but less than twenty years ago, I did not realize that I would be saved while hanging on a live wire. It was then I discovered that when death comes, all our senses will be gone, but the last one to remain and will function to its maximum power is our sense of hearing. I say this because, at that moment when I was helpless, with my sense of hearing remaining, I could hear all kinds of noise, near and far, distinctly: who was the one panicking, who was the one crying, shouting, who was the one who really cares. One ought not to speak strong on the ear of a dying person because it would not be good to hear. How strong the words spoken, the dying person hear those words as strong. So better keep still, make peace with the dying person, and whisper some consoling, uplifting, hopeful, forgiving and peaceful words, as if you are just in natural conversation with him or her. And I think, even a deaf can already hear one speak at such moment. When my mother was braindead in a hospital, I was singing her songs. Her life was extended with a support system, and we were told that if need be, we will sign a waiver to authorize the pulling off
of the machine extending her life. We only waited. After several days, she herself gave up her life, knowing probably fully well the burden left on us her children. At that moment, I was on her side and still continued my singing, some religious songs she used to sing. My father was not on her deathbed because he was then sick. He was left at home. Unfortunately for many victims of earthquake in central Visayas, those who survive them never had the chance to be beside them at their last breath. Not because they were sick, but because the earthquake was sudden and unexpected to happen. They even have become homeless, with no food and water to drink. Those who died probably knew that death was coming when the earth shook, but were not prepared to leave their homes, their families. If one or two of them were facing criminal charges in court,however, their death extinguished their criminal liability. Despite the tragedy, however, life goes on. How I wish that our politicians give soul to their political decisions for good governance. Because even if they are no longer in their elective office, the life of our government goes on. How I wish our politicians have no fear to embrace the death of their greediness, promptly help their constituents in need, genuinely serve their ailing country. How I wish the souls of Ninoy and Cory will awake and prod the spirit of P-Noy and his close allies, reminding them once and for all: “The Filipino is worth dying for.” So that this nation, like my ailing body, find some rest, and rest it must from scams and villains, that its soul be invigorated to nurture and pasture its people - how I wishwith beautiful souls.# Send feedback to: arnoldcares@ yahoo.com
October 27 - November 2, 2013
METRO OPINION
Pulau Sumba
I
was in Pulau S u m b a , Indonesia (9o40’S 120oE) last week for follow up consultations with the village chief and group leaders of Kampung Lailara concerning the village food security needs. My previous trips to Sumba was last January and June of this year when I also conducted trainings in Waingapu, the capital city, on behalf of Goducate (Go and Educate: Helping Needy Asians Help Themselves). Sumba is an island in Eastern Indonesia that is, population and area-wise about 20 and 94 percent, respectively, as big those of Panay. The Sumbanese are relatively poorer compared to other Indonesians, with a high percentage of them suffering from malaria. Infant mortality is also high. Water is scarce during the dry season and the women and children have to travel several kilometers to fetch water while the men are at work. It is said that Sumba is not only dry in terms of climate but also very dry economically and spiritually. Rain comes starting November and lasts for only three months, just enough for one rice cropping. When the sun is at the zenith, the ambient air temperature reaches 38oCelsius. Surprisingly at night time, however, the mercury can dip to as low as 16o Celsius especially during winter in neighboring Australia. Sumba prides itself of Nihiwatu,
a beautiful isolated bay on the remote southwestern coast of the island with tropical rainforest, rice terraces, and somehow perfect beach (fine, clean sand, crystal-clear water, unspoiled beauty, and incredible left-hand breaker for surfers). CNN ranks Nihiwatu Beach as 17th among the World’s top 100 beaches while giving only 84th rank to Boracay’s Puka Beach. Many tourists who fly into Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali usually make a connecting flight to Sumba and take a 90-minute drive to Nihiwatu while passing through the magnificent countryside. We chose Lailara (population: 1,030) for community development efforts since it is typical of rural Sumba. The village folks are all Christians but predominantly nominal with 40% still practicing the Marapu religion or animism. Annual household per capita income is dismally low at about Php24,000. Most of the original vegetation in the village are now gone due to slashburn clearing for planting of corn, cassava, and other cash crops. Past attempts to reforest the limestone hills have failed due to nil social marketing. The dominant source of livelihood in the village is farming which is mainly subsistent monoculture with minimal use of chemical inputs and with characteristically low productivity. Aside from rice, food crops include corn, vegetables, cassava, sweet potato, peanut, banana, mango, eggplant, and other fruit trees.
Industrial crops are cacao, coffee, coconut, and tobacco. Animal raising includes horses, cattle, carabao, goats, and pigs. Some households raise poultry such as chickens and ducks. Lailara is abundant in natural resources. The calcareous rocks in the hills and the heavy clay in the lowland have potentials for processing into lime and for having a pottery industry, respectively. Granite and other mineral wealth also abound in the area. Although a sizable portion of the village itself has good forest cover, wildlife population is limited. Fruit bat population is significantly high, however. Bats are trapped or hunted, cooked, and eaten by the village folks. The road from Waingapu, the capital city of the East Sumba Regency, to Lailara is well-paved with asphalt (Lailara is 56.8 km away from Waingapu). Public transportation comprises of bus and cargo trucks. Some of the village folks have motorbikes for better mobility. Bare horseback riding is also a common way to get quickly from one place to another. Electricity is generated through solar panels and the energy supplied to the households on regulated basis by Transmigrasi Indonesia. Since Lailara is situated in a valley, communication using cellular phones is quite difficult but the village folks are very conversant about locations with signals. Radio and TV are virtually absent in all households. There is only one public
elementary school in Lailara and the pupils have to walk several kilometers from their houses to reach the school. To help prepare the children for elementary education, the Indonesian Mission Foundation (IMF) has opened a pre-school in an area developed through the Transmigration Program. The local government has been very supportive by providing space for the school and a housing unit for the teachers. The farmers bring their products to Waingapu or to the nearby towns of Lewa and Tarimbang or else they wait for some middlemen to come to the village and purchase their farm produce directly. Few among the people in Lailara have successfully completed university education. The literacy and numeracy rates among the adult population are very low, a situation that may be addressed by our implementation of adult classes in the near-term. The locals were, therefore, pretty much excited upon knowing that Goducate will set up a Community Learning Center in their village effective this coming December. By the first quarter of 2014, we shall have started training them on specific commodities (Moringa, strawberry, vegetables, rice, corn, other high value and industrial crops, livestock, and fish ), emerging sustainable agricultural technologies (vermicomposting, container gardening, hydroponics, aquaponics, systems of rice intensification) product marketing, and literacy and
numeracy classes. Goducate will also build a plant nursery for growing of vegetable and fruit tree seedlings. Community and household gardens; Moringa production, processing, and utilization, and; systems of rice intensification (direct seeding, ratooning, rice-fish integration, and ecological engineering) demonstration projects will likewise be initiated. A baseline survey on the socioeconomic status of the community before project implementation, periodic monitoring, and ex-post evaluation of project impacts will be undertaken to address gaps and document the lessons learned. We already did stratified sampling to obtain demographic data of the households and the necessary information on production, resource utilization, cropping pattern and intensity, capital ownership, farm inventory, and various items of expenditures and receipts including crop disposal. These are necessary imperatives should there be need to expand the project to include adjacent villages or for replication to other Indonesian rural areas. Our plan is to assign Filipino community development workers in Sumba immediately after finding the right matches and qualifying them. Preferably, they should be conversant on sustainable agriculture so that they can readily adjust their knowledge with the prevailing indigenous farming technology in the area.
them, do not even know their roles as barangay officials but this do not deter them at all from putting themselves on the race. For most of the barangay folks, the officials are just there as part of the political foundation of the mayor, governor or congressman, the marching sergeants of a bigger political machinery and the intricate tubing where goodies may pass down to the grassroots. With grassroots we mean (in Philippine election lingo) the vote-rich families and purok with the potential to get the lump sum of votes for the top brass of the political machinery. We may discuss the lobbyists, financiers
and contributors some other time. A lot of my coffee table mates have one burning question voiced out in unison: Why? Well, for starters, one quite unknown answer to that burning question is: Authoritarian si Kap. With the Punong Barangay endowed with surprisingly authoritarian powers, most political kingpins in the municipal, city, provincial and district have seen that tiny jewel among the chaos and subtly knew how to utilize it in their favor. The Punong Barangay is the executive head of the basic political unit. A lot of power is placed on that seat. He is also the Presiding Officer of
the Sangguniang Barangay and has the strongest influence in the direction the legislative council is going. The Punong Barangay is also at the helm of barangay justice as the Head Lupon of the Lupong Tagapamayapa. Combining these powers, harmonizing and harnessing its advantages require astute talent to achieve political ends and in the end serving the best interests of your political patrons in the municipality, city, province and district. Little knew or few have cared for this one tiny detail that a Punong Barangay wields, but a shrewd political patron knows and utilizes this, usually in a subtle and
indirect way. So what if authoritarian si Kap? He cannot do much in or outside of his turf. Yes and yes, but in amazing ways, the combination of these powers eventually bring the numbers, to himself and to his patrons. Like I said, the stronger and more intricate the tubings, the easier the waters flow to the roots. In the barangay level, most of the valves are held by people who have patrons above. In the overall scheme of things, the real and ideal goal of barangay government is already defeated, while patronage politics is alive and well down to the grassroots.
Authoritarian si KAP
E
l e c t i o n fever is on. A tableau of what has been happening every election in the national scene is being replicated at the barangay level. That is an amazing thing about Philippine elections: old habits die hard. The habit of patronage and dirty old tricks to secure votes can be seen exactly on scale. With nine seats at stake in every barangay, a lot of our seemingly prodigious barangay folks are suddenly willing to lay down their services and become ‘public servants’. Some, if not most of
7
Languages, Nations: My Love Affairs (Abridged Version)
I
n the movie of my life, there is a scene that happened in Seoul, in the library of Korea University (KU), considered one of the country’s top three universities. The year was 2009. Mid-summer. I was a Visiting Writer for six months hosted by the South Korean government through its Literary and Translation Institute (KLTI). They required a study of the Korean language for 100 hours and enrolled us (I was with a Brazilian, Egyptian, and Palestine writers) in the university. Imagine this: a petite Filipina scanning the bookshelves with her fingers. Then a pause: a startled look, a sigh. In another scene, she is down on the floor, a book on hand, crying. That was my first cry in a foreign country, I told friends (the rest during that stint were elicited by Typhoon Ondoy, Cory Aquino’s death & burial, and of the Ampatuan Massacre). Why? You may wonder. Consider this: canonical books and by contemporary masters, say Haruki Murakami, lined the shelves in the original language (Japanese in Murakami’s case) and in translation in several languages such as
Korean, French, German, etc. - other than English! It was an embodied moment, of all along and all these times we are availing universal intellectual heritage and insights on contemporary events only in English. I cried, because: I, can, only, read, in English – American English for that matter. In a contrapuntal scene, a relief that I could read English: thanks to good ol’ America! Daw sa tinampa ako kang kaimulon kang atun mga library. Kag dungan nagsanag sa akun pensar ang mga obra kang kaduruhun kang atun mga kababayan sa dyang pungsod kang kimchi: factory worker. Amo dya ang nabuol ta sa pagkasagad (kuno) sa Ingles?! Foremost Filipino poet in English Gemino Abad theorizes we are writing from English, not in English. In the academic parlance that is postcolonial (ism), this is similar to ‘we have already conquered the English language’ or ‘have successfully indigenized the American English’ and now contributing to World E/ englishes (ex. Korean English, Singlish, Spanglish, etc.) that continuously challenge the center, the standard, the official. This links us to political and economic slogans like ‘the new world
order.’ Postcolonial, as a theory, is the ‘fighting back’ and the resistance of the former – or neo – subject/country. It questions universalizing notions of identity, gender, race, etc. In the case of language, other than celebrating mother tongue, multilingualism, and yes – englishes, it positions that now that we know the language of power, let us speak up, or write, in/from it, to narrate our own realities, our very own perspective/s. That scene in the library opened up a new mental and emotional space for me to navigate. In a personal level, I have reconciled my resentment with America on our colonial past and found a certain kinship with South Koreans in using English in its most basic role and practical benefit, that is for communication, in my everyday dealing with contemporary realities mainly still governed, if not dictated by America, and/but not to be its modern-day slave. To further clarify and illustrate, let me cite Davao-based fictionist and historian Macario Tiu. His response during the Jose Rizal Conference organized by National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose last December 2012 at CCP titled “Political Genetics: Malformed State Culture
and the Philippine Kulelat Syndrome” proposes to “establish a Filipino state which is pro-Filipino, pro-nationalist, pro-people, and pro-poor.” He argues we can do this is if we “get out of the Hispano-American crab basket.” Tiu is not the first one to declare and advance this, and surely will not be the last. Back in the area of language, we have recently witnessed the controversy solicited by the proposal of another National Artist for Literature, Virgilio Almario, head of the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino (KWF): to start forgetting about P and instead embrace F for the name of our country. Filipinas. Google will direct you to the website of KWF where you can read his reasons. I agree that we have to slay the P in us, that identity synonymous to kurakot, kulelat, kotong, talangka, sacada. We have to compete and survive the 21st-century, dubbed as The Century of Asia (hello ASEAN 2015), as Filipino: word-class talent, professional, skilled worker who have strong historical and cultural literacy national consciousness - that enable us to stand on our own region, with our countrymen, in a nation respected in the global scene. I believe that with Mother Tongue
in the K+12 curriculum, we strengthen our regional literary and linguistic infrastructures, and participate in what National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera calls as “pagaakda ng bansa/writing the nation.” I aspire for regions independent of/ from Manila but mindful co-player in strengthening the nation Filipinas, in a global age that is becoming another feat in the survival of the fittest. University of San Agustin dean Isidoro M. Cruz, one of our finest poets and scholars, suggests for “damming the nation” in his book Pungsod. What happened to my study of the Korean language? I passed. But let this be the closing scene for that sojourn, an excerpt from my story “Looking for Gingko”: You are walking past a row of trees that you confidently recognize as gingko. The leaves are still in your bag. You feel your exhaustion vanish with this certainty. To test the sharpness of your memory, you point to the trees in Kinaray-a: dya, amo ra, amo ‘to; in Hiligaynon: ini, ina, ato; in Tagalog: ito, iyan, iyon, and in English: this, that (near), that (far). In Korean: ego, kugo, tsugo. You are slow in Hangul because you still have to rely on English for comprehension.
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October 27 - November 2, 2013
BY REYMAR LATOZA
METRO AGRICULTURE
9
DA to DTI: “Cut retail price of chicken”
The Department of Agriculture (DA) noticed that the retail price of chicken in the markets is too high from its liveweight price and it should be trimmed down. A report of Philippine Star published on October 20, 2013 said that DA had already taken initiative, asking the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to lower the suggested
retail price of chicken in the markets nationwide. Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala disclosed that here is a huge supply of poultry and farmgate prices are falling, but retail is not so we will recommend to the DTI the lowering of retail prices. Gregorio San Diego, president of United Broilers Integrators Association (UBRA) explained that the average
liveweight price of chicken has fallen to P78 per kilogram (kg) while dressed poultry is sold in markets at P130 per kg. He added that chicken growers are incurring losses because production costs have risen to P70 per kilogram. In Western Visayas, the retail price of fully dressed chicken per kilo is P120.00 based on the latest DTI price monitoring.
In the the latest field monitoring of DA, the farmgate price of a live chick has now fallen to P5 apiece from P20 apiece months ago. The volume of chicken production for the first semester of the year was placed at 758,680 metric tons (MT), up 5.05 percent from the output of 722,210 MT in the same period last year. Broilers accounted for 74.66 percent of the total chicken production
for the period. The gross value of chicken production at current prices was placed at P63 billion, up 7.18 percent in the same period last year. In the first six months of the year, the country’s total chicken population was placed at 176.85 million birds, 4.05 percent higher than last year’s headcount of 196.97 million birds. Philippine Star/IMT
DENR hones LGUs as deputized public land investigators The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Land Management Service (LMS) trained 44 participants from local government units in the provinces of Antique and Iloilo during a two-day trainingworkshop for Deputized Public Land Investigators (DPLI). The initiative, aimed to hasten the processing of land titling and issuances of free patents in municipalities, was held at Punta Villa Resort, Iloilo City last October 3-4, 2013. The participants came from 11 local government units in Antique and Iloilo. LMS Regional Technical Director Maximo F. Soriano Jr. underscored the importance of the partnership between the DENR and the LGUs in order to hasten the processes of land titling in municipalities. Land Management Bureau Assistant Director Atty. Emelyn Talabis emphasized the role of the department in carrying out the thrust of the Aquino administration of giving land to the landless thru the “Matuwid na Daan” concept. Atty. George Katigbak from the Asia Foundation refreshed the memory
of all participants about the history of land system in the country. He likewise explained the different modes of disposition of lands with their corresponding requirements in terms of years in possession. As to the IEC aspect of the program, Chief RPAO Artemio Salvador C. Colacion in his message cum IEC strategy presentation underscored the need for a massive information drive among all stakeholders about the program. All qualified applicants must understand the benefits of having all their untitled lands be titled at a minimal cost of processing and for the part of the LGU concerned, this will boost their tax revenue generation. The training-workshop is a subsequent activity of the partnership between the LGU and the DENR after they have signed the Memorandum of Partnership Agreement (MOPA) aimed to fast-track the titling of untitled lands in residential zoned areas identified by every LGU, hasten the computerization of all land records and increase revenue tax of the LGUs. Presently, there are 12 MOPAs already signed between DENR and the
LGUs of the Provinces of Antique and Iloilo. The LGUs from the Province of Negros Occidental are working out for
an immediate schedule of their MOPA signing activity. Other speakers during the
workshop were Antonio Luis, Armin Halili and Hector Garrido, all experts in land matters.
TOP LEFT. DENR 6 Land Management Service Regional Technical Director (RTD) Maximo F. Soriano Jr. briefs the participants on the in depths of RA 10023 (LGU-led Public Land Titling); TOP RIGHT. Atty. George Katigbak discusses the history of the land system in the country; BOTTOM LEFT. Land Management Bureau Assistant Director Atty. Emelyn Talabis orients participants on free patents; BOTTOM RIGHT. participants listen attentively during the two-day training workshop on public land titling.
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES PROVINCE OF ILOILO ILOILO CITY SANGGUNIANG PANLALAWIGAN RESOLUTION NO. 2013-286
RESOLUTION EXPRESSING SINCEREST THANKS AND GRATITUDE TO THE HONARABLE SENATE PRESIDENT FRANKLIN M. DRILON FOR ALL THE PROJECTS HE HAS GIVEN TO THE PROVINCE OF ILOILO, MORE PARTICULARLY, THE MULTI-BILLION JALAUR RIVER MULTI-PURPOSE PROJECT (JRMP2) AND HIS CONTINUED SUPPORT TO THE ONGOING DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROVINCE. WHEREAS, Senate President Franklin M. Drilon delivered significant projects to the Province of Iloilo, which includes the multi-billion Iloilo Airport of International Standards, and the forthcoming multi-billion peso JALAUR RIVER MULTI-PURPOSE PROJECT (JRMP2), the main dam of which is located in Calinog, a municipality in the Province of Iloilo; WHEREAS, the JALAUR RIVER MULTII-PURPOSE PROJECT (JRMP2) will extend hydro-electric power source, irrigation, potable water source and livelihood, interconnecting roads and bridges, and flood control; WHEREAS, the above-mentioned development services covered by the incoming multi-billion JALAUR RIVER MULTI-PURPOSE PROJECT (JRMP2) will be beneficial to the people and the ongoing development of the Province of Iloilo; NOW, THEREFORE, on motion of the Hon. June S. Mondejar, Floor Leader, upon the sponsorship of the Hon. Emmanuel R. Gallar, which was unanimously seconded, RESOLVED, as it is hereby Resolved, that Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Iloilo express their sincerest thanks and gratitude to the Honarable Senate President Franklin M. Drilon for all the projects, more particularly, the forthcoming JALAUR RIVER MULTI-PURPOSE PROJECT (JRMP2), and the continued support he has given to the people and to the ongoing development of the Province of Iloilo; RESOLVED FURTHER, to furnish copies of this Resolution, the Honorable Senate President Franklin M. Drilon, Senate of the Philippines, Metro Manila; the Honarable Speaker of the House of Representatives, Feliciano Belmonte, and the Office of the President of the Republic of the Philippines, His Excellency Benigno Simeon C. Aquino, Malañang Palace, Manila, for their information and reference. APPROVED.” ATTESTED BY:
10
IBL
Iloilo Basketball Leauge
BY REYMAR LATOZA It was a nip and tuck game. Iloilo City National High School (ICNHS) survived the neck to neck battle against Ramon Avanceña National High School (RANHS) with 89-84 overtime win in game 14 of the IBL Developmental Basketball Tournament. The 5th straight win of ICNHS secured them a ticket to the next level of the said tournament. The match between ICNHS and RANHS became exhilarating as the both teams launched their own bombs in the early part of the battle. ICNHS built a 42-31 advantage in the end of first half, but RANHS o
SULTADA REYMAR LATOZA
The PAGBA 10-Stag Derby capped off with a blast as winners hoisted the banner of pride and honor during the final stint of the said event at Iloilo Coliseum. An astounding four million (P4,000,000.00) total pot money intensified the matches between hopeful breeders. Of the three hundred ninety four entries, only one was named as champion and took home the breath-taking cash prize. Honey and Butter of E. Buyco and J. Balena of the Province of Antique became champion, seizing a cash reward of two million eight hundred thirty seven thousand and one hundred forty nine pesos (P 2, 837,149.00). TNT Namocon of K. Sanchez won one hundred fifty nine thousand one hundred fifty six pesos
METRO SPORTS
ICNHS beats RANHS, maintains unbeaten record managed to cut its distance starting in the third quarter and finally moved closer to ICNHS in the last one minute and 13 seconds of the final quarter, just down 74-72. The bungled attempts of RANHS succeeded as they tied with ICNHS in the last 53 seconds, 7474. ICNHS got a firepower basket to make a lead to 76-74 with only 25 seconds left. The fighting spirit of RANHS remained alive, grabbing the lead from ICNHS after making a 3-point shot to bring the team within one, 76-77 with 9 seconds left. The last 9 ticks became heart
stopping. With its one point edge, RANHS chose to foul ICNHS to prevent them from crashing the board to earn a two-point shot. ICNHS made one of the freethrow, making their scores tied, 7777 with five seconds left. The game was extended and it became more physical. After pulling away, ICNHS secured its lead to overturn RANHS. ICNHS remained undefeated, occupying the top spot. Barrio Obrero National High School moved to the second spot with three wins and one loss. BONHS defeated RANHS in game 12, 76-72.
La Paz National High School got its first win after trouncing Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT-U) in game 13, 65-39. Iloilo National High School (INHS) and RANHS have both two wins and two losses. While ISAT-U remained winless. The said tournament was organized by Iloilo Basketball League (IBL) League, headed by Alfie Lagman as President of the said league. It aims to promote and flourish the field of sports in Iloilo by developing and discovering potential Ilonggo basketball players. IMT
(P 159,156.00). The winners of Any ‘8 Points’ shared the one hundred sixty thousand and six hundred eighty eight thousand (P 160,688.00). The following won twelve thousand three hundred sixty pesos (12,360.00) each: E.X. G.I. Joe, Honey and Butter, J.B., J.M. Ignacio, JBF Cazadores, Phoenix, Princess of Great 8, Salay, Sea Bourn Miguelito, Solomon, Super A.T.F. Twins, TNT Namocon, and Toto Amay. On the other hand, in Any ‘7 Points’ category, 43 shared the one hundred seventy six thousand and forty six (P 176, 046.00). The following took home four thousand and forty seven pesos each: Bealanz Hilltop, Birds of Steel, B.R. CY Dragons, C.L.A. Tres Amigos, Dan-B Pao N Shoti, D.B.F. Premium, D.C.A. Nightingale, DJ Partner’s, Dona
Juliana Rams, D. Victory JPS Gas Engr., E.L. Garuda, E.X.G.I. Joe, E.G.D. Gamefowl, F.D.L.Hangaway, G.V.E. TT Fornier Cock, Golden Boy, G.R.K. Team Beng, Honey and
Phoenix, Power Plus, Princess of Great 8, R.M.C. Gamefarm, R.H. Isabella, S.M. NJR ACS, Salay, Sea Bourn Miguellito, Sitio Taruc, Solomon, Super A.T.F. Twin I, Super A.T.F. Twins, Tabuc Dagat, TNT Namolon, and Toto Amay. In ST. 6, 13 winners divided the three hundred thirty four thousand and seven hundred thirty two pesos (P 334, 732.00) cash prize. The following won twenty five thousand and seven hundred forty eight pesos (P 25, 748.00) each: Bealanz Hilltop, Dan-B Pao N Shoti, D.C.A. Nightingale, DJ Partner’s, E.X. G.I. Joe, E.G.O. Gamefowl, G.V.E. TT Fornier Cock, Golden Boy, Honey and Butter, Jun Jun and Jedrek, Phonenix, Solomon, and Super A.T.F.Twins. In ST. 3, 45 winners shared the four hundred one thousand and seven hundred twenty pesos prize. The following are winners who
October 27 - November 2, 2013
IBL Women’s Basketball Tournament
West Visayas State University (WVSU) had moved up and tied with Philippine Electronic Institute (PEI) as leading teams in the IBL Women’s Basketball Tournament. The said teams have four wins and one loss as of October 20, 2013. Textus landed in the second spot with three wins and one loss. Team Avengers has two wins and three losses. Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT-U) has two wins and two losses. University of San Augustine (USA) has one win and one loss. Meanwhile, Iloilo National high School remained winless.IMT
PAGBA 10-STAG DERBY CHAMPIONSHIP RESULT
Butter, J.B., J.M. Ignacio, Jaguar sa likod balay, J.B.F. Cazadores, JMC, J.P. Tinigban, Jun Jun and Jedrek, Midnight Beatles, Nonoy Hanz,
won eight thousand plus each: A.P.G.C.T. Lambunaonon, Amtank BBD, Bealanz Hilltop, Big Brother, binghal, Birds of Steel, D’Captain/ LH, DJ Partner’s, D. Victory JPS Gas Engr., E.L. Garuda, E.L. Rey, F.L. Lucky Boy Gamefarm, Fot the Boys TLL, G.V.E. TT Fornier Cock, Golden Boy, J.B., Jacob, JBF Cazadores, Jet Gamefarm, JL Gamefarm, JMC Gamefarm, JR Frienship, JRP Emelia, KB Darkwabe, Kim Marvel, Lumay MS, MBE Powermaxx, MYY A.A.JR, NB Christ-AR, Phoenix, Pwersa De Cast-Adores, Rap Rap Star, Red Bug Ten, Redstone Gamefarm, San Francisco, Sea Bourn Miguellito, Solomon, Stingray Assassin, Super A.T.F. Twin I, Super A.T.F. Twins, Surong Janiuay I, Tabuc Dagat, TNT Namocon, Tribute to Kap Nathan, and Zyon Renzo. Honey and Butter received thirty five thousand pesos (P35,000.00) as Handler and fifteen thousand pesos (P15,000.00) as a gaffer.IMT
Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS Region VI – Western Visayas ILOILO CITY DISTRICT ENGINEERING OFFICE OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ENGINEER Fort San Pedro Road, Iloilo City Tel. Nos. 337-83-87; 337-32-63
CONVERSION OF DPWH ILOILO CITY DISTRICT ENGINEERING OFFICE INTO A SECOND CLASS ENGINEERING OFFICE IS UNDERWAY
The Iloilo City District Engineering Office was established in 1994 as a third class Engineering District having a total of 65.58 kilometer roads and bridges under its jurisdiction. Its primary mandate is to supervise and implement projects funded under the DPWH-Regular Infrastructure Program, the Congressional PDAF, Farm to Market roads funded by Department of Agriculture and Tourism convergence projects and to maintain the national roads and bridges within its area of jurisdiction. By the virtue of the Bills sponsored by Honorable JERRY P. TREÑAS, Congressman, Lone District of Iloilo City, 25.121 kilometer of local city roads was converted into a National Roads resulting to an increase of the length of National Roads from 65.58 km to 90.701 km, short at 9.299 kilometer requirement to convert the DPWH-Iloilo City District Engineering Office into a second class Engineering District. The impending conversion of DPWH-Iloilo City District Engineering Office shall result to additional permanent plantilla positions and shall devolve the responsibility of the maintenance of these newly converted national roads to the DPWH. DPWH-Iloilo City District Engineering Office has currently acquired various maintenance equipments to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Office in terms of its maintenance operations. It also conducts regular lectures to its new technical employees to improve their skills and knowledge and to be updated with the recent Department policies, regulations and issuances. DPWH-Iloilo City District Engineering Office is rank No. 44 out of 180 District Offices Nationwide in terms of Quality of implemented projects based on the Quarterly Assessment Reports of the Quality assurance Units from Central Office for the year 2012 and is rank No. 1 out of 15 District Office in Region VI. The DPWH-Iloilo City District Engineering Office thru the effort of Assistant District Engineer MARILOU G. ZAMORA and full support of Regional Director EDILBERTO D. TAYAO facilitated the improvement of its office to make conducive to work and to improve the efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of the basic services to the public. It is currently headed by an Ilonggo, in the person of Engineer RODNEY A. GUSTILO in the capacity as OIC-District Engineer since last July 3, 2012. Engineer Gustilo entered the government service in 1991 as a casual employee at DPWH-Regional Office, rose from the ranks until his appointment as Assistant District engineer in September 2012.