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Punto! Luzon
www.punto.com.ph
P 8.00
Volume 8
Number 65
Mon - Wed
March 16 - 18, 2015
Central
PANANAW NG MALAYANG PILIPINO!
‘Abaya, tama na
ang pambobola’
Yeng distributes
farm equipment
PGKM hits DOTC chief on CIA ‘non-dev’t’
A
By Ashley Manabat
NGELES CITY – “Stop fooling us, Mr. Abaya!”
Thus, said the Pinoy Gumising Ka Movement (PGKM) here yesterday
after noticing the delay in the implementation of the P1.2 billion funds
for the development of the Clark International Airport (CIA).
Page 8 please
Guiao
MAGALANG, Pampanga – Vowing to support their needs, some
P1 million worth of
farm equipment were
distributed to farmer-beneficiaries by 1st
District Rep. Joseller
“Yeng” Guiao after the
flag-raising ceremony
at the town hall here on
Monday.
Mayor Romy Pecson and Vice Mayor
Norman Lacson were
with Guiao when he
Page 8 please
18th century Jesus burial tableau
to lure Holy Week pilgrims to Betis ‘Frankensteins’
Anakpawis says
By Ding Cervantes
GUAGUA, PampangaAcross from the 17th
century
Baroque-inspired Betis church
in this town is an old
two-story house that
has kept, for the past
254 years, seven lifesize statues that have
become the main focus
of veneration during the
traditional Holy Week
processions in Betis.
The fact that Betis is world-famous
for its carved furniture
hints on the quality of
the statues carved by
locals. While no one
could say who had
carved the six-foot-tall
Jesus Nazareno, the
six others were known
to have been chiselled and painted on
by brothers Juan, Martin, and Severino Pangilinan in 1760.
They were sons of
Betis
gobernadorcillo Don Mariano Pangilinan who had inherited from his forefathers
the even older and bigger Jesus Nazareno
whose history has been
buried in time. The six
were those of the Santo Entierro or the Dead
Christ, the Blessed
Mother, Mary Magdalene, John the Beloved,
Joseph of Arimathea
and Nicodemus.
The statues are kept
for most part of the year
in the old house, known
to Betis folk as Bale
Piskal (literally ‘’house
Page 8 please
resurrecting CARP
ANGELES CITY – The Anakpawis partylist has labeled as ‘’Frankenteins’’ the congressmen behind the
pending approval of a bill extending the ‘’already dead’’
Comprehensive Land Reform Program (CARP) law.
‘’We hope that these congressmen who met with
the President on the extension would be publicized so
that poor farmers would know whom to blame for the
dire consequences of extending CARP,’’ said Anakpawis Rep. Fernando Hicap in a statement released
here yesterday.
He noted that the House is set to approve on final
Page 8 please
P1-B Bustos Dam
rehabilitation up for
bidding by midyear
The burial. Holy statues of Joseph of Arimathea (front, left),
Nicodemus (front, right), St. John the Beloved (back, with both hands
holding corners of cloth, Santo Entierro or the Dead Jesus Christ
(laid on the cloth), and at the back, Mary Magdalene supporting the
Blessed Virgin Mary. Photo courtesy of Lito Pintor
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The National Irrigation Authority (NIA) now
has P1 billion needed to
rehabilitate the Bustos
Rubber Dam in Bulacan.
The NIA is set to bid
the rehabilitation project
by midyear so that work
on the project could start
by yearend, said NIA administrator Florencio Padernal.
The P1 billion is from
the debt paid by the Metropolitan Waterworks and
Sewerage System for its
use of water from the dam
since the 1990’s, he said.
Padernal bared plans
to replace with stronger
rubber materials the six
rubber gates of the dam
used to irrigate farmlands, especially in Plaridel town in Bulacan.
The ‘’apron’’ or surroundings of the dam,
training walls, primary canals and other parts of the
dam would also be rehabilitated, he said.
The Bustos Rubber
Dam was constructed in
1963 during the DiosdaPage 9 please
IHG partners with
Pernod Ricard to
celebrate 150 years
of cocktail mixology
BIR RDO 21A-North Pampanga headed by Romeo Naranjo, section chiefs and staff, in a jubilant
pose after the tax campaign “Angat Pa Pinoy” kick off. The revenue district office is located at
the 3rd floor of Saver’s Mall, MacArthur Highway, Balibago, Angeles City.
Photo courtesy of Jimmy Pingul
Punto! Central Luzon • March 16 - 18, 2015 • Monday - Wednesday
BIR: Do your share, pay your correct taxes
2
As the deadline on April
15, 2015 for the filing of
income tax retuns for the
taxable year 2014 fastly
approaches, the Bureau
of Internal Revenue (BIR)
Revenue Region No. 4
made its appeal through
a tax campaign dubbed
“ANGAT Pa PINAS.” The
RR 4 tax campaign was
spearheaded by BIR OIC
regional director Conrado C. Lee at the SM City
Pampanga Trade Hall,
City of San Fernando recently.
To create awareness
and tax conciousness
among the youth, a slogan and poster making
contest was held with
several colleges and universities in Central Luzon
participating. A symbolic replication of a university building façade by
connecting blocks of different shapes and sizes
was the culminating activity. It is a call for Filipinos to cooperate in
nation-building by paying their correct taxes on
time.
The BIR has a collection goal of P1.704 trillion for 2015 compared
to P1.456 trillion in 2014
and RR 4 is tasked to
collect at least P21 billion
in 2015.
Meanwhile, BIR Revenue District Office 21A
North Pampanga headed by Romeo Naranjo
launched a similar campaign at the Century Hotel, Angeles City, March
3, 2015. RDO 21A North
Pampanga serves the
cities of Angeles and Mabalacat including locators at Clark and the municipalities of Arayat, Magalang and Porac. The
event was attended by
Mayor Edgardo D. Pamintuan, Councilor Maricel Morales, top regional revenue officials, tax
practitioners, professionals, businessmen and
other stakeholders.
OIC Regional Director Lee bared a dream to
see the day when nobody
files his/her income tax
return on Apil 15, 2015
as everybody have complied before the deadline.
“We can not escape taxes from cradle to grave.
Be vigilant to ask for receipts so that all taxes go
the government”, he appealed.
The Revenue District
Office has a colllection
goal of P6.7 billion for
2015 as against actual
collection of P5.2 billion
in 2014. –Jimmy Pingul,
Contributor
By Ernie Esconde
from Navotas, Metro Manila and Cavite allegedly
in the act of trawl fishing
along the waters of Limay, Bataan Monday.
Felipe Mendoza, municipal agriculture officer
of Limay, said the fishermen were on board four
fishing boats that were
impounded.
Police officers and
members
of
Bantay
Dagat seized about 27
coolers of small squid at
20-25 kilos per cooler, 25
kilos of assorted small
fish like galunggong and
two big fish.
Mendoza said local
fishermen from barangay
Saint Francis I and Saint
Francis II in Limay volunteered to help the local
fishery board in arresting
the suspected illegal fishers. “Gamit ang sariling
mga bangka, pinagsalikupan nila ang apat na
fishing boats para hindi
na makaalis.”
He said that sighted this month were 50
fishing boats involved
in trawl fishing so local
fishermen were alarmed
and informed Mayor Lilvir Roque who asked police and Bantay Dagat to
keep tight watch.
He said that the trawl
fishermen caught even
small fish. “Kawawa ang
maliliit na mangingisda na
wala nang mahuling isda
kaya tumutulong na sila
para mapigilan ang iligal
na pangingisda,” the municipal agriculturist said.
Some of the suspected illegal fishermen reasoned out that they were
fishing in deep waters far
from the municipal waters.
33 ‘illegal fishers’ arrested in Bataan
LIMAY, Bataan- Bantay
Dagat assisted by local fishermen and the
police apprehended 33
suspected illegal fishers
Oscar M. Endona passed
away last Monday,
March 16, 2015.
He was 77.
His remains lie in state
at the ground floor of
Building B,
Good Shepherd Memorial
Park, Dolores, City of
San Fernando.
Interment is scheduled on
Saturday, March 21.
Oscar M. Endona, 77
We at Punto! offer our
prayers for the repose
of his soul and our
sympathies to our GM,
Atty. Gener Endona and
the rest of the Endona
family for their loss.
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has partnered with Pernod Ricard to launch its BAR150
programme, celebrating 150 years of mixology,
which sees its hotel bars serve up an exciting new
menu of signature cocktails, complemented by a
range of appetising bar snacks.
The programme has launched across IHG’s
managed InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and
Holiday Inn hotels and resorts throughout its Asia,
Middle East and Africa (AMEA) region. Under the
partnership, Pernod Ricard has designed a series
of popular cocktails for IHG hotels based on its
rich brand portfolio, which includes Aperitif, Whisky, Scotch Whisky, Cognac, Gin, Vodka, Rum and
other liqueurs. The French wine and spirits group
also sets a high standard for bartenders at IHG
hotels in making and serving cocktails to ensure
its originality. Phil Broad, Vice President, Food & Beverage, AMEA, IHG, said: “Around 150 years ago the
first cocktail recipe appeared in print, kick-starting
a mixology movement that continues to go from
strength to strength. There’s so much history and
heritage behind the region’s most loved cocktails so we are celebrating the best of these with
BAR150 - from the Mint Julep which was popularised at what is now InterContinental The Willard
Washington DC, to the Mojito, which can trace its
history back to the explorer, Sir Francis Drake.
“Partnering with Pernod Ricard has given us
the opportunity to provide our guests with exceptional cocktail options, made with renowned spirits
and liqueur brands, across more than 200 bars in
our hotels in the region.”
Pernod Ricard is the world’s co-leader in wine
and spirits, representing top brands, including ABSOLUT vodka, Chivas Regal whisky, Beefeater gin, Martell cognac, The Glenlivet single malt
whisky, Royal Salute Scotch whisky, The Ballantine’s blended Scotch whisky, Perrier-Jouët champagne, Malibu and Havana Club rum, among
many others.
Quentin Job, Vice President, Innovation and
Commercial Development, Pernod Ricard Asia
said: “Pernod Ricard is thrilled to have worked
with IHG on enhancing cocktail experiences for its
guests across AMEA hotels based on our famous
brands, such as Havana Club for Maitai and Beefeater for Negroni; and many more for basic mixed
drinks and sophisticated cocktails. This collaboration has contributed to the development of mixology, which is reviving the cocktail culture in Asia.”
“We also treasure the opportunity of exchanging professional cocktail mixing skills with IHG colleagues to deliver consistency across IHG hotels. There is a lot more creation and innovation
to come for IHG guests and I look forward to taking this art form to the next level.”
The refreshed cocktail menus are accompanied by a wider revamp of the hotel’s bar snack
menus. The menus are tailored by hotel brand,
with InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn hotels and resorts offering up their own
unique dishes, created by top chefs from across
IHG hotels in AMEA. The new menus have been
designed to showcase some of the best flavours
from across the region and will complement the
new cocktails on offer, giving guests a heightened
bar experience.
IHG is one of the largest restaurant and bar operators in the Asia, Middle East and Africa region
with more than 800 restaurants and bars across
37 countries, and another 200 restaurants and
bars to be unveiled as IHG opens the 137 hotels
in its pipeline.
The company’s team of food and beverage experts are working on a number of new programmes
to improve and enhance guests’ culinary experiences across the company’s portfolio of hotels in
the region. Over the last year, IHG has:
• Launched the IHG Culinary Panel, which features five celebrated chefs who have developed a
repertoire of signature dishes which will be available at selected restaurants across IHG hotels in
AMEA.
• Launched the InterContinental Planet Trekkers Children’s Menu globally, a menu designed
to take young explorers on an exciting journey of
food discovery, and which was developed by celebrity chef Theo Randall and leading children’s
food expert book author, Annabel Karmel MBE.
• Announced a partnership with Nutrition Australia to develop a fun and nutritionally-balanced
kids’ menu for Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts across
AMEA, which will be available later this year.
Cebu Pacific announces new flights to Doha, Qatar
Offers PHP888 seat sale
The Philippines’ leading
airline, Cebu Pacific Air (PSE:
CEB)will launch twice weekly
direct flights between Manila
and Doha, Qatar, starting June
4, 2015.
CEB will be the only Philippine carrier flying between
these two cities, serving more
Global Filipinos in the Middle
East.
Its introductory Manila-Doha fares start at PHP888, for
sale until March 22, 2015 or
until seats last. The seat sale
fare, which is the cost of ap-
proximately five movie tickets,
may be used for travel from
June 4 to December 31, 2015.
After the seat sale, CEB’s
lowest year-round fares between Manila and Doha start
at PHP9,488, which is approximately 60% lower than other
airlines.
The non-stop service departs Manila every Monday
and Thursday, at 9:35pm. It
arrives in Doha at 2:45am the
next day. The return flight departs Doha every Tuesday and
Friday, at 4:15am, arriving in
Manila at 6:35pm.
This new route will utilize
CEB’s brand-new Airbus A330300 aircraft, with a configuration of 436 all-economy class
seats. Hot meals, seats with
extra legroom and Wi-Fi onboard, among others, are options that can be added to the
fare.
CEB also offers fast and
convenient same-terminal connecting flights for guests taking
advantage of CEB’s extensive
Philippine network.
“We are excited to offer
Cebu Pacific’s trademark low
fares to travelers in Doha, especially since we are the only
low-cost carrier operating this
route. With our expanding network, Qatar becomes more accessible from the Philippines,
and the Filipino community can
reunite with their families more
often,” said CEB General Manager for Long-Haul Division
Alex Reyes.
The route will serve over
260,000 Filipinos in Qatar,
based on Philippine Overseas
Employment
Administration
2009 stock estimates.
Qatar has the third-largest
Filipino community in the Middle East. CEB already serves
the other two key markets for
Global Filipinos: United Arab
Emirates via direct flights to
Dubai, and the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia via Riyadh. CEB
is also the only airline flying direct between Manila and Kuwait.
Reyes added, “It is CEB’s
priority to maintain a strong
presence in the region,where
we are able to reach a large
population of Filipino communities.”
For bookings and inquiries,
guests can visitwww.cebupacificair.com or call (02)7020-888
or (032)230-8888. The latest
seat sales can also be found on
CEB’s official @CebuPacificAir
Facebook and Twitter pages.
By Ashley Manabat
ANGELES CITY – The Holy
Angel University (HAU) has announced that Dr. Luis Maria R.
Calingo will be its next president starting Academic Year
2015-2016
A press release from the
university said Calingo was
elected by the HAU Board of
Trustees in a special meeting
held last March 6.
The announcement has fuelled speculations that business tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan, who sits as the Board’s
honorary chairman, has ac-
quired the university.
Last year, erstwhile HAU
President Arlyn S. Villanueva
was allegedly unceremoniously
booted out from her post after
figuring in alleged irregularities
at the university which were
kept under wraps. Villanueva is
the wife of Atty. Cesar L. Villan-
ueva, former dean of the Ateneo Law School and chair of
the Government Commission
for GOCCs.
Meanwhile, the HAU said
Dr. Calingo is currently president of Woodbury University,
the second oldest higher education institution in Southern
California. He is the second Filipino-American to become president of a US university and the
first after a nationwide competitive search.
Before Woodbury University, Calingo was executive vice
president and chief academic officer of Dominican University of California, the Catholic
university of Marin County. He
also served as business school
dean at Dominican University
of California, John Carroll University (the Jesuit University
of Cleveland), California State
University at Long Beach, and
California State University at
Fresno.
During his term from 2012
to 2015, Woodbury achieved
accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate
Schools of Business (AACSB),
considered the world’s benchmark for business school quality. He also led Woodbury to
become one of the top five percent business schools in the
world, to become recognized
as 15th among the top 25 US
colleges that add value, and to
be inducted into the US President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.
Dr. Calingo holds an MBA
and a PhD from the University
of Pittsburgh. He graduated BS
Industrial Engineering (1976)
and Master of Urban and Regional Planning (1978) from
the University of the Philippines
(UP) Diliman where, as a visiting professor later, he designed
and taught the first MBA courses in strategic planning systems
and industry and competitive
analysis. He has served as a
member of the Board of Examiners of the Malcolm Baldrige
National Quality Award, which
is America’s highest award for
quality and performance excellence, since 1997.
HAU
Acting
President
Geromin T. Nepomuceno, Jr.
said in a statement that Dr.
Calingo’s experience as consultant for various Asian governments’ quality assurance
programs and as examiner for
the US Baldrige Award will help
strengthen HAU’s own quality
assurance efforts.
Dr. Calingo has been the
Asian Productivity Organization’s principal consultant to
several Asian governments, including the Philippines, in the
establishment of their national award programs for quality and business excellence.
The World Bank had engaged
him to assist Thailand’s Ministry of Education in instituting a
Baldrige-based Education Performance Excellence system to
20 universities.
Punto! Central Luzon • March 16 - 18, 2015 • Monday - Wednesday
Holy Angel U has new president
3
O pinion
Editorial
Punto! Central Luzon • March 16 - 18, 2015 • Monday - Wednesday
Kapal
4
IN HIS speech at the commencement
exercises of the Philippine Military Academy
Sinaglahi Class of 2015, President BS
Aquino III said: “Now that my mandate
is soon to end, we continue to receive
questions: Who will continue my legacy
when I step down? Why don’t I just continue
my term?”
What legacy has this BS in mind?
The mess that was the Priority
Development Assistance Fund?
The Disbursement Acceleration Program
– primarily used in the impeachment of
Chief Justice Renato Corona – that was
ultimately struck down by the Supreme
Court as unconstitutional?
The super disaster that was the BS
government’s blundering response to
Supertyphoon Yolanda?
The unstoppable fall of Filipinos to the
poverty hole despite claims of a robust
economy?
The Zamboanga siege?
The Mamasapano incident and the
ensuing cover-up of the BS’s responsibility
and accountability for the bungled operation
that led to the mass slaughter?
His own admission of having been
“fooled” by Special Action Force’s chief
Director Getulio Napenas?
And all these notwithstanding, a
consideration to continue his term?
Off hand, we are tempted here to spit
in BS’s face his very words in his 2013
State of the Nation Address on the corrupt
in government: “Saan po kaya kumukuha
ng kapal ng mukha ang mga taong ito
(Where do these people draw such
shamelessness).”
Civility though constrained us to just find
the right response to this BS’s puerile puffery
in the most apt, nail-on-the-head rendition of
him by his erstwhile ally Walden Bello: “This
is the latest development in the shrinking
of the man from a credible President to a
small-minded bureaucrat trying to erase his
fingerprints from a disastrous project.”
The Filipinos have been fooled. Shame
on you.
acaesar.blogspot.com
Zona Libre
Bong Z. Lacson
Call to repentance
TULAUK. IT cannot be any simpler as title of an original Kapampangan Lenten
sarswela, taken though to dizzying religious high by its bill as “Greatest Story of
Humanity, the Redeeming Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
Written by Andy Alviz of Miss Saigon fame
and Rev. Fr. Deo Kerr Galang, president of
Teatru Kapampangan, with Randy del Rosario
providing additional materials, Tulauk takes off
from Matthew 26:34, to wit: “Jesus said unto
him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night,
before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me
thrice.” Aye, the Kapampangan term translates
directly to the cock’s crow.
For all that sublimity in its blurb, the play,
staged at the parking lot of Robinsons Starmills
Saturday evening did not disappoint. In fact, it
inspired.
The 20 original Kapampangan songs did,
to still use a much abused cliché, feed the
soul. With most putting their biblical setting
in current context. Or is it biblical context in
current setting? Whichever, the lyrics and
music simply seared the spirit, finding manifest
in the deafening ovation that erupted at the end
of each scene.
The cast led by the Rev. Fr. Ric Luzung
in the role of Christ, Rev. Fr. Ted Valencia as
Simon Peter, Rev. Fr. Homer Policarpio as
John the Beloved, Rev. Fr. Jon Bartolome as
James and Rev. Fr. Aris Maniago as Judas,
along with the talents of ArtiSta.Rita and Teatru
Kapampangan vivified characters that in many
other productions, in both film and stage, have
been reduced to wooden acting, to cartoned
caricatures.
A revelation is co-worker in the Lapid Capitol
and dear friend Cindy Lapid in the role of Mary
Magdalene in her very first stage appearance.
Even as comparisons are said to be always
odious and therefore unkind to indulge in them,
I cannot help but think of another Magdalene
key roler, Yvonne Elliman in Andrew Lloyd
Webber and Tim Rice’s Jesus Christ Superstar.
Where Elliman’s I don’t know how to love
him up-played Christ’s humanity, suggesting
even romantic love in their relationship, Cindy’s
rendition of the Magdalene purely sprang
from remorse and repentance, recognition of
the salvific essence of her Lord, and ultimate
redemption. Indeed, a reaffirmation of our
catechetical knowledge of this public-sinnerturned-saint. Truly, a negation of Dan Brown’s
perversion of her.
Here we transcend the medium for the
message. At least the message of Tulauk that
most impacted my being.
While the cock’s crow is identified with
Simon Peter, the rooster – along with crossed
keys, throne and the triregnum or triple tiara
– being an integral part of his representative
image in religious art, Tulauk went beyond the
Petrine perspective and reached out to the
Iscariot issue.
Yes, Judas, the betrayer of Christ, figured
as prominently as, if not more than Peter in
this presentation. The pangs of a stricken
conscience over his betrayal highlighted in a
song immediately preceding his suicide.
And in the last scene, just before Christ’s
ascension, it was Judas that was at the center
of the dialog. To the forgiven Peter’s query of
what happened to Judas, the Lord replying that
had the remorseful Judas sought forgiveness,
he would have received His mercy.
Unlike Peter, alas, Judas had no cock to
crow to remind him of his betrayal of his Lord.
As indeed in Mark 14:72: “Immediately the
rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter
remembered the word Jesus had spoken to
him: ‘Before the rooster crows twice you will
disown me three times.’ And he broke down
and wept.”
For the Iscariot, only the desperate cry: “My
mind... is in darkness! My God... God, I’m sick!
I’ve been used! And you knew! You knew all
the time! God, I will never know why you chose
me for your crime! Your foul, bloody crime!
My God, you have murdered me! Murdered
me! Murdered me! Murdered me! Murdered
me! Murdered...” No passage from the four
canonical gospels nor from the gnostic Gospel
of Judas there but lines from Webber-Rice’s
Jesus Christ Superstar.
Remote from his rock opera persona,
the biblical Judas was no blamer but even
remorseful, as in Matthew 27:3-5: “Then
Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw
that he was condemned, repented himself, and
brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the
chief priests and elders, saying, ‘I have sinned
in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.’ And
they said, ‘What is that to us? See thou to that.’
And he cast down the pieces of silver in the
temple, and departed, and went and hanged
himself.”
A deal – Judas delivering Jesus to the chief
priests for 30 pieces of silver on the condition
that he would not be harmed – gone sour when
Jesus was lashed, scourged and crowned with
thorns. Judas wanting out of the deal, thus
returning the payment. The chief priests not
biting. So went the reflection of some retreat
master in my seminary past, seeding our young
minds with a gentler, kinder consideration of the
Damned One.
Which, verily the closing scene of Tulauk
also imparted. To me.
Indeed, of Judas, who are we to judge?
Had he the same privilege as Peter’s with
the cock, would he not have sought forgiveness
from his Lord, remorseful as he already was
over his betrayal of Him?
As it turned out, no mere reminder for Peter
was the cock’s crow but a call for repentance
and reconciliation. With the Lord’s forgiveness,
mercy and compassion open to all who heed
the call.
Yes, as the good Apu Ceto said in his closing
message last Saturday, Tulauk offered us one
enriching spiritual encounter.
Today in Philippine history
Source: www.kahimyang.info
LLL Trimedia Coordinators, Inc.
Publisher
General Manager
Editor
Marketing Manager
Layout
Circulation
Atty. Gener C. Endona
Caesar “Bong” Lacson
Joanna Niña V. Cordero
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Jojo Manalo/Lacson Macapagal
Business & Editorial office at Unit B Essel Commercial Center,
McArthur Highway, Telabastagan, City of San Fernando
Tel. No. (45) 625•0244 Cel. No. 0917•481•1416
[email protected] or [email protected]
http://www.punto.com.ph
The Araneta Coliseum
is inaugurated
On March 16, 1960, Araneta
Coliseum, considered the biggest coliseum in Asia during its
time, was inaugurated.
Named after its owner
J. Amado Araneta, the eggshaped coliseum opened with
Gabriel “Flash” Elorde box-
ing for the World Junior Lightweight crown from American
Harold Gomes, the bout with
more than 33,000 spectators.
General admission then
was 80 centavos and reserve
section was five pesos.
At present, it still remains
as one of the largest clear
span domes in the world and
the largest indoor facility in
Asia, with a dome diameter of
108 meters. It occupies a total land area of almost 40,000
square meters and has a floor
area or 2,300 square meters.
If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally
astound ourselves. –Thomas A. Edison
Halo-halo
Ding Cervantes
A mystic sees dying
Let me introduce Catalina “Katya” Rivas of Cochabamba, Bolivia. To researchers
of Catholic mysticism, she is a familiar name, but she has remained unknown to
most despite a documentary shown by a US television network whose camera
actually captured the stigmata (wounds of Jesus Christ) appear in her hands, feet,
head and torso during Holy Week and totally vanish the day after.
Of all mystics, why have I chosen to
feature her this time? As is the case of the
other mystics I have written about, Katya is
credible. Her bishop had allowed the printing
and distribution of the messages conveyed
to her by either Jesus Christ or the Blessed
Mother. Also, she has as constant companion
a priest who also believes in her case on top
of scientific studies that indicated she was no
fraud.
Specifically, in these times of extreme
materialism, Katya, who is still alive on
earth, had shared an experience that should
make us all think of life beyond physical death.
Katya is hereby quoted verbatim. It is rather
a long quote, but I shall beg the editor to use
it in entirety for its value. Katya wrote the
following about the death of her mother:
She was in her bed. We had just laid her
down on her right side and as I was wiping
the blood that she was losing from her nose,
she stared above me toward the window. She
squeezed my hand and said, “I want to be with
you.”
“Are you afraid, my dear mamma?” I asked
her, somewhat worried.
“No, I am not afraid, but I want to be with
you.”
At that moment, I saw some people come
close behind me and my mom, to her right side.
I recognised St. Joseph, St. Anthony of Padua,
St. Rose of Lima, St. Dominic of Guzman and
St. Sylvester. They were behind mom’s head,
next to “Leopoldo,” that was the name of mom’s
Guardian Angel, a very handsome youth, who
appeared to be praying on his knees while
caressing her head with his hands.
There were other men and women, young
and old, about 40 people, all praying. A young
man dressed in a white alb, carried a little
golden bowl in his hands. Every now and
then, he would insert his hand in it and take
out smoke, sending it upward like incense.
With that, he appeared to prevent some dark
shadows from coming near, which we could
see at a distance from the bedroom, frightened
to advance any closer.
The young man would move his lips as if
saying some prayer. Then he would change
the little bowl to the other hand and do the
same with the other, throwing smoke from the
little bowl into the air. He would go around and
around all the people who were encircling my
mom’s bed behind us. I was amazed to see so
many people.
Then, Jesus spoke to me and said: “They
are her patron saints and those souls whom she
helped save with her prayers and sufferings,
and even though she did not know them, they
have come to be with her on her journey.”
When we placed her on her other side to
change her clothes, my mom said: “It is time
for me to go with them,” as she looked over my
shoulder. We advised her to calm down. We
sang a Psalm to her and she kept repeating it.
She opened her eyes almost in wonderment,
as if contemplating something she could not
express and said: “Turn on the light!” We did
so, but understanding that she could no longer
see what was on earth, but what was beyond.
Then squeezing my hand she said: “Holy
God, now! … Holy God… now!” She seemed
to be coaxing me to pray, to repeat the
short prayer: Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy
Immortal One, have Mercy on us and on the
whole world! She would repeat the short prayer
over and over while insisting: “I must go.” She
moved her feet as if to walk and exclaimed
:“Do not stop me”… And once again she would
repeat: “Holy God, Holy Mighty One… Have
mercy on me and the whole world.”
Those of us around her began to pray the
Chaplet of Mercy. But at the same time, she
was repeating her own prayers, insistently
exclaiming: “Father, my Spirit! Now! … Now!
...” She could not remember the complete
prayer. We began to say: “Father, into Your
hands I entrust my spirit…” understanding that
to be what she wanted to say… She agreeing
would repeat our words. In the vision that I had,
I noticed that to mom’s left side, behind where
we were, another group of people began to
arrive, and among them I could recognise
my father’s figure, one of my grandmothers,
an aunt who had lived with us, and other
people whose faces I could not clearly see. I
was dazzled by what I was seeing, but at the
same time, I was trying to concentrate on my
mother. In front of her a light was lit, and I saw
approaching, as if descending at ceiling height,
a choir of Angels singing.
They formed two rows of celestial
characters, and upon reaching us they
separated to encircle the place. Everything
was very solemn. At that moment mom said,
as if addressing the people that I am sure had
come to accompany her journey: “Wait, I need
to see first the Holy Virgin!” My brother said:
“Mommy, the Lord is here. He is waiting for
you…” He said that because earlier my mother
had mentioned seeing the Lord.
And she replied, “I still have to see the Holy
Virgin…” Many times she had heard that the
Blessed Virgin collected the souls of those who
awaited death praying the Rosary. We gave
her the picture of Mary Help of Christians so
that she could look at the Holy Virgin, thinking
that was what she wanted to see. But she was
looking above the picture. It seemed to us
that she could no longer see the things of this
world, but the things of the other…
Suddenly she said, “I see her there; there
she is… Give way to the Mamita! At that
instant I saw the Holy Virgin coming down from
Heaven. She positioned herself at my mother’s
feet, while remaining suspended in mid-air. I
saw her extending her hands towards my
mom. In one of her arms the Holy Virgin was
carrying a white dress. My mother extended a
hand as if to receive or to touch something.
I noticed how the Holy Virgin took her hand.
Mom lost consciousness at that moment, for
less than a minute, and, then, she expired.
When her head became still on my hand as
I was holding it, I thought that the whole vision
would disappear, but immediately I witnessed
the instant in which my mother’s soul arose,
separating itself from her body. She advanced
towards the Holy Virgin, who at that moment
gave her the white dress with both hands, as
if measuring it for size over the nightgown she
was wearing. My mom immediately appeared
clothed in that dress. The Holy Virgin had a
lot of gentleness in Her expression. She was
smiling and embraced my mom, placing her
arm on my mom’s mid back. My mother in turn
did the same, leaning her head on the Holy
Virgin’s shoulder, and they ascended together
with the entourage of people who accompanied
the scene.
The bedroom became almost empty.
St. Joseph looked at us. He touched St.
Sylvester’s hand and St. Sylvester imparted a
blessing upon all of us all. He then turned and
left, followed by St. Joseph.
Very solemnly Jesus said to me: “Tell it
to the world, so that all men value the Grace
offered at being present with the dying who
depart assisted by Heaven. One’s absorption
with that moment must be absolute, since part
of Heaven is in that room. It is the moment in
which God visits that place.”
When the vision was over, I knelt down
crying to give thanks to God for His having
gifted us with all this grace and having allowed
me to see this marvel. A marvel which today I
can relate to the world so that they realize the
importance and the duty which we have to help
our dear ones who are dying, and all others
who are dying, so that they can begin happily
their journey towards the eternity of the love
of God.
Napaguusapan
Lang
Felix M. Garcia
A derailed chain
of command
Sino ba talaga sa isyu nitong SAF,
Na napatay dahil sa kawalang ganap
Ng chain of command d’yan ng nakatataas,
Ang dapat managot sa nangyari’t sukat
Sa kaawa-awamg mga kapulisan,
Na ‘civilian in nature’ ang kalagayan
Pero isinabak sa isang pang-militar
Na gampanin hindi marapat aksyonan.
At nang dahil sa palpak na operasyon,
Na umano’y kwenta si Pangulong Pnoy
Ang dapat idiin sa pangyayaring iyon,
Sanhi ng walang sapat na koordinasyon.
At wala sa lugar na atasan niya
Si dating PNP Chief Al Purisima,
Na pakialaman ang misyong di dapat na
Pamunuan man lang pagkat ‘on-leave’ siya
At di na-aayon sa ‘official duty’
Ng kahit sinumang ‘government employee,’
Ang suspende siya pero pinangyari
Ni PNoy, ang ito’y makisawsaw pati
Sa kung anong bale kapasidad nito
Na opisyal nga siya pero suspendido,
Dito pa kaya sa bagay na ganito
Na maselan, saka lubhang delikado
Dapat iatas ang bagay na naturan,
Gayong marami pang ‘PNP official’
Na kagaya nina Espina’t iba pang
Mga heneral ang marapat atasan?
At ngayon pati na di dapat sisihin
Sa pagkamatay ng kapulisan natin,
Na natoka para si Marwan ay dakpin
Ay ninanais din bang papanagutin?
Ang kagaya nina Espina’t Lapeñas,
Na ni di alam ang lakad na pumalpak?
Ganun din yata kay Secretary Roxas,
Nitong DILG, itinago’t sukat?
Gayong sa totoo lang ay si PNoy yata
At si Purisima ang dapat igisa
Ng ‘Board of Inquiry’ sa pagsasagawa
N’yan ng nararapat na aksyon ika nga.
At sana kung sino mang dapat managot
Sa pagkamatay d’yan nitong lahat halos
Ng SAF o itong ating ‘Special Action Force’
Ay kinakailangang makastigong lubos
Nang sa ganun makaluwag sa damdamin
Ng mga naiwan nitong naging ‘victim’
Ng matinding kapalpakang nitong ating
Sa gobyerno may mataas na tungkulin
Tulad halimbawa ng Pangulo mismo,
Na naghugas kamay sa nasabing isyu;
Gayong malinaw na pumalpak nga ito
At siya talaga ang pasimuno nito.
At kung sinu-sino ang itinuturo
Nitong bawat isa para maitago
Itong kapalpakang nais ipa-ako
Yata ng Pangulo sa kung sino nga po?
Nawa’y makonsensya itong lahat-lahat
Na may kinalaman diyan sa pumalpak,
Na operasyong di n’yan ganap na binalak
Ang posibleng kahantungan ng ating SAF
Na lubhang binaboy ng mga rebelde
Ang pagkamatay ng SAF nitong PNP,
Kung saan patay na’y dinurog n’yan pati
Ang mukha at dibdib sa paraang grabe.
Kung sa inyo kayang mga kapamilya
Gawin ang ganyan ay matutuwa ka ba?
Aba’y kahit man lang kakaunting konsensya
Ay magkarun kayo, at ng disiplina!
Punto! Central Luzon • March 16 - 18, 2015 • Monday - Wednesday
O pinion
5
Republic of the Philippines
COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS
OFFICE OF MUNICIPAL ELECTION OFFICER
Baliwag, Bulacan
IN THE MATTER OF THE
PETITION
TO
RECALL
CAROLINA
DELLOSA
AS
MUNICIPAL
MAYOR
OF
BALIWAG BULACAN PURSUANT
TO THE PROVISIONS OF
SECTION 69 OF THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT CODE, R.A.
NO. 7160 AND COMELEC
RESOLUTION NO. 7505 FOR
LOSS OF CONFIDENCE.
PRC NO. 14-003
RAMON A. PAYUMO, BERNARD
P. FABIAN, AND ANGELITA Q.
SANTOS,
Petitioners.
x--------------------------------------x
PETITION
PETITIONERS, by themselves, together with the supporting petitioners, unto this
Honorable Commission, most respectfully allege THAT:
PREFATORY STATEMENT
1.
The right to recall is complementary to the right to elect or appoint. It is
included in the right of suffrage. It is based on the theory that the electorate must maintain a direct
and elastic control over public functionaries. It is also predicated upon the idea that a public office
is “burdened” with public interests and that the representatives of the people holding public offices
are simply agents or servants of the people with definite powers and specific duties to perform and
to follow if they wish to remain in their respective offices.1
2.
The power of recall for loss of confidence shall be exercised by the registered
voters of a local government unit to which the local elective official subject to such recall belongs.2
3.
Loss of confidence is the formal withdrawal by an electorate of their trust in a
person’s ability to discharge his office previously bestowed on him by the same electorate.3
4.
Moreover, as held in Dunham vs. Ardery:
“We understand that the principle underlying the recall of public
officers means that the people may have an effective and speed remedy to
remove an official who is not giving satisfaction – one who they do not want to
continue in office, regardless of whether or not he is discharging his full duty
to best of his ability and as his conscience dictates. If the policies pursued do
not meet the approval of a majority of the people, it is the underlying principle
of the recall doctrine to permit them to expeditiously recall the official, without
form or ceremony, as provided for in the charter. ”
Punto! Central Luzon • March 16 - 18, 2015 • Monday - Wednesday
NATURE OF THE ACTION
6
5.
The instant petition is filed pursuant to the provision of Local Government
Code of 1991 (R.A. No. 7160) and the implementing guidelines promulgated by the Honorable
Commission on Elections through Resolution No. 7505 dated June 6, 20054.
GROUNDS FOR RECALL
11.
As the famous dictum states, “Salus populi est supreme lex” –the will of the
people is the supreme law— this petition is in the nature of upholding the paramount will of the
people particularly, the residents of Baliwag Bulacan.
12.
Mayor Carolina Dellosa is subjected to recall for LOSS OF CONFIDENCE.
The people of Baliwag Bulacan clamour for a change of leadership since the naive administration
can be evaluated and closely compared to a Martial law era exacerbated by the said Mayor’s
incompetence, thus:
Mayor Dellosa has not proven herself as commendable to be
the municipal mayor of Baliwag Bulacan. She has not shown any sign of
competence, transparency and good governance as the people of Baliwag
has been expecting her. The Mayor’s husband, Engr. James Dellosa, has
been actively ruling the whole municipality, and is known to have extensive
connections with military personnel, thus controlling the municipality with
the armed presence of his military cohorts. While allowing her husband, to
take over the government in behalf of the Mayor-elect, the people of Baliwag
were anxious about the adverse effect of an aggressive military milieu. It is
worthy to emphasize that the presence of his military cohorts generate fear and
tension to the residents of Baliwag, as can be proved by the fact that even in the
conduct of Basketball leagues in certain barangays and the recently held Brgy.
Elections as well, the latter being present armed with threatening weapons.
As a result of which, sheer and massive hysteria has spread all
over the municipality, causing series of extortions “kotong” committed by the
military cohorts of the said Mayor’s husband, punishable under Article 283
of the Revised Penal Code. Also, a number of incidents of death threats had
transpired accompanied with series of gunshots fired on several Barangay
captains’ abode known to be hardliner adversaries of the acting-Mayor
Engr. Dellosa and the Mayor herself, which was believed by many to terribly
intimidate them. Such succession of events affected the entire peace and order
of Municipality Baliwag, as evidenced by drastic increase in crime rates in the
said Municipality.
It bears to note that, the regime of Mayor Dellosa made the people
of Baliwag unimportant and unprivileged since that when she assumed office,
the labour and commerce has become stagnant and not progressive. A number
of vendors have been paying tributes more than once a day to authorities,
hence they fear that sooner or later their business permits might be revoked
and/or cancelled anytime at will, if they do not adhere to paying tributes, nor
comply with the said terrible commercial arrangements. Further, most of the
job opportunities provided by the municipality of Baliwag were given, sadly,
to non-residents of the said municipality. Thus, such circumstance greatly
discourages the labour practice and system of commerce in our Municipality,
which could greatly affect the stretch of entire Bulacan.
All these, the government system established by Mayor Dellosa were
nothing but a recurrence of adversities during the Martial law era, which the
people have been clamouring for its cessation, and that her incompetence in
leadership utterly disturbs the lives of her constituencies.
13.
In addition to the foregoing, compounded by her INCOMPETENCE, she has
not made, at the very least, any commendable projects and programs for her constituents, to date.
14.
Further, Mayor Carolina Dellosa is hounded by (1) greed for political power
which works against public interest and the general welfare; (2) lack of respect to the clamor of
the people who have elected her; (3) her lack of regard for public officials, subordinates and lowly
employees, which is conduct unbecoming of a public official and speaks of her unprofessionalism;
(4) the constant insistence of her husband to usurp the powers or authority vested upon other public
officials; (5) and her antagonistic attitude towards development concerns.
15.
Provided hereunder are the manifestation of the passive administration of the
said Mayor and her antagonistic attitude towards development concerns which compounds her lack
of respect to the clamor of the people who have elected her thus:
THE PARTIES
6.
Petitioner RAMON A. PAYUMO, is legal age, Filipino, Married, and residing
at 0624 Brgy. Sto. Cristo Baliwag, Bulacan. He is a registered voter of said Barangay in Precinct
No. 270-A and has voted in the last May 13, 2013 National and Local Elections as evidenced by
the hereto attached certification and voting records pre-marked as ANNEX “A” to “A-1” hereof.
Evardone vs. COMELEC, G.R. No. 94010 December 2, 1991
Section 69, Chapter 5, R.A. 7160
3.
Supra note 1
4.
Rules and Regulations for the Recall of Elective Local Government Officials as Provided for
under the Local Government Code
1.
2.
7.
Petitioner BERNARD P. FABIAN, is of legal age, Filipino, Married, and
residing at 049 Pagala, Baliwag, Bulacan. He is a registered voter of said Barangay in Precinct No.
136-A, and has voted in the last May 13, 2013 National and Local Elections as evidenced by the
hereto attached certification and voting records pre-marked as ANNEX “B” to “B-1” hereof.
8.
Petitioner ANGELITA Q. SANTOS, is of legal age, Filipino, Married, and
residing at 434 J. Buizon St., Brgy. Sto. Cristo Baliwag, Bulacan. She is a registered voter of
said Barangay in Precinct No. 292-A, and has voted in the last May 13, 2013 National and Local
Elections. Please see attached certification and voting records pre-marked as ANNEX “C” to “C-1”
hereof.
POVERTY ALLEVIATION and LABOR OPPORTUNITY
Indeed, the non provision of employment to residents of Baliwag
and instead, giving the same to non-residents of the said Municipality as the
latter’s priority is an abdication of the duty to provide for the interests of her
constituency; also she has no commitment to create economic opportunities
based on freedom of initiative and self-reliance;
HEALTH SERVICES
For not adopting an integrated and comprehensive approach to
health development that shall endeavour to make health services available to
all the people at affordable cost. She was not mindful of the need to address the
dearth of health facilities and services to people of Baliwag which supposed to
be one of her top priorities for her constituents;
PEACE AND ORDER
For not restoring peace and order due to series of crimes that have
been transpiring in the said Municipality; even worse, is the fact that said
Mayor’s husband is the instigator of crimes through his military cohorts, in the
Municipality; and
EDUCATION
9.
The supporting petitioners are also all of legal ages, residents and registered
voters in their respective precincts from barangays of Baliwag, Bulacan as indicated in the attached
FOLDER (per Barangay) containing COMELEC prescribed signature sheets/forms with their
names, addresses and signatures and marked as ANNEXES “D” to “D-26” hereof to form an
integral part of this Petition.
For closing her eyes not to protect the rights of the residents of
Baliwag to quality education at all levels, and to take appropriate steps to
make such education accessible to all, as can be seen by the growing number
of residents who cannot afford to send themselves and their children to school.
10.
The name of the official sought to be recalled is Municipal Mayor of Baliwag
Bulacan Carolina L. Dellosa who was proclaimed and was duly elected during the May 13, 2013
and assumed office on June 30, 2013. She may be served with summons and other processes of this
Honorable Office at Municipal Hall, Municipality of Baliwag, Bulacan.
16.
All of the foregoing recitals indubitably show that Mayor Dellosa is remiss
in the performance of her sworn duties and responsibilities which eventually resulted to Loss of
Confidence by the constituency of the said municipality; perforce, petitioners were left with no
choice but to initiate the instant petition so as to give the People of Baliuag Bulacan another chance
to elect a mayor who is competent and able to LEAD the Municipality of Baliwag Bulacan, MEET
their necessities, and MOVE forward.
17.
Facing circumstance of disappointment and frustration, “The best cure for the
ills of democracy is more democracy”. Ergo, it is, but a truism, that a recall election is designed
to afford relief from popular dissatisfaction with the conduct of a public officer, whom they want to
be removed, thus, a valid revocation of the people’s embodiment of their will to the subject public
official.
Copies of the above Certifications are hereto attached and pre-marked as ANNEXES
“E” and “F”.
23.
Penultimately, simultaneous with the filing of the instant petition, herein
petitioners have tendered the requisite filing fee of Thirty Thousand Pesos (Php30,000.00) in the
form of manager’s check payable to the Cash Division of this Commission in compliance with
Section 9 of the same rules before the Municipal Election Officer of Baliwag Bulacan who is
tasked by law to remit said sum to the Cash Division of the Commission on Elections at Palacio del
Gobernador, Intramuros, Manila.
18.
On this note, the effects are inevitable leading to an overwhelmingly dearth
of hope and trust on the public official’s leadership. Verily, the sole and penultimate for recall is
LOSS OF CONFIDENCE, in accordance with R.A. No. 7160, which states that:
6.
7.
CHAPTER 5: RECALL
8.
SEC. 69: By Whom Exercised. – The power
of recall FOR LOSS OF CONFIDENCE shall be
exercised by the registered voters of a local government
unit to which the local elective official subject to such
recall belongs.
A copy of the Acknowledgment Receipt issued by the Election Officer as proof of
receipt of the said Manager’s Check is hereto attached as ANNEX “G” hereof.
NO.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
5.
BARANGAY
Bagong Nayon
Barangca
Calantipay
Catulinan
Concepcion
Hinukay
Makinabang
Matang Tubig
Pagala
Paitan
Piel
Pinagbarilan
Poblacion
Sabang
San Jose
San Roque
Sta. Barbara
Sto. Cristo
Sto. Niño
Subic
Sulivan
Tangos
Tarcan
Tiaong
Tibag
Tilapayong
Virgen Delas Flores
TOTAL
PAGE NUMBER
NO. OF
PAGES
1 to 80
81 to 147
148 to 204
205 to 236
237 to 336
337 to 348
349 to 516
517 to 571
572 to 690
691 to 731
732 to 762
763 to 826
827 to 1,310
1,311 to 1,407
1,408 to 1,545
1,546 to 1,642
1,643 to 1,775
1,776 to 1,940
1,941 to 1,982
1,983 to 2,044
2,045 to 2,102
2,103 to 2,207
2,208 to 2,265
2,266 to 2,450
2,451 to 2,554
2,555 to 2,647
2,648 to 2,894
2,894
80
67
57
32
100
12
168
55
119
41
31
64
484
97
138
97
133
165
42
62
58
105
58
185
104
93
247
2,894
Please see Annex “D” and series
Compliance with Percentage Requirements Sufficient to Recall
24.
In view of the foregoing, it is respectfully prayed that this Honorable Office
cause the submission of the instant Petition together with all the supporting documents appended
thereto with the Honorable Commission for appropriate action.
PRAY E R
WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is most respectfully prayed of this Honorable
Office that after verification of the petitioners’ names, addresses and signatures and finding
the same to be in order and sufficient in form and substance, a favorable recommendation be
submitted to the Honorable Commission seeking its concurrence and fixing the date of the
recall election.
OTHER RELIEFS, which this Honorable Office may deem just and equitable, are likewise
prayed for.
Municipality of Baliwag, Bulacan May 27, 2014.
RAMON A. PAYUMO
Petitioner
Brgy. Sto. Cristo, Baliwag, Bulacan
BERNARD P. FABIAN
Petitioner
Brgy. Pagala, Baliwag, Bulacan
ANGELITA Q. SANTOS
Petitioner
Brgy. Sto. Cristo, Baliwag, Bulacan
VERIFICATION and CERTIFICATION of
NON-FORUM SHOPPING
WE, RAMON A. PAYUMO, BERNARD P. FABIAN and ANGELITA Q. SANTOS,
Filipinos, of legal age and residents of the Municipality of Baliwag, Province of Bulacan, after
having been sworn to in accordance with law, hereby depose and state that:
20.
Section 6 of COMELEC Resolution No. 7505 provides:
Section 6. Supporting petitioners in a petition for recall. – the supporting
petitioners in a petition for recall shall be the registered voters of the local
government unit concerned, who are registered as such during the election in which
the local official sought to be recalled was elected, and whose total number shall
comply with the following percentage requirements:
Voting Population of Local Government Units
Concerned
Required Percentage or Minimum Number of
Petitioners
Not more than 20,000
At least twenty-five per cent (25%)
At least 20,000
but not more than 75,000
At least 75,000
but not more than 300,000
At least twenty per cent (20%)
But not less than 5,000
At least fifteen per cent (15%)
But not less than 15,000
Over 300,000
At least ten per cent (10%)
But not less than 45,000
21.
In the instant case, the main and the supporting petitioners have complied with
the above percentage requirement, thus:
Total Voting Population of the Mun. of Baliwag, Bulacan
based on the 2010 census (18 and above).6
Percentage required per the rules.
1. We are the PRINCIPAL PETITIONERS in the above-captioned case;
2. We have caused the preparation of the foregoing PETITION FOR RECALL, the contents
thereof and the facts stated therein are true based on our own personal knowledge and on authentic
records/documents;
3. Pursuant to and in compliance with Supreme Court Administrative Circular No. 0494, we hereby certify that we have not commenced any other action or proceeding involving the
same issues in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, or different Divisions thereof, or any other
tribunal or agency; that to the best of our knowledge, no such action or proceeding is pending with
the Supreme Court, the Court of appeals, or different Divisions thereof, or any other tribunal or
agency; and that if we should thereafter learn that a similar action or proceeding has been filed or
is pending before the above tribunals or agency, we hereby undertake to report that fact within five
(5) days therefrom to the Court or agency wherein the original pleading and sworn certification
contemplated herein have been filed.
FURTHER AffiantS sayeth naught.
RAMON A. PAYUMO
BERNARD P. FABIAN
Affiant
Affiant
1). Passport w/ ID No. EB8286914
1). Passport w/ ID No. XX4635541
Valid until June 2, 2018
Valid until Sept. 23, 2014
2). VIN: 1403-0270A-A1062RAP10000 2). GSIS ID CRN:003-3377-0081-8
91,484
15%
Total number of petitioners required equivalent to 15%.
13,722
Total Number of main and supporting petitioners.
23,925
Undoubtedly, with the total of 23,925 petitioners, this petition is, therefore,
OVERWHELMINGLY supported by more than what is required by law.
22.
Moreover and in compliance with Section 10 of the same rules, Petitioners
most respectfully submit the herein attached (1) Certification issued by Darwin D. David6 stating
the date of the assumption of Carolina L. Dellosa to the office of Mayor of the Municipality of
Baliwag, Province of Bulacan; and (2) Certification of Emma A. Fabian7 showing and attesting
to the latest census of voting population of the Municipality of Baliwag, Province of Bulacan.
ANGELITA Q. SANTOS
Affiant
1). VIN:1403-0292A-J2259AQS2001-0
2). SSS No. 03-5184642-1
SUBSCRIBED and SWORN to before me this 28th day of May 2014 at ______________,
Philippines. Affiants personally appeared and exhibited to me their respective identification card.
They are the same persons who personally signed before me the foregoing Verification and
acknowledged that they executed the same. I hereby certify that I have personally examined the
affiant and I am satisfied that they voluntarily executed and understood their affidavit.
Maria Gina L. LLave
Municipal Election Officer
Commission on Elections
Baliwag, Bulacan
Punto! Central Luzon • March 16 - 18, 2015 • Monday - Wednesday
19. In view of the foregoing, the people were compelled and left with no choice but
to oust and recall the subject Mayor of the said Municipality due to loss of confidence. Taking into
account the significant number of signatories that DIVULGED the support of residents of Baliwag
in effectively recalling their incompetent Municipal Mayor, below is the summary of the number
of supporting petitioners5 on a per Barangay basis and reflecting likewise the number of folders
with the corresponding pages.
NO. OF SUPPORTING
PETITIONERS/
SIGNATORIES
678
570
496
338
905
123
1,383
528
1,001
367
275
547
3,898
828
1,224
816
1,199
1,570
382
539
514
882
506
1,388
826
776
1,366
23,925
Please see Certification issued by Emma A. Fabian, Provincial Statistic Office of Bulacan
dated May 19, 2014.
OIC-Provincial Director, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Province of
Bulacan
Provincial Statistic Officer , Philippine Statistic Authority, Province of Bulacan.
7
‘Abaya, tama na ang pambobola’
From page 1
Late last year, 1st District Rep. Joseller “Yeng”
Guiao and the Clark International Airport Corp.
announced that P1.2
billion of the projected
P7.2 billion for the development of the CIA
had been included in the
2015 General Appropriations Act.
PGKM Chair Ruperto
Cruz said it’s almost the
end of the first quarter
of 2015 but there is no
movement in the much
ballyhooed development
of the CIA.
“Abaya is fooling the
people of Central and
Northern Luzon (who
will benefit most from
the
development
of
CIA). Binobola tayo ni
Abaya (Abaya is fooling
us),” Cruz said referring
to Department of Trans-
portation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya.
“Where is the P1.2
billion? It is again doubtful that this will be used
for Clark,” observed
Cruz who also alleged
that there is suspicion
that the money could be
used as campaign funds
for the Liberal Party in
the 2016 elections.
“Show your sincerity
Mr. Secretary by backing your words with actions,” dared Cruz.
During the recent
DOTC led Consultative
Meeting for the development of the CIA at the
Widus Hotel and Casino
here, Abaya said the initial phase for the Clark
terminal has been submitted to National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) which
has three stages.
“We are starting at
the first phase, hopefully
we get it up to the NEDA
Board, which is already
at the level of the president, by May of this
year,” he said.
However, Abaya noted the “quite aggressive” plans drawn up by
Aeroport de Paris.
“I see not much issue
except that the plans
drawn up by Aeroport
De Paris is quite aggressive. it’s on the larger
side,” Abaya said.
“But we are sticking
to their plans. We will
defend their plans with
the NEDA Board, hopefully other cabinet secretaries would see that
thinking big thinking long
term is our way to go,”
he added.
However, the PGKM
insisted Abaya is fooling
the people because it is
the DOTC itself that is
allegedly sabotaging the
development of the CIA
by insisting on the plan
for “a new Ninoy Aquino
International Airport” in
Sangley Point, Cavite,
the home province of
Abaya where he served
as congressman.
“Why spend P465
billion for a new airport
in Sangley when that
would clearly be an economic disaster and an
environmental disaster,”
Cruz said.
“It will be an economic disaster just like the
Bataan Nuclear Power
Plant in Morong, Bataan that we keep paying from our taxes but
serves no purpose and
has no assurance of being finished,” he said.
“It is an environmental disaster because it
Yeng distributes farm equipment
From page 1
handed two brand new
rice threshers worth
P200,000 each to the Pitabacan Farmers’ Association of Barangay San
Idelfonso and the Panayotti Farmers’ Association
of Barangay Escaler.
Four brand new hand
tractors worth P150,000
each were also given to
the Resurrection Farm-
ers’ Association of Barangay Turu, Sta. Maria
Dairy Farmers’ Association of Barangay Sta.
Maria, Camias Farmers’
Association of Barangay
Camias and the San Miguel-Quitangil Farmers’
Irrigators Association, Inc.
of Barangay San Miguel.
During his brief remarks, Guiao said the
farm implements will
complement the farm-to-
market roads that were
funded through his initiative and the farmlands’
irrigation and management through the National Irrigation Administration in support of the
government’s food security program.
Guiao also expressed
his gratitude to Agriculture Secretary Proceso
Alcala for supporting his
program for the farmers
in the first congressional
district of Pampanga.
Municipal Agriculturist Milagros Suing said
the farm equipment were
given by the Department
of Agriculture-Regional
Field Office 3 (RFO-3)
through the initiative of
Guiao.
Meanwhile,
Mayor
Pecson thanked Guiao
in behalf of the farmers.
–Ashley Manabat
18th century Jesus burial tableau...
Punto! Central Luzon • March 16 - 18, 2015 • Monday - Wednesday
From page 1
8
of the prosecutor”) of
Don Mariano where
his family and their descendants took care of
them, to be brought out
only during Holy Week
processions, said writer Precy Cunanan, fifth
generation granddaughter of Don Mariano who
had spent her youth in
the old house.
Cunanan said the
statues were kept at the
old house for the most
part of the year because
her grandmother ‘’maestra’’ Maria Pangilinan
discouraged fanaticism
among Catholics fond of
kissing holy statues. ‘’It
was my grandmother’s
way of stressing that
saints are for veneration,
not adoration which is
owed only to God.’’
Bale Piskal itself had
played a religious role
in Betis, as Don Mariano- better remembered
by old folk as Don Mariano Piskal- had used it
as venue to teach local
folk not only the basics of
reading and writing, but
more importantly for him,
the rudiments of Catholic
catechism, especially for
those who are scheduled
to be married in the Betis church, recalled Cunanan whose account of
the history of Betis was
passed on to her and her
siblings by grandparents.
‘’The statues carved
by the brothers have remained well preserved
with their fine features,
including
veins
that
could be traced in their
hands and arms and
their realistic eyes,’’ said
Cunanan who, as a girl,
slept in Bale Piskal surrounded by the statues
which, she admitted,
sometimes scared her
‘’because they looked so
real.’’
Cunanan said that
in carving the statue of
the Blessed Mother, the
Pangilinan brothers paid
special attention to ensure that her face, while
reflecting sadness over
the death of her Son, did
not portray desperation.
‘’This was because her
sadness was mixed with
faith that her Son would
rise on the third day,’’ she
quoted her grandmother
as saying.
The Jesus Nazareno is brought out for the
Maundy Thursday procession, while the six
others are loaded together on one carro on
Good Friday, trailed by
weeping women in black
during the long procession which, in modern
times, have even become longer arising from
more participating holy
statues.
‘’It has always been a
devotional commitment
for some local folk to offer flowers and help decorate the carro for the
Nazareno and for the six
other statues, so the old
house fills up with people
during Holy week,’’ said
Cunanan.
Cunanan said the
six statues complement
each other to portray
the Santo Entiero being carried to the Holy
Sepulchre after He was
brought down from the
cross. The statues of
Joseph of Arimathea,
Nicodemus, and John
the Apostle had holes in
their hands that provided for hanging a large
rectagular piece of thick
cloth where the Santo
Entierro would be lain.
This scenario is then
trailed on the same carro
by the weeping statues
of the Blessed Mother
and Mary Magdelene.
This Holy Week,
thousands are again expected to visit Betis not
so much to shop for its
world-famous furniture
as to again see the Pangilinan statues brought
out in the grandeur of
their artistry and drama they portray. For after this, the holy statues
are again to be kept in
the old house, zealously
guarded by the descendants of Don Marianl
Piskal.
For those who have
never accustomed themselves to blood shedding
flaggelants and actual crucifixions in Barangay Cutud in nearby City
of San Fernando, Betis, rather solemnly, has
been an alternative to
Holy Week pilgrims.
‘Frankensteins’ resurrecting CARP
From page 1
reading House Bill 4296
which extends the expired Republic Act 6657
or CARP before Congress goes into recess
this June.
In
its
statement,
Anakpawis branded the
congressmen
pushing
for the extension of ‘’an
already dead law’’ as
“Frankensteins,” based
on the monster character
brought to life by a mad
scientist in the novel of
Mary Shelley.
Anakpawis
insisted
that the CARP law could
not legally be extended
since ‘’it no longer exists’’
after it expired in June
last year.
‘’We are reminding
these lawmakers that
they will be held responsible for their acts and
should not evade accountability should farm-
ers condemn them for the
ill effects of CARP extension,’’ said Hicap.
He said farmers are
prepared to challenge before the Supreme Court
the CARP extension law
if it is passed.
Anakpawis has been
pushing instead House
Bill 252 or the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill
(GARB) since the 14th
Congress but the House
committee on agrarian
reform has yet to seriously deliberate on it.
‘’We are not happy
with the House committee on agrarian reform
as the bills it tables are
all connected with CARP,
while our resolutions, including that which seeks
to investigate the massive cancellations of
agrarian reform awards
to farmers, are being
overlooked,’’ Hicap also
said. –Ding Cervantes
requires massive reclamation,” he added. “And
as such, would be prone
to storm surges.”
Cruz said an air disaster is also waiting
to happen if an airport
in Sangley is constructed with its proximity to
NAIA.
Cruz said with only
a fraction of that money
projected for Sangley,
the CIA will be developed to accommodate
more airline passengers
without
compromising
their safety.
He
said
Abaya
should instead reform
his own department
first like addressing the
pressing MRT problems
and the inadequacies of
the Land Transportation
Office instead of planning to build an airport in
Sangley.
Meanwhile, Cruz said
the PGKM is supporting the bill filed by Rep.
Yeng Guiao in Congress
creating a Clark Airport
Authority.
“This will free the development of Clark from
the whims and caprices
of politicians,” he said.
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
REGIONAL TRIAL COURT
THIRD JUDICIAL REGION
Angeles City
Philippine Savings Bank,
FC Case No. 2015-1150
Mortgagee,
Extrajudicial Foreclosure of
-versus-
Real Estate Mortgage under Act
3135 as amended by Act 4118
Harizza V. Orquia Mortgagor.
x------------------------------------------x
NOTICE OF Sheriff’s SALE
Upon extra judicial petition for sale under Act 3135 as amended, filed
by Mortgagee Philippine Savings Bank with principal office address at
PSBank Center, 777 Paseo de Roxas corner Sedeno St., Makati City against
the mortgagor Harizza V. Orquia, with residence and postal address at
Blk. 5, Lot 3, Maria Clara St., Essel Park Subd., Telebastagan, San Fernando,
Pampanga and/or #1596 Jesus St., Pulungbulu, Angeles City to satisfy the
mortgage debt which as of February 9, 2015 amounts to Ten Million Seven
Hundred Fifty Two Thousand Eight Hundred Sixty One Pesos
and 18/100 (P10,752,861.18) Philippine currency, including interest thereon,
penalties, attorney’s fee and other charges in connection with this foreclosure,
the undersigned Sheriff IV will sell at public auction on April 15, 2015 at
10:00 o’clock in the morning or soon thereafter at the Office of the Clerk
of Court, Regional Trial Court, located at the G/F Hall of Justice Bldg.,
Pulung Maragul, Angeles City, Pampanga to the highest bidder, for cash or
manager’s check and in Philippine Currency, the following parcel of land with all
the improvements existing thereon, to wit;
TCT NO. 045-2014001140
“A parcel of land (Lot 3, Block 5, of the subdivision plan, (LRC)
Psd-60415, being a portion of Lot 1 described on plan (LRC) Psd57235, LRC (GLRO) Rec. No. 8714), situated in the City of Angeles.
Bounded on the NE., Points 2-3 by Road Lot 4; the SE., Points 3-4 by
Lot 3; on the SW., Points 4-1 by Lot 1 (open space); and on the NW.,
Points 1-2 by Lot 2, all of the Block 5 of the Subdivision plan. x x x x
x x x containing an area of Five Hundred and Thirty Six (536)
Square Meters, more or less x x x.”
All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated
time and date.
In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date, it
shall be held on April 22, 2015 at 10:00 o’clock in the morning without further
notice.
Angeles City, March 11, 2015.
Glenn P. Carlos
Sheriff IV
Copy furnished:
Atty. Faina E. Pilar-Chuanico
4th Fl. PSBank Center
777 Paseo de Roxas, cor. Sedeno St.,
Makati City
Philippine Savings Bank
PSBank Center, 777 Paseo de Roxas
Corner Sedeno St.,
Makati City
Harizza V. Orquia
Blk. 5, Lot 3, Maria Clara St.,
Essel Park Subd., Telebastagan,
San Fernando, Pampanga
And/or #1596 Jesus St., Pulungbulu,
Angeles City, Pampanga
PUNTO! Central Luzon: March 18, 25 & April 1, 2015
Notice of Extrajudicial Settlement
Notice is hereby given that the heirs of Rowena Samson who died
intestate on February 10, 2015 at Mt. Carmel Hospital, City of San Fernando,
Pampanga executed an Affidavit of Extrajudicial Settlement with Sale of her
estate, more particularly described as a parcel of land (Lot 12, Blk. 4 of the subd.
plan Psd-03-004903 being a portion of Lot 4171-A Psd-03-004647 LRC Rec.
No. ) situated in the Bo. of Saguin, Mun. of San Fernando, Prov. of Pampanga
and covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. 584575-R of the Register of
Deeds of Pampanga, before Notary Public Guillermo G. Sotto as per Doc No.
92, Page No. 19, Book No. XXXV, Series of 2015.
Punto! Central Luzon: March 11, 18 & 25, 2015
Notice of Extrajudicial Settlement
Notice is hereby given that the heirs of Gavino Tolentino who died
on November 13, 2011 in Angeles City executed an Affidavit of Extrajudicial
Settlement with Waiver of Rights of his estate, more particularly described as a
parcel of land (Lot 25-B-2 of the subd. plan (LRC) Psd-177065, being a portion
of Lot 25-B, (LRC) Psd-100408, LRC Cad. Rec. No. 124), situated in the Barrio
of Cutcut and Pampang, City of Angeles and covered by Transfer Certificate of
Title No. 35143 of the Register of Deeds of Angeles City, before Notary Public
Reymon E. Fabros as per Doc No. 178, Page No. 06, Book No. VIII, Series of
2015.
Punto! Central Luzon: March 11, 18 & 25, 2015
Cesar Pambid
Edu Manzano araw-araw ang sex life
Idinaan na lang sa biro ni Edu Manzano ang mga sagot niya sa mga tanong tungkol sa kanyang love life
kahapon sa packet presscon for him tendered by his manager, June Rufino.
Napakailap ng aktor talaga when it comes to his personal life at ipinaliwanag niya rin kung bakit.
“Ang hirap for a father talaga,” he said, “kung noon, kung binibiro ako, ‘sino’ng girlfriend mo?’, ako naman
gago, sinasagot ko naman. Sagot ako nang sagot. Kaya tinitira ka na.
“Tapos I came to realize, I have children, and I maybe separated from the mothers, kung umamin kang
may girlfriend, paano ka magpapakita sa labas?
“Like ako, in all my children, mga PTA (Parents and Teachers Association), kasama ako. Mga events
with the children and the mothers, kasama ako. I’ve been able to maintain a very good relationship with the
mothers.
“So ngayon, I would rather not talk about personal because ’pag sinabi ko na may girlfriend ako, then
ando’n ka with the mother and the children, and if the children hear, they love their mom, ’di ba? Undoubtedly,
mahal nila ang nanay nila, tapos naririnig nila, si daddy may girlfriend.”
In short, he doesn’t want his children to feel bad kaya as much as possible raw ay ayaw na niyang pagusapan pa ang love life niya sa media. Naiintindihan naman daw ito ng kung sinuman ang girlfriend niya dahil
ayaw din naman daw ng mga ito na ma-publicize.
Pero nang mabiro siya kung may sex life naman siya, ewan kung biro o seryoso, aniya ay araw-araw daw.
Nagkatawanan na lang.
Okay na raw sa kanya na tumanda siya nang mag-isa at walang kasama sa buhay.
“Tanggap ko na,” he said.
Ayaw na ba niya ng may kasama sa buhay?
“Hindi na siguro, matanda na ako. Okay na ako,” he said.
Ngayon ay busy raw siya sa kanyang bagong teleserye,
ang Bridges of Love na nagsimula na sa primetime slot ng
ABS-CBN kagabi. Kasama niya rito sina Maja Salvador,
Paulo Avelino and Jericho Rosales.
Taong 2006 pa nang huling gumawa ng teleserye si
Edu at aniya, na-miss daw niya talaga ang umarte.
“Actually, na-excite ako nung napanood ko ang OTJ
(On the Job ni Piolo Pascual and Gerald Anderson).
Sabi ko, wow, nakakagawa pa rin sila ng pelikula na
hindi kailangang action ang feeling, fast paced na
may mga dramatic moment, napaka-clear ng mga
character.
“So, ako pa nga ang nagprisinta kay Erik
Matti, sabi ko if ever there will be something
na katulad ng OTJ...
“At saka iba, eh. Iba na ang paggawa
ng pelikula ngayon at mga teleserye.
You know, everybody comes to the set
on time. Ang sarap, eh,” he said.
Dati raw kasi ay maraming pasuperstar na laging late kung dumating
na siyempre, hindi na niya binanggit
kung sinu-sino.
Sa Wednesday na magsisimulang
ipakita si Edu sa Bridges of Love
bilang Lorenzo Antonio.
Solenn Heausaff
Universal Recording
artist na
Kasama na si Solenn Heussaff sa bonggang roster
of artists ng Universal Records na kinabibilangan nina
Gary Valenciano, Ogie Alcasid, Regine Velasquez,
Gloc-9, Christian Bautista, Parokya ni Edgar, Sponge
Cola, Sam Concepcion, Noel Cabangon, Nikki Gil, Aiza
Seguerra, Kamikazee at iba pa.
Kahapon ay pumirma ng kontrata si Solenn sa nasabing
recording label na dinaluhan ng aktres at ng executives ng
Universal na sina Kathleen Dy-Go (Managing Director),
Peter Chan (Operations Director) at ang bagong manager
ng aktres na si Leo Dominguez.
Ilalabas this year ang third album ni Solenn na
magpapakita naman daw ng kanyang ibang side.
Matatandaang ang unang album niya ay nakakuha ng
Platinum Record Award.
Excited si Solenn dahil ibang journey naman daw ito for
her at katatapos nga lang daw nilang mag-usap ng Universal
big bosses kung ano ang gagawin sa kanyang bagong album.
Asawa ni Robin Padilla nakunan
Solenn
Naintriga kami sa post ni Mariel Rodriguez sa Instagram (IG) na
“Having a sad day doesn’t mean its the end of the world, sh-t really
does happen but today I felt so much love from my family and concerned
friends. I am grateful because I am not alone during this turbulent phase
in my life, I have my sister, my stepdaughters, my friends and my husband.
One day the sun will shine again. #byecutiepie.”
Walang sinabing rason si Mariel kung bakit siya malungkot at kung bakit
ganu’n ang hashtag niya. We checked Robin Padilla’s IG, wala itong sinabi.
Nang bisitahin namin ang IG ng manager ni Robin na si Betchay Vidanes, saka
namin nalamang nakunan pala si Mariel.
Post ni Bechay: “To the amazing, brave and beautiful @marielpadilla and my
dear friend @robinhoodpadilla I am broken hearted by the news of the loss of
your unborn angel. But your faith and love for each other will prevail and God’s
grace will shine, on each new life, no matter how brief, forever changes the
world.
Ginamit din ni Betchay ang hashtag na #byecutipie. Wala itong ibinigay
na details, gaya ng ilang months na ang baby at malalaman natin ’pag naHeausaff
interview sina Robin at Mariel. First baby sana ng dalawa ang nawala.
By Ashley Manabat
ANGELES CITY
– The moribund
local movie industry has been given
a shot in the arm
with the success
of Filipino-made
movies that have
been
copping
awards in film festivals in the US,
Europe and key
Asian centers.
This was the
observation
of
multi-awarded film
producer
Ferdinand D. Lapuz at
the media forum
Lapuz
“Batirulan Quing
Café Juan” at the Holy Angel University here organized by the Capampangan in Media, Inc. in cooperation with the Clark Development Corp., Social
Security System and the university last Friday.
Lapuz said a good number of Filipino-made
movies that have been reaping awards in film festivals abroad in the last 10 years have not only attracted but also gained adherents among audiences here and abroad.
Lapuz attributed this to innovative and creative
local producers and movie directors like Kapampangans Jason Laxamana and Brillante Mendoza
as well as the late Lino Brocka among others.
Just recently, some independent-made films or
“indie films” as well as those made by mainstream
film companies have been attracting wide audiences, he said.
Lapuz said the extra ordinary talents of local
filmmakers are among the positive developments
that have helped the once moribund local movie-making industry to somehow gain a firmer foothold in crafting creative films suited to the current
taste of a broader market of movie viewers.
Some of the films, he said, have been credited for spurring wider awareness on locally-made
movies as well as the men and women behind the
industry.
“That’s the good news in this local movie-making business,” he said.
But for the “bad news,” he admitted that, except
for a few, the award-winning independent Filipino
films have not been commercially viable or were
“box-office flops,” not because of lack of viewers’
interest and appreciation but because of limited
exposure due to a limited number of outlets.
“There aren’t enough movie theaters in the
country to accommodate these creations, exacerbated by a dearth in active market promotion because of budget constraints,” Lapuz noted.
This was also the same sentiment voiced by
Ruston Ocampo, another award-winning Filipino
cinematographer, in the same forum also held earlier at the HAU.
Apart from his involvement in the production of
award-winning films, like Bwakaw, Ekstra, Dementia, Manoro, and Barber’s Tales, Lapuz had also
been actively distributing Filipino cinematic creations in overseas markets.
“The ROI (return-on-investments) from these
efforts remain low and slow,” he quipped but he
added that “in the long run things could turn for the
better for Philippine movies both in terms of wider
viewership and profitability.”
P1-B Bustos Dam...
From page 1
do Macapagal administration under Republic
Act 3601, as a primary
infrastructure to provide
irrigation to lands newly placed under government agrarian reform.
The Bustos Rubber
Dam holds as much as
17 million cubic meters
of water from the Angat
Dam. During the rainy
season, it serves to regulate the flow of waters
towards the Angat River
to curb flooding of populated areas in Bulacan.
–Ding Cervantes
Punto! Central Luzon • March 16 - 18, 2015 • Monday - Wednesday
The Gossipmiller
Success of indie
films abroad gives
local movie industry
wider acceptance
9
SBMA cited for investment gains
Punto! Central Luzon • March 16 - 18, 2015 • Monday - Wednesday
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – The Regional Development Council of Region 3 (RDC-3) recently cited the
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) for the fi-
10
nancial and investment strides it had achieved in the
past three years.
In a resolution passed by the RDC 3 last January,
the council commended the SBMA for “the financial
viability of the authority, improving the collection of
customs duties and other taxes, as well as increasing investment commitments within the Freeport and
Special Economic Zone, and for optimizing container
traffic at Subic Port”.
According to the same resolution, “SBMA was
able to restore the financial viability of the authority by posting annual net incomes ranging from P0.8
billion to P1.3 billion from 2012 to 2014, a complete
turnaround from the negative income streams ranging from P0.2 billion for six (6) consecutive years
starting 2006 to 2011”.
SBMA Chairman and Administrator Roberto V.
Garcia recently reported that SBMA hit new record
highs in its 2014 financial performance, as it scored a
net income of P1.6 billion vs. its 2013 income of P1.1
billion for a substantial increase of 40 per cent.
The RDC 3, which serves as the counterpart of
the National Economic and Development Authority
(NEDA) Board at the sub-national level in Region 3,
likewise noted in its resolution that the SBMA’s implementation of various trade facilitation measures and
innovations in systems and procedures had boosted
the collection of customs duties and other taxes.
Through these actions by SBMA, “...the collection of customs duties and other taxes in within
SBF-SEZ increased dramatically from P7.2 billion in
2011 to P16.8 billion that corresponds to 233 percent
growth”, the RDC 3 said.
The NEDA regional office likewise cited the Subic
agency for maximizing container port traffic in the
Subic port and for initiating ”business process improvements and promotion activities that boosted investment commitments from P3.6 billion in 2013 to
P9.7 billion in 2014”.
Due to the renewed business and manufacturing
climate in the freeport, the RDC 3 said that the gross
revenue share of affected local government units
correspondingly increased by 40 percent, from P145
million in 2011 to P203 million in 2014.
Garcia welcomed the RDC 3’s commendation and
assurance of full support to SBMA’s development efforts geared toward making Central Luzon a leading
regional transhipment and global gateway.
“The Agency’s sterling three-year record performance could be attributed to good governance, the
implementation of its strategic initiatives, and the
hard work of the Agency’s management and employees,” Garcia said. –Malou Dungog