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City awards educational
assistance to 292 PWDs
news...pagE 2
APEC USec: Clark remains
a model of investment
VOLUME III • NO. 162
FEBRUARY 11, 2015
WEDNESDAY
business...pagE 8
Gov gives aid to kabalen
OFWs from Sierra Leone
BY LIEZEL CAYANAN
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Gov.
Lilia “Nanay” Pineda last Monday distributed
P80,000 worth of financial assistance to eight
(8) Kapampangan Overseas Filipino Workers
(OFWs) who worked and came home from Sierra Leone, a country affected by the Ebola virus.
gov assistance... PAGE 7
CSF trade fair highlights
culture of Fernandinos
By Marna Dagumboy
-del Rosario
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- City Mayor Edwin Santiago is
eyeing a new vision for
the city to become “the
center for Kapampangan culture, heritage,
culinary and arts.”
“May binubuong
bagong bisyon para
sa San Fernando. Iyan
ang magiging sentro
ng kulturang Kapampangan dahil katungkulan ng lahat ng mamamayan sa lungsod
ang pagpapalago ng
trade fair.. pagE 7
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. Gov. Lilia Pineda distributes financial assistance to eight OFWs from
Sierra Leone, a country affected by the Ebola virus. --JUN JASO
‘Badong’ art exhibit
opens in Angeles City
By Charlene A. Cayabyab
currently hosting “Badong: closer to the Angeleños and
Salvador Bernal Designs it is such an honor that Culthe Stage” exhibit at the tural Center of the PhilipANGELES
CITY
–
In
TRADE FAIR. Mayor Ed 2nd
Santiago
checksU2
out one
of the guitars
being soldHighway,
at the onFloor
Bldg.,
Mc-Arthur
Brgy.
Dolores,
City of
Fernando,
Pampanga
Angeles
City Library
and pines (CCP) and National
line with
the celebration
of San
going trade fair which showcases indigenous products of Fernandinos like wood crafts,
Tel/Fax
No.:
(045)
455-0781,
0918-560-1861,
0918-333-9494
•
Email
address:
[email protected]
Council for Curriculum and
Information
Center.
the
National
Arts
Month
in
water lily handicrafts, fresh farm products, authentic Kapampangan cuisine and native
Assessment (NCCA) grant“We
wanted
to
bring
this
city,
the
Angeles
City
of
delicacies, among others. --CSF-CIO PHOTO
Tourism Office (ACTO) is arts, culture and tourism
badong... pagE 7
For your construction needs: Quality Gravel G-1, Gravel 3/4, Sub-base, Base Course
2nd Floor U2 Bldg., Mc-Arthur Highway, Brgy. Dolores, City of San Fernando, Pampanga
Tel/Fax No.: (045) 455-0781, 0918-560-1861, 0918-333-9494 • Email address: [email protected]
2NEWS
City awards educational
assistance to 292 PWDs
Headline Gitnang Luzon • FEBRUARY 11, 2015
By Charlene A. Cayabyab
MABALACAT CITY - The city
government recently awarded
educational assistance to 292
students with disabilities here.
The educational assistance,
awarded through the city’s
Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO), was given
to elementary, high school and
college students from differ-
ent barangays of the city.
According to Mayor Marino
Morales, education should be
accessible to everyone including those with disabilities.
“Affordable and quality education should be available for
all,” Morales said.
Education remains to be
one of the thrusts of Morales’
administration.
Under Morales’ term, the
Mabalacat City College was
established in 2007. He was
also the man behind the realization of the Mabalacat Community High School and other
public schools in the city.
The MCC in Barangay
Tabun offers courses such as
Basic Education, Information
Technology, BS Math, BS English and Hotel and Restaurant
Management. •
EDUCATIONAL AID. A PWD-student is all smiles as he falls in line to
receive educational assistance from the city government, through the Persons
with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO), held in Xevera, Mabalacat recently.
--MABALACAT LGU PHOTO
ALL-OUT SUPPORT. Gov. Lilia Pineda receives a plaque of recognition from officers of the Camp Olivas Press Society
(COPS) namely Rudy Abular-president, Chris Navarro-vice president, and Ric Sapnu-chairman, last Monday at her office at the
Capitol for her undying support to the media and relentless campaign against illegal drugs in the province.
--CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Bulgarian shot dead in Bulacan
By Froilan E. Magtoto
CAMP OLIVAS - A
Bulgarian national was
shot dead while alighting from a tricycle in
Sta. Maria, Bulacan on
Monday, reports said.
The Bulgarian was
identified as Lina Vasilov Hristov, 65, jobless
and resident of Tobllerone Street, Marian
Subdivision.
Investigators
said
Hristov and companion
Jhoana Durana were
just paying their tricycle
fare when a suspect arrived and shot the victim, hitting him three
times in the body.
Durana was not hurt
in the incident.
Hristova and his
companion were on
Republic of the Philippines
Local Civil Registry Office
Province: PAMPANGA
City/Municipality: ARAYAT
their way to visit the
victim’s son Dentsislav,
who was under the custody of the Bureau of
Immigration in Camp
Bagong Diwa n Taguig
City, investigators said.
The older Hristova was rushed to the
Rograciano M. Memorial Hospital but was
pronounced dead on arrival.
Probers are still establishing the motive
behind the killing.
Follow up investigation is being made for
the possible identification and arrest of the
suspect/s.
Also, authorities said
proper coordination was
already done with the
Embassy of the Republic
of Bulgaria. •
By Charlene A. Cayabyab
In compliance with the publication requirement and
pursuant to OCRG Memorandum Circular No. 2013-1
Guidelines in the Implementation of the Administrative
Order No. 1 Series of 2012 (IRR on R.A. 10172). Notice
is hereby served to the public that RAMICES GARCIA
HIPOLITO has filed with this office, a petition for correction of entry in the sex from “FEMALE” to “MALE” in the
certificate of live birth of RAMICES GARCIA HIPOLITO
born on OCTOBER 28, 1988 at Arayat, Pampanga
and whose parents are TAYMUNDO HIPOLITO and
MILAGROS GARCIA.
MABALACAT CITY The search for Haring Caragan, the city’s quest for the
next Mr. Mabalacat is slated
on February 17.
This pageant is part of
the two major events in
celebration of Mabalacat
City’s Fiesta 2015. The
other highlight is the Caragan Festival, in honor of the
town’s Aeta ancestry.
About 16 gents will compete for the title namely Jerwin Licup (Brgy. Dapdap),
Arjay Rameses Esteban
(Sgd) GRETA P. DE ALA
Municipal Civil Registrar
HEADLINE Gitnang Luzon: February 11 & 18, 2015
By Marna Dagumboy
-del Rosario
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO
- It has been more than a year
ago since Typhoon “Yolanda”
caused severe losses in the Visayan part of the country, but
SM’s effort to support survivors,
through the SM cares Housing
project, is still ongoing.
This year, the effort continues as the two SM malls in the
City of San Fernando extend
its invitation to all professional
runners and amateurs alike to
join the “Unity Run 2,” a 5-kilometer run from SM San Fer-
nando Dowtown to SM City
Pampanga on February 21,
2015, Saturday at 6 a.m.
Registration is at P500 (pair)
and P300 (individual) with race
kits, including T-shirts, race
bibs, etc. This run for a cause
is sponsored by Pampanga Fitness Club located at Annex 2
near The Event Center.
Interested participants may
visit the registration booths located at the Main Atrium (between Pizza Hut and French
Baker) of SM City Pampanga
and SM Admin Office, 5th
Level of SM City San Fernando
Downtown.•
Search is on for Haring Caragan 2015
NOTICE OF PUBLICATION
Any person adversely affected by said petition may file
his written opposition with this Office not later than two
weeks upon publication.
SM support continues
for Yolanda survivors
through ‘Unity Run 2’
(Brgy. Dau), Vince Dustien
Castro (Brgy. San Joaquin),
Daniel Dwaine Gadores
(Brgy. Sapang Biabas), Ruben Rebotoc (Brgy. Altu-Bola), Christian Mabolo (Brgy.
Camachiles), Mark Anthony
Alonzo (Lakan ning Mabiga
2012), Laurd Lee Franco
(Brgy. Camachiles), Hezikiel Caguiat (Brgy. Dau),
Clifford Wood (Brgy. Dau),
Angelito Cordero (Brgy. Sapang Biabas), Arvin Christopher Mariano (Brgy. Dapdap), John Joseph Cabarle
(Brgy. Mauaque), Adrian
Bautista (Lakan ning Mab-
iga 2014), Dankan Manalo
(Brgy. Mabiga) and Raven
Lee David (Brgy. Lakandula).
Other activities in celebration of a grander Caragan Festival will be on
February 20 which will be
highlighted by a regional
trade fair, free dance interpretation and street dance/
parade along the stretch of
Poblacion to Xevera participated by elementary and
high school students from
51 schools and three divisions in the city.
Dionisio Magbalot, fes-
tival chairman, said they
are now preparing for the
festival and Mabalaquenos
living in other countries like
the United States will be
invited to grace the event,
as Caragan Festival goes
global.
Held every third week
of February, Caragan was
named after the first chieftain of Mabalacat town who
is a native Aeta married to a
Mabalaquena named Laureana Tolentino.
The event is now an annual cultural event bringing
to light the Aeta culture. •
FEBRUARY 11, 2015 • Headline Gitnang Luzon
Agency collaboration
to prime faster 2015
spending, growth
MANILA - To achieve the country’s
2015 GDP growth targets and address last year’s issues on spending,
the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is aiming to accelerate public spending while enhancing governance reform initiatives
through proper coordination and
planning.
In a speech during a JP Morgan
conference, Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said, “Budget
management isn’t an exercise dependent entirely on the DBM. We look
to the rest of the bureaucracy—the
other branches of government, departments and agencies, and local
governments, for example—to make
the most of the funds allotted to
them, and to ensure that these same
funds are spent within budget rules
and guidelines.”
He added, “It’s one thing to release the funds; it’s another thing
altogether to ensure that these funds
are spent as they should be.”
The Budget Chief said the reforms
they had initiated in government
in the past four years had revealed
broad operational issues—ranging
from weaknesses in project planning and procurement to insufficient
capacity and compliance—within
various departments and agencies.
Spending also took a hit after government agencies were hesitant to
implement projects due to the Supreme Court rulings on the Priority Development Assistance Fund
(PDAF) and the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).
Abad said, “To address the matter
of planning and project preparation,
we’ve tasked departments and agencies to disaggregate their project
listings from 2014 and 2015. We expect them to facilitate the documentary requirements for fund releases
before the end of this month. These
requirements include proper network plans, geo-tagged photos, and
implementation guidelines.”
agency collaboration... Page 7
BUSINESS 3
DA, World Bank kick-off
1st review mission in CL
By Charlene A. Cayabyab
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - The Department of Agriculture (DA) recently held
the First World Bank Review
Mission for Region 3 under
the flagship Philippine Rural
Development Project (PRDP).
The mission was also held
in Codillera Administrative
Region and Regions 1, 2 and
La Union province.
The PRDP is a six-year national project that is designed
for an inclusive, value chain-
oriented and climate-resilient
agriculture and fisheries sector. It will be implemented
by the DA and jointly funded
by the World Bank, national
government and local government units.
Led by the World Bank, the
mission will focus on setting directions for the implementation
of various enterprise development and infrastructure projects.
Two field visits were conducted in Brgy. Balecbec,
Naguilian and Brgy. Acao,
Bauang, La Union, in order
to verify the areas for possible construction of P73 million farm-to-market road and
P14.9 million green carabao
mango production and marketing facility, respectively.
The Philippine Government
and the World Bank signed
PRDP’s P27.5 billion loanand-grant agreement on September 8, 2014. The financial
package is intended for rural
infrastructure and small business and livelihood projects
for farmers and fisherfolks in
the Philippines, which aims to
raise rural incomes and alleviate poverty.
Present during the meeting were DA for Agribusiness
Marketing Assistance Division
Asec. Leandro Gazmin, Deputy Project Director of PRDP
Engineer Arnel de Mesa, Undersecretary for Operations
Emerson Palad, World Bank
Task Team Leader Carolina
Figueroa-Geron, Deputy Project Director Luzon A Cluster
Elma Mananes and DA 1 regional executive director Valentino Perdido.•
WORLD CONFERENCE ON TOURISM AND CULTURE. Kapampangan delegates from Angeles City including first lady Herminia Pamintuan
(extreme R) and tourism officer Richard Daenos (extreme L) join CNN reporter Andrew Stevens at the World Conference on Tourism and Culture in Cambodia.
--CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Zambales towns to experience
power interruption tomorrow
by Butch Gunio
ZAMBALES - The National Grid Corporation of
the Philippines (NGCP) announced a power interruption due to the shutdown of
its transmission facilities
in five towns of this province tomorrow, February
12, from 8am to 6pm.
Lorenz Vidal, NGCP
Central Luzon Corporate
Communication
Officer,
said the affected towns are
Iba, Palauig, Candelaria,
Masinloc, and Sta. Cruz.
Affected distribution utility is Zamelco 1.
He said the shutdown
aims to facilitate annual
preventive
maintenance
of 50MVA transformer at
Botolan Substation simul-
taneous with transmission
line works along BotolanCandelaria 69kVline.
Vidal added normal operations will immediately resume after work completion.
He advised their customers and the general
public to take the necessary preparations and precautions for this scheduled
interruption.
NGCP is a privately
owned
corporation
in
charge of operating, maintaining, and developing
the country’s power grid.
It transmits high voltage
electricity through “power
superhighways” that include the interconnected
system of transmission
lines, towers, substations,
and related assets. •
Want to broaden your business horizon?
LET US HELP YOU!
CALL US: (045)455-0781 • EMAIL US: [email protected] • VISIT US: 2nd Floor ,U2 Bldg., MacArthur Hiway, Dolores, City of San Fernando (P)
Philippines, China
must play on their
strengths, says official
CLARK FREEPORT - The Philippines
and China have a good relationship and
their long-standing ties must be maintained, a senior official said on Thursday.
“There are some political differences
but these come and go, and we are hoping
that these issues can be solved to the satisfaction of both countries,” Ambassador
Marciano Paynor, Jr. said in an interview
with CCTV, China’s state television.
Ambassador Paynor, who is the Director General of the APEC 2015 National Organizing Council, noted that these differences should not affect the two countries’
economic cooperation.
“There may be differences but let us
play on our strengths,” he said.
While attending the 2014 APEC Leaders’ Summit in Beijing, China last November, President Benigno S. Aquino III said
he hopes his first meeting with Chinese
President Xi Jinping during the APEC
Leaders’ Meeting would improve relations
between the two countries.
In an interview, the President said he
phl, china... Page 7
4 OPINION
Headline Gitnang Luzon • FEBRUARY 11, 2015
EDITORIAL
Hefty brunt
THERE have been a series
of oil price rollbacks the past
month, which relieved consumers – but alas, this is temporary as a “big-time” oil price
hike is expected anytime this
week.
So what else is there to do,
folks, but to brace ourselves?
Gasoline prices are expected
to go up between P2.40 to P2.60
per liter; diesel, between P1.85P1.95 per liter; and kerosene,
up by P2 to P2.10 per liter.
Oh, that’s a tad too much, if
you ask the consumers. Expect
the transport groups to go up
in arms and ask for the hike in
transport fares. Expect militant
groups to support their pleas.
At the end of the day, the
commuting public will bear
the brunt of it all.
There is a need for the hike,
according to the Department
of Energy, because there is a
threat to the supply of crude
oil in the United States. As a
result, the world oil prices have
spiked.
There are uncertainties in
the market, the DoE said, and
they have no idea when the situation would stabilize.
After the hefty oil price hike,
what would come next to burden the Filipino people?
The people can only take too
much.
HEADLINE Gitnang Luzon is a Daily Regional Newspaper
General Manager: MARLO a. franco
Editor: RIA DE FIESTA
Layout Artist/Photographer: JP Manalang
Reporters: CHARLENE CAYABYAB
Marna dagumboy - Del rosario
Administrative Staff: sherylin l. rivera
Marketing Head: ELAINE MAPILES
Account Executive: caren m. garcia
monica bianca cabiling
Publisher: I.N.I. Newspaper
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.headlinegl.com
DISCLAIMER: Views expressed by columnists are their
own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of
HEADLINE Gitnang Luzon or its internet website: www.headlinegl.
com. The publisher does not knowingly publish false information
and may not be held liable for the views of its columnists exercising
their right to free expression.
All rights reserved. Subject to the conditions provided for by law, no
article or photograph published by HEADLINE GITNANG LUZON may
be reprinted or reproduced, in whole or in part, without its prior consent.
Office Address: 2nd Floor, U2 Building, MacArthur
Highway, Dolores, City of San Fernando, Pampanga, 2000
Tel. Nos. (045) 455.0781
A
SK ng Filipinas (Una sa 7 Bahagi)
NG
proyektong
Sagisag dag at pagbabawas ng bilang kung
Kultura(SK) ng Filipinas kailangan.
ay bahagi ng programa ng
Ayon sa NCCA, ang bawat sagNational Commission for Culture isag kultura ay pinili sang-ayon
and the Arts (NCCA) para sa edu- sa kabuluhan nito sa nararapat
kasyong pangkultura ng mga Fili- na edukasyon ng mga Filipino.
pino. Sa nakaraang ilang
Kinakatawan nito ang
taon ay tinipon ng NCCA
mahalagang katangian,
ang umaabot sa 8,000
kasaysayan, kaugalian,
sagisag kultura mula
at kulay ng kalinangang
sa mga impormant na
Filipino samantalang isiguro at manggagawang
pangkultura sa iba’t
ibang rehiyon at probinsiya ng Filipinas. Mula
sa naturang koleksiyon
at batay sa ibang reperensiya ay pumili naMagbalawe
man ang isang grupo ng Aleesus Manarang
eksperto sa kulturang
Filipino ng umaabot sa
2,000 pambansang sagisag kultura nasaalang-alang ang kontribusyon
upang maisagawa ng kaukulang ng bawat pook at pulo, bawat pangpakahulugan at paliwanag at mag- kating katutubo, at bawat paniwala
amit na sanggunian ng mga guro at tungo sa pagbuo ng kapaki-pakiestudyante sa buong bansa. Yugto- nabang na kamalayang pambansa.
yugto ang naging pagsasapubliko ng Isang paraan din ito ng pagpamga pambansang sagisag kultura. paunlad sa nilalaman (content) ng
Nagsimula ang publikasyon sa un- edukasyon at maaaring gamitin sa
ang 800 ng itinuturing na panguna- pagbago ng mga teksbuk, maging
hing pambansang sagisag kultura patnubay sa pagdevelop ng kurikunoong taong 2011, idinagdag kaa- lum, at maging aktuwal na pantugad ang ikalawang pangkat na 600 long sa mga leksiyon sa silid-aralan
noong taong 2012, at ngayong taon ng alinmang antas at alinmang
ay natapos ang huling pangkat na asignatura. Sa kabuuan, nilalayon
600 na kukumpleto sa kabuaang ng proyektong Sagisag Kultura na
2,000 pinakamahahalagang sag- mapalusog ang kaalaman ng bawat
isag kultura ng Filipinas. Ang ka- Filipino hinggil sa kaniyang sarili,
buuang proyekto ay isang registry o na sa wakas, ay inaasahang maglistahan ng mga sagisag kultura ng papataas sa kaniyang dangal biFilipinas, at ang ibig sabihin, ito ay lang Filipino at magpapatingkad sa
patuloy na nakabukas sa pagdarag- kaniyang pag-ibig sa bayan.
Unang edisyon lamang ito. Sa
kabila ng mga paghihigpit sa saliksik, pagsulat, at editing, naniniwala ang proyektong SK na malaki
ang puwang para sa rebisyon, dagdag na impormasyon, at pagpapayaman sa mga pambansang sagisag
kultura. Inaaanyayahan ang mga
guro, mananaliksik, at awtoridad
para magbigay ng puna at makilahok sa pagsinop at pagpapalaganap
“Sa kabila ng mga paghihigpit sa saliksik, pagsulat, at editing, naniniwala ang proyektong SK na
malaki ang puwang para sa rebisyon, dagdag na
impormasyon, at pagpapayaman sa mga pambansang sagisag kultura.”
ng proyektong ito. Ang mga guro
mismo ay maaaring lumahok at
magdagdag ng kanilang saliksik kapag ginamit ang impormasyon mula
sa proyektong ito upang higit na
makinabang ang mga estudyante.
Iminumungkahi din ang pagbasa
sa buong koleksiyon bago gamitin
upang higit na malinawan ang ugnayan sa isa’t isa at ang pambansang
kabuluhan ng mga sagisag kultura.
Kaugnay ng nasabing proyekto, naanyayahan ang inyong lingkod na sumulat sa wikang Filipino
ng mga sulat-pananaliksik ng mga
piling sagisag na kilala ang mga
Kapampangan. Ilan sa mga ito ay
maisasalaysay sa mga susunod na
isyu bilang ambag ng pagtugon sa
Buwan ng Sining ngayong Pebrero.
Abangan!•
LET US HELP YOU!
Want to broaden your business horizon?
CALL US: (045)455-0781 • EMAIL US: [email protected]
VISIT US: 2nd Floor ,U2 Bldg., MacArthur Hiway, Dolores, City of San Fernando (P)
FEBRUARY 11, 2015 • Headline Gitnang Luzon
Bangungot
S
AAN patungo ang bayan ni kinig sa mga matatalinong payo at
paggamit ng sentido kumon… na
Juan sa kasalukuyan?
Ito ang isa sa mga mala- ang pagsasa-alang-alang sa isang
laki at napakahalagang tanong sa matalino, sapat, at tamang kakasalukuyan, na sa aking palagay handaan ay sila pa ring pangunaay mananatiling tanong na lamang hing sangkap para sa waging pakisa mahaba pang panahon. Ang kibaka at pakikipagtunggali laban
pinaka-angkop at pinaka-tamang sa puwersa ng kadiliman at kasamaan.
kasagutan ay malayo pa
Hindi ko alam at
sa hinagap ng bawat Pilihindi ko namalas sa
pino na nangangarap ng
kasalukuyang adminisang mas mabuting kalagayan para sa Pilipinas
sa lahat ng aspeto nito
bilang isang malaya,
payapa, at maunlad na
bansa.
Sa mga nakalinyang
tiyak na kakandidato sa
pagka-Pangulo sa darat- Towards
ing na 2016, mukhang the Light
mas malabo pa rin kaysa
ABEL SOTO
malinaw na mabigyan
ng angkop at tamang
kasagutan ang naihayag na tanong istrasyon na natuto ang ating mga
opisyal ng pamahalaan sa mga kasa itaas.
Sa mga nakaraang araw, mas lu- malian at kapalpakan na kanilang
minaw at mas nabigyan ng angkop nagawa at namalas ng buong samat tamang pagtitiyak ang kaisipan bayanan at ng buong mundo. Mana iba ang pagiging demokratiko hirap talaga kapag naipanibala ang
sa pagiging isang malayang bansa. liderato ng isang bansa sa mga hindi
Napakalaki ng pagkakaiba. Iba ang karapat-dapat, sa mga hindi handa
pagiging isang maayos na bansa sa para sa isang malaking gampanin
pagiging payapang bansa… na ang ng pamumuno, pamamahala, at
pagiging isang maunlad na bansa paglilingkod sa bayan. Naiiwan na
ay hindi lamang nasusukat sa GDP lamang ang buong sambayanan na
at iba pang pang-ekonomiyang pa- nagsisisi, nagtatanong, at nalilito…
kung saan ba sila nagkamali, kung
mantayan.
Ang hirap mabuhay sa isang bakit nagkaganito ang lahat sa baybansang mas maraming kasinun- an ni Juan.
Para sa isang madamdaming
galingan kaysa sa katotohanan… na
ang kabanalan at dangal ng buhay manunulat na kagaya ko, aaminin
ng bawat mamamayan ay kasin- ko na nakapahirap ng magsulat
ghalaga na lamang ng mga kakanin ng tungkol sa mga bagay na may
na mabibili sa mga pamilihan… na kinalaman sa pulitika, sa kalidad
may presyo na ang buhay ng tao, ng pamumuno at pamamahala, at
isang mura at mababang presyo at higit sa lahat, sa paglilingkod ng
ating mga opisyal sa pamahalaan.
pagpapahalaga.
Napakahirap! Ang hirap ng maging
“objective” sa mga bagay na gusto
lll
Sa mga nakaraang araw ay mas at dapat mong isulat sapagkat alam
namalas ng maraming Pilipino ang mong hindi na palaging umuubra
kahalagahan ng matalinong paki- at pagiging “objective” na lamang
Anything about love
sa mga isinusulat mo na tahasang
naka-apekto at makaka-apekto pa
ng labis sa napakaraming buhay…
sa kinakawawang bayan ni Juan.
Sa mga panahong kagaya ng pinagdaraanan ng buong sambayanan
sa ilalim ng isang ligaw na administrasyon, isang administrasyong
katigasan ng ulo ang namamayani,
napakahirap humalihaw ng katuturan, napakahirap hanapin ng
katotohanan, ng katarungan, ng
“Ang hirap magising sa isang bangungot…
lalo na kapag ang mga dapat na manggising sa
bangungot na ito ay siya mismong dahilan ng
isang hindi matapos-tapos na bangungot ng
bayan ni Juan.”
saysay… sapagkat pinakikilos ng
kasinungalingan, ng pagkukunwari, ng katangahan, at kawalan ng
kabuluhan ang kasalukuyang administrasyon na mas marami ang
mali sa kaysa sa tama.
At sino kaya ang susunod na
magiging Pangulo? Sino ang magnanais pang magmana sa isang
administrasyong binagyo ng mga
kalamidad na natural at mga kalamidad na likha ng mga buwayang
pulitiko… mga kalamidad na hanggang ngayon ay pilit pa ring pinagtatagumpayan ng mga tahasang
nasalanta ng mga natural na kalamidad na ito. Ang mga kalamidad
na likha ng mga pulitiko na hanggang ngayon ay namamayagpag pa
rin sa kanilang mga puwesto ay mananatili na lamang na kalamidad na
pilit na lamang babatahin ng bayan
ni Juan.
Ang hirap magising sa isang
bangungot…lalo na kapag ang mga
dapat na manggising sa bangungot
na ito ay siya mismong dahilan ng
isang hindi matapos-tapos na bangungot ng bayan ni Juan.•
teacher’s corner
Importance of Science Education in the 21st Century
BY CRISTINA L. INFANTE
A
S SOON as we open our eyes
the first thing we see is a world
filled with scientific wonders
that shape up everything we do in
our lives. The natural world and the
manmade world both are incumbent
with the beauty of science.
What is science really? The simplest example of science is the human body and the most complex one
is the man-made machinery. No one
can deny the importance of science.
How can one survive in a world that
is a slave of systems, chains and processes that cannot be coped up with
unless understood truly? How does
one perform affectively in an environment unless he learns and adapts
to the procedures and the systems
embedded in that environment? So
how can one survive on Earth, without knowing what natural science
has bestowed on us and what the
intellect of man in the form of scientific discoveries and inventions have
paved the way for?
Learning Science, thus, is truly
essential for every person, to understand the world around him, to
discover new elements and aspects
of the world, to find ways to sustain
the world and its natural beauty and
essence and to enhance and improve
the life as we know it for the future to
come.
Ever since man has embarked on
the mission to understand the natural world, he has never stopped growing as a person, as a scientist and as a
revolutionary. The curiosity and urge
to find the edge of the world led to
the discovery of the spherical shape
of the Earth by the Vikings and the
early voyages. The same were the
early voyages that led to the formation of many countries that are successfully growing as of today, such as
the United States of America. Studying an apple falling down from the
tree triggered the discovery of gravity. Such discoveries which further
led to the invention of electricity,
telephone, computer, and internet
and so on. How else could these revolutionary inventions have been made
unless gravity, atoms, electrons,
mass, weight, currents, etc were not
understood? But why restrict the
world of science to natural and technical aspects, as science is in almost
everything around us and in all parts
of education. Science is in business,
psychology of the minds, medical
procedures, and everywhere where
systems and procedures matter.
Apart from the discoveries of
OPINION 5
the moon and the gravity, medical
discoveries and inventions owing
to the great scientists have radically
changed the world in the past and
are still changing. If it was not for science, we would be still be dying of a
simple case of influenza or seeing rats
roaming around in the dirty streets,
which is now a beautiful city that has
advance sanitary systems.
We can’t, thus, escape from the
fact that science has over the history
only improved our lives for the better. Although, there are some negative consequences that technological
advancements have brought, such as
the destruction of trees and the clean
air. But at the same time, it has given
us medical solutions for our previously fatal diseases, and if led to destruction of the natural resources,
then is also allowing us to figure out
ways to sustain them. This makes
studying science even more important for us and the future generations
to understand nature to fully appreciate it and come up with ways to prevent any threat and negative effect on
their natural states.
lll
The author is Master Teacher II of
Pulung Santol High School- Annex,
Porac, Pampanga.•
L
AST week, my friends and I decided to invade
the mall with revenge. We indulged ourselves in
shopping without any reservation. The flair of
having your freedom to spend cash without restriction
was ecstatic. Bonding and shopping with friends was
definitely a breather from the pressures at home.
While my friends were busy looking for sizes and
shapes that suited their taste, I politely asked them
to let me sit for a while for my
feet were literally in pain due
to an ingrown toenail. I rested
in one corner of a coffee shop
and while I savored my coffee,
I noticed the depictions of love
in every stall therein as part of
their gimmicks to aggrandize
and celebrate the love month.
Then it hit me rock bottom.
Valentine’s day was coming
and I was not aware of it. So,
instead of checking stuff that I ELLEZ J. DAVIO
bought, I let my mind be preoccupied and mesmerized with
anything about love.
The most anticipated event
of every couple is fast approaching and nothing could
stop it from occurring. Lovers
and even secret lovers from
every corner of the world will
celebrate their love with total
surrender of their emotions.
I could imagine the increase
in demand for flowers and
chocolates. The bookings in
restaurants, hotels and motels
will skyrocket to the moon and
back. Love is definitely in the air. I could feel the power of love exuding in every puff.
Oh, I love romance. I am sucker for anything that
depicts love. The feeling of being in love is the most
wonderful feeling a human can experience. Nothing
is dark when you are in love. Until now, no one can
explain why two strangers fall in love with each other.
Not even science could unlock the mystery of falling
in love.
The magic of being in love is baffling. Butterflies
in your stomach will make you lose your appetite. You
will feel disoriented in almost everything. The heart
has its reasons of which reason knows nothing. Love
makes us alive and ignorant at the same time.
As I absorbed myself in the enigma of love, I was
totally unaware that my friends were looking at me
with perplexity. To save myself from humiliation and
being called mawkish, I asked them to have a break
from their lunatic shopping spree and drink coffee
with me. As for me, I have decided to continue my reverie about love while I am all alone. •
Now We
Know!
“The heart
has its reasons of which
reason knows
nothing. Love
makes us alive
and ignorant
at the same
time.”
“The heart has its
reasons of which
reason knows nothing.”
Blaise Pascal
Be heard! Send us
your comments & opinions
mail US:
2nd Floor, U2 Building, Dolores, McArthur, Hi-way,
City of San Fernando, Pampanga
EMAIL US:
[email protected]
6 ENTERTAINMENT
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Alden Richards, papalit sa
trono ni Dingdong Dantes
SineAsia, nilunsad
ng Viva at SM
D
AHIL patok ang
Asian stars at movies ngayon sa bansa,
naisip ni Viva Communications big boss Vic del Rosario na makipartner sa SM
Lifestyle
Entertainment,
Inc. para sa paglulunsad ng
Si ne A si a
na magtatampok
sa
mga
nangunguna at
pinakabagong
pelikulang Asyano sa SM
Cinema
at Walter
Mart Cinemas.
Pinirmahan nina Boss
Vic at Edgar Tejerero,
presidente ng SM Lifestyle
Entertainment Inc., ang
kontrata para sa pagtatatag
ng SineAsia.
Sa pagtaas ng kalidad
ng mga pelikulang Asyano,
maraming Pinoy tuloy ang
nahihilig dito at may gustong mapanood ito sa malalaking sinehan.
Kabilang sa mga dapat
abangan ng fans ang mga
pelikula mula sa Japan,
South Korea, Taiwan at China, na sa ngayon, hindi lang
patok, kundi nahihigitan pa
sa takilya ang mga pelikulang galing Hollywood sa
AS of February 09, 2015
bansa.
Kasabay din ng contract
signing ang pagbubukas ng
pinto para sa mga sikat na
pelikulang Asyano na mapapanood na sa Filipino.
Para mas bigyan ito ng
importansya, bumuo ang
SM Lifestyle Entertainment
Inc., ang kumpanyang namamahala sa SM Cinemas
at Walter Mart Cinemas, ng
Sine Asia Theater, na may
temang oriental ang design.
Ang Sine Asia Theater
ang unang sinehan sa ’Pinas na magpapalabas ng
mga pelikulang Asyano na
nakasalin sa Filipino.
Ang
pangunahing
atraksyon sa Marso ay ang
pelikulang Gangnam Blues
ni Lee Min Ho.
Kumita ito ng $7.6 million sa unang linggo at inaasahan pang tataas sa pagpapalabas sa 13 pang ibang
bansa sa Asya kasama na
ang Pilipinas. Ginamit sa
movie ang signature hit ni
Freddie Aguilar na Anak.
Ang mga pelikula namang Vegas to Macau, Once
Upon a Time in Shanghai,
SPL 2, Mourning Grave,
My Love, My Bride at Rise
of the Legend, na pinagbibidahan ng mga tulad nina
Chow Yun Fat, Tony Jaa,
Nicholas Tse at Kim SoEun, ay ipapalabas din sa
SineAsia Theater. Ang SM
malls na magtatampok sa
mga pelikulang Asyano ay
ang SM Megamall, SM Sta.
Mesa, SM Fairview, SM Iloilo, SM Bacoor, SM Cebu,
SM Manila at SM North
Edsa.
Puro pelikula lang ng
Viva International Pictures
ang ipapalabas sa SineAsia
Theater.
Bago nga pala ang contract signing kahapon,
inilunsad din ng Viva ang
Tagalized Movie Channel
(TMC) noong October 2014.
Ang TMC ang kaunaunahang ‘pay-channel’ na
nagtatampok ng Tagalized
na pelikula mula sa ibang
bansa sa Asya.
Samantala, dahil sa nasabing proyekto, natanong
ng press ang anak ni Boss
Vic na si Vincent del Rosario kung may tsansang
gumawa ng pelikula si Lee
Min Ho kasama ang prized
property ng Viva na si Sarah Geronimo.
Sagot ni Vincent, dream
project ang pagsasama ng
Asian stars at Pinoy actors.
Pero sa ngayon, wala pang
konkretong plano o usapan
tungkol dito.
Bawi niya, “But there’s
a good chance. I can’t put
a number to it (kung ilang
percent ang posibilidad),
pero if not a big star, probably an up and coming star.”•
martin nievera
& regine alcasid
‘Ultimate’ concert,
sold-out na
H
INDI pa man nagsisimula
ang two-night “Ultimate”
concert nina Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano, Regine
Velasquez at Lani Misalucha na
gaganapin sa SM MOA Arena on
February 13 and 14, extension day
o repeat na ang pinag-uusapan ng
concert producers na sina Anna
Puno at Cacai Velasquez-Mitra
dahil sold-out na ang nasabing
major concert ng apat na veteran
singers-performers.
Ibinalita sa amin ang turn-out
ng tickets kaya inaayos na nila ng
kanyang co-producer na si Cacai
Velasquez-Mitra ang repeat concert na kung hindi posible within
the month ay siguradong sa susunod na buwan ito mangyayari.
Hindi lamang kasi ang availabil-
ity ng MOA Arena ang kailangan nilang ayusin kundi maging
ng apat na concert stars na sina
Martin, Gary, Regine at Lani, ang
stage director na si Rowell Santiago at maging ang musical director
na si Ryan Cayabyab.
Kung walang hassle ang “Ultimate”, nagkaproblema naman
ang kina Ai-Ai delas Alas at Sir
Chief sa Solaire. Back out daw si
Papa Chen kaya naiwang umiyak
si Ai-Ai. So paano na raw ang title
ng Concert na Ai Love Papa, sino
ba raw ang papapel na papa?
Ang latest dito ay nagsasauli
na raw ng mga tickets yung mga
fans ni Richard Yap dahil nga
kaya sila bumili ay para mapanood ang kanilang idolo. Luging
tiyak si Ai-Ai. •
Toni G, Paul Soriano sa Taytay church ikakasal
B
paul soriano
& toni gonzaga
AGO ikasal ay gagawa muna ng pelikula
si Toni Gonzaga at
ito ay ang pagsasamahan
nila ni Coco Martin na wala
pang titulo.
Nagkaroon na ng storycon ang movie at pareho
nga silang excited tungkol
dito.
Si Toni mismo ang nagconceptualize ng kwento ng
movie kung saan siya ang
boss habang si Coco naman ay parang runner or
PA niya.
Nang buuin niya ang
konsepto ay si Coco lang
daw at wala nang iba pa ang
gusto niyang maging leading man. Ang aktor lang
daw talaga ang babagay sa
role.
Nang makapanayam
nga si Toni ng mga taga-media sa storycon, tinanong
siya kung may date na ba
ang kanilang kasal ni Direk
Paul Soriano this year, pero
ayon sa TV host, wala pa.
Matapos nilang inanunsyo sa The Buzz ang
kanilang engagement, hindi pa raw sila nagkakaroon
ng time with their families
to sit down at piolo
mag-usappascual
usap.
Sa ngayon, kailangan
niyang mag-focus muna sa
paggawa ng movie nila ni
Coco. After the showing,
saka na niya iisipin ang
kasal.
Pero siyempre, ’yung
dati pang gusto niya na
ikasal sana siya sa simbahan sa kanilang lugar sa Taytay ay ganu’n pa rin naman
hanggang ngayon. Gusto
raw niyang ikasal sa lugar
kung saan siya lumaki although siyempre, iku-consult pa niya ito sa kanyang
groom.•
FEBRUARY 11, 2015 • Headline Gitnang Luzon
gov assistance... from Page 1
The OFWs who received P10,000
each were Jonathan Tuazon Jr., Ernesto Montemayor, Luisito Capulong, Efren Ignacio, Jovert Libut,
Roden De Leon, Rommel Mandap
and Alvin Mandap.
According to Elaiza Muñoz, chief
of the Provincial Center for OFW
Concerns (PACOC), the OFWs didn’t
receive any assistance from their
employers abroad.
Muñoz also said the OFWs can-
agency collaboration... from Page 3
not return to Sierra Leone due to the
travel ban issued by the Department
of Foreign Affairs.
The governor also tasked Luningning Vergara, head of the Public
Employment and Services Office
(PESO), to present overseas employment opportunities in Guam,
USA and other countries to the said
OFWs.
Jonathan Tuazon, one of the
OFWs, thanked the governor for the
continuous support that the provincial Capitol has extended towards
them.
“Nagpapasalamat kami kay
Nanay sa assistance na binigay niya.
Malaking tulong po sa pamilya namin. Tinulungan niya din niya kaming maghanap ng trabaho,” Tuazon
said.
Gov. Pineda was joined by board
member Cherry Manalo ang chiefof-staff Fritzie David-Dizon.•
trade fair... from Page 1
kulturang Fernandino. Culture marks our identity as
a people so it should be enriched and preserved,” Santiago said during the agro-industrial trade fair opening
in line with the 14th cityhood anniversary of this city.
The trade fair dubbed “an afFair to remember”, the
is a five-day activity showcasing the indigenous products of Fernandinos like wood crafts, water lily handicrafts, fresh farm products, authentic Kapampangan
cuisine and native delicacies.
The fair was organized by the Kagananpan Executive Committee chaired by Gil Cortez, City Agriculture
and Veterinary Office led by Myrna Manabat, City Economic Enterprise Division managed by Levi Tiomico,
and the City Tourism and Investment Promotion Office.
“We are expecting a positive response from the local
buyers and even entrepreneurs,” the mayor furthered.
He noted with this, small and medium economic
enterprises will have more opportunities and will also
promote healthy competition with giant companies including malls. Likewise, he added activities like this
will revitalize the city’s public markets which are considered as cultural treasures.
“Bahagi ng kultura nating mga Fernandino ang mga
palengke kaya palalakasin natin ang ating kalakalan at
industriya. Ipapagawa natin ang ating mga palengke to
give enough spaces for our micro enterprises,” he said.
“Ang gusto natin ay magkakaroon ng masiglang investment promotion, trade fairs at road shows ukol sa
mga produkto ng San Fernando. We will push not only
the One Town One Product program; we will involve
everybody through the One Barangay One Product program.”
Women entrepreneurs who went trainings under
the city’s Gender and Development Office and who recently received financial aid from the Self Employment
Assistance-Kaunlaran (SEA-K) Program had also set
up stalls in the fair to showcase their products.•
SALVADOR BERNAL EXHIBIT. The works of Salvador Bernal, the only National Artist for Theater Design, are now on exhibit
at the Angeles City Library and Information Center. Photo shows his work for ‘Lapu-Lapu’ displayed along with other scale models and
costumes. --AC-CIO PHOTO
badong... from Page 1
ed us this rare opportunity to host
this exhibit.” said Dr. Richard Daenos, City Tourism Officer.
“Through this exhibit, we are
able to dig into a deeper context of
who we are as Filipinos and as artists.” he added.
For his part, Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan also extended his thanks
to the CCP and the NCCA for allowing the city to host the exhibit.
“This complements the city’s efforts in slowly but surely reviving
our people’s appreciation with our
country’s rich and colorful heritage
found in theatrical arts. With the
conversion of the Old Pamintuan
House in Miranda Street by the
National Historical Commission
of the Philippines to the Philippine
Museum of Social History, Angeles
is set to become a major destination
in the country for the appreciation
of history, heritage and culture,”
Pamintuan expressed.
Hailed as a National Artist
awardee in 2003, Salvador Bernal
pioneered theater design in the
country and was the first to develop
it as a profession. He is named as
the Father of Theater Design in the
Philippines for successfully elevating it as an art form.
Eric Cruz from CCP, a former
student of Salvador Bernal, said that
Angeles is known for its rich culture
in heritage and visual arts that is
why they chose it as one of its hosts
for the exhibit. They are also hoping
that through this exhibit, they will
be able to discover new and young
talents in designing for theater.
Featured in the exhibit are costumes used from actual plays, various diorama, scale models of stage
designs, and a timeline describing
the life of Bernal.
The exhibit will run its course
from February 10 to March 9, 2015,
9:00am-5:00pm. Admission to the
exhibit is free.•
collaboration.. from Page 8
change and “must be fully
tapped.”
The APEC Policy Partnership for Science, Technology and Innovation is
administering the annual
APEC Science Prize for
Innovation, Research and
Education (ASPIRE) Prize.
Nominations are now
open for 2015 ASPIRE,
whose theme “Disaster
Risk Reduction: Understanding the Role of Cli-
7
mate Change and Variability” spotlights the
cross-border development
of next generation technologies vital to helping economies adapt to
changing natural conditions, strengthening environmental protection and
building more resilient,
sustainable communities.
The theme of this year’s
award, known as the ASPIRE Prize, was selected
by the Philippines, APEC
Chair for 2015.
It is an extension of
deepening partnership between the 21 APEC member economies to tackle
climate change and related challenges, which are
among the policy priorities
being taken forward by Senior Officials and technical
experts meeting through
this week in Clark and
Subic. (PNA)•
Meanwhile, the passage of the P22.5-billion Supplemental Fund last year helped answer issues surrounding the high court rulings on the PDAF and
the DAP. The DBM is also closely coordinating with
local government units (LGUs) and agencies to ensure they follow the definitions of savings, budget
augmentation, and realignments given in the 2015
General Appropriations Act (GAA).
Abad said, “Local governments will need to employ measures to ramp up their spending, all while
remaining faithful to budget rules. Together with the
Department of the Interior and Local Government
(DILG), the DBM will initiate financial management
workshops for LGUs with government projects. The
goal is to capacitate our local government units for
effective project planning and efficient implementation.”
He added, “The plan is also to equip regional offices of various departments with the means to provide technical assistance. This specifically refers to
the preparation of fund liquidation requirements
and other activities designed to improve project
planning.”
The DBM will likewise tap the National Economic
Development Authority (NEDA) and the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) to proactively assist departments and agencies in expanding
their capacities for planning and procurement.
Abad said, “In particular, it might be best for departments to assign full-time support staff to their
respective Bids and Awards Committees (BAC). At
the moment, the secretariat for each BAC is manned
by department staff who is already preoccupied
with their regular tasks. A dedicated pool of people
for each Bids and Awards committee will go a long
way in expediting the procurement process for implementing agencies.”
The GPPB will also work with major procuring agencies to hash out issues or recurring problems in the procurement process, so that these
departments can come up with an improvement
strategy.
Abad said: “These are among several courses of
action that we intend to pursue beginning this year.
Already, these measures are going to be amply supported by existing reforms now in place in the national budget process.”
He added, “Our mission in the DBM is to manage public spending in such a way that each peso
spent by government will ultimately benefit every
Filipino. The National Budget should always be an
instrument of progress for the country. How we allocate resources now will certainly create an impact
on our growing role as an investment destination in
the region and, ultimately, in the fulfillment of our
bid for inclusive growth.” (DBM)•
phl, china... from Page 3
and President Xi had an opportunity to talk for several
minutes after a tree-planting event.
According to him, President Xi mentioned the good
relationship between the Philippines and China dates
back many years ago.
President Xi hoped that the Philippine side could
return to the basis of the two countries’ previous consensus, and go in the same direction as China to deal
with relevant issues in a constructive way, and to create
conditions for the healthy development of China-Philippines relations, he said.
The Philippines and China have been embroiled in
a territorial dispute in the West Philippines Sea. The
country has filed an arbitration case at the international
tribunal to resolve the territorial row, a move rejected
by China. (PNA)•
Be heard! Send us your
comments & opinions
mail US:
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business news
VOLUME III • NO. 162 • FEBRUARY 11, 2015 • WEDNESDAY
APEC USec: Clark remains
a model of investment
By Marna Dagumboy-del Rosario
CLARK FREEPORT — The
chair of the recently concluded Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation 1st Senior Officials
Meeting held inside this Freeport from Jan. 26 to Feb. 7 said
Clark remains to be a model of
investment and business resilience.
Undersecretary
Laura
Quiambao-Del Rosario informed
the delegates of various APEC
member-countries on the transformation of Clark from a US-run
Clark Air Base and devastation
wrought about by the eruption
of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991, to an investment destination, not only in
the Philippines, but also in Asia.
“Clark is proud to have had
transformed itself from a military base to an industry hub that
is supported by foreign investor
confidence,” she said during the
tendered dinner by the National
Organizing Committee for the
delegates over the weekend.
“Growing up in this place,
made me proud of the resiliency
of the people from Pampanga,”
Del Rosario, who grew up in
nearby Angeles City, said.
She took pride in inviting delegates of SOM1 to enjoy the local
hospitality and cuisines of Pampanga.
“I also hope that you all get the
chance to enjoy the local hospitality including the cuisine of this
province which is considered as
the culinary capital of the Philippines. There is indeed more to
Clark than it seems,” she told the
delegates.
Clark, formerly occupied by
13th US Air Force—the biggest
military camp outside of US continent— was devastated by tons
of volcanic ash spewed by Mount
Pinatubo’s series of eruptions and
lahar flows from 1991 to 1998.
“There is indeed more to
Clark than it seems,” Del Rosario adding that “from zero, Clark
gradually rose from the ashes.
Surrounding communities have
been benefited by its development.”
At present, Clark Development Corporation (CDC) reported that that there are more
than 600 active locators, mostly
foreign investors, which include
heavy employment generating
firms such as semi-conductors
industries, manufacturing and
business process outsourcing
(BPO).
Clark is currently home to
more than 74,000 employees
mostly coming from surrounding communities.
Beginning January 26, various technical working groups
and committees that reported to
the APEC Senior Officials discussed initiatives, policies and
capacity-building programs that
advance APEC’s goals of trade
liberalization, business facilitation and economic cooperation.
Best practices were shared, and
commitments were renewed on
economic issues related to SMEs
and the Global Value Chain, anticorruption, customs procedures,
health and the life sciences,
oceans and fisheries, disaster
management,
counter-terrorism and secure trade, business
mobility, electronic commerce,
standards and conformance,
intellectual property, services,
environmental goods, chemical
regulation, and human capacity
building.
She said that the conference
also introduced this year the continuation of the Public Private Dialogue on Services which started
in 2013, focused on services to
form part of the connectivity aspects of the Asia Pacific.•
PCSO OFFICIALS SUPPORT NEW ULTRA LOTTO GAME. Officials of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (from L to R) Board Secretary lawyer Ramon E. Rodrigo, directors lawyer
Francisco G. Joaquin III, lawyer Mabel V. Mamba, and Betty B. Nantes, and Vice-Chairman and General Manager lawyer Jose Ferdinand Rojas II show their Ultra Lotto 6/58 tickets purchased on the first selling day
of the agency’s new game, at the PCSO Benguet branch office in Baguio City during the office’s blessing last Saturday. The Ultra Lotto 6/58 has a minimum jackpot prize of P50 million. There will two draws every
week, Friday and Sunday. --PCSO PHOTO
‘Gapo mayor insists: ‘No to coal policy’
By Mhike R. Cigaral
OLONGAPO CITY -- “I will
remain a no to coal advocate.”
Thus, said Olongapo City
Mayor Rolen C. Paulino during
the recently concluded People’s
Congress 7227 last Thursday at
the Subic Grand Harbour Hotel.
Mayor Paulino reiterated
he was one of the first who opposed this plan and will remain
opposing it even after the Supreme Court (SC) reversed a
Court of Appeals ruling that
invalidated SBMA’s lease development agreement with project
proponent RP Energy, Inc. and
the latter’s environmental compliance certificate issued by Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR).
In an interview with the lo-
cal press here, Paulino said:
“Maaring nanalo sila sa SC pero
wala pa namang finality ito,”
mentioning that a Motion for
Reconsideration is being prepared by the legal advisers of
the 10,000-strong No to CFPP
in Subic Bay Broader Coalition.
“This is what I was told by
the Coalition,” he disclosed.
Meanwhile, Jen Velarminovan der Heijde, one of the trustees of an anti-coal plant group,
Subic Bay Freeport Chamber
for Health and Environment
Conservation (SBFCHEC), said
the SC ruling could be the “biggest crisis” in the fight to stop
the coal project.
“Most of the decision makers
in our Freeport, in our province,
in our country, have their own
important agenda except for the
basic: keeping the environment
safe, the people healthy,” she
told newsmen.
“I am deeply disappointed
with the SC decision, they would
respect its ruling,” a member of
SBFCHEC told Headline Gitnang Luzon.
Furthermore, Mayor Paulino said he respects the SC decision but being the local chief
executive he has the right to
guard the safety, environmental
and health concerns of his constituents.
“Tingnan natin. Kung talagang sila (referring to RPEI)
na ang panalo eh di wala naman tayong magagawa kundi
i-respeto ang desisyon ng Korte
Suprema. Kung itatayo nila ang
planta base dito, risko na nila
iyon,” Paulino stressed.•
APEC strengthens collaboration
in addressing natural disasters
CLARK FREEPORT -- With
the Asia and the Pacific region
having the highest number of
natural disasters, the Philippines and the other 20 member
economies of the Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC)
Forum are intensifying collaboration to be better prepared to
deal with them.
Dr. Alan Bollard, executive
director of the APEC Secretariat, estimated that APEC member-economies alone suffered
around $ 70 billion in costs related to natural disasters annually over the last decade.
Philippines Department of
Science and Technology (DoST)
Secretary Mario Montejo cited
new and escalating challenges
posed by climate change to
Asia-Pacific economies and the
region’s three billion people.
“Rising sea levels and the
increasing ferocity of typhoons
tearing through the region are
the compelling and urgent reasons for game-changing solutions,” he said.
The APEC countries are
working closely to address the
possible effects of natural disasters on their economies.
“Climate change is at the top
of the Asia-Pacific agenda and
prompting a new era of cooperation to combat this rapidly
unfolding threat to humanity,”
said Chen Linhao, chair of the
APEC Policy Partnership for
Science, Technology and Innovation.
Linhao said cross-border research has the power to inform
how economies can adapt and
mitigate the effects of climate
collaboration... pagE 7