Aging Angat Dam to get needed rehab

www.headlinegl.com
VOLUME IV • NO. 24
JULY 20, 2015
MONDAY
what’s inside
SM conducts free
medical, dental mission
news...page 2
PARISIAN TYPE OF TRAFFIC. The Arch of the Triumph (Arc de Triomphe) within Charles de Gaulle in Paris was commissioned by Napoleon to pay tribute to his army during the French Revolution. (Photo taken by Kapampangan photographer
Ruston Banal, who is in Paris to receive the 1st Prize [GOLD] in the Press Category of the Paris Photo Prize or PX3. More photos
on Page 8). --ruston banal
Smart to launch SWEEP
roadshow in AUF this August
Angeles, San Fdo among
competitive cities in PH
New PRC facility
validates Subic’s value
as logistics hub
By Mhike R. Cigaral
business...page 3
By Charlene A. Cayabyab and Marna DAGUMBOY - Del Rosario
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Two of the province’s cities were named
among the most competitive cities in the country, with Angeles City placing 15th, and this city, 25th overall, based on its 2015 Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI). COMPETITIVE CITIES... PAGE 7
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — The establishment
by the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) of its logistics
and training center in the Subic Bay Freeport has
once again validated the importance of this free
port as a domestic and international logistics
hub.
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA)
Chairman Roberto Garcia pointed this out after
the PRC formally inaugurated on Monday its logistics and training center at a 1.6-hectare property along the Corregidor Highway in the former
NEW PRC FACILITY... PAGE 7
Aging Angat Dam
to get needed rehab
CITY OF MALOLOS —
The Provincial Government of Bulacan headed
by Gov. Wilhelmino M.
Sy-Alvarado and Vice
Gov. Daniel Fernando
met with dam engineers over the week and
mapped out plans to address flood problems and
the structural integrity of
the three big dams in Bulacan namely Angat, Ipo
and Bustos dams.
During the meeting, Engr. Russel Rigor,
Senior Dam Operation
Engineer of Angat Hydropower
Corporation
(AHC), revealed that in
principle, the long overdue and much awaited rehabilitation and strengthening of the aging Angat
dam in the mountains of
Norzagaray has already
started.
Rigor told Alvarado
and Fernando that KWater and AHC, the new
owners and operators of
Angat dam, has started
the
“pre-construction”
ANGAT DAM... PAGE 7
MOST COMPETITIVE. Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan (C) is joined by local government officials and department heads
during the 3rd Regional Competitiveness Summit held June 16 in Pasay City, Metro Manila where the city was named 15th most competitive city in the Philippines, while Mayor Edwin D. Santiago and members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod and department heads
received the 2nd place Overall Competitiveness Award during the same event. --AC-CIO, CSF-CIO PHOTOs
2 NEWS
Headline Gitnang Luzon • juLY 20, 2015
SM conducts free medical, dental mission
By Marna Dagumboy
-del Rosario
OLONGAPO CITY – Some
1,707 patients were given medical services in the two-day
Medical and Dental Mission of
SM Foundation on July 15 and
16.
The successful mission at
SM City Olongapo and Feli-
cidad T. Sy Wellness Center in
Brgy. Pag-asa served a total of
731 and 976 patients respectively.
Dubbed as “Gamot Para
sa Kapwa”, this year’s activity headed by SM Foundation
Sr. Project Manager Dr. Rorie
Siasoco in partnership with
the City Health Office, City Social Welfare and Development
Office, Philippine Red Cross
Olongapo Chapter, James L.
Gordon Memorial Hospital,
Olongapo City Medical Society,
Dental Society of Olongapo,
Persons with Disability Affairs Office, Ideal Vision, SM
Supermarket and Barangay Pagasa was aimed at helping less
fortunate indigent families by
providing basic health services
and positive insights in coping
with difficulties in life.
Services include medical
checkup and treatment, dental check up, blood pressure
checkup, urine test, ECG, Xray and eye check-up with free
reading glasses. Apart from the
medical services, free medicines for common illnesses and
vitamins were also distributed
to patients (as prescribed by
doctors).
“Gamot Para sa Kapwa” is
conducted yearly to every provincial malls and its barangay
health center counterpart, the
Felicidad T. Sy Wellness Center.
Through the generous support of its donors and friends
the Free Medical and Dental
Mission was indeed a success. •
Bulacan’s PWD
team bags 32
medals in para
national games
CITY OF MALOLOS
– In line with the celebration of the Persons
With Disability Week,
Bulacan’s PWD Team
brought home 32 medals in the 4th Stage of the
Philippine Sports Commission Philspada Para
National Games held at
RMSC Manila last July 2
to July 6, 2015.
Anchored on the theme
“Health and Wellness of
PWD Opportunities toward an Inclusive Development”, the 12 delegates
made their way into the
spotlight through their
brilliance in sports and
bagged 15 gold, nine silver, and eight bronze
medals.
“Nasaksihan ko ang
ating mga PWD delegate
na masigasig na nakilahok sa mga laro, hindi
alintana kung ano man
ang kakulangan nila kaya
naman halos lahat ng
manlalaro ay nakakuha
ng medalya and this is
not just about bringing home medals, this is
about empowering them
and making them feel
that they belong, and that
the province supports
them,” Gov. Wilhelmino
M. Sy-Alvarado said.
Rustom Arnaldo of
Marilao and Caselynee Malyon of Calumpit
turned their sprints into
leaps as they powered a
catapulting long jump
and won the gold medal.
They also got gold in the
400m and 100m runs
while Ricardo Dimongo
of Marilao won the same
in 800m run.
In addition, Queenie
Joy Manio of Calumpit
and Angelo Gojo Cruz of
Marilao took home the
gold medals for winning
in the Shot Put.
For the Javelin Throw
and Discus Throw (Intellectual Disability Category), Queenie Joy Manio
of Calumpit and Jesebel
Tordecilla of Meycauayan, an orthopedically
handicapped, won gold
medals as well as Gerardo
Regalado of Calumpit for
the Amputee Category.
Moreover,
Dyesebel
Lopez and Jocelyn Datiles from Marilao, Francis Pechardo of Calumpit,
Adelaida Mendoza of
Hagonoy and Joselito
Bernes of Baliwag showed
powerful performance in
long jump wherein they
got silvers and bronze
medals.
Meanwhile, the prescreening of patients with
harelip and cleft palate
was held at the Baliwag
District Hospital last July
18.•
GAMOT PARA SA KAPWA. SM Foundation’s Sr. Project Manager Dr. Rorie Siasoco gets the doctor’s prescription from the patient
where they can avail of free medicines as part of their Free Medical and Dental Mission in SM Olongapo on July 15 and 16, 2015.
--PR-SMOL PHOTO
Pilot reaches out to poor Hermosa folk
By Mhike R. Cigaral
HERMOSA, BATAAN – More
than a thousand residents in a disputed land located in the largest
village here recently conducted a
dialogue with Captain Jopet Rivera
Inton.
“I was invited here to hear their
grievances and find some ways to
help them,” Inton told newsmen.
Chairman Jun Mayuyo, the selfproclaimed chieftain of SitioGasak
in Barangay Culis, said more than
500 residents residing here for almost a decade want to be registered
as valid voters in the area. Mayuyo
insisted that they are not squatters,
showing some documents being
presented to the court.
The land has been subjected to
court battles due to the two parties
claiming ownership to more than a
hundred-hectare property here.
In almost all occasions, Inton
publicly expressed his intention to
run as Hermosa mayor citing some
of the advantages if he is elected as
the town’s chief executive. Jopet is the grandson of Arturo
Inton, former vice mayor of this
fast rising municipality in 19481951 and 1952-1955. He is also a pilot by profession
with VIPs as his regular passengers, among them senators, show-
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Republic of the Philippines
Republic of the Philippines
Local Civil Registry Office
NOTICE OF PUBLICATION
NOTICE OF PUBLICATION
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 NOEL C. MIRANDA has filed with this office, a
petition for correction of entry in the date of birth from “JUNE
15, 1966” to “JUNE 16, 1966” in the certificate of live birth
of MAY SALAC PINEDA born on JUNE 15, 1966 at Arayat,
Pampanga and whose parents are CATALINO PINEDA and
ANGELITA SALAC.
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 CLARITA PARUNGAO PARUNGAO has filed with
this office, a petition for correction of entry in the date of birth
from “OCTOBER 21, 1968” to “OCTOBER 17, 1968” in the
certificate of live birth of CRISTAN PARUNGAO PARUNGAO
born on OCTOBER 21, 1968 at Arayat, Pampanga and
whose parents are GRACIANO PARUNGAO and CLARITA
PARUNGAO.
Province: PAMPANGA
City/Municipality: ARAYAT
Province: PAMPANGA
City/Municipality: ARAYAT
Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his
written opposition with this Office not later than two weeks
upon publication.
(Sgd) GRETA P. DE ALA
Municipal Civil Registrar
HEADLINE Gitnang Luzon: July 20 & 21,, 2015
More groups voice support
for K to 12 Program
FOR SMARTPHONES
& TABLETS!
Local Civil Registry Office
Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his
written opposition with this Office not later than two weeks
upon publication.
(Sgd) GRETA P. DE ALA
Municipal Civil Registrar
HEADLINE Gitnang Luzon: July 20 & 21,, 2015
biz personalities and other known
businessmen and foreign investors
who poured hundreds of millions of
investments at the Freeport Area of
Bataan (FAB) in Mariveles town.
Inton is a cousin of Bataan kingpin and Governor Albert Garcia
and nephew of second district Congressman Enrique “Tet” Garcia Jr.
He both served them as personal
staff in their respective terms in
congress
Meanwhile, Jopet also confirmed
in all of his public speeches that
second-termer Hermosa mayor
Danilo “Dan” Malana will reportedly run as congressman of Bataan
first congressional district.•
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO
– As the full implementation
of the K to 12 Program in 2016
draws near, over 6,400 education stakeholders from different groups pledged their support for the program and the
benefits it entails.
Department of Education
Secretary Br. Armin Luistro
FSC expressed his gratitude to
those who continue to support
and help make the K to 12 program effective, saying, “DepEd
cannot do all of the reforms by
ourselves. We thank our industry partners for making employment programs fit for our
learners; our local government
units for their constant promotion of the program; and for all
of you who have expressed sup-
port for this major education
reform.”
Parents, teachers, students
and representatives from the
business sector voiced their
personal sentiments on the reform.
Tabaco National High School
Teacher Salve Estrella said in
her testimony, “Our presence
here today is a strong testament of our support for this
program. Together, we will find
solutions for pressing issues.
Together, we will taste the
sweetness of our success.”
Grade 10 Legazpi City Science High School student Joseph Aristotle de Leon shared
his vision for himself and the
country and said, “As a student
MORE GROUPS... Page 7
juLY 20, 2015 • Headline Gitnang Luzon
Healthy
Options in
Pampanga
malls
CL ARK FREEPORT – To residents and fellow health enthusiasts of Pampanga, there is good
news to spark the healthy lifestyle that so many aspire to live
by: Healthy Options holds not
one, but two stores in Pampanga.
Dedicated to educating and
empowering anybody wishing
to start or improve their healthy
lifestyles, you can find Healthy
Options in SM City Clark and SM
City Pampanga.
Healthy Options continues to
indeed, give healthy options. Offering an impressive selection
of quality and natural grocery
items, personal care, organic
local farm produce and supplements, shoppers coming from
any area of consumer interest
are no doubt fascinated and delighted to have these items available to them.
In its 20th year, Healthy Options continues to grow along
with the ever growing awareness
on the value of health and the long
term investments made to ensure
we maintain ours. Known for
sourcing only healthy, natural,
and/or organic premium products, the company also advocates
intangible efforts that go well
beyond their product shelves.
Anybody that has visited their
stores will know their “Love
Food, Don’t Waste” advocacy and
support for local and organic
farming practices. Speak with
any of their friendly and knowledgeable Customer Advisors,
and you’ll learn the value and interconnectedness of health, environmental welfare, and living
green.
Visit Healthy Options Store today and discover a world where
life is beautiful. •
BUSINESS 3
Smart to launch SWEEP roadshow in AUF this August
By Marna Dagumboy
-del Rosario
CLARK FREEPORT – Wireless services leader Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) continues with the Information and
Communications Technology
(ICT) Month celebration with
workshop for students of the
Angeles University Foundation
in Angeles City this August.
The first leg of a nationwide
roadshow, aimed at promoting
innovation in schools, was held
at the Adamson University.
Co-organized with User Experience Manila (UX Manila),
the roadshow is part of the
Smart Wireless Engineering
Education Program (SWEEP),
the country’s biggest linkage
program between the industry
and the academe that seeks to
enhance engineering and IT
education among students.
The roadshow was launched
to promote SWEEP’s annual
technology
competition
to
schools all over the country. The
12th SWEEP Innovation and
Excellence Awards will showcase disruptive mobile innovations that address existing pain
points or a community or a seg-
ment of the population building
on the theme, “Enabling Lives
through Mobile and Digital Innovations.”
“Over the years, we have seen
entries for the SWEEP Awards
evolve from mere prototypes
that are in compliance of a thesis requirement. In recent years,
students are already submitting
market-grade concepts and prototypes that actually address existing pain points and have potential for commercialization,”
said Ramon R. Isberto, head of
Public Affairs at Smart.
“Throughout this process,
Smart is making available to the
participating teams valuable industry insights, as well as training programs that will empower
these young innovators not only
to design a working prototype
but also develop a business
model so they can make money
out of their product,” added Isberto.
This year, Smart and SWEEP
are taking things further by
delving into the user experience,
so students will take it into account when developing their
digital product.
UX Manila, a company devoted to building a community
of user experience, customer experience, and service designers
in the Philippines, conducted a
User Experience Design Workshop to emphasize the importance of usability, accessibility,
performance, design/aesthetics,
utility, ergonomics, overall human interaction, and marketing
in designing a digital product
like mobile applications.
“The workshop is designed
to make the students more attuned to what the market requires in terms of overall experience when using the product.
A positive user experience is
also important in coming up
with successful and meaningful
technological innovations,” said
Stephanie Orlino, senior manager for education programs at
Smart Public Affairs.
Around 150 communications
engineering and IT students
joined the roadshow in Adamson. During the UX workshop,
the students, in teams, were
asked to design a mobile application or website to help subject
persona look for a dormitory in
Metro Manila taking into account security, accessibility, and
affordability.
Smart will have the second leg
of the roadshow on June 26 at
the Mariano Marcos State University in Batac, Ilocos Norte. Succeeding legs scheduled up
to August will be held in the following: University of San Jose
Recoletos in Cebu City; University of Southeastern Philippines,
Davao City; Angeles University Foundation in Angeles City,
Pampanga; and University of
Santo Tomas in Manila.
Starting this year, the
12th SWEEP Awards will be
open to all college students. Smart will require participating teams to come up with mobile applications that address
consumer pain points in the
following areas: Consumer,
Business to Business, Social
Innovations, Big Data, and
Machine-to-Machine or Internet of Things.
The grand champion will
win a cash prize of P300,000,
while the second- and thirdplacers will win P200,000, and
P100,000, respectively. Schools
of the winning teams will also
receive grants.
For more details about
SWEEP, and the SWEEP
Awards, click on www.smartsweep.ph.•
TURN-OVER. Philippine
Charity Sweepstakes Office
Chairman Ayong Maliksi (2nd
from L, lower photo) ViceChairman and General Manager lawyer Jose Ferdinand
Rojas II, and Directors Betty
Nantes and lawyer Francisco
Joaquin III, together with Tzu
Chi Foundation CEO Alfredo
Li pose with the symbolic key
of a brand new ambulance
turned over to Cavite Rep.
Abraham Tolentino (L) in a
ceremony held at the Imus
Sports Complex on July 16.
Above photo are some of the
26 brand new ambulances
from the PCSO Ambulance
Donation Program handed
over to cities, municipalities,
government hospitals, and a
state university in the province. --JOSEPH MUEGO
PHL on track to be on Top 3
in Competitiveness Report
MANILA – The Philippines is on
track to be on the top three in competitiveness rankings globally, said
National Competitiveness Council
(NCC) Co-Chair Guillermo M. Luz.
Luz, at the sidelines of the 3rd Regional Competitiveness Summit held
Thursday in Pasay City, said that it is
attainable for the Philippines to be on
the top 30 percent in World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Competitiveness Report in 2016.
“We’re on track. We have two more
rating period, the 2015 and 2016.
Currently, we are (rank) 52. We need
to be in above (rank) 45,” Luz said.
“It’s attainable.”
Aside from WEF’s Global Competitiveness Report, the Philippines also
aims to move up to world’s top three
in other rankings such as Ease of Doing Business, Economic Freedom Index, Global Enabling Trade Report,
among others.
For Global Competitiveness Report alone, the country has been in
the bottom three before the Aquino
administration stepped in five years
ago, according to Luz.
“In 2010, 2009, 2008 and earlier
years, we are flat. No movement at
all. Now, we are moving by 30 to 50
spots,” he said.
In Global Competitiveness Report,
the Philippines’ ranking went up by
33 notches from 85th place in 2010 to
52nd place in 2014.
In order to back the country’s target, Luz said the competitiveness of
local government units (LGU) should
be enhanced.
“It would take a huge team effort to
further go up,” he said. “The reason
we invest a lot in cities is when it becomes competitive the whole country
will be competitive.”
In the 3rd Regional Competitiveness Summit, NCC announced the
most competitive cities and municipalities in the country in its Cities
and Municipalities Competitiveness
Index (CMCI) 2015.
During the summit, Department
of Budget and Management (DBM)
Secretary Florencio B. Abad said the
Aquino administration is pushing
LGUs to be more competitive by initiating LGU-oriented reforms.
“President Aquino has already initiated LGU-oriented reforms. Some
of these are designed to incentivize good governance practices in the
ground such as the Performance
Challenge Fund and the Seal of Good
Housekeeping,” said Abad.
“LGUs, to be more competitive,
should follow good governance. It’s
the bedrock of competitive public service,” he added. (PNA)•
HEADLINE Gitnang Luzon: July 06, 13 & 20, 2015
4 OPINION
Headline Gitnang Luzon • juLY 20, 2015
EDITORIAL
Congrats, but...
CONGRATULATIONS are in order
to two of the province’s cities, Angeles
and San Fernando, for being among the
country’s most competitive cities based
on their 2015 Cities and Municipalities
Competitiveness Index (CMCI).
Angeles City was named 15th, while
San Fernando is 25th overall. Out of the
34 highly urbanized cities in the Philippines, Angeles ranked 18th while CSF
bagged the 2nd spot for the Overall Most
Competitive City under the category of
component cities.
Angeles City placed 9th best in Government Efficiency, 20th for Infrastructure development and 23rd best overall
in Economic Efficiency – a huge jump
from rank 80 in 2014, while San Fernando
ranked 10th in the Economic Dynamism
Pillar among the component cities category, ranked 5th in the Infrastructure
Pillar among component cities, placed
3rd in the Government Efficiency Pillar.
With the elections just around the
corner, we’re sure these awards are going to help both city mayors in a major
way – but there are other problems both
cities have to contend with.
While Mayor Edpam is getting a lot of
flak over the “very expensive” fountain
and public cemetery he wants to put up
in his city, Mayor EdSa, as we speak, has
a lot of explaining to do over the flashflood in the city last week.
A lot of students and commuters
were stranded last Friday, when after
torrential rains, the city’s intersection
and other areas were flooded. There was
traffic, and a lot of people, seen walking along the Jose Abad Santos Avenue
and the MacArthur Highway amidst the
pouring rain.
Going toe-to-toe with other cities nationwide is a major feat, we know. Just
goes to show that both are working hard
to put their cities in the economic map.
But while they are doing this, they also
have criticisms to face – and their critics
are not going to let these “boo-boos” slip.
HEADLINE Gitnang Luzon is a Daily Regional Newspaper
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Editor: RIA DE FIESTA
Layout Artist/Photographer: JP Manalang
Reporters: CHARLENE CAYABYAB
Marna dagumboy - Del rosario
Administrative Staff: sherylin l. rivera
Publisher: I.N.I. Newspaper
Email: [email protected]
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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
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Office Address: 2nd Floor, U2 Building, MacArthur
Highway, Dolores, City of San Fernando, Pampanga, 2000
Tel. Nos. (045) 455.0781
Remembering Siam-siam of 1972
N
EXT to the eruption of PinaKapampangans, however, took
tubo, the worst calamity to advantage of the sandy soil and conever hit the Kapampangan Re- verted rice farms into sugarcane and
gion in recent memory was the flood watermelon fields, hence, making the
of 1972, when the entire Central Plain ancient Kapampangan land became
of Luzon was submerged under water. known not only for its rice produce but
Serious monsoon rains lasting 40 days as well for its sugar farmlands.
nonstop had been triggered by four
1972 psychic prediction
tropical cyclones that made a direct
Superstitious Kapampangans athit in the area during that year’s rainy
season: Asiang, Konsing, Toyang and tributed the historical 1972 flood to
the theft of the image of Sto. Niño in
Undang.
Tondo, Manila which hapThe
flood,
which
pened shortly before the
claimed 298 lives, was
start of the torrential rain
worst in the history of
rains. Others recalled the
the Central Plain because
this area is the natural
catch basin of two major waterways, the Pampanga River and the
Agno River; moreover,
the presence of the Candaba Swamp (pinac), alugin (waterlogged)
areas and baná (marshes), as well as the phenomenon
of
subsid- Aleesus Manarang
ence, further makes the
area
susceptible
to
flooding. prediction of American psychic Jeanne
Morphologically, the 1972 flood re- Dixon, who had reportedly seen a visulted in the sedimentation of the west- sion of Luzon Island going completely
ern side of the Central Plain, where under water that it was possible to
erosion from the Zambales Mountain travel by boat inland from Manila Bay
Range has geologically formed alluvial to Lingayen Gulf. In fact, this was exfans on the plain’s western side, which actly what the astronauts saw from
continuously choke river systems and their spacecraft orbiting the earth at
silt large areas of daIyat (rice fields); lo- the time of the flood: floodwaters blancal farmers even have a term for fields keting the island from Bulacan and
affected by sedimentation: miban- Pampanga to Tarlac, Nueva Ecija and
likan. In San Fernando, for example, Pangasinan (in short, the entire Cenlarge areas of farmlands near Lapat tral Luzon region); the Agno River and
experienced sedimentation of up to the Pampanga River had disappeared
one meter high. As an immediate re- and from the sky it was easy to imagine
sult of sedimentation in the so-called that Manila Bay had indeed connected
Rice Bowl of the Philippines, the next with Lingayen Gulf and that it was
harvests in Central Luzon were jeop- completely possible to travel by boat
from end to end! The scenario virtuardized.
Magbalawe
ally depicted the prehistoric landscape
of Central Luzon!
Makanyan mu naman ba ing kapanwalan king dating matwang balen
ning Betis anyang mapanako ya ing
metung karing imahe ding malasantu ning Pisamban Santiago? Anya
ba maralas ing pamanalbug keti Guagua?
In colonial times, natives and probably even Spaniards and Chinese merchants traveled between Pangasinan
and Pampanga using the Rio Grande
(Big River) de Pampanga which was
still connected with the Rio Chico (Little River) de Pampanga; there is, on
“Kapampangans, however, took advantage
of the sandy soil and converted rice farms
into sugarcane and watermelon fields, hence,
making the ancient Kapampangan land became known not only for its rice produce but
as well for its sugar farmlands.”
the other hand, an alluvial land that
separates rivers Rio Chico and the
Agno River, although in old maps a
lake (Canarem, which is likely larger in
the past just like the Candaba Swamp,
which was also depicted in the past
as a lake in old maps) once existed in
the vicinity of this land barrier which
makes it entirely possible, especially
during the rainy season, to make the
connecting boat ride between the Rio
Chico and Agno River. Moreover, there
may also have been streams in this gap
which connected the two rivers; the
Chinese pirate Limahong could have
easily made this his escape route from
Salcedo’s forces in Pangasinan. Today,
fallen trees and mud have rendered the
Rio Chico un-navigable.•
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)
juLY 20, 2015 • Headline Gitnang Luzon
PBB 737
H
INDI ko mahanapan ng bas o programa na hindi naman
isang matalino at respon- nakapag-aangat ng pagkatao ng
sableng dahilan, maliban mga kabataan at ng mga tagasa pera, kung bakit kailangang ip- tangkilik nitong mga manonood
agpatuloy ng ABS-CBN ang isang sa kabuoang aspeto ng kanilang
programang kagaya ng PBB 737, mga pagkatao. Pagkatapos ay isina panlimang “teen edition” na sisi pa ng ABS-CBN sa mga iresng nasabing programa.
posableng manonood
Kung nais na magbaang paglalagay daw sa
hagi ng kung anumang
masama at malisyomabubuting asal mula
song “portrayal” ng
sa mga kabataan at para
publiko sa mga housesa mga kabataan nitong
mates. Nagkakaroon
nasabing
programa,
maaari naman itong
daanin sa ibang uri o
“format” ng programa
na hindi maglalagay sa
mga kabataang nasa
loob ng bahay ni kuya sa
kahihiyan at masadlak
sila at ang kanilang mga ABEL SOTO
buhay sa “national public scrutiny”, na sa aking
palagay ay hindi naman nakatu- ng iresponsableng manonood datulong sa pag-angat ng kabuuang hil may mga iresponsableng mga
kalidad ng kanilang mga pag- tao kagaya ng nasa likod ng PBB
katao, bagkus ay mas maraming 737!
naidudulot na hindi magandang
Kung ako ang tatanungin, isang
epekto sa mga buhay nila.
uri ng eksploytasyon sa mga kaIto raw ang teleserye ng to- bataan at isang pang-iinsulto sa
toong buhay ng kung sinuman katalinuhan ng mga manonood
ang mga napapabilang na maging ang PBB 737. Kailangang gumhousemate. Alam naman ng pub- amit ng isang programang kagaya
liko na scripted ang lahat. Hindi ng PBB 737 ang isang network na
ba ito isang malaking kalokohan kagaya ng ABS-CBN, para lamang
lamang at panlililinlang sa pub- sa pansariling kapakanan ng netliko?
work, and at the expense of the
Inuulit ko, bakit kailangang young lives ng mga housemates
isadlak at gamitin ng isang net- na ‘to.
work na kagaya ng ABS-CBN
Hindi ko pa rin lubusang
ang mga kabataan para lamang maintindihan kung bakit at
sa pagkita nila ng pera sa natur- paano napapapayag ng ABS-CBN
ang programa? Naubusan na ba ang mga magulang o taga-ingat
ng ibang maiaalok ng uri ng pro- sa mga kabataang housemates na
grama ang Concept Development ‘to? Hindi ba ito mga estudyante
Group ng ABS-CBN upang maka- na mas kailangang mag-aral kesa
pag-alok ng mga de-kalidad na sa ibandera nila ang kanilang
programa na tiyak magtataguyod mga buhay sa publiko? Ganito na
sa kapakanan ng mga kabataan?
rin ba kababaw ang sensibilidad
Ngunit ang mas nakalulung- ng moralidad ng mga magulang
kot sa lahat ay ang ginagawang ng mga kabataang ito na kabipatuloy na pagtangkilik ng pub- lang sa mga housemates ni Kuya?
liko sa mga ganitong uri ng pala- Ganito na ba ka-desperado ang
Towards
the Light
F
mga magulang at ang mga kabataang ito na maging sikat sa
paraang hindi naman makaturangan sa lahat ng panig? Paano
nakukumbinsi ng ABS-CBN ang
mga taong ito na ibandera ang
buhay ng kanilang mga anak, ng
kanilang mga pamilya na sana ay
dapat na pribado kaysa sa ginagawa itong pam-publiko?!?! Pera
at kasikatan bang ang mga pangunahing dahilan?
Ang PBB 737 ay isang uri ng
“Ang PBB 737 ay isa ring salamin ng
kalidad ng lipunan mayroon tayo ngayon sa kasalukuyan. Ito rin ay salamin sa
uri at kalidad ng “entertainment” mayroon tayo sa ating bansa.”
manipulasyon ng isang higanteng
network na kagaya ng ABS-CBN
upang linlangin ang tao, upang
gamitin ang mga buhay ng ilang
mga nilalang para lamang kumita
ng pera! Hindi ko maintindihan
kung bakit nasisikmura ito ng
isang iresponsableng network kagaya ng ABS-CBN na gamitin ang
mga buhay ng ilang mga kabataan
para lamang kumita ng pera. Inuulit ko ang tanong: WALA NA
BANG IBANG URI NG PROGRAMANG MAIAALOK ANG ABSCBN maliban sa PBB 737??
Ang PBB 737 ay isa ring salamin ng kalidad ng lipunan mayroon tayo ngayon sa kasalukuyan.
Ito rin ay salamin sa uri at kalidad ng “entertainment” mayroon
tayo sa ating bansa. Salamin din
ang PBB 737 sa uri at kalidad ng
mga pamilya mayroon ang ating
lipunan sa kasalukuyan.
Ang pinakamasklap lamang sa
lahat ay marami ang hindi nakakakita sa mga sinasalamin ng
PBB 737 sa uri at kalidad ng buhay mayroon ang mga ordinaryong mamamayang Pilipino!•
from digestive and other problems.
Another incident in the southern
part of the country is the poisoning of
some kids who ate candies made from
durian, the exotic fruit that is abundant in some provinces in the south.
The intake of the candies has
downed several people, mostly young
students, who ate the candies and
were later on hospitalized due to poi-
“The said poisoning
incidents should make
people aware of the need
to know first if the food
that they eat is safe for
consumption.”
soning.
Recently, seven children and a
mother were hospitalized for food
poisoning after eating ube cake. The
children from Iloilo, aged 3 to 12 and
elementary students, were hospitalized after complaints of stomach
pains, vomiting and weakness.
The said incidents affecting the
health of the public has prompted
Senator Cynthia Villar to call for a
stricter implementation of the Food
Safety Law. The said law, the legislator
Parnasong
Kapampangan
Neng Capa M. Pangan
Atin ya pang
maslam y Apu
Keta pu kekami ating miyasawa
A parehung lyebu otso ing idad da,
Pero ninu man ing mag-birthday karela
Keng sikat a ‘fastfood’ deti mamangan la.
At nandin ping bandang alas dyes ning abak
Y Apu ya pa ing kang Ingkung menagkat
Lumwal la ban agyang mapali mung sopas,
Ing birthday ning matwang babai milabas.
Kabud karas da ren keta king Jollibee,
Minorder yang agad ing matwang babai;
Adwang silyo sopas, at ngana pa niti:
“Medyu bilisan yu, danupan na kami”
Ing inorder deti kabang kakanan da,
Ing matwang babai e no’ patdan mata
Ding adwang ‘teenager’ lele ning kubeta
ning mesabing ‘fastfood’ malapit iskwela.
Kabang den pasimpli lang mipangarinyu
Agyang karen ating makakit a tau,
Inya ining matwang babai, balamu
Megiam ya o kaya merirya siguru.
“Ompong neng makakit kung kalupa na nyan
Anti ku mong’ sisilaban a katawan;
Agyang matwa ta’na e ku balung sabyan
Nung bakit mapali ku pa pakirandam?”
Obat e pin anti ka mong masisilab
A pakiramdam keng milyari at sukat?
Lon mo reng susu mu a maybug managbag
Makasoso lang keng kakanan mung sopas!•
Realistically speaking
Food safety awareness
IRST there was milk tea downing three people, killing two of
them and giving the survivor
regrets for losing the love of his life
senselessly by drinking a commercial
beverage.
Perhaps we will never forget the
scene where a lady suddenly fell on
the ground, shaking, in front of a
commercial establishment selling
milk tea, a popular drink located in
street corners and in malls. The incident was captured on Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage and
grabbed the limelight on the news
and on social networking sites.
The owner of the milk tea house
and the lady customer met their
deaths senselessly through the ingestion of a toxic substance that was in
the drink.
The incident was also laced with
controversies, with allegations that
the son of the dead tea shop owner
was the culprit behind the two deaths.
Regardless, the lives that were lost can
never be brought back in this world.
Then came the issue on the fake
rice particularly in Davao City and
in some neighboring municipalities
in Mindanao. The said rice, allegedly smuggled into the country from
China, contains plastic contents said
to be toxic.
Some victims who ate the bogus
rice were reported to have suffered
OPINION 5
By Rosalina S. Montoya
said, would be a better guarantee for
the safety of the public with the food
they consume.
The said incidents are wake-up
calls for food manufacturers that
need to adhere to the strictest standards of food
manufacturing and food
handling, in
view of the ill
effects of mishandled, toxic
or
improperly managed
food and other things people consume.
It is perhaps the naAlvin H. Arceo
ture of Filipinos not to be
much aware
of expiration dates of food they consume. The said poisoning incidents
should make people aware of the need
to know first if the food that they eat
is safe for consumption. We should
in fact look for the expiration dates of
food products we consume before eating such. As of this
writing
•••
This writer welcomes other views,
comments, and reactions. You may
send your message at 0908-1403230.•
T
HE best way to go around a certain problem
is to be realistic about it. Whether you’re
a professional or an ordinary citizen, you
must do your best in everything you do.
The same is true with education. There is a
belief that only those from affluent families who
have the ability to go to expensive schools are able
to get quality education. How cliché is that? There
is a very big chance one can get good education
and eventually land a good job, even if he comes
from a poor family, with the right amount of hard
work and perseverance.
There are a lot of factors to be taken into consideration, but the most which should be given most
attention is the system itself. The basics, which
should be introduced early on in life, should be instilled and re-instilled until a child masters them.
This serves as the child’s foundation in education.
Let us get rid of the mentality that students
from poor families won’t be able to step into college. That is wrong, and again, a cliché. Children
have the right to education, and let’s give them
that right.
Another cliché is that only adults rule the world,
and that children cannot speak their minds. Now
is a different world and a different time altogether.
Whether in school or at home, children can now
explain themselves. They are given the opportunity by the parents and their teachers to make opinions and suggestions – which is the right thing to
do in the modern setting.
Children have every right to speak as much as
everyone. They can now defend what they know
to be right; they can now make objections, criticisms. They are free to speak and be heard.
teacher’s corner... Page 7
6 ENTERTAINMENT
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Ian De Leon, iniyakan ang ‘di pagsipot ni Nora Aunor sa kasal N
AK APAGTATAK A NG
di sinipot ni Nora Aunor ang kasal ng
tunay niyang anak
na si Ian De Leon.
“Kaisa-isang anak
niya, hindi pa niya
sinipot ang kasal,”
sabi ng isang reporter. Iniyakan daw
ni Ian ang pangyayaring ito. “Buti
na lang nandun
ang tatay niyang
si Christopher de
Leon, na kumanta pa,”
sabi ng source. “At buti na
lang nandun ang stepmom
niyang si Sandy Andolong,
with whom he even danced
during the reception. E,
yung
mismong
tunay niyang ina,
nasaan?” Ricky
Lee,
Guy’s best friend
and
supporter,
was at the wedding as one of
the ninongs and
said Guy is indisposed. “Masakit
daw ang likod,”
says one informer. “Naku, kung si Sandy
nga, kagagaling lang sa
kidney transplant, pero
nakasipot,” remarks some-
one who’s obviously no fan
of Ate Guy. Another story we heard
about Ate Guy has something to do with her movie,
“Padre de Familia”, with
Coco Martin which has
been in the can for over
a year now but remains
shelved. “Pinanood kasi ng
mga ABS-CBN big bosses
ang buong movie and they
advised Coco not to show it
anymore kasi makakasira
lang at hindi makakatulong
sa career niya na inaalagaan pa nga naman nilang
mabuti,” says our source. To which another informer quips: “Coco has no
one else to blame but himself kasi nakialam siya sa
pagdidirek ng movie. Siguro, katwiran niya, siya ang
producer at actor doon,
kaya may K siyang makialam sa pagdidirek. In one
scene with Nora Aunor, bigla siyang sumigaw ng Cut!
Sabi kay Ate Guy, bakit
hindi ka kumikibo? Dapat
ideliver mo yung linya mo.
And Nora said, Coco, may
sarili akong paraan ng
pagde-deliver ng dialogue.
I count a few beats muna
bago ako sumagot. Biro
mo, si Ate Guy na ‘yun,
pinakial aman pa ang acting.” •
Ai-Ai, zero ang lovelife
A
ARANGKADA na next month ang
show nina Ai-Ai delas Alas at Marian Rivera sa GMA. Ito ang balitang papalit sa Sunday All Stars.
Pero hindi lang sina Ai at Yan
Yan ang magpapasaya ng Linggo ng
manonood dahil kabilang din sa
mainstays ang kuwelang tambalan
nina Jose Manalo at Wally Bayola
kasama ang guwaping na si Alden Richards at iba pa. Hindi ito talk show gaya
ng unang nabalita kundi comedy-variety show na ang title
ay Sunday Pinas-Saya! This
Sunday ay magkakaroon na
ng workshop ang hosts ng
programa at sa Tuesday naman ang kanilang pictorial. Matatapos na rin kasi ang
“Let The Love Begin” ni Ai-Ai
kaya swak na swak sa kanyang
schedule ang bagong show. Live
itong mapapanood kaya balik-
Sabado ang gagawin niyang pagsisimba. By September, babakasyon muna siya sa
Japan at pagbalik niya, ang shooting naman
ng festival movie nila ni Vic Sotto ang focus
niya and then sasaglit muna siya sa New York
City para sa GMA Pinoy TV. Ibinalita rin ni Ai-Ai sa aming chikahan
na nakakuha na ng puwesto sa Kapitolyo
sa Pasig City ang resto-bar ng anak na si
Sancho delas Alas. “Skinita” ang name ng
lugar at Asian streetfood ang offer nila sa
publiko. In between her works, inaayos na rin ni Ai
ang concert niya para kay Mama Mary sa October 27 sa SM Mall of Asia Arena. Layunin
nito ang makatulong sa simbahan sa Commonwealth Avenue upang palakihin ito.
Eh, kumusta naman ang kanyang lovelife?
“Payapa! Ha! Ha! Ha!” tugon ni Ai-Ai sa
amin.
Malapit na rin daw ilabas ang kanyang
magazine at sa susunod na buwan, inaasikaso
niya ang isang malaking paandar sa gagawin
niyang social media account.•
Erik-Angeline,
nagsasabihan ng
‘I love you’ pero
di raw mag-on T
ALAGANG ginisa ng entertainment
press sina Erik Santos at Angeline Quinto sa tunay na estado ng kanilang relasyon
sa nakaraang presscon nila para sa kanilang
concert na Erik Santos and Angeline Quinto
At The Araneta Coliseum na ginanap last
Tuesday. Kitang-kita naman kasi na parang may
relasyon sila lalo na nga sa mga kilos ni Angeline na panay ang hawak kay Erik. Sa totoo
lang, siya ’yung mas malambing sa kanilang
dalawa. Pero puro pa-cute ang kanilang sagot na
parang meron na parang wala. May moment
na parang umaamin pero maya-maya, parang nagde-deny naman. “Actually, ayaw naming magbigay ng
label,” sagot ni Erik. “What we have right
now, sobra kaming nag-i-enjoy, sobra kaming kumportable sa isa’t isa and ayaw naman
naming i-mislead kayong lahat na sasabihin
namin kami, pero sa totoo lang, hindi naman. “So, actually, hindi naman po talaga
kissing scene dahil hindi maatim nina kami pa. Pero kung sasabihing more than
Derek at Jasmine na maghalikan sila. friends, maybe we’re more than friends kasi
“Little sister” ang turing ni Derek we’re not dating anyone naman and kung
kay Jasmine at nakita niya itong lu- lalabas kami, kami lang talaga.” maki at “kuya” naman ang tingin ni
Sinegundahan naman ito ni Angeline. Jasmine kay Derek. Para raw incest
“And everytime na may lakad si Erik or
kung may kissing scene sila. Iyon nga lalabas siya ng bansa, alam ko namang lahat
lang mga kilig na eksena, nailang sila ’yun. Ultimo pagligo niya, alam ko. Pero nevsa simula, pero later on, pinanaig din er po kaming nagsabay ha,” say ng tinaguri-
Derek at Jasmine, may chemistry
K
INA Derek Ramsay at Jasmine
Curtis-Smith ipinagkatiwala ng
TV5 ang pilot episode ng season 4 ng
“Watt-pad Presents: Unwanted Girlfriend” na magsisimulang mapanood
sa Lunes, July 20, 9 p.m. Special ang
episode dahil two weeks at hindi lang
one week tatakbo. Sa mga eksena ng dalawa sa trailer, hindi mapapansin ang age gap nila
dahil naging successful si Director
Ricky Rivero na ipakita ang chemistry
nina Derek at Jasmine. Nang marinig
ang nabanggit ni Ms. Wilma Galvante
na plano ng TV5 na gumawa ng movie
version ng Wattpad, ang suggestion
ni Mario Bautista, sina Derek at Jasmine ang kuning mga bida sa gagawing pelikula. Ang kulang lang sa episode ay ang
derek at jasmine... Page 7
erik-angeline... Page 7
juLY 20, 2015 • Headline Gitnang Luzon
teacher’s corner... from Page 5
COMPETITIVE CITIES... from Page 1
Whatever is lacking in our educational
system, let’s work hard to provide what is
needed. Let’s ask the government, the private sector and the community to help, to
once and for all go around the clichés we
have come to accept.
Out of the 34 highly urbanized cities in the Philippines, Angeles ranked 18th
while CSF bagged the 2nd
spot for the Overall Most
Competitive City under the
category of component cities.
The cities and municipalities were ranked on
three pillars – Economic
Dynamism,
Government
Efficiency, and Infrastructure. With the objective to
accurately rank the locality’s competitiveness, LGUs
were classified according
to 4 categories: 3rd to 6th
Class Municipalities, 1st
to 2nd Class Municipalities, Component Cities, and
Highly Urbanized Cities.
Angeles City placed
9th best in Government
Efficiency, 20th for Infrastructure development and
23rd best overall in Economic Efficiency – a huge
jump from rank 80 in 2014. •••
The author is Master Teacher I of Santiago Elementary School, Santiago, Sta. Ana,
Pampanga•
erik-angeline... from Page 6
ang Queen of Teleserye Theme Songs. Maya-maya ay tinanong ulit sila nang deretsahan kung magdyowa na ba sila at si Angeline
naman ang sumagot. “Ngayon, hindi pa rin po kami. Kasi, kagaya
nga po ng sinabi niya kanina, kung anuman po
’yung meron kami ngayon, sobrang kumportable kami dito, so ayoko naman po na pilitin
’yung sarili ko na maging kami agad. Ayoko
po kasi ng parang tipong ’pag nasa relasyon,
eh hinihigpitan ako, hindi po ako ready ulit na
maging ganu’n,” she said. Hinigpitan ba siya dati ng mga nakarelasyon niya? “Sobra,” pag-amin ni Angeline. “Ayoko po
ng ganu’n. Pero si Erik po naman, nakikita ko
po naman na hindi siya ganun, pero sana nga
po, makapaghintay siya.” Pero nagsabihan na ba sila ng I love you? “Honestly, opo,” sabi ni Erik. “Nandun na
kami sa ganun’g level talaga.” Ano ang sinasabi ni Angeline? “I love you more,” sagot ni Erik. “Who’s this?” sagot naman ni Angeline. Bandang huli ay inamin din naman ni Angge na sinasagot niya ng “I love you too” at minsan nga, “I love you more.” So, ‘yun na. Ano pa nga ba ang dapat
aminin? Anyway, after the Q and A ay nakausap namin ang dalawa at natanong naman namin si
Erik kung totoo ba na nagseselos siya kay Coco
Martin na dating na-link kay Angeline? “Hindi naman selos. Siguro more of parang... medyo nag-ano lang ako before nang
malaman ko na magkakaroon sila ng project together. So parang ‘ay ganu’n? So everyday, magkakasama sila.’ Kumbaga, katanungan lang,”
pag-amin ni Erik. May threat ba sa kanya sa pagsasama ng
dalawa? “Hindi naman. Normal lang naman na
maka-feel nang ganu’n, ’di ba? Na maka-feel ng
selos.” Nilinaw naman namin kay Angeline kung
naging sila ba ni Coco at say niya, hindi raw
naging sila pero naging crush niya raw ang aktor pero ngayon daw ay wala na.
In-assure naman daw niya kay Erik na wala
naman itong dapat ipagselos kay Coco pero say
naman ng isa, talaga lang daw seloso siya. Samantala, sa August 15 na ang Erik Santos and Angeline Quinto At The Araneta Coliseum with their special guests Martin Nievera and Regine Velasquez. Ididirihe ito ni Mr.
Johnny Manahan at musical director naman si
Homer Flores produced by Cornerstone Concerts.•
derek at jasmine... from Page 6
ang pagiging propesyunal. Unang nagkasama sina Derek at Jasmine sa “Undercover” ng TV5 at doon pa
lang, ni-reject na ni Derek ang idea na bigyan ng love angle ang istorya nila. Kahit
ngayong nagdagdag na ng edad si Jasmine,
hindi pa rin nila maatim na gumawa sila ng
kissing scene. Kahit walang kissing scene, matutuwa
ang viewers sa sinabi ni Derek na kabaliwan
ni MM (Jasmine) kay Mikael (Derek). Nasa
cast din si Carla Humphries at Adrian Vergara at marami pang iba.•
FOR SMARTPHONES
& TABLETS!
You can grab
our Digital Edition
Copy via
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& click Cover Today
This city, meanwhile,
ranked 10th in the Economic Dynamism Pillar among
the component cities category, ranked 5th in the Infrastructure Pillar among
component cities, placed
3rd in the Government Efficiency Pillar.
“Going against major
metropolitan areas like
Metro Manila, Cebu and
Davao with annual budgets
reaching 20 to 30 billion
is tough competition – but
Angeles proved that it can
stand toe-to-toe with these
major cities,” Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan said.
The National Competitiveness Council, through
the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index,
has been conducting this
summit in order to search
for the Local Government
Unit in terms of competitiveness to raise the overall competitiveness of the
country.
This year, the index
covered 142 Cities and 978
Municipalities out of a total
of 1,634 localities, or a 68%
national coverage versus
only 17% coverage in the
first year of the program
(2013), and 33% in the second year (2014).
The Cities and Municipalities Index is a program
in which the NCC encourages all LGUs to submit
necessary data that will be
used in calculating their
overall competitiveness.
“The data shows that
Angeles has stood its
ground against several
high-income cities – but
we have to stay competitive. This means that we
need to catch up and update
our services, including full
computerization of our systems. Otherwise, we might
find ourselves in the lower
rung next year,” Pamintuan
7
said.
Pamintuan then lauded the efforts of the local
government unit in making Angeles City one of the
most competitive cities in
the country, even besting
other cities in Metro Manila such as Pasay, Pasig,
Marikina and Las Piñas.
Olongapo City, the only
other highly urbanized city
in Central Luzon, ranked 65
overall.
Mayor Edwin D. Santiago received the awards of
the city given by the National Competitiveness Council during the 3rd Regional
Competitiveness Summit
held at the Philippine International Convention Center
on July 16.
Pamintuan, on the other
hand, was joined by department heads and officials of
the Angeles City Local Government during the awarding rites.•
NEW PRC FACILITY... from Page 1
Naval Magazine area here.
“Accessibility is the main factor
here, and of course there is also the security aspect to it. It is just a few hours
away from Manila; it is accessible by
land, sea and air, and the place is as
secure as it can get. That’s why the Red
Cross is here,” Garcia said.
Garcia said the SBMA has allowed
the PRC rent-free use of the property
for 50 years.
“It’s our humble contribution to
the noble mission that the Philippine
Red Cross has been doing remarkably
well,” he added.
PRC Chairman Richard J. Gordon,
who led the inauguration ceremony on
Monday, said the PRC’s Subic facility
will serve as a hub for logistics support in local and international disaster
response, as well as a training facility
and operations center.
“We will preposition relief supplies
here, both food and non-food items;
also our equipment and our vehicles to
facilitate prompt and efficient deployment in case of disasters, emergencies
or mass casualty incidents,” Gordon
said.
“We also conduct different trainings here (because) in a country with
a buffet of disasters like the Philippines, we should always be prepared,”
he added.
“(The facility) is also part of our
tenet: Volunteers + Logistics + Information Technology = a Red Cross that
is Always First, Always Ready, Always
There,” Gordon also said.
The PRC facility has two warehous-
es, a function room that also serves
as convention center, two dormitory
buildings, two classrooms, and a mess
hall. It will soon have a hotel and trade
school.
The facility, which had its soft
opening last March, has already produced its first batch of graduates for
the Emergency Medical Technician
and Emergency Filed Hospital courses.
During the inaugural rites, Gordon
also presented Garcia a citation for the
support that SBMA has extended to
the PRC.
He also presented a similar award
to the seven-man contingent of fire and
rescue volunteers led by SBMA Fire
Chief Ranny Magno, which participated in a recent rescue and relief mission
in earthquake-devastated Nepal. •
“It’s all systems go as far as the
fortification and rehabilitation of Angat dam is concern. The new management is aware of its obligation to the
government. The stabilizing phase will
be soon,” Rigor said during a meeting
called by the governor at his office yesterday afternoon.
Aside from Rigor, the meeting was
attended by Youn Jong Hyuck, Korean
manager of AHC; Engr. Felix Robles of
NIA (Bustos dam); Engr. Mar Rodgriguez of IPo dam, Alex Pacada of National Power Corporation; Alfel Roibles of
NPC; Lina Endoc of AHC; Liz Mungcal,
Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management officer of Bulacan; Arlene
Pascual, head of the Provincial Planning and Development Office and other
PDRRMO officials.
The governor also asked the dam
engineers to maintain coordination
with the PDRRMO every time they will
release waters especially in times of typhoons and calamities.
“There will be no problem if we will
work as a team and communicate properly. It is our concern because our job is
to protect the province,” Alvarado ended.•
ANGAT DAM... from Page 1
phase of the dam, which according to experts and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PhiVolcs) is
nestling along the West Valley fault line.
He also said that the bidding for the
rehabilitation and strengthening of Angat dam has already been done adding
that they are also getting “second opinions” from other experts aside from the
feasibility study conducted by the Europe-based Tonkin and Taylor regarding
its repair.
Rigor also told the two top Bulacan
officials that the actual construction
might start this October or November.
MORE GROUPS... from Page 2
it has been my dream to be
an engineer who innovates,
and solves world problems.
I believe and trust that the
kto12 program is the potent
instrument as I soar towards this dream.”
“Morally and pedagogically it (K to 12) is convincing. Learning takes time
and K to 12 corrects the
congested curriculum that
we’ve had before,” Albay
Province Governor Joey
Salceda said.
He also explained a possible increase in the cohort
survival rate of outgoing
Elementary students to
incoming High school students and said, “My analysis is, the 46% cohort survival from Elementary to
High School will increase to
67%, because with this pro-
gram, the goal is clear, and
the program is promising.”
Legazpi City Mayor Noel
E. Rosal also shared his
insights on the program
seeing it as not just an immediate solution for pressing issues but a long term
investment. He said, “Naniniwala ako na armas ng
Pilipino ang edukasyon
para sa ikauunlad ng bayan.
Kaya ipagpatuloy natin ang
programang ito (K to 12)
hindi lang para sa ikagaganda nito ngayon, kundi pati
para sa mga susunod na
henerasyon.”
SHS to reduce poverty in
the country
“Ang K to 12 ay bahagi
ng recipe para sa poverty
reduction,” said Salceda.
“Socially, I am convinced
that the K to 12 program
will give equal dignity for
all. After SHS, our students
will be employable and this
equal opportunity for work
shows a great sense of dignity in our society,” he added.
Congresswoman
Leni
Robredo also expressed her
support for the K to 12 program, citing her personal
experience as she said, “My
daughter is currently in
Grade 10 this year and will
be part of the full implementation of K to 12 next
year as she enters Grade
11. That’s why I see that the
benefits outweigh these additional two years in high
school.”
The K to 12 program
gives the learners enough
skills for work as shared by
San Jose Pili National High
School Teacher Glenda Tornilla, “I am always proud
when I see my Grade 10
students, Roderick, Mike,
Yvan, Fe, Chary, Joy and
Jay, my students in computer hardware servicing.
While they are studying,
they are now able to help
out in their household
through their sidelines.
Kaya na nila magkumpuni
ng mga computer at dahil
dito nakakatulong sila sa
kanilang mga pamilya.”
“At the end of the day, ang
hamon sa Albay at Camarines Sur ay ang kaisipang,
‘No learner should be left
behind.’ Ang pangarap natin ay walang out of school
youth sa buong probinsya
ng Albay at Camarines Sur,
at sa buong bansa,” Luistro
added.•
F E ATU R E
VOLUME IV • NO. 24 • JULY 20, 2015 • MONDAY
ENJOYING THE VIEW.
Filipinos watch the 14th
of July fireworks display
on the Eiffel Tower
along the Trocadero
in Paris, in line with
the Bastille Day or
France’s National Day
of Independence.
Love in Louvre
PARIS
T H E
E x p e r i e n c e
THERE are less than a hundred thousand Filipinos
working in France, where majority work as
housekeepers under some French Nationals.
F
or less than a hundred
thousand Pinoys living in Paris, a large
percentage of them work
as employé de maison (one
who works in housekeeping)
and earns around 1200€ to
1300€, depending on the extent of their work.
Unlike any other country
where overstaying is an outlaw, the French government
allows even undocumented
Filipinos to find jobs and
work while completing the
requirement for residency.
Bastille Day
Filipinos in Paris, who
simply love attending celebrations, watched the 14th
of July fireworks display on
the Eiffel Tower along the
Trocadero. Among these were
Kapampangans Joel Dungca
and his son, who are from
San Luis town in Pampanga.
Joel, an employé de maison, has been living in France
for 5 years.
France’s National Day of
Independence is formally
called La Fête nationale, which
commemorates the Storming of the Bastille on July 14,
1789, which was the culmination in Paris of a violent revolution that had begun two days
earlier, as well as the Fête de la
Fédération which celebrated
the unity of the French people
on July 14, 1790.
Bologne Tambayan
I was also able to mingle
with members of the Filipino community in Bologne,
where Pinoys gather to sell
Filipino foods such as goto,
palabok, fishballs, tukneneng
and balut for fellow Filipinos.
It is also a regular haven
for meet-ups after a week’s
toil from their usual day jobs.
Yours truly is currently in
France to attend the awarding
of the biggest photographic
event in Europe, which is the
Paris Photo Prize PX3. It is a
great privilege to have won
the 1st Prize GOLD in the
Press Category. Here, I have
met with Hossein Farmani,
founder of PX3.•
KAPAMPANGANS IN PARIS. Kabalens
Joel Dungca and his son, who are from
San Luis town, in Pampanga, join the
Bastille Day celebrations.
Yours truly with
Hossein Farmani,
founder of Paris
Photo Prize or PX3.
A FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN BOLOGNE. Filipinos in Paris gather in a place
called Bologne in Paris where they sell Filipino foods such as goto, palabok,
fishballs,tukneneng and balut for fellow Filipinos.