Vol 3 No 126.pmd

P 8.00
VOLUME 3
NUMBER 126
THURSDAY
OCTOBER 22, 2009
Gov twits GMA for
early campaigning
BY DING CERVANTES
‘Global’
jobs for
Mab’t
workers
C
ITY OF SAN FERNANDO Gov. Eddie Panlilio said
yesterday
that
Pres.
Arroyo’s unusually frequent visits
to her second district in this
province constitute “early and
irregular campaigning” amid
reports she will run for Congress
in next year’s polls.
PAGE 6 PLEASE
BY JOEY PAVIA
DSWD SAYS
Global warming effects
may force permanent
relocation of thousands
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - Permanent relocation of thousands of families has surfaced as a
major consideration for the
government amid likelihood that the ill effects of
global warming, in the
magnitude of storm Ondoy
and typhoon Pepeng,
could now be a pattern, an
officer of the Department
of Social Welfare and De-
velopment (DSWD) in Central Luzon said yesterday.
DSWD regional director Minda Brigoli said that
another 200 families living
at the foot of Mt. Arayat in
this province will no longer be allowed to move
back to their homes amid
serious threat from landslides.
Similar situation also
PAGE 6 PLEASE
Morales
POLITICAL CONTRACT. Contractor Cruz raises hand of congressional
wannabe Yabut in his October 2 announcement. With them are
councilors Robin Nepomuceno and Agapito Del Rosario.
PHOTO BY JOEY PAVIA
Yabut endorser ‘cornering
contracts in Angeles City’
BY JOEY PAVIA
ANGELES CITY – “Councilor Sangil
was asking is it the same Bernie Cruz
who endorsed and raised the hand of
Councilor Yabut?”
Thus asked Vice Mayor Vicky
Vega-Cabigting in the minutes of the
meeting of the city council session on
October 6 as they raised questions
over the awarding of city government
projects to well-known contractor Bernie Cruz of this city and his son, Mark.
“As fas as I know, the Bernie Cruz
that I saw in the newspaper raised the
PAGE 6 PLEASE
MABALACAT, Pampanga — Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales
yesterday asked officials of Kuwait Gulf and
Links (KGL) to prioritize
the hiring of his constituents once the 167hectare Global Gateway Logistics City
(GGLC) at Clark becomes operational .
Morales met with
Dennis Wright, president of Peregrine Development International recently at the
logistics complex designed to provide a
world-class logistics
and services hub in the
Asia-Pacific region.
Wright said the logisPAGE 6 PLEASE
‘Hot Air Balloon fest organizer
treats Clark people like dirt’
No liquidation of P3.5-M from CDC
BY PUNTO I-TEAM
CLARK FREEPORT —
“Hot Air Balloon fest organizers led by Jose Mari
Roa had been treating
people in Clark like dirt.”
Thus revealed an insider at the state-run Clark
Development Corporation
(CDC), who noted that Roa
is yet to submit financial
reports after the holding of
the Hot Air Balloon Festivals in the past two years.
“The Clark Development Corporation gave
P3.5 million to Mr. Roa in
the last Hot Air Balloon
Festival but just like before
he failed to submit a complete financial report as to
how he spent the amount.
Mr. Roa had been treating
the people at Clark like
dirt,” said the CDC insider
who asked not to be
named.
Although Clark had
been the site of the Philippine International Hot Air
Balloon Fiesta since
1996, the source said “Mr.
Roa did not really promote
Clark.” Roa is the president of the Hot Air Balloon
Club of the Philippines,
Inc. (HABCPI).
The CDC and HABCPI
held the 14th Philippine In-
ternational Hot Air Balloon
Festival last February in a
bid to develop the tourism
industry in the metro Clark
area and surrounding communities.
A memorandum of
agreement (MOA) between CDC and Roa
signed on November 11,
2008 indicated that CDC
infused P3.5 million ”to
help finance the design
services and production
cost of promotions and for
all the media launch which
will be held separately in
Manila and Clark Freeport
for the said project.”
PAGE 6 PLEASE
Aurora state college needs books
BY JOEY PAVIA
BALER, Aurora – Wanted:
Books for three new courses offered at the Aurora State College of Technology (ASCOT) in
this capital town.
ASCOT President Dr. Eusebio Angara disclosed that they
need books for the tourism, hotel and restaurant management
and fisheries courses.
He said that groups based
in Switzerland are set to send
the books they need before the
year ends.
Aurora lone district Rep.
Juan Edgardo Angara, on the
other hand, gave some
P100,000 for the purchase of
the said books, said Dr. Angara.
“But we still need more due
to the fast-growing number of
students at ASCOT,” said Angara. He said their school was
established in 1994 through the
efforts of Sen. Edgardo Angara
with some 300 students.
Today, Dr. Angara added,
ASCOT has some 1,800 students. At least 1,000 of the to-
Dr. Angara
tal number belong to the three
new courses.
Dr. Angara said they have an
extension in Casiguran town offering fishery and agriculture
courses.
“We also need books at our
extension office,” said Dr. Angara.
Dr. Angara said Sen. Angara and his sister, Aurora Gov.
Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, had
prioritized education in the Central Luzon province named after the wife of former President
Manuel Quezon.
“Almost all of our students
are scholars of the Angaras,” he
said.
Dr. Angara said ASCOT has
11 departments with 44 faculty
members .
“We are also short of teachers in both campuses in Aurora
and Casiguran,” said Dr. Angara.
He disclosed that the government through the prodding of
Sen. Angara had given seven
teachers to ASCOT.
“We were the only ones given new teachers in all of the
state colleges in the entire Region III last year. We are thankful but we still need more as
more students are expected to
enroll at ASCOT,” said Dr. Angara.
More shows mean more
benefits for people
BY ERNIE B. ESCONDE
DONATION. Mabalacat Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales turns over checks again
worth P250,000.00 to Angeles City Kuliat Jaycees President Avilaine Nepomuceno at
Starbucks in SM City Clark. The donation was solicited by Morales from TIPCO,
Fontana and Rosanna Realty. He fulfilled his pledge to solicit P500,000 donations for
the victims of Typhoon Ondoy. The Operation Tulong Ondoy was initiated by Secretary
Ed Pamintuan and the Jaycees. PHOTO COURTESY OF DENG PANGILINAN
PRESS RELEASE
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • OCTOBER 22, 2009 • THURSDAY
RBAP heaves a sigh of relief
over ‘tax on txt’ deferral
2
THE RURAL BANKERS Association of the Philippines
(RBAP), a group consisting of
more than 630 rural bank members to date, heaved a sigh of
relief after the ways and means
committee of the House of Representatives backpedaled and
sent the controversial bill that
seeks to slap a five-centavo tax
on text messages back to the
committee for further revision.
“This is most welcome. The
issue is not over yet but we hope
that lawmakers will eventually
reconsider and scrap the bill altogether,” said RBAP President
Joseph Omar Andaya.
The House ways and means
committee has agreed to revert
back to the proposed bill just two
weeks after approving it for plenary voting on Sept. 8, apparently feeling the continued heat
of public resistance in increasing the cost of texting.
Mr. Andaya said a tax on text
would adversely affect rural bank
clients, mostly coming from the
poor sector of society, as the use
of mobile banking through text
messages has been on the rise.
“Texting is the cheapest way
of electronic communication and
it has also emerged as the most
convenient way to avail of banking services because they can
do it wherever they are without
incurring the usual travel costs
and hassle when going to the
bank,” he added. “Making the
cost of texting higher because
of this bill will severely limit their
access to banking services. The
service providers have already
indicated that any additional tax
will be passed on to the consumer.”
Through a partnership between RBAP and Globe Telecom, Inc.’s G-Cash, rural bank
clients get access to different
mobile phone banking services
from anywhere they are, including high conflict areas, just by
using their cellphone.
Among the mobile phone
banking services available include Text-A-Payment, Text-ARemittance, Text-A-Deposit,
Text-A-Withdrawal, Text-A-BillPay, and Text-A-Sweldo.
By providing mobile phone
banking services, rural banks
are encouraging development in
rural areas through these different services and also providing
easy access to banking services to the underserved rural community and the small and medium enterprises in far flung areas
of the country.
“Additional levies on texting
cost would discourage, instead
of encourage, business and expansion of financial services in
the rural areas,” Mr. Andaya
pointed out.
Text-A-Payment is most especially helpful for rural banks
clients which have availed of
microfinance services of rural
banks. This service allows microborrowers to make microfinance loan payments. New, existing and repeat borrowers can
use the service for payments of
their loans.
Rural bank clients only need
to enroll at their bank branch,
register their mobile phone with
Globe’s G-CASH service, and
then easily load their mobile
wallet at any G-CASH Cash-In
center or re-seller. After completing these steps, bank clients can
conveniently and remotely send
their loan payment to the bank
without incurring the time and
expense associated with traveling to a rural bank to make a
loan payment. Loan borrowers
can pay the loan without their
respective businesses.
A Text-A-Credit service,
which will allow banks to release
loans through their clients’ mobile phone wallets and wherein
banks may also allow pre-approved credit lines for their preferred clients, is currently under
development.
Mobile phone penetration
PAGE 6 PLEASE
ABUCAY, Bataan- More shows
for the actor Teri Onor translates
to more benefits for the constituents of Vice-Mayor Dexter
Dominguez in Abucay town.
This, Teri, the real life vicemayor, announced over the
weekend.
He explained that last August he had a show in America
and part of his income from it
was spent in the purchase of 10
wheelchairs that he distributed
to grateful beneficiaries during
his medical mission.
“Ang susunod naman po nating tutulungan sa pamamagitan
ng insurance ay ang mga tsuper ng tricycle at jeepney sa
Abucay at ito’y manggagaling sa
bahagi ng kinikita ko sa Darna’,” the vice-mayor said.
Teri is one of the “taong tuod”
fighting “Darna” in the GMA 7
television series on prime time
starring Marian Rivera and Mark
Anthony.
“Habang patuloy na lumilipad si Darna para ipagtanggol
ang mga tao, si Teri naman po
ay patuloy na maglilingkod sa
kanyang mga kababayan sa
tulong ng kanyang mga
shows,” the actor-singer-comedian said.
R E L E A S E
The beneficiaries of the
wheelchairs profusely thanked
the vice-mayor. “Maraming salamat Teri at kami’y makalalabas
na ng bahay ngayon,” they said.
He also initiated a blood-letting project through the help of
the Philippine National Red
Cross. “Ito’y bilang pagtupad ko
sa aking pangako kay Pia Magalona na tutulong ako sa paglikom ng dugo bilang handog
kay dabarkads Francis Magalona,” Teri said.
The vice-mayor also helps
senior citizens by way of giving
birthday cakes and 1,500 daycare pupils in the form of school
supplies.
“Sa mga proyektong ito, walang perang nanggagaling sa
kaban ng bayan ng Abucay kundi sa bahagi ng kinikita natin bilang artista at sa tulong na rin
ng ilang ahensiya ng pamahalaan,” he said. For the medical
mission, he thanked the Department of Health in Region 3 led
by Regional Director Dr. Rio
Magpantay, the Abucay Health
Office, PNRC and Rep. Herminia Roman of Bataan’s First District, among others.
Members of the Sangguniang Bayan of Abucay which he
chairs assisted Teri in his
projects.
Trike driver, tot
killed in collision
with ambulance
SAN FELIPE, Zambales - A tricycle driver and his 3-year-old
passenger were killed, while three others were injured when
the tricycle they were riding collided with an Army ambulance
along the National Highway in Barangay Rosete of this town,
police said.
Zambales Police Provincial Office (ZPPO), Director, Sr. Supt.
Rolando Felix, identified the victims as tricycle driver Teodoro
Simon, Jr., 25, of Barangay Manglicmot, San Felipe and passenger, Kirby Angelo Elcano, 3-years old.
Simon, Jr., was pronounced dead on arrival at President
Ramon Magasaysay Hospital in Iba, Zambales while Escano
died while being treated at the said hospital.
The injured passengers were identified as Myrna Fajotina,
48; Kristeneil Fajotina, 16; and Simon Earl Elcano, 1, all residents of Barangay Sindol, San Felipe.
Initial investigation disclosed that the tricycle driven by Simon, Jr. with plate number QR-8662, was traversing the National Highway heading north when it attempted to overtake
another tricycle and accidentally collided with the incoming L300 van ambulance (SHB-668) driven by SSgt Alberto Pera
Fabro, 47, married, of the Philippine Army based at Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija and a resident of 57 Col.Estacio St., Palingon, Taguig, Metro Manila.
Reports added that the ambulance came from relief operations in Botolan, Zambales when the accident occurred.
–Johnny R. Reblando
Pilmicans pose for a souvenir photo after taking the tree-planting challenge.
Pilmicans take the 1-M Trees Challenge
PILMICO Animal Nutrition Corporation supported the Aboitiz’s “I take
the Aboitiz 1 Million Trees Challenge” in Sitio Kawili-wili, Brgy. CutCut II, Capas, Tarlac last October
10, 2009 to extend the company’s
goal to promote environmental
conservation as part of its corporate
social responsibility.
The main goal of this environment-related project this year is to
plant 1, 000 Ilang-Ilang seedlings
within the area of Kawili-wili Elementary School. The project will be a
positive action to the environment to
prevent the recent calamities triggered
by incessant rain and flooding which
affected many lives.
The first and second tree planting
project of the company held 2006 &
2007 took place within the vicinity of
Capas National Shrine where its swine
breeder and finisher farm operate in
which the volunteers planted 1,000
seedlings of Mahogany each year.
The engagement of the 70 volunteers from Pilmico’s feedmill and swine
division strengthened the real identity of
being a Pilmican as a consistent
“Partner for Growth”. Everyone was
indulged with eagerness to undertake
the challenge of tree planting.
Pilmico Animal Nutrition Corporation
is the manufacturer of the high quality
feeds. It continuously supplies highnutrition quality feeds, animal nutrition
advise and superior piglets to hog
raisers. It has commercial feeds
manufacturing plant in Sto. Domingo
II, Capas, Tarlac and in Iligan City. It
also has a swine breeding and
finishing operations in barangays
Aranguren and Cut-Cut also in Capas,
Tarlac. –Mark C. Yamson
PGMA launches iHub
project in Bataan
Yap lowers down time capsule with coop bank officers.
Yap leads groundbreaking of new coop bank
CAPAS, Tarlac—Governor Victor A. Yap led the groundbreaking ceremony of the four-million
Cooperative Bank [coop bank]
building here last October 19.
The construction of the new
coop bank here is aimed to further spread out their operational workplace for cooperative and
micro-financing purposes.
To date, Cooperative Bank
of Tarlac has grown tremendously stronger because of the
support of the provincial government of Tarlac under the leadership of Yap, that it can already compete with rural banks.
According to Wilfredo A. Antimano, general manager of Cooperative Bank of Tarlac, the
provincial government of Tarlac
was lauded by no less than
Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
for the support extended to the
cooperative bank.
“The President said that it
is only the provincial government of Tarlac that gives much
assistance to cooperative
banks such as ours. No other
local government unit does the
same,” Antimano pointed-out.
Yap in his speech said that
he is in full support of the programs of the coop bank to respond to the challenge of poverty alleviation in the province.
“This is one way of declaring war on poverty, Dapat suportahan ng gobyerno ang mga
kooperatiba para malabanan
ang kahirapan”. Yap said.
Aside from the economic
benefits, there are also other
benefits from cooperatives. First,
cooperative members develop
the habit of thrift and savings.
Second, cooperative serves as
the training ground for its members in simple business operation, democratic leadership and
responsible citizenship.
Also present in the groundbreaking are Mayor Reynaldo
Catacutan, members of the
sangguniang bayan of this
town, clients and members of
the board of directors of Coopbank of Tarlac.
—PIO Media Affairs
MARIVELES, Bataan- Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Sunday
launched a component of the P14.5 million-Bataan Information Hub
(iHub) project at the Mariveles National High School while expressing the wish that all public high schools in the country will
have computers complete with connectivity to the internet similar
to Bataan.
“Salamat kay Abet na naging halimbawa ang Bataan sa
pagkakaroon ng mga computers sa high school na may connectivity sa internet na siya kong hangarin sa lahat ng high school sa
buong bansa,” Mrs Arroyo said in a short speech.
Abet is Rep. Albert Garcia of Bataan’s Second District who
initiated the iHub project to provide students and teachers maximum use of information and communications technology and build
an ICT-enabled community in 14 high schools in the district with
combined student population of 23,965 and a total teaching force
of 769 teachers.
“Importante ang connectivity sa internet at kahit isang computer lamang basta interconnected, iyon ang mahalaga kesa 20 computer pero wala namang connectivity na magagamit lamang sa
computer games,” the Chief Executive emphasized.
With the assistance of Gov. Enrique Garcia, Congressman
Garcia, Mariveles Mayor Jessie Concepcion and Buhay Partylist
Rep. Carissa Coscolluela, the President also handed Certificates
of Award for computers to all public high schools in the towns of
Pilar, Orion, Mariveles, Limay and Bagac and the City of Balanga.
The certificates involve the distribution of 500 personal computers units with accessories, 14 laptops, 14 LCD TV, 14 wi-fi routers
and printers with accessories, productivity tools and software to
14 public high schools.
Upon arrival at past 12:00 noon, Mrs. Arroyo was met by placard-bearing women near the entrance to the Mariveles National
High School at the town’s poblacion. The placards read “We love
you Madam President”, among some other statements of support.
The President then led in the ribbon cutting of the iHub project
and later joined high school students attending to 65 computer
units. She operated on one of the computers that signaled the
launching of the project.
Coscolluela who donated 65 computer units to Mariveles National High School said the iHub project would bring down the ratio
of computers to students from one computer to 98 students (1:98)
to 1:50. “Mas lalong lalabas ang galing ng mga kabataan sa Bataan
sa pamamagitan ng iHub project na ito,: she said.
Governor Garcia and his congressman son said Mrs. Arroyo
has helped Bataan more than any other president. They said that
aside from the iHub project, Mrs. Arroyo has recently signed Republic Act 9715 that placed the 45-kilometer Mariveles-Bagac Road
eligible for funding by the national government.
They said that it is the only unpaved perimeter road in the peninsula. “Mabubuksan ang maraming potential ng turismo sapagka’t
nandito ang pinakamagagandang beaches at coves na malapit sa
Metro Manila,” Congressman Garcia said.
There was sunny weather when the President arrived and during the entire length of the program. Rains fell after she left the
stage. –Ernie Esconde
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • OCTOBER 22, 2009 • THURSDAY
For 3 new courses
P R E S S
3
Living on relief
LIFE IS a can of sardines, a bowl of noodles, a cup
of rice.
That is for 2,518 families in Botolan, Zambales
whose sole means of subsistence are the relief goods
from Good Samaritans.
The houses of the evacuees have been reclaimed
by the Bucao River on which channel they had stood
for a long time.
“So far, the families have never run out of relief
supplies donated mostly by NGOs. Donor fatigue has
not surfaced yet, the governor wants to rush
rehabilitation projects for them immediately.
Dependence on donations can’t go on for a long time.”
So said Graciela Macabare, chief of the provincial
disaster coordinating council of Zambales.
Meanwhile, in Candaba, Pampanga yesterday,
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo attended the
briefing and ceremonial distribution of the UN-World
Food Program donations to flood victims.
And in her hometown of Lubao, PGMA inspected
the proposed rehabilitation of classrooms at the Sta.
Lucia Elementary School and the requested roofing
of the barangay basketball court in Barangay San
Juan.
Where has the presidential sense of priorities
gone?
Police watch
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • OCTOBER 22, 2009 • THURSDAY
“I JUST don’t like the growing number of unsolved
crimes anymore.”
So spake Central Luzon police director Chief Supt.
Leon Nilo de la Cruz as he relieved last week Angeles
City police director Senior Supt. Pierre Bucsit.
Early this year, alarmed by the rise in slayings of
businessmen and tourists in the city, we called for
Bucsit’s head. But we were not heard.
When the killings continued – and police continued
too being clueless about the suspects – we renewed
our call on the authorities to fire Bucsit. Most especially
after he made the classic blunder ever recorded in
the city’s crime-fighting annals: “The killings were hard
to solve because they were pre-meditated.”
It was good for De la Cruz to issue that ultimatum
to all provincial and city police directors as well as
municipal chiefs of police to identify in two weeks’
time suspects in high-profile crimes in their areas or
face ouster.
That led to Bucsit’s relief.
Now, even as we say good-bye, but not so long, to
Bucsit and welcome his replacement, Senior Supt.
Dan Bautista, we would like to assure everyone that
we shall be as vigilant as ever in watching our police
work. Or goof.
Make those P1.2-million-per-unit bikes work for
the peace of the city, Sir.
4
EDGAR V. MOVIDO
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Architectural
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Zona Libre
Bong Z. Lacson
SMALL TOWN urbanism.
Barrio urbanidad, the city ethos transplanted to the rustic village?
It sounded like a new philosophy too, the first time I heard the
phrase from Normandy Canlas, foremost Kapampangan architect
and my long-time espresso mate at La Nilad, SM City Pampanga.
“It’s my advocacy, it’s the core value of my practice,” said the
man from Minalin, which happened to be closest neighbor to my
hometown of Sto. Tomas.
Normandy laments the total absence of holistic planning in the
drive to develop the rural areas. Which, as often, results to
“infrastructural monstrosities” and urban blight.
“A sense of balance, of symbiosis must be the overriding principle
to development. Utmost care must be taken to balance things, to
avoid the mistakes of urbanization,” said he, making me like a
dutiful student listening to a very interesting professorial lecture.
But of course, Normandy having taught for a time at the University
of the Assumption’s College of Architecture.
“It is high time for a shift in the development
paradigm, with policies and practices thoroughly
restructured. We can begin with neighborhoods
being diverse in use and population; communities
designed equally for pedestrian, public and private
transits. All this in keeping with the socio-economic
and cultural diversity of the residents.”
How about the green element to living? Asked
environmental me.
“Planning for both cities and towns should
incorporate physically defined and universally
accessible public spaces and community
institutions, the green component integrated there.
Urban places need to be framed by architecture
and landscape designs that do not only conform
to climate and the ecology but also celebrate local
history and culture.”
Flashed in my mind there were visions of
Mayor Oscar S. Rodriguez’s City of San Fernando
as the “Habitat for Human Excellence,” by 2030,
as projected.
How about the impact of frenzied housing
development in Pampanga, where former
ricelands and sugarlands, even wetlands are being
converted for residential, commercial and
industrial uses?
“Land use policies in Pampanga should be
guided by this basic principle of maximizing the
assets and sustaining economic growth without
radically altering the character of the place or the
lifestyle of the Kapampangan and the
environment.”
Perhaps, you need to talk to your cabalen the
governor and give him some inputs in this regard.
Normandy simply shrugged off my suggestion,
and continued with my lessons.
“My work philosophy is this: In a world of limited
resources, an architect has to focus on the
essentials that can add value to homes, the
community and the environment.”
No environmentally degrading “destroy-inorder-to-build” mindset for this architect.
“I am a strong advocate of environmental
preservation. I am frustrated by the disregard of
government planners for the environmental
element in infrastructure designs. Look at those
monstrous flyovers. Had architects been involved
in the design, those flyovers could have been
architectural marvels with enough flora for both
aesthetic and ecological purposes, instead of
being arid, ugly concrete jungles.”
Okay, well taken. You have made some
beautiful edifices that added aesthetic value to
the City of San Fernando, like the HSBC building,
Chevrolet Pampanga, and the Guagua Rural Bank
Corporate Plaza, to name just three. How about
one great architectural wonder you’d like to do?
“Rice terraces ala Banaue on the denuded
portion of Mount Arayat, even as the rest of the
area is reforested.”
Wow, the melding of the cultural and the
ecological there. Perfect symbiosis.
Yeah, as an architect of the first order,
Normandy can last.
TODAY IN HISTORY
Cuban Missile Crisis
ON THIS DAY in 1962, in a
televised speech of extraordinary gravity, President John F.
Kennedy announces that U.S.
spy planes have discovered Soviet missile bases in Cuba.
These missile sites--under construction but nearing completion--housed medium-range
missiles capable of striking a
number of major cities in the
United States, including Washington, D.C. Kennedy announced that he was ordering
a naval "quarantine" of Cuba to
prevent Soviet ships from transporting any more offensive
weapons to the island and explained that the United States
would not tolerate the existence of the missile sites currently in place. The president
made it clear that America
would not stop short of military
action to end what he called a
"clandestine, reckless, and provocative threat to world peace."
What is known as the Cuban Missile Crisis actually began on October 15, 1962--the
day that U.S. intelligence personnel analyzing U-2 spy
plane data discovered that the
Soviets were building medi-
um-range missile sites in Cuba.
The next day, President
Kennedy secretly convened an
emergency meeting of his senior military, political, and diplomatic advisers to discuss the
ominous development. The
group became known as ExCom, short for Executive Committee. After rejecting a surgical air strike against the missile sites, ExCom decided on
a naval quarantine and a demand that the bases be dismantled and missiles removed.
On the night of October 22,
Kennedy went on national television to announce his decision.
During the next six days, the
crisis escalated to a breaking
point as the world tottered on
the brink of nuclear war between
the two superpowers.
On October 23, the quarantine of Cuba began, but
Kennedy decided to give Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev
more time to consider the U.S.
action by pulling the quarantine
line back 500 miles. By October 24, Soviet ships en route to
Cuba capable of carrying military cargoes appeared to have
slowed down, altered, or re-
versed their course as they
approached the quarantine,
with the exception of one ship-the tanker Bucharest. At the
request of more than 40 nonaligned nations, U.N. Secretary-General U Thant sent private appeals to Kennedy and
Khrushchev, urging that their
governments "refrain from any
action that may aggravate the
situation and bring with it the
risk of war." At the direction of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff, U.S.
military forces went to DEFCON 2, the highest military
alert ever reached in the postwar era, as military commanders prepared for full-scale war
with the Soviet Union.
On October 25, the aircraft
carrier USS Essex and the destroyer USS Gearing attempted to intercept the Soviet tanker Bucharest as it crossed
over the U.S. quarantine of
Cuba. The Soviet ship failed to
cooperate, but the U.S. Navy
restrained itself from forcibly
seizing the ship, deeming it
unlikely that the tanker was
carrying offensive weapons.
On October 26, Kennedy
learned that work on the mis-
Give until it hurts
IF IT doesn’t change direction, potential supertyphoon “Ramil”,
according to PAGASA the 18th weather disturbance this year, will
hit Cagayan this Wednesday evening or Thursday morning. Ramil
packs winds of 175 km per hour gusting up to 210 kph. PAGASA
predicts that Ramil will smash across Cagayan , Kalinga, Ilocos
Norte, Apayao and the Batanes group of islands on October 22,
2009, and exit toward the South China Sea.
Pampanga and Angeles City in particular appear to be not in
the path of Ramil, but there’s nothing wrong in getting prepared for
any emergency.
Agyu Tamu!
Atbp
Edgardo “EDPAM”
Pamintuan
Some people give out of their abundance and should be
commended for their giving; some give whatever little they may
have until it hurts and should deserve equal praise, if not more so.
For all giving is good, especially more so when the giving benefits
those in real need. And whoever gives until it hurts deserves greater
praise because the giver gives not only to fill a material need of a
fellow human being but also actually gives a part of himself to
such an one to fill the need of both body and spirit. Such giving is
most uplifting and ennobles both the giver and the receiver.
Let us not tire but continue to give to those of our kababayans
who have fallen victims of Ondoy and Pepeng, and to those who
may also become victims of Ramil. Let us continue to love and
care, for that is what true giving really means.
Last week, I received a letter from Department
of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
Undersecretary Luwhalti F. Pablo requesting me
to waive the toll fees due for more than 100 trucks
loaded with relief goods, including all vehicles
joining the caravan scheduled to ferry relief items
on October 19, 2009 to various provinces of
Regions I, II, III and Cagayan Autonomous Region
(CAR). This was in connection with the relief
operation called “Sama-samang Pagtulong”
organized by the DSWD together with the different
government and non-government agencies relative
to the directive of President Gloria MacapagalArroyo to all government agencies to help the
victims of typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng.
I immediately contacted Manila North Tollways
Corp. (MNCP) President/CEO Rodrigo E. Franco
and Bases Conversion and Development Authority
(BCDA) Chairman Al Santos to waive tollways
fees due to all those trucks and vehicles that joined
the caravan ferrying relief goods for delivery to the
victims of Pepeng, and both MNCP and BCDA
quickly responded favorably to the request.
and 46,501 pounds of relief goods to the Cordillera
region (Benguet, Baguio, Kalinga, and others),
including Pangasinan.
The caravan was to ferry truckloads of relief
items for distribution to some 500,000 families in
19 provinces in the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley,
Central Luzon and the Cordilleras. The DSWD
reported that 30 private and international
organizations were prepared to join the relief
caravan. It said that more than 1.5 million victims
of Ondoy and Pepeng continue to receive
government aid. Of these, 1.1 million in 222,292
families were victims of Ondoy, while 336,346 in
70,612 families were victims pf Pepeng, including
those in evacuation centers.
By itself, the DSWD has given Php34.8
million worth of food and non-food items to Ondoy
victims, while Php31.0 million w3orth of
assistance was given to victims of Pepeng. ABSCBN and GMA-7 have raised between them
hundreds of million worth of relief goods since
Ondoy struck Metro Manila last September 26,
2009 which they distributed to storms and floods
sufferers.
In anticipation of Ramil, the DSWD had also
made arrangements with the Department of
National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilbert “Gibo”
Teodoro, who is also the Chairman of the National
Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), for two (2)
C-30’s to deliver 46,297 pounds of food and
emergency items to Central Luzon (the affected
towns of Bulacan and Pampanga in particular)
Meanwhile, I can see the continuing efforts of
Angeles City, Mabalacat and San Fernando City,
and Pampanga officials and private citizens, civic
groups and professional and religious groups to
give donations (cash and in kind) for calamity
victims. May our good God continue to bless
them. May their goodly tribe increase!
Until here, see you all next week, Mabuhay!
In reality, serendipity accounts for one percent
of the blessings we receive in life, work and
love. The other 99 percent is due to our efforts.
–Peter McWilliams
sile bases was proceeding without
interruption, and ExCom considered
authorizing a U.S. invasion of Cuba.
The same day, the Soviets transmitted a proposal for ending the crisis:
The missile bases would be removed
in exchange for a U.S. pledge not
to invade Cuba.
The next day, however, Khrushchev upped the ante by publicly calling for the dismantling of U.S. missile bases in Turkey under pressure
from Soviet military commanders.
While Kennedy and his crisis advisers debated this dangerous turn in
negotiations, a U-2 spy plane was
shot down over Cuba, and its pilot,
Major Rudolf Anderson, was killed.
To the dismay of the Pentagon,
Kennedy forbid a military retaliation
unless any more surveillance planes
were fired upon over Cuba. To defuse
the worsening crisis, Kennedy and
his advisers agreed to dismantle the
U.S. missile sites in Turkey but at a
later date, in order to prevent the protest of Turkey, a key NATO member.
On October 28, Khrushchev announced his government's intent to
dismantle and remove all offensive
Soviet weapons in Cuba. With the airing of the public message on Radio
Moscow, the USSR confirmed its
willingness to proceed with the solution secretly proposed by the Americans the day before. In the afternoon,
Soviet technicians began dismantling
the missile sites, and the world
stepped back from the brink of nuclear war. The Cuban Missile Crisis
was effectively over. In November,
Kennedy called off the blockade, and
by the end of the year all the offensive missiles had left Cuba. Soon
after, the United States quietly removed its missiles from Turkey.
The Cuban Missile Crisis
seemed at the time a clear victory
for the United States, but Cuba
emerged from the episode with a
much greater sense of security. A
succession of U.S. administrations
have honored Kennedy's pledge not
to invade Cuba, and the communist
island nation situated just 80 miles
from Florida remains a thorn in the
side of U.S. foreign policy. The removal of antiquated Jupiter missiles
from Turkey had no detrimental effect on U.S. nuclear strategy, but
the Cuban Missile Crisis convinced
a humiliated USSR to commence a
massive nuclear buildup. In the
1970s, the Soviet Union reached
nuclear parity with the United States
and built intercontinental ballistic
missiles capable of striking any city
in the United States.
Source: www.history.com
Napaguusapan
lang
Ni Felix M. Garcia
Kailangan ne pa
ning Siyudad y
Oca bilang Mayor
(KASUGLUNG NING MILABAS A ISYU)
(MAKANIAN TA’YA pung buring ipangilag
Sagupa y Oca keng pialung a e patas;
Ngeni ken mung biasang magpalundag-lundag
At mapera ‘tin yang peligrung mabalag.)
Kasasanting namu keng kasu nang Among,
Makaba-kaba na murin ing panahun,
A pangalukluk na bayu ya minaksyun
Ing Korte inggil king mesabing petisyon.
Pero nung atin yang sapat a gamitan
Y Panlilio, magkang maragul ya laban;
At mekad miras na’ing tutuking alalan
Mapaliaring e la pa pu katuranan
Mabayat dili keng sugal a bangkilas
O itang ausan dang ‘kara y krus’ deng anak,
Ing atsanan ‘dobli kara’ nung iniasa’t
Y Rodriguez e ta’ya pamu sasabak..
At antining y Among minurung nia murin
Keng ‘presidential race,’ ing pekamasanting
Yanang mag-reelect, ba’na namu niting
Apatunayan ing e ya mig-‘vote buying;’
At ya pu talaga ing tune sinambut;
(King ngara menekas yamu kanu y Gob,
Inia ing ‘Balas King’ at ‘Queen’ ning gambling lord
Ikua no’ pu kanu ‘atang apasakob?)
Sakali’t mikalma yang sambutan na la
Ding adua katau (lalu ining Lilia,
A mengibabo keng ‘recount’ laban kaya
Kabud simbut ne keng pangaduang sultada.)
Inia para kaku mas masanting ata,
E na no’ pin pamu papatasan Oca
Ding ninu man karing aduang mesambitla
Ban lunto ing tune buri na ning malda!
At e paytake ing World Class City Mayor
Keng sutsut, agia mang dakal lang susubung,
King ya na ing tagal bilang gubernador
Antining ya namang pupuluk nang Among.
(Nung tutu king iti ping ‘priest-turned-governor’
Magbalik nia mu keng sadia nang bokasyon,
Kaibat ning balamu anti ria mung sibung,
Ding mitustus kaya king mapaling pugun
Uling ila mismu, kalukluk na pamu
Inatake ra neng e pabiru-biru,
At ining Panlilio kabud-abud namu
Pakuldasan da ne, e na kanu agyu!)
Nanu’t-nanu pa man ken ing maging pinal
Nang desisyun Among – tagal ya e tagal,
Masanting na ing e ne pamu pin tatagal
Y Mayor Oca keng puestong pang-probinsyal;
At ing pamagsilbi na bilang Alkalde
King kabalitan a ‘competitive city,’
Ya na pang isundu nang gampanan niti
Kambe da ring bibilug king MSGC.
At saka uling ya e sikat keng gimik
A kalupa nining magsirko keng lubid,
Magkang ini pa ing binotu ring dyaskis
A binang mahilig keng ausan dang showbiz.
(Atin ya pang kasuglung)
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • OCTOBER 22, 2009 • THURSDAY
Editorial
5
Gov twits GMA for ‘early campaigning
The President was
again in her hometown in
Lubao yesterday to inspect the rehabilitation of
classrooms at the Sta.
Lucia Elementary School
and a roofing project for a
basketball court in Barangay San Juan. Two days
earlier, she was also in the
town where she is a registered voter also to inspect
local projects.
“Definitely, her frequent
visits lead to an early and
irregular campaigning,”
Panlilio told Punto in a text
message.
By the count of the
government Philippine Information Agency, yesterday’s visit was the President’s 39th to Pampanga.
Local media have noted,
however, that of this number, 36 were within her district comprising of Lubao,
Sasmuan, Guagua, Floridablanca, and Porac.
While Malacañang has
never categorically denied
reports that the President
will run for Congress in her
district, a growing number
of Kapampangan folk take
her frequent visits to the
second district as confirmation of such reports.
Presidential son Rep.
Mikey Arroyo, who is still
entitled to a third term as
congressman from the
second district, will reportedly run under a sportsoriented partylist.
“Mahihirapan ang tatapat sa kanya (Pres. Arroyo) sa halalan sapagkat
ultimong trabaho ng barangay captain ay pinapatulan niya. (Anyone will find
some difficulty challenging
her because she takes on
even jobs fit for a barangay chief),” noted Panlilio
who once exposed alleged
“payola” of local government officials after a meeting with Mrs. Arroyo in
Malacañang.
The PIA said apart from
her visit to Lubao, the
President’s itinerary yesterday consisted of the
ceremonial distribution of
United Nations-World
Food Program donations
to flood victims at Miss
Earth Park in Candaba,
which is part of Pampanga’s fourth district and relief goods distribution in
flooded San Agustin also
in Candaba.
Most of the President’s recent visits to the
second district were coupled with medical-dental
missions called PGMA
(her initials) Serbisyo Caravan.
Prof. Randy David, a
native of Guagua, has
openly declared his plan to
challenge the President in
Global warming effects...
FROM PAGE 1
face another 2,518 families
from Barangays Karael,
Paco, Bangan, Batonlapok, San Juan, Paudpod, and San Miguel in
Botolan, Zambales which
have become the channel
of the Bucao River since a
dike gave way last Aug. 6
during typhoon Kiko, she
said. There are reports that
their homes were built in
areas that used to be the
original river channel.
“We are now preparing
permanent relocation sites
for these families. The
DSWD has allocated
some P44 million for the
displaced Botolan residents,” Brigoli said.
Zambales Gov. Amor
Deloso has donated a fivehectare lot for their relocation in Barangay New
Taugtog, also in Botolan
and another 10-hectare
site is being studied by the
Mines and Geosciences
Bureau (MGB) also for
possible relocation project.
Brigoli said that in
Arayat, where 12 persons
were killed in a landslide
last Sept. 26 at the height
of Ondoy, 200 families
have remained in evacuation centers as their
homes in Barangay San
Juan Banyo have been
declared to be located in
a danger zone.
She said that the government is considering offering them existing houses in government-backed
housing projects or building a new relocation community for them.
At the same time,
Brigoli and Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) chairman and
Central Luzon police director Chief Superintendent
Leon Nilo de la Cruz said
the region is prepared for
the effects of typhoon
Ramil.
De la Cruz said all disaster coordinating councils at the provincial, city
and municipal levels have
been on high alert since
threat from the typhoon,
internationally named Lupit, was announced by
weathermen.
“All rescue, evacuation
and relief plans have been
mapped out and put in
place. We are more prepared now after Ondoy and
Pepeng when we did relatively well in coping with
emergencies,” de la Cruz
said.
For her part, Brigoli
also said that her regional
office has prepared 15,000
bags of relief goods to augment any shortage at local government level.
“Our department was
decentralized, but we have
maintained close coordination with social workers
at the local government
level,” she noted.
Brigoli also noted that
during the emergencies
triggered by Ondoy and
Pepeng, cell phone texting provided efficient information that enabled social
workers to set up priorities.
Yabut endorser...
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • OCTOBER 22, 2009 • THURSDAY
FROM PAGE 1
6
hand of our colleague
here, Ares Yabut, is a contractor. I just don’t know so
we have to find out if BP
Cruz is the same person
who raised the hand of
Councilor Yabut,” said
Councilor Jesus “Jay”
Sangil. He was referring to
a press conference on
October 2 when threeterm Councilor Yabut declared his intention to run
for congressman and Cruz
was present to express
his support.
Sangil disclosed that
B.P. Cruz Builders got the
contract for the re-channeling of the portion of the
Abacan River. The funds
for the project, he added,
would come from the calamity fund. The M.S.
Cruz, on the other hand,
is reportedly Mark Cruz,
son of Bernie.
“ What is the point?
The point is, Councilor Del
Rosario, I think Mr. Cruz
is also my kumpare is the
same Bernie Cruz who
raised the hand of Coun-
cilor Yabut. Medyo kailangan siguro, out of propriety kasi po ang indication
po niyan ang impression
malakas si Mr. Cruz dahil
sinusoportahan niya ang
isa sa ating mga konsehal. Ang impression din
po is that malapit po siya
sa city government that is
why doon sa comment ni
Councilor Sangil halos
nakukuha po niya lahat ng
mga proyekto po dito. To
the people and to others
may malaking indication
po iyon. I think Councilor
Sangil is questioning this
because we want to know
who these people are and
if is he the same person
na nagtaas ng kamay ni
Councilor Yabut for another position then yun po
ang kinakabahan natin.
Ang ibig pong sabihin in the
minds of other people ito
po yung potential na political supporter who might
be asking for something
during this time and after
the election,” said Cabigting.
“Madam Chair for the
information, kung yung
Bernie Cruz na nagtaas ng
kamay ni councilor Yabut
even at the time of Congressman Lazatin (as
mayor) kaibigan na naman
ni Bernie. Kung ito pong
pagtataas ng kamay kay
Councilor Yabut dahil
kaibigan po niya at kaibigan rin siya ng mga miyembro ng city council,” said
Majority Floor Leader
Councilor Agapito Del Rosario in defending Yabut
and Cruz. He is a member of the majority bloc and
ally of Mayor Francis
“Blueboy” Nepomuceno.
In the same minutes of
the meeting, Sangil and
Councilor Willie Rivera alleged that some of the
contracts awarded to
B.P.Cruz Builders, M.S.
Cruz Builders and B-12
Builders had lacked the
neccesary requirements
such as program of work
and notary.
“Kahit tissue paper lamang, wala silang ipiniprisinta sa konseho, tapos
i-aaward natin sa kanila
ang proyekto?” Sangil lamented.
the congressional race.
David is the elder brother
of Pampanga Bishop Virgilio Pablo David.
In a recent interview in
Mabalacat, Bayan Muna
Rep. Satur Ocampo said
“we are wondering why
she is over-concentrating
in Pampanga, specially
the second district”
“For a president with a
constituency in the entire
country, it would be at the
least too much of a bias if
you concentrate it in one
district unless she has political plans. We are watching whether she would opt
to run for congress as a
minimum safety net
against the possibility of
being out of power entirely
and being prosecuted once
there is a change of government under the opposition,” Ocampo said.
There have been nagging reports that Mrs. Arroyo will run for congress
in her district in next year’s
elections, although Mala-
cañang has kept mum on
this, at times even saying
that the President’s frequent sorties to her district
was only to manifest her
affection to her “cabalens.”
Ocampo said that his
Bayan Muna partylist
would support whoever
would challenge the President in such a congressional race in the second
district. So far, Prof. Randy David already announced he would challenge Mrs. Arroyo.
‘Global’ jobs for Mab’t workers
FROM PAGE 1
tics project is expected to
generate 70,000 jobs for
Filipinos.
“We are taking advantage of this great employment opportunity. I asked
the GGLC officials to prioritize the hiring of Mabalaquenos,” said Morales.
The town of Mabalacat
has a pool of Englishspeaking and highly talented workforce that can
fill up jobs at the GGLC,
according to Morales.
The development of a
logistics and services hub
in Clark is being supported by President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo who
graced the groundbreaking
for the $1.025 billion
GGLC at the 2,500-hectare Clark Civil Aviation
Complex.
The logistics project
will complement the national government’s grand
plan to develop a logistics
and services hub in the
Subic-Clark corridor and
the development of the Di-
osdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA).
The agreement paves
the way for the creation of
some 70,000 jobs and
would benefit the surrounding communities of Clark
Freeport Zone as well as
of Northern and Central
Luzon. DMIA is being
geared as the next premier
international gateway of
the country.
The first stage of
the project costs $25 million for the development of
infrastructure such as
roads, lights, fence, landscape, sidewalks, utilities,
and access points. The
second stage will cost
about $1 billion for the construction of facilities and
buildings.
The KGL project will be
an aviation-related and
dependent businesses including but not limited to
warehousing, distribution,
multi-nodal logistics, light
manufacturing alongside
complementary business
operations and facilities to
support aviation-related
activities within the Civil
Aviation Complex of the
airport.
KGL will occupy at
least 167 hectares of land
within the civil aviation
complex for the development of a combined use
logistics hub and techno
park. The project is located at the Industrial Estate
Five near the Yokohama
Tire Philippines and other
Japanese firms in the
area. KGL investment
company is an international alternative investment
firm engaged in private
equity; venture capital and
investment banking.
KGL is a global leader
with over 50 years of experience in transportation, logistics, stevedoring, passenger transport, warehousing, supply chain management and port operations. KGL’s current operations include Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Jordan,
Tunisia, Oman, Namibia,
Morocco, Pakistan, Germany, Ireland, Cayman,
Mauritius and Egypt.
‘Hot Air Balloon fest...’
FROM PAGE 1
The event organizers
however failed to elicit the
support of Pampangabased mediamen after
they were not allowed to
cover the event. The Pampanga Press Club (PPC),
one of the oldest media
organizations in the country, condemned organizers
of the Hot Air Balloon fest
for not issuing media
passes to local reporters.
Based on the report of
HABCPI, the Hot Air Balloon fest organizers gave
out 5,731 complimentary
tickets during the February 12 to 15 events this
year but not one member
of the PPC received a
complimentary ticket or a
media pass.
At least 49,638 tickets
had been sold and 5,735
vehicles parked in the designated parking area during the 4-day fest.
It said that the organizers “worked for better
media coverage” but failed
to include the local media
during the event.
The source said that
“CDC is not requiring Roa
to submit his financial report.” This could be the
reason why Roa was not
submitting financial reports in the past two
years, according to the
source.
Inquiries from CDC
about the offices and contact numbers of Roa yielded negative results as of
press time.
(Editor’s Note: This paper is open to any and
all reaction from Roa or
his associates.)
THINK GREEN
RBAP heaves a sigh of relief...
FROM PAGE 2
rate in the Philippines hit
75 percent as of end-2008,
as the number of subscriber identity module, or SIM
cards, sold by the country’s top three operators
reached 67.9 million.
There are currently over
80,000 users of mobile
banking services, and this
number is still on the rise.
Globe Telecom said it
had a total subscriber
base of 24.7 million, including both Globe and
Touch Mobile subscribers,
as of December 2008.
On the other hand, the
PLDT group said it had
35.2 million subscribers
as of December 2008, including 20.9 million Smart
Communications subscribers and 14.3 million
Talk ’N Text subscribers.
Meanwhile, the third
player in the mobile phone
industry, Digital Telecommunications of the
Gokongwei group, said it
had more than eight million subscribers under its
Sun Cellular network during the same period.
NOTICE OF SELF ADJUDICATION
Notice is hereby given that Marlon Salonga, of legal age, widower,
Filipino with residence in Camba, Arayat, Pampanga and sole heir of
MARY CRIST DAUS SALONGA who died intestate on October 4, 2009 in
Camba, Arayat, Pampanga executed an Affidavit of Self Adjudication of her
Time Deposit with Account No. 324802884062 in Banco De Oro in SM City
Pampanga.
Punto! Central Luzon: October 22, 29 & November 5, 2009
Karylle, Toni Taus burado na
sa buhay ni Dingdong Dantes
The
Gossipmiller
by Cesar Pambid
HINDI NAMAN kaila sa publiko na naging karelasyon ni Dingdong Dantes si Antoinette Taus. Nagkasama ang dalawa sa isang TV
show noon at malinaw namang sila na nga. At kung paniniwalaan ang mga tsismis na naglabasan noon sa Angeles City, where
Antoinette hails, nagkaroon pa ng anak ang dalawa.
Anyway, nagkalabuan nga sila. Matagal bago pumasok sa eksena si Karylle na noon ay ka-loveteam ni Dingdong. ‘Yung gimik
ay humantong nga sa tunay na relasyon which was halted by the entrance of Marian Rivera sa buhay ni Dingdong. Alam naman ng
publiko kung paano ‘naagaw’ ni Marian nang tuluyan kay Karylle si Dingdong.
Hanggang ngayon nga ay sina Marian at Dingdong pa rin. Mukhang sa kasal na magwawakas ang kanilang romansa.
Kailan alng, nakipagkuwentuhan si Dingdong Dantes sa press sa autograph signing ng kanyang bookazine titled Yes! Life
Stories.
Ano ba ang ang rebelasyon niya saYes! Life Stories?
“Hindi siya ‘yung normal information na parating alam ng karamihan. Kumbaga, mas detalyado rito ‘yung mga pagkuwento ko
especially mula sa pagkabata, lahat ng fantasies ko, lahat ng dreams ko lahat nandoon.”
Nandoon din ba ang love stories niya with Karylle, Marian Rivera?
Hindi raw nila tinatalakay ‘yung kay Karylle pero ‘yung sa kanila ni Marian ay may mga ibang rebelasyon. Pati na kung kailan
nag-start ang relasyon nila, kung sa Marimar days ba o Dyesebel days?
“May mga detail kung paano kami naging close ni Marian. ‘Yung kina Karylle, Antoinette (Taus) na-mention lang, pero hindi
naman masyadong binigyan ng….
Tatlo lang sila?
“’Yung iba kasi, hindi na mga artista. Rati pa ‘yun. Pero noong
pumasok na ako na maging ano… mga partner ko na. He!he!he,”
say pa niya.
Sa palagay ba n’ya last girl na si Marian sa love life niya?
“Ayaw kong isipin, eh! Pero gusto ko siya. I hope siya na,” deklara ni Dingdong.
Pero hindi kaya nagseselos si Marian kay Rhian Ramos dahil may chemistry sila at kilig factor
sa kanilang serye na Staiway To Heaven?
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa GMA dahil to begin with naniniwala sila sa project na ito. Kumbaga,
istorya pa lang magmula noong dati noong ginawa ang Korean version, nag-hit na siya. Kumbaga,
noong inulit lang ngayon confident sila na it’s a nice show. Plus dinagdagan lang ng kaunting
elemento ng pagiging kami at interpretation namin doon sa characters kaya nagpapasalamat
kami dahil maganda naman ‘yung naging resulta.
“Pero walang dapat ipagselos si Marian. Wala talaga,” aniya.
Baka maulit ‘yung nangyari kay Karylle?
“Alam ko naman ngayon na hindi siya parehong sitwasyon. Sigurado ako roon. Importante
sa akin ngayon ay nakakapag-concentrate ako roon sa ginagawa ko. Hindi siya madaling
gawin at the same time may kaunti siyang challenge coz hindi ko na kasama si Marian dito,
iba naman. So, kumbaga nate-test din ‘yung versatility .‘Yun dapat ihiwalay talaga nila ‘yung
personal at saka ‘yung trabaho,” deklara niya.
Isabel Oli
Lumang bags at sapatos ni Angel Locsin
ibebenta para sa mga binaha
SABIHIN MANG used bags and shoes at ibang item ang isusubasta ni Angel
Locsin upang makailak ng pondo para sa mga sinalanta ng bagyo, pero malaking halaga pa rin ang malilikom dito ni Angel Locsin.
Ang Shop and Share project ni Angel, kung saan ang mga designer item
ay ibebenta for auction sa Ebay Philippines ay matagumpay ang takbo sa
ngayon.
Maging ang ilang mga artista ay tumulong din sa kanya, tulad nina Luis
Manzano, Anne Curtis, Ruffa Gutierrez, Kris Aquino at Pokwang.
Nagbigay din sila ng items na isusubasta tulad ng mga Louis Vuitton
bags at iba pang signature items.
Nang i-post ni Angel ang mga item na in auction, napakarami na agad
bidders. At take note, talagang hindi natulog ang young actress at siya
mismo ang personal na nag-upload sa Internet ng items kasama ang kina
Anne, Kris, Pokwang at Ruffa.
Sa mga gustong makita ang for sale na designer items, mag-log-on
lamang sa www.shopandshare.ph.
For sale ang mga Louis Vuitton, Prada at Burberry bags nina Anne,
Kris at Angel. Si Ruffa naman, ang Tory Burch heels ang naka-auction
habang si Pokwang ay ang Louis Vuitton Magnolis heels.
Proceeds of the sales will go to the Philippine National Red Cross’
disaster relief efforts.
Heart nanghihinayang at ‘di siya
natuloy sa Patient X
SI HEART EVANGELISTA sana ang gaganap na title role sa Patient X
pero dahil sa aberya, hindi siya natuloy at si Cristine nga ang naging bida
rito.
Hindi ba siya nanghihinayang sa pagkatanggal sa Patient X at pinalitan
siya ni Cristine Reyes?
“Sayang, hindi ko iki-nakaila. Pero nawala man ako sa Patient X napalitan naman ng isang Sharon movie na matagal ko nang dream magmula
nang pasukin ko ang showbiz,” sabi ni Heart.
Hindi na itinatago ni Heart ang excitement sa pagkapili sa kanya sa
Mano Po 6 bilang anak ni Sharon Cuneta. Entry sa Metro Manila Film
Festival Philippines ’09 ang naturang pelikula.
“Ever since ay isa na akong Sharonian. Bata pa ako ay may napakalaking poster na kami sa bahay na picture ni Sharon. Kaya nang malaman kong
kasama ako sa movie ni Ate Shawie ay ‘di na ako mapalagay. Sa bahay pa
lang ay pinag-aaralan ko na ang script para pagdating ng take ay hindi ako
mapahiya,” kuwento ni Heart na super sexy at lalong gumanda.
Ito ang dahilan kung bakit nga kahit nanghihinayang siya sa pagkabubuta
sa Patient X. ipinagmamalaki pa ng ex-girlfriend ni Jericho Rosales na maganda rin ang nakapalit ng movie nila sana ni Richard Gutierrez.
Isabel Oli may bagong lalaki sa buhay
MISMONG SI Isabel Oli ang nagbabalitang may special guy na sa kanyang
buhay. Isang negosyante raw ito mula sa Cebu at dahil non-showbiz ayaw na
niyang magsalita pa ng marami tungkol dito.
“At para matigil na rin ‘yung tungkol sa amin ng isang basketbolista. Kawawa naman siya, may girlfriend ‘yung tao, masyado siyang nakakaladkad. Sa
true lang po, friends lang kami pero ngayon, hindi na kami nagkikita’t nag-uusap
para matigil na lang ang lahat,” sabi pa nito.
Nang matanong naman tungkol sa present state ng girlfirend na buntis ni
Paolo Contis, si Lian Paz nga na isang EB Babes member, sianbi nitong natuwa naman siya. “Kahit kailan, a baby is always a blessing, sana lumigaya na
silang dalwa,” medyo asiwang sabi pa ni Isabel Oli.
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • OCTOBER 22, 2009 • THURSDAY
FROM PAGE 1
7
Archbishop Soc reveals secret prayer for Bataan
BY ERNIE B. ESCONDE
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • OCTOBER 22, 2009 • THURSDAY
BALANGA CITY- Archbishop
Socrates “Soc” Villegas on Sunday revealed his secret prayer
for Bataan less than two weeks
before he leaves the peninsula
and assumes as vicar of the Diocese of Lingayen-Dagupan in
Pangasinan.
“My secret prayer to God is
that this province be known not
only as a place of heroism, courage and valor but of holiness and
that when people arrive here,
they will be coming to holy
ground,” the former bishop said.
“Sana matuklasan ang lalawigan sa buong mundo hindi
lamang dahil sa Mt. Samat kundi dahil sa kabanalan at pag-uwi
ng mga bisita ay may dala silang karanasan tungkol sa Diyos,” Villegas said.
He explained that tourists
come when the surroundings are
beautiful and the mountains
fresh that will remind us of God.
“Kapag may kabayanihan lalo
na’t may kabanalan, tiyak pabalik-balik ang mga turista. He said
that the province was made holy
by the blood shed on its soil
from north to south during World
War II.
Villegas officiated in the
blessing of the still unfinished
multi-million-peso Bataan Tourism Center in Balanga City. Gov.
Enrique Garcia said that they
requested the new archbishop to
bless the new building before
leaving for Dagupan on November 2.
8
HOMEOWNERS. Mayor Oscar Rodriguez and Councilor Jimmy Lazatin poses with the newly elected Essel Park
Homeowners Association, Inc (EPHAI) officers headed by incoming president Raymund David last October 17, 2009
at the Essel Park Clubhouse.
“May ‘Midas touch’ si bishop dahil lahat ng nabasbsan
niya ay nagtatagumpay kaya
kahit hindi pa tapos ay ginanap
na ang blessing,” the governor
said.
Archbishop Soc explained
that when he first arrived in
Bataan, he saw something that
he said was not given much attention – that of Bataan being
not only a place of heroes but
of holiness.
The former spokesman of the
late Jaime Cardinal Sin took over
as bishop of the Diocese of Balanga on May 3, 2004.
He explained that it was
clear that Bataan is a ground
of heroism because presidents come during the celebration of the “Fall of Bataan”
observed as “Araw ng Kagitingan” every April 9. He said
that by merely looking at
Mt.Samat and the “Death
March” markers, it was evident that Bataan is a hero.
But he emphasized that tourists visit not only places of heroes but holy lands. “Ang Lourdes, Fatima, Rome, Jerusalem
ay dinadayo ng mga tao buhat
sa iba’t-ibang bansa sapagka’t
may kabanalan sa mga lugal na
iyon kahit na walang kabayanihan,” Villegas said.
Vicky Garcia, chair of the
Bataan Tourism Council, expressed the hope that through
the new center, Bataan will be
placed in the tourism map of the
country “for God and country.”
“We will be missing you,” she
told Archbishop Soc.
Although Villegas said it was
still not be bye-bye time, Balanga City Mayor Jose Enrique
Garcia III presented the archbishop with a drawing of the St. Joseph Cathedral by Robert Ale-
jandro.
Alejandro was in Balanga
during the 5th Philippine Bird
Festival to draw birds but while
seated at the city plaza, the artist made the sketch of the stunning cathedral. “Tuwing makikita po ninyo ang larawang ito,
maaalaala ninyo na libo-libong
taga-Bataan ang nananalangin
para sa inyo,” the mayor told
Villegas.
Aeta children belonging to the
Bangkal Choir rendered song
numbers while wives of town
mayors presented a dance number.