MikeLigalig.com

Hello Fiel,

This must be difficult for you and for the entire family. My deepest condolence kanimo ug sa imong family. Be strong.

Friends in Tubag Bohol are always here ready to comfort you.

Quote from: junayag on August 11, 2008, 07:12:36 AM
aa and mike,

wala pud ko kawad-e ug paglaum, pero kinighanglan we have to be vigilant and to communicate with the parties involved in resolving the issue.  there is a proper venue for this...

Jun, ang problema man gud sa ato kay ang mga tao man maoy dili gusto ug kausaban. Magsige ug reklamo nga dautan ang administrasyon karon. Daghan nako mga expose sauna sa newspaper sa mga panghitabo sa Anda. Nanghatag pa ko ug leaflets para ma-aware ang mga tao sa mga kahiwian sa lungsod.

Pero, Jun, nahuman na unta ning mga problema sa Anda kung panahon sa election ilang butohan ang mga matarong. Maoy gidevotion sa mga tawo ang inom ug sugal. Paimnon lang ug Tanduay o Kulafu butar dayon. Bisan ang official diha manghambog man gani sa Tagbilaran nga wa syay problema sa election sa Anda kay ang mga tawo paimnon lang ug bino butar na dayon.

Kung mag-antos ang mga tao, ila ning tiniyuan ug ilang ning kagustohan. Si Carlos Tinio, kung gitagaan pa ug kahigayonan, nga maoy mamuno sa Anda, dugay ra unta nga miuswag ug milambo ning atong lungsod.

Taas kaayo ning akong lista sa mga ghost projects diha sa Anda.

For those who are living in Thailand and wish to renew or get a new Philippine Passport, please see the link below for your guidance on various passport fees and other charges outlined by the Philippine Embassy in Thailand.

Here's the downloadable link: http://www.philembassy-bangkok.net/Forms/Primer_consularfees.pdf

The Philippine passport is valid for five (5) years from the date of issuance. A holder of a Philippine passport is encouraged to apply for renewal of the passport at least six months before the expiration of its validity period or when its visa pages are about to run out.

The requirements for renewal of passport are as follows:

   1. Application form duly accomplished;
   2. Valid passport and photocopy of its personal data page and visa page;
   3. Three (3) color ID pictures (1.77" x 1.37" in size in plain white background);
   4. Personal appearance; and,
   5. Payment of processing fee.

source: Philippine Embassy Bangkok, Thailand

Thanks Kiam for this very important information. This is power of information sharing.

Belle,

Dili nalang nako tukbilon ang gihaya nga kagahapon kay kini makalunhat lang sa piang sa dughan.

Yes, whoami. I was born in Anda, Bohol. I was raised in Anda, Bohol. And I will return one day to redeem Anda, Bohol from a wayward system.

Quote from: aa on August 10, 2008, 10:57:23 PM

Kining Bugnao C.E., dinhi gilubong ang kanhiay kong mga damgo ug pangindahay sa linalang nga natingban sa akong pagbati kaniadto.

Aa, I resigned from being an SK sa among barangay Virgen kaniadto kay wa na ko kaagwanta sa corruption sa baryo lang. Majority rules man kono.

Daghan kaayong Balimbing sa Anda. Kadtong mga mibarog sa kamatuoran kaniadto ug nakigbisog alang sa hustisya ug kaangayan, karon tua na nagyampungad sa ilang gisaway kaniadto.

Mga way baroganan.

I've been exposing corruptions and anomalies in Anda pero inig abot sa election paimno ra ug Kulafu ang mga tawo mobutar ra man gihapon.

Nahurot na akong luha ug hinilak anang kahimtang sa pinalangga kong lungsod sa Anda.

You can withdraw money from your Paypal through a Philippine bank. The list below are names of banks and their respective bank codes.

To read more on how to withdraw money from Paypal through a Filipino bank, click here

ALLIED BANKING CORP     010320013
AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND    010700015
ASIA UNITED BANK    011020011
BANGKO SENTRAL NG PILIPINAS    010030015
BANGKOK BANK    010670019
BANK OF AMERICA    010120019
BANK OF CHINA    011140014
BANK OF TOKYO    010460012
BANCO DE ORO (& EQUITABLE PCI BANK)    010530667
BANK OF COMMERCE    010440016
BANK OF THE PHIL ISLANDS (BPI)    010040018
CHINA BANKING CORP    010100013
CHINA TRUST COMML BANK    010690015
CITIBANK N.A.    010070017
DEVT BANK OF THE PHILS (DBP)    010590018
DEUTSCHE BANK    010650013
EAST WEST BANK    010620014
EXPORT & INDUSTRY BANK    010860010
FUJI BANK    010640010
HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANK (HSBC)    010060014
INTL COMML BANK OF CHINA    010560019
INTL EXCHANGE BANK    010680012
JP MORGAN CHASE BANK    010720011
KOREA EXCHANGE BANK    010710018
INTL NEDERLAND BANK    010660016
LANDBANK OF THE PHILS    010350025
MAYBANK OF THE PHILS    010220016
METROPOLITAN BANK & TRUST CO    010269996
PHIL BANK OF COMMUNICATION    010110016
PHIL TRUST COMPANY    010090039
PHIL NATIONAL BANK (PNB)    010080010
PRUDENTIAL BANK    010150018
PHIL VETERANS BANK    010330016
RIZAL COMML BANKING CORP (RCBC)    010280014
SECURITY BANK & TRUST CO    010140015
STANDARD CHARTERED BANK    010050011
UNITED COCONUT PLANTERS BANK    010299995
UNION BANK OF THE PHILS (UBP)    010419995
UNITED OVERSEAS BANK    010270189

Quote from: ivyliz on August 10, 2008, 05:26:41 PM
ah, okey. if that's the case, i guess i don't belong here.

thanks. i've send pm to delete my profile and my posts.

Ivy, we've done our best to make this site as much educational and entertaining as we can. But if our best wasn't enough for you, we're deeply sorry.

Still feel free to contact any one of us if you need our assistance or if there is anything that we can be of help to you.

We would also appreciate from you if you could tell us more where we've been wrong and how we can improve ourselves.

Els, learn to laugh and smile while you are on your review regimen. Remember fear is a cousin of failure.

Have courage and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Pray to Christ continually for wisdom and strength.

Quote from: ivyliz on August 09, 2008, 12:29:35 PM
kasi, for example. i posted a topic regarding laptops, i need to get ideas on how what to buy etc. but then, one poster included in his comments that a certain individual has this kind, so from that, all the following posts are based on his comments. Posts, are then no longer about the laptops but that person... and so the thread goes long and long and long.. but then, futile.

I reviewed the thread "on choosing laptops" and I should say that the topic has been addressed satisfactorily. I posted a link to a blogsite for everyone to be guided on how to buy a laptop. Jang also posted a comprehensive guide on choosing a laptop.

Is there any more info that needs to be addressed?

I remember last year I posted a topic like that in a computer forum in which I was a newcomer, and guess how a forum member replied to my topic: "Didn't you read the previous post that talks about the same topic? Go and search the forum and you will find your answer."

Now, we don't answer like that in Tubag Bohol. This is a Filipino forum site. We are Filipinos. There is no distinction how we behave online and offline. Experience tells us that we don't reprimand a friend or even a stranger who happens to talk a slightly or entirely different topic that is being discussed by the group. But that is not an exclusive Filipino style of conversation. I've seen and heard many other nationals how they talk. The only difference is that Filipinos would laugh the loudest.

Nahuman na ta sa Spanish regime in which dili gani ta makapangatsi kay basin masuko si Padre. Nahuman na ta sa panahon sa mga Espanyol nga tanan natong mga lihok magkinto ta kay basin makasab-an ta ni Padre.

As a caregiver of this forum, should I impose a rigid rule on what people should say and what they shouldn't say? No, I won't. That is not an essential part of democracy. And it would just ruin the beauty of learning.

If we want to enjoy friendship and knowledge and creativity to their fullest, we must let go of too much rigid rules and restrictions and traditionalism that shackled our ancestors for hundreds of years.

In the school where I am teaching, there is this one Thai student of mine who would always interrupt me in the middle of a lecture on "Western Civilization" and he would start talking about gadgets and technology. I don't reprimand him for talking a thing that is not related to Western Civilization for I know that I can always go back to my original topic and resume the lecture.

Friends deal with friends may be differently from teachers dealing with students. But I don't make any distinction in my class. I allow students to interrupt me and talk about anything in the class. Of course, I always go back to my lessons when they've done their talking. I remember one time they told me: "Sir, we are so happy in your class  because we have freedom to talk about anything." "What about in your other classes"? I hesitated to ask. "It's so formal - we don't like it," they said.

Am I alone doing the same classroom management style? Not at all. Our most recent professor in an MBA class, Dr. Dianne from the U.S., would even ask more questions on us if one of her students would happen to talk a topic other than what she was lecturing. But when she caught one student cheating on a final exam, she sent the student out of the classroom without giving the student the liberty to complete the exam. What the student did was a violation of the school policy.

Now, in Tubag Bohol, there are no sacred cows. Anyone can be sent out of the classroom if a person deliberately and arrogantly violates one of our guidelines.

Ivy, you pointed out that this forum is pretty loose on restriction. I beg to disagree. I had kicked out some members and removed many posts that are offensive to public taste. And the rest is history.

Who Lives Near Seattle, Washington? or In Seattle itself?

Please send me a PM. Thank you.

MS. MARIA ELENA ARBON
Provincial Director
Department of Trade & Industry
Tagbilaran City

Dear Ms. Arbon,

Greetings!

This is to formally file this complaint against Cell Depot, a cellfone
store in Tagbilaran which failed to deliver the item in good condition.

It is along this scenario that I’m submitting the details of the incident:

1) Purchased a Sony Erickson W5801 unit at Cell Depot on May 15, 2008
2) Return the unit to Cell Depot for repair on June 28, 2008 (which they
accepted)
3) The store informed me that they will send the unit to Manila for repair
4) When they said the unit already came from Manila, the same problem with
the unit which “Can not call & receive calls as well as can not send and
receive text messages”

It is along this line that I am filing this formal complaint. It either I
was given a used cellphone or a defective cellfone which as a
consumer/customer, I am demanding my right. I am sending this complaint
since, Cell Depot accepted my cellfone to be repaired. But, the unit was
not operating as expected even after they accepted it for repair.

Knowing the credibility of DTI, may I therefore rest this case to your
good office for proper action.

My interest is not just for my own sake, but for those other customers
being victimized with this way of handling complaints on damaged cell
phones.

I sincerely hope that this complaint be given your kind attention.

Thank you. More power.

Very truly yours,



(Sgd.) MA. CLEOFE MONCADA

cc. Regional Director, DTI Region 7

By Michael Arrington
TechCrunch.com

Facebook may be the king of the Silicon Valley crowd, but Paris Hilton apparently prefers MySpace. 42 year old MySpace cofounder and CEO Chris DeWolfe has been dating 27 year old Paris Hilton for at least a few weeks, sources close to the company confirm. We first got wind of this when we saw DeWolfe in a random video clip with Hilton from last month (see below). He’s also been throwing parties in the Hamptons, and Hilton has been at all of them.

Now we’ve got a source in New York that’s confirming the two are dating. DeWolfe is hosting yet another party tonight in the Hamptons, and Hilton will reportedly be there as his date.

This is a brilliant marketing move for MySpace (or for Hilton?). Or maybe they actually like each other. All we’ve confirmed is that they are definitely dating.

As far as we can tell DeWolfe still has a wife (but is reportedly separated) and Hilton still has an official boyfriend, but whatever, this is Hollywood. Best of luck to both of them.

Written by Fred Amora
The Bohol Standard, associate editor

No, I don’t agree to such impression that Erico Aumentado is now a lame duck Governor!

Such speculation rises on the premise that he is now winding his days being on his third and last term as Governor and is not looking forward to any coming election.

I would say, such forecasting is inaccurate and comparable to the weather bulletins of PAGASA.

Most critics are connecting this impression to the alleged “indifference” and “callousness” of the Governor to issues hounding Capitol these days like the recent poverty funds anomaly and the presence of a lady tiger lurking right in the den of the highest official of the land, - the Governor’s Office.

*****

Granting that Erico is no longer eyeing any elective position after his term expires as Governor. It would be utterly absurd to say that it is the reason he is deaf and blind to the recent noise at the Capitol, particularly those involving corruption and moral ethics of employees.

I won’t even dare to think that Erico after long years of mastery in politics and carving an image as Mr. Clean (able to distance from the corruption and moral stigma attached to politicians), would just allow such lifetime record go down to the drain.

I would surrender my Ph.D. degree (Philosopong Dako) if I bow to such contention!

*****

I have worked with the Governor as a public relation and media affairs consultant, and I am a living witness how he had withered every issue, big or small that comes his way.

The Aumentado way is “surgical and mystical”. He does things beyond what ordinary mind can comprehend.

And I would also say, he won’t even be resting his political gloves this time, not yet.

He can always return to Congress where he is illustrious.

Remember, while he was congressman of the second district for three terms; his vision expanded not only for the 14 towns of his turf but the whole Bohol, the region and far wider, even for Boholanos outside the country.

On record, he was the only congressman during his time that crafted a Bohol Short & Long Term Master Development Plan, resulting to many overseas development assisted (ODA) projects, the fruits that all Boholanos are now enjoying.

His life is in politics and public service. That will be his way of life until the End of Days!

By 2010, you’ll find the guy still at the helm and is to stay for quite a long time!

No lame duck. Instead, Erico is the Great Mufasa in the epic movie The Lion King!

Thoughts to Ponder: “Rome was not built in a single day!”

By Ven Arigo

A Boholana maid was arrested and has been jailed in Hong Kong since last Friday for a crime her father and boyfriend could not---and never---believe she could commit.

Events happened so swiftly that Bea (not her real name) was transferred to a central prison as soon as her case for alleged stealing was heard three days after her female employer had her nabbed by the police on the night of August 2.   

Her father Victor and boyfriend Noel have been so worried because the overseas Filipina worker (OFW) from Loon could no longer be contacted.

Noel told the Chronicle they learned the fate of Bea from a staff of her placement agency in Hong Kong last Sunday.

He had talked to the staff thru a long distance call arranged by his girlfriend’s cousin Veronica, who is also an OFW in Hong Kong.

Veronica contacted her cousin’s female employer named Au Wai Ling, but who reportedly denied any knowledge of her Boholana helper’s case, much less the latter’s whereabouts.

Bea’s father and boyfriend reported her case to the office of Rep. Edgar Chatto for any assistance the solon can provide.

It was learned that only the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong thru a certain Atty Gil can access to Bea’s prison in a place called Tsun Mum.

Victor and Noel sought the help of the First District congressman whom they learned has assisted OFWs in distress or critical in different foreign job sites.
The Boholana maid was accused by her employer of stealing $600.

Victor said Bea has been a good, obedient child while Noel insisted his girlfriend is an honest girl. 
Besides, Bea was supposed to get her July salary at the time she allegedly stole money.

Bea, now 24, finished education at the Central Visayas State College of Agriculture, Forestry and Technology (CVSCAFT) â€" Calape Campus while her boyfriend, a townmate, presently works as a Waterfront Hotel bartender.

Noel suspected that Bea was framed up by her own employer because the OFW earlier confided to him by text messaging that she had a verbal altercation with her employer.

Three fellow OFWs had worked for Bea’s employer earlier and they all stayed for three months only or even less.  The said employer would always terminate her maids.

Noel and Bea contacted each other on the very same night of August when she was supposedly fetched by the police at the house of her employer.

Noel recounted that it was already past 10 in the evening when Bea texted him to stop contacting since her employer had already arrived.

He could no longer contacted Bea since then until Sunday when Noel decided to text to her cousin in Hong Kong if she, Bea and another cousin named Sally might meet on the said day.  OFWs in Hong Kong have been used to gather on Sundays, their rest days.

Because Bea could no longer be contacted, Veronica went to her cousin’s placement agency whose staff was able to directly inform Noel, thru Veronica’s cellphone, that his girlfriend is in jail.

The father of the OFW and her boyfriend are further saddened by this:  They checked with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration website and found out that Bea’s agency is not POEA-accredited.

By Fred Amora
The Bohol Standard

Three tourists died in just one Sunday and two of them by drowning.

Provincial Board Member Amalia Reyes -Tirol has sought for an investigation on the reported deaths of tourists by drowning, particularly those diving in the blue sea depths of Bohol’s dive sites.

Rising in the privilege hour of last Tuesday’s Sangguniang Panlalawigan regular session, the lady board member from the second district pointed out that deaths in tourism related activities like scuba diving could be prevented if safety measures and strict compliance of diving instructions are followed.

She also scored the lack of emergency facilities, like competent rescue response crew, a ready stand-by ambulance and vital facilities like a decompression chamber for divers having trouble while underneath the water.

“An investigation, in aid of legislation is necessary for us to know what measures have been taken to provide safety to tourists and divers in particular who come to our island which is highly promoted as a prime tourism destination in the country today,” board member Tirol said in an exclusive interview with STANDARD after the Tuesday session.

Pres. Arroyo herself immersed in the deep blue seas of Balicasag in her last visit here in Bohol and highly admired the beauty beneath the island’s seawaters.

LGU INITIATIVES

Board member Tirol said she would also check if the municipalities with tourism related diving activities (Panglao, Dauis, Baclayon and others) have enacted ordinances that require a lookout or back-up crew to watch boats servicing divers, to monitor and insure that these tourists are safe while within our seawaters.

“Bantayan jod nila kon unsa na ang kahimtang diha basin ug naay nanghitabo unya walay nakahibalo aron makapangayo ug tabang (a guard must watch diving activities to know if something happens and can immediately ask for help),” Tirol

said.

Two months ago, European divers which included a television broadcast crew drifted away from a Panglao dive site and were lost and feared dead for several days until they were found in nearby Leyte.

INCOMPETENCE

A female Japanese tourist drowned in the Balicasag Island seawaters last July 20 (Sunday) while diving in a spot known as Black Forest Diving Point in Panglao, Bohol.

The drowning victim was from Kasugi City, Japan, who together with her husband and some friends went purposely to Bohol to dive in its highly-publicized diving spots.

Initial report said that the victim was with her husband and were diving with supposed diving instructors from the Blue Corral Diving Tours Co., Ltd. based in Songculan, Dauis, Bohol.

About 30 minutes into the diving activity, the Japanese was noticed sinking deeper into the seawaters about 27 meters down from the surface.

Although the victim was immediately given a CPR resuscitation, a decompression chamber could have been more helpful in such kind of accident, diving experts said.

The equipment allows the drowning victim to regain body pressure, restore circulation of oxygen and release deposited seawater inside the drowning victim’s body.

The two other drowning victims were identified as Jung Choul, 24, from South Korea who reportedly fell into the swimming pool 2 o’clock dawn of Sunday at the Bohol Divers Resort in Tawala, Panglao while the other was Chinese national Gary Chua who died of heart attack at Bohol Beach Club.

The three victims were brought to a hospital in the city but were all pronounced “dead on arrival” by responding physicians.

SUPPORT

Several other drowning incidents here in Bohol pointed to the same lack of safety precautions, medical facility and competent emergency crews which resulted to victims reaching hospital already dead (DOA).

The move of Tirol was supported with the manifestation of first district board member Alfonso Damalerio and third district board member Aster Piollo that it is high time the tourism industry should look into these matters concerning safety and medical facilities for such concerns.

By Rey Anthony Chiu
PIA

Help came at a time when the Bohol Rabies Prevention and Eradication Council (BRPEC) desperately needs a partner who can bankroll the staggering costs of implementing a pilot anti-rabies drive province-wide. 

The new partner intends to document the collaborative effort to come up with a template for future support program in their disease elimination campaign in other countries, Dr. Stella Marie Lapiz said.

The partner, a Scottish non-government organization has agreed to partner with Bohol to pilot a province-wide anti-rabies campaign, said the provincial veterinarian during a meeting held Thursday at the Governor’s Mansion. 

Dr. Lapiz said Alliance for Rabies Control (ARC), a registered Scottish international but United Kingdom-based non-government organization has told local authorities about their intent to bankroll about P7M for the Bohol anti-rabies program. 

The Provincial Government on the other hand would also complement the fund source through its financial equity and manpower in a collaborative effort to sustain the provincial drive in the next 4 years, Lapiz appraised the council members during the recent meeting.   

“We are very happy about the development in as much as a rabies free Bohol would boost our dream of becoming the country’s top tourism destination,” she stressed. 

The good news also came at a time when spearheading authorities see the provincial rabies prevention and eradication program fall short of its targets due to coordination snags. 

Months ago here, anti-rabies rabies authorities raised the alarm over reports that Bohol has topped Central Visayas as it records the most number of animal and human rabies cases.

With the implementation of the programs, BRPEC has reported a major score when reported bite cases in the first quarter of 2008 dipped to 80% compared to data from last year. 

This however is not worth celebrating, Dr. Lapiz said, as she points to a general aim of totally eliminating canine and human rabies in Bohol by 2010. 

Groundwork has been set up to prepare the structures for a community-based program implementation, while on-going dog population control and massive elimination is saturated province-wide, a status program report bared. 

By Rey Anthony Chiu

Robbers took more than P66,832.50 from collectors of a single lending firm from at least 7 highway robberies in the first 7 months of this year, police reports said.

The unabated incidents of robberies falling upon collectors of Taytay sa Kauswagan Incorporated (TSKI) has prompted members of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) to call the firm Tulis Sa Kadalanan Inc. 

The unabated robberies hitting TSKI was despite an early Bohol police instruction for the firm to devise a plan so as not to present an opportunity for the crime to happen. But TSKI still sends its men to remote areas collecting cash from their borrowers all over Bohol.

According to briefing notes read by Bohol police chief Ssupt. Edgardo Ingking, during the recent PPOC meeting at Cantaongon in Loon town, the most recent incident involving TSKI was July 1, at Getafe town, and involving P13,117.00.

A call to Getafe police bared that on July 1, at about 11:35 am. two unidentified men in improvised masks blocked the team of Amy Omandam and her motorcycle driver between barangays Campao Oriental and Buyog of Getafe town.

Using short firearms of undetermined caliber, robbers took the money from Omandam and then fled towards Buyog, said SPO1 Meliflo Paca of Getafe police station.   

TSKI fell victim to similar road robberies including P9,000 cash and 5210 mobile phone and the collector’s Honda Wave motorcycle which robbers took on January 23 in Sta. Cruz Sagbayan. Police later recovered the motorcycle abandoned in barangay Cantuyoc, of Clarin town, SPO2 Senon Añora of Sagbayan police station said. 

Less than a month later, on February 15, TSKI lost P9,317.25 in barangay Katarungan of Ubay town.

The firm also undetermined cash to robbers armed with .45 caliber and knife four days later in Badian of Inabanga town, PSSupt Ingking reported. 

On April 21, TSKI collector was hit in Tamong, Danao and was divested of P12,000 in cash collections.

TSKI’s biggest loss in the seven month span was in Talibon, where P23,081 was lost to robbers in Talibon town on June 5.

Five days later, the lending firm again lost P9,317.25 in nearby Ubay town.

Newly assumed Kauswagan Bank Branch Manager Lealyn Alcala, a sister firm of TSKI pointed to a movement of officers in the firm creating a vacuum where they could not yet fully coordinate their plans for men in the field.

She added that upon the Bohol police suggestions, instead of collectors going to remote areas in Clarin, the lendees now remit their money to Sagbayan town where a TSKI satellite base is set. 

Last Wednesday morning, 23-year-old Tara Santelices was shot in the head, after refusing to give up her laptop to a thief, on a Marikina-bound jeepney. She is in critical condition as of yesterday.

According to witness Joyce Mejias, the thief declared a hold-up en route, while the jeep was along Felix Ave. in Cainta, Rizal: “But when the victim tried to wrestle back her bag containing a laptop, the assailant immediately shot her, took some of the passengers’ bags and immediately fled the scene.”

source: technogra.ph

Happy moments shared between Felix and Eva Mae

Dear Peligro Family,

First of all we wanna extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to you and the bereaved family of Gwen.

Gusto lang nako e-clear ang mga misinformation ug pamasangil sa news articles na naka panamaktamak sa pagkatao ni Eva Mae. Kaning sulat nagamatuod sa mga panghitabo to the best of my knowledge.

Nagsugod ang among paghinigugmaay niadtong August 22, 2001, and since then we were so inseparable up until my family migrated to the US. I had mixed feelings at that time, kamingaw ni Eva Mae ug kalipay kay nahibaw ko na masecure na ang among future as a couple, that we can make our dreams a reality. The distance didn’t matter; our love grew even stronger with God’s blessings. We wanted to get married a few years back and after her graduation, but I wasn’t a citizen yet and in my knowledge it takes longer years to petition the spouse of a green card holder and so we delayed it and moved it late this year since I am going to have my oath-taking to become a citizen this August of this year. But now the whole reason for my wanting to become a citizen is gone. It would then be meaningless.

I came for a two weeks visit to the Philippines in 2004 and was very happy to be reunited and spend time with Eva Mae and my family. By that time my Mom has already stopped her decade of work as an OFW because we knew we can support her. I decided to buy a house for her and Grandma where they can live comfortably. However, the house was still not complete by the time Mom joined us here in 2005 so I wanted to give the property to Eva Mae right at that moment since I trust her so much. My family knew her for a long time and trusted her also.

I thought with her name on the property it will be useful when she applies for a tourist visa so she can come and visit me once in a while, while I awaits my citizenship. Azienda Firenze was still in its early years of operation and for some reasons the titles of most properties including mine were not yet available at that time (unfortunately). In Eva Mae’s opinion, on the other hand, it wasn’t appropriate. She felt ‘kaikog’ sa akong pamilya to have her name on the title. I tried to convince her then to be the person to occupy the house once it’s ready but she declined by telling me to let my family occupy it first, again out of ‘kaikog’. That’s what I loved about her in the first place, she’d always think about others before herself.

Since the accused (from hereon Richard is referred to as the accused, I find it hard to even speak or write his name) was the only immediate family I had in Cebu, I appointed them (with pay) to look over the ongoing building of the house. I liked the subdivision, it was having a great view and with security guards in every gate, it sure was a safe and secure place for families. The property was completed in April and to my surprise, they started moving in with their things. I felt sympathy for their daughter whom they claimed didn’t want to go back to their old house where they were kicked out. I permitted them to occupy the house in June 2007 with certain conditions, which included good maintenance of it. I started furnishing it and installed facilities and high speed internet connection for a convenient means of communication between us and with Eva Mae.

I was able to visit again in September of the same year. Nakit-an nako ang kanindot sa lugar compared sa uban, I most definitely wanted my loved ones to live there especially Eva Mae. I again asked her to move in so we can communicate very conveniently everyday through the internet and she agreed. During my whole stay, I have shown to everybody how important and special Eva Mae was to me and that she sure was deserving of it.

I came back to US with the happiest heart, I’d call her and she’d tell me she’s doing OK there. However, I have noticed that sometimes when I call her I would chance upon her cleaning the house and I’d ask why she’s doing it? She said she doesn’t have any problem with doing household chores. Then again it became more frequent and I asked what’s going on? She said it’s OK, she just wanted for them to see how to keep the house clean hoping they’d learn from it and do the same. But that didn’t happen. So I requested her to take some photos so they wouldn’t be able to lie to my face. They were not only showing disrespect to Eva Mae but also to me, not remembering the conditions I laid before they enjoyed free board and lodging.

Dili makamahay nako ang mga accused kay gibuhat namo ang tanan para pagsuporta nila. My Mom would send them allowances which sometimes would come from my pocket. Ako sila gitabangan sa panahon na nakadasmag sila ug kotse sa judge, my older sister Karen in their behalf asked for our help. She joined them in the house but it didn’t take a long time when she decided to leave because of the same cleaning issue and she also couldn’t get along well with his live-in partner, the one who would seem to envy Eva Mae so much and the same person who would fabricate stories just to get rid of Eva Mae’s house help (Emely) that time. His live-in partner has no doubt controlled him for a long time; he surely has changed for years because of her.

I sent the accused a lengthy email dated 05/03/08, suggesting not to use text messages when they can talk things over. He asked for an apology to Eva Mae but the live-in partner remained indifferent and refused to do work because of her pride. I got fed up and I decided then to sell the house; the realtor even went there to personally inform them that the house is already listed for sale. The accused asked me thru email to extend their stay for some time so they can find a place to transfer to. Two months has passed and they still continued with the same batasan.

My Mom also got angry and then cut their allowance kay dili maminaw sultian. A day after that, the live-in partner left the house and did not come back for days and Eva Mae has sensed something might be wrong about the people (de los Reyes would now frequent the house) there so I requested her to immediately move out. They (with Gwen) have found a good place, an apartment in Pilit Mandaue, I have paid a security bond and one month for it, and they have cleaned it up and bought boxes to get ready for their moving out. I was happy that finally Gwen and Eva Mae will transfer. I proceeded also to give the accused final notice to vacate the house not knowing it could have ignited their anger and jealousy.

The same day (Wednesday) we have tried to contact our friends to help sa paghakot sa mga butang nila, I guess they were busy coz no one returned the calls. So we have opted to schedule for a ‘lipat bahay’ service supposed to be on the 26th of July (Saturday). On Thursday, while I was chatting with both Eva Mae and my sister who was in Bukidnon, while we were still trying to contact my friends for help with moving things out Eva Mae told me that the live-in partner just called and sounded differently asking if the accused was there and she replied yes. The other accused (de los Reyes) in a few minutes came to eat with the accused as I was told. We continued chatting until Eva Mae stopped replying at around 3:15 P.M. Cebu time.

I felt nervous coz eventhough she mentioned earlier that they would sleep in Mandaue that night, she’d always inform me when she leaves the house. I was in my office working at that time so I asked my sister to try to keep in touch with Eva Mae since I got so worried. I also asked to contact Grace, Eva Mae’s sister to know if she’s aware of her whereabouts. I contacted my friend Julius Garcia and requested to have an immediate check on the house but he got stuck with his kids so he called the guard to check the house for him, he was told by the accused that they (Eva Mae and Gwen) have left earlier.

But I was suspicious coz they have not yet informed me that they have gone to Mandaue. I called up Grace and asked if she knew the place in Mandaue aron makasiguro mi na tua sila didto and she replied "wala siya katuod", she calmed me down though by saying she’d be OK and will tell her that I called. I went home and took a couple of hrs sleep. I still didn’t get any response till I went back to work; I felt a very odd sensation on my way to work like I would want to cry so hard. I spent most of the hrs on my shift trying to contact the best people I can find to help me check on them in the house. Roughly 25 hrs has passed without any communication with Eva Mae; I called the guards and forced them to break in the house, hoping they’d find Eva Mae and Gwen there. They refused to do so without prior authorization from the owner of the house, my sister Karen then contacted my friend Michelle who lives in the neighborhood to attest of my ownership of the house. So they broke in the house, at the same moment Grace and Josh arrived (I was on the phone with the guard), I felt a fleeting relief to hear their voices but again got worried when they saw Eva Mae’s backpack still in the living room.

That’s the time I knew something is very wrong. I immediately requested Grace to report this to the police and to block the access of the accused to the house. I was still hopeful nothing worse has happened to them that they were just taken as hostage somewhere. I was so restless at that time until Grace called me and spilled the gruesome news in crying, I'd cried and passed out in my father’s arms.

Maayo gani kay abtik ang mga kapolisan ug nadakpan on the same day ang mga criminal. I strongly condemn their actions. Moangkon ko nga nagaplano ko na mo-retaliate sa mga accused to take vengeance for Eva Mae’s and Gwen’s brutal death but neither would it change anything nor will it make things better. Gipadako sab mi sa among mga ginikanan na mahadlokon sa Ginoo, and I cannot speak for him for his lack of it. Same blood may be running through our veins but still we are different individuals. Vengeance is not ours, it’s God’s. People have advised me to leave everything in God’s hands, though it is painful and devastating, I guess I have no choice but to do so.

I still find it hard to believe that sa kagamay lang na problema makabuhat ug ingadto ang usa ka taw labina kon kadtong tawhana igsoon ( dili na karon, I’ve cut whatever connection we have). Sakit kaayo sa akong side ug kahibaw ko na triple or labaw pa ang kasakit sa pamilya ni Eva Mae ug Gwen kay sila ang pirmirong nakakita sa lawas nila. Mura ra sad nilang gipatay ang among pamilya, ang among pamilya sa bisan asa na dapit na nakabalita sa nahitabo and they felt so terribly bad and they are looking forward na matagaan na ug hustisya ang ilang kamatayon ni Eva Mae ASAP, kulang pa gani ang ilang kinabuhi ibayad. My whole family was hoping for it to be just a terrible nightmare, but very sad to say it wasn’t. We are united in praying na mahaluna na ang mga souls ni Eva Mae and Gwen.

We had so much plans for the future ug maoy akong sincerest desire na makatabang ni Eva Mae ug accomplish sa iyang mga plano bisan wa na sya diri sa kalibotan. I know this is what she wanted aron mapahaluna na sya. She will always stay in my heart and her memories will live in me forever. Even though she’s gone, I can still feel her presence, I know she’s just here with us. I find this so difficult to write while mourning her demise coz it intensifies the pain I am feeling. I am hoping and praying that the hearts of those they have left behind will soften through their faith in God that He alone knows the purpose why this has to happen. May we all be guided.

Respectfuly Yours,

Felix Gudelosao III

Press Release

The 2nd cycle of business plan proposal submissions for the Business in Development (BiD) Challenge Philippines is now receiving plans until August 15, 2008.  BiD Challenge Philippines is an annual business plan competition that offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to develop and execute business plans to help stimulate economic growth in the countryside.  It is organized by the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) in collaboration with the BiD Network Foundation â€" The Netherlands.

Visit www.bidnetwork.org/philippines for more details. 

From:
BiD Challenge Philippines

Philippine Business for Social Progress

Dear Alicia,

Just as our friends in Tubag Bohol are still nursing pain due to a tragic car accident that claimed the life of Jez's (bol-anon ko) father and that of his cousin while his mother, brother, and sister are still fighting for their dear lives at the hospital, now your departure adds the weight of sorrow and grief in our hearts.

I am confused and puzzled. Maayo unta pud ug naay makasulti kung diin ko o kami nakasala ug nasayop, aron pud makapangayo ko ug pasaylo kung diin ko nakalapas.

Sakit man palandungon ug sakit bation nga dili ka namo ikita dinhi, apan dawaton ko ang masakit nga kamatuoran nga wala ka na dinhi sa Tubag Bohol.

Bisan pa man niining tanan, abli ang among dughan nga magpaabot sa imong pagbalik.

Usbon ko, kon diin man ako nakasala o diin man ako nagkulang o ni si bisan kinsa man kanamo ang nakakusi sa imong kasing-kasing, gipangayo ko ang imong pasaylo ug explanation diin ako o kami nahimong masalaypon.

We love you and we will be missing you. It hurts us to see you leaving us.

In the meantime, let me continue to mourn for Jez's family tragedy just as I mourn for your departure.

As what GEC had said, "a part of me died" because a great friend has left our online world, which has become a sweet oasis of friendship.

Some of his wives are younger than some of his children.

Nigerian Mohammed Bello Abubakar, 84, has advised other men not to follow his example and marry 86 women.

The former teacher and Muslim preacher, who lives in Niger State with his wives and at least 170 children, says he is able to cope only with the help of God.

"A man with 10 wives would collapse and die, but my own power is given by Allah. That is why I have been able to control 86 of them," he told the BBC.

He says his wives have sought him out because of his reputation as a healer.

"I don't go looking for them, they come to me. I will consider the fact that God has asked me to do it and I will just marry them."

But such claims have alienated the Islamic authorities in Nigeria, who have branded his family a cult.

source: BBC

By Marvin Williams

A popular afternoon television program a few years ago was hosted by a self-proclaimed medium. He supposedly received messages from spirits of the dead to give to their family members in his studio audience. His readings prompted many people to believe in this occultic practice.

We live in a culture where people are desperate to know their future, and they’ll turn to psychics and mediums for answersâ€"a practice expressly forbidden in the Scriptures.

The ancient Israelites were desperate to know their future, and God knew that they would be tempted to consult ungodly sources for answers. So He warned them to stay away from mediums and those who contact the dead (Lev. 19:26,31; 20:27; Deut. 18:9-14).

God knew that these practices would prevent ancient Israel from being a holy, set-apart people who would be a blessing to all nations. The future for Israel was determined by their faithfulness to God’s covenant, not the words of soothsayers and psychics. Reliance on these evil practices indicated a failure to trust the Lord with their lives.

When you are desperate for information about your future, turn to the sovereign God of heaven. He is the only One who holds the answers you seek.  â€" www.rbc.org

By Anne Cetas

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable . . . for instruction in righteousness. â€"2 Timothy 3:16

Randall Peterson, a retired autoworker, thinks there could be an interest for a new kind of Bible. He sarcastically says that a publisher ought to create an electronic Bible that would allow for editing from the pew. That way individuals and churches could make the Bible say what they want it to say. He says it could be called the “LAME” Bible: “Locally Adaptive Multifaith Edition” and “could be sold to any church regardless of what it believes.”

He’s making a point, of course, but we might be tempted by such a product. Jesus gives us some hard teachings! As believers, our desire is to be obedient to Him in our choices and attitudes, but at times we resist the Word of God and may wish we could soften His commands.

Some of Jesus’ hard teachings are found in the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5, He says: “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (v.44). That’s what He tells us to do, so we know we can’t just delete it. We need to apply it to our personal situation with the Holy Spirit’s enablement.

God’s Word is to be obeyed by His people. We’re the ones who need to be “revised”â€"not the Scriptures. 

By Bill Crowder

Do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, . . . but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings. â€"1 Peter 4:12-13

George Bernard Shaw once said, “England and America are two countries separated by a common language.” An example from the world of sports demonstrates his point.

As a lifelong baseball fan, I’m familiar with the term curveball. It’s a ball thrown by the pitcher in such a way that it changes direction, fooling the opponent. In cricket, the strategy is similar but the word is very different. The bowler (pitcher) tries to overcome the batsman by “bowling a googley” (pitching a curveball).

Though games and cultures differ, the concept of the curveball portrays a reality familiar in any language. Life is full of times when we are unsuspectingly “bowled a googley,” and we find ourselves overwhelmed. In those moments of fear and confusion, it’s comforting to know we have a God who is sufficient for any challenge.

Trials are to be expected (1 Peter 4:12). Yet we may well be shocked by the circumstances facing us. But God is never surprised! He permits our trials, and He can enable us to respond to them in a way that honors Him.

When we suffer, we must “commit [our] souls to Him in doing good,” wrote Peter (v.19). In God’s strength, we can face life’s most troublesome curveballs.  â€" www.rbc.org

By Patricia Evangelista

When I was little, I wanted what many Filipino children all over the country wanted. I wanted to be blond, blue-eyed, and white.

I thought -- if I just wished hard enough and was good enough, I'd wake upon Christmas morning with snow outside my window and freckles across my nose!

More than four centuries under western domination does that to you. I have sixteen cousins. In a couple of years, there will just be five of us left in the Philippines, the rest will have gone abroad in search of "greener pastures." It's not just an anomaly; it's a trend; the Filipino
diaspora. Today, about eight million Filipinos are scattered around the world.

There are those who disapprove of Filipinos who choose to leave. I used to. Maybe this is a natural reaction of someone who was left behind, smiling for family pictures that get emptier with each succeeding year. Desertion, I called it. My country is a land that has perpetually fought for the freedom to be itself. Our heroes offered their lives in the struggle against the Spanish, the Japanese, the Americans. To pack up and deny that identity is tantamount to spitting on that sacrifice.

Or is it? I don't think so, not anymore. True, there is no denying this phenomenon, aided by the fact that what was once the other side of the world is now a twelve-hour plane ride away. But this is a borderless world, where no individual can claim to be purely from where he is now. My mother is of Chinese descent, my father is a quarter Spanish, and I call myself a pure
Filipino-a hybrid of sorts resulting from a combination of cultures.

Each square mile anywhere in the world is made up of people of different ethnicities, with national identities and individual personalities. because of this, each square mile is already a microcosm of the world. In as much as this blessed spot that is England is the world, so is my neighborhood back home.

Seen this way! , the Filipino Diaspora, or any sort of dispersal of populations, is not as ominous as so many claim. It must be understood. I come from a Third World country, one that is still trying mightily to get back on its feet after many years of dictatorship. But we shall
make it, given more time. Especially now, when we have thousands of eager young minds who graduate from college every year. They have skills. They need jobs. We cannot absorb them all.

A borderless world presents a bigger opportunity, yet one that is not so much abandonment but an extension of identity . Even as we take, we give back. We are the 40,000 skilled nurses who support the UK's National Health Service. We are the quarter-of-a-million seafarers manning most of the world's commercial ships. We are your software engineers in Ireland, your construction workers in the Middle East, your doctors and caregivers in North America, and, your musical artists in London's West End.

Nationalism isn't bound by time or place. People from other nations migrate to create new nations, yet still remain essentially who they are. British society is itself an example of a multi-cultural nation, a melting pot of races, religions, arts and cultures. We are, indeed, in a borderless world!

Leaving sometimes isn't a matter of choice. It's coming back that is. The Hobbits of the shire travelled all over Middle-Earth, but they chose to come home, richer in every sense of the word. We call people like these balikbayans or the 'returnees' -- those who followed their dream, yet choose to return and share their mature talents and good fortune.

In a few years, I may take advantage of whatever opportunities come my way. But I will come home. A borderless world doesn't preclude the idea of a home. I'm a Filipino, and I'll always be one. It isn't about just geography; it isn't about boundaries. It's about giving back to the country that shaped me.

And that's going to be more important to me than seeing snow outside my windows on a bright Christmas morning.

Mabuhay and Thank you.

Thanks Margz for sharing the photos. What a lovely couple. They're so blessed. May God bless them more.

forwarded by Leo Udtohan

An incredible love story has come out of China recently and managed to touch the world. 
It is a story of a man and an older woman who ran off to live and love each other  in peace for over half a century.

The 70-year-old Chinese man who hand-carved over 6,000 stairs up a mountain for his 80-year-old wife has passed away in the cave which has been the couple's home for the last 50 years.

Over 50 years ago, Liu Guojiang a 19 year-old boy, fell in love with a 29 year-old widowed  mother named Xu Chaoqin..

In a twist worthy of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, friends and relatives criticized the relationship because of the age difference and the fact that Xu already had children.

At that time, it was unacceptable and immoral for a young man to love an older woman.. To avoid the market gossip and the scorn of their communities, the couple decided to elope and lived in a cave in Jiangjin County in Southern ChongQing Municipality.

In the beginning, life was harsh as they had nothing, no electricity or even food.  They had to eat grass and roots they found in the mountain, and Liu made a kerosene lamp that they used to light up their lives.   

Xu felt that she had tied Liu down and repeatedly asked him, 'Are you regretful? Liu always replied, 'As long as we are industrious, life will improve.'

In the second year of living in the mountain, Liu began and continued for over 50 years, to hand-carve the steps so that his wife could get down the mountain  easily.

Half a century later in 2001, a group of adventurers were exploring the forest and were surprised to find the elderly couple and the over 6,000 hand-carved steps.  Liu MingSheng,  one of their seven children said, 'My parents loved each other so much, they  have lived in seclusion for over 50 years and never been apart a single day.  He hand carved more than 6,000 steps over the years for my mother’s convenience, although she doesn't go down the mountain that much.'

The couple had lived in peace for over 50 years until last week. Liu, now 72 years, returned from his daily farm work and collapsed. Xu sat and prayed with her husband as he passed away in her arms. So in love with Xu, was Liu, that no one was able to release the grip he had on his wife's hand even after he had passed away.   

'You promised me you'll take care of me, you'll always be with me until the day I died, now you left before me, how am I going to live without you?' 

Xu spent days softly repeating this sentence and touching her husband's black coffin with tears rolling down her cheeks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6nIIMt0JzM

This video is courtesy of Nestor Daarol, DYTR.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmVAWKfJ4Go

Johnny Cash converted himself into Christianity in 1968 and left his drug addiction.
This is his last song before he died.

Socialite Paris Hilton has made a spoof advertisement in response to a jibe by US presidential hopeful John McCain.

A commercial suggested Mr McCain's Democratic rival, Barack Obama, was no more than a lightweight celebrity, like Hilton or Britney Spears.

But in a spoof recording placed on the comedy website Funny or Die, Hilton referred to Mr McCain as "that wrinkly, white-haired guy".

She claimed being used in his ad meant she was now "running for president".

'Complete waste'

Reclining on a chair in a swimming costume and gold stilettos, she said: "Thanks for the endorsement, white-haired dude."

"I want America to know that I'm, like, totally ready to lead."

source: BBC

Hi Belle,

Especially that we can't be with Jez physically. We are all scattered in many corners of the globe. Even in this way we can somehow let Jez and those who are grieving with him that we feel their pains and we are reaching out to them though they can't hold our hands and feel our embrace.

Shutting down a forum site to pay tribute to our departed ones may not be a practice in other websites. We wish to set an example so that those who may come after us would do the same thing when life's deepest pain grips on someone's soul.

The death of my father has taught me to be more sensitive on the pains, sorrows, and struggles of my neighbors, friends, and fellow humans.

The way we behave online tells a lot about the way we behave offline and who we are inside.

For those who have not read the decision of Tubag Bohol on the most recent infraction of our guideline, Click Here

Belle, you can reset a new password. I think you just misspelled your password when you entered it.

This is the copy of the Notice we posted when we temporarily shut down Tubag Bohol in honor of Jez's family.

Tubag Bohol is temporarily closed. We will resume 7 hours later (2 a.m. Philippine time). This is to honor and in memory of Jez's father and a cousin who perished in a tragic car accident in Bohol. Jez's mother, brother, sister-in-law and another cousin are still in Ramiro Hospital. Let us rest from browsing Tubag Bohol and spend some time reflecting on life in eternity and more so on praying earnestly for Jez family that God may pour out more of His love and grace to all of them who are in deep sorrow and grief these days. God bless us all.

From now on, The 7 Hours of Silence will always be practiced in Tubag Bohol's lifestyle. Let's all pray that we'll all be prepared to face life's darkest moments one day...

Jez, as I was praying for you and for your family today, I just didn't know what words must I use to touch the throne of God. But I prayed for comfort and peace in your heart and your loved ones' hearts.

I know so well the indescribable pain brought by death. My father passed away last year. Please, don't hesitate to let us know how we can help you soothe the pain in your soul.

It is difficult for me to laugh or smile since yesterday, thinking of this family tragedy that you are going through. I wish naa ko sa Bohol to comfort your family.

What had happened. Tubag Bohol was shut down by the host company for excessive use of resources. I was really disappointed because we already paid 3 years advance for this company. They told me that they will only restore Tubag Bohol if I outline certain measures on how to limit resources. So I removed some features of our site: image signatures, rating/applaud, avatar on board index, etc...

There is a possibility that we would be upgrading to a higher-capacity server to accommodate the demands of Tubag Bohol traffic.

It was somehow unexplainable. Jez's family met a tragic accident. It was also the time that TB was inaccessible.

May the Lord pour out His love and grace on Jez's family. This is so tragic. Remember the Ramasola car accident years ago?

Jez, I am praying for your family. I don't know how to comfort you for our God alone has the power to deal with your pain.

Friends, what can we do with Jez? Can some of us who are based in Bohol visit his family at the funeral and at the hospital?

Dear Friends,

Due to server overload, TB is requesting everyone to please remove all image signatures. Just use text in all signatures.

We have removed some features of Tubag Bohol. We will reinstall them when we have moved to a new location.

Thank you for understanding.

This is only temporary until we find a new webhosting company that can handle the traffic of Tubag Bohol.

Rating and applaud have been removed too due to their use of database connection.

Thank you for understanding.

Dear Friends,

As we all know, Tubag Bohol was shut down by the server host due to server overload. There will be changes in our operation.

One of these changes is to limit the number of PMs. Please empty your Inbox and Outbox today.

Thank you for understanding. Please pass this message around.

Mike

By Engineer Jes Tirol
Sundry Chronicle of the Bohol Chronicle

Proem

In the previous issue we were informed by Gobernadorcillo Leon Torralba that the population of Tagbilaran in 1855 was approximately 7,000 and 300 among them were mestizos. We also knew that they ate four (4) times a day and potable water was scarce. There were only four (4) businessmen and about 100 seafaring traders.
Let us proceed to the next set of questions and answers.

Set II. Information Regarding Agriculture

1. What is the measure of length and area? Answer: More than one and one-half square leagues (about 61.44 sq. km.). [Note: The land area of Tagbilaran is now 32.7 sq. km. apparently the land area given by Don Leon Torralba included the boundary up to Bacong, Cortes near the bridge located at the swamp. In late 1855 the place called Wadje (now: La Paz, Cortes) was surrendered to Cortes, Bohol for being very troublesome. The boundary was transferred to Sombria Bridge near the present Mangga Market. - JBT]

2. What is the price of foods as well as jobs? Answer: The mais (corn) is the ordinary food of the people; the usual price during harvest season is cuatro reales (note: 8 reales = 1 peso) and after that one peso (note: no quantity given). The salary is one-half real per day with meals.

3. Those who are renting land, do they pay the landlord in money or in kind? Answer: There are no lands under lease or rent.

4. How many quiñones, etc. (These Spanish measure of land area. - JBT) of land is the estimate for those unoccupied, acquired, or a mixture and those that are dry land? Answer: There are no lands that are irrigated much less adequate for irrigation and landholdings are small.

5. For how many years are the land lease and what are the principal conditions of the contract? Answer: There are no lands in lease.

6. Are there existing haciendas (big landed estate) in any form? To whom does it belong? What is the type of land? Answer: There are no haciendas.

7. What are those haciendas cultivated for? Or the other lands that are not haciendas? Answer: The lands existing are not comparable to haciendas for there are none.

8. Are the cultivated lands fenced or could not be passed through? Answer: They have fences that could not be destroyed by the force of animals.

9. Are there wastelands or communal lands? What are their products? Answer: There are no wastelands and those that are cultivated yield very little and it could not sustain the needs of the owner.

10. What is the distribution of planted lands? Answer: They are for mais (corn), camote (sweet potato), and ube (yam).

11. What are the quantity of harvest per year and their kinds? Answer: They yield very little harvest for mais, camote, and ube.

12. What is the number of cavans planted or sugarcane fingerlings used? Answer: According to my estimate, it is about ten (10) cavans of seedling due to the bad land that there is in this town.

13. What is the time for planting and when is the harvest? Answer: In the month of January the mais and camote are planted and they are harvested four (4) months later. In June (some in September) the ube is planted and harvested in January.

14. What is the number of animals employed in cultivation and what kind? Answer: There are twenty (20) carabaos.

15. How many exists (the animals - JBT) in the town and their condition? Answer: About five hundred carabaos and cows.

16. How many pigs, hens, rooster, capones (castrated), chicks, turkey, geese, pasture land, etc.? Answer: In my estimate there are about 300 pigs, 3,000 hens and 17 capones, 11,100 coco trees and 1,460 cacao trees.

17. What are the implements or farming tools used? Answer: The bolo and the kind they call puang (puwang) and very few plows.

18. What is the interest of money imposed? Are they paid in coins? When? Answer: None.

19. The food of the workers of the field, are they the same with that of the poblacion folks or are they different? Answer: The difference is that the poblacion folks eat mais (corn) with viand but majority of the field or farm workers eat camote (sweet potato) and some edible fruits that exist in the field.

20. The lands that are tilled, do they receive fertilizers? Answer: None.

21. At what time do the poblacion folks and farm folks wake up and when do they retire to sleep? Answer: They poblacion and farm folks retire at 10 o'clock at night and they wake up at 5 o'clock in the morning.

22. Of the two types, what are the family works when evening comes? Answer: Generally they are occupied with cotton products, prepare for supper, commerce, and prepare for sleep.

23. How many cotton trees, coffee trees, etc. are cultivated and what product does each one yields? Answer: There are more than 200,850 cotton trees. It yields products of more than one cate (1 lb 6 oz) per tree.

24. What method is observed for their care and benefit? Answer: They shut and lock (the doors and windows) and clean the weeds.

25. What new cultivable and useful plant can be introduced? Answer: Not possible to introduce them because the land would not permit it and the sun is very hot.

By Wenny Reyes
Bohol Chronicle

Ubay Vice Mayor Galicano Atup begged off from continuing to preside last Tuesday's SB regular session after he lost control of his emotion and even shed tears while protesting the memorandum and veto message of mayor Eutiquio Bernales.

He, however, claimed he had no conflict with the mayor but a misunderstanding conceived by an outside hand.

During his presiding officer's privilege, Atup questioned the propriety of such unnumbered office memo considering the separation of functions and responsibilities between the executive and legislative departments. "This is an
encroachment," Atup said describing the same as "ridiculous, baseless, embarrassing, and politically motivated decision-making which is definitely not welcome by the people of Ubay."

He further said this is an insult to the municipal health officer who was stripped of his duties and responsibilities over the management of the ambulance and reassigned the same to an office whose function are not directly concerned with the delivery health services.

The controversial memo dated July 16, the mayor "ordered that the approval of all the trip tickets on all travels of the ambulance assigned at Rural Health Unit 1 (RHU-1) is hereby transferred to Engr. Dionisio Boiser, municipal planning and development officer (MPDC). "This is, accordingly, "in our desire to deliver health services to our constituents covered by the RHU-1, taking into consideration of the very heavy workload of the office of the Vice Mayor."

On the other hand, in his inter-office communication to Bernales, Atup said "with due respect to the office of Local Chief Executive, it is my humble way of informing the office of the Mayor that the office of the rural health physician (RHU-1) is the only office that approves all trip tickets on all travels of the ambulance assigned at RHU-1 until at present." He emphasized that "the SB through the office of the Vice Mayor is only providing the maintenance and operational needs of the ambulance and the drivers which are supposed to be undertaken by the Executive dept."

Atup recalled in saying that "please be reminded also that the ambulance was once managed by your good office few years back, but to the dismay of the drivers and the patients' families and relatives, the ambulance was not properly maintained and caused more inconvenience to the patients." "The patients' relatives could not even reached the whereabouts of the former ambulance drivers and one of them even drove the unit under the influence of liquor," Atup further stressed.

Welcome aboard/onboard, Vincent. Starry, starry night...

Bem, come to Thailand and you will experience the power of chili on your mouth.

A seven-man Australian Political Exchange Council delegation is in Bohol to strengthen relations between Australia and the host country thru APEC's international exchange program with the Philippine Council of Young Political Leaders (PCYPL).

APEC has been active in wide-ranging political exchanges enhancing Australia's cooperation with nations like the Philippines, United States, Japan, Germany, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Korea and China.

The visiting foreign officials led by South Australian House of Assembly Speaker Jack Snelling was met by a Bohol group led by PCYPL national president and Bohol - First District Rep. Edgar Chatto in their arrival here yesterday morning.

Their visit can create new momentum in the local economy, cultural tourism promotion, effective governance and political dynamism.

Gov. Erico Aumentado, Provincial Board Member Alfonso Damalerio II, Bohol president of the National Movement of Young Legislators (NMYL), and Tagbilaran City Vice Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso, Bohol president of the Vice Mayors' League of the Philippines (VMLP), joined Chatto in a launch welcoming the APEC party.

Snelling and company will get sharp focus of the province's development gains and projection, including the degree of tourism in this part of the globe, in a powerpoint presentation at the Bee Farm Conference Room in Dauis this morning.

source: Bohol Chronicle

By Kit Bagaipo
Bohol Chronicle

The Department of Health (DOH) again raised alarm over the potential resurgence of dengue cases as the rainy season starts to set in.

The Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) 7 has recorded a 10% increase of dengue cases since January to July this year compared to the same period last year in the entire Central Visayas.

Although reported cases here in Bohol have dropped, the RESU 7 is urging local government units to intensify information campaign on dengue emphasizing the importance of eliminating breeding places of mosquitoes.

An advisory of RESU 7 also recommended the mobilization of the community to actively participate in environmental sanitation activities such as clean up drives.

Last year, Tagbilaran City ranked second to Cebu City in the number of deaths and dengue admittances in hospitals. From January to July last year, there were 245 hospital admissions in the city due to dengue with 2 deaths.         

The towns of Dauis and Jagna also ranked in the top ten of dengue afflicted areas last year with 73 and 67 hospital admissions respectively which was recorded from January to July.

This year however, Tagbilaran, Dauis and Jagna have so far recorded a much lower incidence of dengue.

In the entire Region VII, a total of 2,500 dengue cases were admitted to different RESU 7 sentinel hospitals since January with 74 deaths, according to the DOH dengue monitoring.

By the Bohol Chronicle

Rep. Edgar Chatto took action on Friday to finally solve the perennial water problem in Dauis town.

The solon met with Mayor Luciano Bongalos, Vice Mayor Jimmy Jimenez and the members of the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) together with Bohol Water Utilities, Inc. (BWUI) General Manager Romero Robles and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) District Engr. Celestino Adlaon.

During the meeting, immediate solutions were drawn up to solve the water problem in Dauis which, like its neighboring town
of Panglao, investments are projected to spread rapidly with tourism.

They identified the extent of project coverage, target priority areas and scopes of the upgrading and rehabilitation of the existing waterworks system.

The convergence of ideas climaxed in a surprise turnover by Chatto of the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) worth P5 million to jumpstart the major improvement.

The allocation will largely augment the P1 million just advanced by the solon to the local government unit (LGU) to address the water concern, too.         

Bongalos and Jimenez appreciated Chatto's effort because the limited resource of the LGU has been one stumbling block in solving the water problem.

New facilities like an additional water reservoir and new pipelines to allow greater supply volume and efficient distribution of water to as many outskirt households possible.

Robles assured that the BWUI can supply the growing demand while the LGU takes responsibility in water distribution.

By Christina Laun

Give these basic techniques a try for increased energy throughout the day.

   1. Turn on the lights. Your body responds naturally to changes in light, so if it's unnaturally dark where you're working or sleeping it may make staying alert a lot harder. Try keeping your blinds open a bit so you'll wake up naturally in the morning or adding a few extra lights to your workspace to keep you from feeling sleepy throughout the day.

   2. Get more sleep at night. Many people try to get by on a lot less sleep than they really need. While each person's needs will differ, 7-8 hours a night is a good goal, and will help you feel more rested and better able to concentrate on anything throughout the day.

   3. Examine your emotions. Stress, depression and other negative emotions can take a heavy toll on your energy levels. Your exhaustion may have a lot to do with how you're feeling mentally, so take the time to deal with your emotions or get help if you need it.

   4. Exercise. While it may seem counterintuitive, exercising can wake you up and give you an energy boost that lasts all day. Make time for even 30 minutes of exercise in your day and start reaping the benefits.

   5. Get a physical. There are many illnesses, some serious and some not, that can cause drops in energy and cause you to be chronically sluggish. Take a trip to your doctor if you're feeling run down on a regular basis to see if you may have a condition like mono, an underactive thyroid, or anemia.

   6. Keep a sleep schedule. Our bodies enjoy consistency, so by keeping yourself on a regular sleep schedule you may be able to wake up more easily in the mornings and get to sleep more quickly at night, making you more rested in the long run.

   7. Find things to get excited about. Of course you're going to be exhausted in the morning if all you can think about doing is things you dread. Try to find at least one thing you can get excited about doing each day, even if it's just making your favorite lunch or meeting with a friend after work.

   8. Don't linger in bed. Hitting the snooze button in the morning may delay the inevitable time when you do have to get up, but it's not doing you any favors in the long run. Challenge yourself to get up and move around for at least 10 minutes to see if you're still super tired. Chances are, once you get up you'll be ready to start your day.

   9. Wake up gradually. For some, the transition between sleep and the horrible beep of the alarm clock can create a drowsy and negative day thereafter. If your alarm tends to wake you with a start, try employing a method to wake yourself more gradually like beeps that get progressively louder or your favorite radio station.

  10. Don't focus on the negative. Being a pessimist may actually be making you more tired. Try looking on the positive side of things instead, and you may see a turn around in your energy levels.

  11. Try something new. Getting into a rut can make your day seem boring and tedious and drain your energy levels. Change things up, try new things and seek out new experiences to spice up your day a little and keep you alert and awake.

  12. Watch your attitude. If you let the bad things that happen during your day get you down, you're bound to start feeling worn out. Watch your attitude and make sure you're not letting yourself be overly negative.

> Read more here >

By Loy Palapos
Sunday Post Columnist

These are hard times, with poverty among the populace still a mammoth problem, with soaring prices of basic commodities and inflation causing nightmares, plus a political scenario that leaves a lot of things to be desired; thereby necessitating the government bureaucracy to double its effect in order to maintain an equilibrium, an upset of which could spell disaster. Consequently, various government agencies have alerted themselves to prove equal to the tasks at hand. One of the most concerned is DTI (Department of Trade and Industry), which has a big role to play in turning back the tide and make a dint in paving the way to extricate the country from total catastrophe.

  Heading the Central Visayas DTI hierarchy is Regional Director Asteria Cabagnot Caberte (ACC). On her shoulders has fallen a burden she has no intention of denying nor running away from. As far as this gutsy Lady is concerned, she is ready to take the bull by its horns.

This interview took place at ICM’s Prawn Farm (the latest attraction in fine dining), during a Press Conference to launch the July 23-27 Sandugo Regional Product and Raw Material Showcase.

LMP: How long have you been with DTI?

ACC: I started in 1979 when I was a MASICAP scholar.

LMP: Was being a member of the MASICAP program the reason you joined DTI?

ACC: It was not really intentional. I was immediately absorbed by DTI after I joined the program. From there, tuloy-tuloy na.

LMP: How long will you be working with DTI?

ACC: I still have to consider a lot of choices with my career path. DTI is not the only option but there are still a lot of things to do here.

LMP: Does that mean that you have found fulfillment with your job?

ACC: Yes, definitely. DTI has helped me a lot as a person and as a career woman. DTI is a no-nonsense organization.

LMP: How long had you been the Provincial Head of DTI?

ACC: I had been the Provincial Head for 3 years.

LMP: The moment you joined DTI, did you already have an idea about the responsibilities you were going to handle?

ACC: To be very honest, I never thought I would reach this far in the organization. I started with the lowest position, a Researcher. I had to go out the rocky terrain to do researches. I was promoted to Analyst, then Senior Specialist. I’m so lucky because unlike other employees, I had the chance to be exposed to everything. DTI is into development and marketing function. I also became Chief for Enforcement before here in Bohol. Eventually I became the Provincial Director. Every year, I always learn new things.

LMP: If you are going to asses the function of DTI from the first years that you have been with the agency up to now, would you say that it has accomplished a lot?

ACC: Yes, definitely. DTI is an organization which gives you opportunity to grow and learn new things. The agency gives us freedom to be creative and it’s just so inspiring. We launched our scheme projects like the one we have now. This is a livelihood project in different areas. The residents noted it and gave me additional instructions to send the products out from the country. This is our target for exports. How we do these things, it’s up to us. Along the way, models are identified. We replicate these models in other regions.

LMP: Most of the things duplicated are from the Central Visayas?

ACC: Yes. It has been a very successful year for me. We just had a National Business Economic Forum in Region 7.

LMP: Since you became associated with DTI in 1979, what would you consider as some of the projects that are so memorable to you?

ACC: We had this showcase of products from Inabanga. Before, we used to display the products sa Agora. Look at us now… the partnership with the LGU is so effective. The Sandugo Product Showcase is now on its 20th year. We started at Plaza Rizal, maglisod pa gyud mi kay kon mag-uwan, bisan asa na lang ibutang ang mga produkto. My biggest accomplishment as far as product showcase is concerned is that we used to be highly subsidizing this showcases; now the stakeholders are on their own.

LMP: How about the enthusiasm of those who are not yet involved with DTI? Is this something that is generating cooperation?

ACC: This time, it’s an easy ride. We are getting distributors from other regions. During my meetings, it’s a different mode na. We are getting so much support and the public believe in what we are doing.

LMP: We have mentioned last time that materials from Bohol are being smuggled to Cebu. Is this still happening?

ACC: We’re very lucky with the strategic partnership with our local and provincial governments. There is a provincial ordinance banning the shipping out of our fibers.

LMP: Is that also true with the other regions?

ACC: Dili kayo scarce ang fibers sa ubang regions, dinhi sa atoa ra.

LMP: What happens if there are no more raw materials?

ACC: I hope not. We are having a replenishment program and we’re very serious with it. The industry spearheads it itself. We go in tandem with the other stakeholders in the industry and they are successful in doing so. We are planting buri in Tubigon and Inabanga. So I don’t see any possibility that we will run out of this kind of material.

LMP: How successful is OTOP now?

ACC: It has been really successful in Bohol compared to other regions.

LMP: How many are existing right now?

ACC: Although not all of them are functioning, we have Inabanga being the model, with Tubigon and Danao.

LMP: What is the product in Danao?

ACC: They have organic vegetables, which have been there for a long time. Ang akong role na lang is to connect them to the market.

LMP: Is there a time limit for OTOP?

ACC: It is already on-going. As long as the needs are there, which I’m sure will always be there, it will continue to go. It is one of the programs which I really believe in.

LMP: There are some government agencies which, in a way, have the same objectives with DTI. For instance, the program of the Department of Agrarian and Reform. How do you coordinate with them?

ACC: OTOP is not only a DTI program. In a town for example, it should be initiated by the local government. All the other agencies concerned should be the first to suggest that their program should be for OTOP.

LMP: We understand that OTOP is successful here in Bohol, how about in other regions?

ACC: They also have very successful OTOPs like that of Paete, “kape” in Batangas, the “saging” of Davao and vegetables of Bukidnon.

LMP: Let’s talk about the economy of the country. There is an on-going crisis. How does it affect DTI?

ACC: As far as our consumer protection is concerned, we see to it that the laws we created are imposed and complied with. Kay high prices pa gani, sakyan pa gyod sa ubang pagsaka.

LMP: We understand that the responsibility of DTI is tough and could be complicated. What keeps you going?

ACC: I always maintain a good team. I am managing 212 different personalities in the region. I have to be cohesive in handling my team. They know me as a leader; they know my personality also. We shout during meetings, but at the end of the day, we make up. My way of relaxation is going home to my hometown.

LMP: What can you say to the local staff, most specifically in terms of propelling DTI to gather heights?

ACC: I always say this to my colleagues in the DTI, “review what you have done the whole day”… in fact, when I go home after a long day, I would ask myself, “have I done a good deed today? Was I able to do a good job?” I always check if I have accomplished something despite my being busy. No one can check you at the end of the day but yourself. 

       Regional Director Aster Caberte understands the current problems the country is now immersed in; but unlike the freshmen and sophomores being unnerved by recent negative developments; and she is uncowed and still on top of the situation. She has figuratively rolled up her sleeves to sit to work and face the problems brazenly without a tint of trepidation. Ever-optimistic, Director Aster Caberte has high hopes things will turn out right. But, of course, she knows it cannot happen overnight, and without the converted efforts of all concerned.

       The annual Showcase spearheaded by her Department started in 1988 when she was still with DTI-Bohol. This is her 20th year to use the Sandugo Festival to market local products. For the past 20 years, her efforts had not been in vain, although the climb to the top is still on-going.

       The present economic set-backs caused by the soaring prices of basic commodities (spurred by oil products), the unemployment rate steadily increasing, inflation at its highest in years, a political atmosphere that is chaotic (to say the least), and a President with the lowest acceptance rating since 1986… all these could have intimidated government agencies directly concerned. But DTI, Region VII still retains that optimism that characterized achievers. And at its helm in Central Visayas is Regional Director Aster Caberte, still in full control of the situation, and unperturbed in her determination to pursue with her plans. And like her previous commitments, Lady Aster will succeed.                                                             

In addition, many lawyers and fiscals have abandoned the law profession as they are now enrolled in nursing schools.

I had a bad experience in hospitals sa ato in which some nurses are just buying time with their hospital jobs as they wait for their visas. I saw male nurses in Cebu who smoked cigarette at the hospital.

Help and Support Section is dedicated for all questions or concerns related to using this website. These questions may be about profile settings, posting topics, replying to topics, posting new topics, posting pictures among others.

Please find the appropriate category for all your non-technical, non-TubagBohol-related questions. Thank you.

My busy schedule has prevented me from posting this overdue announcement.

What you are about to read is the concluding episode of Mikey Gatal and Aguiman3mm's skirmish, which was first seen, unfortunately, in the chop-chop murder thread.

Resolution:

1. Aguiman3mm's comment/attack on Mikey Gatal's avatar was misplaced and uncalled for. If we found Mikey's avatar offensive, the admins of Tubag Bohol would have been the first to ring the warning bell which we have repeatedly done so in the past to certain members who failed to abide with the site's policy.

2. Mikey Gatal's avatar is definitely not offensive. If Aguimann found Mikey's picture offensive, then she should also include Hollywood stars in her crusade against "shirtless" men and women who are always seen on television, in the Internet, and on oversize billboards. She may also send emails to Filipino actors who had been seen publicly without shirt on Boracay shorelines and on Bohol beaches. Singling out Mikey Gatal is just unfair to him.

3. Aguimann said in her public comment that Mikey doesn't have a sexy body to display of. Such remark is pure insult and it was simply shattering to Mikey's quiet heart.

While universal laws have granted all a right to exercise freedom of speech, this freedom does not give anyone a diploma nor a certificate to publicly hurt someone's feelings, let alone against a peace-loving friend of Tubag Bohol Family.

4. Aguimann exploded an insulting comment on Mikey Gatal's avatar in the Chop-chop Murder topic.

While the Boholano community was pouring out indescribable words of shock, disbelief, compassion, and indignation over an unimaginable crime against two Boholana women and against humanity, there she was, suddenly interrupting people's sacred moments of deep reflection with her heartbreaking remark on Mikey Gatal's now controversial body.

If she couldn't stand looking at Mikey's avatar, she could have sent Mikey a Private Message (PM), or she could have started a new thread that would chronicle her own shock and indignation over an uncovered bosom. Thus, her unholy comment was nothing but misplaced and uncalled for.

Or, perhaps, the thought of paying respect to the murdered Boholana women should restrain one from unleashing a personal rant against anyone here in TubagBohol.com.

5. When Tubag Bohol administrator Grazie7y (Grace) and another friend, Spiderman, pointed out Aguimann's using of ALL CAPS on a surprising tirade on Mikey Gatal's avatar, Aguiman then posted a sardonic rebuttal, this time with deliberate splashing of ALL CAPS in the chop-chop murder forum thread, an act deemed by many of us offensively inappropriate.

Without touching the merit of Aguimann's rebuttal or that of Grace or that of Spiderman, Tubag Bohol should say that repeatedly using ALL CAPS, despite the fact that one was already reminded not to do so, was digitally unethical and a pure act of disrespect to those who painstakingly labor, day and night, for the well-being of Tubag Bohol website.

6. Pointing out a fact that one is a certified nurse in the State of California, USA, and being a graduate of the Holy Spirit School of Tagbilaran City, was totally irrelevant and immaterial to the heart of the discussion.

Education and ethics do not co-exist in a world powered by love and unity.

7. Today, Aguimann's membership in Tubag Bohol is removed. Tubag Bohol had decided to impose a ban on Aguiman's account, but since Aguiman3mm requested for an account removal, her wish, and for the best interest of Tubag Bohol Family, is hereby granted.

Tubag Bohol Admins will only restore her membership if Aguiman3mm would issue a public apology that may repair Mikey's broken heart.

This announcement is posted so that we may all be reminded that Tubag Bohol is standing on a foundation - that is cemented by sweet love and unity and discipline and undying friendship.


May God bless us all,

Tubag Bohol Family

By Kit Bagaipo
Bohol Chronicle

The family of the two "chop-chop" victims finally came face to face with the three suspects in the brutal killing of their kin as charges of double murder was filed at the Office of the Prosecutor in Talisay City yesterday afternoon.

Senior Inspector Romeo Santander , chief of the Minglanilla PNP in Cebu told the Chronicle that Richard
Gudelosao, 27, and two accomplices Joseph Cellar, 23, and Jean Antonette Medalle, 26, were formally charged with double murder based on their extra-judicial confessions of killing and cutting up Ma. Eva Mae Peligro, 24, and her cousin Gwendolyn Balasta, 22, in their Talisay City home last Thursday.

The victims are both from Poblacion, Sierra Bullones while Gudelosao is from Pilar town.

Even if Gudelosao and Cellar are now blaming each other as to who is really responsible in the gruesome killing of Peligro and Balasta, police are confident both will be convicted of the crime based on their confessions, Santander said. The suspects were reportedly under the influence of marijuana.         

"Pinning each other would only strengthen the case," according to Santander, as both will have "the same culpability of the crime as they already admitted to chopping off and disposing the body parts of the victims."

As of yesterday, Santander said they already recovered 12 of the 13 bags that contained the chopped up body parts leaving only 1 bag still unrecovered which contained the arms of one of the victims, Santander said.

"We have matched the body parts according to the complexion of the victims," he added.

Medalle's charges could be lowered as accessory to commit the double murder as there was no evidence to her direct participation to the killing and cutting of the victims' body parts.

It was last Thursday that Gudelosao and the two accomplices chopped off Peligro, a fiancée of his brother, and her cousin Balasta.

The suspects were apprehended by the Minglanilla PNP last Saturday, two days after they committed the crime.

In their confession, the suspects admitted they cut up the victims' bodies with a kitchen knife and placed them in 13 garbage bags which they threw separately in the mountain barangays of Toledo, Naga, Talisay and Minglanilla.

Gudelosao, a taxi owner-driver, told police that he committed the crime as Peligro, a fiancée of his younger brother, passed on intrigues to his brother and mother in the United States which was the reason for stopping his monthly allowance.

The remaining unrecovered body parts are said to be in barangay Manipis, Talisay City as pointed out by Gudelosao who accompanied PNP-Soco (Scene of the Crime Operatives) in the recovery operations.

Last Sunday, the Talisay City PNP recovered a garbage bag which contained the torso of one of the victims which was found below a 50-foot ravine.

It was also last Sunday that relatives of the victims from Sierra Bullones went to identify their remains at a funeral home in Talisay City.

The suspects were supposed to be brought to the Police Regional Office in Camp Sergio Osmeña, Cebu City last Sunday. However, Regional Police Director CSupt. Ronald Roderos instructed that charges be filed first at the Talisay City Prosecutor.

"Officially, the case is closed because the apprehended suspects have already admitted to the crime and appropriate charges have been filed," Santander said.

Yesterday, authorities were also asked by neighbors of the victims to check the septic tank of Peligro's house where they could trace a foul smell.

Police investigators said there is reason to believe that the crime was planned by the suspects due to Gudelosao's anger towards Peligro.

By Ric V. Obedencio
Published by the Bohol Standard

Even before questions could be answered why the result of the supposed investigation of the Capitol Poverty Funds has not come out yet, another controversy is again in the limelight.

The Provincial Agriculturist Office (PAO) has issued clarification over the misconception of the reported investigation on the alleged misuse of certified rice seeds (CRS) primarily intended for farmers’ planting use.

It said that the said probe was an offshoot of the report reaching the vice-governor’s office (VGO) that a lot of certified rice seeds distributed to the farmers, instead of being planted in the fields, found their way to the rice mills.

The provincial government has created a special body, composed of the PAO and the Provincial Legal Office and other offices, to do the inquiry on the report.

Quirog issued the statement to douse cold water to persistent reports reaching the VGO that only the millers “are penalized” on the misuse of the CRS. She said that the investigation has just begun. There is no truth to the report that only rice millers are probed.

“How can anybody be found of a wrongdoing if the probe has not been completed yet,” she asked.

In an interview yesterday, Provincial Agriculturist Liza Quirog said that the probe is intended to all parties believed to be involved in the disposal and milling of certified rice seeds. Parties included the distributors, farmers who are beneficiaries and even the municipal agricultural officers (MAO) in the towns and others who may be parties of the rice seeds mess.

The supply of the seeds was reportedly channeled through the Pilar-based Bohol Farmers Cooperative or BOFAMCO which got subsidy from the provincial government to procure the seeds.

She explained that the probe also tapped the active participation of the local officials, particularly the mayors, initially in the towns of Pilar, Sierra-Bullones, Tubigon and Alicia, where these rice seeds were distribute or allocated.

Only Mayor Luna Piezas of Tubigon has cooperated so far, she said. While waiting for other towns to do the submission of their report, nothing would be arrived at yet or what recommendation to take.

Efforts to contact Atty. Handel Lagunay and BOFAMCO former president Antonio Balonga for comments failed. Balonga was the cooperative’s boss during which the distribution of the seeds took place.

By Joe Espiritu
Columnist, Sunday Post

The Sandugo celebration is over but every time we commute between Jagna and Tagbilaran, we see two Sandugo monuments. One is in Hinawanan, in the town of Loay and the other is in Bool, Tagbilaran City. Until local historians agree on one location, there will be two monuments. If our researcher, Sr Gaudencio L Patulilik was on the right track, the monument should have been in the Chocolate Hills. But that was another story.

According to the findings of Antonio Salas Madera, he came upon the information, a translation of the Legaspi chronicles, that his flotilla dropped anchor in Jagna cove after failing to reach Masao, Butuan. His square rigged vessels could not sail close hauled against the northeast trade winds, blowing from the general direction of Masao. The winds could have been blowing from the general direction of east by northeast

Whether Jagna was named Jagna at that time, no one knows but perhaps this name appeared only after the map of Bohol was drawn and the vicinity was identified after finding the place in accordance with the topography. When the natives refused water to Legaspi, the ships sailed westward. The nearest body of freshwater in that direction was the Manaba River. Perhaps they sailed farther offshore to notice it but they should have noticed the break in the mountain ridge to indicate the possible presence of a river.

The travel time from Jagna to the next water source would give a clue to the place of the meeting between Legaspi and Sikatuna. The time lapse between the moment they weighed anchor in Jagna to the moment the anchor dropped at the Sandugo site plus the description of the topography of the area would give a clue to the place.

Then, the meeting place should be near a settlement. Since there were no roads at that time people could have commuted between settlements and villages by boats. Or they could walk through jungle paths. There were no horses in Bohol at that time and carabaos are too slow.

The problem is: the ancient local culture did not build permanent structures. The erected stone fences to delineate property boundaries but the stones have been used lately and traces of them are no longer found. The only evidence of their past existence are the graveyards. Ancient people practiced secondary burial; that is they bury their dead in one place then after a time dig up the bones and store them in another place in dugout coffins.

Coastal towns of southern Bohol had reported only three burial grounds; one in Bas Dio, Anda, in Canupao, Jagna and the westernmost is in Bool, near the ancient balite tree in the vicinity of Englewood hospital. If the Blood Compact was in Loay, there should have been an ancient village nearby. Sikatuna and his men could have lived near the water source.

If the Sandugo was done in Bool, Sikatuna could have been from Tagbilaran or Baclayon or even Dauis. Ancient villages are found there. If the Blood Compact was in Loay as claimed, Sikatuna could have been from the nearest barrio of Alburquerque, or Loay or Loboc. However those towns have not reported presence of pre Spanish settlements.

Sikatuna appeared in history only once and that was during the Sandugo. After that he faded back into obscurity. It is not known if he was a powerful chieftain of a large part of Bohol or only a headman of a small settlement. It is not known if Loay River is under his domain â€" that is if the Sandugo was in Loay - or he was only there for some other reason. It would be illogical to assume that they had agreed to meet in a certain place. Theirs had been a chance meeting.

Since the local ancients left no written records, we will never know anything about Sikatuna. The only viable proof the Sandugo site would be the logbook of the Legaspi flagship/ if it still exists. 

A Song of Despair
by Pablo Neruda

The memory of you emerges from the night around me.
The river mingles its stubborn lament with the sea.

Deserted like the dwarves at dawn.
It is the hour of departure, oh deserted one!

Cold flower heads are raining over my heart.
Oh pit of debris, fierce cave of the shipwrecked.

In you the wars and the flights accumulated.
From you the wings of the song birds rose.

You swallowed everything, like distance.
Like the sea, like time. In you everything sank!

It was the happy hour of assault and the kiss.
The hour of the spell that blazed like a lighthouse.

Pilot's dread, fury of blind driver,
turbulent drunkenness of love, in you everything sank!

In the childhood of mist my soul, winged and wounded.
Lost discoverer, in you everything sank!

You girdled sorrow, you clung to desire,
sadness stunned you, in you everything sank!

I made the wall of shadow draw back,
beyond desire and act, I walked on.

Oh flesh, my own flesh, woman whom I loved and lost,
I summon you in the moist hour, I raise my song to you.

Like a jar you housed infinite tenderness.
and the infinite oblivion shattered you like a jar.

There was the black solitude of the islands,
and there, woman of love, your arms took me in.

There was thirst and hunger, and you were the fruit.
There were grief and ruins, and you were the miracle.

Ah woman, I do not know how you could contain me
in the earth of your soul, in the cross of your arms!

How terrible and brief my desire was to you!
How difficult and drunken, how tensed and avid.

Cemetery of kisses, there is still fire in your tombs,
still the fruited boughs burn, pecked at by birds.

Oh the bitten mouth, oh the kissed limbs,
oh the hungering teeth, oh the entwined bodies.

Oh the mad coupling of hope and force
in which we merged and despaired.

And the tenderness, light as water and as flour.
And the word scarcely begun on the lips.

This was my destiny and in it was my voyage of my longing,
and in it my longing fell, in you everything sank!

Oh pit of debris, everything fell into you,
what sorrow did you not express, in what sorrow are you not drowned!

From billow to billow you still called and sang.
Standing like a sailor in the prow of a vessel.

You still flowered in songs, you still brike the currents.
Oh pit of debris, open and bitter well.

Pale blind diver, luckless slinger,
lost discoverer, in you everything sank!

It is the hour of departure, the hard cold hour
which the night fastens to all the timetables.

The rustling belt of the sea girdles the shore.
Cold stars heave up, black birds migrate.

Deserted like the wharves at dawn.
Only tremulous shadow twists in my hands.

Oh farther than everything. Oh farther than everything.

It is the hour of departure. Oh abandoned one!

      Tigum Bol-anon sa Tibuok Kalibutan (TBTK) 2009 got off to an auspicious start in Las Vegas two weeks ago, as two visiting Philippine officials signified support to the triennial event which last episode was in July 2006 in Tagbilaran City.

      Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Jose “Lito” Atienza and Bohol Governor Erico Aumentado told TBTK Chair Elizabeth Veloso-Garcia in a meeting that their respective offices are ready to extend support to ensure the success of the unique event that has gained the interest of Boholano expatriates around the world.

      TBTK is a grand homecoming of immigrant Boholanos from all over the world held every three years in the month of July which coincides the Sandugo province's Sandugo Festival.

      Atienza and Aumentado were the guests of honor of the family night, one of the two-day celebration of the 300 alumni of the defunct Bohol Provincial Hospital School of Nursing who gathered at Las Vegas' Planet Hollywood Hotel and Resort to celebrate their 31st alumni homecoming.

      In separate meetings, Garcia briefed the two officials on the progress of preparations for TBTK ’09 wherein the theme in next year's Tigum is nature conservancy and its impact on the environment.

      Unsurprisingly, Atienza readily accepted the honorary chairmanship of TBTK '09, saying that its theme is highly appropriate in the face of the looming threat of global warming to our planet.

      "I laud the TBTK for doing its part in dealing with environmental issues facing our world today. I find it apt that an organization of worldwide reach like the TBTK would initiate awareness about the many perils to our environment today. It is an undertaking all organizations should emulate," Atienza said.

      Atienza’s many thrusts in his tenure as DENR secretary include the cleanup of the country's polluted rivers and the restoration of depleted forests.

      Some of the few eco-oriented activities lined up in the green TBTK '09 are massive tree-planting in various municipalities of Bohol and creating mangrove forests along its selected shorelines.

      For his part, Aumentado stressed the economic and cultural impact such events as TBTK '09 could bring to the province as he urged all the Boholano associations in North America and Canada to lend their support to the triennial event.

      "Infrastructure has been consistent in Bohol and with the promise of a new international airport looming, we can expect a heavier influx of tourists from all over the world. I am pleased that events like the TBTK help not only in enhancing our tourism programs, but also in keeping the unique Boholano tradition of homecoming very much alive," Aumentado said.

      He also assured that he will make it the best considering that it's his last term as governor and he will invite President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to be the guest of honor of the Bohol day celebration set on July 22, 2009.

      Garcia also made a pitch for TBTK '09 at the well-attended BPHSN reunion at which more than 400 alumni and former staffers, families and friends attended, with some coming from as far as Philippines, Middle East, Turkey, France, London and New Zealand.

      TBTK 09 will unfold on July 16-26 next year in Tagbilaran City. Next year's Tigum promises to be the biggest and most meaningful yet as a big contingent from Europe is expected.

- Sunday Post Publication

As Seen in Sunday Post

Powerhouse, true to its name in nursing review

Incorporated only in 2006, powerhouse is living up to its billing in nursing review.

Just what does it mean to be a powerhouse?

Whether in politics or economics and oh! yes in nursing review, it means something productive and is full of energy.


Thus it came as no surprise when the recent licensure examinations for nurses bannered two reviewers from the Powerhouse Training and Review Center as top notchers. 

The two who landed in the ninth and 10th placesâ€"John Vincent Lim Omo and Evelyn Cuares Caseñas, formed part of the 317 new nurses the training center has produced. Lim Omo is a graduate of the Holy Name University while Cuares Caseñas graduated her nursing course at the University of Bohol.

Since it opened two years ago, Powerhouse had already successfully turned nursing graduates into licensed nurses totaling 1,153.

That’s no mean feat for a two year-old training establishment.

Why yet so new, yet so competent and reliable?     

A perusal of its brochure shows that indeed Powerhouse is just being true to its name as a driving force in making things happen.

Built as a company to provide personalized quality services both in training and review particularly for nurses, it envisions itself to become agent in producing globally competitive professionals.

Manned by majority of nurses, it offers learning experiences rooted with a deep commitment to usher their colleagues in gaining success both in local and foreign licensing examinations.

Describing its reviews and trainings as quality-driven, cost effective and service-oriented, Powerhouse Training and Review Center main attractions are its program, trainers and reviewers, services, facilities, cost and management and staff.

On program, Powerhouse boasts of its comprehensive and quality-oriented, student friendly and longest number of hours and preparation.

Giving premium to materials and equipment, the review center is known for its updated, relevant and complete review facilities. Simply put, they are advanced and top of the line.

It is also worth noting that its trainers and reviewers are high-caliber, cream of the crop and seasoned in their field of expertise. For services, Powerhouse is tops. The company is proud of its personalized and nurse care approach with nurse commitment. 

Another area that Powerhouse is a cut above the rest among review centers is its cost. Among review centers hereabouts, Powerhouse review cost is reasonable, wise and student and parent-friendly.

Lastly but not the least is Powerhouse’s management and staff which are   most dynamic, goal-oriented and quality-driven nursing professionals.

By Bohol Sunday Post

      In a recent meeting held in this town, members of the Bol-anon Coconut Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Inc. (BCFMPCI) unanimously moved to kick out members from Calape chapter for suspected fund sabotage.

      This was after BCFMPCI president Susie Rollete, from Calape herself, revealed that the funds accumulated from check donations to the aggrupation, Coconut Industry Investment Fund (CIIP), was deposited in the Bank of Calape in the name of the BCFMPCI-Calape chapter.

      Rollete, the one who presided the regular meeting, brought to this coastal town, the coconut farmers from the towns Balilihan, San Isidro, Cortes, Antequera, Maribojoc, loon, Calape and Dimiao, upon the invitation of Mayor Leoncio Evasco Jr.

      The meeting was mainly intended for member-coconut farmers to plan for their annual election of officers and thresh out interpersonal problems, coordination and money.

      It was after lunch that the agenda on money matters was tackled.

      The big topic all started from the conversation between Municipal Public Information Officer (MPIO) Fred Fuertes of this town and designated Maribojoc TESDA Coordinator Moises Descallar, who represented Mayor Leoncio Evasco Jr.

      Evasco was there during the opening program to welcome the farmers and their guests, but designated Descallar to represent him.

      Descallar told Fuertes that the members coming from other towns, except Calape, questioned the status of the checks donated to CIIP.

      Fr. Emie Lavinia, a clergyman whose advocacy is on cooperative development, agreed with the observation.

      Then, majority of those present questioned why the coop is facing closure for non-compliance of reporting regulations.

      On this, Rollete explained that the reporting scheme entails expenses, since all accountabilities are subject to audit by an authorized certified public accountant (CPA), and the coop has no funds to pay for the undertaking.

      After a series arguments, Rollete bared that the CIIP funds was deposited in the Bank of Calape under the name of the BCFMPCI-Calape chapter.

      The information earned for Rollete, the ire of the coco farmers from other towns.

      Right there and then, in mass motion, they lobbied that members from Calape would be excluded from the group.

      It was agreed that the coop will hold another meeting in this town without the Calape group.

      Also present during the meeting were Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Provincial Manager Jun Lago, Engr. Celso Quiao and Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) Provincial Chief Mario Limbaga.

By Merly D. Bantugan
Press Release, Sunday Post

      A whooping P28-million road projects in the rural towns of Alicia and Pilar turned uphill and muddy trails in remote barangays into concrete stretches of farm-to-market roads under the Second Agrarian Reform Communities Development Project Phase II (ARCDP-2) through the partnership of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the local government units.

      In Alicia, the once rough trail turned into a P16.55-million concrete farm-to-market road that stretched to 4.64 kilometers in barangay of Sudlon, with sufficient drainage facilities winding along the scenic rice terraces view at the La Hacienda-Sudlon Agrarian Reform Community.

      Alicia Mayor Pedro Miasco said he has anticipated more developments to follow as he encouraged the agrarian reform beneficiaries in the area to produce more.

      Moreover, Third District Rep. Adam Relson Jala, as represented by former Congressman Eladio Jala, expressed support to complement the “nice road”, by promising to give multi-cab service vehicles to these barangays soon.

      In the same vein, the strong teamwork of the local authorities in the town of Pilar, headed by Mayor Wilson Pajo, facilitated the construction of a 2.961-kilometer concrete pavement stretching through barangay Poblacion to barangay Cagawasan with a total cost of P11.8 million.

      During the turn-over ceremony on July 23, Director Adelberto Baniqued, chief technical advisor of the central project office, said that a corresponding policy must be formulated by the barangay officials concerned in order to sustain the usefulness of the project.

      Others who witnessed the turnover ceremonies held separately in the two barangays- -in Poblacion, Pilar in the morning, and Sudlon, Alicia in the afternoon- -include former Congressman Jala, Provincial Administrator Tomas Abapo Jr. representing Governor Erico Aumentado, Mayor Miasco and Mayor Pajo, and municipal and barangay officials.

      From DAR, were Lawyer Johnson Sinco, provincial head, ARCDP2 Project Deputy Alex Relova, Chief of the Program Beneficiaries Development Eddie Manginsay, DAR Project Engineer Leonard Cagampang, DAR Municipal Officer of Pilar Nila Mangayaay, DAR Muncipal Office of Alicia Anacleta Ancog, with their staff and the agrarian farmer recipients of the projects. 

Blooming California by Jamesrandklev.com

By Christian Anuta
Press Release
Bohol Chronicle

Holy Name University will install Friday its new university president, Fr. Francisco Tabora Estepa, SVD. This will be held at the St. Joseph's Cathedral at 5 o'clock in the afternoon.

Born on October 4, 1955, Fr. Kito, as his friends call him, began his elementary education at the Don Bosco Technical Institute in Mandaluyong City.

He enrolled at the Christ the King Seminary in Quezon City, finishing his secondary education in 1972. He took up AB Philosophy, attending the same seminary from 1972-1974. In 1975, he transferred to the Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay City, receiving his degree in 1977. At the same seminary Fr. Kito obtained his Theology degree in 1984.

In between his AB Philosophy and Theology degrees, Fr. Estepa enrolled for a year at Nanzan University in Nagoya, Japan for a course in Japanese Language and Culture.
         

Constantly aiming to further his knowledge, Fr. Estepa later earned his MA in Philosophy at the Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay City in 1984.

Fr. Estepa's first assignment was in Tagbilaran City, when he was appointed Chaplain at Holy Name University, then Divine Word College of Tagbilaran (DWC-T), from 1984-1985. After a year in Bohol, he was sent to Divine Word University in Tacloban City where he served as the VP for administration from 1985 to 1987 and VP for academic affairs, as well as director of research, from 1987 to 1990 respectively.

Always zealous to pursue further studies, Fr. Estepa studied at the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. for his PhD in Educational Administration from 1991 to 1997. Upon his return to the Philippines, he was appointed as the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of San Carlos in Cebu City from 1997 to 1999.

In 1999, he was elected university president of the same institution. In 2002 he became President of the Divine Word College of Legazpi, Legazpi City, Albay. He held that position before his election as the President of Holy Name University on May 22, 2008.

A Lemon
By Pablo Neruda

Out of lemon flowers
loosed
on the moonlight, love's
lashed and insatiable
essences,
sodden with fragrance,
the lemon tree's yellow
emerges,
the lemons
move down
from the tree's planetarium

Delicate merchandise!
The harbors are big with it-
bazaars
for the light and the
barbarous gold.
We open
the halves
of a miracle,
and a clotting of acids
brims
into the starry
divisions:
creation's
original juices,
irreducible, changeless,
alive:
so the freshness lives on
in a lemon,
in the sweet-smelling house of the rind,
the proportions, arcane and acerb.

Cutting the lemon
the knife
leaves a little cathedral:
alcoves unguessed by the eye
that open acidulous glass
to the light; topazes
riding the droplets,
altars,
aromatic facades.

So, while the hand
holds the cut of the lemon,
half a world
on a trencher,
the gold of the universe
wells
to your touch:
a cup yellow
with miracles,
a breast and a nipple
perfuming the earth;
a flashing made fruitage,
the diminutive fire of a planet.

source: PoemHunter

Bohol Chronicle

Philippine Navy Flag Officer in Command Vice Admiral Rogelio Calunsag will officially end his 34 years in military service this Saturday as he reaches the mandatory military retirement age of 56.

Meanwhile, President Arroyo has appointed yesterday Calunsag's replacement, Rear Admiral Ferdinand Golez.         

Calunsag, a native of Loay town, was appointed as chief of the Philippine Navy on December 8, 2006 after his stint as Inspector General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Calunsag, who grew up and finished his elementary studies in Loay, is a member of the Philippine Military Academy's Class 1974.

Golez, the incoming Navy chief is a graduate of the PMA's 1976 Class. His classmates include General Alexander Yano, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and Lieutenant General Victor Ibrado, commanding general of the Philippine Army.

A Dog Has Died
by Pablo Neruda

My dog has died.
I buried him in the garden
next to a rusted old machine.

Some day I'll join him right there,
but now he's gone with his shaggy coat,
his bad manners and his cold nose,
and I, the materialist, who never believed
in any promised heaven in the sky
for any human being,
I believe in a heaven I'll never enter.
Yes, I believe in a heaven for all dogdom
where my dog waits for my arrival
waving his fan-like tail in friendship.

Ai, I'll not speak of sadness here on earth,
of having lost a companion
who was never servile.
His friendship for me, like that of a porcupine
withholding its authority,
was the friendship of a star, aloof,
with no more intimacy than was called for,
with no exaggerations:
he never climbed all over my clothes
filling me full of his hair or his mange,
he never rubbed up against my knee
like other dogs obsessed with sex.

No, my dog used to gaze at me,
paying me the attention I need,
the attention required
to make a vain person like me understand
that, being a dog, he was wasting time,
but, with those eyes so much purer than mine,
he'd keep on gazing at me
with a look that reserved for me alone
all his sweet and shaggy life,
always near me, never troubling me,
and asking nothing.

Ai, how many times have I envied his tail
as we walked together on the shores of the sea
in the lonely winter of Isla Negra
where the wintering birds filled the sky
and my hairy dog was jumping about
full of the voltage of the sea's movement:
my wandering dog, sniffing away
with his golden tail held high,
face to face with the ocean's spray.

Joyful, joyful, joyful,
as only dogs know how to be happy
with only the autonomy
of their shameless spirit.

There are no good-byes for my dog who has died,
and we don't now and never did lie to each other.

So now he's gone and I buried him,
and that's all there is to it.


Translated, from the Spanish, by Alfred Yankauer

If You Forget Me
By Pablo Neruda

I want you to know
one thing.

You know how this is:
if I look
at the crystal moon, at the red branch
of the slow autumn at my window,
if I touch
near the fire
the impalpable ash
or the wrinkled body of the log,
everything carries me to you,
as if everything that exists,
aromas, light, metals,
were little boats
that sail
toward those isles of yours that wait for me.

Well, now,
if little by little you stop loving me
I shall stop loving you little by little.

If suddenly
you forget me
do not look for me,
for I shall already have forgotten you.

If you think it long and mad,
the wind of banners
that passes through my life,
and you decide
to leave me at the shore
of the heart where I have roots,
remember
that on that day,
at that hour,
I shall lift my arms
and my roots will set off
to seek another land.

But
if each day,
each hour,
you feel that you are destined for me
with implacable sweetness,
if each day a flower
climbs up to your lips to seek me,
ah my love, ah my own,
in me all that fire is repeated,
in me nothing is extinguished or forgotten,
my love feeds on your love, beloved,
and as long as you live it will be in your arms
without leaving mine.

By June Blanco
Bohol Capitol Media

The Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) of South Korea is keen on funding the P1.7-billion Bohol Circumferential Road Improvement Project Phase 3 (BCRIP3).

President Jeong Sup Shim of Hanjin Heavy Industries Corp.-Philippines who helped broker the meeting between Gov. Erico Aumentado and EDCF in South Korea in October last year relayed this to the governor Friday while he was inspecting the Anda Peninsula in southeastern Bohol that comprises Phase 2 of BCRIP 3.

“Only one hitch remains though: the provincial and city roads need to be converted into national roads for them to qualify for improvement using Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) funds,” Aumentado said.

With the favorable response from EDCF the governor is calling on Bohol ’s three congessmen â€" Reps. Edgar Chatto, Roberto Cajes and Adam Relson Jala of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd districts â€" to work doubly hard on the conversion process.

The coastal road of the Anda Peninsula traverses the towns of Guindulman, Anda, Candijay including Barangay Cogtong, and Mabini in the 3rd district and on to Ubay in the 2nd district.

On the other hand, while the Panglao Circumferential Road and the Panglao Spur or Central Road have been converted into national roads, the two causeways linking the resort island to the Bohol mainland and the Tagbilaran City Bypass Road as well as the Baclayon Diversionary Road all in the 1st district also need conversion.

It is mandatory that roads to be improved using ODA funds be converted into national roads, the governor cited the basic rule.

“I am urging the three congressmen to work harder on the conversion of the city and provincial roads into national roads. It will be easier sailing when the bills reach the Senate because Senate President Manuel Villar has committed to help Bohol . But the bills need the approval of the Lower House first and of the Senate Committee on Public Works,” Aumentado said, hence the request tossed to the representatives.

By Ven Arigo
Bohol Chronicle

Officials of the Bohol Water Utilities, Inc. worry that the lingering crisis can lead to revenue failure in offsetting the rising operational cost of one of the country's most efficient providers of cheapest quality water today.

The imminent fear does not discourage them, however, from further improving the already exceptional BWUI service which has become the trademark of Bohol's number one water enterprise.

It will, on the contrary, challenge the BWUI to achieve its corporate vision to be a dynamic partner for Bohol development as the utility gears for its eighth year on August 28, said BWUI general manager Engr. Romeo Robles.

Robles urged their valued consumers to cooperate in conserving water, a basic commodity delivered affordably here but valued more than gold in other places.

The prices of most commodities have skyrocketed but the BWUI rates remain among the cheapest imposed by the many water districts nationwide.

Robles encouraged the public to report any water leakage and pilferage that contribute to system's loss.

In the wake of the extortionate cost of fuel affecting the generators of economy, the BWUI is bound to maintain lesser operation expenses without sacrificing service quality even if it collects lower water tariff.

This is the obtaining situation pending the implementation of any reasonable increase.

An Asian Institute of Management (AIM) research suggests that BWUI is one of the country's most admired water districts in an overall aspect largely defined by competent service and affordability of rates.

The BWUI falls in the category of a water district, which is distinct from rural waterworks systems.

BWUI's existing minimum charge at only P65 for the first 10 cubic meters of water consumed is cheapest by a water district in the country.

It is lower than the P90 and P98 respectively imposed by the water districts of Carcar in Cebu and Zamboanga City.

Most consumers use an average of 30 cubic meters of water a month, in which bracket the BWUI still tops involving rate affordability at an existing P232.60 per 30 cu.m. as against Carcar's P310 and Zamboanga City's P320. (The Carcar and Zamboanga charges have now even gone higher following the approval of their rate increases.)

The BWUI has a pending application for P75 minimum rate (first 10 cu.m.) and P332.25 per 30 cu. m. which, if imposed, will still be among the five lowest rates charged by water districts in the country.

The water district of Meycauyan in Bulacan values its minimum water consumption at P384 and for every 30 cu.m. at P1,266.50.

The utility in Santiago City, also in Region 3 like Meycauayan, charges P987 per 30 cu.m. while Masbate's water district imposes P910.50.

By Ven Arigo
Bohol Chronicle

An elementary valedictorian, of poor family, distantly looks at dreams of a bright future amid pains of the Big C and echoes a call to fellow young Boholanos: Do not fail your parents.

William Tambis of Cambailan, Catigbian, Bohol, still yearns to finish a course but his illness, a nasopharynzal carcinoma or nasal cancer on stage four, has physically weakened him.

Now 23, the intellectually gifted young man's only consolation was his having completed his secondary years at the Holy Infant Academy (HIA) in his town out of "mercy" grades.

The Chronicle chanced upon him when he visited Rep. Edgar Chatto here to thank for the solon's assistance while he underwent chemotherapy sessions at the Philippine General Hospital.

Consistently topping his class, then the pupil Tambis graduated valedictorian at the Cambailan Elementary School.

He was 14 and already in secondary education years when he started to feel pains in the head.

He could no longer do his school works as normal students would, but the boy was persistent to finish high school.

He had the pity of his teachers, who allowed him to just keep schooling because they would let him pass and graduate "no matter what would happen."

Tambis sensed he could no longer go to college.

His father Pedro is a family driver in Manila while his mother Lydia is now a barangay kagawad, whose election the son attributed to barrio people's way of helping their family.

Their poverty has not discouraged his younger three brothers from pursuing their studies - one is taking food technology in a vocational school, the two others now in high school.

Tambis advised all other young Boholanos to be sincere and serious in their studies as he recalled a time when one of his brothers decided to stop schooling.

He told his brother that he would surely continue his studies "God permits." His brother got back to school.

It was in 2005 when he was diagnosed of stage-four nasal cancer, Tambis recounted to the Chronicle.

Alone, he had gone to the offices of Vice Pres. Noli de Castro, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and then Sen. Serge Osmeña for additional medical assistance.

At one time, Tambis was allowed inside the Malacanang compound but was only assisted by an aide of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo.

Tambis said he could never forget how Chatto and his congressional staff in Manila had accommodated and assisted him.

One of his intents in visiting the solon in his house here was for one of his brothers to avail of scholarship.

Tambis still hopes for a "miracle to happen because nothing is impossible with God."

The elementary valedictorian wearily recalls an intimately tearful moment with his mother when he asked: "Would it be just okay to you, Ma, if I would graduate in high school without honors."

Cancer comes like a thief in the night.
She's too young to face this ordeal. May the Lord heal her. We are certain that there are thousands who are standing by her right now.

I haven't heard anything about TBTK since the mass walkout during its elections held at Metro Center Hotel in Tagbilaran.

I hope our brothers and sisters have patched up whatever differences they have in running the TBTK.

Bohol During the Spanish Era
By Engineer Jes Tirol

Part 5. Tagbilaran in 1855: Environment and Inhabitants
Proem

In the "Varias Provincias - Bohol: 1855-1896 GDS-3876" at the National Archives, I found a questionnaire from the Comision Central De Estadistica De Filipinas (Central Statistics Commission of the Philippines) for the year 1855. The three sets of questions were answered by Don Leon Rosauro Torralba on September 15, 1855. He was the Gobernadorcillo (Mayor) of Tagbilaran in 1855. (Note: The other available record is for the town of Panglao).

Bohol became a province on March 3, 1854. Tagbilaran became the Capital Town of Bohol on March 2, 1855. Since the data is very important in visualizing Tagbilaran in 1855, I have decided to present in full the questions and answers.

Set I: Environment and Inhabitants of Tagbilaran

Question 1: Is the terrain clayey, calcareous (limestone), stony, sandy, etc.? Answer: All is stony.

Question 2: Is there a salt mine of any kind? Answer: There is one.

Question 3: What is the disposition of the terrain considering the water sources and caverns? Answer: The soil is generally black and reddish in some places.

Question 4: What is the general spread of trees, shrubs, plants, grains, etc.? Answer: There are no vegetables. Trees are rare except for some molave (tugas). There are many coco trees, few rice and some quantity of edible root crops called ube quinampay (aromatic pink yam) and camote (sweet potato).

Question 5: What are the common animals; be they four-footed, flying, fishes, insects, and reptiles? Answer: Carabao, cows, some mountain doves, and various fishes which are also found in other towns of the island.

Question 6: What are peculiar situations in the place? Answer: There is none.

Question 7: What is the physical constitution of the inhabitants, their state and stature; ordinary, thin, or stout? Answer: They are healthy, generally well formed and regular in stature and stout.

Question 8: What is the color of their skin and hair that is distinctive to the natives, mestizos, and pagan tribes? Answer: They have one color - clear brown. They have black and straight hair as said of the natives. The mestizos are generally white.

Question 9: What is their daily diet for every kind, the quantity and the hours? Answer: The people eat four (4) times per day. Those in the hills are generally accustomed to eat supper.

Question 10: What kind of drinks do they take when they eat? The water, where do they get it? Answer: They use no drinks. Some people obtained their water from conserving rainwater. The others obtained water from wells found a half-hour distant from the town center. (Note: This was at Lungkajab near the Birhen Sang Barangay Church in Cogon District. The pool is gone and water-well is already dry. - JBT).

Question 11: Those who have the prosperity to be drunk, what is the amount of alcoholic spirit that a person consumes? Answer: Generally they consume three-fourth daily but they are only very few. (Note: There was no specification what was the three-fourth. - JBT).

Question 12: What are the occupations of the inhabitants both male and female? Answer: The males go fishing, farming, and others as traveling traders. The women are generally occupied with cotton products like making lompotes (cotton cloth), socks, and sew pineapple clothes and others do marketing activities.

Question 13: In what proportion are engaged in agriculture, commerce, manufacturing, industries, and crafts? Answer: The majority cultivates the land. Few are into commerce and others go fishing and general odd-jobs.

Question 14: What number of proprietors do you calculate in every class and what are the workers? Answer: There are only four (4) businessmen with a little capital.

Question 15: How many can we find dedicated to navigation for coastal trading or far seas? Answer: More than one hundred men.

Question 16: What are the usual or accidental diseases? Answer: The usual diseases are bubos (this encompass all kinds of skin diseases- JBT), and cuyap (fainting), which is a sickness common to women in the country. The accidental sickness is fever caused by vaccination.

Question 17: Are their character lively or passive, ingenious or stupid, silent or talkative? Answer: They are of a character that is peaceful and silent.

Question 18: What is the total mass of the population? Answer: About 7,000 souls and about 300 of them are mestizos.

Question 19: How many lives in the poblacion (town center) as well as those in the edges or roads, rivers, and forests? Answer: Some 400 taxpayers live in the town center. The others are scattered throughout the territory. (Note: There were more residents at Taloto District than at the poblacion due to the availability of water at Cang-agbo well, HMS well, the nearby Tubod well and Ubujan spring. - JBT).

Question 20: How many roads are there? Where is it going; both roads and footpaths? What is its length in leagues or hours? Answer: There are two roads. One is going to Baclayon and the other going to Pamiguitan (now: Cortes - JBT). There are two footpaths. One is going to Baclayon (This is now the Dampas District to Canggining road. - JBT) and the other to Balilihan (This is now the Tagbilaran-Corella-Balilihan road. - JBT).

Question 21: What is its (the road) general situation during dry and rainy times? Answer: They are passable during all weather conditions.

Bohol's only public secondary school that offers night classes has finally new eight rooms to accommodate its growing number of students.

Teachers and parents had long wished for the upgrading of the Cogon Night High School (CNHS) in Tagbilaran City until Rep. Edgar Chatto helped them fulfill it.

Many CNHS students work at daytime to help their poor parents raise their respective families.

There are even children of broken families who have to labor, sustain their schooling and survive by their own.

Because they should work at daytime to earn, these young Boholanos would have no other practical option but get free public education thru night schooling.

Chatto, vice chairman of the education committee in Congress, felt the need of these children for more school facilities, or they may lose access to free night education just because there are no more rooms for them. - source: Bohol Chronicle

Three Boholano midshipmen reaped awards during the commencement exercises of the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific on July 10-12, 2008 at Kamaya Point, Mariveles, Bataan.

The graduates completed their scholarship and successfully accomplished the course requisites for a Bachelors degree in Marine Transportation (BSMT) and Marine Engineering (BSMarE). Furthermore, they have earned their rank of Ensign in the Reserve Force, Philippine Navy and were being sponsored by more than 20 different foreign shipping companies.

Of the 128 midshipmen of Class 2008, ENS Joseph Eric Bompat PN of Panglao, a BSMT graduate and the Fleet Academic Officer, emerged third in his department's top ten graduates and fourth in the top ten overall ranking of the class. He was also given the Special Achievement Award for obtaining a perfect grade of 1.0 in Math 4; and topping his Mathematics and Science subjects made him the Math and Science Awardee.

On the other hand, ENS Jeffrey B. Lirazan PN of Tagbilaran City, a BSMarE graduate, obtained the fifth spot in his department's top ten graduates and the tenth place in the overall class ranking. He was also the Company Executive Officer of the class.

The Shipboard Training Award was vested to the Company Logistics Officer, ENS John Christopher Lumanas PN, still from this city, after having topped his department's shipboard training. He also ranked tenth among the 64 BSMarE graduates.

Meanwhile, another graduate also held a significant position in the class as the Squadron Adjutant, in the person of ENS Rizanny Paderog PN from the town of Maribojoc who finished BSMarE too.

As recognition to the achievers, the MAAP Parents' and Alumni Association-Bohol Chapter held a thanksgiving buffet lunch at Saya's Restaurant on July 22, 2008.

Testimonies were aired out by the graduates and their proud parents as to how the cadets earned their richly deserved merits, and how they imbued the essence of hardwork to their fellow Boholano scholars who were currently studying at MAAP. (ctheldmoquiala)

source: Bohol Chronicle

By Juvenal D. Beniga

Four Lawyers and other Bohol Comelec personnel will be assigned in the Province of Basilan to perform election duty in connection with the forthcoming August 11, 2008 ARMM elections.

The group is headed by Atty. Veronico G. Petalcorin, Asst. Regional Election Director, Region VII. With him includes Atty. Eliseo R.Z. B. Labaria, PES III - Bohol (Special Action Officer-Basilan); Atty. Edwin Palgan, EO III - Ubay, Bohol (Support staff - Basilan); Atty. Rafael F. Montoya, EO II-Sagbayan, Bohol (Special Action Officer - Basilan); Mr. Paul S. Bentulan, EO II, Sevilla, Bohol (Reception Committee - Basilan); and Mr. Joseph S. Soliva EA II, Maribojoc, Bohol (Counting Machine Operator - Maluso, Basilan).

The group is schedule to leave by PAL flight on July 31, 2008 via Cebu to Zamboanga route to attend briefing in preparations for the ARMM elections. The success of this automated election will the basis of the Comelec for the automation of the May 2010 Synchronized National and Local Elections.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcYWqsK4m6Q

Third part of the video. Former Panglao Mayor Dumaluan in picture.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-ZqxXOPhOg

Second part of the video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IE6PNjVrHM

Nestor Daarol provides this video.

            A collector gave up more than P13,000 in collections to two suspected holduppers in Getafe town last week.

            This was confirmed to Station DyTR by PO3 Bonifacio Pedoche of the Getafe PNP station.

            In an interview, the policeman identified the victim as one Amy Umandam, 20, a native of Lamdagan street , Cogon district, Tagbilaran City .

            Umandam is employed as a collector of the Taytay sa Kauswagan Inc. (TSKI), a lending firm.

            Initial investigation revealed that the victim was riding on a motorcycle driven by one Mandy Melancolico, 28, married and a resident of Buyog, Getafe town.

            Melancolico drives a habal-habal (motorcycle for hire).

            The motorcycle was cruising along the boundary of barangays Campao Oriental and Buyog when the two suspects suddenly blocked their path.

            The suspects who wore masks declared a hold-up and divested the victim of her collections.

            The victim immediately reported the incident to the Getafe PNP. A follow-up operation was immediately conducted.

            In an operation in Danao town, police operatives recovered a motorcycle believed to be the one used by the suspects.

            The motorcycle is now in the custody of the Getafe PNP.

            Pedoche revealed that they have place Melancolico under interrogation to determine if he knew the two suspects. - Sunday Post

            A laborer landed in the hospital after he was shot inside his house in Inabanga town.

            The victim was identified as one Lucresio Lofranco, 37, a resident of Barangay San Isidro, Inabanga town.

            He was rushed to the Francisco Dagohoy Municipal Hospital after he sustained gunshot wounds on different parts of his body.

            Lofranco was hit at least three times in the attack that is still being investigated by the Inabanga PNP.

            Two bullets hit his left leg, with one bullet hitting his left leg before exiting and then hitting his right leg.

            Initial investigation conducted by the Inabanga PNP said the incident occurred about 8:45 pm last June 30.

            There were no details on how the identified suspect or suspects were able to shoot the victim inside his house.

            The report said the caliber of the gun used in the shooting has not yet been established.

            Investigators are still trying to determine the motive for the shooting as well as the identity of the suspect or suspects behind the attack. - Sunday Post   

By Rey Anthony Chiu - PIA

  Other than putting up the proper regulations, could authorities deny the scrap metal businesses of place of operations after being evicted from the city?

  The poser surfaced after League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) president and Jagna Mayor Exuperio Lloren committed to act on the matter by bringing the issue to the league of mayors.

  “We want to get the opinion of the mayors so they can tell the league about the operations of these scrap businesses so we can act on it,” he said. 

  The junk industry has earlier been banned in the city following reports that lost multi-million lighting facilities from the city airport have been sold and found in city junk shops, resulting in the city mayors decision to padlock the scrap facilities here.

  With this, junk business relocated to nearby towns, effectively skipping the city ban, but passing the problem to mayors who have yet to act on the matter. 

  Accused sometimes of buying and fencing stolen items, scrap buyers rove around communities bringing in an army of junk collectors, some visibly tugging minors and school children into the lucrative business. 

  Lloren, in a radio interview admitted that the junk business has become a convenient window for fly-by night operators to engage in businesses.

  He said while the business can be consistent with the ecological solid waste management laws, he said it is high time that mayors could decide on what to do with them. 

  Meanwhile, PSSupt Edgardo Ingking, in similar aired interview said he has passed a directive to town cops to keep a tight watch on the scrap buyers relocating in the towns and coordinate with the mayors. 

  Moreover, the police director called facility owners to keep watch of their areas which cant obviously be covered by law enforcement authorities and secured by private guards. 

  This as complaints have alarmed authorities of the daring stealing cases involving snipping of service drop-wires leading to residences and key facilities.

  School buildings, water pumping units, communication facilities and residences have been victims of these new bred of daring insulated live-wire snipping cases; all for the copper. 

  The Jagna Mayor said the best they may be able to do is accredit the shops to eliminate the fly-by-night operators. 

  This way, enforcing control upon the business could be easier, he said.

  Meanwhile, many city residents have aired opinions about totally making the towns inhospitable to the scrap industry, as these have become convenient market for stolen items. (rachiu/PIA)

Sunday Post

      With the race towards tapping  renewable energy getting more intense every passing day as soaring prices of fossil fuel breaching the $140/barrel mark, it appears that the municipality of Sevilla is in the right track in developing its hydro power sources.

      This explained why Mayor Ceferino Digal is bullish about Sevilla becoming the hydro capital of Bohol after the 2.5 MW Boheco 1-Sevilla Mini Hydro Project is fast taking shape and its a matter of months that it will be completed.

      According to Virgilio Fortich, project manager, even if the Sevilla hydro project is completed, still the province of Bohol  needs more electric power especially during peak hours.

      The combined electricity generation of all the power plants marketed by the electric cooperative is about 18.5 MW including the Sevilla power source. The coop is sourcing its electricity for distribution to its consumers  from the Bohol Diesel Plant in Dampas, the hydro plants in Loboc and Hanopol in Balilihan. When the Sevilla project is completed, it will be counted as another energy provider.

      With a total energy requirement of 30 MW during peak hours, the shortfall is provided by the Leyte-Bohol Interconnection Project.

      Told that the upper Sevilla Mini-Hydro Potential is being eyed by a Cebu-based company as another energy source, Fortich expressed elation that it will boost Bohol' s increasing energy needs. Boheco will also market its electric produce once it will be completed since its role is only to generate hydro power.

      The Adnama Mining Resources, Inc. thru its VP for planning, engineering and development has proposed to Mayor Digal to tap the upper Sevilla hydro source.

      This company is reportedly owned by the Zamora brothers, the same businessmen behind the massive mining operations of nickel deposits in Nonoc, Surigao.

      Its Boholano partner is said to be Fernando Borja, a businessman identified with the clan along Burgos St., this city.

      A consultant of the company, Ed Walag, had already made preliminary talks with Mayor Digal about its intent to develop the upper portion of the Loboc River which stretches all the way to Sevilla.

      Following preliminary negotiations, it was gathered that the Sangguniang Bayan was supportive about the plan.

      In a letter to Digal, the mining company said since the country is experiencing impending economic challenges due to rising prices of oil products and fuels, there is a need to develop alternative sources of energy.

      The company said its interest to develop the mini-hydro power potential of Upper Sevilla will also complement the on-going project undertaken by Boheco I in cooperation with the local government of Sevilla.

BOHECO I PROJECT

      When finished, the Sevilla mini-hydro project  undertaken by Boheco I was funded by a loan obtained from the Development Bank of the Phils. in the amount of P259 million.

      The total project cost, however, is P331,129,000.00.

      Designed to serve the franchise areas of Sevilla, Balilihan, Catigbian, Batuan , Carmen and Bilar, it has a capacity of 1.25 MW with two Kapian turbines or a total output of 2.5 MW.

      An accomplishment report showed that the dam, sluiceway and auxiliary mechanical equipment is already 100% complete. Another part of the project-the construction of the powerhouse, intake and tailrace structures, is also 100% finish.

      The entire project is expected to be finished by the third quarter of this year.

This is insane. People killing people over cellphone?

A 43-year-old farmer from barangay Libertad, Tubigon, Bohol ended up in jail after hacking to death and injuring two neighbors over a land dispute.

The suspect, Diomor Gempeaso, voluntarily surrendered to the municipal police station, and is now detained.

Gempeaso allegedly hacked to death one Nicanor Cabangbang and injured one Alejandro Cabangbang Jr., both residents of barangay Libertad, of this town.

Personal grudge reportedly caused Gempeaso to attack the two victims on June 28.

Based on initial investigation, it all started from a land dispute. - Bohol Sunday Post

Note: Why do people have to kill humans over land issue when they know they would end up in jail?

By the Sunday Post

      Catagbacan port here has been eyed to be the anchor destination of the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program (SSEAYP), Asia’s “floating university,” in its next annual cruise in 2009.

      First District Rep. Edgar Chatto, a 1982 SSEAYP ambassador of goodwill and alumnus, now works out on the plan which is projected to further boost Bohol’s eco-cultural tourism through the hosting of Asia’s floating university.

      Catagbacan port, as the venue of the international exchange program, will help facilitate improvement of sea facility in the area and accelerate its conversion into the country’s most modern international cruise ship port at a whooping cost of about P200 million.

      The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has assured Chatto of P80 million to start the major development of the Catagbacan port this year.

      The National Youth Commission (NYC) is solid behind Bohol’s first-ever hosting of SSYEAP by asking President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to consider Catagbacan port as the anchor venue of the 11-nation exchange program.

      All NYC commissioners manifested this in a resolution also addressed to Chatto, Gov. Erico Aumentado, PPA General Manager Oscar Sevilla and Department of Tourism (DOT) Sec. Ace Durano.

      Chatto and Aumentado convinced PPA to hasten the implementation of the Catagbacan international cruise ship port project which Durano also endorsed to PPA.

      The NYC resolution says Bohol’s hosting to the SSEAYP is in support of Arroyo administration’s Super Region Program that projects central Philippines as the country’s “Tourism Super Region.”

      The SSEAYP will bring in 340 youth delegates from Japan and 10-member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) aboard the MS Nippon Maru, a luxury cruise ship serving as SSEAYP’s floating alma mater.

      SSEAYP is an annual international cultural exchange program sponsored and organized by the Cabinet Office of Japan in partnership with ASEAN members- -Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and Brunei Darussalam.

      Once in their anchor destination, the SSEAYP participants shall engage in land community activities such as homestay, institutional visits and exchanges with local youths.

      Activities on board include group discussions and interactions, cultural introductions and even sports and recreational events.

      The NYC monitored the tireless effort of Chatto and other Bohol leaders in pushing for Catagbacan port’s conversion into a global cruise ship port before the commission asked Malacañang to consider the Loon port for the prestigious SSEAYP staging.

      The two Boholanos in the NYC were Commissioner for the Visayas Benjie Culpa, a Catigbianon, and ex-officio Commissioner Jane Censoria Cajes, national federation president of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK).

      Usec. Richard Alvin Nalupta, NYC chairman and chief executive officer, expects Chatto and Aumentado to influence Malacañang to support Catagbacan’s hosting of SSEAYP next year.

      The other signatories in the NYC resolution are Commisioners-at-Large Prescilla Marie Abante and Michael Francis Lopez, Commissioner for Luzon Raul Dominic Badilla and Commissioner for Mindanao Mohammad Hanny Camid.

      Chatto appreciated the support of NYC, the country’s sole policy-making body and coordinating body on youth affairs pursuant to Republic Act 8044 or the Youth in Nation Building Act of 1995.

      The NYC resolution further cites Bohol’s significance to the country’s eco-cultural tourism that offers rich cultural heritage, history and natural beauty.

      The SSEAYP event can help promote Loon’s adventure tourism, which exhibit won in the recent 2nd Philippine International Fair in Cebu City.

      Chatto, chairman of Congress’ tourism committee, was one of the guest speakers in the event that attracted investors and visitors from some 100 countries.

      The SSEAYP goodwill mission in has been compared to the historical Sandugo, the first international unofficial treaty of friendship, over 400 years ago when Spanish Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and native chieftain, Datu Sikatuna forged the Blood Compact.

The City of Tagbilaran is leaving no stone unturned in making use of its credit facility with the Development Bank of the Philippines.

Call it political will on the part of Mayor Dan Neri Lim who is known far and wide  to have a lot of it, the city chief executive stunned members if the Sangguniang Panglungsud when he sought their approval for a P1  billion loan facility.

V-Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso was one of those city officials who expressed reservation of the loan application  but promised however to refer it  to the committee as a whole when the SP meets in session next week.

Veloso assured his colleagues to use a “fine tooth comb” in scrutinizing the propriety of maximizing the city’s credit limit.

The vice mayor would have allowed SP members to open discussion of the city mayor’s request for SP authority given the loan application during its last session had the mayor’s letter  arrived earlier. However, he was able to read the letter during the Presiding Officer’s Time.

At least four big ticket projects are lined up by the executive department that needs financial backing as big as the loan applied for.

Among the flagship projects which the mayor intends to complete during his second  term are the centralized water treatment facility and the Integrated Solid Waste Management Project to be located in Taloto.

Part of the loan proceeds will go to land acquisition in the Taloto area where the two big projects are located.

A big slice of the borrowed money will also go to the concreting of practically all city roads which are in a state of disrepair because of palliative solutions applied by the city engineers office.

The city mayor is of the belief that to solve the nagging problem of road craters is to have them paved with concrete. 

In his letter to V-Mayor Veloso, Mayor Lim informed him as presiding officer of the SP that he  has sent a letter of intent to the DBP for a loan of not less than P500,000.00 to P 1 billion for the city’s infrastructure projects.

Mayor Lim said he was asking for an authority to negotiate the loan with DBP on the terms and conditions of the credit application. He said the previous authority granted by the SP was for the New Growth Center for only P630,000,00 only.

At the same time, Lim informed the SP that DBP SAVP Luisalo Caverte has approved the city’s P8 million peso loan to finance the refleeting of the city’s vehicles. The city mayor was also asking authority to ratify the terms and conditions of the said loan.

During the time of Nuevas Tirol-Montes as vice mayor, Mayor Lim was authorized to negotiate a loan agreement in behalf of the city government with the DBP in the amount of P500,000.00 or more.

The money would have been used to finance the so-called New Growth Center but the loan application was held in abeyance. So with the project to push through with the new growth center which  should have been located in the satellite city complex. - source: Sunday Post Newspaper

By June Blanco
Office of the Governor

  The Confederation of Boholanos, USA and Canada, Inc. (Conbusac) has favorably endorsed the implementation of the Panglao Bohol International Airport Development Project (PBIADP).

  The endorsement came in the form of a resolution approved by the Conbusac Council of Leaders headed Carlos Cagaanan of Lila town by telephone conference.

  The council had gathered at the Cathay House Restaurant in Las Vegas, Nevada for its mid-term conference with Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado as guest of honor and speaker.

  Aumentado said of the recently completed, on-going and pipeline development projects he reported to his compatriots from across the United States and Canada, the Panglao airport was the most applauded.

  He said the Boholanos expressed thrill and excitement, already wanting to pay for seats on the maiden flight that will take them back direct to their place of birth.

  The resolution approved by 26 other members of the Council of Leaders stated that the Conbusac recognizes the importance of the Panglao Bohol International Airport Development Project (PBIADP) “as a unique opportunity to define the comprehensive transportation needs” in Bohol and the Philippines â€" for efficient 21st century mobility.

  It underscored the fact that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the Department of Tourism (DOT) have considered Bohol as a stand-along tourism destination in the global roadmap “by reason of its eco-cultural heritage endowments and agri-tourism potentials.”

  The council also stated that environmental and social preparations have been undertaken by the appropriate government agencies and the private sector by way of consultations and meetings that led to the establishment of protective measures for some perceived social problems that may arise as a consequence of development and progress.

  The members also said that the realization of the project will greatly benefit not only the tourism industry in Bohol but all the Boholanos around the world in terms of faster and safer travel when they visit their home province.

  As such, the Conbusac, through its Council of Leaders favorably endorsed and expressed strong support for the implementation of the project furnishing concerned government officials, public interest groups and the print and broadcast media for their information.

  The Council of Leaders who approved the resolution include Phil Gucor, senior vice president; Lino Chatto Jr., regional vice president (RVP) for Southern California; RVP for Southwest USA and President Marino Aguhar of the Bohol Association of Texas, Inc.; RVP for Midwest USA Nemie Odtohan; RVP for the Greater Washington Area Socorro Doverte; RVP for Southeast USA Esther Gianan; RVP for Eastern USA and president of the Tagbilaranons of Eastern USA Rev. Fr. Fernando Po; RVP for Western Canada Rupie Payot; RVP for Eastern Canada and president Arnold Maceren of the Bohol Association of Canada;

  Auditor Elpidio Baluca; President Lilia Magtoto of the Bohol Foundation, British Columbia, Canada; President Ted Apalisok of the Tagbilaranons of Northern California and former Conbusac president; President Malou Saito of the Tagbilaran Association of Southern California, Inc.; President Fidel Tutor of the Boholanos of Southern California, Inc.; President Anita Cal-Jackson of the Tagbilaran Association of California;

  President Evelyn Sayre of the Boholanos of Las Vegas, Nevada; President Jun Namoc of Sandugo, Texas; President Lilia Cumba of the Circulo Boholano of Illinois; President Roldan Sarmiento of the Bol-anon sa Michigan and former Conbusac president; President Nita Borja of the Bohol Circle, Eastern USA; President Denny Auza of Ang Kaliwat Bol-anon sa Florida; and

  Former Conbusac Presidents Loli Dano; Johnny Torralba, Nick Lopez, Randy Gallardo, Narding Mag-aso and Lito Dano.

      Amid high incidence of theft and other crimes that met him upon his assumption of office, new Tagbilaran City police chief, Senior Supt. Julius Cesar Gomez remained mum on any plan to solve the problem.

      Aside from bag snatching and other forms of theft, a man as old as 71 years old was not spared from the spate of criminalities towards the highlight event of the Sandugo celebration- -the streetdancing festival on July 27.

      The victim, Gaudencio Miñoza, was shot at the right side of his body when he went out of his house to check, what he noticed as, something moving nearby.

      In another incident the other night, a woman who was walking along Rizal St. was stabbed by an unidentified man who first snatched her cellular phone.

      In the last week of July, a number of reports on theft reached the city station of the Philippine National Police (PNP) wherein restaurant customers and shopping mall crowds were the favorite scene of criminals.

      The latest incident of theft victimized one Rosita Temel, married, and a resident of Imus, Cavite, was having breakfast with her husband in a fastfood inside a shopping mall in Tagbilaran City, and was later surprised to note that her Samsung 7250 cellular phone was already gone with her cash worth 1,500 Euro and P16,000.

      The other day, a diagnostic center at corner M. Parras and B.. Inting Sts. was held up by a lone perpetrator who fled with him a cellular phone and some cash.

      On Sunday morning last week, a 28-year-old American national, Chery Clark, reported top police that she could hardly figure out how her shoulder bag had gone when she just placed it beside her while she was eating inside Jolibee-Marcela.

      Clark’s shoulder bag contained cash worth P17 thousand, US$100 thousand, and important documents.

      In another incident on July 24, the municipal treasurer of Pilar lost her shoulder bag containing cash worth P30 thousand, three cellular phones, and important documents while she was shopping at BQ Mall.

      On July 23, one Mira Scarlet Pizarras reported to police that her bag was snatched along with a Sony Ericsson cellular phone, a digital camera and P1,000 cash inside it. - source: Sunday Post

"My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish." - John 10:27-28 NLT

Hearing His voice

As our Good Shepherd, Jesus promises that we can hear and know His voice. This does not, however, have to be some mysterious, mystical process. In fact, you may be surprised to learn that God speaks to you quite often. I would venture to say He has spoken to you lately and may be speaking to you right now in some way.

God speaks to us through His Word. God will never lead us contrary to His written Word. It is our litmus test, our bedrock, our absolute.

God speaks to us through circumstances. Those circumstances can include failure. Jonah certainly heard God through his mistake. God may even speak to us through tragedy or hardship. C. S. Lewis wrote that, "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains. It is His megaphone to arouse a deaf world."

God speaks to us through His peace. When we live in God's will, we enjoy His peace. Do you need God to make a crucial call in your life? Then listen for His peace.

And once we have heard God's voice, what should we do? We must follow. Jesus calls, we respond. He whispers, we move. We followâ€"and then we keep on listening.

Adapted from Breakfast with Jesus by Greg Laurie (Tyndale House) pp 243-45

Here's my bonding with nature. Location: the unforgettable Anda, Bohol Beach

Yes, Bem. My Firefox now runs like a lightning in midsummer.