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JCI Bohol Sandugo, an affiliate of the Junior Chamber International â€" Philippines, a leading global network of young active citizens, organized the 1st Governor Erico Aumentado Shooting Competition last June 6 and 7 through the dynamic committee leadership of JCI Mem. Aris Aumentado at Camp Bernido Shooting Range, this city.

Special thanks to The Provincial Government of Bohol through Governor Erico Aumentado, (BLFAI) Boholano Licensed Firearms Association Inc., The Bohol Police Provincial Office, Blue Point Sports House and General Merchandise for pulling off their resources together in putting up this event aimed at enhancing the skills and efficiency of policemen and civilians in gun handling.  The activity is also aimed at educating the participants about responsible gun handling outside of the shooting range.

More than a hundred shooters from Cebu, Dumaguete and Ozamis came to join members of BOHOL Swat and local police officers in the event. Before the competition, an opening shot was done by the Police Provincial Director, Police Senior Supt. Edgardo Ingking and BLFAI president Samson Sia.

Part of the proceeds of this event is aimed at extending financial aid to law enforcers who are casualties in line of duty.

The shooting categories include Lawman Production, Lawman Standard, Production, Standard Hi-Cap, Standard Single Stack, Tyro, JCI Top Gun and Ladies Category.
The results of the shooting competition are as follows: JCI TOP GUN: Champion Ryan Maluenda, 1st Runner Up Insp. John Gano, 2nd Runner Up Jun Langcamon and 3rd Runner Up Nelson Suaybaguio. Lawman Production: Champion SPO4 Lumbab, 1st Runner Up PInsp. Sayon, 2nd Runner Up Major Nicomedes Olaivar, 3rd Runner Up SPO Tony Samante. Lawman Standard: Champion Cris Panes, 1st Runner Up Michael Ruiz, 2nd Runner Up Marcos Castro, 3rd Runner Up Antonio Gujelde. Production: Champion Bong Tubio (Dumaguete), Carmelito Pasco (Dumaguete), 2nd Runner Up Roding Lim, 3rd Runner Up Siero Bajao, 4th Runner Up Stephen Zamora. Standard Hi-Cap: Champion Josever Sumaylo, 1st Runner Up Roldan Reyes, 2nd Runner Up B. Lariosa (Cebu), 3rd Runner Up Manju Lim, 4th Runner Up Jomari De la Torre(Dumaguete). Standard Single Stack: Champion Britte See (Ozamis City), 1st Runner Up Bobby Fornolles (Cebu), 2nd Runner Up Dr. Rey Atup, 3rd Runner Up Dr. Dagz Plateros, 4th Runner Up Cording Ruiz. TYRO: Champion Marven Gelbolingo, 1st Runner Up Jares Dengue, 2nd Runner Up Nelson Suaybaguio, 3rd Runner Up Rey Ramos, 4th Runner Up Lino Olaivar. Ladies category: champion Christine Atup. - The Bohol Chronicle

All legitimate members of the Philippine Health Insurance or PhilHealth are reminded of their duties and responsibilities to be able to enjoy the benefits to the fulest, said PhilHealth.

This surfaced during the monthly meeting of the Association of United Development Information Officers (AUDIO) in this agri-tourism town held last week, wherein a representative of PhilHealth came over to explain these things.

On membership, a member should have in possession at all times their respective PhilHealth Number Card or identification card; update membership data record (MDR) for any change in personal information, such as in civil status or addition of a new dependent; and request for a replacement in case of loss of PhilHealth Number Card of identification card.

Other things to do on their contribution, include: a) ensure that a member promptly and regularly pay their contributions to avoid suspension of the benefits; b) for newly hired, check if your name is reported by your employer to PhilHealth in the Er2 form; c) ensure that your monthly PhilHealth contributions are deducted from your salary and promptly remitted and reported by your employer; d) report to PhilHealth at once an employer who does not remit premium payments; e) ensure that you have sufficient qualifying contributions to avail of the benefits anytime.

To avail of the benefits, a member secures an updated list of PhilHealth-accredited facilities from any PhilHealth office; submit a properly and completely filled up PhilHealth claim form to the hospital and ensure that all the information stated in the form are true and factual; ensure you submit all the necessary documents to the hospital including a copy of your MDR; clarify with providers (hospital/doctor) the appropriate and final benefits deducted upon settlement of bills and charges; ask for a copy of your statement of account/billing statement from the hospital upon discharge; ask for an official receipt and waiver from the hospital and doctor for payments made in full; and ensure that your claim, if you opt for direct filing, is filed at OhilkHealth within sixty days (60) from the date of discharge for local confinements and with the hundred eighty (180) days for confinement abroad.

PhilHealth also urged members/beneficiaries to be aware of amendments and updates on PhilHealth policies and benefits schedules; to report from any PhilHealth office on any unclear policy or guideline; report at once to PhilHealth any hospital that fails to accommodate a PhilHealth member who wishes to avail of the benefits; and report at once to PhilHealth any fraudulent transaction that you know about; and observe and comply with PhilHealth’s rules and regulations. - Press Release

The Loboc Youth Education Association (LYEA) received a donation of 30 brand new musical instruments for the newly organized Loboc National High School Band.

The donation, valued at P250,000, came from Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap as his personal contribution to the Loboc Music Project.

Secretary Yap, whose wife Carol Varquez Gow is from Loboc, is impressed by the Loboc Music Project of LYEA in reviving the musical heritage of Loboc.

“In the past, Loboc was known for its musicians.  However, its musicians became fewer and fewer.  The tradition of passing musical skills to the younger generations has suffered major setbacks due to the scarcity of musical instruments and lack of full-time music instructors,” said LYEA President Argeo Melisimo.

Through the Music Music Project, LYEA is in fact organizing musical groups and establishing a music school in Loboc to help among others revive Loboc’s cultural heritage and alleviate poverty.

Melisimo said the donation of Secretary Yap and other individuals can help very much the Loboc Music Project attain its goals.

The Loboc National High School Band is one of six musical groups in Loboc organized and supported by LYEA.

The others are Loboc Youth Ambassadors Band, the Loboc Ambassadors Rondalla, Oy National High School Band in Barangay Oy, Camayaan National High School Band, and PMI Loboc Academy High School Band.

Melisimo said these musical groups and the internationally renowned Loboc Children’s Choir are now putting the town of Loboc on the way to become the music capital of Bohol.

He said the Music Project aims to make music one of the means of livelihood in Loboc, incorporating music in the tourism packages and giving opportunities for students to finish college through music scholarship, among others.

The Loboc Youth Ambassadors Band is now performing on invitations and on Fridays and Saturdays before tourists at the Loboc Children’s Theater.

The 10-member Loboc  Ambassadors Rondalla is also performing on invitation and before tourists at the Loboc tourism facility.

Melisimo said the contribution from individuals and organizations and the support of the Department of Education and local government unit of the Music Project is helping the project attain its goals.

The other individual donor of the project is Khandee Uy, granddaughter of philanthropist Alfonso Uy and a successful dental practitioner in the U.S., who donated funds for the purchase of musical instruments of the Oy National High School Band and the Loboc Ambassadors Rondalla.  Congressman Adam Relson Jala for the Camayaan National High School Band and Misereor of Germany for the PMI-Loboc Academy High School Band.

Several universities and colleges in Tagbilaran City have also supported the projects thru the acceptance of scholarship of the students of the LYEA in their respective institutions.  The supporting colleges and universities are the BIT International College, Central Visayas State College of Agriculture, Fishery and Technology and the University of Bohol.

LYEA has embarked on the three-year Loboc Music Project with a grant from the Philippine-Australia Community Assistance Program (PACAP) and the support of the Province of Bohol, Local Government of Loboc, the First Consolidated Bank, and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. - - - The Bohol Chronicle

Musical virtuosity of Boholanos pop recently at the “breakaway world” of independent (indie) films.
Boholano multi-awarded musical scorer and composer Lutgardo Labad took his best swing in the world of indie films with the best of the best in Bohol singing groups to embellish at least two films: Raya Martin’s Independencia and Maryo delos Reyes’ Kamoteng Kahoy.

For Independencia and Kamoteng Kahoy, Labad used the musical talents of the sensational Loboc Children’s Choir, some of the group’s alumni members to interpret a wide variety of score for both films, independent sources said.

Independencia was an entry to the just concluded 2009 Cannes Film Festival in France for the non-competition category while Kamoteng Kahoy was one of the six SINE DIREK Film Series at the festival.

Independencia, set in the late 1890s, portrays a family forced to hide in the dense forests of Luzon to escape the advance of the new American colonizers stars Sid Lucero, Tetchie Agbayani, and Alessandra de Rossi.

The totality of the film is the first Filipino film that was accepted to the Un Certain Regard category of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, while another Filipino film capped Best Director for Brillante Mendoza in the competition category for his movie Kinatay.

Using the theme melody of the Francisco Baltazar’s corido Florante at Laura, Labad utilized the angelic voices of the Loboc Children’s Choir (LCC).

LCC performers included alumni members Leah Cal, Liz Cal and Noel Kerr Caneda while the child singers consisted of Rica Baliton, Vea Navarro, Jenali Alexis Calipusan, Anna Marie Suganob, Jack Elmar Varquez and Paul Delfin Sumampong.

UP String Quartet, Pundaquit Virtuosi Cellist Pocholo Gutierrez and Kalinga artist Mauricio Patungao joined them.

Another Boholano, bay affinity, Butch de Juan, who married artist Vida Tirol arranged the music. 
On the other hand, multi-awarded Boholano film director Maryo J. de los Reyes will again display his directorial power with Kamoteng Kahoy, a movie loosely derived from the poisoning accident that afflicted 27 school children from Mabini, Bohol years back.

Focusing on the values of friendship and transformation with screenplay written by Ricky Lee, Kamoteng Kahoy stars best child actors Nash Aguas and Buboy Villar, together with Gloria Romero.
Musical arranger/keyboardist Romeo Mascarinas, banduria player Zosima Ocuram, Loboc guitarist Sam Varquez, Maribojoc soprano Geraldine Pancho, Antequera tenor Frex Tongco and Loboc tenor Johnrey Fuertes interpreted Labad’s score. 

The participation of Boholano musical performers and creators in the new significant medium of the indie film, heralds a new age of mainstreaming Boholano ingenuity in the creative media of the 21st century, Labad said in a statement. (PIA)

By ARIEL E. FULLIDO

LBC, the 24-hour air cargo delivery and remittance service in the Philippines, will open tomorrow, June 15, its newest branch in the city at the mezzanine floor of Plaza Marcela, to cater to the needs of its growing clienteles. 

Mrs. Marisa C. Aya-ay, LBC Team Leader, said this is the company’s 5th outlet in Tagbilaran City, with other branches located at the Island City Mall, Agora Square, and CPG Avenue (near CVSCAFT). Its distribution center is located at Graham (in front of Caltex depot).     

LBC, formerly known as Luzon Brokerage Corporation, was founded in the 1950s as a brokerage and air cargo agent. Ten years later, the company operated as an air cargo forwarding service provider and was the first to introduce a 24-hour air cargo delivery service. LBC soon became a respected leader offering dependable express courier and money remittance service throughout the Philippines.

The brain behind this giant cargo forwarding company is Carlos Araneta. Later, LBC has become a family-run business with his three sons as his partners namely Juan Carlos, Santiago and Fernando. They work hand in hand to reach out to millions of Filipinos here and abroad. Eventually, LBC's network spanned from just a remittance company to becoming a multi-service conglomerate. It engaged in corollary businesses such as travel and banking as well as insurance. It also offers financial services, ICT services, logistics services, digital services and e-commerce.

Commitment, innovation and technology are prime factors why LBC achieved a high status in the courier business. This position has not stopped them from working on top because they think that serving others is continuous and never ending. Today, LBC offers the widest coverage and network with over 600 strategically located branches nationwide. 

By the Bohol Chronicle

Call it Divine Providence. In a carinderia (eatery) in Baclayon, Bohol, philanthropist Beatriz Susana Zobel de Ayala Jr. was talking shop with diver-businessman Joel Uichico when her mobile phone rang.

Ben Chan, chairman of Suyen Corp., was calling to make a pledge after reading an article on her civic work in Bohol. He offered to donate part of the sales from Bench’s Green Tee, a line of T-shirts dedicated to environment causes, for the construction of the tourism information center on Baclayon’s wharf.

Zobel’s link with Bohol began with an exhibit of the province’s treasures at Metropolitan Museum, where she was board member and culture worker. Victorino Manalo was then museum head. The ties were strengthened when Manalo and Zobel urged the local government to spare the ancestral homes in Baclayon from demolition.

The houses were then converted into tourist lodgings, which were eventually given accreditation by the Tourism department. In three years, Baclayon has gone from a sixth-class municipality to third-class, owing to its increased income from tourism.

To lure more visitors, make them stay longer and generate more revenues for the town, Uichico suggested developing Pamilacan Island, off Baclayon. Diving tourism could be added to the dolphin and whale-watching tours.

LIVELIHOOD ALTERNATIVES

Bezo Recreational and Aquatic Activities for Bohol (Braabo), with Zobel as chairperson and Uichico as GM and board director, worked with Baclayon officials and Ayala Foundation to establish an eco-tourism program to benefit the community.

Fishermen were given alternatives to dynamite fishing and hunting for manta rays to save marine life in the area. Their wives were taught livelihood skills such as massage training for spa services and food preparation for catering. The small fishing boats were upgraded into larger and safer tourist vessels.

Last week, Chan, with Bench endorsers Richard and Lucy Gomez and John Prats, graced the inauguration of the Municipal Tourism Center, the hub of tourism activities in Baclayon. Braabo turned over the P6 million building to the Baclayon-LGU (local government unit).

RESPONSIBLE ECO-TOURS

Aside from coordinating tourism enterprises in Baclayon, the Municipal Tourism Center aims to safeguard the environment. For instance, divers bound for Pamilacan must register, pay a fee and watch a video on the island’s attractions and rules to protect them.

Uichico said that in other destinations, visitors are not briefed about the environment, so they end up destroying the place by littering or picking up corals.

In Baclayon, new boats and trained tourist and dive guides are government-accredited. Vessels have life vests and safety equipment, and passengers are insured for a certain amount.

Braabo, Ayala Foundation and the local government have identified three dive sites in the waters of Pamilacan, now on tourist maps. Zobel added that when Pamilacan became a marine sanctuary, the underwater life flourished.

Bohol’s Loboc River, famous for its singing cruises, she said, rakes in P12 million a year. However, uncontrolled tourist traffic and construction along the river are slowly eroding the banks. From the lessons of Loboc, the eco-tourism program in Pamilacan emphasizes education, awareness and managed practices.

STRIKING A BALANCE

Chan said Zobel’s sustainable development projects in Baclayon blended with Green Tee’s vision.
He lauded Braabo’s efforts to strike a balance between tourism and livelihood opportunities for the Boholanos who depend on natural resources.

Bench’s involvement in environment preservation began in the ’90s when it produced T-shirts that batted for saving the animals in Calauit, Palawan.

BRAND INTEGRITY

Like Zobel, Chan has also managed to marry capitalism with social conscience. Consumers weigh their concerns between expenditure and social responsibility, he said. They rely on the brand’s integrity and respect environmentally responsible products. Bench’s Green Tees bear messages on protecting nature, recycling, avoiding wastage, and even going vegetarian.

“We wanted to produce merchandise that you’ll feel good about when you buy because you’re helping the community. It’s good karma. To make them salable, you must come up with nice designs. We tell them that part of the sales will go to a very good cause. The consumer appreciates this especially in times of crisis,” said Chan.

Asked what drives him to extend a hand, Chan replied that the psychic income would be the biggest reward.

“By giving, you are able to help. What is sad is when the beneficiary can’t continue. But as long as they need our help, we’re here â€" if we can afford it.”

For a time, Pamilacan, off Baclayon, Bohol, was terra incognita to First Daughter Evangelina Lourdes Arroyo-Bernas, a dedicated diver. Instead, she frequented Balicasag, off Panglao Reef, which abounds with jacks, sponges, gorgonians, and barracudas.

But when Joel Uichico, general manager of Bezo Recreational and Aquatic Activities for Bohol, invited Bernas to judge a competition of underwater photographs of Pamilacan, a friendship and a personal initiative ensued.

Bernas’ passion for diving and her international relations background have landed her a job as Southeast Asia’s policy officer of the World Wildlife Fund’s Coral Triangle Program.

She likens the Coral Triangle to the nursery of the ocean. Extending from Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands to Timor-Leste, the Coral Triangle has the highest convergence of marine life and coral species in the world. Its waters contain over 600 reef-building coral species, representing 75 percent of all species known in the world.

She points out that the Philippines enjoys the advantage of being at the apex of the triangle.

BEST DIVE SITE

Bernas cites Bohol, particularly Balicasag, as among the world’s best diving places because of its biodiversity.

“There are mantas, dolphins, whales, a great number of marine life you don’t see in the world. Those are the things divers pay to see in other places,” she says.

Her job is to collaborate with government officials and communities in disciplined practices that help sustain the Coral Triangle’s marine and coastal wealth for future generations.

“I work on the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia, trying to get people to adopt policies that will conserve marine life and make sure fishing practices are sustainable. Coastal communities can benefit from proper development of marine resources,” she says.

“I find that fishermen or Filipinos in general think that what we have in our waters are just passing through. Actually, you won’t find these things in other places, and they are spawned here.”

Due to ignorance, fishermen resort to destructive fishing practices. “If we destroy the marine life
habitat, they go extinct and it’s on us.”

OFF-DUTY

Bernas’ work in BRAABO’s Pamilacan project is done in her downtime. Since Bea Zobel Jr. and Uichico made their presentation to the provincial government, Bernas has been espousing the need for proper tourism development.

She lauded the unity among the local government officials. “The great thing was that the principal and municipal governments agreed to do it together. That was a big boost to Bohol’s growth.”

Bernas and her husband, former investment banker Jay Aloysius Luigi Bernas, also a diver, have been flying to Bohol to support Uichico’s programs. She has been donating seed money to such projects as dive guide training.

“Luli’s presence has made great impact on our projects. She loves to help. Everything she’s done is all out of pocket,” says Uichico.

After attending the blessing of the Municipal Tourism Center in Baclayon, the Bernases spent the week helping in the dive guide training. The program teaches guides to look for the best spots and meet the requirements of photographers who specialize in underwater images, a major target market for Pamilacan.

Bernas, who says she’s only an amateur in underwater photography, gives her feedback about the guides.

“Divers were not brought to Pamilacan. It’s just a recent phenomenon. The people who bring divers there are not from Pamilacan but from Alona Beach. It’s great that the locals are made aware of the richness of their marine life and how to manage them. The money goes directly to them and they appreciate what they have,” she says.

CATALYST
Bernas lauds BRAABO’s vision of being a catalyst for government leadership and partnerships with local communities to protect the ecosystem.

“Working with the community is the right way to do things. It’s not somebody coming in and telling people what to do. It’s cooperating with them to make sure what the community wants is translated into something that will last for generations,” she says.

Baclayon’s vice mayor Marilyn Uy agrees. The local government had focused on infrastructure.
“Before, you could not be proud to say you’re from Bohol. There was only the 30-minute land tour of the Baclayon Church and museum. Now we are developing more activities so that guests can stay in Baclayon for three days,” says Uy.
“We’re finally on the tourist radar.” -

source: The Bohol Chronicle

By Ariel Fullido

Island City Mall celebrates its 5th Anniversary with a 3-Day Sale on June 26, 27 and 28, where up to 50% discounts will be given away on great selections at the Home & Fashion Department and tenant shops.

The mall is open until 12 midnight on June 27, Saturday, featuring Ely Buendia & Pupil Live! at the Carpark at 7 PM. To watch the concert, just present any receipts from Alturas, Plaza Marcela and Island City Mall worth P300, from June 21 to 27. Avail a VIP seat also for every P200 purchase of any Unilever and Monde Nissin products, and have a chance to win thousands-worth of gift cheques, or join the games with exciting prizes.   

Other events in the 3-Day Sale are: June 26 (Friday)-“Kwarta O Kaban” Game Show, 5 PM at the Activity Center, presented by Unilever and Monde Nissin; June 27 (Saturday)â€"The Grand Finals of Sexy Babes Dance Showdown 2009, 5 PM  at the Activity Center; and June 28 (Sunday)â€"Calendar Girl (June Search), 5 PM at the Activity Center, sponsored by Magical Placenta, Melits Flower Expressions, and Tracy Torres.

The 3-Day Sale is one of the many events of Island City Mall which is set to celebrate its 5th Anniversary on June 26. Other anniversary events are: June 22â€"28 â€" Food Fest at the Lower Ground Level; June 22 (Monday) - Festival Queen Search, 3 PM at the Lower Ground Level; “U Cn Ul Danz” Dance Showdown, 4 PM at the Activity Center; June 23 (Tuesday) â€" Island Singing Idol, 2 PM at the  Activity Center; June 24 (Wednesday) â€" Hunk & Babe 2009 Grand Finals, 4 PM at the Activity Center; June 25 (Thursday) â€" EZ Dancing, 1 PM at the Activity Center; Cutest Baby 2009, 3 PM at the Activity Center; and Kiddie Party (Puppet/Mascot Show & Games), 4 PM at the Activity Center.

A contractual employee of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) was gunned down in front of said office last Tuesday.

The victim was identified as Apolinario Reyes.

Police said the victim was about to park the vehicle he impounded during an operation conducted in Cortes town when the lone gunman approached the victim and pumped a bullet into the head.

Police investigator, SPO3 Reinerio Añana said they suspect personal grudge as one of the motives of the killing. Drivers of impounded vehicles were being interrogated by the police to shed light on the identity of the suspect behind the latest killing incident in the city. - - The Bohol Chronicle

Just how sure are customers that the “pricey” commercial feeds from local feeds dealers are exactly of the same quality as the label they want to patronize?

This has become a concern for the Department of Agriculture (DA) Animal Feeds and Drug Control after noticing the uncontrolled proliferation of feeds dealers in the towns and the imminent danger of adulteration.

Appearing at the bi-monthly out-of-town League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) meeting in Inabanga June 10, Venerando Limpot, the province’s deputized control officer appealed to the mayors for help.

Limpot said the department wants to put up control measures to stop and regulate any of these activities to assure customers that they get their money’s worth when they purchase feeds.

Mayors play a critical role, according to Limpot in issuing business permits to these feeds dealers.
What the DA wants is for the mayors to make sure that before they issue business permits to commercials feeds dealers, they also would ask them to present their DA accreditation for feeds distributor as a pre-requisite.

The DA accreditation also allows the government to take samples of the feeds displayed and send them for occasional complete laboratory analysis to ascertain if the products bear the same quality as the ones the product name is bearing.

Limpot explained that feeds also have expiration dates, or dealers may, by mistake distribute a different brand other than the label and shortchange the customers.

Over this, the LMP through President Roberto Salinas of Catigbian town promised the DA agent to allow him to coordinate with the municipal agricultural officers (MAO) to implement the necessary steps towards that end.

Salinas said the MAOs could help explain and facilitate the information dissemination on the program and thus, avoid the possible consequence of costumers not getting the value for their money. (rachiu/PIA)

The Korean discoverer of “green bio-energy” will visit Bohol next week to scout for areas suitable for the massive production of red algae.

Gov. Erico Aumentado said he met Dr. Gyung Soo Kim, Ph.D., chief executive officer (CEO) of Biol Systems Co., Inc. and principal researcher for the Green Process Research and Development Department of the Korean Institute of Industrial Technology (Kitech) in Seoul during his visit to
South Korea on May 30 and 31 as part of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s delegation.
Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Joong-Kyung Choi who visited Bohol only a week earlier joined Kim in the meeting.

Aumentado said for green bio-energy production to be profitable, Kim needs a minimum of 10,000 hectares planted to the variety identified to grow abundantly in the Philippines â€" the cottonii species.

The governor has alerted Provincial Agriculturist Liza Quirog and her staff on Kim’s visit and instructed her to delineate the areas in Bohol suitable to red algae culture.

He expects Kim to give Quirog his requirements on top of the minimum area during the scientist’s visit slated this Sunday and Monday.

Tourism and agriculture are Bohol ’s major economic drivers. As such, Aumentado promotes them especially in his travels abroad including the latest trip with the President to Seoul and Jeju Island also in South Korea , then to Moscow and St. Petersburg in Russia .

RED ALGAE COMPARED

Kim is bullish for red algae compared to crops or wood. Crops, harvested once or twice a year, may compete with the need for food and drive prices up. Crops have carbon dioxide fixation ability (CO2 FA) of 5.1 tons per hectare (tph), and on top of sunlight and CO2, need water, land and fertilizer to grow.

Wood, harvested once in eight years, has CO2 FA of only 4.6 tph, needs lignin removal in the manufacturing process. Unabated harvesting may result to forest damage. It has the same needs as crops to grow.

On the other hand, red algae can be harvested four to five times a year, has high CO2 FA at 36.7 tph, has no lignin, no disadvantage to other food or the forest, and needs seawater only on top of sunlight and CO2  to grow.

Unlike sugar, starch or wood, algae feedstock does not need to undergo grinding, the dry mill or lignin removal. It goes direct to saccharification, then fermentation and produces bio-ethanol already.

Kim’s research aims for a world “free from fossil fuel” as his company’s motto states. Bio energy which is 100 percent recycled energy reduces or eliminates the high demand for fossil fuel, high oil price, energy security risk, environmental pollution, global warming and melting iceberg, he adds.

INVESTMENT PROSPECTS

In Seoul , Aumentado also talked economics and campaigned for investments in the Philippines among personalities like Dr. Dongsoo Kim, Ph.D., chair and president of the Korea Export-Import Bank; Jun-Sik Yoon, senior secretary to the President of Korea for economic affairs and Edward Eun-Gap Chang, president of the Korean Chamber of Commerce Philippines. In-Sik Kim, reporter for the economy policy desk of the Korea Economic Daily covered the talks. - - The Bohol Chronicle

Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado has dared the Supreme Court to declare House Resolution 1109 as unconstitutional.

“A constitutional assembly (con-ass) by the Lower House alone and without the Senate runs counter to the fundamental law of the land,” Aumentado told the crowd that attended the 111th Independence Day celebration at the Plaza Rizal in front of the Capitol in Tagbilaran City â€" and his radio audience during his weekly forum The Governor Reports aired live over the city’s radio stations with live streaming and heard worldwide through the internet.

“I assure you that should this issue need to be voted upon in a plebiscite, your governor will be in the forefront of a campaign against amending the Constitution by the House of Representatives alone and without the Senate,” he stressed.

Without going into the underlying constitutional provision, Aumentado said if there is a group to be blamed for the confusion on the Constitutional provision on amendment, it would be the Constitutional Commission (Concom) of former president Corazon Aquino.

At that time, the Concom focused on removing whatever vestiges there were of the Marcos regime. They wanted to set up a parliamentary form of government so that the Concom prepared provisions designed to establish such a system of government for the Philippines, he explained.

After the “smoke” of voting was cleared however the presidential form of government won over the parliamentary form â€" and the rush was there to include all the provisions prepared for inclusion in the defeated parliamentary for to the presidential form of government, he added.

But the Concom missed one provision, the governor said, leaving the country faced with a possible constitutional crisis that could instill hesitation and even fear among prospective investors who would have poured capital into the country because it certainly trigger the disunity of the Filipino people and instability of governance.

“Hence, as we celebrate Independence Day today, let us pray for our leaders and the Supreme Court to be firm and strike down Resolution 1109 as unconstitutional and violative of the fundamental law of the land,” said Aumentado.  - the Bohol Chronicle

By the Bohol Chronicle

A multi-sectoral group formed the Boholanos Against Constituent Assembly (BACONAS) to seal a concerted effort to oppose the passage of House Resolution 1109 which, if approved will allow the convening of a constituent assembly.

Msgr. Junix Nalzaro and Atty. Raul Barbarona were elected as interim chairman and co-chairman of the group during a well-attended organizational meeting held at the Sayas Restaurant last Tuesday.

The group scheduled a series of meetings to formulate its activities with Boy Angcog, head of the secretariat.

BACONAS will come with a manifesto articulating its objection of the passage of HB 1109 which will legitimize the convening of the constituent assembly.

The group will be guided on a five basic principle in drafting its manifesto: to condemn the act of Congress in proposing HB 1109, stating the reasons why convening such assembly to ratify the Constitution is strongly deplorable in this point in time, denouncing and exposing the continued attempt of Pres. Arroyo to perpetuate power, the stand favoring charter amendments as long as it will be done after the 2010 elections.

The manifesto will also appeal to Boholanos to support BACONAS in all its succeeding activities and public pronouncements.

Among the political figures who showed up during Tuesday's organizational meeting were former CONCON delegate Chito Castillo, former Gov. Rene Relampagos, Prov'l BM Yul Lopez, former Prov'l BM Freda Tirol and City Kagawad Mariquit Oppus.

By the Bohol Chronicle

The 33-year old pregnant woman who tested positive of the Influenza A(H1N1) virus is now into full recovery, according to the Department of Health (DOH) Region 7.

Renan Cimafranca, of the DOH-7 Regional Epidemiology Services Unit (RESU) bared that result of the second swab sample taken from the woman rendered negative.

The second test was taken from the 2-month pregnant woman last June 4, the same day the Regional Institute of Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City confirmed she was infected with the A(H1N1) virus based on the first swab sample taken on May 28.

But due to her pregnancy, the DOH-7 advised the woman to still look after her health and continue her self-quarantine at her residence for the next few days.

Cimafranca said health officials are still monitoring the persons who came into contact with the woman since May 23 up to June 4.

“Based on our tracing so far, nobody has exhibited symptoms of flu or developed influenza-like illness,” he said.

The monitoring of those who came into contact with the woman will be done for a period of 10 days, Cimafranca said. Those who had contact with her on June 4 will be monitored until June 14, he added.

“There is no problem right now and we are in constant communication with the woman and her family to monitor their condition,” Cimafranca assured.

Cimafranca said that while they were not able to give antiviral medication to the woman, since she is in the first trimester of pregnancy, her condition kept improving the past days.

The woman arrived in Bohol from California last May 23 but developed flu symptoms two days later and decided to seek medical treatment.

Showing signs of recovery from fever, the woman was discharged from the hospital even before the DOH could confirm that she is stricken with the dreaded A(H1N1) virus. The confirmation came eight days after the swab sample was taken by a team from the DOH regional office (May 28).

“Their response was so delayed and I had to wait several days for the confirmatory results,” she said.

She said regional health officials were the ones who gave her clearance to leave the hospital on May 25.

The release of the woman from the hospital have been the subject of complaints by the public here as she was the first confirmed Influenza A(H1N1) case in the province.

Meanwhile, at least six private schools here have moved their opening of classes to June 15 due to the Influenza A(H1N1) virus.

People’s Champ Manny Pacquiao had to cut short his supposed vacation here in Bohol and fly to New York to receive the prestigious “Fighter of the Year Award” from a group of American sportswriters.

The boxing icon, accompanied by wife Jinkee and their children Emmanuel Jr., 8; Michael Stephen, 7; and Mary Divine Grace, 2, arrived here at the Tagbilaran City Port last Friday at around 10 in the morning from Cebu City.

Pacquiao and family were supposed to spend a private vacation in one of the resorts in Panglao together but the boxing champion was called by Malacañang to oblige him to receive the prestigious award in New York, USA.

Pacquiao’s coach, Freddie Roach, is also an awardee and will join him at the awards night.
“Pacquiao is receiving the award for the second consecutive year,” Michael Konz bared in an interview.

But before he boarded his 5 p.m. flight last Friday at the City Airport, the boxing champ was kind enough to oblige for photo opportunities with fans.

Pacquiao and his wife were mobbed for about 30 minutes at the airport by fans.
Even though the couple had to cut short their vacation here, the three Pacquiao kids are still enjoying the break at a Panglao resort.

The boxing champ is slated to be back immediately upon his arrival from the United States to pick up his children who are enjoying a grand vacation in the province.

By the Bohol Chronicle

Bohol’s political waters went into complete disarray when 25 administration mayors, just converted into the NP (Nacionalista Party) last week, swore in back as Lakas-Kampi members Friday before provincial political stalwart Gov. Erico Aumentado.

The NP conversion earlier shook the political equation as this swung the majority control of Bohol’s 47 towns into the Nacionalista Party.

Had the recantation of political loyalty not transpire at the Governor’s mansion Friday, the mayoralty profile of the Bohol would have resulted in 25 (NPs), 13 (Lakas Kampi) and 9 (Opposition).

With the new political somersault â€" resulting from the Governor’s loyalty check â€" the Lakas-Kampi’s near party-monolith is back in place. Now the dominant administration party controls 38 of 47 municipal mayors and 12 of the 13 provincial board members.

Of course Gov. Aumentado, Vice-Gov. Julius Herrera and the three congressmen Edgar Chatto, Roberto Cajes and Adam Jala all belong to the administration bloc.

Eyebrows were raised when suddenly 25 mayors took their oaths of allegiance Sunday before NP president and former senate president Manny Villar while the Governor literally turned his back as he left for an official trip to Korea with President Gloria M. Arroyo.

FLIP-FLOP FOR REAL OR STRATEGIC?

Political pundits, however, are not as easily swayed.

While President GMA and Gov. Aumentado appeared to have cracked the whip, people are  still pointing to the relative proximity  of the governor to Senator Villar where the former served as Deputy speaker while the Villar was Speaker of the House of Representatives.

In a random survey conducted by Station DYRD’s “Radyo Merkado” program, 87.5% said “it would be impossible for the mayors to take their oath to Villar’s NP without the knowledge of Gov. Aumentado whose leadership is respected by the Lakas-Kampi mayors.

A mass oath-taking for Lakas-Kampi municipal chairmen  of the newly-merged party including the 25 mayors who earlier joined Villar’s camp took place.

Those who jumped to NP last Sunday was led by Jagna Mayor Exuperio Lloren, former LMP president and Carmen mayor Boy Molina, who is closely identified with the Villar camp. Molina, however, was not present during the Friday Lakas-Kampi  oath-taking.

But Gov. Aumentado was emphatic during the meeting that the administration coalition here is critical because through that, the province can easily access several programs and projects from the national government.

“Bohol’s growth, development and economy depend on the strong alliance with the administration of President Arroyo,” the governor stressed.

Also present during the meeting were Vice-Gov. Herrera, Rep. Edgar Chatto (1st District), Rep. Robert Cajes (2nd district) and former congressman Atty. Eladio Jala, representing Rep. Adam Relson Jala (3rd district).

Microsoft is poised to start giving away security software.

The company is reportedly trialling free anti-virus software internally and said the beta version would be released "soon".

Called Morro, the software will tackle viruses but lack the broader range of utilities, such as parental locks, found in paid-for security suites.

Morro will be Microsoft's second venture in the highly competitive security market.

Microsoft's first attempt revolved around the Windows Live OneCare service that did not succeed in turning many customers away from rivals such as Symantec and McAfee.

Microsoft plans to discontinue Live OneCare once the Morro software is ready.

No specific date has been given for when Morro will be released, but in the past Microsoft has said it would be out by the end of 2009 at the latest.

Microsoft said Morro would tackle viruses, spyware, rootkits and trojans.

Janice Chaffin, Symantec's president of consumer products, said customers wanted more than just basic protection.

"A full internet security suite is what consumers require today to stay fully protected," she said.

Security software for home PCs typically cost around £30-40 and often allow users to install protections on more than one computer.

Other companies, such as AVG and Alwil already produce and distribute free anti-virus products. - bbc

Labina na gyud seguro ang Second Love? Unsa na gyud kaha ang third ug fourth love? Mao ba kini ang pangutana nga nag-alintabo sa imong dughan?

By Marlon Ramos
Philippine Daily Inquirer

“Horrifying, indescribable, unthinkable.”

The murder of Ruby Rose Barrameda-Jimenez, whose body was stuffed and cemented into a steel container and then thrown into the murky waters off Navotas, was so chilling even a seasoned police investigator found it hard to describe what happened.

“The crime was really horrifying. It’s indescribable and unthinkable,” said Chief Supt. Roberto Rosales, head of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

In his 32 years in the military and police service, Rosales said the killing of Ruby Rose was probably one of the worst he had seen.

He had heard of this method of killing during the dark period of the Marcos dictatorship, he said but this was the first time a woman was made to suffer such an unspeakable death.

Ruby Rose, sister of actress and former beauty queen, Rochelle Barrameda, disappeared on March 14, 2007, after a bitter custody dispute with her estranged husband, Manuel Jimenez III, for their two children.

Police on Thursday filed murder charges against seven men including some of Ruby Rose’s in-laws and alleged accomplices.

“That crime was done to the nth degree. How can somebody kill a woman who cannot even defend herself against five men? If they want to kill Ruby Rose, they could have just taken her, shot her and buried the body elsewhere,” Rosales said.

Feared, not respected

“The way they killed her was really beyond imagination. I cannot understand what moved the suspects to do this to her,” he said. “Whoever committed this crime must pay for it. The people could never forgive this horrendous act.”

Rosales said he was told that Ruby Rose’s father-in-law, Manuel Jimenez II, and uncle-in-law, Lope Jimenez, who had been charged for the grisly murder, were dreaded by people who knew them.

Even residents of the coastal towns of Cavite, where carrying firearms was common, did not dare cross paths with the Jimenezes, he said.

“They are feared, not respected, in Cavite,” Rosales, a seasoned police investigator, said.

A woman in search of a man goes through different kinds of prayer.

At 20, she prays fantastic: "Lord, give me the best man!"

At 30, she prays optimistic: "Lord, give me a good man."

At 40, she prays realistic: "Lord, give me a man, any man."

At 50, she prays: "Lord asa naman?

Manchester United have accepted a world record offer of £80m from Real Madrid for Cristiano Ronaldo.

"United have agreed to give Real Madrid permission to talk to the player," read a statement from the Old Trafford club.

It added that the decision came at Ronaldo's request after he "again expressed his desire to leave".

United described the offer for the 24-year-old forward as unconditional and added that they expected the matter to be concluded by 30 June.

It is understood that the transfer fee would be made available for Red Devils manager Sir Alex Ferguson to invest in the transfer market.

Madrid signed Brazilian Kaka for a reported £56m earlier in the week, surpassing the previous world record fee in pounds sterling of £45.6m, which Real paid for Zinedine Zidane in 2001. - BBC News

Philippine Congressmen Who Signed House Resolution No. 1109 - all for the prolonging of the agony of the Filipino people by extending Gloria Arroyo's swallowing of power. According to reports, the price is P20 Million Each in the form of additional pork barrel funds.

National Capital Region

Vincent P. Crisologo, Quezon City
Matias V. Defensor, Jr., Quezon City
Mary Ann L. Susano, Quezon City
Nanette Castelo-Daza, Quezon City
Bienvenido M. Abante Jr., Manila
Jaime C. Lopez, Manila
Maria Zenaida B. Angping, Manila
Maria Theresa B. David, Manila
Amado S. Bagatsing, Manila
Daniel R. De Guzman, Marikina City
Marcelino R. Teodoro, Marikina City
Eduardo C. Zialcita, Parañaque City
Henry M. Dueñas, Jr., Taguig
Alvin S. Sandoval, Malabon City-Navotas City
Jose Antonio F. Roxas, Pasay City
Oscar G. Malapitan, Caloocan City
Mary Mitzi L. Cajayon, Caloocan City
Roman T. Romulo, Pasig City
Rexlon T. Gatchalian, Valenzuela City
Magtanggol T. Gunigundo I, Valenzuela City

Cordillera Administrative Region

Manuel S. Agyao, Kalinga
Elias C. Bulut, Jr., Apayao
Mauricio G. Domogan, Baguio City
Samuel M. Dangwa, Benguet
Solomon R. Chungalao, Ifugao

Ilocos Region

Thomas M. Dumpit Jr., La Union
Victor Franciso C. Ortega, La Union
Arthur F. Celeste, Pangasinan
Conrado M. Estrella III, Pangasinan
Marcos O. Cojuangco, Pangasinan
Victor F. Agbayani, Pangasinan
Ma. Rachel J. Arenas, Pangasinan
Eric D. Singson, Ilocos Sur
Ronald V. Singson, Ilocos Sur
Roque R. Ablan, Jr., Ilocos Norte
Cecilia S. Luna], Abra

Cagayan Valley

Florencio L. Vargas, Cagayan
Manuel N. Mamba, Cagayan
Junie E. Qua, Quirino
Carlo Oliver D. Diasnes, Batanes
Rodolfo T. Albano, Isabela
Edwin C. Uy, Isabela

Central Luzon

Jose V. Yap, Tarlac
Jeci A. Lapus, Tarlac
Monica Louise Prieto-Teodoro, Tarlac
Lorna C. Silverio, Bulacan
Pedro M. Pancho, Bulacan
Reylina G. Nicolas, Bulacan
Ma. Victoria Sy-Alvarado, Bulacan
Arturo C. Robes, San Jose del Monte City
Albert C. Garcia, Bataan
Herminia B. Roman, Bataan
Joseph Gilbert F. Violago, Nueva Ecija
Ma. Milagros H. Magsaysay, Zambales
Antonio M. Diaz, Zambales
Aurelio D. Gonzales, Jr., Pampanga
Juan Miguel M. Arroyo, Pampanga
Anna York P. Bondoc, Pampanga
Carmelo F. Lazatin, Pampanga

CALABARZON

Danilo E. Suarez, Quezon
Wilfrido Mark C. Enverga, Quezon
Michael John R. Duavit, Rizal
Adeline Rodriguez-Zaldarriaga, Rizal
Angelito C. Gatlabayan, Antipolo City
Roberto V. Puno, Antipolo City
Eileen Ermita-Buhain, Batangas
Mark Llandro L. Mendoza, Batangas
Victoria H. Reyes, Batangas
Jesus Crispin C. Remulla, Cavite
Elpidio F. Barzaga, Jr., Cavite
Maria Evita R. Arago, Laguna
Edgar S. San Luis, Laguna

MIMAROPA

Antonio C. Alvarez, Palawan
Carmencita O. Reyes, Marinduque
Eleandro Jesus F. Madrona, Romblon
Ma. Amelita C. Villarosa, Occidental Mindoro
Rodolfo G. Valencia, Oriental Mindoro

Bicol Region

Rizalina Seachon-Lanete, Masbate
Narciso R. Bravo, Jr., Masbate
Antonio T. Kho, Masbate
Al Francis C. Bichara, Albay
Reno G. Lim, Albay
Luis R. Villafuerte, Camarines Sur
Felix R. Alfelor, Jr., Camarines Sur
Diosdado Ignacio Jose Maria Macapagal-Arroyo, Camarines Sur
Joseph A. Santiago, Catanduanes
Jose G. Solis, Sorsogon

Western Visayas

Florencio T. Miraflores, Aklan
Genaro M. Alvarez, Jr., Negros Occidental
Jeffrey P. Ferrer, Negros Occidental
Ignacio T. Arroyo, Jr., Negros Occidental
Jose Carlos V. Lacson, Negros Occidental
Alfredo D. Marañon III, Negros Occidental
Raul T. Gonzalez, Jr., Iloilo City
Niel C. Tupas, Jr., Iloilo
Ferjenel G. Biron, Iloilo
Arthur Defensor, Sr., Iloilo
Judy J. Syjuco, Iloilo
Janette L. Garin, Iloilo
Joaquin Carlos Rahman A. Nava, Guimaras
Fredenil H. Castro, Capiz

Central Visayas

Roberto C. Cajes, Bohol
Edgardo M. Chatto, Bohol
Pryde Henry A. Teves, Negros Oriental
Pablo P. Garcia, Cebu
Pablo John F. Garcia, Cebu
Ramon H. Durano VI, Cebu
Nerissa Corazon Soon-Ruiz, Cebu
Benhur L. Salimbangon, Cebu
Eduardo R. Gullas, Cebu
Antonio V. Cuenco, Cebu City
Raul V. Del Mar, Cebu City

Eastern Visayas

Roger G. Mercado, Southern Leyte
Eufrocino M. Codilla, Sr., Leyte
Carmen L. Cari, Leyte
Andres D. Salvacion Jr., Leyte
Trinidad G. Apostol, Leyte
Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Leyte
Reynaldo S. Uy, Samar
Sharee Ann T. Tan, Samar
Teodolo M. Coquilla, Eastern Samar
Paul R. Daza, Northern Samar
Emil L. Ong, Northern Samar
Glenn A. Chong, Biliran

Zamboanga Peninsula

Rosendo S. Labadlabad, Zamboanga del Norte
Cecilia G. Jalosjos-Carreon, Zamboanga del Norte
Cesar G. Jalosjos, Zamboanga del Norte
Victor J. Yu, Zamboanga del Sur
Antonio H. Cerilles, Zamboanga del Sur
Dulce Ann K. Hofer, Zamboanga Sibugay

Northern Mindanao

Vicente F. Belmonte, Jr., Lanao del Norte
Abdullah D. Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte
Rolando A. Uy, Cagayan de Oro City
Marina P. Clarete, Misamis Occidental
Herminia M. Ramiro, Misamis Occidental
Yevgeny Vicente B. Emano, Misamis Oriental
Pedro P. Romualdo, Camiguin
Candido P. Pancrudo Jr., Bukidnon

Davao Region

Franklin P. Bautista, Davao del Sur
Marc Douglas C. Cagas IV, Davao del Sur
Arrel R. Olaño, Davao del Norte
Antonio F. Lagdameo, Jr., Davao del Norte
Isidro T. Ungab, Davao City
Vincent J. Garcia, Davao City
Prospero Nograles, Davao City
Thelma Z. Almario, Davao Oriental
Nelson L. Dayanghirang, Davao Oriental
Rommel C. Amatong, Compostela Valley
Manuel E. Zamora, Compostela Valley

SOCCSKSARGEN

Datu Pax S. Mangudadatu, Sultan Kudarat
Arnulfo F. Go, Sultan Kudarat
Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza, Cotabato
Bernardo F. Piñol, Jr., Cotabato

CARAGA Region

Glenda B. Ecleo, Dinagat Islands
Philip A. Pichay, Surigao del Sur
Florencio C. Garay, Surigao del Sur
Francisco T. Matugas, Surigao del Norte
Guillermo A. Romarate, Jr., Surigao del Norte
Edelmiro A. Amante, Agusan del Norte
Jose S. Aquino II, Agusan del Norte

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao

Pangalian M. Balindong, Lanao del Sur
Faysah Omaira M. Dumarpa, Lanao del Sur
Yusop H. Jikiri, Sulu
Munir M. Arbison, Sulu
Simeon Datumanong, Maguindanao
Nur G. Jaafar, Tawi-Tawi

Party- Lists

Narciso D. Santiago III, Alliance for Rural Concerns
Edgar L. Valdez, Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives
Ernesto C. Pablo, Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives
Robert Raymund M. Estrella, Abono
Nicanor M. Briones, Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines, Inc.

Jake was dying. His wife sat at the bedside.

He looked up and said weakly:
'I have something I must confess.'

'There's no need to, 'his wife replied.

'No,' he insisted,
'I want to die in peace.
I slept with your sister, your best friend,
her best friend, and your mother!'

'I know,' she replied.
'Now just rest and let the poison work.'

A mortician was working late one night.

He examined the body of Mr. Bob,
about to be cremated,
and made a startling discovery.
Bob had the largest private part
he had ever seen!

'I'm sorry Mr. Bob,' the mortician
commented, 'I can't allow you to be cremated
with such an impressive private part.
It must be saved for posterity.'

So, he removed it,
stuffed it into his briefcase,
and took it home.

'I have something to show
you won't believe,' he said to his wife,
opening his briefcase.

'My God!' the wife exclaimed,
'Bob is dead!'

Vancouver is the world's easiest city to live in while Harare is the toughest, a survey said Monday putting Europe and north America at the top while many African and Asian cities struggle behind.

Canadian and Australian cities hold six of the top 10 slots in the Economist Intelligence Unit's liveability poll, which ranks cities on five factors: health-care, stability, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.

"At the other end of the ranking, most of the poorest-performing locations are in Africa or Asia, where civil instability and poor infrastructure present significant challenges," said the survey's authors.

In ratings ranging from zero (intolerable) to 100 percent (ideal), Vancouver scores 98 percent, "benefiting from strong Canadian infrastructure," while Harare languishes on 37.5 "thanks to the unfolding crisis in Zimbabwe."

At the top end of the global easy-living scale, Vienna is in second place followed by Melbourne, Toronto, Perth, Calgary, Helsinki and Geneva, with Sydney and Zurich in joint ninth place.

The Japanese city of Osaka is just outside the top 10 on 13th place, and Tokyo is at joint 19th with Frankfurt.

European cities where life is generally not hard include Stockholm and Hamburg, Germany in 14th place, as well as Paris in 17th spot, Frankfurt in 19th, Copenhagen in 21st and Berlin in 22nd.

"With the exception of high scores in Australasia and some Asian centres, most of the better-scoring locations are based in the more developed regions of western Europe and North America," said the study.

A string of US cities fill the rankings from 30th to 50th position -- Washington DC in 35th place, Los Angeles in 48th -- followed by another smattering of European conurbations: London is in 51st spot, Rome 52nd while Athens has western Europe's lowest showing in 63rd spot, on 81.2 percent.

Any city with a score above 80 percent "will have few, if any, challenges to living standards," said the survey.

Lower down the orders come Moscow in 69th spot, Beijing in 76th, Johannesburg on joint 92nd with Brazil's Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, and Bangkok in 100th place.

The bottom rankings are occupied by a swathe of Asian and African cities: Manila in 108th, New Delhi in joint 114th spot with Cairo, Mumbai in 120th, Nairobi 122nd and Lusaka 126th.

Cities scoring below 50 percent -- which "present daily challenges to living standards" according to the authors -- include Tehran in 129th place, Karachi, Pakistan in 135th and Lagos in 136th.

The bottom three are Algiers, Dhaka and Harare -- where President Robert Mugabe called Sunday for leaders to "make Africa a continent of opportunity for all its people," as Zimbabwe struggles to emerge from an economic meltdown. - AFP

By Edson C. Tandoc Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Four Filipino high school students have won prizes in an international science competition proving that science education is alive and well and thriving in the Philippines.

Sixteen-year-old Jovani Tomale’s passion for numbers is helping save the Philippine Eagle and has earned for him second prize in the Animal Sciences category during the International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) held in the United States last month.

Two other high school science projects won in the Intel ISEF competition: One by Kevin Jer David, 16, and Orven Jules Dumaoang, 16, and another by Angela Joyce Yap-Dy, 14.

The annual contest, sponsored by Intel Corp., brought together some 1,600 students from 50 countries. Nine students from the Philippines competed by presenting six science projects.

Tomale came up with a mathematical formula to help identify the sex of an eagle, proving that tinkering with numbers and equations is both fun and relevant.

“This is my share to save the Philippine Eagle,” Tomale told the Inquirer.

His project started with a simple field trip more than a year ago when he was still a senior high school student at the Davao City National High School in Davao del Sur.

Listening to talks by officials of the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), a Davao City organization that aims to save Philippine Eagles from extinction, Tomale was struck by a simple problem that hampers the breeding of eagles in captivity.

“It was hard for them to determine the gender of an eagle,” he said.

Visual sexing

The foundation usually resorted to what it called “visual sexing” or determining gender by observing the eagle for several days, a method that is very susceptible to error.

“This problem led me to think of something to help the foundation,” Tomale said.

The Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) is a huge, broad-winged forest raptor endemic to Luzon, Leyte, Samar and Mindanao. It is one of the world’s largest and rarest eagles. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources lists the Philippine Eagle as “critically endangered.”

It was difficult to identify the sex of the Philippine Eagle because male and female have the same physical features, Tomale explained.

If there was an easier and faster way to tell an eagle’s sex, this could help increase its threatened population.

Formula

Tomale worked with his uncle Vladimir Kobayashi, an applied mathematics graduate of the University of the Philippines, who taught him the basic principles of statistics.

Several months later, he came up with a formula that included information like the length of an eagle’s bill and leg. His formula correctly identified the sex of at least 17 eagles.

Tomale has given his formula to the PEF. He said he would pursue his love for numbers by taking up accountancy at the Ateneo de Davao University.

Other winners

Winning the grand prize in the Plant Sciences category were David and Dumaoang, both graduates of the Philippine Science High School. The two, who are incoming medical students at the University of the Philippines, studied how disease-causing bacteria can “communicate.” By being able to disrupt the communication, they can prevent the disease-causing bacteria from becoming resistant to antibiotics.

Meanwhile, Dy won a special second prize award from the American Association for Clinical Chemistry. She discovered that milkfish bile, which is usually discarded when cooking, could be converted into an anti-cancer drug. It works especially against lung and colon cancers, which are among the top killers in the world.

Intel presented the winners in a press conference yesterday.

Real science

Education Undersecretary Vilma Labrador said the four students represented that 20 million public school students who “are doing their best.”

Labrador noted: “Is the quality of education falling down? ... This is a proof [that it is not].”

David, one of the grand prize winners, said his experience in the international contest showed him that science “is not just memorizing concepts, real science is when you get to answer your own questions.”

He said the country “needs more scientists” and while he acknowledged that support for science research in the country has been increasing, “there is still room for improvement.”

Intel’s higher education manager for corporate affairs Joselito Tulao said the contest aimed to “develop science and technology in the country.”

By Zaida delos Reyes-Palanca
People's Journal

Times are pretty hard, prompting a down-on-her-luck single mother, 19,  to sell her one-year-old child to a bus driver in Cebu City last Sunday so she could have a decent meal.     

The suspect was identified as Josephine Llego, of Sitio Kalinaw, Bgy. Mabolo, Cebu City.

Llego was now under the custody of Family Juvenile and Gender Sensitivity Section of Cebu City Police Office.

Reports reaching Camp Crame showed Llego was arrested based on the complaint lodged by her siblings, accusing her of selling her  baby to a certain Roger Demol for P300.

In the local police station, Llego vehemently denied the allegation, saying that she just let Demol to take care of her baby and asked P100 from the bus driver for her to buy food since she was starving.

Demol, on the other hand,  said he is ready to return the baby to the suspect and admitted that he lent money to the suspect out of compassion for the mother.

By Raul Beltran
People's Journal

Congress will honor a Filipina domestic worker in Hong Kong who found some HK$350,000 (about P2.1 million) but returned the money to its rightful owner, not thinking about the benefits the amount could bring to his impoverished family in the Philippines.
   
Rep. Carlos Padilla (NP, Nueva Viscaya) said he has begun communicating with the local officials of Nueva Viscaya to give financial assistance to the family of Mildred Perez and, at the same time, bestow her the necessary tribute for her honest deed which, the lawmaker said, should be emulated by every Filipino.
   
Perez is from Bgy. Aliaga, Bambang, Nueva Viscaya, where she has two daughters.
   
Padilla described Perez, who reportedly gathers and sells recyclable materials in Hong Kong after she lost her job following her filing a case against her former employer who allegedly tried to assault her, as “one in a million who made the Filipinos proud.”
   
“Despite her present difficulties in a foreign land, she did not succumb to temptation that could have changed her life,” Padilla said, noting that Perez only earns about 28 Hong Kong dollars (roughly P228) everyday collecting and selling scraps.
   
Party-list Representatives Florencio “Bem” Noel (An Waray) and Mujiv Hataman (Anak Mindanaw) agreed that it is “only but fitting and proper” to honor Perez whose action “made every Filipino and the country proud.”
   
“She could have easily pocketed the money but she didn’t. Her action was rare, especially for someone whose children cannot attend school because of poverty,” Noel said.
     
“We support the proposal to honor this OFW and give her family financial assistance,” according to Noel and Hataman.
   
Based on reports from Hong Kong, Padilla said Perez has filed a complaint against her former employer -- a pastor -- who tried to rape her, a move that caused her her job and prevented her from seeking another employment.
   
She turned to collecting and selling recyclable materials to support her needs, including extending  her visa, which was recently renewed,  until her case is resolved.
   
Reports from Hong Kong said Perez, in the company of a certain David, found the amount, consisting of cash and checks, after renewing her visa at the immigration department on April 29.
   
The amount totalled HK$350,545, which was returned to its rightful owner through the Hong Kong Information Center.
   
For her honest deed, Perez was given a can of buttered cookies as a token of gratitude, according to the reports.

Just Stay

A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside.

"Your son is here," she said to the old man.

She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's  eyes opened.

Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand.   The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement.

The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed.  All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted   ward, holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength.  Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile. He refused. Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital - the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients.

Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night.

Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited.

Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her.

"Who was that man?" he asked.

The nurse was startled, "He was your father," she answered.

"No, he wasn't," the Marine replied. "I never saw him before in my life."

"Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?"

"I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his
son just wasn't here. When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son,
knowing how much he needed me, I stayed."

The next time someone needs you ... just be there.  Stay.

- source: forwarded email

Change Your Thinking > To Change Your Results!
by Tony Jeary

“Business as usual is unrealistic in our current economic climate. Leaders must accept the fact that success is likely to become a moving target and their organizations must become faster, leaner and better equipped to compete and change quickly. To embrace speed as a strategic asset requires higher levels of clarity about the real needs and goals of the organization. Clarity means that the value and purpose of every effort must be evaluated and put to the test.”

A Mind for Selling: Brain Science Is Turning Management On Its Head
Charles Jacobs

"We don’t have direct knowledge of the physical world; we only have knowledge of our ideas of it. This may seem like just an interesting curiosity until we realize that the world we know is not an objective record of the one that exists outside of us, but the version of it we create according to whatever else is going on in our minds at the time. We don’t live in the world of atoms; we live in the world of ideas.”

Being Strategic: The Antidote to Fear
Erika Andersen

“The antidote to fear? Pull people out of their panic and self-protective impulses
by first acknowledging the difficulties, then raising their eyes and hearts to a
possibility of success. At that point you can take advantage of their newly available
and hopeful energy to make that possibility a reality.”

By Rey Anthony Chiu
PIA - Bohol

In a surprise show of party expediency, 25 Bohol mayors shook off their party affiliations to the welcoming embrace of the Nationalist Party headed by presidential bet and Senator Manuel Villar.

The mayors, most of them affiliated with the ruling Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas CMD) Kampi coalition bolted at the time when President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo officiated the merger of Lakas CMD and her party Kabalikat sa Malayang Pilipino (KAMPI)

The 25 mayors took their oath under their new party in a discreet political gathering at the posh Bohol Tropics Resort and presided over by Villar.

Newspaper reports named the 6 bolting mayors of the First District as Cirilo Jalad (Alburquerque), Alvin Uy (Baclayon), Apolinaria Balistoy (Cortes), Simplicio Yu (Calape), Vito Rapal (Corella) and Irineo Calimpusan (Sikatuna).

In Bohol’s second district, 6 mayors now allied with the Villar party are Hermogenes Diezon (Clarin) Elsa Tirol (Buenavista), Teresa Camacho (Getafe) Apolinar Gumanid (San Isidro) Claudio Bonior (San Miguel) and Herminio Relampagos (Dagohoy).

In the third District, named were Leon Calipusan (Loboc), Fanuel Cadelina (Bilar) Gregoria Pepito (Batuan) Simplicio Maestrado (Sierra Bullones) Wilson Pajo (Pilar), Pedro Miasco (Alicia) Sergio Amora (Candijay), Stephen Rances (Mabini) Ma. Fe Piezas (Guindulman) Manuel Tan (Duero) and Exuperio Lloren (Jagna)

The massive party switching also happened at a time when Lakas regional and provincial party head Governor Erico Aumentado was out of town for a scheduled state visit in Korea.

While Capitol has still to issue a statement over the incident, radio reports projected Villar as a close ally of Aumentado, who sat as Villar’s deputy speaker in his heydays as House bigwig.

A radio commentator here candidly referred to the political phenomenon as “ants go where sugar is.”

In Bohol, where the Administration garnered one of the country’s widest victory margin during the last elections, a massive party switching would be construed as a big dent to the Lakas KAMPI merger.

Reports also said that the merger was a convenient way of consolidating the forces sympathetic to the ruling administration.

On related development, Political Affairs Adviser Gabriel Claudio has hinted that Malacanang knows there are some parties ding piracy and raiding the Lakas-Kampi party, especially in the municipal level.

“We are doing our own check on this,” as he continued, “This is hardly the time for Lakas Kampi members to even doubt their membership in the newly merged party.

By Rey Anthony Chiu
PIA - Bohol

  President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has appointed Boholano actor and director Cesar Montano as Presidential Special Envoy for Film and Digital Cinema.

  In her appointment for Montano, which she signed May 19, the president said the actor will coordinate with the Departments of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Tourism (DOT), Trade and Industry (DTI), and Energy (DOE) in developing appropriate strategies and activities that will enhance the appreciation of Philippine cinema.

  Moreover, Montano, who has brought distinct honor and pride to the country for his classic Filipino films would also lead in mobilizing the private sector in the Philippine cinema promotion.

  Most political observers see the recent presidential action as an apparent accommodation for the Administration’s losing senatorial bets in the past elections.

  Montano was a candidate under the administration party who lost his senatorial bid.

  Over all these, Boholano source close to the actor does not believe the appointment would jeopardize Montano’s future political bid. 

  The actor who openly admits his Baclayon roots has been touted to throw his hat in the political arena here, and aims for the province’s top post.

  In later interviews however, Montano said he has a wide option open before him.

  “Its all set, Montano is definitely running for governor, the source who asked not to be named said. 

  Montano has been testing the political waters all over Bohol in the past few months, the source said “and he has made up his mind to go”. 

  With the presidential appointment, Montano would be accorded diplomatic status, be issued a diplomatic passport for his overseas missions.

  The appointment however does not allow him to receive salary or emoluments from the Department of Foreign affairs.

By Rey Anthony Chiu
PIA - Bohol

  Effective July 1, government state workers are eligible for the four annual salary increases as Congress recently voted for the passage of the salary standardization law (SSL) reports bared.

  The Congressional action also caused the availability the funds for its pay increase’s four-year implementation.

  Many government workers view the development as timely, especially when the country’s economy is being rocked by the global financial crisis and when the government is in its programmed spending with the emergency employment and livelihood programs to keep the economy buoyant.

  With prices now vacillated by the unstable price of oil and fuel, the Congressional action on the passage of the law is a huge development, government observers said.

  President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has previously certified the salary standardization law as urgent in an apparent attempt to bring the salaries of state workers close to the levels of their counterparts in the private sector.

  Over the development too, Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the government now is assured of enough funds for the salary standardization.
   
Meanwhile, Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Gabriel Claudio said the timely implementation of SSL-3 will help the economy at this time of global economic crisis.
   
“It will help perk up the economy through spending,” Claudio said, hinting that more spending power would tend to keep people buying and thus, patting into shape local economies.
 
With Congress passing the law, it also has caused the immediate upgrading of compensational package for low-level to top government positions, a step to be implemented in a staggered system for four years.

  The salary standardization is expected to benefit the more than 1.5 million government employees by increasing their salaries starting this July 2009 until 2013.

By Rey Anthony Chiu
PIA - Bohol

Independence Day brings in better chances of a good live to members of three Boholano women organizations when the government hands in a sum of P137,000, for their identified livelihood projects in time for the Kalayaan Day, June 12.

  The three groups, all of Guindulman town would be awarded funds for meat processing and goat and chicken raising on that day, says Labor Regional Director Elias Cayanong in a communication to concerned government agencies.

  This too as the country commemorates the 111th anniversary of the Philippine Independence which is highlighted by livelihood fairs, awarding of employment contracts, training vouchers, scholarships and grants for livelihood assistance, opening of public assistance centers, entertainment, fireworks display and the usual flag raising and wreathe laying activities, bares the labor department.

  It may be recalled that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has directed the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) as the lead agency in the organization and implementation of programs and activities in commemoration of the 111th Philippine Independence.

  Pursuant to the presidential Administrative Order, DOLE Secretary Marianito Roque crafted the inter-agency task force to oversee and manage the nationwide Kalayaan ’09 celebration.

  24 members of the Asosasyon sa Nagkahiusang Kababayen-an sa Bayong of Guindulman, Bohol would be awarded P33, 187 for training cum production (TCP) funds on meat processing.

  On the other hand, 33 members of the Bunhayag Kababayen-ang Nagpakabana ug Matinud-anon of Canhaway gets P66,000 for TCP on goat raising funds from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region 7.

  Another women’s group, Lantay Women’s Association of barangay Lombog gets P37,940 for TCP on native chicken raising for its 29 members.

  Representatives from these Guindulman women organizations would be off to Cebu to get the awards in time for the June 12 activities at the SM Cebu Entertainment Plaza, where all major regional independence day activities open.

  This year’s organizing committee bared that the commemoration centers on “Kagitingan, Kagalingan at Kasipagan Tungo sa Tunay na Kalayaan.

By Rey Anthony Chiu

  At least 13 beach resort owners recently petitioned for a court ruling to temporarily restrain Mayor Benedicto Alcala from implementing a demolition order set Monday.

  Reports said even before the court could act on the petition, another resort, Casanova and represented by Atty. Dennis Hora filed a similar motion Thursday, stopping the mayor from proceeding with the demolition plan.

  The ensuing legal battle for the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) put government and non-government groups into a grind, doing ocular inspections and hearing sides before the court resolves either Friday or Saturday, says Capitol Legal Officer Atty. Handel Lagunay.

  Environmental Legal Assistance Center said some of petitioning resort owners have earlier signed undertakings manifesting their voluntary demolition of their illegal structures within the environmental protection zone.

  Apparently fed up with the promises and feeling the pressure from environmentalists and local officials, Mayor Alcala finally sent the demolition ultimatum for Monday, June 8.

  According to reports, Paz Trotin of the Bohol Divers Lodge and 12 other resort owners seek a TRO against Panglao chief executive who ordered the demolition of the illegal structures within the beaches’ 20-meter environmental protection zones.

  Meanwhile Bohol environment officer Nestor Canda assured the embattled mayor of full government support for his decision to implement pro-environment laws.

  While PENRO Canda admitted the mayor may be “pressured”, he assured technical personnel from his office to help the mayor in defending his stand in demolishing structures on public access areas.

  Speaking at the Kapihan sa PIA, PENRO Canda explained that the local governments are tasked to implement the national and local laws as mandated in the local government code.

  Failure to do so may be a cause for administrative sanctions, he added.

  It may be recalled that since March of 2008, Mayor Alcala has sent notices of violation to the resort owners with illegal structures on the protected zones.

  Reports said Mayor Alcala sent another set of notice of violation last May 15, 2009, one that pushed owners to petition the court’s reiterative motion for the initial request for the TRO and the institution of a status quo ruling, said Capitol legal officer Handel Lagunay at the weekly Governor reports.

  Speaking for the Capitol stand, Lagunay cited Article 61 of the Water Code of the Philippines and insisted that Bohol needs to strengthen its tourism potentials and that is by moving back the illegal structures on the beaches, especially along the Alona stretch.

  The legal battle came just in time when the whole country celebrates the environment month.

By Rey Anthony Chiu
PIA Bohol

The career service paper and pencil test for professional and sub professionals come to Tagbilaran as test center this year, says Civil Service Commissions (CSC) provincial director Nissi Cherith Asis.

The examination, set July 28, 2009 would be for the first and second levels career service examinations and can also be filed here, Asis said.

The Bohol CSC office would now be accepting applications for the July test until the deadline for filing, which is on Wednesday June 5.

Applicants need to accomplish the application form properly, submit 4 latest and identical passport sized (1 1/2 x 2 inches) identification pictures with full name and not a computer-enhanced or generated picture and tag.

Moreover, applicants also need to show an original and photocopy of his valid identification cards containing his signature, bithdate and signature of authorized head of issuing agency and pay the P350.00 examination fee.

The local CSC also said that application forms can be secured from the CSC Bohol Field Office beside the Land Transportation Office in Dampas, form the municipal human resource management officers in the towns.

Examination forms can also be downloaded from the CSC website at www.csc.gov.ph.

By Rey Anthony Chiu
PIA - Bohol

  Acting Governor Julius Caesar Herrera is now asking concerned Boholanos to report the whereabouts of a Boholana who may be unknowingly spreading swine flu infection now.

  The possible carrier who may not have followed the self-quarantine procedures implemented for persons who entered the country during the reported swine flu outbreak went to a party recently.

  She has been at large and is freely moving about, following a few days of hospital treatment regimen at a hospital in the city, and Herrera wants the possible carrier to be contained as soon.

  Herrera hinted that the patient could be spreading the virus, which can be transmitted by physical contact and the danger spreads daily with the patient freely moving.

  Herrera, who sits at the Capitol top post for the governor who is on official state visit said he received reports baring that the regional health authorities have learned of the positive tests conducted by the Regional Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) for the OFW Boholana patient.

  The overseas foreign worker patient reportedly came from Qatar and went home last May 24.

  She later complained of fever and has to be admitted at the Borja Clinic where, Herrera said, she underwent tests and had her laboratory samples taken to the Alabang Institute for test confirmation.

  The patient whose name is currently withheld, gave out her address as upper JA Clarin St. in Tagbilaran City and Koinonia Hill in Sungcolan Dauis.

  During a radio interview Thursday, Herrera said unluckily, before the tests results were sent back to the Bohol health facility, the hospital has released the patient.

  It was however not reported if the cause of the hospital release was due to patient recovery.

  The RITM is the only facility in the country that can test and validate the positive infection of the swine virus, explains Provincial Health Officer (PHO) Reymoses Cabagnot Friday.

  This too as the Department of Health has raised he alarm over the 29 reported cases of influenza A (H1N1) or commonly called swine flu.

  While the PHO said mortality incidence for swine flu is less than 1 % per thousand, he stressed that Boholanos should practice basic hygiene to keep from the infection.

  In the country, Health secretary Francisco Duque stressed that in all of the confirmed cases, patients manifested only with mild symptoms reflecting the general trend and behavior of the virus in other affected countries.

  He also said, “We do not want a disproportionately destructive global scare from a virus that has thus far only shown mild symptoms in most of the cases that we are seeing in affected countries. We do not need that at this at a time of great economic crisis and uncertainty.  But at the same time, we should not also underestimate the potential of the virus to become more severe in the future.”

By Rey Anthony Chiu

Government troopers showed its left hand working for peace when hundreds of people from Loboc and Loon benefited from the military’s Medical and Dental Civic Action Programs (MEDCAPs) organized last May 31 and June 1.

In Bohol, after relatively successful in its anti-insurgency drive with forceful combat operations, the army now shifted more of its operations to civil and military in form.

The activity, jointly conducted by the 802nd Infantry (PEERLESS) Brigade under Col Alan R Luga and the Technical Service Brigade (Reserve) of the AFP Reserve Command under Col Joseph G Sevilla visited Gotozon in Loboc and Napo in Loon the following day.

Loboc Mayor Leon Calipusan underscored the army’s full commitment to humanity by assisting local government units in attending to the needs and problems of the people in the community through community works, humanitarian and medical missions.

On this, 802nd Brigade Civil-military operations officer Maj. Eduardo Malig-on assured that the Army partners not only for peace but also for progress and development.

In Loboc, more than 300 residents availed of the services carried on not just by military medics and dentists but with the Loboc Health Office, PNRC-Bohol, the Provincial Health Office and the Philippine Gift of Life Foundation, Representative Adam Relson Jala and Santa Clara Industries.

In Loon, about 400 residents benefited from the services rendered by the same group with the Congressman Natalio Castillo Memorial Hospital medical practitioners and the group who earlier did the MeDCAP services in Loboc.

Loon Mayor Lloyd Peter Lopez, himself a physician, was all hands in serving his people, army sources said.

In the same light, Bohol leaders have been implementing convergence approaches, this time with the pooling of resources from government service agencies to copntinue its Civic Action activities as organized by the Provincial Peace and Order Council.

a lo divino

(Spanish “in the sacred style” or “in sacred terms”)
   
in Spanish literature, the recasting of a secular work as a religious work, or, more generally, a treatment of a secular theme in religious terms through the use of allegory, symbolism, and metaphor. Adaptations a lo divino were popular during the Golden Age of Spanish literature during the 16th and 17th centuries. - source: Britannica Encyclopedia

a cappella

(Italian: “in the church style”), performance of a polyphonic (multipart) musical work by unaccompanied voices. Originally referring to sacred choral music, the term now refers to secular music as well.

The a cappella style arose about the time of the composer Josquin des Prez, in the late 15th century, and reached preeminence with Palestrina in the late 16th century in the music that he wrote for the Sistine Chapel of the Vatican. Because no independent instrumental parts were written, later scholars assumed that the choir sang unaccompanied, but the evidence is now that an organ or other instruments exactly “doubled” some or several of the vocal parts. By the 17th century, a cappella music was giving way to the cantata, for which parts were written specifically for instruments as well as for voices.

source: Britannic Encyclopedia

Dagohoy Rock

Lapu Lapu Boogie




Long Live The Bol-anon ug Sugbo-anon!

This is hilarious!


Max: mga higala paminaw mo'g maayo--nindot gani'g tingong ako na--bati gani yoyoy na.

Yoyoy: Saba diha oy! mga higala ayaw mo katu-o ni Max kay butbuton na. Ako'y tuho-i ninyo kay mistiso ko kana siya bisaya man na'g nawo

LOL!!!

Viva Yoyoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx7T0BJSwyw&feature=related

By: Yoyoy Villame



~Philippines has a great history, according to our geography~~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3G5FlwSd6o&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nC-wnONkgX8

kamakuri gud man kon waray tubig kay dako an iya nahibubulig

An Englishman rapping in Waray2x?



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

"pare, im jigga hiruti"

haha

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n7VsSVK_1I



Do you know Waray-Waray?

Buwad Time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BP9-bsR1fSI
Pintuyan Calling..

The Vastness of Southern Leyte


Land of the Warai 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mst2SC36VY0&feature=related

Busay Falls In Pintuyan.

The streams of Busay are cold and refreshing.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lzpi-cRZi7s&feature=related

Ancestral Seat of the Lucino Dynasty

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vu1ohKZ-oWs&feature=related

Pintuyan, Southern Leyte.

The ancestral home of some of our members.

The Island of Pintuyan, Southern Leyte.




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnqBjx8XRcU&feature=related
What a beautiful sunset.

Congratulations to all the board top knotchers!


Admin Staff

Dear Members,

If you see trolling going about, kindly message the me, and they shall be purified.

Thanks Mga Boholanong Igsoon.


Admin Staff

These swindlers shall be silenced by the mighty hand of the Boholano People.

The Blood of Dagohoy flows in the Boholano.

Neon Fashion

Doha, Qatar: Beautiful

Bisan init sa yutang Pilipinas maka buhi man. Ang lola ug lolo sa atong ginikanan sa ilang panahon wa may yamo ug elektrik fan ug aircon. Buhi man galing sila sa unang panahon. Mao nay itum ang buhok sa pilipino ug morenang panit kai gi bombardahan gud ang lawas pilipino sa init jamo.

In the Name of The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the Beginning, Is Now, and Ever Shall Be,
World Without End.

Amen.

By Ramon Tulfo
On Target Column, PDI

PRESIDENT Gloria was guest of honor at the opening of Fantasyland in Dawo, Zamboanga Del Norte, which is owned by convicted rapist Romeo Jalosjos.

She cut the ceremonial ribbon assisted by Jalosjos, a recent beneficiary of presidential pardon.

In other countries, heads of state are never to be seen with ex-convicts, much more a child rapist.

Not our President. She even looked proud and was beaming when her photo was taken with Jalosjos.

One year before bowing out of office, GMA doesn't care to protect her image because there's nothing to protect anyway.

Scientists say a natural supplement made from tomatoes, taken daily, can stave off heart disease and strokes.

The tomato pill contains an active ingredient from the Mediterranean diet - lycopene - that blocks "bad" LDL cholesterol that can clog the arteries.

Ateronon, made by a biotechnology spin-out company of Cambridge University, is being launched as a dietary supplement and will be sold on the high street.

Experts said more trials were needed to see how effective the treatment is.

Preliminary trials involving around 150 people with heart disease indicate that Ateronon can reduce the oxidation of harmful fats in the blood to almost zero within eight weeks, a meeting of the British Cardiovascular Society will be told at Ateronon's launch on Monday. - bbc news

Car giant General Motors (GM) has filed for bankruptcy protection, marking the biggest failure of an industrial company in US history.

The widely expected move comes after GM had seen its losses widen following a steep fall in sales in recent years.

The move into bankruptcy protection has been backed by the US government, which is now expected to take a 60% stake in the company.

The White House is also due to announce an extra $30bn (£18.5bn) of aid for GM.

President Barack Obama will host a press conference on GM's future later.

GM, which had already received $20bn of state aid since the end of last year, said in its bankruptcy filing that its current debts total $173bn. - bbc news

Quote from: monkey d. luffy on May 31, 2009, 10:52:10 PM
Di man ta maka prove ana kay wa pa may minatay na nibalik unya ni confirm na mao nay mahitabo.

Now faith is the assurance that what we hope for will come about and the certainty that what we cannot see exists.
--Hebrews 11:1

For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?
--Romans 8:24

while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
--2 Corinthians 4:18

but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house-- whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.
--Hebrews 3:6

for we walk by faith, not by sight!
--2 Corinthians 5:7

By JES B. TIROL
1870s: HOW THE GOVERNORS FARED IN BOHOL

Proem

Today we are familiar with what is going on in the Provincial Government.  Do you know that in the 1870s or about 139 years ago, the provincial governance sounds familiar?

Bohol was created as a Politico-Military Province on March 3, 1854.  As a Politico-Military province, the qualification of its governor was at least a Captain in the military.  Cebu was an Alcaldia province.  Its governor must be a lawyer.

Don Pablo Diaz Lomelino
On 29 October 1870, Don Pablo Diaz Lomelino was appointed by Gov.-Gen. Carlos dela Torre as the Politico-Military governor of Bohol.  He was a Brevet Major and Captain of the Infantry.  He was appointed to replace Governor Don Antonio Martinez.

Gov. Lomelino took position of his office in Bohol on 30 November 1870.  The ceremony was held at the Provincial Tribunal (The building still exists).  Present were Visayas District Governor Don Eusebio Mola y Altamaria and Tagbilaran Parish Priest Francisco Ayama.

On 18 April 1871 at 6 p.m., Gov. Lomelino died.  Some records insinuate that it was of mysterious circumstances.  The Alcalde Mayor (Provincial Governor) of Cebu Don Jose Gonzales Grano de Oro Marcon became the interim governor of Bohol.

Don Joaquin Bengoechea
On 12 May 1871, Don Joaquin Bengoechea y Tapia was appointed as the Politico-Military Governor of Bohol.  He was a Captain of the Cavalry.  Don Joaquin took position of his office in Tagbilaran, Bohol on 24 July 1871.

Turning over of the Vara de Justicia occurred at the Provincial Tribunal attended by the following: Interim Governor Don Jose Gonzales Grano de Oro Marcon, Reverend Fathers Lucas Coromina, Julio Saldaña, Jose Maria Cabañas, and Tomas Fernandez. The attending Spaniards were; Don Francisco Gallardo, Don Francisco Farriol, Don Andres Diana, and Don Eugenio Pellires.

The Governor’s Salary
The annual salary of Governor Bengoechea was “siete mil quinientos (7,500) pesetas” or equivalent to 3,750 pesos per year or P312.50 per month.  Take note that the salary of the first governor of Bohol in 1854 was P1,500.

How big was that salary?  Consider that the salary of an ordinary laborer during that time was P2 per month.  So the salary of the governor was 15,525% higher than that of an ordinary laborer.
Compare the above to the present situation.  Let us assume that the Governor of Bohol today receives P40,000 per month and the ordinary laborer receives P10,000 per month.  The salary of the Governor is only 300% higher than that of an ordinary laborer.

Was There No Corruption Then?
You will be surprised to know that early on the term of Governor Bengoechea he was already accused of desfalco or shortage of funds.  This is what we understand today as malversation of funds.  The party that filed the administrative case was not a government functionary but the “Sociedad de Fianzas (Society of Guarantors)”.  Today we still hear of private groups that file a case against government officials.  So it is nothing new.  It already occurred 139 years ago.

Gov. Bengoechea’s Defense
The defense of Gov. Bengoechea was denial. He said that when he took position of his office he wrote a letter to the District Governor of the Visayas that he would not function as the Deputy for Finance in the province.  He requested someone knowledgeable to be appointed.  As a soldier, Gov. Bengoechea admitted that he was not knowledgeable about financial matters.  But his lawyer-superiors cited legal provisions that the Governor was the Deputy for Finance in the province.

I could not find any record regarding the result of the case.  As late as year 1879, Gov. Bengoechea was still saddled with the case.

Gov. Bengoechea’s Notable Work
The emphasis of Gov. Bengoechea’s administration was to implement the quintos.  It was the drafting for military service every one-fifth of the qualified males in the province of Bohol.  The draft dodgers were put in prison.

Reference: Varias Papeles de Bohol, Bunch 111 & 112, National Archives, Manila.

By ANZING ZOILO POQUITA

This writer was out of circulation for the past four months simply because, she was enjoying her extended Christmas vacation in Dipolog City, Zanorte with the families of her eldest and youngest girls.

Anyway, the breathtaking experience of the group was the most exciting ever, when we had a night cruise for the first time at Loboc River.  The idea was hatched during the joint birthday bash of Ma’am Venie Cabalog and Fred Malaran who shared the same birthdates at JJ’s Dimsum on November 14, 2008.  It was pushed through when December-born member, Dading Mar, whose family planned a special birthday for her, invited the group to join her family and other guests to a dinner on board the floating restaurant and a night cruise on December 01, 2008 her red-letter day.  It was a night to remember for the golden seniors.

Club adviser Vic Torralba and Lita Dumalag, who are both January-born invited the group back to JJ’s Dimsum.  The gathering was graced by US-based member Yolie Bustrillos, who came home for a vacation.  On the other hand, Letty Lumactud, Bening Karaan, Leonor de la Torre, Citas Ingles, Lurline Naparan, Dr. Preciosa Torralba, and Elsa Lingo, February and March celebrators jointly held theirs at JJ’s Seafoods Village.

We met again on May 16, 2009 at JJ’s Seafoods Village to partake of the graces and the blessings that May-born Lita Palileo, Doris Tadena, and Nene Ocarol prepared for their colleagues.  US-based Albina Karaan and Nanie Estrera were the invited guests.

Vic Torralba, in his words to bring home, advised his peers that as senior citizens, there’s a need for us to get out of our shells once in a while, and allow some time to get lost, meet, and enjoy listening to each other’s story.  Meanwhile, Ma’am Leonor de la Torre, shared to the group the travelogue of her 3-months stay in Australia with her son Jake and his family.  Time and money are immaterial because the happiness we feel whenever we meet is priceless.

By FRED C. FUERTES

He came, he saw, he conquered the hearts of his brethren.
That’s why tonight, though nursing a broken heart due to the “changing of the guards” in parish assignments, the Lindavillean flock will convene at the Parish Social Ground to pay tribute to their faithful shepherd who, for four solid years, transformed the parish into a center of religious activities.

Rev. Fr. Manuel Y. Mendez, outgoing parish priest of the Birhen sa Barangay Parish, will be the object of adulation during a despedida program in his honor. Parish lay leaders will take turn in heaping praises to this man of God.

The speakers include Judge Baudilio K. Dosdos, City Fiscal Conrado Supremo, Parish Pastoral Council Chair Greg Loayon, Parish Finance Council Chair Gus B. Pascual, K of C District Deputy and Loboc Municipal Councilor Glicerio Jubac and Lindaville Phase 1 Residents Association Prexy Nemie Monton.

Incoming parish vicar, Msgr. Oscar Pajo will grace the occasion and will also deliver words of inspiration.

The program to be hosted by Pascual and Jeanne Lumanas will be enlivened with musical numbers by the Lindaville Knights, the CWL Sr. and Jr. Dance Troupe, the El Shaddai Entertainers, the Cofradia de Santo Niño, the Senior Citizens, the Parish Youth Movement and the Twin Hearts.
In the climactic part of the parish shindig, the outspoken homilist will give his words of thanks and bid adieu to his flock. Pascual, K of C Grand Knight, will later award to the honoree a plaque of appreciation.

Fr. Mao is accredited for converting the religious community into a full-pledge parish with the support and cooperation of his ever-willing parishioners. Through the clergyman’s representation and assurance, the Lindavilleans will soon own the lot where their house of worship majestically stands. An initial P1.2 million will be funneled to the GSIS in order to put into realization a long cherished dream by the Catholic faithful â€" to have a land where the church is erected which they can proudly claim as their own.

With his departure to his new assignment â€" the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Taloto, this city, the Lindavilleans felt they lose a diligent worker but the beautiful memories they shared while working and praying with Fr. Mao, will last for a lifetime.

- The Bohol Chronicle

Eulalie Arboladura, project coordinator of the AusAID-funded Poverty Reduction through Organic Farming Systems (PROfarmS), is now the new executive director of the Bohol Local Development Foundation (BLDF). She succeeds Dr. Nepomucena Buot, who was elected as Vice President of the Board of Trustees during its regular meeting last May 23.

This was announced by Nestor Pestelos, president, who retired last March as regional program manager for Southeast Asia of the Habitat for Humanity International to assume a full-time role with the Foundation.

Like most trustees and staff of the Foundation, Arboladura has had a long career in development work, starting in 1983 when the UNICEF-assisted Ilaw International Center became operational in Bohol as a resource institution for community development and local-level participatory planning.  She worked in the center as field researcher-librarian, administrative officer, and trainer.
Arboladura joined other former Ilaw staff to form BLDF five years ago as partner NGO of the Provincial Government in preparing and implementing the Bohol Program Framework on Poverty Reduction. 

Former Tagbilaran City Mayor Jose Ma. Rocha is honorary chairman of the BLDF Board. The other officers of the Board are: Dr. Nepomucena Buot, vice president; Myrna Angalot-Lu, secretary-treasurer; Joy Arac, auditor; and Domiciano Formentera, community relations officer.

- The Bohol Chronicle

from the Bohol Chronicle pages

Cheers, best wishes to the newly weds for the month of May 2009

Robert Aguaviva, Jr. exchanged marital vows with Nicomeda Pinsoy-Aguaviva on May 10, 2009 at the Assumption of our Lady Shrine Parish, Dauis Bohol, wedding reception followed at the Sandugo Grand Ballroom, Bohol Tropics Resort, Tagbilaran City.

Allan Maestre Deguiño exchanged marital vows with April Lou Calceta-Deguiño on May 17, 2009 at the Lady of Lourdes Parish, Tagbilaran City, wedding reception followed at the Bohol Tropics Resort.

Leonardo Pamaos exchanged marital vows with Florabel Tindoy-Pamaos on May 18, 2009 at the St. Joseph’s Cathedral, wedding reception followed at the Bohol Tropics Resort.

Raoul Peña exchanged marital vows with Teresita Mosqueda-Pena on May 18, 2009 at the St. Peter Parish Church, Loboc Bohol, wedding reception followed at the Dagohoy Grand Hall of Bohol Tropics Resort, Tagbilaran City.

Rodrigo E. Jostol exchanged marital vows with Ma. Rachiel Suarez-Jostol on May 23, 2009 at the St. Joseph’s Cathedral, wedding reception followed at the Bohol Tropics Resort, Tagbilaran City.
After Five Weddings and Events Specialist.  For assistance please contact Maria Leticia “Maleth” L. Zafra at 0917-304-0757, 0918-557-6609 or 038-500-0674.

Jecille Mae Lidon, daughter of Engr. and Mrs. Romeo and Cecilia Lidon-Martin celebrated her 18th birthday on May 22, 2009 at the Harbor View Hall of Bohol Tropics Resort this city.  A simple celebration was well attended by her immediate family, relatives and close friends.

Her sponsors and charms:  Mr. and Mrs. Belarmino and Alicia Lidon-Licayan, Emerita Lidon-Zafra, Alma Lidon-Killick, Mr. and Mrs. Phiru and Rosemarie Lidon-Manlangit, Engr. and Mrs. Rene and Naziancina Lidon-Carabuena, Marjorie Lidon, Eflie Lidon, Mary Ann Lidon-Asuncion, Mr. and Mrs. Ruser Lidon, Maria Leticia Lidon Zafra, Mae Elaine Lidon Licayan, Elizabeth Licayan, Hazel Lidon, Naomi Lidon Licayan, Corazon Cervantes-Cabrera, Nena Frazer, Mutya Rebekah Ampong, Lumel Tanupan, Elvira Castro, Imelda Danila, Isidra Rosell, Almar Ninofranco, Celerina Dano and Emma Joy Abugho.

The Eighteen Roses who danced with Jecille Mae in an inspired Julio Iglesias rumba and waltz together with the Eighteen Candles who gave wishes were:  Brian Killick and Rochelle Marie L. Martin, Estelito L. Zafra and Yvette Ishbel L. Carabuena, Roie L. Licayan and Karen Valerie Lidon, Leonard Lidon and Lorelie Jane L. Manlangit, Mar John L. Zafra and Dayren Mae Licayan, Rey Allen Minguito and Althea Escabarte, Kirck Brandon L. Manlangit and Alyssa Escabarte, Harold Jay Lidon and Jane Pahang, Jessie Carlo Lidon and Catherine Pinar, Peter Tongco and Lolita Uy, Cesar Penales and Ines Jeste Pagdato, James Pizarras and Christine Torralba, Evan Butalid and Alexa De Ere, Kim Saligumba and Venna Buma-at, Elton Maslog and Janine Marie Fudotan, John Maslog and Katherine Willy, Jonathan Gabieres and Ma. Eden Cervantes and Jun Constantine Caturza and Thessa Buma-at.

The bearers were Louis Guy Killick, Emar Anthony Zafra Violanda and Anthony Louise L. Manlangit.  The lovely debutante was escorted by Jan Hendel Villegas.

- The Bohol Chronicle

Mr Tagbilaran City Ian Orillos and Ms Loay Ma. Glaiza Lepiten took the first ever Mr and Miss Teen Bohol titles in a glittering final last Thursday in Tagbilaran City.

Orillos, a 19-year old student of Holy Name University almost jumped up high when his name was announced as Mr Teen Bohol. Lepiten, wearing a tight-fitting black and white maxi gown, was shocked and almost fought back tears as the Miss Teen Bohol sash was draped over her shoulder and a glittering crown placed on her head. Lepiten blew kisses to the crowd and hugged her competitors after the pageant.

Contestants from the different towns of Bohol competed in the pageant. They were judged by their performance in shortswear and evening and formal gowns modeling contest and their responses to a questions asked onstage. The top 5 contestants worked the stage in a final interview and they showed off their choice of glittering evening gowns and formal wear. Lepiten’s was a flowing, white and black white number that stood out among a serried of maxi gowns.

Their titles come with a scholarship grant from Informatics and Cristal E-College, P15 thousands each and an undisclosed honorarium from SK. They will attend official functions and events organized by the SK. This October, Orillos and Lepiten will grace the SK National Congress in Subic.
Balilihan bets Hilary Jalem and Maria Tiffany Tabigue were declared second runners-up. 

Mark Johnuel Duavis of Buenavista and Jeanny Lou Easter Dunting of Inabanga were declared first runners-up.

Special awards like best in shortwear and Mr. Photogenic went to Jan Jeffrey Reston of Inabanga and  Dunting.  Orillos was declared best in formal wear while Dunting   received the best in evening gown, Mr. Friendship was Renieven Berdon and Miss Friendship award went to Tabigue, best in production number is Lito Manuel of Garcia Hernandez and Guldamer Malou Sombrio of Loon.  Ms Photogenic was Cemene Grace Añora of Buenavista, Mr and Miss Ever Bilena were Parker Bolanio of Candijay and Clarice Elaine Falcon Radoc of Tubigon, and Mr and Miss Coca-Cola were Orillos and Mygie Obrador.

The two- hour invited celebrity judges Charee Pineda (ABS-CBN’s Let’s Go), Diane Medina (ABS-CBN’s Banana Split), model Marco Aranas and Luis Lorenzo Antonio Del Rio of Belo’s Medical Group. SK national president Jane Censoria Cajes served as the chairman of the board of judges.

According to Cajes, the winners will become ambassadors of SK as the ultimate search for the province’s most desirable youth came to an end. “We are looking for Mr and Miss Teen with style, charm, intelligence and strength of character. The pageant is not about the crowns and titles; it is about responsibility and service.”

The Mr and Ms Teen Bohol video “Light the passion, share a dream” captured the friendships and moments they’ve shared during the entire pageant. The video is uploaded in youtube.

The Mr and Ms Teen Bohol was presented by SK provincial federation of Bohol, provincial government of Bohol and Bohol Tropics Resort Club. Sponsors are JJ’s Dimsum, JJ’s Seafoods, Coca-Cola, Loboc Riverwatch Floating Resto, Cristal E-College, Informatics, AMBL Enterprise and Advertising, The Bohol Chronicle, 102.3 Kiss FM, DYRD, Bohol Sunday Post, 911 FM and DYTR. Benefactors are Uly Dolojol of Oopsbar, ALT Derma Clinic, Ever Bilena, First Flower Avenue and Gov. Erico Aumentado.

- The Bohol Chronicle

Editorial, The Bohol Chronicle, May 31, 2009

Those who studied Latin know that "persona non grata" literally means an "unwelcome person". Many of our elderly priests who took Latin know this.

The broadest use of "persona non grata" is on the diplomatic front where a host country declares any of the foreign embassy staff (for grave reasons) as such under the rules of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, Article 9.

It could also be used as a "tit for tat" retaliatory weapon between bickering countries especially during the Cold War between the democratic and communist nations.

In 1984, Italy expelled as "persona non grata" the First Secretary of Syria suspected of espionage. So did Bolivia President Evo Morales to USA Ambassador Philip Goldberg for allegedly conspiring against his government in 2008.

Just January this year, Latin American Venezuela protested the Israel offensive in the Gaza strip and declared Israeli embassy officials expelled and then Israel also termed all "Venezuelan embassy staff" persona non grata in a classic "tit for tat".

In non-diplomatic terms, the police philosophy declares an officer who does a Chuck White (whistle-blow, squeal) on another officer and breaking the Blue Wall as "persona non grata " in the police force. A club member who speaks against the principles or officers of a club can also be declared as such.

In the Philippines, it can take a slightly different meaning, however.
Everyone understands why Palawan, the other day, home province of bold actress Katrina Halili, the alleged victim of the Sex Video Scandal (subject of a national voyeurism) declared Dr. Hayden Kho Jr. as "persona non grata". The beauty-surgeon-doctor has admitted to be the camera man and actor of the sex film - and damn him who disgraced our native beauty, so Palawan declared.

But Bohol, known for its religious fervor and piety among the folks, beat Palawan to the draw by a few days and stunned the national audience by declaring Kho as "persona non grata".  Of course the calls were split: one part claiming Boholanos are "holier than thou" pretenders while others respected the province for making a stand.

The piece of legislation by the Bohol Sangguniang Panlalawigan declaring Dr. Kho as "persona non grata" caught the national attention because the Kho-Halili Sex Film is a continuing story of romance, betrayal, sex and drugs - you know the stuff that makes a killing at the movie tills.

Mincing no words were the provincial lawmakers in condemning the beastial (not human) and highly unethical and dishonorable behavior of the suspected Adonis - Exhibitionist â€" Dr. Hayden Kho Jr. The condemnation was especially brutal because he was taking advantage of his profession as a Doctor - prying on the weaknesses of his patients and video-taping them for his Diary of Sexual Conquests. Truly a conduct unbecoming.

The legislative sentiment was to preclude Kho, who is romantically linked to a rich beauty consultant, from doing his "retreat and remorse" in Bohol and perhaps infiltrating the mindset of many conservative Boholanos. The hunk-doctor admitted he had carnal shenanigans with several women of different ages and 40 of them in video tapes scheduled for uploading - if the price isn't right. The NBI smells of "potential blackmail" by those who are in possession of these highly sensitive tapes.

But it seems a large majority (88%) of Boholanos when surveyed in "Radyo Merkado" over sister Station DYRD yesterday, while condemning Kho's unethical conduct, deplored the judgment call of the SP as an "over-reaction" over what is just another tabloidish piece of news feasted upon by TV, newspapers and radio all over the country.

But we surmise the hot survey response could have been colder if this was not preceded by a ridiculously similar stance of the City Sangguniang Panlungsod - recently declaring broadcaster-critic Batchoy Alba as "persona non grata". This stemmed off an alleged Batchoy tirade against a Catholic Church project in Dauis town. Ninety-three percent of Boholanos  surveyed condemned the unreasonable stance.

The city legislators have painted themselves into a corner - accused of making legislation out of political vendetta against a critic of their patron - the City Mayor - without a formal complaint against the subject. Even His Immensity was red on the face - because his massive effort to drive an imagined rift between Station DYRD and the Church over the same issue did not even merit a one-sentence statement from the Church. For the nth time, the City Mayor was caught hallucinating again.

Many Tagbilaranons are hoping that the Top Honcho's 27-day self-imposed "disappearance" from his mayoralty duty (as elected by the people) will help clear his muddled mind this time.

Bottom line is - maybe let's not be too liberal with anointing persons -especially as a legislative act - as "persona non grata".  We might lose the true meaning of the term.

Otherwise, too, people will develop paranoia over the term "persona non grata" as they fear they may be next to be so un-gloriously canonized. Maybe it is good to reserve them for those who truly deserve to get hit by the full import of the meaning of the term - that literally means "an unwelcome person".         

Let's pasture the phrase "persona non grata" to the archives for now is our suggestion.

City Engr. Pianicita Castolo, has also gone on leave since May 28 without any courtesy information to the acting mayor, who would have asked her of the programs of works for the P50 million city road rehabilitation and the “overpriced” P19 million Gallares St. concreting.

Meanwhile, the acting mayor issued a memorandum dated May 28 reminding on the official-time errands and the filing of applications for vacation leave.

Both programs of works were long requested by Veloso and the minority councilors and promised by the engineer to be given during the approval of the supplemental budgets for the two projects.
Castolo was still around at city hall when the acting mayor assumed, but she did not inform Veloso of her leave - two leaves, in fact - from May 28 to 29 and June 1-3.

The mayor approved her ante-dated leave application a week prior to the mayor’s leave, sources told the Chronicle.

The acting mayor thus inquired copies of the Program of Works from OIC City Engr. Acedo, who told Veloso that “Castolo instructed me (Acedo) to tell the acting mayor to instead get the documents from Mark Monton,” head of the General Services Office (GSO).

Whether the Program of Works are now undergoing “surgery” and whether there is ‘significance” to the three-day “extension” of the engineer’s leave, no one yet knows until she comes back and may report to office on June 4, Veloso hinted.

On the same day, the acting mayor formally asked City Treasurer Visitacion Acero for the list of the monthly expenditures corresponding to the payment of the wages for the casual employees in 2007 and 2008. He also requested for the list of the current City
Treasurer’s Office (CTO) casual workers.

His letter on this was actually a reiteration of previous requests, but Veloso still made the move for his guidance in evaluating the operation and administrative performance of the treasurer’s office.

Veloso personally met the treasurer, who was to coincidentally retire effective May 26, last Tuesday, since he likewise wanted to see the Statement of Receipts and Expenditures (SRE), formerly the Statement of Income and Expenditures (SIE).

The SRE had not been known to many city officials until the acting mayor got hold of the Department of Finance (DOF) circular on the new format of the financial document.
Requested records were not given to Veloso until Assistant Regional Director Hilda Garsula of the Bureau of Local Finance (BLF) of the DOF made a surprise audit at CTO Tuesday noon for the treasurer’s retirement.

Reports said that on DOF official’s instruction, Acero was forced to furnish Veloso but still a copy of SIE, not SRE, and only the list of CTO casual workers, not together with the list of the 2007 and 2008 monthly expenditures of the casual employment payment, on May 27, Wednesday.

Acero’s SIE copy to Veloso had no signatures of the city accountant and budget officer, who should also both sign the SRE and not SIE - since there should have no longer be SIE - pursuant to the new DOF circular.

In her reply letter, Acero referred the acting mayor to the city accountant for the record of the casual wage expenditures, claiming that after payment by the disbursing officers, all the paid vouchers would be submitted to the accountant for appropriate recording.
The document is vital since it could reflect the list of the 100 or more barangay tanods who supposedly received P12,000 honorarium each for the whole of 2008. 

Kagawad Jingo Rama earlier exposed the granting of only P6,000 instead of P12,000 per tanod, even saying that the tanods should have each received P3,050 per month since they were made to sign daily time record (DTR) and, thus, made to appear as casual workers of the city.

As daily time casual workers, the 100 tanods could have received more than P3,000 monthly or over P3.7 million for the entire 2008 instead of only P600,000 for all of them based on the alleged P6,000 that each tanod got for the whole year.

By Bohol Chronicle

Acting Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso has given department heads elbow room to exercise their functions with independence, competence and integrity without fear or unwanted pressure while the mayor is absent amid public clamor for transparency at city hall.

Meanwhile, Gov. Erico Aumentado, in a May 27 memorandum, enjoined Veloso for “smooth, efficient and effective governance in the best interest of public service.”

The father of the province asked the acting mayor to “inculcate upon them (the city hall personnel) the renewal of commitment for transparency and accountability in good governance.”

Veloso assumed as acting mayor on May 25, on which same date the mayor started to go on leave.

He briefed them on the thrust the city should pursue and encouraged them to see him at the vice mayor office, where he chose to stay as acting mayor, on matters affecting their official tasks or even personal concerns.

Veloso however asked for their cooperation on public matters that need to be known so that the Tagbilaran constituents can themselves contribute wisdom in assessing the operation of the city government.

By the Bohol Chronicle

"There will be elections in May next year," assured Gov. Erico Aumentado after attending last Thursday's merger meeting of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD (Christian Muslims Democrats) party presided by Pres. Gloria Arroyo at the Manila Hotel.

Gov. Aumentado was part of the presidential entourage which left for Korea yesterday for a five-day trip abroad.

Upon arrival from his trip with the President to Korea and Moscow, he will meet with the Lakas-Kampi party members in the province to get an inventory of probable party candidates for the 2010 polls even as he admitted that Bohol is predominantly an administration bailiwick.

The governor likewise confirmed that there are very few identified with Kampi as compared to those under the Lakas-CMD.  He mentioned Rep. Adam Jala as belonging to Kampi.

He has instructed Prov'l Administrator Tomas Abapo, Jr. to make a clear inventory of the party affiliations of the administration mayors who will still be running next year.

Gov. Aumentado ends his authority as regional chairman of Lakas following last Thursday's merger meeting presided by the President herself.  He is also the provincial chairman of the party.

For his part, Rep. Edgar Chatto who was prominently seen close to the President during the Manila Hotel meeting said he welcomes the merger as it will strengthen the administration party.

"We will await what comes next," Chatto said while showing confidence that "all is well" in this merger move of the President.  The last termer solon is acknowledged to be a close ally of the President since she was a senator having hosted most of her Bohol visits.

The first district solon is one of the gubernatorial timbers together with Vice Gov. Julius Herrera and movie actor-director Cesar Montano.

With the party merger, it might follow that a party convention might decide on whether it will be Chatto or Herrera to be declared as the official Lakas Kampi-CMD official bet for governor.
Reports revealed that Chatto has been seen visiting the towns all over the province with last termer Rep. Roberto Cajes showing indication for a Chatto-Cajes tandem.

On the part of Herrera, he has declared his gubernatorial dream as "non-negotiable."  The vice governor is reportedly paired by some Capitol officials with Prov'l Administrator Tomas Abapo, Jr.
However, until this time, Gov. Aumentado has kept under wraps his personal choice on whom to anoint as the party's official standard bearer here.

"It will be a party decision," the governor said.

By Joe Espiritu
Sunday Post Columnist

First it was Board Member Ae Damalerio. Then there was Roberto “Bachoy” Alba. Honorable Ae Damalerio was named persona non grata by the Sangguniang Bayan because he locked horns with the City of Tagbilaran over the drainage issue. Radioman Bachoy Alba was accorded the same by the same Sanggunian because of his comments against the Bishop of the Diocese of Tagbilaran. This time, it is the turn of no less than Dr. Hayden Kho, who broke into the national broadsheets as a suspected actor, director and producer of an illicit X rated piece. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bohol did the honors.

For his “highly unethical and dishonorable to say the least and more bestial than human, obviously unbecoming of a supposed professional”, Dr Kho is “not welcome to set foot on Bohol’s soil.” There goes another would be tourist. The Kho bashing hysteria is in the vogue these days. Everybody of note wants to be in the picture. But what had Dr Hayden Kho done which was “more bestial than human”?  Was his deed the first ever?

Pornographic pieces are not new in the Philippine scene. There are magazines, films and compact disks for sale in the not so underground market. Most actions a performed by unknown porno stars but once in a while, prominent persons had been featured; most of them are choreographed and faked. In a certain place in Quiapo, Manila, just signify your intentions and smut vendors will swarm over you with offers. To make it worse, smut has already invaded the Internet.

Some people like to experience vicarious thrills by observing others in action. Call it voyeurism or whatever.  There are also people who would like to see themselves performing. That is some form of narcissism. Still there are others who record their intimate moments to be viewed later by the principals only. Their preferences are classified by prudes calling themselves moralists as bordering on the kinky but as long as they keep it to themselves, they can not called perverse outright.. It is only those who record their action clandestinely with the intention of blackmailing or humiliating the other that could be considered criminal.

Sometime ago, a comedy star and a basketball player in the PBA recorded their bout in a cell phone. When their cell phone broke down this was sent to the shop for repairs. Technicians found the recording and reproduced it in CDs and sold them. The comedienne was dropped by the TV network while the athlete went on playing for his team in the PBA Curiously nobody was sued. Their names did not make waves.

In the case of Dr. Hayden Kho and Ms Katrina Halili, their actions were recorded in the hard disk of a laptop computer. This recording was never intended for circulation commercial or otherwise. They do not need the money from that source Somehow; someone got hold of that particular computer, .reproduced the stored record and caused the sale of the copies. While the principals panicked and issued damaging statements, politicians made a lot of mileage.

It is possible that Dr. Hayden Kho may come to Bohol to let things cool off. He may have relations here There seems to be some Khos here. There was our friend a Henry Morgia Kho of Maribojoc. He says further that he is a relation of Kho Hoc Sing. We wonder if they are really related. If so what is wrong with one more Kho in Bohol?

Baptism of Fire at City Hall
By Loy Palapos
Sunday Post

The political cauldron at the Sangguniang Panlungsod has reached scorching hot level, the latest development being the decision of Mayor Dan Neri Lim to go on leave for a month and let Vice Mayor Antonio Salera Veloso take charge in the former’s absence. In the course of the tug-of-war between the administration and opposition legislators, which lately mostly consisted of the majority bloc being charged, especially in media, with various allegations of misdemeanor by the minority comprising the opposition, collateral damages are some of the expected results. Directly exposed to the crossfire are heads of officers and their assistants, whose loyalty is expected to be with the man at the helm of the Executive Body.

The Treasurer’s Office, the Commission on Audit, the Budget Department and the Provincial Engineer’s Office are just a few offices which have been brought to public scrutiny to shed light on some allegations hurled at the Chief Executive the past couple of years. On this reality an insider commented that the City SP has followed the path of the Senate by spending most precious time in investigations “in aid of legislation”.

One man who had his baptism of time, and has caught the consciousness of the public is Mr. Kurt Adloph Chatto Bongabong (KCB), a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) who was the lone passer from the University of Bohol in the last Bar Exams. He finished BS Accountancy at Siliman University and became a CPA in 2002. He went to Manila and worked with SGV (SyCip, Gorres and Velayo) for almost two years, until he was hired in the Legislative Staff of the Vice Mayor Nueves T. Montes in 2004. In 2007, he transferred to the Accounting Department as Assistant Department Head and Acting Head of the Accounting Department. At 27, this CPA-Lawyer has a lot of options for betterment.

This interview took place at the Tagbilaran City Hall on May 22, 2009. Atty. Bongabong struck me as typically Boholano in his humility, whose wholesome features could make him go places. Devoid of any pretension of neither dexterity nor greatness in his chosen career, he is a hard-working professional whose integrity has not yet been tarnished by metropolitan sophistication.

LMP:  Was it your early dream to be an Accountant?

KCB:  Yes. It was when I was in the elementary grades. When I graduated from high school, there was no other field I was interested in. And my parents supported me all along the way.

LMP:  Why? What is in the profession that inspired you most?

KCB:  I have met some Accountants, and I saw in them a personification of dignity and accomplishment without being high strung and flamboyant. Their coolness and in-depth perception impressed me. Besides, I perceived that Accountants are respected, for many of them occupied high position in both the private world and in the government bureaucracy.

LMP:  Why did you have to go to Dumaguete to study Accounting?

KCB:  Siliman University is the best Accounting school in the country. Graduating from a school with high standards, can get the best from any person. Besides, a product of a good school seldom finds any problem landing on a good job.

LMP:  Why SyCip, Gorres and Velayo?

KCB:  It’s the top accounting firm in the country. When I decided to join SGV I knew it would be a great learning experience. My exposure to the firm, even how brief, inculcated into my mind the intricacies of accounting and auditing, this time not just in the classroom, especially that our clients were the tops in the corporate world.

LMP:  Why did you leave SGV?

KCB:  I got bored doing the same things again and again. I realized I needed to study, to learn more, and develop myself more, for a better life.

LMP:  Why law?

KCB:  It was a career move. I realized a more comprehensive knowledge of Law, could make me a better Accountant, and vice versa. I also found out later that Law is more challenging than Accounting. And the two complement each other.

LMP:  What was your feeling when the last bar results were made public, and you turned out to be the lone passer from UB?

KCB:  Wala lang. Nothing extraordinary. Of course, I was happy. My family, too. But I did not consider it a spectacular achievement.

LMP:  Now that you are both a CPA and a Lawyer, where will your concentration be?

KCB:  Accounting and auditing have been my life-blood since my college days. This time, I will concentrate as a Lawyer. I need more mileage, exposure, and experience in this new field. But I will be an Accountant at the same time.

LMP:  Do you have your first court case as a lawyer?

KCB: Wala pa. But I am looking forward to it. If concentration is needed, I will give it my time.

LMP:  Would that not impede in your other present obligations?

KCB:  No. it won’t. It’s a question of time management.

LMP:  Do you perceive yourself doing two jobs at the same time?

KCB:  At the start, perhaps. But years from now, when I have a full grab of the ins-and-outs of Law practice, I will have more time for it. My ultimate goal is to practice law fulltime.

LMP:  As acting Accounting Chief at City Hall, you have been invited to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan session to clarify some points. Was it not a big burden on your part? Were you not intimidated, especially that you needed sometimes to cross words with politicians, and became controversial?

KCB:  When I accepted this job I had already anticipated that this will happen. It is a part of my responsibilities to clarify matters. I have no insecurities of becoming controversial. I am a simple guy. And no, I am not intimidated. I will just do my job regardless of controversies. My conscience is clear.

LMP:  How about negative remarks from a few who believe you could be bias?

KCB:  I know my job, and I can handle things professionally. I don’t antagonize anybody. Not even any personal bias.

LMP:  What if a few oppositionists perceive you as bias?

KCB:  That, I don’t have any control. If a person believes I am bias, that’s his problem. As I said, I just do my job professionally and I have no inclination to antagonize anybody.

LMP:  How’s your relationship with the Mayor?

KCB:  The Mayor is very supportive with everything I do as an Accountant. We approach all issues professionally without any string attached.

LMP:  How about the prerogative to make decisions? 

KCB:  On my level, he trusts all decisions I have done.

LMP:  Do you also trust the Mayor?

KCB:  Of course. I won’t be effective in my job. Trust begets trust. I believe he is doing his job right.

LMP:  How about the opposition?

KCB:  It’s their right to oppose. This is a democratic country. There’s check and balance. But it should be within the bounds of Law.

LMP:  Let’s go to the lighter side of life. You are 27 years old. When will you marry?

KCB:  In my 30’s.

LMP:  Is age that important?

KCB:  Not necessarily. What is important is being ready for the phase, emotionally and financially. 

LMP:  What kind of girl? You are handsome. Does she also have to be beautiful?

KCB:  Not necessarily beautiful. Not a superwoman. Maybe, a little brain. A college graduate so we can share life together without tipping off the balance. Emotionally prepared. And we love each other enough to sacrifice a little of oneself for the other.

LMP: What’s your projection about your future? Your stay in City Hall?

KCB:  Maybe, 5 years.

LMP:  Any frustrations?

KCB:  There are some rules that are very restrictive in the government bureaucracy. For instance, the regulations about personnel. You want to streamline the process, but the rules are already established. There are rules that are very prohibitive. I hope the practice of law could give a new perspective.

LMP:  Is it your plan to be a full-parcticing lawyer?

KCB:  That’s an option I always give a thought.

LMP:  Because it is financially rewarding?

KCB:  Definitely not for that reason. It does not follow that if you are a lawyer you get rich. What appeals most to me is the service I can render to others, without minding financial benefits.

LMP:  How about entering politics? Is it a possibility?

KCB:  Not in the immediate future. But if I were to decide to enter the political realm, I’d prefer to do it in Albur, my hometown.

LMP:  As a councilor?

KCB:  Perhaps. But not in the near future. I want to be a good lawyer first. The humility of Atty. Kurt Bongabong and his absence of cosmopolitan finish are innate, not a put-on mask to hide an agendum. Being a CPA and a Lawyer are rolled into one amiable amalgamation to be an ace in every quest he makes. He trusts and he can be trusted, principled as he is. “I live life as it is”, he informed me, with that boyish grin from a clear conscience. He is going places…there’s no doubt about it. He tackles his job in utmost professionalism despite some controversies not of his own making.

Meanwhile, he relishes life in every stroke he does. I seldom see a really happy and contented man at 27. Kurt is, and more. 

Editorial of the Bohol Sunday Post, May 31, 2009

Where’s the outrage?

There is something disturbing about the lack of outrage on the spate of hold-ups and robberies in the province.

It has become regular fare for news writers to the point that editors now routinely ask for such stories before finalizing the lay-out. It is as though hold-ups in Bohol have become part of life and there is little that we can do about it.

Is it really?

Robberies and hold-ups are peace and order concerns. They are part of the governance and the responsibility of government officials. While they politicians fall over each other in trying to put their best foot forward, few seem bothered by the brazenness of criminals who strike anywhere and all over.

Government critics would naturally harp on the economic crisis and how people are forced to embrace a life of crime just to keep mind and body together. This logic is of course flawed and outrageous.

Most of those who resort to robbery and hold-ups are people who want to live beyond their means. Criminals have noble intentions only when they are caught and placed under the glare of the camera.

It is disheartening to note that law enforcers appear to be helpless in dealing with the robbers. It is even more frightening to think that there seems to be no solution in sight.

The advent of school openings ups the ante even more. It is not so much because the perpetrators need to spend for the educational needs of their children. It is more of timing, striking against people who carry cash instead of POs.

What is striking about this whole episode is that the robbers seem to prefer locals to tourists. This is strange because conventional wisdom tell us that foreigners normally are more loaded than Filipinos.

Is this merely a coincidence? Or are we missing something?

The tourism industry is a multi-million business that is as fickle as human nature. Just a few incidents of tourists victimized by highwaymen and the industry goes up in smoke.

We don’t know which is worse though: lending firms owned by Filipinos or foreigners with a few extra cash to spend on vacations. Either way, the presence of gun-toting criminals on the road should be enough to cause panic among the people and the appropriate response from those in government.

So where is the outrage? Perhaps, people have become too disinterested to complain. In any event, that is an indictment of the state of governance.   

By JUNE S. BLANCO
Sunday Post

  Gov. Erico Aumentado flew to South Korea yesterday as part of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s party that will also visit Lithuania, Moscow and St. Petersburg where she is invited to speak before economic forums.

  The South Korean leg of the trip until June 2 includes bilateral talks with South Korean President Lee Myung Bak where Aumentado had requested the President to include in her talking points the funding by Korea’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) the P1.4-billion Bohol Circumferential Road Improvement Project Phase 3 (BCRIP 3) and the P800-million Improvement of Malinao Dam in Pilar town.

  From Seoul, the Presidential party will go to the resort island of Jeju where she will 
participate in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit on June 1-2.

  The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Commemorative Summit will help affirm the two countries’ collaboration with the rest of the region and the international community in the face of global economic and security challenges.

  Bohol would have participated in the “One Philippines” Exposition at the Seoul City Hall Plaza that is supposed to be a highlight of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of Philippines’ and South Korea’s bilateral diplomatic relations this year.

  However, Korea that is still mourning the passing of its former President Roh Moo-hyun and whose funeral is set around these dates, postponed the exposition to June 27 and 28.

  The pomp and fanfare scheduled with the exposition will run counter to the seriousness and solemnity of laying President Roh to his final rest, Aumentado said, hence, the postponement.

  Bohol is all set for the exposition, having reserved a booth to promote culture and tourism, as well as display Bohol products including raffia products from Inabanga. The three sides of the booth will be covered with tarpaulin that features local products on one panel, the province’s sights and wonders including the Chocolate Hills and the tarsier on the main panel, and culture and tourism icons on the other panel.

  All these while, booth visitors will be treated to a DVD show highlighting Bohol’s tourism come-ons with voice-over already in Korean, designed to entice the adventurous Koreans to try the eco-adventure tourism in Danao town that includes a 45-second slide down a zip line, kayaking, climbing up a root-covered rock wall and rapelling down a cliff plus spelunking in what used to be the lair of homegrown hero Francisco Sendrijas who led an 85-year revolt against the Spaniards.

  Sendrijas is said to have acquired the dagon sa hoyohoy or amulet of the breeze that enabled him to outrun anyone chasing him, making him difficult to catch. From the dagon sa hoyohoy, he coined “Dagohoy” that was his nom de guerre.

  “Tamer” activities include dolphin and whale watching off Pamilacan Island in Baclayon or Balicasag Islet in Panglao â€" or watching hammerhead sharks off Cabilao Island in Loon. The pristine seawaters and white sand beaches are also welcoming, along with the underwater world in these islands and at the Danajon Double Barrier Reef off northern Bohol for the scuba fanatics.

  The 1,268 cone-shaped mounds collectively called the Chocolate Hills take center stage, as well as the tarsier â€" the oldest and smallest primate whose tail is longer than its body â€" that have become synonymous with the province.

  Bohol is also the perfect place to visit old stone churches as practically each town has one. Added attractions are belfries and watchtowers.

  President Arroyo had declared 2009 as “Philippines - Republic of Korea Friendship Year." This year also marks the 20th anniversary of ASEAN-Republic of Korea Dialogue Relations.

  Diplomatic relations were established on March 3, 1949, while ASEAN-Republic of Korea Dialogue Relations were established in November 1989.

  Aumentado’s visit to Korea follows the visit to Bohol of Ambassador Choi Joong-Kyung who witnessed the turnover to the governor and Regional Irrigation Manager Modesto Membreve of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA 7) of the feasibility study and detailed design on the improvement of the Malinao Dam by resident representative Kim In of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (Koica) only a week earlier.

  From Jeju, the Presidential party will proceed to the Republic of Lithuania in Europe, on to Moscow and thence to St. Petersburg, Russia’s second largest city â€" an important port city â€" where she will speak at an international economic forum.

  The group will return to the Philippines on June 6.

LGU-Loon grants college scholarship to 9 students
By Adam L. Saligumba

      The Municipal College Scholarship Grant Board of the municipality of Loon released the other week the final list of fresh high school graduates who passed the examination and screening to qualify for the local government unit’s College Scholarship Program.

      Loon Mayor Lloyd Peter Lopez, chairman of the college scholarship grant board, presented the nine college freshman scholars for the first semester of school year 2009-2010 during last Monday’s session of the Sangguniang Bayan presided by Vice Mayor Edwin Ladeza.

      Vice Mayor Ladeza, chairman of the Municipal College Scholarship Selection Committee, released the names, addresses and degree/course of the municipal scholars as follows: Ma. Fatima Donque of Cuasi, â€" BEED; Quennie Luchana, Calayugan Sur â€" BEED; Joana Mae Meredores, Lintuan BSTourism; Joemar Orilla, Ubojan â€" BS Civil Engineering; Rocelle Almasa, Pondol â€" BS Computer Science; Cherry Flor Genita, Candaiganâ€" BS Computer Science; Faith Hazel Camello, Moto Norte â€" BS Architecture; Aiza Guitones, Taytay - BEED and Charlyn  Jaligo, Basdio,â€" BSED Mathematics. 

      The only Bohol LGU to grant scholarships to both high school and college level students, Loon’s Four-Year Course College Scholarship Program is enforced through Municipal Ordinance No. 07-009, Series of 2007. It is now on its second year of implementation and covers poor but deserving Loon youth who have graduated from the secondary level of formal education and have qualified accordingly with the provisions of the ordinance.

      For purposes of practicality and expediency, the ordinance mandates that municipal college scholars must study only at any of the campuses of the Central Visayas State College of Agriculture, Forestry and Technology (CVSCAFT) in the province. 

       Scholarship privileges of the college scholars include free tuition until completion of the four-year course and allowance for both academic and non-academic expenses.

      To maintain his/her scholarship, a municipal scholar is obligated to strictly observe the following: take the full load of the course/program per semester/year; should maintain in any semester a weighted average of at least 2.0 with no failing grade, otherwise, a failure in any subject means forfeiture of the scholarship grant; and, upon graduation, must render at least two years service within LGU-Loon in accordance with the implementing rules and regulations to be formulated by the Municipal Scholarship Board.

      Loon’s pioneering college scholars of SY2008-2009 composed of eight students have so far successfully maintained their scholarships in the respective CVSCAFT campus where they are presently studying.

      In his message during the SB session, Mayor Lopez warmly congratulated the new municipal college scholars and exhorted them not only to maintain their scholarships and excellence in the academe, but also to be models of the youth in the municipality and in the respective community where they live.

      Around 70 kids from different barangays of this town aged 11-16 years old completed the three-day summer basketball basic training and clinic 2009 on May 25-27 at Ramon Magsaysay gymnasium.

      The program came after local officials realized the significance of the basic principles of basketball in inculcating discipline and sportsmanship in children at the young age.

      Through the initiative of Mayor Eutiquio Bernales, Ubay Sports Commission president Nonito Nambatac invited a team of five from Cebu to conduct and facilitate the training which was headed by Elmer Boy Cabahug, then PBA player and head coach of the University of the Visayas Green Lancers based in Cebu.

      The first day was focused on the rules and regulations, positions, and the imposition of penalties or punishments for any violation committed as part of their discipline.

      Parents were also invited during the culmination in the afternoon of the last day of training to witness the overall performance of their kids.

      In his message, Mayor Bernales said the kids will be grouped as a team and will still continue their practice to sustain what they had learned from the trainers.

      Awards were given to deserving kid participants in sportsmanship, best in passing, speed drill, shooting, dribbling and best players.

      Lawyer Dexter Apostol Bernales, municipal administrator and Municipal Sports Commission executive director, was one of the officers responsible in the successful event which was the first training ever conducted in this municipality. (GIEVERDS-MPIO) 

By June Blanco
Sunday Post

  Mixed emotions were written all over the faces of the residents of Barangay Tigbao in Loboc town when Gov. Erico Aumentado led local officials in inaugurating the bailey bridge that replaced the footbridge that spans the famed Loboc River upstream.

  The older generation especially of carved furniture makers â€" the livelihood the village is known for, their wives and contemporaries as well as their children could not hold back the tears when Aumentado cut the ceremonial ribbon that officially made their 45-year dream come true.

  The governor was a neophyte politician then â€" a newly married senior board member also building his home.

  As such, he went to Tigbao to scout around for a dining table with chairs in carved wood. There he first heard of the aspirations of the residents across the river who longed for “a real bridge” â€" not just a footbridge â€" so that they can bring their finished products directly to the Loay Interior Road and thence to Tagbilaran City.

  The footbridge â€" as its name indicates â€" could accommodate only those persons with grit who could do the balancing act.

  When Aumentado first bought the dining set, the woodcarver had said he needed to bring the pieces of furniture all the way to the next town of Sikatuna â€" over rough and circuitous roads at that â€" in order to deliver them to the board member’s house.

  When he made repeat orders â€" of a sala set, aparador, China cabinet and other items with the signature Tigbao woodcarving â€" he also heard the woodcarver’s and the other residents’ frustrations each time.

  From board member, Aumentado went on to become vice governor, then congressman for three terms including a stint as deputy speaker before becoming governor.

  On his third term, he made the extra effort and pulled all his reserve convincing powers to put to good use his favorite strategy in order to realize the Tigbao residents’ dream â€" convergence.

  True to form, he leveraged the provincial government’s P1.75 million to get P1.5 million from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) through Rep. Adam Relson Jala, P100,000 from the municipal government under Mayor Leon Calipusan and P70,860 from Tigbao funds through Barangay Captain Luzviminda Jabonel for a total of P3.42-million that completed the bailey bridge.

  It took the Provincial Engineer’s Office (PEO) under Engr. Edwin Vallejos 95 days to implement the conversion of the footbridge into a 45.85-lineal meter bailey bridge.

  And the party began.

  Aumentado admits however that one sad note tarnished the inauguration although it did not dampen the celebration â€" his friend the woodcarver could no longer witness nor pass through the bailey bridge with his woodwork on a four-wheel vehicle: he had died a few years earlier and the governor sorely missed him.

      The MACOTAPADA IFARMC passed a resolution requesting the Department of Environment and Natural Resource to come up with an official classification for Maribojoc Bay, during its 9th Congress held on May 25-26.

      The move came after the failure of the DENR to release the bay’s official water classification five years ago.

      Classifying the bay’s waters will determine the present water quality and the present most beneficial use or the intended most beneficial use in the next 10 to 20 years.

      The Official classification will serve as the basis in verifying the extent of waste water from commercial, industrial and from other sources be treated so that the latter will comply with the effluent standards based on the Department of Administrative Order 35.

      MACOTAPADA IFARMC Chair Eduardo Macalandag said the water classification will guide the component local government units on the required degree of protection in order to balance the environment and development in the bay areas.

      In his speech during the congress, Maribojoc Mayor Leoncio Evasco Jr. pointed out that the Maribojoc Bay Resource Management Board is also looking at ways to strengthen unified coastal law enforcement in order to combat illegal fishing activities in Maribojoc bay.

      Rodrigo Jiz, National FARMC representative, who was the guest speaker during the congress inspired the management council by supporting their coastal resource management advocacies at the regional and national levels.

      The National Anti-Poverty Commission, through NAPC Artesanal Fisherfolk Council member Servando Toledo, also turned-over one unit of Global Positioning System to the council.

      Part of the activity was the awarding of the 21 Baywide Deputy Fishwarden appointed by the Regional Director Andres Bojos of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-Region 7.

      The 9th Congress, inspired by the theme, “MACOTAPADA IFARMC: Moving Ahead!” was sponsored by PROCESS-Bohol, Incorporated and the Maribojoc Bay Resource Management Board through the Maribojoc Bay Executive Management Office (MBEMO). (Jovenal G. Edquilag, MBEMO executive director)

Global cruise ship port opens in summer 2010
By Ven Arigo

      Next summer will be different in Loon when Catagbacan port opens to international cruise ships.

      First District Rep. Edgar Chatto recently brought this good news.

      This means a big boost to Bohol economy, especially to the tourism industry, since the cruise industry is a fast-growing sector of global tourism, according to the congressman who chairs the House Tourism Committee and in whose district the port is located.

      Chatto got the timetable of the completion of the project’s first phase in a recent meeting with Philippine Ports Authority (PPA)â€"Bohol Head Emmanuel Boholano, Engineering Services Division Head Richard Elopre and technical people from PPA-Manila.

      The PPA Facilities Construction and Maintenance Department expects the P80-million cruise ship berth, the initial major stage of the project, to be finished in April next year and will be opened to international luxury vessels.

      The Sangguniang Bayan of Loon recently passed a resolution thanking Chatto for securing the fund through PPA together with Governor Erico Aumentado and the two other Bohol congressmen for the conversion of the once idle inter-island port into an international rendezvous.

      Port officials identified the project contractor as the WTG Construction and Development Corporation.  The notice to proceed was issued early last month.

      Chatto had discussed the project with Ambassador Hilario Davide Jr.- -the permanent Philippine representative to the United Nations, and New York-based tourism attaché Emma Ruth Yulo-Kitiyakara in a meeting last month in the United States.

      In the meeting, Kitiyakara briefed Chatto about the inquiries from the world cruise industry on Bohol’s “readiness.”

      Both the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) endorsed the project based on its significance to Philippine tourism in general, with the recent boost from the signing into law of the Tourism Act of 2009 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last May 12 in Cebu.

      The landmark legislation, hailed as an engine for national growth, was principally authored by Chatto himself in the House of Representatives and, in the Senate, by Sen. Richard Gordon.

      During the signing ceremony for the law, Federation of Tourism Industries of the Philippines (PTIF) president Dading Clemente, who was also instrumental to the crafting of the Loon cruise ship plan, bared the cruise liners’ preference on Bohol to be their port of call.

      The PPA head confirmed this during a meeting with Chatto at the latter’s residence here.

      Once completed next year, the cruise ship berth will be expanded according to the vision for Bohol as the country’s new cruise ship destination, thereby helping carry out the development masterplan for the Boholanos.

      On this, Chatto encouraged the local government units, especially Loon, to develop holistic tourism programs and activities with emphasis on eco-cultural tourism while pushing for more employment, livelihood and enhancement of agriculture. (Ven rebo Arigo)   

By Fred C. Fuertes
Sunday Post

      Maribojoc, Bohol - Speaking before a thousand residents of Cabawan, Mayor Leoncio Evasco Jr. bared his three pet projects.

      Evasco made the announced during the 17th round of the municipality’s Mobile Barangay Service Caravan held at the Cabawan Elementary School.

      He mentioned PhilHealth coverage for all, land tiltles for the townspeople, and potable water in all barangays.

      Evasco also came up with an incentive agriculture programs, offering PhilHealth card to every person who raises three kinds of vegetables and three varieties of trees.

      In the same occasion, Evasco, who used to be the chief of staff of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, trained his guns on Engr. Elmer Fudalan, who entered into a contract with the municipal government during the incumbency of then mayor Ben Redulla but failed in his survey trail.

      Evasco congratulated the Cabawan folks for being lucky to have Engr. Antonio Dominguez as their contractor.

      Evasco bared that all barangays under Fudalan's survey jurisdiction shall be handled by the DENR through the Land Administration and Management Program (LAMP).

      In addition, Mayor Evasco told the barangay residents that "very soon, the problem on water supply will be a thing of the past."

      The municipality has hired the services of top-notch consultant, Dr. Rafael Apostol.

      With the impending release of a loan from the Millenuium Development Goal Fund of the Department of Finance, potable water will soon be available anywhere in Maribojoc.

      "By that time, we might not be buying mineral water anymore, since the water from our faucets would then be safe for drinking," Evasco pointed.

      A brainchild of Mayor Evasco, the Mobile Barangay Service Caravan has been designed to bring the municipal government closer to the people.

By Sunday Post

     The people of Garcia-Hernandez highlighted the celebration of their hometown’s 155th foundation day anniversary on May 27 with the recognition of three winners and the twelve finalists in the search for best practices in environment protection.

      The three winners include Manuel Pagulong in the household category, Mena Galbizo in the business category, and Barangay Abijilan in the Community category, each received a plaque of recognition and cash prize.

      Meanwhile, each of the finalists received a certificate of recognition and cash prize.

      The evaluation process took six days to cover all the 30 barangays of Garcia-Hernandez.

      The team tasked to evaluate comprised of the Multi-Sectoral Environmental Monitoring Body (MSEMB) which is composed of leaders of various groups and organizations in the municipality.

      The activity only confirmed the growing support of the people to the efforts to protect and conserve the natural environment through small yet effective ways of protecting and conserving the environment at their respective households, business establishments, and community.

      These simple gestures of concern for the environment will go a long way in helping our planet recuperate from the devastating effects of negligent human activities to nature, according to the local officials.

By Gregorio A. Tavera

     The Integrated Technology System and Support Amenities for Food Enterprises (ITS SAFE) center of the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) conducted a training on basic food handling, hygiene and good manufacturing practices on May 25-26 at the Capt. Goyo Caseas Hall as facilitated by Bohol Food Safety (BFS) team.

      To give rise to the industry of local food stuff commodities and help promote a highly hygienic dietary product of the town that will also augment the producers earnings, the Local Government Unit (LGU), through Mayor Exuperio Lloren, requested the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry BCCI to hold the skills development training in Jagna.

      Some non-government organizations (NGOs), particularly the Jagna Council of Women (JCW), helped facilitate the seminar.

      The DTI-sponsored training was divided into two separate sets of different subject areas. The first batch was on March 25-26 participated by the barangay Canjulao tableya (chocolate) and ubi ((yam) powder and other ubi-based product processors with 38 learners headed by Belinda Castroverde.

      The set that has just completed this week was on the processing of mais (corn) coffee with seven participants from barangay Cantagay, on the coconut virgin oil included seven serious adherents from barangay Kingbaan and on the nata de coco attended only by two from barangay Cabungaan.

      The group of facilitators, resource persons and support staff came from the Rural Health Unit (RHU) and the local office of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

      Necie Torrejos of the Provincial Veterinarian’s Office together, with Regucivilla Pobar- -an instructor of the Central Visayas State College of Agriculture, Forestry and Technology (CVSCAFT)-Tagbilaran City, headed the think tank team.

      The sessions included the expectation setting and training overview, topic discussion, activity portion, open forum, evaluation and finally the distribution of certificates that clinched the last part.

By Sunday Post

     The country’s leading wireless services provider Smart Communications Inc. turned over two new personal computer units to Jagna Municipal Library and Information Center on May 27.

      The donation is part of the company’s corporate social responsibility and commitment in strengthening community service initiatives on various fronts.

      The generous act likewise hinted the start of a partnership to be forged between the local government unit (LGU) of Jagna and Smart in terms of education and information technology (IT).

      “Although information can still be read in books in the library, other equally important facts can now be accessed through the internet,” according to Lawyer Jane Paredes, Smart public affairs manager for Visayas and Mindanao.

      “Your Municipal Library can now be a collaborator with Jagna Central Elementary School (JCES) of this town through our Doon Po sa Amin (DPSA) Learning Challenge which will soon be launched in Bohol,” Paredes added.

       She further informed that DPSA is a SMART Schools Program to generate rich local content for the World Wide Web such as posting colorful stories, legends, local history and anything about the community using Internet technologies.

      Once DPSA starts to operate in July this year, JCES and the Municipal Library can be associates in the integration of information and communications technology in education.

      The DPSA Learning Challenge also strengthens the “Internet for All” advocacy of SMART, which hopes to create an environment that will make the internet relevant and widely accessible to more and more Jagnaanons all over the globe.

      Vice Mayor Teofisto Pagar Sr., who represented Mayor Exuperio Lloren, personally received the two computer units from Paredes as assisted in the turn-over by Smart Senior Supervisor Edgardo Albay, Engr. Marino Romerde of Smart- Tagbilaran City, Public Affairs Staff Lourdes Gocotano and writer/documentor Amy Salgados.

      Avel Acedo, a Jagnaanon who now works for Smart-Makati City main office was also instrumental in the realization of the said computers.

      Jagna Municipal Librarian-in-charge Catalino Berro wrote a project proposal to Smart a year ago and Acedo pursued it.

      To express gratitude, Jagna’s 6th Sangguniang Bayan Member and Public Information Committee Chairman Alberto Café is sponsoring a resolution to thank Smart and Acedo.   

By Fred C. Fuertes

     Maribojoc, Bohol - A husband-and-wife tandem, on their blissful retirement, found it apt to partake their expertise to police officers.

      Retired Army Brigadier Gen. Jess Ranjo and Boholana wife Shirley Gantan-Ranjo- -the first highest ranking Women’s Auxiliary Corps (WAC) officer and now a retired colonel, recently trained their guns on the town’s police team, a fitting aftermath of their May 18 badge of honor ceremonies.

      The civic-minded military couple shared their expertise with this town’s men and women in uniform at the Maribojoc sports and cultural center in a half-day gun handling and safety tips briefing.

      Seventeen members of the Philippine National Police joined the orientation aimed at evolving a more effective police work based on the standard set by Mayor Leoncio Evasco Jr., a staunch advocate of peace initiatives.

      In an interview at his office at the police station building, Police Senior Insp. George Arellano Badon expressed apprehension upon hearing that no police officer won in a shooting contest at Bilar town recently where  the governor’s son, Aries Aumentado, humbled his rivals for the most-coveted sharpshooter’s title.

      He then advised one of his men to contact the Ranjo couple for the needed skills training for his subordinates.

      It was coincidence that the two retired top ranking Philippine Army brasses were in town when the municipality conducted its historic badge of honor rites Monday last week.

      Col. Shirley Ranjo, a national table tennis champion during her student days at the St. Vincent Institute and the then Rafael Palma College (now University of Bohol), found it easy to convince her better-half for the gun-handling safety tips orientation.

      The briefing session ended at 4:30 pm on the first day.

      The skills practice or practicum was supposedly scheduled the following day, but unfavorable weather forced the trainers to cancel it.

      A veteran in many battles, Gen. Ranjo looked after the safety of the participants.

      The practicum has been postponed to an indefinite date, or when the couple returns.

      The Ranjos advocate efficient police work through shooting expertise and gun handling.

By Sunday Post

    Boholanos appeared divided in their judgment calls involving the sex video scandal where a sexy actress and a cosmetic doctor were caught on camera in "uncompromising positions".

    With pirated CDs selling like hotcakes everywhere, the sex flick between actress Katrina Halili and Dr. Hayden Kho  were the subject of movie talk shows,  prime time newscasts, and a Senate investigation.

    Not to be outsmarted, this city's public affairs radio programs, also discussed at length even the minutest details of the sex scandal, drawing calls from listeners from different persuasions.

    The meat of the phoned-in calls ranged from utter condemnation of the two sex partners as plain exhibitionists to pity on the part of Halili who was pictured more of a victim rather than a willing participant to a sexual act.

     Many others indicated that the sexual behavior of the two was a manifestation of two people in love and therefore the act was part of what consenting adults are supposed to be doing. 

     But what drove the goat of some callers was the resolution that won passage in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

     Authored by Board Member Aster Apalisok-Piollo, the resolution made Bohol off limits to Dr.  Kho and declared him "persona non grata".

     "We hereby manifest that we detest Mr. Kho's presence and he is not welcome to set foot on Bohol's soil," declared the resolution passed on mass motion.

     In its session Tuesday presided by Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera, the SP also unanimously passed a resolution requesting both Houses of Congress to expedite the enactment of laws governing the use of the internet and related utilization of modern technology "in pursuit of objectives detrimental to our people's welfare particularly women and children".

     Both measures were sponsored by board member Apalisok-Piollo, chair of the committee on women and family affairs.

     Reacting to Piollo's resolution, some callers called the resolution overacting.

     They said the SP, apparently for lack of nothing to do, came up with this stupid resolution noting that more concerns of compelling importance should occupy most of its time rather than delving in such unproductive measure.

     But V-Gov. Herrera came into the rescue adding that the resolution was intended to deliver a chilling message to people like Dr. Kho who tried to debase the dignity of women by filming his sexual escapades with different girlfriends.

     The SP said the most scandalous news that has recently hit the country involved Kho, a medical practitioner "who has reportedly admitted to having videotaped his carnal shenanigans with several women of different ages without their consent and knowledge."

     According to the resolution, the "malevolent acts" committed by Kho are "highly unethical and dishonorable, to say the least and more bestial than human, obviously unbecoming of a supposed professional, and makes a mockery of the provisions of pertinent laws governing the medical profession and the Code of Ethics."

     It noted that the President herself said she was appalled at the video as a woman and a mother and expressed sympathy and compassion for the women-victims.

     "We Boholanos and Filipinos, known for our religious fervor and values, see this as an affront to our collective spirituality and culture, for our province in particular, and our country in general," the resolution stressed.

     The board members said the resolution is intended "to express our utmost condemnation" towards the behavior of Kho.

     Herrera later remarked that the measure was passed in anticipation of a possible Bohol hiatus for Kho.

     "We have heard unconfirmed reports that he would be coming here to cool off," the vice governor said.

     Herrera said the resolution banning Kho is also a precautionary measure "because he might to do another episode here".

     According to SP secretary Bonifacio Quirog, being a mere resolution, the measure does not provide any punitive sanction either for Kho or his local host.

     "It is largely an expression of sentiment declaring that he is not welcome here," Quirog explained.

     He said that in older times, being declared “persona non grata” would enough to guarantee ostracism and rejection.

     Bohol is one of the emerging tourism destinations in the country.

     The Bohol Tourism Office recorded 567,174 arrivals last year, a slight increase compared to 5,31,811 tourist arrivals in 2007.

     Despite opening its doors to foreign and domestic tourists, Bohol has managed to remain conservative. Roughly 80 percent of the population are Roman Catholics in a province where there are at least 10 centuries-old churches.

     While there are reports of prostitution, they are mostly clandestine activities. There are very few videoke bars and virtually no girlie shows.

     Instead, the main tourism attractions are family-oriented like the Chocolate Hills, tarsiers, Loboc river cruise, old churches, white beaches, dive spots and caves. 

By Sunday Post

Historic Baclayon was at the center of a high-profile activity, covered at that by national media,  when it opened its doors yesterday to the gateway of big-time tourism.

As a tourist destination, Baclayon boasts of its centuries-old church, heritage houses and whale and dolphin watching adventure.

A new tourist attraction called Nature Trail Trek is the latest addition to the town’s must- see places. This land  tour is complete with buggy rides, concededly the only one of its kind hereabouts.

Yesterday’s opening ceremonies of the Baclayon Tourism Center saw the presence of big names in business and the movie industry.

The occasion marked the blessing and turnover of the multi-million Baclayon Tourism Center funded by the benevolence of the cash-rich Ayala Foundation and Bezo Recreational and Aquatiic Activities of Bohol (BRAABO)

The guest list of the affair was a virtual who’s who in Philippine society.

Leading the pack was Ben Chan of Bench and German philanthropist Hans Schoof of Peacock Garden Luxury Resort and Spa.

Bea Zobel de Aylala, Jr.,  the benefactor of  the tourism center and his partner Joel Uichico in Baclayon’s tourism promotion efforts, joined actors Richard Gomez and John Pratts. Gomez’ wife Lucy Torres was also present to complete the cast of Bench models.

Lifestyle and society editors also came in full force. There, to cover the big event were Miles Roces and company, Oudine Santos, Karen Santos, Teresa Cecilia David, Marie Louise Barretto, Beri Revelindo, Marge Enriquez and company, Herwig Tysman and company, Chaco Molina, Geoff Rodriguez, Jinno Rufino, Tisha Silang, Gretchen Fullido, Louies Arsenio Lopez, Audrey Carpio, Katrina Holigores, Anton San Diego, Anton Mendoza, Maurice Arcache, John Jasper Lucena, Francisco Sarmento.

The guests stayed at Peacock Garden Luxury Resort and Spa and Bohol Coconut Palms Resort, all in Laya, Baclayon.

Provincial Board Member Yul Lopez and Bien Unido Nino Rey Boniel also attended the inauguration.

The new tourism center located in a reclaimed area at the back of the town hall serves as the latest contribution of BRAABO to Baclayon.

Mayor Alvin Uy and V-Mayor Marilyn Uy welcomed the guests and visitors.

Represented by Bea, Jr. as chairperson and  Uichico as director and general manager, BRAABO executed a deed of donation with the local government unit of Baclayon, represented by Mayor  Uy.

In the deed of donation, Ayala was cited for her charitable interest in the development and preservation of Baclayon and for having contributed to the LGU in the past through charitable and philanthropic acts.

The new landmark rising in Baclayon’s municipal hall complex will house a dive shop that will be run by BRAABO for a period of ten years starting from its opening date.

The center’s over-all operation will be managed by a tourism officer appointed by the mayor.

Baclayon, in return, can maximize the tourism activity center to enhance its potentials as a tourist destination town in Bohol.

BRAABO made an initial release of P4.1 million to fund the civil works on the center. Subsequent releases amounting to about P2 million stretched its cost to almost P6 million.

The first phase of the project covers the construction of the main building, while the second phase consists of the building of the storm quarters. Landscaping of the building site, a reclaimed area in the town’s “baluarte”, fall in the last phase.

As an add-on, the dive shop caters to those who want to buy or lease diving equipment, paraphernalia, gears and the like. It also sells souvenir items.

Uichico also proved the Pamilacan Island Tourism Livelihood Multi-purpose Cooperative lucky as he turned-over during the blessing ceremony, some life jackets, fire extinguishers, and first-aid kit to coop members who can use them in whale-watching.

Earlier, BRAABO had also funded the review of boat mechanics and operators when they applied for licenses with Marina.

Ayala and Uichico were also elated that Baclayanons appreciated their offer to help the local government unit develop the town’s tourism industry through the Baclayon Tourism Activity Center.

Gomez, for his part, said Baclayon has been lucky enough to have Uichico as adopted son who has big plans for the town’s tourism industry.

Meanwhile, Ayala Foundation vowed to provide a radar system worth half a million pesos for Pamilacan Island.

By Sunday Post

The Bohol and city divisions of schools were anticipating that the usual problems of classrooms and teachers' shortages are sure to crop up but nonetheless it was ready to mitigate their impact as classes in all levels opens tomorrow.

Bohol Schools Division Superintendent Elpidio Jala made the assurance as his office is prepared for "back-to-school opening blues".

As early as last week, Supt. Jala called a meeting to all school principals to sound them of any other problem than the usual ones.

As in previous opening of classes, the same old, familiar problem of classroom and teachers lack is sure to rear its ugly head and the one tomorrow is no exception.

As to the teachers' shortage, Dr. Jala said, the latest inventory showed that Bohol lack 737 teachers.

As to classrooms, any shortfall will be lessen with the authority to allow double shift in classes. This means one shift in the morning and another in the afternoon.

However, in case the double shift solution is not sufficient, classes can be held in empty barangay halls. There was no mention that classes can be held under the shade of trees, but some far-flung barangays where classroom shortage is more prevalent , this situation becomes commonplace.     

  As usual, an exodus of pupils and students of public elementary and secondary levels are expected to troop in their respective schools tomorrow. School authorities are predicting an increase in enrollment as in the usual case every schools open.

Students opting to take their education in private schools will likewise beat their own school opening of classes.

One possibility is that with the present economic downturn, students who were in private schools last school year will form a beehive to enroll in public schools, whatever level they may be.

According to DepEd estimates, this year's enrollees will reach as many as 183,149 and 68,562 in elementary and secondary, respectively, under the Bohol division.

It was not immediately known how many enrollees would be in Tagbilaran City division.

"The biting reality, such as lack of school rooms, dilapidated chairs and teachers, still rings true today", said Dr. Jala. He was the guest during the monthly program "Alarma" courtesy of the Bohol Tri-Media Association held at the Cooperative Bank of Bohol, this city.

More than a hundred percent of public schools still need help and improvement in physical infrastructure to accommodate the growing number of enrollees this year.  DepEd is addressing these problems, Jala added.

Classes "under the trees"

Jala admitted there may still be classes that might be held outside the school, if not under the trees, just to accommodate the enrollees especially so that there'll be new school opening in the LGUs or additional grades, such as grades five and six. DepEd planning officer II Amelia Cortidos confirmed, in a separate interview, that it was expected that there'll be classes held in "makeshift" structures because of the increasing number of pupils enrolled this school year.

Per statistics the minimum number of pupils in each class is 60 in grades 5 and 6, and 40 in grades one to four, based on DepEd a general order. And that is the direction but "I'm very sure that it will not be realized," Jala said.

But he admitted there are classes that would reach as many as 80 and some 60 in some instances.

Comparative Enrolment

Based on the enrolment last school year (2008-2009) under the Bohol division, it was expected that the enrollees would reach as many as 183,149 in elementary for 923 schools.

An estimated 68,562 enrollees for high school using a total of 122 schools in the entire province with at least 5% increase annually.

There were a total of 167,484 enrollees in elementary and 62,199 in high school in 2007-2008 and in last school-year, 168,207 (pupils) and 64,949 (students) in elementary and secondary, respectively.

Dropout rates declined dramatically both in elementary and secondary levels. In school year 2005-2006, DepEd posted a 3.33% for elementary and 8.16% in secondary, based on its records. This dropped to 2.81% for elementary and 6.58% for secondary in 2006-2007; 2.64% for elementary and 5.71% for secondary in 2007-2008. There were no data available for last school year's.

Dropouts usually cropped up due to "feud" between the teachers and the students, Jala said when asked why students quit schools.

Another, he said, is the incidence of poverty and what he called "bad influence" or "bugoy-bugoy" with out-school youths.

This is where the DepEd devised some interventions, such as the "family mapping" or home visitation to encourage parents to enroll their children, said Cortidos.

She said this prompted the DepEd to impose a no-collection of fees or contribution from parents and non-compulsory of wearing of uniforms because this is usually used as an excuse by parents not to send their children to school. All contributions, including girl scouts, boy scouts and red cross, must be voluntary, except those sanctioned by Parents Teachers Association or agreed upon the parents themselves, she said.

LGUs INTERVENTION

One of the lapses that DepEd is confronting is the so-called "resource gap" in terms of personnel salary of teachers. This is where the local government units come in by shouldering the salary pay of some teachers through its mandated Special Education Fund (SEF).

If there's lack of teachers, LGUs will provide, said Jala. This year only a handful of teacher positions are available. Teacher heads are only numbering about 737, including "mobile teachers" that take care of  "alternative learning system." Four hundred sixty-three (463) of these (737) are hired and paid by the LGUs.  The provincial school board is paying 202 teachers, said Jala.

There will be additional teachers needed for increasing number of enrollees, he said. If there will be new schools erected and opened this school year, the LGUs vowed to support them. And the municipal mayors are very cooperative and supportive in this endeavor, he said.

According to Cortidos, there are about 7,781 teaching force in Bohol division, including non-teaching personnel and head teachers. Of these are 5,393 school teachers in last school-year, 5,314 in 2007-2008; 5,317 in 2006-2007; and 5,307 in 2005-2006 under the Bohol division.

NO SCHOOL FEE

Dr. Jala also made it clear that as classes open, higher DepEd authorities reminded the chiefs of the Bohol and city divisions  to display prominently in conspicuous places within the school premises the following announcements:

1. No collection of school fees/contributions

2. Optional student uniforms

By June Blanco
Sunday Post

The buck stops with Globe.

Jose Antonio Diomampo of Globe Telecom’s Cable Network Projects was man enough to take responsibility over the unrestored or improperly restored excavation too near the concrete pavement of the Bohol Circumferential Road from Duero town through Tagbilaran City and northward all the way to Tubigon town.

He promised Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado that Globe will suspend the digging of more trenches until such time that the existing excavations are properly restored.

Aumentado welcomes fiber optics for Bohol’s entry into the information technology (IT) highway that augurs well for the establishment of call centers in the province.

However, he stressed, the provincial government needs to balance the situation because while it welcomes the fiber optics cable of Globe, it does not want the road to be destroyed.

“It is in very good condition and the Boholanos are very proud of it, and yet your company is posing danger to the concrete pavement because of improper restoration of the excavation,” he told Diomampo.

Globe had commissioned Ericsson Network Philippines to undertake its telecommunications expansion program.

The work involves the construction of underground ducts and conduits by manual and mechanical trenching for the laying out and installation of fiber optic cables, bridge attachments, handholes and manholes.

Ericsson, it was learned, engaged subcontractors like Metallite Builders to do the trenching. However, the latter excavated on the road shoulders too close to the concrete pavement.

This led District Engr. Edilberto Ativo and Engr. Celestino Adlaon of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bohol 3rd and 1st Engineering Districts respectively to protest to the diggings.

The road, it turned out, has already been turned over to DPWH and as such, is already the department’s maintenance concern.

BCRIP 2 contractors C.M. Pancho Construction, Inc. and Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Co., Ltd. sent representatives “who can decide for the company” â€" on Aumentado’s request â€" to the meeting. Both representatives confirmed that their companies already held certificates of acceptance of the project from DPWH.

Engr. Danilo Pancho, representing President and CEO Gerardo Pancho showed a copy of the latter’s letter to Engr. Fradolfton Gepilano Jr., Ericsson’s Right-of-Way/Civil Works Supervisor.

The Pancho letter, in response to Gepilano’s notification of work and request for consent dated March 25, stated that since the company’s one-year defects liability period has already elapsed, it suggested that Ericsson â€" prior to the implementation of its intended project â€" coordinate with and secure a written consent directly from DPWH.

The certificate of acceptance dated Feb. 26, 2008, was signed by Project Director Vicente Perez of DPWH-Philippine-Japan Highway Loan (PJHL) Project Office.

For his part, S. J. Lee who had earlier declined the invitation to the meeting because Hanjin’s responsibility over the project had similarly elapsed, gave the same suggestion.

C.M. Pancho had contracted the stretch of BCRIP 2 from Candijay through Valencia towns while Hanjin had contracted Package 1 from Valencia through Tagbilaran City and on to Calape town. The road from Calape to Candijay on the northern “half” of Bohol forms BCRIP 1, a major part of which belongs to DPWH-Bohol 2nd Engineering District under Engr. Gregorio Sayson.

Sayson heaved a sigh of relief on knowing that the Globe project will not dig within his jurisdiction, and expressed elation that it will also benefit his district through better telephone services and internet connectivity anyway.

For Ericsson and its subcontractors to properly restore the road shoulders that, Aumentado said, had undergone layer by layer compaction by C.M. Pancho and Hanjin, Diomampo, and the district engineers agreed that they will suspend excavation, hold regular technical discussions and restore the shoulders properly before digging more trenches.

Aside from protecting the pavement, proper restoration will also minimize accidents brought about by poorly installed or absent warning devices that are Globe’s â€" and its contractors’ responsibility. 

    Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Lim will be reporting back to work tomorrow.
    A source close to the mayor confirmed the information to the Post but declined to be named saying he was not authorized to speak on the matter.
    “He has decided to abort his leave because of the unfounded reports that has caused demoralization among barangay officials,” the same source revealed.
    Lim reportedly was very upset at reports that he left for the United States for treatment.
    “He tried to keep distance from the city while he is on leave but many concerned officials and supporters kept asking him if it was true that he is sick,” the source added.
    The mayor went on leave effective May 25 in response to persistent reports that he would be placed under preventive suspension.
    Lim also said he wanted to turn over the reins to Vice Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso so he could prove his allegations of numerous anomalies at City Hall.
    Even before he could assume office however, Veloso already issued a statement that the offices allegedly involved in anomalies were already sanitized.
    The source said the mayor considered this an admission on Veloso’s part that he would not be able to substantiate his allegations.
    Lim has consistently disputed the allegations of anomalies, insisting that these were part of a demolition campaign to drum up support for Veloso’s bid to unseat him.
    According to the source, the mayor was so confident that he voluntarily went on leave to give the vice-mayor a free hand.
    The mayor however decided to cut short his vacation to prove that he did not fly out of the country and that he is not sick as the reports claim he is.
    “He says this is only the latest of the fabricated reports coming from one radio station and newspaper that is very critical of him,” the source added.
    The mayor described the report about his foreign trip and his illness as “the height of disinformation and deception”.
    “They really want me dead, not just politically but physically,” Lim reportedly declared.
    The mayor said his premature return is needed to reassure barangay officials that he is very much in control and that he will not abandon them.
    “Contrary to what my critics have been saying, I am not disillusioned. Neither am I burned out,” he told the source.
    The mayor also expressed apprehension about reports that Veloso’s cronies have started to throw their weight around.
    During his meeting with department heads last Monday, erstwhile Lim ally and now Veloso lieutenant Councilor Zenaido Rama was among those present.
    “Is he a department head or is this a message that those who want to make business with City Hall under Veloso will have to deal with him?” a department head asked afterwards.
    Another department head said the meeting, which took not more than five minutes, did not tackle anything new aside from the vice-mayor’s memo about his assumption.   

By HOWARD FENDRICH, AP Tennis Writer

PARIS â€" Serena Williams was sure the ball went off her opponent's arm, a no-no in tennis. The opponent, Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, insisted the ball went off her racket. Williams accused Martinez Sanchez of "cheating." Martinez Sanchez thought that was a "stupid" thing for Williams to say.

Then consider that the point in question helped Martinez Sanchez win the first set of their French Open match Saturday. Oh, and that Williams had a coughing fit during a third-set changeover. All in all, what eventually became a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory for Williams stands as the latest example of the athlete/actress' penchant for theatrics.

"I'm, like, drama. And I don't want to be drama," a hoarse Williams said, straining to get the words out. "I'm like one of those girls on a reality show that has all the drama, and everyone in the house hates them because no matter what they do, like, drama follows them. I don't want to be that girl."

Perhaps. But the 2002 French Open champion, who dabbles in acting, sure seems to find herself in the middle of unique on-court situations.

By JENNIFER QUINN, Associated Press Writer

LONDON â€" She gave a final curtsey, a shimmy of her hips, and walked off stage, leaving the winners to perform an encore. But it's unlikely that finishing second on "Britain's Got Talent" Saturday night to a dance troupe called "Diversity" will be the end of Susan Boyle's showbiz dream.

The 48-year-old church volunteer became an Internet phenomenon after she auditioned for the television talent show, her show-stopping voice combining with her frumpy appearance to make her a must-see on YouTube.

For the finals, she returned to the song that made her famous, "I Dreamed a Dream" from the musical "Les Miserables." She wore a glamorous but modest sparkly floor-length dress, and her once-grey frizzy hair was a soft brown halo.

She appeared more polished and animated than in previous performances, but seemed uncomfortable during banter with the judges after her song. Judge Simon Cowell said Boyle had a rough brush with fame, but that she was "a nice, shy person who wants a break."

The week leading up to Saturday's performance had been a tumultuous one for Boyle. She lost her cool during a confrontation with two reporters, and the police intervened. Another contest judge said Boyle had contemplated pulling out of the program to soothe her frazzled nerves.

"A lot of people said you shouldn't even be in this competition, that you weren't equipped to deal with it," Cowell said. "I totally disagree with that.

"You had the guts to come back here and face your critics and you beat them."

Asked about her career plans after the show, Boyle told broadcaster ITV that she hoped to get an album out, and will "just play it by ear."

Millions tuned in to the live program and voted by telephone afterward.

Boyle's hometown of Blackburn, Scotland â€" a working-class village about 10 miles (16 kilometers) west of Edinburgh â€" rallied round her, stringing up signs declaring their support. Her defeat was greeted with shouts of "no" and gasps of disbelief at the Happy Valley Hotel, where neighbors and friends had gathered to watch the program.

Dear Heavenly Father,

I pray this prayer in the power of the Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus Christ Your one and only Son who died and rose again for remission of sin, I bind, rebuke and render powerless: all division, discord, disunity, strife, wrath, murder, criticism, condemnation, pride, envy, jealously, gossip, slander, evil speaking, complaining, lying, false teaching, false gifts, false manifestations, lying signs and wonders, poverty, fear of lack, fear of spirits, deceiving spirits, religious spirits, hindering spirits, retaliatory spirits, occult spirits, witchcraft spirits, spirits of antichrist and all familiar and territorial spirits.

I bind all curses that have been spoken against me. I bless those who curse me, and pray blessings on those who despitefully use me. I bind all spoken judgments made against me, and judgments I have made against others. I bind the power of negative words from others, and I bind and render useless all prayers not inspired by the Holy Spirit; whether psychic, soul force, witchcraft, or counterfeit tongues that have been prayed against me.

I am God's child. I resist the devil and declare that No weapon formed against me shall prosper.

I put on the whole armour of God (my loins girt about with truth; and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and my feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; taking the shield of faith, with which I shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked; the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching with all perseverance and supplication for all saints) and declare it is an armour of light. I take authority over this day, Let it be prosperous for me Lord and let me walk in your love.

The Holy Spirit leads and guides me today and fills me with all needed gifting and graces. I discern between the righteous and the wicked and I take authority over Satan and all his demons and those people who are influenced by them. I declare Satan is under my feet and shall remain there all day.

I claim a hedge of protection, by the Precious Blood of Jesus, around myself and my loved ones throughout this day and night. I ask You God, in the name of Jesus, to send angels to surround us today and everyday, and to put them throughout my house and around our cars, souls, bodies, wills and emotions. I call on Your holy angels to protect my house from any intrusion and to protect me and my family and those I've named from any harmful demonic or other physical or mental attacks. I ask all of this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
--



"God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. My strength and my courage is the Lord, and He has been my Savior"
-Isaiah 12:2

    
Wednesday, May 27, 2009, 11:54 PM

Father God of heaven and all the earth, I ask you to move against the forces of evil assigned to attack Your children. Father I know flesh and blood is not the enemy and I invite You to act in Your mighty power in each of these situations. Throw the enemy forces into confusion and frustrate their counsel as You did for King David. I pray that they will not prosper in all their schemes of rebellion against You and Your people. I pray that the financial support of these evildoers will erode away as long as they do evil in Your sight. I pray that favor of men would dissolve before their eyes and that you will wash their hearts. I pray that You will turn their hearts to Yourself and draw them unto Your salvation in Jesus Christ. Heavenly Father, Arise and scatter the enemy, I ask that you would unmask the enemy's deception over these people who are rebelling against You in doing this evil.

Lord God, please stretch out Your mighty hand against their schemes and thwart their every move. Please draw each of them to salvation in Jesus Christ. Thank You Father. You are the Lord of hosts, the Commander of the armies of heaven, the Most High God. I pray that you will thunder from heaven against the forces of darkness that are working in these situations. Lord, may you utter Your voice, sending hailstones and coals of fire into the enemy's camp. Lord, send out Your arrows and scatter the foe with lightings in abundance. Vanquish Your enemies, O God and rebuke them with the blast of Your holy breath. To You alone be all glory, honor and praise forever.

Plead our cause, O Lord Jesus, with those who strive with us; fight against those who fight against your children. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for our help. Also draw out the spear and stop those who pursue us. Say to our soul, "I am your salvation." Let those be put to shame and brought to dishonor who seek after our life; let those be turned back and brought to confusion who plot my hurt. Let them be like chaff before the wind, and let the angel of the Lord chase them. Let their way be dark and slippery, and let the angel of the Lord pursue them. Father for those who have been used by these dark forces we ask that the scales fall off their eyes and that they come to truth. But if they reject You then Father we ask You to be God, judge in mercy and in Your truth as only You can do. Let the righteous be covered in Your hedge of protection and let the enemy be scattered, the lion’s mouths shut and the serpent be revealed. We will glorify Your name and we will praise you for You are our help.

In Jesus Christ I pray, Amen

Quote from: monkey d. luffy on May 29, 2009, 11:21:05 AM
Perteng dimalasa diay tong mga Hindus, Buddhist and other non-christian religions kay wala man sila nitoo ni Jesus Christ?

We are already told what will happen to those who deny Jesus Christ.

1 John 2:23 resounds, "Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also."

and again in Mathew 10: 33

Jesus Said Unto Them, "But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven."