It will not be long when Dipolog will have its own sports complex. This week the city council passed and approved seven resolutions all towards giving the city mayor the authority to borrow from the Landbank of the Philippines the needed amount for the construction of said complex.

Mayor Evelyn T. Uy said that as soon as all the necessary papers are prepared, she will enter into a loan agreement with the local Landbank to secure the amount of P170-million for the purpose.

Another P10-million will be borrowed to finance the concreting of the Barra-Minaog Access Road to the airport, thus all in all, the total amount to be borrowed will be P189-million.

The authority to borrow was granted to the mayor after city council members led by Councilor Peter Co of the Rules and Revision of Ordinances Committee grilled the city treasurer and were assured by City Treasurer Sancen Caroro that the city has the capacity to borrow and pay said loan.

The proposed loan will be in the total amount of P180-million. According to Treasurer Caroro, the city at the moment is said to have the capacity to borrow even as much as P280-million. But Mayor Belen Uy opted for P180-million only, P170-million to complete the basic necessary facilities of the complex and P10-million for the complete pavement of the Barra-Minaog access road.

If in the future more is needed, the mayor is confident that additional funds can sourced from other donors like the national government and countryside development funds of senators and congressmen.

The Nstional Statistical Coordination Board may have declared the province of Zamboanga del Norte as the poorest in the entire country in 2003.

But theNational Anti-Poverty Commission recently disclosed that the province rose to the fourth rank among the poorest with Western Visayas ranking as first.

The NAPC identified the poorest “hot spots” as Masbate, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, Samar and National Capital Region.

However, the NSCB considered Siayan, Z.N. as the poorest municipality with 97.5% poverty incidence.  The commission explained that for every 100 inhabitants of Siayan, only three were considered well off.

Siayan, Z.N. is followed by Tahudan, Kalinga; Sominot, Zamboanga del Sur; Tangkai, Lanao del Norte; Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur; Bagulin, La Union; Leon Postigo; Zamboanga del Norte; Jose Abad Santos, Davao del Sur and Godod, Z.N.

The NSCB also declared Western Samar as the poorest province, followed by Agusan del Sur and Masbate.

Gov. Rolando Yebes pointed out that the rise of the province to the fourth rank showed that the programs and reforms his administration implemented for the last years have been very effective to elevate the status of the people.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo directed her Cabinet to closely monitor developments in Mindanao in the wake of the aborted signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) on ancestral domain between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The President issued the directive before boarding the Philippine Air Lines (PAL) chartered flight to Chengdu, Sichuan province, the first stop in her three-day working visit to Beijing to watch the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics hold bilateral talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao and other world leaders.

Set for Tuesday (Aug. 5) in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, the signing of the MOA on ancestral domain was cancelled after the Supreme Court (SC) issued a temporary restraining order (TRO).

“The President just reminded us that we have to look at the situation developing in Mindanao because of this development on the failure (of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to sign the MOA on ancestral domain),” Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said minutes after the President boarded PAL flight PR-001 for China.

Ermita said the President issued the instruction to assure the people that the government, particularly the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), were doing everything to keep the situation in Mindanao under control.

“Just to be sure that everyone will have peace of mind, the President gave out instructions to see to it that our people know that the armed forces and the police are monitoring the situation para ma-aksyonan kung ano man ang nangyayari,” Ermita said.

Ermita categorically debunked claims by certain sectors that the cancellation of the signing of the MOA posed a “security threat” to the country, saying the AFP and PNP activities were “only in anticipation of what they (splinter groups of the MILF) might do.”

Dipolog Medical Center College Foundation proudly hosts the 14th Anniversary Celebration of the Technical Education & Skills Development Authority (TESDA) on August 26, 2008, which was highlighted with a series of festivities under the theme “TESDA sa Ikalabing-Apat: Kasanayan Walang Katapat, Kabuhayan Angat sa Lahat”

The anniversary started with a mass at the Holy Rosary Cathedral, followed by a motorcade ending at the DMC Campus. Honored guests of the celebration were Hon. Rolando E. Yebes, Governor of the Province of ZaNorte, Hon. Evelyn T. Uy, Dipolog City Mayor, and various representatives from all institutions with TESDA courses.

Activities included the skills competition in PC Building and Office Applications, held at DMC’s state-of-the-art Multimedia Rooms 1 & 2; Bartending and Restaurant Service at the magnificent School of Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management Training Center, and the talent shows that included the Hip-hop dance and Vocal rendition at the DMC Covered Court.

Winners were awarded with medals and National Certificates II. DMC’s Cliven June Calunsag, coached by Engr. Lacaya, bagged the Gold Medal and an NC II certificate for PC building; he leads in all categories of the skills competition. DMC’s Ivan Rey Moay won the Medal of Excellence Award and an NC II certificate for the PC Operations in the Office Applications Competition after finishing with over 500 points. He was coached by Mr. Andy Wong and Ms. Dara Saquin. Both accomplishments reflect the excellence of DMC’s College of Computer Studies, which has lived up to its Center Of Development in Information Technology (COD-IT) Award.

Restaurant Service winners are: SVC-Gold, DCIT-Silver and DSF-Bronze. For Bartending: SVC-Gold, DSF-Silver and a tie between DMC and Colegio de San Francisco Javier for Bronze. For Hip-hop dance competition, DMC bags the Gold, DSF & DCIT for Silver and Bronze respectively. ABC wins the song solo/vocal rendition contest.

At the end of the festivities, the DMC community offered a campus tour to all visitors and students, showcasing the recently completed SHRIM Training Centers which impressed the visitors and even the TESDA’s Regional Office representatives, who commented that so far, DMC’s facilities for Tech-Voc education is the finest if not the best in Region IX.

TESDA’s Provincial Director, Mrs. Nilda Espiritusanto and her staff, Engr. Alan Bacatan, Mr. Ariel Matabalan, Mr. Jun Perey, and Ms Abigail Corporal, extended their heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Atty. Alberto P. Concha and the rest of the members of the Board of Trustees, administrators, faculty, staff and students for their wholehearted support, rendering the celebration a smashing success.

            Distinguished professors from La Salle Greenhills recently conducted a Seminar on Innovative Classroom Management and Values of Christian Educators for the faculty members of DMC College Foundation at the DMC Auditorium.

            Ms. Patricia Supangco, Vice Principal of La Salle Greenhills and Ms. Grace Ver, Head Teacher of La Salle Preschool, enlivened the DMC instructors with a series of team-building activities and workshops that focused on instilling Christian Values in classroom management. Faculty members from the College of Nursing, HRIM, College of Computer, and all other departments of DMC were also instructed about incorporating competence, compassion, commitment, confidence and Christianity in their daily practices as educators and molders of professionals.

Dipolog City, ZN – The Samsung company is one with the provincial government of Zamboanga del Norte in promoting the tourism potentials of the province during the 17th Mindanao Business Conference last August 27-29, 2008 held in Zamboanga del Norte Convention and Exhibition Center, Dipolog City.

The said company supported the event by allowing the provincial government to use freely their plasma television sets for the tourism brochure showcase.

On the other hand, better living appliance center also back up the event. Mr. Chito Lim, the proprietor/manager of the said appliance company stressed that supporting such activity would not only benefit their company but more importantly, the manner of helping the promotion of the province in terms of tourism mean so much to them.

It is worth noting that the Minbizcon is the biggest annual gathering of the business community of Mindanao wherein it serves as the platform for Mindanaoan businessmen to express their issues and concerns, which are effectively captured and integrated into what is called the “Mindanao Business Policy Agenda”.

Sen. Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla, Jr. recently pledged to Dipolog City Mayor Evelyn Uy  P5M for the construction of the City sports Complex at Barangay Olingan, Dipolog City.

The senator was the guest during the opening of the Livelihood Training Center at Barangay Galas, Dipolog City on August 29.

It was learned that the Senator wanted to realize the dream of the city officials to have its own sports complex and convention center especially that Dipolog has been seen as a convention destination.

Board Member Edgar Baguio recently disclosed that the Government Service Insurance System may face estafa charges for imposing penalty and surcharges upon members for the delay in posting their premiums.  The delay in posting has been blamed to the agency itself.

During the recent committee hearing of the Committee on Good government of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, BM Baguio pointed out that GSIS caused the delay and questioned why the members who have been deducted of their premiums every month could suffer.

Under R.A. 8291 or GSIS Act of 1997, GSIS contributions are compulsory among all government employees.

BM Anecito Darunday who chaired the committee disclosed that upon investigation they have found that all government employees have been deducted of their premiums every month and there is no reason for delayed contributions.

GSIS. Regional Manager Joselito Roldan Sr. who attended the committee hearing admitted that the delay has been caused by the agency because of the computer system that they have recently adopted.

However, he assured that once the records of remittances are corrected, GSIS can possibly refund the surcharges exacted upon the members.

“I do not like the GSIS policy of imposing penalties and then giving them back to the members,” BM Baguio said, asking further why the members have to be penalized when the members have not been delayed in remitting their premiums.

Moreover, the board member denounced the collection of surcharges as a collection of great amount of money considering that all GSIS members throughout the entire country have been going through this.

Under the Revised Penal Code, BM Baguio said, GSIS can face estafa or swindling charges.

“I doubt that if you give back the refund, the interest is included,” he said.

Dipolog Branch Manager Ela Mangubat however pointed to the upgrading of the system which caused the delay of the posting.

“The old system is no longer practical,” she reasoned,” considering the many transactions the system is presently facing.”

Both Regional Manager Roldan and branch manager Mangubat assured all GSIS members and the SP members that they would bring the problem to the officials in Manila especially about the imposition of penalties and surcharges.

On the other hand, BM Baguio moved to submit all what had been taken up during the committee hearing to the Provincial Attorney’s Office to determine whether GSIS has legal obligations to the members for imposing penalties and surcharges.

            In an extensive eight-hour lecture-mentoring on July 3-4, principals, supervisors, school owners and directors of the different La Salle Supervised schools all over Mindanao as well as the administrative officials, deans and department heads of DMC College Foundation attended the “Lasallian Leaders as Accompanier” workshop launched by the National Coordinator of Las Sallian Volunteer Program Ms. Roselyn Sumande from La Salle Provincialate Office, Greenhills, Manila.
 

            Guest-participants were from the different schools of the cities of Mindanao including Davao, General Santos, Cagayan and Surigao. DMC officials in attendance were Dr. Gerald T. Concha, AVP-Administration and Dean of the College of Computer Studies and College of Arts and Sciences; Atty. Diane Charlette Concha, Chief of Staff and Dean of the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management; Ms. Carissa Pia M. Concha, AVP-Basic Education; Dr. Ma. Grace F. Gurdiel, Dean of the College of Nursing; and all other deans, directors, department heads and coordinators of the different colleges of DMC.

            The seminar was aimed at understanding the role of being a leader, in the context of being a school administrator or official and in the general workforce of a school or department, which requires spirituality and the skills of an accompanier in addition to the duties of a supervisor, especially in addressing concerns and problems routinely encountered in management. Mentoring skills were also presented, as well as supports and principles of leadership.
 

Since he sat as provincial governor, Gov. Rolando Yebes has celebrated his birthday in far-flung barangays: Barangay Lipay, Jose Dalman (2004); Barangay Titik, Sindangan (2005); Barangay Panampalay, Roxas (2006); Barangay Pange, Siayan (2007).

This year, he will be celebrating it on September 19, at Barangay San Pedro, Godod.

Although its adjacent Barangay Nasibak, Leon Postigo was attacked by NPA rebels on August 29, 2008, the governor felt he would still be at San Pedro on his birthday.

“I want to personally see the true condition of the people there, so that we can determine what particular services could we deliver,” he defended the choice of the venue.

As regards the NPA threat, he believed the NPA understood that his provincial leadership really is directed towards the poor just as theirs is too.

It can be remembered that Godod has been recently identified by the national Statistics and Coordination board as one of the poorest municipalities in the country today.

Although Siayan has been declared the poorest in the country today, it had been the governor’s birthday place last year and Barangay Pange was personally visited by the governor.

In the 3-day celebration of their 60th Founding Anniversary, Southwestern University of Cebu awards Dr. Ma. Grace Figueroa-Gurdiel of Dipolog Medical Center College Foundation, Inc. as one of its Outstanding Alumni in a grand ceremony held at the Waterfront Hotel, Cebu City.

            Dr. Grace Gurdiel, dean of the College of Nursing of DMC College Foundation, graduated with honors from the prestigious Southwestern University in March 1988 in her Nursing degree. She was among the few alumni who were chosen from a number of highly accomplished candidates to receive the coveted award. Having been one of the pillars of DMC since joining the institution in 1995, Dr. Gurdiel was a Clinical Coordinator for seven years, an Associate Dean for four years, and the Dean of the biggest department of the college for two years now. Under her insightful guidance and supervision, the Nursing department continues to flourish and run smoothly in response to the increasing demands of Nursing education and the Nursing profession.

            The huge celebration of Southwestern University was graced with several prominent people of Cebu in the realms of business, science and the academe where Dean Gurdiel was among the honorees. The administration of DMC College is rightfully proud of the dean’s accomplishment and recognizes it as an honor, exemplifying the college’s credo of having the best and most qualified faculty, staff and administrators in its field of providing the best kind of education to students.

Gov. Rolando Yebes recently appealed to the U.S. embassy to exclude ZaNorte from its travel advisory through Deputy U.S. Ambassador Jon Lindborg during the Mindanao Business Conference here on August 27-29, 2008.

Linborg represented U.S. Ambassador Krsitie Kenny, who was earlier scheduled during the opening of the Minbiscon..

The governor disclosed he had expected the presence of the U.S. ambassador for her to see and feel the peace in Zamboanga del Norte.

He also disclosed he wanted to refute the news that Mindanao is totally a “war zone” but to show that some parts in the Zamboanga peninsula are really peaceful and could not be included in its travel advisory.

On the other hand, Lindborg reportedly assured Gov. Yebes that he could arrange a meeting between him and Kenney if the governor travels to Manila.

As if failed to lure big business investors from Manila, Gov. Rolando Yebes declared that the 17th Mindanao Business Conference has been a failure.

Although it was well attended by big businessmen in Mindanao, he stressed he was looking for investors from other parts of the country who could possibly invest especially on tourism industry.

He disclosed the gathering expected about 400 delegates but during the first day, only 146 had registered.

Although it was sponsored by the Dipolog City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the provincial government spent P1.9M for the renovation of the ZaNorte Provincial Convention and Exhibition Center and other expenses.

“I was really expecting the big investors from Manila who will be putting up projects to give a boost to our tourism industry,” he sadly disclosed.

Moreover, the governor also disclosed that some provincial officials were also sad when the host solicited from them but were never given invitations to attend the opening ceremony.

It was learned Cong. Cely Jalosjos-Carreon was not even notifed that the party shall be visiting Mutia which belongs to her area of jurisdiction.

Former under Secretary Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante of Agriculture, better known as “Brain of the Fertilizer Scam”, loses asylum bid in U.S. Court of Appeals.  His deportation is eminent.

He could have won if it was our Court of Appeals that heard his case of course at the right price tag.

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JDV says that Noli de Castro needs more rice to eat before he can form his political party.

JDV should not get sore if Noli won’t join his group.  After all Noli is Vice President while JDV is Speaker of the House, no more…Faded glory eh?

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Pacquiao is preparing for his fight not in the ring but in POLITICS.

Pacquiao maybe a champion among men pugilists but a sure loser to a woman in politics.

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The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) finds police’s arrest of newsmen during the Peninsula siege illegal and recommends possible of Criminal and administrative charges.

Why does it took the CHR almost one year to open its mouth?  The Peninsula Siege is already history.

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GMA scraps peace panel and won’t sign the MOA even at gunpoint.

Really?  Had she done this off-hand, many lives could have been saved, and the MILF would not have gone on the warpath.  Repentance always comes late.

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The felling of 29 trees in front of Manila Cathedral shocked Cardinal Rosales.

Really?  But why isn’t he shocked when hundreds of Christians were butchered by the MILF in Mindanao?  Just asking.

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Dipolog’s Lady Mayor Belen Uy has more guts, more accomplishments and receives more accolades than her husband former City Mayor Berto Uy.

In just more than a year, Belen has finished more of the distance of the boulevard construction that what her husband Berto did for nine years.

Nangharos ug pasidungog ang grupo sa mga estudyante nga pulos nagagikan dinhi sa lalawigan sa Zamboanga del Norte – ang Silingan Organization, atol sa gihimong Foundation Day sa Silliman University sa dakbayan sa Dumaguete kaniadtong miaging semana.

Siyam ka mga dagkong awards ang nakuha sa Silingan lakip niini mao ang best booth design, best gimmick ug best exhibit. Atol sa gipahigayong torch parade kaniadtong Agosto 22 nakuha usab sa maong  grupo ang jolliest contingent, best in gimmick ug 1st runner-up sa over-all category. Sa kinatibuk-ang 80 ka mga booths nga naglakip sa mga regional

While browsing the official website of the department of education, a particular DepEd order caught my attention, and this is about the wearing of proper school attire.

We all know that students are required to wear school uniform but due to the present economic situation of our country, the Department of Education mandated the schools not to require students from wearing school uniforms. Well, the purpose is good because it would lessen the burden of the parents who are trying their very best to support their children in going to school. As a public secondary school teacher my first and foremost aim is to impart knowledge to my students, other things would follow 

But somehow with regards to the new order of not requiring the students to wear uniforms, I have second thoughts, because for me, wearing the school uniform has more than advantages than its disadvantages. Given the general view of this order, I hope parents, students, the school and the reading public would be guided by this order. Just for the information of everybody, the information below is a DepEd order which says:

For this school year, students are given the freedom not to wear school uniforms but for some schools, though students are not forced to wear uniforms but they encouraged students to be in their uniform, presenting to them its advantages and also parents are encouraged and made understand the beauty of wearing proper school uniform.

Soldiers accused of looting. It’s not news to me. In 1984, an ambush took place in a highway near our merchandise store.

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A wounded soldier took refuge in our house and my mother took pity on him and hid her inside the bathroom.

Fortunately the NPA guerillas did not notice him and never bothered to get inside our home.

Moments later, truckload of army reinforcement that came from 3 kilometers away from Villaramos Camp arrived.

They started looting our store. A farmer’s carabao was deliberately shot and killed and loaded into their 6-wheeler truck.

Two other live carabaos were also loaded to another army truck. I saw it myself from a distance.

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The wounded soldier was so embarrassed when he got out of the bathroom with my mother. He saw his comrades tagging sackful of merchandise and canned goods owned by an old and pale woman who saved his life.

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The following day, Vice Gov. Lingling Ramos who owned the lot where the Villaramos Camp was erected made representation to the camp commander and the two carabaos were safely returned to their lawful owners.

Hopefully, the AFP under the new command of Gen. Alexander Yano can redeem its name as protector of the people.

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Researchers express alarm over decreasing bat population in the country. I disagree. We have plenty of them among our present breed of politicians. A bat is a species which is neither an animal nor bird.          They’re like our politicians. Now Lakas, tomorrow Kampi, the following day NPC.

Sipsip to Ramos, Erap and GMA.

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Peace panel with MILF dissolved. Then to be replaced with new peace panel when rebels show sincerity. That’s the government position.

But the MILF can always counter that they will only return to the peace table if government shows sincerity.

Both are in pari delicto.

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U.S.A. will be in a dilemma if Barrack Obama win the presidency. They have to rename the official residence to “Black House” from White House.

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Solons not done yet on Sulpicio probe. They’ve not received their pie yet.

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Thailand PM declares state of emergency. Soon GMA to declare the same to perpetuate herself to power.

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“Mama’s Boy.” This is the title of a painting of a Subanen Mother and Child which I entered in an art competition sponsored by the Kalinawa Art Foundation.

The foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to bring out the finest Indigenous People’s Art of the Philippines to the world. This is founded by executive professionals from the private sector who share a passion for fine arts and see the need to facilitate cultural understanding.

Their first art exhibit in the province of Zamboanga del Norte was held in September last year at the Good Times Café in Dipolog City. Many artists from the province using indigenous materials joined the art exhibit. I was one of them.

Since I am still fifteen years old, I belong to the youth category. Luckily, my art piece, an acrylic labor of love dedicated to my mother, won the third prize. Though I know that in the eyes of professional artists it was still amateurish since I do not have any formal painting lesson, the painting indeed speaks of a thousand colourful words for me and my mother.

It was one of those auctioned on-line and then brought to Metro Manila to be exhibited at the Mall of Asia and the Metropolitan Museum. It was also a coincidence that my mother had an official trip to Manila and had the chance to view my painting together with her friends and relatives.

The same painting was also exhibited during the Adlaw sa Dipolog Art Exhibit at the City Hall.

Now, the painting hangs on the office wall of my mother to remind her that when days are long and trials are so strong, there is still that little boy who can make her smile and ease her from sighs.

By September this year, another Kalinawa art exhibit will be had at the Top Plaza Pensionne. You guess it. I am going to join again. This will be then another Kalinawa Art experience for me.

By the way, I get my passion for colors and paints from my father. Not from my mother for she is only good in words and cannot even draw a straight line.

Do I hear chuckles from the corner?

There was a powerful key in Paul’s, life that enabled him to hear and recognize God’s voice.  Paul went into the desert to spend time alone with the Lord, to wait before Him and to reveal His mind and will to him.

Paul knew the voice of the Lord and was led and directed by the Holy Spirit.  Before he started out on his first missionary journey, he waited upon the Lord through fasting and prayer. (Acts 13:2)

Here is another key which is powerful to hearing the voice of God.  Paul waited upon the Lord.  he set himself apart to seek after God with his whole heart, and by consecrating himself in fasting and prayer.

To hear the voice of God clearly, you must be in a position where your spirit is receptive and open to hear what the spirit is saying.

When we are walking in disobedience to God and His word or have allowed unconfessed sin to remain in our lives, our communion with God is hindered and we can no longer hear His voice clearly.

One of the clearest examples of this is found in the Life of the King Saul.  God called and anointed him to be king over Israel.  As long as Saul was obedient to God, he experienced great victories over his enemies.  But after he disobeyed God, he was no longer able to hear God’s voice.  Samuel, told him that because he had rejected the word of the Lord and did not obey His voice.  God had rejected him as king.  In Samuel 15:18-23, Samuel told Saul, and the Lord sent you on a mission and told you, go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amelekites, until they are all dead.  Why haven’t you obeyed the Lord?  why did you rush for the plunder and do exactly what the Lord said not to do?  But I did obey the Lord, Saul insisted, I carried out the mission he gave me.  I brought back King Agag, but I destroyed everyone else.  Then my troops brought in the best of the sheep and cattle and plunder to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.  But Samuel replied, what is more pleasing to the Lord, your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to His voice?  Obedience is fat better than sacrifice.  Listening to Him is much better than offering the fat of rams.  Rebellion is a bad as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as bad as worshipping idols.  So because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has rejected you from being king.  This is word of God to Saul.

BIBLE BITES!!!

Why are aids poured in the city and not in the municipalities of the province, especially in the far-flung and remote barangays where these are seen to be needed most?

Are these intended for the people or for publicity sake only?

The needs of the people of Dipolog City are well taken care of by the city government. But why is Capitol trying to compete with the efforts here of City Hall?

Why is it that Capitol seems to be concentrating its programs supposedly intended to help the needy, in the city when there are more who need these in the far-flung and remote barangays of the towns? Even some town centers are in need?

True, there may be some in the remote areas of the city who need help but these are from time to time coped up by the local services.

Is Capitol doing this for propaganda sake? Is it because tri-media is in the city that Capitol is doing this here to be in the limelight?

The need of the city is well covered by the city government. Capitol should go to the far-flung and remote barangays of Zamboanga del Norte where help are most needed.

Or even if the city has been judged well nationally, the province will continue to be tagged the “poorest” in the whole country economically and nutritionally.

“Lando Bibo” whatever that is, is needed especially in the remote areas of the towns of the second and the third districts, particularly in the triple S-B, not in Dipolog City.

Gov’s birthday is uphill again

The governor, of course our very own Atty. Rolando E. Yebes will be celebrating his birthday on the 20th of this month. I would be the first to greet you sir! Happy Birthday in advance!

Gov’s birthday would be his 5th as governor of this province and again this would be held in the farthest, remotest, hardest barangay to reach. This year this would be at San Pedro, Godod in the third district. It is situated in the southern mountainous provincial boundary with Zamboanga del Sur, in the municipality of Bayug.

His first birthday as governor was at Lipay, Jose Dalman then at Titik, Sindangan; Panampalay, Roxas; Pange, Siayan and of course this year would be at San Pedro, Godod. Ever heard the names of those barangays? I’ll bet you don’t ever care of their existence in the mountain ranges at the outback of Zamboanga del Norte. We never care that there are people who really toiled so hard with life’s unfortunate twists on these harsh environment. Busy with our own city life and the pressure it brought to us, we never mind to think of other beings in the midst of nature amid its lush green blessing however so impoverished.

Only this governor, have brought us to realize that we have brother subanos, who are natives on these barangays, he shared with his blessings on the occasion of his birthday that have topped the harshness of living on these remote lands.

Our daily problems dwarfed when compared to the hardships and sacrifices of living in a place though endowed with the beauty of nature but poverty evidently take a tool on the faces of these people.

The governor reminded us that city living is comfort. It is our comfort zone that we refused to leave behind. It has encased our mind set on this matrix world that he wanted to open up and expand it to rural realities.

Rural living is hard you always have to submit with the mood of nature. When it rains, the wheel of life stops, when it is dry food would be scarce and worst they’ve always been at the forefront of conflict.

Rebels both communists and separatists roam around their backyards and they would always be in the middle of a cross-fire. Imagine living there? Hard, really hard.

Only we, lowlanders have the capacity to help these people. At least, we could unburden them with life’s harshness and hardships even only once a year. Only the governor has brought us to realize we are capable of doing that. We have so many ‘moralists’ around, religious leaders who took the fight against poverty but uses only words to further their cause, bereft of actions to put reality on their objectives.

We have businessmen who lorded over small people to enrich themselves but never give back a fraction of their blessings on these people.

This governor shadowed these modern pharisees, seized pretentious and self-proclaimed good people around. Because goodness and being good are not advertized, advocated, pretended, argued, it should be put into action. It should be output driven and make people’s life go for the better. It should even be establishing difference and change on people’s thought and paradigm.

So many pretentious individuals, from businessmen to mediamen, from religious to the seculars that have fought in behalf of this poor people, that they made them subjects of their rhetoric. Ultimately, they just used them for their own betterment and enrichment. In short, they just exploited these people.

Governor Yebes showed us that leaving our comfort zones and make sacrifices for the sake of the impoverished at the remotest of the remotes is also inner healing.

 It is connecting our selves with our inner-person. Taking dig on the reasons of our existence, I’ve always been thinking why should this man leave his comfortable life at the celebration of his natal day to reach out unreachable places? What’s the idea?

Yebes has always been searching that missing piece of his life and he found it at the hinterlands. His existence begun decades back at the lush green mountainous outback. He is a subano that is the missing point he wanted to search. He is a proud subano, because his family is undeniably comes from that stock. Despite his mestizo looks, the blood the psyche his heart and mind is framed biologically that of a royal subano.

Birthday preparations again, I have uneasy feelings about being at the forefront of the preparations of his brithday. Since year 1, my office the CDAU has always been the force behind the organizing and preparations, and I have uneasy experiences that I wanted to bury behind, always been at the brink of accident durint those times, God forbids this year!

Last year my vehicle almost fell in a deep ravene, only one wheel holds hard to dear earth, luckily the tire had not enough air in it so that when the weight of the vehicle puts pressure in it, it drifts and held the vehicle against the gravity. Huh! Almost!

Press Freedom Editorial
Can we trust it?

The Government Service Insurance System has proudly carried its byword Maasahan, Kahit Saan, Kahit Kailan and has proudly brandished its tarpaulin on courtesy which is the system’s so-called policy.

However, GSIS members nowadays visit the agency hoping to get what they expect, only to go out of their door head down, their excitement dying out of their faces.

The reasons are varied.

Who would be happy if penalties and surcharges are imposed on members even if the agency itself could be blamed for the delayed posting?

Who would be glad if you seek for loan and you would never have it for some reasons you don’t quiet understand?

Matured policy could not be claimed.  For 20 years or so, GSIS members have excitedly waited for it, only to be told, wait, wait, you can claim it soon.

When, the system cannot tell.

As reason upon reasons were told over the counter, across tables, members wonder if the system is courteous enough to its members if it delays transactions for whatever reason.

Many members have observed that the old system, without an e-card, not computerized, was much better when you can have what you wanted at a short time.

Is there reason behind this?