The United States Agency for International Development recently expressed its interest to help the provincial government of Zamboanga del Norte in its campaign against malaria, tuberculosis, avian influenza and other diseases.

Presently the agency has already extended assistance against malaria and bird flu.

Gov. Rolando Yebes disclosed that USAID had also shown interest in LANDO BIBO, the province’s own indigence initiative program because the agency found it already organized in many barangays and found their documents in order.

It was learned that USAID had supported several programs of the Department of Health like Health-Gov. which includes skills training of health and hospital personnel.

Another program dubbed as Formula One which includes infant and maternal health care, reproductive health, expanded immunization, TB, Nutrition, hospital upgrading, etc. have also been supported.

Board Member Cedric Adriatico, Chairman, Committee on Health of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan disclosed that USAID has given support to Health-Gov or health Governance Program for Health Related Concerns which were implemented by the different NGOs.

ICC Cotabato City (20 November) –The newly elected set of officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in a manifesto, recently challenged the leadership of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to take full responsibility for the criminal acts committed by its “roque” elements.

The officials are also supportive of the move of the national government in forging a lasting peace and development in Mindanao.

The officials, led by ARMM Regional Governor Datu Zaldy U. Ampatuan condemned in strongest terms the senseless murder of innocent civilians, the wanton destruction of properties and the heartless destruction of the livelihood of many of our Christian brothers by rogue MILF elements in Mindanao

.

Ampatuan lashed at the MILF leadership for their acts of violence that caused sufferings among thousands of displaced individuals where many are still seeking shelter at evacuation centers.

He urged the MILF leadership to put an end to these acts and make sure the perpetrators are brought to justice and end the sufferings of both Christians and Muslims as well as provide for their protection, ensure their safety and security and preserve their rights and dignity.

The Regional Governor stressed the importance of respecting the rights of members of other religions and for them to live in harmony with one another.

He also expressed his sympathy and sincere solidarity with Christian victims of MILF atrocities and extended his heart-felt condolence to the families of the victims who perished as a result of these acts.

He expressed hope that the displaced families can return to their places of origin and live once again in an atmosphere of security, tranquillity and stability.

The violence which spread across 26 municipalities in the three provinces of Lanao del Sur Sarangani and North Cotabato were blamed by the MILF hierarchy on renegade commanders Abdurahman Macapaar alias Bravo and Ameril Umbra Kato.

OZAMIZ CITY –  President Gloria Macagapal-Arroyo reiterated today her administration’s determination to create more high-paying jobs throughout the country so that before the end of her term in 2010, Filipinos “will no longer need to go abroad to earn  a living.”

“It is essential to create good, high-paying jobs here at home so that going abroad is a career choice, not the only option,” the President said during a one-on-one interview with DXOC-Ozamiz City at the airport in Gango town here Thursday (Nov. 20).

She said the government is firmly focused on economic reforms to break the offshore employment cycle for Filipinos “to keep working here at home.”

The Chief Executive acknowledged that breaking the overseas employment cycle that has been part of the country’s profile economic for several generations is a tall order but it can be done.

“It will take another 10 to 15 years to clearly break this cycle, but it is happening and I am pleased at the progress,” she said.

The President said her administration is vigorously pursuing the creation of more appealing employment opportunities through the development of priority sectors such as the business process outsourcing (BPOs).

“I am pleased at the BPO sector, and in successfully competing for added-value BPO business, is a good example of our ability to address these challenges,” she said.

Noting the big contribution of the BPO sector in creating new jobs, the President said she had ordered the Information and Communications Technology Commission (ICTC) to conduct a technical study on the resources needed by each province to be ICT-enabled.

That’s why I asked Secretary Rey Chua to study how to make every province ICT-enabled,” she said.

The Philippines is ranked among the most attractive off-shoring destinations in the world based on cost competitiveness and the highly trainable, English-proficient, IT-enabled quality Filipino manpower.

In recent years, the outsourcing sector has expanded beyond call centers and IT to include a range of professional and business processes, including accounting, human resources, financial analysis, design engineering, animation, medical services, legal services, insurance processes, banking processes, map making, publishing, content creation, and research.

In the last seven years, the President said, the economy has managed to create almost seven million new jobs.

Manila - Health Care Without Harm (HCWH)-Southeast Asia commends the World Medical Association (WMA) for unanimously passing a resolution calling for the phase-out of mercury in health care and urges health professional organizations in the Southeast Asian region to follow suit.

“WMA’s support is showing all hospitals and health care facilities around the world that this is doable and that eventually this is the way to go to for all health care systems,” said Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Mercury, referring to WMA Resolution signed at the General Assembly in Seoul, Korea in October.

“The resolution cited that although the initial rationale for instituting voluntary mercury replacement initiatives is for occupational and environmental safety, ultimately the motive will be financial considerations,” Ferrer added.

She explained that mercury-free alternatives are “so much cheaper once mercury clean-up costs are taken into consideration.”

WMA’s resolution recommended global, regional/national and local strategies to reduce both supply and demand of mercury in the health care sector.

For global strategy, WMA and member national medical associations are urged to advocate for the United Nations (UN) and individual governments to voluntarily cooperate in the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Mercury Programme.

For regional and national strategies, national medical associations are encouraged to advocate for government support to reduce risk related to mercury in the environment.

“A good example of a national initiative is that of the Philippines’ Department of Health (DoH) Administrative Order 21 mandating the gradual phase-out of all mercury containing devices in all hospitals and health care facilities by 2010,” said Ferrer.

The AO signed in August 11, 2008 mandates all hospitals to immediately discontinue the distribution of mercury thermometers in the patient’s admission/discharge kits and follow the guidelines for the gradual phase-out of mercury in two years.

Physicians, on the other hand, are encouraged to take the lead role in the local strategy by eliminating mercury-containing products in their offices, ensuring that local hospitals and medical facilities have a plan to identify mercury sources in their workplace and a commitment to phase-out mercury containing devices and switch to alternatives.

“The resolution looks simple but it will take support from all stakeholders to make it work,” said Ferrer.

“For our part, HCWH-SEA will continue to work with national medical associations in the region and urge them to take the lead in the mercury phase-out.”

Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that affects the nervous system.  It is fatal when inhaled and harmful if absorbed through the skin.  High doses of vapors released by thermometer breakage may cause lung damage.  While at lower doses it is harmful to the kidney and the nervous, digestive, respiratory and immune systems.

Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) is a global coalition of 473 organizations in more than 50 countries working to protect health by reducing pollution in health care sector.  For more information, visit www.noharm.org.

OZAMIZ CITY — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today expressed hope that the country will attain rice self-sufficiency by 2013.

The President said the government’s investments in agricultural infrastructure increased rice production by an average of four percent this year.

“We are investing heavily in bringing up the productivity of our farmers. And it is paying off with increased productivity this year. We hope to be rice self-sufficient within five years,” the President said when she was interviewed Thursday (Nov. 20) over DXOC-Ozamiz City at the airport in Gango town here.

She said the government has taken decisive steps to attain rice self-sufficiency by 2013 by allocating massive funding for a wide range of agriculture-related projects, including irrigation, farm-to-market roads, dryers, cold storage plants, and the development of hybrid seeds.

“Now, we are investing in FIELDS so that, hopefully, we reduce our import dependency,” the Chief Executive said, stressing that it is the government’s commitment to make food available to all Filipinos.

She said the new economics of global food security makes it imperative for the country to control its own destiny in terms of rice sufficiency.

The government’s longer-term efforts to promote rice self-sufficiency will also ensure that “we will no longer have to rely on expensive imports to meet our country’s needs for this important commodity,” she added.

The Philippines produces about 90 percent of its rice needs; the remaining 10 percent is imported from Vietnam and other countries.

The President acknowledged that the global spike in rice, food and fuel prices has placed a tremendous strain on ordinary Filipinos, but stressed that government responded to this challenge in a swift, measured and targeted manner.

She pointed out that because its first priority was to stabilize the supply of rice, the government had to submit early bids to buy rice from Vietnam and Thailand in anticipation of a major price surge at mid-year.

The government has also put in place distribution mechanisms to make sure that the rice supply reached the right people at the right price through the collaborative efforts of churches, schools and civic organizations.

In order to affect reforms in the management of the new ZaNorte Medical Center, hospital administrator Rosevic Lacaya-Ocampo appealed to the public to be an effective partner.

During her recent appearance in Kapihan Program at Hotel Camila 2, Ms. Ocampo outlined the needed reforms in the hospital which she pointed out should be implemented in order to “crush” the old ways of the old provincial hospital.

“We have to receive all the complaints because we believe these could improve the hospital services”, Ms. Ocampo said, adding that the complainant should identify the doctor or any hospital personnel who is the target.

She elaborated that it would be unfair if all the other doctors who have shown their best could be part of the complaint when only one or two have been “pasaway”.

Recently, the lady administrator disclosed, the hospital management had installed a suggestion box at the hospital lobby labeled “Isumbong kay Gov.” in order to correct what the public called as “misbehavior” of any doctor or hospital personnel.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was “terribly upset” over the impromptu opening prayer of Press Secretary Jesus Dureza at last Tuesday’s (Nov. 18) Cabinet meeting in Malacañang.

This was disclosed by Dureza himself in a press statement this afternoon.

In his mea culpa, Dureza admitted that “it was a mistake on my part to subject the President to such underserved flak.”

He said he apologized to the President “later that day when media reported (the incident) with a spin for term extension – at her expense.”

“I take full responsibility and own up solely to the blame,” he added.

The controversial prayer invoked God’s blessing for the President “so she will have the forbearance, good health, tolerance to lead this nation up to 2010 and, perhaps, who knows, even beyond.”

This was interpreted by some sectors of the media and administration critics as a call for an extension of the President’s term through a constitutional or Charter change.

But Malacañang, for the umpteenth time, stressed that President Arroyo has no intention to extend her term of office beyond June 2010.

The President herself has repeatedly declared that she will step down when her constitutional term expires.

At his regular press conference in Malacañang on Wednesday, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said that the “issue of Cha-Cha is hardly being discussed by anybody and I suppose I’m close enough to the President to share what her thoughts are (on Cha-Cha) pero wala naman.”

Ermita was fielding a question on Dureza’s prayer.

“Just to set the record straight, the President was terribly upset due to my prayer, although immediately after the Cabinet meeting she didn’t show much displeasure because I told her about my drowned-out phrase ‘in her personal and private capacity,’ and that I requested media to keep it off the record,” Dureza said.

ICC Iligan City, Nov. 20 – The Commanding General of the Philippine Army (PCGA) has urged his troops on the ground to observe and maintain the highest degree of military discipline throughout their tour of duty.

 “I always emphasize on discipline as the key to military professionalism whenever I visit camps like this in Kampo Ranao, Marawi City,” Lt General Victor S. Ibrado, CGPA said.

 He told the military officers and field commanders of the 3rd Infantry (Haribon) Brigade, First Infantry Division (103rd Bde), PA, that it is always mandated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to protect the state and the Filipino people at all times.

 “Every soldier is mandated to observe the highest form of discipline and the AFP has provided them with guns and support armaments in order to protect the state and the people against insurgencies and rebellions,” he also said.

The PCGA has visited Kampo Ranao on invitation of Col Rey C. Ardo, Commander of 103rd Bde to receive the newly constructed administrative building donated by the Provincial Government of Lanao del Sur (LDS).

 The Php2.1million worth of building was turned-over Nov. 20, 2008 to the CGPA by the provincial officials led by LDS Administrator Mocamad Rakiin during a brief ceremony inside Kampo Ranao.

ICC, Pagadian, Zamboanga City, Nov 20 = Close to 40 local broadcasters all over Zamboanga Peninsula region and the ARMM attended a 3-day “Orientation on Responsible Parenthood-Natural Family Planning using the broadcasters manual”  held on Nov. 16-18 at Garden Orchid Hotel, this city.

The Commission on Population (POPCOM) in partnership with the Philippine NGO Council on Population, Health and Welfare Inc. (PNGOC) spearheaded the activity that brought together the local media practitioners, specifically, radio broadcasters, in an effort to spread knowledge on Responsible Parenthood, Respect for Life, Birth Spacing, Breast feeding and Informed Choice.

 The orientation was a new learning experience for most of the radio broadcasters-participants who admitted that the methodology presented and topics discussed in the training were something that they have never known before and is a welcome knowledge and idea that they promised to share to their respective radio listeners soon as they go back to their respective areas. With this in mind, radio listeners specially couples will be aware of their basic responsibilities as parents, making them alert of there responsibility and commitment towards their family, neighbors, community, society, and the nation as a whole and promoting responsible parenting as a way of life towards the attainment of sustainable human development

The project successfully carried out its objective which is: to Explain Population & Development Perspective in the Philippine context; popularize the four pillars of Responsible Parenthood, Respect for Life, Birth Spacing, Breast feeding and Informed Choice; Demonstrate skills in processing information for broadcast purposes and Develop a plan for continuing action and capacity-building on responsible parenthood-natural family planning.

The project aims to create champions among radio broadcasters whose coverage is vast.

Rigid workshops were done during the 3-day orientation to ensure that broadcaster-participants were properly equip with RP-NFP information and a heightened level of awareness in methods of natural family planning, birth spacing and fertility management. 

The design of the workshops was carefully prepared to ensure that desired outcomes are achieved, advocacy skills are honed, and advocacy plans are crafted.

POPCOM is implementing the project nationwide in close partnership with PNGOC, with the end in view to develop MEDIA CHAMPIONS in adhering to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s statement that guide the Philippine government in the implementation of population program.

OZAMIZ CITY – In the midst of the political noise generated by the premature campaigning for the 2010 presidential elections, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assured the people today that she would remain focused on her job of steering the country towards economic stability.

“I am not affected by the noise at all. I am focused on my job and will continue to do my job,” the President said when she was interviewed Thursday (Nov. 20) by DXOC-Ozamis City at the Gango airport here.

When asked how she manages to remain focused on her job, the President replied: “discipline.”

Earlier on Wednesday (Nov. 19), in her keynote address at the 18th League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) General Assembly at the Manila Hotel, the President thanked the local executives for staying focused on their jobs of delivering basic services to the people, and for not being affected by the noise prematurely generated by the 2010 elections.

After a series of consultations with my personal advisers, I have decided that it would be better to separate my developmental and charitable activities into two legal personalities. As it is now, I have already registered Inter-Charity Network as a non-stock, non-profit corporation. Based on my experience, it could not be avoided that our charitable projects would usually overlap with our developmental efforts, the two being closely intertwined.

For some reason, the charity label has a negative reaction within the developmental circles and perhaps understandably so, because development workers would have a natural preference for the promise of improving the lives of people as a whole, rather than just helping some people with their problems every now and then.

Given this background, I am now organizing Global Action for National Development Assistance (GANDA), envisioned to be an international organization of volunteers who would like to assist developing countries in planning, implementing, monitoring and reporting their national development programs. Of course, the Philippines will always be our test bed and point of origin.

Although GANDA will always be working for national development, its intention is to always work at the village level, being founded on the belief that nations could only truly develop if and when the needs of their citizens are directly addressed where they are, where they live, regardless of how far they are from the centers of national activities.

Although we are still in the organizational stage, we already have about a dozen volunteers who are all practitioners of their respective fields, and who are all in a position to assist in the task of helping local villages in planning, implementing, monitoring and reporting their development in the long run. Our goal is to build independently productive and self-sustaining (IPASS) villages in all locations where we are welcomed.

Bio-fuel is the key to the success of each and every GANDA village. Using any source of renewable bio-fuels, we are planning our development model in such a way that each village would have its own source of electricity powered mainly by diesel engines, but backed up by other local energy sources such as solar, hydro, geothermal and waterfalls or rivers.

With their own power on site, it would become economical for GANDA villages to own and maintain their own water filtration plants, multi-purpose drying machines, cold storage facilities and grains silos. These are the basic infrastructure needed to support their local means of productivity.

With their own driers, they will no longer have to worry about their grains, fruits, vegetables and root crops going to waste and they could already sell these commodities when they want to and at the right prices, without being pressured by market forces and unfair middlemen to unload right away.

With their own water plants, they would not only have safe drinking water for their own consumption, they would also have clean water for their surface crops on top of having readily available water for irrigation purposes. For that matter, they could have fish ponds regardless of how far they are from the sea or the river.

With their own cold storage, they could freeze their fish, fruits and vegetables to avoid spoilage, and to be able to wait for the right prices to sell, again without being pressured by market forces and middlemen. They could also go into secondary processed products such as juices and purees.

With their own grains silos, they will be able to store not only rice and corn, but also coffee, cacao, soybeans, peanuts and cassava chips, among others. Just the same, the silos will give them the option of selling these goods when they want to, at the right prices without any outside pressure.

The technologies that I mentioned do not require any rocket science. We need not send people to the moon; we only need to support the villagers with the means to become independently productive and self-sustaining. As it is now, we already have the volunteers who could make this things happen. You can join GANDA whoever you are, wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, as long as you are willing to help.

The theme of putting the people’s welfare first in a candidate’s to-do-list is as old as the first village chieftains who promised bountiful harvest and security to their people in exchange for reverence and favor. It is also a very serious promise that’s not that easy to keep, so I’ve heard from my former bosses.

Firstly, the “people” represent a myriad of interests and concerns. The public that people in government serve, stand for a spectrum – full of political colors, leanings, and agenda, that it becomes difficult to keep track of who’s on who’s side.

Secondly, giving your all does not guarantee that people would perceive you as the selfless, pro-people leader you aspire to be seen as. As they say, you just can’t please everybody, all the time. In short talk, promising people that they (that means “all of them”) would be on top of your list, Christmas time or not, is nothing short of political suicide.

I was in the beautiful province of Zamboanga del Norte last week and I had a chance to have a face to face interaction with Governor Rolando Enriquez Yebes or the beloved Governor Lando of that blessed Southern province. He is one local chieftain that would not easily give up the lofty promise of being there for his people, all of the time. This is perhaps why the people of ZaNorte unequivocally chose to put him in office for the second time last May.

And the nation is noticing. The Civil Service Commission recently conferred him the Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award-the most prestigious for local government officials and employees who gave “exceptional contributions resulting from an idea or performance that had a nationwide impact on public interest”, as the award body so dearly qualified.

Ironically, the 8th largest province in the Philippines and one of the most naturally-blessed is also the poorest. In 2006, a study by the National Statistics Coordination Board (NSCB) found Zamboanga del Norte to the Philippines’s poorest with a poverty incidence rate of 64.6%.

This is perhaps why the most significant, timely, and awe-inspiring of Governor Yebes accomplishments to date is the sprawling Php 300 million, 200-bed capacity medical facility he solidly built in Dipolog City. Through bond flotation and a little help from ZamNortehanos abroad, the Zamboanga del Norte Medical Center now stands as the first ever tertiary level hospital and the largest provincial medical center in the Zamboanga Peninsula and the whole of Mindanao. It is an exclusive and independent local government initiative that clearly shatters the myth of economic standing as a basis for LGU capacity.

With state-of -the-art facilities and equipment, this hospital now serves the needs of the people of the Zamboanga del Norte province and even the nearby municipalities of Zamboanga del Sur and Misamis Occidental.

Indeed, this unassuming lawyer and former port police had gone a long way since his halcion days at the Bureau of Customs. In 2003, he retired from the Bureau with awards and excellence citations to last him a lifetime – his veritable ticket to the Governor’s office. In 2004, he came out of retirement and ran for his first ever political position, that of Governor in the province of Zamboanga del Norte, and scored a major victory against local government veteran and legend, Governor Isagani Amatong. The latter had been the province’s patriarch for 15 solid years.

Governor Yebes performance has been hailed by the most credible of good governance bodies, while the province of Zamboanga del Norte is now a rising national exemplar of continuing bottom-up development - a model that inspires other poor provinces to hope and work for a brighter future.

My friend asked me this question. Why is it that everytime the Senate will exercise its investigatory power, it will always end up holding an empty bag?

“Because, my friend, the Senate is riding on its power to investigate not in aid legislation but in aid to Grandstanding. Ano gets mo?

-oooOooo-

Destabilization campaign against the Arroyo administration to step momentum. It is expected that more street rallies calling for Gloria is gaining down will be staged.

“Gloria will be damned if she will and damned if she won’t.”

-oooOooo-

Here’s a case of a “kettle calling the pot black”. Cagayan de Oro’s BIR Regional Director Mustapha Gandarosa who was facing charges of harassment, corruption and extortion turned his ire on his subordinate Ester Palala as the one doing the offense instead.

“Naks! Birds of the same feathers fighting against each other? Maybe someone must have been unfairly shared of the booty. Ano ba yan!”

-oooOooo-

Police blotter is now banned to the Media.

“Sige lang inyo! Unya ang amin lawa? He.he.he.. Give and take lang mga pare ko. Kana bang “Live and let live.”

-oooOooo-

The 2010 election will witness the expansion of the political sphere of influence of the Jalosjos family.

“It’s not only in Sibugay province that the Operation Plan has been drawn, I heard that in Misamis Occidental something is in the cooking”.

“While in Dipolog City, it’s a winner takes all grab for females, to be known as “Mama’s Love” fight of the year”.

-oooOooo-

By next year some of my friends in the Media will start shading its colors to favor political hopefuls at the right price. The election year is the best fishing season for paid hacks.

Gumikan sa personal nga away sa usa ka babaye nga nayagyag sa kahanginan, unom ka mga personalidad sa radio ang nag-atubang ug kasong sibil nga mao ang Damages with Application for TRO and Writ of Preliminary Injunction nga gipasaka ni Atty. Kenneth P. Rosal batok sa upat ka announcer ug duha ka station managers sa DXFL-FM ug RPN-DXKD-AM.

I came across with a dotcom news magazine website www.thelobbyist.biz/column_detail featuring our beloved province as the rising national exemplar of continuing bottom-up development written by Gladys Cruz-Sta.Rita. The writer visibly inspired from the immeasurable accomplishments by the governor he described as a rising ‘new political leader from Mindanao’ wrote extensively on the difference of political power plays as against real service and programs for the betterment of the people. Indeed, Governor Rolando E. Yebes have lived up the expectations of his people and at the same time illustrated a revolutionary and unconventional way to plant the seed of hope to the impoverished constituents of Zamboanga del Norte.

The modern ZaNorte Medical Center is the standing monument of that colossal accomplishment way beyond local government independence from the clouts of imperial Manila. She describe it as “ an exclusive and independent local government initiative that clearly shatters the myth of  economic standing as a basis of LU capacity.”

It shows that our autonomy is working with a lesser intervention from the national government especially on large-scale programs which is LGU self-initiated such as the province’s indigency program, tourism initiative and the HI-GREEN agricultural productivity, apart from the new and modern ZANORTE MEDICAL CENTER.

Governor Yebes’ helm of our beloved ZANORTE is truly awe-inspiring and a true model for development to other impoverished provinces throughout the country. It would open up new opportunities from them to devise their own initiative using their own resources, pushing their own agenda in focus.

Meanwhile what’s up with our local press? It’s the same, highlighting only those, what they perceived as bad for their political interests, or say, their bosses’ interests. Let’s admit it Governor Lando Yebes has come a long way already, he has shown what a good leader he is, and his visions benefit would be for his people.

He manages fiscal concerns with utmost sincerity and honesty, virtues that are very vital in pushing development in a right direction.

It is time to be proud once again, proud to be a ZaNortean. That we as a people is capable of doing our share of accomplishment through our sheer understanding and loyalty to our beloved province of which under the care of a man whose visions and missions, has brought upon us new hope and dimension of community empowerment.

The governor has successfully restored not only our pride but our life and dignity and our trust to a government that is sensitive and reflective of the needs of his people.

Zamboanga del Norte is this year’s “Next Tourist Destination, “according to the Department of Tourism. Frankly, I wondered why. Surely there is the Rizal Shrine and Dakak, but I thought these are not enough to get to the honor’s List.

I’m a true blooded Zamboangeña - was born in Dapitan and raised in Dipolog until I went to College, had my first job and then a series of others, became a mother of now three teenagers, and  co-founded a company in Manila. I frequented Dipolog every summer and/or Christmas and had a couple of years’ stint helping out in the family business, but that was about it. I never had the chance to know ZaNorte, as we now fondly call our province, up close and personal; thus, had never gotten the chance to discover her hidden treasures, until October 2007.

ZaNorte is said to be the “Gateway of Zamboanga Peninsula”. I can see why. For one it is accessible to the Visayas Island especially via the seas – it is just about two hours boat ride to Dumaguete, Negros Occidental – the haven for students; four hours to Tagbilaran, Bohol, - now a major destination for both local and foreign tourists; and about a couple of hours to Siquijor, an interesting Island popular for its mystic stories and beliefs. It is also accessible to the rest of Mindanao. One can reach Davao from ZaNorte passing by Misamis, Lanao, Butuan, Bukidnon, and Cotabato. Or one can go to Malaysia via Zamboanga City passing through ZaNorte, Zamboanga del Sur, and then Zamboanga Sibugay. More importantly, ZaNorte has an excellent road system making road trips not only accessible, but also safe and comfortable.

Peace and quiet have never been issues here. Ever since, ZaNorte is a peaceful place in this part of Mindanao, but no thanks to some reckless media people and ill-informed, judgemental folks, it has been lumped among those areas said to be training grounds of the notorious Abu Sayafs. Zanorte is a Christian dominated province, yet there is a harmonious co-existence with other locals – the lumads (Subanens, meaning ‘ People by The River’) and the Muslims. A couple of Luzon friends who came by remarked that Zanorte is even far more peaceful than Metro Manila.

Zanorte earned its historical mark because of Rizal – the romance, the politics, the architecture, the artifacts. Then came Dakak that opened doors to commercial tourism. But what else can it offer?Atty. Alan Michael Z. Ranillo, Chairman of the Zanorte Tourism Council and concurrent Chairman of the Zamboanga Peninsula Regional Tourism Council, revealed more about Zanorte. He said, other than the fact that Zanorte is a melting pot of three cultures – Christians, Subanens, and Muslims, the province has also been strongly influenced by the colorful cultures of the Spanish and Chinese as evidenced by the variety of foods it offers, the traditions it observes, and the physical features its people have.

History books revealed the important role that Zamboanga played even during the Pre-Hispanic era. It was said to be a major trading post way back then maybe because for one it does not fall within the typhoon belt; thus, agricultural products abound. Until now, the Zamboanga Peninsula is blessed with a variety of tropical fruits and seafoods. Zanorte for one is popular for its Mangosteen and marang on top of the other tropical fruits produced in the province – lanzones, mango, banana, avocado, caimito, rambutan, watermelon, and of course coconut. It also offers variety of seafoods – blue marlin, yellow fin, flying fish, crabs, prawns, and of course how can one miss the famous sardines. Zanorte is in fact the sardines capital of the Philippines.

Equally inviting are the beauty spots that have remained untainted by commercialism – the breathtaking view of Maniway Park; the dozens of alluring sland coves, like that of Aliguay Island now fast becoming popular for snorkeling and diving and frequently visited by playful dolphins; the towering Situbo Falls; the culture – rich Cogon Village where one finds the Subanens live by their tradition; the amazing Libuton Caves where rare cave pearls are found; the man – made island of Piñahon; the protected areas of Selinog; the powdery shores of  Sicayab; and many more. All these on top of what the quaint Dapitan City can offer.

It is clear from the beginning of Genesis to the end of revelation, that the father’s motivation throughout human history has been to reedeem (take back ownership of) and reconcile, (restore relationship) mankind to Himself (God).

Sin (rebellion against God) separated us from God our father. However, sin did not separate us from the unconditional and unchanging love of the father. God’s love set in motion a divine plan of redemption that finds its ultimate fulfilment in Jesus Christ.

In one of the most-quoted scriptures of the Bible, we hear the words of Jesus, in John 3:16. says, for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. V-17, for God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

In Jesus Christ we find the motivation of God the Father, His love. We also find the process of outworking of the love, His grace. The motivation of God is love, and the process of that love in action is God’s grace, shown to us in Ephesians 2:8-9: For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any one should boast. The father solved mankind that He gave His son as a gift (grace) and anyone who would receive and believe in His son would have eternal life.

Now that fact settles our eternal destiny, but what about our earthly destiny? How are we to live out our lives here on earth?

Wok wok

Radioman shot dead in front of daughter. A fair warning, don’t stay in front of your daughter.

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People are no longer angered of corruption in government.  We don’t lose our cool after learning about the multi billion ZTE deal scandal, Northrail anomaly, the P728 fertilizer scam and the so called Euro generals because it had become a daily occurrence.  Nothing is new.

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I remember my father who used to personally managed his Black Stone type rice and corn mill in our home town. The prime engine is so noise that he has been used to it that he can no longer hear new noise.

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Newspaper photo shows Sen. Enrile taking his oath before Senator Honasan after their successful Senate Coup.

This is the only successful coup launch by the duo.

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It’s now final.  We are moving to a new office on November 28 to house the Young Printing Press downtown office.  It is better furnished and more spacious.

Why Nov. 28?  Aside from Chinese fenshui it being a Friday and a 28, it’s the birthday of Mama Ondit, the matriarch of the Lood family. At 83, she doesn’t look her age.  Sometime people mistook her as the sister of my wife.

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Mayora Belen  wants her Alay Lakad to end at the Dipolog Boulevard, her flagship.

Should Lando hold a separate Alay Lakad, it may conclude at the famous ZN Medical Center, his favorite landmark.

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News account says that Joc-joc appears more at home in the House. Better to stay in your house than at hospital.

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Several Regional Trial Court in Central Mindanao had issued at least 93 Arrest Warrants against Commander Kato, et al.

None had been served so far.  We are very fair in arresting petty crime offender but very slow against the MILF.

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Remember Mr. Elias Cayanong?  The DOLE Chief in Dipolog.  I bumped into him at Dipolog Airport Pre-departure area and I learned that he is now the Regional Director of DOLE Region 7 based in Cebu City.

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Another fair-haired boy from Dipolog Elridge Adraincem is the new Regional Director for Region IX Department of Tourism.

More power to you men.

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Press Freedom Editorial
Be vigilant

The early year-end bonus of the employees has surely whetted the appetite of some criminals who wish to take their share of it.

Despite the minimal amount, there are always holduppers, pickpockets and bodol-bodol men and even women, stalking and throwing their victims comfortably into their snare.

No matter how the police work in order to trap them, they could, most of the time, win over their victims.

As always, they could get away, like a whirlwind into the night, leaving the victim to his shame.

How sad.

The Christmas season has always been the best time these culprits operate.  It could also be the best time to be vigilant to counter their scourge.

Fancy and Rich look could be an attraction.  Loud talks about one’s money could be another.

Indifference to report crimes could also encourage these criminals to commit more crimes...and do much more.

Carrying much cash could show in one’s actions, could show much in the shopping load.