The DevCom Portal of KASC

Computer Literacy as a Surefire Educational Investment

2012-10-25T04:33:00.001-07:00

Computer Literacy as a Surefire Educational Investment

FACT: the fast-paced creation of information and its subsequent dissemination in these modern times is miles ahead the ability of hard-copy teaching materials to assimilate the programmed lessons into organized volumes which will be then used as tools in instruction.

Needless to say, the books remain to be tangible learning materials that are as indispensable as the chalk and the chalkboard, at least for the present era – and no one can discount the ability of hard-copy books to present knowledge in a steady manner, which both teachers and learners can always revisit for review purposes.

However, given the changing times and the quickness of new knowledge to be developed and delivered to learning institutions by way of the world-wide web of information, or the internet, there is a serious need for schools to evaluate their ability to respond to the challenge of establishing access to these internet portals of knowledge – and later share them inside the classroom, thereby keeping the young learners up-to-date and well-informed.

Not all schools, especially public schools in Kalinga Province, can readily provide a learning environment where the students can be given a free rein in exploring online sources of knowledge. It would have to take a lot of computer units, plus a reliable network connection, to accomplish that. Obviously, that spells budget.

This is the plight in most schools situated in the rural areas.

Teachers in these areas, however, can instead be the ones who should endeavor to become attuned to the ever-evolving realm of education via the internet, and eventually filter the newly absorbed information, ready to be transferred to the young minds inside his or her class.

Still, this necessitates the presence of the much-needed gadgets: computer unit and a network connection. However, considering the limited budget earmarked for public schools – which is understandable – having one or two units inside the classroom and the library is less costly than aspiring to purchase several units of computer. That is not practical at present, knowing that classrooms and additional teachers should take the topmost priority.

One or two computer units, however, are affordable items, especially if administrators are resourceful enough to source out donors for such gadgets. When these are in place either inside the faculty or the library, the teachers can then take time in browsing for updates within their areas of specialization, and even have the initiative to explore researchable subjects which will further improve the acquisition and delivery of educational services to young learners.

It is a fact in the rural areas of Kalinga that many teachers are somewhat technology-aloof, but once they get to appreciate the benefits of developing their computer literacy, they will sooner or later become tireless in hunting for the latest in their fields, while also giving them the opportunity to interact with fellow teachers all over the world – thus giving further truth to the value of sharing as basic concept in education.

When this is attained, then students will surely leave their campuses trained under the current trends in education, loaded with the latest and practical know-how, and, to some extent, attuned to computer literacy themselves.

With diligence and creativity, this can be done.

PPOC to PNP: Show up, You’ll have our Support

2010-08-21T15:44:00.000-07:00

The provincial leadership here posed a challenge to the police force here to show up and “you’ll have our support”.

Vice Governor Allen Jesse Mangaoang through the Provincial Peace and Order Council(PPOC) directed the Philippine National Police here to submit during the Executive Legislative Agenda (ELA) meeting a shopping list of their needs so that the local government unit (LGU) could find ways and means to provide them.

However, he told the PNP to also reciprocate in terms of good performance saying LGUs were not remiss on their obligation to assist the PNP in law enforcement and therefore expect the police to discharge their duties judiciously.

In the PNP report, all LGUs in the province allocated budgetary support to their respective police district. The biggest came from the provincial government given to the Kalinga Police Provincial Office in terms of vehicle, communication equipments, gasoline and cash allotment.

Governor and PPOC Chairman Jocel Baac, through the approval of the PPOC members directed the PNP to sit down with them in the ELA forum to present their priorities.
During the PPOC meeting, Police Provincial Director Virgilio Laya admitted that the PNP is not capable of being the sole operational arm of the LGUs in the anti-insurgency campaign.

He reported during the PPOC that they are undermanned, lack mobility, equipment, and firearms. His admission prompted the PPOC to continue supporting them.
Baac who is personally making updates on recent murder cases informed the body that slowly the victims are getting justice. Where necessary to expedite the resolution of the cases, he readily offered the PNP support.

On the other hand, Provincial Prosecutor Bartolome Gamonnac reminded the PNP to build strong cases against suspects, submit evidences in order for the prosecution to prosper in court.
/PIA-Kalinga

Kalinga PPOC to activate Anti-squatting Task Force

2010-08-21T15:42:00.001-07:00

In efforts to avert squatting here, the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) decided to reactivate the anti-squatting task force.

“Before it become too late, the standard roads Tabuk City is known for has to be protected from further occupancy by private individuals and those who made them into business expansion,” the PPOC declared.
Department of Trade and Industry Provincial Director Grace Baluyan reported that squatting is one reason why the business climate in this city is not conducive for investors to come in.

“Progress is so slow in the province because investors who want to come in have no guarantee that the lands they will buy to establish their business are not problematic areas or are not squatted”, she said.

In the PPOC meeting last week under the Chairmanship of Governor Jocel Baac, the members adopted the creation of an adhoc committee to study the creation and composition of a new task force to be headed by a lawyer that will include solving squatting on private properties.

The first step taken during the meeting was to limit the composition of the task force members putting those who can act and show results and attached it as a sub-committee under the PPOC.

The second approach is a review, which the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is doing, of the anti-squatting ordinance for possible amendments to give more teeth on the law.
Historically, land dispute in Kalinga has claimed lives of many and brought tribes into war. The latest of the is the armed struggle in Rizal between the joint LGU-Police-Military demolition team and the alleged illegal occupants in Malapiat, Rizal.
/PIA-Kalinga

Tubban assures Support to PWD

2010-08-21T15:41:00.001-07:00

by Gigi G. Dumallig

City Mayor Ferdinand B. Tubban assured to continue the city government’s support for the persons with disability (PWD) sector here.

To ensure this, he directed the City Social Welfare and Development Officer to include in their budget fund allotment for PWDs programs and services.

In his message during the celebration of the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week and house blessing of the Lin-awa Center Transient House, the city mayor said that he “finds inspiration from the achievements and development of the center in providing services for the PWDs.”

The house blessing he said signifies a “ritual transformation since it represents the desire for the approbation of the Almighty for the effort to bring about change.”

Lauding the initiators for their “sincere efforts in making the transformation possible,” Tubban said that the development provided the public an inspiration to also endeavor to share and give recognition for the less fortunate sectors of society such as the PWDs.

The occasion he said predicates the desire of the founders “to let the public know of their noble intentions” to generate awareness from both the beneficiaries and communities of the problems of the PWDs and unprivileged members of the society.
Recognizing the center as a “part of Tabuk City’s historical landmarks,” he said that the development will bring about physical and mental improvement for the beneficiaries and awareness among the public of the needs and problems of the PWDs.

For the past three years, the city government of Tabuk had been providing the Lin-awa Center an annual allotment of P120,000.00 for the services offered in the center such as physical therapy, Special Education Division (SPED), livelihood training and medical services.

Celebrated from July 19-23, this year’s theme of the NDPR Week is “Sa Istrakturang accessible, lahat ay able,” was chosen to align with the functions of the lead agency, the Department of Public Works and Highways, whose mandate among others, concerns the promotion of the accessibility of persons with disabilities towards a barrier-free environment pursuant to Batas Pambansa Bilang 344 better known as the “Accessibility Law.”

This is ably supported by Republic Act No. 7277 otherwise known as the “Magna Carta for Disabled Persons” and its amendatory law, Republic Act No. 9442.

Inaugural Address of Gov. Jocel C. Baac

2010-07-17T03:21:00.000-07:00

Friends, ladies and gentlemen:

Today, we begin another milestone in our history as a people, as we rise for public service for better progress and development.

The trust and confidence that our people have reposed in me is a clear imprimatur to lead them and our province. We want to affirm our commitment to our people who invested me with responsibility for the common good and the service of our people.
And we gladly accept this tremendous responsibility on our shoulders with the hope and prayer that God will guide us and give us the necessary strength and wisdom to serve our people with utmost dedication and dignity without counting the cost.

The mandate that we received on Election Day will always remind us that we are first and foremost servants of the common good, and that we will always uphold the interest of our people above any other consideration.

And for this reason, we need the unselfish cooperation of all, especially those who are working directly with the provincial government.

The mandate that we received is a clear sign that we can be of help to our people; that we are effectively knowledgeable of getting back to serious work and making most of the little that we have for our people.

Therefore, our new administration is determined to undertake the six point agenda which was our battle cry during the campaign.

First, the infrastructure system of the province shall be given a priority in the development funds. We shall see to it that all barangays that are isolated will be connected through the construction/opening of new roads, bridges, like the Taloctoc-Mangali road in Tanudan.

The existing provincial roads that are inadequately maintained shall be turned into an all-weather road so that our farmers can easily transport their products to the nearby market centers.

An example of this is the Pinukpuk Junction-Pakawit provincial road and the Catabbogan-Wagud road in Pinukpuk. We shall implement the provisions of Provincial Ordinance No. 2009-04 which provides for the equitable allocation of funds for the maintenance of provincial roads and bridges.

Second, alongside this economic development is the imperative improvement and strengthening of the Peace and Order Council and the empowerment of the barangays being in the front line in the delivery of the basic services in the province to address the serious issues on illegal drugs, anti-criminality campaign and insurgency which are deterrents to economic development.

We will strengthen barangay based institutions like the tanods for peace and order program and community mobilization.

Projects with a funding of 50,000 pesos will be transferred directly to the barangay where the project is located to simplify government transactions, and enhance the proficiency of barangay officials in performing their duties and responsibilities in barangay governance.

Our people must be secured in their persons and their properties; and there must be freedom from fear and freedom from want among our people. Tolerance, understanding, respect and acceptance should blossom among our people because we are a growing multi-ethnic community.

The provincial government will closely coordinate with the PNP and other law enforcement bodies to achieve this objective because I believe that development is the dividend of peace.

We will continue to recognize and utilize the bodong as an alternative means to settle disputes most especially in the areas where the customary laws or bodong exists. It gives life to and protects the people who practice this system.
The bodong, notwithstanding, will not preclude the criminal justice system under Philippine laws to apply in criminal cases under the jurisdiction of the regular courts of justice.

Third, we shall endeavor to insure the efficient delivery of health care and sanitation services to our people. We shall implement the fiscal autonomy of all hospitals under the provincial government as authorized under SP Resolution 227.
Drugs and medicines should be readily available at reasonable prices to patients in the hospital pharmacy. We will pursue constant dialogue and consultation with our doctors to find ways and means to improve the delivery of health care services especially to the poor.

The provincial government aims to provide an additional allowance for our barangay health workers (BHWs) to subsidize their meager allowance. These BHWs are in the forefront providing immediate and emergency health assistance to patients in the barangays before they come to the hospital for proper medical attention.

Fourth, is the improvement of agricultural services. Kalinga is basically an agricultural province. Our farmers rely mainly on agricultural products such as rice, corn, coffee, fruits and vegetables for their income.

We need to increase our agricultural production by judiciously using funds allocated to improve the capabilities of our farmers, funds for pre and post harvest facilities, and other subsidies from national government.

In particular, I ask the Office on Agricultural Services to kindly submit to the Office of the Governor a report on how the 7 million Pesos worth of Abono was utilized, and also a report on the utility of the tractor and other machineries.
May I also ask the NIA to submit a comprehensive report on the maintenance of the main canal that is servicing Tabuk area to Quezon, Isabela for enhancement and re-evaluation. Also, include a summary of all other existing CIS that are functional well as those that are no longer in use.

Fifth, is the promotion of environmental protection. We shall continue to promote and protect the natural resources of Kalinga for our future generation. With the recent passage of the Kalinga Environment Code by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan which was approved by my predecessor, we are now given a clear mandate to regulate the use of our eco-systems for environmental security.

Massive commercial mining shall not be allowed to prevent pollution of the rivers. However, small scale mining like gold panning may be allowed under special laws for the benefit of the people.

Sixth, in education my administration will increase the number of local school board teachers to be hired by the provincial government. We will work closely with DEPED to devise a plan to properly accomplish this objective.

We must be able to give proper education to our children by hiring qualified and capable teachers so that at the end of the day we shall have produced well informed citizens to help bring about a Kalinga Province that is politically, economically, and socially developed.

From the bottom of my heart, I would like to sincerely thank you for your generous support.

Early Kalinga Art and Architecture

"The Head Hunters of Northern Luzon"

KALINGA ETHNOARCH (Smithsonian Series in Archaeological Inquiry)

Parties involved in Malapiat land dispute Agree not to enter area in Question

2010-06-26T16:31:00.000-07:00

RIZAL, Kalinga – Parties involved in the Malapiat land dispute here agreed to observe a status quo order of Governor Floydelia Diasen for them not to construct additional structure and refrain from doing farming activities in the problem area.
In an agreement forged after a consultative meeting called by the local government unit of Rizal, Malapiat Neighborhood Association (MNA, new claimants who allegedly bought lands in the late 80’s onward) and original occupants of the area claimed and won in court by intervenors also agreed to observe religiously the agreement so as not to invite trouble.
The meeting held at the Rizal National School of Arts and Trade (RNSAT) in Liwan West on June 16 was attended by Bishop Prudencio Andaya, national line agencies, the provincial government and office of the congressman, Kalinga and Apayao Religious Association, Judge Victor Dalanao of the Municipal Trial Court of Tabuk City, Commission on Human Rights, government and private media, the military and Police.
It was further approved that the Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples to act as “caretaker” while solutions or a negotiation takes place.
Though not push trough by a temporary restraining order of the court, the demolition of huts built by new claimants was earlier ordered by Rizal LGU which prompted Bishop Andaya to appeal to sit down for a negotiation. “Negotiation first before demolition,” he said.
Mayor Crismark de la Cruz of this town honored the request and immediately called for a consultative meeting. “We respect lawful orders or suggestions from any group that could pave way for the solution of the problem,” he said in his message during the meeting.
In his prayer after presenting the background of the problem, he asked that the PNP and the military to establish a detachment in the area; for the convergence group composed of DAR, DENR, NCIP, Provincial LGU, OPAPP, AFP, PNP, Rizal LGU and other members to finish their job; and all concern to continue their support.
Mayor elect Marcelo de la Cruz strongly recommends that the rights of legal owners be protected regardless of which way the dispute could be solved. “We have done due process and all necessary means to bring the parties at the negotiating table, however, the law is always disregarded and efforts of the LGU is not taken seriously by the new claimants,” he lamented.
Participants to the meeting suggested for a win-win solution that could satisfy both sides. In order to give leeway for its settlement Ruben Tuazon of the Office of the Congressman pleaded for the attention of MNA members and pressed for the compliance of the status quo order of “no additional huts is built” in the disputed area.
MTC Judge Victor Dalanao supports an out of court settlement in order to live peacefully. “Even if the case reached the Supreme Court, still the highest tribunal asks the involved parties to consider out of court settlement,” he said.
KARSA President Pastor Luis Ao-as emphasized that in a negotiation, someone has to lose in order to win. “I am for a negotiation since it is the only way to save on resources and control possible collateral damage when the law takes its course,” he points out. -PIA Kalinga

Gov. Diasen leaves post with great Pride

2010-06-13T17:27:00.000-07:00

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Governor Floydelia Diasen is ready to transfer power to the next leadership with pride for a job well done in her three years as the province’s chief executive.
The PEACE agenda of Diasen was able to gain breakthroughs in the five development areas. The PEACE is an acronym for Peace, Order and Safety; Education and Employment; Agricultural Productivity; Culture and Tourism; Environment and Health.
After two years of peace building, a Provincial Peace and Order Strategic Master Plan, a blueprint of all peace programs in the years ahead was crafted. Another significant accomplishment was the creation of the Kalinga Social Integration Program in partnership with Office of the Presidential Assistance for Peace Process where 22 former rebels were given livelihood assistance.
On education, the PLGU educational assistance program helped deserving children of indigent families pursue academic and tech-voc courses. On employment, jobs fair were conducted and applying OFWs were also granted placement fee assistance.
To increase agricultural productivity, 87 farm to market roads s were rehabilitated, 37 community irrigation system repaired, 34 units water works and deepwells, 23 flatbed dryers, and 17 multi-purpose pavements were constructed. , the lady governor was able to work out from the Department of Agriculture P20 million to rehabilitate 15 FMRs in the different municipalities.
She also informed that P10 million through her initiative was sourced out for the rehabilitation of Upper Chico River Irrigation System particularly the construction of protection walls at Baligatan creek, Tuga-Gobgob main canal, Karayan Buris, Dilag-Bayabat and TSCZB at Dananao area.
To sustain food security, the PLGU launched the rapid seed supply financing project and quick recovery program in rice areas affected by typhoons Ondong and Pepeng.
Cultural and tourism development has given impetus on the promotion of the Kalinga Ullalim festival, recording of songs, documentation of rituals and dances even on the website.
Under environment protection, forestry violation decreased with the activation of the Provincial Multi-Sectoral Forest Protection Committee. Tree cutting and illegal transport was regulated.
To promote health, seven new equipments were purchased from the health facility enhancement program of the Department of Health while P650,000.00 worth of medicines was given to the Botika ng Bayan.
About 6,220 indigents were sponsored their Philhealth membership while health workers were granted hazard pay under the Magna Carta for Health Workers.
Meanwhile, the “economic enterprises” projects under the stewardship of Diasen are contributing to the expansion of trade and commerce and in the revenue generation of the provincial local government unit including municipal and barangay levels since they can earn income directly or indirectly through their respective beneficiaries or the operating entity.
Diasen said that on the long term, these projects propelled the opening of business and established permanent source of livelihood as they also created employment opportunities and increase production of famers in the case of agriculture projects and addressed as well poverty to many.
Forming part of her legacy is the Kalinga Astrodome and Convention Center currently under construction. A total of P18.5 million was allocated for the Capitol gymnasium during her incumbency in addition to the P8M spent to start the construction during the term of Governor Dominador Belac.
“If completed, the Provincial Government will save a lot of money because it will no longer rent venues for its activities,” Diasen said adding that this will earn money if it will operate as an economic enterprise.
Engr. Proceso Mario Bayubay of the Provincial Engineering Office said that the project still needs about P12M to complete its construction including sports facilities. /PIA Kalinga

Getaway motorcycle in Angway slay Recovered?

2010-04-06T21:01:00.000-07:00

by Estanislao C. Albano Jr.

(posted from the news article he submitted to me for publication at Guru Press)

A team of Tabuk City policemen while still in hot pursuit of the killers of their fellow policemen the day before recovered an abandoned red TMX 155 Honda motorcycle with no plate number at Ipil, Tabuk City, at 4 AM of March 27.
The police believe that the motorcycle which bears engine number KCOIE000096PH and chassis number 91821690 was the getaway vehicle of the men who gunned down SPO1 Joe Angway, 51, married, resident of San Juan, this city, infront of the Tabuk Central School at Dagupan Weste 10:30 AM of March 26.
The motorcycle which nobody as yet has come to claim was found abandoned at a road deadend.
An ambulant vendor whose stall is just a few meters from the spot where Angway was shot told the Guru Press that the two men who she saw running away after the shots which killed Angway boarded a motorcycle waiting at the other crossing. Driven by a third suspect, the motorcycle fled to the east.
The vendor said that the last time she saw Angway alive was some minutes before the incident, and he was lying on his hammock suspended between two trees whittling with a small bolo at a wooden stick. She heard him say that he would make the stick into a cane.
Along with unarmed two police interns and two unarmed police field trainees, Angway was manning that busy U-turn slot of the Provincial Road between and Tabuk Central School and the St. Theresita’s School which was having its closing ceremonies at the time of the crime.
Except for the information on the recovered motorcycle, police investigators declined to go on record with the results of their investigation going only so far as say that they still do not have a firm lead in the case although a lot of angles are being considered.
Angway’s colleagues could not believe that anyone would want to harm the hard-working, humble and affable policeman.
SPOIV Tiburcio Macanas said that they do not know of any crime Angway has committed or enemy he has made.
Indicative of his confidence that there are no people who hate and want to do him harm, it was seldom that Angway did his traffic duties armed. His colleagues said that at times, he would place the gun in his clutch bag and when he reaches his beat, asks one of the ambulant vendors to keep it and that was what he did yesterday. The investigators said that one of the vendors near the crime scene turned over to them the clutch bag containing Angway’s gun, handcuffs and cigarettes.

Kalinga Candidates

2010-01-31T14:01:00.000-08:00

LGU-Tabuk’s victory in the Galing Pook Awards

2009-12-22T00:40:00.001-08:00

by Marciano "m-16" A. Paroy Jr.

Time and time again, we stress the importance of awards. Not only because they do recognize the vehemence and commitment of the awardees but because they shall serve as inspiration to those who may want to be bestowed with similar accolades in the future.
When a citation is given to an individual, an organization or an institution, one of the first things that we always ask was whether the achievement was gained for the mere sake of winning that award. Of course, awardees would automatically retort that they were simply performing what is expected of them – and that, in so doing, they merited such glowing recognition by a certain award-giving body.
Now there is nothing wrong with that.
Take the case of LGU-Tabuk.
Through the years, Mayor Camilo Lammawin Jr. has always shown predisposition towards the peace process – knowing fully well that an administration with a firm hold on peace issues would have an easier time in implementing its programs and projects. For those who spent time observing his moves, they would have perceived the vehemence with which he pursued the peace vision for Tabuk, which continues to evolve, ethnic-diversity-wise. Add in the unbroken service of the Mayor in his seat, and we have been assured of the continuity of his vision – otherwise, some other mayor would have simply nipped his agenda in the bud and set his eyes on something else.
The current fruits are collectively a hard-earned consequence of such leadership competence. Naming Ernesto Baac Sr. and Pastor Alex Gunaban as important fixtures and chief voices of all negotiating elders in the Matagoan Bodong Consultative Council, the Mayor chose well.
But that characterizes the Mayor’s political career: he chooses well – what battles to wage, what programs and projects to prioritize, what people to put in posts that would benefit from their expertise and competence, what persuasion approach to apply when he perceives naysayers, and so many other displays of his ability to choose well.
And because of such savoir-faire, he keeps scoring big. He keeps winning.
Congratulations to the LGU-Tabuk and the MBCC for being among the winners in the Galing Pook Awards 2009.

Filrose Peralta Foundation: a long Journey begins with a Small step

2009-12-22T00:37:00.000-08:00

by Marciano "m-16" A. Paroy Jr.

Imagine this: a child goes to school day in day out by hiking a winding rocky road sandwiched by sloping green farmlands. Our parents or grandparents perhaps in the 1940’s? Remember that constant reminder which most of us have grown up with? But no. This is not a condition from decades before. Try Tabuk 2009.
For those among us who have cloistered our children, nieces and nephews so that they can receive that cliché-sounding quality education, it will come as a surprise to know that such a circumstance still exists.
Going to school barefoot… just the image of that conjures other thoughts of basic needs that some parents in the rural areas cannot still provide. At least, we give them credit for their determination to send their children to school which – by anyone’s parenting standards – is deserving of approval. A step ahead, so-to-speak.
Anybody can quote the aphorism about beginning a voyage with that one small step – and using it to serve figurative purposes, that is what exactly took place last week in Pacak, Agbannawag.
Mario Peralta, member of the Board that runs the Filrose Peralta Foundation – presently based in California – visited Tabuk to fulfill a promise of providing slippers to schoolchildren that comprise the three-room primary school of Pacak, Agbannawag.
The distribution activity, held last December 11 at the Pacak school grounds, was an offshoot of the Foundation’s commitment to extend assistance to the needy farmers of the rural areas – specifically the provision of seed money for the farming ventures of residents.
“Although farmers are the inital recipients of our assistance in Pacak, we have thought of looking into other ways by which we could help the residents in this sitio of Agbannawag,” Mr. Peralta said. “and since education is right in the core of our assistance programs, we identified the children of our farmers as worthwhile beneficiaries too.”
Ms. Linda Kissob, the regular teacher in said school, was enthusiastic about the Foundation’s looking into their pupils’ needs, as she said “It is not always that we get attention from well-meaning groups, and as you can gauge by the lack of facilities – most notably our lack of electrical power source – we have to make do with what is available.”
The school, which also houses a pre-school level, is under the auspices of Agbannawag Elementary School, employs two other teachers: Lourdes Allib and Maricel Loyod-Dalacnas – both with casual status. These three teachers share the daily tasks of instilling education and values in the pupil’s receptive minds. Add to that the burden of being weighed down by the sorry state of their learning environment – and, presto, we have a team which is as tired physically as psychologically by the end of the day.
In fairness, we have learned that our elected political leaders do give their share of helping out, including the Department of Education-Kalinga Division – as well as other civic-spirited citizens and groups. And now, Filrose Peralta Foundation, with its agenda-free stance, is a welcome addition to the band.

When People who succeed Give back

2009-12-22T00:35:00.000-08:00

by Marciano "m-16" A. Paroy Jr.

Success stories evoke only two reactions: genuine admiration or absurd envy. The former is felt by those who are truly appreciative of inspiring experiences undergone by fellow human beings – thus pushing them to emulate the feats and actions of those who succeeded, hoping that they too would end up reaping similar attainment. The latter reaction, however, is expressed by those who feel that the achievement of other people is something which was unrightfully deprived from them – never considering that such success was reached through hard and honest work. And since they cannot possibly duplicate such feat – simply because they do not want to – they scoff at the otherwise object of their admiration.
Not fair at all, for those who arrived at their present status through determination to rise above what they were originally dealt with, earlier in life. But let us not talk about people who can only see the negative side of things (to the extent of creating negative sides when they are simply non-existent). These are people who only see black and grey, while others see red.
Instead, let us shift attention to people who were given a prod into the right direction and, realizing that they were indeed being pushed into the right path, never stopped pursuing that road.
For instance, the children of Filemon and Rosario Peralta – whose Filrose Foundation has been the subject of this column some issues back. As I was going through the raw data that would serve as background material for that first article I did about the foundation, I was struck by this one detail about the siblings: there are twelve of them. One dozen. One hell of a brood to raise, certainly – add to that that they all had to be fed well, clothed appropriately, taught manners on a daily basis, and sent to school. It must have been a real challenge – to send them to college, one after the other.
Think: if they were evenly spaced, Filemon and Rosario would be attending a graduation ceremony in March, then accompanying a freshman entrant the following June; but meanwhile, there would be someone else in mid-college. Back home, a number of them had to be guided and inspired well, so that their elementary and high school grades would stay within the standards set earlier. This is quality time. Compared to parents these days (normally with two to four children) who whine about finding it hard to squeeze-in that much-needed element of bonding and “monitoring” stance, Filemon and Rosario sure knew the ins and outs of effective parenting: always with 12 as the common denominator.
And what success-driven siblings had been produced by such parenting! The list is impressive, if one visits the Filrose website and read the summary of the children’s current whereabouts. Given our culture’s propensity to give heavier evaluation points to the first child (whom we always see as the pace-setter, the leader of the pack, the premier showcase – so to speak), I learned that Ludivico is working in San Jose, California. Then, from that reference point, it’s a register of impressive précis down to the last child – Rosafe. She’s about two years older than I, thus I’ve had the chance to move in the same circles as she did. I would always remember her veiled in black, eyes blazing as she menacingly cried out “Woman, do you know who you are?” during an awesome performance of the declamation piece titled The Long Vigil – under the training of Madam Gertrude Lastimoza.
The last time I saw Rosafe was when she got married – in style. I was still accepting make-up jobs then, and along with Jerry Ladrido (of Jerry and Jinky’s Salon, Poblacion West), Dong Bustamante (of Pine’s Salon, Bulanao) and Jessie Marallag (who is now in Italy), we were ferried to the big city – and up the Shangri-la Plaza – where we did the beauty and grooming treatment for Rosafe and husband Roland’s entourage.
I was baffled at that time – why Rosafe opted to hire Tabuk-based beauticians and bring them over to Manila for a task that would have been more conveniently carried out – had she decided to hire Manila-based experts. Wedding coordinator Letty June Lugtu-Bides of Caleb’s provided me the simple answer later when I finally voiced out my curiosity: “It was Rosafe’s choice that Tabuk-based beauticians should be hired. Tabuk will forever be in her heart, and she does hold a high regard for the expertise of beauticians here.”
From the sidelines (from the preparations the day before and up to the reception at the Plaza), I observed how Rosafe moved with precision – but with grace. She had needs but they did not come out as demands when uttered; more like non-verbally reminding you that this or that detail is supposed to be part of her deal with you – and so, because she did it all with refinement, we were more than happy to oblige. A trait which is somewhat reversed by her sister Rosalia – more known in Tabuk circles as simply Sally – but not to the point of being brash or ill-mannered. Sally, gauging from the instances I brushed elbows with her in different instances, is the outspoken member of the family. Perhaps, if there would be a “galawgaw” in the brood, she will be it. The Maricel Soriano in the family, minus the tactless and ear-shattering “palahaw.” Usto met ketdi, since Sally and husband John are key players in this town’s communications industry. But take note, given her degree in civil engineering, she still wanted to earn a diploma in Nursing, and was one of the pioneering enrollees at St. Tonis here. A passing whim which she soon gave up when she simply cut the waiting period and flew to California where she now works.
I once asked her the motivations behind her enrollment at St. Tonis – along with my batch mates Melanie, Lea and Pinky – and she laughed out the words “Awan lang.” Sallyng-sally.
I remember that a few days after Rosafe’s posh wedding in Manila, the golden wedding anniversary of Filemon and Rosario took place right here in Tabuk – and this time, it was Sally who was moving this way and that way, for the proceedings – the rough side, that is. With wedding planner Letty June on her side, equally matching her commander-in-chief mode, barking orders. Then when everybody else had gone to the church, trailing behind the Spanish-themed calesa conveyance in which the golden couple rode, Sally suddenly realized she was still un-made up. She then turned to us and politely asked “Papintasen dak met ah please.” As if she needed that much touch-up. Jerry did her hair and make-up – in a jiffy. And quick as a lightning, she was soon zipped up in her gown and before she bolted for the door, she made a quick stopover at the kitchen where she yelled “Pakanen yo dagitoy make-up artists wen?” Then rushed to the church where she resumed her role with Letty June.
One other member of the family whom I’ve had the chance to meet is Mario. I was still a freshman at SLU in Baguio City then – and was an occupant of the same apartment that I shared with Connielyn Badi and Annalyn Pullis (UB students then). Mario, Sally and John (Sally’s husband) dropped by one time (they were all Manila-based then) and while there, Mario and John started mapping out the nerve center of Tabuk (Poblacion Centro, Pob. West, Casigayan, Laya, up to Bulanao). They were planning to wire these places and come up with the first-ever cable network of the community. It did materialize. From that initial planning stage, we now have the Northern Star Cable Network – which has grown big enough to take in other partners.
Mario recently visited Tabuk for the distribution of tsinelas to the pupils of Pacak primary school (located some distance from its mother school – the Agbannawag Elementary School) and, with my triggered predisposition towards the rural communities, I went along with our photographer Elizabeth Busacay in response to the invitation of Filrose Peralta’s representative Annalyn Pullis. The Pacak activity is part of the Foundation’s on-going aspiration to extend a helping hand to the less fortunate. Pacak farmers have earlier benefited from the Foundation’s distribution of crops seeds – as well as the provision of funding for initial inputs prior to the current cropping season – so the delivery of free slippers to schoolchildren was sort of a sidelight to the bigger endeavor already being pursued there.
The farm lands are indeed robust with the crops planted – but what made my day was the lit-up faces of the schoolchildren when the slippers were handed out to them. It’s like actually seeing what our parents used to remind us about – you know, walking to school, barefoot. Only, the situation is taking place at the present time.
As I gleaned from my conversations with Mario, one of the Foundation’s flagship programs is education and to further realize their educational vision, members of the family have decided to put up their first school for children – mostly catering to children of the Foundation’s beneficiaries (Details of that endeavor shall be featured once it has materialized).
As for the other members of the family, I have not had any opportunity to really come into any face-to-face encounter with them. However, following the publication of this article’s predecessor (Filrose Foundation: A Different Blend of Business and Benevolence; Nov. 9, 2009 issue), I received a number of e-mails from them – reiterating their family’s desire to simply reach out to those who have the spirit to do something out of the help being extended by the Foundation.
Following the Pacak activity, I finally got to talk online with the eldest offspring – Ludivico, along with the youngest, Rosafe. To verbally hear them express their commitment held me in awe. Here is a family – thousands of miles away, living secure and comfortable lives – but whose mind and heart are also aimed at a community known as Tabuk. I can prattle on and on about what they are trying to accomplish but my words shall never fully capture the magnitude of their concern. For while it is true that they are starting out small, the direction ahead paints a bigger picture – and while it is true that the support may not be so big yet when quantified, the more important thing is that, at the end of the day, we see in practice the Chinese proverb of teaching a man how to fish and we feed him for a lifetime.
And then cap it all with not expecting monetary gains in return. And as it is a rare occurrence these days, we remain impressed.

Salaknib, MSA, FRD and other sections of Guru Press

2009-12-22T00:33:00.000-08:00

by Marciano "m-16" A. Paroy Jr.

For starters, I’m back from the brink. I almost felt like my self-imposed hibernation would really last long. But I guess I was able to rescue the humble writer within before I started entertaining the idea that I could not move beyond paragraph 1. For those among us who love to play with words – who love pairing words until we come up with phrases, clauses, fragments that will make up a sentence that exactly capture what we have in mind – there is no such thing as literary demise. We might have that block now and then – but it really would not last long. There is simply too much happiness and heartache to be retold – and shutting up would only worsen things as they already are.
*****
There. So much for an excuse. All of 125 words.
*****
When I came up with the word “Salaknib” and started to use it as the name of the section devoted to AFP-PNP-BFP concerns (it is usually found in page 2 or 3), my colleague Gary (Damian) asked what it meant. Recognizing that he has practically no Ilocano blood, I said it meant protection, defense, guard, safety. For its being used as a section tag here at Guru, well, being informed is one way of being protected. To know is to be moved to the confines of safety.
Salaknib is sustained by information officers from AFP, PNP and BFP. The writers change – as perhaps their immediate superior would suddenly give the writing tasks to someone else – but at least they do write. It is surprising to note that we have within AFP and PNP ranks some genuine writers.
Which reminds me of Lt. Jay Alambra (may he rest in peace). I had the opportunity to work with him when local media were gathered and requested by Governor Floydelia Diasen to fill in the pages of the official provincial paper Kalinga Advocate. Lt. Alambra was one consummate writer – not only because he tended to write lengthily but because he fearlessly expressed his views about issues he chose to write about, which were, understandably, about insurgency problems. Had he not succumbed to the snare of leukemia, I am sure he would still be churning out words from his lexical factory.
Now, of course, we do have Cpt. Adonis Bañez, the current PIO of 501st Infantry Brigade to write from the AFP side. I just hope his output is regularly maintained.
The provincial command of PNP-Kalinga used to have a productive press man in the person of police officer Loren Moron. This was under the watch of then Provincial Director Emock, who can be credited for his media savvy while he was here in the province. In fact, one of the areas he stressed was Media Relations – recognizing it as a vital tool in advancing the vision-mission of the prime law enforcement agency. In his first few days in office, he called for an upgrading seminar and Media Relations was one of the lectures that were delivered.
Impressive, isn’t it? Of course, when the potent force of our work is given value by those who need to reach out to a large and diverse audience, we automatically reciprocate by giving media mileage to them.
Congressman Manuel S. Agyao, Governor Floydelia R. Diasen, Mayor Camilo T. Lammawin Jr., Vice Mayor Rainier D. Sarol, Mayor Allen Jesse Mangaoang, and other political leaders all recognize this – including those who have set their eyes on the May 2010 elections.
When I came up with the MSA section, I simply followed the lead of Mayor Lammawin with his City of Tabuk Lives tag – which has the same acronym as his CTL initials. So I came up with Man of Service and Action – to follow the Congressman’s MSA initials. I notice that the Congressman’s tarpaulin materials also bear our Man of Service and Action tag. No problem there. He really lives up to the tag.
As for the Governor, when the info-dissemination team of the provincial capitol made a move to keep Tabuk’s only private print medium (this paper) updated regularly with vital news material that should reach readers, I also followed her example. The Governor’s planning team coined Forward Rural Development (FRD) last January and started using it during this year’s Kalinga Founding Anniversary and Ullalim Festival. Inspired by that model, I patterned our FRD section here at Guru to fit media and communication terms – thus, the Forecast-Respond-Disseminate (FRD) section was born.
*****
There are regular sections, though, that readers may miss seeing now and then. First in the list is the rather unabash-toned column of Dr. Edgar Naganag – Futures and Options. I recently had a drink with him and I voiced that Guru Press misses his articles and that the paper would definitely benefit from his views. Unlike other political analysts we have around, Sir Edgar is not attached or identified with political names – at least not yet.
We also do not read anymore Gary Damian’s entries into his Gadly Ruminations – his column which used to be filled with his intense writings. Same true with Native Thoughts by Regie Wacas, Pioneers by Giovanni Asbucan and the pioneering columns of Jun Albano and Daniel Cagan – Tungtungan and What If, respectively. When they shall decide to re-enter the pages of this paper, Guru Press shall have a grand day.
Thank God we still have Aparri Councilor Reginald Tamayo with his Thoughts from Aparri, and Mr. Santos Acoba with his What’s Your Side?
*****
Morally and spiritually tinged articles have always been one of the staple outputs that can be read in Guru – which is why we give special spaces to Edison Macusi’s Take the Land and Rency Roaquin’s Mark my Word. Of course, from time to time, we get to read the thoughts of Bishop Renato Abibico who, I think, puts several months as a gap between his articles. Whenever he writes though, the article is a worthwhile read.
*****
Next week, we are giving birth to yet another initiative of a leader to reach out to our readers – by way of a regularly maintained section. Do watch out for it.

FILROSE: a different blend of Business and Benevolence

2009-12-22T00:31:00.000-08:00

by Marciano "m-16" A. Paroy Jr.

He wakes up at around 4 in the morning, goes to the kitchen where his wife would already be seated before the earthen stove on which a pot of water is about to boil, then sits himself at one of those benches whose one leg is already on the brink of giving way. As if on cue, his wife dips a plastic cup into the boiling water and gently brings it on the table. He reaches out for it as his wife takes out the containers for sugar and coffee. No creamer this time. This last one has not been a good week – thus prompting them to forego of some little pleasures which they can only afford from time to time.
His wife makes herself a cup of coffee too, and as they both face each other in that cold and dimly lit kitchen, they need not put into words what lies within their heads. Their eyes meet and the lifeless stare that emanate from them speak volumes already: here’s to another day of suffering and sacrifice. Here’s to another waking hour filled with a dying hope that by the end of the day, things shall have turned out for the better.
Thus goes the daily routine of Manong Benito and Manang Tina. The same is true with the family of Atong and Mabboy Wacas, also of Pacak. And perhaps it might relax them to know that millions of other people within this archipelago is undergoing exactly the same thing. But they have reached that stage where they simply do not care any longer care. Every single day is filled with the worry of having to put food on the table that giving a damn about fellow less fortunate ones would even be considered an unnecessary waste of time, a past time hobby for those who have more.
This is reality in Pacak, a sitio of barangay Agbannawag, and similar other barangays in Tabuk. A small community populated by farmers whose subsistence is determined by how bountiful or how poor the past cropping had been, Pacak is one of those small territories trying to extract wealth from the soil – in a back-breaking manner. Few people are aware of their plight – and for those who are even aware, they become helpless as they can only do so much.
Enter Filrose Foundation. Sounds new, doesn’t it? Instantly, it may be perceived by anyone as one of those foundations that litter the civic-spirited domain – specifically those posing as pro-poor just so they could generate funds which they would then allocate to meet the needs of the clients they have identified to serve, but, in the process, also dipping their fingers into such funds.
This is where Filrose begs to differ. Its official website shouts out that it is “a non-profit, non-political family organization serving the Filipinos, with a special focus to the residents of our hometown, Tabuk, Kalinga. Our social financing, educational programs, community outreach programs and youth initiatives are designed to help those in need. We do not require that you belong to any particular religious affiliation or ethnicity, nor do we require that you financially support our organization in any way. We do ask that you return one good deed with another and perform an act of kindness. This way, the cycle of compassion and goodwill continues indefinitely.”
This gives a picture of a family who struck gold and now wants to give back to the community within which they rose – simply out of their initiative to prosper. In fact, the Filrose ingredients to success are the time-tested combination of “Perseverance, Industriousness Humility, Ambition Respect Responsibility Self-Sacrifice” as the website proclaims.
But who exactly are the people behind Filrose?
Of course, everybody (at least in business and academic circles) remembers the Peralta family – that well-to-do brood produced by Filemon (may his soul rest in peace) and Rosario Peralta whose beginnings were not what we might exactly tag as wealthy, but eventually rose to prominence in the Tabuk society by way of their commitment to attaining their economic goals. Being among those parents who believe in the power of education, Filemon and Rose saw to it that each child should receive high-caliber formal training. And they did – complete with diplomas and training certificates from notable institutions.
It is this education that would further propel their family’s assets. Some of them chose to establish businesses here in the Philippines while others chose to land jobs in the other side of the globe. Now leading lives that can be rightfully assessed as being within the confines of contentment and comfort, Filemon and Rosario can look back at their tracks and be proud at the result of such journey.
The establishment of the foundation, therefore, is their way of sharing whatever they could within the scope of their financial capability – targeting small scale entrepreneurs and farmers whose goals are set on progress.
“In addition, the foundation has also an educational program that gives scholarship grants to students who are gifted but whose family may be financially crippled as to further education,” thus explained Annalyn Pullis, an employee of the Peralta group of businesses and who also helps out at the Foundation.
To see how far the Foundation has expanded its client base, I tagged along with Ms Pullis and this paper’s photographer, Elizabeth Busacay, during a recent seedling distribution to needy farming families in Pacak, Agbannawag. It was there where I envisioned that should the Foundation continue to grow and extend its services to needy but diligently working people, we may have within Tabuk its first-ever homegrown foundation which is result-oriented.
That would not be hard to attain – as the Peralta children all have a nose for business, management and planning, as can be attested by the degrees they have earned and the current work that they do. Throw in the element of humanitarianism and we have a winning formula where both sides – the source and the receiver – end up as winners.
Three friends in the beauty care industry, Jerry Ladrido, Jinky Safangan and Marlon Carbonel, are beneficiaries of the capital enhancement program of Filrose and they all confirm that the little interest levied upon their borrowed funds are so considerate that they have ceased borrowing from their usual five-six lenders. Parlor work requires stocks of the best hair treatment products – and even if these are expensive, our parlor owners all want to buy them by the bulk. Having borrowed from Filrose, these three friends of mine have replenished the contents of their glass cabinets.
Another client, Evangeline “Bunch” Torres (now married to Jonathan Mission), said that Filrose gives other money lenders a tough competition. This means though that the Foundation has to have a ready reserve of resources, or at least be ever-ready to link itself to other well-meaning organizations whose programs may likewise find beneficiaries in Tabuk.
Last time I tagged along with Ms.Pullis was when she did her rounds at the Tabuk Public Market. One market vendor expressed that she hopes to keep borrowing from Filrose – as long as the need arises and as long as the Foundation keeps its current rates. That, of course, would require her to maintain a good standing in the eyes of Filrose – something which the Foundation emphasizes, according to Ms. Pullis. Of course, in the business world, destroying your own reputation as to money-handling matters would result to a tarnished image. And when that happens, Filrose might simply withdraw its support.
That, however, is painting a bleak picture for prospective clients – for Filrose is still on the buildup stage, but given its present rate of growth, the list of recipients may soon become longer. With its future plans which include a Kids’ Center and the “Adopt-a-Farmer” Program (something I will have to look forward to, as rural development issues strike close to my area of prioritized issues), that expanded list is not hard to arrive at.
And I hope that before it happens, Manong Benito and Manang Tina would already be conversing about what to do with last cropping season’s profits – as they sip from their mugs of coffee, now laced with creamer.
(More about Filrose later. Check out its website at http://www.filroseperaltafoundation.org)

Can a perfect Exam be Constructed?

2009-12-12T03:52:00.000-08:00

by Marciano "m-16" A. Paroy Jr.

I recently attended a seminar on Language Testing at the College of Teacher Education of the Mariano Marcos State University-Laoag Campus. The training activity was an opportunity for the participating teachers to be upgraded as to their ability to construct examination items – with the ultimate goal of coming up with a perfect test to be administered to students.
I beg to differ. No examination – as one whole package – can cover all the skills that a student has learned inside the classroom. Learning is a multi-faceted process and the teaching that was made by the instructor to induce such learning is even more complex, thus making it difficult to come up with one examination which will ideally encompass all that was taught inside the classroom. Considering that an examination for a subject usually lasts an hour, then that would be wishful thinking.
An exam, however, may attempt to cover as much lessons as it possibly could and extract them from the examinee through a series of creatively designed portions in the exam paper – but not all. Again.
Usually, a teacher first gives a multiple choice test, then supply tests (filling-in the blanks, identification, enumeration, etc.) and ends it all with two or three essay questions. That instrument alone is a close-to-perfect tool already to look into the level of learning that a student has amassed before sending him to the next semester – well, assuming that the items were carefully planned-out so as to be worthy of their status as college students.
The trainers – who were PhD students asked to come up with a seminar as their final requirement in one of their courses at MMSU Graduate School – did not, at least, send out the notion that a perfect examination can truly be constructed. Otherwise they would have faced a barrage of contradictory views from most of us in the audience.
Near the end of the seminar, participants – as always – were encouraged to ask questions. Several hands flew up, mostly from the 4th year BSEd and BEEd students of MMSU who were also asked to attend.
The first two questions went out fine, and indeed they were gray areas that needed to be clarified for them. But when the succeeding questions were aired out, my right eyebrow automatically raised itself. Why not, the students were asking questions whose answers were fully covered during the lecture sessions. The lecturers were polite and patient enough to give full responses – perhaps realizing that the questions were coming from students.
However, student or not, a participant should have fully been attentive during the course of the seminar. It is irritating to listen to questions whose answers can be found in earlier pronouncements. So when I was singled out to give my impressions at the end of the seminar, I pointed out that it is surprising to note that the students who will become future teachers were throwing questions regarding some areas that were earlier discussed. This implies that the concerned participants attended the activity with the pre-conceived notion that the lecturers would be unable to cover this or that certain area – and that the accompanying question would be asked at the next available opportunity.
More importantly, this implies that the students who asked the questions were not listening at all – just waiting for the chance to ask their questions.
On the part of the lecturers, I gave my appraisal that they made a great attempt at coming up with carefully selected topics – and ended up with a competent presentation. Still, I reminded the students that the lectures were sort of prescriptive in nature – they are not rules that one has to strictly live by, because when they shall be joining the teaching profession, they will soon find out that the task of constructing an examination is a case-to-case basis, backed up by their own individual teaching experiences.
*****
It is enrollment season once again. I hope our students at the Kalinga-Apayao State College shall go back inside the classroom with a refreshed energy and commitment this second semester.
*****
We have incoming part-time instructors as well. Welcome to the KASC family.

In the midst of a Storm: Respond, Rescue and Reflect

2009-12-12T03:51:00.000-08:00

by Marciano "m-16" A. Paroy Jr.

The recent onslaught of a series of typhoons – including that unbelievable U-turn made by Pepeng – has devastated many of our fellow Filipinos. The images alone that we saw (and continue to see) on our TV screens, computer monitors and on the pages of national dailies are enough to unsettle us and make us think about the effortlessness of Mother Nature to wreck havoc on our lives whenever she wants to.
Life is fragile. That, at least, has been hammered into our judgment again. We strive out into the world and make a lifetime attempt at proving that we can be much more, that we can do much more, not caring to pause for awhile and contemplate about the very fabric of our existence. And so when we find ourselves thrown into a tragedy, we take it a s a jolt that tosses us out of balance – with the sudden protest summed up in a one-syllable word: Why?
There is a reason to everything, we have always told ourselves that. Sort of a mantra that we keep repeating as if it already explains why a certain misfortune took place. For the “devoted,” God has willed it to be so. For the hard line scientist, these catastrophes are a manifestation of the geo-physical upheaval that the earth is continuously undergoing. For the mathematician, these recent phenomena reflect the possibility that earthly life may be snuffed out by such events, and that the calculable odds are great that the ratio between our eventual demise and our survival is narrow, somewhere like 5:1
But people are not numbers. The victims are part of a family with its own story about eking out a living, about how the damaged house was built, about how they have chosen to migrate to a certain place. These are names, not numbers – and behind each name is a story. For the older victims, a story of successes and failures – and how they have managed to stay afloat above such failures. For the children – a story that shall never be lived out, that shall never be written.
Most of us cried. I can say that, without a single speck of a doubt. But we are resilient. Time and time again, we Filipinos have exhibited a different brand of resistance to sad events. We keep falling, yet we keep rising. We keep crying, yet the next day we will be laughing at our very own selves. We keep stumbling, yet others will always go out of their way to give us a hand.
In Tabuk alone, people responded. When downstream Chico River could no longer contain within its river bed the rising water level, residents of Cabaruan, Tabuk and Sucbot, Pinukpuk had to flee their barangays and seek shelter in the hastily prepared evacuation stations at the Laya East Elementary School, Tabuk National High School and Magsaysay Elementary School.
We have heard about accounts of how these unfortunate evacuees were given an immediate help by well-meaning civic groups, community leaders, government officials and other individuals. Like a wellspring of reserved relief and comfort, these people came in droves – proving that we are indeed our brothers’ keepers.
Looking at the images submitted by our ace lensman Elizabeth Busacay, I cannot help but feel the miserable situation that has befallen the residents. It is not that easy to turn your back on your home and take refuge somewhere – with the distressing thought that your house may not be what it was like (or where it used to stand) when you get back once it has been declared that weather conditions had become stable.
We are impressed at the quick outpour of assistance – food (bread, rice, meat, vegetables), clothing and sheets for warmth, materials and utensils for cooking, milk for the children, and even cash from those who did not have the time to rush to the stores that were luckily open.
Just being around, in fact, is a source of great comfort for the evacuees already. It sends out the message that you do have compassion and that you yourself are sad about the situation.
But then one dose not go there to grieve or to curse against the cataclysm. One has to show strength and to be in command of the situation – for if everyone else breaks down, then it would be a roomful of pathetic mourners.
This column then rings out the applauding bells for those who rushed to the evacuation sites – for we have heard that they had all exercised this show of strength even as they expressed their sympathy.
You shall all be remembered by those whom you rescued. In their own little ways in the future – even without your expectations for anything in return – people shall know how to give back.

NTD High Schools: a Collective force this side of Tabuk

2009-12-12T03:49:00.000-08:00

by Marciano "m-16" A. Paroy Jr.

With the intent of selecting players that could best represent the Northern Tabuk District this coming City Meet, St. Theresita’s School-Tabuk, Tabuk Institute and Tabuk National High School linked arms and resources to hold what they termed as Triangular Meet 2009 – with the theme “A Sound Mind and a Sound Body.”
A search for Mr. and Ms NTD 2009 commenced the three-day activity, with Xyla Bayudang and Kurdell Johansen Paroy grabbing the top honors, aside from besting their fellow contestants in other special awards. Mr. Paroy was adjudged Best in Ethnic Attire, Best in Sportswear and Best in Talent, while Ms. Bayudang was named as the Best in Ethnic Attire.
Earl Madalang of Tabuk Institute landed as 1st runner-up while John Gavino of STS settled for 2nd runner-up. Vissia Fara Calizar of STS grabbed the 1st runner-up for the female category, aside from being adjudged as Best in Sportswear and Best in Talent. Jolly Maruz Martinez – an active chief girl scout with a noteworthy project in Casigayan – placed as 2nd runner-up for the girls.
As enunciated by show host Grace Mabate-Assayco during one of her eloquent spiels as she handled the pageant, “the beauty contest will serve as a teaser for more intense competitions to be fought and won for the whole duration of the sports event” – sort of a starter for students to be inspired so that they would eventually gear up their competitive muscles and plunge into the real meat of the athletic event: the drive for gold, so to speak, in all events.
The contestants themselves are athletes in various events – which was why they easily displayed sportsmanship up to the last minute when they finally left the stage. It was a refreshing sight – to see students clasping hands even if some ranking scheme has already made a distinction among them.
In the world of sports, ranking does matter. That is imperative. One has to reach the top spot and hopefully retain occupancy for some time – to be acknowledged as Number One. But still, beneath all the buzz fastened on being Number One, athletes are athletes: they play for the mere love of the game.
I hope such display of sportsmanlike character shall be exhibited all through out the activity.
*****
I commend the host of the show, Grace Mabate-Assayco, one of the new additions into the teaching corps of TNHS. Even with some forgivable lapses which can only be summed up as minor errors in the field of hosting, she managed to single-handedly run the show from the podium.
Standing in front for several hours, with only a copy of the program to serve as guide, is taxing – physically and mentally, since you know you have to maintain both a composure (which is physically manifested) and a quick-thinking ability to jump from one segment to another. The stress builds up, yet MCs know that they are not allowed to frown for even a fraction of a second. So, in the matter of Ms. Assayco fumbling some of her lines – these are, again, forgivable slips.
Overall, I give the MC two thumbs up (and I learned that she’s not even an English major, but from the Info Technology department). Welcome to the world of hosting, Grace (Ma’am Lorraine, Sir Bani and Mr. Guiyab now have a company for the rotation of hosting tasks). I hope to see more of her in other occasions – not only in TNHS, but in other community functions as well.
*****
Eyeing the chairs reserved for faculty members of the three participating schools, I saw one glaring non-appearance: those of other teachers from Tabuk Institute. Well, Mr. Joseph Belinan was around, even serving as one of the tabulators, along with the charming Jasmin Sumail, but his fellows are practically non-existent.
During student competitions, I have always valued the presence of advisers, coaches, other teachers, and if possible, school heads and administrators. No need discussing further the effect of their presence which can magically lift up the morale and confidence of the students. We can have a lengthy discourse about the incalculable push that such presence brings.
Their absence, however, can only give the students these four words: They do not care.
*****
Perhaps they were not allowed to leave the school premises. In which case, haan dan nga basol piman.
*****
In this column’s own little way, let us shed spotlight on those who did their part for the show. Along with the teachers we have earlier mentioned, may we also commend Josephina Ba-i who chaired the event, with support from Ruby Belgica, Vivian Domingo, Jasmin Sumail, Joseph Belinan and Don-Don Malana (of STS).
TNHS easily beats the attendance of teachers from all three schools, of course. Still, on hand to boost the morale of STS students were Melanie Pan-oy, Nancy Madarang, and Gemma Carbonel – who stayed the whole time with the STS contestants at the backstage. There. Kasdiay ti kailangan dagiti ubbing tayo.
*****
Mrs. Martina Bayudang, mother of Xyla, was a nervous wreck backstage. But that is understandable for a mother. I find it both amusing and impressive, actually. It is not always that one’s child can go onstage and shout out the surname that he or she is carrying in behalf of his or her parents. So when parents go overzealously enthusiastic during such competitions, it’s perfectly understandable.
*****
I guess a closing evaluation is in order.

SURVEY RESULTS

2009-11-11T19:56:00.000-08:00

http://www.slideshare.net/gueste48b6e/survey-results-ppt-2007

KALINGA SURVEY RESULTS

2009-11-10T22:39:00.000-08:00

http://www.slideshare.net/gueste48b6e/kalinga-survey-results

KALINGA SURVEY RESULTS

2009-11-10T22:19:00.001-08:00

http://www.slideshare.net/gueste48b6e/kalinga-survey-results

One cannot be in an Organization and refuse to be a Team Player

2009-09-22T19:37:00.000-07:00

by Marciano Paroy Jr.

That’s a complete statement there – minus the period.

This observation has recently been bugging me – and I remember a student of mine whom I once advised to convene her fellows within a group that they were planning to put up at KASC. There was a directive from the Director of Students Services and Admission (DSSA) – Dr. Adoracion Taguba – that newly organized groups must submit their constitution and by-laws prior to their being accredited by her office (in the past, organizations were simply formed, with the list of members submitted to her office). A good directive, considering that some organizations and clubs are non-performing.

So I instructed the student to call for a meeting and set as one of the agenda the formulation of the group’s CBL – the composition of those who shall hammer out the provisions to be contained within the CBL, the subsequent presentation to the whole body, the eventual ratification, and the holding of election of officers.

Much to my surprise, the student – after just a day – came to see me and dropped the CBL on my table, with a self-satisfied air. I asked how her group could have made such an output in record time. She said, again with that smugness that reminded me of both Didi and Dexter (of the TV show “Dexter’s Laboratory”), “I did it alone.”
I nearly fell off my chair. A convolution of emotions almost knocked me out: crestfallen, perplexed, disappointed, amused, slightly angered, and some other feelings I could not put a name to. I then pulled the student aside and gave her a lecture on proper behavior and decorum that must be observed if one is to be a part of an organization.

Power-playing. That is what my student applied. She took it upon herself to single-handedly formulate the CBL without recognizing the fact that there are other thinkers within their proposed organization. Even assuming that she was the most intellectually gifted among her peers, it was still wrong for her to presuppose that what she had in mind will be approved anyway by the larger group. Even if the output would, in due course, be given the necessary votes by her fellows, it is completely unethical to put others in the sideline and work alone – then later show them the finished product.

Let us assume that the finished product is perfect in itself. There is nothing wrong with it, right? It cuts time that would otherwise be spent on a lot of jabs and freewheeling discussion. But these are incidents that can be avoided. That is why we have the terms discussion, argument, debate, and dialogue – all designed to summon the best thoughts out of the mental recesses of other people involved. If such opportunity of sitting down as a group is disregarded, then the rule of consensus is ignored – and remember that consensus is a highly priced commodity in an organization.

The student’s action, furthermore, speaks a lot about her. First, she exposed her authoritative stance and her lack of belief on her peers. Second, she already gave a preview of what she might be capable of doing once she will be given the reigns to lead her group.

Nevertheless, the proposed CBL was presented to the prospective members of the organization. During the meeting, there was an immediate backlash. All hell broke loose. From my corner in the room, I sat engrossed at the ability of students to verbally and noisily express themselves – an automatic phenomenon that is displayed by students whenever they perceive that their rights are sidestepped. And believe me, we have so many incidents of this sort at KASC.

The student who had the nerve to railroad the entire procedure to her advantage found herself at the receiving end of a hostile verbal assault. Her intent was questioned, her personality was thrashed, and her product was claimed to be filled with holes – though I saw not a single hole. This went on for the rest of the hour, until it became evident to me that we were driving nowhere – all because one person thought she had the best interest of the organization at heart and single-handedly come up with an output that would totally be credited back to her. All because of her thirst for prestige – but appreciation or approval from other people is not earned that way.

Wrong move.

End of story? The organization was never formed.

After the Mayor’s State of the City Address, how shall we Address him Next?

2009-09-22T19:35:00.000-07:00

by Marciano Paroy Jr.

Going over the pronouncements of Mayor Lammawin during his State of the City Address at the Pastoral Center, I clap my hands and give Mayor Lammawin the two-tumbsup sign.
We do give credit where it is due. Not only because it is the fair thing to do – but more so because it would somehow express how impressed we are with his commitment to attain tangible change within the time parameter he has avowed to attain such. Also, placing his leadership achievement under the spotlight would inspire those who have set their eyes to scale the same ladder he has successfully ascended.

Normally, we would like to assume that his successor would stay within safe grounds and be guided with what is already in place by the time he or she takes over the reigns. Or take the more drastic move and put his or her own planning-execution wheels into motion – probably taking a different direction, or at least prioritizing a different area.

There is nothing bad with such prospects, especially so if the common good is being served, which is our yardstick in assessing the efficiency and competence of those who occupy executive posts in governance.

This early, I am talking about 2010 and what might happen after the elections next year because of the Mayor’s SOCA. He has summarized what has been attained by the city government under his watch – and so naturally, we look forward and ask the crucial question: what happens after he steps down from the apex of Tabuk politics and move on to whatever he might be contemplating at present?

We do need to ask that question. As a genuine Tabukeño, I – like everyone else in the community – have a stake in the future of this place. The natural course of thoughts for us would be to say that we like the course of things as they are now – but we have to realize that there would really be a different occupant at the Mayor’s chair next year, and so asking the question “What happens next?” is a cause of concern for all of us.

*****
Thumbing through our local history, Mayor Lammawin’s rise in Tabuk politics is almost like “a given” – one of those phenomena we refer to as “it’s meant to be.” Having shown his charisma, first as a councilor, then winning more and more believers and supporters when he sat as Vice Mayor – he has, so to speak, charted a political career that can only be described as “nowhere to go but up.”

By the time he was sitting at the Mayor’s Office, he has already a well-entrenched place in the hearts of Tabukeños. Though his original companions at the Council have moved on to other areas, and though the composition of that same council changed a number of times by the time he was wielding executory powers, he has held on – a trooper, if we are to liken him to a performer.

Back to the question – “what happens next?” Or shall we reword it more blatantly?
“Who shall sit next?”

A film that grabs and strangles your Emotions

2009-09-22T19:33:00.000-07:00

by Marciano Paroy Jr.

Recently, I got hold of a DVD copy of the modern classic “Schindler’s List” – that masterpiece directed by Stephen Spielberg which hit theaters in 1993, and ran away with most of the awards in almost all major award-giving bodies in film the following year, especially the Academy Awards or Oscars in the USA.

When I watched it inside the movie theater back in 1993, while a college student in UE, I remember feeling that it was a painful film to watch – and I found out when I watched it all over again that the film has not lost its ability to disturb a viewer. The film grabs you by the throat so that any feeling of being aghast is contained – and you hold on to that feeling up to the very last scene.

Indeed, sitting through the long feature film is an agonizing experience. One has to be ready for the influx of mixed emotions, chief of which – if one values human life – is one’s loathing of anyone who takes it upon himself to degrade other human beings, to relegate them to lower forms of creations, to snuff out their lives with just a trivial pull at the trigger.

“Schindler’s List,” though most would consider it as Spielberg’s almost vengeful take on the Nazi’s experimentation with what they call “The Final Solution” regarding “the Jew problem,” is also a plain recounting of what the surviving Jews went through during World War II. In plain black and white – thus giving the viewer the sense of honesty and purity of intent on the part of the film-makers – “Schindler’s List never lets us forget that something as horrible as mass extermination of a nation can really be possible, and that a well-carried-out plan can attain its objectives, even in such large-scale terms. Then through it all, one never lets go of the question “How can such a thing happen?” and so the movie never lets us forget the horrors inflicted upon the Jewish people.

Sitting through the film anew, I felt glad that I never lost the ability to care, to value human life, to love humanity – and, conversely, to detest those who play God. So I cried my heart out. Again.

*****
“Schindler’s List” is not your normal choice of a weekend movie to insert through your DVD player slot. First, as I have noted earlier, it was shot in black and white (with only that interesting fleeting scene of a Jewish girl trying to escape – wearing a red coat). Second, it is very long. Third, if your chief intent in watching a film is to laugh, then “Schindler’s List” is not at all for you.

Edison Macusi: a new addition to the Guru writing family

2009-09-22T19:29:00.000-07:00

by Marciano Paroy Jr.

Starting this issue, we are pleased to splash across the op-ed pages the outputs of Edison Macusi, carrier of that surname which, to people who knew, has always been identified with the Communication Arts (his father, Sir Desiderio Macusi – prior to his current post at the judiciary – was a former instructor at KASC where he handled courses on creative writing and speech). This younger progeny has been schooled in Biology at UPLB – where, as his website says, he found his spiritual calling. He has been a Christ disciple ever since and even went further by publishing books that continue to earn acclaim in the realm of evangelism.

His website takethelandministries.org shouts out that after graduation, he held jobs as instructor and then as a research assistant at several government offices. He recently received his Master’s degree on International Studies in Aquatic Tropical Ecology (ISATEC) from the University of Bremen in Germany. Quite impressive, huh!

I lifted the following from his website: “He believes in the full restoration of the five-fold ministries of the church, the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the apostolic mandate to make all nations disciples of Christ. His main goal in life is to plant, establish and equip local churches so that they would be salt and light in their towns and cities amidst conflict and distress. He wrote Freedom from Religious Bondage, Unmasking Evolution, Restorer's of the breach and The surpassing Peace of God that seek to restore the focus of the church to its rightful place, Jesus, the Bishop and Apostle of our faith.”

All of these at a very young age.

There is hope… Indeed, there is hope.

After the storm comes… Justification

2009-09-22T19:21:00.000-07:00

by Marciano A. Paroy Jr.

Some friends and readers were rather surprised by my feature on Capt. Dante Langkit last week. (Example: Sir Peter Balocnit of PIA said “Maysa page ti inted mo kin Capt. Dante ah…”) No need repeating their exact questions they voiced out, but they all border on my throwing support to a political aspirant. That was not the intent of the article, though. It simply presented the current situation that Capt. Langkit is subjected to – while drawing background material from foregoing circumstances.

The plight he is presently going through is a genuine source of concern – especially so that he is a constituent of this province. I’m even surprised to know that, when I asked around, many people are somewhat left in the dark as to Capt. Langkit’s case. I myself had to fill-in the vague areas in my knowledge about the case when, following his brief visit to Kalinga last May, he called for local media practitioners and bared the possible direction that he might take regarding next year’s election.

Take note of the speculative “possible direction” which means nothing is really final yet, even considering that he has clearly pronounced his intention of serving the people of this province. We all just have to lie in wait for that definitive “final decision.”

But before then, his story is one subject that is worth exploring – and I believe the feature on him last issue was presented bare of slants that tipped towards his side. We can write lengthily about a certain person or issue and yet still manage to distance ourselves from the possibility of being tagged. As a writer, I fiercely stand by that ability earned and continuously honed by us in the writing profession. Conversely, we can take a certain person and draw spotlight to him and make him appear as though he were, say, a Godsend. That is being done. Always. Which is why we have speech writers, PR people, media personnel (from both private and government-owned media outfits) discreetly working for political leaders – and I have nothing against that practice, so long as a line is clearly drawn between what is journalistically acceptable and what can be blatantly labeled as being under the clutch of the person cast under the spotlight.

Now, the issue story of Capt. Dante Langkit is one genuine topic that needs to be brought to the consciousness of our reading public – especially so that he is setting his eyes on 2010. That desire alone should merit his being given a certain media mileage to lighten up the gray areas: who is he? What has he done? What is he doing? What does he have in mind?... and many other questions.

The human angle of the story is that Capt. Dante Langkit is languishing in detention. He is a prisoner, as plain as that. It is that situation that immediately evokes sympathetic emotions – whether or not we totally identify with the principles that he and his group live by. Considering the impressive career that he has somehow built for his personal portfolio, we see a young potential whose leadership aspirations were nipped in the bud. Not allowed to shine, not given the opportunity to prove his mettle. So we can only stand by the sidelines and say “Sayang.”

And yet again, we are not here to judge the correctness or incongruity of his actions. We all do not have the ethical vein to accomplish that. What motivations drove him to take the direction he took, what intent backed his decisions, what inspiration fired him up – these are matters we can only gaze at, but cannot lay a hand on.

The moment he called and asked whether I had time for a conversation, it has never slipped my mind that the person I was talking to is someone who is confined within the walls of his detention unit. Restricted. Not free. I then decided to write last week’s feature about him – but even that piece took a long time to be completed, since one has to be detached as much as possible. I believe I did just that.

Whatever final decision the young army officer would take this November, I wish him all the best. And he may rest assured that, should he push through with his vision, this paper will also devote space for him – side by side with other political contenders. They’re all newsworthy. An enlightened voting populace is a wise populace. And the more options we have, the more we’ll be able to exercise the right to choose – and the busier we shall all be at the news industry.