NewsRecord Weekly Publication

2015-04-24T03:33:00.001-07:00

Pikpik sa Abaga
Ni: Henry Sandoval

Eleksyon 2016

Mura na ug ginamos nga mawos ang umaabot nga politika karong 2016 sa sunod tuig ang kalabanan karon nga gi-istoryahan sa mga tawo bisan pa man nga wala pa maglihok ang mga yawe sa politika dinhi sa Unang Distrito sa Negros Occidental. Kami nga taga sa media ang kanunay nga mapangutana sa mga yano ug uban nga anaa sa tag-as nga lintang sa katilingban.
Kalabanan nga mga pangutana sa lokal nga politika kung kinsa ang mahulip sa mga kandidato nga mogradwar na sa ilahang pagka opisyal sa gobyerno lokal sa siyudad sa San Carlos? Ikaduha nga pangutana nga ug kinsa man sad kayha ang mudagan pagka-kongresman sa unang distrito?

First District Board Member Rene Gustilo

San Carlos City Tourism Officer PJ Maisog

Kani nga mga pangutana lisud tubagon kay wala pa gayud mudeklarar ang administrasyon kung kinsa ang mga posibilidad nga managan karong 2016. Tinuod nga dunay mga ngalan nga nangguwa pero istoryang kapehan lang ug dili sa mga paradahan ug motor lang nimo madunggan.
Matud pa nila nga mudagan man kuno si Board Member Mark Cui sa pagka-konsehal sa siyudad? Si Allen Gustilo, si PJ Maisog, si Ted Quisumbing, si Barangay Kapitan Yoyong Laguda, si kanhi konsehal Greg Santillan mubalik kuno pagdalagan, si Amay Lezama ug si kanhi Barangay Kapitan sa Barangay 3 Boy Librodo?
Amo man lang usang tubagon nga paabot mo sa umaabot nga mga bulan kay kanang inyong tanan nga pangutana matubag kana kay ang inyo mismong mga kapitan sa barangay ang mo-anunsyo niana. Ug labaw na gyud silang excited sa mudagan pagka kongresman sa Unang Distrito ug kinsa gyud kuno sa duha ka ngalan nga gidungogdungog ang sabakon sa administrasyon?
Mao kini karon ang mga pangutana sa katawhan sa siyudad sa San Carlos. Ang San Carlos sayud kita nga gidominahan kini sa administrasyon ug pila na kahigayon nga dunay misulay ug bangga niini pulos napukan. Niadto lang milabay nga eleksyon mura ug giagian ug unos ang pikas partido sa resulta sa eleksyon. Mura na lang ni ang lokal nga eleksyon ug patas-anay sila kung kinsay humot sa tawo. Paabot lang ta kay ianunsyo ra gyud na sa dili madugay.
Ug ang balantayan ani kaning mga batabata sa mga kandidato nga mutaas ang ihi ug matagaan ug maayo nga pagtagad sa mga kandidato muabuso na. Dia lay nakaila nako nga nakasandig ug konsehal musulod na sa konstraksyon hubog ug muparegla pa dayon ngalan sa iyahang boss ang dad-on nga mao ni ako.
Hinayhinay lang, Dong, kay basig sa sunod maipon ka sa gimasa sa mga tawo. Konsehal pa gani imong nasandigan mura na man kag sobra pa sa imong amo. Hinumduman nimo nga ang imong amo ligdong ug tadlong manrabaho sa gobyerno. Ayaw mansahi. Karon dili pa nako imitlang imong ngalan sa sunod nga muparegla ka kapitalon nako. Pagsulat ang imohang ngalan ug sigoruon taka nga makatulog ka sa mabugnaw nga lugar. Usba kay mailhan nimo ug tinuod ba ning akong gisulti dinhi.
Nanawag nako ang nag follow-up sa lisensya sa bar nga akong na isyu niadtong miaging semana. Kay lagi kuno gi-anha na sila sa myembro sa LET ug nasuta nga wala mulapaw sa ordinansa nga ginadili paglapaw sa 40 decibels ang sound sa ilahang instrumento. Wala lang ko kapangutana ug unsang orasa mianha ang grupo sa LET. Ako ra siyang giingnan nga halos kada gabie gareklamo ang mga tawo nga duol ninyo. Ato lang tagaan nga wala mulapaw ug 40 decibels apan lapas namo sa alas dose gasiyagit pa nang inyong karaoke dinha. Gani ang barangay tanod nga naa naka poste duol diha sa inyong bar gi on niya ang iyahang radyo para madunggan sa barangay hall. Nakasabot man ko nga negosyo nang inyo pero sabta sad ang pumuluyo nga naa tapad sa imong bar.

2015-04-24T03:18:00.000-07:00

Soldier's Pen
By BGen. Alexander Cabales (Ret.)

Is our country a toy?

“Do you play computer games?” was the President’s reply to a question of the widow of a Special Action Force (SAF) officer who perished in the Mama Sapano clash. The young widow asked why there was no air strike when the beleaguered Philippine National Police troops were surrounded, outnumbered and mercilessly massacred by combined forces of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Fighters (MILF) that fateful day of January 25, 2015.
Instead of making a categorical answer, the President instead retorted by saying things associated with his favorite pastime – computer games. (“Air Strike” must have been one of his favorites.) It is rumored that he frequently plays computer games with his favorite nephew, son of his movie actress - sister, which was sometimes the reason why he arrives late in some important commitments. Among others, the President also loves to indulge in target practice, sing-along and fast cars. He loves to play.

Many years ago, a Filipino Chinese businessman bought an old fledgling sugar mill in Central Philippines. The residents of that sleepy city that relied most of its revenue in terms of taxes that the company pays and the spending from its better paid employees were ecstatic of this new development. Soon after, the restaurants, entertainment areas and other business establishments became alive again. However, the bliss did not stay long enough. The sugar mill went bankrupt and stopped its operations. The banks took over the real property over which the mill stood and whatever scrap that remained of its machineries. Many became jobless again and the economy of the city suffered.
There was a running joke that circulated around after that Filipino Chinese businessman and his family left the city and returned to Luzon where they came from. The joke was that he was a ‘very rich man’ indeed – that he could afford to buy a sugar mill so that his children would have something to play with. Other rich people would normally buy mechanized toy cars, sometimes even real cars, just for the pleasure of their young and even their spoiled ‘adult-children.’ But this guy was richer than most because he bought a whole sugar mill that his children could have something to experiment on and fiddle with including the lives of the employees and their families who depended on their livelihood on the facility.
Perhaps, the word ‘play’ was too, harsh as a friend of mine suggested. The term could just have been ‘mismanagement’ he said.
I beg to disagree with him and opt to still use the word ‘play.’ Why? They knew that they did not have the aptitude, were inexperienced and did not have the technical and academic preparations to effectively and efficiently operate such a very complicated business venture. Yet they went on. After all, if they fail and the endeavor flops, they would still have enough money to buy another ‘toy’ – probably a shipping company or a resort hotel that they could experiment on again.
The Philippines may be likened to a toy in the hands of a spoiled brat. Our leader toyed around with our Constitution (which, by the way, was drafted under his own mother’s administration) by his creation of the DAP, the impeachment of a Chief Justice on non-impeachable grounds and the proposed carving out a sub-state in Southern Philippines, among others.
He played soldier-acting like a tactical commander by giving direct orders to the real commander on the ground as in the Mama Sapano case. He played with the lives of our soldiers and policemen and he never cared. Like toys, the death of four officers and 15 army soldiers in Al Barka, Basilan in 2011 and that of the 44 SAF policemen in Mama Sapano, Maguindanao on January 25, 2015 are “just part of the job” he said.
Unlike other spoiled brats however, he played with something that was not his. He does not own the Philippines – it was entrusted to him by the Filipino people thinking that he would lead this country to greatness.
In 2010 we chose to have a leader who is “honest.” Hence we elected somebody who was perceived to be an honorable man. We chose him over the more experienced, the more academically and technically prepared, and those with good track records in various administrative fields in the government and other sectors. Honesty was the foremost qualification that the Filipino used as the parameter in choosing our leader. However, the Filipino then adopted a very simplistic definition of an honest man as someone who does not steal.
Today we reckon back and rethink what honesty really means. Borrowing the definition of the Philippine Military Academy of its Honor Code it says, “The cadet does not cheat, lie or steal nor does he tolerate anyone who does.” The President didn’t steal, all right, and he runs after the thieves in government. However, he prosecuted only the thieves in the opposite political fence while coddling his friends and allies, closing his eyes on their misdoings.
Is he an honorable man who is worth the adulation and esteem of the Filipino people? He didn’t steal but he allowed his friends and allies to do it. By his non-presidential demeanor, he cheated his country with its self-respect. He robbed Juan dela Cruz of his dream to improve himself and his future. He acted in his supposedly honorable position like it was just his usual game. He must have thought that running the reins of government is another computer game that when it is over you can play it again without the slightest damage to anyone.

2015-04-24T03:11:00.000-07:00

No Baby Talk
By Georgene Rhena P. Quilaton-Tambiga

San Carlos journalism

What am I going to write about?
This question has been pestering me for almost a year now. The inkwell has run dry and I’d been writing using a pencil for far too long. It is not just to say our environs now lack the inspiration for a writer or are now devoid of materials for a journalist. I am saying something is amiss here but only a very few notice it.
When I went back from a yearlong sojourn in a different career, I found myself coming home to my lifelong passion only to discover that the personal and physical impediments were countless and stubborn as the giant rock. But when I finally came around to overcoming the impediments step by step. Alas! I found a barrier that I couldn’t remove with my bare hands—barriers that include people, news sources that once had doors open are now suddenly closed.
I remember the time when I first became a community journalist in-training. I started writing essays that were my observations and opinions of events that occurred in the city. Then, the editor started giving simple assignments that involved a bit of research, a little running here and there, and few short interviews of news sources that weren’t used to being interviewed in the first place.

With a little encouragement, I kept my pace and started building my little place as a community journalist. In the process contacts were established, some doors, windows in a few government offices were opened, and some papers that were once confidential slowly became public. It was a gargantuan task, a mountain that I slowly climb but until now I still haven’t reached the peak. The worse thing is the media in San Carlos is now back to zero.
Many may not understand that the situation now is a catastrophe but it is. True, where there was once a lone community newspaper, an online society news hub, and a defunct AM radio station there are now two FM stations added to the circus—one claims to be solely dedicated to music while the other struggles to strike a balance between music, news, and pure comedy.
When I realized that in our city there is now this merry mix, I thought I should rejoice but the toast got curtailed half-way its execution for there is no cause to celebrate.
The very integrity of journalism that I seek to defend and live by everyday is now in jeopardy in exchange for sensationalism, lack of ethics in news gathering, commercialism, and worst, corruption.
All the ‘isms’ that I am fighting against is now becoming the norm and the celebrated catch phrase while true and professional journalism is now barred from hospital doors by virtue of a memorandum.
It is a catastrophe that news sources, with or without credibility, can now pay off for an interview. And journalists, true or hoax, no longer judge which statements go to press or to the shelf by virtue of the truth but by virtue of the payment plan.
It is a greater catastrophe that there is no longer intelligent discussion of issues but sensationalized slogans that bear only one side of the story, that side which is most favorable and generous. In addition, endless greetings to all the ‘gods of small things.’
It is the greatest catastrophe that the quality of journalism in this city that was once climbing its way up the ladder of excellence has just plummeted back to the pig sty.
Indeed, looking for and developing a story in San Carlos City these days like living a Calvary.

2015-04-24T03:05:00.001-07:00

The Friendly Observer

By Arthur Keefe

An Olympic pool, perhaps?

This City is very fortunate to have sports facilities many others would love to have. The new tennis courts add to the football pitches, the floodlit basketball courts, and the well kept areas used more informally for other ball games and personal exercise. Not only does this help make this City an attractive place to live and work, but it also encourages health promoting activity. It is good to see these facilities well used by people of all ages and both sexes.

In the UK, doctors working for the National Health Service can and do “prescribe” exercise of this kind so that poorer people can use a wide range of facilities without charge.

An addition to our current opportunities here would be a competition sized pool. We have the pool in people’s park, which is well used, but is designed as a recreational pool. It is a welcome creation, but does not really serve those wanting more serious swimming. I recently heard that the San Carlos Youth swimming team won silver and two bronze medals in a district competition. Many congratulations are due to them, not least because these achievements were obtained despite the lack of suitable local facilities for practice.

I am told that the benefits of a competition sized pool open to the public are already recognized by the City Council, and that a private developer may be interested in creating this. I know from personal experience that the building of a pool is only the start. The real costs arise from the need to properly clean, maintain and manage the pool. A business plan would need to be created to cover the initial and ongoing costs. The City Council would then need to determine whether it could subsidize the project or if the charges to users need cover all these costs. The problem with a full cost recovery scheme is that it might result in high charges which would deter many potential swimmers, and be difficult to fully fund. A differentiated scale of charges could be one option, with reduced charges for certain groups such as young people or the elderly.

A swimming club might raise funds to cover its member’s costs. A City subsidy to reduce charges for all could be justified on the basis of both economic development (by adding to the attraction of the City), and health promotion for all residents. This is the funding model used in most countries, in effect sharing the costs between the public and the private purse. The increased income from the property taxes makes this an ideal time to adopt such a model.

San Carlos has a justifiable reputation for its sportsmen and women. The addition of a competition pool would allow further development, and I am sure would prove a highly popular innovation. It would also show the City residents that their increased taxes being put to good use.

2015-04-19T05:03:00.000-07:00

March 17 to 22, 2015
Gas leak causes Burgos fire

Two points for Fire Prevention Month. Residents initiate bucket brigade to help the Bureau of Fire Protection-San Carlos firefighters put out the blaze on Burgos Street that consumed three houses last March 15. NewsRecord Photo

Gas leak in a boarding house caused the fire on Burgos Street that left three houses burned to ashes.
A tenant who also got injured as she escaped the flames told NRWP that she only left to wash some fish but when she came back her room was already on fire.
Emily Panugan, single, who rents a room in the boarding house that Winifreda Tuban owned was cooking rice using a two-burner stove. It was for dinner on that fateful evening of March 15.
Panugan went out of her room on the second floor to wash some fish that she prepared from frying but when she came back the fire was beyond her control and boardmates were only able to escape without having saved any of their valuable items. Two other houses made of semi-light materials were affected including one owned by Climaco Lacaba and another by the Fernandez family.
The fire that started at around seven in the evening left 29 individuals homeless. They were immediately evacuated to the Barangay VI Day Care Center.
The Bureau of Fire Protection San Carlos declared fire out by 8:29 PM while the house of City Councilor Victoriana Cabili which is on corner Locsin and Burgos Streets was left unscathed.
Meanwhile, FO1 Ricardo Catalan told NewsRecord that in the ‘absence of evidence’ against him, JR Santillan, who was the suspected perpetrator of the fire on Caballero was released, and he no longer faced charges.
Instead, the BFP-San Carlos maintained that a faulty electrical wiring has caused the great fire. Catalan explained that Santillan was alone in his house but without his knowledge, the series lights he kept on through the night at the altar started the fire.
Although statements of other fire victims point directly to Santillan, the fire investigator maintained that their probe could not prove that arson was committed.
On the other hand,Catalan wants to remind readers to always be vigilant at home by checking all LPG tanks and unplugging electrical supplies.
He also advised that in case of fire, one should immediately call BFP-San Carlos so that fire fighters can immediately respond.

2015-04-19T04:52:00.000-07:00

No Baby talk On fire
March 15, 2015—I was trying to cover the fire on Burgos Street. The experience was an awakening.
When I arrived on the site there was a fairly huge blaze that was just consuming around three houses and in no time electrical lines were ablaze, too. In five seconds, there was a stampede and people pushed their way out of the inferno as wires sparked like fireworks on an electrical post.

It was like a scene straight from an action-thriller movie and I was the one person going against the tide of people running their way out.
After several years of being a community journalist here in San Carlos and having witnessed more than a couple of fire incidents, the decisive factor every time is people—people who respond to the emergency in a number of (some shocking) ways.
On-lookers. What struck me straight in the gut was the number of on-lookers any fire incident could gather in a matter of seconds. This same throng, defiantly consist of mothers, elders, children and yes, even babies, makes it difficult for fire trucks to easily navigate through the streets and position at the most convenient spot.
Often, as in the case of the Burgos fire, a fireman or volunteer had to get off the truck and play traffic aide to push the people out of the way. This useless maneuver eats up precious minutes and greatly hampers the job of firemen during an incident.
What was worse on Burgos Street was the fact that there were uniformed (on-duty) policemen who have just hopped off the mobile patrol car who just stood there watching the tragedy of fire tongues licking houses as if they didn’t have a duty to control the crowd. They just stood there ape-faced, eyes wide watching and watching, not even exercising their authority to push back and clear the area of the dumb crowd.
One solution I see is that together with the barangay tanods our police officers should be trained and obligated to control the crowd during every fire incident so that no policeman should ever stand there oblivious to all events except gaze at the image of a fire. And, so that, fire response teams do not have to waste minutes as they position themselves strategically to fight the fire.
Helpers. There were only three houses that were razed to zero on Burgos Street as opposed to the almost 40 count at Caballero Subdivision. People again made the difference.
On Burgos, residents whose houses were threatened by the fire immediately initiated the bucket brigade while getting water from an opened water stub-out. The men formed a line big and small buckets in hand and proceeded to throw water in random at the house on fire while also drenching the house next to it while the flames haven’t yet reached it. Their effort paid well. The fire did not reach the other house, it got contained to only three units, at least.
Back in January 2013 when a noontime blaze sent Endrina Street into cinders, the bucket brigade helped save our house. Those emergency volunteers were able to kill the fire that was already on the ceiling of the house beside ours.
This same element was apparently missing during the Caballero fire. Almost all houses in the block were are consumed when a small group proceeded to form a bucket brigade line. It was a mere piteous effort versus the mammoth of a damage the fire has already left.
Volunteers. San Carlos City is replete with volunteer groups but it is totally unclear to me how they are supposed to work in tandem with the city’s official fire fighting team. I myself encountered groups with volunteers who do not even know how to correctly haul a fire hose out of the truck. There are volunteers who arrive on the site in full battle gear but like supervisors, who do not even know what to dictate their subordinates, they merely placed hands on hips and contented themselves by pacing back and forth.
They add to the thickening throng on the scene but their contribution is a little blurry.
While there are volunteers who barely have the appropriate footgear but bravely tackle the fire head-on. Is this a matter of attitude or a matter of training and coordination and the lack thereof?
Many are the fire incidents that have questioned the ability and qualification of our fire fighters. And it is true that critics seem to not have one good thing to say about the men and women who lay their lives on the line during a fire incident. Ah! People! Firefighters, volunteers and policemen need to prove themselves every time but I can just laugh at the reasons why they fail to please every time.

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Tidbits. I overheard that a city councilor is now planning a city-wide fire hydrant system. We shall see what comes of that brilliant idea.
And, I just hope that our fire trucks would then be equipped with the necessary pipe wrenches to open up hydrants to save by-standers’ efforts of forcing it open using boulders.

2015-04-19T04:20:00.000-07:00

All Baby Talk
By Georgene Rhena Quilaton-Tambiga
More on baby food
Picking up from my previous topic on homemade baby food, let this be a rejoinder.
It had been a few weeks since I wrote for this column and since then my baby girl has eaten from a smorgasbord of vegetables and meats. With the addition of a glass type blender on our kitchen counter, I discovered that there is no limit to the baby food wonders a mother can make at home.

But let me first share some more basics that were not included on the first article.
Fruit mash
Yellow banana, the one we call tundan, is a super food for babies and kids. It's packed with potassium and vitamin C, plus it is so easy to prepare.
There's no need to pick up that banana flavored box cereal indeed if you just get a piece of tundan and mash it thoroughly with a fork.
Remember though that it's best when you give baby a single-ingredient mash as an introduction to fruits. By and by, mashed banana can be mixed with porridge or lugaw for a fuller baby meal.
Ripe papaya is also great for mashing into baby food especially if baby has difficulty moving bowels after starting her solid food diet.
Broccoli for baby
Another super food is broccoli. I used to buy pureed broccoli in glass jars when my son was but an infant. But, recently, I discovered that it is one of the produce of Canlaon City and is now easily available at the bagsakan on Sundays.
If you don’t have a blender, it is best to steam this ultra green anti-cancer veggie. With minimum water on the steamer, place the broccoli (cut in cube-like pieces).
Make sure it is very soft and well-cooked so it is easy to mash using a fork.
If you have a blender, broil it in water but take care not to drown the broccoli in your pot. The water must be barely enough to cover. Then let it simmer. Dump everything in the blender when it is cooked and sprinkle with a little salt.
Malunggay
While mashed delights are good for meals, it is also great to introduce baby to soup. The top in my list is malunggay soup. I just get it from our daily vegetable preparation or utan Bisaya but make sure it is MSG-free. No seasoning, no flavor enhancer, just plain rock salt to taste.
When my baby girl turned eight months we started her on meat. I began with minced lean pork meat broiled to ultimate tenderness and seasoned only with rock salt. I didn't purée her first batch of meat so she can get used to the texture and flavor at the same time.
Then, she is off to enjoying the vegetable and meat combo on our table. Using traditional recipes of pork or beef broiled with greens, string beans, sayote and squash, she is now on the table food diet.
I simply get a batch good for two days and dump them all in the blender and there I get the famed Earth's Best blended meal that would have cost around Php 80 to 100 on an organic store rack.
I serve pureed food with rice and my baby girl gets a full meal that’s both tasty and healthy. And, she enjoys it so much she eats a bowl-full everytime.
Solid food for baby is a journey for her as it is for mother and the rest of the family. What is important is that as a mother we know exactly what our kids are eating, nothing but pure, clean, well-prepared, healthy meals that are a true delight for the young palate.

2015-04-19T04:07:00.000-07:00

Pik-pik sa Abaga
ni Henry Sandoval
May ngipon ba

ang Noise Ordinance?
Wala gyud magdugay ang banda-banda sa bag-ong bar diha sa St. Vincent Subdivision, Barangay I. Unang gabii pa lang sa pagtukar sa maong banda mi react gyud dayon ang mga residente sa kasaba niini. Unang gabii nga akong namonitor nga nanawag ang barangay tanod sa Barangay One sa reklamo sa residente nga dili layo ang balay sa maong bar nga labihan kasaba.

Ikaduhang gabii mao ra gihapon ug ang barangay tanod sa Barangay I ang nanawag sa Police Station sa reklamo sa residente nga duol sa maong bar. Gi-adto na pud sa mobile team sa atong kapulisan ug gitambagan nga pahinayan ang iyang tukar.
Sa ikatulong adlaw sigun sa akong kontak nanghipos na ang banda ug asa na sad sila manukar nga lugar kay dili man gyud na pwede ang banda sa usa ka subdivision magtukar unya open pa gyud. Pareha ra gud na ug magbuhi ka ug baboy unya daghan kag silingan walay maayong kabutangan sa hugaw usa ka gatos ka porsento moreklamo gyud nang mga silingan nimo. Mao nang ug maghimo ta ug panginabuhi-an nga mabuhi ta ato sang siguruon nga wala tay mahasol nga mga silingan.
Pareha ani nawala ang banda gipulihan ra sad ug karaoke unya kusog pa sa sounds sa terminal. Asa na man ang ang mga BPSO nato nga giseminar sa LET? Isyuhi ninyo ug tiket para mutagam na. Hinay gani sa terminal kana pa diha.

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Tumba ang Barangay Kapitan sa Barangay Cruz ug iyahang driver-bodyguard niadtong milabay nga Marso 17, 2015 sa may alas 5:30 sa hapon didto sa Sitio Minamahit, Barangay Cruz, Calatrava, Negros Occidental.
Si Barangay Kapitan Rodolfo Antenero, 59 anyos ug si Raymund Savilla kanhi usa ka myembro sa Philippine Marines, minyo, ug igo mga 50 usab kapin ang panuigon ang gitiro sa wala mailhi nga mga suspetsado.
Matud pa ni Police Inspector Mark Angelo Junco padulong ang duha sa Cruz nga kalit lang may upat ka tawo nga mitiro kanila. Patay diha gyud dayon ang kapitan ug ang driver. Na-recover sa site mao ang upat ka shell sa .45 ug usa ka slug sa .45, pellet sa shotgun.
Matud pa ni Junco dunay mga nakakita pero dili mokooperar. Matud pa ni hepe may death threat si kapitan nga nadawat sa wala pa mahitabo ang pagtiro kaniya. Dugang pa ni Inspector Junco nga dako kaayo ang posibilidad nga lalis sa yuta ang hinungdan sa hinaling kamatayon ni Antero ug apil na ang iyahang driver bodyguard. Basi sa naunang pakisusi ang upat ka mga suspetsado nanlakaw pagkahuman sa krimen sa wala mahibaw-i nga direksyon.
Pastilan kalisod ra ba gyud sulbaron sa kaso basta wala kay testigos sa bisan unsa nga krimen labaw pa nga sa bukid nahitabo.

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Niadtong milabay nga semana nagubot ang taga Purok Ipil-Ipil sa among barangay kay duna may babaye nga mikalit lang ug hubo sa iyahang sapot samtang gihatud kini sa barangay tanod sa Barangay I. Dili ra ba gyud mupatuo ug dili pulis ang mokuha niya. Nadala gyud sa atong pulis ngadto sa Police Station. Pero sa pagkasunod adlaw nanglakat na gyud hinuon didto sa Barangay 3 nga gahubo.
Akong nahinabi ang usa ka taga City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) ug matud pa niya mo-eskapo ra ug dlii na sad kuno nila madawat ug balik kay dunay upat ka bata nga naa sa ilahang poder karon.
Kaning bayhana nailhan kini siya halos sa mga taga City Hall kay naninda man ni siya ug pagka- on nga iyahang ilibod sa sulod sa mga opisina sa wala pa kini maliso-i sa pangisip. Ang iyahang ka live-in niini driver sa usa ka pasahiruan nga salakyan ug bulag na kini sila. Sa akong pag-pangutana kani nga babaye taga Vallehermoso apan dinhi gaabang sa Don Juan Subdivision. Nakatrabaho usab ni siya sa Eat & Shoppe isip silbidora sa mga customer nga manginom.
Naka uyab kini ug kusog mupalit sa drugstore nga walay lisensya ug diha na misamot ang talandugon niyang utok. Na kaila namo taga City Hall. Gwapa ni siya nga pagka linalang nadaut lang ang panghunahuna.

2015-04-19T04:03:00.000-07:00

Just dough it!

Part II

In culinary jargon, the soft inner part of bread is known as the ‘crumb’ which is different from crumbs – the tiny pieces of bread that have fallen off. The hard outer portion is called the ‘crust.'

There’s this old wives’ tale that eating the bread crust makes a person’s hair curlier. However, no matter how hard a bread crust may be, it is still no match against hot coffee, as the late great cinema icon, Fernando Poe, Jr. immortalized in his movie, “Walang Matigas Na Tinapay Sa Mainit Na Kape.”
Even affairs of the heart have not been spared from the magical influence of bread. Scandinavians have this old belief that if a boy and a girl ate from the same loaf of bread then they are bound to fall in love with each other. Hmmm, maybe getting a love interest to share a large sandwich with you might just work to win that person’s affections. As they say, “The way to a man’s heart is through the stomach.”
Royalty has always fascinated the common man and what could be more fascinating than this ‘King of Breads.' In Spain, Juan Manuel Moreno bakes what is probably the most expensive bread in the world. At roughly Php 6,300 for a 400-gram round loaf, it is popular with wealthy Russian and Chinese tourists who delight in eating the edible gold-filled and gold-encrusted bread! While the gold flakes impart no extra flavor, this golden bread does give buyers an exclusive taste befitting their moneyed status. And yes, bragging rights, too.
In Portugal, pao (bread) figures so prominently in their cuisine that acorda or bread soup is served all-year round. To the people of Poland, chleb (bread) is more than just a source of nutrition. Symbolizing good fortune to them, older people even kiss a piece of bread if they drop it on the floor to show their respect.
Rice may be the staple in southern India, but wheat bread is the mainstay in the northern regions. It is made fresh for every meal with Roti and Chappati as the simplest and most common variety made. Regardless of the kind of bread that is served, custom dictates that it is never held and eaten with the left hand; only the right-hand fingertips will do.
Besides wine, nothing represents the French more than pain (bread) with the thin long baguette as the standard bearer. Infamously suggesting that the hungry peasants 'eat cake' instead of bread (which became scarce), Queen Marie-Antoinette reaped the anger of her subjects who eventually toppled the monarchy during the French Revolution. As a consequence, the royals were sent to the guillotine for beheading. Ouch!
What many don’t realize is that bread has other hidden benefits. The American Society’s Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry reported that bread encourages the growth of the beneficial bacteria, Lactobacillus in the gut which in turn helps keep the immune system strong. Bread is an ideal food for pregnant women as it contains folic acid which lowers the incidence of birth defects in the brain and spine. In older people, folic acid aids in delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
Modern bakeries have recently come up with innovative bread products to meet certain niche markets. The Walter brand has a Whole Wheat Raisin bread that is sugar-free, fat-free, low-sodium and high in dietary fiber for diabetics; a Double-Fiber (wheat & apple) bread made for those with hypertension and coronary-related ailments; a Weight-Control bread rich in oat and vegetable fibers to help consumers feel full longer.
So, the next time you 'break brea' (dine together) with someone, know that the word companion comes from the Latin com, “with” and panis, 'bread.' Bread’s importance can never be over-emphasized for civilizations would never have flourished without it. Much gratitude is due to all the bakers out there who have to wake up before dawn just so we can enjoy our favorite bread. May their tribe increase.
Sources: Wikipedia, The Food Book, theCatholicbeat, Phil.Star

2015-03-14T20:56:00.000-07:00

March 11 to 16, 2015

San Carlos Diocese

revives theater arts

Young love starts bitter. Jason, a self-confessed genius and over-achiever, and Gia, a ‘lost’ starstrcuk transferee, are two college students who came from two opposite poles but found themselves gravitating toward each other as they go through the daily stress and rigors of college life. NewsRecord Photo

Special feature

As if to chase after the recently concluded National Arts Month (February), some chosen members of San Carlos City’s youth witnessed the Ubuntu Theater Festival at the Bishop’s Home, the seat of the Diocese of San Carlos.

Dubbed as the ‘revival of performing arts in San Carlos,’ the three-Friday series was capped last March 13 through a four-act play written, directed and performed by the youth—all students from the University of St. La Salle, Bacolod City through the Masskara Theater Ensemble.

What they do on a break

Breaktime, presented under the group’s Crossroads series, tackled four major issues that greatly affect today’s Filipino youth—young love while going through the stress of college, same sex relationship and pre-marital sex; suicide and depression; and the boldness to hope for the youth’s future.

The first three acts were set simply inside a classroom for World Literature and included dialogues between pairs of students. The final act provided the resolution and synthesis of the play through a monologue of the janitor who apparently ‘sees everything ‘ but continues to believe that the youth today can still succeed in life despite their errors and the trials they go through.

The play’s use of everyday language that included even vulgarity and deadpan humor became its strength in catching and holding the young audience’s attention.

Objectives

Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, of the Diocese of San Carlos, told NRWP that they aimed to “re-awaken the interest and appreciation of the young for theater arts; to communicate important messages (issues) to the youth; and to strengthen the collaboration of the Church and local institutions.”

Three Fridays

The festival opened last February 20 with the Trial of God that the Colegio de San Agustin Bacolod Kanlaon Theater Guild performed. Emotionally charged with an aim to move the audience to an examination of oneself, the play was full of spiritual reflections and realizations.

Last March 6 saw the performance of Ishmael Java’s Anagas. Kalingaw Teatro Hiligaynon of West Negros University performed the play that sought to enlighten audience on the preservation of nature and natural resources.

Young performers, young audience

By tapping high schools and local colleges, the festival has drawn more than a thousand young spectators, Alminaza reported. He is hopeful that the plays have helped shed light on major relevant issues and at the same time encouraged the city’s youth to engage in the performing arts.

After the plays, the youth were also invited to a weekend-long theater starting on the evening of March 13.

Breaktime director Rosco Cofreros, a senior BS Information Technology student at USLS, said that their Hiligaynon play was created to reach the youth and to promote Bacolod through the use of its language in performances.

Asked about his reason for directing stage plays, Cofreros said that he and his fellows in the Masskara Theater Ensemble are simply driven by their love to perform and their desire to inspire, to promote the arts and to heal the youth.

Meanwhile, the San Carlos Bishop expressed hope that the Ubuntu Theater Festival will only be the first of a number of stage performances directly involving the youth.

2015-03-14T20:49:00.000-07:00

Myembro sa ‘Mata ng Brigada’ miprotesta

Pipila ka mga myembro sa usa ka social organization nga gitawag ug Mata ng Brigada mipahigayon ug lihok protesta sa atubangan mismo sa istasyunan sa Brigada News FM diha sa Plaza Building, Rizal Street, San Carlos.

Silent protest. Pipila ka mga myembro sa Mata ng Brigada mi reklamo batok sa tagdumala sa Brigada News FM nga si Arnell Dada.

Photo by Henry Sandoval

Ang mga mipahigayon sa maong silent protest nagdala ug tulo ka mga placards nga mipa-utwas sa ilang reklamo.

Matud pa ni Noemi Mahiya, usa sa mga miprotesta, misulti sa NRWP nga sila nagprotesta kay ang station manager sa Brigada News FM nga si Arnell Dada wala na makig-istorya nila.

Mi-eksplikar si Mahiya nga sila namalit ug nagpaprinta ug mga t-shirt sa ngalan sa ilang pagkamyembro sa maong grupo. Apil usab sa mga nagpaprinta ug mga t-shirt ang mga kabatan-unan nga myembro sa Youth ng Brigada. Ang mga batan-ong myembro mitabang usab sa pagpamrinta apan wala kuno kini sila makan-a ug snacks.

Si Mahiya miingon nga sila bilang myembro mibayad ug tag diyes pesos alang sa paprinta sa t-shirt apan si Dada ra man kuno ang nangunay sa pagprinta.

Sa dugang nga pakighinabi, ang mga nag-rally miingon usab nga wala na sila nakahigayon ug imbitar sa iyang ubang kauban aron mosalmot sa maong rally kay apiki na sila sa panahon.

Apan nasayran nga wala diay permit ang maong rally gikan sa City Hall o San Carlos City Police Office busa pag-abot sa mobile patrol sa mga pulis sila mibalhin sa atbang sa buhatan sa maong sibyaanan.

Report ni Henry Sandoval

2015-03-14T20:33:00.002-07:00

Homily in Monte Agudo

By Rafael E. Cabarles, OAR

Church choice:

Manager or Pastoral Pope

On February 11, 2013, Pope Benedict XVI stunned the world by announcing his resignation effective February 28, 2013. He was 85 years old.

On March 12 of the same year, the Philippine Daily Inquirer on page A12 quoted the Official Organ of the Vatican, L’Observatore Romano: “VATICAN CITY—Cardinals gathered for their final talks on Monday before the conclave to elect the next Popae, amid debate over whether the Catholic Church needs MORE of a MANAGER POPE to clean up the Vatican or a PASTORAL POPE who can inspire the faithful at a time of crisis.”

The Title of this article therefore is taken from the debate among the Cardinals before the actual voting. “What kind of Pope are we going to CHOOSE: a Manager Pope or a Pastoral Pope.”

The Cardinals must be aware of the differences between a Manager and a Pastoral. Pastoral comes from the Latin word pastor which means shepherd, which is equivalent to servant-leader. That leaves them two choices: Manager Pope or Leader Pope.

On March 13, 2014: the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected as the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church. He chose the name ‘Francis’ after St. Francis of Assisi, the lover of the poor.

Since the time of his election, much has been written about Pope Francis. His Papal visit to our country was a tremendous success. He was declared by the Time magazine “Person of the Year.” He was a candidate to the Nobel Prize for Peace. On April 7, 2013, an article in the Inquirer on page A15 appeared with the title: What do you think of Pope Francis?

Is he a manager? Or a leader?

Let us remember that sometimes we need a manager style and at other times a leadership style. The question is not which is important of the two, but which is MORE IMPORTANT as “debate over whether the Catholic Church needs more of a manager or a pastoral pope.

To paraphrase the words of Shakespeare in Julius Caesar: Not that I love Caesar less but that I love Rome more.” We could also say: Not that I love ‘manager’less but that I love ‘leader’ more.

A political critic once said: It is better to have good dictator during bad times and a democratic leader in good times.

This brings us to the distinction between a manager and a leader. There are plenty of misconceptions and myths that people embrace about leaders and leadership. There is a lot of leadership training but actually they are manager-ship training. A lot of books or articles confused leadership with management. Up until a few years ago, books that claimed to be on leadership were often really about management.

According to John C. Maxmell in his Book Leadership 101 on page 64 said, “A widespread misunderstanding is that leading and managing are one and the same.” He mentioned some myths about leadership.

The first main difference between management and leadership according to Maxwell is that leadership is about influencing people to follow, while management focuses on maintaining systems and processes. The best way to test whether a person can lead rather than just manage is to ask him to create positive change. Managers can maintain direction, but they can’t change. To move people in a new direction, you need influence.

In his book Be a People Person on pages 77-78, Maxwell made several distinctions: The manager drives people; the leader coaches people. The manager depends upon authority, the leader depends on goodwill. The manager inspires fear, the leader inspires enthusiasm. The manager fixes the blame for the breakdown, the leader fixes the breakdown. The manager knows how it is done, the leader shoes how it is done. The manager says, ‘I;’ the leader says, ‘We.’ The manager says, ‘Go!’ The leader says, ‘Let’s go!’”

Secondly, we confuse salesmen and entrepreneurs as leaders. But that’s not always the case. People may be buying what he has to sell, but they are not following him. At the best, he is able to persuade people for a moment, but he holds no long-term influence with them.

Third, we confuse bright people as leaders as the saying goes, “Knowledge is power.” We assume that those who posses knowledge and intelligence have power and therefore are leaders. It is not necessarily true. Genius people usually even creates problems in the community. IQ doesn’t necessarily equate with leadership.

Fourth, the greatest misunderstanding about leadership is that people think it is based on position or appointment. Maxwell said, “It is not the position that makes the leader; it’s the leader that makes the position. The OIC or officer-in-charge and CEO or chief-executive-officer are not necessarily leaders. They are positional leaders. You can lose you title and position, but you can continue to be leader.

“He who thinks he leads, but has no followers is only taking a walk.”

Sometimes we easily learn by comparison, here is the comparison between leader and manager:

1. Manager wonders what happened while leader makes things happen.

2. Manager sees a tree while leader sees a forest.

3. Manager sees the problem, while leader sees the solution.

4. Manager consults while the leader participates.

5. Manager reacts to the events while leader pro-acts to the event.

6. Manager is efficient while leader is effective.

7. Manager sympathizes while leader empathizes.

8. Manager helps while leader serves.

9. Manager manages things while leader leads people.

10. Manager instructs while leader educates.

A bulldozes and a plow are both useful. To be a leader, one must be a plow—that cultivates people while a manager ‘bulldozes’ or scraps people.

A rubber band and a ruler are both useful. To be a leader, one must be rubber band,; it functions when it is stretched. It is flexible and adaptable while a ruler-manager is always 12 inches long, no more, no less.

A thermometer and a thermostat are both useful. To be a leader, one must be a thermostat—pro-active, controls the heat of the car or of the air conditioning unit while the thermometer or manager is passive. It receives and records the heat of the body or of the room.

Conclusion: Be a leader more than just a manager. Be a leader just like our Pope Francis.

2015-03-14T20:15:00.005-07:00

Pikpik sa Abaga

Ni Henry Sandoval

Negosyante sa merkado,

mi reklamo

Usa ka negosyante dinhi sa siyudad sa San Carlos ang mireklamo sa iyahang gipadagan sa mga papeles sa lisensya sa iyahang tindahan.

Si Mr. Antonio nga naa ganegosyo diha sa ilawom sa atong merkado publiko ug mga mantalaan ug mga magazine nga nasyonal ang natingala ug dako nga wala man gihapon ang lisensya sa iyahang tindahan nga nakabayad na man siya sa nagproseso sa maong mga papeles ug bali Php 19,000. Sa dihang mibatyag na siya ug duda iya kining gisusi sa City Hall ug iyahang nahibaw-an nga wala mabayad ang kwarta nga iyahang gihatag sa gatrabaho niini.

Ako siyang gipangutana ug nganong dako man sa imong bayranan nga mao man lang kato iyahang negosyo. Matud pa niya ang maong bayranan apil na ang mga penalty niadtong milabay nga tuig. Karon kuno tungod sa wala pagbayad sa maong kantidad didto sa City Hall nahimo kini niya nga dako nga problema kay dili man gyud siya makalukat ug lisensya ug dili mabayran ang mga penalty.

Matud pa niya nga kato gani kunong kwartaha gi-loan pa niya para mabayad niya sa gobyerno. Karon ang ilahang problema ila nang gisang-at ang reklamo sa Barangay VI. Ug matud pa niya nga duna say uban nga nabiktima sa maong modus nga moguwa sad kuno para moreklamo sad kay biktima sad sa maong paagi nga gitagaan nag bayad wala sad mabayad.

**********

Ngano ba sad ka, Madam, nga misulod man ka ani nga kumpormiso? Dili lang ang tag-iya sa kwarta ang nahasol sa iyahang lisensya kay matud pa niya mibayad siya sa maong kantidad unya wala nimo ibayad.

Dili lang karon siya ang nagproblema sa imohang gihimo sigun sa alegasyon ni Mr. Antonio hasta na ikaw kay wala na unyay mopaproseso sa ilahang mga lisensya diha nimo. Gawas pa ana ug dili gyud mo magkahusay sa maong problema maabot mo ug korte sa maong hitabo. Daghan nang mga tigproseso sa mga lisensya nga akong nakaila diha sa City Hall ug dili ka mag amping nianang trabahua hayan gyud nga matental ka kay kwarta man kanang imohang gidala. Pero angay nga hinumduman nga sa higayun nga imong magamit unya dili na mailisan problema ang muabot nimo. Myentras naa pa sa barangay ang inyohang kaso husaya nga dili na maabot sa korte.

**********

Sa laing bahin, nag silent rally ang pipila ka myembro sa organisasyon nga gitawag ug Mata ng Brigada diha sa mismong atubangan sa estasyunan sa Brigada News FM. Adunay mga tulo ka plackards ang gipangkaptan sa nag rally.

Akong nahinabi ang usa sa mga grupo nila nga si Ms. Noemi Mahiya ug akong gipangutana ug unsa man gyud ang hinungdan nga nag silent rally man sila sa iyang mga kauban. Matud pa niya dili gyud unta kuno mapunta sa maong sitwasyon kung nakig-istorya pa unta ang ilahang Station Manager kanila.

Matud pa niya nga daghan ang mga t-shirt kuno nga nangawala nga ilaha kunong gipaprintahan. Ug ang mga batan-on pa gyud nga myembro sa Youth ng Brigada wala pa gyud kuno pakan-a bisag snaks na lang. Ug sumpay pa niya nga mibayad pa gyud ug diyes pesos matag t-shirt ang nagpa printa nga ang manager ra man diay kuno ang nagprinta.

Akong gipangutana ug usab ang mga nagrally ug nganong sila ra man nga nagpahungaw sa ilang gibatyag batok sa maong Station Manager? Tubag ni Ms. Noemi Mahiya nga usa ka ‘Ninja move’ kuno kini wala na lang sila manawagan sa uban pag apil.

Walay permit ang maong rally apan nakapananghid ang mga miapil niini. Hangtud nga may back-to-back sa pulis nga miabot ug gipabalhin sila sa atbang.

Akong gihinabi ang usa ka empleyado sa sulod didto sa istasyonan sa Brigada ug akong gipangutana ug pila man gyud ka t-shirt ang nawala? Tubag niya nga 12 ra ka buok ug giingnan na sila nga ihatag ang size kay ilisan ni Manager. Ug akong gipangutana ug wala ba diay pakan-a ang nanabang? Matud pa sa akong nahinabi nga dako nga bakak kay gipaka-on gyud na silang nanabang.

**********

Pila ra man diay na ka t-shirt ang nawala ug naabot man sa karsada ang inyong agrabyo? Ug sa akong kaugalingon nga pagtan-aw natural lang nga mobayad mo bisag gamay sa nagprinta kay unsa man say ipaka-on niya sa nanabang? Ug labot pa tag Php 30 na sa uban ang bayad sa pagpaprinta. Gamay ra man diay unta nga problema nga pwede ra ninyo maistoryahan. Nalipat lang ko pagpangutana ug wala bay gapaluyo aning inyong pagrally atubangan sa estasyunan sa Brigada?

2015-03-14T19:48:00.003-07:00

Soldier's Pen

By BGen. Alexander Cabales (Ret.)

And he played with a scalpel

In a previous article we likened the Mama Sapano operation to that of a surgical operation, a medical term involving an incision using special instruments performed by a well-trained doctor in order to repair damage or arrest disease in a living body.

We also likened the Special Action Force (SAF) to a scalpel, a sharp instrument that can make precise and neat cuts. This instrument made of the best metal and created for a special purpose has to be wielded in the hands of an experienced surgeon. Further we said that in the hands of a monkey, the scalpel can do more damage and can kill the patient instead.

Accordingly, there were several errors that were committed as gleaned from the various investigations, inquiries and discussions on the infamous “Operation Exodus” that claimed the lives of 44 members of an elite unit of the Philippine National Police.

Normally, an operation involving a high level target such as that of international terrorist, Zulkifli Bin Hir alyas “Marwan” involves three levels of plans, decisions and actions – strategic, operational and tactical.

The strategic level is reserved only for the Chief Executive with the help of his cabinet members and advisers. Strategic activities are those that have socio-cultural, economic, political, diplomatic and military dimensions. These different dimensions always affect one another. Hence, they are wider in scope and have long range effects or impacts on the wellbeing and stability of the nation. These activities directly or indirectly support our national aims and objectives.

The decision to neutralize Marwan at that point in time was a strategic one. While the direct action was basically military or police in nature, it had some socio-cultural, political, diplomatic, and economic dynamics. It affected some national and international concerns and answer some important questions such as:

1) Will it bolster our claim that the Philippines strongly supports the war against international terrorism and will it satisfy the expectations of our allies (such as the US)? 2) Will it contribute to the peace and order condition in Mindanao and hasten foreign and local investments in the area? 3) How will it affect our fragile peace initiatives with the MILF and future ones with other groups or organizations that threaten the security of our country?

The issue of coordinating with the MILF is definitely a strategic one (and could not be blamed on P/Dir Getulio Napeñas who is only on the tactical level). Aside from the other local non-military concerns as an effect of the operations, it may also have some diplomatic repercussions.

Other countries, such as Malaysia that brokered the peace efforts, may feel that such surreptitious action in MILF ‘territory’ would create distrust between the government and the MILF and therefore runs counter to the confidence-building measures that Malaysia was so interested about.

On the other hand, coordinating (asking permission is perhaps the proper term) with the MILF will project an image that the Philippines does not have sovereignty in these areas and may be used as a basis for the MILF to seek for a ‘belligerency’ status from an international body.

The Secretaries of the DILG and DND are part of the strategic group being the alter egos and chief advisers of the President on peace and order matters. They also serve as the bridge between the strategic and operational levels and hence are also part of the operational side of the undertaking. Yet they were not consulted nor asked to contribute in the planning of the operation. The suspended PNP Chief is obviously not a part of the strategic group. However, if he was not suspended, he may be called upon to give operational inputs needed for strategic planning.

The operational level supports the strategic initiative and is meant to ‘operationalize’ the strategic decision. The operational plans, decisions and actions conform to that of the strategic. Although these may be in general terms, they give more substance and provide additional guidelines. The Secretaries of DILG and the DND; the Chief, PNP his major units; and the Chief of Staff, AFP and his major units are part of the operational group. The plans, decisions and actions in this level determine how the operation may be conducted; which units of the AFP and the PNP or civilian agencies may be involved; and the support systems that may be necessary to perform them. They also make the necessary coordination with other national agencies of government such as the DSWD and the DOH.

The lowest level in the hierarchy is the tactical side. This is where Napeñas comes in. His unit was tasked to accomplish the job and to perform the actual operations in accordance with the plan dictated from the top. However, situations vary and are sometimes even totally different on the ground than what was in the plan. As such, the tactical commander may implement situation dictated actions; or improvise those that were earlier planned and anticipated; or even abort the mission.

In extreme situations, the ground commander even violates operational guidelines if in his wisdom this is necessary to accomplish the mission or ensure the safety of his men. Thus, a good tactical commander is one who knows how to balance his two primary duties – to accomplish the mission and to look after the welfare of his men. Being the man on the ground, he is the best person to know the most effective course of action to take if it is not specifically mentioned in the plan. However, he may be forced to comply with a strategic directive even it defies all operational and tactical sanity.

Failures or successes are always determined at the end of a mission. If it succeeds, everybody claims that it was his or that he was a part of it. If it fails, nobody takes the blame. Sadly, it is always the tactical commander that is blamed for blunders on the ground even if he just followed the ‘beautiful’ plan laid out on a piece of paper by swivel chair commanders who have never had any experience in the field. Seasoned and wise leaders spend more time in the planning of important undertakings.

He makes sure that the right persons are consulted; the necessary data are gathered and meticulously evaluated and the preliminary and supporting activities are performed before the main and more important operation is undertaken. Most often, a good plan ensures the success of a mission.

Napeñas may have committed some tactical errors which are unexplainable being a seasoned combat officer. He did not abort the mission when his blocking force failed to occupy its designated position on time. His troops tarried on in the area, amongst a corn field (a tactically unsafe position) when they could have hastily withdrawn after killing Marwan. He did not (or failed to) employ as reinforcement his more than 300 elite forces located at the nearby highway.

It is hard to understand why these basic ‘errors’ were committed knowing him to be an experienced SAF operator. One may only speculate that he was made to do these tactically unsound decisions for more ‘strategic’ intentions.

A monkey played with a scalpel and he would not admit it even if blood showed in his hands.

2015-03-14T19:18:00.001-07:00

March 1 to 10, 2015

Caballero Subdivision Tragedy

Fire victims point neighbor

Georgene Rhena Quilaton-Tambiga

The fire that razed at least 50 houses in Caballero Subdivision and Endrina Street (the area that is still part of Barangay II) has started in the house of a suspected drug user.

3-Hour Ordeal. A firefighter and two volunteers attack the fire that is consuming a house with a little store just beside a warehouse on Endrina Street, Corner National Highway while City Mayor Ginggo Valmayor looks on.


	To ashes. A firefighter tries to put out the fire in the house of retired teacher Julieta Dela Rosa.

Based on eye-witness accounts of the fire that broke last March 7, at around 4 A.M., fire started in the house of JR Santillan. But, no one is able to tell how it happened since many have awakened to a raging fire and they have only afforded to save their lives.

Santillan is a suspected drug user.

“Ingon nila sa balay kuno ni JR Santillan… Mao kunoy sinugdanan,” said Gina Entirino, a 23 year-old mother of a preschooler. Entirino added that she and some neighbors observed that Santillan was no longer himself even before the fire broke.

Virginia Dela Torre, 54, another victim, told NRWP that Santillan did not shout to send an alarm to his neighbors that his house was on fire. Dela Torre was only awakened when another neighbor was already shouting but by then the fire has caught the house next to Santillan’s.

“Pagmata nako, ni-ulbo na man. Kana si JR gitan-aw ra niya iyang balay nga nasunog. Wala gyud siya misinggit or namukaw sa silingan.” Dela Torre recalled.

She added that Santillan is single and lived alone in the house since his parents died but often received suspicious visitors during the wee hours of the night. He is now in the custody of the San Carlos City Police Office (SCCPO).

Embers and ashes.

Entirino further verified that during the thick of the tragedy that burned their belongings into ashes several explosions were heard. This sent many of her neighbors into panic and prevented them from saving things from their houses. The nature or source of the explosions are not known though.

The radio fire base of the Bureau of Fire Protection San Carlos (BFP-SC) received the alarm at 4:40 in the morning of March 7 but the fire was rapidly spreading. Since most houses were made of light materials and wood, it easily consumed one house after another and even the houses on the other side of the block on Endrina Street near the corner to the highway.

Based on initial investigation that the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) and Barangay II conducted on the day of the incident, 50 houses were destroyed including the one owned by Julieta Dela Rosa, a retired private school teacher.

Dela Rosa’s house on Endrina Street was caught since the wind was strongly blowing the fire to its direction. Firefighting volunteers from Biopower were not able to save it after a prolonged trouble pulling the water hose from its receptacle. The volunteers were able to spray water but by then the fire has consumed 75 percent of the house.

The teacher, like many of her fellow victims, was not able save anything except a small statue of the Sto. Niño.

Around 150 to 200 individuals were left homeless. Some of them are now occupying classrooms in Ramon Magsaysay Elementary School (RMES) while others were taken to shelter by relatives and family members.

Joe Recalix Alingasa, head of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO), reported zero casualty although three elderly victims were rescued due to hypertension.

Alingasa told NRWP that the recent tragedy is ought to give a lesson since there is still a lapse in coordination. He added that BFP San Carlos called CDRRMO’s radio Delta Base asking if the staff there have contact with other fire fighting volunteers in the city.

This prolonged the response and action of groups that included Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce Fire Brigade, Biopower, San Carlos Bio-ethanol, Inc., and Hacienda Vascoña. Calatrava and Vallehermoso Fire Stations also sent a truck each and firemen to help put out the fire.

As of the writing of this report, FO1 Ricardo Catalan, ground commander for BFP San Carlos, was not yet able to draw a conclusion on the origin of the fire and on the exact number and cost of the damage.

Meanwhile, CSWDO and Barangay II are working closely in providing food and basic needs for the victims who are now in RMES. Alingasa announced that donations of food, water, sleeping mats and pillows are welcome and may be directly submitted to CSWDO.

2015-03-14T18:53:00.003-07:00

The Lesson Plan

By Allan Siarot-Mendoza Bautista

Localized Hispanic

borrowed words

This paper presumes that Hispanic words borrowed in Cebuano – Visayan in the locality of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental are assimilated, transmitted and shared both from and meaning through lexical localization.

This presumption is supported by Minkova and Stockwell (2009) that biological metaphor of language families is convenient for describing the evolution of languages from a common source, but it says nothing about the way our vocabulary reacts to outside influences. Like biological families, language tic can grow and move away from their original genetic pool by borrowing and absorbing new (grammatical) features and (lexical) item.

The transmission of borrowed vocabulary into any language has been both direct (oral transmission), and indirect, mediated by writing, education, and literacy.

Another situation is on assimilation which has a very precise meaning by which the phonetics of a speech segment becomes more like another segment in a word.

Pesirla (2014) in his study finds out that certain lexical items in a foreign language are nativized by the borrower language. In face-to-face communication, either speaker may imitate some features of the other’s speech; when the contact is indirect, the influence can of course pass only in one direction (400).

Pesirla (2014) continues that the feature that is imitated is called the model; the language in which the model occurs is called the donor; the language which requires something new in the process of borrowing is the borrowing language. That which is borrowed does not have to be paid back; the donor makes no sacrifice and does not have to be asked for permission. Indeed, nothing changes hands: the donor goes on speaking as before and only the borrower’s speech is altered (Haugen 407).

The mere contact of languages A and B does not guarantee that one will borrow from the other. Wonderly (450) explains:

For a borrowing to occur, say B to A, two conditions must be met:

(a) The speaker of A must understand, or think he understands, the particular utterance in language B which contains the model.

(b) The speaker of A must have some motive, overt or covert, for the borrowing.

To investigate this phenomenon of assimilation, transmission and sharing of form and meaning by Philippine languages which nativitized these borrowed Hispanic words, a prototype print media article is focused as model textuality for lexical analysis: “Kinse o baynti?” extracted from News Record, the thinking man’s newspaper of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, Year 29, no. 69 August 19-27, 2014, page 2. Cebuano-Visayan in the linguistic medium.

The article contains four paragraphs.

Paragraph one has a sentence of sixteen words.

Paragraph tow has two sentences of forty words.

Paragraph three has two sentences of thirty-words.

Paragraph four has three sentences of seventy-eight words.

The Hispanic borrowed words are fourteen nouns, and an adjective, which are analyzed utilizing separate descriptive matrices.

In a synthesis, the Hispanic borrowed words in Cebuano-Visayan are assimilated by specifically localizing their spelling, which definitely corresponds to localized sound system, since Cebuano-Visayan is a phonetic language and by adding local prefixes and suffixes: showing a complete process of lexical localization.

In conclusion. Therefore, it has been proven that Hispanic words borrowed in some Cebuano-Visayan particularly in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental are assimilated, transmitted and shared both form and meaning through lexical localization.

In this view, it is, thus recommended that a similar lexical analysis be conducted in different genres of mass media, literary texts, and other oral and written discourses as well as written manuscripts and documents across various languages in the Philippines.

This article is an excerpt of a study on Local Cebuano-Visayan in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.

This is an unpublished research at the University of San Jose-Recoletos, Cebu City.

2015-03-14T18:45:00.001-07:00

Food for Tooth

By Otto George Weber

Just dough it!

‘’All sorrows are less with bread.’’ – Miguel de Cervantes

If there’s one business that seems to thrive well in this city of ours, it’s the business of making and selling bread. The last time I checked, there are more than a dozen bakeries dispensing popular items from the best-selling hot pan de sal and fransing to ensaymada, pan de siosa, sliced bread, Spanish rolls, to name a few. At certain times of the year, demand is so great that these bakeries are literally left with empty shelves!

Well, that shouldn’t come as a surprise as bread is a tasty, cheap and nutritious foodstuff – either eaten as is or filled with various ingredients to make a sandwich. The sandwich, by the way, came to be known as such in the 1700’s when the Earl of Sandwich in England started tucking in pieces of meat between two pieces of bread. This allowed him to keep on playing his favorite card games without interruption. Many saw the convenience of this novel idea whereby it caught on fast and the rest, as they say, is history.

Having mentioned some of the breads sold locally, I would like to highlight one type with an intriguing name and shape – the monay. Unlike today’s one-size-fits-all monay, yesteryears’ version had three sizes. According to former Intramuros Administration consultant Sonny Tinio, ‘’the smallest was called monai; the medium size was called abanaku (aba naku!) and the large size was called susmariosep!’’ While its origins remain a mystery, it shouldn’t be too hard to deduce what aroused a baker to create this obscenely-shaped bread.

It’s been said that the first Filipinos to get a taste of bread were Rajah Humabon of Cebu and his queen who received it as gifts from the Spanish conquistadors in the 1500’s. The natives were so delighted with this tasty pasalubong from abroad that from then on, bread became part of diplomatic ‘gift packs’ given by the Spaniards to local chieftains.

Basically, bread is simply a combination of water and wheat (or other grains) flour that is mixed into a piece of dough which is then usually baked or in some cases, steamed, fried or grilled. But in extreme cases like the traditional Hverabrauth bread of Iceland, it is baked by burying it in soil near hot volcanic springs.

While it is generally regarded as a snack food in Asia, bread is the chief food commodity in the Middle East, North and South Africa, Europe, Australia and the Americas. Consumption-wise, citizens of Austria and Germany are the top two leaders in the world – somewhere around 80kgs a person a year!

One of humanity’s oldest foods, bread occupies such an important place in daily life that even our language mirrors its relevance. A ‘breadwinner’ is the main money-earner in a household while a ’breadbasket’ refers to a region that produces a lot of agricultural products. In India, the basic necessities of life are often referred to as “roti, kapra aur makan”, (bread, cloth and house).

In the Lord’s Prayer, the first thing that we ask God is to “give us our daily bread” – even before we ask for forgiveness! After all, as former U.S. President Woodrow Wilson said, ‘’No one can worship God or love his neighbor on an empty stomach.’’ Amen to that!

Starting with the Biblical “manna from heaven” that rained down to feed Moses and the Jews on that epic exodus from Egypt to the miracle of the multiplying “fish and bread” during one of Christ’s sermons, bread has been regarded as a blessing that nourishes both body and soul. Some 2,000 years later, bread still holds an important role in the Eucharist for symbolizing the body of Christ – a cornerstone of the belief held by the world’s 1.2 billion Christians.

Known for his humble ways, Pope Francis has taken to heart the Jesuit tradition of favoring simple cuisine. Unlike other cardinals who patronize fancy Rome restaurants, the Holy Father prefers to dine by himself at home and follows one of the rules of the Jesuit order – fill up on bread because it avoids the ‘disorder’ that comes from being “tempted by other foods.” In short, the filling effect of bread keeps one from overeating.

Chef Jessie Sincioco, official caterer of Pope Francis during his recent visit to the Philippines, remarked that the Holy Father’s “breakfast consisted of seven kinds of bread: ciabatta, croissant, brown roll, sesame, hard crust and two kinds of ‘media luna’, an Argentinian bread that is crescent-shaped.’’

-To be continued

2015-03-14T18:36:00.003-07:00

Friendly Observer

By Arthur Keefe

South America

I have just returned to the UK from Chile and (briefly) Argentina. Readers may be interested in my observations on these two middle developed countries.

Both were colonised by Spain in the 17th century, and obtained their independence in the mid 19th century. This was long before the Philippines, and unlike the Philippines, independence was gained through local resistance, with no external country involved.

Both countries are Catholic, although this is much less evident than in the Philippines. Church going is much less, and the church has much less political influence. Both countries are wealthier than here, and are modernised with good infrastructure. They had railway networks, but these have fallen in to disuse as wide good roads now cover much of both countries. It’s an interesting aside that whereas British colonisers always built railways, most of which survive, the Spanish hardly did, and invested a lot less in developing the infrastructure of their colonies.

This was my 12th trip of a month to Chile, so I feel I know it well. Only my fourth trip to Argentina, each of only a week, and only to 2 cities, so I know it much less.

First impressions of Chile are of a modern prosperous country, and to some extent this is true. It managed to avoid the worst of the financial crisis of 2008, and there are a host of cranes and building sites, a good indicator of a growing economy. Plenty of new cars on the excellent roads, and busy shopping malls selling expensive branded goods. However, if you travel away from the City centres to the northern suburbs of Santiago you see a different picture. Poor quality housing, litter strewn streets, vandalism on a wide scale, high crime levels, potholed side roads, are all evidence of a poor disaffected community.

Surveys show that while Chile is developing fast, with high rates of economic growth, it is one of the most unequal countries in the world.

This is partly the legacy of the military dictator Pinochet, who successfully imported American capitalism. He was a Marcos figure, but whereas Marcos had concern for the masses, Pinochet entrenched the wealth and power of the elite. However, the election of 3 left of centre Presidents has done little to change this. The southern suburbs of the capital, Santiago, are full of good quality apartment blocks in gated communities, expensive cars, expensive shops, and an absence of graffiti and potholes! This is where the elite, and of course the politicians live.

The cost of living is about 70% of that in Europe (with housing much cheaper), but wages for the working class are about 20% or less than in Europe. The result is a large working class struggling to get by. This is made worse by the absence of good welfare support. Schools cost money, free health care is in poorly equipped hospitals with long queues, and welfare payments are only for small numbers. On the other hand, the professional and managerial elite have European levels of income, and benefit from the lower cost of living.

One lawyer told me of apartments for sale at the huge price of $150,000 (US), the most expensive in Santiago. He expected me to be shocked at this, but similar apartments in London would cost $600,000!

I have travelled widely in Chile, and the disparities in lifestyle are not so huge outside of the Capital. However, 60% of Chile’s population live in Santiago. (It’s as if 60M people were living in Manila.) Most of the country is empty. There is a large fertile central valley, producing excellent Chilean wines, and capital intensive fruit farming much of which ends up in Europe and the USA. Large areas are desert, in the high Andes, and in the Icy wastes of Patagonia and the land bordering Antartica.

The concentration of people may explain another Chilean characteristic often commented on by visitors. That is the rudeness of people on buses, in the Metro, on the roads, and in the shops. Pushing, using your elbows to get past others, and never saying por favor or gracias. By contrast, when meeting people socially, they are friendly and generous. Probably the public rudeness is a consequence of so many people in a small space, especially on the overcrowded transport system. By contrast, the Philippines is a haven of politeness and consideration!

As a retiree with a good pension, I could live well in Chile. I do like the country and I like the people when in their private space. The language is Spanish, and the religion Catholic, but the culture is not Spanish. It is a mix of North European (The English and Germans were economic settlers in the 19th and 20th centuries), and American, as the present day investors.

Argentina has a similar background, but feels very different. It is more Latin than Chile, and its early settlers included many Italians as well as Spaniards. Public behaviour is more considerate, and people love dance and fiestas unlike in Chile. Argentina is currently having its second major economic crisis in 20 years, but a visitor sees little evidence of this, except in the informal currency market, where you will be offered 50% more than the official exchange rate. At this rate, it’s a bargain place to visit!

I have not travelled far in the country, and read very little about it, so I will not offer more opinions beyond saying that the 2 cities I stayed in, mendoza and Buenos Aires are attractive and interesting. The 2 countries share a long border of the Andes, but further south, as the land flattens, they do argue about who owns what, so much so that they nearly went to war over a southern shipping lane (the Beagle Strait) a few years ago.

Had my son not moved to Chile to marry a Chilean, I would not have thought of visiting these 2 countries, but I am glad I have done so.

2015-03-14T18:34:00.004-07:00

Pikpik sa Abaga

Ni Henry Sandoval

Sa kilid sa dalan

Nahimo nang katulganan sa mga pamilya nga dunay balay apan ganahan gyud matulog diha ubos sa mga estraktura diha kilid sa kanhi Continental Tower.

Sa mga nanlabay nga mga bulan dili kaayo na sila daghan diha nga mga tulog. Ang nakasulaw sa konsensya nga mga alas siete pa pasado sa kagabhi-on magbuklad na sila sa ilahang mga karton aron ilang matulgan. Unya sa karon murag nagka daghan na sila nga mangatulog.

Ang nakahatag nako ug pagkabalaka nga duna nay mga dalagita nga nagyaka diha sayo pa sa gabie. Duol kaayo kini sa disgrasya labi na karong daghan na kaayong ‘drugstore’ dinhi sa siyudad sa San Carlos.

Naa man gani koy usa diha nga nakit-an nga magkugos na sa iyaang anak nga magpakilimos sa mga botika dinhi sa siyudad ug usahay anha sa mga bakery. Nahinabi nako ang usa sa mga dako sa City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) si Madam Vicky Boteros ug matud pa niya dili kay kausa sila gipahimangnu-an sa pagbalik na sa ilahang panimalay apan mawala lang kuno ug usa ka gabie pagka ugma naa na sad.

Matud pa ni Ma’am Boteros duna kini silay mga panimalay. Ug naa pa gyuy lain nakong naobserbaha nga dunay mga tawo nga wala sa ilahang tarong nga panghunahuna nga dia gasuroysuroy sa atuang siyudad nga uban dili taga ato kay ang uban nila mag-Hiniligaynon man.

Mga talan-awon nga dali ra kaayo madiparahan ug angay nga tagaan ug pagtagad, mao kining mga butanga. Sama anang nangatulog sa daplin sa mga building ug pangusgan gyud na sa CSWDO uban sa atong mga Barangay Opisyal ug kapulisan sa pagsikop kanila matag gabie. Kaning mga katawhan usab nga magpakabana aning mga wala sa saktong pangisip sa pagbantay ug kinsa ang gahulog aning mga tawhana dinhi sa atong siyudad. Siguro makat-on kining mga tawhana sa pagpuyo sa ilahang mga panimalay ug maputol na usab kining mga sakyanan nga mohulog ani nila diri sa ato.

Ang atong siyudad padulong na sa pag-uswag ug dili na gyud ni mahitabong muatras pa ni ug balik ubos aning mga opisyales nga nagdala sa renda sa pangagamhanan sa siyudad sa San Carlos. Tabangan nato sa paghinahinay pagsumpo ang mga sagbot sa katilingban para maklaro nato ang atong padulngan sa ulahi.

2015-02-27T05:07:00.001-08:00

February 21-28, 2015
Calatrava cop
gunned down
Death threats, gambling, drug cases

drive investigation
February 23, 2015—Calatrava policeman, who was active in anti-criminality operations, was gunned down on V. Gustilo Street, near the old City Hall building.


	Lawman, family man. SPO2 Edsel L. Villanueva is widely known for his anti-drug and anti-gambling operations.Photo source: facebook.com

Special Police Officer 2 Edsel L. Villanueva, 40 years old, married with five children, a resident of Burgos Street, San Carlos City, and assigned to Calatrava Municipal Police Office was shot thrice while riding on his motorcycle on his way home.

Motorcycle crime
The unidentified gunman, who was also on a motorcycle, fired two fatal shots to Villanueva’s left side body causing the victim to lose his balance on the motorcycle. Then, as the victim has fallen, the gunman fired a third shot to his chest before speeding away.
San Carlos City Police Office (SCCPO) recovered three fired empty cartridges and two fired bullets of .45 caliber pistol on the crime scene.
According to San Carlos PNP, San Carlos City Hospital physician on-duty Dr. Romeo Agraviador found that one wound did not have an exit point thus one more bullet was left in the victim’s body.
Villanueva was immediately brought to SCCH but was already dead upon arriving at the emergency room.
Based on eye-witness accounts, the suspect was also riding a motorcycle and drove along Villanueva as he fired the first two shots at a range of about two meters. Contrary to initial reports, the suspect was alone and was not riding-in-tandem with an ally.
SCCPO investigators found that Villanueva struggled to defend himself after he fell. He was able to draw his service pistol but because he received fatal shots, he was not able to fire it. His pistol was recovered from the crime scene and it’s safety pin had been released.
Death threats
SCCPO Deputy Police Chief Jansen Tiglao told NewsRecord that after the initial investigations, they now have an identified suspect. The city policemen is now in hot-pursuit operation against the killer of their fellow lawman.
However, Tiglao refused to disclose the motive of the crime. He admitted that investigators are exploring various angles that include his work at the Calatrava Police Station and even his personal life.
What is presently clear is that Villanueva have been receiving death threats for months, a fact which is known both to PInsp. Mark Angelo Junco, present Calatrava PNP Chief, and to his father, Froilan Villanueva, a retired Calatrava police chief himself.
Accomplished team leader
In a phone interview with NewsRecord, Junco said that before he was assigned as Villanueva’s chief, the victim had been receiving death threats in connection to a drug-related murder case he filed.
Junco added that Villanueva is Calatrava PNP’s main team leader in most of its anti-crime operations that included apprehending suspects on the ‘most wanted persons’ list, illegal drugs campaign, illegal logging, and illegal gambling. Most of the police office’s accomplishment in 2014 were led by Villanueva.
However, the Calatrava police chief refused to pinpoint which of those cases is directly linked to the police officer’s murder.
Although, Junco and Villanueva’s other colleagues in the Calatrava station did not submit their affidavits to SCCPO, Junco maintained that they are in close coordination for the investigation of the case. Some elements of Calatrava PNP are now with San Carlos policemen in the hot-pursuit operation against the suspect.
‘Nothing to worry’
Meanwhile, when asked if San Carlos residents should now be wary of rising crimes in the city, Tiglao said that this murder case committed on the street on an early evening is just an isolated case and that SCCPO is still doing its best to keep the community safe.
“Actually, ginagawa naming buong effort naming. Lahat ng patrol nasa labas,” said Tiglao. He added that checkpoints are active on the highways and in fact it was the immediate dispatch of a checkpoint that led to an early progress of the investigation.
On the Calatrava side, Junco assured that Villanueva’s loss would not mean a break from police operations against crime. If anything, that their comrade was gunned down has ‘encouraged’ them to continue, even intensify their anti-crime effort.
Provincial phenomenon
SPO2 Villanueva is the third cop in Negros Occidental who was killed this year. The other two cases are positively drug-related.
Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon has recently spoken of intensifying the campaign against illegal drugs after the deaths of Police Officer 2 Jan Gallenero Jr. of La Carlota City Police Office, who was allegedly shot by his colleagues, PO1 Jackie Aizpuro and Randy Gelboria; civilian Randy Coray and five other unidentified suspects on January 27. He was followed by Senior Police Officer 4 Roger Cañete of Silay City Police Office who was allegedly killed by PO2 Reynaldo Bernil and civilian asset Carlo Riosora on February 18.
Marañon is apparently very concerned on these cases that he ordered Senior Supt. Milko Lirazan, director of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO), to conduct drug tests randomly among policemen in the province.

2015-02-27T05:01:00.000-08:00

Random Thoughts
By Polybius Gracchus

Totally unforgivable

1. P-Noy tried to extricate himself from an abominable hole of his own making of not being present at the arrival honors at Villamor Airbase for the fallen SAF 44 soldiers, by insisting that the Mitsubishi affair he honored with his presidential attendance was scheduled ahead.

2. To be effective, the Presidency requires two functions, different from one another, that demands the ability on the part of the office holder to perform them both at the same time. A little hard perhaps but no one can move the nation and carry out his goals successfully if he cannot discharge these two functions in cadence. The balancing act determines the greatness of a leader.
3. According to American historian Forrest McDonald, the first is the ceremonial function, the function of the king, the head of state, the father of his people, involving ceremony and ritual, and the other is the chief executive officer; the first is practically 'showbiz,' the other requires attention to detail, hard-nosed practical sense, and the twisting of arms. The one is ruling and the other one is governing.
4. It is this dual function contained in our Constitution, an engraftment from the American constitutional system. Few Filipino presidents have achieved this delicate balance. President Manuel Quezon was an exemplar of this balance, as was Marcos during his first term. To some extent, President Erap exhibited his understanding of this balance but failed to show it in full bloom during his abbreviated presidency.
5. In modern times the first function has become even more important than the actual responsibility of governing the country: the brief tenure of JFK and the Reagan era come to mind. Even gifted politicians have failed as presidents because they ignored or misunderstood the purely ceremonial part of the office. It's the difference between the powers of the president which are clearly enumerated in the Constitution and his authority which depends upon how he discharges them in accordance with persuasive skills and personal charisma.
6. P-Noy's snubbing of the arrival honors at the Villamor Air Base is a glaring example of the neglect of the first function of his office.
President Obama always makes it a point to drop his scheduled foreign meetings in favor of domestic problems especially of tragic events involving the American people. When he failed to either personally attend or send a representative to join 3.7 million solidarity march at the Plaza de la Republique in Paris in the aftermath of the terrorist attack on Charlie Hebdo, he readily admitted his mistake and apologized. P-Noy never did and his subsequent decision to stay at the wake of the fallen SAF soldiers was anticlimactic and came only after the almost universal condemnation by his own people.
7. P-Noy never understood the function of theater of his office. The members of his own immediate staff were no better. It is our ardent hope that his successor in office will learn from the mistakes of his immediate predecessor.

2015-02-27T04:45:00.002-08:00

All Baby Talk
By Georgene Rhena P. Quilaton-Tambiga

Homemade delights

Nothing is not instant today.
During the boom of the working mother generation, everything became instant and disposable including, of course, baby food.

I am one of the working mothers who struggle to maintain a part-time job just to be a hands-on mother full time—a feat that looks impossible, no less. But every morning, heavy eyelids and eye bags aside, I wake up before my children do to cook my baby girl baby food.

Applesauce and rice porridge plus breastmilk.

When I and my two bundles attended a children’s party recently and I fed my girl with mashed rice and carrots infused with mashed broccoli, another working mom got amazed. She told how, with her two kids, she was never able to prepare such Spartan but nutritious delights to her young because she hasn’t got the time. Always, she resorted to boxed baby food that only requires hot water and it’s good to go.
Back when my little boy was still on the baby food stage, I resorted to boxed cereals and preserved vegetables in glass jars, too. I thought they were the best things I could feed my baby but after months of struggle on the high chair because he has such a picky palate and a three-spoonful appetite I knew I had it wrong. That, after all, an Ilongga supermom who once told me never to give my kids boxed cereals was right.
Preparing baby food is easy as one, two, three. The Internet is replete with recipes, sure, but it is also important to note that most of the ingredients those recipes list are either not available here or are too expensive for a crumbling budget. So, I stick to what is available in bagsakan, the Sunday farmer’s market we have at the bus terminal.
I started off my girl with the Filipino classic lugaw. Preparing this does not only involve putting a heap of water over a fistful of rice but it takes constant stirring and mashing of rice while the pot is boiling, that is if you do not have a baby food blender or processor just like me. Gently scoop the boiling rice using the back of the ladle to the sides of the pot or just flatten it out until you get the ‘Cerelac’ consistency. This should do for baby’s first food for her first week of solids.

Mushy steamed apples ready for mashing.

For working mothers like me, baby meals can be prepared in the morning. I usually prepare one batch for the three meals of the day. When my working schedule for the next day would be hectic I prepare for two days and divide the batch into two so that the other half goes straight into the fridge when it cools. I can just add a little more water to it and place it on the heat again the next day.
In the US, many mothers prepare baby meals good for a week or even a month. But this is only fine for those who have deep freezer system at home to guarantee freshness.
Mother’s milk also does wonders in making home-prepared baby food even more delicious and nutritious than they already are. To soften up your lugaw add expressed breastmilk when it has cooled. Do not add breastmilk while the pot is still boiling or as you have just removed it from the heat because this will ruin the quality of the milk. Remember to add breastmilk only to one batch of meal to make sure that the whole batch you prepared does not become stale.
Another nutritious easy-to-cook baby delight is one made of apples. The applesauce meal is so easy to prepare but it would require good quality Washington apples, something that we do not have everyday here. I was just luck that it was Christmas time when I got my baby girl on her first month of solids.
After washing whole, unpeeled apples thoroughly put them on a steamer or on a rice cooker with a steaming contraption, and steam away!
Do not put too much water for steaming as the apples’ juices will drip down and mix with the water and this too can be used for adjusting the consistency of your applesauce later on. Poke the apples with fork and when they are mushy, they are ready for mashing. Remove the skin as you mash. The water with apple juice dripping (you will see that the steaming water will change in color) may be added to make the meal more watery if the baby prefers a watery meal, or breastmilk can do the same trick.
Refrigerate the extra. If carefully handled, the batch can last up to three days without need to freeze.
Then, there is the other Filipino classic monggo delight that even the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) recommend to Filipino mothers. Just get a good batch of green monggo which is very common in the market. Wash the beans thoroughly and boil. The same technique as with the lugaw must be applied, constant stirring and mashing. When it reaches ‘Cerelac’ (Gerber, if you prefer) consistency, then it is good to feed baby while she’s comfortably set on her high chair.
Both monggo and apple preparations can be mixed with lugaw.
These recipes are tried and tested. They do not contain salt or artificial sugar or flavoring and I do not ever add anything extra to add color or to preserve them. I shall share more recipes that I and my baby have personally tried.
After all, mother prepares the best.

2015-02-27T04:43:00.002-08:00

Bokabularyong Binisaya

Ni Roger Mar Lasco

Lagda sa paggamit

sa ‘U’ ug ‘O’

Pasiuna
Kining maong lagda gipanday ug gilig-on sa Akadamiya sa Dilang Bisaya (ABAKADA) diin si kanhi Presidente Carlos P. Garcia ug kanhi Bise-Presidente Emmanuel Pelaez maoy mga patron.

Ang bokal (vowel) nga ‘U’ anha gamita sa una ug sulod nga mga silaba sa pulong lintunganay o gamut pulong (rootword) ug ang bokal nga ‘O’ anha gamita sa katapusang silaba sa mga pulong lintunganay.
Dili apil sa lagda ang mga pulong sinagop kon hinulaman (borrowed) kini sulaton nga ilisan ang mga konsonante (consonant) apan magpabilin ang mga bokal sa orihinal.
Pananglitan ang Kinatsilang ‘filosopo,’ ug sa Bisaya mahimong ‘pilosopo.’ Ang Iningles nga ‘color’ ug Binisay-on ‘kolor,’ uban pa…
1. Katapusang silaba – ‘O’ Ang gamiton sa katapusang silaba sa ‘rootword’ nga lintunganay nga pulong.
Pananglitan – pako, dako, tulo, matod, nasod, lungsod, balod, gakos, barog, taob, tarutot, huyuhoy, himo, panimalos, hisgot, ug uban pa. Eksipsiyon – Dili usbon ang bokal sa mga pulong hinulaman, ‘borrowed word’ sa Kinatsila, Iningles, Linatin ug uban pa. Pananglitan – birtud, espiritu, asul, kolor, memorandum, kolum, uban pa.
2. Una ug sulod nga silaba – Sa mga pulong lintunganay ‘U’ ang gamiton sa una ug sulod nga mga silaba pananglitan; unang silaba – bughat, kusi, dugho, bugan, sud-an, tul-an, ulan, tulon, gubat, bugti, dughit, gusbat, ug uban pa.
Sulod nga mga silaba – hapuhap, pangutana, habo-habo, matuod (truth), tinuod (true), bitoon, taudtaod, sagonson, haguka, hinuon, turutot, bukobuko, hugonhugon, puhunan, uban pa.

Eksipsiyon – sama sa unang lagda (rule) magpabilin ang mga bokal, sa mg apulong hinulaman (borrowed word). Pananglitan: tono (tone), bola (ball), pulis (police), abogado (lawyer), boto (vote), kota (quota), polo (shirt), sobre, sobra, poso (artesian well), kombento (convent), oras.
3. Mga pulong nga linanggikitan (affixed) magpabilin ang ‘U’ ug ‘O’ sa mga pulong lintunganay (rootword) o gamot pulong, pananglitan: himoon – gikan sa pulong ‘himo,’ gisumputan sa –on. Himoan – gikan sa ‘himo’ gisumpotan sa –an. Handomanan – gikan sa ‘handom’ o gisumpotan sa –anan. Kalungsoran – gikan sa ‘lungsod’ gikalinggitan sa ka- ug gisumpotan sa –an. Kalibotan – gikan sa ‘libot’ gilanggikitan sa ka- ug gisomputan sa –an. Sulogoon – gikan sa ‘sugo’ gisal-otan sa –u lug gisompotan sa –on.
4. Kapital ‘U’ sa silabang balikbalikon ang ‘u’ ang silabang gibalikbalik angay magpabilin. Pananglitan, tudlo-magtutudlo, sulat-magsusulat, hukom-maghuhukom uban pa.
5. Ang ‘U’ ug ‘O’ dili angay usbon sa mga pulong lintunganay (rootword) nga balikbalikon sa paglitok sa pagpasabot sa lihok, gibalikbalik o sa butang ingon-ingon sa kon ug sa kakulang ug dili sama sa butang nga gitandian. Ang mga pulong sama niini ulangon sa giyon – hyphen – pananglitan lukso-lukso, pula-pula, tigom-tigom, dakop-dakop, buot-buot, humok-humok, kaon-kaon, inom-inom, hubo-hubo, hubog-hubog, itom-itom, dula-dula, payag-payag, tagsa-tagsa, ug uban pa.
6. Adunay mga pulong binalikbalik apan dili mga lintunganay (rootword) busa ang ‘u’ ug ang ‘o’ magsunod sa lagda nga sa numero uno ug dos. Pananglitan: taudtaud, hunahuna, hugonhugon, bukobuko, habohabo, kasingkasing, bagolbagol, dihadiha, duhaduha, habalhabal, tubatuba, ug uban pa.

Ipadayon sa sunod gula.

2015-02-27T04:16:00.000-08:00

Soldier’s Pen
By BGen. Alexander Cabales (Ret.)

Mama Sapano:

a surgical operation

In the early phase of the inquiries involving the Mama Sapano debacle, one senior PNP officer said that the SAF (Special Action Force) operation against international terrorist, Zulkifli Bin Hiralyas, aka “Marwan,” was a “surgical operation” of sorts. Few people might have picked up the term that he used as he didn’t bother to explain it at all.

“Surgical operation” is a medical term involving an incision using special instruments performed by a well-trained doctor in order to repair damage or arrest disease in a living body. As a general rule, it involves the cutting of a patient’s tissues or closure of a previously sustained wound. It is an invasive procedure - one that penetrates or breaks the skin or enters a body cavity.
Marwan was a high value target, who, for several, has years evaded the normal “search and destroy” type of military or police operations. He has lived amongst the MILF and BIFF communities since 2003 and several attempts to capture him failed for various reasons.
Many say that he was being coddled (to say it mildly) by the MILF with whom the Philippine government is forging a peace pact. Hence, there was a need to conduct invasive actions. This kind of operation which is always characterized by element of surprise, lethal and precise execution, and timely and speedy conduct of the operations, was meant to be isolated from the provisions of the peace agreement being a legitimate law enforcement function.
Most of the previous operations against Marwan failed mainly because he was forewarned thus allowing him to evade the military or police forces. Surprise therefore is a key element to the success of the mission.The enemy should not know of your plan so that he could not prepare accordingly. Even friendly forces or agencies may be left in the dark in order to avoid information leaks. This explains why the SAF did not inform the AFP of the impending operations because their participation was felt to be unnecessary at that time. The application of the “need to know” principle on the other agencies and the MILF as well was meant for the same reason. Foremost, however, was to deny Marwan with the usual mass base support from the community around him. In the case of the Mama Sapano operations, the SAF surprised Marwan and his security personnel and they were able to get him.
Just like in a medical surgical operation, the SAF had advanced information of the target, its operational environment and other conditions or factors that may affect his courses of action. Thus the act of neutralizing Marwan was very deliberate, lethal and precise. They were able to contain the action to a small and specific area without disturbing the nearby villages at first. However, they tarried in the vicinity after accomplishing their mission which should not have been the case.
The swiftness in which Marwan was neutralized may have been in accordance with the SAF time table. The succeeding sequence of actions after completing their mission, however, was not. Ideally, they could have vacated the area as fast as they came in. And before the enemy forces became aware of their invasive action, they would have long been gone. Yet, we learned that the assaulting and the blocking elements of the SAF did not vacate the area immediately after completing their mission. They tarried and even had breakfast (of chocolates as reported) in the vicinity of the action. This allowed the MILF and the BIFF to react and the rest was history.
There are three errors that I have seen that may have been forced on the SAF perhaps much against their tactical judgments. First, the SAF assaulting element proceeded with the operations even if their blocking forces were not yet in their designated areas. This condition makes them vulnerable to enemy maneuvers and counter attacks. Normally, that condition would have been a reason to abort the operation but they did not. Were they told to go ahead despite this? Why was there an urgency to complete the mission on that specific time frame? Was it part of an unfolding greater political scenario?
The second possible error was why did they linger on in the area near the initial encounter site inside a corn field when their tactical doctrine tells them it is an unsafe position? Where they told to stay put to act as a security force for the arrival of an important personality? Was the corn field meant to be a helipad?
The third was about the role of the more than 300 SAF personnel near the highway some three to four kilometers away. Why didn’t they reinforce their beleaguered comrades when they learned that they were out-maneuvered and massacred like chickens? Were they really meant to be the reserve force? Why so big a “reserve” force when military doctrine says that the main force (assaulting) should have priority of forces, followed by the supporting/blocking force and the reserve last?
Normally, the reserve force is less than or at most equal to the main effort. In this case, the main force was only less than 40 personnel and the blocking force about the same number. Were they ordered not to reinforce in order not to escalate the hostilities and “preserve” the government peace initiatives? Were the 300 SAF elements who were not engaged prepositioned as security forces in anticipation of the arrival of a VIP in the area?
We really do not know the answers as to why the SAF committed these blunders. All that we can do is to speculate.
The SAF is like the scalpel, a sharp instrument that can make precise and neat cuts where they are needed in order to remove or cure the sick part of the patient without unnecessarily tearing his healthy and unaffected flesh. This instrument made of the best metal and created for a special purpose has to be wielded by an experienced surgeon. In the hands of a monkey, the scalpel can do more damage and can kill the patient instead.

2015-02-27T04:04:00.004-08:00

Pikpik sa Abaga
By Henry Sandoval

Dinakpanay

Mipahigayon ug usa ka hinugpong nga pagpanakop sa mga motor nga walay insakto nga papeles ug mga driver nga walay lisensya ang Land Transportation Office (LTO), Philippine National Police (PNP), ug ang traffic enforcer niadtong milabay nga mga semana.

Ubay-ubay gyud ang nahunong nga mga motor diha dapit sa may City Hall. Kani maoy lehitimo nga dakop kay duna may TOP nga iisyu nimo ug adto gyud nimo lukaton ang imong lisensya sa LTO Office. Ug ang kwarta nga matigum sa dinakpan mabalik kini sa mga proyekto sa matag siyudad. Dili pareho sa ubang dakop nga ang lukat adto padulong sa ilahang bulsa ug wala pa gyud resibo ihatag nimo.
Sa mga dagko ning siyudad gihimu-an na nag-entrapment operation. Dugay ra unta nang nalagpot sa katungdanan. Pero basin pa diay matalang ang BITAG dinhi sa atua ug maka-timing ba. Usahay ra ba ning gaba dili magsaba, mokalit rag abot. Apan sa miaging dakop dunay ginikanan nga mireklamo nga hasta motor sa iyahang anak nga ga-parking dinha sa Julio Ledesma National High School gidakop man ug apil sa nag-rooving nga pulis kay walay lisensya ang ga drive. Reklamo sa ginikanan nga nagparking ra man ang motor.
Ug mao nang kalikaha nga hasta nang wala magdagan ubay-ubay gyud kag sitahon kay perting daghanang motor diha City Hall nga ga parking. Labot ba na, Sir? Kanang ga-parking dakpon sad? Pwede siguro kong ang motor nga gaparking gigamit sa paghimo ug dautan unya identified ang motor nga maoy gigamit. Pwede sad siguro dakpon kung ang motor nakabangga unya gibiyaan ra sa dalan ang biktima, pananglitan. Pero ug nagparking ra unya estudyante ang maong solterito dili siguro ka ka sita.

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Misuol na sad ang sakit sa mga kawatan ug mga linya sa Parasat dinha sa may Kaingat. Natingala na lang ang mga panimalay nga dunay linya sa Cable nga wa na silay makita nga programa sa ilahang television. Gatuo silag mi brown out ang linya sa PARASAT. Sa dihang ilahang gisubay perting pagkadisgrasyaha kay ang cable wire nga linyada sa Parasat putol na man. Naa na sad nang operasyon sa kukhan ug kamot nga mamutol ug kuryente sa Parasat.
Pastilan ug matimingan ang linyada sa NONECO ang makaptan igo ra gyud kang ingnon nga, “Merisi!”
Ang kanang pagpangawat panginabuhi na siya basta dili ka madakpan. Pero ug sa higayon nga madakpan ka sigurado gyud ka makatilaw sa kisameng puthaw sa atong detention cell. Naa pay pahungawan sa imohang gikaon nga naa ra sad sa tapad sa imohang gihigdaan.