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Punto! Luzon
www.punto.com.ph
P 8.00
Central
Volume 8
Number 23
Thu - Sat
October 9 - 11, 2014
PANANAW NG MALAYANG PILIPINO!
Pelco 2: From bad to worse
M
By Ding Cervantes
ABALACAT CITY- From bad
to worse, from dumb to
dumber.
The Pampanga Electric Cooperative 2 (Pelco
2) serving this city and
five other towns in this
province has been criticized as becoming more
anti-consumer.
In many areas, it has
pooled electric meters
on common posts beyond the easy monitoring of consumers. Its
personnel slip electric
bills, which look like digital receipts from departPage 8 please
only for 2014
Oct. 13, 24 non-working
special holidays in AC
ANGELES CITY- Pres.
Aquino has granted the
“request” of Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan to
make Oct. 13 and 24
here special non-working
holidays to enable local
folk to mark their monthlong “Fiestang Kuliat.”
In issuing Proclamation No. 886 “by authority of the President,”
Executive Sec. Paquito
Ochoa said that “in order for the people of the
City of Angeles to celebrate and participate in
the event, the City Mayor
has requested that Monday and Friday, October
13 and 24, respectively,
be declared non-working
days.”
Page 8 please
WHEEL OF FUN. Now standing at SM City Pampanga is the Philippines’ tallest Ferris wheel,
the centerpiece of an amusement park slated to open in November. Photo by Bong Lacson
More Hacienda Dolores
families receive land titles
By Ashley Manabat
Our Land. Wilfredo Alvarado, Pacita Caser, Herminio Beltran,
Dominador Ignacio, Federico Tolentino and Rodolfo Santiago hold
their land titles as Regina F. Magbitang, project officer of Leonio Land,
Archbishop Emeritus Paciano Aniceto and Angelito Dizon also of Leonio
Land stand withess to the occasion. Contributed photo
PORAC, Pampanga -More families have received their own certificates of land title where
their homes were built
for free at a relocation
site in Barangay Hacienda Dolores here where
the Leonio Land Holdings Inc.-Ayala Land Inc.
partnership has started
the development of the
P75-billion
mixed-use
business hub and lei-
sure in Central Luzon.
Most Rev. Paciano
B. Aniceto, archbishop
emeritus of San Fernando together with representatives of the LLL
Holdings Inc. led the distribution of land titles to
75 more families during
the recent fiesta celebration.
Social Action Center
of Pampanga (SACOP)
chairman Fr. Francis
“Kiko” Dizon accompanied Aniceto and six
other priests who concelebrated Mass before
distributing the land title
certificates.
Town officials led
by
Mayor
Condralito “Carling” Dela Cruz,
Vice Mayor Dexter David and Councilor Mark
Valencia attended the
occasion.
LLLHI donated 27
hectares for the relocated families, including the
lot where the Hacienda
Page 8 please
Senate gives VP Binay one last chance to defend himself
The Senate Blue Ribbon
Sub-Committee hearing the
allegations of over-pricing in
the construction of the Makati
Parking Building on Wednesday gave Vice-President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay and his
son Mayor Erwin “Junjun”
Binay one last chance to face
charges of corruption by attending the committee’s next
hearing.
The father and son tandem
had questioned the jurisdiction
of the Sub-Committee to conduct hearings on the charges
but were ruled out after the
Blue Ribbon Committee itself chaired by Sen. Teofisto “TG” Guingona III gave the
Sub-Committee the power to
resolve the issue.
Citing the attendance of
Mayor Binay and the Makati City officers themselves
during the initial hearing of the
sub-committee, Chair Aquilino
“Koko” Pimentel III said many
other acts of alleged corruption in the Makati Parking
Building construction has surfaced since then; issues the
sub-committee cannot ignore.
During the hearing, former Makati vice mayor Ernesto Mercado also revealed that
Binay had not really divested
himself of a 350-hectare farm
in Rosario, Batangas but has
nominally transferred its ownership only to dummy corporations and personages.
The farm, which started
out as a nine-hectare piece
of land, now has an air-conditioned piggery, a nursery for
orchids run by former mayor
Elenita Binay, fighting cockfarm, horse-farm, man-made
lagoon, a swimming pool and
a large house with a 40-car
garage and a servants quarters.
Mercado alleged that Mrs.
Binay use to invite wives of
municipal and city mayors
near Batangas to the farm,
which also features a maze
garden patterned after the
Kew Gardens in London visited by the Vice-President and
Mrs. Binay in 2007 accompanied by the former vice-mayor.
The 350 hectare farm was
first transferred to AgriFortuna headed by supposed Binay
finance officer Gerardo Limlingan when Binay became
Vice President. Later on, when
the hearings on the Makati Parking Building began, it
was transferred to Greenergy Corporation and then to
Sunchamp Agri-Tourism Park,
both headed by Antonio Tiu.
According to Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, Tiu turned out to
also be the owner of Mabuhay
2000, the supplier of alleged
over-priced beds for the Ospital ng Makati.
In the course of the hearing, the Commission on Audit,
through Commissioner Jose
Fabia, admitted that initial
results of COA’s special audit revealed that there were
anomalies in the construction
of the Parking Building.
The next hearing has yet to
be announced.
Tunay na presyo ng resthouse ni Purisima
kwestiyon pa rin kahit binuksan sa media
Punto! Central Luzon • October 9 - 11, 2014 • Thursday - Saturday
Ni Armand M. Galang
2
SAN LEONARDO, Nueva Ecija - Isang 3,000-square meter
Vigan-inspired landscaped na
bakuran. May 204-square meter main house, isang guest
house, gazebo, garahe, nakahiwalay na konkretong dirty
kitchen, swimming pool at lagoon.
Ang main house ay may limang silid – master bedroom
at dalawang ordinaryong silid sa ibaba at dalawang silid
sa attic na nagsisilbing ikalawang palapag – na walang
laman na anumang kasang-
kapan sa loob maliban sa
kama, unan, kumot at mesita, may dining table sa gitna
na sa karaniwang set-up ay
posibleng maging sala kung
saan rin matatagpuan ang bar
(may mga bote ng sari-saring
alak), electric stove at refrigerator), isa pang kusina sa likod
ng bar, may hindi kukulangain
sa anim na split-type air-conditioning units (batay sa mga box
na matatapuan sa likurang bahagi ng bahay) at isang maliit
na LED television set.
Ang guesthouse ay may
apat na silid, may sariling bar,
lagoon mula sa ilalim ng ve-
randa hanggang sa tagiliran,
tila maliliit na pool na sinasabing Jacuzzi at yari sa bakal at
konkreto.
Dahong anahaw ang bubong, mga kahoy na haligi,
makakapal na kahoy na dining table at upuan at billiard
table ang gazebo at sa tabi
nito ay isang maliit na kubong
kawayan.
Ang garahe ay maikukumpara ang floor area ng isang karaniwang cuatro aguas na bahay ng karaniwang Pilipino, na
may konkretong guardhouse.
Hiwalay ito sa isang bahay na
walang pintura (maikukumpa-
ra rin sa bahay ng mga karaniwang Pilipino, na nasa bungad
ng compound sa main gate.
May sariling water tank at
electric transformer.
Ito ang ilan sa mga pinakamapapansin sa bahagi ng
4.5-ektrayang lupain ni Philippine National Police Director Gen. Alan Purisima sa Barangay Magpapalayok, San
Leonardo, Nueva Ecija na
sentro ngayon ng kontrobersiya matapos mahalungkat ng
media.
Binuksan ang resthouse
ng heneral sa media nitong
Lunes sa gitna ng mainit na
batikos sa PNP chief. Ayon kay Atty. Tito Purisima, pinsan ng kontroibersiyal
na opisyal, nagdesisyon ang
heneral na ipakita na sa media
ang kanyang bahay dito upang iwanan na sa publiko ang
paghuhusga kung ito nga ay
isang tunay na mansion, kagaya ng sinasabi sa mga ulat. “Noon pong Senate hearing, ipinaliwanag po ni Chief
PNP itong bahay na ito pero
kahit ano pa pong pagpapaliwanang ang kanyang gagawin, ang nasa isip ng ating mga
kababayan ay yung napanood
nila na film clip na kung saan
kinunan po itong lugar mula sa
himpapawid,” ayon sa abogado.
Nagpahiwatig pa siya ng
hinala na sumailalim sa pagdu-duktor ang videp footage
na lumalabas sa telebisyon.
“Sa atin pong maghusga sa
bahay na ito, tingnan po natin
kung ito po ay matatawag na
mansion,” aniya.
Dalawa silang abogado,
ang isa pa ay si Atty. Toby Purisima na pinsan rin ng heneral. Ngunit kapwa sila tumangging sumagot sa mga tanong
na magdi-detalye, kabilang na
ang halaga ng ari-arian.
“Binansagan din po na
isang Olympic size na swimming pool. Pero kung hindi po
ako nagkakamali, ang Olympic size na swimming pool ay
50 meters by 25 meters. Ang
sukat lang po nito ay 7.5 meters by 15 meters,” sabi ni
Purisima.
Sa kanyang statement of
assets, liabilities and net worth
ay P3.7 million ang idineklara
ng heneral na halaga ng
kanyang ari-arian sa bayang
ito.
Pero ayon sa mga ulat ay
nasa P3-milyon hanggang
P50-milyon ang halaga ng
kontrobersiyal na ari-arian.
Sa briefing ay kinwestiyon
ni Atty. Purisima ang naturang
ulat ngunit nang tanungin kung
magkano talaga ay iginiit niya
na hindi siya ang dapat sumagot at walang kasamang open
forum ang pagbubukas sa media ng resthouse.
Hindi aniya kasi nakarating ang talagang spokesperson ni Purisima at nagsasalita
lamang siya bilang resulta ng
raffle sa kanilang grupo kung
sino ang haharap sa media.
Binuksan ang mga silid ng
bahay, kabilang ang silid ni
Purisima, ngunit mahigpit na
ipinagbawal ang pumasok sa
mga ito.
6 nabbed for ‘spider derby’
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO It’s yet another police raid of
a gambling den. This time, it’s
“pasapot” which involves spiders kept in matchboxes.
Those arrested were not
playful children, but six adults
whose age ranged from 29 to
68.
Gerona, Tarlac police chief
Supt. Ariel Rebancos Red
said the suspects were arrested after a police raid last
Sunday revealed they were
engaged in a “spider derby” in
a house in Barangay Apsay-
an in Gerona.
“Perhaps it is only in the
Philippines where harmless
spiders are betted on to kill
each other in such derby,”
Red said.
“I thought spider fighting
was only a game played by
children. But now spiders are
for real adults engaged in real
gambling,” Red added.
In his report to Tarlac police director Senior Supt. Alex
Sintin, Red identified those
arrested as Leonardo Ubaldo, 65, from Sto. Domingo
town, Nueva Ecija; Rogelio
Lactaoen, 68, from Maasin,
Pura, Tarlac; Christopher Ramos, 32, from Apsayan, Wilson Gragasin, 33, from Poblacion 3, Jay-Ar Ventura,
29, and Alfredo Manuel, 29,
both of Barangay Danzo, all
in Gerona.
“Para pa lang guerilla ang
pagpapatakbo ng ‘pasapot’,
araw-araw nililipat sa ibatibang barangay kaya hindi namin kaagad na-monitor,” said Red who is on his
fourth month as police chief
of Gerona.
The raiding team was
composed of PO2 Ronald Ramos, Gerona police Intel Unit
head, PO2 Johannes Niegos,
PO2 Mike Lester Bustillos,
PO3 Domingo Pascua, PO2
Vic Perez, PO2 Joseph Nunag and Gerona police intelligence chief Inspector Joel
Natalicio Gamboa.
Apsayan Barangay Chairman Nestor Austria denied
knowing “pasapot” operations
in his barangay. “Ngayon lang
nagkaroon ng ganyang pasugal dito sa aming barangay”,
Austria said.
Red said the six arrested
persons were charged with illegal gambling or violation of
Republic Act 9287.
“Seryoso ang kapulisan
ng Gerona, huhulihin naming lahat ang mga pasugalan
dito”, said Red who had also
ordered a halt to illegal gambling operations, including
popular sakla and monte operations in his town.
Punto! Central Luzon • October 9 - 11, 2014 • Thursday - Saturday
By Ding Cervantes
3
We’ve got mail. Photo
courtesy of
Fun with old mailbox.
Photo
SMCK
by
Bong Lacson
Pinasaya at SM City Pampanga, SM City Clark
PhlPost celebrates letter writing
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO –
They write mail.
Some 200 students from
the Sta. Cruz Academy of
Lubao and the Dominican
School of Mexico tried their
hand Thursday in what has
become old-fashion communications – letter-writing
– at the SM City Pampanga
Events Center here,
ippine Postal Corp. (PhlPost)
in partnership with SM SuperAt SM City Clark, the same malls.
event was attended by 122 elThe event is part of Suementary students from Sta. lat Mulat, a postal awareness
Maria Elem School and Spe- campaign with three-fold obcial Education School Ange- jective of developing the writles City with 22 special chil- ing skills of students, helping
dren with hearing impairment. them hone their composition
This, at the 2nd Nation- skills, and foster enjoyment
al Letter-Writing Day held of sending and receiving letin celebration of World Post ter through the postal office.
Day, sponsored by the PhilGiven some minutes to
write letters to anyone they
would wish to communicate
with, the students were thereafter asked to drop their letters at an old mailbox.
It was a first experience to
most of the students, finding
novelty in the mailbox. Some
did not even know the slot
in the mail box where they
would drop their letters.
With support from the Department of Education and
the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, Sulat Mulat aims to “reintroduce the art of letter-writing to students and encourage them more to use letters
as means of communication
in today’s digital age.
An annual event of PhlPost, the National Letter-Writing Day is pushed to be institutionalized through a presidential proclamation.
– Bong Z. Lacson
DA-PhilMech turns over P2.4M tramline system in Floridablanca
Punto! Central Luzon • October 9 - 11, 2014 • Thursday - Saturday
By Joel P. Mapiles
PIO Pampanga
4
FLORIDABLANCA, Pampanga --- The Department of Agriculture –Philippine Center
for Postharvest and Mechaniztion (DA-PhilMech) turned
over yesterday to Governor
Lilia Nanay Pineda and Mayor
Eduardo Guerrero an Agricultural Tramline System (ATS)
for the transport of agricultural products in the upland Barangay of Nabuklod.
The tramline project, worth
P2,489,961 was completed
last June of this year and now
ready to carry at least 350 kilograms of farm produce and
inputs.
With this, the governor
said the provincial government through the support of
DA-PhilMech will also put up
tram line system in Mawacat
and other villages in Floridablanca, Porac towns and Mabalacat City for the benefit of
the Aeta farmers who make a
living in the upland areas of
the province.
Governor Pineda said that
with the construction of the
agricultural tramline system,
the Aeta farmers could now
deliver on time their agricultural produce and production
inputs.
The governor added that
Up There. Gov. Lilia Pineda,
Mayor Eduardo Guerrero, Fr. Jess
Manabat and Barangay Captain Anita
Casupanan test the tramline system.
Photo courtesy of Jun Jaso
Aetas can now maintain the
good quality of vegetables by
the reduction of mechanical
damages.
Engr. Raul R. Paz, acting director III of DA-PhilMech said the tramline system is aimed at minimizing
the drudgery of hauling and
transporting of agricultural
products in the mountainous
areas.
“It also reduces hauling cost and intensive labor,
speed up hauling time in order
for the products to reach market promptly and to increase
farmers’ income,” Paz said.
The Nabuklod ATS is a
bi-cable system with a haul-
ing capacity of 350 kilograms
per trip at the recommended
speed of 100 to 150 meters
per minute.
This tramline with cable
length of 775 meters covers
50 hectares of banana, root
crops, mango and vegetables
grown by 100 upland farmers.
The DA-PhilMech officials
also conducted training on
how to operate and maintain
the ATS among Aeta-farmers,
operators and beneficiaries of
the project.
DA-PHilMech is implementing this project in elevated agricultural zones with
a minimum plantation area of
25 to 30 hectares to make the
tramline economically feasible.
He added that the ATS is
an alternative transport system to be used by farmers in
hauling their agricultural inputs and products in areas far
and set back from road networks by ravines, rivers and
dense vegetation.
Paz explained that based
on the study of DA-PHilMech,
farmers are paying an average hauling cost of P1.50 per
kilogram of the agricultural
products using the traditional
method.
“By means of ATS, farmers
will only have to pay P0.50
per kilogram. The said tariff
will be used for the purchase
of fuel, oil and other maintenance costs, honorarium of
the operators and as additional income of the farmers’ association,” he said.
He further told farmers
to follow the proper maintenance and operating procedures of the tramline project
to keep the facility running for
more than 15 to 20 years.
The Nabuklod ATS has a
safe carrier design, automatic
engine stop, upgraded cable
and meter and double track
cables.
“The establishment of ATS
improved the condition of residential houses in the highland
areas, because construction
materials such as cement,
gravels, etc., can be easily
transported,” Paz added.
The turn-over was witnessed by Second District
Board Member Salvador Dimson, Jr, Nabuklod Barangay
Captain Anita Casupanan,
Honorio Pineda, focal person
of the Indigenous Peoples
(IPs) and members of barangay council.
Red tide back in
Bataan, shellfish
ban raised anew
By Ernie Esconde
BALANGA CITY - Less than two months after Bataan
was declared free from the deadly red tide, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources confirmed
on Saturday the presence of the toxin and imposed
the shellfish ban in the province, the provincial agriculture office announced on Tuesday.
“Nakakalungkot na apektado na naman ang negosyo pero wala tayong magagawa. Bawal ang gathering, pagkain at pagbebenta ng ano mang shellfish
sa Bataan,” provincial agriculturist Imelda Inieto said.
She said that from sunset shell (sulib) and brown
mussels taken from Manila Bay in Samal town, the
samples were positive of the red tide toxin and no
longer fit for human consumption.
Aside from Samal, shellfish are gathered in the
towns of Hermosa, Orani, Abucay, Pilar, Orion, Limay
and Mariveles and the City of Balanga.
Included in the ban are acetes or alamang. Crabs,
shrimps and fishes are safe for eating provided these
are fresh and properly cleaned.
The shellfish ban in Bataan was imposed November, 2013 and only lifted August, 2014.
Cebu Pacific Ad
Festive Flair
Ning Cordero
(L-R) Imerex Plaza Hotel owner Mark
Mercado, consultant Raimond La Madrid,
operations manager Gem Alfonso and
food and beverage executive director
Chef Tiziano Cavallini during the grand
opening last September 25
Stepping inside Imerex Plaza Hotel is like stepping back
into bygone era with its quintessential Hispanic architecture
and modern Filipino touch. The hotel exterior and marvelous
-look of the lobby demand adoring attention – boldly wooden
design, stone and brick walls, striking light fixtures, pretty restrooms and admiring furniture mostly from the masterwork
of famous contemporary artist Agi Pagkatipunan.
Strategically located at the Heritage District of Angeles
City, Imerex Plaza Hotel, the first hotel in the City’s downtown, currently houses 50 comfortable hotel rooms (divided
in three types - standard room, deluxe twin room and executive room). Everything is provided to make each stay worthwhile, room features include 32-inch LED cable TV, air conditioner, mini bar, built-in closet, console table with chair, night
table with lamp shade, water heater, complimentary coffee or
tea set up, free wifi accessibility, IDD and telephone facilities,
complimentary parking for in-house guests and no power interruption. The hotel also caters to social events, seminars,
conferences, product launching, special gatherings and other activities which hold out 2 function rooms with 100 seating
capacity, 2 conference rooms with 15 and 30 seating capacity and 3 KTV rooms.
“The original plan is to make Imerex as a dormitory but
due to suggestions from colleagues, based from surveys
and market needs the owners decided to put up a hotel instead. Since it is located in the heritage district of Angeles
City we patterned and designed it that would compliment with
the heritage district concept of the City. And we are proud of
what’s happening right now we have a lot of bookings and
functions, of course we do not just stick with what we can offer so far but rather welcome any comments and suggestions
from guests to further improve our services,” Gem Alfonso
hotel’s operations manager revealed.
But this is just the whimsy part of Imerex Plaza Hotel; prepare to be gastronomically pampered with the hotel’s pride
- food outlets, as the food and beverage executive director
Chef Tiziano Cavallini whips up delicious Italian gusto.
BEL POSTO RISTORANTE serves authentic Italian cuisine, having said to be the only reliable Italian chef in Pampanga, Chef Tiziano really knows what makes the best Pizze (pizza), Pasta, Risotto and Gelato (Italian ice cream). He
makes pasta and pizza dough from scratch and uses only the
finest ingredients.
UNLI CAFÉ serves international cuisine and unlimited
brewed or espresso coffee for only P 120 enjoy the bottomless coffee. It offers different hot and cold coffee and caffeine-free blends and frappes. Delectable spread of desserts
like Panna Cotta and Mango Tango.
BELLA VISTA is a cocktail bar located at the hotel’s rooftop; it gives a relaxing feel and amazing panoramic view of
Angeles City downtown. It submits long list of alcoholic and
non-alcoholic beverages and sumptuous menu to express
approval of the unwinding ambiance.
Located in Miranda St. Sto. Rosario Angeles City,(045)
458-1245, www.imerexplazahotel.com
Love to hear from you please write me ningcordero20@
gmail.com, instagram@thefestiveflair.
Punto! Central Luzon • October 9 - 11, 2014 • Thursday - Saturday
The impressive
Imerex Plaza Hotel
5
O pinion
Editorial
Punto! Central Luzon • October 9 - 11, 2014 • Thursday - Saturday
RAMON REVILLA Sr. using his real name
Jose Bautista lost in his first senatorial
bid but thereafter never lost again with his
Nardong Putik and agimat personae.
Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. added to his
political resume his Panday and Alyas Pogi
roles and inherited his father’s seat.
Lani Mercado-Revilla, despite a so-so
movie career, shared in the stardust off her
husband and is now congresswoman.
Lucy Torres-Gomez capitalized on her
porcelana beauty and marriage to Richard
Gomez to win a Leyte congressional seat.
Lito Lapid as the poor-defending Leon
Guerrero was elected vice governor,
governor and senator.
Mark Lapid, with a puso ng saging for
dramatic scenes, parlayed his father’s bida
appeal to also get elected governor.
Jinggoy Estrada with no stellar brilliance
of his own, basked in the reflected glory of
his father and became mayor and senator.
Gringo Honasan, a dismal failure in a
series of coup attempts against President
Cory Aquino, is a multi-term senator.
For another coup pal, Antonio Trillanes IV,
the Senate is not even enough, entertaining
illusions now of the vice presidency, if not
the presidency itself.
Not too long ago, Robert Jaworski
dribbled his way to the Senate, his son, the
benchwarming Dudut, tagging along, found
his way to Congress.
And then there’s Manny Pacquiao,
rewarded for his fists with a position for
wits. Now wanting more – the Senate, the
VP post…even as his wife is already vice
governor, and Mommy Dionisia – God
forbid! – to run for mayor?
These characters and more of their ilk in
every strata of governance in the Philippines.
6
And you still ask
why this country
is in deep shit?
Yeah, and lest we forget, the biggest BS
of all – President Aquino III himself.
LLL Trimedia Coordinators, Inc.
Publisher
General Manager
Editor
Marketing Manager
Layout
Circulation
Atty. Gener C. Endona
Caesar “Bong” Lacson
Joanna Niña V. Cordero
Dondie B. Ventura
Jojo Manalo/Lacson Macapagal
EDGAR V. MOVIDO
Founder
Business & Editorial office at Unit B Essel Commercial Center,
McArthur Highway, Telabastagan, City of San Fernando
Tel. No. (45) 625•0244 Cel. No. 0917•481•1416
puntogitnangluzon@yahoo.com or marketing@punto.com.ph
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Punto! Central Luzon is a proud member of
The Philippine Press Institute
acaesar.blogspot.com
Zona Libre
Bong Z. Lacson
Mabalacat malignancy
WHAT ANGELES City is, Mabalacat City is not.
So rued netizens of the latter who have come to bitterly bash their local officials
at each post of anything perceived to be good about the former.
There is the cultural renaissance made most
manifest in Plaza Angel – that cobblestoned
square centered around the Holy Rosary parish
church, Museo ning Angeles, and Pamintuan
Mansion – inevitably compared to nothing of
its least likeness in Mabalacat City. The old
municipio and the parish church? Never mind.
Not that the “next Makati north of Manila”
though is bereft of anything cultural to revive
and celebrate. Like its Caragan Festival, which,
sadly, is generally sneered at as more moneymaking for the denizens of city hall than merrymaking for the local folk. So unkind, so unjust
a bashing, especially to its indefatigeable
braintrust Jun Magbalot, who, unarguably,
upped the event to standards capable of winning
national recognition, as indeed it has – through
its dancers – in the annual Aliwan Festival that
gathers in competition all festivals throughout
the country, read: Cebu’s Sinulog, Kalibo’s AtiAtihan, Iloilo’s Dinagyang, Bacolod’s Masskara,
among others.
Angeles City’s decrepit Philippine National
Railroad station at the Crossing – birthplace of
sisig a la Aling Lucing, recently hailed in The
New York Times as “the greatest pork dish on
earth” – has been repurposed into a People’s
Park, complete with kiddie playground, chess
tables and benches, replanted trees and
vegetable plots and trellises.
So what about Mabalacat’s own equally old
and as dilapidated PNR station? The landmark
of “Jopilan Street” – so called for “Buddy, how
many (sachets of shabu)” in Kapampangan
– the city’s drug tiangge. So say Mabalacat’s
netizens.
So Angeles City successfully removed the
tangled “spaghetti wires” of power providers,
telcos and cable TV channels from its heritage
district and commercial-cum-entertainment
area that is Balibago, clearing, if not prettifying,
the vistas therein.
Sa Angeles nawala na ang mga linya, pero
may kuryente. Sa Mabalacat, puro linya, pero
walang kuryente. So Mabalacat City tweeters
can only twit their local officials for the perpetual
power outages they suffer, notwithstanding all
kinds of lines and cables girdling, and uglifying,
their communities.
So both cities suffer some surge in crime –
homicides, robbery, drugs.
So was posted Angeles City Mayor Edgardo
Pamintuan surveying the scene of encounter
littered by the bloodied bodies of two robbers,
and in the caption added the names of the
arrested duo of police officers in cahoots with
the thieves.
So where’s Mabalacat City Mayor Marino
Morales, his constituents ask at every upload
of a photo of a crime victim, at every post of a
crime happening everywhere in his city.
A sense of desperation permeating
Mabalacat City, finding expression in the net,
thus: “Mayor EdPam, kaybat yu pu Angeles,
malyaring ika yu na pu ing maging mayor mi
Mabalacat pamu (after Angeles, can you be
our mayor in Mabalacat)?” Some whimsical
pleading there that generated not a few “Likes”
nevertheless.
And the prospects for 2016 are far from
promising.
“People’s choice for the 2016 election in
Mabalacat are as follows:
1. Evil
2. More evil.
3. Lesser evil.
4. Followers of Evil.
5. Followers of More Evil.
6. Followers of lesser evil.
Classification of Voters in Mabalacat.
1. Stupid Voters
2. Non- Stupid Voters
3. Non - Voters because of Stupid
Candidates
4. Non - Voters because it’s HOPELESS
So posted one Jexel Castro of Barangay
Duquit, immediately generating a score of
comments – and still growing – that uniformly
agreed with her proposition.
With the two names bandied about as the
protagonists in 2016, there is a general sense
of dread, of hopelessness and desperation
gripping the Mabalacat City constituency. That
is, if we go by their posts and tweets. Caught
as they say they are between the devil and the
deep blue sea.
Some despondency there fast growing into
irreversible malignancy.
O pinion
Halo-halo
Ding Cervantes
Felix M. Garcia
Catholic writer Michael Brown has noted that the Blessed Mother had been
giving longer messages through Medjugorje visionary Mirjana. I had the same
observation.
and purify your hearts, because my Son loves
pure hearts and pure hearts love my Son. Only
pure hearts are humble and have firm faith. I
ask for such hearts of you, my children.
“My Son told me that I am the mother of the
entire world. I ask of those of you who accept
me as such to help me, with your life, prayer
and sacrifice, for all of my children to accept
me as a mother—so that I may lead them to the
spring of the clear water.
“Thank you. My dear children, as your
shepherds offer you the Body of my Son with
their blessed hands, always in your hearts give
thanks to my Son for the Sacrifice and for the
shepherds that he always gives you anew.”
Significant for me was the Blessed Mother’s
statement reiterating that she is everyone’s
mother. I have always referred to her as Blessed
Mother as personal preference.
In these unusual times, we need an
unusual mother. The troubles going on in the
Middle East and other parts of the world, the
unusual weather, the unique phenomena being
observed in nature all over, the philosophy of
atheism being put in practical terms in growing
number of countries... all behoove us to seek
the comfort and protection of the Blessed
Mother.
“I am the mother of the world,” she repeats.
She wants us to take this seriously so that we
can seek her help more deeply through prayers.
We need her now.
Today in Philippine history
Source: www.kahimyang.info
Committee of Seven appointed
to draft the 1935 Constitution
On October 9, 1934, a
Committee of Seven consisting of Manuel C. Briones, Filemon Sotto, Manuel A. Roxas, Conrado Benitez, Vicente
Singson Encarnacion, Miguel
Cuadermo, and Norberto Romualdez were appointed to
draft the 1935 Philippine Constitution.
The said Constitution was
ratified by a large majority of
the Filipino people in a plebiscite on May 14, 1935. The
Charter was written with an
eye to meeting the approval
of the United States Government as well, so as to ensure
that the U.S. would live up to
its promise to grant independence to the Philippines.
The committe of seven
is known now as the “Seven
Wise Men”.
The Manila Times is founded
On October 11, 1898, The
Manila Times, the first daily newspaper in the Philippines, was founded by Thomas Gowan.
The Manila Times was
published to meet the demand
of an American paper in Manila, demand mainly from men
of the United States Army who
had occupied Manila.
The newspaper was found-
ed shortly after the news that
the Treaty of Paris would be
signed, ending the Spanish
American War and transferring
the Philippines from Spanish
to American sovereignty.
The treaty of Paris was
signed on December 10,
1898.
Gowan hired a small printing press, Chofre y Compania,
to put up the paper. The print-
ing press was located on Calle Alix, now Legarda Street, in
Sampaloc, Manila. The paper,
however, had a downtown office on the Escolta.
Before The Manila Times
was born, several native
newspaper were already in
existence in the Philippines
written in Spanish, and most
of them were nationalistic and
revolutionary.
To do anything in this world worth doing, we must
not stand back shivering and thinking of the cold
and danger, but jump in, and scramble through as
well as we can. –Sydney Smith
Whenever evil befalls us, we ought to ask ourselves,
after the first suffering, how we can turn it into good.
So shall we take occasion, from one bitter root, to
raise perhaps many flowers. –Leigh Hunt
Marami pang iba
MAHIGIT isang taon pa bago ganapin
ang national election dito sa atin
pero ngayon pa lang ay kapansin-pansin
na ang batuhan ng iba’t-ibang dusing
Ang kasalukuyan na nag-aambisyon
at nagnanais na pumalit kay PNoy
‘comes year 2016’ o takdang panahon
na dapat magdaos muli ng election.
Kilala na natin halos kung sino riyan
sa kampo ni PNoy at grupo ni Binay
ang posibleng sa susunod na halalan
ay mamanukin ng bawat partido r’yan.
Aywan lang kung si DILG Mar Roxas
Itong sa panig ng Liberal sasabak,
Bunsod ng pagbaba ng popularidad
Ni Mr. Palengke sa mata ng lahat.
Sanhi nitong aywan kung maituturing
na kapalpakan niya ang di nararating
kaagad ng ating butihing Kalihim
ng DILG ang marapat unahin
Tulad halimbawa nitong kailan lamang
ay nanalasa r’yan sa Kabisayaan
ang bagyong Yolanda na tunay din namang
bago ang biktima ay nasaklolohan
Ng tanggapan nito, at nabigyang tulong,
dilat na ang mata sa uhaw at gutom
ng marami na ni walang maiinom
na ‘potable water’ na dapat irasyon
Kasi, bagama’t may sapat na pagkain
para sa biktima, na padala mandin
nitong ibang mga kapit-bansa natin,
ya’y di naman sa kanila nakarating
Kundi itinambak lang sa isang lugar
hanggang sa nabulok ito nang tuluyan,
sanhi ng di agad pag-asikaso riyan
ng DILG o pamahalaang lokal.
Maliban sa iba pang ipinipintas
ng nakararami laban kay Mar Roxas,
kaya ang Liberal ay talunan tiyak
kung si Mr. Palengke ang isasabak.
Sa kampo ng makiling sa oposisyon,
bumaba ng kaunti ang trust ratings ngayon
ng pambato nila sanhi ng maugong
na kontrobersya sa Makati city hall
Hinggil sa car park building na pinagawa
ng dating Alkalde na si Jejomar nga;
Kung saan ang isyu’t mainit na paksa,
‘overpriced’ umano ang pagkakagawa
Kung kaya posibleng kumita ng husto
si Mr. Binay sa naipagawa nito,
na nasabing car park building (ayon mismo)
kay dating Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado
Sa Senate hearing nang mag-testify siya
bilang ‘whistle blower,’ (puera sa iba pa,)
na pawang kay VP ay nagsalita na
ng laban tungkol sa nakurakot daw niya
Sa puntong ito ay posibleng dehado
si Binay at Roxas laban sa ibang kampo
na maglulunsad ng ibang kandidato
o higit pa, kaya magsuri ng husto
At piliing mabuti mula sa hanay
ng magsusulputang maaring maglaban,
ang inaakala nating may potential
na kinakailangan nating suportahan
Marami pa namang mga mararangal
na ‘public servant’ ang puedeng pagpilian,
kabilang na r’yan ang ‘world class’ na kabayan
nating si Cong Oca at si Mayor EdPam!
Punto! Central Luzon • October 9 - 11, 2014 • Thursday - Saturday
Hail, Our Mother
The longest was the one given last Oct. 2.
Brown had a count of words on this, compared
to the length of the thousands of other
messages the Blessed Mother had conveyed
in Medjugorje since she began appearing there
to six then children in 1981
What strikes me in the Oct. 2 message,
however, was not so much the length as the
Blessed Mother’s reference to “sign of the
times.” It was, in my perception, an affirmation
of our apocalyptic times.
The reference was in the following rather
long Oct. 2 message:
“Dear children, with motherly love I implore
you, love one another. May there be in your
hearts, as my Son desired from the very
beginning, love for the Heavenly Father and
for your neighbour in the first place — above
everything of this world.
“My dear children, do you not recognise the
signs of the times? Do you not recognise that all
of this that is around you, all that is happening,
is because there is no love? Comprehend that
salvation is in true values. Accept the might of
the Heavenly Father, love him and honour him.
Walk in the footsteps of my Son.
“You, my children, my dear apostles, you are
always gathering around me anew, because
you are thirsty. You thirst for peace, love and
happiness. Drink out of my hands. My hands
are offering to you my Son who is the spring of
clear water. He will bring your faith back to life
Napaguusapan
Lang
7
RC Dolores feeding program sa Saguin Elementary School
Nagsimula na kahapon
(October 7) ang isang buwang
feeding program ng Rotary
Club of Dolores sa Saguin Elementary School sa Lungsod
ng San Fernando, Pampanga
na kung saan makikinabang
ang may 28 mag-aaral sa naturang paaralan.
Pinangunahan ang unang
araw ng feeding program ni
RC Dolores President Ringgo Limjoco at Abigail Mendoza, ang principal ng paaralan.
Ayon kay Mendoza napili
Pinangunahan ni RC Dolores President Ringo Limjoco
ang pagpapakain sa mga bata. Contributed photo
ANOTHER AWARD. Mekeni Food Corp. Executive Committee Member Marilou
Olalia-Uy (3rd from left) receives a Secretary’s Award for the company’s adherence
and compliance to child-labor free workplace from DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz.
Mekeni is one of only four awardee-companies in Central Luzon that were elevated
to the secretary level award from among 412 compliant firms. It now qualifies
for the Presidential Award for upholding policies on child-labor free environment
among its organic employees and contracted companies. Also in photo is DOLE
Central Luzon Director Ana Dione (extreme right) and Elsie Gomez, Mekeni Human
Relations Head (4th from left). Contributed photo
Pelco 2: From bad to worse
Punto! Central Luzon • October 9 - 11, 2014 • Thursday - Saturday
From page 1
8
ment stores, into any
part of the fence totally
without effort to call the
attention of consumers.
It has also failed to provide consumers with any
telephone number to
reach for emergencies,
but has offered tips on
how to keep safe during
earthquakes.
A
newly
formed
group
called
Pelco
2-Nay, composed of the
cooperative’s consumers, has noted these
in the hope they would
reach the attention of
Pelco 2’s new management.
“The bills which are
readily washed into canals by slight rain or
blown away by mild wind
forebodingly warn of ad-
ditional charge if the bill
is not paid immediately,”
Pelco 2-Nay said in a
statement.
“The warning comes
in fine print in a bill statement issued in a manner
that leaves much room
for getting lost in the elements before consumers find them. It is totally dishonest and manipulative,” the statement
also noted.
This, amid a new
“one-month disconnection policy” announced
recently by Pelco 2
which provided that such
disconnection would be
implemented should the
consumer fail to pay his
bill within nine days after
receiving the statement
of account.
“Presumably,
the
count starts on the day
the collector slips the bill
into any part of the consumer’s fence, regardless of whether it gets
into the hands of the
supposed payer. This is
plain dumbness,” Pelco
2-Nay noted.
The group also said
that consumers have always been at a loss on
what phone number to
dial for emergencies. It
cited the case of a resident of Barangay Lakandula here who recently complained that her
entire house seemed
grounded. “The resident
had to knock on her
neighbors doors asking
whether anyone knew
Pelco 2’s number, but
no one did. The problem
was solved by a neighborhood electrician,” it
said.
No emergency number is found even in the
receipt, nor any such
number is displayed for
the paying consumers to
take note of at the Pelco 2 office in Dau, Pelco
2-Nay said.
“Instead, what you
see at the Pelco 2 office is a poster on how
to keep yourself safe
during earthquakes,” it
added.
Apart from this city,
Pelco 2 also provides
power to the towns of
Guagua, Bacolor, Sta.
Rita, Lubao, and Porac. A survey conducted
among its consumers indicated widespread dissatisfaction with Pelco
2 electric service, amid
allegations of questionable bills.
Last July, the Manila
More Hacienda Dolores families...
From page 1
Dolores parish church
was constructed.
Early this year, Education Secretary Armin
Luistro accepted the
land donation for the Hacienda Dolores Elementary School.
According to barangay authorities, a day
before the distribution of
land titles they received
information that unidentified individuals threatened to disrupt the activity by conducting “arson
and liquidation if the title
giving will push through.”
The municipal police already started an
investigation into the al-
leged threat which residents believed emanated from the Aniban ng
mga Mamamayan ng
Hacienda Dolores (Aniban), a small group of
farmers contesting the
development in the area
and “whose members illegally claimed parcels
of land of LLLHI.”
The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas
(KMP), Anakpawis, Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luson
(AMGL) are some of the
groups openly supporting Aniban.
Despite efforts by
LLLHI and local authorities to settle the dispute, the former said An-
iban still filed a petition
with the Department of
Agrarian Reform (DAR)
to nullify the DAR’s Issuance of Finality for the
non-inclusion of its property for Comprehensive
Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) coverage.
According to LLLHI,
Aniban members “only
based their claims from
their previous tilling of
some portion” of its
property.
In January, some 30
armed men attacked the
LLLHI property where
one security guard was
abducted and tortured
while an attacker was
also killed.
Barangay
Captain
ang mga mag-aaral mula sa
bawat antas mula kindergarten hanggang Grade 6. Sila
ay pakakainin ng masustansyang pananghalian sa loob
ng 28 araw.
Ang mga mag-aaral ang
itinuturing na “severely wasted” students dahil sila ay
nagtala ng timbang na higit
na mababa kumpara sa normal na timbang ng isang bata
sa ganoong age bracket.
Dalawampung iba’t-ibang
menu ang nakahanda para
sa programa na kinabibilangan ng karne, gulay at prutas.
Ang Saguin Elementary
School ang isa sa mga palagiang benepisyaryo ng mga
and Aniban President
Antonio Tolentino who
led the attack was later
arrested on charges of
abduction and kidnapping without bail. He is
currently detained at the
Angeles City jail.
During the launching of Alviera late last
month, ALI Vice President Meean Dy said the
P75-billion Alviera project comprising 1,100
hectares will be completed over the next 20
years.
The business hub is
envisioned to be home
to 65,000 residents,
20,000 office and industrial workers and 20,000
students.
programa ng RC Dolores,
ayon kay President Limjoco.
Nagtulung-tulong umano
ang mga kaanib ng organisasyon para mabuo ang pondong gagamitin na pambili ng
pagkain para sa mga bata.
Bawat bata ay popondohan ng tatlumpung-piso para
sa kanilang panghalian na
ihahanda sa loob mismo ng
paaralan.
Ayon kay Limjoco, umaasa silang makakatulong
ang feeding program para
mapabuti ang nutrisyon ng
mga batang benepisyaryo.
Malaki naman ang pasalamat ng paaralan para sa
natanggap na tulong mula sa
grupo ng mga Rotarian.
Electric Company (Meralco) and the local firm
ConsTech took over the
management and operations of Pelco 2.
“What we intend to
do is adopt a system to
make sure that those
who read electric meters really do, and do so
without merely guessing a household’s electric consumption,” said
ComsTech
executive
Dennis Uy soon after
the takeover.
Uy said that scores
of Pelco 2 old-time personnel could not retire
because the cooperative does not have funds
for their retirement pay.
He also noted that
Pelco 2’s workforce is
bloated with 500 personnel, despite estimates it would work efficiently with only 150.
“All those who will have
to go should, however,
be given the proper benefits,” he added.
Oct. 13, 24...
From page 1
The
proclamation
was dated last Oct. 7.
It noted that “the City
of Angeles marks the
celebration of the monthlong Kuliat Festival (Fiestang Kuliat) and the
Tigtigan, Terakan king
Dalan, street singing and
dancing festival to commemorate the city’s resiliency and dynamism
after the Mt. Pinatubo
eruption in 1991.”
The
proclamation,
however, applies only for
this year, as it also specified only 2014 for the
Oct. 13 and 24 non-working holidays.
Angeles has Our
Lady of the Holy Rosary
as its patron saint. October, according to Catholic tradition, is the month
of the Holy Rosary.
The Angeles City information office listed
several activities to commemorate Fiestang Kuliat, including the Baguis Ligligang Pangkultu-
ra: Vocal Solo and Duet
Competition and Dance
Exhibition at SM City
Clark (October 10-11);
SM City Clark 3rd Pyrofest Competition (October 11, 18, and 25);
Lutung Kapampangan:
A Visual Feast at Kalye
Lakandula (October 1530); Big Bite: The Northern Food Festival featuring Sisig Festival at Marquee Park (October 17);
Mamialung Tamu: The
Kapampangan Traditional Games at Estacion de
Riles (October 18); and
Tigtigan Terakan king
Dalan at barangay Balibago (October 24-26).
The mayor’s office
also said two religious
events have also been
slated, namely the Fiestang La Naval Concelebrated Mass and Grand
Procession on October
12 and Translacion Procession of Apu on October 25, both to be held at
the Holy Rosary Parish
Church.
–Ding Cervantes
Curtain call. Angeles City Mayor Ed Pamintuan and Vice Mayor Vicki Vega-Cabigting along with Touirsm Dir. Ronnie Tiotuico join organizers,
chefs and Marquee Mall and Ayala executives at the Big Bite launch. Photos by Bong Lacson
The Northern Food Festival
ABS-CBN’s Ginger Conejero annotates preparation of sisig by Chefs Sau Del
Rosario and Emelita Wong-Galang.
Food-loving Filipinos have every reason to visit the province of Pampanga this month as Marquee Mall, Ayala Malls’ premier destination for
shopping, leisure and entertainment in the province, presents Big Bite!
The Northern Food Festival on October 17-19, 2014.
In partnership with Department of Tourism, Department of Trade and
Industry, Angeles Tourism Office, North Luzon Expressway, Bank of the
Philippine Islands and the Lifestyle Network, Big Bite promises a threeday celebration of all things delicious for tourists, locals and foodies.
Cooking demos, food art, free food samples, live entertainment and more
await festival goers.
Over 100 best and homegrown food merchants from Region I, II, III
and the Cordillera Administrative Region are going to be featured at the
food market. From condiments, spices to coffee and jams, to local favorites such as Ilocos empanada, bagnet, puto calasiao, there is something
for every taste bud. Enjoy these foods or bring it home for pasalubong.
To celebrate the country’s growing street food scene, Big Bite offers a
new aisle on the festival grounds that offer Street Food specials. These
are the food delights that people flock to in every street corner, from ice
scramble to strawberry taho, to binatog (boiled corn with grated coconut
and salt), and sorbets (local ice cream).
Kicking off with a marching band, fireworks and a giant sisig cook-off,
the event also highlights Angeles City’s major contribution to Philippine
cuisine – sisig. Hailed as the best pork dish by the New York Times, sisig
has been celebrated in the province for more than 40 years. Traditionally made of pork parts, mixed with spices, and served on a sizzling plate,
sisig now comes in other delicious variants.
Art installations by award-winning visual artist Leeroy New and the
Pampanga Arts Guild will be on display throughout the festival days.
Visitors will also have a chance to see their favorite Lifestyle Network
Chefs, Chef Sandy Daza of Foodprints and the lively Chef Sharwin Tee
of Curiosity Got The Chef up close as these masters share their culinary
skills and talent through live cooking demonstrations.
The festival also comes with the Big Buffet promo, where Marquee
Mall shoppers can get free food samples for a minimum P 1,000 purchase from any Marquee Mall merchant.
So, come and celebrate the biggest gastronomical festival in Marquee
Mall’s Big Bite: The Northern Food Festival on October 17-19, 2014.
For more information, contact (045) 304-0110 to 11. Like and follow
Marquee Mall’s social networking sites, Facebook: facebook.com/MarqueeMall, Twitter:@Marqueetweets, and instagram:@iloveMarqueemall.
Featured dishes. Bulol in coffee, longganisa, binatog and mole crickets in adobo.
Punto! Central Luzon • October 9 - 11, 2014 • Thursday - Saturday
Mouthwatering Festivities at Marquee Mall’s Big Bite!
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Punto! Central Luzon • October 9 - 11, 2014 • Thursday - Saturday