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Punto! Luzon
www.punto.com.ph
P 8.00
Central
Volume 8
Number 60
Thu - Sat
February 26 - 28, 2015
PANANAW NG MALAYANG PILIPINO!
‘Nobody’ vs EdPam
AC mayoralty 2016
A
By Ashley Manabat
NGELES CITY – “A nobody.”
Thus, said Mayor Edgardo
Pamintuan of his presumptive
opponent in the mayoralty contest
in 2016, a non-reference to Senator
Manuel “Lito” Lapid who has made
known his plan to run for mayor of
the city.
“I don’t care about
the guy. I don’t want to
talk about him,” said
Pamintuan during the
press conference at the
Imarex Hotel here last
Wednesday.
“The mayor would
not want to comment on
anything about that guy
who for him does not exist,” he declared amid
cheers from his supportPage 8 please
4- to 12-hour
brownouts set in 2
cities, 2 towns in CL
By Ding Cervantes
MABALACAT CITY The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines
(NGCP) announced yesterday a 10-hour power outage in this city on
Sunday.
The NGCP also issued an advisory that
today, Friday, a 12-hour
brownout is scheduled
in Cabanatuan City and
four-hour power outages
in Bamban and Capas in
Tarlac.
“Please be informed
that there will be NGCP
power interruption on
March 1, 2015, Sunday,
from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in
Mabalacat City,” said an
Page 8 please
Pamintuan
Lapid
ICT future here and now
Converge’s fiber optic
cable laying underway
ANGELES CITY – The laying
out of the fiber optic cable of the
Luzon network of Converge ICT
Solutions, Inc. (Converge) started Monday.
Dennis Anthony Uy, Converge president and CEO, said
here on Tuesday that a total of
1,100 kilometers of fiber optic
cable from Clark to north and
south Luzon will be finished before the end of the year.
Uy said Haidee Construction
led by Spencer “Pen” Concepcion, was hired as contractor for
the fiber optic laying with an initial 600 workers divided into four
teams now doing the ground-
work.
Uy said another four teams
of 600 workers are expected to
augment the workforce for a total
of 1,200 workers.
Uy said a team of workers are
now in the vicinity of the MacArthur Highway from the Circumferential Road at the Paning’s
junction who are installing the
fiber optic cables all the way to
Manila and another team from
Mabalacat to Baguio City and La
Union.
Uy
CSR
During a recent site inspecPage 8 please
Shellfish ban lifted in Bataan
By Ernie Esconde
BALANGA CITY The Bureau of Fisheries
and Aquatic Resources has lifted the shellfish ban in Bataan after
laboratory tests showed
that all kinds of shellfish
in eight coastal towns in
the province registered
negative of the red tide
toxin, provincial agriculturist Imelda Inieto an-
nounced Wednesday.
“Pwede nang manguha, magbenta at kainin
ang mga shellfish tulad
ng tahong, talaba at iba
pa,” she said.
Inieto added that
even acetes or alamang
that was included in the
shellfish ban is now safe
to be eaten.
BFAR imposed the
prohibition on the gathering, transporting and eat-
ing of shellfish in Bataan
last November 2013 that
it lifted August, 2014.
The agency declared
again the presence of
the deadly red tide after
two months on October
2014.
Affected were fishermen from the towns of
Orani, Samal, Abucay,
Pilar, Orion, Limay and
Mariveles and the City of
Balanga.
COMMEMORATING EDSA. Mayor Edwin D. Santiago leads the lighting
of candles with Vice Mayor Jimmy T. Lazatin and Councilor Harvey Quiwa
in a ceremony held February 25 in front of the City Hall as tribute to
Filipino heroism during the People Power Revolution that took place 29
years ago. Contributed photo
Caragan Festival 2015 breaks another record
MABALACAT CITY -- Tens
of thousands of individuals
trooped to the grandest festival in the Central Luzon as
Caragan Festival in this city
wowed crowd with elaborate
costumes, head dresses and
performances.
With 53 participating tribes
from the junior (elementary)
and main (high school/college)
division, Caragan marked another record of most watched
and most attended festive
Mammoth crowd at Caragan Fest. Contributed
event in the region, and probably in the country.
The parade and street
dance filled abut 3 kilometers of the Macarthur Highway
from Poblacion to Xevera in
Tabun which highlighted the
Aeta ancestry of this town that
was founded in 1712.
Also reported to be a record was the simultaneous
mass dance of 53 participating
tribes which converged at Xevera after the 3-hour parade.
photo
The dance was documented in
aerial photo and video shots.
The festival is on honor
of chieftain Caragan, an aeta
who is said to have founded
the town named after Balacat
trees which dominantly filled
the place.
The parade also featured
winners of Miss Mabalacat
City and Haring Caragan pageants with guest celebrity Rodjun Cruz of GMA 7.
The most awaited part is
the announcement and awarding of certificates and plaques
of recognition as Marcos Village Elementary School (Tribung MALIG) and Mabalacat
National High School (Tribung
NACIONAL) hailed grand winners.
The judges hailed the staging of Caragan, citing its importance not only to arts but in
preservation of the this city’s
rich heritage.
“What you have brought
to the people of Mabalacat
through this festival is not only
entertainment and pleasure
but a connection to a culture
most young people tend to forget. Their participation in the
parade brings back to them
a first-hand experience of the
hardship that brought about
the culture that is as rich as
they have in Mabalacat. An
enriching experience that only
participation can bring. Viva
Caragan, Viva Mabalacat!,”
said Nierras.
–Press Release
Death mars Caragan fest
By Ashley Manabat
Punto! Central Luzon • February 26 - 28, 2015 • Thursday - Saturday
MABALACAT CITY – A teenage girl was crushed to death
in a freak accident that marred
the Caragan Festival parade
here last Friday.
The police identified the
fatality as Kacilyn T. Layug,
2
14, a high school student and
a resident of Sitio Bana, Barangay Dolores here. She was
reportedly part of the crowd
of spectators watching the
parade when a truck (WCW
592), driven by one Wilfredo Dela Cruz, 38, which was
parked on the shoulder while
waiting for the parade to pass
by, suddenly moved forward
and plowed into the crowd
before crashing into the last
float.
Layug went under the truck
where her face was reportedly crushed by one of its wheel
which initially crashed into the
Photo
by
Killer truck.
Ashley Manabat
float bearing Miss Mabalacat 2015 Bianca Leana Mae
De Leon and Haring Caragan
2015 Dankan Manalo as well
as the daughter of Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales identified as Jessa, 17.
According to police investigator PO1 Lionel Cajigal, Layug was declared dead on arrival by Dr. Ariel Ocampo at the
St. Raphael Medical Foundation where she was brought.
Layug’s remains were later
brought to the Joshua Funeral
Parlor in Barangay Mawaque.
It was learned that the
people on the float suffered
only minor bruises due to
the impact while the mayor’s
daughter sustained a cut in
the right ankle which needed
four stitches to close.
According to Cajigal, a policeman he identified as PO2
Reynaldo Asuncion was on
the float at the time of the accident. Cajigal said Asuncion
was able to jump off the float
as the truck crashed into it
spraining his ankle. Asuncion
said he saw the truck driver desperately pumping his
brakes before it crashed into
the float.
Bystanders said Dela Cruz
allegedly tried to move his
truck forward as the last float
passed by at the end of the
parade to beat other motorists in the horrendous traffic
following the parade. But instead, the truck plowed into
the crowd of spectators, who
also began moving forward,
before crashing into the float
shattering its windshield.
Cajigal said Dela Cruz
tested negative for alcohol
consumption contrary to reports that he was drunk at the
time of the accident. “Katatapos lang nilang mag-spray sa
mangahan ni Dr. Tiglao (They
just finished spraying the
mango orchard of Dr. Tiglao),”
the police investigator said.
It was learned that Mayor Morales visited the victim’s
wake shortly after the incident.
“We regret the accident
took place,” said Caragan
festival chairman Dionisio
“Jhune” Magbalot. “The city
government would like to assure the family of the victim of
assistance as well as in pursuing a case against the truck
driver,” he assured.
“I personally would like to
help in other ways too,” he
added.
The Caragan parade was
near its end as the last float
went past the SCTEx overpass and was already near
the Sacobia Bridge in Barangay Tabun on its way to
the Xevera housing complex
when the accident occurred.
The parade ended the
Caragan five-day celebration,
from February 16 to 20, in
honor the first chieftain of Mabalacat who is a native Aeta
married to a Mabalaqueña
named Laureana Tolentino.
Caragan is part of the
month-long fiesta activities in
celebration of the feast day of
Our Lady of Divine Grace Parish, the patroness of the city.
Highlights of the Caragan
festival include street dancing, participated by students
along the three-kilometer
stretch from the Poblacion to
Xevera; a regional trade fair
all throughout the five-day
festival; and the search for
Haring Caragan (Mr. Mabalacat) on February 17.
Held every third week of
February, Caragan is now an
annual cultural event bringing
to light the Aeta culture and
the founding of the town.
3
Punto! Central Luzon • February 26 - 28, 2015 • Thursday - Saturday
2 pekeng ticketing
agent kalaboso
Ni Rommel Ramos
Leira Buan leads oath taking for Lingap Balen with former Tarlca Rep. Hermie
Aquino. Photo by Ashley Manabat
‘Lingap Balen’ launched in Porac
Punto! Central Luzon • February 26 - 28, 2015 • Thursday - Saturday
By Ashley Manabat
4
PORAC, Pampanga – A
charitable organization advocating women empowerment, child protection, rights
and welfare has now transformed itself into a partylist
group promoting moral, social and economic well-being
and was launched here Saturday.
Leira Buan, the avowed
leader of Lingap Balen (LB),
led some 500 members of
the group in an oath-taking
ceremony during its general
assembly at the Marissa Hall
in Barangay Poblacion.
Present during the occasion were Mayor Condralito “Carling” Dela Cruz, Vice
Mayor Dexter David, Municipal Councilors Maynard
Lapid and Ronnie Mercado,
presidential granduncle and
former Tarlac congressman
Hermie Aquino, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, the youth, professionals, doctors and even ordinary folk with some coming
from Olongapo City, Bataan
and Mabalacat City.
Buan said LB will seek
a seat in congress in the
2016 elections in order to be
more of service to the peo-
ple. “Mayroon kang ibibigay
sa taong bayan, so nagiging
tulay lang ako from the national government down to the
grassroots na nangangailangan ng tulong (So that I can
give more to the people, so I
just become a bridge from the
national government down to
the grassroots who needed
help),” she said.
Financial resources
Buan said at present, she
is using her own financial resources as she also acknowledged the help of doctors in
giving free medical services to
indigent patients.
Buan said she also has
friends who donate money to
LB but did not want to be identified.
Buan said she was a former flight attendant for Saudia
Airlines and United Airlines
and a private flight attendant
of the International Airlines
Passengers Association, a designer of jewelry in Dubai with
a company called The Money
Dubai, and a consultant of a
mining firm in South Africa.
She admitted she already
spent millions of pesos since
she started helping others beginning in 2003. “But I really
don’t count,” she enthused.
During her speech, Buan
said the LB mirrors her personal life story as a battered
wife in Taiwan who attempted to take her own life not
once but four times. “Lingap
Balen is the story my life,”
she said.
Buan said God has transformed her life and turn it
around completely when she
began to ask for forgiveness.
She said she allowed herself
to be used by God to serve
others.
“God uses me whatever it takes to be an instrument to serve the sons and
daughters of other people,”
she said.
Plan in Congress
In Congress, Buan said
she plans to sponsor a bill
that will empower women,
fulfil the needs of senior citizens, help single parents,
equip farmers as well as help
preserve the total welfare of
the whole family.
“Wala akong itatapon
hanggang kaya ko at hanggang mayroon akong maitutulong, hanggang sa huling patak tutulong ako (I will
not waste anything until I can
help, until the last drop I will
help),” she vowed.
HAGONOY, Bulacan--- Kalaboso ang dalawang kalalakihan
matapos silang bumagsak sa kamay ng mga operatiba sa isang
entrapment operation dahil sa pagpapanggap sa internet bilang
ticketing office ng Cebu Pacific Airlines.
Nakapiit ngayon sa Hagonoy Municipal Jail ang mga suspek na nakilalang sina Jomar Payongayong, 25, at John Michael
Cruz, 20, kapwa residente ng bayan ng Hagonoy.
Ayon sa ulat ng Hagonoy PNP, dumulog sa kanilang tanggapan ang biktimang si Waynna Perez, 46, residente ng Pateros,
Metro Manila upang ireklamo ang dalawang suspek.
Ayon sa ulat, gumawa ang mga suspek ng isang internet account ng Cebu Pacific at nagpapanggap bilang ticketing office.
Nang makita ng biktima sa internet ang logo ng Cebu Pacific ay doon siya napunta sa internet account na ginawa ng mga
suspek at doon na ito nakipagtransaksyon dahil mura ang promo ng mga ito.
Nagbayad ang biktima ng paunang bayad na mahigit P10,000
para sa unang dalawang ticket ngunit hindi naman daw ito nakatanggap ng kumpirmasyon mula sa pekeng ticketing office.
Muli siyang nakipagtransaksyon sa mga ito at nagbayad muli
ng mahigit P21,000 ngunit wala pa ring natanggap na kumpirmasyon.
Dahil dito ay nagtungo na sila sa main office ng Cebu Pacific
at doon nila nalaman na peke ang kausap nila sa internet.
Ngunit muli na naman daw na nakipagtransaksyon sa kanya
ang mga suspek kayat nagtungo na ang biktima sa himpilan ng
pulisya para sa ikadarakip ng mga ito.
Naberipika naman na sa LBC Hagonoy wini-withdraw ng
mga suspek ang bayad ng biktima kayat ikinasa ng PNP ang
isang entrapment operation.
Nang muling nagtungo ang mga suspek sa LBC Hagonoy
branch upang muling kumubra ng pera ay doon na naaresto ang
mga ito.
Hindi naman nagbigay na ng pahayag ang dalawang suspek
na nahaharap sa kasong swindling at paglabag sa Anti Cyber
Crime Law.
SM City Clark conducts Fire
and Earthquake seminar
The annual fire and earthquake seminar was held last
Monday at SM City Clark.
It was attended by agency
personnel, tenants and employees to intensify awareness
in times of disaster. SF03
Crisconde Lalic, Chief Operations of Bureau of Fire An-
geles City was the resource
speaker of the said activity.
The seminar is a preparation to the actual fire and
earthquake drill which will be
held in March to test and evaluate the preparedness, logistics and capability of the mall
and the personnel in handling
disaster situations.
Who will be the next
batch of SM scholars?
SM Foundation, Inc. thru
its College Scholarship Program has conducted the
screening and examination of
applicants at SM City Olongapo recently. Fourth year graduating students from Public
High Schools of Olongapo,
Zambales and Bataan rushed
to the 6th level of the mall to
take the exams.
SM Scholarship program
aims to help provide quality
education to bright but underprivileged public high school
graduates. One good thing
about the scholarship is that
student can work in the company of his choice when he
graduates.
The scholarship includes
free matriculation fee, monthly
allowance, student can enroll
in courses leading to degrees
in Computer Science, Information Technology, Information Management, Electronics
and Communications Engineering, Computer Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical
Engineering, Elementary and
Secondary Education and Accountancy.
In addition, scholars can
enjoy the annual activities
such as the general assembly, recollection, sportsfest,
Christmas party, summer and
Christmas break jobs at the
SM stores and job offers after graduation from SM that is
significantly present in most, if
not all, the commercial centers
in the country.
The SM College Schol-
arship Program started with
Henry Sy Sr.’s vision: “to send
one child from a less fortunate family to college so that
the scholar could qualify for a
better paying job and afford to
send a sibling to school upon
graduation. By repeating the
cycle, the family is hoped to
overcome poverty.” Starting
with 100 scholars in 1993, the
Scholarship Program has produced over 1,900 graduates,
now employed in their chosen
fields. More than 1,300 scholars are currently enrolled in
the Foundation’s 82 partner
colleges and universities nationwide.
Successful applicants will
be notified through phone call
by the second week of April.
–PR-SMOL
Fire talk. SF03 Crisconde H. Lalic receives from Asst.
Mall Manager Aaron Jeffry B. Montenegro and Building
Admin Manager Engr. Ronald Abrazado. SMCK photo
CEB inks forward sale agreement with Allegiant
Gokongwei
CEB currently operates a fleet of 54 aircraft
comprised of 10 Airbus
A319, 31 Airbus A320, 5
Airbus A330 and 8 ATR
72-500 aircraft. Between
2015 and 2021, Cebu
Pacific will take delivery
of 7 more brand-new Airbus A320, 1 Airbus A330,
and 30 Airbus A321neo
aircraft.
CEB’s
Airbus
A321neo aircraft will be
equipped with the Pratt
and Whitney PurePower
Geared Turbofan™ engine. The aircraft has a
flying radius of over 6
hours and can be configured to have up to 240
seats. This will enable
CEB to access new markets in the Indian subcontinent and Australia,
including Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide.
Punto! Central Luzon • February 26 - 28, 2015 • Thursday - Saturday
The
Philippines’
leading carrier, Cebu Pacific (PSE:CEB) signed
a forward sale agreement with a subsidiary
of Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ: ALGT),
covering Cebu Pacific’s
sale of six Airbus A319
aircraft. Allegiant is the
parent company of Las
Vegas-based low-cost
airline, Allegiant Air. Delivery of aircraft to Allegiant is scheduled this
year until 2016.
“This agreement is
in line with CEB’s efforts
to continuously improve
operational efficiency by
replacing and upgrading
our fleet with the larger,
more fuel efficient, and
longer range A321neo
aircraft,” said Lance
Gokongwei, CEB President and CEO.
The A321neo is the
largest model in the
A320neo series, which
incorporates new engines and large wing tip
devices called sharklets.
The advances will deliver fuel savings of 20 percent and additional payload or range capability.
The fuel savings translate into some 5,000
tonnes less CO2 per aircraft per year. In addition,
the aircraft will provide a
double-digit reduction in
NOx emissions and reduced engine noise.
5
O pinion
Editorial
Punto! Central Luzon • February 26 - 28, 2015 • Thursday - Saturday
Enemies of peace
6
“IF WE give in to the enemies of peace,
it’s as if we’re also allowing the conflict
in Mindanao to worsen. If we surrender
the establishment of the Bangsamoro,
it’s like we’re allowing them to bequeath
arms to the next generation of our fellow
Filipinos.”
So President BS Aquino III said at the
Shrine of Mary Queen of Peace at the
corner of EDSA and Ortigas Avenue on
the 29th anniversary of the People Power
revolt that catapulted his mother Corazon
to the presidency of the Philippines.
Vowed BS: “We would never allow this
to happen. It’s only by attaining lasting
peace that all the sacrifices will be worth
it for those who fought in EDSA, including
those who lost their lives to end fear and
violence in society.”
Yes, peace in Mindanao only through
the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic
Law, BS believes, adamantly, stubbornly.
Anyone, absolutely anyone, in opposition
to the BBL is an enemy of that peace. So
should we shudder in fear?
Peace, at the cost of the dismemberment
of the Republic.
Peace, at the expense of the Supreme
Law of the land.
Peace, to the surrender of national
sovereignty.
Peace, to the exclusivity of a minority
group and at the exclusion of all other
groups within the same territory.
Peace dictated by a foreign entity.
Peace, ceded to the force of terror.
That is the peace BS sells. In fact, a
sell-out of the Filipino nation.
Yes, we are enemies of that peace.
As all who love peace should be.
As all Filipinos must be.
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
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
http://www.punto.com.ph
acaesar.blogspot.com
Zona Libre
Bong Z. Lacson
What hath EDSA wrought?
NECROPOLITICS. THAT was the germ of the EDSA Revolution of 1986 that grew
into the presidency of Corazon C. Aquino.
Or – to a simple mind like mine, it cannot
be any plainer to understand than this: Benigno
Aquino, Jr. was killed. EDSA happened. Cory
Aquino became president.
Coming full circle anew after the interregnum
of Fidel V. Ramos, Joseph Estrada and Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo: Cory Aquino died. Benigno
Simeon Aquino III became president.
Dying as the foundation to reigning in
non-monarchical Philippines, to ruling in a
democratic republic. “The King is dead. Long
live the King” finding some deviant meaning
here.
Wonder still why death and destruction run
rampage all over the islands under Aquino
administrations?
Indeed, massacres and disasters find
parallel lines in the presidencies of the mother
and the son.
In the contemporary times of BS:
The Mamasapano Massacre of 44 Special
Action Force troopers a month ago.
The Al-Barka Massacre where 19 members
of the Army Special Forces were killed and
14 others seriously injured by Moro rebels in
October 2011.
The ambush-mutilation of seven Marine
troopers by the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu in July 2011.
Lest we forget, the “Hostage Crisis
Massacre” of eight Hong Kong tourists at the
Luneta on August 20, 2010.
Then the natural calamities:
In November 2013, Supertyphoon Yolanda
(Haiyan) reduced to rubble Tacloban City and
the rest of Leyte as well as Samar with some
9,000 people dead.
The 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck
Bohol and Cebu in October 2013, grounding
to dust heritage churches, toppling down
buildings, creating sinkholes that swallowed
houses, killing over a 100 persons. In December 2012, Typhoon Pablo (Bopha)
smashed into Central and Northern Mindanao
killing some 1,900 people.
In December 2011, Typhoon Sendong
(Washi) struck the northern part of Mindanao
killing at least 1,080 people.
And a maritime disaster:
MV St. Thomas Aquinas collided with the
cargo ship MV Sulpicio Express Siete off Cebu
on August 16. 2013, leaving 114 people dead. In the still-remembered past with Cory:
The Mendiola Massacre right at the very
gates of Malacañang in January 1987 with 13
demonstrating farmers dead.
The Lupao Massacre in Nueva Ecija in
February 1987 with 17 killed.
The slaughter of 39 people, including
women and children in Digos, Davao del Sur in
November 1989.
The Vizconde Massacre in Paranaque in
June 1991, with three members of the family
as victims.
Even more devastating natural calamities
then, like:
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck
Central and Northern Luzon wreaking full havoc
in Baguio City and Cabanatuan City on July 16,
1990, killing 1,621 people.
In June 1991, the Mount Pinatubo eruptions
that killed 800 people, recorded as the “second
largest volcanic cataclysm of the 20thcentury”
topped only by the 1912 eruption in some Godforsaken spot in the Alaskan Peninsula.
In the wake of the eruptions came the lahar
rampages that buried whole communities and
added to the death toll.
And supertyphoons too: Sisang (international name: Nina) in
November 1987, ravaging the Bicol region
with 240 kph winds and causing 979 deaths.
Ruping (Mike) in November 1990, its 220
kph winds causing a swath of destruction in
Central Philippines, killing 748.
Uring (Thelma) unleashing flash floods in
Ormoc, Leyte in November 1991, killing more
than 5,100.
And the maritime disasters:
MV Doña Paz colliding with the MT Vector
off Marinduque on December 20, 1987 resulting
to 4,341 deaths in what has been recorded
as “the worst peacetime sea disaster in the
20th century.” MV Doña Marilyn – sister ship of MV Doña
Paz – sinking at the height of Typhoon Unsang
on October 24, 1988 resulting to 77 fatalities. Death and destruction make the defining
constancy in the Aquino presidencies. No
matter BS’s straight path. Notwithstanding
the secular canonization of Cory. Predestined
fate? Preordained destiny? Pure coincidence?
Spurious correlation?
Whichever, it is the nation that most suffered.
And we celebrate EDSA for this?
Today in Philippine history
Source: www.kahimyang.info
Apolinario Mabini takes oath of
allegiance to the United States
On February 26, 1903,
Apolinario Mabini, took oath
of allegiance to the United
States of America, before the
Collector of Customs. Mabini
who had on two previous ocassions refused to do so, said
in his manifesto:
“I went into this struggle,
heeding the voice of the people; I now abandon the struggle for the same cause.” He
closed this document with a
declaration of his faith in the
United States and its purposes. “I will now return”, he said,
“to the obscurity from which,
impelled by circumstances, I
have come”.
He claimed no honors, nor
asked for any reward. He had
done his duty to the land he
loved, and nothing else mattered.
Mabini went on to live
alone in his humble nipa
home on the outskirts of Manila, like a man who sees the
last glorious rays of his descending sun, Mabini thought
less of the future and more of
the past.
Mabini was not to live long
in seclusion. The last of fate’s
unkind gestures toward him
came on May 13, 1903, when
he was stricken with cholera.
He was then but 38 years
of age. With his death there
passed away, in the words
of Teodoro M. Kalaw, “a Malayan statesman of immeasurable talent, possessing
neither previous experience
nor universal political culture,
yet great for his sagacity and
foresight and powerful for his
firmness and patriotism”.
Acceptance is such an important commodity,
some have called it “the first law of personal
growth.” –Peter McWilliams
O pinion
Halo-halo
Ding Cervantes
Blessed Mother appears
in Iraq, California too
For three days last January over the city of Alqosh in Iraq, the Blessed Mother
Mary hovered luminously in the sky. Thousands saw her amid the horrendous
sufferings in Iraq, in a city that was just recently overtaken by the ISIS whose
terrifying extremists beheaded or crucified Christians, including children.
Felix M. Garcia
Keka Mayor EdPam,
king Aldo mung
Kebaitan
(Bistaman keta pang milabas a Lunes, Pebrero 23, ing Aldo
nang Kebaitan Mayor Ed Pamintuan, ning Siyudad ning Angeles, malugud deng patagal yampang ding bibilug king Aguman ding Talasulat, a panimunan kekong Talasuyu, iting
kawatasan a sinulat ning metung karing kayanib kaniti bilang panalala at kapasalamatan king mapuring Alkalde king
alang sawa nang pamantabe at kasaupan karing poeta at
talasulat ning Amanung Sisuan banting ing sabing maybug
nang malumpawi akwa nang masagip at magambul miuman
kapamilatan ning mesabing Aguman)
ING BULAN NA ning Pebrero beinti tres ya kabilangan
Yang aldo nang kebaitan Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan;
Ing pigkalub nang serbisyu nung iti kekatang susuryan
Binye na ngan ing agyu na, iting balen baneng suywan;
Ding memalen Angeleño matapat na’lang pigsilbyan,
Inya ngening kayang Birthday saganan yang palakpakan.
Kaibat na ning palakpak yu, lawen yeng aldo makaslag
Keti siyudad ning Angeles king serbisyu nang linatag
Kilub na ning pilan banwa masalusu yang miglayag
Karin king banuang katasan susulagpo, mamayagpag,
Inya itang Angeleño sukat tamung magpanatag
Kabang Mayor ya’y Pamintuan, ing balen lalu yang tatag.
Inya ngeni kekong sabla matning-matni kung sasabyan
Arapan da ring memalen ampon kareting Kapitan,
Iraq apparition
“You are prone to commit sin and many
times, without thinking, you put yourselves on
the side opposed to God. Be careful. Bend your
knees in prayer. Only through prayer can you
understand the plans God has for you. Do not
be afraid. The day of your liberation is near.
The Victory of God will occur with the definitive
Triumph of my Immaculate Heart. The Lord will
wipe away your tears, and the just will live in
joy. Go forward.
“This is the message which I bring you today
in the name of the Most Holy Trinity. Thank you
for allowing me to bring you together here once
again. I give you my blessing in the name of
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Peace be with you.”
Maswerti lang Angeleño ‘tin lang lang tapat manungkulan
Alang sawang magserbisyu karing kayang sasakupan;
Kareting kayang serbisyu sambitlan ko ring mapilan,
Nung sakali kukulang la, ibie yo ring karagdagan.
Karetang “informal settler”, ‘ting proyekto nang pabale
Kanyan namang kalikasan, kalinisan, “one million tree”
Ing “renal care” (dating ONA,) ating “Philhealth” da pang pamye
Libring Doktor king barangay, libring panulu rang babie;
City College, “infrastructure,” kaayusan masalese
Kang Mayor Ed Agyu Tamu… Saup-Saup… Abe-Abe!
Ding simbitla kung proyeto keting balen binye no’ ngan;
Ing kutang ku naman ngeni… king aldo nang kebaitan
Nang’ regalu ding memalen, ing Mayor ban pamatulan
Karing masamyung bulaklak kekatamu yang kwintasan?
Ding liryu at sampagita, ngaku e la karampatan,
Malanat la’t mako banglu karas na ning kabukasan.
Nanu ya mo ing regalung sukat tamung ibie kaya,
A malyaring e kumupas kekaba na nitang bie na?
Ding matapat a Kapitan, ing sasabian deti, ngara:
“King pagkalub tamung lamak e ta’man gumastus pera,
Iti nung kekatang ibie pilming-pilming tumula ya”
“Nanu? ” ngara ding mangutang, i-“segregate” ing basura.
Sopan taya king nasa na ba’yang lubus pamatulan,
Ing regalung ibie tamu king aldo nang kebaitan,
Tagimpan nang kalinisan dinan tamung katuparan
Agkatan lang kabarangay, ing basura pikawanian;
Ing syudad na ning Angeles ba’yang lalung sunlag legwan,
‘Segregation’ keng Basura, kekatang papanatilian!
Neng Adora G. (Dalagang Baryu) Ferrer
Barangay Anunas, Angeles City
Punto! Central Luzon • February 26 - 28, 2015 • Thursday - Saturday
In the serene aridity of the Mojave Desert
north of Los, Angeles in California, Maria
Paula Acuna has been attracting more people,
especially every 13th of the month. There, she
also sees the Blessed Mother and one would
think that there, too, she was fortifying faith
among the people of California, a state long
rumored to be sitting on the brink of geological
cataclysm..
In Iraq, the three-day apparition of the
Blessed Mother created a sensation that
renewed faith. It was as if she was telling the
Christians to hold on to their faith regardless of
what was to come. As in her apparitions before
hundreds of thousands on top of the Coptic
church in Zeitoun, Egypt in the 1960s, some
people photographed her.
One photograph that has made it through
digital media was uploaded by American Jeff
Gardner of Missouri who heads a group called
Picture Christians which is dedicated to putting
face on the horrible sufferings of Christians in
the hands of the ISIS.
A witness described the Blessed Mother
as being “like a north star but isolated from
everything else. It was rose-colored and like
she had her head bowed in prayer.”
At the Mojave Desert in California, Maria
Paula Acuna wears the habit of a nun, and
attracts many, including the sick, every 13th of
the month when the Blessed Mother appears to
her. Only Maria Paula sees the Blessed Mother,
but witnesses armed with cameras have taken
pictures on unusual lights and cloud formations
of angels. Some have reported smelling roses
during the apparitions.
Now for our staple messages from the
Blessed Mother as conveyed through visionary
Pedro Regis last Feb. 10.
“Dear children, open your hearts to the Lord
and discover the great treasure that is within
you. I know each one of you by name and
I came from Heaven to show you the way to
conversion. Do not hold back. My Jesus needs
your sincere and courageous yes.
“Take care of your spiritual life and live
separated from things of the world. You belong
to the Lord and He is the only One you should
follow and serve. Humanity has become
spiritually poor because men have strayed from
the truth. Return to the Lord. Say no to sin and
let yourselves be led by the One who is your All.
Napaguusapan
Lang
7
120 new Army privates
to be deployed in Mindanao
By Ding Cervantes
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The Army’s 7th Infantry “Kaugnay” Division
(7ID) based in Fort Magsaysay in
Nueva Ecija is fielding 120 of its 280
newly graduated soldiers with private
rank to three Army units in Mindanao.
The 7ID said departure ceremonies are slated for the fielding of the
120 privates to the 71st, 84th and
69th Infantry Battalions respectively
based in Pangibiran, Mabini, Compostela Valley; Malagos, Baguio District,
Davao City; and Panabo City, Davao
del Norte.
The 120 were among the 280 soldiers who graduated from a course that
gave them the rank of private at the
headquarters of the 7ID in Fort Magsaysay in Laur, Nueva Ecija. Of the
120, 41 are from Mindanao, 79 from
Luzon and 10 from the Visayas, the
7ID said.
It also said that families, friends and
military superiors of the 120 privates
are expected to attend departure ceremonies for them later this week.
The 7ID said that more are being trained so that infantry battalions
throughout the country could be augmented by at least 40 soldiers each as
part of the move to strengthen them.
“The 120 privates will be transported by C-130 from Villamor Air Base to
Davao City after the departure ceremo-
ny,” the 7ID said.
In his message to the 120 privates,
7ID commander Maj. Gen. Glorioso
Miranda said “soldiery is a noble profession so each soldier should be prepared to be assigned to the different
parts of the Philippines in serving the
people and securing the land.”
He also noted the importance of
the support of families, relatives and
other loved ones to the soldiers, “especially those assigned to Mindanao.”
‘Nobody’ vs EdPam
From page 1
ers present at the venue.
“It is really ‘res ipsa
loquitur’
(the
thing
speaks for itself),” commented Pamintuan citing a legal doctrine in
describing the senator.
“Halos lahat ng mga
tumakbo (sa India) artista sa Bollywood, almost
70 percent artista. But
after one decade wala
na. Dito saan ang mga
artista natin ngayon?
Edi nakakulong (Almost
all the candidates in India are actors in Bollywood, almost 70 percent
are actors. But after one
decade they’re gone.
Here, where are the actors today? They’re in
jail!),” Pamintuan, who
will seek re-election for
his last term, pointed
out.
“Makukuha mu ba sa
pogi pogi yan? (Can you
achieve this with just
mere good looks?),” the
mayor asked.
This, even as Pamintuan said he did not
want to think about the
elections yet since it
is still a year and half
away. But already, his
political opponents are
making a lot of noises as
he admitted that some
of his supporters are af-
fected and also eager to
join the fray.
VM prospects
“Magtapat ku kekayu,
dakal na lulub ken, dakal na talagang mengayari na, deng aliwa
angdyang alila meyari
term mamalagwa nala
bisa lang tagal (I will be
honest with you, a lot
would like to come in,
most of them have finished their terms while
others, even if they still
have not finished their
term, now want to run)
for vice mayor and of
course they still have to
go through the process,”
Pamintuan said.
“Pogs (Suller) tatagal ya rugu (wants to run
too); Jericho (Aguas)
manimuna ya keng survey, lulub ya naman
pero atin yapang metung a term (he leads in
the survey, he wants to
enter too but he still has
another term); pareng
Alex (Cauguiran), at the
onset aisip na bisa yang
tagal (he realized he
wanted to run),”the mayor said.
He said he gave
Cauguiran, whom he
described as “the best
warhorse who is better in a war room than
in any other position,” a
piece of advice. “Nung
bisa kang tagal kanita
pa meg-prepare naka,
eni mu sabyan yan tagal
ka… tagal ka karetang
mumuna keka (If you
want to run, then you
should have prepared
then, but if you say that
only now… you run after
those who are ahead of
you),” Pamintuan said.
“But since I am older
than him (Cauguiran) I
know what is better,” he
said. “All of them are all
aspiring in pursuing their
plans at this early to run
for vice mayor as my
running mate.”
Buried ambition
During the 66th birth-
day celebration of Pamintuan at the city hall
grounds last Monday,
Cauguiran
reportedly became emotional
during his speech saying
if only to give the mayor
a free hand in choosing
his running mate he will
have to do away with his
political ambition.
“Kutkut kunamu ing
ambisyun ku (I will just
have to bury my political
ambition),”
Cauguiran
said. And as soon as he
stepped down from the
stage, the mayor’s wife
Herminia met and embraced him in a tight hug
while both of them were
reportedly crying.
Converge’s fiber optic cable laying underway
Punto! Central Luzon • February 26 - 28, 2015 • Thursday - Saturday
From page 1
8
tion, Uy said he noticed
that the workers don’t
have enough to eat despite working hard under
the hot sun.
As part of the corporate social responsibility of Converge, Uy said
he has immediately approved a supplemental
feeding program for the
workers for the entire duration of the project consisting of rice, chicken
and meat.
The workers use a
French made Marais
concrete cutter, among
other tools, to lay the fiber optic cable to a standard 1.2 meters underground where a blue
two-inch micro duct,
which has seven sub
ducts, and another twoinch HDPE duct is laid
down, Uy said.
The Marais concrete
cutter slices about four
inches of the road which
is immediately filled in
after the fiber optic cable
is in place.
Uy said for every two
to three hundred meters, depending on the
location, there is a hand
hole for the service stop
which goes out that can
then be attached to the
post and into homes or
businesses.
He said in the bustling Balibago commercial district here, hand
holes for every two hundred meters are already
in place.
In other areas in the
countryside where there
is not much activity, the
service areas can be
placed at every two or
three kilometers, he
said.
Gateway
Backed by congressional franchise (RA
9707) to construct, install, establish, operate
and maintain telecommunications
systems
throughout the Philippines, Converge is also
currently laying a subsea cable from Hong
Kong to La Union then
on to Guam for its international gateway facility
(IGF) that will connect to
the Luzon grid.
At present only PLDT
and Globe telecoms
have IGF in place, he
said.
At the Pacific Telecom Conference in Hawaii last January, Uy
said the topic was “Digital Disruption” because
the revenues of the telco
industry worldwide went
down eight to nine percent per year for the past
two years.
This is because of
the advent of the social
media network, Uy said.
Everybody now calls
abroad using internet
protocol (IP) applications
like facebook, Viber,
Tango, facetime, etc. for
free instead of calling
through the cellular networks which have regular charges, he added.
But Uy said the usage of the “bandwidth”
because of the social
media network and video went up three times.
“The growth of the
usage is too fast that is
why they (telcos) have
a big problem coping
with the upgrade and demand,” he said.
Congestion
Even with about
7,000 cell sites around
the country, it is not
enough because wireless have capacities and
therefore have limitations, he reasoned.
They are simply congested that is why we
have slow internet that is
why we need to fiberize
all these, he added.
During big events like
the 7107 RHCP concert
in Clark last year, mobile stations were put up
around the concert venue to support the cloud,
otherwise the system will
crash, Uy said.
Fiber optic technology is better because
even with the sudden
increase in demand or
whatever capacity you
want, the only thing you
need to change is the
equipment, Uy said.
“The way we see it
now, technology is going fiber to the home.
4- to 12-hour brownouts set in 2 cities...
From page 1
advisory sent by NGCP
to the Pampanga Electric Cooperative II. The
reason for the power outage was not mentioned.
At the same time,
the NGCP also issued
another advisory saying that today, Feb. 27,
power supply through
the Cabanatuan Electric
Corp. (Celcor) would be
cut from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
“This is to accommodate Celcor’s request
for replacement of poles
along Maharlika Highway to connect Celcor’s
new Sumacab substation,” NGCP said.
Also slated for power interruption today are
Bamban and Capas in
Tarlac, lasting from 8
a.m. to 12 noon “to facilitate testing of instrument
transformers for Tarelco
II’s revenue meter simul-
taneous with Tarelco II’s
energization of 10MVA
transformer at O’ Donnell
Substation.”
“Specific cities and
municipalities to be affected by the power interruption are determined
by the above mentioned
Distribution Utility (DU),
unless the activity affects the entire franchise
area. The DU allots the
available power within its franchise area and
implements the power interruption schedule
among the end-users,”
NGCP explained.
“Normal operations will
immediately resume after
work completion. NGCP’s
customers and the general public are advised to
take the necessary preparations and precautions
for this scheduled interruption,” the NGCP advisories to the affected
towns also said.
The whole Asia-Pacific region as of January
this year has 100 million
homes already connected to fiber optic cables,”
Uy said.
The biggest is Korea
where 99 percent of the
houses are connected to
fiber and then China and
then where about Japan 70 to 80 percent of
homes are connected to
fiber, he said.
Here in the Philippines, only about one
percent of homes are
connected to fiber, he
added.
Meanwhile,
telcos
now have a problem in
migrating to the new fiber technology because
they have an old legacy
so when they migrate,
it takes a while, Uy ex-
plained.
“Unlike them, Converge is a new player, so
we lay out our backbone
with the new technology,” he said.
Optical Fiber is a
flexible, transparent fiber made of high quality
extruded glass or plastic that can function as a
light pipe to transmit light
to both ends of the fiber.
Fiber Optics is most often used in fiber-optic
communication or the direct transmission of information over long distances at higher bandwidths than other communication forms.
With its backbone in
place, Converge’s internet performance can
give speeds that burst up
to 100 Mbps.
Notice of Extrajudicial Settlement
Notice is hereby given that the heirs of Jesus Cunanan Figueroa
who died intestate on June 17, 2014 executed an Affidavit of Extrajudicial
Settlement with Absolute Sale of his estate, more particularly described as a
parcel of land located at Brgy. Capaya, Angeles City and covered by Transfer
Certificate of Title No. 138959, before Notary Public Reymon E. Fabros as per
Doc No. 59, Page No. 88, Book No. VII, Series of 2015.
Punto! Central Luzon: February 20, 27 & March 6, 2015
Notice of Extrajudicial Settlement
Notice is hereby given that the heirs of Ponciano I. Del Rosario who
died on September 30, 2004 in Magalang, Pampanga executed an Affidavit of
Extrajudicial Settlement with Waiver of Share of his estate, more particularly
described as a Willy’s Jeep with MV File No. 0364-3729, Engine No. 522663,
Chassis No. 283R, Plate No. CEB 722, and C.R. No. 57642153, before Notary
Public Almario D. Marimla as per Doc No. 495, Page 39, Book XXVI, Series
of 2015.
Punto! Central Luzon: February 13, 20 & 27, 2015
Notice of Extrajudicial Settlement
Notice is hereby given that the heirs of Bernardo Q. Capio who died
intestate on January 21, 1993 in Magalang, Pampanga executed an Affidavit of
Extrajudicial Settlement with Sale of his estate, more particularly described as a
parcel of land (Lot 25-C, Psd-328333) situated in the Barrio of Lourdes, Angeles
City and covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. 69059 of the Registry of
Deeds of Angeles City, before Notary Public Reymon E. Fabros as per Doc No.
101, Page No. 96, Book No. VII, Series of 2015.
Punto! Central Luzon: February 13, 20 & 27, 2015
The Gossipmiller
Cesar Pambid
Aljur Abrenica balik-GMA 7
Mukhang naayos na ang problema ni Aljur Abrenica sa GMA Network at sa GMA Artist Center dahil ibinalita ni Kris Bernal sa Instagram (IG) na balik-network na
ang aktor.
Nagkita sila ni Aljur sa GMA Network at nagkumustahan at sa nakita naming pictures nila, mahigpit ang yakapan at panay ang halik sa kanya ni Aljur.
Post ni Kris: “A special someone surprised me at my taping today. I hadn’t seen him for nearly a year! We have barely texted each other! I’m just sooo happy to
see him in GMA grounds today! He made my day!
“Walang nagbago...except that he’s sexier and a whole lot better! I miss everything about him. Higpit na yakap at walang katapusang chika. He’s sooo back!
Excited to work with him again...I wish it’s soon.”
Nakiusap si Kris na ’wag nang mag-nega sa pagbabalik ni Aljur sa GMA Network.
“Let’s just all be happy for him. I dedicate this photo to all SOLID ALKRISIANS na matagal naghintay, umasa at sumuporta. Aljur Abrenica, we’re all tuned in for
your comeback,” dagdag ni Kris.
Ang sabi, lalabas si Aljur sa Sunday All Stars sa Sunday at may mga susunod pa siyang lalabasang shows habang wala pang soap.
Ibig kayang sabihin nito, drop na ang kasong isinampa niya sa GMAAC?
Hindi pa nagsasalita si Aljur tungkol dito at hindi pa nga nag-post ng picture nila ni Kris at ni Mark Herras.
May picture rin si Aljur with Mark na masaya rin sa kanyang pagbabalik, kaya lang, ngayong bumalik na si Aljur sa GMA Network, ibalik din kaya siya sa Cain at
Abel?
Sila ni Alden Richards ang original cast ng movie, pero pinalitan siya ni Mark nang magsampa siya ng kaso sa GMAAC.
Ano ’yun, aalisin si Mark at ibabalik si Aljur? Problema ito ni Direk Adolf Alix, Jr., at ng GMA Films at kanilang co-producer.
CLTV 36 Star Mill’s concert tagumpay
Naging matagumpay ang ginanap na concert ng mga talent ng Star Mill: Central Luzon TV noong February 19 na ginanap sa Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center.
Tampok sa Star Mill: the Concert ang Star Mill Season 2 Grand Champion at Heartthrob ng Pampanga na si JD Simon at ang mga runner-up na sina Barbie
Manalo, Louie Anne Culala at Lemuel Lansangan. Namangha rin ang mga Ka-Rehiyon sa pagtatanghal ng ibang finalist na sina Rica David, Dale Sese, Renzo
Nicolau at Paul John Carlos, kasama ang mga Star Mill Season 1 finalists na sina Eliza Arnaiz, Andy Pangan, Awit Garcia at Jeneal Mariano. May special guests pa
tulad ng boy band na Men2Be at ang Body Shocks Dancers.
Dalawang breses ginanap amng show. Alas dos ng hapon at pangalawa naman ay alas siyete ng gabi. In both shows, talaga namang nagpakitang-gilas ang mga
peformers.
Tinilian ng mga kababaihan ang my giling moves ng mga guwapong sina JD Simon at Lemuel Lansangsan. Puwede bang isalang sa mainstream ang dalawang
ito na posibleng kumabog sa marami nating hunk singers sa ngayon.
Personal kung nagustuhan ang suot na Little Mermaid costume ni Rica David na puwede na ring maging kaliga ng mga Tween stars ni Kuya Germs sa Walang
Tulugan.
Pero siyempre, walang hindi hahanga sa mga performances ng mga divas na sina Barbie Manalo, Eliza Arnaiz, Louie Ann Culala at Jeneal Mariano.
Breath of fresh air naman ang peg ni Awit Garcia everytime she comes up onstage.
We would like to commend the organizers of this concert particularly Ms. Sonia Soto ang Billy San Juanl
Mabuhay po kayo!
Hataw Superbodies levels up several notches higher
Sam Concepcion nakatikim ng
hagupit ng dila ni Anne Curtis
Pampanga’s bets
Sister knows best! Looks like ’yan ang naramdaman
ngayon ni Jasmine Curtis-Smith na balitang hiwalay
na sa boyfriend na si Sam Concepcion.
Nakatikim din kasi si Sam ng hagupit ng dila ni
Anne nang time na kasagsagan ng relasyon nila ng
kapatid ng aktres.
Dahil doon, nagkaroon ng haka-haka na ayaw ni
Anne kay Sam para kay Jasmine.
Pero naging quiet si Anne nang ma-link si Jasmine
kay Daniel Padilla. Siyempre nga naman, Daniel Padilla
’yon kumpara kay Sam.
Wala pang pahayag si Jasmine sa hiwalayan nila ni Sam.
Pero ang aktor, nabasa namin sa website ng Star Cinema na,
“Sam clears the name of friend entangled in rumored breakup
with Jasmine.”
Gayunpaman, hindi man magsalita si Anne, batid na natin ang
emosyon niya sa pakikipaghiwalay ni Jasmine kay Sam.
Punto! Central Luzon • February 26 - 28, 2015 • Thursday - Saturday
Sa Sabado na gaganapin ang Hataw Superbodies (The Nesxt Level) ng JSY
Publishing ng Hataw Tabloid. After several years, this competition is raised to a
level several notches that the past.
The conpetetion will be held at Area 5 (Former Ratsky) along Tomas Morato
on Saturday, February 28.
Fifteen pairs of sexy females and gorgeous hunks will compete for high
prizes at stake.
Alma Concepcion and John Nite will host the evening affair, while Meg
Imperial, Tyrone Oneza, Raymond Cabral and Vhong Navarros’s kalokaalike Mark Tyler Cruz will spice up the night with their musical
renditions. Bc Legs Dancers will also display their dance routine
during the proceedings.
9
10
Punto! Central Luzon • February 26 - 28, 2015 • Thursday - Saturday