Cagayan de Oro City News December 2013

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Cagayan de Oro City within Misamis Oriental

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Cagayan de Oro City Public Market
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The river of cagayan de oro city
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St. Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral

Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.
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Flood Waters in the streets of Cagayan de Oro City
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Cagayan de Oro City Buildings
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Bus Terminal, Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City

WORM’S EYEVIEW: Those abusive rebels, mercenaries

By Manny Valdehuesa

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews/31 Dec.)– It’s been decades since Jose Ma. Sison, alias Amado Guerrero, launched his Maoist version of communism in a barangay somewhere in Pangasinan when they celebrated the birthday of Mao Zedong on December 26, 1968. They swore to topple our government and superimpose their alien ideology on our society by force and by violence.

They’re still at it… terrorizing defenseless folks, assassinating officials, sabotaging the economy, destabilizing community life. And it has been largely profitable for them.

Days ago, celebrating their 45th anniversary, they were reported to have issued a declaration of war anew against the Philippine government, vowing to intensify attacks against its forces while pursuing their objective of raising the number of their combatants to 25,000.

That they are able to grandstand and make such pompous declarations to this day is something I can only marvel at. That the government lets them get away with it perplexes me even more. But it can’t be denied that they’re very much around and have been making inroads not only in out of the way places but in the capitals.

Earlier this month they declared a ceasefire supposedly in keeping with the season. But no sooner did they make the declaration than they violated it, killing a soldier in Impasugong, Bukidnon.

It is getting worrisome that these malcontents are increasingly able to pull off such treachery on government and citizenry and get away with it with impunity.

Intimidating, Conditioning Community Life

Before this, they raided a large hog farm in Libona, the Bukidnon town next to Cagayan de Oro, killed hundreds of prime livestock, burned facilities and structures, then made off with weapons they seized from the security guards.

Not long after that, tension gripped Villanueva municipality in Misamis Oriental, just east of Cagayan de Oro, when the group served notice that violence and destruction will be meted to four large corporations there unless they pay the ever-larger sums they charge “for protection.”

All this is conditioning the citizenry to view such intimidations as a normal part of community life, breeding an unhealthy impression that government is helpless and can’t protect threatened communities. This is bad, to say the least; very bad.

It’s bad to condition citizens to accept lawlessness; bad for people to think their government is helpless against criminality. It’s been bad enough that the government has been unable to enforce the constitutional ban on political dynasties.

More and more Filipinos are being backed into a corner where they’re either harassed by these mercenaries or abused by the claque of dynastic rulers who dominate the political system.

Is the Government Helpless?

Who is this Jorge Madlos alias “Ka Oris” who the media love to seek out and flatter by quoting his words? He moves around, makes deadly threats, and justifies Communist depredations. He metes out penalties to business firms for violating “revolutionary policies.” For emphasis, he cites what they did months ago to three Surigao mining firms whose facilities and equipment they set afire with impunity. “Listen, Everybody: respect our policies and obey our warnings…or else!” That’s what he’s been saying and he’s getting away with it.

This is not a Filipino talking. This is an impertinent, gun-toting promdi terrorist who exploits and preys on helpless Filipinos.

Why he is glorified by the media, why he gets free air time or printed page to threaten and intimidate everyone, why they seek him and hand him a microphone for his propaganda–one can only speculate.

No less curious: why does our government put up with his impertinence? It’s beginning to look like our government has conceded its authority, surrendering control over parts of Caraga to these communist brigands.

If this fellow is a Filipino, he is subject to the laws of the republic. He should be made to account for his bluster and pay for his group’s criminal activities.

If he denies being a Filipino, he is a traitor and should be treated accordingly. He shouldn’t get away with blackmailing society while living parasitically on hapless communities. He brandishes his weapons at will, shows off his fire power in his jungle redoubt for media to feed on, and gets propaganda mileage for the troubles he causes.

How many more insults can this fellow hurl in our faces before our law enforcers stop him?

It’s appalling that instead of pursuing and arresting these blackmailers, all our officials do is make assurances that troops are on alert. Some even suggest that communist detainees be released as a confidence-building measure. To boost their confidence or ours?

What’s the Government Doing?

Billions in investments are wasted as a result of their depredations. Billions more in property are burned and destroyed while hundreds of civil servants and citizens are victimized.

Something is very wrong if traitorous criminals can point guns at us, create destruction and disorder as they violate our sovereignty and destroy our community. They are mocking our laws!

Sure, let’s listen to their plaints and their demands, even to their anger, but let it be abundantly clear that we have a greater cause for anger. We are the law-abiding citizens; we are the victims, the injured party—we have the right to be angry and to demand justice. We must not tolerate anarchy.






Roa: About Jose P. Rizal

By A. Paulita Roa


GENERATIONS of Filipinos know about our national hero, Jose P. Rizal, from his books and other works that they studied while in school.

We all know those countless books written about him and the prolific life that he led.

And of course, every 30th of December we commemorate his death anniversary and this is the day that the hero's soul stirring poem titled “Mi Ultimo Adios” or “My Last Farewell” is recited in most town plazas around the country.

However, there are still many things about his life and the profound impact that his death had on many Filipinos at that time that are mostly unknown to us in this present generation.

When Rizal was exiled in Dapitan, his daily activities were monitored and reported to the Spanish military governor who held office and resided at Casa Real in Cagayan de Misamis (Cagayan de Oro).

At that time, Dapitan was part of the Misamis Province and the capital town was Cagayan.

I know of two persons in my family that had had a personal encounter with Rizal—the cousins Juanita and Concepcion Roa.

Both as young girls were brought to Dapitan by their respective parents with the hope that they would be cured from blindness.

Rizal performed surgery on their eyes but with little success.

Concepcion was able to see only shadows and it was only temporary.

She was the frail one and died a few years after her eye surgery.

Juanita never obtained her sight.

She was then taught how to read in Braille and was the first person in Cagayan to own a Braille bible.

Juanita and her sister Rosario were pioneer members of the United Church of Christ under the renowned Dr. Frank Laubach.

When I asked her about Rizal, she told me that he was a gentle person who spoke Bisayan fluently. She died in her late 70s.

There is this anecdote as told by Mr. Fortunato Yacapin about Rizal who secretly slipped away from Dapitan in a friend's boat to visit his friend, Don Urbano Alvarez in Tagoloan.

Both were classmates in Ateneo Municipal in Manila.

He stayed in his friend's house overnight and left very early in the morning.

Aside from Tia Juanita, I came a bit close to Rizal in my young life twice.

The first one was when I met Marcial Borromeo, who was the uncle of my stepmother.

He was among the few boys who were selected to study in a small school that Rizal had while on exile in Dapitan.

I was thrilled to meet this stocky white haired man who came to our house on his way to Camiguin.

I learned that he kept a treasured photo of himself and his teacher in his house in Cebu.

I wonder if it is still there today.

His daughter, Josefa or Tia Pining was the wife of the late City Fiscal Graciano Neri Sr.

The ardent Rizalista and foremost Philippine art collector, Alfonso ‘Tio Poncho’ Ongpin was the husband of my grandaunt, Esperanza.

His house in Manila was a veritable museum of Rizaliana.

I saw ensconced in glass cases the personal things of our national hero—his ‘tsinelas,’ toothbrush, his coat and others.

I learned that this priceless collection was then donated to the Philippine government upon the death of my granduncle.

I still have with me his unique Christmas card–aside from the Spanish holiday greetings to his sister-in-law, my Lola Conchita, there was nothing Christmassy about his card.

Rather, it was a rare photo of an expensive silver casket that contained the bones of Rizal and an article on how he spent his last hours on earth.

He emphatically denied that Rizal renounced his association with Freemasonry as claimed by the Spanish Jesuits.

Decades later, when this card was shown to the late Jesuit historian, Fr. Miguel Bernad in his office in Xavier University, he refuted what Tio Poncho wrote by saying that Rizal did go back to the Catholic faith before he was led to his execution.

Lastly, how did the Kagay-anons react to Rizal's execution?

Many were angry and as a protest, they turned away from their Catholic faith.

They were especially against the Spanish priests who became abusive.

In fact, when Rev. Frank Laubach came to Cagayan as the first American Protestant missionary in 1916, he noted that majority of the townspeople became Aglipayans.

One of the main reasons for their conversion was because of the death of Dr. Jose P. Rizal in the hands of the Spaniards.







Bono Adaza

By Ben Emata


IN TIME for the holiday season, Manny Quisumbing, a veteran newspaperman from Cagayan de Oro City who is now permanently residing in New Jersey City and me, based in San Jose, California, had a long distance phone interview with former assemblyman and provincial governor of Misamis Oriental, Atty. Homobono Adaza who is based in Metro Manila.

Adaza opened his remarks by greeting the Mindanaons for joyous Christmas and peace on earth this holiday season. He disclosed that he is launching two new books he authored: the Corona Impeachment and the other that relates to freedom for the brave. The triangle interview that ran thousands of miles from one another covered so many issues about Philippine politics and the affairs of the government in relation to the needed reform of the country. He has authored about 10 books to this day that were distributed in the USA and the Philippines.

Adaza who founded the Mindanao Alliance, a political party in Northern Mindanao that catapulted to power himself as provincial governor, Reuben Canoy as ssemblyman and Nene Pimentel as city mayor of Cagayan de Oro. The group, however, did not last long as the three superpowers developed a serious political misunderstanding that broke up the infant party that was intended to spread throughout the whole country. A lot of Kagay-anons expressed regrets over the breakup saying the future of the new party was so bright and it was gathering supporters so fast.

Adaza declared he supports total reform in the country but he regretted so much the kind of move that the national government is undertaking as unappealing. A lot of things should be involved in the process in order to arrive at the objectives. Although he did not elaborate well, it appears that the kind of reforms, which the national leadership has started, is missing the target.

Asked if he has some plans in the future political activities, he did not emphasize anything although he seems to be far from retiring from politics. He still engages in fulltime law practice as he goes on writing for new books that touch on Philippine politics.

Adaza, a brilliant law practitioner for a long time plans to visit his friends and relatives in the United States of America. He said he would meet Quisumbing and me for discussions on other subjects important to the Filipino people.

I met Adaza and his family some seven years ago at the 60th floor of the world-famous Equinox Restaurant in downtown San Francisco. With him during that talk was his wife and daughter, who just passed the bar examination.

More Oro applicants now with jobs

By Anjo J. Bacarisas


HIRING for the service sector is on the uptrend as new malls and hotels have opened in Cagayan de Oro City this year.

Kathleen Sorilla, Public Employment Service Office (Peso) officer-in-charge, said sales representatives, hotel service workers and clerks have been in demand because of the newly opened establishments.

From August to October, Peso recorded 490 hired applicants in Cagayan de Oro based on the data gathered from its in-house interviews.

In-house interviews are conducted by the Peso in their office so they can provide potential applicants to employers.

Sorilla said there are 13 establishments in the city that their office referred job seekers for hiring.

In the month of November, the office recorded 20 hired applicants out of 189.

The agency PXI Promo Exchange hired 15, while Savemore hired five persons.

Of the 628 applicants Peso recorded, 195 were hired in October.

Sorilla said that Peso provided workers for Puregold store, the two reopened McDonalds branches, Shopwise store, and new establishments at the Centrio mall, among others.

While hundreds of applicants were hired locally from August to October, hired applicants for overseas jobs had reached 631 on the same months.

The jobs needed overseas were tea workers, secretaries, butchers, English teachers, household service workers with National Certification II (NCII), bartenders, baristas, bakers, cooks, drivers and nurses.

“Most of the hired applicants overseas are skilled workers for construction,” she said.

Sorilla said that next year, the Peso office is expecting more applicants and more job fairs.

“Peso will hold job fairs until such time that all applicants will land on a job,” she said.

Sorilla also said that next year, they will have a dialogue with the top colleges and universities in the city whose alumni and graduates are having a hard time looking for jobs.

She said part of their goal is to help graduates land a job in local establishments in the city.

Sorilla added that because of the contractual scheme that hires employees for only six months, it is possible that the available jobs for the next year will be the same this year.

“It is possible that there will be an increase in available jobs but it will not be that high,” she said.

Army chief awards 4ID soldiers

By Butch D. Enerio


SEVEN soldiers belonging to the 4th Infantry Division in Cagayan de Oro City were pinned their medals, which were awarded to them for exemplary show of bravery during the different encounters in the division’s area of responsibility.

Lieutenant General Noel Coballes, commanding general of the Philippine Army, pinned the medals of recognition on the soldiers.

The gold cross medal, which is the fourth highest military award, was given to Private First Class (Pfc.) Dexie A. Macalaya; Pfc. Niño S. Negolo and Pfc. Jonbert L. Sabado all from Charlie Company, 58th Infantry (Dimalulupig) Battalion.

The unit encountered around 30 New People's Army members in Barangay Ampianga, Sugbongcogon, Misamis Oriental, wherein two rebels were killed and two firearms were recovered.

The Military Merit Medal, which is given to recognize a soldier’s heroic achievement during or in support to military action, was also given to Captain Henry M. Pang-Ay of 26th Infantry (Ever Onwards) Battalion; Corporal Algrin T. Yañez of 42nd Division Reconnaisance Company; 1st Lieutenant Norman M. Tagros and Corporal Dandy T. Panganiban both from 8th Infantry (Dependable) Battalion.

Coballes was in Mindanao to see the overall condition of his troops in the different areas and to personally delivered to the soldiers his Christmas message and give recognition to the effort of the 4th ID under the command of Major General Ricardo Visaya.

He underscored the efforts of the soldiers for the different programs it successfully supported for the Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) “Bayanihan.”

Coballes said that the operations of the division resulted in the neutralization of almost 100 NPA rebels and the recovery of 80 firearms.

He also mentioned the significant accomplishment of the unit in terms of environmental protection, which added to the country’s overall economic output most specifically that of Northern Mindanao.

“Lubos akong nagpapasalamat sa suportang binigay ninyo sa aking pamumuno at sa inyong taus-pusong paglilingkod sa bayan,” Coballes said.

14 Christmas babies born in Philippines

By Camille Diola


MANILA, Philippines - At least 14 babies were born on Christmas Day in the country.

A report by the state news agency said that nine of the 14 children were delivered in Cagayan de Oro City while the other five were born in Pangasinan.

Among the "Christmas babies" are twins named Crissy and Crissy Jane born at 4:27 a.m. in JR Borja General Hospital in Cagayan de Oro City.

Meanwhile, mothers Irish Joy Calderon and Johanna Baja gave birth to baby boys in the same medical center at 3:45 a.m. and 3:07 a.m., respectively.

The five births in Pangasinan were all recorded from midnight to 9:00 a.m. at the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital in San Carlos City.

'Christmas babies' born in Cagayan, Pangasinan

By Rod Bolivar, ABS-CBN News Cagayan de Oro; Aldrin Soriano, ABS-CBN News Pangasinan


MANILA -- Nine babies were born on Christmas Day in Cagayan de Oro, while five others were born in Pangasinan.

In JR Borja General Hospital in Cagayan de Oro, Gene Measco gave birth to female twins at 4:27 a.m. Wednesday.

Measco and her husband, Renato, named their twins Crissy and Crissy Jane.

Two others, Irish Joy Calderon and Johanna Baja, gave birth to baby boys at the JR Borja General Hospital at 3:45 a.m. and 3:07 a.m., respectively.

Five other "Christmas babies" were also born in Northern Mindanao Medical Center.

Meanwhile, the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital in San Carlos City, Pangasinan recorded five births from 12 midnight until 9 a.m. on Christmas Day.

One of them, Charrie Ferrer, gave birth to her first child, baby girl Althea.

Like Ferrer, Cristina Dueña also gave birth to her first child, Jeanelee.






Oro cops seal guns for holidays

By Loui S. Maliza


THE Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) officials sealed the muzzles of the officers’ firearms to prevent firing of guns this holiday season.

The covering of firearms was conducted during Cocpo’s flag-raising ceremony at the city hall Monday.

Chief Inspector Lemuel Gonda, of Cocpo’s Operations and Plans branch, said it has been their tradition to seal with tape all service firearms of the city’s law enforcers to avoid the temptations to fire shots during the revelry.

The seals will be removed in early January to see who among the police personnel fired their weapons during the holidays. Those whose firearm seals are broken may be asked to explain.

Gonda said he is hoping that the city’s police would not use firecrackers during the Yuletide celebration to set as models to their neighbors and the youth.

He also assured that police officers will be visible on the streets to respond to any emergencies and secure the city from criminals.

Gonda said churches, automated teller machines (ATMs), malls and other busy areas would be given utmost attention by the police.

He added that Cocpo will check its people on the field from time to time to monitor if they are present at their assigned areas. Policemen found not on their post during the roll call could be liable of administrative sanctions.






City Council asks Marina to monitor passenger vessels' safety'

By pna.gov.ph


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Dec. 23 (PNA) -– The City Council here on Monday asked the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) to ensure the safety of all passenger vessels serving the Cagayan de Oro City port.

Councilor Ramon Tabor, chair of the committee on police, fire, and public safety, said that the resolution was an offshoot of an inquiry on complaints aired by passengers whose Cebu-bound passenger vessel ran aground off Siquijor Island last December 15.

During initial inquiry, officials of the Trans Asia Shipping Lines who operate the passenger vessel admitted that the engine of the passenger vessel carrying 667 passengers malfunctioned midway of their travel past 1 a.m. on Dec. 16, 2013.

The passengers complained that Trans Asia did not immediately send a rescue team to make sure that the passengers stranded in high seas would be safe, Tabor said.

However, Baltazar Llenos, manager of Trans Asia, said that the shipping lines immediately responded by sending a tugboat while the company closely monitor the weather condition on that day.

Llenos said that the shipping lines immediately took care of the differently-abled passengers and make sure that food and provisions were readily available.

Tabor asked the shipping lines to submit to the city council's committee on public safety a detailed company preventive maintenance system that enhances the company's emergency preparedness. (PNA) FFC/PTR/CD/UTB

Suson brothers compete in nat’l bouldering

By Iste S. Leopoldo


THE Suson brothers Joshua, Jan Joseph and Paul Eli will be leading Cebuano climbers in the final leg of the National Bouldering Competition set next year in February.

In the second leg in Cagayan de Oro City (CDO) last October, the Suson brothers made impressive finishes to secure the top three spots, which are usually dominated by the climbers from Cagayan and Manila.

“I think we will have a big chance in the final leg because we have been training right after the competition in CDO. Though it would be a very tough competition with the presence of several season climbers such as Miel and Pj have been exposed to several international competitions.

However, we still hope for the best,” said Joshua Suson.

Imported 450K bags of rice to boost stocks'

By visayandailystar.com


An initial shipment of 450,000 bags or 22,500 metric tons of rice from Vietnam was received by the National Food Authority yesterday at its Manila Harbor Center warehouse in Tondo, Manila.

The stocks form part of the 500,000 MT that was awarded to Vietnam on a government-to-government tender in November to boost the agency's buffer stock which was depleted due to the substantial supply requirements needed for relief operations in the hard-hit areas of Typhoon ‘Yolanda'.

NFA spokesperson Rex Estoperez said 120,000 MT arrived in the country this month through the ports of Manila, Cagayan De Oro City, General Santos City, Iloilo and Cebu.

The balance of 380,000 MT is expected to be delivered in the first quarter of next year to serve as buffer for the traditional lean months of July to September. The importation would cost at around $462.25 per metric ton which is equivalent to P9.7 billion.

“The NFA Council decided to import rice for precautionary stock purposes. We need to strike a balance between ensuring the stability of the rice supply and providing relief for those affected by recent calamities,” Estoperez said.

Meanwhile, the NFA assures the public that stocks in its warehouses are of premium quality, contrary to reports that rice distributed for Typhoon ‘Yolanda' victims were rotten and not suitable for consumption.

Estoperez said its quality assurance officers and internal auditing department regularly monitor and assess stocks stored in its warehouses.

The agency is open to inspection of its warehouses by the media and concerned citizens to prove that its rice stocks are of good quality, Estoperez said.*PNA

Tourism, PACT treat streetkids, trafficked persons, child laborers an educational tour

By JORIE C. VALCORZA


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Dec. 19 (PIA) – The Department of Tourism (DOT), in partnership with the Philippines Against Child Trafficking (PACT), spearheaded an education for street children, trafficked women and children, and child laborers in Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental.

With this year’s theme “Wakasan ang Human Trafficking, Ito’y Ating Tungkulin,” Charlita C. Ladera, DOT-10 Project Officer and PACT CDO-Chairperson, said like in the past years, we aim to make of this venue and opportunity to share with the least of our brethren—the street children, trafficked women and children, and child laborers, information about child trafficking and popularize the Human Rights Standard on the Protection of the Trafficked Children.

This is also intended for children to be aware on the issues and threats of trafficking and for them to join the advocacy on anti-child trafficking and for them to enjoy the spirit of giving and sharing during Christmas season, Ladera said.

Meanwhile, Ladera said this initiative is an offshoot of DOT’s membership to the Regional Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee (RLECC), region 10, and in line with the celebration of the International Day Against Child Trafficking.

The tour was participated by the different government agencies, local government units, non government organizations, children and young people in school and in communities.

The 48 children-beneficiaries were given the chance to visit primarily the seaports and airport where they were briefed ports are the potential exit sites for human trafficking. They were also ushered to McArthur Marker at the Macabalan Wharf, La Castilla Museum, briefing/tour of airport facilities and a Holy Mass at the Divine Mercy Hills Chapel in El Salvador City. Children were also treated to a film showing on the Best of Northern Mindanao.

For his part, Director Catalino E. Chan III, DOT-10, cited the educational tour is one of the two pet projects under his watch. The other one is the Singing Ambassadors, he said.

This tour is a way of reaching to the underprivileged kids and inspires them with hope, adding that poverty is not a hindrance to success. He related a number of success stories relating to achieving success amidst poverty.

Be safe against strangers especially when alone or with other kids, said Director Chan to the children.

He also expressed his optimism that more children-beneficiaries will benefit in the next tours and more people will help DOT in this initiative. (EOR/PIA-10)

Youth go nude to express advocacy

By Anjo Bacarisas


THEY stripped off their clothes to send a message -- expose the Philippine social realities.

Around 30 youth from the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan stepped out of their comfort zones to express their opinions creatively through an open shoot activity called ‘The Nude Project: An Advocacy Campaign Open Shoot on Social Realities.’

“This is the way of the youth to let the people know that we’ve got something to say about our social realities,” said Gladys Valle, a student from Xavier University.

The activity was held in an open space in Magsaysay Park on December 16.

Micka Virtudazo, one of the project’s organizers, said one of the goals of the activity was to encourage the youth to express themselves in a creative but meaningful way.

She added that the Filipino youth should be made aware of the present realities and do something about it.

Valle added: “It was conducted openly for the people to witness. It was the youth letting their bodies do the talking.”

Virtudazo said the project was “done in the open to make the people see ‘the naked truth’ concerning the realities of our society.”

Issues

“We are against the establishment of coal-fired power plants because of its contribution to climate change,” Virtudazo said.

Indirectly, she added, it caused a lot of trouble including deaths around the world since carbon dioxide and all the harmful chemicals emitted from coal plants contribute to climate change.

Virtudazo said the open shoot was able to spread the realities about Human immunodeficiency virus-Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV-Aids).

In Northern Mindanao, she said people diagnosed of having HIV-Aids increased from 15 percent to 24 percent.

“That increase is alarming enough for the youth and the people to take a stand against it,” she said referring to HIV- Aids cases.

Other than that, the group also expressed their disappointment over corruption especially the most recent ‘pork barrel’ scam.

Atypical

Markey Magallanes from Mindanao State University—Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) participated in the open shoot because it is an atypical way of using the body.

“I joined the ‘Nude Project’ because it was very creative and meaningful especially that it allows me to express my views on the present realities,” he said.

As regards his views on social realities, he said: “I want to end the culture of impunity. I am pro-environment so I abhor all things that contribute to global warming. Also, I want the indigenous people to exercise their right to self-determination.”

Magallanes said he traveled an hour or two to participate in the activity.

Participants

Students from Bayabas National High School (BNHS), Mindanao University of Science and Technology (MUST), MSU-IIT and Xavier University—Ateneo de Cagayan participated in the activity.

The open shoot was organized by Youth Alliance for Peace (YAP) and Tulong Kabataan.

“The participants were not completely nude. They still have their boxer shorts and tubes on,” said Valle.

Catholics troop to Oro churches on ‘Simbang Gabi’

By Lenesse Marie Libres


YOU know it’s almost Christmas when pretty lights dazzle starting at 6 a.m.

You know the holidays are fast approaching when you experience extreme traffic even on off peak hours.

And you know it’s only a few days more when you start seeing people go to church as early as 4 a.m.

The first day of this year’s nine-day novena masses or the “Misa de Gallo” was celebrated by Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma at St. Augustine Cathedral on December 16, 2013.People filled the church and the pews where occupied long before the mass started.

While it rained a few hours after midnight, it did little to lessen the crowd.

In the middle of the mass, dozy heads looked up the Parish Youth Coordinating Council (PYCC) and the Christian Family and Life Apostolate (CFLA) performed a play on “Mary’s call on her youthful age” which featured the characteristics of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the “Mary” of today. The play pointed out the norms of which our society abides by without realizing what’s right and wrong. After the play, PYCC and CFLA sang a song for the mass goers.

When asked what they can say about the Misa de Gallo, Mara and Gemwel said that it is one way of preparing everyone for the coming of the Child Christ.

“For me, of all the nine nights, I find the first most memorable” said Benjie, a PYCC member.

“I hope that the people of Cagayan de Oro have recovered from Typhoon Sendong two years ago, but we should be more wary of the needs of our brothers and sisters who are victims of Yolanda. We should also continue our help sa ila… In this Yuletide season, we must remember that that is the true spirit of Christmas,” Archbishop Ledesma said as he shared his greetings to the Filipino people in this Yuletide season.

After the mass, different Filipino delicacies such as pandesal – breakfast rolls, puto bumbong – purple colored rice recipe with grated coconut and brown sugar, bibingka – flour plus eggs made into cakes, and many other Pinoy food paired with ‘sikwate’ or ‘tsokolate’ in Tagalog – a hot chocolate drink can be found sold outside the church. They are a favorite take home of loyal Simbang Gabi goers.

The vendors are given until 7 a.m. to sell the "kakanin."

The city police provided security for the mass goers.

Xavier University (XU) Immaculate Concepcion chapel was also filled with mass goers. Fr. Jonjie Sumpaico, principal of XU high school, challenged the faithful to ask what particular grace they should reflect on as they fulfill the nine-day novena.

If Disneyland is the happiest place on Earth, then Christmas has to be the happiest time of the year.







Solon asks public to patronize products of Sendong IDPs

By pia.gov.ph


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, December 16 -- As the city government commemorates the second anniversary of typhoon Sendong, Councilor Enrico Salcedo, chair of the City Council committee on social services appeals to the public to support and patronize the livelihood products of the Internally Displaced People (IDP) or the Sendong survivors.

The livelihood products of Sendong Relocation communities will be displayed at the City Hall grounds starting December 16 and will run until December 20, from 7:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.

Among the products to be sold are Christmas decorations and accessories (handicrafts), processed foods, cakes and pastries, native foods, pillow cases, blankets, bags and RTWs.

Councilor Salcedo thanked the Community Improvement Division and City Social Welfare and Development Department for successfully facilitating the skills training and for continuously supervising the various livelihood projects of the IDPs.

The sources of funds include among others the DSWD, Oro Integrated Cooperative, Land Bank of the Philippines, Habitat for Humanity and from the CSWD.

Aside from the products to be displayed at City Hall, at least 12 IDPs are operating trisikads and Peso nets at Indahag Relocation Site as source of their livelihood.

The Sendong anniversary is centered on the theme: Beyond Sendong, Rebuilding lives and the City.

The week-long activity is chaired by Eileen C. Escobar-San Juan, the Local Economic and Investment Promotions Officer of the city. (ELB/CdeOSP/PIA)






CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—TWO YEARS AFTER THE DEVASTATION OF TROPICAL STORM “SENDONG,”…

By philippinenewscentral


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Two years after the devastation of Tropical Storm “Sendong,” Saturnino Zambrano is back in Sitio Cala-Cala in Barangay (village) Macasandig, which has been declared a danger zone by the city government.






4 nabbed in drug bust

By Jeffrey G. Damicog


A newly elected barangay kagawad and three others were arrested during a buy-bust operation in Cagayan de Oro City, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said yesterday. PDEA Director General Arturo Cacdac Jr. identified the arrested suspects as George Paul Go, 34, a newly elected barangay councilor of Barangay Lapinig, Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte; Hazel Ramoso, 28; Almagret Rodriguez, 32; and Sharon Vallecera, 22.

Cacdac said that the four suspects were arrested at around 1 a.m. Sunday during an entrapment at the Westbound Bulua Terminal, Cagayan de Oro City. Operatives of PDEA Regional Office 10 (PDEA RO10) under Director Emerson Margate confiscated some R40,000 worth of shabu, drug paraphernalia, a mobile phone, and a MIO Yamaha motorcycle. In his report to Cacdac, Margate said that the buy-bust operation was conducted when Go agreed to sell shabu to a PDEA agent who served as poseur buyer in the vicinity of Ramoso’s ornamental stall at the Westbound Bulua Terminal. Ramoso, Rodriguez and Vallecera were caught in the act of using shabu.

Puregold Price Club Inc. opens flagship store in Mindanao

By Grace Cantal-Albasin


PUREGOLD Price Club Inc. consistently continues its unwavering commitment to uphold consumer and retail excellence in the service to the Filipino people as it opened its most highly anticipated flagship outlet in Cagayan de Oro City–the hypermarket brand’s 5th store in Mindanao.

The year 2013 proves to be very important and pivotal year between Puregold and Mindanao as the hypermarket chain also opened four other branches in Digos (June 17), Tagum (July 17), Lanang (Sept. 12) and Butuan (Oct. 27), this year.

Puregold further strengthens its solid relationship with the people of Mindanao as it formally opened its Puregold-Cagayan de Oro branch on December 13, 2013.

For over a decade, Puregold has successfully established a well-trusted and respected reputation in the Philippines as a provider of the best hypermarket shopping experience for every hard-working Filipino consumer.

Puregold is a leader in the hypermarket industry in terms of its unmatched customer service and its advocacy to provide Filipinos with their complete shopping needs and best value for their hard-earned money.

“Puregold is very customer-oriented. We always aim to provide the best hypermarket shopping experience to our loyal customers. We are very pleased to bring to the Kagay-anons a one-stop shopping experience,” says Tonio Delos Santos, VP for operations of Puregold Price Club Inc.

One of the consumer-based programs that is very unique and exclusive to Puregold that Kagay-anons can now avail of is The Tindahan ni Aling Puring Program (TNAP).

The TNAP is a program that is part of Puregold’s mission to provide not only quality products and topnotch services, but also profitable business opportunities for every Filipino family.

TNAP is designed specifically for small and medium-scale entrepreneurs, which include sari-sari store owners, carinderia/canteen owners, caterers, and other kinds or resellers.

The central objective of TNAP is to assist and support every Filipino family in augmenting their income and Puregold is very happy and eager to make this program available for every Kagay-anons.

Everyone can be a member of TNAP for free and enjoy perks such as the instant Ka-Asenso Welcome Kit; the chance to get free Aling Puring Super Suki Sim for an additional mobile phone loading business; a points-rebate redemption program for members to enjoy (as high as 4 percent rebate on purchases); free delivery; call/order pick-up service; exclusive promo deals such as Kitang-Kita Packs and Kitang-Kita Case, Gold Deals, and special invites to events such as Negosyo Sessions and the annual Tindahan ni aling Puring Sari-Sari Store Convention; a bi-annual “Asenso Booklet” that contains TNAP updates and testimonials; and a whole lot more.

Puregold is known throughout the country for its reasonable prices and a wide assortment of items.

Puregold boasts the fact that it strived to continually give special offers and discounts to its customers.

Customers are always guaranteed to get the best deals and as bonus they also stand to win exciting promos.

For its grand opening in Cagayan de Oro City, Puregold will launch a Buy 1 Take 1 promo on selected items for an entire week from its opening date.

Puregold is also celebrating its 15th year with its “15th Annibersaya Raffle Promo” where a lucky shopper has a chance to be millionaire every week with over 15 million worth of prizes at stake.

Ongoing promotions also include its “Car-rific Promo” for wines and liquor where you can win 2 Toyota Vios and Puregold-Palmolive’s “Auto Panalo Raffle Papremyo” promo where a Mercedez benz is the grand raffle prize.

Kagay-anons can also be on the lookout for Puregold’s Orange Tags that signifies marked down, quality items.

“We at Puregold are very happy to be part of Cagayan de Oro,” says Tonio Delos Santos. “It is our sincerest desire to bring the Puregold shopping experience to all Kagay-anons.”

Mr. Delos Santos adds, “Puregold wants to be a part of Cagayan de Oro’s continuous development. With open arms and a hopeful heart, we welcome everyone to our Cagayan de Oro store. Sa Puregold Always Mura, Always Bago, Always may Promo, Always Panalo.” (PR)







Bloodshed continues in media

By Grace Cantal-Albasin


IN A span of two weeks, three broadcasters were murdered in Mindanao and one survived a shooting in Iloilo on Tuesday night.

Joash Dignos, Valencia City (November 29); Michael Milo, Tandag, Surigao del Sur, (December 7) and Rogelio Butalid, Tagum City, December 11. They are the 19th, 20th, and 21st since President Benigno Aquino III took office and the 159th, 160th and 161st since “democracy” was restored in 1986. A claim that becomes more tenuous with each media killing according to a statement sent by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines to the media.

The NUJP reported that two radio broadcasters were shot in separate incidents in cities of Tagum and Iloilo between Tuesday night – the day the world commemorated the International Human Rights day, until Wednesday morning when Rogelio “Tata” Butalid died on the spot in Tagum City, making him the third journalist murdered in a span of two weeks.

Record from the Tagum City Police Office showed that the incident happened around 9 a.m. at corner Sobrecary Street and Roxas Street in Barangay South. The victim was shot while going out of the radio station.

"The victim went out and was about to go home after holding his radio program at their station when two unidentified men onboard a motorcycle arrived and shot him (Butalid) several times," Chief Inspector Jed Clamor, Davao Police Regional Officer spokesperson said in an interview.

Clamor said based on the report of Tagum police, the victim succumbed to several gunshot wounds in different parts of his body. The cadaver of the victim was brought to Angel Funeral Parlor in Tagum, he added.

Tagum's Scene of the Crime Operatives (Soco) recovered from the crime six empty shells and one deformed slug believed to be bullets from a caliber.45 pistol, while other officers are already investigating the incident.

Butalid, also a councilor of Barangay (village) Mankilam, had been working for community radio since his college days. Before the killing, his commentaries reportedly focused on electric power issues in Davao del Norte province according to a news report published at Davaotoday.com.

The Davao del Norte Press & Radio-TV Club (DNPRC) strongly condemns the brutal killing of Butalid.

Butalid according to DNPRC anchored a block time radio program for Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative-National Electrification Administration (Daneco-NEA). He was a hard hitting radioman in his program outside of Daneco.

On Tuesday night, unidentified assailants shot and wounded radio reporter Jhonavin Villalba, 43, of dyOK Aksyon Radyo Iloilo.

Villalba was opening the gate of his home in Barangay Cuartero when two men aboard a motorcycle fired shots at him, according to Iloilo NUJP chapter.

The Iloilo-based commentator was hit in his toe and ankle, and was immediately rushed to Iloilo Mission Hospital for treatment.

Investigators found spent shells of .9mm calibre at the crime scene.

On December 6, Prime FM national supervisor and program director Michael Milo was shot dead, also by unidentified gunmen, in Tandag City.

Milo was driving along Barangay Mabua when the motorcycle gunmen riding suspects riddled him with bullets.

The NUJP Media Safety Office in Mindanao is currently investigating if Milo's killing is work-related.

If also proven work-related, Butalid and Milo would be the 160th and 161st journalists killed in the line of duty since 1986.

A week earlier, on November 29, Bukidnon-based commentator Joash Dignos was shot dead in Valencia City. The motive appears to be work-related.

Dignos was buried on December 4. The Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) Dignos filed murder case against Dionisio Daulong, an escapee from Valencia City Jail on December 3. (Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/With reports form Sun.Star Davao)







Solon appeals to companies to donate rubber boats for Oro’s disaster preparedness

By pia.gov.ph


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Dec. 11 – The City Council committee on environment and natural resources is appealing to companies to consider donating rubber boats capable of carrying 10 to 15 persons and other rescue equipment to the city government.

According to Councilor Zaldy Ocon, Cagayan de Oro experienced devastations and loss of lives during the typhoon Sendong tragedy in 2011. Efforts have been exerted to ensure that it will not happen again but climate change has made it difficult to predict weather conditions and the magnitude of its effects, he added.

Councilor Ocon said the administration of Mayor Oscar Moreno is preparing for calamities that may hit the city anytime and is working to strengthen disaster preparedness and response.

He said the donations will greatly help the city and will help save lives.

The Councilor said the possibility of giving tax credits to donors who will help the city in the campaign to ensure zero casualties during calamities will be studied. (CdeOSP/PIA)

River children

By Arnold Alamon


I HAVE often wondered about the soul of places. Streets, buildings, and houses of a City I believe are more than the sum of its parts.

I have a theory that the distinct noises of its market, and the hustle and bustle of its streets, add to these the unique smell of the fruits being sold or the kind of rotting garbage found in its back alleys, all put together and more, pertain to the unique identity that reflects the character of the people that reside within a city’s confines.

I knew Tacloban when I walked her streets a year before the recent deluge and I mourn her destruction like I would if a friend were to unravel in such a violent manner. I believe I also know Dipolog among the city residents converging on her two-kilometer baywalk on a recent travel.

But since my return to my hometown of Cagayan de Oro a couple of years ago, I have found it difficult to come to grips with the identity of this place where I was born and grew up. There was a time when being a resident of this City meant midnight trips to the fruit stand in Divisoria or that the mall was Ororama Cogon with their laborious and elaborate hand-written price tags. The city’s smell was the mixture of motor oil and gasoline that is set afire within the engines of the undisputed king of the road –the motorela. And when ships docked at Macabalan Port, the light and easy chatter of the boarding porters announced to us that we are home.

The fruit stand still exists but many more similar roadside stalls have sprouted near newly established

residential subdivisions. It is not possible anymore to meet your crush and her family at the only stall that caters to the nocturnal craving for marang, mangosteen, or apple mango in our version of malling circa 1980s.

Ororama had long discarded its stock of Jingle Magazine back issues which I religiously collected with savings from my meager high school allowance. And the contemporary smell of the City? Let us say that she emanates the fumes of an overworked-and-underpaid alienated humanity bursting at the seams.

My return to my hometown had been disorienting and I wondered if I was merely idealizing the city of my youth. Like star-crossed lovers, was it me or her who changed? There was a time when the City of Cagayan de Oro was known for its friendly people. But all evidence seem to point that this trait had been lost in the chaos of unfettered urbanization, rural-to-urban migration and congestion, just like the old landmarks that made the City my home.

This smugness toward the new features of the City like the new malls, bars, and restaurants as I pine for the old City also extended toward the fairly recent attraction that has brought many to come and visit Cagayan de Oro.

It had been there for a good several years with many of my Manila-based friends swearing to the fun and exhilaration that the white water rafting experience brings. But for me, it was just a murky river and a deadly one at that proven by her murderous swell just a couple of years ago.

I never had the chance to go white water rafting until this weekend when I had to accompany a visiting scholar-friend. And I realize that my quest for understanding about Cagayan de Oro City, my birthplace, would be given clarity by this ­-- touristic activity.

If there is such a thing as love at first sight, then my white water rafting experience was love at first swell. What could possibly be fun in violent bubbling water with jagged rocks underneath? But going through the rapids, I found out that it is a visceral exhilarating experience when you note the acceleration of the raft, the various G forces that the water applies on your body, and just the sight of the white water up close almost engulfing the entire size of your group.

There is something magical about the manner that the river gently pushes you to the rapids and then violently engulfs you in its white water to be gently pushed out once again by its soft current. The serenity and grandeur of her still waters allows you to take in the beauty and the timelessness of nature but also introduces you to its force and chaos once you hit the rapids. And this game, this on-going acquaintance between you and the river goes on again and again for the next three hours or so as you encounter each of the fourteen rapids.

The river shows her many secrets as you paddle your way her various turns and declines – a grand limestone wall here, a stoic Philippine lizard there, a water-skimming white-collared kingfisher looking for a morning meal. But it is ultimately the sense of awe over the force and beauty of water that wins you over.

Eons ago, the same beauty and abundance of the river system attracted our ancestors to settle along its banks. We are at the tail-end of the chain of human migrations across the centuries that have benefitted from her water giving life. But a couple of years ago, she reminded us that we are mere tenants to her dominion when she unleashed her unbridled power and strength after our kind decimated the forests upstream and mined the mountains for gold.

In my quest to make sense of my hometown, a thought came to mind after my white water rafting adventure.

The markers that create the identity of the City are not the fleeting monuments of the passing generations. The river is its timeless marker. As residents of this city by the mighty tributary, we are all river chidren who need to remember and respect the head waters that gave us life.

And in her wisdom, can give us death as well.

NGCP pledges 138-hectare reforestation project

By pia.gov.ph


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Dec. 9 -- Nearly one month before the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) starts its Environmental Awareness Year, it advances the celebration through formalizing its commitment to implement a 138-hectare reforestation project in Mindanao.

Together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and its City Environment and Natural Resources Offices (CENRO), NGCP signed on December 3 a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to commence greening projects in four sites in Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental in Northern Mindanao. Local government units (LGUs), the academe and non-government organizations were also in full support of the development of reforestation areas.

The project was conducted in accordance with NGCP and DENR’s agreements to plant a hundred trees for every tree that will be cleared to make way for the construction of transmission lines. For this MOA, the projects involved are the Kirahon-Maramag 230 kiloVolt (kV) transmission line project traversing the provinces of Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon, and the Kibawe-Davao 138kV re-routing project passing through Bukidnon and Davao del Sur.

Sixty hectares of the reforestation area will be developed in collaboration with the LGU of Impasugong, Bukidnon and Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon CENRO. Central Mindanao University (CMU) and People’s Organization, MISFAMILDA, each will be developing 30 hectares in close coordination with Pangantucan, Bukidnon CENRO and Don Carlos, Bukidnon CENRO, respectively. The remaining 18 hectares will be under the care of the LGU of Naawan, Misamis Oriental and Initao, Misamis Oriental CENRO.

NGCP Spokesperson Atty. Cynthia Perez-Alabanza underscored the importance of replenishing the areas that will be traversed by current and future transmission line projects.

“NGCP assures its customers and stakeholders that it places utmost importance on replenishing trees through these reforestation projects. NGCP maintains strict environmental protocols that are in line with guidelines mandated by DENR and its sub-agencies.”

NGCP is a privately owned corporation in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s power grid. It transmits high-voltage electricity through “power superhighways” that include the interconnected system of transmission lines, towers, substations, and related assets. As a socially responsible company, it is committed to create a sustainable responsible company, it is committed to create a sustainable environment and protect the natural resources particularly in areas hosting its transmission facilities. (NGCP/PIA10)





Despite staggered rate hike, solons want Meralco probed

By Allan Nawal

Inquirer Mindanao


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines—The Manila Electric Co.’s announcement that it would implement the P3.44 per kilowatt-hour generation rate increase on a staggered basis should not preclude an investigation into the “proposed humongous power rate hike,” militant party-list members said. Party-list Representatives Neri Javier Colmenares and Carlos Isagani Zarate (Bayan Muna) have formally asked the House of Representatives, through House Resolution No. 588, to investigate the rate increase that Meralco aims to implement this month. Following outraged reactions from consumer and advocacy groups, Meralco announced on Friday that it would implement the P3.44 per kwh increase in tranches, starting this month. “This planned power rate increase is obviously artificial and contrived. Considering that the supposed maintenance shutdown of the Malampaya natural gas plant between Nov. 11 and Dec. 10 was scheduled long ago, other cheaper sources could have been used to compensate without imposing an additional burden on our people,” Zarate said in a statement. There could be no doubt that the increase was “clearly planned,” he said. Zarate wondered what happened to the Department of Energy’s plan, under which are listed various alternative sources of power when major power plants have to undergo maintenance shutdowns. Price manipulation “Since the maintenance of the Malampaya power facility was scheduled months ago, it is gravely suspicious why the DOE did not find alternative sources to compensate for it. Repairs and maintenance of power plants are scheduled events,” he said. One can only suspect that the supposed shutdown of the major power plants was “deliberately aimed at manipulating the prices of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM),” Zarate said. “We should be wary of this supposed scheduled maintenance of power plants,” he said, adding that officials of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) need “to keep their eyes wide open and put their ears to the ground and watch out for signs of price manipulation.” Zarate maintained that there was no reason to increase power rates when power plants undergo maintenance shutdowns. “An investigation is definitely in order, considering that we have had enough calamities for the year. Meralco should not be callous by adding to our woes,” he said. He suggested that the government take control of the power industry again as it was clear that private utilities were after profits and the supposed maintenance of privately operated power plants was purposely being done “to constrict supply and therefore jack up prices in the spot market.” The Malampaya power plant is operated by Shell Philippines Exploration with its partners Chevron and the Philippine National Oil Co. “Of course, it would be better if the energy sector is once again regulated, its control returned to the government so that this kind of problems would not arise. As it is now, the private operators are the ones decisive in the whole spectrum of the energy industry, including plant maintenance, and they can create an artificial energy crisis if they want to,” Zarate said.






City intensifies gift-giving advocacy

By pia.gov.ph


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Dec. 7 – Both the City Council committee on social services and the Council for the Protection of Children, headed by Councilor Enrico Salcedo, call on groups of individuals/NGOs and generous families who are contemplating on sharing their blessings this Christmas season to the less fortunate to coordinate with the City Social Welfare and Development Office for the list of charity institutions as recipients.

According to Cagayan de Oro CSWD Teddy Sabuga-a, Jr. his office has provided a Shared Program Desk, which will cater to those who want to become partners in implementing the CSWD’s programs and projects.

The CSWD explained that if outreach programs are coordinated with the city, groups will be properly guided to specific charity institutions and those located at barangay Lumbia can also be recipients, despite its distant location.

There are 34 children in conflict with the law presently housed at Tahanan ng Kabataan, 33 girls, abused or abandoned at the Social Development Center, 24 at Boystown and 28 at the Elderly Center located at the back of the JR Borja General Hospital, Sabuga-a bared. (ELB/CdeOSP/PIA)

Officials strive to improve city hospital

By Nicole J. Managbanag


THE J.R. Borja Memorial Hospital (JRBMH) is now shedding its old image as it strives to improve its services and facilities, chief of hospital Dr. Evelyn Perez said.

Perez said they are now “embarking on an ambitious vision to become the premium hospital and to reach level-three accreditation by the Department of Health (DOH),” which is expected to be materialized soon.

Perez said the city government-run JRBMH, under new management, is now providing better and improved delivery of health care and medical services to benefit especially indigent patients with PhilHealth card.

The new management team, headed by overseer Dr. Ramon Nery in partnership with Dr. Ramon Moreno of NMMC, Perez, assistant hospital chief Dr. Rose Salta, consultant Dr. Ignacio Moreno and Dr. Malou Gaane of the City Philhealth Office, has introduced reforms and innovations in the hospital system to make wider range of services accessible to the city’s poor residents.

Eyecare, surgicare

Nery said that the newly renovated hospital has created innovative programs such as the Eyecare and Surgicare program catering to patients with eye ailments and illnesses requiring surgeries.

He said under the new health care program, patients with Philhealth card will pay no costs in cataract operations, secondary surgical operations on thyroid, goiter, hernia, cyst and other ailments that need minor surgery.

Nery added that incoming patients who wish to avail of the free health services, which are available all year round, can go directly to the hospital or at the City Social Welfare and development (CSWD) for their medical consultation needs.

Nery assured that the hospital's long practice of ‘referring’ the patient's basic diagnostic and laboratory services to other hospitals will be gone.

He said they will do their best to have a functional operating room and acquisition of additional delivery tables.

Moreno, for his part, said the newly launched health program, patients will be treated with proper care.

He said part of the patients care is to provide comfortable rooms that they don’t feel they are in a hospital.

All ward rooms will be air-conditioned so patients will feel comfortable and total healing will be attained.

‘Adopt-a-ward’

Recently, JRBMH launched the “adopt-a-ward” program wherein private entities and organizations can donate and renovate one of the hospital’s wards.

The first benefactor to adopt a ward was the association of Filipino nurses from the U.S. called “Halad CDO Group.”

Faith Wallace, Halad CDO chair, donated one unit air conditioner for use in the female surgical ward as she vowed to donate more aircon units in the near future.

Moreno said at present the 100-bed capacity JRBHM is on level-one DOH accreditation, with the challenge to make it the best hospital, the plan is to expand to 300-bed capacity.

Moreno said with the expected approved amount, “our vision will slowly put into reality as it will be used to purchase new ambulance, haemodialysis machine, improve the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and other building renovations.”

Moreno said part of the budget will be used to create a synchronized hospital information system to pave way for a computerized access to patient’s information hospital records as well as allowing patients to have access to the hospitals services, laboratory results, patient’s identification, billings and even schedule of appointments.

Perez said they would like to erase from the minds of Kagay-anons the negative image they have in the past, were some Kagay-anon patients preferred to be treated to other hospitals.

Moreno said he will push through with the nationalization of the said hospital, wherein the city government’s budget allocation will then be used in building more hospitals in other parts of the city.

He added more public hospitals, particularly in Barangay Lumbia, and other strategic areas in the city, will be built in the future.






Twin daughters witness radio reporter’s death'

By Anjo Bacarisas


THE gruesome death of a radio reporter was seen by her twin daughters as her former partner shot and killed her in Barangay Bugo, Cagayan de Oro City, Tuesday night.

“Tag! Tag! Tag! Nakita nako naay gamay nga buslot, nay daku nga buslot (I saw that there’s a small hole and a big hole),” said one of Maricel Pamisa’s daughters a few minutes before the 32-year-old victim was brought to Puerto community hospital where she died.

The daughter referred to the bullet holes in her mother’s dress after multiple shots were fired from a Colt commander caliber .45 pistol around 9:20 p.m. Tuesday.

The twins were just a few feet away when the shooting happened.

The daughter said her mother was sitting when her father, Clemente Rosales Jr., 60, approached her mother from the back, wrapped his arms around her chest, and shot her a few times.

“Nagluko man siya sa salog, nakapiyong na dayon (She was lying on the floor, and then her eyes closed),” recalled one of the twins.

She added: “Nag-arte-arte si daddy, nihigda siya (Daddy was acting, he lied on the floor).”

Monica Pamisa, the victim’s mother, told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro that Rosales committed suicide after ensuring that Maricel was dead.

In the hospital, Monica said Maricel was able to mention “M-One” -- Rosales’ nickname. Even before her looming death, she mumbled the name of Rosales to make known her killer.

Before the shooting

“At around 3 p.m. that day, Clemente (was) already near the area,” Monica said as reports from neighbors reached her, adding that someone saw Rosales drinking beer around 8 p.m. at the fruit stand.

Monica said Rosales sneaked inside the house when one of their adopted children went outside to pee.

Monica, who was in her room near the crime scene, heard the twin daughters pleading to their father: “Ayaw daddy, ayaw daddy (No daddy, no daddy).”

Scene of the Crime Operatives (Soco) recovered one firearm and five cartridge cases, one empty magazine and one magazine with seven live bullets in the crime scene.

Police officer Jennifer Husapan said the Puerto police are still investigating the case further.

Monica said Rosales was a port police in Cebu who could not get his retirement pay because of the cases filed against him by Maricel.

She said Maricel filed a rape case against Rosales, but it didn’t prosper because Maricel accepted Rosales’ offer that he’d religiously provide the needs of the twins. Rosales allegedly raped Maricel while they were still dating.

“In Cebu, Maricel filed a case against Rosales on anti-violence against women and children (Anti-VAWC) but she did not pursue the case because he was able to convince Maricel that he would support the twins,” said Monica.

Rosales kept on promising Maricel to change and fulfill his obligations, and each time Maricel gave her the chance, he would renege from his obligations, Monica shared.

Monica added that Rosales used to batter Maricel. “Mangtas kaayo sya. Naa ba diay gugma nga in-ana? (He is a monster. Is that love?) He is always very jealous – he is jealous of everyone including Maricel’s workmates.”

Julie Cailing, Maricel’s neighbor, said that in 2009, Rosales pointed a gun at three children playing.

“He paid for it so the case was dismissed,” said Cailing.

Another neighbor, Dally Uayan, said her husband Toto invited Rosales to join them in playing basketball.

Instead of participating, Uayan said Rosales took a gun and pointed it at her husband.

Rosales, Monica said, was imprisoned for three days because of carrying a firearm.

Cailing added: “He has a bad record in this village and he didn’t mingle with his neighbors.”

She said Maricel rarely got out of their house because Rosales won’t allow her.

“She can’t even speak to us,” she added.

When asked why Maricel endured such a violent relationship for years, Monica said: “She stayed for (the sake of) her twin daughters.”





Pilipinas Shell to inject P6-billion investment in CDO port'

By pia.gov.ph


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Dec. 4 (PIA) — Oil giant Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. (PSPC) is sinking in some P6 billion in new investments to improve its facility at the Cagayan de Oro port (CDO).

Currently, Pilipinas Shell has access to the CDO port facilities to serve the fuel requirements in the area.

CDO port, owned and operated by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), meanwhile, has been almost idle the past couple of years after most of its cargoes shifted to nearby Mindanao Container Terminal run by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

“This is a welcome development for PPA,” General Manager Juan C. Sta. Ana said. “PSPC already made a presentation to the Board and we are now just fine-tuning their rental rates and the length of the contract.”

“PSPC is looking at Cagayan not just as a support investment but a major facility as they are planning to bring in import products directly to Cagayan de Oro and distribute it from there as they expect their Batangas production to be short to support the fuel needs of the country by 2016,” Sta. Ana added.

PSPC, for its part, said the new investment will guarantee the smooth and enough fuel supply within the country by 2016.

“If the Batangas refinery is inaccessible, the rest of the country will suffer, but by putting another hub in Mindanao, PSPC will be able to secure the fuel requirement of the region,” PSPC said in its presentation to the PPA Board.

Based on the plan, PSPC will upgrade and invest the amenities and convert it into an airport-like facility as well as refurbish their crane facility into a MR import capable facility. PSPC also wants a continued access to berths 11 and 13, which they are currently using and is likewise proposing a long-term lease of about 7,400 square meters in the waterfront area to allow them to put their equipment as well as for their pipeline system.

The structures to be built will be movable and will hot hamper future expansion in the area considering that the designated berthing for passenger vessels is about 300 meters away.

In terms of port development, PSPC is willing to put up about P180 million to improve some parts of the port and some P140 million to improve and install the fire fighting capabilities, lighting, berthing and security systems, including the upgrading of the fenders where they will be berthing their vessels.

The PPA, meanwhile, will greatly benefit from the new investment with the expected increases in leases, port dues and wharfage fees when the facilities become operational by 2016 from the current P1.8 million per annum to about P32 million per annum and projected to increase steadily as fuel growth in Mindanao is expected to be significant.

A couple of days ago, Pilipinas Shell donated about P6 million worth of fuel to be used at the Tacloban port or about P1 million a month to sustain the operation of the port for at least six months.

The agency has likewise sponsored a training program for PPA employees on cargo handling, maritime safety and environmental protection. (PPA/PIA10)

3 civilians slain in rebel attack'

By Gerry Lee Gorit, The Philippine Star


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY , Philippines – Three persons were killed when suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas attacked a village in Talakag town in Bukidnon on Sunday.

Some 20 armed men reportedly arrived at Sitio Abel in Barangay Miaraoyan and strafed a cluster of houses, apparently to sow fear among the residents, according to Capt. Christian Uy, spokesman for the Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division based in this city.

Eddie Gawahan, Jonnel Yanda and his mother Germinia were found dead with bullet wounds inside their homes.

Uy said the NPA usually harasses and kills civilians in areas where the group has lost the support of residents. Government troops are pursuing the rebels, he said.

Meanwhile, in the nearby Misamis Oriental, the 58th Infantry Battalion based in Claveria town was placed on alert following reports of NPA threats to industrial establishments in the municipalities of Balingasag and Villanueva.

The NPA will be celebrating its 44th anniversary this month.






‘Yolanda’ offers tip on electing right leaders

By inquirer.net


The recent tragedy brought about by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” in Tacloban City once again underscores the importance of electing effective and ethical local government officials. Our country’s Local Government Code vests our local officials, particularly city or municipal mayors, with much authority, power and responsibility. During such calamities, local government units are tasked to immediately respond to the needs of their constituents. In the past, we saw that when local officials were not prepared and clearly not on top of things, terrible things happened—just like during Tropical Storm “Sendong” when hundreds of people died in Cagayan de Oro City in December 2011. It is in times of disasters when our country sorely misses local officials of the likes of the late Jesse Robredo who served as mayor of Naga City for a total of 18 years. In the years he was mayor, several supertyphoons struck Naga City, but never did we see a situation where the city and the local

government units were caught unprepared. In fact, the people of Naga City always recall that Mayor Robredo himself would be the first one to go out and clear up the debris on the streets left by the typhoons. When we elect good leaders, we can sleep soundly at night knowing that they will always look after our safety and welfare. The contrasting ways local leaders responded to calamities and their impact once again stressed the importance of taking our local elections more seriously, and of pushing for electoral reforms with the end-view of ensuring that we elect the right kind of leaders who can and will provide genuine public service to the people—because as we saw in Yolanda and Sendong, corruption and bad governance can literally kill thousands of innocent lives.





Back to square 'Juan'

By Maria Rosalie Zerrudo



The system has taken over that even the natural salt in our table has been altered to make us believe that anything with a bar coded price is healthier. The danger of advertising, branding and tagging creates the false beliefs on health, nutrition and self-image manifested in the collective psyche how fast food gain devoted followers.

The public spaces have turned into sanitized urban lifeless jungle where instead of seeing interactive green public spaces with identity, character and aesthetics, people boxed themselves into noisy clutter of boxes after boxes in the new indoor parks and playgrounds that create intellectual atrophy and cultural amnesia.

The new generations of urban planners are faced with the challenge of how we bring back our own identity and character in our architecture, living spaces, public spaces, streets and parks.

The global identity crisis and iodized curatorial hormonal imbalance reflects a hysterical city planning and urbanization without a purpose and a vision. Once a breathing lush mountain summer capital of the North, Baguio is now reduced to an over-built, over populated urban mess. This is a classic example of a precarious rapid development with total disconnect from the culture and wisdom of the elders.

The basic common sense

The Ifugao indigenous knowledge, skills and practices are a concrete blueprint of our ingenuity as a people in the way they build their houses and how they build terraces with the most basic mountain engineering and design skill.

In the project ‘Nurturing Indigenous Knowledge Experts,’ the Ifugao house is introduced as “the most admired ethnic architectural designs for having employed an indigenous system of construction that is more complex than its seeming simplicity.

The history of the Ifugao architecture is intertwined with that of the people, their socio-cultural beliefs and practices, as well as their traditional knowledge systems and practices. But while Ifugao architecture is deemed an essential part of the people’s remarkably rich tangible heritage that allows present-day generation to understand and appreciate their past, barely is the effort undertaken to conserve it. At present, traditional Ifugao house builders are dwindling and native huts are at the verge of extinction, a disturbing reality which practically threatens the survival of the people’s already vanishing heritage.”

The Ifugao house is one of the strongest icons of cultural identity that has laid out very basic concepts of how to use beauty, functionality, design and comfort in everyday living. Our once strong connection to cultural beliefs, customs and traditions is now vanishing. The Ifugaos taught us the basic common sense of ingenuity in concept with 100% recyclable design in every minute detail.

Back to square one

Juan has to think out-of-the-box to come up with big bang of ideas. A visiting new media artist curator Claro J. Ramirez threw in a brilliant idea of activating spaces and activating the local, bottoms up approach.

In his own words, “Back to Square 1 (BS1) occasions a recurring confluence of art projects across the Philippines to celebrate creativity and the artist’s capacity to do work that engages various publics. It is a deliberate moving away from the clichéd images of the artist as alienated and alienating.”

Ramirez wants to know the strengths of the regions where the process of activating spaces is more inclusive. The BS1 is the multiplication of Juans working as the same force without losing one’s individual identity in the synergy with other Juans.

Ramirez further noted “BS1 projects include visual art exhibitions, multimedia and new media collaborative initiatives, and public for a-workshops, among other activities, which underline the idea that individuals, however different ad independent, make up a social whole.

This independent platform runs on the energies of artists, curators, critics and cultural workers fuelled by the desire to see changes in the Philippines artworld toward decentering and the activation of underused/unused sites.”

The idea of decentralization is not only for politics but also in the art practice, which demystifies that Manila is not the center of the arts, but to some degree the center of practice. This idea of ‘reform’ is Ramirez’s way of saying an active – no to the monopoly of a centralized system.

Reaching out to the Mindanao artists is another way of activating local spaces from the periphery by way of knowing the Juans/artists and the artworks through this dialogue, discourses and conversations. This curatorial process is another leap in the art scene where Manila curators are showing interest in the local provincial scene.

Ramirez curates the Ika-duang Tan-aw (second look) as an on-going exhibition in the Capitol University Museum of Three Cultures featuring the works of Siete Pesos Team exhibited at the Singapore Biennale 2013 composed of Nick Aca, Oscar Floirendo, Errol Balcos, Michael Bacol, Michelle Lua, Jericho ‘Jake’ Vamenta and Rosalie Zerrudo.

Other exhibiting artists are Rodney Yap, Ivan Macarambon, Peter James Pantinalgo, Garry Custodio, GM Liong, Chito Natural, Zola Macarambon, Julie Lluch, Gerald Saway, and Anoy Catague. Watch out in the exhibition, ‘augmented reality’ the first of its kind that has finally reached Cagayan de Oro City.

Ramirez is among the co-curators of the 2013 Singapore Biennale and curator for the Philippines of Goethe Institut's traveling exhibition, Riverscapes INFLUX. His most recent projects include participation in Art Video Exchange at Small projects Tromsø 2012 and the 14th Jakarta Biennale as well as exhibitions at Finale Art File and Mo Space Gallery in the Philippines.

He is a 2000 Cultural Center of the Philippines Thirteen Artists Awardee and was the 2009 NCR Curator for the Sungdu-an National Visual Art Exhibition at the National Museum of the Philippines. He is a multimedia artist whose paintings, sculpture, photography, soundwork and mixed media installations have been exhibited in prestigious museums and pro-active spaces here and abroad.

The visual art scene has ventured into mind blowing new media works which might still be an alienating experience in the areas with no access to technology. This is the challenge of how the organic process merges like the legendary filmmaker Kidlat Tahimik is teaching film making in the boondocks with Ifugao farmers.

I guess curators become more effective and relevant in the ground as they traverse several roles as cultural worker, knowledge manager and community organizer. Understanding the grassroots community and listening to what they have to stay is the reflection of a process that evolved from top-to-bottom approach turned upside down. It is always refreshing to see things from another angle and different perspectives. There is so much to learn from the Ifugao house design applying the indigenous knowledge and practices which were considered obsolete.

I guess our ancestors have given us a solid grounding in the ways of the world that beyond what we was taught inside the classrooms. Little did we know that the indigenous people knew better how to think out-of-the-box.

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