mabuhay issue no. 1014

136 MabuhayLINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980

ISSN–1655-3853 • ABRIL 2 – 8, 2010 • VOL. 31, NO. 14 • 8 PAHINA • P10.00

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Tubig sa Angat Dam malapit na sa kritikal na 180 metro

MALOLOS — Pumayag na ang pamunuan ng National Power Corporation (Napo-cor) na isagawa ng Green-peace ang proyektong Water Watch sa Angat watershed, ayon kay Aileen Camille Dimatatac, isang media as-sistant ng Greenpeace.

Nilinaw din ni Dimatatac na taliwas sa naunang ulat ng Mabuhay, di makaka-

halintulad ng reality show na Pinoy Big Brother ang isasagawang proyekto ng Greenpeace.

Sa halip, ang programa na itatanghal sa loob ng walong araw — Abril 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, at 25 — ay sisiyasatin ang epekto ng El Niño sa kalagayan ng Angat Dam at kaugnayan nito sa mga bukirin sa Bulacan at

ang mga tahanan at mama-mayan sa Kalakhang May-nila kung saan ipinadadaloy ang tubig nito.

Mahalagang maunawaan ng taumbayan, sabi ni Di-matatac, ang epekto ng El Niño sa mga pinagkukunan ng inumin upang makagawa ng mga mabisang hakbang para sa pagtitipid sa pag-gamit ng tubig.

Tampok sa Water Watch ang paglalakbay sa loob ng Angat watershed ng mga kasapi ng Greenpeace na kabibilangan ng mga si-yentipiko at volunteer at ni Romeo Garduce, isa sa mga unang Pilipinong nakaakyat sa tuktok ng Mount Everest noong 2006.

Kasunod nito bibisita- sundan sa pahina 5

NORZAGARAY, Bulacan — Magpapatuloy ang alokasyon ng patubig sa mga magsasaka sa Bulacan kahit na sumayad sa kritikal na 180 metro ang taas ng tubig sa Angat Dam.

Kaugnay nito, hindi nakalikha ng ulan ang sunod-sunod na “rain dance” na isinagawa ng iba’t ibang grupo sa Angat Dam sa buwan ng Marso at halos isang metro na lamang ang nalalabi at sasayad na sa 180 metro ang taas ng tubig sa dam.

(Basahin ang kaugnay na ba-lita sa pahinang ito.)

Para naman sa magsasakang Bu-lakenyo, marami pa rin sa kanila ang nangangambang masayang ang tanim na palay dahil sa kakulangan ng tubig, samantalang ang iba sa kanila ay naka-ani na.

Nangako naman ang mga panguna-

hing kandidato sa Bulacan na ipagla-laban nila ang karapatan ng mga magsasaka sa tubig kapag sila’y nanalo sa halalan sa Mayo.

Ayon kay Inhinyero Rodolfo Ger-man, manager ng Angat River Hydro Electric Power Plant (ARHEPP) ng National Power Corporation (Napocor) na namamahala sa dam, mapuputol ang alokasyon sa patubig ng mga magsa-saka kapag sumayad sa 180 metro ang taas ng tubig sa dam.

Ito, aniya, ay batay sa atas ng National Water Regulatory Board (NWRB), ang ahensiya ng pamaha-laan na namamahala sa paggamit ng tubig.

Ang pagputol sa alokasyong patubig sa mga magsasakang Bulakenyo ay isang hakbang na laging ipinag-uutos ng NWRB sa Napocor upang matiyak na sapat ang tubig na padadaluyin sa Kalakhang Maynila na ang 97 porsi-yento ng pangangailangan sa tubig

inumin ay kinukuha sa Angat dam na matatagpuan sa bayang ito.

Isa sa mga dahilan ng NWRB, ayon sa Napocor, ay kailangan daw manati-ling may tubig na pinadadaloy sa mga tubo ng Manila Water Corporation (MWCI) at Maynilad Water Services Inc. (MWSI).

Ang MWCI at MWSI ang dalawang higanteng konsesyunaryo ng Metro-politan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) na nagpapadaloy ng tubig sa mga tahanan sa Kalakhang Maynila, lalawigan ng Rizal at bahagi ng lalawigan ng Cavite.

Batay sa tala ng ARHEPP, ang pinaka maba bang taas ng tubig sa dam na 158.15 meters ay naitala noong Agosto 1998 kung kailan patapos na ang naranasang El Niño na nagsimula noong unang bahagi ng 1997.

Ayon pa sa ARHEPP, ang taas ng tubig sa Angat Dam noong Martes,

sundan sa pahina 5

8 MabuhayLINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980 ABRIL 2 - 8, 2010

Patubig sa magsasaka hindi pa rin puputulin

NI DINO BALABO

UP Manila nagtanghal muli ng alay sayaw-awit para sa ulan sa AngatNORZAGARAY, Bulacan — Limang oras na nag-alay ng sayaw, awit at musika ang mga alagad ng sining at mga guro ng University of the Philippines (U.P.) Manila sa Angat Dam noong Marso 28.

Salit-salit at kung minsan ay sabay-sabay silang umawit at sumayaw bilang pagpapahayag ng panalangin upang makatawag ng ulan na ilang buwan nang napigil ang pagpatak sanhi ng El Niño.

Isa lamang ang mga taga U.P. Manila sa apat na grupong nagsagawa ng alay sayaw-awit sa Angat Dam nitong buwan ng Marso.

Ang tatlo pang iba na nagsagawa ng katulad na gawain ay mga pangkat na mula sa Malolos at Pampanga.

Ngunit ang mga taga-U.P. Manila ang pinakamadalas magsagawa ng alay sayaw-awit sa Angat Dam.

Bukod sa alay nila noong Marso 28, nagsagawa rin sila ng katulad na alay noong Agosto 11, 2007 kung kailan nararanasan sa Bulacan at malaking bahagi ng Luzon ang kakulangan sa ulan kung kaya’t nagsimulang matuyo ang mga dam.

Ayon kay Inhinyero Rodolfo German, manager ng Angat River Hydro Electric Power Plant (ARHEPP) ng National Power Corporation (Napocor) na namamahala sa dam, matapos ang alay sayaw-awit ng mga taga U.P.-Manila bumuhos ang ulan na naging sanhi ng pagbaha sa lalawigan.

“Noong 2007, 12 oras silang nagsayaw, kaya siguro sumobra ang ulan,” ang nakangiting sabi ni German sa Mabuhay nang siya ay makapanayam ng Miyerkoles

sundan sa pahina 5

Water Watch ng Greenpeace sa Angat Dam tuloy na

SASAYAD NA — Patuloy pa rin ang pagbaba ng water elevation sa Angat Dam at inaasahang sa susunod na linggo ay sasayad na ito sa kritikal na 180 metro. Gayunpaman, ayon sa opisyal ng National Power Corporation na namamahala sa dam patuloy silang magbibigay ng patubig sa magsasakang Bulakenyo. Makikita sa kanang larawang nakunan noong Marso 31 ang panukat ng lalim ng tubig di kalayuan sa low level water outlet na siyang dinadaluyan ng tubig patungo sa mga turbina na lumilikha ng kuryente. — DB

GUIGUINTO, Bulacan — Tuloy ang laban; hindi pa pinal ang desisyon ng Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Ito ang mariing pahayag ng aktor na si Daniel Fer-nando matapos ilabas ng Ika-2 Dibisyon ng Comelec ang desisyon hinggil sa petisyon upang siya ay madiskwalipi-ka sa halalan sa Mayo.

Si Fernando ay kandidato ng Lakas-Kampi-CMD bil-ang Bise Gobernador ng Bu-lacan. Siya ang katambal ni Bise Gobernador Wilhelmino Alvarado na ngayon ay kan-didato bilang gobernador.

“Tuloy ang laban ko,” ani Fernando sa Mabuhay. “Hindi pa pinal ang desisyon ng Comelec.”

Dalawa sa tatlong komi-syonado na bumubuo sa Ika-2 Dibisyon ng Comelec ang bumoto laban kay Fer-nando, samantalang isa ang bumoto para sa kanya sa desisyong inilabas noong Martes, Abril 6.

Ayon sa aktor na nag-ing pulitiko, magsusumite siya ng mosyon sa Comelec En Banc, at kung sakal-ing matalo pa rin doon ay iaakyat niya ito sa Korte Suprema.

Si Fernando, 47, ay isini-lang sa Guiguinto at binin-yagan sa pangalang Cesar Ramirez.

Sa pagpasok niya bilang aktor sa industriya ng peli-kula, ginamit niya ang pan-galang “Daniel Fernando” na lalong sumikat nang gu-manap siya sa pelikulang Scorpio Nights noong huling bahagi ng dekada ’80.

Noong 1998, pinasok niya

ang larangan ng pulitika nang siya ay kumandidato bilang indipendiyenteng al-kalde ng Guiguinto, ngunit tinalo siya ng negosyanteng si Ambrosio “Boy” Cruz na ngayon ay kandidato bilang kongresista ng Ika-2 Distrito ng Bulacan.

Pinalad si Fernando na mahalal bilang Bokal noong 2001, at noong 2004 ay muli siyang nahalal. Sa dalawang nabanggit na pagkakataon, itinuring siya bilang senior board member dahil siya ang may pinakamataas na bilang ng boto sa 10 halal na bokal sa lalawigan noong mga taong iyon.

Noong 2007, kumandi-dato siya bilang Bise Gober-

nador, ngunit tinalo ni Alva-rado na ngayon ay kanyang katambal.

Sa panayam, sinabi ni Fernando na isang Irineo Baesa mula sa Malolos ang nagsampa ng petisyon laban sa kanya.

“Mukhang ginamit lang ’yung tao na iyon para sampahan ako ng petisyon dahil sa mga naging laban ko sa pulitika mula 1998 walang nagpetisyon laban sa akin, ngayon lang,” ani Fernando.

Ang petisyon laban sa dating bokal ay nag-ugat sa panga lang kanyang ginamit sa kanyang certificate of candidacy (COC).

Ayon kay Fernando,ang

ginamit niyang pangalan ay “Daniel R. Fernando” at ang kanyang palayaw na ginamit ay “Dan”.

Sa mga nagdaang ha-lalan, ang kanyang gina-mit na pangalan ay “Cesar Ramirez” at ang palayaw ay “Daniel Fernando”.

“Dati ko nang ginagamit ang pangalang “Daniel Fernando” dahil ang pan-galang iyon at pangalang Cesar Ramirez ay iisang tao,” aniya.

Sinabi pa niya na kaya niya ginamit ang pangalang “Daniel Fernando” ay binig-yan siya ng sertipikasyon ng mga dating opisyal ng Comelec, at iyon ay kini-kilala ng mga ahensiya ng gobyerno.

Sinabi niya na maging sa mga memorandum na kan-yang inilabas noong siya ay nanunuparang Bise Gober-nador ay “Daniel Fernando” ang kanyang ginamit at kini-lala iyon ng Department of Interior and Local Govern-ment (DILG), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), at Pag-ibig Fund.

Si Fernando ay ilang beses na nanuparang Bise Gobernador dahil siya ang senior board member sa Sanggunian.

Ang kanyang panunu-paran bilang Bise Goberna-dor ay hatid ng pag-akyat sa puwesto o pansamantalang panunuparan ni dating Bise Gobernador Rely Plamenco bilang gobernador. dahil sa may mga pagkakataon sa pagitan ng 2004 at 2007 na umalis sa bansa si dating Gob. Josefina “Josie” M. Dela Cruz. — Dino Balabo

MALOLOS — Handa na ang mga kasapi ng Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) sa Bulacan para sa kauna-unahang automated elec-tions sa bansa matapos ang kanilang pagsasanay sa pag-gamit ng Precinct Count Op-tical Scan (PCOS) machine na gagamitin sa halalan sa Mayo kahit may ilan sa ka-nila na hindi nakapasa.

Kaugnay nito, ang mga PCOS machine ay nakatak-dang ihatid sa bawat clus-tered precinct sa lalawigan sa unang linggo ng Mayo upang iyon ay maiprisinta sa mga botante at masu-bukan tatlong araw bago maghalalan.

Ayon kay Abogado Sabino Mejarito, handa na ang mga kasapi ng BEI sa Bulacan matapos lumahok sa mga pagsasanay na nagsimula sa unang linggo ng Marso at natapos noong Marso 25.

Dalawa sa tatlong kasapi ng BEI sa bawat clustered precinct sa Bulacan ang du-malo sa nasabing pagsasanay na tumagal ng dalawang araw, at magkakaibang araw dumalo ang mga kasapi ng BEI sa bawat bayan, at

Ang pagsasanay ay bi-nu buo ng talakayan at na-kasulat na pagsusulit sa unang araw at praktikal na pagsusulit sa ikalawang araw. Ang mga natutuhan sa unang araw hinggil sa paggamit ng PCOS machine ang sinusukat.

Ang mga pumasa sa dala-wang pagsusulit ay binigyan ng katibayan ng pagpasa ng kinatawan ng Department

of Science and Techology (DOST) bilang mga Informa-tion Technologist.

Alinsunod sa pagpapa-tibay, iyon lamang mga ka-sapi ng BEI na pumasa ang bibigyan ng karapatan na paandarin ang makina.

Ayon kay Mejarito, may walo hanggang 10 kasapi ng BEI na sumailalim sa pagsusulit ang hindi na-kapasa.

Ipinaliwanag naman ni Jojo Maclang, election of-ficer ng San Ildefonso, na hindi ito makakaapekto sa kahandaan ng BEI dahil ang itinatadhana sa batas ay dapat mayroong isang kasapi ng BEI na sertipikado ng DOST.

Aniya, dahil dalawang kasapi ng BEI mula sa ba-wat clustrered precint ang dumalo sa pagsasanay, sa-pat ang bilang ng mga na-kapasa upang punuan ang pangangailangan sa ilalim ng batas.

“I-re-re-assign ng pres-into ’yung isang hindi na-kapasang BEI, kaya mag-kakaroon ng switching ng BEI member para matiyak na ang bawat presinto ay may BEI na sertipikado ng DOST,” ani Maclang.

Kaugnay nito, sinabi ni Mejarito na wala pang PCOS machine na naihatid sa Bulacan dahil ang mga ito ay kasalukuyang nasa isang bodega sa Parañaque sa Kalakhang Maynila.

Gayunpaman, tiniyak niya na ihahatid sa mga presinto sa Bulacan ang mga PCOS machine sa unang

linggo ng Mayo.Ang mga nasabing

makina ay ilalabas mula sa kahon kapag nasa presinto na upang ipakita sa mga

botante at susubukan kung umaandar ito.

Isasagawa ito tatlong araw bago ang halalan sa Mayo 10. — Dino Balabo

MAHABANG BALOTA — Maingat na ipinapasok sa Pre-cinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machine ng dalawang gurong ang mahaba at malapad na balota kaugnay ng kanilang pagsasanay bilang mga kasapi ng Board of Elec-tion Inspectors sa halalan sa Mayo. Ayon sa Commission on Elections (Comelec) sa Bulacan, handa na ang mga guro sa lalawigan matapos sumailalim sa dalawang araw na pagsasanay at pagsusulit. — DINO BALABO

LABAN PA RIN — Mababanaag ang lungkot sa mukha ni dating Bokal Daniel Fernando na ngayon ay muling kandidato bilang Bise Gobernador matapos matalo sa petisyong isinampa laban sa kanya sa Comelec. Gayun-paman, sa kabila na nadiskwalipika siya sa desisyon ng Ika-2 Dibisyon ng Comelec, sinabi ni Fernando na tuloy pa rin ang kanyang pagkakandidato. — DINO BALABO

BSCP to hold three-week tryouts for billiards slots in Asian Games

BY EDDIE G. ALINEA

A SERIES of tryouts for membership in the Philippine men’s billiards and snooker teams to the coming Asian Games starts Monday, April 12, at the Philippine Sports Commission billiards center inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Billiards and Snooker Council of the Philippines president Bong Ilagan yesterday announced that play-ers who have finished in the top three standings in the high-level competitions in the World and Continental Championships and Asian Games and the gold medal-ists in last year’s Southeast Asian Games are eligible to participate in the three-week qualifying tournament.

In the case of Asian and Continental level competi-tions, those must have competitors coming from China, Japan and Korea, which according to Ilagan are not only competing in the Asiad but likewise considered as top in the region.

Up for grabs are slots in the men’s 8-ball, 9-ball, carom 3 cushion and snooker teams.

Except for former world pool champion Efren “Bata” Reyes and Rey Grandea, who are seeded in the Eng-lish Billiards squad, no other players have been given outright berths.

Last year’s lady champion Rubilen Amit, Irisa Ranola and Mary Ann Basas have already also been chosen to be outright members of the women’s team.

Ilagan said invitations have already been sent to Reyes and Grandea, who will also be vying for seats in the 8-ball, 9-ball and snooker teams along with, among others, former world champion Ronnie Alcano and Alex Pagulayan, ex-world No. 1 Francisco “Django” Bustmante, former top money-maker Dennis Orcullo, Rodolfo Luat, Gandy Valle, Joven Bustamante, Lee Van Corteza, Antonio Gabica, Antonio Lining and Marlon Manalo.

Players under the BSCP wing of Sebastian Chua, according to the former Project Gintong Alay executive director, have also been invited through text messages as a sign of his faction’s desire to unify the warring local federations in the interest of the country’s participa-tion in the 16th edition of the Games this November in Guangzhou, China.

“Lahat naman kami ay para sa interes ng bilyar at ng bansa, kaya iniimbitahan ko ang lahat na luma-hok upang lalo nating mapalakas ang ating team at makapagdala ng karangalan sa bayan tulad ng ginawa naming noong SEA Games,” Ilagan said.

Reyes, who had been elevated to the national team as playing assistant coach, will oversee the tryouts along with head mentor Boyet Asonto.

Ilagan said the tryouts will finally push through after Philippine Sports Commission chair Harry Ang-ping approved his request to reopen the billiards and snooker center following its closure during the height of the BSCP leadership fiasco involving his and Chua’s groups.

AUTOMATED ELECTIONSAUTOMATED ELECTIONS

Board of Election Inspectors handa na; PCOS ihahatid sa unang linggo ng Mayo

DISKWALIPIKADO SA PAGKANDIDATO BILANG BISE GOBERNADOR

Daniel Fernando: ‘Tuloy ang laban ko; di pa pinal ang desisyon ng Comelec’

2 MabuhayLINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980 ABRIL 2 - 8, 2010

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SA IPINALABAS na desisyon ng Korte Suprema noong nakaraang Marso 23, lumilitaw na siyam na mahistrado ang pumabor kay Gob. Joselito “Jon-jon” Mendoza, apat ang kumatig kay dating Gob. Roberto “Obet” Pagdanganan, at dalawa ang nag-abstain.

Dahil sa nasabing desisyon, ha-los maluha sa galak si Gob Jon-jon na sinalubong ng mga nagbubun-ying mga kawani sa kapitolyo.

Ayon sa gobernador hindi si-ya nakaramdan ng takot kundi agam-agam lamang, dahil alam niyang siya ang magtatagumpay sa kanyang paniwalang hindi siya nandaya para manalo sa pagka-gobernador.

Sa pahayag naman ni dating Gob. Josefina “Josie” M. Dela Cruz, ate ni Mendoza, ang nasabing de-sisyon ay nagpatunay lamang na ang Ama sa langit ay laging may basbas sa katotohanan.

Batay sa balita noong Mar-so 25, dalawang araw matapos lumabas ang nasabing desisyon ng Korte Suprema, wala pa ring makuhang kopya ng desisyon si

Pagdanganan.Pero sa kasalukuyan … Gob.

Jonjon Mendoza is still the gover-nor until June 30, 2010.

Gob. Josie – Aniag TeamMARAMING mahilig sa takbo ng pulitika sa lalawigan ng Bulacan ang naniniwala na ang tambalang Josie Dela Cruz – Boy Aniag ang magwawaging gobernador at bise-gobernador sa darating na halalan sa May 2010.

Ito ay batay sa survey na isi-nagawa ng Buntot Page simula noong Marso 20 hanggang Abril 8 sa mga bayan ng Obando, Mey-cauayan, at Marilao sa Ika-4 Dis-trito at sa mga bayan ng Balagtas, Guiguinto, Baliwag at Pandi sa Ika-2 Distrito.

Sa Unang Distrito na binubuo ng mga bayan ng Hagonoy, Paom-bong, Malolos, Bulacan at Pulilan medyo llamado si Willy Alvarado.

Pero sa Ika-3 Distrito na bi-nubuo ng mga bayan ng San Mi-guel, San Ildefonso, San Rafael, Angat, Norzagaray at Doña Re-medios Trinidad ang Josie – Aniag

team ang bukang-bibig at sa sarili kong palagay ay siyang iboboto sa mga nasabing bayan.

Kayo, ano sa palagay ninyo?

Llamado si Santos sa ObandoBATAY sa sarili kong pagtatanong-tanong sa takbo ng pulitika sa bayan ng Obando, medyo llamado si Edwin Santos laban kina OEG, Pantanilla at Joaquin.

Pero mahigit pang isang buwan bago maghalalan. Marami pang maaaring mangyari ’ika nga. Sa apat na maglalaban sa pagka-mayor, medyo nakabuntot lamang kay Santos sina Mayor OEG at Pantanilla.

Nasa hulihan ang kamag-anak kong si Nesty Joaquin. Ayon sa ilang taga San Pascual, lumipas na raw ang suwerte ni Nesty.

Three-cornered fight ang laban sa pagka-mayor ng Obando: Santos vs OEG vs Pantanilla.

Sana manalo ang iboboto ng mga taga-Obando at hindi ang pananalunin ng Comelec.

O, bakit kayo natawa?Sta. Banana!

DAAN-DAAN ang kandidato sa mga lokal na posisyon na nanlili-gaw ngayon sa may isang milyong botanteng Bulakenyo. Pangako dito, pangako doon ang kanilang hatid. Ngunit ilan sa kanilang pa ngako ang mas malapit sa ka-totohanan?

* * *Ang mga sumusunod na tula

ay batay sa pakikinapanayam ng Promdi sa dalawang dating al-kalde sa lalawigan. Sila ay sina dating Mayor Ambrosio “Boy” Cruz ng Guiguinto at dating Mayor Edmundo Jose “Pop” Buencamino ng San Miguel.

Si Boy Cruz ay kandidato ng Partido Del Pilar at Liberal Party bilang kongresista sa Ika-2 Distrito ng Bulacan, at si Pop Beunacami-no ay kandidato ng Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino sa bayan ng San Miguel. Basahin po nating ang dalawang tula:

* * *

Misyon ni Boy CruzDoon po sa amin lalawigan

ng BulacanDating alkalde kandidatong

KinatawanSa Kongreso’y nangakong

lalabananPandarambong na

nagpapahirap sa bayan.Boy Cruz ang kanyang

ngalanSa ikalawang distrito’y

kandidatong kinatawanDating alkalde ng bayan ng

GuiguintoSa panunungkulan pinagpalang

totoo.Working student sa kanyang

kabataanAral ng buhay sa Divisoria’y

natutuhanPagsisikap at determinasyon

ang baonNapagtagumpayan hamon ng

panahon.

Naglingkod sa kumpanyang Shell Philippines

Umunlad at wala isa mang inabuso

Sa paniniwalang ang PilipinasUunlad kung katapatan ay nasa

puso.

Sa kanyang ikalawang laban bilang kinatawan

Sa kongreso isusulong tapat na paglilingkod

Pagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayanTutuldukan, di tatantatan, at

lalabanan.

Ngunit paano ang paglaban kung sa bulwaga’y

Ang mga kasapi’y natutulad sa sirang tinapay

Di kaya mahawa’t kapitan din ng amag

Ang kandidatong nangangarap sa magdamag.

sundan sa pahina 5

Mga tanong sa tubigHALOS lahat ng isyu ay nasakyan ng mga kandidato sa darating na halalan sa Mayo. Bawat tanong ay may nakahanda silang kasagutan, mula sa edukasyon at kalusugan hanggang sa repormang ipatutupad kung sakaling sila ang papalaring maha-lal. Ngunit ang katanungan sa sapat sa suplay ng maiinom na tubig sa Kalakhang Maynila at patubig ng mga magsasakang Bulakenyo at Kapampangan ay nananatiling mailap para sa kanila. Payo ng ilan ay magtipid sa tubig, sabi naman ng iba ay magresiklo ng tubig, samantalang ang iba ay nag-alok ng higit pang mababaw na kasagutan.

Kung titingnang mabuti, maihahalintulad sa isang bok-sing sa ring na may sukat na isang ektarya ang kanilang mga sagot. Ang isa ay nasa kabilang dulo at ang kalaban ay nasa kabila. Sabi nga ng matatanda, maghapon man silang mag-suntukan, hindi sila magkakatamaan. Ito ay dahil sa malawak na entablado na pinaglalabanan, kaya’t ang mga sagot na ipinapayo ng mga nagsisagot ay maituturing na “suntok sa bu-wan.” Sa madaling salita, ang kanilang mga ibinigay na tugon ay ang itinuturing na ligtas na sagot. Iyan ang mga sagot na nagtatangkang paikutin ang nagtatanong dahil walang tunay na pagnanais na ibigay ang tamang sagot.

Simple lang ang problema sa tubig, ayon sa mga dalub-hasa na inilalarawan ito bilang isang “finite resource” o kaya-manang may hangganan. Nauubos ang tubig at, ayon din sa mga dalubhasa, isang porsiyento na lamang ng kabuoang tubig sa mundo ang maiinom, pero patuloy pa itong nauubos at nakokontamina ng polusyon at basura.

Totoong kayamanang may hangganan ang tubig, par-tikular na iyong iniimbak sa Angat Dam na halos taon-taon ay pinag-aawayan ng Kalakhang Maynila at mga magsasaka sa Bulacan dahil sila ang laging binabawasan ng alokasyon. Ngunit walang malinaw na panukalang hakbang ang gobyerno maging ang mga kandidato sa pambansa at lokal na posisyon upang malunasan ang sitwasyong ito. Lumalabas na hindi nila nauunawaan ang kalagayan ng Angat Dam, at ng 63,000 ek-taryang kanlungan ng tubig nito na kung patuloy na makakalbo at masisira ay magsisilbing pako sa kabaong ng 14 milyong residente ng Kalakhang Maynila at ekonomiya ng bansa.

Ayon sa mga environmentalist at mga mountain climber na bumibisita sa kabundukang nasasakop ng Angat wa-tershed, halos 10,000 ektarya na nito ang nakalbo ng mga nagnanakaw ng troso, ngunit pilit itong itinatanggi ng mga pangunahing ahensiyang dapat mangalaga doon dahil sa isipang ang kanilang pagtanggi ay nakakatulong sa tao. Ito ang simula ng malawak na pagkawasak ng Angat Watershed na ayon sa audit report ng UNESCO at mga kasamang grupo noong 2004 ay nangunguna sa talaan ng mga “highly critical watershed area”.

Sa kalagayang ito, maitatanong natin sa mga nagpapay-ong magtipid ng tubig kung ano ang titipiring tubig sa darating na panahon kung wala nang tubig na maitinggal sa Angat Dam dahil puro burak na ito?

Dapat ding itanong sa mga ahensiyang nangangalaga ng kabundukan na nagtatakip sa kasalukuyang kalagayan nito na may maibibigay ba silang tubig sa taumbayan kapag tuluyang natuyo ang tubig sa dam dahil sa natabunan na ng burak ang tinggalan nito sanhi ng pagguho ng lupa mula sa nakalbong kabundukan?

Sa diwang ito, nararapat lamang na tanungin din ang mga kandidatong naghahangad sa mga halal na posisyon ng gobyerno kung mayroon na silang naisip o nakahandang solusyon sa hinaharap nating krisis sa tubig hatid ng pagkasira ng kagubatan na sanhi naman ng malamyang pagpapatupad ng batas at patuloy na kahirapan.

Ang tubig ay buhay; mamamatay tayo kapag naubos ito.

EDITORYAL

ABRIL 2-8, 2010 MabuhayLINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980 7

MabuhayLINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980

EDITORIALAlfredo M. Roxas, Jose Romulo Q. Pavia, Jose Gerardo Q. Pavia, Joey N. Pavia, Jose Visitacion Q. Pavia, Carminia L. Pavia, Perfecto Raymundo Jr., Dino Balabo

ADVERTISINGJennifer T. Raymundo

PRODUCTIONJose Antonio Q. Pavia, Jose Ricardo Q. Pavia,Mark F. Mata, Maricel P. Dayag,

PHOTOGRAPHY / ARTEden Uy, Allan Peñaredondo,Joseph Ryan S. Pavia

BUSINESS / ADMINISTRATIONLoreto Q. Pavia, Marilyn L. Ramirez,Peñaflor Crystal, J. Victorina P. Vergara,Cecile S. Pavia, Luis Francisco, Domingo Ungria, Harold T. Raymundo,

CIRCULATIONRobert T. Raymundo, Armando M. Arellano, Rhoderick T. Raymundo

The Mabuhay is published weekly by the MABUHAY COM MUNICATIONS SERVICES — DTI Permit No. 00075266, March 6, 2006 to March 6, 2011, Malolos, Bulacan.

The Mabuhay is entered as Second Class Mail Matter at the San Fernando, Pampanga Post Office on April 30, 1987 under Permit No. 490; and as Third Class Mail Matter at the Manila Central Post Office under permit No. 1281-99-NCR dated Nov. 15, 1999. ISSN 1655-3853

PRINCIPAL OFFICE 626 San Pas cual, Obando, Bulacan 294-8122

LIMAMPUNG taon bago sumiklab ang Dakilang Himagsikan (1896), dadalawa ang aklat na tila bahagi na ng bawat tahanan, lalo na sa Katagalugan: ang Pasyong Mahal ni Jesucristo na inakda ni Padre Mariano Pilapil, at ang Florante at Laura, na kinatha naman ni Francisco Balagtas.

Bihira marahil ang nakaaalam na si Padre Mariano Pilapil ay taga-Bulakan din katulad ni Balagtas, at ayon sa tala ng kasaysayan nakatu-long ni Padre Pila pil si Balagtas sa paghahanda ng Pasyong Mahal ni Jesucristo (1812).

Bihirang taon na hindi nakapa-loob sa Mahal na Araw ang kaara-wan ni Francisco Balagtas (Abril 2, 1788) at naiisip kong may malaking impluwensiya ang bituin ni Balag-tas — upang ituring na siya ay isa ring propeta — na nakahuhula ng mga pangyayaring darating pagkaraan ng 172 taong isaaklat ang kanyang obra maestra, ang Florante at Laura.

Pagkaraan ng may 172 taong pagkakalimbag nito, ang mga hula ni Balagtas ay naganap pero sa kasukdulan na. Tulad ng saknong na ito:

“Ang laki sa layaw karani wa’y hubad

Sa bait at muni’t sa hatol ay salat,

Masaklap na bunga ng maling paglingap,

Habag ng magulang sa irog na anak.”Bunga ng iba’t ibang kadahila-

nang ekonomikal at sosyal, maa-gang ‘iwinawalay’ ngayon ng mga magulang ang kanilang anak sa kanilang wastong kalinga at pag-subaybay. Ang bunga: pagdami ng mga batang criminal, batang puta, batang lulong sa bawal na gamot at iba pang bisyo, batang lansangan — na hindi lang nagi-ging sakit ng ulo ng mga magulang kundi ng lipunan man. Sila ang mga supling ng gibang pamilya, ng pagsasamang bawal na may pag-kunsinti ng gobyerno, ng simbahan na walang guhit ang pamantayan ng moralidad na sinusunod.

At sila ang naging mga lider, o magiging lider ng bansa balang araw, na tatanggap ng suhol o siyang manunuhol, mandaraya sa halalan, magpapalipat- lipat ng lapiang pampulitika — salungat sa sinabi ni Quezon na “katapatan

ko sa aking lapian ay natatapos sa pagsisimula ng katapatan ko sa aking bayan.”“Kung ang isalubong sa iyong

pagdatingAy masayang mukha’t may

pakitang giliw,Lalong kaingata’t kaaway na

lihim —Siyang isaisip na kakabakahin.”

Masayang mukha’t ngiting may pakitang-giliw ang isinalubong ng mga Amerikano, sa pangunguna ni Commodore George Dewey ng U.S. Pacific Squadron, nang magbalik sina Hen. Emilio Aguinaldo sa Pilipinas — mula sa Hong Kong noong Mayo 17, 1898. Sa paniwala ni Aguinaldo, na kaibigan ang mga Amerikano at magi ging katulong ng mga Pilipino sa paglaya ng Pilipinas sa pananakop ng mga Kastila (tulad ng nangyari sa Cuba), tumulong ang hukbong rebolusyonaryo sa pagsalakay sa mga himpilan ng mga Kastila sa iba’t ibang dako ng Pilipinas.

Ang pagsakop ng Estados Uni-dos sa Pilipinas ay bahagi na ng mga traydor na yugto ng ating kasaysayan.

sundan sa pahina 5

Buntot Pagé PERFECTO V. RAYMUNDO

Si Mendoza pa rin ang gobernador

Republic of the PhilippinesSUPREME COURT

Office of the Ex-Officio SheriffMalolos City, Bulacan

EAST WEST BANKING CORPORATION

Mortgagee,- versus -

LORENA SANTOS GATUS, Mortgagor/s,

X————————————X

NOTICE OF THE SHERIFF’S SALEUpon extra-judicial petition for sale under act 3135 as amended by Act 4118 filed by EAST WEST BANKING CORPORATION, with principal ad-dress at 2oth Floor, PBCom Tower, 6795 Ayala Avenue cor. V.A. Rufino St., Salcedo Village, Makati City the mortgagee, against LORENA SAN-TOS GATUS, with postal address at No. 800 Benny St. corner Matimyas St. Sampaloc, Manila and/or lot 40, Blk. 5A Phase 1 Melody Plains, SJDM, Bulacan the mortgagors to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of March 15, 2010 amounts to TWENTY SIX THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED SIXTEEN PESOS & 44/100 (P26,416.44) Philippine Currency, including/ excluding interest thereon, including/excluding 25% of the total indebtedness by way of attorney’s fees, plus daily interest and expenses and thereafter, also secured by said mortgage, and such other amounts which may become due and payable to the aforemen-tioned mortgagee, the Ex-Officio Sheriff of Bulacan through the under-signed Sheriff hereby gives notice to all interested parties to the public in general that on APRIL 27, 2010 at 10:00 A.M. or soon thereafter, in front of the Office of the Ex-Officio Sheriff of Bulacan, located at the back of the Bulwagan ng Katarungan, Provincial Capitol Compound, Malolos City, Bulacan will sell at public auction through sealed bidding to the highest bidder for CASH and in Philippine Currency, the described real property/ies below together with all the improvements existing thereon:

TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. T-473859 (M)“A parcel of land (Lot 40 of the cons. subd. plan Pcs-03-009081,

being a portion of Lots 1-51 Blk. 5, Pcs-03-006485, LRC Rec. No.) situated in the Brgy. Muzon, Municipality of Sta. Maria, Prov. of Bulacan, Is. of Luzon. Bounded on the x x x containing an area of FORTY SEVEN (47) SQ. M. ”

This Notice of the Sheriff’s sale will be posted for a period of twenty (20) days in three (3) conspicuous public places in the municipality where the subject property/ies is/are located and at Malolos City, Bula-can where the sale shall take place and likewise a copy will be published for the same period in the MABUHAY a newspaper of general circulation in the province of Bulacan, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks before the date of the auction sale.

All sealed bids with its accompanying transmittal letter addressed to this office must be submitted to the undersigned on or before the above stated date and hour at which time all sealed bids thus submitted shall be opened.

In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date, it shall be held on May 4, 2010 at 10:00 A.M. or soon thereafter without further notice.

Prospective bidders or buyers are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the title to the property/ies and encumbrance thereon, if any there be.

Malolos City, Bulacan, March 24, 2010

EMMANUEL L. ORTEGAEx-Officio Sheriff

BY: JOSEPH ELMER S. GUEVARASheriff IV

Copy furnished: All parties concerned

Mabuhay: March 19, 26 & April 2, 2010

E.J.F. NO. 78-2010

EXTRA-JUDICAL FORELOSURE OF REAL ESTATE PROPERTY/IES UNDER ACT 3135 AS AMENDED

BY ACT 4118



PHILIPPINE SAVINGS BANK Mortgagee,

- versus -

LEILANI N. GONZAGA, Mortgagor/s,

X————————————X

NOTICE OF THE SHERIFF’S SALEUpon extra-judicial petition for sale under act 3135 as amended by Act 4118 filed by PHILIPPINE SAVINGS BANK, with principal address and place of business at PSBank Center, 777 Paseo De Roxas corner Sed-eno Street, Makati City the mortgagee, against LEILANI N. GONZAGA, with residence and postal address at Blk. 800 Lot 9, Ph. 7, Heritage Homes Loma De Gato, Marilao, Bulacan the mortgagor/s to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of March 8, 2010 amounts to FIVE HUNDRED THIRTY TWO THOUSAND THIRTY EIGHT PESOS & 57/100 (P532,038.57) Philippine Currency, including/ excluding inter-est thereon, including/excluding 25% of the total indebtedness by way of attorney’s fees, plus daily interest and expenses and thereafter, also secured by said mortgage, and such other amounts which may become due and payable to the aforementioned mortgagee, the Ex-Officio Sheriff of Bulacan through the undersigned Sheriff hereby gives notice to all interested parties to the public in general that on APRIL 23, 2010 at 10:00 A.M. or soon thereafter, in front of the Office of the Ex-Officio Sheriff of Bulacan, located at the back of the Bulwagan ng Katarungan, Provincial Capitol Compound, Malolos City, Bulacan will sell at public auction through sealed bidding to the highest bidder for CASH and in Philippine Currency, the described real property/ies below together with all the improvements existing thereon:

TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. T-493668(M)“A parcel of land (Lot 20, bLK. 806 of the cons. subd. plan Pcs-03-

012931, being a portion of Lots 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,& 11 Pcs-03-011282 LRC Rec. No.) situated in the Bo. of Loma de Gato, Mun. of Mar. Prov. of Bulacan x x x containing an area of NINETY SIX (96) SQ. M more or less. ”



In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date, it shall be held on April 23, 2010 at 10:00 A.M. or soon thereafter without further notice.



EMMANUEL L. ORTEGA Ex-Officio SheriffBY: REUEL P. RUIZ

Sheriff IVCopy furnished: All parties concerned


Republic of the Philippines Regional Trial CourtThird Judicial Region

City of Malolos BulacanBranch 19

P-839-2009

IN RE: PETITION FOR APPROVAL OFDEED OF ABSOLUTE SALEOF (ROAD LOTS) OF TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. T-259305 (M) & NO. T-149089 (M)

THE NEW APEC DEVELOPMENT CORP. HEREIN REP. BY ITS AIF HENRY A. BOROC,

X————————————X

AMENDED ORDER

A verified amended petition dated February 22, 2010 was filed by peti-tioner for the approval of Deed of Absolute Sale of (Road Lots) of Transfer Certificates of Title No. T-259305 (M) and T-149089 (M) of the Registry of Deeds of Bulacan.

Petitioner alleged that the corporation is the owner of two (2) parcels of land by virtue of Deeds of Absolute Sale executed by the former owner Pearl Island Export and Import Marketing Corporation in favor of petitioner. The subject two (2) road lots are covered and embraced by Transfer Cer-

tificate of Title No. T-259305 (M) and No. T-1490889 (M) situated at Brgy. Loma De Gato, Marilao, Bulacan, of the Registry of Deeds of Meycauayan, Bulacan. After the purchase of the Road Lots, petitioner was working for the transfer of titles but the Register of Deeds refused to register it under the name of petitioner unless the Deeds of Absolute Sale be approved by the Court. Petitioner is now praying that after due notice and hearing an Order be issued approving the Deeds of Absolute Sale of two (2) Transfer Certificates of Title No. 259305 (M) and No. T-149089 (M) in favor of the petitioner and to direct the Register of Deed of Bulacan to issue new Certifi-cates of Title in the name of petitioner.

WHEREFORE, finding the petition sufficient in form and substance hear-ing is hereby set on June 15, 2010 at 8:30 a.m. before this branch of Court at which date and time all persons concerned may appear and show cause why the said petition should not be granted.

Let copies of this Order be published at the expense of petitioner for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the province of Bulacan and the same be posted at the main entrance of the Bulacan Provincial Capitol Building, Municipal Building of Marilao, Bulacan at least 30 days prior to the date of hearing.

Likewise let copies of this Order be sent by registered mail to the petition-er and its counsel, the Registry of Deeds of Bulacan, Meycauayan Branch the Land Registration Authority, the Solicitor General, the Department of Public Works and Highways and all the adjoining owners.

SO ORDERED.City of Malolos, Bulacan March 5, 2010.

RENATO C. FRANCISCO Presiding Judge


EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATENOTICE is hereby given that the estate of the deceased Jose Daza Luna who died intestate on October17, 2008 at Makati Medical Center leaving real properties more particularly described as 1) Transfer Certificate of Title No. 1838 and 2) Transfer Certificate of Title No. 102756 was extrajucially settled among legitimate heirs as per Doc. No. 468; Page No. 093; Book No. 021; Series of 2010 in the Notarial Registry of Atty. Antonio R. Roque.


EXTRAJUDICAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH DEED OF SALE

NOTICE is hereby given that the estates of the deceased Felipe T. Sicat who died on May 15, 2009 in Angeles City. That the deceased died intes-tae without will or testament leaving behind his 1/2 undivided share over a parcel of land covered by TCT No. 542351-R with out improvements existing thereon situated in the Barrio of Tangle, Municipality of Mexico, Province of Pampanga. That the surviving heirs of the decedent entitled to succeed his estate and hereto have agreed to adjudicate among them-selves in accordance with the civil code. That the foregoing extrajudicial settlement with deed of absolute sale among legitimate heirs as per Doc. No. 106; Page No. 22; Book No. 7 series of 2010 in the Notarial Registry of Atty. Teddy T. Soliman.




PAG-IBIG FUND OR HDMF Mortgagee,

- versus -

SEVERINO C. BARQUEZ M/TO LUZBELLA B. BARQUEZ, Mortgagor/s,x——————————————x

NOTICE OF THE SHERIFF’S SALEUpon extra-judicial petition for sale under act 3135 as amended by Act 4118 filed by PAG-IBIG FUND OR HDMF, with principal address at 2nd Flr., North Centrum Bldg., Tabang, Guiguinto, Bulacan against, SEVERINO C. BARQUEZ M/TO LUZBELLA B. BARQUEZ, with residence and postal address at Blk. 524, Lot 13 Heritage Homes V. Loma De Gato, Marilao, Bulacan the mortgagor/s to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of January 22, 2010 amounts to TWO MILLION SIX HUNDRED FORTY TWO THOUSAND FIFTY FIVE PESOS & 79/100 (P2,642,055.79) Philippine Currency, including/ excluding interest thereon, including/excluding 25% of the total indebtedness by way of attorney’s fees, plus daily interest and expenses and thereafter, also secured by said mortgage, and such other amounts which may become due and payable to the aforementioned mortgagee, the Ex-Officio Sheriff of Bulacan through the undersigned Sheriff hereby gives notice to all interested parties to the public in general that on APRIL 23, 2010 at 10:00 A.M. or soon thereafter, in front of the Office of the Ex-Officio Sheriff of Bulacan, located at the back of the Bulwagan ng Katarungan, Provincial Capitol Compound, Malolos City, Bulacan will sell at public auction through sealed bidding to the highest bidder for CASH and in Philippine Currency, the described real property/ies below together with all the improvements existing thereon:

TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. T-270044 (M)“A parcel of land (Lot 13, Blk. 524 of the cons. subd. plan, Pcs-03-006510,

being a portion of cons. Lots 1-B, Psd-031411-06796 and lot 40 Blk. 421, Pcs-03-006383, LRC Rec. No.), situated in the Bo. of Bahay Pari, Mun. of Marilao, Prov. of Bulacan. x x x containing an area of SIXTY (60) SQ. M.”

This Notice of the Sheriff’s sale will be posted for a period of twenty (20) days in three (3) conspicuous public places in the municipality where the subject property/ies is/are located and at Malolos City, Bulacan where the sale shall take place and likewise a copy will be published for the same period in the MABUHAY a newspaper of general circulation in the province of Bulacan, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks before the date of the auction sale.







Copy furnished: All parties concernedMabuhay: March 19, 26 & April 2, 2010

E.J.F. NO. P-21-2010

EXTRA-JUDICAL FORELOSURE OF REAL ESTATE PROPERTY/IESUNDER ACT 3135 AS AMMENDED BY ACT 4118

E.J.F. NO. 68-2010


BY ACT 4118

KastigoKastigo BIENVENIDO A. RAMOS

Si Balagtas, ang propeta

PromdiPromdi DINO BALABO

Misyon ni Boy; Aral mula kay Pop

PAGBATITaus-pusong pagbati sa

MabuhayMabuhay sa inyong ika-30 anibersaryo

mula sa

Jollibee BaliwagJollibee BaliwagVictoria Tengco-Burgos

PROPRIETESS

6 MabuhayLINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980 ABRIL 2 - 8, 2010 ABRIL 2 - 8, 2010 Mabuhay

LINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980 3Regarding Henry

HENRYLITO D. TACIO

Untapped source of power TAGBILARAN CITY — Over 85,000 candidates seek election to 17,000 posts, come May 10. Before 50.2 million voters, most brag of “spotless records”.

Even Joseph Ejercito Estrada? Yes. Even Erap. Convicted for plunder, Estrada insists he, too, is clean as a whistle.

So do the Ampatuans of mas-sacre-stained Manguindanao. And don’t forget former Agriculture undersescretary Joyceln “Joc Joc” Bolante who splurged P782 million in a fertilizer scam for President Arroyo — and got away with it.

“A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.” Candidates resort to selective amnesia in self defense. Only a few blush. Indeed, “one is astonished very few politi-cians are hanged,” G.K. Chesterton marveled.

But how does the situation look from the voters’ ranks?

Filipinos have short memories, our critics say. We rarely resolve issues, starting with Japanese collaborators in World War II. When not sashaying at noontime soaps, many prefer to barge into the next scandal

As a result, every election con-

IN a way, the world is getting more polarized these days. That’s actu-ally an understatement. Let’s never forget that the world will always be an arena for the continuing battle of good and evil. Polariza-tion is a dynamic thing. It has its ebb and flow.

But this conflict can have its sharpest moment during Holy Week. That’s the high point of the Christian world. And thus the enemies of Christ and of the Church can view it also as their lowest moment, a time to fight for survival.

That’s one angle. On the other hand, we cannot discount the pos-sibility that all this fuss has been whipped more to generate read-ership and lucre in a media dead season than to give objective news. Sorry for this cynical impression, but I think it has good basis. We were not born yesterday.

The past weeks leading to Holy Week have seen some parts of the mainstream Western media hitting rock bottom in vile and malice. Stretching their arguments and evidence out of proportion, they

“NOW, Baz, can you tell me what is the most important part of our body?” Susan reviewed her son for the next day’s assignment.

“The heart,” the boy replied with complete confidence.

“Nope,” his mom swayed her head trying to hide her disap-pointment.

“Then, what is?” the boy who was convinced with his answer asked.

“Think a little more,” she coaxed him a bit.

“I still think it’s the heart,” he contested.

“Don’t you think it’s the brain, sweety?” she said nicely, but firm-ly.

“Nope, it’s the heart,” he held fast to his answer.

“Nooo, it’s the brain!”“Nope, the heart!”“Brain…!”“Heart…, heart…., HEART!”

he insisted.

COMMUTER protection appears to be a broad concept, because anything and everything that con-cerns the safety and the wellbeing of commuters is included in the scope of this public issue. And to that the fact that almost 100% of the population are commuters of some form or another, exempting only the very few rich families who travel in their own private yachts and private jets, and you have a hot issue that cuts across the entire nation.

Since I started advocating the gospel of commuter protection, I received two interesting feedbacks that I want to share with all of my readers. I want to share these feed-backs because I have not thought about these suggestions myself, or at the very least, I had not origi-nally connected these specific ideas to the general concept of commuter protection.

Mr. Abe Cordero, an Internet entrepreneur said that aside from lowering transport fares and stop-ping toll fee increases, the National Council for Commuter Protection (NCCP) should also campaign for the modernization of public trans-ports and transport terminals for air, sea and land travel, for both the rural and the urban areas.

Additionally, Dr. Cora Claudio, an environmental expert said that

fronts us with new scams even before amnesia completely blacks out previous unresolved anomalies. Is closure really alien to us? Fail-ure or refusal to confront abuse frontally spawns impunity. This culture embeds corruption.

Commission on Elections chair Jose Melo, just this week, spiked an order for 1.8 million ballot-secrecy-folders. OTC Paper Supply billed Comelec P380 per folder. “Ex-travagant,” Melo snapped. Thus, Resolution No. 8814 scrubbed the order.

Who hit the “replay” button? Senate Report 44 earlier skewered Comelec, under Bejamin Aba-los, for rigging purchase of P1.6 billion Mega-Pacific computers. “Credible, orderly and peaceful elections (were) put in jeopardy by the illegal and gravely abusive acts of Comelec,” the Supreme Court found.

Ombusdsman Merceditas Gu-tierrez thumbed her nose at both Senate and Supreme Court. She ignored the Court order: get back the money ... No one was liable, she ruled. “Where in the world does a major crime occur without a crimi-nal?” asked Viewpoint (PDI/ July

29,2008). Onli in da Pilipins.A predictable pattern of graft

has emerged over the years. Institu-tions co-opted by insiders provide thieves with flak jackets.Crooks commit serial pillage. This pat-tern surfaces in jueteng, Radstock, NAIA terminal, even Statement of Assets and Liabilites of Rep. Mikey Arroyo.

Remember the Diosdado Maca-pagal Boulevard brouhaha? Public Estates Authority’s Sulpicio Tagud Jr. asserted that P600 million waspadded to the GSIS-funded 5.1-kilometer avenue. Approved during the Estrada administration, the deal went through. No one got sanctioned.

Who hit the replay button? After a two year probe, World Bank found seven companies guilty of rigging bids “at artificial, noncompeti-tive levels” in a $33 million road improvement project here.

The Bank blackballed three Filipino firms: E.C. de Luna Con-struction Corp., Cavite Ideal Inter-national Co. Ltd. and CM Pancho Construction Inc.

In two days, Representatives Roger Mercado (Southern Leyte)

continued on page 4

attacked the Pope and the Church in general for past misconduct of some clerics.

For sure, there were serious errors, grave sins and screaming scandals involving some members of the clergy. Church authorities have admitted these anomalies, have profusely apologized, and where required, have paid the price, both in money and in other more serious intangible penalties.

But while we all try to avoid these, neither should we be sur-prised by them. This is part of our human condition. And the Church, in its human aspect, is not exempt from it.

As the Catechism says: “The Church, clasping sinners to her bosom, at once holy and in need of purification, follows constantly the path of penance and renewal.” (CCC 827) Only fools don’t real-ize this.

The recent spate of media ac-cusations against the Church have been reviewed and probed, and they were found to be simply exagger-ated given the hue and cry Western media gave them.

It seems to me that they were made just to bash Christ, slam the Church, embarrass the clergy, put the whole world of faith and religion in ridicule.

Anyway, during this Holy Week, amid all the retreats, recollections, confessions and liturgical activities, I tried to take a break from these media-generated controversies mainly in the virtual world of the internet by going to small town churches and to observe the real pulse of the people.

It was a very rewarding plan, as I derived ample impulses of faith and hope by just looking at the simple people doing their prayers and other forms of atonement. There I saw what I consider to be the wellspring of faith and piety.

Simple people always attract the grace and mercy of God, and it’s gratifying, not to mention, purifying, to see this phenomenon in action, in real life. The city, of course, can have its share of God’s grace and mercy, but I believe it’s in the small towns where you these more clearly.

continued on page 6

“OUR shortage of electricity is a real, serious problem that we cannot downplay. But if we focus exclusively on it, we run the risk of seeing just the trees and not the forest.” That was what then energy undersecretary Rufino Bomasang told participants of a media brief-ing on business and economics reporting convened by the Press Foundation of Asia at Los Baños, Laguna almost two decades ago.

Today, the scenario has not changed. In an article which ap-peared in Business Mirror, Adam Jones wrote: “As it stands, the (Philippines) relies heavily on outside sources of energy, which account for roughly 65 percent of its energy needs. However, despite slowing industrial demand for power, some industry insiders still believe the country could face a power shortage of 3000 megawatts by 2012.”

Speaking in London in June 1997, then British Environment Michael Meacher said: “Energy policies should be designed to pro-mote cleaner, more efficient energy use and production. We want a new and strong drive to develop renewable energy sources. Doing so will create jobs, win exports and protect the environment.”

Jones agrees, “As the Philip-pines continues to pursue a path of global competitiveness, it is becoming evident that securing an adequate energy supply will be ever more critical to its growing industries. Harnessing renewable energy… will surely play a larger role in the years to come.”

Studies have shown that the Philippines can save over US$3 billion (Php200 billion) that would come from the country’s renewable energy sources like biomass, geo-thermal, solar, hydro, ocean, and wind. Biomass refers to materials that can be used as renewable energy sources, such as plant mat-ters grown for use as biofuel and biodegradable wastes (agricultural, municipal or industrial wastes)

that can be burnt as fuel.All the aforementioned energy

sources have also been identified as clean energy sources during a media workshop held at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in Manila. Orga-nized by the Environmental Coop-eration-Asia Clean Development and Climate Program (ECO-Asia) in conjunction with Internews’ Earth Journalism Network, it was aimed to raise awareness about clean energy issues in the Philip-pines and Asia.

Among the identified clean energy sources that the country is currently using, the vast potential would come from hydropower, said assistant energy secretary Mario C. Marasigan during a briefing on the country’s clean energy initiatives.

Currently, the existing energy capacity from hydropower is 3,367 megawatts (MW). From 2009 to 2030, the energy department is tar-geting another 3,400 MW. Electric power is measured in units called watt. A watt is equal to one joule (the quantity of energy that can be generated from a fuel such as oil or gas) per second. The total gen-erating capacity of a power plant is measured in kilowatt (KW) for 1,000 watts, and megawatt (MW) for one million watts.

Electricity produced by water movement has been used for de-cades. About 16 percent of the world’s electricity is generated by hydropower, according to the Washington-based Worldwatch Institute. The world’s top five pro-ducers are Canada, China, Brazil, the United States and the Russian Federation. Several countries, in-cluding Brazil and Norway, obtain almost all their electricity from this one source.

Hydropower can be generated by water falls (the first hydroelec-tric plant was built on Niagara Falls in 1878), rushing rivers and streams, and manmade dams, all of which allow a controlled

continued on page 4

the NCCP should also campaign against the bad practice of taking sidewalks and coastal walkways away from the public domain, only to be given to private com-panies who own shopping malls and other buildings. Apparently, she is referring to actual cases wherein some local government officials have forsaken the public interest in order to favor the big business owners who pursue their own private interests.

Directly or indirectly, Mr. Cord-ero and Dr. Claudio are correct in saying that their suggestions have something to do with commuter protection. I happen to know that NCCP, now running as party list number 163 in the coming elections would rather talk about what they have done in lowering fares and stopping toll increases rather than make new promises, but I believe that these two feedbacks are really worth considering.

Ms. Princess Umali, a develop-ment specialist says that she is very happy to have finally found her personal party list in NCCP 163, which is apparently her own indirect way of saying that she is a commuter too, and what she means is that she is happy that finally, a party list has decided to represent her as a commuter, perhaps in

continued on page 6

“But dear, the brain controls everything in our body,” she waited to see how he was going to argue this one out.

“But mommy, you told me when I was small that Jesus is in my heart? Isn’t this more im-portant?”

Susan was totally disarmed by his answer, and didn’t know what to say. She smiled and embraced her son. “Baz, you’re right! How can mommy ever forget?”

* * *Of course we can go on arguing

about the most important part of our body as far as biological functions are concerned. But we obviously know that each part –no matter how insignificant it may be– has a function that serves the good of the entire person.

Spiritually, however, it may oc-cur to us like Baz to ask if there is a part of our bodies that God highly values. As His creatures He

naturally admires us not in parts or as things, but as His children. This is demonstrated in an exemplary manner when He mysterious took the initiative to become like us in everything that we could be, except in our sinfulness.

As a man, our Lord literally ex-perienced everything that a person could. He felt hunger, thirst, and heat. He wept with compassion for those who suffered, rejoiced in the joys of others, and felt disap-pointment towards the unbelief of some.

In this growing tapestry of rich experience of humanity, Jesus Christ, who was perfect God and perfect man, was intimately enjoy-ing and endowing these earthly realities with a divine meaning. Thus, St. Josemaría in the Forge says, “As Jesus, who is our Lord and Model, grows in and lives as one of us, he reveals to us that

continued on page 6



PAG-IBIG FUND OR HDMFMortgagee,

- versus -

GUALBERTO B. ACABO, JR. M/TO RAQUEL L. ACABO,

Mortgagor/s,

x——————————————x

NOTICE OF THE SHERIFF’S SALEUpon extra-judicial petition for sale under act 3135 as amended by Act 4118 filed by PAG-IBIG FUND OR HDMF, with principal address at 2nd Flr., North Centrum Bldg., Tabang, Guiguinto, Bulacan against, GUALBERTO B. ACABO, JR. M/TORAQUEL L. ACABO, with residence and postal address at Blk. 7, Lot 35 Verde Hieghts Subdivision, Gaya-Gaya, San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan the mortgagor/s to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of January 22, 2010 amounts to EIGHT HUNDRED SEVENTY THREE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED SEVENTY SEVEN PESOS & 87/100 (P873,377.87 ) Philippine Currency, including/ exclud-ing interest thereon, including/excluding 25% of the total indebtedness by way of attorney’s fees, plus daily interest and expenses and thereafter, also secured by said mortgage, and such other amounts which may become due and payable to the aforementioned mortgagee, the Ex-Officio Sheriff of Bulacan through the undersigned Sheriff hereby gives notice to all interested parties to the public in general that on APRIL 23, 2010 at 10:00 A.M. or soon thereafter, in front of the Office of the Ex-Officio Sheriff of Bulacan, located at the back of the Bulwagan ng Katarungan, Provincial Capitol Compound, Malolos City, Bulacan will sell at public auction through sealed bidding to the highest bidder for CASH and in Philippine Currency, the described real property/ies below together with all the improvements existing thereon:

TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. T-336058 (M)“A parcel of land (Lot 35, Blk. 7 of the subd. plan, Pcs-03-006776, being a

portion of cons. Lots no. 4, Psu-95127, lot 929, Cad 352 LRC Rec. No.), situated in the Bo. of Gaya-Gaya, Mun. of San Jose del Monte, Prov. of Bulacan. x x x containing an area of SIXTY (60) SQ. M.”










E.J.F. NO. 51-2010


BY ACT 4118

DepthnewsDepthnews JUAN L. MERCADO

Bolted window

Cebu CallingCebu Calling FR. ROY CIMAGALA

Faith and piety start to trickle

Forward to BasicsForward to Basics FR. FRANCIS ONGKINGCO

Jesus in our hearts

Fair & Square

IKE SEÑERES

Modern transport terminals



MANATAL MULTI-PURPOSE COOPERATIVE, INC.

Mortgagee,- versus -

LOLITA CONTRERAS-SAYO M/TO MARCELINO SAYO,

Mortgagor/s,

X————————————X

NOTICE OF THE SHERIFF’S SALEUpon extra-judicial petition for sale under act 3135 as amended by Act 4118 filed by MANATAL MULTI-PURPOSE CO O PE RATIVE, INC, with office address at No. 250 Manatal, Pandi, Bulacan, the mortgagee against LOLITA CONTRERAS-SAYO M/TO MARCELINO SAYO with postal address at No. 3 Bagong Barrio, Pandi, Bulacan the mortgagor/s to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of February 28, 2010 amounts to SEVENTY NINE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED PESOS & 00/100 (P79,600.00) Philippine Currency, including interest thereon, including, excluding 25% of the total indebtedness by way of attorney’s fees, plus daily interest and expenses and thereafter, also secured by said mortgage, and such other amounts which may become due and payable to the aforementioned mortgagee, the Ex-Officio Sheriff of Bula-can through the undersigned Sheriff hereby gives notice to all interested parties to the public in general that on MAY 4, 2010 at 10:00 A.M. or soon thereafter, in front of the Office of the Ex-Officio Sheriff of Bulacan, located at the back of the Bulwagan ng Katarungan, Provincial Capitol Compound, Malolos City, Bulacan will sell at public auction through sealed bidding to the highest bidder for CASH and in Philippine Currency, the described real property/ies below together with all the improvements existing thereon:

TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. T-479413 (M)“A parcel of land (Lot 2-H-5 of the subd. plan, Psd-03-152876, being

a portion of Lot No. 2-H, (LRC) Psd-383688, L.R.C. Rec. No.) situated in the Bo. Cacarong Matanda, Mun. of Pandi, Province of Bulacan. Bounded on the x x x containing an area of THREE HUNDRED THIRTY THREE (333) SQ. METERS. x x x ”

TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. T-493430 (M)“A parcel of land (Lot 2-B-4 of the subd. plan, Psd-03-152877, being

a portion of Lot No. 2-B, (LRC) Psd-383688, L.R.C. Rec. No.) situated in the Bo. Cacarong Matanda, Mun. of Pandi, Province of Bulacan. Bounded on the x x x containing an area of SEVEN HUNDRED EIGHTY TWO (782) SQ. METERS. x x x ”





Malolos City, Bulacan, April 8, 2010


BY: JOSEPH ELMER S. GUEVARA Sheriff IV


Mabuhay: April 2, 9 & 16, 2010

E.J.F. NO. 89-2010


BY ACT 4118



NATIONAL HOME MORTGAGE FINANCE CORPORATION

Mortgagee,

- versus -

ALFREDO T. TERANA M/TO MARILYN N. TERANA,

Mortgagor/s,

X—————————————X

NOTICE OF THE SHERIFF’S SALEUpon extra-judicial petition for sale under act 3135 as amended by Act 4118 filed by NATIONAL HOME MORTGAGE FINANCE CORPORATION, with postal address at No. 104 Amorsolo St., Legaspi Village, Makati City the mortgagee against AL-FREDO T. TERANA M/TO MARILYN N. TERANA with postal address at Pleasant Hill Subd. Lot 47 Blk. 14 Ph-VI San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan/55 Burgos St., Malabon, Metro Manila the mortgagor/s to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of March 31, 2010 amounts to SEVEN HUNDRED SEVENTY SIX THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED FIFTEEN PESOS & 44/100 (P776,115.44) Philippine Currency, includ-ing interest thereon, including, excluding 25% of the total indebtedness by way of attorney’s fees, plus daily interest and expenses and thereafter, also secured by said mortgage, and such other amounts which may become due and payable to the aforementioned mortgagee, the Ex-Officio Sheriff of Bulacan through the undersigned Sheriff hereby gives notice to all interested parties to the public in general that on MAY 13, 2010 at 10:00 A.M. or soon thereafter, in front of the Office of the Ex-Officio Sheriff of Bulacan, located at the back of the Bulwagan ng Katarungan, Provincial Capitol Compound, Malolos City, Bulacan will sell at public auction through sealed bidding to the highest bidder for CASH and in Philippine Currency, the described real property/ies below together with all the improvements existing thereon:

TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. T-174457 (M)“A parcel of land (Lot 47, Blk. 14 of the cons. subd. plan Pcs-031420-003917

being a portion of the consolidated lots 38-G-3-A to 38-G-3-F all of (LRC) Psd-341199 LRC Rec. No.), situated in the Bo. of (before) San Jose (now) Tungkong Manga, Mun. of (before) Sta. Maria (now) San Jose del Monte, Province of Bulacan. Bounded on the x x x containing an area of EIGHTY (80) SQ. METERS. x x x ”





Malolos City, Bulacan, April 7, 2010




Mabuhay: April 2, 9 & 16, 2010

E.J.F. NO. P-32-2010


BY ACT 4118

Republic of the Philippines Third Judicial Region Regional Trial Court

Branch 11Malolos City, Bulacan

SP. PROC. NO. 58-M-2010

IN RE: Petition for Correction of Entry in the Birth Certificate of Janet Ignacio Francisco

LEONCIA IGNACIO-FRANCISCO, Petitioner,

– versus –

THE CIVIL REGISTRAR OF STA. MARIA, BULACAN, Respondent,

x—————————————x

O R D E RA verified petition for correction of entry in the certificate of live birth of Janet Ignacio Francisco in the Civil Registrar of Sta. Maria, Bulacan has been filed with this court by petitioner Leoncia Ignacio-Francisco, of #1397 Cay Pombo, Sta. Maria, Bulacan.

WHEREFORE, premises considered, the said petition is set for hearing on May 20, 2010, at 8:30 o’clock, in the morning at which time and date, any and all interested persons must appear and show cause why the above petition should not be granted.

Let copy hereof be published for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the province and be posted by the Sheriff at the Bulletin Board of this court, at the Municipal Hall of Sta. Maria, Bulacan, and at the Provincial Capitol Bulletin Board of Malolos City, Bulacan, at least two (2) weeks prior to the above date of hearing.

Further, let a copy of this Order be sent to the Office of the Solicitor General, Office of the Provincial Prosecutor of Bulacan, the National Statistics Office, the Local Civil Registrar’s Office of Sta. Maria, and Malolos City, Bulacan, the petitioner and his counsel.

The expenses of the publication and posting of this order shall be borne by the petitioner.

SO ORDERED. March 19, 2010

BASILIO R. GABO, JR. Judge

All parties concerned

Mabuhay: Abril 2, 9 and 16, 2010

In these simple people, you see embedded in their raw and rough ways, a certain purity of heart and pristinity of character very rare to find in big, bustling places. I saw how they prayed and expressed their faith in God, and could not help but feel some holy envy for them.

I imagined that their faith was largely unsupported by academic philosophy and theology, and thus, purer, more spiritual and supernatural.

Not that philosophy, theology and other human sciences undermine faith. No. They are not supposed to have that effect. They are supposed to strengthen one’s faith. But in the real world, many times, for one reason or another, they do in fact weaken one’s faith and dampen one’s piety.

That’s because we tend, often without realizing it, to ground this knowledge improperly, mixing it with pride, vanity and self-interest, such that instead of enhancing our love for God and others, it intensifies our self-love and self-absorption.

And from there, all sorts of graver anomalies can grow, until faith and piety are practically muted and killed. This is what we are seeing in this world today. Parts of it are now openly against God, faith and religion, and are building up their own new morality.

We need to recover our proper bearings. Aside from prayer, recourse to the sacraments and a continuing formation and ascetical struggle, let’s look at where popular piety starts to trickle in the small places and among simple folks, to get our spiritual moorings right and to sustain our efforts.

human life –your life– and its humdrum, ordinary busi-ness, have a meaning which is divine, which belongs to eternity.” (no. 688)

Moreover, our Lord, in His divine and human love for our condition chose to continue living through each of us. And if there is one part in us that He wants to dwell in, it would be in our hearts. This is because today when we speak about our experiences we often refer to how “we feel things”. And in man, the heart is that part of us that we often associate our deepest feelings and longings with the heart.

It is very important for Jesus to be in our hearts. Oth-erwise, if it were filled with ourselves, then we would only harvest what St. Mathew describes: “Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a man.”

To have Christ in our hearts means possessing the same mind, the same “feelings” or sentiments as He has. St. Paul teaches this to the Philippians when he says: “Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.”

To have Jesus in our hearts is not only giving Him “some” space. Our Lord wants “all” the space because His love is infinite for us, and our hearts must constantly expand to receive Him. To have Him is not only to be satis-fied with fulfilling our Christian duties to the minimum or of simply not sinning, for He created us above all to love and serve Him.

So if we want Him to be in our hearts, aside from clean-ing our heart of sin and pride, and expanding it with prayer and penance, we must also have a real desire and actual resolution that we make Him present in the hearts of others: through our words and example, they not only meet Christ, but also feel Him lovingly present in their hearts.

— [email protected]

Cebu Calling from page 3

Forward ... from page 3

land based transports, because she works in the metro-politan area.

Mr. Thomas Lee, a business consultant sees the advo-cacy of NCCP 163 as a struggle for the poor people of this country, because according to him, most of the people who commute here are poor, meaning that they could not afford to buy their own transports in order to move around. He is absolutely correct, except for the fact that NCCP 163 is also helping the private car owners who use the toll highways, regardless of whether they are from the middle class or from the higher classes.

Ms. Elvie Medina, the founder of NCCP 163 says that one of the advocacies of her party list is to pass a law that would give incentives to the duty free importation of modern busses.

At first glance this would appear to be favoring the bus owners instead of the passengers, but she explained that what is good for the bus owners is also good for the pas-sengers, because the said law would lower the costs of the bus business, in which case it could possibly also lower bus fares as a consequence.

Mr. Cordero and Ms. Medina do not know each other, but it seems that they both see the importance of having more modern transports to replace what we have now, not just for convenience, but also for economy.

Dr. Claudio does not know Ms. Medina either, but it seems that they both see the connection between the pedestrians who use the sidewalks and walkways, since after all these very same pedestrians are also the commuters.

Mr. Alex Condillo, a nominee of NCCP 163 is a busi-nessman who practices what he preaches. Together with some investors, he is already in the process of building a modern transport terminal in a congested section of the metropolis.

Of course, Mr. Condillo and Mr. Cordero also do not know each other, but it seems that their mental telepathies have crossed each other, one solid proof that the good ideas of good people could really converge.

Fair & Square from page 3

* * *Watch KA IKING LIVE! Thursdays 7pm to 8pm in Global News Network (GNN), Channel 21 in Destiny Cable. Email [email protected] or text +639293605140 for local cable listings. Visit [email protected]

Buhay Pinoy

MANDY CENTENO

Ang taong llamado sinumang manaloBatid ng marami gastos sa kampanyaTanging kandidato’t mga kandidataMayroong nagsabi na bilyong piso naIba’y milyon-milyon naubos na nila.

Halos bumaha kuwartang ginastos nilaWari’y bumabalong pinanggagalinganMga kandidato’y halos mayayamanTiyak nabawasan ang pinaghirapan.

Sa kabilang dako taong maliliitMahalagamg araw hangad na masulitAng bawat sandali wari’y pinipilitKahit konting barya sa pagod kapalit

Ang isang kahig-santuka na mga istambaySa pagkain ngayon kutsara ang tanganDating walang laman tiyan kumakalamNakatikim naman kahit benting lugaw.

Kahit saang pook ay mapapansin moPagdikit ng poster bakod semintadoSa puno, sa poste pinapako ditoKabayaran naman baryang sigurado.

Kitang masasabi na napapanahonPaggawa ng “jingle” maririnig iyonHimig na kinuha awit sikat ngayonPabor kandidato mga “lyrics” doon.

Malaki ang kita ng mayro’ng puhunanSa ginawang posters at pocket calendarTarpaulin at billboard maging ang sasakyanOkey din ang kita ng gasolinahan.

Mayro’n ding napala ang ibang negosyoLuto ng pagkain ang “caterer” ditoMiting de abanse, tagpuan sa baryoMerienda ang hiling ng maraming tao.

Pagsapit ng Mayo, patok ang rekruterAng mga partido’y dapat may kanbaserBawat kandidato hangad ay may watserKaragdagang kita ng mga “caregiver”.

Kung matutuloy halalan sa MayoAng kinauukulan masayang totooSa “victory party” kasangkot din ditoAng taong llamado sinumang manalo

Pagsapit ng Hunyo B.S.D.U. muliBabalik Sa Dati Utangang palagiNg mga llamado wari’y manghihingiDo’n sa kandidatong malas na nagwagi.

SA mga gawain sa Kuwaresma 2010 sa bayan ng Baliwag, Bulacan, pinakatam-pok ang Lenten Procession na idinaraos tuwing Miyerkoles at Biyernes Santo ng gabi. Nagsimula ito sa kaunting karo lamang ngunit sa paglipas ng panahon ay parami ng parami, dumagdag ang sumasali taun-taon. Malay natin baka sa isang taon ay umaabot na sa isang daan ang mga karo.

Ganyan kamahal ng mga Katolikong taga-Baliwag ang Panginoon. Kahit na gumastos ng libu-libong piso, di biro ang nagagasta sa pagpapagawa gayon din ang paglalabas sa prusisyon na di nila iniinda. Ito ang kanilang sakripisyo at pagpaparangal sa Diyos.

Nangunguna sa dami ng karo ang Pamilya Tengco. Apat ang kanilang karo: #11, Si Hesus at Ang Samarita – Jorge Allan Tengco; #25, Ang Pana-nalangin sa Halamanan Kasama ang Tatlong Apostoles – Victoria Tengco at mga anak; # 68, Ang Pagtatanggal Kay Hesus Mula sa Krus – Lito at Amy

Tengco; # 83, Sta. Maria Magdalena – Allan Tengco.

Pumapangalawa si Dr. Alberto De Leon na may tatlong inilalabas: #5, Ang Kaluwalhating Pagpasok ni Hesus sa Herusalem; #21, Ang Paghahati ng Tinapay, at #79, Sta. Marta.

Kasama sa iba pang may karo ang mga sumusunod: #2, Panunukso ng Diyablo kay Jesus – Baby Ponce Gon-zales; #10, Ang Pagsisisi ni Maria Magdalena – Agustin Buenaventura; #20, Ang Pagpapaalam ni Hesus sa Kanyang Ina – Pamilya ni Francisco at Maura Rivera; #36, Ang Ikalawang Pagharap ni Hesus kay Pilato – Engr. Ireneo Villangca; #46, Ang Pagtanggap ni Hesus sa Kanyang Krus – Boy at Amy Santos; #47, Ang Pag-aatang ng Krus kay Hesus – Dra. Felina Godoy Silves-tre at Atty. at Gng. Jun Cortez; #63, Ang Paghahabilin ni Hesus kay Juan sa Kanyang Mahal na Ina – Pamilya ni Gng. Cristina Vda. De Cruz; #70, Si Hesus sa Kandungan ng Kanyang

Nagdadalamhating Ina (Angustia) – Pamilya Garcia; #72, Ang Paglilibing kay Hesus – Dr. Domingo Sanchez; at #85, Ang Inang Nagdadalamhati (Biyernes Santo) – Pamilya ni Gng. Cristina Vda. De Cruz.

Nagdaos din ng Pamparokyang Relokasyon noong Lunes at naging Panauhing Tagapagsalita si Reb. P. Nick Lalog.

Ayon kay Msgr. Enrico S. Santos, kura paroko ng St. Augustine Parish, ang tunay na layunin ng panahong ito ay “conversion, metanoia, pagba-bago”. Ito ang tunay na kahulugan ng Pasko.

Pagtawid mula sa dating pagka-makamateryal tungo sa pagkama-kakapwatao at makakalikasan, mula sa da ting pagkamakamateryal tungo sa mga pagkamakaespirituwal, mula sa dating pagmataas tungo sa pagpa-kababa; pagtawid mula sa ambisyong panginoonin tungo sa paglilingkod nang tapat at walang pag-iimbot.”

Milagros Magsaysay (Zambales), Elpidio Barzaga (Cavite) and other house public works committee members white-washed the blacklisted firms. “No evidence of collusion,” insisted the lavandera brigade. The three blackballed were “the most reliable contractors in the country,” Undersec-retary Manuel Bonoan murmured.

“The result is a House ‘white list’,” noted “Judas Chromo-somes” (Viewpoint/Feb 3, 2009) . It stands in stark contrast to the World Bank’s black list. The bank found sleaze. That is integrity, congressmen insist. The bank took swift correc-tive action. The solons want more of the same.”

The Bank’s official report has gathered dust on the desk of the Ombudsman and Public Works secretary. The First Gentleman, who was cited in the controversy, hasn’t complained.

Look beyond surface eruptions, suggests “Philippine Human Development Report 2009”. The deeper patterns are more telling.

PHDR analyzed audit findings for 45 government agen-cies, between 1992 to 2007. Over the last 15 years, all audit reports covering the Department of Public Works were “adverse”. Not a single audit for the Bureau of Internal Revenue got a passing mark. Those for the Agriculture Department were also uniformly adverse.

Few today remember the Chingkoe tax credit scam. Ombudsman Aniano Desierto, in 2002, crafted charges that were booby-trapped to fail. The charges were “destined for dismissal by design”, fumed then-Misamis Oriental repre-sentative (now governor) Oscar Moreno,

Fast forward to 2007. The regime’s charges lodged against Secretary Romulo Neri and Commissioner Benjamin Abalos, in the ZTE $329.5 million contract for a national broadband network, were “curiously weak”, Inquirer noted.

Fast forward to 2010: The rebellion charges against the Ampatuans of Maguindanao were wobbly, Inquirer noted. And one didn’t need a crystal bowl to predict last week’s dismissal by the Regional Court. Taking a dive is SOP for this regime

In re-election, citizens gifted President Arroyo with a “rare second chance to repair the damage she inflicted on vital democractic institutions, Viewpoint noted in June 14, 2005. “That window of opportunity for reparation will not come again.”

The window, in fact, has slammed shut. Even a Supreme Court’s willingness to pry windows open for the Godmother won’t recover squandered opportunity. “You did not recognize the time of your visitation,” the Teacher from Galilee said. So in you, “not a stone will be left upon stone.”

— [email protected]

Depthnews from page 3

4 MabuhayLINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980 ABRIL 2 - 8, 2010 ABRIL 2 - 8, 2010 Mabuhay

LINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980 5

Napapanahon LINDA R. PACIS

Lenten procession sa Baliwag 85 karo na

Sa kamay ng mga kalahi

SUMILANG at nabuhay sa panahon ng pananakop ng mga Kastila, mangyari pang ang pamamahala ng mga dayuhang mananakop ang nasa isip ni Balagtas nang sulatin ang Florante at Laura.

Ang trahedyang sinapit ni Balagtas ay indibidwal at personal; gayon man ang pagtalakay niya sa tula ay naging unibersal ang katu-turan, sumasaklaw sa la-hat ng lahi, at sa lahat ng panahon.

At hindi sa kamay ng dayuhang mananakop, kundi sa kamay ng mis-mong mga kalahi, buong diing nahulaan ni Balagtas ang magiging kalagayan ng Pilipinas, pagkaraan ng may 172 taon matapos.

Sa pagpapairal ng Ad-ministrasyong Arroyo ng “culture of impunity” o ang paglaganap ng krimen ng wa-

lang napaparusahan), ganito ang sinabi ni Balagtas:“Ang magandang asal ay

ipinupukosa laot ng dagat ng kutya’t

linggatong, Balang magagaling ay

ibinabaonat inililibing nang walang

kabaong.At ang balang bibig na

binubukalanng tiwaling gawa at

katotohanan,Agad binibiyak at

sinisikanganng kalis ng lalong dustang

kamatayan!Parang harapang nasa-

saksihan ni Balagtas ang nagaganap ngayon nang sulatin niya:“Higit ka pang aba na

mapagpanunuanng hangal na puno at

masamang asal;Sapagkat ang punong

masakim sa yamanay mariing hampas ng

Langit sa Bayan!”

Kakampi Mo ang Batas ATTY. BATAS MAURICIO

Timetable sa pagresolba ng reklamoTANONG: Dear Atty. Batas, Greet-ings. I would like you to enlighten me with regards to the case I filed in the City of Las Piñas for estafa under Art. 315, RPC, and Violation of BP 22. Nine months now have passed since the last time I made my appearance at the Fiscal’s Office (Las Piñas City) on June 8, 2004 for the submission of my memorandum.

Yesterday, I went to make an in-quiry on the status of the case and if any resolution is already reached but unfortunately to no avail. I was not able to see and talk to the Fiscal because she is not available.

Now, please, I would like to know from your end if this nine-month waiting period for a resolution is still normal. If not, what should I do in order to obtain justice on my part, which is long overdue?

Hoping for your immediate re-sponse. Any assistance you can accord will be highly appreciated.

Thanking you and wishing you more success in life. Best regards and

God bless. – [email protected]

Sagot: Mr. Ellazar, thank you, too, for your question, and I also wish God’s blessings upon you and your family.

With regard to the issue of time-tables that prosecutors and fiscals must follow in deciding cases being handled by them for preliminary in-vestigation, it would seem that there is no definite deadline being observed by them right now.

Because of this, fiscals and prosecu-tors are really taking their own sweet time in issuing their resolutions, which, as of now, is causing a lot of complaints from affected parties.

This is unfortunate, especially con-sidering that under Section 16, Art. III of the 1987 Constitution, there is still a directive for the speedy disposition of all cases, whether these cases are pending before the courts or other government agencies, like prosecutors’ or fiscals’ offices.

I also do not understand this seem-ing disregard of this Constitutional pro-

vision by our fiscals, considering that, during the time of Senate President Franklin Drilon as Justice Secretary, he imposed a 60-day deadline, not only for deciding a case but for investigating it and then deciding it.

What could a disgruntled litigant do under these circumstances? I am suggesting the filing of motions for early resolution seeking the early disposition of the cases submitted for decision, to compel the prosecutors to act, one way or the other. If the delay is unexplained and unjustified, the litigant could decide to pursue this matter, either before the Department of Justice or the Ombudsman.

* * *

BATAS RADIO: Pakinggan po ang BA-TAS INTERNET TV/RADIO, isang in-ternet television/radio station sa www. batas radio.com. Pumasok po kayo sa site na ito at i-click ang BATAS RADIO o ang BATASITV, at mapapakinggan na ninyo kami sa loob ng 24 na oras, mula Lunes hanggang Linggo.

Ani Boy Cruz, hindi siya mahahawaMalinis na paraan ng pagbabago’y magagawaOversight committee sa kurapsyon mangungunaSa imbestigasyon at pagsansala aaniban niya.Bunga ng kurapsyon tunay na talamakBawat silid-aralang matayo, isa ang nababalalakSa bawat isang kilometro kalsadang i-constructIsang kilometro sa bulsa ay swak.Simple arithmetic, ani Boy CruzSingkwenta porsiyentong pera ng baya’y nauubosKaya’t ang baya’y nagpapalimosPero pera ng pulitiko’y di maubos-ubos.Kung babaligtarin at itutuwid ang sistemaKurapsyon ay ititigil at itatamaBayan ay uunlad at lalayaSa tanikala ng gahamang animo’y buwaya.Kaya’t aming paalala sa mga botante ngayong halalanMagsuring mabuti bago bumoto sa halalanHuwag basta tanggapin perang bayad sa boto moIsiping iyon ay galing din sa bulsa mo.Itanong mo sa iyong sarili, saan nila babawiinPerang ginastos sa kampanya’t ipinambili ng botoSila ba ay may pabrika nitoO sadyang marami ang naipon habang nasa tungkulin?

* * *Aral Mula kay Pop Buencamino

Doon po sa bayan ng San Miguel, BulacanEx-Mayor Pop Buencamino kandidatong muliPosisyong huling hinawakan tatlong taon ang nakaraanNagbabaka-sakali, umaasang mahalal na muli.Hindi madaling makalimutan si Pop BuencaminoSa pagkulekta ng maliit na pass way feeSa mga trak ng marmol sumira sa kalyeng dati’y matinoBunga nito’y sa tungkulin siya’y nasuspindeSa huli’y inakusahan siyang nagpapamina ng marmolSa bundok ng Biak-na-Batong tigib ng marmolNgunit ang kanyang tanong bakit hanggang ngayonAla siyang posisyon, minang marmol tuloy ang limayon?Madaling matandaan at makilala si PopKumpara sa lahat ng kandidato’y siya ang naiibaDi lang sa kanyang katawan na di kahugis bote ng popSiyempre siya sa malapad at mataba.Ngunit kung malapad ang kanyang katawanHigit na malawak ang kanyang pananaw at isipanMga aral sa kanyang pinagdaanang karanasanMapapansin at di mo maiiwasan.Halimbawa, sa kasalukuyang kampanyahanMga katunggali niya’y bumubuga ng salapiGastos dito, gastos doon, parang di mauubusanDaig pa ang may bangkong pag-aari.Gastos sa palaro at beauty contest sagot nilaBayad at pakain sa musiko sagot pa rin nilaBumango lamang at mapalapitSa botatanteng inaakalang bubwit.Tanong ni Pop sa kanyang kababayanSa palagay ninyo, saan at paano nila babawiinMalaking halaga ng nilaspag nilang kabuhayanSa suweldo ba pag nahalal sa tungkulin?Tiyak na ’di dahil suweldo ng lingkod baya’y kakatitingSapat lamang sa kuting, ngunit hindi sa patingIsa, dalawa, tatlo, sampung libong kusingIlang beses mang bilangin ’di pa rin sapat pag nagising.Sa kanyang kampanya, tanging hangad ni PopImulat ang kababayang nalilibang at nasasakopNang maling sistemang pampulitikang nakagisnanUpang sa susunod na panahon ay di mahirapanKuwentuhang bayan kanyang pinasimulanDi magastos at magarbo ang simpleng harapan Tanong at pangamba ng kanyang mga kababayanNasasagot bago maubos ang kapeng inilaan.Para kay Pop, matalo o manalo siyaSa halalang ito, tiyak niyang ikasisiyaDahil may aral siyang maiiwanSa mga kababayang magpapasiya sa halalan.Dagdag kaalamang kanyang ibinahagiInaasahan ni Pop na magbubunga kahit kalahatiKaalaman, kakayahan at kapangyarihanPara sa matatag at maunlad na kinabukasan.

Promdi mula sa pahina 2

mula sa pahina 1Abril 6 ay 181.15 metro, bumaba ng higit sa isang metro kumpara sa 182.25 metro na naitala noong Miyerkoles, Marso 31.

Gayunpaman, sinabi ni German sa Mabuhay na kahit sumayad sa kritikal na 180 metro ang taas ng tubig sa Angat Dam ay bibigyan pa rin nila ng alokasyon ang mga magsasakang Bulakenyo.

“Puwede namang ituloy ang alo-kasyon sa magsasaka kaya lang ay hindi na katulad ng dati,” ani German.

Ayon sa ARHEPP, ang pinadadaloy na patubig sa mga magsasaka ay uma-abot na lamang sa siyam na kubiko metro bawat segundo kumpara sa orihinal na 36 na ipinagkakaloob sa mga buwan ng Oktubre hanggang Enero.

Gayunpaman, ang kaunting tubig na ibibigay nila sa magsasaka ay sasa-pat na para sa mga natitirang palay na hindi pa naaani.

Sinabi pa ni German na ang pag-bibigay ng tubig sa mga magsasaka kahit sayad na sa 180 metro ang taas ng tubig sa dam ay nagawa na nila sa mga nagdaang taon.

Kaugnay nito, sinabi ni Liza Sacda-lan, tagapangulo ng Central Luzon Organic Rice Producers Association

(CLORPA), na marami pa ring magsa-saka sa Bulacan ang nangangambang masayang ang tanim na palay dahil sa kakulangan ng tubig, samantalang ang iba sa kanila ay naka-ani na.

“Mahinang mahina na ang daloy ng tubig sa mga patubig,” ani Sacdalan. Nakaani na kami pero ’yung mga taga-Guiguinto inabutan na. Lalong kawawa ang mga taga-Bulakan at ibang bahagi ng Malolos at Balagtas.”

Ipinaliwanag niya na may ilang mag-sasaka sa Malolos, Pandi at Balagtas na naghabol ng tanim.

Ipinahayag naman nina dating Gob. Roberto “Obet” Pagdanganan, Bise Gob. Willy Alvarado, dating Gob. Josie Dela Cruz at dating Guiguinto Mayor Ambrosio Cruz na kumakandidatong kongresista ng Ika-2 Distrito ng Bula-can na isusulong nila ang kapakanan ng mga magsasaka kapag nagwagi sila sa halalang darating.

Ayon kay Pagdanganan, dapat mati-yak na may palagiang tubig ang mga magsasaka upang maging produktibo ang mga ito.

Para kay Alvarado, dapat matiyak ang pangangalaga sa watershed ng Angat Dam upang hindi basta maubos ang tubig sa dam.

Igiiit pa niya na dapat ding mapigil ang ilegal na pagmimina at pamumutol

ng kahoy sa kabundukan ng lalawigan upang hindi masalanta ang mga nasa kapatagan.

Sinabi ni Alvarado na napabayaan ang kabundukan ng Bulacan sa mga nagdaang administrasyon.

Para naman kay Dela Cruz, matagal na niyang isinusulong ang mga high value commercial crop sa mga magsa-saka sa Bulacan dahil hindi ito nanga-ngailangan ng maraming tubig.

Sa isang pahayag noong Enero, ina-min din ni Dela Cruz na napabayaan niya ang kabundukan ng Bulacan sa panahon ng kanyang panunungkulan dahil ang tinutukan niya ay ang pagpa-pataas ng pondo ng Kapitolyo.

Sa panig naman ni Mayor Cruz, hindi lamang ang libo-libong mag-sasaka sa Bulacan ang apektado ng kakulangan sa patubig kundi pati ang kanilang mga pamilya.

Sinabi niya na ang mababang pro-duksyon sa bukirin ay may tuwirang epekto sa edukasyon ng mga kabataan dahil kapag hindi kumita ang mga magsasaka nahihinto sa pag-aaral ang mga anak nila.

Sinabi niya na bukod sa pagsasaka ay kailangang makalikha ng ibang oportunidad para sa mga magsasaka upang kahit hindi umani ang mga ito ay may pagkukunan ng kabuhayan.

Kastigo mula sa pahina 2

mula sa pahina 1

Santo, Abril 31.Kasunod naman ng pagbaha, aniya,

ay nagdeklara ng “state of calamity” sa buong lalawigan ng Bulacan.

Batay sa tala ng ARHEPP, ang pagsasagawa ng alay sayaw-awit ay isinasagawa ng mga propesor ng U.P.-Manila sa pangunguna ni Prof. Grace Odal-Devora tuwing makakaranas ang bansa ng kakulangan sa ulan.

Nitong Marso, ito ay isinagawa nila isang araw bago ang ikalawang kabilu-gan ng buwan sa nasabing buwan.

Sa kanyang liham sa mga opisyal ng Napocor, sinabi ni Odal-Devora na layunin ng pagsasagawa ng ritwal na sining ang mapagsama-sama ang malikhaing intensyon ng mga envi-ronmentalist, alagad ng sining at iba pang mamamayan para maputol ang mahabang kawalan ng ulan.

Sinabi niya na isa rin itong paraan upang makipag-ugnayan ang mga tao

sa inang kalikasan na tinawag nilang Gaia sa pamamagitan ng pagtuklas sa mga sinaunang ritwal na isinasagawa ng mga Pilipinong babaylan bago du-mating ang Kastila sa bansa.

Ang mga babaylan, na katumbas ng mga pari sa panahong ito, ay nagsasa-gawa ng mga alay sayaw-awit noong unang panahon upang humingi ng ulan mula sa bathala at kalikasan para sa kapakanan ng mga tao at ng lupain.

Ayon kay Odal-Devora, ang mga ba-baylan sa unang panahon ay nakikipag-ugnayan sa “cosmic energies” at ritmo ng kalikasan sa pamamagitan ng kanil-ang kaisipan at ritwal na sining.

Ipinaliwanag niya na ang ritwal na sining ay nagpapakita ng pagpa-pakumbaba ng tao sa Diyos at pagdiri-wang ng pakikipag-isa sa kalikasan na tinawag nilang “kapwa-kalikasan.”

Ayon pa kay Odal-Devora, nais nilang muling magsagawa ng katulad na alay sa Abril 25 kung wala pa rin papatak na malakas na ulan.

Kaugnay nito, napansin ng Mabu-hay na makapal ang ulap sa himpa-pawid ng Angat Watershed noong Marso 31 ngunit hindi ito pumatak bilang ulan.

Gayunpaman, patuloy pa ring uma-asa at nagdarasal ang pamunuan ng Napocor sa madaling pagdating ng ulan.

Ayon kay German, kailangan nila ng dalawa hanggang apat na bagyo na may hatid na ulan katulad ng bagyong Ondoy upang muling mapuno ng tubig ang Angat Dam.

Pinasinayaan noong 1965 ang An-gat Dam at pormal na sini mulan ang operasyon nito noong 1968.

Nagsisilbi itong pampigil sa pagba-baha sa Bulacan at pinagkukunan ng 97 porsiyento ng inumin ng Kalakhang Maynila.

Sa Angat Dam din nagmumula ang patubig sa may 28,000 ektar yang bukirin sa Bulacan at Pampanga. — Dino Balabo

mula sa pahina 1

hin ng Greenpeace ang mga bukiring natutuyo sa Bulacan, at sa huling da-lawang araw pupuntahan naman nila ang mga lugar sa Kalakhang Maynila na pinadadaluyan ng tubig mula sa Angat Dam.

Layunin ng Water Watch na mapu-kaw ang pansin ng mga tao, partikular na ang mga kandidato sa halalan sa Mayo, sa mga suliraning kakaharapin ng sambayan sa mga darating na taon na hatid ng pagbabago ng klima, higit lalo ang hinggil sa nakaambang kakapusan sa tubig na pang-inom at pampatubig.

Ayon kay Dimatatac, isang magan-dang pagkakataon na itampok ngayon

ang isyu ng problema sa tubig at mga posibleng solusyon hinggil dito dahil sa kasalukuyan ay nararanasan ang epekto ng matinding tagtuyot hatid ng El Niño sa bansa.

Iginiit pa niya na magandang pag-kakataon din ito upang matawag ang pansin ng mga kandidato, partikular na ang mga kandidato sa pagkapresidente upang maging bahagi ng kanilang kampanya ang mga posibleng solusyon sa problema sa tubig.

Batay sa isang dokumentong ipi-nagkaloob ng Greenpeace, maaaring maging batayan ang kasalukuyang taon ng maranasan ng bansa na patuloy na nahaharap sa mga hamong pang-kalikasan.

Dahil dito, sinumang magwagi sa

halalan sa Mayo ay tiyak na mahaharap sa matitinding pagsubok.

Kabilang dito ang pananalasa ng mga mababagsik na bagyo tulad ng dumalaw noong nakaraang taon at ang matinding tagtuyot tulad ng kasalu-kuyang nararanasan sa bansa.

Dagdag pa dito, lumalakas ang panawagan na magtayo ng mga plan-tang nukleyar.

At sa harap ng pagguho ng tinang-kang pagkakasundo ng mga bansa sa mundo hinggil sa pagsasawata sa pagbabago ng klima sa Copenhagen noong nakaraang Disyembre, higit na tumitingkad ang pangangailangan sa tamang pagpapatupad ng Renewable Energy Act at Climate Change Act sa Pilipinas. — Dino Balabo

UP Manila nagtanghal muli ng alay sayaw-awit para sa ulan

Water Watch ng Greenpeace sa Angat Dam tuloy na

Tubig sa Angat Dam malapit na sa kritikal na 180 metroRAINDANCE — Muling nagsagawa ng alay sayaw-awit ang mga guro ng U.P. Manila sa pangunguna ni Prof. Grace Odal-Devora sa Angat Dam noong Marso 28, ngunit hindi ito naging mabisa tulad ng ginawa nila noong Agosto 11, 2007 na sinundan ng malakas na pag-ulan. — LARAWANG KALOOB NG ARHEPP

amount of water to pass through the pipes that spin turbines – creating electricity.

Enormous dams such as the Hoover (1,455 megawatts) and the Grand Coulee (6,180 megawatts) produce large quantities of power.

“Growing interest in developing hydroelectric power is largely an out-growth of governments’ desire to be more self-sufficient in energy and to provide low-cost electricity,” wrote Cynthia Pollock Shea in Renewable Energy: Today’s Contribution, Tomor-row’s Promises.

A World Bank report in the 1980s showed the Philippines as one of the “thirteen largest additions to hydro-electric capacity in developing coun-tries.”

From an operating capacity of 940 megawatts in 1980, it went up to 2,195 megawatts in 1985. In 1998, the total hydropower capacity stood at 2,304 megawatts or almost 20 percent of the country’s total installed capacity.

According to the Department of Energy, there are 1,081 hydropower potential sites in the country. “Hydro-power can produce a lot of megawatts,” Bomasang said in 1994. In fact, the country needs hundreds of megawatts for industrialization, particularly in rural areas. However, he admitted that projects like the Chico River dam was shelved because “it involves inundating rice fields, uprooting the local people.”

Some larger hydropower plants consist of a dam that backs up the water, raising the level. The released water falls into a turbine that gener-ates electricity. “Impounding a river radically changes the surrounding ecosystem,” Shea wrote. “Nutrient-bearing sediments, instead of being deposited on agricultural floodplains and providing food for downstream fish, accumulate behind turbines and dams. Hydroelectric dams may also change the temperature and oxygen content of downstream waters, altering the mix of aquatic and riparian species.”

Smaller plants do not necessarily require dams. They use a series of pipes with turbines inside which are turned by the current. During his lecture, Bomasang said that “we have the mini-hydro and micro-hydro plants, with a potential of as much as 200 MW in the Cordilleras alone.”

He added, “No rice floods are flooded – just a very short dam to collect and divert the water, use it to turn the turbines, and then return the same amount of water to the creek.” Indeed, they have less negative impact on the local ecosystem.

More recently, scientists have drawn another attention to the fact that hydro-power from manmade dams – produce significant amounts of carbon dioxide and methane – greenhouse gases closely connected to climate change.

“Large amounts of carbon bound up in trees and other plants are released

when a reservoir is initially flooded and the plants rots,” Worldwatch points out in a recent report. “And as plant matter settling on the reservoir bottom decomposes without oxygen, it leads to a buildup of dissolved methane, which is released into the atmosphere when water passes through the dam’s turbines.”

To operate well for many decades, hydro projects require sound manage-ment, not just of equipment, but of en-tire watersheds. “Hydroelectric power will not be truly renewable until the functions of flood control, irrigation, transportation, power production, tree planting, fisheries management, and sanitation are coordinated within the overall goal of maintaining healthy and productive rivers,” Shea reminded.

In the final analysis, “hydroelectric power creates virtually no pollution problems,” writes H. Steven Dashefsky, the man behind Environmental Lit-eracy: Everything You Need to Know About Saving Our Planet. “Small-scale projects cause little harm to the environment, but larger projects are environmentally destructive.”

In the Philippines, more than half (6,767 MW) of the renewable energy sources by 2030 would come from hy-dropower, according Engr. Marasigan. The contributions of other renewable energy sources by 2030 would be as fol-lows: geothermal (3,097 MW), biomass (257.2 MW), wind (548 MW), ocean (120 MW), and solar (35 MW).

Regarding Henry from page 3

mabuhay issue no. 1014

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