MabuhayLINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980

KINAIN NG 15,000KINAIN NG 15,000KINAIN NG 15,000KINAIN NG 15,000KINAIN NG 15,000 — Tinatayang umabot sa 15,000 katao angnakakain sa higanteng ensaymada na matagumpay nanaitanghal ng pamahalaang panglalawigan ng Bulacan bilangtampok na bahagi ng Singkaban 2009 Fiesta sa Lungsod ngMalolos noong Miyerkoles, Setyembre 9. Ang ensaymada aymay lapad na 40-talampakan. — Dino Balabo

Ulat ni Dino Balabo sa pahina 5

•Singkaban Fiesta SupplementA 4-page pull out in this issue

ISSN–1655-3853 • SETYEMBRE 11 - 17, 2009 • VOL. 30, NO. 37 •12 PAHINA • P10.00

Higanteng ensaymada,higanteng inipit tunay

na lutong Bulacan

Higanteng ensaymada,higanteng inipit tunay

na lutong Bulacan

2 MabuhayLINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980 SETYEMBRE 11 - 17, 2009

EDITORIALAlfredo M. Roxas, Jose Romulo Q. Pavia, JoseGerardo Q. Pavia, Joey N. Pavia , Jose VisitacionQ. Pavia, Carminia L. Pavia, Perfecto RaymundoJr., 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 theMABUHAY COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES —DTI Permit No. 00075266, March 6, 2006 toMarch 6, 2011, Malolos, Bulacan.

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

Principal Office: 626 San Pascual, Obando,Bulacan 294-8122

PPI-KAFCommunity

PressAwards

BestEdited Weekly2003 + 2008

Bestin Photojournalism1998 + 2005

A proud member ofPHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

WEBSITE

http://mabuhaynews.comSubscription Rates (postage included): P520 for one year or 52issues in Metro Manila; P750 outside Metro Manila. Advertising baserate is P100 per column centimeter for legal notices.

MabuhayLINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980

Jose L. PaviaPublisher/Editor

Perfecto V. RaymundoAssociate Editor

Anthony L. PaviaManaging Editor

e-mailmabuhaynews25@yahoo.com

Napapanahon LINDA R. PACIS

Wala na sa panahonMATAGAL-TAGAL ding hindinakapag-sulat ang inyong ling-kod dahil sa isang karamdamanat kasalukuyang nagpapagamot.Samantalang nagpapa-radiationtherapy ako sa San Juan de DiosHospital sa Lungsod ng Pasay,Metro Manila ay huminto munaako sa pagsusulat ng kolum na itodahil latang-lata ako at suma-sakit ang dibdib. Kaya tuloy sabing aming editor ay wala na sapanahon ang Napapanahon.

Dahil sa malayo ang Bulacansa San Juan de Dios Hospital aynakituloy muna ako sa pinsan kosa tahanan Village, B.F. Homes,Sucat, Parañaque pansamantalaat umuuwi lamang sa Bulacantuwing Biyernes hanggang Li-nggo. Matatapos na ang therapyko sa isang linggo kaya maka-kapagsulat na muli ako.

Nais kong pasalamatan si Dr.Liezl Valerio, cancer radiationtherapy specialist, na siyangnagplano at namahala ng treat-

ment ko. 33 beses ang aking ra-diation therapy at may check-uptuwing Biyernes.

Si Dr. Valerio na isang radiolo-gist at sonologist ay nagtapos ngresidency at fellowship trainingsa radiation oncology at radiologysa University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) noong 2000-2006. Siya aynagtapos ng medicine sa Univer-sity of Sto. Tomas at naging in-tern sa Dr. Jose Reyes MemorialMedical Center. Produkto si Dr.Valerio ng public elementary athigh school sa Abucay, Bataan.

Simple lang si Dr. Valerio,bukod sa magaling at masipag,mahusay din siyang makisama sakanyang mga pasyente.

Para naman sa kabatiran ngmga mambabasa na nagnanaisng propesyonal na lingkod ni Dr.Valerio, narito ang talaan kungsaan siya puwedeng puntahan:UP-PGH Radiation Oncology (co-balt) Radiology Department;

Asian Hospital, Ultrasound Sec-tion, Radiology Department; Chi-nese General Hospital, RadiationOncology Section (Linear Accel-erator); San Juan de Dios Hospi-tal, Radio Therapy Unit (LinearAccelerator); University of Per-petual Help, Rizal Medical Cen-ter, Las Piñas Radiation Oncol-ogy Department; University ofPerpetual Help, Dr. TamayoMedical Center, Biñan, LagunaRadiation Oncology Department.

Salamat din sa technical staffng Radiotheraphy Unit ng SanJuan de Dios Hospital na sinaDave Ogatos, Tomas Francisco,Geraldine Caylao, Monica Ba-caling at kay Cristina Camit.

Habang ako ay nagpapagamotsa San Juan de Dios, ay nagagawako ring maglibang ay mamasyalsa SM Mall of Asia kung saanmatatagpuan ang sakayan ng FXpapuntang Sucat. Napasyalan korin ang dati naming tirahan sa

sundan sa pahina 4

Promdi DINO BALABO

Videoke sa MalacañangANIMO’Y nagpaligsahan sa pag-harana sa mga Bulakenyongbotante sina Chairman BayaniFernando ng Metro Manila De-velopment Authority (MMDA), atInterior Secretary Ronaldo Punonang awitin nila ang kanilangmga paboritong awitin sa mag-kahiwalay na pagdalaw nila salalawigan.

Iyan ang haranang pulitiko!***

Si Fernando ay naghahangadna kumandidato bilang pangulong bansa, samantalang si Punoay nais maging bise presidente.Inawit ni Fernando ang “PitongGatang”, samantalang hindinagpatalo si Puno nang awitinniya ang “May Bukas Pa.”

Kung sakaling manalo sila,ano kaya ang gagawin nila saMalakanyang? Sabi ng isangpulitiko, baka mag-videoke silaMalakanyang.

***Sabi naman ni Father Pedring

ng Leighbytes Computer Centersa Malolos, walang problemakung mag-videoke magdamangsa Malakanyang si Fernando atPuno kung sakaling manalo.

Basta, huwag lang daw magte-teybol ng ibang babae!

***Simple ang dahilan ni Father

Pedring, mahirap daw mahuli ngmisis. Lalo na si Fernando na angmaybahay ay si Mayor MaridesFernando ng Lungsod ng Ma-rikina. Ang lahi ay nagmula saMalolos.

Hmmmn, makabuluhan angpayo ni Father Pedring. Muk-hang batay sa karanasan!

***Sabi pa ni Father Pedring,

kung mag-videoke man sa Ma-lakanyang sina Fernando atPuno, hindi nila dapat tularanang ginawa ni dating PangulongJoseph “Erap” Estrada.

Batay kasi sa kuwento ngkaibigan ni Erap na si AprodicioLaquian, madalas mag-inumanng mamahaling alak at maglarong baraha ang grupo ng datingPangulo nang siya ay sa Mala-kanyang pa nananahanan.

***Si Erap ay natanggap sa pag-

ka-Pangulo noong 2001, inarestoat isinailalim sa house arrest sakanyang rest house sa Tanay,

Rizal hanggang sa mahatulan atpalayain sa pamamagitan ng ex-ecutive clemency ni Ate Gluenoong 2008.

Ang pagkakakulong daw niErap ang isa sa dahilan kungbakit madalas sa Pampanga siAte Glue. Mukha daw naghaha-nap ng pagtatayuan ng resthouse. Pero mukhang sa Ame-rika na nakahanap dahil na-bulgar na may bahay sa isangbeach doon ang kanyang anak nasi Kint. Mikey Arroyo ng ika-lawang distrito ng Pampanga.

***Sinalubong ng malakas na

buhos ng ulan ang pagbubukasng pagdiriwang ng SingkabanFiesta noong Martes, Setyembre8. Naging dahilan ng pagbaha saloob ng bakuran ng kapitolyo atmaging sa quadrangle sa loob ngkapitolyo.

Tamang-tama ito sa battlecryng Kapitolyo na “Sulong paBagong Bulakenyo.” Dahil sabaha, puwedeng tawagin itong,“Lusong na Bagong Bulakenyo.”

***Matapos ang pagbubukas ng

sundan sa pahina 7

EDITORYAL

Game changer tayoTINAGURIANG ‘game changer’ ng mga ‘political analyst’ si SenadorBenigno “Noynoy” Aquino III dahil sa kahit hindi niya gusto aynaging bahagi siya ng pagbabago ng desisyon ng kapartidong siSen. Mar Roxas na kakandidato sana bilang Pangulo sa halalan saMayo 10, 2010.

Para sa mga political analyst, ang game changer ay maaaringisang tao o isang ‘di inaasahang sitwasyon na maaaring bumagosa takbo ng pulitika o kaya ay plano ng mga kakandidato.

Pangunahing halimbawa ng game changer sa bansa ay walangiba kungdi ang yumaong dating Presidente Corazon “Cory”Cojuangco-Aquino, ina ni Noynoy. Si Cory ang tumugon sa hamong‘snap elections’ ni dating Pangulong Ferdinand E. Marcos noong1985. Kahit hindi handa at walang karanasan sa pulitika dahil sapagiging isang simpleng maybahay ng pinaslang na si Sen. BenignoAquino Jr., kumandidato si Cory at nabago ang takbo ng pulitikabukod sa paglikha ng panibagong yugto ng kasaysayan.

Kasunod ng pagkandidato ni Cory, isinilang ang Edsa PeoplePower na nagpakilala sa lahing Pilipino sa buong mundo bilangisang lahing maka-Diyos, makabayan, mahinahon at maykakayahang baguhin ang takbo ng pulitika patungo sa pambansangpagbabago.

Subalit ilang taon lamang matapos ang Edsa People Revolu-tion noong 1986, unti-unting nagbalik sa dati ang sistema ng pulitikasa bansa at ayon sa mga nagmamasid, mas lalo pa raw lumalala.

Ito ay dahil sa muling paghahari ng mga traditional politicianso ‘trapo’ na patuloy na nagtataguyod ng lumang pamamaraan sapulitika na ‘patronage’ o padrino system kung saan ay naghahariang palakasan, popularidad at ang salapi ng kandidato.

Sa pamamagitan ng padrino system ng mga trapo, naisasantabiang mga usapin sa pamayanan tulad ng katahimikan at kaayusan,kalusugan, kalikasan, produksyon ng pagkain, pagiging maka-Diyos,paglobo ng populasyon, paglabag sa karapatang pantao nasinasabing sumasagka sa kaunlaran ng bansa.

Dahil din sa padrino system ng nga trapo, bumaba ang antasng pangangampanya ng mga pulitiko. Sa halip na isiwalat ang mgaproblema at ipakita ang mga posibleng solusyon na mapagka-kaisahan ay nagsisiawit at sumasayaw sa entablado ang mgapulitiko na parang mga ‘entertainer’ o taga-aliw.

Marami na ang nagsabi na panahon na para sa pagbabago.Panahon na upang tuluyang makamit ng sambayanang Pilipino angminimithing kaunlaran at katiwasayan ng buhay.

Subalit ang nakakalimutan ng marami ay ang pnanalig saPanginoon, ang disiplina at responsibilidad ng bawat isa patungosa pangarap na minimithi.

Totoo. Hindi lamang mga pulitikong katulad ni Noynoy ang gamechanger sa kinasadlakan nating sitwasyon, kungdi ikaw, ako, tayonglahat. Tandaan natin na ang demokrasya ay batay sa kagustuhanng nakararami. Kung ang bawat isa sa atin ay maninindigan parasa makabuluhang paglalahad ng plano ng mga pulitiko, tayo angmasusunod.

Iwaksi natin at tutulan ang pagsasayaw at pag-awit ng mgapayaso sa entablado. Piliin natin ang mga taong magseserbisyo athindi ang magnenegosyo sa puwesto.

BALIKTANAW: Narito ang komen-taryo ni Gracianus R. Reyes sakanyang pitak na may pamagat na Tabi-Tabi na unang inilimbag sa siping Mabuhay noong Hulyo 3, 1983.— Patnugot

ANG sabi ng iba, ang Pilipino raway mapagpaumanhin at tahimik;ayaw sa magulo; ayaw rin samadudugong pamamaraan sapagbabago ng lipunan. Kaya laonna laon ang panahon nang mag-himagsikan laban sa mga Kastila.

Si Rizal mismo ay umayaw sahimagsikan. Ang kanyang ini-lalakad lagi ay pagbabago samapayapang paraan. Hindi siyanaging rebolusyonaryo, kundinaging repormista.

Mahaba ang pisi ng Pilipino,ika nga. Mapagpasensiya. Ngunitlumilitaw din ang tulad ninaBonifacio na mapupusok at hindimakapagtiis. Isinasanla nila agadang kanilang buhay upang ka-nilang makamtan ang kalayaan.Kaya, totoong may hangganandin ang pasensiya ng taong ba-yan.

Ngunit dahil sa mahaba ngaang pisi ng taong bayan ma-raming pagkakataon para mag-bago sa mapayapang paraan.Gaya ngayon, kung ang bayanman ay may paghihirap, hindi

Pagbabago at kapayapaankailangan ang madugong paraanupang ang kahirapan ay malutas.Lalong hihirap pa nga kapagdinaan sa biglaan. Ang mahirapna pamumuhay ay lalong pahi-hirapan pa.

Siglo ang binilang, hindi taon,nang pumutok ang bulkan nggalit at puot na Pilipino. Iyan angnagpapatunay na mapagpasen-siya ang Pilipino. Iyan din angpagkakataong ibinibigay sa kan-yang sarili upang magbago siyang hindi na kailangan pangmagbuhos ng dugo.

Nang ang Pilipino’y matutongmagalit, natuto rin siyang mag-organisa. Kaya nagkaroon ngKatipunan. Iyan ang ginamit nasamahan upang awayin ang mgaKastila.

Maaari pa ring magkatipunanngayon, hindi dahil sa may lala-banang dayuhan na nakasasakopsa ating bansa, kundi dahil samay suliraning dapat malunasan.Ang pagkakatipunan ay hindilamang sa panahon ng madugonglabanan, kundi sa panahon dinng kapayapaan. Ang mga sulira-nin sa pamumuhay ng mama-mayan ay maaaring lutasin samapayapang paraan at pagkaka-tipunan.

Hindi na dapat hintayin paang pagkapos ng pasensiya ng

tao. Hindi na dapat paraanin paang mga siglo bago mag-umpisang pagbabago. Ngayon din aydapat nang simulan ang pagba-bago.

Samantalang ang pamahalaanay nagbibigay ng mga direksiyonkung saan dapat humanay angmga mamamayang ibig umunladang kabuhayan, dapat kusangkumilos din ang mga mama-mayan. Sila’y dapat magbuklod-buklod, magtulungan at mag-kaisa. At dapat silang makipag-tulungan din sa pamahalaangnagtatanggol sa kanilang kapa-kanan.

Ang pagbabago ay ngayon na.Baguhin ang kaisipan; iwaksi angmasamang paningin sa sarili,iwasan ang negatibong kuru-kuro tungkol sa sariling bayan;at bigyan pansin ang mga positi-bong pangyayari sa ating lipu-nan. Pagbigyan natin an gatingmga kababayan, at isipin natingmaaaring makipagtulungan atmakipagkaisa sa bawat isangmamamayan. Kung sino man angnag-iisip na ang Pilipino aywalang pag-asa, walang maliwa-nag na kinabukasan, siya an gat-ing ituring na demonyo ng bayan.At dapat siyang bigyan ng aralupang mabago ang kaniyangmaruming kaisipan.

SETYEMBRE 11 - 17, 2009 MabuhayLINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980 3

Depthnews JUAN L. MERCADO

Fumigating Malacañang

Regarding Henry

HENRYLITO D. TACIO

Cebu Calling FR. ROY CIMAGALA

Doctrine and life

Save our national treeFORMER President CorazonAquino died on August 1. Filipinofamilies traditionally mark the40th day of a family member’sdeath. Kith and kin gather forquiet remembrance. For Cory, the40th day fell this week.

Perhaps, the 40the day woulda good a time to look back, formerU.N. economist Conrado Sanchezwrote. Sift the significant fromthe tributes that poured in forher. Choose from simple peopleon the streets to internationalpublications. That may give usclue on what lies beyond the 40thday for this troubled country.

Like fumigating Malacañang?After People Power chased the

Marcoses into exile, one of CoryAquino’s first orders, “was tohave Malacañang fumigated,”Washington Post’s WilliamBrannigan recalled.“But eventhen Aquino refused to live orwork there, preferring to holdoffice in a nearby guest house andopting to live in a modest home ablock away (Ultimately) theouster of a dictatorship throughnonviolent popular demonstra-tions became the model for de-mocracy movements all over theworld.”

DISTINCTION, yes, but not di-vision or separation. That’s howwe have to understand the rela-tionship between doctrine andour life.

Another way of putting itcould be the link between theoryand practice. Ideally, these twoshould be together in an existen-tial and mutually-affecting rela-tionship.

They are not meant to be inconflict, even if their connectioncan involve some tension, nor-mal given our human condition.We should not be surprised bythis. We should not get nervousand react badly. Rather, weshould see it as a challenge tofind a way to repair andstrengthen that relationship.

Doctrine is the human but in-spired, or at least divinely as-sisted articulation of our faith orbelief. That’s where the spiritualand supernatural enter our hu-man way of understandingthings.

Its origin is God who reveals

Forward to Basics FR. FRANCIS B. ONGKINGCO

‘Blends for the soul’

himself in diverse ways, the full-ness of which being Jesus Christ,God who became man, and con-tinues to be so both here and inheaven. Through it, God’s rev-elation continues in time.

There’s obviously a humanand natural aspect to it, muchlike the Son of God who assumedhuman nature and subjectedhimself to the human condition,warts and all. Doctrine is pre-cisely an aspect of God’s incar-nation. It’s God’s way of convey-ing to us the truth about him andabout us.

The imperfection of its hu-man condition should urge us towork for its perfectibility, ratherthan suppress our interest in it.The rigors of perfectibilityshould be a stimulus for us tomove on, rather than a wet blan-ket asking us to stop.

This is where the tensionarises. Both its divine and hu-man dimensions are in constantefforts to attune themselves toeach other—the spiritual to the

material, the eternal to the tem-poral, the sacred to the mun-dane, etc., and vice-versa.

The divinity of the doctrinehas to contend with the require-ments of our human develop-ment which, as we all know, goesthrough stages and through his-torical, cultural, socialconditionings, etc.

The absoluteness of the di-vine character of the doctrinedoes not take away the dynamicand evolving quality of its hu-man aspect. We just have to finda way to maneuver properly inthis kind of set-up, without get-ting lost and overly nervous butconsistently focused and moving,learning and improving alongthe way.

Adding excitement to this in-terplay are the consequences ofsin that distort the picture, bothin a small and a big way. Again,we should not be surprised bythese complexities. We have to beboth game to it and determined

continued on page 7

Indeed, the number “40” hashistorical roots. Senator BenignoAquino II fasted 40 days to pro-test his kangaroo trial by Marcosmilitary tribunal. Jesus fasted for40 days in the desert before start-ing his public life, Matthew tellsus. Forty days of night-and-dayrain unleashed the Great Flood,Genesis recalls.

“I have this beef againstMoses”, Israel prime ministerGold Meir once said. “For 40years, he led our people in thedesert. And he settled down, inthe only place within the wholeMiddle East, that had no oil.”

“She was the only true queenour people have ever had,” Fr.Catalino Arevalo quoted a semi-narian in his funeral mass hom-ily. “She was queen because weknew she truly held our heartsin the greatness and the gentle-ness of her own.”

But ‘there seems a sharedsense that Filipinos failed them-selves, the New York Timesnotes. “We thought all we neededto do was remove the dictator anddo nothing about it,” saidTeresita I. Barcelo, president ofthe Philippine Nurses Associa-tion. “We thought the problem

was just the dictator. I say theproblem is us. We did notchange.”

One of Asia’s most vibrantnations the Philippines hasn’ttamed its Communist and Mus-lim insurgencies, writes theTimes’ Seth Mydan. A restivemilitary is constantly plottingcoups. “And the political arenasometimes seems more like aform of mass entertainment thana place of governance.”

“We keep coming up with newways to describe the country,”said Sheila Coronel of ColumbiaUniversity.. “Democracy in decay,a nonfunctioning democracy, achallenged democracy,”.

Did we factor in “OBE”? OB –what? “Overcome By Events” ismilitary jargon. OBE is when cut-and-dried solutions are shot outfrom under us. Then, wescramble for decisions that nevercrossed our minds before.

Ferdinand Marcos cobbled anelaborate blueprint to remainpresident for life. Like all dicta-tors, Marcos didn’t count on“OBE” otherwise known asCorazon Aquino.

In Hawaiian exile, did Marcos continued on page 7

ASK any elementary pupil if heknows what the country’s na-tional tree is and he will reply,“Narra.” But ask him again hownarra looks like and he will neversay a word. The reason: most chil-dren these days don’t see anynarra tree.

In fact, narra is on the brinkof extinction and only the mostdetermined and relentless con-servation campaign will preserveit. “Today, the Philippines hasonly small, scattered and endan-gered remainders of the tree,”laments Roy C. Alimoane, direc-tor of Mindanao Baptist RuralLife Center (MBRLC) Founda-tion Inc. based in Kinuskusan,Bansalan, Davao del Sur.

In other parts of Asia wherethe tree grows, narra is facing thesame distinction. While it is re-corded as “vulnerable” in thePhilippines, narra is “threat-ened” in Indonesia and “endan-gered” in India. It is probablynow extinct in Peninsular Malay-sia because of exploitation – of itsfew known stands. Narra hasbeen extinct for 300 years in thewild of Vietnam.

In Singapore, narra is a sym-bol of the country’s garden cityplanting program. This attractivetree graced many Singaporeanavenues. In Chonburi andPhuket in Thailand, narra is theprovincial tree. In Malaysia,narra has been planted as a shadetree for at least 200 years.

As narra is fast disappearingin this part of the world, theMBRLC is urging for its massproduction. In its reforestationprojects, narra is one of the rec-ommended trees for planting.“This nitrogen-fixing tree cangrow to a height of 33 meters anda diameter of 2 meters,”Alimoane says.

Narra is adapted to flat,coastal plains behind mangroveswamps, sites along streams inthe low hills near the coasts orinland valleys, and primary andsecondary forests. It is generally

found growing in calcareous soilsor soils not deficient in calcium.It prefers mist sandy loam or clayloam soils.

Narra belong to the plant fam-ily called Leguminosae. There areabout 20 species in the world butonly four can be found in thePhilippines. Except for botanistsand foresters, the species are dif-ficult to distinguish from eachother.

Narra is called a variety ofnames in the country: naga, nalu,antagan, apalit, asana, bitali,dungon, lagcr, hagad, sagat,tagga, tagka, agana, balauning,bital, daitanag, kamarag, udiao,and vitali. The four Philippinespecies of narra are:

· Narra (Pterocarpus indicus).This is the tree that produces thewood under which the other spe-cies usually come and are mar-keted. It grows in almost all partsof the country. The seed pods aresmooth and with spines or hairs;

· Prickly narra (P. vidalianus).This is found in many parts ofLuzon, Mindoro, Leyte, andPalawan. It is fairly abundant inCagayan and Northern Luzon.Its seeds have short, soft spines,hence the name;

· Hairy-leaf narra (P.pubesceus). Found only in theMountain Province, it is almostsimilar to the other species in fea-tures, except for its soft hairy cov-ering on the leaves; and

· Blanco narra (P. blancoi).This is found in La Union, NuevaEcija, Bulacan, and Rizal. It isdistinguished from the others byits fruits, which are larger thanthose of P. indicus.

Like many trees, narra hasthree limitations: It has tendencyto fork; it is susceptible to fireinjury (this is due to its thick barkbut it recuperates well); and itsbranches may break in strongwinds.

T.E. Hensleigh and B.K.Holaway, editors of AgroforestrySpecies for the Philippines, say

continued on page 7

“SO what’s your favorite color?”I asked the young lady who mod-estly informed me that she wasa painter.

“Oh, it’s brown, Father,” herhalf-smile revealed that wasn’tall she wanted to say.

“That’s a pretty dul. ah, Imeant simple color,” I tried rec-tifying immediately.

“You’re quite right, Father,it’s quite ‘dull’,” she giggled tosay that she actually guessed myfirst adjective.

“Ah, yes, actually.,” Iscratched my head, “I find itrather plain. So I guess you useother colors to brighten up yourpaintings?”

“Actually.none,” she rolledher eyes. “Just brown.simplybrown.”

“Oh, okay, I get it. That’s asdown to earth as you can get. Sowhat’s your medium?”

“Coffee, Father,” she said.“No, I meant, what do you use

to paint?” I thought she was of-fering me more coffee. And I feltstupid having to explain some-thing to someone who was sup-posed to know how to paint.

“Coffee, Father,” she startedlaughing.

“No, really, I’m good with onecup.,” I stopped myself when Irealized how amused she waswith my response. “You meanyou paint using coffee?”

“Yup,” she had managed torecompose herself quickly.

“How did it occur to you touse it as a medium?”

“Well, I guess I was inspiredwhen I went to a museum ofRipley’s Believe It or Not whereI saw the signature of a man whowrote using coffee. What struckme was that it was never erasedthroughout the centuries. Sothat’s when I thought I couldprobably give it a try. So there!”

“I’m just a little curious aboutone thing,” I stirred the hot cof-

fee in my blue mug. “Is paintingwith coffee like Chinese paint-ings on rice paper?”

“In what way, Father,” sheasked.

“I mean, that you have to becareful not to make a mistake.Otherwise, there’s no way toundo an unwanted stroke orworse when a drop of paint acci-dentally falls on the canvas.”

“It’s the same with paintingwith coffee, Father,” she noddedas she pensively sipped hercappuccino.

“What do you do when it hap-pens?”

“Well, I simply try my bestusing my imagination to makethe error come out as naturallyas possible within the painting,”she smiled as she shrugged herleft shoulder.

“And that must be prettyhard, isn’t it?”

“Yup,” she nodded. “Why do continued on page 6

HISTORICALLY, 9-11 is sup-posed to commemorate a day ofdestruction, but the heavensmust have been smiling at metoday, because it is on this daythat I was finally able to completemy unified system of providingassistance to those who wouldlike to go to school, go to work,or go into business. I have longbeen working on this 3-in-1 com-bination, and now it is finallydone and is ready to go.

Starting with Informatics,Datamax and the PhilippineSchool of Business Administra-tion (PSBA), anyone could nowtake any course in any campus ofthese schools, without paying anytuition or any other fees at schoolopenings, provided that they passthe entrance exams, and providedfurther that they will join eitherour entrepreneurship program orour employment program, orboth as the case may be. This islike a “Study Now, Pay LaterPlan”, with the University Con-sortium acting as the guarantor.

As a result of a joint ventureagreement between my TV showsand Job1 Global, Inc., anyone cannow go to work, or I should saylook for work in a much more or-ganized manner. Through aunique combination of an online

Fair & Square

IKE SEÑERES

portal and a professional skillsassessment system, job seekerswill now have a chance of beinghired by employers who willsearch for them in the portal, andwho will evaluate their assess-ment results.

In cooperation with theBangko Sentral ng Pilipinas(BSP), I am now in a position torefer any small and medium en-terprise (SME) to the nearest andmost appropriate microfinancelending agency (MLA). Of courseit would take more than financ-ing to go into business, but it iscertainly a good starting point,since the training and marketingcomponents are much easier todeliver thereafter.

There is a common denomina-tor in this 3-in-1 combination,and that is the good news of be-ing able to remove the barriersthat would prevent people frommoving on with the improvementof their lives. To be more specific,I have removed the barriers toeducation, employment and en-trepreneurship. It is now possiblefor our people to move on frompoverty to prosperity.

Is it possible for anyone toavail of all three elements in thecombination? The answer is yes,

continued on page 7

From poverty to prosperity

4 MabuhayLINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980 SETYEMBRE 11 - 17, 2009

Kakampi mo ang Batas ATTY. BATAS MAURICIO

Deposito sa upa sa bahay ang sasagotTANONG: Dear Atty. Batas, 5months lang po kaming nag-stay saapartment. Noong kailangan na ponaming umalis, pilit po kamingpinagbabayad ng isang buwangrenta. Kasi daw po hindi naminnatapos ang 1 year contract kayahindi namin puwedeng gamitin angdeposit namin. Pinagbayad din pokami ng electric and water bill. Anoang dapat kong gawin kasi alam kopo na mali ang ginawa ng may-ari ngapartment pero dahil sa pina ba-rangay pa niya ako at sinabing mag-iiwan daw po ako ng mga gamit kobago ako umalis. Sa hiya ko po,binayaran ko na po lahat. Hanggangngayon ay naguguluhan pa rin akokung ano dapat kong gawin. Puwedepo ba akong magsampa ng kaso sakanila? Maraming salamat po. Sanaay matulungan ninyo ako .

— ianchris21@softhome.netSagot: Salamat din po sa tanong

na ito. Ang aking libreng payong le-gal sa iyo, ay kung nakapagbayad nakayo, mahihirapan na kayong kumi-los pa upang habulin ang inyong mgakarapatan, lalo na ng inyong nai-bayad ng hindi tama. Ang dahilan,mas malaki na ang magagastos ninyosa sandaling magsampa pa kayo ngkaso. Kadalasan, sa ganitong sitwas-yon, mas maganda na lamang ang ta-tahimik na lamang kayo. Mahirap na-mang magtatapon pa kayo ng masmaraming pera para lamang mabawiang maliit na halaga. Magkaganun-man, ang Civil Code of the Philippi-nes ay nagsasabi na kailangang baya-ran ng nangungupahan ang lahat ngpanahong kanyang inilagi sa bahay oapartment na kanyang inupahan. Da-hil may kasunduan sa pagbabayad ng

upa, ang kasunduang iyan ay batasna dapat sundin ng magkabilangpanig na pumasok sa kasunduan.Ganundin, ang deposito ay hinditalaga pupuwedeng kunin kaagad ngnangungupahan, kasi kailanganghintayin muna ng nagpaupa kungmay darating na mga bayarin o billspara sa dating nangupahan. ‘Yan angtrabaho ng deposito sa upahan—paramabayaran ang anumang bills nahindi nabayaran ng nangupahan o dikaya ay magamit upang maiayos angmga nasira sa paupahan. Kungnabayaran ng lahat ang mga bayarino mga unpaid bills, at may natira pasa deposito, maaaring hinging maisoliito ng nangupahan.

Sa paggawa ng demand letter,dapat nakadetalye ang problema

TANONG: Isang maganda at ma-pagpalang araw po muli sa inyoAtty.Batas. Nag-email po ulit ako sainyo upang magpasalamat sa nagingkasagutan ninyo sa aking mga nagingkatanungan, posted po sa inyongwibesite last November 18, 2005 namay pinamagatang “Anyone whowants to pay his obligation but re-jected in his payments can deposit themoney in court through a petition ofconsignation.” Maidadagdag kolamang po Atty. Batas, maaari pobang humingi po sa inyo ng support-ing paper tulad po ng Demand Let-ter, upang maiwasan po ang anumangkaguluhan o di pagkakaunawaan. Athigit sa lahat upang hindi na po itoumabot pa sa husgado. Muli marami-maraming salamat po sa inyo.Tunaynga pong napakalaking tulong angnagagawa po ninyo para sa atingsambayanang pilipino. Mabuhay po

kayo, at pagpalain po ng ating Diyosna buhay.

—hpbul2000@yahoo.comSagot: Maraming salamat po sa

inyo, mabuhay din kayo at pagpalaindin kayo ng Diyos. Salamat din atnagustuhan ninyo ang naging librengkasagutan namin sa inyong tanong.Ang libreng payo ko sa inyo sa ngayonay maaari po kayong magpunta saaming tanggapan upang makuha angsulat na ito. Sa kabilang dako, upangmaibigay po namin sa inyo ang de-mand letter na ito ng hindi na kayonagpupunta pa sa aming tanggapan,ipadala na lamang ninyong muli saamin ang detalye ng inyong kaso atdito na namin sa website ilalagay angsulat. Ang demand letter ay dapatkasing maglaman ng detalye ngproblema at kasong kakaharapin ngmagpapadala ng sulat. Kopyahin nalamang po ninyo pagkatapos ang de-mand letter na ito.

Sa paghingi ng payong legal, dapatnakalatag lahat ang detalye ng kaso

TANONG: Sir, puwede po bang paki-sagot ang katanungan ko regardingsa discrepancy ng father ko sa birthcertificate niya, kung puwede po i-send dito sa e-mail ko dahil hindi ponamin nababasa pa response. Thankspo ng marami.

—gal_joann@yahoo.comSagot: Thank you too, and may

God bless you. Para masagot ponamin ng libre ang inyong problema,paki-send nga po ulit ang detalye nito.Sa pagbibigay namin ng payo, kaila-ngang malaman namin ang mgamahahalagang pangyayari sa kasoupang maibigay namin ang tamangbatas na nakakasakop dito.

Patok na tambalansa pampanguluhan

Sa JIMBET Barber Shop sa aming barangayIto’y Sta. Isabel dating Bagong BayanKambal na si Reynan dito ang kapitanHalos araw-araw ito ang dakdakan.Napapagtsismisan ang kakandidatoSinong magbibise, sinong magpapangulo?Ang sikat na tao ay rekumendadoIisa-isahin kung papayag kayo.Sabi ni Mang Juan puedi daw kay VillarAy si Efren Bata sa Billard magicianO si “give me Manny” na Pacquiao o PacmanSi Donya Dionisia manager na tunay.Kay Noynoy ay si Mar, O si Mar kay NoynoyKung hindi papayag, iibahin iyonSi Kris ay kay Roxas, kay Noynoy “k” ngayonSi Korinang may “k”, kakataktak iyon.Bayani Fernando, Tetchi AgbayaniAnnie Agbayani’y kanilang kauriMga buhay nila ay katangi-tangiKatulad ni Rizal, Emilio, Mabini.Baka bumalik pa itong si PanfiloPuedi na katambal, tiyak seguradoBaka pa itatag “Da Sir” na partidoBise Presidente Mancao patok ito.

Si Noli kay Loren, Legarda kay CastroTiyak ‘di papayag ang dalawang itoSi Jamby kay Juday, si Vilma kay KikoKung hindi uubra, kayo’y labo-labo.Brother Mike Velarde, Ka Ed VillanuevaKapwa ang pangulo tinatarget nila‘Di puedi magbise sinuman kanilaTambak ang barkada, hindi nag-iisa.Si Erap kaparner si Jinggoy o si LoiBaka si Laarni o si Ai Ai ngayonPuedi ang Tabako o Bigote noonLagi lang maligo lupa’y ‘di maamoy.Itong si Flash Gordon baka din tumakboPuedi naka-ispar ay si Flash NonitoNa biglang sumikat at kapapanaloSa pangangampanya pueding magduweto.Masarap ang buhay doon sa Makati‘Di tulad sa iba pagkai’y kamoteKapartner ni Binay baka si BelmonteMaunlad ang buhay taga-M.C./ Q.C.Reberendo Padre Among Ed PanlilioHindi mapakali wari’y liyong-liyoPakner na Padaca ’di pueding tumakboMahina ang saklay at kahoy lang ito.

Tila tinatarget kabarkada niyaDo’n sa Malakanyang naging bida silaMay tig-isang supot lagay sa kanilaPueding maging bise aplido’y Mendoza.

Buhay Pinoy

MANDY CENTENO

Henceforth GIL H.A. SANTOS

Will it really work?THE main frontpage in a tabloid(given free daily) early this weekcaught my attention when I took theLRT to Manila from Makati becauseit is obviously for the greater massesof the National Capital Region. Re-portedly, the Arroyo administrationallotted P1.1 billion for the internetconnection of 9,000 public schools na-tionwide.

The story did not state when thiswill b e accomplished. It was attrib-uted to the chairman of the Houseof Representatives Committee on in-formation and communications tech-nology Rep. Joseph Santiago ofCatanduanes. It was not in the frontpages of the Manila spreadsheets onehas to buy for at least P18 daily.

The news item also said this gov-ernment expenditure is in addition tothe 6,650 public elementary and highschools to get internet accesses thisyear, and the 9,048 public schoolsscheduled for internet connections in2010.

It also said this will enable theFilipino public school students (whichincidentally make up the greatestnumber of our student populationfrom 6 to 15 years old) to catch upwith their private school counter-parts to be computer-literate.

Santiago reportedly added “It hasbecome absolutely imperative for usto provide students and teachers alike

greater access to the wealth of knowl-edge and information on theinternet.”

In short, by reading the story, myfirst thought was there will be 24,698public schools with internet access/connections by 2010, when there isscheduled to be a nationwide electionfor national and local officials, fromthe president down to the municipalcouncilors.

The story did not mention howmany computers this P1.1 billion-budget will buy; neither did it men-tion if the purchase will include thecost of the software—or whatsoftwares will be installed in the com-puters— so the school children canuse them effectively.

As an experienced newsperson,these questions naturally popped upin my mind:

1) Why does the story appear tobe a simple press release written inTagalog with only a few lines in En-glish purportedly a statement ofSantiago?

2) Did the reporter ask the Con-gressman what company will supplythe computer? When is the bidding?

3) When will the deliveries of thecomputers in 2010 be made—beforeor after the elections? If before theelections, will the equipment bestandby computers for the electionsin case the regular computers of the

Commission on Elections fail to func-tion?

4) Will the more populous citiesand municipalities get their comput-ers earlier than those with less popu-lations?

5) Will these computers includepower generators for electricitywhere the schools are located in non-electrified communities?

I suggest we get the replies tothese questions, and probably manymore, before we praise the arroyogovernment for giving the citizensthis long overdue basic service. It isbest we are better informed first,rather than just be swallowing state-ments from our elected officials.

This is the position the citizenmust take, particularly now that elec-tion is just around the corner. Thesepoliticians are applying for their jobs,and we are stakeholders who mustqualify and choose them for the jobs.We must scrutinize their qualifica-tions and statements no less.—Gil H. A. Santos teaches journalism and

international relations in Lyceum of thePhilippines University and English in the

International Academy of Managementand Economics. He is also President of

the private, non-stock, non-profitFuturistics Center.

For comment or reaction,send it to

gilsan99ph@yahoo.com.

Gatchalian Subdivision kung saan halos pareho pa rinang itsura nito sa dati, nadagdagan lang garahe atnapalitan lang ang gate nito. Dumalaw din ako sa PacitaComplex sa San Pedro, Laguna kung saan 8 taon kamingnanirahan gayundin sa Sucat. Hindi ko lang malamankung bakit sa Baliwag pa rin kami napapadpad.

Mahirap humulagpos sa mga alaala kaya’t parang nos-talgia ang naging epekto sa akin. Kung saan naman akodalhin ng Panginoon ay tinatanggap ko. Nagtitiwala akosa kanyang gabay at proteksyon.

Patuloy ang Cory magicNANG muli akong dumalaw sa libingan ng aking kapatidna lalaki sa Manila Memorial Park sa Parañaque,nagkataon na isang linggo nang nalilibing si datingPangulong Cory Aquino. Magkatapat lang ang libingannina Ninoy at Cory at ang puntod ng kapatid ko kaya’tpagkatapos mag-alay ng dasal at bendita sa aking kapatiday dinalaw ko na rin ang puntod nina Ninoy at Cory.

Patuloy ang pagdating ng mga taong dumadalaw sapuntod ng mag-asawa kung saan sinasamantala na rinnila ang pagpapakuha ng litrato. Nakatambak ang mgadilaw na bulaklak sa ibabaw ng kanilang puntod.

Ayon sa guwardiyang nakabantay na si Elmer Pantla,tubong Zamboanga, dalawa silang naghahalili sapagbabantay. “Sa isang araw po ay may 700 katao angbumibisita, kahapon nga ay may 5 bus ng estudyante ngElizabeth Seton School ang dumating” aniya.

Idinagdag pa niya na noong ika-9 na araw ay dumalawsi kris Aquino kasama ang kanyang mga kapatid na babae.

Bakit kaya ganoon na lang ang pagdakila ng mga Fili-pino kay Ninoy at Cory?

Bazaar at food festival ng Tahanan VillageNAGDAOS ng food festival at bazaar sa Tahanan Villagenoong Setyembre 6. Ito ay ginanap sa Jesus the DivineHealer Parish, Tahanan Village, Parañaque City.

Ayon kay Vina S. Reyes, coordinator ng bazaar at fes-tival, ang kikitain ng naturang bazaar ay ilalaan sapagpapagawa ng simbahan at adoration chapel. Si GinangReyes ay maybahay ni Rod Reyes, dating press secretarysa Administrasyon ni Pangulong Fidel Ramos atPangulong Joseph Estrada.

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Napapanahon mula sa pahina 2

Magboluntaryo• Manindigan• MagbantayNalalapit na naman ang halalan at alam nating palaging sinasabing maydayaan sa gawaing ito. Totoo man o hindi ang dayaan kung halalan, angmga alegasyong ito ay patuloy na nagpapababa sa pananaw ng bawat isasa atin sa sagradong gawaing ito na siyang bunga ng demokrasya.

Dahil dito, kami sa MabuhayMabuhayMabuhayMabuhayMabuhay ay nananawagan sa inyo na makiisa,makipagtulungan, maging responsable, at magboluntaryo sa pagbabantayng mga balota sa panahon ng halalan hindi lamang upang matiyak angpanalo ng karapat-dapat, kungdi upang matiyak natin na hindi mabibigyanng pagkakataon ang mga mandaraya at magnanakaw ng boto na nagnanaisdungisan ang bilang ng mga botong sagrado.

SETYEMBRE 11 - 17, 2009 MabuhayLINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980 5

Botanteng Bulakenyo hinarana nina Fernando at PunoMALOLOS — Kung hindi maku-kuha sa santong dasalan, daaninsa santong kantahan.

Ito ay halaw sa isang tanyagna kasabihan ng mga Pilipino sapanliligaw, kung saan ang hulingbahagi ay binago ng mamama-hayag na ito upang iakma sapagtatangka ng dalawang mataasna opisyal na naghahangad ku-mandidato bilang Pangulo atPangalawang-Pangulo ng bansasa halalan sa 2010 na makuhaang suporta ng mga botantengBulakenyo.

Ang dalawa ay sina ChairmanBayani Fernando ng Metro Ma-nila Development Authority(MMDA) at Interior and LocalGovernment Secretary RonaldoPuno na kapwa kasapi ng par-tidong Lakas-Kampi at kapwaring naiiwan sa mga isinasa-gawang survey para sa mgakakandidato.

Inawit ni Chairman Fernandoang Pitong Gatang noong Miyer-koles, Setyembre 9, samantalanginawit ni Kalihim Puno ang Maybukas pa noong Biyernes, Set-yembre 11.

Si Fernando ay umani ngmasigabong palakpakan sa mgadumalo sa pagtatanghal ng hi-ganteng ensaymada, at si Punonaman mula sa mga nagsipag-wagi sa taunang Gawad GalingBarangay. Ang magkahiwalay napanghaharana sa mga Bulakenyoay kapwa isinagawa sa CapitolGymnasium ayon sa pagkaka-sunod.

Ngunit,may ilang Bulakenyona hindi pabor sa pag-awit ngdalawa at sinabing pamama-raaan ng mga tradisyunal napulitiko o trapo ang ginawa nila.

Unang inawit ni Fernando angPitong Gatang matapos siyangmagtalumpati noong Agosto 30

sa ika-159 na pagdiriwang ngkaarawan ni Gat Marcelo H. DelPilar kung saan ay suot niya angpantalong maong, jacket at sa-patos na de goma sa halip napormal na Barong Tagalog naakma sa nasabing pagdiriwang.

Parang nakipagpaligsahanPara namang nakipagpalig-

sahan si Puno nang awitin niyaang May bukas pa na kasama saentablado ang direktor ng De-partment of Interior and LocalGovernment (DILG) sa Bulacanna si Dr. Lourdes Pandico.

Ayon sa isang alkalde sa isangbayan sa lalawigan na tumang-ging ipabanggit ang pangalan,hindi akma sa posisyong naiskandidatuhan nina Fernando atPuno ang ginawang pag-awit

dahil daw ang Malakanyang aynararapat sa mga taong maymalawak na pananaw para sabansa.

“Halimbawang silang dalawaang manalo sa 2010 presidentialelections, hindi kaya sila mag-videoke magdamag sa Malakan-yang,” ani ng alkalde nang pa-biro.

Inayunan ito ng isang ne-gosyanteng Bulakenyo na nag-sabing sa pagtatangka ng mgapulitiko na sila ay matandaan ngmga botante ay nagmimistulaang mga ito na entertainers oartista.

“Dapat maunawaan ng mgabotante na ang pulitiko ay parasa pamamahala, ‘yung mga ku-makanta at sumasayaw sa en-tablado ay mga entertainers,’ aning negosyanteng tumanggi ringipabanggit ang pangalan dahilmay mga kliyente rin siyang

pulitiko.Iginiit pa niya na mahirap at

hindi madaling pagsabayin angpagiging pulitiko at pagigingartista katulad ng karanasan ngmga artistang nahalal bilang mgalingkod bayan.

Ilan sa mga halimbawa ngmga artistang naging pulitiko aysina dating Pangulong JosephEstrada, Sen. Lito Lapid at Sen.Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.

Sa lalawigan ng Bulacan,dalawang termino ring nag-lingkod bilang bokal ang ar-tistang si Daniel Fernando, ngu-nit hindi pinalad maging bisegobernador matapos siyang ta-lunin noong 2007 elections niBise Gob. Wilhelmino Alvarado.Si Alvarado ay isang datingalkalde ng Hagonoy at nag-lingkod ng tatlong termino bilangkinatawan ng Unang Distrito ngBulacan.

Bayani at Ronnie umaasang sila’y pipiliinna ‘standard bearer’ ng Lakas-Kampi

MAY BUKAS PA — Matapos magtalumpati hinggil sa kasaysayan ng Department ofInterior and local Government (DILG) sa harap ng mga opisyal ng Bulacan na dumalosa Gawad Galing Barangay noong Setyembre 11 ay hinarana ni DILG SecretaryRonaldo Puno ang mga botanteng Bulakenyo sa pamamagitan ng pag-awit ng Maybukas pa.— Dino Balabo

MALOLOS — Umaasa sina ChairmanBayani Fernando ng Metro Manila De-velopment Authority (MMDA) at Inte-rior and Local Government SecretaryRonaldo Puno na sila ang pipiliin ngLakas-Kampi bilang kandidato nito sapagka-Pangulo at Pangalawang-Pangulo,ayon sa pagkakasunod sa halalan saMayo 10, 2010.

Ito ay sa kabila na ang dalawa aykapwa nasa hulihan ng mga survey naisinagawa ng Social Weather Station(SWS) at Pulse Asia sa mga nagdaanglinggo; at pag-urong sa planong pag-kandidato bilang Pangulo nina Sen. MarRoxas at Gob. Eddie “Among Ed” Panliliong Pampanga.

Hinggil naman sa bantang pagkalasni dating Pangulong Fidel V. Ramos saLakas-Kampi, sinabi ni Chairman Fer-nando na umaasa siyang masosolus-yunan pa ang nasabing usapin.

“Dalawa na lang kami ni “Gibo” napinagpipilian ng Lakas-Kampi bilangposibleng kandidato sa pagkapangulo sa2010,” ani Fernando na ang tinutukoy

ay si Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo”Teodoro na umanib kamakailan sa Lakas-Kampi matapos kumalas sa partidongNationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) naitinatag ng kanyang tiyuhing si Eduardo“Danding” Cojuangco nang ito ay ku-mandidato bilang Pangulo noong 1992.

Sa panayam ng Mabuhay noongSetyembre 9, ipinagmalaki ni Fernando namas lamang siya kay Teodoro sa mga sur-vey, at hindi siya nababahala kahitsinuporthan ito ng halos 40 gobernador sabansa.

“Partido pa rin ang magdedesisyon,”aniya at sinabing lalabas ang desisyon ngpartido bago matapos ang buwan.

Hinggil naman sa pagtaas ng po-pularidad ni Sen. Benigno “Noynoy”Aquino III ng Liberal Party, sinabi ngMMDA Chairman na ito ay naturallamang para sa mga bagong pasok salabanan.

“Natural lang iyan dahil bagong pasoksi Noynoy,” ani Fernando.

Ang anak ng yumaong Pangulong CoryAquino ay pormal ng nagpahayag ng

kanyang kandidatura bilang Pangulonoong Setyembre 9 matapos na magbigaydaan si Sen. Mar Roxas na dati ay nag-sabing kakandidatong Pangulo.

Nagapahayag din ng pag-asa si Fer-nando na masosolusyunan pa ang prob-lema ng Lakas-Kampi matapos magpa-hayag si dating Pangulong Ramos naihihiwalay niya ang partidong Lakas sakoalisyon ng mga kaalyado ni PangulongGloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Si Ramos ang nagtatag ng partidongLakas Christian Muslim Democrats(Lakas-CMD) sa bansa noong 1992 nanakipagsanib sa partidong Kampi naitinatag ni Pangulong Gloria MacapagalArroyo noong 1998.

“Maaayos pa iyan kapag nagkasundosa susuportahang standard bearer,” aniFernando.

Samantala, sinabi ni DILG SecretaryPuno sa Mabuhay noong Setyembre 11na umaasa pa rin siya na magigingkatambal siya ni Teodoro sa darating nahalalan.

Si Puno ay naghahangad na maging

kandidato ng Lakas-Kampi bilang BisePresidente ng bansa.

Ngunit katulad ni Fernando, si Punoay napag-iiwanan din sa survey.

“Malaki ang tiwala ko na ang angaming tambalan ni Secretary Teodoroang magiging team to beat kung matu-tuloy,” ani Puno.

Kaugnay nito, sinabi ni Gob. Joselito“Jon-jon” Mendoza na bukas ang kan-yang grupo sa anumang partido.

Si Mendoza ay tumakbo sa pagka-gobernador ng Bulacan noong 2007 sailalim ng bandila ng Kampi.

“Open kami sa anumang partido, perotinitingnan muna namin kung sino ang‘presidentiable’ na dapat suportahan,”ani Mendoza.

Sinabi rin niya na may posibilidad nasumanib sila sa partidong Bangon Pili-pinas ng Bulakenyong si Bro. EddieVillanueva ng Jesus Is Lord Movement .Si Brother Eddie ay nagdeklara ngkandidatura noong Agosto 21 sa bakuranng makasaysayang simbahan ng Bara-soain. — Dino Balabo

NI DINO BALABO

Halalan 2010Pumili ng kandidatong

magseserbisyo at hindi

iyong magnenegosyo.

Kung ibig mong makaboto,tiyaking ika’y rehistrado!

PITONG GATANG — Matapos magtalumpati sa harap ng mga Bulakenyong dumalosa pagtatanghal ng higanteng ensaymada, muling inawit ni MMDA Chairman BayaniFernando ang kantang Pitong Gatang. Kasama ni Fernando sa larawan sina TeresitaCastro (kaliwa) at Julie Armada ng Barasoain Bakeshop na kabilang sa mga gumawang higanteng ensaymada.— Dino Balabo

6 MabuhayLINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980 SETYEMBRE 11 - 17, 2009

Higanteng ensaymada, higanteng inipit lutong Bulacan

NI DINO BALABO

MALOLOS—Tinampukanng higanteng ensaymada athiganteng inipit—kapwatunay na lutong Bula-kenyo—ang matagumpayna pagdiriwang ng walongaraw na Singkaban Fiesta.

Dinagsa ng libo-libongtao ang pagtatanghal ngnaglalakihang produktongtatak Bulakenyo sa kabilang malakas na buhos ngulan na naging sanhi ngpagbaha sa ilang bahagi nglalawigan.

Ang higanteng ensay-

HIGANTENG INIPIT — Dalawang araw matapositanghal ang higanteng ensaymada, matagumpay dingnaitanghal ng Bulacana ng higanteng inipit sa harapng kapitolyo noong Biyernes, Setyembre 11. Ang

pangulo ng Blas F. Ople Policy Center (pangatlo sakanan) habang pinagmamasdang ang higanteng inipitna may disensyong hango sa replika makasaysayangsimbahan ng Barasoain. — Dino Balabo

you ask, Father?”“Oh, I thought this is very similar to how God paints

in our souls,” I started to carefully sip my hot coffee.“Wooow! That’s one real good blend.”

“Paint?” she was lost.“Yes, He wants to paint a wonderful scenery of love

in us. But sometimes we knock off the paint, or literallybrush away His Fatherly hand when He’s about to gen-tly paint a color of grace in us.”

“How does this happen, Father?”“This occurs when we sin gravely. When we rebel by

refusing to pray, when we become complacent and shunthe purifying effects of trials in our life.”

“Cool! I never saw things that way,” she gasped. “Iwonder what God’s favorite color is?”

“Oh, very much like you, He has only one color topaint with: love. It comes, however, in different strokes,or should we say blends. This is according to what Hesees the soul needs for its conversion.”

“And the blots we make?”“Well, that’s what we’re good at actually. But God

always manages to -as long as we are humble a sincere-to make it come out as a richer element upon the canvasof our life. In fact, I just read something that PopeBenedict XVI said: ‘God allows our freedom and, how-ever, He knows how to find through our falls new pathsfor His love. God doesn’t fail. (Homily, 8-IX-07, Nativityof our Lady)”

“But doesn’t He get tired having to correct all ourfalls and mistakes?”

“Well, we will never fathom God’s Fatherly and infi-nite mercy. And as long as we’re humble and prompt touse the sanctifying means -the sacraments of Confes-sion and the Eucharist, seeking constant guidance froma wise and pious director, etc.-, we will always find our-selves well on the way back towards His love.

“That’s really something new for me, Father,” shesaid.

“Now let’s see some of that coffee art of yours!”“Okay, Father,” she smiled mischievously. “Which

blend would you like to start with? Caffeinated ordecaffeinated?”

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Forward to Basics from page 3SINGKABAN 2009

Tagumpay dahil sa pagkakaisang Bulakenyo sa kabila ng ulanMALOLOS — Tagumpayang unang apat na araw ngpagdiriwang ng SingkabanFiesta sa Bulacan na ti-nampukan ng pagtatang-hal ng higanteng ensay-mada at inipit, sa kabila ngpag-ulan mula sa unangaraw nito.

Ang taunang pagdiri-wang ng Singkaban Fiestaay sinimulan noong Mar-tes, Setyembre 8 at ma-tatapos sa Setyembre 15kaugnay ng ika-111 guningtaon ng pagbubukas ngKongreso ng Malolos samaksaysayang simbahanng Barasoain.

Ayon kay Gob. Joselito“Jon-jon” Mendoza, hindinasiraan ng loob ang mgaBulakenyo sa unang apatna araw ng pagdiriwang.

“Masasabi kong tagum-pay ang pagdiriwang sataong ito kahit na umu-ulan,” ani Mendoza noongBiyernes, Setyembre 11 sakanyang talumpati bagosimulan ang pagtatanghalng higanteng inipit sa ha-

rap ng kapitolyo.Sinabi ni Mendoza na

masasalamin sa unangapat na araw ng pagdiri-wang ang pagkakaisa ngmga Bulakenyo, dahil itoay pagtatanghal ng maku-lay na kasasayan at maya-mang kalinangan sa siningng Bulacan.

Binigyang diin niya nasa kabila ng malakas nabuhos ng ulan sa pagbu-bukas ng pagdiriwangnoong Martes hanggangnoong Biyernes ay patuloyang pagdagsa ng mga Bu-lakenyo sa bakuran ngkapitolyo upang makilahoksa mga pagdiriwang natinampukan ng pamama-hagi ng ensaymada at inipitsa mga dumalo.

Binaha ang kapitolyoDahil sa malakas na

buhos ng ulan noong Mar-tes at Miyerkoles, bumahasa mga kalsada sa paligidng kapitolyo dahil sa mgabaradong kanal.

Ito ay ipinangamba ng

mga pasimuno sa pagdiri-wang at maging ng mgaentreprenyor na lumahoksa isinagawang trade fairsa harap ng Gusaling BlasF. Ople loob ng bakuran ngkapitolyo.

Maging ang mga ka-lahok sa isinagawang ek-sibit ng magsasaka sa mini-forest na tinaguriang“Bahay Kubo, Bahay Gulaysa harap ng kapitolyo aynabahala.

Tampok sa nasabingeksibit ang mga gulay naani sa mga bukirin sa iba’t-ibang bayan sa lalawigan.

Ngunit sa bawat pagtigilng buhos ng ulan, ay di-nagsa rin ng mga Bula-kenyo ang nasabing tradefair at eksibisyon.

Hindi rin pinalampas ngmga bumisita ang iba pangeksibit sa iba’t-ibang ba-hagi ng bakuran ng ka-pitolyo.

Kabilang dito ang eksi-bisyon ng mga maghaha-laman sa mini-forest, wed-ding expo and bridal fair sa

Hiyas ng Bulacan Conven-tion Center, Bulacan Tra-vel mart, at Dakilang Bula-kenyo exhibit series natinampukan ng pagpupu-gay sa Pambansang Alagadng Sining sa musika na siAndrea Veneracion na si-yang nagtatag ng Philip-pine Madrigal Singers.

Mas lalo namang du-magsa ang mga tao sa ba-kuran ng kapitolyo noongMiyerkoles at Biyerneskung kailan itinanghal anghiganteng ensaymada atinipit, ayon sa pagkaka-sunod.

Dahil sa pag-ulan, anghiganteng ensaymada ayitinanghal sa loob ng Capi-tol Gymnasium na napunong tao.

Maging ang pagtatang-hal ng higanteng inipit saharap ng kapitolyo ay di-nagsa rin.

Isa sa mga dahilan nitoay ang pagpapamahagi ngdalawang higanteng tina-pay sa mga nagsipagdalo.

—Dino Balabo

mada ay may lapad na 40 ta-lampakan, samantalangang higanteng inipit ay maylapad na 15 talampakan athaba na 30 talampakan.

Ang ensaymada at inipitay dalawang pangunahingtinapay na ginagawa sa Bu-lacan mula pa noong hulingbahagi ng 1800, at kabilangsa unang pitong produkto salalawigan na pinagkaloobanng Tatak Bulakenyo sealnoong 2004.

Ang Tatak Bulakenyoseal ay ipinagkakaloob ngpamahalaang panglalawi-gan ng Bulacan sa mga

produktong Bulakenyo bi-lang pagpapatunay ng ka-husayan at kalidad ng pro-dukto.

Ito ay nagpapatunay naang ensaymada at inipit aykapwa tunay na lutongBulakenyo.

Ang ensaymada at inipitay paboritong pasalubongng mga Bulakenyong tuladng yumaong senador na siBlas F. Ople sa kanilang mgakaibigan bago pa man tu-manggap ng Tatak Bula-kenyo seal.

Bukod dito, maging mgakilalang personalidad tulad

nina dating Executive Sec-retary Oscar Orbos, ay hina-hanap-hanap ang ensay-madang Malolos at inipit,kaya’t tuwing dadaan siyasa Bulacan pauwing Pa-ngasinan ay bumibili siyanito.

Ayon kay Gob. Joselito“Jon-jon” Mendoza, angpagtatanghal ng higantengensaymada at inipit ay isangpagkilala sa galing at pagi-ging malikhain ng mgaBulakenyong entreprenyorna kabilang sa industriya ngtinapay.

Sinabi rin niya na ang

pagtatanghal nito ay inaa-sahang higit na magpa-pasigla sa industriya ngpaggawa ng tinapay sa Bu-lacan.

Hinggil naman sa Sing-kaban Fiesta o ang pag-diriwang ng sining, kali-nangan at kasaysayan ngBulacan, sinabi ni Mendozana naging matagumpay atnagpapakita lamang ngpagkakaisa ng mga Bu-lakenyo.

Sa kabila ng malakas nabuhos ng ulan sa unangapat na araw ng pagdiri-wang ng Singkaban Fiesta

na nagsimula noong Set-yembre 8 at matatapos saSetyembre 15, ay dinagsa ngmga Bulakenyo ang pagdi-riwang at iba’t-ibang eksi-bisyon sa loob ng bakuranng kapitolyo.

Naging maayos din angpamamahagi ng ensaymadaat inipit na ipinakain sa libo-libong Bulakenyong dumalokahit na mahaba ang pila.

Ito ay isang malakingpagbabago kumpara sa pag-tatanghal ng pinakamaha-bang pastillas noong naka-raang taon na dinumog atpinag-agawan ng mga tao.

higanteng ipinit ay may sukat na 15 talampakan anglapad at may habang 30 talampakan. Makikita salarawan sina Gob. Joselito “Jon-jon” Mendoza(nakaputi, bandang gitna) at Susan "Toots" Ople, ang

SETYEMBRE 11 - 17, 2009 MabuhayLINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980 7

walong araw na pagdiriwang, pina-ngunahan ni Gob. Joselito Mendozaang pagpapasinaya sa mga gawaintulad ng landscaping competition atBahay Kubo, Bahay Gulay agricul-ture exhibition sa mini-forest saharap ng kapitolyo.

Maging ang tatak Bulakenyo tradefair sa harap ng Gusaling Gat Blas F.Ople ay binaha. Pero wala namangnagtinda doon ng bottled water.

***Dahil sa pagbaha, nasilip ng

Promdi ang kulang sa “Bahay Kubo,Bahay Gulay” exhibition. Dapat ayginawa nila iyon na “Bahay Kubo,Bahay Gulay, Palaisdaan sa Kapi-tolyo” at dinagdagan ang eksibit ngmga isdang lumalangoy sa baha.

***Maging sa landscaping competi-

tion ay may suhestiyon ang Promdi.Dapat ay isinali sa landscaping com-petition maging ang quadrangle ngkapitolyo.

Madali namang i-landscape yungquadrangle kahit lubog sa baha. Kasi

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Promdi mula sa pahina 2

kangkong at waterlily lang puwedenang ilagay doon. Mabilis panglumago ang mga iyan!

***Puwede ring samahan nila ng hito

at tilapia ‘yung quadrangle dahilmalalim ang tubig doon pag malakasang ulan.

Kaso hindi na pala matatawag nalandscaping iyon. Waterscaping na!Soriii.

***Speaking of kangkong. Natatan-

daan pa ba ninyo ‘yung kumandida-tong senador noong 2007 na si Kint.Prospero Pichay. Ang kanyangbattlecry ay “Pichay, itanim saSenado.”

Baka daw baguhin na ang kan-yang pangalan at tawaging ProsperoKangkong. Kasi sa tanggapan ng Lo-cal Water Utilities Administration(LWUA) siya nakatanim, este naka-talaga ngayon.

***Balik tayo sa pagbaha. Noong 2005

ay sinulat ng Promdi sa pitak na ito

ang mga bayan na palagiang bina-baha sa lalawigan ng Bulacan natinawag na “O BUMAHA CA PA PU.”Iyan ay hinugot sa mga unang letrang mga bayan ng Obando, BUlakan,MAlolos, HAgonoy, CAlumpit, PA-ombong, at PUlilan.

Dahil sa pagbaha sa kapitolyo,nais ng Promdi na dagdagan iyan attawaging O BUMAHA CA PA PU SAKapitolyo. Siyempre, ‘yung nadagdagay ang bayan ng SAn Miguel at angbakuran ng KApitlyo.

***Paalala lang po. Ito ay hindi

pambabatikos, sa halip ito ay isangpagtawag pansin sa kinauukulan natugunan ang patuloy na pagbaha samga nasabing bayan, lungsod at lugarsa lalawigan

Para po siguro maalala ng mgapulitiko ang problemang ito ay ulit-ulitin nating sambitin na parang nag-dadasal ang mga katagang “O BU-MAHA CA PA PU SA KApitolyo! OBUMAHA CA PA PU SA KApitolyo! OBUMAHA CA PA PU SA KApitolyo!”

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Regarding Henry from page 3

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Depthnews from page 3

realize what T.S. Eliot once said: “To invite the unex-pected is to release a new force… (That} lets the genieout of the bottle, start a new chain of events that (canspin) beyond our control.”

Senator Mar Roxas uncorked a new force when heshimmied down from presidential candidate. And he re-drew the political coliseum for 2010 by endorsing Sena-tor Benigno Aquino III as candidate..

Sure. Noynoy is a novice. Yet, he already proved “gamechanger” writes Columnist Alex Magno. There’s been asurge of support. Much has come from figures, not withtradpols, but those identified with reform initiatives:Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio, Naga Mayor JessieRobredo and Governor Grace Padaca. More significantly,so have ordinary citizens.

“What if Noynoy says no?”, Inquirer’s Joaquin Bernasasks: Majority, however, assume he’ll run. Already, other“presidentiables are bracing an Aquino candidacy. JosephEstrada’s camp, for example, insists an “OBE”, likeAquino, doesn’t affect Erap’s base among the masa.

Malacañang’s reaction has been virulent. SenatorAquino indulged in “gimmickry” by going on retreat, thePalace said., The Palace trotted out 49 governors who“back” Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro — who barelyappears on survey radar screens. By their critics, you shallknow them. Candidates platitudes spiral into tvsoundbytes or quickie headlines. Sense instead the “hid-den pattern of change”, we are advised. These are geo-logical changes underfoot that escape our notice.”

A deep-seated demand to “fumigate Malacañang” roilsunderfoot. The uproar over Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey”Arroyo’s undeclared beachfront home in San Mateocounty, California, is only the latest display of this force.This administration has sown the wind. Now, it finds thatOBEs narrow options for riding the resulting whirlwind.

“This election will be a battle between two irreconcil-able constituencies”, Columnist Alex Magno argues. .”Itwill be between those who breathe and think politics-as-usual and those who dare hope for the possibility of agenuinely new politics… The configuration is changingrapidly and irreversibly.”

Is this simply wish fathering the thought? Ignatius ofLoyola’s image of “Two Standards” always compelled afollowing

“We cling to a tawdry belief in the calculability ofevents,”. Editor Theo Sommers warns.. “Yet deep down,we know that it is the incalculable, the imponderable andthe unforeseen that rule the course of history.”

that narra seeds are widely availableduring the months of January inNueva Ecija, Leyte, and Zamboanga;February in La Union; March inIlocos; April in Masbate, Benguet,Quezon, and Surigao; May in Ticao;June in Bulacan, Agusan, andSorsogon; July in Tarlac andCagayan; July and August in Laguna;September in Rizal, Capiz, andMindoro; and October in Tablas,Negros.

The narra seeds can be picked upfrom the ground underneath thetrees and stored in open containersfor a year or more. One kilogram ofnarra fruits has about 1,200 to 1,300seeds or 140 seeds per liter.

“We should be proud that narra isour national tree because it has manyfine qualities,” says MBRLC’sAlimoane.

Narra is very attractive because ofits flowers. “The flowers are yellow,fragrant, and borne in large axillarypanicles. When flowering, the buds donot open in daily sequence. Instead,as the buds come to full size, they arekept waiting to be triggered intoopening. The opened flowers last forone day. After that, several days maypass before another batch of budsopens,” the Hawaii-based Nitrogen-fixing Tree Association said.

The nature of the trigger is un-known. It is widely planted as a road-side, park, and car-park tree. In thePhilippines, narra trees bear profusebright yellow and fragrant flowersfrom March to April.

The narra fruit is disc-shaped andhas a winged margin. Each fruit,which has one to three seeds, takes

four months to mature. But unlikemost legumes, of which narra is one,the narra fruit is indehiscent and dis-persed by wind. It also floats in wa-ter and can be water dispersed.

Narra is highly esteemed becauseof its timber. “It (timber) is moder-ately hard and heavy, easy to work,pleasantly rose-scented, takes a finepolish, develops a range of rich col-ors from yellow to red, and has con-spicuous growth rings, which imparta fine figure to the wood.”

Regarding the strength propertiesof narra, the Woodworkers Sourcesaid that the bending strength of air-dried wood of narra is similar to thatof teak, which is considered to bestrong. Strength in compression par-allel to grain is in the high range.Other species in this range includeteak, white oak and hard maple. It ismoderately hard and resistant towearing and marring. It is a heavywood. The wood is high in density.”

As furniture, one author com-mented: “In durability, in beauty ofits grain, and in the beautiful finishit takes, narra ranks with the bestcabinet woods in the world.” It is usedin the manufacture of high-qualityfurniture, peels and veneers, panel-ing, and parquet-floors. The narrawood, if it is available, is also pre-ferred for the manufacture of inlays,musical instruments, clocks, piece-works, billiard tables, piano cases,and sculptures.

In 1987, the Philippine govern-ment prohibited the felling down ofnarra trees and its collection in natu-ral stands. However, the forest-culti-vation for industrial purposes was

excluded from this regulation. Today,the remainders of narra trees canonly be found at the coast of Isabela,in Bicol, in Mindanao and in the for-ests of Cagayan.

But apart from its aesthetic val-ues, the narra has other significantservice to humanity. Little is knownthat narra has a purpose in the healthand well being of man; it has a uniquehealing powers waiting to be tappedby man.

In the past, narra is used to com-bat tumors. This property might bedue to an acidic polypeptide found inits leaves that inhibited growth ofcancer cells by disruption of cell andnuclear membranes. During the 16thand 18th centuries, narra was valuedas a diuretic in Europe.

Since the old days, tea preparedfrom the narra leaves had been a rem-edy against boils and diarrhea in tra-ditional medicine. In recent years, theextracts of the narra as remedy forsome diseases are discovered again bymodern medicine.

Unknowingly, the narra flower isused as a honey source while leaf in-fusions are used as shampoos. Bothflowers and leaves were said to beeaten. The leaves are supposedly goodfor waxing and polishing brass andcopper.

As narra is on the brink of extinc-tion, Filipinos must do their patrioticduty to save it. As Governor GeneralFrank Murphy said in his February1, 1934 proclamation, narra deservedthe honor “because of its popularity,aesthetic value, hardiness, rapidity ofgrowth, nativity, and history.”

— henrytacio@gmail.com

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATENotice is hereby given that the estates of the deceased Ricardo Meneseswho died intestate on April 6, 2006 at Purok 3, Bambang Bulacan,Bulacan left the following properties more described as: 1.) ¼ shareon the Transfer Certificate of Title No. RT- 148-58 ( T- 303579); 2.) ½share on Transfer Certificate of Title No. RT-25602 (T-250970); 3.) ½share on Katibayan ng Orihinal na Titulo Blg. P-6417; 4.) ½ share onKatibayan ng Orihinal na Titulo Blg. P-7239; 5.) Transfer Certificate No.RT-14860 (T-221140) with Tax Declaration No. 2006-05003-01280;6.) Transfer Certificate of Title No. RT-14857 (T-224370) with Tax Dec-laration No. 2006-05003-01282; 7.) 1/16 share on Transfer Certificateof Title No. RT-25605 (T-290725); 8.) ½ share on Lot No. 2381 withTax Declaration No. 2006-05003-03361; 9.) ½ share on Transfer Cer-tificate of Title No. RT-1101130 (354758) with Tax Declaration No. D-126-03344 which are all located in Bulacan, Bulacan and one in Cubao,Quezon City were extra-judicially settled among legitimate heirs as perDoc. No. 487; Page No. 99; Book No. II; Series of 2009 in NotarialRegistry of Atty. Jose M. Castro.

Mabuhay: August 28, September 4 & 11, 2009

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Fair & Square from page 3

because a student who goes to schoolcould also be a working student, andcould also go into business as an en-trepreneur. The answer is really yes,because all the barriers to these threepathways out of poverty have alreadybeen removed.

So far, six companies have agreedto support our education program. Allof these companies have agreed totrain and manage the students whowill be selling their products in orderto earn money to pay for their tu-itions. Three of these companies haveagreed to supply their products to thestudents on a consignment basis,thus eliminating the need for work-ing capital. I will name these compa-nies in my future columns.

Assessment is a very important

component of our employment pro-gram. The results of the assessmentswill dictate what is going to go intothe records of the job applicants inthe online portal. I am hoping thatsome local government units (LGUs)and some non-government organiza-tions (NGOs) could be convinced tosponsor the assessment costs. Hope-fully, this could become part of theiremployment placement programs.

Since anyone could take up anycourse in any of the participatingschools, some of the job applicantswho are not so marketable given theirpresent skills might want to go backto school to get a second degree. Thismight even be double good for them,because they might end up with agood product to sell, a product that

could give them a good income al-ready even if they could not get a fulltime job.

The other projects or activitiesthat I have announced in this columnare still ongoing. Overseas groups arestill soliciting for used computers thatwill be reformatted and distributedto the barangay units. Our compatri-ots here and abroad could now alsodonate 60 dollars to any beneficiarywho will be given 100 square metersof land to plant sweet potato, alongwith the other inputs such as train-ing, spuds and fertilizers.

The enemy is poverty, but we havenow cornered the enemy into a posi-tion of weakness. Let us now give achance to others to be freed from pov-erty.

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Cebu Calling from page 3

to avoid being trapped by the wilesof sin.

Precisely because of this, we needto be both precise in our understand-ing of it and patient to its evolvingcharacter.

All these considerations shouldmake us realize that we have to takethe doctrine very seriously, immedi-ately recognizing its divine charac-ter and its great importance and rel-evance to our life.

In spite of its human dimension,there is something sacred to it, wor-thy of our piety. Out attitude to itjust cannot remain in the intellectuallevel. Much less should we regard it

as an object of curiosity or opinion.We should not consider it as onemore opinion among the manyspewed out everyday by us.

We need to find ways of assimi-lating this doctrine more deeply. Itshould not just be skin-deep. It hasto be the flesh of our flesh, convert-ing it to life itself. We have to under-stand it not only as some kind oftheory or ideology. It’s a living wordmeant to transform us. Thus it re-quires study and a lot more. Weshould realize that when we studyit, we are actually praying, we areactually listening to God in termsthat are both human and divine.

There should be a certain devo-tion to it, or a quickness of heart toput what we realize into action. Andthis in a continuing fashion, so as notto break our contact with God. Thus,we have to sharpen our docility to it,learning how to make sacrifices sinceit surely will demand sacrifice andinvolve pain.

More than this, we also have tounderstand that it’s something thatwe need to spread around. It acquiresmore traction on our life the morewe share it with others.

The goal to aim at is to make doc-trine and life one.

—roycimagala@hotmail.com

PPICommunityPressAwards

•Best EditedWeekly2003 & 2007

•Best in Photojournalism1998, 2005 & 2008

aaartrtrtaaangelngelngelprintshop

Printing is our professionService is our passion

67 P. Burgos St., Proj. 4, QC 1109, Philippines

(0632) 912-4852 (0632) 912-5706