BAGUIO CITY — The Makabayan Coalition-Cordillera blamed the Commission on Election and stated that it should be held accountable for the glitches during the recently concluded May 13 elections.

DESPERATELY SEEKING FOR A SOLUTION. The Board of Election Inspectors of Clustered Precint 104 and the Smartmatic technician try to solve the mystery of a Precinct Count Optical Scanner (PCOS) that worked perfectly until it was about count the votes.Would the BEI continued trying if they had known that there was a possibility that the voters would be disenfranchised if the votes would not be counted by the PCOS? Photo by Noel Godinez

According to Comelec Cordillera Administrative Region (Comelec-CAR) Assistant Regional Director Reddy Balarbar during the canvassing of votes at the Baguio Convention Center, a special election is possible yet it may be hard considering the expenses and time needed for such. He said later that it is no longer needed as it will not affect the outcome of the results.
Polling precincts with wrong ballots were Cluster 122, Precinct 0378A, 0378B, 0380A, 0381A in Rizal Elementary School. Baguio City. Registered voters of Lualhati is 638.

Balarbar also announced at the canvassing that election results from Kayang Extension Barangay will be no longer canvassed because it failed to be transmitted or opened since it was corrupted. The election officer said that they are executing the action according to Resolution Number 9700. He cited the resolution stating that there are precinct results that, for varied reasons, could no longer be transmitted, and the concerned boards are requesting for authority to lower the threshold to enable them to proclaim winning candidates whose respective standing in a contested position will no longer be affected by the results not received by the Consolidation and Canvassing System (CCS).

Barangay Lualhati Council member and a registered voter Carlito Wayas criticized the pronouncement of the Comelec as shallow. He said that even if it is true that their number will not affect the results, they should be allowed to vote as it is their right. He stressed that the Comelec should not look on the welfare of the politicians alone but consider the people who are being prevented from exercising their constitutional rights.

Wayas added that they fear that some of their constituents will be bound for disenfranchisement. He also said the new registered voters mostly youth who want to vote for what they believe is part of change in the society will be disappointed.

Comelec-CAR Regional director Jose Nick Mendros explained that during the inspection prior to the start of the voting, the labels of the ballots for Barangay Lualhati were proper. But when the ballots were opened, the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) found out that the ballots were not for the stated precincts.

He added that ballot boxes are only allowed to be opened at the poll precinct and that their office are not allowed to open the ballot boxes before the election day. # nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — Benguet Provincial Police Office (PPO) Provincial Director Rodolfo Azurin admits lapses in the investigations conducted in relation to the disappearance of James Moy Balao.

Azurin in an interview pointed out that there were procedural lapses in the conduct of the investigations on the Balao case. Among the lapses he mentioned was the failure of the investigators to immediately verify the reported exchange of text messages between James and his family and colleagues as reported by the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA).

“The investigators should have verified with the Globe Telecoms if there really an exchange of text messages between James and his family,” he reiterated.

He also admitted that he had to study and familiarize himself with the case since he just assumed office this year.

Earlier, Branch 63 of the Regional Trial Court through a final report penned by Judge Jennifer Humiding expressed disappointment over the police’s failure to present new leads in the enforced disappearance of James.

Azurin said the investigation on James’ disappearance would take more time and patience given the length of time and recent developments. He added that the witness who helped in producing a cartographic sketch of one of the suspects recently withdrew. “Given that this is an old case and the witnessed withdrew his earlier statement, the investigations will take time. We will need a lot of patience,” he said.

The provincial director also mentioned that cases like that of James really requires thorough investigation that is not bound by deadlines. “The problem with giving deadlines is that it adds pressure to investigators which affects the quality of their work,” he explained.

Azurin also said the investigations is now directly under the Department of Justice (DOJ) and that they are waiting for the reconstitution of the investigation team. He, however, mentioned that at the moment the police is now comparing the cartographic sketch with the roaster of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). # nordis.net

PINUKPUK, Kalinga — Makabayan (Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamayan) candidate Elma Cielo Ramos Awingan of Barangay Limos, Pinukpuk rank number two among the 25 candidates for the Sangguniang Bayan of the Municipality of Pinukpuk in the May 13 midterm election with a total votes of 5,826.

Awingan, is the only candidate under the Makabayan in the province and even in the whole Cordillera carrying the political call “Iyabante ti Pulitika ti Panagbalbaliw ken Progresibo a Panagdur-as” and actively campaigned and supported other Makabayan candidates especially Teddy Casiño for senator as well as Katribu Indigenous Peoples Partylist. She supported them because they are along side the people’s issues and welfare.

During the proclamation of the winning candidates of the said municipality, Awingan humbly expressed her thanks for the overwhelming support from relatives, friends, allies and people’s organization. She appealed to her supporters that all the more she will be needing their support in the implementation of the people’s agenda in through her office in the municipal local government.

Meanwhile, about 15,000 of the 22,092 registered voters of the municipality of Pinukpuk cast their votes. According to the Commission on Elections (Comelec), this year’s midterm election marked the lowest turnout of votes compared to the past national elections.

Among the winning candidates for municipal councilor are Froiland Belac 6, 804; Awingan 5,826; Gavino Apaling 4,707; Johnny Bangelan 4079; Roberto Liggayo 4,587; Vehshelle Gay Iddoba 4,508; Donald Bayog 4,400 and William Ambona 4,353 respectively. # nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — Commission on Elections (Comelec) Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) Regional Director Atty. Jose Nick Mendros confirmed that as of May 16, all provincial board of canvassers of the six provinces of the Cordillera proclaimed winners in the recently concluded midterm elections.

In an earlier press conference Mendros reiterated that the May polls was not smooth sailing as he admits there were problems along the way. He, however, stressed that Comelec was prepared with contingency measures.

A glaring glitch in the region was the ballot switch that resulted to the non-voting of over 600 registered voters in Barangay Lualhati here in Baguio City. Among the common glitches encountered in the region were corrupted memory cards, delayed transmission and oversized ballots.

The following are the proclaimed winners in the top positions in the different provinces of CAR.

Abra winners are Jocelyn Bernos as congress representative, Eustaquio Bersamin as governor and Chari Bersamin as vice governor. District 1 boardmembers include Elmer Bides, Akay Fontanilla, Jumel Chong and Nards Andanan and for District 2 Lian Balbin, Ramon Dickson, Byrone Alzale andAllen Brix Bachiller.

Eleanor Begtang-Bulut and Elias Bulut, Jr. won as congress representative and governor of Apayao with Hector Reuel Pascua as vice governor. Members of the provincial board for District 1 are Shirley Romero, Erick Amid, Lito Agunos and Angel Umingli and for District 2 are Catalina Galleaon, Remy Albano, Bobby Balanay and Mailah Ballesteros.

Benguet provincial board of canvassers proclaimed Ronald Cosalan as congressman, Nestor Fongwan as governor and Nelson Dangwa as vice governor. The members of the provincial board are Johnny Waguis, Esteban Piok, Alfonso Fianza and Ben Saguid for District 1 and Concepcion Balao, Florence Tingbaoen, Jack Dulnuan, Nardo Cayat, Robert Namoro and Jim Botiwey for District 2.

For Ifugao, Teddy Baguilat Jr won for congress representative, Atty. Denis Habawel for governor and Atty. Pedro Mayam-o for vice governor. For members of the provincial board Jordan Gullitiw, Geronimo Bimohya, Robert Mangyao and Victor Bunnol, Jr. for District 1 while Samson Altuna, Noli Maguiwe, James Frederick Dulnuan and Federico Juguiad for District 2.

In Kalinga, Manuel Agyao, Jocel Baac and Jesse Mangaoang were re-elected as congressman, governor and vice governor. Provincial board-members for District 1 are Dave Odiem, Chester Alunday, Alonzo Saclag Jr. and Emilio Kitongan; for District 2 Gelacio Bongngat, Camilo Lammawin Jr., Mark Aldrich Diasen and Atty. Jerry Puday.

Also in Mountain Province Maximo Dalog, Leonard Mayaen and Boni Lacwasan were re-elected as congressman, governor and vice governor. Alfonso Kiat-ong, Stephen Afuyong, Raul Lapon and Atty. Florence Taguiba won for District 1 provincial boardmembers while Francis Tauli, Romeo Pagedped, Randolph Awisan and Winston Calde for District 2. # nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — Anakpawis Cordillera like their compatriots together with the various sectors all over the country remembers the late Anakpawis Partylist Representative and Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Chairman Emeritus Crispin Beltran as they vow to continue his fight.

“The workers of the region like their colleagues in the various regions together with their allies in the various sectors of society will neither forget nor give up the struggle the late Representative Ka Crispin Beltran embraced and fought for all through his life,” Anakpawis Cordillera Regional Coordinator Michael Cabangon stressed.

Cabangon said Monday May 20 marks the 5th death anniversary of Beltran. He said that there will be a commemoration in memory of him nationwide. He added that members of KMU national chapter, Anakpawis and different organizations and groups as well as individuals will hold a commemoration rites at the site of Beltran’s monument in Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila with the theme “Hamon pagkatapos ng Halalan: Ipagpatuloy ang Laban ni Crispin Beltran” (The challenge after the elections: continue the struggle of Crispin Beltran).

On May 20, 2008, Beltran died at 11:48AM at a hospital in Quezon City due to severe head injuries. He fell while he was repairing the roof of their house in preparation for the coming rainy season that year. He was 75 then.

According to Cabangon, Beltran more popularly called “Ka Bel” had fought for over half of his life to lead the Filipino people in advancing their basic rights to decent living and a better society. Because of his activism, he was incarcerated during the dictatorship of deposed President Ferdinand Marcos.

He said they will never let go of the words of Beltran expressing his determination of forwarding his cause. Beltran once said “if helping the poor is a crime, then I plead guilty as charged”. Beltran had said this twice when he was jailed during the administration of Marcos and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

The Marcos and Arroyo administrations persecuted Beltran and filed trumped up charges against him due to his strong opposition to the anti-people programs and policies the said regimes. Cabangon said these were etched in the history of Filipinos struggle against oppression and for genuine democracy.

Cabangon added that Beltran is an activist for over five decades, a labor hero to the workers, peasants, urban poor and other marginalized sectors, a true defender of the toiling masses and staunch critic of privatization, deregulation and other destructive policies of globalization.

“Ka Bel left a legacy for the activists of today especially the new ones to serve as a shining example to emulate as they continue the struggle,” he said.

According to Cabangon, it is truly a challenge after the recently concluded elections to continue the fight of “Ka Bel”. He added that the winners of the 2013 political race should be true to their promises to prioritize the welfare of the workers and their families once they will take their posts. He said politicians should be ashamed and fulfill their promises just as Ka Bel who sacrificed a lot until his very last breath for the sake of the people. # nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — Ambassador Delia Domingo Albert declared during the Kapihan at the Tam-awan Village that they are not giving up with their plans of building and managing a Baguio Historical Mining Museum that she said will house memorabilia among others that will tell how the city of Baguio evolved through the existence of the mines.

NATURE WATCHER. An artist as the art installation himself serves as one of the many attractions in the concluded 4th Tam-awan International Arts Festival. Photo by Aldwin Quitasol

She said that they are designing a geological museum with the University of the Philippines Baguio (UPB). She added that the installation of geopark outdoor meanwhile will be in partnership with the Department of Tourism, Bases and Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).The geopark she explained is the identification of historical sites significant to the development of the city and the setting up of markers explaining the details of each site.

She said UP will be in charge of the indoor museum while they will take care of the outdoor aspect. She said they have also forged a cooperation with private sectors.

Albert said Baguio has 10 museums. She identified them as: the Baguio Museum, the Philippine Military Academy museum in Kias, the Saint Louis University museum, the Maryknoll Ecological Sanctuary museum, the Emilio Aguinaldo museum, Bencab museum, the Ecclesiastical museum of the Bishop’s Residence and the museum in Tam-awan Village.

In May of 2008, the Baguio Historical and Mining Museum Foundation, Inc., headed then by Albert presented to the Baguio City council a proposal of a mining museum that will be located at the former Diplomat Hotel in Dominican Hill. But the members of the council cannot decide whether to allow the city property to be utilized. Albert said they were unfortunately denied.

She said that if there are sectors with different plans instead of setting up a museum then they will go to other sectors who appreciate the concept. She added that after all it will be the benefit of the Baguio people. “The city has a message not only to the country but to the whole world,” she ended. # nordis.net

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — Even when the municipality of Atok failed to transmit election results to the provincial canvass, the Commission of Elections (Comelec)-Benguet most of the winning candidates running for provincial posts, May 15.

BENGUET POLLS. Benguet Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Ricardo Bolintao raised the hands of the winners of the recently concluded midterm elections for the top positions in the province of Benguet. Photo by Kimberlie Ngabit-Quitasol

Only three of the six board members for district 2 were proclaimed as the board of election canvassers deem that the uncanvassed votes from Atok might affect the results for the last three spots. Those proclaimed include Concepcion Balao, Florence Tingbaoen and Jack Dulnuan.

Nardo Cayat, Robert Namoro and Jim Botiwey were later proclaimed after the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) glitch was remedied later in the evening.

Bolintao disclosed that Atok failed to transmit election results because the memory card of the PCOS machine for precincts 028 A and B at Bonglo elementary School was corrupted. He explained that the PCOS machine in the said precinct was able to print election returns and transmit results to the national canvass before the memory card was corrupted.

Bolintao said they already requested for a memory card replacement in the evening of May 13. The memory card problem was fixed only in the evening of May 15. # nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — Commission on Election-Cordillera Administrative Region(Comelec-CAR) Assistant Regional Director Atty. Reddy Balarbar proclaimed the winners of the Baguio local elections at the Convention Center, May 14.

SAME FACES AFTER ALL. Familiar names with known reputation dominate Baguio politics. Here, Comelec Assistant Regional Director Reddy Balarbar declare the winners at the Baguio Convention Center. Photo by Aldwin Quitasol

The memory card for precinct 104 which was for Barangay Kayang Extension was corrupted while ballots intended for Barangay Gabi, Compostella Valley were sent for Barangay Lualhati instead.

The board of canvassers decided not to count the votes from precinct 104 and not to conduct special elections for Barangay Lualhati saying that the number of votes from the said precincts are insignificant and will not affect the results of the local elections.

The winning candidates include Nicasio Aliping Jr for congressman; Mauricio Domogan for mayor; Daniel Farinas, vice-mayor; Edison Bilog, Roberto Ortega, Betty Lourdes Tabanda, Isabelo Cosalan, Leandro Yangot, Elmer Datuin, Richard Carino, Faustino Olowan, Joel Alangsab, Elaine Sembrano, Peter Fianza and Fred Bagbagen for coulcilors.

“It is safe to say that the 2013 local elections in Baguio City began and ended peacefully and orderly,” Comelec Regional Director Atty Jose Nick Mendros said. # nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — “I wish there is another term but cliché as it may be there is no other way to describe the recently concluded elections. The 2013 elections in the Cordillera is generally peaceful.”

This was the statement of Police Regional Office Cordillera (PRO-Cor) Deputy Regional Director for Operations PSSupt Ulysis Abellera during a press conference on the 2013 polls last May 14 at the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO). He reported that still there were election related incidents particularly in Abra and Kalinga.

He boasted that there was a decrease in election related shooting incidents this year compared to the previous years. Police record showed that in 2011 there are 55 shooting incidents from January to April, in the same period in 2012 48 incidents were recorded and this year 25 incidents were recorded region wide.

He also mentioned that in Bangued, Abra recorded shooting incidents were as high as 27 in the first quarter of 2011, 25 in 2012 and down to four in the same period this 2013. He attributed this to the arrest and neutralization of private armed groups and gun for hires in Abra and Kalinga.

Abellera, however, pointed out that the peace keeping efforts does not end with the elections. He disclosed that police authorities will continue to monitor election related incidents even until June given the culture of “singilan”.

He explained that politicians practice singilan where they punish those who failed to deliver the votes agreed upon which results to post election violence.

PROCor Regional Director General Benjamin Magalong attributed the peaceful conduct of the May polls to the joint efforts of various civil society groups, church groups and police. # nordis.net

This proposal is for a giant industrial project that will change our lives for many years. It will put a big piece of our ancestral land under the control of a Manila corporation for at least 25 years. This Company that does not understand or care about our ways or our place. They are here for money, nothing else. We cannot just say “yes” because they give us a few gifts or make some promises an reassurances. We need real information, real data, real research. PhilCarbon, is treating us like we are children or primitives and we need them to tell us what is good. This is not right. National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) works for us Indigenous Peoples and must uphold our right to Free Prior Informed Consent. They must insure that all the documents and the research are provided us and let us study them. We must think long and hard before we let them tell us to approve this. Come to the meetings, ask questions. Think for yourself do not let them tell us what is good!

1. The construction of wind turbines requires huge excavations and clearing of large areas. The Company has not release any site plans showing how large an area will be cleared and excavated for each turbine site. How can they build major excavations like this along a steep narrow ridge without affecting the watershed and causing landslides?

2. The Company has not made any geologic study to determine impact on watersheds or whether the rock beneath the project sites is able to support such large heavy structures. What will happen to the water sources when the trees are stripped off and the top of the ridge is flattened? With all the blasting and excavation, will landslides come when typhoons and earthquakes affect the disturbed areas? How can they answer if they have never done the studies? Their research team only spent 5 days on the site and did no drilling or subsurface investigation, so they don’t really know the answers.

3. The proposed sites of turbines 9 and 10 are at the top of a very steep slope with a loose surface and many boulders. They are directly above the villages of Aguid and Pide. How can we be sure that these huge excavations with blasting and heavy equipment operations will not cause landslides?

4. The Company has not submitted any plan for the access road. These roads must be wide enough for very large loads and must have big turning areas. They have never said how many trees will be cut or how much grading and excavation will have to be done to build these roads on very steep and narrow ridge lines with abrupt drop offs.

5. PhilCarbon’s own report admits that water sources may be contaminated by silt or by oil, grease or fuel spills during construction. We all know the affect that cutting trees and digging up watersheds has on springs and other water sources. What will we do if critical water sources are destroyed by this giant industrial project?

6. PhilCarbon has never submitted any plan for moving the huge components of the towers. These loads are over 30 meters long and up to 70 tons. They need very wide turns and strong bridges. They are much too heavy for any aircraft to deliver. How can our roads and bridges carry these loads? How can roads be widened without affecting private farm lands and buildings? Don’t we need to know what their plan is, if they have one?

7. PhilCarbon and its representatives have told us that without this project Mountain Province will not have enough electricity. Why don’t they ever talk about the Sabangan hydro project and its 14 Megawatts that will be ready in 2014? Or about the Layugan hydro proposal which will bring 15 megawatts. These projects have more than enough to supply Mt Province and because they are in valleys, not on ridges, their impact on watersheds and landslide potential is much less. What purpose does this project have except to make money for a Manila company?

9. Based on PhilCarbon’s projected output of 32,196,000 kwh/year, the royalties to the community at 0.01/kwh would be P112,686 to the provincial government, 64,392 each to Sagada and Besao municipal LGUs, and about 13,000 to each affected barangay. The Company stands to earn over 165 million pesos a year in profit, even after deduction construction, financing, and operating costs. Is that a fair distribution of income?

10. PhilCarbon has never presented any accounting of who actually owns the Company, who their foreign partners are, and who will be financing the project. They have not presented any financial projections. Why not? The communities are being asked to invest their land, resources, and future, shouldn’t they have the same information any investor would expect?

11. The communities involved have their own ways to resolve disputes, especially involving land, water, and the affects of land use on others. If the Company is in a dispute, will they agree to use these mechanisms or will they insist on going to a faraway court where their lawyers can take over?

12. This project will bring many workers from other places to our communities and most of them will be men. Where will they stay? How can we be sure they will follow our customs and not cause disruption to our communities? Will they follow our curfew? Will there be problems with drinking, prostitutes coming to serve them, harassment of local women? These things happen when big projects come to small towns, we must know who is accountable.

13. The Company has never submitted any decommissioning plan. What will happen after 25 years when the project is no longer usable? Will they just walk away and leave it for our children to manage or suffer as experienced by Marinduque when Marcopper Mining left the town?

14. The Company promises that people who own land in the area can earn money through lease payments. But so much of this land is disputed, what will happen if this disputed land starts earning money. So many communities, even families will be fighting over it. Even within families we have seen how rental money can lead family members into conflict. What good is it to have money if we just end up fighting with each other over who gets it? Is money more important than peace and cooperation?

15. It has always been the way of Sagada and Besao not to allow companies from Manila to do business here, unless they bring some service that our people need, like the telephone companies. The only thing PhilCarbon is offering is money, and most of the money will go to them. We get a few thousand, they get many millions. Are our land and resources for sale? If we sell them to one company and some people make money what happens when other companies come? Will other people want to make money too, and sell again? How much will we sell before there is none left and the Manila companies own us? Once we start the selling, how do we stop it?

16. If the LGUs start making money from these companies, will they be accountable to the people or the companies? If there is a dispute, will they favor the people or the companies? Would we rather be small municipalities that belong to the people or big municipalities owned by Manila corporations?

17. PhilCarbon completed an “Initial Environmental Assessment Report” at least 6 months ago. No copies were ever distributed to the affected communities. Why is the Company not disclosing this information? How can we participate in meetings if we don’t know what to ask about? How can we have informed consent without information?

18. Why is NCIP not following the guidelines for the Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) process? There is no transparency, information is not released, required documents are not submitted. Why are notices to Assemblies deceptively phrased? Is NCIP a referee or a player? Are they on the side of the community or the Company?

19. How could DENR-CAR issue an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) with so little information and no community consultation? Why were affected communities never told that an ECC had been issued? # nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — Baguio Table Tennis League (BTTL) urges enthusiasts and beginners to train themselves more for a better and competitive table tennis milieu in the city.

Baguio definitely has someone or some entity from any field of sports to represent the city in the national and international tournaments. BTTL’s goal is to train members and boost their skills to bring them to a more cutthroat table tennis environment around the Philippines and outside the country.

BTTL is a table tennis club revived to enliven the table tennis scene in Baguio. John Marasigan, one of the coaches of BTTL, said they saw a need of reviving an organization after Baguio Townhouse Table Tennis Club had run its course. Marasigan, along with the head coach Jose Nicolas Cawed, formed BTTL in 2005 and continuously train members from ages 6 to 64 at the their training area inside Baguio Convention Center.

Marasigan has 27 trainees now which mostly came from MILO during his days as its table tennis coach. He further trained the students as a coach for BTTL to bring them to the next level since he only taught table tennis course for beginners in MILO.

One of his youngest trainees is 9 years old and is seen to have pronounced table tennis skills for a young player. “Magaling siyang pumalo. His family is from Subic pero dito siya nagti-train kasi walang training area dun”, said Marasigan. He further said the young boy plays every day since it’s summer vacation.

Today, BTTL members are mostly students from different schools in Baguio. Marasigan suggested that as early as in elementary and high school levels, students should train themselves in order for them to be more adept at dominating opponents when they bring their table tennis skills to college and universities. Marasigan added this would make Baguio more competent and competitive during tournaments as well.

“When they go to their schools, they have their respective tables. Pero if they want to be more competitive, I suggest that they enroll in the league,” added Marasigan.

Right after the table tennis club was formed, BTTL produced two national players. One is Romellia Princess Tambo from Camp 7 who is now known as one of the accomplished table tennis national players. # nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — MV Logos Ships together with its crew member volunteers from different countries will be bringing good quality books at affordable prices to San Fernando City, La Union as they open the world’s largest floating book fair on May 24 to June 2.

According to Joanne Li, the Taiwanese Project Manager and Coordinator of the GBA ships, an international charitable organization that is registered in Germany, there are 400 crew members from 45 different countries.

More than 5,000 different kinds of books from a large collection of different categories are presented in the book fair. Subjects such as science, sports, hobbies, arts, philosophy, medicines, languages are included.

Li said local books from the ports they went to are also included but most of the books are English books. They usually visit the city of Manila which was visited 14 times and they have also visited Cebu City with an equivalent of 11 ship visits. This May 24 will be the first time that they will visit San Fernando, La Union.

Aside from the book fair, cultural events and conferences are also conducted inside the ship. According to the press release of Logos Hope, crew members get benefits from training programs conducted inside the ship in which they learn new skills and character building.

In a press release Logos Hope explained that these volunteers fill the different positions on the ship depending on their professional capacities like engineers, cooks, bookkeepers or electricians. Despite the cultural diversity, the crew members present unity as they work together to keep the ship successively active and aims to bring knowledge, help and hope to the community.

Operated by the GBA Ships, MV Logos Hope is open to the public from May 24 to June 2 at the Poro Point, PPIC Pier 2 of San Fernando, La Union. Li said that children may enter for free as long as there are adults with them. With an entrance fee of 20 pesos, the public will also experience the different facilities of the ship.

The ship will be open for the public during Mondays to Tuesdays from 2:00pm to 9:30pm, on Wednesdays to Saturdays from 10:00am to 9:30pm and on Sundays from 1:00pm to 9:30pm.

Logos Hope has been sailing since February 2009 and received 40 million visitors from around 160 countries around the world. # nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — Fifteen out of the 21 buildings of the Baguio City National High School (BCNHS) are now using compact fluorescent lamp bulbs after receiving 938 CFL bulbs from the Department of Energy’s (DOE) as part of the latter’s power saving program.

BCNHS Principal Elma Donaal disclosed that changing the school bulbs from incandescent to CFLs contributed to the decrease in the schools electric bill payments during the press conference of the DOE on the wrapping up of its Philippine Energy Efficiency Project (PEEP).

Donaal further disclosed that the school’s electric bill went as high as P137,414.67 in October 2012 and went as low as P78,162.25 in February 2013 after the installation of CFL lights was done in January. Out of the 21 buildings of the school, the light bulbs of 15 buildings were changed.

Donaal, however, told DOE Undersecretary and PEEP Project coordinator Loreta G. Ayson, CESO I that they also encountered a problem with the CFL bulbs. She explained that the CFL bulbs are not suitable for basements with lower ceilings as the bulbs become dim in such areas.

Ayson welcomed Donaal’s feed back and directed one of DOE’s engineers to look into the problem and look for possible solutions. “We thank you for you feed back as we encourage others to inform us of the problems they have encountered with the CFLs so we could improve our service,” she reiterated.

Aside from BCNHS, the Benguet State University (BSU), Baguio General Hospital and Benguet General Hospital are also beneficiaries. DOE retrofitted the lighting systems of 150 government buildings including the mentioned buildings in Baguio and Benguet.

Retrofitting of lighting systems is a part of the PEEP which aims to reduce the power consumption of the country to conserve energy and reduce the nation’s carbon emissions. The said project is funded by a US$31,100,000 bank loan and a Philippine government counterpart of P625,000,000.

PEEP is a two year project that is winding up this 2013. # nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — The Baguio Tourism Office with the Department of Tourism (DOT)- CAR and Region 1, in partnership with the local government of Baguio City, Lingayen, Pangasinan and Bauang, La Union announced the line-up of events for the sixth year of Sabsabong ti Mayo during the weekly Kapihan at Rose Bowl Restaurant last May 15.

The Sabsabong ti Mayo is an annual event in Baguio that could be equated to the Santacruzan of the lowlands.

According to Richard Carino, chairperson of the event, “Sabsabong is somehow like the continuation of the Panagbenga with the touch of the Philippine tradition of the “Reyna Elena” which happens every May.”

This year’s event aims to promote the industries of the participating regions as well as to showcase their cultural legacy. The events will begin on May 29 until May 31. The grand Santacruzan and the closing program will happen on the last day at SM City Baguio.

The city is prepared to receive a flood of tourists coming from the provinces of the participating regions. The DOT-CAR expects a major fluctuation in road activity and movement which is already settled with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Baguio City Tourism Officer Benedicto Alhambra, the city is prepared to handle the influx of tourists to witness the event. He added that the city government gave financial assistance for the event.

According to Alhambra, we do not only promote this event in the city. “Our aim is to have not only domestic tourists but even the foreigners. This event will become a clustered promotion of domestic and international tourism.”

DOT-CAR Regional Director Purificacion Molintas said the Sabsabong ti Mayo not only helps promote the industry and culture of the region but also, it steers economic activity by creating mileage.

“What’s good in this is that, we do not only promote it in our region, through the help of the other regions like Region 1, we get to disperse our produce outside our region and even beyond,” Molintas said adding that this is a strategy of the city to strengthen its tourism and be able to reach the number one spot as the most favorite tourist destination in the Philippines.

Sabsabong ti Mayo events includes the Wedding expo showcasing different cultures’ matrimony, gown art and fashion show, Pangasinan Day and Night cultural show, and the grand Santacruzan. A tourism forum will also happen on May 31st at the Baguio Convention Center. # nordis.net

Credibility continues to hound elections in the Philippines.

In an attempt to address the inefficiency and dangers of the manual elections Congress passed the Automated Election System (AES). The shift to computer-based technology would mean less human intervention and faster counting and transmission of election results. Also, since official results are transmitted not physically but through “wires”, the unscrupulous practice of ballot snatching and switching would be immaterial. This would also address the unnecessary deaths of Board of Election Inspectors (BEI).

The AES was first used during the national elections in 2010. Smartmatic won the bidding and their Precinct Count Optical Scanners (PCOS) were bought by Commission on Elections (Comelec).

During the 2010 national elections, election watchdogs like Kontra Daya raised the issue over the absence of source code review. The source code review is mandated by law and is the means to ensure that the machines to be used for elections would accurately read, count and transmit the votes.

In the recently concluded midterm elections, however, Comelec used the PCOS even in the absence of a source code review. The release of the source code a few days before the elections is just for public relations as a review would prove futile – the review will take months. By the time the review is done, the elections have long been finished.

Aside from the source code issue, the PCOS experienced numerous glitches. Some PCOS failed to initialize, BEIs have to restart the machines and a few have to be replaced. Transmission problems were also experienced. Comelec was quick to justify the transmission problems to weak telecommunications signal but this allegation was denied by major mobile network providers Globe Telecommunications and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) who owns Smart and Sun Cellular.

New problems also occurred this year that include oversized ballots that caused long lines; PCOS shutting down when it is about to count the ballots; and a new type of ballot switching which resulted to disenfranchisement of voters. These are preventable and inexcusable since this is already the second time that the PCOS is used.

Oversized ballots were attributed to the cold climate in Baguio City which caused the paper to expand and the PCOS not accepting these ballots. BEIs eventually trimmed the ballots so that the PCOS would accept it. But why was this experience limited to a number of PCOS and not to all PCOS in Baguio if the temperature is the culprit? Secondly, there were other regions that are not as cold as Baguio but also experienced the same problem with oversized ballots? In Manila, these oversized ballots caused paper jams leading to PCOS machines shutting down. Certainly, the oversized ballots are not caused by the temperature but by wrong measurement.

The shutting down of PCOS when the button to close the voting and start the counting is pressed was attributed to memory card failure. This failure was encountered in several precincts nationwide but in other areas the PCOS was able to reload its program. The case in Baguio, though in only one precinct, caused the disenfranchisement of 938 voters from Kayang Extension were not counted after the Board of Canvassers (CBOC) decided not to include them as these would not affect the results of the Baguio elections.

Still in Baguio City, 638 registered voters from Barangay Lualhati were disenfranchised because the CBOC decided not to hold a special elections saying that their votes are insignificant to the results of the local elections. These voters were not able to vote because their precinct received ballots intended for Barangay Gabi, Compostela Valley instead. Special elections will be held at Compostela Valley because it will determine the winners of the local elections.

Why would registered voters be penalized for something that they did not do? Being highly dependent on technology is not a very wise idea especially machines that have been stored for almost three years. It is also prudent to be prepared for the worst scenario just like these cases so that the right of the people to suffrage will be upheld. Furthermore, most of the voters, if not all of them, are taxpayers and have contributed to the budget for this elections and it is very unjust that they cannot participate in this democratic process.

The credibility of the midterm elections as well as future elections will always be put into question not because there are critics or sore losers but because of the negligence of the Comelec in performing its duties particularly in securing the source code of the PCOS. They should have done this even before the 2010 elections. Surely, Smartmatic have understood the Poll Automation Law requiring them to submit the source code. Three years is more than enough to secure the PCOS but why did the Comelec wait for the last minute to negotiate for the source code?

Furthermore, the stubbornness of the Comelec to draw alternative plan for manual elections in the eventuality that the PCOS breaks down have trampled on the right to suffrage for around 2,000 voters in Baguio. Does the Comelec need more disenfranchised voters before taking action? Hopefully not. With the 2013 polls over, Comelec has three years prepare for the 2016 and should consider the lessons of the past two AES. # nordis.net

At 60, I get to experience my first automated elections. As the hokus-PCOS said: Congratulations! For reasons of work, I have not participated in the last two elections and had to re-register last year so I can vote this year. I did try using the machines last 2010 when they were tested at the market for all first timers who wanted to “practice” with the machines.

It went fast with me. The clustered precinct where I voted had a snaking line when I went at 10 am. I had stayed in the line with the rest for some ten minutes when a security guard told me I can use the senior citizen’s lane. So I got priority! One more time to thank the white hairs on my head!

It went fast since I only voted for one senator, one party list, one mayor and four councilors. There – that is my confession since there is no manner in the whole wide world I will ever know if indeed the machine read the seven shaded names. The machine only said my ballot was scanned – congratulations. But I wanted it to give me a receipt of the candidates I voted to show me that my votes were really counted. Is that too much to ask? We ask businesses to give receipts, taxis to give receipts, why not the hokus-PCOS?!?

And therein lies the BIG PROBLEM! (my exclamations are getting many!) Nobody knows if indeed those shaded ovals were ever counted. Did the machine say give one vote to Teddy Casiño? Did the machine say give one more vote to Katribu? Or did it say remove three votes for Katribu every ten votes cast? Did the machine say add two votes for Grace Poe for every ten votes cast? (is it OK to cite names especially Grace Poe as a beneficiary of the hocus-pcos?) We will never know because nobody was able to study the source code.

Considering that Commission on Elections (Comelec) had three years to prepare for this election, the late presentation of the source code is unforgivable. Comelec had time on its hand, a gargantuan budget for a once in three years work, and they failed miserably in the source code. Do we even know that the hardware can be changed, mangled, hokus-pcos-ed or what? IT experts had been carping the last three years about the lack of transparency in the source codes, in the software used, etc and yet nothing NOTHING was done to improve the 2010 process.

So if people now are saying the automated election is a massive fraud machine, we cannot blame them. KontraDaya, an election watchdog had been saying we should have automated voting but manual canvassing so we can actually see the votes counted and counted properly to the candidates voted for.

This election will go down in history as the most rigged, the costliest, the dirtiest, the most unbelievable futile exercise that we so gamely participated in. Sad, sad, sad for democracy. Sad, sad, sad for us who believe we can practice our right to suffrage.

At the elementary school where I voted, people braved the rains and about two to three hours standing in line, waiting for their turn to vote. And the Comelec continues to disappoint the madlang pipol with a hokus-pcos thing-a-majig. People want their candidates to win, but does Comelec want that to happen? Or are the operators still at it? Talaga bang wala nang pag-asang mapalayas nang tuluyan ang mga Garcis at mga kakambal nila? Hindi ba sila ma-eerase sa mundong ibabaw para makaboto na naman tayo ng tunay at wagas?

We are failing the young voters big time. They stood in line for that indelible ink mark and we give them a hokus-pcos. We are failing the people in the barangays who came early to vote, whole families lining up for two hours and we give them a hokus-pcos. We have failed BIG big time in the exercise of suffrage and we have failed failed ourselves.

The next exercise will be in 2016. It is our prayer Comelec does a better procedure than the 2013 election. Hopefully, we can still have automated voting but the counting should be transparent to all.

As I write this, Comelec has stopped the canvassing at 65% of results and will proclaim the top five senators. We are worried. Is this a signal the operators are going to “cook” the election?

Anyway, congratulations to the elected officials. You have three years to give us better conditions in our daily lives. I like the suggestion of Martin Masadao where he challenged the newly proclaimed to walk from Baguio City Hall to the top of Session Road at least once a week to see how the madlang pipol fare. # nordis.net

There are things we ignore when we are free. Things change when one is in prison; everything whether it is a living or non living thing is counted, studied and analyzed. As the detainees would say, it is just to kill time and maintain sanity.

In the region, there are seven political detainees, five in Ifugao and two in Kalinga. All of them are maliciously charged with fabricated crimes such as multiple and frustrated murder to illegal possession of ammunitions.

The Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA) in its limited capacity provides jail visitation to political detainees as one of its obligations. It is for this reason that the CHRA is visiting political detainees to render legal and consultation services to the detainees. It is also a way to check their condition and offer relief for the detainees. The detainees are also geographically far from their immediate families and friends and therefore visits from them is limited. To add more difficulty is the low economic status of these families to afford regular visits to their loved ones.

Jail visits

First stop is the Kalinga Provincial Jail. Among the provinces in the region, this jail is the smallest one. Cells are designed facing each other. Reception area for visitors is small and has only one long table.

To be able to visit the jail, one must submit to the jail operational procedures such as writing your name on the logbook and the one you intend to visit and your relationship to the detainee. A valid identification must be presented and body search is conducted to ensure that you are not bringing in anything unauthorized by the jail management.

Observable outside the jail is a waiting shed serving as a small encampment of elements of the military allegedly to beef up security in the jail.

There are two political detainees in this jail. First is Kennedy Bangibang, a National Democratic Front Consultant on national minorities and the Cordillera. Second is Jovencio Baluga from Balbalan, an innocent civilian who narrated he was maliciously charged with multiple and frustrated murder. In his accounts, Baluga went to the Balbalan Municipal Police to “clear” his name instead of being cleared, he was arrested by the police.

During the interview, they said the most difficult thing to maintain inside the jail is sanity. As new detainees, they try to blend in and adjust with other detainnees.

Second stop was at the Alfonso Lista District Jail. This jail is an example of an open air facility. It is located near the municipal hall. It is surrounded by open and vacant lots. The district jail hosts two political detainees. The two are charged with illegal possession of ammunitions and are now waiting for their release.

Most of the inmates are involved in productive activities such as wood carving and blacksmithing. It is just sad that except for the two political detainees, almost all the other inmates are charged with crimes related to violence against women and children.

Third stop was the Ifugao District Jail in Tiger Hill, Kiangan, Ifugao. This jail hosts three political detainees. All the detainees are charged with multiple and frustrated murder.

At the District Jail in Tiger Hill, Kiangan, Ifugao, the three political detainees told me that when a person is in jail every living creature inside the cell is being scrutinized. Ants are being counted and analyzed; they know which ant is the guide; their mode of transferring information among themselves is also explored. House lizards are also studied; they know which lizard is male or female and which of those have on-going relationships.

When visitors bring newspapers, the detainees reserve them and read when they are inside their cell word for word and page by page.

Visiting political detainees is morale boosting to the detainees but also very stressful on the part of visitors. It is stressful to think that these people are innocent yet suffering and languishing in jail. Like us, they are also normal people with families and communities who love and care for them. Like us, they are just working for a better society for all. What they did to be treated like this is their compassion and dedication to change the world.

All of them are charged because of their political beliefs. As our constitution stated that no one should be imprisoned because of their political beliefs. In these cases, this is how our government works, charging innocent individuals by criminalizing political offenses. Clearly, this is a violation.

CHRA is steadfast with the call for their immediate and unconditional release. Their families are waiting for them. The people are waiting for them to continue their work for peace, a just and better world for all. # nordis.net

Born October 13, 1959, Edward, the fifth child of Ferry Cuilan Tagley and Bernardo Cariño Okubo. When our parents arrived from the hospital with him in tow, we his siblings, gathered around him to introduce ourselves, excited we had a new brother. I remember Patrick asserting his manongship and maybe by way of passing the position of “youngest” to him, he held his hand and directed the question to our watchful mother, “What is his name?!” “Edward,” says mom. “Why Edward?” No answer, and Patrick declares, why not Wowee? Wowee nalang, Mama, let us call him Wowee! Patrick declared when he saw my mom smile amusedly. Whatever which way you say it or spell it, Wowee, or wawi was his name since.

From Guisad (Leonor Rivera) we moved to Belshang, a three hectare piece of land our parents acquired and divided with our late Auntie Cecile, from Lolo Mawini’s (one name) Estancia that spanned then from Coyeesan to the present Sta. Lucia including the Crystal Cave area. Wawi arrived here as a baby and grew up to the ‘wild’ new frontier of Belshang. When he was almost one year old our father brought home a baby monkey orphaned from a hunt in Mindoro where he went for sometime to open a goldmine for his older brother, the late Sinai. I was in grade two and the late Butch, our brother next to me, was grade one, Andrew would be in UCCP kindergarten and Patrick was already allowed to go out of the house on his own. Wawi had to be home with the monkey named Number 31 to compete with. They fought over food, toys and attention for years until Wawi was old enough to carry a shovel and leave the house as early as the older ones had to leave for school.

The shovel was still a foot taller than him and he would walk up to the hill behind the house to dig-up whatever. At around lunchtime, he would arrive to declare he was tired and thristy and had to eat. In his baby-talk, he would tell of his adventure “up in the mountain, there” (pointing where). Once in a while 31 would go with him. Their fight over food, toys and attention became bad, 31 started biting. So Dad sent 31 “away to PBurgos until he (31) is old enough.” Wawi missed him until he realized he could visit him when Dad drove out in the morning. He went for awhile then went back to his usual, “up there in the mountain.”

He came home early one time crying loudly with his shovel in tow. Mama met him with a wet towel to wipe his teary and grimy face, asking why? What happened? Sulking, he said, “the girls up there (in the mountain) they said ngay mehehe.” He got cookies and milk and all the comfort of the women who were there in the house. He met the women who were tasked to clean the kaingin up there, they asked him what he was doing in Fontok and were giggling amused at a three-year old’s lone industry. I think he was not able to communicate with them and he cried in frustration and ran home to Mama – some 100 meters away.

Our neighbors were almost a kilometer away and that time you had to go through the brush and brook. He was barely three years old when he would be up very early and started exploring all the nearby mountains and rivers. # nordis.netBorn October 13, 1959, Edward, the fifth child of Ferry Cuilan Tagley and Bernardo Cariño Okubo. When our parents arrived from the hospital with him in tow, we his siblings, gathered around him to introduce ourselves, excited we had a new brother. I remember Patrick asserting his manongship and maybe by way of passing the position of “youngest” to him, he held his hand and directed the question to our watchful mother, “What is his name?!” “Edward,” says mom. “Why Edward?” No answer, and Patrick declares, why not Wowee? Wowee nalang, Mama, let us call him Wowee! Patrick declared when he saw my mom smile amusedly. Whatever which way you say it or spell it, Wowee, or wawi was his name since.

From Guisad (Leonor Rivera) we moved to Belshang, a three hectare piece of land our parents acquired and divided with our late Auntie Cecile, from Lolo Mawini’s (one name) Estancia that spanned then from Coyeesan to the present Sta. Lucia including the Crystal Cave area. Wawi arrived here as a baby and grew up to the ‘wild’ new frontier of Belshang. When he was almost one year old our father brought home a baby monkey orphaned from a hunt in Mindoro where he went for sometime to open a goldmine for his older brother, the late Sinai. I was in grade two and the late Butch, our brother next to me, was grade one, Andrew would be in UCCP kindergarten and Patrick was already allowed to go out of the house on his own. Wawi had to be home with the monkey named Number 31 to compete with. They fought over food, toys and attention for years until Wawi was old enough to carry a shovel and leave the house as early as the older ones had to leave for school.

The shovel was still a foot taller than him and he would walk up to the hill behind the house to dig-up whatever. At around lunchtime, he would arrive to declare he was tired and thristy and had to eat. In his baby-talk, he would tell of his adventure “up in the mountain, there” (pointing where). Once in a while 31 would go with him. Their fight over food, toys and attention became bad, 31 started biting. So Dad sent 31 “away to PBurgos until he (31) is old enough.” Wawi missed him until he realized he could visit him when Dad drove out in the morning. He went for awhile then went back to his usual, “up there in the mountain.”

He came home early one time crying loudly with his shovel in tow. Mama met him with a wet towel to wipe his teary and grimy face, asking why? What happened? Sulking, he said, “the girls up there (in the mountain) they said ngay mehehe.” He got cookies and milk and all the comfort of the women who were there in the house. He met the women who were tasked to clean the kaingin up there, they asked him what he was doing in Fontok and were giggling amused at a three-year old’s lone industry. I think he was not able to communicate with them and he cried in frustration and ran home to Mama – some 100 meters away.

Our neighbors were almost a kilometer away and that time you had to go through the brush and brook. He was barely three years old when he would be up very early and started exploring all the nearby mountains and rivers. # nordis.net

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) already proclaimed the winners in the national as well as local level of the 2nd automated elections despite the many protests and petitions. The temporary job of the campaigners distributing leaflets and other campaign paraphernalia is over for now and will resume after three years. All the promises politicians for decent jobs, justice, upliftment among others who won will again remain as promises while Filipinos continue to hope that even a pinch of them be fulfilled.

On May 20, parents, teachers and even the students and generous out-of-school youths will join forces for the yearly “Brigada Eskuwela”.

They will again encounter the sorry state of facilities in public schools: destroyed armchairs, dilapidated classrooms, missing pages of text books and others. Under the guise of making every citizen part of molding the future of the children, government agencies tapping the help of non-government organizations and civic groups will be repairing the chairs, painting the walls, taping the books and other remedial steps like putting patches on a hole-ridden pair of pants. That will all be done voluntarily by the people especially the parents who want their children will have an environment conducive to learning.

May 27 is the scheduled enrollment for the school year 2013-2014, the poor Filipinos wooed by politicians will now face the reality that the situation of the education system is still the same. That there are impending tuition fee increases in many schools while the poor quality of education is not getting better and is even deteriorating.

In the Cordillera Region like elsewhere in the country, majority of parents are farmers and lowly workers who hopes to send their children to colleges and universities to cities like Baguio and other urban centers. They will have to ensure their produce to be able to raise money for the tuition of their children. Cordillera workers will have to work double time to double their earnings and salaries. Some have to borrow money from the loan sharks so that their children can enroll.

These the parents must do as there is no expected wage increase or any wage relief or price increase in the farmer’s produce while prices of oil and other basic social services continue to soar and above all, there will be no change.

Every elections, TV stations and many media outlets feature their election coverages and programs even decorating their titles with the word “pagbabago” (change). That word is yet to be realized.

A taho vendor in the People’s Park of Baguio was overheard while talking to his fellow street peddler saying: “hindi ako bomoto sa eleksiyon, marami na ang naupo sa ilang beses kong pagboto, nagtitinda pa rin ako ng taho.” (I did not vote in the elections, while many were seated as I voted many times, I am still a taho vendor anyway) # nordis.net

The automated election was first introduced in the Philippines through the presidential elections on 2010 when the 15th head-of-state, Benigno S. Aquino III was proclaimed. This type of election was created via Republic Act 9369, amending Republic Act 8436, which authorizes the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to use an automated election system to encourage transparency, credibility, fairness and accuracy of elections’ on July 2, 2006.

Comelec deemed this year’s mid-term elections successful because the results came in early and the Precinct Count Optical Scanner (PCOS) machines only had minor problems that are quickly fixed and there are only a few incidents declaring failure of elections.

We asked if are there any improvement in the automated elections.

Here are some reactions from registered voters of Baguio City regarding this issue:

Peter Busaing of Quirino Hill: It is still the same. The lines are still long and many registered voters are still not listed on the precincts. The Comelec should make more preparations next time. They should make sure all the names of voters are listed and make one PCOS machine available for only 500 voters instead of one PCOS machine for every 1000 voters.

Noel Solimen of Hillside: In my precinct there was no problem, but I see in the news that the same problems from last elections arose. For me, it was a bit faster this time. Of course we do not know for sure if the votes are actually counted. We need people to be educated on the process our votes go under for it to be counted. The Comelec should inform us on such details.

Onofre De Mesa, a jeepney driver: My experience was still the same. I did not encounter any problems. The quality of life I am living in will still be the same whether or not I participated in the automated elections since the politicians I voted for are still too deaf to hear our needs.

Rodrigo Halog, Sr. of Quirino Hill: I think it was just as peaceful and organized as the last one. I think no one cheated in my precinct.

Joel Granada of Navy Base: I think the 2013 election is better than the last one. The only flaw I saw was the PCOS machine. There are defective ones and others do not accept ballots for some reason. Comelec should allot more time to plan and prepare next time.

Mina Aneño of Loakan: Of course this year was a lot easier. I just wish that there is no more cheating. For those people who says that they do not want to vote because they do not understand the technology used, in my opinion, it was never difficult for me to use the PCOS machine.

Carlito Mangabat, a tailor: In my experience, the 2013 election was better. It was faster and easier.

A public servant from Navy Base who wished not to be named also said that the second automated election was better because there was no reported election-related violence. The PCOS machine was a bit delayed in transmitting results but was understandable.

Many citizens agreed that this year’s midterm election was better and faster parallel to Comelec’s assessment. They said that it was fine and they did not have any problems with the PCOS machines. Others also said that the machine is very economical and user-friendly. # nordis.net

Pipian, maysa a tradisyunal a resipi ti Vigan a gagangay a kanen a kas merienda ngem mabalin met nga ipangan iti innapuy. Nalabit nga impluwensya ti Mexican pipian manipud iti galleon trade idi umuna a panawen. Ti kangrunaan a ramen ti Mexican pipian sauce ket giniling a bukel ti karabasa, kamatis, chiles ken herbs. Mabalin nga usaren ditoy ti karne ti baka/baboy imbes a manok.

Ramen:

2 kutsara a mantika
1 sibuyas
4 a ngipen a bawang
1 bukel a manok, naiwa iti serving size
2 kutsara a patis
Asin ken paminta a pangtimpla
½ tasa nga asuete, naiyuper iti 2 tasa a napudot a danum
4 a tasa a chicken broth
½ tasa a tostado a bagas, giniling
200 gramo a pias, naiwa
Bulong ti pasotes (spinach no awan ti pasotes)

Preparasyon:

1. Igisa ti sibuyas, bawang ken manok aginggana golden brown. Timplaan ti patis.

2. Ramasen dagiti bukel ti asuete iti napudot a danum santo ibukbok iti ginisa a manok. Nayunan ti 3-4 a tasa a danum/chicken broth. Kaluban ken iluto iti kalalaingan na nga apuy iti agarup 15 minutos.

3. Ipisok ti giniling a tostado a bagas. Pakapsuten ti apuy ti dalikan. Kiwaren sagpaminsan tapno saan a makset ket dumket ti bagas. Iluto iti 10 a minutos.

4. Inayon ti pias. Kiwaren. Iluto iti 10 minutos. Timplaan ti asin ken paminta.

5. Ikabil ti pasotes wenno spinach. Iluto iti 2 minutos.

6. Idasar a napudot. # nordis.net

“The LORD has firmly established me on the throne of my father David; he has kept his promise and given his kingdom to me and my descendants. I swear by the living LORD that Adonijah will die this very day!” — I Kings 2:24

Moral and Political Maturity

Mid-term elections 2013 is almost over and it is but proper and fitting to reflect on what happened. Government authorities described the elections as generally peaceful and orderly. Yet, the Philippine National Police reported 81 incidents that ranged from shootings, ambushes, explosions and strafing in the four-month period from January 13 to May 13. Sixty-seven of those were shooting incidents. A total of 51 persons were killed and 65 were wounded while 33 went missing from those incidents. More than half of those killed were local politicians. Well, we may have peaceful revolutions in our country, yet very violent elections.

Perhaps, the use of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines in these second automated elections in our country have made the counting of ballots faster, but apparently it did not put a stop to cheating, vote-buying, and election-related violence. Indeed, honest, orderly, and peaceful elections do not depend on machines; they depend primarily on the moral and political maturity of a people.

Election-related violence shows that we have a serious moral and political crisis as a people. Unless, this is dealt with seriously, no amount of computerization could ever make our elections better; it would only make election-cheating computerized.

King Solomon’s Violent Take Over

Violence related to leadership take over is not new. It also happened in the early stages of Israel’s monarchy (I Kings 1-2). When King David was already old and sickly Adonijah, his eldest son with his wife Haggith, declared his own self as successor to the throne and started celebrating with his supporters and followers. Unfortunately, King David already promised the throne to Solomon, his other son with his favorite wife, Bathsheba.

According to the Scriptures, King David fulfilled his promise and passed on the crown to Solomon and ordered the arrest of Adonijah and his supporters and followers. As soon as Solomon was crowned king, he ordered the execution of all those opposed to his throne. King Solomon was known to be the wealthiest and wisest king of Israel, but unknown to many he was also the most authoritarian king of Israel. He would not allow any opposition to his throne or to his policies, like high taxes and forced labor. He would order the death of anyone opposed to him, like Jeroboam (cf. I Kings 11:26-40).

And yet he claimed that God was with him. He said, “The LORD has firmly established me on the throne of my father David; he has kept his promise and given his kingdom to me and my descendants. I swear by the living LORD that Adonijah will die this very day!” (I Kings 2:24).

The problem with authoritarian rulers is that the moment they stop listening to the people, they would also stop listening to God. This was what happened to King Solomon. He worshiped other gods. Unlike other countries, kings of Israel were supposed to be servants of God and of the people, and not absolute rulers (cf. Dt. 17:14-20). But King Solomon somehow lost sight of this concept of kingship. Consequently, the ten Northern tribes of Israel staged a rebellion after King Solomon’s death, and the kingdom was divided (I Kings 12).

Servant Leadership

We can learn our lessons from Israel’s experience. To lead is to serve. To serve God is to serve the people. This Biblical concept of servant leadership is not unknown to our modern-day politicians. As a matter of fact, we could hear them saying this in their well-crafted speeches during the campaign period.

But “know them by their fruits,” says Jesus Christ our Lord. Election-related violence raises questions on the real motive of those seeking elective positions in government. Certainly, the real motive of those elected using guns, goons, and gold is not really to serve the people, but rather to serve their own selves for and in behalf of the people. This is not servant leadership. It is rather the exact opposite. This is sheer greed for wealth and power.

Unless there is genuine change in the lives of politicians and in the kind of politics they play, no amount of computerization could ever put a stop to cheating, vote-buying, and killing during election time. # nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — In a statement sent to the media, Spokesperson Ka Tipon Gil-ayab of the Lejo Cawilan Command of the New Peoples Army – Kalinga admitted they were responsible for the ambush at a military convoy of the 17th IB of the Philippine Army on May 9 which resulted to the death of two government troopers and wounding of six others.

Through the statement though, Gil-ayab clarifies that their latest tactical offensive was not aimed to sabotage the transport of the Precinct Optical Count Scan (PCOS) machines to the municipalities of Tinglayan and Lubuagan in Kalinga. The NPA spokesperson stated that the vehicle carrying the machines passed first in line and was not targeted. He added that the PCOS arrived safely to their destinations.

The NPA stated that the ambush along with other tactical offensives launched in different parts of the country during the election period are directed primarily against the soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). “For the security of these PCOS machines, the presence of the troops of the PNP is more than enough to ensure the safety of these PCOS machines against unscrupulous elements such as hold-uppers and private armed groups who, in other provinces’ experiences, are utilized by some politicians to control these machines and manipulate the outcome of the May 13 elections,” the statement read.

Based on the reports of the Kalinga Provincial Police Office, the army convoy was ambushed at around 9:30 AM of the said date at Sitio Patiking of Barangay Bagumbayan, Tabuk City. Killed in action are Sgt. Wilfredo Bacacao and Cpl Allen Pattaguan while the wounded are identified as Technical Sergeants Herminigildo Vergara and Constante Alupane; Staff Sgts Rico De la Cuesta and Michael Adducul; Sgt Wayne Aguinaldo and PFC Delfin Goyagoy. The report claims that the soldiers were on their way to Balbalan, Kalinga to provide security for the ongoing distribution of PCOS machines.

Comelec Cordillera Assistant Regional Director Reddy Balarbar said the army troopers decided to join the convoy of the Comelec and PNP delivering PCOS machines to Balbalan since the army is also going to the said municipality. He added that the army truck was lagging behind about 20 minutes away from the vehicles transporting the PCOS machines.

According to the NPA, the presence of the AFP troops is a clear indication of the intention of the administration of President Benigno Aquino III to sow fear among the people and influence the outcome of the May 2013 elections against progressive candidates. The statement added that the deployment of troops is to break the will of the people in propagating new politics.

“The fascist AFP troops has a long history of influencing the actual process and outcome of the reactionary elections through using sheer terror and brute force, and in this context it is the AFP who are the true saboteurs of the elections. Numerous instances of the AFP’s involvement in election fraud have been surfacing every election period,” the statement read.

According to the statement, since May 4, PA units were deployed in Lubuagan. It added that since May 8, there are deployments in Barangays of Balantoy, Poblacion and mabaca of Balbalan; Asibanglan, Pinukpuk; Guinaang and Bagtayan, Pasil, among others. Gil-ayab stated that there were also reports of presence of masked men prowling the sitios of barangays Buaya and Tawang since last week of April which caused alarm among the people.

The NPA said that even though their fighters by principle are prohibited to participate in the elections in the government, they conduct propaganda and education among the people regarding responsible voting and wise choosing of candidates as a way of empowering the people in practicing their right to vote. The NPA also reiterate their prohibition of the entry of private armed groups and the act of vote-buying in their areas.

The revolutionary armed group called on the people not to be deceived by the propaganda of the AFP and not be blinded by the dirty tactics being employed by traditional politicians every election period especially vote-buying.

“We should instead build our own revolutionary politics and advance the people’s struggle up to victory!”the statement ends. # nordis.net

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — Angered and disgusted with the recent intrusion of Cordillera Exploration Company Inc. (CEXCI) in their hometown, residents of Barangay Tawang, Balbalan sought help from the office of Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) Kalinga to stop the mining activities of CEXCI in the barangay. This after their protest action in Tawang on April 16 this year.

STANDING THEIR GROUND. Kalinga folk protest the mining operation of the Cordillera Exploration COmpany Inc. in Balbalan, kalinga. Photo courtesy of CPA Kalinga

The Timpuyog Dagiti Mannalon iti Tawang (TIMTA), a group of 62 men and women from the mine affected communities of Barangays Aciga, Bassao, Mabnawag, and Tawang Proper who trooped to the mine site and made an actual inspection in the ongoing exploration activities of the said mine firm “in the watershed of Kanagsian Brook” prepared a brief inspection report.

The TMTA report showed that there were already 14 holes drilled aside from the holes in the first site and five bunkhouses were already erected. Moreover, a tailings pond was constructed and is flowing to Tawang brook which residents blamed for the death of two horses that drunk from and fishes in the brook. One carabao, the report said is also dying as of press time. Also in the site were various sizes of drilling pipes.

The report added that on the group’s way to the site, they met men carrying drilling pipes. The group talked to the men and found out that these men are going to replace the drilling pipes to bigger and longer ones in order to be able to drill up to the sea level. The report further mentioned that Imelda Lote from the mine affected communities asked the men who they are and their connection to the mining company. The men claimed that they are from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and they are there to monitor the operations. Lote then asked the DENR why are they not stopping the activities of CEXCI despite the protests. The employees of DENR answered that it is only an exploration.

She further asked them where they (DENR) are planning to relocate them. The latter however answered in what the protesters said as disrespectful by saying, “to planet Venus”.

On the other hand, one lady from the mine affected protesters asked for the identification card of the person they were talking to and found out that they are from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Baguio City.

The residents who went to the office of CPA Kalinga are strongly calling for the immediate stoppage of mining activities in their barangay to stop the destruction of their ancestral land specially that the mine firm is already drilling within their watershed area.

TIMTA believe that CEXCI is not just conducting exploration activities. Instead, it is already conducting actual mining activities. Further, TIMTA said that the free prior and informed consent (FPIC) for the exploration was secured fraudulently.

On December 10, 2012 in the initial inspection made by TIMTA in the mine site, the group already appealed for the concerned officials to have sympathy to the affected residents and stop the exploration.

Meanwhile, on August last year, CEXCI constructed laboratory buildings without building permit, environmental clearance and free prior and informed consent (FPIC) in the jurisdiction of Nambaran, Tabuk City. This project was welcomed by protest actions of the community for the fear that the laboratory will pollute the Alyog creek and for not recognizing the rights of the community for FPIC since the residents affected with the project are indigenous peoples belonging to the Tulgao tribe. # nordis.net

(An Investigative Report on the Black Sand Mining in Pangasinan)

Pangasinan is a province in the Ilocos region known for its abundant marine resources and its rich culture. Aside from the Hundred Islands in Alaminos, the province also cradles the Lingayen Gulf.

Just last 2012 when the issue of black sand mining in barangays Estanza, Capandanan, Malimpuec and Sabangan shocked the Northern Luzon if not the whole nation. These barangays are all part of the coastal area of the infamous Lingayen Gulf.

Last January 16, 2012, several barangay officials and concerned citizens filed a complaint affidavit against Governor Amado Espino, Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Officer Alvin Bigay in the Office of the Ombudsman.

In an interview conducted last January 6, 2013, Christian Vinch Oliquino, Sangguniang Kabataan official of Barangay Sabangan, said that he was really bothered about the black sand mining activity. “Hindi lang nila kami pinalayas sa aming mga tirahan, tinanggalan nila kami ng kabuhayan. Kaya hindi kami nangiming maghabla sa Ombudsman,” explained Oliquino.

Oliquino also described how the community was displaced in order to give way to the golf-course project. “Nung umpisa pa lang, duda na kami sa golf-course na yan. Bakit? Kung hindi malakihan ang operasyon nyan, bakit ilang barangay ang sakop? Isa pa, bakit kailangan bakuran yung site? Hindi na makapalaot yung mga mangingisda, kasi inaangkin ng mga developer yung site.”

Last September 2011, 292 residents signed a petition condemning the illicit magnetite mining activity. As stated in the petition: “Kaming mamamayan dito sa lalawigan ng Pangasinan, Bayan ng Lingayen ay lubhang tumututol at hindi sumasangayon sa pagbubungkal ng lupang patibayan ng tubig sa dagat at pagmimina ng ginto o iba pang mineral sa tabing dagat o Gulpo ng Lingayen ng Alexandra Mining Corp.,”

These hundreds of residents from Sabangan and Malimpuec who signed the petition are the ones affected by the relocation and demolition in the area. The petition was also delivered to the Office of the Ombudsman.

Meanwhile, Remate, Bulatlat.com and national broadsheet Philippine Daily Inquirer printed several news articles on this issue.

In the news article printed in the Philippine Daily Inquirer last October 2012, College Editors Guild of the Philippines vice president for Luzon Anna Patricia Santos quoted Public Information Officer Orpheus Velasco that “the black sand is being sold to the company doing the extraction.”

The CEGP also conducted an investigation and ocular inspection last October during their basic Masses Integration as a requisite of a Luzon-wide conference. CEGP brought about 70 campus journalists to check the area. As a reaction to the ocular inspection, officials of the provincial hall demanded a venue for them to explain their side.

In the open forum, however, Santos and other CEGP members showed te pictures of the heavy equipments that they found in the area. They also reported that Xypher Builders officials harrassed them and prevented from pursuing the BMI in the area. “If there is nothing to hide, Mr. Administrator? Bakit ho kami kinunan ng mga picture ng mga tauhan ng Xypher? Bakit kami pinipigilan na pumasok sa area,” Santos questioned the provincial hall officers.

Bombo Radyo and ABS-CBN also tackled this on-air. In one of the coverage about the issue, MGB Director Carlos Tayag said in an interview with Cris Zuniga of ABS-CBN last December 2011 that they already forwarded a memorandum to the Office of the Governor regarding the extraction of black sand in the area.

In an interview conducted by the reporter of this investigative report last Dec. 20, 2012, Tayag said that the operation by passed the office of the MGB- Reg1. “The SSMP issued to Alexandra Mining lacked proper documents, they did not inform us prior to the extraction of magnetite in the area. Though it is a part of a development plan for the province, it did not comply with the process of SSM,” he said.

According to the Memorandum from the investigating team composed of an engineer, a senior science specialist and a legal officer, the SSMP issued to Alexandra Mining Company was issued without the required Environment Compliance Certificate. And, “further scrutiny reveals that the SSMP was issued without the endorsement of the Provoncial Mining Regulatory Board… and is lacking some vital documents such as Area Clearance, posting requirements and LGU approval.”

However, Baraan defended the project that they do not need the approval of the present LGU because the eco-tourism project was approved way back in 1998.

“Bakit pa namin kailangan ng approval ng Sanggunian Panlalawigan? Matagal nang pending ang project na ito. Ang gusto lang namin ni Gov. ay yung ikagaganda ng probinsya,” Baraan said to the reporter in Dec. 20, 2012.

As the interview heated the Provincial Administrator presented Proclamation No. 156 by the former President Fidel V. Ramos entitled ‘Proclaiming Lingayen Gulf as an Environmental Critical Area’ and Executive Order No. 97-0070 from then Governor Oscar Orbos.

Baraan also cited that former President Ramos himself was present in the inauguration of the development plan. “Kung illegal ‘to, e ‘di sana, hindi pumunta sa ribbon-cutting si FVR? Sya pa nga ang guest of honor e,” he said.

On the other hand, MGB Director Tayag stood firm that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan should still endorse the said ‘golf-course’ project to give implementing powers to Gov. Espino.

When asked for an interview, Espino shrugged and passed the chance of explaining and directed the reporter to Baraan.

At the height of the said issue, the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources also conducted their separate investigation and posted the results in their online websites.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) also released an article regarding the supposed resolutions of a meeting led by Rev. Socrates B. Villegas, the Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan on February 15, 2012 at 3:00 in the afternoon at the Ma. Guerrero Hall, Archbishop House, Dagupan City, Pangasinan.

In the said meeting, church people, concerned citizens of Lingayen and representatives from the Office of the Governor concluded that: a) Black Sand Extraction must be stopped, residents to monitor; b) Magnetite Separator (equipment) must be removed in the area; c) Extraction Areas must be rehabilitated as soon as possible; d) Revision of the Ecotourism Project Plan, and e) Necessary information dissemination to the residents/communities should be carried out.

During the last site inspection done by the reporter last January 26, 2012, these recommendations are still not implemented as the ‘extraction’ in the ‘golf- course area’ is still on going.

No matter how the Office of the Governor deny the said mining activity, a Small Scale Mining Permit issued to the Alexandra Mining and Oil Ventures, Inc. substantiate the resident’s claim of environmental plunder.

And the Memorandum of Agreement between the Province of Pangasinan, represented by Espino, and the Xypher Builders, a construction company also owned by Alexandra Mining and Oil Ventures, certifies the connivance among the said parties.

In an ocular inspection by the reporter, the operators of the backhoe even flaunted a Mineral Ore Export Permit signed by Gov. Espino to prove that they have the consent of the provincial hall. # nordis.net