January | 2007 | Northern Dispatch (nordis) Weekly

Weekly Reflections: Choosing leaders

January 27, 2007 in columns, general, opinion

By REV. LUNA L. DINGAYAN

“After you have taken possession of the land that the LORD your God is going to give you and have settled there, then you will decide you need a king like all the other nations around you. Be sure that the man you choose to be king is the one whom the LORD has chosen… He must be one of your own people; do not make a foreigner your king. The king is not to have a large number of horses for his army, and he is not to send people to Egypt to buy horses, because the LORD has said that his people are never to return there. The king is not to have many wives, because this will make him turn away from the LORD; and he is not to make himself rich with silver and gold… When he becomes king, he is to have a copy of the book of God’s laws and teachings made from the original copy kept by the levitical priests. He is to kept this book near him and read from it all his life, so that he will learn to honor the LORD and to obey faithfully everything that is commanded in it. This will keep him from thinking that he is better than other Israelites and from disobeying the Lord’s commands in any way. Then, he will reign for many years, and his descendants will rule Israel for many generations.” — Deuteronomy 17:14-20

The midterm elections for local and national leaders are just around the corner. And so, it is but proper and fitting to remind us once again of some Biblical principles of choosing leaders. The Book of Deuteronomy gives us some important reminders on how to choose our leaders. Read the rest of this entry →

Women's Front: GMA chooses foreign investors over people’s interest

January 27, 2007 in columns, general, opinion

By INNABUYOG-GABRIELA

Malacañang and the legislators seem to think that the people’s demand for a wage hike is merely
trivial. Their vacillating stand regarding this very crucial issue is infuriating for the people who have to survive on barely decent salaries.

This administration obviously does not have the interest of the people in its priority list. Yet, since the start of the year, the Palace has been making promises that the people can now reap economic benefits, but those promises merely press releases. Read the rest of this entry →

Sagawisiw: 28 January 2007

January 27, 2007 in general

By TITO B. SANQUI SR.

Makan a la Pinoy: Pancake

January 27, 2007 in food, general

Ni BRENDA S. DACPANO

Ti pancake wenno hotcake ket saan a tradisyunal a maidasar iti panganan ti kadawyan a Pilipino, saan a kas ti innapuy. Maysa a klase daytoy ti daplak a tinapay manipud iti batter (naglaok nga arina ken likido – danum, gatas, ken/wenno itlog – a mabalin a batilen wenno kiwaren) a mailuto iti napudot a griddle wenno pariok. Adu a klase ti pancake iti nadumaduma a lugar. Mayasping daytoy iti waffles.

Read the rest of this entry →

Salun-at tayo, biag tayo: Dagiti kagat ti ayup

January 27, 2007 in general, health

DAGITI KAGAT TI INSEKTO

Adu dagiti klase ti insekto nga agkagat ti tao. Ti dadduma a tattao ket maaddaan ti sakit gapu iti kagat aglalo iti silud ti uyokan ken alimbubuyog. Read the rest of this entry →

Baguio's Task Force Irisan recommends moratorium on demolition

January 20, 2007 in Baguio City, general, land rights, urban poor

BAGUIO CITY (Jan. 19) — Community vigilance and unity of Barangay Irisan residents to fight for their right to shelter pressured Task Force Irisan to recommend a moratorium on demolitions, a status quo and to further study and clarify the status of land in the said barangay during a dialog last January 17.

Irisan residents welcomed the task force resolution, but they demanded a written order from the city government specifying the coverage and duration of the moratorium on demolition of houses. Read the rest of this entry →

POEA prerequisites an extortion ploy — Migrante

January 20, 2007 in Baguio City, employment, general, migrant

BAGUIO CITY (Jan. 19) — Migrante-Metro Baguio criticized the new guidelines of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) requiring some trainings for overseas employment, saying that it is just another ploy to collect more money from overseas Filipino workers (OFW).

Migrante Metro Baguio Chair Flora Belinan criticized the POEA for requiring OFWs to undergo training and obtain the National Certificate for Household Service Workers from Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Language and Culture Certificate of Competence from the Overseas Workers welfare Administration (OWWA); and the minimum wage policy. Read the rest of this entry →

Baguio business want Session sidewalk for Panagbenga

January 20, 2007 in Baguio City, general, tourism

BAGUIO CITY (Jan. 17) — Discord hounds anew the 12th staging of the Baguio Flower Festival (Panag-benga) with the Baguio businessmen disagreeing with the grand plan to stage this year’s Session Road in Bloom differently.

Businessmen from Session Road, venue of one of the festival’s major events — Session Road in Bloom — on Feb. 26 to March 4, oppose the new Panagbenga regulation that business establishments can no longer use their frontages although they can extend in the middle of Session Road. Other prospective ventures who can shell out P18,000 for the space will be admitted instead. Read the rest of this entry →

Trust fund for Asin mini-hydro mulled

January 20, 2007 in Baguio City, energy, general

BAGUIO CITY (Jan. 15) — Despite non-admission of a rush in creating a trust fund for the Asin mini-hydro plants the Baguio City council today approved on second reading a consolidated ordinance for adoption and implementation by the city government once it is approved on final reading and endorsed by the city acting mayor.

In this week’s regular session, the city council agreed to consolidate into an ordinance a resolution which specifies that all revenues from the mini-hydros be put in a trust fund. The proposal by Councilor Rocky Thomas Balisong will be merged with a proposed ordinance by acting Vice-Mayor Leandro B. Yangot Jr. last week which the council passed on first reading last week. Only Councilor Edilberto Tenefrancia abstained from voting. Read the rest of this entry →

Coop hospital: an attempt at collectively addressing health care

January 20, 2007 in Baguio City, general, health

BAGUIO CITY (Jan. 19) — A group of Baguio-based volunteers is admittedly resurrecting the cooperative hospital in Baguio City designed to help poor patients cope up with the rising cost of health care and the country’s very little allocation for health services.

Recognizing the need to bridge the gap between the increasing cost of hospitalization and the government’s negligible budget for health care and other social services, the Baguio Community of Volunteers Movement, now tries to make the Baguio City Cooperative Hospital work not only for the marginalized population of the Cordillera. Read the rest of this entry →

Agri blamed for dwindling Cordi water resource

January 20, 2007 in agriculture, Cordillera, general

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (Jan. 19) — The Cordillera is known as the watershed cradle of the north, but the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) doubts if the region would live up to its name with degradation of its water sources, blaming agricultural activities in the mountains on the dwindling water sources.

In a media forum, NIA Regional Irrigation Manager Abe Akilit said water sources in the region are deteriorating due to the degradation of forests in the region brought about by illegal logging and massive slash and burn activities for farming. He added that heavy siltation in major river systems particularly the Chico and Agno Rivers due to the dams built along the said rivers and soil erosion also contribute to the water shortage. Read the rest of this entry →

Benguet property tax relief on

January 20, 2007 in Cordillera, general, housing

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (Jan. 18) — Benguet residents are getting a tax amnesty on unpaid real property tax this year after the Benguet Provincial Board passed on final reading Provincial Ordinance 115-06 during its January 15 session.

The tax relief covers interests and surcharges of real property taxes from 2006 and previous year. Local residents may avail of the tax amnesty until June 30, 2007. Read the rest of this entry →

SLU reaches its 95th anniversary

January 20, 2007 in Baguio City, general

BAGUIO CITY(Jan. 21) — Saint Louis University (SLU) celebrates the 95th founding anniversary guided by the theme “SLU- witnessing 100 years of CICM Missionary Presence in the Philippines”, to reach out to the people of Baguio and show appreciation to them, with a variety of activities for the students and the public.

In the press conference President Rev. Fr. Jessie Hechanova, CICM, announced this year’s “Handog ng SLU sa Baguio”, a devoted one-day celebration for the residents of the city of Baguio, mainly dedicated to the senior citizens. The off-campus celebration will be held at the Melvin Jones football field from January 20-21. Read the rest of this entry →

City clears Baguio market of roving vendors

January 20, 2007 in Baguio City, general, urban poor

BAGUIO CITY (Jan. 18) — The City’s Public Order and Safety Division (POSD) conducted a clean and clear operation in the public market last January 15 after a meat vendor’s group complained of the proliferation of alleged illegal vendors.

Last December 14, 2006 legitimate meat vendors’ representative, Paul Alabanza, requested for a clearing operation of alleged illegal vendors and peddlers surrounding the new Carinderia building at the city market, which he claimed cause multiple obstruction to all motorists and pedestrians. Read the rest of this entry →

City paves dengue, AIDS measures

January 20, 2007 in Baguio City, general, health

BAGUIO CITY (Jan. 15) — The city council approved this week proposed ordinances appropriating funds for health concerns as Dengue hemorrhagic fever and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Introduced by City Councilor Erdolfo V. Balajadia, the approval on second and first reading of the Dengue and AIDS ordinances respectively elicited positive responses from the health officials.

The proposed resolution “Declaring the month of June of every year as Dengue Awareness Month in the City of Baguio and misappropriating funds therefor” has been approved on its second reading by the City Council. Read the rest of this entry →

CIDG collars Ilocos ex-gun-for-hire

January 20, 2007 in general, Ilocos

CURRIMAO, Ilocos Norte(Jan. 19) — Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Ilocos Region are still digging deeply into the possible involvement of a recently arrested former “gun-for-hire” in the killing of Abra Rep. Luis Bersamin in New Manila Quezon City more than a month ago.

Everything is being considered by Task Force Bersamin on the movements and prior transactions of Nolie P. Lumbo, a resident of barangay Simon, Curimao, Ilocos Norte who was arrested on Wednesday, January 17 by Ilocos Norte CIDG operatives led by Inspector Romeo Acosta for illegal gun possession upon the orders of Regional Trial Court branch 18 Judge Virgilio Macaraeg, said CIDG-Region 1 chief Sr. Supt. Marvin Bolabola. Read the rest of this entry →

Vigan’s longganisa festival ready to wow the world

January 20, 2007 in general, Ilocos, tourism

VIGAN CITY (Jan. 20) — Ready to wow the world, Vigan City is all set to stage its fifth edition of the Longganisa Festival and street dancing competition on Monday.

As one of the main events to highlight the sixth anniversary celebration of the cityhood of Vigan and its annual fiesta from January 16 – 27, the Longganisa Festival undeniably is making waves on the city’s tourism industry as well as economy. Read the rest of this entry →

TF Abra accused of ransacking houses in Tineg

January 20, 2007 in Cordillera, general, human rights

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (Jan. 18) — You could not correct a wrong with another wrong.

Task Force Abra policemen again earned criticisms this week from leaders of a hinterland village when they reportedly unlawfully searched and ransacked 21 houses in barangay Cagayanan, Tineg town in Abra. Read the rest of this entry →

Itogon residents oppose PMA housing site claim

January 20, 2007 in Cordillera, general, land rights

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (Jan. 18) — Residents and local government units (LGU) officials of Itogon, Benguet opposed the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Housing Cooperative’s request for the proclamation of a portion of a forest reservation in Itogon, Benguet as PMA housing site.

The Housing Cooperative requested the Land Management Section (LMS) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) the segregation and proclamation of a 30-hectare area from a public forest at Barangay Gumatdang and Barangay Ucab in Itogon as PMA housing site. Read the rest of this entry →

Weddings made in heaven

January 20, 2007 in Cordillera, general

BAGUIO CITY (Jan. 18) — This year’s “Weddings made in Heaven”, the biggest bridal fair and fashion show north of Manila, promotes the fabric that is being utilized for the dresses and gowns made of silk, produced by farmers from Kapangan Benguet, and promote local designers, as well as Baguio City as the number one wedding destination in the Philippines, according to its organizers.

Cordilleran motif. Local models Alden Marc Llanes and Abegail Lachica show a Cordilleran inspired motif which will be featured during the bridal show of the 4th Weddings Made in Heaven here in Baguio City next month as part of the Panagbenga festivities. Photo courtesy of Redjie Melvic Cawis/PIA Read the rest of this entry →