December 28, 2008 in food, general
Ni BRENDA S. DACPANO
Dagiti tedda nga arak ket mabalin nga usaren a pangaramid ti fruitcake. Ngem no kayat yo a simple laeng ti preparasyon aramiden met laeng a mainum. Adtoy dagiti wagas.
Photo by Brenda S. Dacpano
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December 21, 2008 in Baguio City, general, land rights
BAGUIO CITY — An Ibaloi clan in this city hit the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) for entertaining and endorsing application of “”unscrupulous people” to have their ancestral land’ titled.
Judith Cariño, representing the descendants of Mateo Cariño and his wife Bayosa Ortega, said their present ancestral land claim of 94 hectares over the Baguio Dairy Farm in Green Valley, here, are also the subject of the NCIP Commissioners en banc deliberation where, she alleged, 67 hectares are to be awarded to the Ikang Paus clan. Read the rest of this entry →
December 21, 2008 in Cordillera, general, human rights
BAGUIO CITY — In his uggayam (traditional chant), Ama Julio Longan, 68, of the Taloctoc sub-tribe of Kalinga urged his audience in a human rights rally to join mabtad, where Cordillera communities and groups are urged to collective act for finding James Balao, missing since September 17.
Mabtad is a traditional call and practice in Kalinga and Mountain Province, particularly in the binodngan or bodong (peace pact) practicing areas. Members of communities are mobilized during calamities or in dire need – whether it is due to man made acts or natural ones, explained Ama Longan, a veteran in the restoration in broken peace pacts in Kalinga. Read the rest of this entry →
December 21, 2008 in Baguio City, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera, general, Ilocos, politics
BAGUIO CITY — Religious leaders convened here recently saw that both panels in the peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the communist rebel groups are optimistic of the resumption of the talks despite conditions that need ironing out.
Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos church leaders were in town for the Northern Luzon Regional Workshop on Peace Baguio CityDecember 5 and 6. Read the rest of this entry →
December 21, 2008 in Baguio City, energy, general
BAGUIO CITY — “We are still willing to sit down and talk,” Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. as a local landowner’s group threatened to divert the water from the hydroelectric plants in Asin.
With the intercession of Benguet representative Samuel Dangwa, who appealed for a reasonable arrangement between the parties to achieve social justice and equity, City Administrator Peter Fianza is optimistic the problem with landowners would be solved soon. Read the rest of this entry →
December 21, 2008 in general, national
QUEZON CITY — As government releases the last P7.33 billion worth of incremental value-added tax (VAT) collection for the ‘Katas ng VAT’ program, majority of Filipinos believe that revenues from the tax measure did not reach them.
According to the latest IBON Survey, 68.1% of the 1,494 respondents say that the revenues of VAT did not reach them, while 16.6% say that they did. Read the rest of this entry →
December 21, 2008 in agriculture, Cordillera, general
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — Some strawberry farmers here hope to get a boost in the yield this season with the introduction lately of the predator mites that would prey on the spider mites that consume leaves and flowers fast.
PREY. Spider mites that destroy strawberry are now pests of prey to the more farmer-friendly predator mites. Photo by Lyn V. Ramo
The third release of the pest control mites was done Thursday at the swamp in Betag, here, with the ceremonial release led by Benguet State University (BSU) President Rogelio Colting and Benguet Gov. Nestor Fongwan. Read the rest of this entry →
December 21, 2008 in general, Ilocos
CANDON CITY — A peasant group in Ilocos denounces the statements made by the military against a peasant leader in its radio program aired last November 8.
According to the Solidarity of Peasants against Exploitation (STOP Exploitation), a peasant alliance in the Ilocos Region and an affiliate of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), “soldier broadcasters” belonging to the 50th Infantry Brigade (IB) Civil Military Operations repeatedly mentioned in the radio program “Timek ti Soldado (the soldier’s voice)” that Dolores Haduca, a resident of Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur, is a “consistent supporter” of the revolutionary Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-New People’s Army (NPA) in their community. Read the rest of this entry →
December 21, 2008 in Baguio City, general
BAGUIO CITY — Different youth organizations, spearheaded by Youth for Accountability, Change and Truth Now! (Youth ACT Now!) in Baguio and Benguet gathered once again on December 12 for a short program to register their opposition to GMA’s charter change.
With the theme “Walang Saya Ang Pasko Kung ChaCha Ang Regalo,” the protesters held christmas (pla)cards with slogans such as “Pagkain sa mesa, hindi ChaCha,” and “Edukasyon ng Kabataan Ipaglaban, Wag Pabayaan.” Read the rest of this entry →
December 21, 2008 in Cordillera, general, migrant
ITOGON, Benguet — The distressful plight of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) became the highlight of a gathering of families at the Itogon Training Center at Bua, in barangay Tuding, here, as the event focused on five Benguet OFW families.
As the world remembers migrants, the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA) here gathered Wednesday some 100 families of OFWs in Benguet for its annual OWWA Day. Read the rest of this entry →
December 21, 2008 in general, international, migrant
HONG KONG — Observing International Migrant Day organized overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in Hong Kong staged a picket-protest at the Philippine Consulate General to dramatize opposition to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s move for Charter Change (Cha-cha) Thursday.
Dolores Baladares of UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK called on all overseas Filipinos and their families to oppose Cha-cha. She said Arroyo’s criminal neglect of overseas Filipinos, her anti-migrant policies, her government’s exactions and the corruption of OFW funds are enough reasons for the OFWs to oppose an Arroyo term extension through the proposed Cha-cha. Read the rest of this entry →
December 21, 2008 in Baguio City, general
BAGUIO CITY — Conceived from the Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba (BLIST) idea, Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. is now advocating metropolitanization of more neighboring towns other than those earlier mentioned.
Metropolitanization would be inclusion of more willing areas in the Cordillera region to sharing of resources. According to the mayor, inclusion of more towns in the idea would be advantageous. Baguio is more than willing to share its resources in return, he said. Read the rest of this entry →
December 21, 2008 in Baguio City, Cordillera, general
ITOGON, Benguet — Despite public announcements of Baguio City’s alleged negotiation for an engineered sanitary landfill (ESL) at Antamok Mines, here, Mayor Mario W. Godio Wednesday posed questions on the proposal.
Godio questioned the proposal, saying the site is a mineralized area and its land use conversion need legislative action. He added the city council has not talked with local officials here. Read the rest of this entry →
December 21, 2008 in Cordillera, general
BAGUIO CITY — Maguey production can boost the fibercraft as well as the textile industry of Benguet because of its potentials compared to other fiber producing plants available in the locality.
This is a result of the baseline study conducted by BSU researchers under the Angara-funded project titled, “Improving the Textile Industry in Benguet.” Maguey became one of the major focus of the project. Read the rest of this entry →
December 21, 2008 in Cordillera, general, national, people
KABAYAN, Benguet — For facilitating the learning for high school and out-of-school youth, a local youth group received awards and grants in a prestigious awards body recently.
The Society of Scholars and Grantees (SoSG) of the Benguet State University (BSU) was chosen as one of the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) of the Philippines 2008 in awarding ceremonies at the Renaissance Hotel, Makati City last December 16, 2008. Read the rest of this entry →
December 21, 2008 in Cordillera, general
Pasil vies for 4th-class status from mining, power
TABUK, Kalinga — Pasil will be a 4th class town once the projected taxes and fees from power and mines exploration in the area are realized.
Pasil Mayor James Edduba is optimistic this target will be realized after the council passed an ordinance charging annual occupation fee for power and mining firms.
As this developed, talks are ripe on the possible resumption of operation of the Batong Buhay Gold Mines, also in Pasil.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) records show Pasil’s abundant deposits of metallic and non-metallic mineral resources and great potential for electric power generation from geothermal and water resources.
Aside from explorations on indigenous and non-conventional energy sources, Pasil plans to build a mini-hydro power plant along the Tabia River in barangay Malucsad, which according to feasibility studies can supply the electricity needs of the residents and an income generating project if power is sold outside.
In the Cordillera, a total of 10,522 hectares are covered under exploration permit (EXPA) all located in the province of Kalinga particularly in Pasil; 729,996 hectares applied for financial or technical assistance agreement (FTAA); and 63,694 hectares on applications for mineral production (MPSA). # PIA-Kalinga
Besao bans sale, use of firecrackers
BESAO, Mt. Province — To protect the residents from accidents caused by firecrackers and to ensure no business establishments and agents will sell firecrackers of any kind here, the council came up with an ordinance that bans the sale and firing of firecrackers.
Indiscriminate firing of firecrackers may result in accidents, death, loss of limb and cause disturbance and affect the emotional wellbeing of many people.
Violation of this ordinance means a fines ranging from community service to P250 to P2,500 depending on who committed the offense.
All concerned residents of the municipality are also authorized to check for violations and report the same to authorities concerned. # Juliet B. Saley/PIA MP
41st IB troops clash with NPA in Lacub
LICUAN-BAAY, Abra — Troops from the 41st Infantry Battalion of the Philippines Army based in Licuan-Baay under the command of LTC Ignacio B. Madriaga clashed with communist rebels in Brgy. Pacoc-Talampac, Lacub, Abra on December 16 at around 12:30 P.M.
No one was reported hurt from both parties in the incident. However, the government troopers captured personal belongings and subversive documents left behind by the fleeing New People’s Army members, who reportedly scampered towards different directions.
In a press release made by 1Lt. Eduard L. Sia-ed, civil military operations officer, a platoon of troops was fired upon by the NPAs while on their way to Brgy. Pacoc-Talampac in Lacub.
A brief firefight followed and lasted fir 15 minutes. According to the operating troops, the site of encounter was almost the same site of the large NPA encampment overran by the 41 IB in April last year indicating the continued presence of the rebels in the area.
Madriaga vowed to enforce the government declaration of a unilateral 4-day suspension of offensive military operations (SOMO) with communist guerrillas from December 24-25 and from Dec. 31-Jan. 1. # Maritess Beñas/PIA-Abra
December 21, 2008 in editorials, general, opinion
That is how Pepe Escobar of AsiaTimes online labeled the shoe-throwing incident during the joint press conference of American President George W. Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad last Monday when an Iraqi reporter – Munthathar Al-Zaidi – hurled his shoes at the US president.
“This is a farewell kiss, you dog” Al-Zaidi yelled as he threw the first shoe, the ultimate insult an Arab can throw to a person, according to observers, and before he could be pinned down and dragged out of the conference room by security men, he managed to hurl his other shoe at Bush while shouting “This is for the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq.” Read the rest of this entry →
December 21, 2008 in columns, general, opinion
By ARTHUR L. ALLAD-IW
December 10 every year is commemorated as the day when the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted in 1948. The instrument contained basic human rights. Last December 10 was its 60th.
Going back 108 years ago in our Philippine history, on December 10, 1898 in Paris, France, then descending world powerful state, Spain, and the emerging world power, the United States of America, signed the ceding of the Philippines as a colony of the former to the latter in an agreement now popularly known as the Treaty of Paris. Read the rest of this entry →
December 21, 2008 in columns, general, opinion
By MARY ANN MANJA BAYANG
That is right – Christmas has never been the real date of birth of Jesus Christ. Look at the following interesting facts and you will soon have a better understanding of Christmas beyond the ‘Christ’s birth’ belief that we always had.
The middle of winter has long been a time of celebration around the world. Centuries before the arrival of the man called Jesus, early Europeans celebrated light and birth in the darkest days of winter. Many peoples rejoiced during the winter solstice, when the worst of the winter was behind them and they could look forward to longer days and extended hours of sunlight. Read the rest of this entry →
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