By MAURICE MALANES
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BAGUIO CITY — If they thought the issue over the Athletic Bowl has been put to rest after they recalled their earlier position of approving a deal with Koreans to develop and lease the facility, the involved city officials may have to brace themselves for the continuing actions of a vigilant public.

“We cannot just sweep the issue under the rug,” said University of the Cordilleras’ College of Law dean Reynaldo Agranzamendez. “The involved city officials must still be held accountable for entering into a deal without the necessary legal processes of public consultation and public bidding.”

Agranzamendez is the legal counsel of the Baguio Multi-Sectoral Group, whose leaders and members include religious and civic groups.

Leaders and members of the group were supposed to file a class suit against both parties of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) and the members of the city council who confirmed the MoA.

But they had to rethink their move after a local daily reported on Jan. 13 that An Ho Yul, the representative of the Korean party to the controversial MoA, had backed out. They also would like to ascertain that the Koreans have indeed officially retracted in writing the questionable deal.

City Mayor Peter Rey Bautista, who signed the MOA last Dec. 10, and members of the city council who unanimously confirmed the agreement last Dec. 21, all have retracted their positions because of popular opposition.

“Still, the fact that this (controversial MoA) happened must be a cause for alarm because this kind of questionable deal did not happen just once. There were the controversial car plan and the Jadewell fiasco,” said Agranzamendez.

He was referring to the proposal by city councilors to provide themselves service cars right after they assumed office three years ago and the controversial pay parking company, which the past city council authorized to collect fees from owners of parked vehicles along the city’s streets.

Meeting on Jan. 13, the multi-sectoral group leaders stressed that the unmaintained and unkempt Athletic Bowl south of Burnham Park needed repair and development. But its leaders asserted that any development of the facility must be done legally and rightly.

“We must ensure that the utter disregard for transparency and democratic processes must not happen again in the future,” said Jose Taguba, one of the group’s leaders.

But Taguba cheered up leaders and members of the group gathered at the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) to “congratulate ourselves for our continuing vigilance.”

Leaders and supporters of the multi-sectoral group said the controversial MoA speaks volumes about those who pushed and approved it and then changed minds and “washed their hands” only after a vigilant public exposed what it asserted was irregular.

“Those involved either lacked the capacity to discern what was irregular or were aware of the irregularity and questionability of it all but helped push it anyway,” said lawyer Roney Gandeza.

Had the deal with the Koreans succeeded, the city would have been at the losing end, considering the “minuscule” proposed 100,000-peso monthly rent for the athletic bowl facility even if this would be raised to 140,000 pesos for the next 25 years, said Agranzamendez.

Leaders and members of the multi-sectoral group all agreed that a better and “more win-win” lease and development package for the neglected athletic bowl facility and its surrounding environs could be ensured through “a transparent, participatory and democratic process.”

Rev. Simplicio Dang-awan Jr., UCCP-Baguio senior pastor, had suggested that the group issue a “statement of concern,” which can also help other members of the public to be ever-vigilant in scrutinizing the actions of their elected officials. # nordis.net

NORTHERN DISPATCH
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CAMP PRESIDENT QUIRINO, Bantay, Ilocos Sur — The principal suspect in the murder attempt of a veteran broadcaster in Ilocos Sur has already been identified by the Ilocos Sur Police Provincial Office.

Senior Superintendent Eduardo A. Dopale, Ilocos Sur Police Provincial director, named the suspect as Mario Paa, a resident of Barangay Bulag East, Bantay, Ilocos Sur, who earlier was tagged as the prime suspect in the slay try on Eugene Paet, a commentator of DWRS radio station.

Dopale said the suspect was a neighbor of the victim. Their investigation showed that the two figured in a heated altercation last New Yearfs Eve regarding indiscriminate firing of a gun. The suspect accused the victim of firing a gun on New Year’s eve which the victim vehemently denied. He said they are now filing a case of frustrated murder against the suspect at the provincial prosecutor’s office.

The suspect will be arrested as soon as a warrant of arrest is issued by the court. Dopale also said the motive was not related to Paet’s work as a broadcaster but due to a personal grudge, citing the altercation between the two.

Nevertheless, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines – Ilocos Sur (NUJP-IS) Chapter chaired by Arlon Serdenia strongly condemned the shooting.
In a press release, Serdenia said, “The shooting of a broadcaster in the province is an attack to our constitutional right for the freedom of expression.

On the evening of January 7, 2010, broadcaster Eugene Paet of DWRS Commando Radio was shot while he was on his way home after his program “Operation Commando” by two assassins riding in a motorcycle.

They shot him twice but hit him once on his left side. Paet managed to stop his motorcycle and sought help. He was rushed to the hospital while the suspects fled.

The veteran broadcaster is now stable after a four (4) hour operation. Jun Ramos,the news director of Commando radio said that Paet is still in the intensive care unit for observation.
The statement said, “Whatever the motive was, this shooting of our brother in the media, NUJP Ilocos Sur Chapter condemns in the strongest terms the shooting of “Commando Uno” Eugene Paet.”

“We appeal to the authorities for the immediate resolution of the case as well the creation of a task force to investigate the shooting incidents.
We also call on our colleagues to stand firm and united in the face of these growing threats. Let us also demand an accounting from the government for its failure to protect and defend our rights not only as media but as a citizen. It is also very ironic that the scene of the crime was in the front of the police provincial headquarters.

Let us pray for the fast recovery of Commando Uno To our fellows, let us defend the freedom of expression at all times!” the statement concluded.# nordis.net

By JS TABANGCURA
www.nordis.net

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — The Benguet State University on its 24th Charter Day Celebration on January 12 inked a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the Asia Pacific Resource Recovery Reuse and Development Corporation (APRRRDC) on several research projects.

As stated in the MoA, BSU will implement research projects under the Institute of Highland Farming Systems and Agroforestry (IFHSA) which are:

Micropropagation of Hanga Varieties of Cordillera (Pittosporum resiniferum Hemsl.); Micropropagation of Seven Bamboo Varieties in Benguet; Feasibility of Chevon and Dairy Goat Production in Benguet; Ostrich Production Project and Solid Waste Management Project with focus on the processing of organic fertilizer.

These researches will be led by Julia Solimen as program leader and  Valentino Macanes as project manager. BSU researchers involved are Milagros Dumaslan, Dante Chichioco, Marissa Parao, Anatalia Castrence, Myrna Walsiyen, Richard Dumapis, Madeline Kingan, Jose Balaoing, Alexander Fagyan and Asuncion Nagpala.# nordis.net

By ALDWIN QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — Bayan Muna Representative and senatorial bet Satur Ocampo questioned the Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Personnel (CBFSP) of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on its decision in exempting the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) from gun ban during election period.

In a Comelec resolution 8742 released on January 11, government militia particularly the Cafgu, together with the Presidential Security Group (PSG), the Bureau of Fire Protection, the treasurer of the Philippines, deputy tresurers and the internal security division of the Bureau of Treasury are all exempted from the gun ban which started January 10 and will end on July 2 of 2010.

Comelec Commissioner and CBFSP head Lucenito Tagle said that they exempted the CAFGU, the PSG and the other groups because they are under the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police. The commission also exempted the security personnel of accredited foreign diplomatic corps and establishments and foreign military personnel in the Philippines who are covered by existing treaties and international agreements.

Ocampo said that members of the Cafgu are often serving as bodyguards and goons of local warlords. He said they are being used as instruments for harassing and even killing supporters of rival candidates on election period. Ocampo added that they are given the most minimal training on gun handling and gun ethics with almost no idea on the respect of civil, political and human rights.

According to Ocampo, many of the Cafgus have become legitimized private armies for warlords and local government officials in the provinces and are allowed to carry firearms during the election period thus defeating the purpose of the election gun ban.

“Cafgus have been involved in many cases of human rights violations perpetrated against civilians. The Comelec should include them in the gun ban. In fact, the very institution itself should have been dismantled a long time ago!” said Ocampo.

The militant lawmaker also criticized the decision of Comelec accepting applications from officials for exemptions on various grounds. Ocampo said there are far too many exemptions that it is almost as if there is no gun ban at all. He added that by election day, there will be many people carrying guns.

The Comelec Regional Joint Security Control Centers (RJSCC) will accept applications from congressional candidates and other candidates for local elective positions for authority to employ bodyguards in the regions. It also authorizes the transfer or delivery of firearms bought during the election period so long as it is done by the “authorized dealer itself on a one way basis directly to the address of the buyer within twenty four hours.”

Ocampo said that the gun ban of the Comelec will soon turn out to be a failure. “Does the Comelec have the means and the manpower to monitor the activities of all local candidates and their security forces? Can the Comelec keep an eye on all the security forces of all the officials and agencies they exempt from the gun ban? I don’t think so,” Ocampo stressed.

Meanwhile, the umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) called on the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to dismantle all para-military groups as election season started January 10.

Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes Jr said that the dismantling of all para-military units and armed civilian groups is imperative if private armies and local warlords are to be eliminated. “It is a well-known fact that these armed civilians are being used by local politicians as their own private armies. We have seen as much in the Ampatuan massacre,” Reyes said.

Issue on the para-military groups and armed civilian volunteers were highlighted in the news after the November 23 Ampatuan massacre in Maguindanao where a hundred elements of Civilian Volunteers Organization (CVO) were involved in the massacre of 57 civilians and members of the media.

The CVOs involved were reportedly part of the Ampatuan clan’s private army.
“The Arroyo government has boasted that it will be coming down hard on private armies as we enter the election period. But unless Arroyo dismantles all para-military groups and revokes Executive Order 546, all this talk of going after private armies will be empty rhetoric,” said Reyes.

E.O. 546 was signed by President Arroyo in 2006 for the mobilization, training and arming of CVOs as local armed units under the supervision of the Philippine National Police (PNP) for counter-insurgency operations. The said CVOs are in addition to the Cafgus under the command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. # nordis.net

By ALDWIN QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — As the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) launches “Ani ng Sining” gearing up in further promoting the tradional Filipino arts to instill the richness of Philippine tradition to the Filipinos, NCCA Executive Director Cecille Guidote-Alvarez said the National Arts Month in February will highlight climate change awareness.

Alvarez said that through art forms like poetry, song, dance and paintings, the Filipinos will be educated on the effects of climate change and make them realize their important role in saving the earth from the dangers of climate change.

According to Alvarez, scientists said that among the top 12 vulnerable to disappear or devastated by climate change is the Philippines. She added that everybody has a responsibility at addressing the climate crisis.

Meanwhile, University of the Philippines-Baguio Chancellor and also the NCCA Vice Chair of Visual Arts Dr. Priscilla Supnet-Macansantos said that raising the consciousness on climate change should not only be on February this year but on the years to come. Macansantos added that the campaign should also reach the students, faculty and the public.

Macansantos said that they are much interested on the relation between arts and climate change. She also said that culture and arts should pave way to a greater consciousness on the environment. According to Macansantos, UP Baguio will conduct workshops and forums as well as poetry readings among others as part of the campaign and it will be opened to public.

Alvarez said that video documentaries and independent films on climate change produced by local talents of the Philippines will be shown in different universities of Baguio City and Benguet.

Alvarez said that through culture and arts, climate change awareness can be spread-out not only to tri-media but even “hexa-media” like community performances, radio, TV, internet, comics and all art forms.

According to Alvarez, NCCA has already made a “radio Nobela” on climate change that is being played over DZRH’s program “Radyo Balintataw”. She said they are distributing free copies of the said program to schools. She also said they will also provide copies to any radio station for use.

Alvarez also announced that the Philippines holds the honor to be dubbed by the Association of Southeast Asian countries as the first Cultural capital of Asean for 2010 and 2011.

In 2007, the Philippines successfully hosted heads of states summit in Cebu and the Philippine Theater Center with the support from the Asean Director General. The NCCA organized a Millenium Development Goals performance and Media Arts workshops from Ancestral roots to New Routes of Artistic expressions.

Alvarez said that activities are already lined up for the National Arts Month this coming February. Two activities, the Sayaw Pinoy and “Organik Musik 2” will be shown here in Baguio. # nordis.net

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The city council’s withdrawal of their endorsement of the anomalous Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for the lease of the Athletic Bowl to a group of Korean investors can be considered as a victory for the citizens of Baguio.
For the first time in the history of this city, an alert and vigilant citizenry made known their sentiment over a deal that exhibits all the hallmarks of a “foul play” as Councilor Pinky Rondez puts it. And their protest was heeded by the city council.

Thanks to the efforts of some mass media practitioners and the availability of the social networking platform, the Facebook, thousands of city residents thumbed down the proposed lease of one of the city’s few remaining public facilities in a matter of days.

This would not have happened in earlier times. Apparently, the concerned citizens of Baguio have learned some lessons from similar quesitonable deals City Hall has entered into in the past, notably, the proposed development of the city market by Uniwide and the infamous Jadewell Parking system.

In both instances, it was the people of Baguio that suffered the negative consequences of “development” projects ostensibly designed for their benefit, but ending up as unmistakably inimical to their interests. Meanwhile, we know of some politicians and deal-makers who were laughing all the way to the banks.

This time our “honorable” councilors were more sensitive to the people’s sentiments perhaps because of the forthcoming election season when most of them would be running for reelection. But their efforts to extricate themselves from a patently erroneous decision endorsing the MoA was a laughable sight of stone-walling.

Even mayor Bautista’s remarks that investors would now be discouraged from making similar deals.

Investing in the city falls flat because we simply cannot agree to any investment agreement that flagrantly violates all the accepted rules of transparency and accountablity. He misses the point entirely in the issues raised by his constituents.

In more morally upright environment those responsible for this anomalous lease agreement would have resigned by now after being caught red-handed. But this is the Philippines circa 2010. So we can expect the perpetrators to reinvent themselves as champions of good governance come election time. And what do you know? Most of them might even get reelected after this shameful incident.

Such is the challenge confronting us because once reelected nothing will prevent them from cooking-up various schemes to make their stay in office “worth their while”.

This leaves us the people of Baguio with no choice but to remain steadfast and vigilant in defending and promoting our interests once our “honorable” leaders start turning their backs on their election promises.

Otherwise, our gains in good governance would turn into a pyrrhic victory. # nordis.net

By KATHLEEN T. OKUBO
www.nordis.net

Somebody I know was in the area of the government priority programed Laiban Dam in Rizal-Quezon provinces last week when we were exchanging howdy text messages. He said he was “in Quezon re: Laiban dam. I answered that I knew the reviving of that dam was strongly protested by indigenous peoples groups in the area. He answered me in jest that it was “only the IP in Nordis” (who was protesting).

It just dawned on me, what if the national government officials who have something to do with the approval of this dam project were as ignorant as that texted pun? How much damning can it be for the greater number of people in the area (even for all Filipinos) where that dam was to stand? Have they not heard of the effects of the Ambuklao, Binga, and especially the large San Roque dams against the over all environment of northern Luzon, the livelihood and the lives (both in terms of all living species indigenous to the area and the river) sacrificed in floods, landslides and during its conception, construction and in its continued operation?

In earlier press releases it is documented that , “…Ten thousand indigenous peoples and upland settlers are bound to be displaced with the revival of the Laiban Dam, touted by government as a priority project with a $1-billion financial support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). As the opposition to the project increases, the Macapagal-Arroyo administration is using military and paramilitary units to quell social unrest …”

Gleaned from various reports: For the Dumagat and Remontado indigenous peoples, Makidyapat, their supreme maker lent them the natural resource to care for so they may draw nourishment and live well, they were born there and will be buried there. “The reconstruction of the dam challenges this belief as the submersion of eight barangays in Rizal and Quezon provinces is feared.

Aside from displacement, more indigenous and peasant families will be evacuated or displaced from the targeted dam reservoir in General Nakar and Infanta, Quezon, according to the Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (KAMP, the national federation of indigenous peoples organizations in the Philippines).

KAMP coordinator Nonoy Gobrin said that at 113-meter height, the Laiban Dam will directly affect 20,000 hectares. “As it projects to direct 2,400 million liters of water daily, it will inevitably affect the irrigation supply of lowland farms,” he said.

The Laiban, then known as the Kaliwa Kanan (left-right), refers to the river that traverses along the Sierra Madre into the Pacific. During the Marcos presidency 1960s-mid-1980s, the dam project was envisioned to be a part of the Industrial Complex Plan in North Eastern Luzon. Due to the people’s opposition, Marcos and his developers abandoned the project, leaving only two diversion tunnels.

Today, the Macapagal-Arroyo administration has identified Laiban Dam as a priority project. The dam is designed to give water supply, ensure flood control and provide hydropower. However, the Southern Tagalog Environmental Action Movement (STEAM) stressed that the primary beneficiaries of the Laiban Dam are the industrial parks like the Calamba-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon Industrial Zone (CALABARZON, five provinces south of Metro Manila) and the Pacific Coast City in Quezon. The dam, STEAM added, will not contribute to the development of the Dumagat and Remontado indigenous peoples.

The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), the government’s arm to protect and ensure the rights of indigenous peoples seems to have given support more to the project or IP rights violators than to the Dumagats and Remontados. If they had supported the people then these indigenous peoples would not be in a stance for the defense of their ancestral domain opposed to the P50-billion dam project.

Napoleon Buendicho, tribal governor, was in a 148-kilometer march from General Nakar town in Quezon province last November to Manila to seek dialogue with officials. “The construction of dam will deepen our poverty because it will destroy our means of livelihood. Not only that, it will also destroy our cultural traditions because it will submerge our communities and the sacred burial grounds of our forefathers,” Buendicho said.

Was it not the same thing Macli-ing Dulag feared that he fought hard and faced the ultimate sacrifice to save his home from the Chico River Dam projects? And, Jose Doton against the San Roque Dam?

The multi-billion Laiban dam project has been touted to be Metro Manila’s “future water source.”

The project is in line with the aim of Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) to address the national capital region’s expected water supply deficit of 1,600 million liters per day by 2015. This for the destruction of the environment and to render thousands of people homeless and jobless.

Ka Berto San Jose, a member of the Katutubong Binigkis ang Lakas para sa Tribong Dumagat (KABALAT-DUMAGAT, or Indigenous Peoples United by the Strength of the Dumagat Tribe) says; “It is a blatant insult to us who are the children of the Sierra Madre. We and our ancestors have tended these lands long before any government was established. The land which is sacred to us “is a mere commodity to the government.”

***
So, my dear text mate who was in Botolan, Laiban Dam is a death sentence to the IPs there, as it was for the Ibalois displaced by the Ambuklao and Binga dams, and to the tribe of an Ibaloi great grandmother 329 hectares was grabbed from, And, it is a very serious matter that can’t simply be a pun to throw around for fun. # nordis.net

By REV. LUNA DINGAYAN
www.nordis.net

“Do not make for your selves images of anything in heaven or on earth or in the water under the earth.  Do not bow down to any idol or worship it, because I am the Lord your God and I tolerate no rivals. I bring punishment on those who hate me and on their descendants down to the fourth generation.  But I show my love to thousands of generations of those who love me and obey my laws.”
— Exodus 20:4-6  

Black Nazarene
January 9 is the feast of the Black Nazarene. The procession commemorates the transfer of the Black Nazarene from a church in Intramuros, the Old City, to Quiapo Church on January 9, 1767. The original Black Nazarene was a wooden image of dark-colored Christ bent under the weight of a heavy cross.

It was made by an unknown Mexican sculptor and brought to Manila by a Recollect priest in the 17th century. According to stories, the image became black in color because of the fire that burned a certain portion of the ship that carried the wooden statue. The image also miraculously survived the fires that engulfed the Quiapo Church in 1791 and 1929, the great earthquakes of 1645 and 1863, and the 1945 bombing of Manila during World War II.

Devotion to the Black Nazarene was encouraged by Pope Innocent X, who issued a papal bull establishing the Confradia de Jesus Nazareno in 1650.
In the 19th century, Pope Pius VII granted indulgence to people who prayed devoutly to the Black Nazarene. Every year countless devotees come to Quiapo Church to have a glimpse of the image and to touch it with their towels or handkerchiefs with the faith that they can be cured from their illnesses. Devotees have attributed miracles and answered prayers to the Black Nazarene.

Every year, there are also lots of victims of injuries or even death during the procession due to the great number of devotees and the desire of each one to get closer to the image and to touch it. At least two devotees died this year and more than 400 were rushed to the various hospitals and first aid stations.

Prohibition to Make Images
One of the commandments or instructions Moses gave to the Israelites in their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land was the prohibition to make graven images and to bow down before them.  The Scripture says, “Do not make for your selves images of anything in heaven or on earth or in the water under the earth. Do not bow down to any idol or worship it, because I am the Lord your God and I tolerate no rivals. I bring punishment on those who hate me and on their descendants down to the fourth generation. But I show my love to thousands of generations of those who love me and obey my laws.”(Exodus 20:4-6).

The Israelites were given instructions not to make any image, because of the tendency to replace the worship of the One True God with the worship of the image, even if the image itself is supposed to be that of God.
Instead of worshipping the one being symbolized, the symbol itself becomes now the object of worship. In other words, it is the Black Nazarene now that has miraculous powers, rather than Jesus Christ our Lord symbolized by the image. Hence, making images becomes a dangerous idolatry.

Educational Tools
Some try to justify the making of images by saying that these are used as educational tools. Generally, people would understand abstract ideas better if they are put into images. For instance, we could probably hear vividly Jesus’ suffering on the cross being described. But then it would make a lot of difference if we could see the image of the suffering Christ carrying the cruel cross.

Popular religion, however, do not regard images simply as educational tool. Oftentimes, the images are turned into objects of worship and certain magical powers are attached to them. Apparently, formal religion seems to regard images quite different from popular religion.

Evangelical Temptation
Protestant evangelical Christianity has also a similar temptation. One of its basic doctrines is the Sola Scriptura (Scripture Only). This means that all church teachings and practices must be founded on the Scriptures. However, there is a tendency of Protestant evangelical Christianity to worship the Bible by accepting everything in it as gospel truth without proper interpretation. Moreover, the Bible is sometimes used to condemn people instead of uplifting them and give them hope.

Certainly, the Bible is God’s Word for us, but it is not God itself; in the same manner that the image of the Black Nazarene represents the Christ, but it is not Christ itself. # nordis.net

By ALDWIN QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

The problem with political jokes is they get elected. — Henry Cate, VII
Election comes and politicians swarm and say good things and shake hands with everyone, trade beso-besos even with those who seldom take a bath. Politicians will say anything under the sun like they knew how one feels and something must be done. Many politicians also even say that you are his very distant or from a very long distance relative.

When campaign period comes, they will know how to act in front of their audiences, dance with both left feet and sing in not-so-nice to the ear songs.
But can these politicians especially the presidentiables who boast that they can rescue the already gasping-for-breath Philippine economic and social crisis from further crisising? Can they truly address these situations? Can they qualify for the necessary criteria to answer the demands of the masses?:

1. Genuine agrarian reform to emancipate Filipino farmers; free distribution of land to tillers;
2. Collectivized farming with sufficient financial, material and technical support;
3. Nationalization of strategic industries and services like oil and energy for the benefit of the public;
4. Job security and decent wages for Filipino workers; abolition of contractualization and junking of the Herrera Law;
5. Junking of the labor export policy; creation of sufficient domestic jobs; in the immediate, protection of OFWs and support for families of workers who were retrenched abroad;
6. Junking of the Visiting Forces Agreement and all unequal treaties between the Philippines and foreign countries;
7. Accessible public education to all; allocation of public funds to basic social services;
8. Justice for all victims of human rights violations.

The aforementioned are among those included in the three-page “Manifesto of the Toiling Masses for Jobs and Livelihood” presenting solutions for poverty, hunger and joblessness signed by representatives of poor sectors of the Philippine society on January 14.

Lastly, how can they describe social change by changing the societal system, do they have the balls to work for genuine social transformation?# nordis.net

By ADELA WAYAS
www.nordis.net

Aside from the news that a powerful earthquake, magnitude 7.0 hit Haiti, the motorists in the country are also facing another regulation by the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

After LTO implemented the Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) program, different transport groups nationwide were uneasy and are opposing the new regulation by the office. Many say that it is illegal and will invade the privacy of the motorist. Whether it is true or not, here is what I think of the RFID program of the LTO.

RFID, according to the article I read, is a short-range wireless communications technology that lets a tagged device emit a weak signal that can be read by a scanner. The tag contains a pre-set amount of information that can be useful in several applications, from inventory management, staff/student identification, asset tracking, mobile payments and the like. An RFID chip usually has a lifespan of several years, and is often inexpensive to produce and acquire (particularly if en masse).

I can not disagree when LTO says that RFID is to give order in the streets in the country if that is really their reason for implementing the program but would it be an assurance that there will be order when the program is implemented? The office is saying that the RFID could solve the problem of traffic, carnapping woes and the like in the country. One question, what if the carnappers will remove and dump the tag of the vehicle? Then the P350 registration fee paid will be wasted.

One more, the device (RFID) is a short-range technology, normally only 10 feet or 3 meters. It will be useless then because it can not monitor the vehicle outside the scanner’s range. By the weak signal of the device how can the scanner monitor the vehicle out of the 10 feet or three meter range? So then the monitoring function of the system will not be maximized.

LTO is also saying that the chip contains information about the vehicle that is why it is easier to check violations, apprehensions and the like, and also easier for vehicle registration. As far as I know, the RFID device is also like the other electronic devices that can be manipulated or hacked. The issue of privacy in this RFID system is very crucial. This can be used to spy on people, if hacked. Though it is not a problem if you do not mind being electronically watched or monitored by strangers.

Another is that, the RFID has only few years lifespan. Motorists have to pay just to get the RFID technology for whose advantage?. It will be another burden to the public utility jitney drivers and taxi drivers. If the RFID will be pursued, the puj drivers will be forced to pay the P350. Actually, the operators will pay for it and then pass the cost on the riding public or worst on the hapless driver.

Does the LTO know how much money a puj driver takes home? or how much an operator gets? My father is a driver and what I am saying here is based on what I have observed and experienced from my 20 years of living. Looking at my father, I know it has been and is very difficult for him to dip into his pocket for money.

The process alone of the franchise registration entails a lot of money. The expense of maintaining the good condition of the vehicle is another problem. These against the very low income from the whole day trips of the vehicle is too small to meet all the regulation fees imposed by the LTO on top the basic cost of living.

I am not saying all of these because I am affected, but I am saying this because more than 4.6 million vehicle owners and their children, their families are most affected.

I just hope that the flaws in the RFID system will be solved by the LTO before it get started. Or the best, LTO will not implement it anymore and just focus to inculcate discipline among drivers disobeying the rules.
Discipline should be practiced and should be imposed strictly instead of arriving into a projects that burden the people.# nordis.net

From BRAULIO YARANON
Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino
www.nordis.net

A ranking member of the City hall “Mafia” that has held absolute power at the Baguio City Hall through a rigodon of positions for the past 18 years., has exposed the culture of greed and corruption of Baguio City’s top politicians, with an enumeration of the many stinking deals involving the group.
The outburst effectively validates the graft and corruption charges aired by the city’s opposition leadership.
The unvarnished revelations which came to light with a member breaking the Mafia code of “Omerta” (Silence), will certainly evoke public discussion through out 2010, of the personalities involved, how the shady deals were negotiated, the amounts received, the bagmen or bagwomen involved, and certainly who received the most among the many millionaires at City Hall.
For sure, the fate of the top “Mafia” bosses and the rest of their loyal cohorts will be resolved by the City’s electorate in the local and national elections in May, and in the Barangay elections in October.

(Sgd.) Braulio Yaranon
Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP)

By BRENDA SUBIDO-DACPANO
www.nordis.net

Nagabsuon ti adu ken nalaka a natnateng iti tiendaan ti Baguio. “Adu ngamin ti naggapu iti China a simmangpet idiay Manila isu nga imbes a maideliber koma idiay Manila dagitoy nateng ti Benguet ket saanen,” kinuna ti maysa nga aglaklako ti nateng iti tiendaan.

Daytoyen ti resulta ti China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) nga epektibo iti umuna nga aldaw ti 2010 a no sadinno ket mailukat ti Pilipinas iti nawaya a linnako. Dakkel kano ti maganar ti Pilipinas ditoy. Ngem no nagsuwek ti presyo ti produkto dagiti mannalon, kasano ngarud nga agganansya da?

Gapu ta nalaka ti natnateng, nagaramidak ti adu a kimchi. Ngem awan metten ti magatang a kimchi powder, adun sa met ti nagaramid ti kimchi.

Sumaganad ti nadumaduma a resipe a pakausaran kadagiti natnateng iti highlands.

Atsara a cauliflower
Ramen
2 kilo a cauliflower,
2 a kutsara nga asin
8 a babassit a sibuyas
4 nga ungkay ti celery, optional
4 a carrots, optional
1 ulo a bawang, naukisan

Pangiyuperan
4 a tasa a suka ti lambanog wenno nipa
2 a kutsara nga asin wenno segun iti timpla
1 kutsarita a paminta, narumek
6 a kutsara nga asukar a brown, wenno segun iti timpla
Ikabil iti kaserola dagiti ramen ti pangiyuperan. Ipapudot daytoy agingga marunaw dagiti asukar ken asin, agarup 2 minutos. Pabaawan.
Pagsisinaen dagiti cauliflower iti babassit. Bugguan. Pagsisinaen met dagiti ungkay ti celery (no agusar) sakbay nga iwaen iti agarup dua a pulgada kaatiddog. Ukisan ken iwaen iti naingpis dagiti carrots (no agusar). Ukisan met dagiti sibuyas ken bawang.
Iti dakkel a kaserola, ipaburek ti dua litro a danum. Ikabil ti asin apaman a nagburek ti danum, sakbay nga ipisok dagiti cauliflower. Ipaburek iti agarup 30 segundos, adawen ken ikabil iti danum a nalamiis tapno saanen a maituloy ti pannakaluto na ken saan a lumukneng unay. Paik-ikan.
Ikabil dagiti nateng iti isterilisado a garapon, sedseden. Ibukbok ditoy ti impabaaw a suka a natimplaan. Kaluban ken ipakni iti refrigerator. Mabalinen a kanen kalpasan ti agpatnag a pannakauper.
Mayat nga ipares iti tinuno wenno adobo.

* * *
Lettuce wrap
Dagiti maikabil a natnateng ditoy ket segun iti adda iti panawen. Mabalin nga agusar ti bitswelas, cauliflower, carrots, kdpy. Mabalin met a laukan ti tofu wenno tokwa imbes a manok para kadagiti vegetarian.

Ramen
1 nga ulo ti litsugas, iceberg wenno romaine
1 kutsara a sesame oil
1 pulgada a laya, tinadtad
2 ngipen a bawang, tinadtad
2 bulong ti sibuyas
1/2 kilo a barukong ti manok, naiwa a pakwadrado
2 nalabaga a bell pepper, naiwa a pakwadrado
1 lata a water chestnuts
1 ungkay ti celery, naiwa iti guddua pulgada
1 kutsara a soy sauce
2 kutsara nga oyster sauce
1 kutsara a cooking wine
1 kutsarita nga asukar
asin ken paminta a pangtimpla
1 kutsarita a gawgaw a naikanaw iti
2 kutsara a danum

Preparasyon
1. Pagsisinaen dagiti bulong ti litsugas. Ugasan ken paik-ikan.
2. Iti dakkel a pariok, ipapudot ti sesame oil. Igisa ti bawang, laya ken sibuyas. Inayon nga igisa ti manok agingga ag-brown bassit.
3. Ilaok nga iluto dagiti water chestnuts ken nalabaga a sili.
4. Inayon ditoy dagiti nabati a ramen malaksid iti litsugas. Kiwaren ken iluto iti kalalaingan na a pudot iti 8-10 a minutos. Adawen ken pabaawan.
5. Mangikabil ti sanga-kutsara a ginisa iti bulong ti litsugas. Kanen a kasla taco.
* * *

Kimchi
Ti kimchi ket maysa kadagiti lima a kangatuan a “World’s Healthiest Foods” segun iti Health magazine. Daytoy ket gapu iti kinabaknang na iti Bitamina A, thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), calcium ken iron. Addaan pay daytoy ti lactic acid bacteria (lactobacillus) a mangtulong iti panangrunaw iti makan.
Ti kimchi ket maysa a tradisyunal a makan iti Korea. Maaramid daytoy babaen ti panangiyadi ti nadumaduma a natnateng. Maysa a wagas daytoy tapno maipreserba dagiti Koreano dagiti natnateng ken makaipenpen da ti makan sakbay a dumteng ti winter. Dumanon pay ti tawen ti pannakayadi ti kimchi. Sakbay ti winter ikali da dagiti putik a pangipenpenan ti kimchi. Iti kastoy, agbayag ti kimchi gapu ta nalamiis iti uneg ti daga.

Segun kadagiti mabasbasa, ti nagkauna a kimchi ket naaramid manipud iti repolyo ken naasinan a danum. Iti panaglabas ti panawen nadiskubre dagiti Koreano a laukan ti nadumaduma nga spices tapno makaaramid ti agsasabali a raman. Malaukan pay ti nadumaduma a prutas. Napadas kon nga inlaok ti pinya, peras ken mansanas. Naimas ti pinya ngem mas mabibiit nga umalsem kumpara iti peras ken mansanas. Kadawyan nga usarek ti peras gapu ta nalaka ken agtalinaed ti kinasarangsang na.

Dagiti klase ti kimchi ket segun iti ramen a nateng nga usaren ken ti laok na nga spices. Ti kadawyan a maus-usar nga spices ken pangtimpla ket asin, bawang, sibuyas wenno leeks, laya, narumek wenno pulbos a sili a nalabaga ken bugguong nga aramang/ikan.

Ramen
2 tasa nga asin
danum
1 kilo a wombok
1 kilo a naganos a rabanos, pati bulong
1 kilo a bagas ti rabanos
1 kilo a pipino
4 a pidaso a peras wenno mansanas
1/4 kilo a leeks
4 nga ulo a bawang
1/4 kilo a bell pepper, nalabaga
100 gramo a kimchi powder wenno red pepper powder
2 kutsara a sili a sairo

Preparasyon
1. Ugasan dagiti nateng ken prutas.
2. Iwaen dagiti wombok iti 1 pulgada ken bulbulong ti rabanos iti 2 pulgada kaatiddog.
3. Iwaen met dagiti bagas ti rabanos, pipino iti 1 pulgada kaingpis.
4. Iyuper iti 8 nga oras wenno agpatnag dagiti naiwa a nateng iti danum nga adda asin na a malipos dagiti nateng. Saan nga ilaok nga iyuper dagiti peras wenno aniaman a prutas nga usaren (kas ti mansanas wenno pinya). Paik-ikan santo ikabil iti dakkel a malukong wenno palanggana a pangikiwaran.
5. Iwaen iti 1 pulgada kaingpis ti peras wenno mansanas. Saanen a kasapulan nga ukisan.
6. Iwaen iti naingpis a paatiddog dagiti bell pepper wenno tadtaden iti pino.
7. Ukisan santo tadtaden ti bawang wenno rim-itin iti almiris.
8. Rim-itin met laeng iti almiris dagiti sili.
9. Ilaok dagiti spices ken sili iti natnateng. Kiwaren agingga maigamer amin dagiti ramen.
10. Ibales iti putik, burnay wenno pagikkan a makaluban. Saan nga agusar ti aluminum. Bay-an a mayadi iti uneg ti dua nga aldaw iti napudot a lugar wenno lima nga aldaw iti nalamiis a lugar.
11. No nayadin ti kimchi, ipakni iti uneg ti refrigerator. # nordis.net

By TITO SANQUI
www.nordis.net

By ALDWIN QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — A few years after ousting a non-Baguio owned private parking firm here in the city, Baguio folks are growing restless anew after a mysterious deal between Mayor Bautista and a Korean company, An Ho Yul, came to public knowledge.

In a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) dated December 11, 2009, Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. and a certain An Ho Yul with offices at Navy Base entered into an agreement for the lease of a seven-hectare portion of Burnham Park, particularly the Athletic Bowl.

The agreement allows the city governmnet to lease the Athletic Bowl to the Korean company for 25 years for P100,000 a month for the first five months with a 10 percent increase annually.

Under the MoA, the Korean firm will construct a four storey hotel, a three storey sports center with function rooms and offices, and a driving range with golfing equipments and other facilities.

The agreement also provides that the investors shall refurbish and rehabilitate the entire Athletic bowl facility by refitting the existing track and field oval to international standards and the rehabilitation of the bleachers into a twenty thousand-capacity structure.

The said MoA was said to have been approved by the City Council through Resolution Nr. 515 dated December 21, 2009. All members of the city council, except two absentees “with prior notice” – Councilors Balisong and Rondez – signed the resolution.

Lawyer Jose Molintas said that the deal by Bautista and the Korean firm is a violation of the Phillipine Constitution limiting investment in certain sectors deemed to be public utilities to firms with at least 60 percent ownership by Filipino citizens.

All executive and managing officers of such enterprises must be Filipino citizens. Molintas added that the nature of the Korean firm remains unclear. It is not known if it meets the law on the 60% Filipino and 40% foreign ownership of companies doing business here in the country. “And the credibility of the said firm is still not clear to us”, the lawyer added.

Molintas also said that the 25 years lease is already equivalent to selling the Athletic Bowl to the Koreans. He explained that the Athletic Bowl as well as the whole of Burnham Park is not owned by the city as it is still under the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA). “Only an act of congress will give Baguio total ownership of Burnham Park. Now, how can you sell what you do not own?” Molintas asked.

He added that although the city has the authority to have the park leased, it could only do so on a year-to-year basis and not under a Build-Operate- and-Transfer (BOT) scheme.

According to Molintas, it should be recalled that the city had a prior agreement September last year with the University of the Cordilleras (UC) in coming up with a development plan of Burnham park.

In the said agreement, UC will draft plans for Burnham Park and a state-of-the-art centennial park in the form of detailed physical plans, specifications, estimates and presentation media which will be provided to the city government within a ten-month timetable. While the city will be in charge of assisting UC with necessary data, information and other important requirements, UC will come up with development project plans for Burnham which cost P1.9 million and P890,000 for the centennial park.

The drafting of the plans will be facilitated by the UC College of Engineering and Architecture and a professional engineering team. The development plan for Burnham is focused on the 247, 690 square meters of the total 328, 390 meter land area of the park. The plan covers the Melvin Jones Grounds, Igorot Park, picnic groves, the skating rink and the Athletic Bowl.

Molintas said the controversial MoA between the mayor and the Koreans is somewhat unfair to UC. He also claimed that the plan to deal with the Koreans is unfair to Baguio citizens because the plan did not even pass through a public consultation to get the opinion of the public on the said planned development.
Meanwhile, City Councilor Fred Bagbagen drafted a proposed resolution to the council inviting City legal officer Melchor Rabanes and Bautista to “enlighten” the members of the city council in relation to the resolution 515 which was confirmed by the city council itself in one of its regular sessions.

According to the resolution, the second “whereas” of the controversial MOA which states that the “First Party is the manager/ owner of a property known as the Athletic Bowl” referring to the Baguio City is contrary to the MOA entered into by PTA, the National Parks Development Authority and the city of Baguio on January 20, 1998 wherein what was merely ceded was “the management, administration and maintenance of Burnham Park” which includes the Athletic Bowl by the city.

The resolution of Bagbagen is also inviting An Ho Yul to submit the terms of reference and proposed development plan.

According to Molintas, Councilors Bagbagen and Isabelo Cosalan said that they signed the MOA with the expectation that the resolution is only to authorize the mayor to negotiate with entities and not to endorse anything.

City Councilor Elaine Sembrano, meanwhile, appealed to her colleagues to withdraw Resolution 515. Sembrano in a press release said that the Atletic Bowl must be developed and maintained under the terms of reference drawn up through a master development plan in compliance with established procedures pursuant to pertinent laws governing the disposition, including lease arrangements of government assets.

In the weekly Ugnayan press conference, Bautista said the MOA and the confirmation by the council was not already for the implementation of the project. “Aside from nary an authority to proceed with the development venture, the MOA itself is unenforceable,” Bautista claimed. #nordis.net

By ARTHUR ALLAD-IW
www.nordis.net

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet– While alleging that provincial and regional officials of the National Commission of Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) are “railroading” the residents’ consent to favor a proponent of the geothermal project in Daclan, Bokod, a village elder alleged that influential local personalities of this province are involved with the project.

Victor B. Wales, a Daclan elder, alleged that the incorporators of the Clean Rock Renewable Resources Corporation are lawyer partners of these local politicians.
Interviewed residents claim that prior to the application by Clean Rock for the project, one of the said local politicians based in Manila went to inspect the area of the hot spring in Daclan.

Nordis sources, however held back to name this politician as they wanted to build documentation and evidence for their claim on this politician with reference to the project.

Meanwhile, the NCIP local officials were accused by some Daclan residents to be biased, and in favor of the proponent company as manifested by the two conducted Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) consultations.

“The credibility of the Regional Director, the NCIP as a whole, is now suspect when they re-conducted the FPIC consensus building on August 20 last year (where the result favored the project),” stated Wales in a strongly worded letter submitted to Director Amador Batay-an of the NCIP-Cordillera.

Interviewed Daclan elders reiterated the respect of the first FPIC process that they had in their May 14, 2009 assembly which resulted to their “absolute rejection of the proposed project by Clean Rock”.

They wonder why Batay-an ordered in his letter on August 10, 2009 a new round of FPIC when residents wrote a letter to him after the first FPIC that the decision (May 14) was made without the presence of NCIP FPIC. Batay-an in his letter also said that the absence of an NCIP FPIC team gave reason for the proponent to request for another round.

Residents, however, earlier belied Batay-an’s claim that there were no FPIC team as Atty. Severino Lumiqued of NCIP Benguet was there and advised them to document the result of their consensus which was their absolute rejection of the project.

Nordis sources claim that the residents’ letter sent to Batay-an which was the basis to call for another round of the FPIC consultation include signatories of at least three high school students.

“How can these minor students represent the residents? The NCIP should have verified these signatories before ordering for a second round of FPIC,” the source said requesting not to be identified.

Last December, the residents attended the session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Benguet where the August Body recognized the position of the residents and urged that a new consultation process start anew.
To the surprise of the residents, the NCIP scheduled a January 5 Memorandum of Agreement signing with proponent Clean Rock.

Daclan Barangay Capatain Hilario S. Anselmo requested that the said signing be postponed as the community failed to come up with a common position yet.
They set a meeting with the Local Government Units (LGU), Indigenous Peoples Organization and other organizations to meet and discuss the project. “We need to discuss the project with all vital information to guide us on any decision,” a resident said.

Residents alleged that they had not been provided with any documents or information on the project by both the proponent and the NCIP. # nordis.net

By ALDWIN QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — The Department of Health (DOH) after receiving reports of firecracker-related injuries and two deaths withdrew its earlier announcement that there are fewer injuries due to firecrackers this New Year reverly than of last year.

The DOH also asked the total ban of firecrackers for residential areas.
Director Eric Tayag of the DOH-National Epidemiology Center (NEC) said that this New Year’s reverly is bloodier than last year basing it on the rising number of injuries that has reached 920 as of January 3 which is 26 percent higher than 2008 with only 683 cases.

Out of the 920, Tayag said, 877 were due to firecracker, 42 stray bullet victims and one watusi ingestion.

NEC reported 704 victims are males, 268 were children 10 and below, 671 injured but no amputation, and 81 with amputation. The leading cause of firecracker injuries was Piccolo with 267 cases; followed by Kwitis, 123; Luces, 57; Five-star, 53; stray bullet, 42; and Pla-pla, 41.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said that in the 18 years of the DOH-Philippine Fireworks Injury Surveillance (PFIS), it is only this year that there are firework-related fatalities.

Tayag cited three reasons for the increase of injuries this year; first, that there were a lot of merry-making because the decade had ended; second, that a lot of Filipinos seemed to be happier this year according to surveys; and third, due to the low price of Piccolo, which despite being banned, still reach the hands of mostly children.

The DOH-NEC director also expressed his disappointment over the rise of injuries this year despite their campaign, the “Iwas Paputok” 2009 program, which started since November 2009.

“The two deaths involved a seven year-old male from Cabanatuan City and a 29 year-old male from Baguio City. Both died of cerebral concussion secondary to blasting last 01 January,” Duque said.

According to the PFIS, the boy was hit by a “kuwitis on his upper eye lid on December 31. He died the next day. The 29-year old man was reportedly drunk when he lighted the jumbo kwiton bomb which is an illegal firecracker, on January 1. He was hit on his right temple. He died of brain hemorrhage. #nordis.net

By NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS IN THE PHILIPPINES
www.nordis.net

VIGAN CITY — Unidentified gunmen ambushed and seriously wounded Eugene Paet Y Piano, 49, a radio commentator of DWRS Commando Radio station, Barangay Tamag, Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

Reports received by NUJP said that Paet, known among members of the local media community as “Commando Uno”, was rushed to Metro Vigan Cooperative Hospital after he was shot around 7:20 PM of January 7.

The incident occurred along the national highway in Bulag Sentro, Bantay town, Ilocos Sur, just a few meters away from the Ilocos Sur provincial police office at Camp Pres. Elpidio Quirino.

Colleagues of Paet said the anchorman was heading home after his program at his radio station when waylaid by the gunmen.

Police reports said unidentified men riding in tandem on a red yamaha motorcycle with no plate number overtook Paet and shot him, hitting him twice. Paet was able to run away and sought help from residents of a nearby house. The suspects immediately fled the scene.

The suspects were armed with .45 caliber as evidenced by the recovered cartridge shells and slug.

Paet was first employed by Bombo Radyo-Vigan in the ‘80s before transferring to the dwRS, which is owned by Rep. Ronald Singson, son of Deputy National Security Adviser Luis Singson.

Paet’s son, Eugene Jr., believes someone wants to silence his father because he said he could think of no one who bears any personal grudge against him except those that might have been irked from his commentaries in the radio.

Broadcaster Arlon Serdenia, chairperson of the local chapter of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) in Ilocos Sur, condemned the incident and appealed to authorities to immediately bring resolution to the crime.

NUJP-Baguio-Benguet chapter secretary-general Desiree Caluza also condemned the ambush. “We cannot afford to have another act of violence while the rest of the country mourns the dead from the Ampatuan killings. The ambush in Ilocos only proves that the culture of impunity strongly exists. Instead of fearing it, there should be rage among the people, condemn this and do something to put an end to it,” said Caluza. #nordis.net

By ALDWIN QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — The Ifugao State University (IFSU) was formally inaugurated Wednesday at Barangay Nayon of the municipality of Lamut. The inauguration was a follow-up to the October 14, 2009 signing of Republic Act No. 9720 in Malacañang converting the Ifugao State College of Agriculture and Forestry (ISCAF) into a state university.

ISCAF or ISFU today was first established in 1920 as a farm settlement elementary school. In 1966, it -was expanded into the Ifugao Pilot Opportunity School for Agriculture. It was further elevated in 1973 as Ifugao Agricultural and Technical College offering secondary, tertiary and undergraduate courses.
It was later named ISCAF in 1982 with satellite schools: ISCAF Potia Campus, the former Potia Agricultural High School in Alfonso Lista; ISCAF Tinoc Campus, the former Tinoc Barangay High School, ISCAF Lagawe campus formerly Ifugao College of Arts and Trades.

The main campus of IFSU boasts five institutes. The Institute of Agriclture and Forestry, Institute of Education, Institute of Computer Science, Institute of Health and the Institute of Arts and Sciences formerly Institute of Criminology. It also has Graduate Programs.

The university also hosts four main functions: instruction, extension, research and production. According to its website, IFSU attained its functions through application of excellent management, updated curriculum and continuous accreditation of its academic degree programs.

At present, IFSU offers courses in Agriculture and Forestry, Education, Computer Science, Business Management, Health Sciences, Engineering and Industrial Technology. True as university should be, IFSU also ofers student services like dormitories, libraries, scholarship grants, student assistance, marketing center, health service, cottage/villages, student center, internet cafe, speech labs and Physical Education facilities.

At present, Cordillera region has four state universities, namely: The University of the Philippines Baguio , the Benguet State University in La Trinidad, Benguet, Kalinga State University in Tabuk, Kalinga and the IFSU.

The inauguration was led by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. With her in the rites were Ifugao Governor Teddy Baguilat Jr., Lone District Representative Solomon Chungalao, Lamut Mayor Francis Tenenan, Ifugao Mayor’ League President and Alfonso Lista mayor Charles Cattiling and other town Mayors of the province and IFSU President Serafin Ngoyahon. Arroyo was accompanied by Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Commission on Higher Education Emmanuel Angeles and other administration officials. #nordis.net

By ALDWIN QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — The labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) called on the Filipino workers to follow the footsteps of Anakpawis Partylist Representative and Labor figure Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran in his fight for the working class and the Filipino people, on January 7, as he was remembered on his 77th birthday .

KMU said Beltran is an esteemed leader of the Filipino working class and people in our struggle for national freedom and democracy. “We pay tribute to his lifelong, passionate and selfless dedication to the struggle for genuine change in the country,” as posted on the KMU website.

According to the statement of KMU, Beltran’s birthday this year falls on an election year. KMU added this is a time when various groups call for change in the country. According to the labor group, many among those who are asking for a change mean that they want President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo out.

KMU said that it is a desire of Filipino workers and people to have the incumbent president removed from power and held accountable for her crimes against the people. KMU also said that these coming elections provide an oppurtunity for this kind of change.

KMU remembered Beltran fighting the Arroyo adminstration until his death. KMU said he helped expose and oppose the administration on its alleged lying, stealing and cheating. KMU added that Beltran also exposed and struggled against the administrations anti-people and fascist activities.

“But Ka Bel fought for something more. He saw the struggle against the US-Arroyo regime as a basis for raising the consciousness and fighting will of the Filipino workers and people against the deeper problems of Philippine society – US imperialism, feudalism and bureaucrat-capitalism.

He saw the struggle to remove the US-Arroyo regime as a prelude and preparation for the removal of the entire social structure that has kept the majority of the Filipino people exploited, oppressed, poor and hungry. He fought for a post-Gloria scenario because he was fighting for socialism,” stated KMU.
KMU said Beltran fought selflessly and bravely amid harassment, imprisonment and even at the threat of being killed. The statement added that Beltran lived simply and refusing the good life being offered to him by shedding away from accepting bribes from the wealthy and powerful elite.

“He embraced the struggle passionately, tirelessly speaking to workers, fellow Filipinos and even foreigners to educate them about the struggle going on in the country and the world. He was always humble, however, never letting his successes go to his head, said KMU

Beltran was born on January 7, 1933 at Bacacay, prvince of Albay. At a young age, Beltran was exposed to the reality of his surroundings pictured by extreme poverty. He worked as a taxi driver until he became a union member and a leader.

He then served as a full time labor leader. As one of the critics of deposed President Ferdinand Marcos, he was imprisoned and charged with rebellion case during the Martial Law years. More than two decades later, he was arrested by the Arroyo administration state agents right after Arroyo declared “ state of emergency” on rebellion charges. He was under hospital arrest for more than a year.

Beltran was elected one of the three Representatives of Bayan Muna Partylist in 2001 and as rep. of Anakpawis in 2004 until the time of his death. He was awarded Most Outstanding Congressman from 2002-2005 and was a member of the Congressional Hall of Fame.

Beltran is also the founding chairperson of the International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS), a world wide organization advancing peoples’ rights and welfare.
Beltran died on May 20, 2008 due to severe head injuries after falling from their house’s roof while repairing it. He was 75 then.#nordis.net

with reports from NONETTE BENNETT
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — There are now 76 panels of the Burnham Park fence adopted by donors as 2009 ended. This was announced by Bishop Carlito Cenzon during the first meeting of the Baguio Centennial Park Committee, Thursday.
Bishop Cenzon told the members of the committee that the response of the families and individuals to support the fencing project was encouraging, and more concerned citizens responses will help complete the necessary work in the park.

He said that support for the remaining 736 panels is realizable as more concerned individuals and institutions come forward to help.
In the treasurer’s report, Rolly de Guzman noted that a total of P4.7 million was collected for the fence from 2008 to 2009.

Of this amount, P4,592,161.75 was spent on the construction.

He said that there were still other monies due the committee as some of the donors contribute by installment for the fence panels.

Meanwhile, still within the Burnham Park, the Baguio City Orchidarium will finally get comfort room facilities for the public as a fundraising campaign for the purpose will be launched at the celebration of Bishop Cenzon’s 71st birthday on January 17.

Crispina Matib, chairperson of the January 17 “Dinner for a Cause” at the Baguio Orchidarium said that the country style dinner will seat 300 donors and guests at the birthday dinner under the stars at the Baguio Orchidarium. She said the dinner will raise the initial funds for the construction of the eight cubicle comfort rooms.

Lino Aromin, Baguio Orchidarium Cooperative member and member of the BCPC, said that preparations are has started to showcase the best of the Orchidarium on 17 January.

He said that a cattleya orchid and other blossoms are amongthe prizes for the raffle to be held as part of the fundraising dinner program.

He said that this was the first time a party of this sort will be held at the orchidarium. Dinner cards are available at the BCPC office and at the orchidarium at P1000.00 each.

Vic Agcaoili, chairman of the Burnham Park Fencing Committee, said that the Orchidarium could be a venue for social gatherings in the future with the installation of the comfort station.
He noted that this was one of the most important facilities a public area should have.

Bishop Cenzon said that he looked forward to the unique celebration of his birthday under the stars of the Baguio sky.
He said that the country style party would be another opportunity for the generous individuals to contribute to a worthy project for the people and visitors of Baguio. # nordis.net