By NESTOR PERALTA
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LAGAWE, Ifugao- A historic regional workshop on the Peace Process under the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front Philippines (NDFP) was successfully held and attended by more than eighty representatives from the church sector, professionals, politicians, peoples organizations, youth organizations, victims of HRVs and representatives of development NGOs in the Cordillera at Don Bosco Catholic High School, here on November 29-30, 2012.

“Lasting peace will only be achieved by addressing the root cause of war,” this was NDFP representative Rafael Baylosis’ main message to the gathering sponsored by the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP) and the Ifugao Resource and Development Center (IRDC).

Baylosis’ contention was affirmed with the answer delegates gave to the question of what is an unpeace situation. Most delegates spoke of social and economic situations that are in fact the basis of NDFP’s proposed Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms (CASER).

The forum was designed to update church leaders and constituents from the different congregations and denominations on the history and prospects of the GPH-NDFP talks; to provide a forum to reflect on and revisit together the concept of peace; and how best to keep alive the ecumenical spirit of working together in addressing the substantive issues that are causing an unpeace situation in our land.

Delegates came from the church – United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) pastors of Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Abra and Benguet; Episcopal Church in the Philippines (ECP) priests in the Diocese of Santiago, Benguet and BSA-Nayon; Roman Catholic priests of Ifugao and Mountain Province; a Wesleyan pastor from Benguet and an Iglesia Filipina Indipendiente (IFI) priest.

Professionals also attended like the NCIP head of Mountain Province, representative of LGU from Lagawe, representative of the Ifugao PDRRMC, representatives of provincial employees and teachers from Ifugao and politicians from Mountain Province and Ifugao.

Representatives from the people’s movement were present at the gathering – farmers, youth, victims of HRVs and representatives of development NGOs in the Cordillera.

The participants defined what an unpeace situation is for them.

In Ifugao, unpeace meant economic difficulties such as the high cost of basic products/ commodities, food insecurity, low buying price for farmers’ products. Another was due to socio-cultural aspects like land conflicts, and poverty, lack of basic social services, development aggression, denudation of indigenous culture, commercialization of education, and budget cuts on education. The third factor was militarization and human rights violations.

Benguet defined unpeace as Large Scale Mining, siltation because of mega dams, HRVs and militarization, where the military is becoming the security guard for LSM.

For Kalinga, unpeace was equal to poverty, high interest of loans and low buying price for farmers’ products, tribal war where some because of boundary disputes were attributed to IRA, mining, and militarization.

Abra discussed unpeace to stand for LSM, FPIC processes not followed, rampant HRVs and militarization especially in areas with LSM applications, and warlordism.

Mountain Province considers unpeace as low productivity and profitability, high interest of loans, political intervention, misprioritization of development programs, early filling of candidacy and land/ boundary disputes.

For Isabela/ Cagayan Valley unpeace represents land grabbing, magnetite mining and open pit mining, and strong political dynasties.

As for peace building initiatives, the NDFP gave updates and prospects of the CPP-NPA-NDF regarding the peace negotiation. Unfotunately, representatives of the GPH peace panel was unable to contribute their update because they were absent during the peace forum. The organizers of the activity did not receive any official explanation for the GPH‘s absence.#www.nordis.net

By ARTHUR LAPAAN ALLAD-IW
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BAGUIO CITY – While Congress talks of divorce as a another proposed legislation that they could possibly pass, it (divorce) has been practiced by indigenous peoples in the Cordillera since time immemorial.

Indigenous divorce sets aside a marriage primarily on the ground that the couple cannot bear a child, elders and studies on Cordillera culture revealed.

In other tribes, the grounds for divorce aside from the inability to bear a child include non-performance of marriage obligations, adultery, continous violence against the wife by the man, and laziness of the man.

Elders pointed out that even if the primary ground for divorce is present, it is still considered as a last resort.

“Spouses can still agree to maintain their marriage even without having a child born out of their marriage. In fact, they can adopt a child or children from their relatives,” explained Tigan-o Dugao, an elder of Sagada, Mountain Province, an area inhabitted by Kankanaey indigenous peoples.

He explained that indigenous divorce is a practice that calls for a tedious process. “Aside from the rituals mandated to be done, it cannot be done if the woman does not agree to it,” Tigan-o added.

In a case the woman consents to the divorce, all their earnings during the existence of the marriage would all proceed to the woman. This is to assure that the woman will not live miserably, added Tigan-o pointing out the pro-women aspect of the indigenous divorce.

The elders in the community where the spouses belong are obliged to perform a ritual called “senga.” Here, the divorce would be processed where the former spouses will treat each other as “besat” or sister and brother.

After the divorce, the spouses are free to re-marry. Indigenous divorce is by different terms in as many different tribal tongues. Its is known as Maxadi among the Isnegs of Apayao, added the Cordillera Schools Groups (CSG) in its book Ethnography of the Major Etholinguistic Groups in the Cordillera.

Lakay Tigan-o explained that divorce is the only way for married couples to end their marriage. But the practice are to be done on strict grounds. “It’s a last resort actually,” he said in Kankanaey.

Extra-marital affairs condemned 
Solidifying the marriage is still the general policy of Cordillera indigenous peoples. It is within reason that a married man and woman are condemned if they engage in extra-marital affairs, CSG added.

“Adulterous relationships would mark those involved in their communities. Respect for them would erode and would be manifested in social gatherings. For example, an elder who had a past extra-marital affair cannot open jars of rice wine, cannot deliver ritual speech for inheritance of newly wed couples, would receive a drink where the drink distributor would turn his back on him,” added Tigan-o.

This shows that marriage under the indigenous system is sacred, added Tigan-o. “You suffer from the socio-cultural consequences of your act if you violated your vows of marriage.”
Tigan-o ended saying that divorce is done particularly by spouses who are childless as they need somebody to tend their fields and take over after their life time.

While divorce is a time-immemorial practice by indigenous people in the region, state laws however do not recognize it. Another manifestation of the contradiction between indigenous laws and state laws. #www.nordis.net

By DELIA BAGNI
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BAGUO CITY – The Commission on Elections -Cordillera Administrative Region (COMELEC-CAR) disclosed in a press conference, December 19, 2012 that registered voters for the 2013 May elections decreased.

According to Attorney Julius Torres, Acting Regional Election Director of Comelec-CAR, a large number of voters were removed from the voters list for the 20123 elections. He said, though a lot of new registrants have been entered, many of the old list of voters were cleaned-out or delisted because of double registration, inactive voters among others. Almost 20,000 voters were removed or deactivated from the list.

Torres admitted that they had difficulty identifying double registrants because they are not online and the only way to discover double registrations is through their fingerprints and through the Automatic Fingerprint Identification System(AFIS). He added that removal of deactivated voters in the list was done manually.

He added that COMELEC is still under the process of detecting double registrations and deceased voters. Torres stated that all who are found to have double registrations are automatically removed as a regular voter.

COMELEC is also closely monitoring Abra which reported incidents of vote buying and existense of private arm groups. Political parties are allowed to have security personnel and escorts assigned by the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Cordillera Police Regional Director Benjamin Magalong added that they are also monitoring Abra for private armed groups and crime cases. Magalong said that in last year’s monitor armed groups listed 87 to 36 in January 2012. he added that private armed groups have decreased by 50 %. #www.nordis.net

By TANGGUYUB PEOPLE’S CENTER
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SAGADA, Mt. Province – In a meeting was initiated by the local DILG and chief executives office here, Civil Society Organizations (peoples organization and non-government institutions) from Sagada’s 19 barangays gathered for a meeting December 21 at the Sagada Homestay for the “Bottoms Up Planning” identification of poverty reduction activities and projects for the municipality.

The National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) started implementing a program early 2012 wherein CSO were involved in identifying poverty reduction projects for their localities. There are 4 pilot areas for Mt. Province – Bontoc, Sagada, Sadanga and Paracelis. A budget of Php8 million was allocated for Sagada for its 2013 implementation.

For 2014, an additional 2 municipalities (Bauko and Sabangan) of Mt. Province shall be added to the 4 pilot sites. There are 1,233 municipalities identified nationwide for the 2014 allocations.

Potable water supply, farm to market roads, irrigation and various livelihood projects were those identified for 2013. This went through a process of CSO consultations alongside the projects identified by municipal development offices and line agencies.

This time, the Bottoms Up Planning Approach (BUPA) provided clearer guidelines on the role of the CSOs as partners with the MLGU and GA in drafting a poverty reduction plan. It also provided guidelines as to which projects fall under the program and those that are excluded being part of the general appropriations act.

In the meeting, DILG officer Rey Fiar-od and Executive Secretary Robert Pangod said that CSO representatives shall be selected. This will comprise 50% of the Municipal Poverty Reduction Team (MPRT) and the other 50% shall come from the LGU represented by the local chief executive and national government line agency heads of the DAR, DA, Dep Ed, DENR, DOE, DOH, DILG, DOLE, DSWD, DTI, DOT and TESDA.

For Sagada, a total of 24 members shall be identified of who not less than 40% shall be women. The local chief executive, Mayor Eduardo Latawan Jr. shall chair the team.

From among the 12 CSO representatives a co-chairman shall be elected and two other representatives as signatories for the MOA between LGU/GA and CSO.

The CSO representatives decided that the selection shall be distributed within the 5 zones of Sagada to ensure that the concerns of all barangays/zones are taken up.

They also unanimously decided that the categories identified by NAPC guidelines be filled-up first and available slots be given to the Eastern Zone, that failed to send a representative to this meeting, and to an organization or NGO with multi-sectoral programs and at least of municipal scope.

Chosen at large by the CSO participants are the following:

Andrea Bacagan from Central Zone for the 4Ps beneficiaries; Roda Besay from Northern Zone representing DOH organized groups (BHW); Annie Sumedca from Southern Zone; representing Parents-Teachers; Josephine Lay-of from Northern Zone; Rose Copa-os Northern Zone; John Taguindodo for Southern Zone (Farmers Organizations);

Jane Macagne for MRDC; one Lannie of Taccong; Southern Zone; One from eastern zone representing the business sector; Gwendolyn Gaongen from Tangguyub People Center – Central Zone; Domingo Manalog from South-Central representing semi-workers (SEGA-guides); Manuel Olaget from South-Central and PEGAS.

The co-chairperson from the CSO is Gwendolyn L. Gaongen of the Tangguyub Peoples Center.

For 2014, a budget allocation of Php15M shall be for the municipality of Sagada. The projects shall be identified initially by the CSO through a workshop that was conducted on the same day.

These shall be deliberated on and finalized by the MPRT such that the identified projects fall within the guidelines of NAPC and synchronized with the Comprehensive Development Plan of the municipality. The SB shall then endorse said action plan (MPRAP).

CSO raised concerns that the projects identified by them may be compromised and that LGU/GA projects may prevail.
Rey Fiar-od of the DILG said that the mechanism provides for greater peoples participation and that is the essence of Bottoms-UP Planning Approach or BUPA. He however stressed that the project shall go through the implementation process defined by government.

Generally, the projects identified by the zonal workshops by the CSOs present during the meeting are as follows: various farm to market roads and pathways; support to agriculture such as community irrigation system rehabilitation, promotion of sustainable agriculture,

Promotion of muscovado and coffee production, agroforestry and reforestration projects, pest management, post and pre-harvest facilities; health related trainings and equipment; various livelihood trainings and projects such as waste recycling facilities,

Eco-tourism seminars and safe tourism trainings and equipment; handicrafts and food processing trainings and facilities; safe water for all projects such as reservoirs and level 2 water systems.

All in all the initially identified projects intend to provide sustainable livelihoods for the more marginalized sectors of Sagada society and address the issue of food insecurity within the municipality as well as address environment concerns.
The finalization of the MPRAP shall be done before February 15, 2013.#www.nordis.net

By GWEN GAONGEN
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SAGADA, Mountain Province — Beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) or what is more popularly known as 4Ps Fidelisan, Sagada raised their issues and concerns on the said program during a . Documentation and Writing workshop conducted for interested organizations and individuals and barangay local government officials in Sagada Northern Barrios held at the Fidelisan Multi-Purpose Building last December 15.

The said Documentation and Writing Workshop is part of the implementation of the Human Rights Based Approach to Development project by Dinteg, EU and IWGIA. The activity also mobilized beneficiaries of an ongoing project by CWEARC, UN Trust Fund to End VAW and AIPP which is Empowering Women in Traditional Customary Institutions.
The 24 families under the CCT program in Fidelisan were surprised in November 2011 when they received a notice from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development (MSWD) that they are CCT beneficiaries. In the said notice, they were asked to attend a CCT beneficiary-orientation on December 7 at the municipal multi-purpose hall.

Questions were raised by other villagers in relation to the selection of beneficiaries. Some even speculated that this is another “politika” (politically motivated or part of patronage politics). This is because many think that there are more deserving families but were not included as beneficiaries. The amount to be received too was subject to speculation. Others said it will reach as high as P5,000 per month per beneficiary.

How exactly were the beneficiaries chosen? According to some beneficiaries, the basis was a survey conducted by the national government through the National Statistics Office (NSO) and regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in 2009. In their understanding, the basis for their selection was: that they had several children; they were pregnant during the time of the survey; and that they had children below 14 years old.
They believe that income is also a factor but is not clear to them how this was factored in.

In short, the selection was done by the national office of the DSWD based on the survey results in 2009. They believe that many of the families who they believe should be beneficiaries could have possibly been absent from the village at the time the survey was conducted.

As to the amount being received, those interviewed said that it is a minimum of P300 to a maximum of P1,400. This includes educational assistance and medical assistance.

Each household beneficiary is entitled to P300 per child for educational assistance with a maximum of three children per household with children under 14 years old. Given this, the maximum educational assistance per household beneficiary is P900. The medical assistance is P500 per household beneficiary.

However the amounts to be received is based on “condition”. This means, each household beneficiary must comply with the “conditions” so that they will receive their cash. These conditions are: attendance by the female head of the household to monthly Family Development Seminars (FDS); attendance of the children beneficiaries of educational assistance to at least 85% of school days; monthly check-ups of under 6 children of household beneficiaries; every two month check-ups of household beneficiary members 6 years and above.

The FDS are held in the barangay and also the check-ups are done by the RHU in the barangay. The MSWD provides formats for the beneficiaries to fill-up at the town hall located at Poblacion. The releases are done through the Land Bank located at Bontoc Sentro.

As these are “conditions”, non-compliance to any of the requirements would result to the non-release of the assistance. For example, if the beneficiaries are unable to have their check-ups (monthly or every two months) then the P500 shall not be given. If the school attendance sheet is not given or if their child fails to attend at least 85% school days then the P300 shall be withheld. This is why the beneficiaries complained that in the 2nd and 3rd releases, some of them were unable to receive the whole amount.

For Sagada and the Fidelisan beneficiaries specifically, they started receiving their CCTs March of 2012. The releases are done every two months and are given through the Land Bank in Bontoc.

As mentioned earlier, some have not received the whole amount allocated for them in the 2nd and 3rd releases for this year. At the time the workshop was done, the beneficiaries were unable to recall who among them, what amounts and for what specific reason their allocations were deducted. For many beneficiaries, traveling to Bontoc to receive their CCT takes much of their time and a big chunk of their budgets. They spend P65 from Fidelisan to Bontoc and another P65 back. As they have to fall in line and wait for most of the day, they have to spend for food in Bontoc. This will mean spending at least P130 to P250 just to get their CCT allocation. In some cases, the essence of financial assistance is lost as they only receive P300 for educational assistance and lose a days wages.

An opportunity to collect the non-released amounts in the 2nd and 3rd allocations can still be received through a grievance process. This is why the beneficiaries filled up grievance forms and submitted these to the MSWD. They hope that these shall be released next year.

For most of the beneficiaries, they are happy that the issues arising from the selection and misunderstanding as to amounts they receive have somehow subsided. This is because these have been clarified although late.
They also believe and hope that the deserving families will still be included despite their being absent during the survey in 2009. This they hope will be done through the process of updating data or information from the barangay.

As a recommendation, the beneficiaries also say that releases of allocations should be done within the municipality as this will cut down on expenditure as well as time spent to receive the cash transfers. The beneficiaries say that the CCT is “isukapay” (additional income). They are able to buy notebooks and a few household needs from the P300 to P1,400 they receive monthly. Although it means spending a couple of hours a month for seminars, the monthly FDGs also have been useful they say. These were topics given by the local Regional Health Unit (RHU), DSWD and Tangguyub People Center.
#www.nordis.net

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Some people were requested to contribute what they thought are issues and concerns of the Cordillera region for the Aquino administration to act on. It would be like a wish list to the President. Looking through the issues that have hit the pages of your newspaper, the following are a must to the list:
In Baguio City, it has been raised over three decades now by both the private and government sector that the City is already over-developed and over its carrying capacity. Urgent appeals for control and for a practical central plan be made and carried out were written and reported over media especially right after the devastating 1990 earthquake. The last of this kind of popular appeal has now come with street protests against the removal of 182 trees in favor of the expansion plans of a large mall in the city.
Considering the speeded up deterioration of the natural environment aggravated by the lack of a central plan and the continuing over-development in Baguio; and the added global effects of climate change; it would be in the best interest of the people and the President Benigno Aquino III’s administration to put a hold on the expansion of this mall. And, instead to plant more trees in the area where the threatened182 trees stand and care for it into a green spot in the already smog choked Baguio City.
Also, there are the equally urgent development needs for a planned and managed garbage disposal system, and the expansion of sewage treatment facilities for the city.

It is of great concern especially among Baguio’s indigenous cultural communities (ICC) that the bill amending the City’s charter has passed the House and now awaits the President’s signature without the benefit of consultation with the people especially the ICCs or it undergoing a free prior informed consent procedure among the affected populations of the City or its neighboring towns. This proposed amended charter is seen as unconstitutional and discriminatory against the ICCs and the urban poor communities of the City and these people shall not take it sitting down.

In the Cordillera region, there is not one province that is not part and parcel of the remaining biodiversity of the northern Luzon environment, or of the primary watershed of Luzon, yet all these provinces are prime targets for the extractive large scale multi-national corporate mining policy, and aggressive development plans for energy, power sources, and corporate farms under this administration.

It is then a prime concern of both the indigenous and non-indigenous populations of the region that their ancestral domain, natural resources, homes and natural habitat will be destroyed and finally decimate their sources of sustenance, their cultural integrity and communities. So they call a ban to large scale corporate mining or any aggressive corporate development in the region.

Instead of ridicule and belittling these peoples’ concerns, no matter how macro or micro, it still may be more prudent to listen to these people more and put a hold to what is popularly perceived as mass destruction of ancestral domains, and instead actively negotiate and plan for a mutually beneficial economic direction? After all, for already a century this region has simply been a resource base and not a target for a genuine peoples’ community development.

As much as barangay to town level communities of the Cordillera have incessantly raised human rights violations against them that has ranged from harassment, surveillance, illegal arrests, rape, occupation of civilian abodes, public facilities, and even murder perpetrated by members of the state security forces makes it (HRVs) an urgent issue in the region. The present situation is reminiscent of several incidents in recent history that reveal that peace in the Cordillera has never been more threatened than by state security forces, combat ready and in their numbers following right behind applications for large scale corporate development in indigenous peoples’ ancestral domains.

It is a legitimate fear because it is reminiscent of the widely protested Cellophil and the World bank funded Chico River Dam projects when villages and towns had to fight to protect their farms, burial grounds and community forests that sparked widespread armed conflict. Is this really what the present administration wants for the Cordillera?

Other issues: On the “Cybercrime law”, It has to be recalled or rescinded for being against the internationally respected Bill of Rights, specifically on the right to be informed and the freedom of expression. And,

It also is of great concern and for which we appeal to the President, for the family of James Balao, an Ibaloi human rights defender and a victim of enforced disappearance. His family, friends and colleagues continue to exhaust all efforts to find him. They call for justice and an end to enforced disappearances and impunity.

Merry Christmas and a Progressive New Year to all!#www.nordis.net

By REV. LUNA DINGAYAN
nordis.net

“For it is by the Holy Spirit that she has conceived. She will have a son,
and you will name him Jesus – because he will save his people from their sins.”
Matthew 1: 20b-21

Doomsday that never came

It was supposed to be the end of the world already when I was writing these reflections. According to the Mayan Calendar, December 21, 2012 was supposed to be the day when the world would come to an end. But like other predictions in the past, it did not happen as expected.

Perhaps, it is high time for us to change our understanding of the “end of the world.” We have to bear in mind that if and when the apocalyptic writings in the Scriptures talk about “end of the world”, they are not referring literally to the physical world that God created. It is human beings, not God, who are destroying the world that God created. Rather the apocalyptic writers are actually referring to the world of the Empire that human beings created; a world of oppression, injustice and other forms of evil. This is the kind of world that the apocalyptic writers were expecting to come to an end, and hoping to be replaced by a new world that God would create wherein God’s love and justice reign supreme.

If we would like really to put an end to this world we live in, which is full of corruption and injustice, then we have to really pray for peace and work for justice. And by God’s grace and power, a new heaven and a new earth, a new world will come to us.

The RH Bill

Now, one of the most controversial and divisive bills filed in congress is the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill. This kind of bill is not actually new to us; it had come to us time and again in the past in various ways and forms. And the Roman Catholic Church leadership had always been opposing it. But the debate on this latest RH Bill is perhaps the worst, because some church leaders even resort to threatening and name calling. Some of them even interpret the latest Typhoon Pablo as God’s punishment for passing the RH Bill in the Second Reading.

Well, we don’t believe that our God who is just, compassionate, and loving had caused the many casualties of Pablo simply because of the passage of the RH Bill. It simply doesn’t make sense at all. According to the investigations of the DENR, the many casualties were actually caused by the massive logging and mining in the affected areas.

Actually, the real issue in the RH Bill is not so much the contraceptives, abortion, promiscuity, immorality, or what have you that the Roman Catholic Church leaders are insisting about. Rather, the real issue is family planning or planned parenthood. The question is: are we going to plan our family or our parenthood so that we give birth only to children that we can afford to take care of, to feed and to educate to become mature Christians and productive citizens of our country? Are we not happy and grateful if the government through its laws and services would provide guidance and support for parents, especially mothers in fulfilling their responsibilities of giving birth to children?

Jesus’ Birth

Now, this brings us to the story of Jesus’ birth. According to Matthew’s account Jesus was named Jesus, “because he will save his people from their sins.” That is the meaning of Jesus’ name. Jesus or Joshua means “savior” or “God saves.” Traditionally, Israelites name their children not with any name, but only by a name that bears or characterizes the meaning or purpose of the life of a child being named. Jesus was named Jesus because he is going to be the savior of his people.

Sometimes, the name of a person may be changed if the purpose of his life is changed. For instance, the name of Simon was changed to Peter, indicating the important role Peter had to play in the formation of the Christian church.

Jesus’ birth was well planned. And the plan of his life was revealed to his parents through a dream. Parents today should also dream dreams and have visions for their children. The primary task of parents is not simply to give birth to children, but to see to it that their children would not become street children later on, but rather they would grow to become Christians in the real sense of the word and contribute not to the problems, but to the solution of the problems of society.

Merry Christmas and a blessed new year!#www.nordis.net

By KATHLEEN T. OKUBO
nordis.net

It is that time of the year designated for all of us to remember the less fortunate among us; and here, I share with all of a message sent to me this season by a good friend:

“Dear friends, the inevitable yearly arrival of the joyful season is again upon us. Even the mere thought of it already makes (us) smile with the anticipated festive activities like writing cards, gift sharing, visiting and calling loved ones, singing and of course praying. Celebrating Christmas is more meaningful when we go back again and again to the beautiful and inspiring story of the “First Christmas People” in Nazareth and Bethlehem.
“When we think of the people, of Mary and Joseph and Jesus, the Christmas scene is about people who are powerless; people who get bad breaks; people who don’t fully understand what is happening to them and why; people unfairly accused; people under the thumb of cruel authority; people giving birth and being born in conditions that nobody should have to endure; people who desperately want to make things better for the ones they love but can’t. Those are the Christmas people …”
The real way to find real joy in the Christmas scene is by remembering the Christmas people. Maybe in prayer, real prayer, the kind that takes some time and effort; Maybe by deciding we don’t need to buy this or that gadget to celebrate our Christmas and using (the) money to lift some helpless people; Maybe by writing a special, affirming Christmas card, or letter to someone who feels put down and powerless.
And maybe – along with all of the above – we can celebrate by learning from the Christmas people, letting them teach us. Maybe the true Christmas Spirit lies in realizing we don’t need every gadget, and everything does not always have to turn the way we want it – and in finding our delight by being good, loving, joyful people – like the Christmas people in Bethlehem.
Our lives are made by the million moments spend(t) in a million different ways. Some were spent searching for love, peace and success; others for surviving day after day. But there is no greater moment than finding that life is meant to be lived one day at a time with God.
May we put love in our hearts so nothing would be heavy; put understanding into our hearts so nothing would be difficult; put God into our hearts so nothing is impossible. Let us always choose to heal (and) not to hurt; choose to forgive and not to despise and choose to love and not to hate. Let us continue to be a blessing and be an instrument of positive change in the lives of others.”
Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year! – Fr. Cyril Ortega, SVD

May we also remember those kababayans struggling to make life better for their family and for all of us kababayans, too. Mabuhay kayo!

From the Okubo Family Merry Christmas to one and all!#www.nordis.net

By Mary Lou Marigza
nordis.net

When sweet innocents are brutally killed, the tragedy just diminishes us all. We can only cry with their families and friends and hope they could have the peace and justice they so desire. We can never comprehend the minds of mass murderers or the motives they have for doing such thing. We might never know why they did such murderous acts.

Last Sunday, I went to the musical tribute Music World performed for Aileen Niocena at the funeral parlor. Teacher Aileen or ‘Ate Aileen’ to my nephew and nieces who had worked with her in Music World is a piano and organ teacher who was brutally stabbed multiple times last week. The killer is still not known. Who can even think of killing someone as sweet as Aileen who always had a ready smile and helping hand to both students and co-teachers. We pray that justice will be served and quickly.

Her world and passion is music and she played beautifully, whether it is the organ or the piano. I have listened to her in practice sessions, in a piano duet with my niece, in the recitals and she always played with zest and with a smile on her face. In a rare event both Music World and Musar Music where she taught piano for a while, paid tribute to a beautiful soul who at 29 is too young, too sweet, too wholesome to deserve such death. The students and teachers and friends dedicated the musical tribute to a charming girl who loved her craft.

It is our prayer that justice will be served and served swiftly.

Our condolence and prayers of comfort to the family, boyfriend and friends of Aileen. It is doubly sad for them since Aileen’s mother died just last month.
***
The killing of 20 children and 6 adults in Newtown, Connecticut has occupied international media space for several days now. Again, tragedies like these diminish us and compel us to question motives. We will never know what motivated Adam Lanza to shoot his mother and the 26 people of a quiet obscure town that is now on everybody’s mind.

From news sources little is known about the boy or his family. What is coming out is that he had some form of “personality problem”, a euphemism for something which could have been known what troubled him. He seemed withdrawn they said but not enough reason to kill children with a semi automatic rifle. He had plenty of guns in his possession and ammunition to wipe out the entire school. It was good the rifle jammed otherwise more children would have been killed.

In the worst mass murders in the US, the assailants were boys who seem to have untreated problems who just snapped and who unfortunately had access to automatic guns. The Columbine massacre, Aurora massacre or Virginia Tech rampage left scars on the survivors of these incidents and a community stricken, in fear and in grief.

Our hearts go out to the victims of Newtown, kids of 6 and 7, teachers trying bravely to shield the children and parents coming to terms with the effect of the tragedy. Psychologists have always said that it is better to train stress debriefing personnel from those in the community since they are the ones who have to deal with the tragedy even after the media and police attention have shifted to other incidents. It also strengthens community spirit to deal with the tragedy and to help each other in a crisis of this magnitude.

One thing was also telling. From reports it seems little is known of the boy Adam. It was as if he was just in the margins of the community. He was a bright boy who had problems but it seems nobody paid attention to his problems or helped him on his problems. He did not even have a picture on the yearbook. And this is an affluent community. This is not some interior county where neighbors are so far away. What happened to the boy who had access to so many guns and ammo?

Like the father of one of the victims, Emilie Parker said, they too will grieve for Adam and his mother Nancy. Like in the other cases, they might never know the motive, the circumstances that led to the carnage. Hug your children today and every day.  Tell them you love them. We never know if it is their last day on this earth. Each brutal death diminishes us and scars us. We pray for healing and hope for a better world where the sweet and the innocent remain unharmed.

Sa lahat ng mambabasa ng Northern Dispatch Weekly, MALIGAYANG PASKO AT SANA MAGING MASAGANA ANG ATING BAGONG TAON. #nordis.net

By ALDWIN QUITASOL
nordis.net

I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy — Rabindranath Tagore

Every Christmas season in schools, the pupils treat themselves and their teachers to classroom Christmas parties. There, they play games, win prizes, sing joyful songs and exchange gifts. It is a happy day for them as it is also the sign that it is time for the Christmas break from the challenges of schooling.

Not all pupils come from families who have the capacity to buy expensive and fancy food for their children to bring to their classroom potluck party. Most of them hardly afford the required minimum amount for a gift to exchange with their classmates. Some of them attend their classroom parties looking shy and embarrassed as they do not eat this well in their homes because their families suffer from financial difficulties but who is not at this time anyway?

There were teachers especially the real good ones who did their best to make their students smile and from feeling inadequate and embarassed. Even among those who are known as “teacher terror” or strict in class who made a 180 degrees turn and have been specially cheerful parents for that day. They made sure that all of the kids joined the games, had fun and ate well never mind that the kid did not bring anything to the potluck. One teacher even announced to her students that it is the day of not counting what they give but it should be the day everyone gives happiness to all their classmates. She even told them that they are far more lucky than the children in the area devastated by the recent typhoon Pablo.

While the teachers gave hope to the pupils for the Christmas season, many of them were disappointed by the performance-based bonus policy of the present Aquino administration. From 2010 to 2011, the teachers received P10,000.00 as Productivity Enhancement Incentive (PEI) every end of the year. But because of the PBB of the present administration, they will receive a measly P5,000.00 this 2012.

According to rumors spreading among government employees they are to receive P35,000.00 PBB. But then according to the Alliance of Concerned Teachers-Philippines (ACT-Phil), that is baseless (and therefore a rumour) as there are no new official announcements regarding the so-called bonus, just the same as there is no allocation for salary adjustments for government employees in the national budget for 2013.

It is true that there is an appropriation for PEI which is 9 to 10 Billion pesos but this is far too small for the so-called P35,000.00 PBB for all government employees.

In the Executive Order 80 of PNoy titled “Directing the adoption of a Performance Based Incentive System for Government Employees” issued in July of this year, only 10% of employees from the departments or agencies who were assessed based on PBB as “best agency” will receive PBB. And even if an employee was selected as “outstanding” but his agency is not the “Best”, still he cannot avail of the PBB.

This policy of the yellow president promotes individualism and competition among government employees just to get a PBB for the year. Instead of pushing for the strengthening of the Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) between government employees and the government just like workers of private companies who struggle for their thirteenth month pay in their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the employees will resort to fighting among themselves only for their individual benefit.

If only government especially the high officials act like the teachers who make sure that their pupils or the children will be happy for Christmas, then all is well. But in this case where the individual employees are offered incentives that makes them compete against each other instead of fostering cooperation and quality public service is a disservice to themselves as government employees as well as to the public they are supposed to be working for. The government employees have every right to question this system and uphold their rights as public servants and just compensation.#www.nordis.net

By ALDWIN QUITASOL
nordis.net

Tough Days — “When things get tougher, we gotta stay stronger and not quit. Some days, you’ll face those tough days, just keep holding on to all the hope, faith, determination within you and use that defiance against cancer to make it to the next level.”
~Ann @LymphomaClub

BAGUIO CITY — Andres Bonifacio Elementary School Grade Five teacher Mrs. Marcela Belinan Okyo says nobody can measure the happiness she is feeling this Christmas.

Ma’m Okyo hails from Agawa, Besao, Mountain Province. She has been in the teaching profession for more than twenty four years now. She graduated Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education at La Union School of Arts and Trade. She first taught elementary school in Tabuk, Kalinga Province in her first four years and twenty years here in the city of Baguio. She is a mother of three, two of whom are already married and one still studying.

On December 22 of 2011, she was diagnosed to have cervical cancer already in stage three as based on the results of a biopsy procedure supervised by a gynecologist. She consulted another doctor for a second opinion and the findings were the same. She was referred to an oncologist who advised her to undergo a therapy series.

After learning of her affliction, she thought she can never teach again and that she may never see her designated classroom anymore which has all this time been her second home.

Ma’am Okyo was advised to submit herself to six sessions of chemotherapy at the Baguio General Hospital (BGH) Saturday to Sunday every 4:00 PM; 25 days of bracketherapy from Monday to friday every 7 to 8:00 AM at the Jose Reyes Memorial Hospital (JRMH) in Quezon City; and four sessions of radiotherapy every 8 to 9 AM at the Philippine Lung Center also in Quezon City. She recounted how exhausted she was having to travel every Sunday evening to Cubao, ride a taxi to the JRMH and again to the Lung Center. After that, she had to rush to the bus station at Cubao to go back to the BGH to be confined. For three months she sighed, that was her life.

The teacher also recounted the pain she felt from those therapies. She said countless instruments were used to probe her body that she thought she was being experimented on.
“There was that feeling that I was being torn apart’” she blurted and started to shed tears.

She also said that the expenses she and her family encountered was unimaginable especially for a public school teacher. “Ay, milyonaryo ak kuman a nu inur-urnong ko laengen dagidiay naibayad,” (I should be a millionaire now if only I saved all the money we paid for the therapies) she said it with a grin.

Ma’m Okyo said the radiotherapy costs P25,000.00 a session while the other two processes depend on the number of medicines to be used.

The central office of District 3 of the Department of Education (DepEd) Cordillera gave her a financial assistance of P 11,000.00. The bulk of the expenses was shouldered by her family. Fortunately she said, some of her relatives, colleagues and friends also helped financially.

She was glad when in March, she was told by her doctor in Quezon City that she no longer had any trace of cancer cells. She believed it was a miracle. However she was still advised to continue and finish the required treatment to make sure that the big C will not come back anymore. It was on September of this year, when she underwent a CT scan and it was confirmed she no longer had traces of the infection in the cervix.

For the months she stayed in hospitals, she saw the system and condition of their public facilities. She said you have to fight your way in to be attended by the employees. “Nu saan ka lang nga nagaget nga agreklamo, saan ka a maasikaso,” (If you do not assert yourself, you will not be attended to) she said.

She expressed gratitude to her family and relatives as well as friends and colleagues who persuaded her to go through with the therapies. She said she did not survive cancer without the support and prayers and her willingness to continue teaching until she gets older. She is now 57 but she plans to retire at 70 years old or until she cannot teach anymore.

“But this year, this is the first Christmas in my second life.#www.nordis.net