SWE February 19 - 19, 2013

VOL. 10, NO. 29

FEBRUARY 19 - 25, 2013

CATBALOGAN CITY

Samar Weekly

EXPRESS Chronicling Events in Samar Island Since 2002

The Exponent of Samar’s Progress

POLE ERECTION? In one of the off-road travel of the SWE Lensman in Samar, this paper chanced upon personnel of the Samar Electric Cooperative II (or is it the men from the National Grid Corporations of the Philippines) conducting pole “erection” and clearing to the electric wires entangled with trees in the vicinity of Pinabacdao, Samar on February 17, 2013. Foreman of said team, when asked, says they are conducting the operations in Maharlika highways to avoid or minimize the occurrence of ‘blackouts’ in this part of the province. (Ricky Bautista)

NPA rebels warned Rep. Tan, family

By RICKY J. BAUTISTA & ROMMEL L. RUTOR

CATBALOGAN CITY -- The CPP-NPA-NDF on Wednesday broke its silence and confronted the Tan political dynasty led by incumbent Congresswoman Miliagrosa T. Tan citing one-by-one their alleged “crimes” committed to the revolutionary government.

Fr. Santiago Salas, spokesman of the National Democratic Front in Eastern Visayas said the Tan family is being held accountable for alleged gross corruption, abetting human rights violations and their continuous collaborating with the military’s “counterinsurgency” campaign.

The rebel-priest said that while in political power, the Tans dynasty has been set in place various business interests such as money lending, commercial stores, real estate and shipping, but failed to serve the needy constituents in the province.

Aside from conniving with the military, Fr. Salas also accused the Tans of maintaining its own private army composed not only of goons but mercenary soldiers and policemen as well.

The rebel group also accused the Tan family of advancing political and economic interest by taking hold on all top government SERVICES OFFERED: • CONSTRUCTION positions in the province but BEECARTINE • COMPLETE PLANS failed to aid victims of human CONSTRUCTION & SUPPLY AND DESIGN rights and indigents seeking ARCHITECTS ENGINEERS • PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGNERS BUILDERS DEVELOPERS assistance from their offices.

AND SUPERVISION Likewise, Salas pointed BEETHOVEN M. BERMEJO CP Nos. 09209604331/09053315161/09228947890 out the history of plunder E-mail: beecartine_com@yahoo.com Manager/Proprietor charges against now Cong.

Mila Tan when she used to be the governor of the province, stressing further that while Tan family benefits from Catbalogan City the their respective position in government, the provincial Home Away from Home! the employees and the common For reservation, contact: 0918.9265.791 (Ben) people significantly is suf148 MERCEDES CATBALOGAN CITY, SAMAR

Samar Rep. Mila Tan

Gov. Sharee Ann Tan

Vice Gov. Jimboy Tan

[EXCLUSIVE]

318-4 TRES DE ABRIL LABANGON CEBU CITY

PUPUA BEACH RESORT

Welcome to:

See REBEL page 2...

Fruit vendor arrested for selling ‘shabu’ AT FIRST glance, Danilo “Jack” Casaljay is just an ordinary fruit vendor, selling grapes, apples, mangoes and other foodstuff and is usually seen either at the bus terminal, public market or downtown Calbayog City.

But Jack has other business sidelines, while illegal, albeit a lucrative one. He is selling a different kind of fruit, one that does not come

from a tree. It was purely white and in crystalline form, but instead of nourishing the body, it destroys not only the body and mind, but one’s whole being.

Days after receiving intelligence information on Jack’s nefarious activities and placing him under casing, surveillance and test-buys,

See FRUIT page 3...

Much of the Development of Samar is found in leaders & people who care.

Samar Weekly Express

THE REGION

2

FEBRUARY 19 - 25, 2013

Website: www.issuu.com/samarweeklyexpress

IN EASTERN VISAYAS

DOT aims to draw more tourists TACLOBAN CITY -- The Department of Tourism in Eastern Visayas initiated some promotional projects as well as developed tourist destinations in various LGUs to attain its vision of drawing more than half a million tourists to the region by 2016.

In year 2011, a total of 365, 467 guest travelers visited Region 8 in which 338,099 or 92.51 % are Philippine residents, 24,043 or 6.58% are Non-Philippine residents and 3,325 or .91% are overseas Filipinos or Philippine passport holders permanently residing abroad. Majority of foreign tourists came from the USA, Australia, Japan, China, Germany, United Kingdom and Korea.

Of the 523,842 target tourists, 485,385 are domestic and 38,460 are foreigners. These include tourists from the region, Central Visayas and National Capital Region while target foreign tourists are from USA, Australia, Japan, Europe, Korea and China.

According to a report from the National Statistics Coordinating Board (NSCB), these foreigners visited the famous landscapes and landmarks in the region particularly the San Juanico Bridge, Palo Cathedral, Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park, Leyte Sab-a Basin Wetland Agri-Eco Park, Lake Danao, Tabuk Marine Park, and Mac Arthur National Park in Leyte; Limasawa Island, Agas Agas Adventure Park and Guinsohotan Falls in Southern Leyte; Mainit Hot and Cold Springs, Caibiran Waterfalls, Higatangan and Sambawan Island in Biliran; Calicoan and Homonhon Islands and Amandaraga Falls in Eastern Samar; Biri Rock Formation and Capul lighthouse in Northern Samar and Sohoton National Park, Bangon Falls and Rapids and Calbiga Cave in Samar.

Eastern Visayas is world renowned for its natural ecological beauty and its historical significance during the World War II. The visiting tourists visited those places dropping themselves first in Tacloban City being the gateway and considered the economic capital of the region, being its first Highly Urbanized City.

The DZR Airport which is also being developed into an international airport also helps attract tourist from Worldwide.

There are now many direct flights from Manila daily.

Meanwhile, the Tourist Oriented Police for Community Order and Protection (TOP COP) manning the Tourist Assistance Centers was revived.

In Tacloban City alone, a 50-men tourist police unit, equipped with mobile patrol vehicle, mountain bikes for easy maneuverability and handheld radios was formed to maintain peace and order within areas with high tourism traffic.

The Tourism Act of 2009 mandates the PNP establish a Tour-

OWWA sets up business training for OFWs

THE Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in Eastern Visayas will be conducting trainings for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) or their relatives on entrepreneurial development.

The OWWA conducts the business training every first and third Monday of the month at the OWWA conference room to

ism Security Force to assist in maintaining peace and order within areas of high tourism traffic to ensure the safety and security of tourists in the country.

“By creating a favorable image that Eastern Visayas is a safe destination, it enhances the region’s attraction as a tourism destination eventually contributing to the increase of socio-economic benefits which can be derived from tourism,” Chief Supt. Elmer Soria told the SWE. “It is more fun in the Philippines and in Eastern Visayas, when we feel safe,” the police official disclosed. (Ricky J. Bautista) help OFWs and or kin how to run and manage a business.

Alberto Penaflor, regional OWWA case officer, said the business training is mandatory for OFWs or their relative only as alternative employment but also to augment family income.

He also revealed that OWWA is also lending funds for OFWs interested to open a business or to cooperatives.

The agency coordinates with other agencies relative to expertise and systems in the running and management of a business.

The business is free for OFWs and relatives who are interested in putting up a business. This month’s training was conducted February 20 at the OWWA conference room. (PIA-8) MEMBERS of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, while holding pictures of the 32 slain comrades and 26 other victims, lighted a number of candles and say prayers and messages of solidarity. As of this date, none of the many suspects in the Ampatuan Massacre has been convicted in court and the trial is proceeding very slowly.

(Ricky J. Bautista)

NPA from page 1 ... fering from grinding poverty, deprival of social services and militarization.

Meanwhile, in this year’s elections, Rep. Milagrosa T. Tan is seeking again her second term as Congresswoman of Samar’s 2nd district. Her daughter, Samar Gov. Sharee Ann Tan and Vice-Gov. Stephen James Tan, are likewise both batting for a second term in the same positions respectively.

Another son, Reynolds Michael Tan is running as City Mayor of Samar’s premier capital – Catbalogan City, while another daughter, Angel Tan is gunning for the mayoralty in the province first component city – Calbayog City.

On top of this, her brother-in-law Arnold Tan is also seeking to hold post in Samar’s 1st district.

As this developed, the rebel’s group warned the Tans family not to enter into rebel-controlled territories in the entire province as they will be penalized.

The CPP-NPA-NDF issued a “No Entry Order” against the Tan Family to the Arnulfo Ortiz Command of the New People’s Army based in the Samar, to include electoral access against armed goons, the military, police and paramilitary escorts, which according to Salas the Tan’s are known for.

Aside from the electoral restrictions, the rebel group also warned the Tan Family not to indulge in any form of violence against their rivals, and not to resort to vote-buying and bribery, as these circumstances accordingly will not be tolerated by their forces especially in the so-called revolutionary territories.

Meanwhile, Samar Police Provincial Director Eusebio Mejos vehemently denied the allegations of the NPA-NDF that they were under the payroll of Tan family and that they all “controlled.”

“Walang katotohanan yang issue nay an, alam nyo naman na lahat ng ginagawa n gating kapulisan ay pawang sa kabutihan lamang ng mga tao,” Supt. Mejos said in a text message.

As of this writing, the Tan family could not be reached for comment. Earlier developments however showed that the Tan’s family had been very supportive to all anti-insurgency campaign and operations of the Philippine Army and offered several assistance to members of the rebels who will return to the fold of law.

PRO8 scores versus fugitives, loose FAs The Special Operations Task Group Tracker Team of the Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) arrested four persons and confiscated assorted weapons in Samar over the weekend operations.

Eastern Visayas police director Chief Supt. Elmer Soria disclosed that police elements conducted manhunt operations at the hinterlands of Calbayog City and Sta. Margarita, all of Samar province, which resulted to the arrest of 4 persons, three of them charged for heinous crimes, and confiscation of high-powered and low-powered firearms.

Five suspects identified as Bonifacio Caber, Ricardo Vicentino, Jay-ar Yregon, Johnny Vicentino and Loreto Casaljay voluntarily surrendered to the police team eight (8) homemade shotguns are now being questioned by the police for possessing said unlicensed firearms.

They were arrested in the hinterlands of Barangay San Antonio in Calbayog City Tuesday afternoon.

An hour later, manhunt operations at the vicinity of Brgy. Camperito, Sta. Margarita, Samar, resulted in the arrest of one Floro Diaz y Ajon with pending cases for 3 counts of Murder and 3 counts for Frustrated Murder.

The SOTG was also able to confiscate from Diaz one Elisco M16 rifle with defaced serial number, one Colt .45 caliber bearing serial number

188765, five short and one long magazines for M16 rifle with a total of 129 rounds of live ammunitions for M16, one black eight-pocket bandoleer, 2 magazine assembly for .45 caliber pistol, 7 rounds live ammunitions for .45 caliber and two fragmentation hand grenades.

In e a r l y T hu r s d ay morning, manhunt operations conducted by the same team at the vicinity of Brgy.

San Jose in Calbayog City resulted in the arrest of Marcial Jalayajay and Zaldy Cagomoc by virtue of Warrant of Arrest docketed under Criminal Case No. 6487 for Complex Crime of Murder with Frustrated Murder.

Meanwhile, one Junlex Cagomoc was also arrested by the police team for obstruction of justice during the service of arrest warrant against Jalayajay and Cagomoc.

Apprehended and surrendered persons together with the confiscated items were brought to SOTGSamar office for documentation, further investigation and proper disposition.

Soria is confident that the recent accomplishments would help ensure the conduct of secure and fair elections in Samar province which was earlier included in the list of “priority areas” by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Samar Weekly Express

FEBRUARY 19 - 25, 2013

ENVIRONMENT

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3

FRUIT from page 1 ...

ENVIRONMENT personnel conducts inventory of the seized ‘hot lumbers’ in Paranas town over the weekend.

Confiscated lumbers, estimated to have a total of 1,246 board feet and market value of P52, 332.00 were turnedover to the local DENR office. Arrested suspect was locked-up while awaiting his proper trial.

the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group of Calbayog City Police Station arrested him in a buy-bust operation on Monday afternoon, thereby putting an end to his illegal deeds.

Jack, the fruit vendor was nabbed by police operatives at Purok 2, Brgy. Obrero of said city after selling “shabu” worth P500.00 to a poseur-buyer.

The suspect, 35, residing at Purok 3, Brgy Capoocan also of Calbayog City tried but failed to elude arrest and was collared by the police team led by Police Senior Inspector Aaron Raymond Elago. Aside from the illegal drugs, also seized from the suspect is the P500.00 bill buy-bust money with serial number CG512226.

Casaljay is now detained at Calbayog City Police Station lock-up cell while a case for Violation of Section 5 or selling illegal drugs of RA 9165 is being prepared for filing in court against him.

The arrest of Casaljay came on the heels of the arrest of college student Alchie Chiquillo who was nabbed in a buy-bust operation in Palo, Leyte over the weekend. The PRO8 chief lauded the AID-SOTG personnel responsible for the two successful operations.

“Our men have responded well to our challenge to further heighten the drive against illegal drugs. The recent arrests of drug suspects have minimized the proliferations of illegal drugs in the streets,” Chief Supt. Elmer Soria, the regional police director said.

Farmers to plant coconuts

Big time illegal logger arrested in Paranas

CATBALOGAN CITY – The regional police on Tuesday arrested a big-time illegal logger and confiscated a sizeable volume of illegally-sawn lumbers in an anti-illegal logging operation in Paranas town in Samar.

The police informed that at around 1:00 o’ clock in the early morning on Tuesday, joint elements of the PNP Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG8) led by Police Inspector Constantino Jabonete, Jr and Paranas Municipal Police Station led

by Police Chief Inspector Doughlas Antonio Eloja, together with Forester Eddie Monsanto of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources

(DENR) conducted antiillegal logging operations in the area of Brgy. Lipata, Paranas, Samar.

The operation resulted in the arrest of one Purita Dabuet of Barangay Cantato, Paranas town and confiscation of a blue Isuzu Elf truck marked St. Frances bearing plate number CSC 544.

Seized lumbers from the truck was totaled to more or less 174 pieces illegally-sawn lumbers of various sizes estimated at 963 board feet with a market value of P40,446.00.

Meanwhile, the truck driver identified as William Igdalino and helpers evaded the arresting officers. The lawmen, while chasing the running suspects, saw in a nearby house several illegally sawn lumbers of Lawaan spe-

cie in various sizes.

The lumbers, estimated to have a total of 1,246 board feet and market value of P52, 332.00, and one unit Resaw, a powertool used for cutting timber with motor dynamo, with serial number 748278 were confiscated by the police team.

The team also confiscated one unit red Honda XRM motorcycle Honda XRM without plate number used by Dabuet, who is now detained at Paranas Municipal Police Station Lock-up Cell awaiting trial of her case.

“We are giving a strong message that PRO8 will not tolerate any form of violation against the environment and destruction of our natural resources,” warned Police Chief Superintendent Elmer R. So-

ria, PRO8 Regional Director.

“We will leave no stone unturned in our campaign against illegal logging activities not only in Samar but in the entire Eastern Visayas region,” Soria assured as he called on the citizen’s active support by providing the police with vital and real time information from the ground.

Soria further informed that a case for violation of Sec 77 of Presidential Decree 705 or the Forestry Reform Code of the Philippines as amended by Executive Order No. 277 and further amended

by Republic Act 7161 was filed before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Catbalogan City docketed under NPS Number VIII-09INQ-000102 dated February 19, 2013. (Ricky J. Bautista)

Nearly 800 indigents in Samar gets work program CATBALOGAN CITY – Nearly 800 poor young individuals in Samar province may soon avail the government’s training for scholarship program.

The training was sponsored by the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Samar.

TESDA Provincial Director Rolando Juanillo said the program is now moving on and will be implemented this year.

“The Municipal Social Welfare and Development Offices (MSWDO) have indentified beneficiaries, because they know the people in the area,” the TESDA Samar Chief said.

He said that once the list is ready, TESDA-Samar will then meet the service providers to check if they can accommodate courses like welding, plumbing, commercial cooking, household servicing, computer hardware servicing and Food and Beverage courses.

The P20, 000 allotments for each beneficiary will cover training cost, allowance, starter

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kits and other expenses relative to the training, according to Primo Regis of TESDA-Samar.

For starters, 2 scholars in Sto Nino and Gandara will be given certificates during the Samar Peace and development Caravan. Nineteen (19)

TESDA-DSWD scholars from the poor town of Matuginao will also be given.

The scholars will enroll in technical and vocational schools either in Calbayog, Catbalogan or in Basey. (Ninfa Quirante)

Lawmaker, bishop seeks justice for slain Ati leader A CATHOLIC bishop urged the Aquino administration to sped up its investigation and bring justice to the killing of a tribal leader in Boracay last Friday.

In a statement, Tuguegarao Archbishop Sergio L. Utleg denounced the brutal killing of Dexter Condez, 26, a community organizer and tribe leader of the Boracay Ati Tribal Organization (BATO).

Condez was also the spokesperson of the Ati people against those who oppose their ancestral domain claims.

A partner-member of the Ati Mission of Sto. Rosario Parish, he also taught Indigenous Peoples Education among Ati children.

Police reports said Condez was shot dead on evening of February 22 by an unidentified gunman with a 9-mm pistol while on his way home from a meeting in Sitio Lugutan, Barangay Manoc-Manoc in Boracay.

CATBALOGAN CITY -- Gandara farmers who joined the Samar Peace and Development Caravan organized by the Office of the Presidential Adviser (OPAPP)and the LGU of Samar received 2000 dwarf coconuts.

Philippine Coconut Development Authority – Samar Chief Meinard Montano sought the help of the army in transporting the seed nuts to the barangay.

Dwarf coconuts said Montano may not grow as tall as the native coconuts but its fruits are as productive as the native coconuts.

“They also mature early that they can bear fruits as early as 5 or seven years, unlike the other species that bear fruits at ten years old,” explained Montano.

Some 50 coconut farmers scampered for listing as they thought it exciting and something different to try growing dwarf coconuts.

Jose Alejan, 58, a farmer from Barangay Sto Nino said he asked for 200 pieces to be planted in his farm, he added he will grow these intercroppedwith his jackfruits.

Farmers from the four barangays of Natimonan, Sto Nino,Pizarro and Heparayan quickly claimed all 2000 coconut seedlings in a jiffy.

“Let us plant coconuts in the bald hills,” Montano urged the gathered folks from the four barangays.

As Gandara has wide fields planted with palay, the hills that seem to demarcate them are bereft of vegetation.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources also brought mahogany seedlings to be planted in the idle hill lots that surround the ricefields. (PIA 8- Samar) “We condemn in the strongest possible manner this brutal killing and we are calling for an immediate and thorough investigation to identify the perpetuator and the masterminds,” Bishop Utleg said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Senator Loren Legarda on Tuesday also denounced the killing of Condez and the harassment on leaders of indigenous and environmental groups fighting for their rights.

“These incidents are causing apprehension to marginalize and advocacy groups and may have bearing on their struggle and aspirations for a better life,” Legarda told the MST. Legarda added: “Halatang pananakot ito sa mga indigenous communities at sa mga lumalaban sa paglapastangan ng ating kapaligiran,” the lawmaker added.

Legarda, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities, expressed alarmed over the recent trend of killing and harassing advocates trying to protect the environment.

Before the killing, at least 20 armed men stormed the tribal group’s community and harassed the villagers, apparently in connection with the award to 40 families belonging to the BATO of a Certificate of Ancestral Domain by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples. Several businessmen have reportedly questioned the legality of the granting of the certificate to these families.

In another incident, several armed men barged into the home of Dr. Isidro Olan in Carmen, Surigao del Sur, tied him and other family members up and ransacked the place.

Olan, Founding President and Executive Director of the Lovers of Nature Foundation, has been vocal against mining and logging activities in the towns of Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen, and Lanuza.

Both Bishop Utleg and Senator Legarda urged the Aquino administration to conduct a thorough investigation on the case with high hopes that justice will be given to the victims the soonest possible time. (Ricky Bautista)

OPINION Samar Weekly Express

DALMACIO C. GRAFIL Publisher

FEBRUARY 19 - 25, 2013 For alerts and feedback, e-mail at mysolotrek@gmail.com

RICKY J. BAUTISTA Editor-in-Chief ALMA GRAFIL Bus. Manager CATHERINE GERADILA Office-in-Charge

Columnists, Writers and Account Executives: Rommel L. Rutor Chito Dela Torre Atty. Batas Maricio Fr. Roy Cimagala Ismael Amigo Juan Mercado Roger Soria Myra Tambor Jenna Tizon Igdalino Gina Dean Ragudo Lilith Sabuco - Teña Malou Bermejo.

OFFICE: The Samar Weekly Express is published weekly in multi-lingual format with editorial and business office located at Rizal Avenue, Catbalogan, Samar (Infront of Fire Department near City Hall) CONTACT: Telephone (055) 251-2341 Fax: (053) 321-5591 Main Office: (053) 321-4833 Mobile: 09207675444 E-MAIL: trexpelunker@yahoo.com, mysolotrek@ gmail.com WEBSITE: www.issuu.com/samarweeklyexpress All rights reserved. Except as permitted by law, no part of Samar Weekly Express may be produced or distributed in any form or by any means stored in a database or retrieval system without its prior written permission from the publisher.

Samar Weekly Express is a member of the

PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

SAMAR ISLAND PRESS CLUB, Inc. The only SEC registered media organization operating in the three provinces of Samar A sister publication of the Leyte - Samar Daily Express (Tacloban City) and Eastern Samar Bulletin (Borongan City)

EDITORIAL Remembering ‘People Power’ FEBRUARY 25 is a significant celebration of an anniversary historically called the EDSA People Power Peaceful revolution; a unique way of unseating a dictator, applauded by freedom – loving people of the world, even making Cory Aquino, an icon of democracy. It was a strong fragrant air of freedom that eased the suffocation of existence under a Ferdinand Marcos one-man rule, in the latter years of the New Society under Martial Law, declared in Sept. 21, 1972.

The 1972 Martial Law declaration was legal based in that 1935 Philippine Constitution. It was apt and timely. The outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines, then, had effectively organized and developed idealistic armed manpower, the New People’s Army (NPA) who had control of significant number of barrios nationwide; government bureaucracy appeared inutile in the performance of their duties and mired in graft and corruption. Faith in government operation was slipping away from the constituency that bedevilled payment of legitimate taxes.

Intelligent, courageous and determined to etch a good name in contemporary history President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos placed the whole archipelago under the mantle of Martial Law via Presidential Proclamation No. 1081; on two objectives: quell rebellion and create a New Society. For a while there were significant development and changes for improved bureaucratic operations. Rebels got significantly neutralized, performance of government agencies improved and people showed support to the regime as shown by hundreds of citizens forming lines to pay real taxes!

A couple of years, backsliding got into the breastplate of public officials – back to the old grind of unabated graft and corruption. A new elite group in Philippine society named cronies, close associates of the Dictator lavishly dipped their fingers into all government activities where money abounds.

Influence peddling became a gainful pastime of these cronies.

Then the No. 1 fearless critic of the regime, former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino who got assassinated upon arrival at the Manila International Airport fanned the embers of discontent and hate of one-man rule; and barely two years after, that crucial event, EDSA People Power Revolution erupted and drove the Marcoses away – in exile to Hawaii.

Democracy was re-installed. Twenty seven years today, the heirs to that once-upon a time hated Marcos regime are back to reclaim old glory, albeit small kingdoms yet. There are rumours that the dictator’s son, a senator now, Marcos’ namesake is silently gearing up to reclaim a shattered political dynasty by aiming at the presidency of the Republic of the Philippines in due time.

In Depth

By Juan L. Mercado juanlmercado@gmail.com

Three in a row

Typhoon “Crising” jabbed Mindanao’s underbelly, before it barreled out to sea Thursday. May we now watch 33 candidates for 12 Senate seats shashay on stage?

Hold it. This is the third hurricane, in as many years, in a region where typhoons hit, at most, once every 12 years or so.

Mindanao was safely wedged below the upward beaten track of typhoons.

Not any more. “Crising is an ominous warning of climate change impact”, wrote Simon Tisdall of the UK ’s Guardian..

“The Philippines (must) adapt to rapidly deteriorating climatic trends at great cost…”

“Pablo” proved the world’s deadliest 2012 typhoon. It flattened much of Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley, with winds gusting up to 195 miles per hour. A category 5 storm, “Pablo” packed more punch than the US category 2 hurricane “Sandy”. A total of 1,067 corpses were recovered, but 800 remain missing.

“It’d take 10 years to replace the coconut crop,” estimates New Bataan Mayor Lorenzo Balbin. “Some villages in Compostela Valley may be too unsafe”. Today, 15,000 victims still huddle in evacuation centers. Another 200,000 are sheltered by relatives or friends.

Rewind to 2011. “Sendong” battered Misamis Oriental and Lanao then. . Rains caused floods to surge 11 feet in an hour and wiped out a community, perched on “Isla de Oro” sandbar. In 1911, A storm, in 1911, dumped what was then a record rainfall of 46 inches within a 24-hour period on Baguio City. Sendong’s death toll exceeded 1,453 . Some will never be accounted for.

These were macabre replays of November 1991. Typhoon “Uring” ripped through Leyte . In Ormoc City, where Anilao river meanders to the sea, the delta island community of Isla Verde was wiped out. A memorial for the 8,000 people killed has been built since.

“How do we explain the decreasing number of years in occurrence of destructive typhoons affecting southern Philippines ?” marine scientist and Magsaysay Awardee Angel Alcala asks.

“Since the 1980s, typhoons hitting the country, below the 10-de-

See IN-DEPTH page 5...

Samar Weekly Express

FEBRUARY 19 - 25, 2013

OPINION

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Hints and Traces

By Fr. Roy Cimagala New heart, New creation ONE objective of Lent is to prepare us for our new creation in Christ. Yes, we need to be made new, that is, to emerge from our state of sinfulness and weakness, so as to become “alter Christus,” another Christ, if not “ipse Christus,” Christ himself.

Christ, the second person of the Blessed Trinity who became man to be the way, truth and life to us, is the very pattern and substance of our humanity. Remember that we have been made in the image and likeness of God, and adopted children of his.

To have a new heart, to be a new creation is the ideal we should strive to pursue. It requires both God’s action, which is always done, and our correspondence, which depends on how we use our freedom.

Thus, we hear God saying, “My son, give me your heart.”

(Prov 23,26) It’s moving to hear God begging of us to give what is most precious to us, our heart. He does this because he does not impose himself on us. He respects our freedom, which is actually his gift to us, making us precisely his image and likeness.

And on our part, we should not be afraid to give it, knowing that what seems a loss to us by giving our heart to God would

actually be a tremendous gain. Christ spoke much about this self-giving that actually enriches us rather than impoverishing us.

So, our attitude should sound like what is expressed in Psalm 50. “Create in me a new heart, O Lord.” If we really know who we are or how we stand before God who is everything to us, I suppose we cannot ask him in a tone other than this. We also need to beg him, to importune him, even if we know that as a good Father, he always gives.

This is simply the language of love into which we have to enter if we want to develop a relationship with God. What all this leads to is that we need to take care of our heart. We need to protect it and keep it always new with the newness that can only come from Christ, our savior and perfecter.

First, we need to be aware of the true nature and proper character of our heart. Nowadays, many caricatures are made of it, trivializing and distorting it along childish and frivolous categories.

The Catechism defines and describes our heart as “the seat of moral personality,” “the dwelling-place where I am, where I live,” “our hidden center, beyond the grasp of our reason and of others; only the Spirit of God can fathom the human heart and know it fully,” “the place of decision, deeper than our psychic drives,” etc.

Finally, the Catechism describes our heart as “the place of encounter, because as image of God we live in relation—it is the place of covenant.” In short, it is where we meet God, where we hear his voice and get to know his will.

Obviously, this ideal definition and description of our heart is often marred by our own weaknesses and sins. We often ignore our heart, if not trample over it to allow the impulses of our wounded flesh and the sinful world to dominate us. And so, we make a wreck out of our own heart.

Thus, the need to purify and strengthen our heart. One of the beatitudes precisely talks about this. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” And the Catechism comments: “Pure in heart’ refers to those who have attuned their intellects and wills to the demands of God’s holiness.”

This is what we should be more aware of. How are we thinking, how are we using our will, how are we desiring, liking and loving? What usually happens is that we allow our mind and heart to just go anywhere they like or anywhere our wounded human condition directs them.

We often forget that we need to anchor and engage them with God always, whatever we may be thinking, planning, saying or doing. The effort to do that is what precisely would give us a new heart, making ourselves a new creation in Christ, the only mediator between God and us.

We need to leave behind our poor albeit falsely brilliant ideas of how our heart should be, or of how we can be forever youthful.

We need to be with Christ to have the new heart, making ourselves a new creation that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading.

IN-DEPTH from page 5 ...

TOURISM from page 8 ...

gree latitude, seem to be increasing in frequency at year’s end.”

Low-latitude typhoons destroy the coral reefs along their paths. Here , only 4 percent of the coral reefs here remain in pristine condition ‘Pablo” ravaged the Cantaan Giant Clam Sanctuary and shattered live coral cover on Camiguin reefs.

“Of greater concern is their effect on the biodiversity, including fishery,” Alcala said. “We stand to lose sea food sources on which coastal communities depend.”

Mean temperatures are rising by 0.14C per decade,.says the UN’s inter-governmental panel on climate change says Since the 1980s, annual mean rainfall increased . “Yet two of the severest droughts ever recorded occurred in 1991-92 and 1997-98.”

“Trees fail to flower,” Aetas huddled at the Bataan mountaintop meeting told Fr. Shay Cullen. “Bees are disappearing.

Storms blow away our nipa huts as never before.” The Aetas echo what scientists elsewhere note, Viewpoint (PDI/Aug 27, 2102 ) pointed out.

Large numbers of bats that pollinate plants are threatened, says the “Mammal Review”. At University of Bern, experiments of 1,634 plant species show “spring flowering and leafing advances 5 to 6 days per year for every degree Celsius of warming,” the journal “Nature” reports. The additional water needed by a plant community that sprouts a week earlier is staggering.

Scientists track steadily rising sea levels around the Philippines — and slumping water table. Floods swamped the Philippines last year The most severe drought, in half a century, blistered the US and swaths of Eastern Europe.

The Arctic ice cap is melting at speeds never recorded since satellite monitoring began 30 years back, Norwegian Polar Institute cautions. “We want our children to live in an America that ..isn’t threatened by the destructive power of a warming planet.”, President Barrack Obama said in his 2013 State of the Union message Warming seas here now wash farther inland. A 20-centimeter sea level rise estimate, over the next 40 years, is obsolete. This affects food production through land erosion and degradation.

Typhoon-related costs, since the Philippine government set up a climate change commission in 2009, crested at 2.9% of GDP. They’ve been spiraling more since, reports commission head Mary Ann Lucille Sering “Extreme weather is the new normal… Opinion surveys show Filipinos rated global warming as a bigger threat than rising food and fuel prices.”

(Email: juan_mercado77@yahoo.com )

zip-lines adventure rides.

The zip line in Southern Leyte is one of the most visited zip line attractions in Eastern Visayas and one of the few unique tour sites in the country. It offers an extra-ordinary experience on cable rides that traverse the Mahaplag-Sogod section of the TaclobanLiloan Road giving a rider full view of the breathtaking panorama and complete refreshing on the bridge’s sky-scraping height.

ALDEN from page 7 ...

actresses. Alden plays the role of Jerome Alvarez, a guy who will be embroiled in a complicated love triangle between two women.

Alden expresses his excitement with his new show which will reunite him with perennial partner, Louise. The two became household names with the popularity of their characters in One True Love as Tisoy and Elize, star-crossed lovers who fought for their love all the way until the end.

“Masaya po ako na bibigyan ulit ako ng bagong primetime project and I really hope na it would run the same as OTL did.

I’m keeping my heads up on what lies ahead,” the 20-year old actor says.

Louise, on the other hand, was surprised when she found out she’s part of this big project. She’s very thrilled to work again and excited at the same time with her new challenging role in the series.

“I am very overwhelmed and excited to work again. I’m quite nervous because my character here in Mundo Mo Ay Akin is different from Elize Samonte of One True Love. I am preparing myself physically, and emotionally. I need to be ready to face more heavy drama scenes,” Louise disclosed.

Talk back with our issues of the week.

Send us your feedback and your own commentary in our

Letter To Editor Section.

Be heard and let us know your say!

5

“Bloodied hands over Sabah” LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “…Ask and it shall be given you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you…” (Jesus Christ, our God and Savior, in Matthew 7:7, the Holy Bible).

-oooBLOOD IN THE HANDS OF AQUINO GOV’T OVER SABAH: Now that it is clear that the armed followers of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo under Sultan Jamalul Kiram III will not be leaving Sabah and would prefer to die if they are forced to go back to the Philippines, it has become highly imperative for the Aquino government to pay more careful attention to the claim of the Sultanate over the area.

If indeed violence will erupt and claim the lives of the Sultan’s 300 or so followers, their blood will be in the hands of the government and its officials, for their sheer refusal to take up more concrete steps towards a peaceful resolution of the claim, even if Sultan Kiram already delivered a letter to President Aquino in October 2012 asking his government’s attention and intervention.

-oooSABAH HISTORY: GIFT FOR SULTAN OF SULU: Here is another part of the research paper on the Sultan’s ownership of Sabah, as written by former Tarlac Governor Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco, now a senatorial candidate of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA): “Thus, Brunei effectively had two Sultans/Rajahs---Sultan Muaddin and Sultan Mubin.

“As the years passed by, the subjects of Mubin got discontented with his rule and wanted him ousted. Principally, the subjects derided Mubin by calling him `The Usurper’, for ascending to the throne of the Sultanate of Brunei after killing the Sultan, Mohammad Ali. “So Mubin’s subjects sought the help of Sultan Muaddin. This resulted in a ten-year conflict that impacted negatively on the commercial and economic activities of Brunei. It even caused famine among the people.

-oooSABAH UNDER THE CONTROL OF SULTAN OF SULU: “To gain an upperhand, Muaddin then sent his men to the Sultan of Sulu, Sultan Baktiar, and asked his help in fighting Mubin. Muaddin promised that if they were victorious against Mubin, the Sultan of Sulu, Sultan Baktiar, would acquire North Borneo as a reward or, as historians wrote, “grateful compensation”. At that time, Sulu was known as Soolook.

“Baktiar, the Sultan of Sulu, then came up with a contingent of sailor-soldiers numbering about 6,000 in all, sailing in five ships. Baktiar sailed first to Mubin and told him: `It was very unfortunate that Islams should not be at war with each other and that peace should be established.’ “ Mubin responded positively, and said he was very eager for peace, not knowing however that there was already a previous agreement between Muaddin and Baktiar, the Sultan of Sulu, to attack Mubin. Thereafter, the Sultan of Sulu and his men, aided by Muaddin’s men, killed Mubin in the mosque. This led to the eventual surrender of the Brunei royalty.

“Muaddin and Baktiar, the Sultan of Sulu, later divided their captives and spoils, including North Borneo, and returned to their territories. From that time on, Baktiar ruled North Borneo, which came to be known as Sabah likewise.

In 1761 and 1764, Alexander Dalrymple was in Sulu and, having travelled to North Borneo, wrote a confirmation that Sabah was in the hands of Sulu, as a compensation for its role in the North Borneo civil war…” There is more of this.

-oooREACTIONS? Please call me at 0917 984 24 68, 0918 574 0193, 0922 833 43 96. Email: batasmauricio@yahoo. com, mmauriciojr111@gmail.com.

DISCLAIMER: Views expressed in the opinion and commentary sections do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The Samar Weekly Express. The SWE does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression.

The publication, however, reserves the right to edit contributions for clarity, as it sees fit.

--- Ed.

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Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 8th Judicial Region Branch 28 Catbalogan, Samar IN THE MATTER OF CORRECTION OF ENTRIES IN THE LIVE BIRTH CERTIFICATE OF CHRISTIAN MABINI GABEJAN WITH REGISTRY NO. 2002-502 AS APPEARING IN THE RECORDS OF BIRTHS OF THE LOCAL REGISTRY OF MOTIONG, SAMAR AND THE NATIONAL STATISTICS OFFICE, QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA ROSITA T. MABINI and ROWENA MABINI GABEJAN HUBER Petitioner, -versusTHE OFFICE OF THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR, MOTIONG SAMAR, THE NATIONAL STATISTICS, QUEZON CITY, and JOEY SALOME. Respondents, SPEC. PROC. NO. 8089 x-------------x SECOND AMENDED ORDER

An amended verified petition was filed by ROSITA T. MABINI GABEJAN and ROWENA MABINI GABEJAN HUBER, through counsel Atty.

Medino L. Acuba, seeking the correction of the erreous entries in the birth certificate of child

Christian Mabini Gabejan.

Petitioners alleged that they are both of legal age, married, Filipinos and with residence at Brgy. Banago, Motiong, Samar. Petitioner Rowena Mabini Gabejan is the daughter of spouses Amado Gabejan and Rosita Mabini, as evidenced by photocopies of the certificate of livebirth of the former and certificate of marriage of the latter. Sometime in June 1996, petitioner Rowena, then twenty one years old, and Joey Salome, who presented himself to be from Tarlac Province, met in the City of Manila, and eventually had a common-law relationship with each other for a year.

Being seven month-pregnant, she and Joey returned to Brgy.

Banago, motiong, Samar.

However, amonth later, said common-law husband left for Manila supposedly to resume his employment thereat and raise money for Rowena’s impending child’s birth. On August 1998, Rowena gave birth outside of wedlock to a baby boy at home in Brgy.

Banago, Motiong, Samar, thru a traditional midwife, to the joy of the family. Such fact was understandably remained secret by co-petitioner Rosita and husband Amado L. Gabejan because of the condition of their daughter Rowena who tried to hide her pregnancy for being an unwed mother.

Unfortunately, Joey Salome never communicated with nor had provided support to Rowena and their love child, thereby abandoning the mother

Samar Weekly

EXPRESS

LEGAL NOTICES and son under the care and support of Rosita and her husband who were continously in quandary on whether or not the marriage between Rowena and Joey Salome will ensue as a matter of course, until the child, christened Christian M. Gabejan, was baptized at the Immaculate Conception Parish, Motiong, Samar, on 08 December 1998. As her marital relationship with Joey Salome was alreadyremote and distant, with marriage unrealized after a long wait, and with her child fast growing, Rowena went to respondent office of the Local Civiltrar, Motiong, Samar, sometime in the first week of October 2012, and tried to effect the delayed registration of birth of her child that proved futile as she failed to comply with the presentment of her marriage certificate, suppo sedly a requisite thereto, as she has none. Consequently, to address her daughter Rowena’s predicament and believing that it may promote the interest and welfare of her grandson, co-petitioner Rosita went to the office of the Local Civil Registrar, Motiong, Samar, on 22 October 2002 to work for the delayed birth registration of her grandson and outmost good faith claimed him to be her own son, thusly, the desired birth registration was accompanied as evidences by a photocopy of the Certificate of live Birth with Registry No. 2002-508.

Lately petitioners secured an authenticated copy of the child’s certificate of live birth with public respondent National Statistics Office in Catbalogan City and a perusal thereof indeed reveals certain entries, thus:

LEGAL NOTICES

ENTRY No. 5c BIRTH ORDER NINE 6. MOTHER ROSITA T. MABINI 9a. TOTAL NO. OF CHILDREN BORN ALIVE 9 9b. TOTAL NO. OF CHILDREN LIVING INCLUDING THIS BIRTH 9 11. AGE 48 13. FATHER AMADO L. GABEJAN 17. AGE 43 18.

23 JULY 1972 MOTIONG SAMAR Since the foregoing entries are not truly reflective of the child’s personal circumstances, to rectify therefore the entries in the subject birth certificate, supra and after consultation with a lawyer, petitioners deemed it apt to seasonably effetct legal curative relief with the Court. To avoid confusion and to put in order the birth records, especially the parentage, as well as the other personal representations of said Christian Mabini Gabejan, for his best interest and to enhance his dignity, it is imperative that the necessary corrections on the entries in his birth certificate as stated in the immediately preceding paragraph be had as follows: ENTRY NO. FROM TO 5c. BIRTH NINE FIRST ORDER 6. MOTHER ROSITA T. MABINI ROWENA GABEJAN 9a. TOTAL NO. 09 01 OF CHILDREN BORN ALIVE 9b. TOTAL NO. 09 01 OF CHILDREN LIVING INCLUDING THIS BIRTH 11. AGE 48 23 13. FATHER AMADO L. JOEY SALOME GABEJAN 17. AGE 43 25 18. DATE AND 23 JULY 1972 N/A PLACE OF MOTIONG, SAMAR MARRIAGE WHEREFORE, finding the having or claiming any interest petition to be sufficient in under the entry whose correcform and in substance, the tion is sought may, within a same is set for hearing on 25 period of thirty (3) days from September 2013 at 1:30 in the notice, file their opposition afternoon, at the Session Hall thereto. of this Court, Bulwagan Ng Let copy of this Order be pubKatarungan. The Local Civil lished once a week for three Registrar of Motiong, Samar, (3) consecutive weeks in any the National Statistics Office, newspaper of general circulaJoey Salome, and any person tion in the Philippines or in

THE EXPONENT OF SAMAR PROGRESS

Rizal Avenue, Catbalogan City, Samar

the Province of Samar duly accredited by this Court.

Likewise, let copies of this Order be furnished the petitioner and counsel, Joey Salome, the Local Civil Registrar of Motiong, Samar, the National Statistics Office, the Office of the Solicitor General and the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor of Samar.

SO ORDERED. IN CHAMBER, Catbalogan, Samar, February 12, 2013.

(Sgd.) ESTEBAN V. DELA PENA Judge Designate

SWE Feb. 12 - 18; 19 - 25 & 26 - March 4, 2013 issues

The Samar Weekly Express Editorial Staff and Employees strongly support the immediate passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill.

This will benefit us all as we fight for a graft and corruption-free country!

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Samar Weekly Express

FEBRUARY 19 - 25, 2013 LEGAL NOTICES Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 8th Judicial Region BRANCH 41 Gandara, Samar AIMEE F. CAPELEAN, Petitioner, -versusTHE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF MATUGUINAO, SAMAR, Respondent, SPL. PROC. NO. 10-49 FOR: CORRECTION OF ENTRIES IN THE CIVIL REGISTRY (Under Rule 108 of the Rules of Court) x----------x ORDER

A verified Petition has been filed by the Petitioner through counsel, on February 13, 2013, praying that after due hearing, an order be issued by the Honorable Court directing the Local Civil Registry Office of Matuguinao, Samar to make the necessary correction in the Certificate of Live Birth of the petitioner, particularly in the Entries Nos. 1, 3, and 6 thereof, as follows: In Entry No. 1: To write AIMEE, as the first name to correct the erroneous AIMIE,

In Entry No. 3: To place 18 April 1984, as the correct date of birth instead of the wrong date of 16th April 1984.

In the Entry No. 6: To write ALICIA as the correct first name, Instead of ALECIA. Finding the Petition to be sufficient in form and in substance, notice is hereby given that this case be set for hearing on April 4, 2013 at 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon before this Court at which date, time and place, all persons who have an objection thereto may file any position and show cause why the same should not be granted.

Let copies of this Order be published at the expense of the Petitioner once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks prior the above-setting in a newspaper of general circulation in the province of Samar and in Calbayog City.

Let copies of this Order be furnished the local civil Registration of National Census and Statistics Office, Quezon City, the Solicitor General, Makati City, the Provincial Prosecutor, the petitioner and his counsel.

SO ORDERED GIVEN this 14th day of February, 2013, Calbayog City for Gandara, Samar, philippines.

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More than 1000 people violates Election gun ban law MANILA, Philippines - At least 1,041 violators of the election gun ban were arrested since Jan. 13. .

Chief Superintendent Genoroso Cerbo Jr., spokesman for the Philippine National Police (PNP), said 1,009 firearms were seized from those arrested.

Aside from firearms, Cerbo said police seized 261 bladed weapons, 43 grenades, 28 firearm replicas and 174 other explosives.

A total of 126 persons were arrested from checkpoints, 394 police responses, 101 police raids, 24 from serving of warrants of arrests and 396 from other police operations.

Cerbo said among the violators are five Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel, 13 policemen, a fireman, 14 government officials, 61 security guards and two members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit.

The PNP enforced the gun ban in compliance with Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution 9561-A. Cerbo said the PNP together with the Comelec, AFP and other law enforcement agencies have intensified checkpoint and gun check operations to ensure the holding of clean, honest and orderly elections.

(Sgd.) Feliciano P. Aguilar Presiding/Executive Judge

SWE Feb. 12 - 18; 19 - 25 & 26 - March 4, 2013 issues

BoomBoom Enterprises

Brgy. Bacubac, Basey, Samar DEALER: Gravel and Sand, Hollowblocks and other construction materials Contact: 09071079333

GMA-POEA Signing (from left) POEA Deputy Administrator Atty Amuerfina Reyes, GMA President and COO Gilberto R Duavit, Jr POEA Administrator Atty Hans Leo Cacdac, GMA Vice President for Program Support Regie C. Bautista, and GMA Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon. (PR)

Gravel & Sand

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AFM., Industrial Watchman & Protective Agency Branch Office: Camia St., San Pablo, Catbalogan City

Branch Manager: ARIEL C. TY Mobile No. 0947.9711.031

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E-mail: mila_rosa@yahoo.com

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SAMELCO II Consumer Hotlines

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Mulat Pinoy brings social Networth to Laoag LAOAG CITY -- After Davao and Dumaguete, Mulat Pinoy is bringing the Social NetWorth tour to a close in Laoag.

On March 1, Northwestern University is hosting the Social NetWorth Regional Youth Forum-Luzon.

NWU welcomes the discussion on population and development, social media and youth sexuality. The event will be held in the New Media Center, Paramedics Building, Laoag City, at 1:00 PM. Social NetWorth began as a four-day workshop for college students in February 2012. The first workshop took place in Metro Manila and was attended by 24 college students from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Now a regional forum series, Mulat Pinoy first brought Social NetWorth nationwide with a visit to the Davao’s University of Mindanao on August 29, 2012. Participating in the forum were WWF-Philippines, the Commission on Population, the Family Planning Organization of the Philippines and Sun. Star Davao.

Over 450 students from UM and Holy Cross attended the event.

The next stop was Dumaguete’s Silliman University in September 2012. Public health journalist Ana Santos of Sex and Sensibilities and Rappler.com’s Michael Josh Villanueva were the speakers.

‘Social NetWorth-Laoag’ will feature the documentary, PopDev for YOUth. This documentary was shot, produced and edited by the Kabataan News Network, a project of the Probe Media Foundation, Inc. Young people from all over the Philippines were trained in the production of video reports.

Another segment in the program is ‘Puro na lang sex!,’ talking about teen sexuality, popular myths and misconceptions about sex, and why it’s important to ask questions.

The last segment in the program is ‘Responsible social media use,’ where veteran journalists will talk about the impact of social media on the way we receive and pass on information, and how social media can be a tool for social change.

Mulat Pinoy: Popdev and Social Media for the Youth is a project of the Probe Media Foundation, Inc.Supported by the Philippine Center for Population and Development.

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MANILA, Philippines – A Memorandum of Agreement between the country’s premier news company GMA Network and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) was signed which provides a quality entertainment and responsible news delivery to all Filipinos, particularly the Overseas workers.

Following the MOA signing was the “switch on” of the installation of television units to all POEA offices nationwide courtesy of GMA7.

It is said that the signing of the MOA between the broadcast giant GMA Network and the POEA, the local government agency that promotes and monitors overseas employment of the country’s labor expatriates, will give the POEA clients easy accessibility to view news updates and current events in the country.

The partnership also aims to provide overseas Filipino workers in POEA offices with access to quality entertainment and the responsible news delivery through GMA programs.

Leading the signing of the memorandum of agreement are (from left) POEA Deputy Administrator Atty. Amuerfina Reyes, GMA President and COO Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr. POEA Administrator Atty. Hans Leo Cacdac, GMA Vice President for Program Support Regie C. Bautista, and GMA Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon. (PR)

Alden Richards, Louise Delos Reyes returns to primetime series RIDING high on the success of their love team, Kapuso Network’s most promising talents Alden Richards and Louise delos Reyes set off to charm and seize the hearts of Filipino viewers once more via the compelling series “Mundo mo ay akin.”

Iris Joy P. Abarquez of GMA Corporate Communications said this latest project serves as another launching pad for Alden and Louise to showcase not only their undeniable chemistry on screen but also their acting chops.

“They first captured viewers’ interest with their previous projects in the network including the afternoon drama Alakdana and the phenomenal series One True Love, which propelled them to stardom,” Abarquez told Manila Channel on Thursday.

In “Mundo Mo Ay Akin,” Alden and Louise will tackle mature and offbeat roles alongside some of the industry’s most respected actors and

See ALDEN page 5...

FEBRUARY 19 - 25, 2013

8 Pages

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Visayas cops mark 27th EDSA ‘People Power’ anniv FILIPINOS celebrated on Monday, February 25, 2013 the 27th EDSA ‘People Power’ Anniversary since its historic day in 1986.

THE Filipino nation once again remembered its local heroes during yesterday’s celebration of the 27th EDSA People Power Revolution their battle for democracy and freedom for the beloved country – the Philippines.

In Eastern Visayas, policemen who devoted their life to depend the country against local nemesis also had a simple yet meaningful “People Power” commemoration held at the PNP grandstand, in Campetic, Palo Leyte.

Carrying a national theme, “Pilipinas Natin, Abot Tanaw Na!”, the nation once again looked back at the four-day historic event of 1986 in line with Presidential Proclamation No. 459 issued on August 16, 2012, that states “the EDSA People Power Revolution, which restored and ushered political, social, and economic reforms in the country, serves as an inspiration to Filipinos everywhere as a nation and as a people.”

“Let us highlight the celebration with our commitment to work together for ‘Pilipinas Natin’, the country we all aspire for. I enjoined our personnel to understand how the EDSA revolution continues to shape the lives of the Filipinos today. Equally important, we want our police to protect our sovereignty and uphold freedom and justice at all times,” said Chief Supt. Elmer Soria.

The top cop in EV added that Filipinos must be able to understand this critical phase in our country’s history “so that people will be able to generate ideas on how we can work together for a better Philippines.”

“We, the police force are charting new directions in which we could have a responsible leadership, a responsible citizenry and a responsible people. Let us not fail our heroes, our country and our people,” the top police official further averred.

The EDSA People Power Revolution that took place when nearly two million Filipinos, staged a peaceful revolt on the streets that led to Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, a major road in Metro Manila.

EDSA became the center stage of crucial events that took place within the four-day revolution that unfolded starting at about 6:30 o’ clock in the evening of February 22, 1986 when former defense secretary Juan Ponce Enrile and former AFP Vice Chief of Staff and ex-President Fidel Ramos held a press conference at Camp Aguinaldo, where they announced their resignation from their respective positions in Marcos’s cabinet and were withdrawing support from his government until its culmination on February 25, 2013 or exactly 27 years ago today.

This part of Philippine history gives Filipinos a strong sense of pride, especially that other nations had emulated the event, showing to the world the true power of democracy that was exhibited in EDSA by its successful effort to oust a tyrant by a demonstration without tolerance for violence and bloodshed. (Ricky Bautista)

AKSYON NA, AGA NA! Hosted by AKSYON GILBERT ‘Gibo’ ARTECHE 5:30 - 6:30 A.M. Mon.-Fri. Simulcast with MSFM 102.5 khz

TOURiSM UPDATES: Leyte town offer ‘joy of zipping’ experience

Clean Papers Location: Brgy. Tingib, Basey, Samar Fronting Tacloban City

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Writers and Fotogs Wanted!

If you a photo enthusiasts, a blogger and has passion in writing and willing to be trained in various fields of journalism, you might just be the person we’re looking for and this might be your opportunity to become a promising journalist.

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By RICKY J. BAUTISTA SWE News and Features I HAVE wanted to go to Sogod, Southern Leyte for the longest time but it wasn’t until the latter part of February this year that I finally had the chance to visit the place.

I had heard a lot about this charming and booming little town’s new zipline attraction but my excitement and curiosity did not give me peace of mind until the day I visited the place. On my big day, I must say I was wowed to how amazing really the place actually is – especially for the certified extreme adventurers and lovers of zip flying.

To the uninitiated, Sogod is best known for being the home of the tallest bridge ever constructed in the Philippines. The town’s bridge connects via the Pan-Philippine Highway and is located one hundred twenty-six (126) kilometers southwards from Tacloban City, the regional center of Eastern Visayas.

The country’s highest bridge - the Agas-Agas Bridge crosses a deep ravine in the Eastern Visayas region of the country. Funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency as part of the Philippine-Japan Friendship Highway Rehabilitation Project, this bridge is by far the tallest pier or column that the government has ever constructed in the Philippines.

It involves the construction of thirty (30) stories high or two hundred ninety-two (292) feet above ground. It has a three hundred fifty (350) linear meter bridge, with a mix of steel and concrete, supported by two (2) piers from the ground.

The potential of the bridge, which provides a significant link to motorists traveling from Luzon to Mindanao, was declared

“safe” by the Department of Public Works and Highways and likewise endorsed it into a haven for sports enthusiasts who are into bungee jumping, paramotor, downhill skateboarding and zip line rappelling and other extreme sports.

The scenic location inspired the local government unit to construct a zipline adventure known as “Zipline Leyte” and build a viewing deck on top of one of the piers in the middle of the bridge as well as parking areas on both sides with comfort and rest rooms to rest.

Officially launched in 2011 it was a sure hit that until nowadays, especially during the summer and the holiday season, a mixture of foreign and local tourists eagerly travel all the way to Sogod to try out soaring at a high speed, wanting to fly and feels like Superman via cables.

Undeniably, zip-lines in the country are fast drawing a big crowd of action and adventure seekers from all over the world.

The extraordinary thrill of being suspended on a cable at considerable heights or the joy of zipping through the woods at a high speed makes zip-lines an action-packed activity.

Also known as a flying fox, foefie slide, zip wire, aerial runway, or aerial rope slide, a zip-line consists of a pulley suspended on a cable mounted on an incline. It is designed to enable a user propelled by gravity to traverse from the top to the bottom of the inclined cable, usually made of stainless steel, by holding on or attaching to the freely moving pulley.

Zip-lines are used in varied ways, and come in various forms. While others used it as a means of amusement and entertainment, others showcase zip-lines as an adventure activity option. We may not know it, but several malls and recreation centers in the country are now offering indoor and outdoor

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