Samar Weekly
READ MORE
EXPRESS
NEWS! Call 251-2341
THE EXPONENT OF SAMAR PROGRESS FEBRUARY 7 - 13, 2012
VOL. IX NO. 27
CATBALOGAN CITY
Search us on Facebook and like us. Archive our previous issues at: www.issuu.com/samarweeklyexpress
P10.00
8 PAGES
P674-M worth of road projects, including Catbalogan airport, proposed
Samar to fix roads leading to tourism sites
CATBALOGAN CITY —The Samar provincial government, in a meeting with the Provincial Development Council (PDC) on February 10, proposed P674 million worth of road projects leading to province’s tourism destinations. Governor Sharee Ann Tan presented seven major road networks consists of 12.5 kilometers leading to various tourism destinations all over the second district of Samar. In this city, the province’s premier capital, Gov. Tan wants to develop the
Samar Gov. Sharee Ann Tan road consist of 1.5 kilometers that leads to Catbalogan Airport. The project
FORESTER Gene Tomas of CENRO Catbalogan demonstrated that ‘it is more fun to plant trees in Samar as he faced some 94 college students during the NGP Summit in Catbalogan on February 9, 2012 at Tia Anita’s, the students were ferried by an 8th ID army truck to San Vicente where they started to plant at least one tree as they commi�ed to plant ten trees a year un�l 2016. (NBQ)
also included the fencing and improvement of Catbalogan Airport. The road from Calbiga proper leading to its prime tourist attractions, the Langun-Gobingob Cave Network in Brgy. Panayuran, said to be the second largest karst formation in Asia and the Lulugayan Falls in Brgy. Literon, are also included in the priority list of Gov. Tan’s road projects. Some 1.5 kilometers of rough road leading to Lobo and Panahuyan Cave in Jiabong town and another SEE SAMAR P2
3 LGUs ink MOA on fishery alliance
CATBALOGAN CITY -- The chief executives of three local government units in Samar recently inked a joint Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signifying strong ties in implementing local fishery law within their territorial waters. Pursuant to Republic Act 8550, otherwise known as the Philippine Fisheries Code, the towns of Tarangnan and Daram and the city of Catbalogan signed the fact on February 10, 2012 in this city’s session hall. The said activity also complimented with the signing of a joint Manifesto by the three (3) municipalities and its stakeholders. The Manifesto also calls for a total ban on all commercial and illegal fishing activities withing the said LGUs’ area of jurisdiction. (rjb)
BEECARTINE CONSTRUCTION & SUPPLY
ARCHITECTS
ENGINEERS
DESIGNERS BUILDERS DEVELOPERS 148 MERCEDES CATBALOGAN CITY, SAMAR 318-4 TRES DE ABRIL LABANFGON CEBU CITY
BEETHOVEN M. BERMEJO Manager/Proprietor
SERVICES OFFERED: • CONSTRUCTION • COMPLETE PLANS AND DESIGN • PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISION
CP Nos. 09209604331/09053315161/09228947890
E-mail: beecar�ne_com@yahoo.com
Welcome to PUPUA BEACH RESORT
Catbalogan City Home Away from Home! For reservation, contact: 0918.9265.791 (Ben)
SOHOTONGROUP NATURAL BRIDGE NATIONAL PARK DAY-TOUR PACKAGE with drinks & food
ONLY P700/PERSON (Group of 7 persons) Inclusions: Sohoton Cave Tour, Golden River Cruising (and optional river trekking), Helmets, Lights, Guides, Permit, Vest, Entrances, SSA, Drinks and Lunch. Call us for reservation: 0920.7675.444
GRTY
Gravel & Sand Silanga, Catbalogan, Samar
AFM., Industrial Watchman & Protective Agency Branch Office: Camia St., San Pablo, Catbalogan City
Branch Manager: ARIEL C. TY Mobile No. 0947.9711.031
“ADVERTISE WITH US WITHOUT LEAVING YOUR SEAT ...”
Just Text your ADS @
- 0920.7675.444
FOR YOUR ADVERTISING NEEDS: Call or Text us @ 09207675444 ADS HOTLINE: 321-4833; 251-2341; E-MAIL: trexpelunker@yahoo.com
Much of the Development of Samar is found in leaders & people who care.
Samar Weekly Express
2
REGIONAL NEWS
FEBRUARY 7 - 13, 2012
SAMAR from page 1...
2.5 kilometer road stretch Lokilokon-Calapi of San Jose de Buan town will also be develop by the province. Both road leads to province’s highest mountain called Mount Huraw. Still in Samar’s second district is a 2- kilometer road concreting project leading to Milagrosa Falls in Pinabacdao town. In Basey, some 90 kilometers far from Catbalogan, a road that leads to Balantak Falls may also enjoy concreting worth P20 million. As of press time, the governor said she is awaiting for reports from Samar’s first district which projects will be included though she approved in principle the project proposed by San Jorge’s tourism officer on a road network that leads to Blanca Aurora Falls in San Jorge town. The PDC is banking on the “Convergence Program for Enhancing Tourism Access” forged between the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). In late January, 2012, DOT and DPWH forged a MOA to embark on road projects leading to tourism destinations with the following criteria: road network importance, tourism importance, project readiness and other economic and social development impacts. “That’s helping to build a strong public sector institution that promotes transparency, good governance especially in tourism – an industry which has now gained national importance,” said Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez Jr. in his speech at the MOA signing. (Ninfa Quirante with reports from Ricky Bautista) Daram Mayor Lucia Astorga graces the workshop of Barangay Chairmen in Daram, Samar where she commi�ed to support ECCD either through local funds or grants from other funding ins�tu�ons during the Early Childhood Care Development (ECCD) Summit held in this island town on February 13, 2012. (NBQ)
NEWEST CRIME IN THE CITY
7-year-old school girl raped, killed in Catbalogan
Police tracks down suspect who went into hiding after the crime incident CATBALOGAN CITY - A body of a seven yearold girl, believed to have been raped and killed by a still unidentified suspect, was found inside a public elementary school in this city. The victim was said to have been missing since Friday afternoon but whose dead body was found Sunday morning just at the back of their school room in Catbalogan II Elementary School in Barangay Guinapondan, Catbalogan City, where she was in Grade II. “Our investigators are now busy conducting the investigation on this case, especially in tracking down the suspect. We have now the lead as to who could be responsible on this brutal slaying of the girl,” Superintendent Avelino Doncillo, city police chief, said when reached on the phone. He declined to elaborate, saying that their investigation is still in progress. He, however, said that he had already ordered for a manhunt operation against the suspect. The child was observed to have a fracture on her head and contusions on her
PEOPLE in this city were schocked upon learning the news that a 7-year-old girl was found dead apparently raped and killed by the new school “watchman” last last Friday. Picture shows policemen inves�gators retrieving the body of the vic�m. (Photo courtesy of Emy Calagos facebook) On Sunday morning against the suspect once he legs. Based on the initial gets arrested. investigation of the police at around 1 p.m., her dead School principal Conauthorities, the victim was body was discovered by chita Dacutan, in a separate last seen alive at around 4 some teenagers who were phone interview, said that p.m. Friday playing with passing in the area. The foul odor emanatthey were appalled on the some of her schoolmates. He parents reported to the ing from the crime scene killing of the victim. “We never thought that police at 9 p.m. as she had led to the discovery of the yet to return home. this kind of brutal incident victim’s dead body with will happen in our school. her face down and her short We just hope that our popants lowered down to her Samar Weekly knees, prompting investi- lice authorities could arrest immediately whoever is gators to theorize that she behind the killing of this could have been raped by THE EXPONENT OF SAMAR PROGRESS the perpetrator. seven year old girl,” Dacutan said. Doncillo said that as Dacutan said that she of press time, they are still personally saw the condiawaiting for the result of a tion of the girl when she medico-legal examination was being retrieved by the conducted on the victim members of the scene of the who lives in Barangay Guinapondan, Catbalogan. crime operatives (Soco) of He vowed to file the the Catbalogan city police appropriate criminal case from the crime scene last
EXPRESS Only P500/Year CALL US NOW... 055-251-2341 or txt @ 09207675444 (Ricky)
POLICE
Reports
Suspected robber nabbed
The Catbalogan’s finest arrested a suspected robber at Pier 1, Brgy. 6 this city recently. In a report obtained by this writer, the police identified the suspect as certain Antonio Jamorin y Nodalo alias Toto, 31 years old, single, traffic enforcer and a resident of Purok 5, Brgy. Maulong this city. The suspect was arrested by virtue of a Warrant of Arrest (WOA) docketed under Criminal Case No. 8182 and 8183 dated January 24, 2012 for the crime of robbery issued by Judge Agerico Avila of RTC Branch 29 here. The judge recommended a bail bond of P20 thousand for each case. As of this writing, the said accused person was detained at Catbalogan lock up awaiting his arraignment. Arresting officers PSI Rex B. Cantillep, SPO3 Nelson Amos Lapeciros, PO3 Josezaldy Danday Rueda, PO3 Rey Dagutdot Delos Reyes Jr, PO2 Roy Machate Pagunsan, PO2 Diory Solano Uy, and PO1 Noel B Royandoyan were commended by City Chief of Police Avelino B. Doncillo for this accomplishment. (Lilith Sabuco Teña) Sunday. they could have a one-day wake at the school. “She was lying face The Catbalogan II Eldown with her shorts lowered down up to the knees. ementary School is located There were no stains of within the province’s sports blood perhaps washed grandstand complex which is practically open 24 hours down by the rains,” she said. Catbalogan has been a day to the public. “Anybody could enter experiencing rains since last week. the premises. The security Dacutan said that the of our students and even us more than 1,200 students of teachers is not secured due the school have donated to to this condition,” Dacutan the family of the victim and said. had requested her family if
Samar Weekly Express
FEBRUARY 7 - 13, 2012
Young mothers in Jiabong town comply breastfeeding CATBALOGAN CITY – Mothers from this small town known for its tasty tahong (mussles) comply with exclusive breastfeeding for six months as exemplified by mothers testimonies during the health event called: Sabay-sabay Pasuso, today in Jiabong, Samar. Lactating mothers as young as 16 and as old as 44 tagged along their nursing babies to the Senior Citizen Hall in Jiabong for the once-in –a lifetime event. Decilda Gabon who brought her fifth (and hopefully the last) child said that breastfeeding allows her to save (tipid). She added that it also helped her space her children born in 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009 and now her youngest baby born last year. Another young mom, Ruby whose husband cultures mussles testified that she has breastfed all her babies and eats mussles which helps her produce more breastmilk. Jessa, 32 compares her first child whom she did not breastfed to her younger baby aged four months whom she now breastfeeds exclusively. “Iba talaga, this is healthier than her kuya,” she said. All three mothers are purely housewives who can easily reach their breasts upon the baby’s demand, but even Marife, who works at the municipal hall is still able to nurse her baby boy, she too avers that she has breastfed all her four children. “Mga honor students hira baya, salit napa bright gud iton pagsuso,( trans: my kids are on the honor roll, proof that breastmilk makes them bright)” she proudly shared. Cynthia Palileo, from the provincial health office enumerated the advantages of breastfeeding. “Breastmilk is a natural food, with complete and complex nutrition for babies.” “It is also nature’s formula to ensure that infants should live a healthy and quality life,” she told the mothers whose children started to feed even before the simultaneous pagpapasuso (nursing). Breastmilks has enough anti-bodies to protect your child, so you do not have to give them vitamins, nor water, breastmilk provides all that the baby needs, what more, breastfeeding also creates a special bond between mother and child.” (Ninfa Quirante)
Samar’s AIP is P1 billion
CATBALOGAN CITY – The Samar province Annual Investment Plan (AIP) is pegged at P1 billion as approved by the Provincial Development Council in a meeting on Friday, February 10, 2012 at the capitol. The meeting presided by Governor Sharee Ann Tan was attended by eleven Samar-based non-government organizations (NGOs). The total amount is P1,024.632,590.31; of the total amount of the AIP, P202 million or 19.80 percent represents General Public Service Program, P177-M or 17.32 percent represents Economic Service Programs while P378-M or 36.97 percent represents the Social Services Programs and P265-M or 25.92 percent for other services. With this budget, the province aims to increase ag-
INVITATION TO BID
for CONSTRUCTION OF PERIMETER FENCE (800 BAYS) at Borongan Airport, Eastern Samar 1. The Civil Avia�on Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), through the Bids and Awards Commi�ee (BAC) for Area 7, for Civil Avia�on Project CY2011 intends to apply the sum of PhP 2,907,770.12 being Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Construc�on of Perimeter Fence (800 Bays) at Borongan Airport, Borongan, Easter Samar. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automa�cally rejected at the opening of bids. 2. The Civil Avia�on Authority of the Philippines (CAAP – Area 7) now invites interested bidders for the Construc�on of Perimeter Fence (800 Bays) Project at Borongan Airport, Borongan, Eastern Samar. Comple�on of work is Sixty (60) Calendar Days. The prospec�ve bidders should have experience in undertaking a similar project within the last two (2) years with an amount of at least 50% of the ABC of the proposed project for bidding. The descrep�on of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, par�cularly, in Sec�on II, Instruc�on to Bidders. 3. Bidding will be conducted through open compe��ve bidding procedures using non discre�onary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the revised Implemen�ng Rules and Regula�ons (IRR)nof Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. 4. Bidding is restricted to Filipino ci�zens sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organiza�on with at least seventy five (75%) percent of the outstanding capital stock belongs to citezens of the Philippines. 5. Interested bidders may obtain further informa�on from the BAC Secretar�at of CAAP-Area 7, Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport, Tacloban City with telephone numbers (053)-321-2604, or 325-5891, telefax (053)-3236191 during office hours. 6. A complete set of Bidding Documents maybe purchased by interested bidders by paying a nonrefundable fee of PhP 3,000.00 for the Bidding Documents at the above given address during office hours from February 7, 2012 to February 23, 2012. Deadline for bid submission is on February 23, 2012 at 11:00 AM, late bid will not be accepted. Opening of bids will be at 3:00 PM on the same date and is open to all interested bidders. The BAC will be hold a Pre-Bid Conference on February 10, 2012 at 9:00 AM and is open to all
8. All bids must be accompanied with a bid security in any of the acceptable form and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. ments.
9.
Prospec�ve bidders shall possess a valid PCAB license, mayor’s permit and other per�nent docu-
10. The Civil Avia�on Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to anull the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any �me prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder/s.
Date of Pos�ng: February 7-13, 2012
ricultural productivity, provide livelihood opportunities and strengthen historical and cultural legacy and tourism according to the planners. Noted too were the budget allocated for the construction/repair rehab of different provincial roads that total almost to P150-M, as requested by the mayors present. With the approval of the AIP by the PDC, the council may yet face another challenge, that of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan approval. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Samar has been always short of members to achieve a quorum. But the members of the PDC especially those belonging to the NGOs are praying that the AIP be approved for the poor people of Samar. (Ninfa Quirante)
SABAY-SABAY PASUSO. Jiabong mothers brought their youngest nursing babies to take part in a health event called Sabay-sabay Pasuso last February 10, this is a program to ensure that babies get nothing but the best from morthers’ milk; the youngest baby is aged three months while the oldest is three years. (Ninfa Quirante)
Republic of the Philippines Department of Transporta�on and Communica�ons CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY OF THE PHILIPPINES AREA CENTER NO. 7 Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport, Tacloban City Tel. Nos. 321-2604/325-5891/323-6191
7. interested par�es.
3
NEWS
������� �. �������� �������� ���� ��� ������ ���������, ����-���� 7
Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM Provincial Agrarian Reform Office Region 08 Catbalogan City, Samar
AN INVITATION TO PRE-QUALIFY AND TO BID NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that there will be a public bidding for CARP Module Subdivision/ Segrega�on Survey Projects for the Province of Western Samar, to be held on March 7, 2012, 10:00 o’clock in the morning at DAR Provincial Office, Catbalogan W. Samar. All Geode�c Engineer/Contractor, who may be interested to par�cipate in the said bidding are requested to submit the hereunder enumerated pre-qualifica�on requirements in addi�on to other requirement as specified in the Instruc�on to Bidders, not later than 5:00 o’clock in the a�ernoon of February 28, 2012 (Tuesday), to the Chief, Legal Division and BAC Chairman, ATTY. JEROME L. PADERES, to wit: 1. Three (3) copies passport size picture of bidders and/or authorized representa�ve of partnership or corpora�on; 2. Duty notarized Affidavit of Project Chief regarding his past experience; 3. Current employment contract of Project Chief, Geode�c Engineers; 4. Cer�fied Xerox copies of Professional Tax Receipt, G.E. Registra�on Card and GEP Membership Card of Cer�fica�on of Good Standing issued by the concerned Regional Division of the Geode�c Engineers of the Philippines. 5. Original copies of Registra�on of Surveying Instruments (e.g. EDMS or Total Sta�on, Transit, Theodoli�es, tapes, etc.) 6. Tax Clearance and latest I.T.R. 7. Duly Notarized Affidavit that said Contractor is not related to the signing authority or any member of the BAC up to the 3rd degree of consanguinity and affinity. A pre-bidding conference will be conducted on Feb. 29, 2012 (Wednesday), at 10:00 o’clock in the morning during which bidding terms and condi�ons will be discussed. Sealed bids in the prescribed forms will be recieved un�l 10:00 o’clock in the morning of March 7, 2012 (Wednesday), the scheduled date of actual bidding and these shall then be opened. Bid Forms and other related papers are available at the Office of the BAC Chairman, DAR Provincial Office, Catbalogan W. Samar, with a non-refundable fee of FIVE HUNDRED PESOS (P500.00). The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive any informality found therein and to accept bids as may be considered advatageous to the government. February 10, 2012, DAR Provincial Office, Catbalogan W. Samar
(Sgd.) ATTY. JEROME L. PADERES BAC Chairman Date of Pos�ng: February 7-13, 2012
Samar Weekly Express
4
OPINION
FEBRUARY 7 - 13, 2012
• EDITORIAL • Inconsistent Tax Collection If we compare tax collection between ordinary employees and those who are engaged in business, we will notice that there is inconsistency and unfairness. They are not being taxed fairly as the one cannot elude meticulous and even repeated taxation while the other one is eluding it with broad smiles on their faces and increasing cash in their pockets. On the part of employees or those working in offices, agencies, companies, etc., tax collections is something they cannot escape. It is mandatory and is automatically deducted from their salaries such that, by the time they receive their pay, the amounts intended for taxes are already taken. They have no way of refusing to pay since tax deduction from their salary is compulsory. Good for them; they cannot help but be honest to the government. They are the ones who consistently and honestly pay the taxes required by the state for it to continually exist. But when it comes to people who are into business and private practice of various professions like doctors, lawyers, etc., paying taxes is something they can always elude at will. The money they earn may deprive the government of its taxes since they do not always issue the mandated receipts, which could trace their earnings. Look at the many grocery stores, clinics, hardware shops, law offices, pharmacies, and other business establishments and you will see that the owners do not issue receipts to their clients and customers. They only do so when a customer asks for a receipt. But only very few people would ask for this receipt; majority do not bother to ask for it. And so these people are able to escape from their obligation of honestly paying taxes. The government agency tasked to do the job is only good at collecting taxes from wage earners, thanks to automatic deduction of these taxes from the latter’s wages. But when it comes to collecting taxes from business establishments and private practitioners, this agency proves quite inutile, to the great relief of tax evaders.
Samar Weekly
EXPRESS THE EXPONENT OF SAMAR PROGRESS
The Samar Weekly Express is published weekly in multilingual format with editorial and business office located at Rizal Avenue, Catbalogan, Samar (Infront of Fire Department near City Hall) with Tel. No. (055) 251-2341, E-mail: trexpelunker@yahoo.com Mobile Nos. 09207675444 Search us at Facebook and ‘like’ us.
HINTS & TRACES BY FR. ROY CIMAGALA
roycimagala@gmail.com
Be concerned! THAT, in gist, is the message of Pope Benedict for this year’s Lenten season that will start on Ash Wednesday, February 22. It’s taken from a passage in the Letter to the Hebrews 10,24: “Let us be concerned for each other, to stir a response in love and good works.” From this, the Pope wants us to see the connection between our concern for the others, on the one hand, and its consequence and requirement of reciprocity (mutual cooperation) and personal holiness, on the other. These three elements should go together as an organic whole. It’s a message directed to the growing apathy that traces its roots in a creeping Godlessness we can observe in the world today. These are some of the Pope’s words describing this unfortunate situation: “Contemporary culture seems to have lost the sense of good and evil…What hinders this humane and loving gaze towards our brothers and sisters? Often it is the possession of material riches and a sense of sufficiency, but it can also be the tendency to put our own interests and problems above all else…” He also laments about individualism that seems to pervade the world now and that makes it “blind to the physical sufferings and to the spiritual and moral demands of life.” He warns us of what he terms as “spiritual anaesthesia which numbs us to the sufferings of others,” as well as the usual temptation “to become lukewarm, to quench the Spirit, to refuse to invest the talents we have received…” To all these negative situations, the Holy Father proposes a genuine and thorough concern for others that should have the following characteristics: —Desiring what is good for others from every point of view: physical, moral and spiritual. He defines good as “whatever gives, protects and promotes life, brotherhood and communion.” DALMACIO C. GRAFIL Publisher RICKY J. BAUTISTA Editor CATHERINE GERADILA Office-in-Charge
ALMA GRAFIL Bus. Manager
Columnists, Writers and Account Executives: Chito Dela Torre, Atty. Batas Maricio, Fr. Roy Cimagala, Ismael Amigo, Juan Mercado, Rommel Rutor, Roger Soria, Myra Tambor, Jenna Igdalino, Gina DeanRagudo, Lilith Sabuco - Teña, Malou Bermejo.
-- Being aware of the needs of others, and especially being concerned for their spiritual well-being. At this point, the Pope talks about the long forgotten gospel practice of “fraternal correction in view of eternal salvation.” It’s a message that certainly needs to be digested slowly and persistently. Its rich theological underpinnings actually offer a splendid view of today’s situation and challenge. Very often, we get contented only with some socio-economic and political analysis of the situation that can only cover and fathom so much. We should correct or at least enrich this attitude with a deeper dimension offered by theology. The message calls us to get out of our shell and to actively enter into the dynamics of a life of communion, marked precisely by love and concern for one another, to which we are called. The Pope offers an elaborate description of this life of communion that we should try to be familiar about, since very often we take it for granted or reduce it to merely social categories. In his words, our life of communion is based on the fact that “our existence is related to that of others, for better or for worse. Both our sins and our acts of love have a social dimension. “This reciprocity is seen in the Church, the mystical body of Christ. The community constantly does penance and asks for the forgiveness of the sins of its members, and also unfailingly rejoices in the example of virtue and charity present in her midst. “As St. Paul says: ‘Each part should be equally concerned for all the others’ (1 Cor 12,25), for we all form one body. Acts of charity towards our brothers and sisters—as expressed by almsgiving, a practice which, together with prayer and fasting, is typical of Lent—is rooted in this common belonging. “Christians can also express their membership in the one body which is the Church through concrete concern for the poorest of the poor. Concern for one another likewise means acknowledging the good the Lord is doing in others and giving thanks for the wonders of grace that God in his goodness continuously accomplishes in his children.” We certainly need to deepen and strengthen our sense of communion. It’s definitely not an easy thing to do, but neither is it impossible. We just have to realize that we need to constantly ask for grace for it and be as unsparing as we can in exerting the necessary effort. Truth is there is a lot of needs to be attended to, not only human, but also and most specially the moral and spiritual needs. There’s a lot of poverty and injustice to be resolved as well as ignorance and confusion that need to be dispelled.
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
Samar Weekly Express
FEBRUARY 7 - 13, 2012
AN LAA-GAN BY ROMMEL L. RUTOR
zip_rommel@yahoo.com
What to Expect in 2012: Undying Recall Elections? (Last part of 3rd series) Despite all the encumbrances in the undying recall election issue, the persisting and obvious reason perhaps that everyone can note that basically impedes the conduct of Samar’s Recall Election is the almost abiding resolve of the Tan Family to stay in power – perchance come what may? While those who pursue the Recall Election did not able to make use of the “Time” allotted in the recall process which is very vital, and wasn’t able to make use properly
KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS BY ATTY. MELANIO ‘BATAS’ MAURICIO NOTARY PUBLIC Expanded judicial power a duty of SC LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… the angel said to her, `Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus’…” (Luke 1:30-31, the Holy Bible). -o0oISSUE ON APPOINTING THE NEXT CJ: There is an interesting legal argument being raised by some lawyers which looks at what will happen if and when Chief Justice Renato Corona is convicted by the Senate and removed from office: can President Aquino legally appoint the next chief justice? The argument is that under the Constitution, the President can only appoint a chief justice based on the recommendations of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), which is headed by a chief justice. If the chief justice is impeached, the JBC cannot convene and hence cannot submit any recommendation, so the President cannot appoint anyone, so the argument goes. But, as Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile will say, “wait a minute”. If the chief justice is impeached and is disabled for any reason, is it not that under existing laws
The hands that Rock the Cradle: Feminization of Migration in PH “Where can I get that form?” a slim longhaired young lady asked while I was filling up the Departure Card at the Immigration Area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. I quickly pointed her to the check in counter and proceeded in the queue to have my passport stamped by the Philippine Immigration Officer. “They used to allow early morning passengers to spend the night within the departure area premises of the Davao City International Airport. Without money for hotel accommodation, I couldn’t go back to my hometown that will take me a 16-hour bus trip to reach the city. I was just lucky to meet a kind girl who worked at the canteen and invited me to spend the night in their home just outside the airport”, said the lady from Davao, a province in the big island of Mindanao, south of the Philippines. “My two-week vacation was ruined. I got sick because of the weather. Now I am going back to Hongkong broke,” said another young lady who traveled by bus from Florida Blanca, a town devastated by lava when Mt. Pinatubo erupted in 1991 and left thousands of people homeless and farmless.” Pampanga is located 55 miles north of Manila, the capital city of the Philippines. This was the conversation I overheard at the queue. We
5
OPINION
of the salient points or occurrences in the never-ending line of the recall process, the Tan Siblings in the Capitol did able to exploit these inadequacies of the recall petitioners, perhaps fairly to achieve a status quo and conceivably just to maintain their present positions. The Tan siblings maybe right in the first place that the bulk of signatures stipulated in the two separate recall petitions against them were bogus – or shall I say from the point of view of An Laagan were hastily gathered and did not consider the verification process that these signatures will undergo – and will not prosper in the technical aspect of the Recall Process, but the An Laagan firmly believes that this resolve will not put an end to the issues raised by the petitioners which is the alleged “lost of trust and confidence” to their leadership by the majority of the Samarnon people. We all know that both the anti-Tan ward and even those sitting merely on the bleachers of Samar’s political arena are keen into resolving the issue of alleged “lost of trust and confidence” thru another election, and that is an actual Recall Election and not a simple win because of mere technicalities, basically to greatly determine who’s who in every Samarnons heart in Samar’s political arena. Nevertheless, if the objective of the Tan siblings is sim-
ply to stop the recall process and hold on to their respective positions until the 2013 elections, then the present situation besetting the recall petition is definitely on their favor per se – but this is not an assurance of victory in the upcoming regular elections because for sure, the same issues will rise and in fact with add-ons such as the alleged participation of some election officers in voiding the recall election and definitely more related allegations. But again, who can judge the mind-flow of those people who are either directly or indirectly involved in pushing the Recall Election and of course the minds of those who will decide on its fate? With the pending Motion for Reconsideration filed by the recall petitioners at the Comelec for the inclusion of some signatures which were allegedly declared invalid by the verification officers but are allegedly valid, plus the consistent actions of the Opposition Bloc versus the Capitol Leadership blocking the provincial budget and other capitol finance-driven initiatives, the famed Samar’s recall election issue will definitely stay and will continue to be a chattering point among Samarnons until an actual election will occur. For more updates in Samar’s political kettle, stay tuned to DYMS Aksyon Radyo – Bantay Probinsiya anchored by this writer, Monday to Friday from 9am to 11am.
the next senior associate justice gets to be automatically designated as the “acting” chief justice and so is given the power to chair the JBC, thereby allowing the body to continue functioning? -o0oSUPPORT FOR CORONA WELLING UP: The Internet, particularly Facebook, was abuzz with reports the other night that members of the powerful Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) will stage rallies at the Supreme Court and the Senate on Thursday, to show support for Corona. As pictures of the rallies showed, the tribunal and the Senate were swamped with thousands of people that day. Are we seeing the realization of a prediction by a local seer that a powerful church will cause the downfall of Aquino? -o0oQUESTION FOR SENATORS: I have a question to our senators who have been very vocal about the “supremacy” of the Senate sitting as an impeachment court: have these senators read the Constitution, enacted by the first Aquino presidency in 1987, and its provision (Section 1, Article 8) which says the Supreme Court can review---and therefore set aside---any act of any government branch or instrumentality considered as grave abuse? Is the impeachment court not an instrumentality of government? -o0oWILL SENATE DEFY SC? Now that the high court issued an indefinite temporary restraining order against the impeachment court prohibiting it from looking into the dollar accounts of Corona, will our senators insist on their supposed independence and defy the Supreme Court? If they do that, they would not only be violating Section 1, Article 8 of the Constitution, which is graft and corruption. Worse, they would be setting up anarchy and lawlessness among our people.
-o0oKAREN JIMENO CONCERNED WITH BEAUTY: Someone sent this information to me: defense lawyer Karen Jimeno is very meticulous not only on the evidence and arguments being submitted in the trial of Corona. She is also very wary about how she looks, such that, for every five or so minutes while she sits in the defense panel, she keeps on looking at a small mirror from her bag, to see if everything is alright with how she looks. And this is not even meant to be a joke! -o0oBANK WHISTLEBLOWER A COLUMNIST? Is it true, as some Facebook articles are saying, that the “small lady” who gave the prosecution the bank documents about Corona’s peso and dollar accounts is actually a columnist of a newspaper whose husband is also a columnist? I know the lady columnist referred to, and I call her “RER”, but my recollection is that she is so reserved she will not do anything illegal like disclosing confidential bank records. What happened, Ms. “Small Lady”? -o0o“EXPANDED JUDICIAL POWER IS A DUTY OF SC”: And finally, here is another quotation from the case “Ernesto B. Francisco, Jr. vs. Nagmamalasakit na mga Manananggol ng mga Manggagawang Pilipino, Inc.”, G.R. No. 160261, November 10, 2003: “… the judicial power… granted to the Philippine Supreme Court and lower courts, as expressly provided for in the Constitution, is not just a power but also a duty, and it was given an expanded definition to include the power to correct any grave abuse of discretion on the part of any government branch or instrumentality…”
all came from the 3 big islands of the Philippines- Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao to converge in the big city, the jump off point to faraway places where we could earn a living. The bespectacled big man inside the booth sternly looked at me and asked, “What’s your job?” I confidently replied, “I am a housewife.” Knowing that I am “jobless” he demanded to see my return ticket and asked that I open my laptop to show him my round trip plane ticket to Singapore. I searched for my file and before I could read him the flight details, he stamped my passport and emphatically told me to bring a hard copy next time. The immigration officer must have thought that I was joining the ranks of ten million Filipinos who are scattered in 193 countries and territories as well as in ocean plying vessels. The majority of us travel outside the country to find work so that we can support our family back home. The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (COF) classifies the economic migration by Filipinos into three categories: permanent, temporary and irregular migrants. 1) Permanent migrants or immigrants are legal permanent residents abroad. 2) Temporary migrants are Filipinos whose stay overseas is regular and properly documented and are popularly referred to as “Overseas contract workers (OCWs)” or “Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs)” and 3) Irregular migrants whose stay abroad is not properly documented. They also do not have valid residence and work permits; they can also be overstaying workers or tourists in a foreign country. A nondiscriminatory label for these migrants is “undocumented migrants”. In 2010 alone, more than 340,000 Filipinos were deployed for overseas work in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the Americas and Oceania. More than half of them, or 185,601, were women. The newly hired Pinays take care of nearly 94,000 families in the Middle East where they work as domestic helpers in Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi
Arabia, Syria, and United Arab Emirates. Filipino nurses provide TLC, (tender loving care), to the sick in the hospitals of Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Libya and Yemen. They are also in Finland, Norway and the United Kingdom while compassionate caregivers tend the elderly in Israel. (to be continued….) By Paulina Lawsin Nayra 2012 Voices of our Future Correspondent Philippines
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.
We value your Opinion!
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.
Be heard and be counted, send us what you think, now!
Samar Weekly Express
6
NATIONAL NEWS
FEBRUARY 7 - 13, 2012
CHIEF JUSTICE ON TRIAL
Special Impeachment Coverage EXPRESS on Justice Renato Corona President Aquino rallies public in graft fight COMMENTARY Samar Weekly
THE EXPONENT OF SAMAR PROGRESS
PHILIPPINE President Benigno Aquino on Thursday urged the public to rally behind his campaign to oust the nation’s top judge, warning the fight against widespread corruption hinged on the result. Invoking the famous “people power” revolution that installed his late mother to the presidency in 1986, Aquino said ordinary Filipinos had the power to ensure Supreme Court chief justice Renato Corona was removed from office. Corona is on trial in the Senate, accused of violating the constitution to protect graft-tainted former president Gloria Arroyo from prosecution, and also for allegedly amassing a personal fortune above the limits of his salary. “We should not allow ourselves to become victims of injustice. We must take a stand now,” Aquino told a town-hall-style meeting with students at a Catholic college in Manila. He did not say specifically how the masses could take a stand. But he recalled how supporters of his late mother, Corazon Aquino, forced then dictator Ferdinand Marcos into exile by protesting peacefully, waging a “civil disobedience campaign” and boycotting firms linked to the strongman. Aquino said he trusted the impeachment process, but he wanted the public to understand that Corona and his backers were using a wide range of tactics in an effort to derail the case. Aquino said that if the Senate acquitted Corona, it would virtually destroy his efforts to rid the country of corruption. “Extremely difficult, if not impossible,” he replied to a question from a law student about such a prospect. Aquino won a landslide election victory in 2010 on a platform to end corruption which has plagued the Philippines for decades and he says worsened dramatically during the decade that Arroyo led the country before him. Arroyo was arrested in November on charges of rigging the 2007 senatorial vote and is now awaiting trial in a military hospital where she is being treated for what she says is a rare spinal illness. Aquino then marshalled his allies in the lower house of parliament to impeach Corona, labelling him a “rogue magistrate” loyal to Arroyo. Under Philippine law, the Senate holds a trial to validate the lower house’s impeachment charge. Aquino insisted Thursday that Corona had lied about asset declarations required of public officials, which he said should be grounds for him being sacked by the Senate.
BY JUAN L. MERCADO
juanlmercado@gmail.com
‘Peak’ - What?
Philippine President Benigno Aquino (L) talks to students at a college auditorium in Manila, while Vice President Jejomar Binay (2nd-R) listens. Aquino said people must take a stand against the impeached Supreme Court chief jus�ce, warning an acqui�al would derail the fight against corrup�on. (Reuters)
Senate won’t cede impeachment trial over to the Supreme Court - Enrile THE Supreme Court holds the power to review the conduct of Chief Justice Renato Corona’s trial, but the Senate will not surrender its jurisdiction over the case, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said Tuesday. The Senate alone can determine whether Corona should be removed from post, noted Enrile the Senate impeachment court’s presiding judge. “It is my humble view that the SC cannot assume jurisdiction over the sole power of the Senate to try and decide this impeachment case,” said the Senate President, turned 88 on Wednesday. Enrile, who presides over the trial, said he respects the authority of the high court to determine whether or not the Senate “abused its discretion” in the impeachment proceedings. “It is my duty as presiding officer to respect authority to review acts of this impeachment court in interlocutory
matters or matters on how this court conducts trial,” he said at the start of the day’s trial. Last week, Corona asked the high tribunal to stop the impeachment trial for violating his rights, including the confidentiality of his bank accounts. Full responsibility Enrile took responsibility for issuing a subpoena on Corona’s bank records based on documents presented by the prosecution. A witness, however, belittled the supposed documents from PSBank and told the impeachment court on Monday that they were “fake.” “I won’t pass the buck to the Senate impeachment court. I am personally bound to face the consequence of my actions,” said during the live telecast of the impeachment trial. He maintained that the impeachment court “cannot transgress any of the applicable provisions in the bill of rights” during Corona’s trial. Enrile last week approved
a request from the prosecution team to subpoena Corona’s bank records based on documents supposedly given by an anonymous source — “a small lady.” Annabelle Tiongson, branch manager of PSBank Katipunan in Quezon City, said on Monday that the documents presented by the prosecution to the impeachment court were not copies of banks records. Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, for her part, said prosecutors may be sanctioned if the Senate impeachment court proves that they attached spurious records in their subpoena request.
GSIS gives members in flood-hit Visayas P261-M in emergency loans Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), the pension fund for state employees, on Thursday said it earmarked P261 million for its members in the Visayas affected by flooding last December. GSIS has 13,040 active members in Aklan, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental and in nine municipalities in Leyte, including Abuyog, Dagami, Javier, Julita, Mayorga, San Miguel, Tabontabon, Tanauan, and Tolosa, said GSIS president and general manager Robert Vergara. “GSIS members who were affected by heavy rains and flooding in some areas in the Visayas region may now apply for emergency loan,” Vergara noted in a statement. They have until Feb. 27 to apply for emergency loan. Parts of the Visayas were devastated by floods in last Dec. 16.
Buzz words sprout from controversies of the day. From impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona, “Subpoena” and “Alpha Lists” spilled into chatter at barbershops to diplomatic receptions. Emerging issues mint new buzz words. “Peak timber” is one of them. “Tropical countries should consider implications of ‘peak timber’…even as ” “it has become common to speak of ‘peak oil”, the journal Biological Conservation suggests. Today’s 30-40 year logging cycles do not provide sufficient time for forests to recover. This rule of thumb stems from 1950s preliminary research in fertile Basilan Island with abundant rainfall. Other provinces are less-favored. But Basilan 30-40 year yardsticks were applied nationwide. They’re proving unsustainable. “Peak timber” shoves against forest limits. The trajectory clones the ‘Hubbert Curve” in tracking oil, note Australian National University’s Phil Shearman and Jane Bryan with William Laurance, James Cook University Harvests first surge, petter out on a peak, then plunge into free fall. “Been there, done that“, Filipinos would shrug. In 1595, forests blanketed 27.5 million hectares here. Today, 7.7 million hectares are left, official data claims. That’s probably an overestimate. Factor in unrecorded killer logs, unleashed by Typhoon “Sendong” Most tumbled from “the mountains of Lanao del Sur. Kaingin scarred slopes, converted into pastures or corn fields, have patchy vegetative cover, They can’t stem soil erosion. Nor do they hold rainfall runoff. The result in massive soil erosion dumped. Thus, mud, rock and logs cascaded from plantations on vulnerable hillsides “in Bukidnon towns of Manolo Fortich, Libona, Talakag and Baungon. In Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, people were smothered by waves of mud. The first Asian country to liquidate its forest wealth after World War II”, the Philippines — slammed into “peak timber”. Early From less than 500 thousand cubic meters in the late 1950s, log exports crested at 11.1 million cubic meters in 1974. Exports slumped to a mere 841 thousand cubic meters a decade later. It still has to recover. Forest cover skid, meanwhile, to 18 percent, far below the 30 percent safety benchmark. Loss of habitats threaten 89 species of wildlife. Most are endemic to the Philippines. “A prima donna of log exporters in the 1970s, we became a wood pauper of the 1980s,” observed Viewpoint ( PDI / 10 Jan 2008 ). “Leaks” are all over, notes former UN forester Napoleon Vergara. Penury and hunger drive kaingineros to slash and burn trees for a harvest or two. Rapid population growth spurs upland migration. Confronting Illicit loggers, who bankroll politicians, can be lethal. “Green priest” Neri Satur was shotgunned to death, in 1991, for confiscating truckloads of “hot logs” in Bukidnon. Catholic radio journalist Dr. Gerry Ortega campaigned to protect indigenous communities and Palawan forests . He was gunned down last January. Botanist Leonard Co was shot while doing research in Leyte 2011. Co was “probably the last of classically trained botanists in plant taxonomy and systematics”. Lt Gen. Jesse Dellosa, 43rd Armed Forces chief of staff, should resolve, the glib claim Co had been “caught in a cross fire with communist guerrillas”. “Peak timber” is spurred by slow growth rate of commercially viable species, the scientists note. “Logging in the tropics tends to focus on a small fraction of the trees” Abandoned tree stumps symbolize extensive “collateral damage. The “second wave clearance” problem, cited by Biological Conservation, is a major glitch in Mindanao , VerSEE COMMENTARY P6
Samar Weekly Express
FEBRUARY 7 - 13, 2012 COMMENTARY fm p6...
gara adds. Roads bulldozed by loggers, open once remote areas, to a flood of land-hungry settlers, shifting cultivators — and yet more illegal loggers. The impact of bulldozers and yarders, dragging logs thru fragile tropical soils, is severe. “In retrospect, it would probably have been better from an environmental perspective to rely on the carabao power that small-scale “illegal loggers” depend upon. Asia and the Pacific are starting to reverse forest loss, asserts the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization in it’s 2011: Forest Beneath the Grass.”. .“ Asia gained 2.2 million has.” Primary forests nonetheless continue to be chain-sawed.” The last “virgin” forests in Samar are being chopped down. Government reforestation efforts have been erratic. And tree survival rates are low. Under the Arroyo administration, over 72 centavos out of every peso went for salaries in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources “We’ve long gone over the “peak” says agro forestry specialist Patrick Dugan and co-author of “Forest Faces.” We must “now
Only P500/ Year CALL US NOW... 055-251-2341 or txt @ 09207675444 (Ricky)
focus on options for turning around the situation.” To first step to climb back up the “peak” is to adopt — then enforce — “policies that create incentives for people to plant, harvest and sell trees. This would tamp down pressure to harvest from the natural forests. Second is to address the lack of tangible and of sustained support to help millions of smallscale farmers, living on steep slopes, apply improved land use methods. Only then, will they jettison the un-sustainable but the only faming systems they have. That would crib “the prevailing attitude that any cutting of trees is ipso-facto a criminal act.” Hopes for the future rest with people given a stake in planting and thereafter protecting forests, writes BBC’s Mark Kinver. The alternative is an old “buzz word”: Disaster.
Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 8th Judicial Region Branch 33 Calbiga, Samar IN RE: THE MATTER OF JUDICIAL DECLARATION OF PRESUMPTIVE DEATH OF CESARIO GILBOY, RUTH C. REPOSO, Petitioner. CIVIL CASE NO. C2012-1176 For: JUDICIAL DECLARATION OF PRESUMPTIVE DEATH x--------------x ORDER This is a verified petition to declare Cesario Gilboy, husband of petitioner Ruth C. Reposo, presumptively dead for the purpose of remarriage of the petitioner. The peition alleges that the petitioner contracted marriage with Cesario Gilboy on January 7, 1981 at the St. Rose of Lima Parish Church of Villareal, Samar, in a wedding solemnized by Rev. Fr. Luis S. Llarenas. After their marriage, they lived at Brgy. Villarosa, Villareal, Samar, and their union was blessed with
three (3) children. However, the petitioner was subjected to physical abuse by Cesario Gilboy during their union, and sometime in November 1996, the latter, without the knowledge and consent of the petitioner, took their savings and left their conjugal dwelling, never to be seen or heard again. The petitioner took earnest efforts to located his whereabouts, however, all efforts proved futile. And considering that Cesario Gilboy has been absent for more than fifteen (15) years, the petitioner is convinced that her husband is already dead. The petitioner furnished copies of her petition to the Office of the Solicitor General, National Statistics Office, Manila, and the Local Civil Registrar of Villareal, Samar, per registry receipts attached to the original copy of the petition. Finding the instant petition sufficient in form and substance, the same is hereby given DUE COURSE. The petitioner is ordered to publish this Order in a newspaper of general circulation in the Province of Samar and accredited by this Court, to be determined by raffle, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks at the petitioner’s
Floods, landslides threaten 48 areas MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned Sunday that two weather systems - a low-pressure area (LPA) and the tail-end of a cold front - over the country may trigger floods and landslides in the entire Southern Luzon, Visayas, and parts of Northern and Eastern Mindanao. Provinces that may be affected by floods and landslides if rains continue are Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Rizal, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, and Romblon, all in the Southern Luzon; Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Cebu, Negros Orien-
WRITERS WANTED!!! If you are 18 years old and above, with passion on writing, and willing to be trained in various aspects of NEWS REPORTING. You might just be the person we’re looking for to fill-in our continuing expansion. Please submit your RESUME at SWE Editorial Office at Rizal Avenue, Catbalogan City or call 251-9342 or 2512341 for details. Or email your intention to trexpelunker@yahoo.com (Look for Ricky
7
LEGAL NOTICES
tal, Siquijor, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar (Western Samar), and Southern Leyte, all in the Visayas; Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, and Zamboanga de Norte, all in the Northern and Eastern Mindanao. As of 10:30 a.m. yesterday, the LPA was spotted in the vicinity of Malaybalay City in Bukidnon. PAGASA said the LPA is over Mindanao, but the cloudiness is concentrated over Southern Luzon, the Visayas, and Northern and Eastern Mindanao. Due to the com-
bined effects of the LPA and the tail-end of a cold front, scattered to widespread rains are expected over these areas until today. As of yesterday, a one-hour recorded rainfall in Tacloban City (23.6 mms), Borongan in Eastern Samar (14 mms), and Catbalogan in Samar (30.6 mms) were considered heavy rainfall. Likewise, the onehour rainfall data in Camarines Sur, particularly in Camaligan (17 mms.), Ombao (13 mms), Buhi (12 mms), Bato (13 mms), and Ligao (25 mms) were all classified as heavy rainfall. Heavy rains were also recorded in Catanduanes, Sorsogon, and Albay. Meanwhile, light to moderate rains were
ADVERTISE
THIS SPACE IS FOR SALE Please contact us 251-2341 or 09207675444 for details.
ADVERTISE
BOOMBOOM ENTERPRISES
DEALER/SUPPLIER: Hollowblocks, Sand & Gravel, constructions materials, school and office supplies Contact: 0907.1079.333 (in Basey, Samar)
expense. The initial hearing is scheduled on March 27, 2012 at 8:30 o’clock in the morning. Furnish copies of this Order to the office of the Solicitor General, the office of the Samar Provincial Prosecutor in Catbalogan City, Atty. Edilberto G. Morales, the petitioner, and the last known
address of Cesario Gilboy. IN CHAMBERS, Regional Trial Court, Branch 33, Calbiga, Samar. February 7, 2012.
(Sgd.) JANET M. CABALONA Presiding Judge SWE Feb. 7-13; 14-20 & 21-27, 2012 issue
It pays to advertise!
The PAGASA warned on Sunday on the coming of a Low Pressure Area (LPA) in the Visayas provinces, including Samar and Leyte. noted in Southern Luzon. PAGASA rainfall threshold (in mm/ hour or mm) is classified as light if less than 2.5 mms, SAMAR POLICE PROVINCIAL OFFICE EASTERN SAMAR POLICE OFFICE moderate if it Tel. No. 055-251-2722 Mobile No. 0927-2052942 is between 2.5, Mobile No. 0908-9603294 and 7.5 mms, NORTHERN SAMAR POLICE OFFICE LEYTE PROVINCIAL POLICE OFC. and heavy if it Mobile No. 0915-3557182 Mobile No. 0939-8953627 is greater than 7.5 mms. POLICE REGIONAL OFFICE 8: Mobile No. 0939-3287083
“One Call can saves Lives” Call the Police:
FOR SALE! House & Lot We are selling our House and Lot, 64.46 sq. meters wide (or nearly 120 sq. m. including front area), 2 bedrooms, with kitchen, cr, store, balcon, front yard, concrete, near San Vicente homes in Basey, Samar. Ready for occupancy. Owner leaving. Rush. 09207675444 SAMAR WEEKLY EXPRESS is now open for your Personal Announcements and Greetings. Start placing your Advertisements on the following categories... ANNOUNCEMENT SECTION: -Birth Announcements -Reunions/Homecomings -Business Announcements -Weddings/Anniversaries -Obituaries
PERSONAL GREETINGS SECTION: -Birthday Greetings -Best Wishes/Anniversary Greetings -Congratulatory Messages -Religious Greetings -Other Personal Messages
JUST CALL US: 055-251-2341 look for CATHY
Samar Weekly
EXPRESS THE EXPONENT OF SAMAR PROGRESS
FEBRUARY 7 -13, 2012
PAGE 8
Shalani mum on Willie, ‘Wiltime Bigtime’
MAYOR Alfred Romualdez, one of the sponsor of the 6th Unity Climb held last February 12, 2012 in Babatngon Leyte posed with the host group Tribu Harbat Mountaineers and par�cipants from Leyte and Samar provinces. Mountaineering is now becoming a hot sports for young individuals in the region. (Contributed Photo)
Manny Pacquiao to ‘hang gloves up’ for good?
MANILA, Philippines - Eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao is pondering retiring next year. Pacquiao said his upcoming bout with undefeated American boxer Timothy Bradley Jr. on June 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas might be his last fight. According to him, it was by virtue of the “Word of God” that he realized the negative implications of his profession. “Word of God, tapos ‘yung trabaho natin masama nananakit tayo ng kapwa natin so buti na ‘yung hindi na tayo [gumawa ng ganon],” the Sarangani representative revealed in a taped interview aired on “Umagang Kay Ganda [UKG],” Monday. He continued, “Ok na ‘yun, kumbaga sa ano, ok na ‘yung binigay sa aking blessings ng Panginoon.” After having recently accepted Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines’ offer to become their Bible Ambassador, Pacman said in the “UKG” report that he may just focus on his duties as a public servant and continue reading the Bible. That said, does this mean goodbye to the dream fight between Pacquiao and American Floyd boxer Mayweather Jr.? ‘Changed man’ Last month, Pacquiao disclosed during a one-on-one interview with Dyan Castillejo that he has “renewed his faith” and has turned his back on “vices, including womanizing, gambling and drinking.” Many have been amazed about the improvement that Pacquiao’s been exuding as of late ever since he started reading the Bible. It seems that the boxing champ is really taking into heart his newest designation from the Church. “Napaka importante ng Bible basahin. [Hindi dapat] tinatago sa isang sulok, kun’di talagang binabasa ang Bible. “’Yan ang susi para sa kaligtasan. ‘Yan ang susi ng pintuan para makapasok ka sa buhay na walang hanggan,” preached Pacquiao in a report by PEP. More practically, though, he highlighted that when one reads the Bible, “you’re building up a relation to God” and “improving your faith.” Even his wife, Jinkee Pacquiao acknowledged the positive changes in Pacman. She even shared in a separate PEP report that he is, “Laging nasa bahay, nagbabasa ng Bible, nanonood ng sine at ng TV” and “mas madami ng time sa mga bata.”
LINE ADS, RUNNING ADS, COMMERCIAL, ETC. AVAILABLE HERE! Call us Now 251-2341
Rizal Avenue, Catbalogan City, Samar (Infront of Fire Department, near City Hall)
Name _____________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________ Signature ___________________________________________ Subscription Rate: P10.00 per copy (in Catbalogan City) Boxing icon Manny Pacqiuao with wife Jinkee on their Valen�nes Day date. (From the wires)
NBA neophyte is trending
NBA star Jeremy Lin
SHALANI Soledad will be part of TV5’s upcoming noon game show. “Game ‘N Go,” which will also include Edu Manzano, Gelli de Belen and Tuesday Vargas, among others. It is slated to premiere next month. Is her inclusion in “Game ‘N Go” the reason why she is no longer in “Wiltime Bigtime?” “The show will be in March and excited na tayo to start the show and work with Arnel (Ignacio) who I have worked with for some time sa ‘Wiltime.’ And of course, we will be working with Edu, with Gelli, with Tuesday, so of course excited din tayo,” she evasively told members of the press during TV5’s grand launch of their first quarter shows on Wednesday, February 15 at the NBC Tent in Taguig City. Shalani added, “Kung paano sana nila winelcome yung ‘Wiltime Bigtime,’ sana i-welcome rin nila yung game show.” The Valenzuela councilor previously announced that she’ll return to “Wiltime Bigtime” after her wedding and honeymoon with Pasig representative Roman Romulo. Moving on Did the 31-year-old television host inform Willie about her noontime show? ‘With regards to ‘Wiltime Bigtime,’ it’s better if you ask them for specifics,” she said. “I’ve spoken with our business unit head (Jay Montelibano). Alam naman nila, sinabi ko naman na TV5 is offering me a show and I also told them that I’m considering accepting it.” It was Willie who personally got Shalani for “Willing Willie” in 2010. Why did she talk to Montelibano and not Willie regarding the noontime show? “I think ‘Game ‘N Go’ na lang ang i-discuss natin kasi malapit na sya so let’s all be excited for the show,” she said. “I have nothing but gratefulness for the show. Lahat ng nakatrabaho ko sa ‘Wiltime Bigtime,’ love ko. Everyone that I have worked with, lahat yan, mahal ko.” Shalani also refused to confirm reports that she cried when she was informed about her fate in “Wiltime Bigtime.” “I think we can better talk about ‘Game ‘N Go’,” she said. “But I think there are some things in life na when it leaves you, minsan medyo malungkot. But then you also have to move on, you also have to be thankful for other opportunities that are given to you.” (From the wires)
NEW YORK (AP)—Knicks guard Jeremy Lin has been named the Eastern Conference player of the week after his sensational first week as an NBA starter. Lin averaged 27.3 points and 8.3 assists while leading the Knicks to a 4-0 record. The undrafted Harvard graduate’s 109 points are the most by an NBA player in his first four starts since the 1976-77 season, and he became the first player in NBA history to tally at least 20 points and seven assists in each of his first four starts. Lin becomes the first player to win Player of the Week awards in the NBA and NBA Development League, where he was honored while playing for the Reno Bighorns.
Bill me: (Please check on the box of your billing preference) Monthly Annualy Attention: For payment, please use: • A check payable to Samar Weekly EXPRESS • A money order payable to Samar Weekly EXPRESS, or Text us and we will pick up your payment (Cell No. 0920.7675.444.) (cut this subscription form and send to the above address)
Or Call 251-2341