“communicating hope and trust in our time.” - pope …
TRANSCRIPT
esteE A S T E R N S A M A R N E W S S E R V I C E VOL 5 NO 5JULY 2017
“COMMUNICATING HOPE AND TRUST IN OUR TIME.” - POPE FRANCIS
Church asks DENR to bar mining in ManicaniBy Eden Cidro
MINING - 7
THE clergy of the Diocese of Borongan led by Bishop Crispin Varquez has appealed to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to deny the issuance of a new Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) in Manicani island, and the renewal of the mining permit of Hinatuan Mining Corporation (HMC).
The permit of HMC to mine in the island will expire on October 27, this year.
In a letter to Secretary Roy Cimatu, the priests said that they have been calling for the closure of the suspended mining operations of HMC, and the stoppage of the loading of a existing stockpile in Manicani for many years now.
“The eventualities on the mining status in Manicani has not only destroyed the ecosystem but also generated communal feuds and unnecessary tension due to undisputed issues relative to mining… Mining has created and worsened the community division”. the letter said.
Citing existing laws and ordinances, the priests said that it is very clear that HMC violated provisions of their permit, including the over extraction of nickel ore.
There are also allegations of “inappropriate conduct to solicit social acceptability from the community. They said that a permit should have not been given in the first place since Manicani is a protected area and should
FRECOR-8 declares state of emergency in Leyte, SamarBORONGAN CITY, July 12, 2017–In a statement, the Federation of Ru-ral Electric Cooperatives in Region 8 (FRECOR-8), with a membership of 11 electric cooperatives, said it is “forced to declare a state of emergency” in the islands of Leyte, Samar and Biliran.
Power has been out in the en-tire region, since July 6 because of damage sustained by energy facili-ties from the magnitude 6.5 earth-quake that jolted the region.
FRECOR-8 has called on the Na-tional Grid Corporation of the Phil-
ippines to provide power barges with 3 x 20 MW capacity from Cebu and Iloilo to cater to 600,000 member consumers affected by the region-wide blackout.
In the same statement, FRE-COR-8 said, further damage was sustained by NGCP’s facilities on July 10 after a magnitude 5.4 sec-ondary earthquake.
Earlier, NGCP said it was to sup-ply power to the region through submarine cables from Cebu and a bypass line in Ormoc but since three out of its four transformers need re-
pair, it is unable to set a timeline for the resumption of power.
The organization has also called on the Department of Energy, En-ergy Regulatory Commission and NGCP to review NGCP’s transmis-sion development plan and “find alternate ways to climate or calam-ity proof its transmission facilities.”
NGCP, in a separate statement said it is transporting transform-ers from Compostela and Bani-lad, Cebu to replace the damaged transformers in Ormoc. (Medora Quirante / Este News)
Provincial gov’t to come up with Environment Code
BORONGANC CITY, July 17, 2017–A provincial official is hopeful the Sangguniang Panlalawigan will soon pass the province’s Environment Code.
Provincial Board Member Jonas Abuda, in Hirohimangraw ha Rawis Restaurant and Hotel, said the proposed ordinance will help “harmonize” local laws with national laws.
The board member cited the process of local councils passing resolutions in lieu of public consultations before mining permits are given.
“We define terms through the proposed ordinance and we drafted this with the help of multi-sectoral representatives,” Abuda said.
Abuda further said the proposal will protect the province’s natural resources from abuse.
“We are not against the use of our natural resources but we want renewable use,” Abuda said.
According to SP secretary Franklin Robedizo, as of press time, the proposed ordinance is still pending and is “subject to further discussion.” (Medora NB Quirante / Este News)
Bisita Kapilya in TaftTHE Statues of Our Lady of Fatima and of St. James the Greater are conducted from one barrio chapel to another in the Parish of St. James the Greater in Taft, Eastern Samar in celebration of the Year of the Parish and of the 100th anniversary of the apparition of Our Lady of Fatima to three children in Portugal. Dubbed as “Bisita Kapilya” this laudable parish activity is spearheaded by the Parish Team Ministry moderated by Fr. Adamson Albert togerther with Fr. Edmel Raagas and Fr. Emman Carilla. This activity started on June 18 and concluded on July 16, 2017. (Alren Beronio/Este News)
Armed with a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) the HInatuan Mining Corporation (HMC) has been extracting nickel ore from the fragile Manicani Island in Guiuan, Eastern Samar for some years now. The clergy of the Borongan, an advocate against irresponsible mining, is appealing to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources not to renew the MPSA of HMC that expires in October this year. (Photo by Alren Beronio / Este News)
Canhugas Nature Park in Hernani, Eastern Samar. (Photo by Alren Beronio / Este News)
(Photo courtesy of the Santiago Apostol FB page)
este VOL 5 NO 5 JULY 20172 WORLD AND NATIONAL NEWS
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Archbishop Valles is new CBCP president
MANILA, July 8, 2017--Archbishop Romulo Valles of Davao has been elected as the new president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.
Valles, current CBCP vice president, will succeed Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan, who finished his second and final term.
At 66, Valles will be the 20th head of the 72-year old collegial body of bishops.
The archbishop will lead the 83 active, 5 diocesan administrators and 43 honorary members of the CBCP from 86 ecclesiastical jurisdictions.
Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalooan was also elected CBCP vice president in an election held at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in Paco, Manila on Saturday.
CBCP officials have a two-year tenure in office, or a total of four to include the second term.
If tradition is to be followed, incumbent officials are reelected for their second and last term.
Ordained a priest in 1976, Valles was appointed as bishop of Kidapawan in 1997. In 2006, he was named archbishop of Zamboanga until 2012 when he was transferred to Davao archdiocese.
David, a known Bible scholar, has been serving the Kalookan diocese only since January 2016.
He was ordained a priest in March 1983. In 2006, he was appointed auxiliary bishop of San Fernando in Pampanga, a post he held for 10 years.
The bishops also elected members of the CBCP Permanent Council.
The regional representatives for Luzon are Archbishop Marlo Peralta of Nueva Segovia, Bishops Ruperto Santos of Balanga, Reynaldo Evangelista of Imus, Victor Ocampo of Gumaca and Jose Rojas of Libanan.
For Visayas, the representatives are Archbishop Jose Advincula of Capiz and Isabelo Abarquez of Calbayog.
Representatives for Mindanao include Archbishops Romulo dela Cruz of Zamboanga and Martin Jumoad of Ozamiz.
The assembly also reelected Palo Archbishop John Du as CBCP treasurer and Fr. Marvin Mejia as secretary general.
According to CBCP statues, the new officers will formally assume their posts on December 1, 2017. (Roy Lagarde/CBCPNews)
Newly-elected CBCP President Archbishop Romulo Valles of Davao is greeted by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila and Bishop Angelito Lampon of Jolo at the sidelines of the ongoing bishops’ plenary assembly at the Pope Piux XII Center in Manila, July 8, 2017. ROY LAGARDE
Palo archbishop expresses concern for quake victimsMANILA, July 8, 2017—Archbishop John Du of Palo expressed his sym-pathy after a powerful earthquake killed at least three people and left a trail of destruction across Leyte in the Visayas.
More than a hundred people from several towns were injured after a magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck on Thursday, July 6.
The prelate who is currently in Manila for the bishops’ plenary as-sembly said his thoughts turn espe-cially to those who died and their families and those who have lost their homes.
“I’m very sad with what hap-
pened but we should never lose our hope as we’re able to rise above all the many trials like Yolanda,” Du said.
“Be strong enough to face these trials in life and let’s pray for one another,” he said.
Two of the fatalities were report-ed in the town of Kanangga and the other one in Ormoc City.
Caritas Palo also recorded more than 840 totally damage houses in at least five towns, around 500 of which were reported in Tongonan.
The tremor also damaged several schools, left cracks in highways and caused landslides. (CBCPNews)
Pope expresses solidarity with Filipinos amid Marawi crisisMANILA, July 8, 2017— As fight-ing continues in Marawi City, Pope Francis expressed his solidar-ity with all those affected by the violence and assured the people of Mindanao of his prayers.
The Pope relayed his message to Ozamiz Archbishop Martin Jumoad during the Pallium Mass on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul at the Vatican on June 29.
“When I kissed his hand and told him that I am from Mindanao in Ozamiz, I could sense that he wants to listen more and then he told me that ‘I know that you suffered a lot more,’” Jumoad said over Radio Veritas.
“It was a very touching moment because immediately, he said, ‘I know you suffered a lot. I know, I know and for that I pray for you and for your people,’” he said.
The government claimed 351 Maute terrorists have been killed along with 85 security forces and 39 civilians since the fighting erupt-ed in Marawi City last May 23.
The conflict has also displaced more than 300,000 people, mostly Muslims.
The terrorists also continue to hold a number of hostages includ-ing Fr. Teresito Soganub, the Vicar General of the Prelature of Marawi.
The atrocities prompted Presi-dent Rodrigo Duterte to put the en-tire island of Mindanao under mar-tial law.
Jumoad and Archbishop Gilbert Garcera of Lipa were among the 32 archbishops from around the world who received pallium as a symbol of their authority as pastors and unity with the Pope. (Maria Katreena Saguid, UST Intern/CBCPNews)
esteVOL 5 NO 5JULY 2017 3NEWS FEATURE
Return of Electric power to East Samar uncertainBORONGAN CITY, July 11, 2017–Almost a week after a strong earthquake hit the Visayas, Eastern Samar and most parts of region 8 are still without electricity.
The magnitude 6.9 quake damaged the National Grid Corporation’s HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current) in Ormoc, while Energy Development Corporation’s plants in Leyte are still down.
To provide electricity while repairs of damaged structures are ongoing, NGCP has constructed a transmission bypass line that will connect their Tabango substation to the Ormoc substation that will draw power from Cebu which will then distribute it to electric cooperatives in the region.
Officials say that power will not be sufficient to meet the energy requirement of Eastern Visayas and if the line becomes operational, consumers will experience rotating brownouts.
But they assured consumers that power supply will increase in the next days as more will become available.
Testing of the bypass line has been suspended twice, because of heavy rains, and the moderately strong aftershock yesterday.
Despite the brownouts, life goes on in Borongan, although most of the businesses are affected by the power outage.
Radio stations are off air and some internet cafes are closed.
But restaurants are doing good business and hotel room occupancy is up as most Boronganons troop to hotels to escape the heat and other inconveniences caused by the brownouts.
Meanwhile ESAMELCO informed the public that their lines are clear and they are ready to receive electricity, once it is available.
They have also put up cellphone charging stations in Borongan, Guiuan, Dolores, Oras and Quinapondan.
There is no clear information as to when the power supply will normalize. (Eden Cidro/Este News)
NFA denies trading of fake rice in BoronganBORONGAN CITY, July 1, 2017–In a press release, the National Food Authority in Eastern Samar quelled reports of fake rice being sold in Borongan City.
According to NFA, samples of suspected fake rice sent to the Food Development Center (FDC) for examination “turned out to be real rice.”
The agency stood by NFA Admin-istrator Jason Y. Aquino’s statement, “ Walang pekeng bigas sa Pinas.”
NFA urged the public to “remain vigilant over unusual matters in-volving rice in our markets” but also cautioned against spreading unver-ified news. (Medora NB Quirante – Este News)
Local LTO implements ADDABORONGAN CITY, June 6, 2017—Starting June 6, the Land Transportation Office in Region 8 will implement the Anti –Distracted Driving Act.
LTO Regional Director Edgar Catarungan is reminding motorists that they are prohibited from using mobile communication devices such as cellular phones to call or text when a vehicle is in motion or when it stops in intersections or in traffic lights.
Using other electronic devices for games, movies, reading ebooks and surfing the internet is also a violation of the law.
Vehicles covered under this law are cars, buses, trucks, motorcycles, tricycles and even farm machineries and construction equipment that are driven along public roads and highways.
“Any gadget placed along the line of sight of the driver or four inches from the dashboard is also not allowed since they are considered interference and can distract the driver”, said Catarungan.
But motorists can use communications equipment to report accidents, crimes and calamities to authorities.
Catarungan said that they have
been going around to inform drivers and operators about the provisions of the law.
Violators will be charged P5,000 for the first offense, P10,000 for the second offense, P15,000 plus a three month suspension of driver’s license for the third offense and P20,000 and revocation of the license for the fourth offense.
The regional director is appealing to all motorists to refrain from using gadgets while driving, except during emergencies and to always observe traffic rules.
The LTO will be supported by deputized members of the PNP,
TMG and traffic enforcers of local government units, in the implementation of the law.
Meanwhile, Catarungan also said that the Children’s Safety in Motorcycle Act is already in effect.
Only children whose feet can reach the foot peg, can wrap their arms around the driver’s waist and can use protective device are allowed on motorcycles.
Violators face a fine ranging from P3,000 to P10,000 and suspension or revocation of the driver’s license. This is to ensure the safety of children in motor vehicles. (Eden Cidro/Este News)
BFAR give our boats for Seaborn Patrols
OFFICIALS of Provincial Government of Eastern Samar led the turn-over and awarding of fiberglass boats from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) at the Capitol Gym last July 5, 2017. Code-
named “Seaborn Patrol,” the boats will be used by composite teams from the AFP, PNP and Coastguard to patrol the coast of Eastern Samar in collaboration with local government units. (Alren Beronio / Este News)
ESAMELCO doing maintence work along the street of Borongan City. (Photo by Alren Beronio / Este News)
(Photo courtesy of Gen Mac FB page)
este VOL 5 NO 5 JULY 20174 EDITORIAL
Editorial
World Day of the PoorPOPE Francis has instituted the World Day of the Poor. In his message for the first World Day of the Poor that will be observed on November 19 this year, he says, “To the World Days instituted by my Predecessors, which are already a tradition in the life of our communities, I wish to add this one, which adds to them an exquisitely evangelical fullness, that is, Jesus’ preferential love for the poor.”
That did not come as a surprise. Already upon assumption into his Petrine ministry he took on the name Francis, the saint of Assisi who, according to him “was a man of peace, a man of poverty, a man who loved and protected creation.” The poor were already the centerpiece of his papacy.
At the Manila Cathedral he departed from the prepared speech and said. “The poor. The poor are at the center of the Gospel, are at the heart of the Gospel. If we take away the poor from the Gospel we can’t understand the whole message of Jesus Christ.” At the closing mass of his visit to the country, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle said, “You arrived in the Philippines 3 days ago. Tomorrow, you will go. Every Filipino wants to go with
you. Don’t be afraid. Every Filipino wants to go with you—not to Rome—but to the peripheries.” Going to the peripheries or the preferential option for the poor was already the language of the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines in 1991.
In his message, Pope Francis quotes Blessed Paul VI who addressed during the Opening of Second Session of Vatican II in 1963 that “All the poor belong to the Church by evangelical right.” Indeed, the poor is the core of the Gospel. Which is why, it is a scandalous irony for a Gospel preacher to be clad in a lifestyle that substantially is an antithesis with the life and values of the poor. In a recent homily, Archbishop Soc Villegas was quoted as saying, “The story of a priest cannot be a story from rags to riches… because if the story of a priest is from rags to riches then that priest is a Judas who enriched himself with 30 pieces of silver.”
According to Pope Francis poverty is about loving “not with words but with deeds.” It is a call to follow the very poverty of Jesus. “It is an interior attitude that avoids looking upon
money, career and luxury as our goal in life and the condition for our happiness. Poverty instead creates the conditions for freely shouldering our personal and social responsibilities, despite our limitations, with trust in God’s closeness and the support of his grace. Poverty, understood in his way, is the yardstick that allows us to judge how best to use material goods and to build relationships that are neither selfish nor possessive.”
It should be a relief that finally there is a World Day of the Poor. This is not only going deeper into exegesis or theology. Hopefully, this will inspire Church people to live and concretely witness what they have been theologizing for centuries now. The poor is a way of life. So says Pope Francis: “We may think of the poor simply as the beneficiaries of our occasional volunteer work, or of impromptu acts of generosity that appease our conscience. However good and useful such acts may be for making us sensitive to people’s needs and the injustices that are often their cause, they ought to lead to a true encounter with the poor and a sharing that becomes a way of life.”
Simple and humble thoughts
Bishop Crispin B. Varquez, D.D.
On electing public officials
2019 is not so far, we should make sure that when we elect public officials, they can really lead and serve the people effectively. I would like to suggest some criteria for electing politi-cal leaders:
1. He must be honest, sincere and God fear-ing.2. He must have a vision as a leader.3. He should know how to sacrifice himself for the sake of his people.4. With the reality of climate change, he should know what to do when calamity comes.5. Religious extremism and terrorism are global realities, he should have the know-how and the courage to face them.6. He can teach and capacitate his people namarunong tumayo sa sariling mga paa (culture of independence) to become eco-nomically self-reliant.7. He can protect and preserve the culture and religiosity of the people.8. He must be firm to uphold the rule of law. For a civilized society is governed by laws.9. And of course, he must be maka-Diyos, makatao, makabayan, makakalikasan and, perhaps, even much more.Corruption is the number one problem in our
country. It is the reason why we are poor. Let us work together to solve this problem. One of the best solutions is to have an election with no money involved, meaning no vote selling and no vote buying so that we can objectively choose and elect good leaders, if not the best. We love our country, the Philippines. We pray for our country. We pray for peace in the world.
AntigoMsgr. Lope C. Robredillo, VG
Of right and wrong founding dates of several Eastern Samar municipalities
esteE A S T E R N S A M A R N E W S S E R V I C E
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A GOOD number of Eastern Samar municipalities have been celebrating their founding anniversaries, but some have the correct dates, others have gotten them wrong. Among the wrong ones are those of Guiuan, Maslog and Quinapondan. Examples of municipalities that have the right dating are Oras, Salcedo and San Julian.
RIGHT. As we have already noted in previous posts, Oras was separated from Paric (Dolores) on December 13, 1849; San Julian gained its independence from Sulat, its mother municipality, on August 4, 1863. Salcedo was constituted a municipality independent from Guiuan on December 5, 1862.
WRONG. On the other hand,
Maslog could not have been made into a municipality on June 19, 1965, because as late as 1967, its status was still that of a municipal district. The Republic Act that supposedly made it a municipality (RA 4221) actually pertains to the creation of the province of Eastern Samar. Quinapondan could not have been created a municipality only on
ANTIGO - 7
“Politics Has a Religious and Moral Dimension–this is the general principle we start with. Every informed Catholic should be aware of this simple incon-trovertible truth: Our Catholic faith is concerned with the religious and moral dimension of life; but every human activity that flows from the normal processes of intellect and will has a religious and moral dimension, since it may either lead to grace or to sin. Or, as we said in the beginning, it may hurt or benefit people, it may upbuild or destroy them. Being a human activity politics has, therefore, a religious and moral dimension which our Catholic faith simply cannot ignore.”
PASTORAL EXHORTATION ON PHILIPPINES POLITICS, 1997
esteVOL 5 NO 5JULY 2017 5OPINION
Ten things I find odd in Eastern Samar1. The name. We call ourselves ‘Estehanons’ because of where we are, namely, the eastern part of Samar Island. Come to think of it, the same name also applies to people from eastern Luzon or eastern Mindanao.
2. Different places, different speaking sounds. As a young man I used to be embarrassed when people from other towns imitated the way we Boronganons sound when we speak. But I soon found the solution. I put myself in their shoes and started imitating the way they themselves sound. Many also get embarrassed.
3. People arrive late for Sunday Mass but early for funerals. I know a priest who was so perplexed by this he asked (to himself mostly): “Are they in a hurry to get rid of the poor fellow?”
4. Town names strangely at odds with their patron saints’ names. How about San Julian whose patron saint is Our Lady of Seven Dolors, or San Policarpo whose patron saint is St. Mary Magdalene, or Dolores whose patron saint is St. Joachim? If those are not odd, I wouldn’t know what is.
5. Different names for the same thing. Go to the south and ask for “salana” and you would
be given camote leaves. Go up north and ask for “ganas” or at the center of Eastern Samar and ask for “bulkas”. Don’t raise your eyebrows, you’ll see the same camote leaves. Despite the differences, camote leaves are treated the same–as vegetable.
6. Politics of expensive self-promotion (at our expense, that is, and with us applauding, out of partisanship or ignorance or both). It is said that in Eastern Samar if you want to be elected and people don’t really like you, no need to worry. Just bring out “big” money, double or triple your opponents’ prices and you’ll be in the halls of power. Or make people believe that their money is actually yours and you are giving it back to them in “goodies” that are “free”. Meanwhile you get the credit as “epal king or queen.” Odd, isn’t it?
7. Road woes, no matter what the road conditions. When Eastern Samar’s roads were bad, we called them “luxurious” (which sounds like ‘lukso’, literally to jump or be jolted by craters); now that they are better, still we complain and consider them “smooth scalpers or killers” because of frequent accidents. Whatever we say, accidents are not the roads’ fault but ours.
8. Locally produced but still big-city-or-overseas-bound. It saddens me no end how our local university and colleges have been turning out graduates that have nowhere to go but the big cities (Manila, Cebu, Tacloban) or abroad for lack of opportunities locally. Eastern Samar has a growing city but it is still a sitio in terms of opportunity.
9. Fertile lands but infertile mindsets. A Japanese journalist who has travelled world-wide once expressed to me his shock to see so much fertile land in Eastern Samar that is unproductive. He cited experiences in Africa where people cultivated arid desert lands, forcing themselves to do so, just to survive. I said: “Sir, we may have fertile lands here but our minds and hands are not.”
10. Tough fate, tough faith. When the late Jesuit historian Fr Miguel Bernad came to Eastern Samar in the late 70s he said: “I have never seen a people so poor, yet so happy.” Now I would have replied: “There is no explanation other than that these people believe in the One who holds tomorrow in his hands. And he will still give it to them, whatever their faults.” It’s odd to be an Eastern Samareño but I still prefer to be one.
AningalFr. Cyrain Cabuenas
The fault in our starsTHE cynical and those who have
been long accustomed to the ways of a number of uncaring leaders of the land, are quick to blame the country’s flawed development policies and inept officials every time they see signs of squalor, neglect, and corrupt practices specially in backwater municipalities. Some would even take to the social media and have a field day bashing any unpopular or undesirable politician, or so they claim.
Being critical of the powers that be can be a sign of a healthy democracy specially if it is for a good cause. It is even laudable for we need check and balance every now and then. Credibility involves accountability. Thus reporting any anomaly is a must and it is not for the faint of heart.
But mudslinging for one’s vested interest is gross irresponsibility. Perhaps one has simply been bypassed but it can be a sign of crab mentality or simply a person who had obviously missed out on his toilet training and should not be taken seriously. All bark, no bite.
Unfortunately, this has been a trend in our country. We treat people in authority like royalty. Many are surrounded with lap dogs all the time who see them as inexhaustible sources of income and perks. Some would even go on bended knee before politicians as if their very lives depended on them. No wonder some would bathe in ego glorification and would enjoy cult-like following.
One Senator is like this. His was an against-all-odds story that showed how he clawed out his way out of the
misery that defined his childhood and succeeded beyond his mom’s wildest dreams. His latest setback in his boxing career shows that he is no longer superman but a shadow of his former self. Some detractors say he should hang up his gloves for good and that his talent in governance is as good or as minimal as his basketball and English. But he could care less. He is long past the point where he should legitimately care about other people’s opinion. Thus he can continue surrounding himself with friends and advisers who are not the sharpest tools in the shed and perennial freeloaders and we cannot fault the guy.
In Act 1, Scene 2 of Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar, the nobleman Cassius says to Brutus: “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings.” Yes, Juan dela Cruz has been a lackey of many colonizers but he does not have to remain inferior forever. The strivers, the ones willing to scrap and claw and get a little dirty and sweat the small stuff eventually get a shot at fortune and fame. The fault lies with Juan de la Cruz alter ego, Juan Tamad. A massive time waster, inclined to make any small effort impossible, glorifies mediocre lifestyle, no discipline, thinks and acts on a pygmy scale, happy-go-lucky, and gloats on the misfortune of others.
Can we not carry our burden with dignity and without fanfare? We can help cut through the stigma of being lesser breed and can turn our lives around or we are doomed to remain dreamers.Voice of the Voiceless
Fr. Andiy Navidad Egargo
Raising the Quality of Education in the Philippines
(The Financial Assistance Programs, Part 1)ARTICLE XIV of the 1987 Philippine Constitution declares:(Section 1) “The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all.” (Section 2) “…to establish and maintain a system of scholar-ship grants, student loans pro-grams, subsidies, and other in-centives that shall be available to deserving students in both public and private schools.”
Experts agree that education is the foundation of a country’s development. A country that invests in the education of its citizenry is said to be a coun-try that molds catalysts for its socio-economic, scientific, tech-nological, cultural, and spiritual development.But the education is a never-ending process. This process can be from illiteracy to literacy, from moral decay to righteousness, from social apa-thy to involvement and partici-pation, and so on.
The task of educating the citi-zens of a nation primarily belongs to the State. Other institutions, though, (like the Catholic Church or other private entities) may lend a hand in this gigantic mis-sion, but they are not the primary agencies. So, what has the Philip-pine government done so far in relation to Article XIV, Sections 1-2 of the 1987 Constitution? A lot. Maybe not enough for some, but, yes, a lot had been done.
Let’s start with Republic Act No. 6655. This law was signed by President Corazon Aquino in 1988 making secondary educa-tion in all public high schools in the Philippines free. In 2007, President Arroyo introduced 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pili-
The Millennial CatholicMau Obon
Difficult people are blessingsONCE I chanced upon a Facebook ad for an upcoming movie about aspiring lawyers. It showed this woman professor, whose sound of footsteps seems to usher in an era of persecution, at least in the mind of her students. Then the camera zoomed in the pathway treaded by the terrifying thuds, and memories came flooding back in. I saw the same flooring where I sat years ago, as I wait to enter a tormenting, one to three hours long, class. Then the scene shifted to the classroom, where a student was berated for giving an answer with the dreaded phrase, “I think”. In law school, saying what one “thinks” is a mortal sin, unless asked for by the professor. Heck, you are not even allowed to smile as you answer.
The classroom scene brought me to my first year in law school, when I tasted my “shining” moment number one. The professor asked me about five questions. I gave the right answers, except for the last one, as my professor yelled at me saying “If you don’t know the right answer, you better shut up! Shut up!” You know what his last question was? He wanted me to give the meaning of a Latin phrase found at the footnote in one of the twenty something cases he asked us to read. Whew! I can’t describe how I felt that time, I just felt my cheeks flushed in utter embarrassment. Getting four out of five isn’t so bad to deserve a trashing. My professor must have been a prince from the netherworld!
Years later though, I realized the value of that experience. I found that there is a blessing in every difficult person or situation that we encounter. Indeed, that shining moment number one taught me at least four lessons:
ONE, I learned not to take harsh
treatment seriously. It’s actually a waste of time. Focusing on what the other person did to me will only distract me from my goals. It wasn’t me who was being nasty. I can do nothing about the other person’s attitude but I have full control over my reaction. Certainly, holding a grudge, thinking on how to get even will only attract negative energy and it won’t do me any good.
TWO, it showed me the kind of person I should not be. Being in the receiving end of hostility is a lifetime lesson on how not to treat people.
THREE, it taught me how to be forgiving. Well, I can be the difficult one sometimes. If other people let me get away with it, why should I not do the same to others? Besides, forgiveness is the key why mean people can’t affect me in a negative way.
FOUR, it made me more prayerful. They can really get into my nerves. Instead of having murderous thoughts, I say a prayer to the Holy Spirit to guide me on how to act with grace and wisdom.
Now you might be thinking what happened to me after that incident with my professor who was a prince from the netherworld. Before midterms, half of the class dropped the subject. Realizing that the number of his students has fallen, his royal highness became amazingly gentler with us. Maybe his harshness at the start was his way of weeding out the cowardly from the bold. His way of bringing out those who can withstand the challenges of the legal profession. Whatever his reason may be, all I know is that, my unpleasant encounter with him did not define my fate in class. I never allowed it to. In the end, he gave me one of the highest grades.
A Thought For A Thought
Rev. Eutiquio B. Belizar, Jr., SThD
pino Program). At the core of the 4Ps Program was the eradi-cation of poverty by investing in health and education of children aged 0-18. For the education of children, the government gives P300 per child per month. There are 10 school months in one school year. Every family can register a maximum of 3 chil-dren for the program. So, this means for every eligible family with 3 registered beneficiaries, a family can receive P900 per month. This assistance, how-ever, is under a scheme called “conditional cash transfer”. In other words, there are condi-tions set by the government in order for a family to receive this assistance. One of such condi-tions is that children must be enrolled with a class attendance of at least 85%.
For many Filipinos, second-ary education is the end of their academic formation. Pursuing college degrees would entail financial constraints on many families, particularly on families who rely on fishing and farming as their only source of income. Unfortunately, a general literacy that goes with a high school di-ploma is not enough to land in a decent paying job. One needs a college degree.
Cognizant of this concern, the Philippine Government has introduced various means that would assist needy but deserving students get their degrees. In 2008, President Arroyo launched Student As-sistance Fund for Education (SAFE)program. It was a stu-dent loan program with an ini-tial fund of P500 million. In Oc-tober 2015,President Benigno Aquino III signed Republic Act 10687. The Unified Financial
Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) Act aimed to provide scholarships, grants-in-aid, and student loans for tertiary students enrolled in both in private and public High-er Education Institutions (HEI). Another form of student finan-cial assistance is the study-now-pay-later (SNPL) program.
Then last year, Congress al-lotted P8.3 billion to CHED to fund free tuition(ONLY) for students enrolled in State Uni-versities and Colleges (SUC) during the school year 2017-2018. In addition, victims of super typhoon Yolanda were entitled to one-time P5K as-sistance (provided they have not received any form of gov-ernment education assistance in the past). The Free Tuition scheme was launched in order to provide financial assistance to SUC student while the Free Education Bill is waiting for President Duterte’s signature. The Free Education Bill, which has already passed the bicam-eral conference committee, seeks to grant free college ed-ucation (free tuition and other fees) for students enrolled in state universities and colleges (SUCs) in the Philippines, as well as financial assistance to students in private univer-sities and colleges through grants and loans. If this bill is signed into law, congress will be “forced” to allocate more fund for education assistance in the 2018 national budget.
Of course this “free educa-tion” (free tuition and other fees) would also mean “death” to small private colleges who would lose prospective stu-dents. But that’s another topic altogether.
EASTERN SAMAR ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.(ESAMELCO)
Borongan, Eastern Samar
May 23, 2017
ATTENTION: ESAMELCO MEMBER-CONSUMERS:
The Eastern Samar Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ESAMELCO) will conduct a Regular Election for Board of Director for District VI (Hernani, Gen. MacArthur & Salcedo) on July 15, 2017 from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM simultaneously at Hernani Central Elem. School, Gen. MacArthur Central Elem. School and Salcedo Central Elem. School.
Interested candidates may inquire/secure/file Certificate of Candidacy at the Institutional Services Department (ISD) ESAMELCO Main Office, Brgy. Cabong, Borongan City, Eastern Samar anytime during office hours.
Deadline of the filing of Certificate of Candidacy is on July 4, 2017.
Proxy voting shall not be allowed.
Thank you.
ESAMELCO MANAGEMENT
EASTERN SAMAR ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.(ESAMELCO)
Borongan, Eastern Samar
May 23, 2017
ATTENTION: ESAMELCO MEMBER-CONSUMERS:
The Eastern Samar Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ESAMELCO) will conduct a Regular Election for Board of Director for District VIII (Quinapondan, Giporlos, Balangiga, & Lawaan) on July 29, 2017 from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM simultaneously at Quinapondan Central Elem. School, Giporlos Central Elem. School, Balangiga Central Elem School and Lawaan Central Elem. School.
Interested candidates may inquire/secure/file Certificate of Candidacy at the Institutional Services Department (ISD) ESAMELCO Main Office, Brgy. Cabong, Borongan City, Eastern Samar anytime during office hours.
Deadline of the filing of Certificate of Candidacy is on July 18, 2017.
Proxy voting shall not be allowed.
Thank you.
ESAMELCO MANAGEMENT
esteVOL 5 NO 5JULY 2017 7
T h a n k s t o o u r D o n o r s / B e n e f a c t o r s f o r t h i s i s s u eBORONGANDonors: Adelaida UyAdorers of the Blessed Sacrament of the Nativity of Our Lady Allan – Cleofe BaquilodAngel DulfoAnnie C. CaspeBea & Joyce AmpongBenito Alfeo B. Cabato, Jr.Chona D. BaquilodCorazon LuposDr. & Mrs. Rolando C. SolidonDuanie Paperprint Gen. MerchandiseEd de GuzmanEdgar C. AndarElsie L. CargandoEmie LaurestaErlinda A. LangomesEvelyn L. HallwayEvelyn Norma PadrilanFelipe – JovitaBatingaFloria MontesGabriel Luois & Isabella Louise Buna PeraltaJesse EscotoJudith A. EljiraLea L. CardonaLeoncia FuentesLilia V. PeviarLydia D. AmoyoMano Lando& Ate Flor AquinoMarifeBencitoMark Christian M. SalamidaMother Gemma A. Silvero, MSHMr. & Mrs. Alfredo BasadaMr. & Mrs. Bernardo Corsiga& FamilyMr. & Mrs. Edilberto Cardona
Mr. & Mrs. Iñigo A. Evardone& FamilyNoel C. DiscarPatricio BalsacaoRowena PantaleonRuby Ann C. BalbinRuth StrakaVianney& Earl AgnesWater Avenue c/o Ms. BelmaMabaoWHEELERS APARTELLEZyril B. Picardal, Shyrlita & Nicole
Benefactors: Aileen SingsonAngela N. VillasinAntonieta C. AnaAntonio & Becky CampomanesArnulfo / Doris CajegasArtsy Mo Printshop( c/0 Nick Tabao)Christian Wixar Ty LimCorazon Rubio Dela RosaEastern PolymedicEllen Grace S. AbudeGina P. DelgadoHarold P. LabroJonie- Allan & Elena &FlorenzDulfoKris Ann DalaLuisa M. DuzonMarilou G. CastilloMatildeLacdaoMr. & Mrs. Alfredo Cabato, Jr.Myrna P. Guasis- KAHLUCZI Convenient StoreOscar- NoralizaTañadaRebecca A. PicardalRommel Jim A. LadiaoSarah C. GeroyTeresa L. Abelgas
GUIUANDonors: AnastaciaBustilloBec Lucy DistinguidoMarcelosRestotelMr. &Dra. Reynaldo Miflores& Children
Benefactors: AnonymousAnonymousEdgardo JuabanMr. & Mrs. Aurelio Magalona& FamilyMr. & Mrs. Carlos CunananMr. & Mrs. CesarioMagalona& FamilyMr. & Mrs. Dante BadarMr. & Mrs. Renato GaytosMr. & Mrs. Rey SabidoMr. & Mrs. RonquilloSalvediaMr. & Mrs. RufinoGaradoMr. NiloNaingMrs. Alma MabansagMrs. Beatriz EgargoMrs. Carmelita Quesada CelisMrs. Concordia Luma-inMrs. CristitaAblayMrs. Epifania de VeraMrs. Eva DiazMrs. GregoriaCalumpianoMrs. Juana MacawileMrs. Luz Perez TabernillaMrs. Mary Grace Soraya DuranMrs. Mila ObiasMrs. PrincillaBadocMrs. ResalinaAbogadieMrs. RizaLozadaMrs. Rosemarie AmistosoMrs. Sharon AbreraMrs. Veronica MifloresOrocay Family
GENERAL MACARTHUR
Donors: Vice Mayor Joel Baldo & Children
Benefactors: Alexius & Renzy AbellaAlyson StoreFelisaMalindog& FamilyIsabel Ariaso, Novy Navares& children; Abelyn, Vincent & KeithKier Andrei Gloria Mr. & Mrs. Joaquin Lumagbas, Jr. & ChildrenMr. & Mrs. Randy Castillo & daughter Unah MaeMr. & Mrs. Raul Romanca& BrielleMrs. Myrna Isaig& familyPatroceniaCanitesWilliam Kessler Algo
SULATDonors: LeonardaPadriquelaMa.Nida L. Baldado & children Rex Peter & Roselle MarviMr. & Mrs. Renanty G. Madolid
Benefactors: Benilda A. OresteBlesila G. ParacaleCatalina J. OperarioClarisa P. DesolidadDr. Gerry P. PalileoEdel A. Aboga-aElizabeth Aclo- BalitaEvelyn A. OpimoHon. Jun M. GecomoIda M. EvardoneJosephine C. LimboMa.Bibian C. YaputMa. Niña M. PunaMatilde C. PalileoMr. & Mrs. Dante R. SumbillaMr. & Mrs. Teodulfo M. Lucana& ChildrenPacita A. AseritRebecca C. PitogoRoxanne D. SumbillaTeresita B. LusicoWinefreda C. AcongZita D. Acampado
SABANGDonors: Aida AnasariasElena LobederioEmmanuel & Ella Kristine CeladaGemma G. ApitaMarvin RosalesMega LinkPerlaBalagapoRaymond RosalesTracy Lou Obon
Benefactors: Brent Gaillian M. DagandanGlenda AvizoGlenda CasillanoJeric Paul AfableJosefina RavilasKit Edgar BaleinMelchoraBocoMr. & Mrs. Arnaldo Amosco, Jr.Mr. & Mrs. Dario Wilmer PenarandaMr. & Mrs. Michael AmbilMr. & Mrs. Renato Wong & son Harold ChristianMr. Mrs. Leo Esquierdo& FamilyPrincess Lexi P. AcalaTita BeatoYolanda Morte
HERNANIDonors: Coach Wilmar S. CandidoMr. & Mrs. Custodio A. Macabare, Jr.
Benefactors:Mr. & Mrs. Samuel D. Candido& Sons
SALCEDOBenefactors: Marina CayosaMarsha C. AldeMasmar D. Delista
SAN JULIANBenefactors: Mr. & Mrs. Kelvin Lisaca & Family
ORASBenefactors: Aida S. IsaigCorazon N. SenofaJudge Margie MutiaPalañaTeresita L. SiosanaVirginia MutiaRaagas
be closed to mining,While HMC”s operation has been
suspended, there were instances when they were able to ship out stockpiled ore after they were able to secure ore transport permits.
Years of mining operation caused the destruction of the island’s biodiversity and even after mining was suspended, it
has not recovered from the damage to the environment, affecting the residents who are mostly fishermen.
It also placed at risk the island’s fragile watershed.
The Borongan clergy has been at the forefront in the campaign to stop mining operations, not only in Manicani but also in Homonhon island.
MINING - 1
October 17, 1946 because even before the coming of the Americans, it already existed as a municipality, as indicated in several Spanish documents (see my post on this page on Nov 2, 2016 and especially on Oct 16, 2013 below). But Guiuan has the distinction of probably being the only municipality in the whole
country, if not in the whole world, that observes its founding anniversary on a moveable date (every first Sunday of October)—already a sufficient evidence that its supposed date of foundation rests on very shaky grounds. How, indeed, can a birth date be moveable?
ANTIGO - 4
este VOL 5 NO 5JULY 20178
Llorente fishermen get aid from diocese
ORAS, Eastern Samar, July 13, 2017–To address the problem of high dropout rate among high school students in the town of Oras, the Department of Education has converted the Agsam Elemen-tary School to Agsam Integrated School, and is now offering the grade 7 curriculum.
According to Mr. Roy Ador, head of the Schools Governance Opera-tions Division of DepEd Eastern Sa-mar, the “students at risk of drop-ping out” was highest at the Oras National High School.
School officials said that most of these students were from up-stream barangays like Agsam, Naga, Maycorot, Iwayan, Trinidad and other nearby villages. They at-tributed this to the distance of the school from their residences.
Most parents complained that it was beyond their capability to send their children to Oras Nation-al High School (ONHS) since they have to pay for transportation and other expenses like food.
Commuting to and from school is not always safe especially dur-ing rainy seasons when the river
becomes flooded. From the said barangays, ONHS is only accessible by boat.
With the conversion of Agsam Integrated School, education is now brought to the “doorstep of our people”, said a local resident.
The local government unit of Oras allocated funds for the con-struction of makeshift classrooms while DepEd has assigned perma-nent teachers for grade 7.
Education officials led by SDS Judith Boco, former Supt. Adina, Mayor Viviane Alvarez and Cong Ben Evardone were present during the formal launching of the school.
Evardone said that the bigger challenge now is to attract more enrolees and to produce quality graduates.
The government he said, is doing everything to make education ac-cessible to every Filipino.
The congressmen committed funds for the construction of a per-manent school building. He also gave a cash assistance for the pro-curement of chairs for the make-shift rooms. (Eden Cidro/Este News)
East Samar hurdles DILG’s Good Financial Housekeeping markBORONGAN CITY, June 4, 2017—Eastern Samar is one of six prov-inces in Region 8 that passed the criteria set by the Department of Interior and Local Governments for the 2016 Good Financial Housekeeping (GFH), one of the components needed for an LGU to be awarded the Seal of Good Local Governance or SGLG.
Aside from the provincial gov-ernment, 19 municipalities and one city made it to the list.
An LGU must comply with gov-ernment accounting and audit-ing standards and the full dis-closure policy for budget and finances to be given the GFH rec-ognition.
The official list released by the DILG included the city of Boron-gan and the towns of Balangiga, Balangkayan, Can-avid, Dolores, Gen MacArthur, Giporlos, Gui-
uan, Jipapad, Llorente, Maslog, Maydolong, Oras, Mercedes, Quinapondan, Salcedo, San Ju-lian, San Policarpo, Sulat and Taft.
A local government unit that passes the Good Financial Housekeeping criteria can ask for loans and projects from Na-tional Program Windows such as the Special Local Road Fund (SLRF), Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB), Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) and Sa-gana sa Ligtas na Tubig sa Lahat (SALINTUBIG).
Since 2011, the Eastern Samar provincial government has been a consistent national awardee of the SGLG, and for 2016, it was again given the same award to-gether with the towns of Gen Macarthur and Salcedo. (Eden Cidro/Este News)
PNP launches “Mission: Slim Possible”BORONGAN CITY, July 3, 2017–Members of the Philippine National Police in Eastern Samar expressed their support for the PNP-wide weight loss challenge 2017 dubbed, Mission: Slim Possible.
P/Supt Michael Jude Dotingco , ESPPO spokesman said that the challenge is for the policemen all over the country to collectively lose 500,000 pounds in six months.
The program was launched in coordination with the Fit Filipino movement, after it was found out that almost 75% of policemen who
went through the annual fitness test last year were overweight, and some were classified as obese.
It aims to improve the physical fitness of police personnel and en-courage them to adapt a healthy lifestyle.
Dotingco said that it is necessary for policemen to be physically fit to be able to face the challenges of their work and perform their du-ties efficiently.
The Eastern Samar police of-fice has pledged to shed off 825 pounds and they are urging their
personnel to take the challenge seriously.
As part of the program, the par-ticipants will undergo fitness exer-cises and inputs on eating healthy to help them lose weight, not only for the duration of the challenge but to make it a way of life.
The provincial launching of Mis-sion: Slim Possible was held on June 29, at the PNP provincial of-fice in Camp Asedillo, with some physical fitness exercise and weigh in for those who will participate. (Eden Cidro/Este News)
Caring for those in the peripheriesTHE Oikos Sisters, formally called the Poor Household of God (rendered in Greek as Oikos Ptochos Tou Theou), have been working in the Diocese of Borongan for 18 years now. They are a religious missionary community whose members are committed to live a life of prayer, holiness, and service to God’s poor--in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi. Caring for the homeless such as the one in photo is just one of their many ministries for the poor. (Alren Beronio / Este News)
BORONGAN CITY, July 13, 2017—The poor of St. Anthony Parish in Llorente, Eastern Samar received aid from the Commission on Social Action, Justice and Peace (DCSA-JP) of the Diocese of Borongan as part of the continuing program to rehabilitate the victims of the su-per typhoon Yolanda that hit the region in 2013.
In collaboration with Caritas Germany and Caritas Poland, DC-SA-JP has distributed shelter kits 107 poor household and has given out fishing boats, fishing gears to 27 fishermen.
DCSA-JP has reported that after almost four years after typhoon Yolanda, several households have not yet received assistance for housing either from the govern-ment or from non-government aid agencies.
In Llorente, the DCSA-JP is cur-rently working on improving the living conditions of poor commu-nities which includes the follow-ing: Antipolo, Bacayawan, Barobo, Can-ato, Cantomco, Mina-anod, Naubay, Waso, Piliw, San Jose, So-ong, SitioPanunup-an,Tabok. (Levi Mones / Este News)
DepEd opens Agsam Integrated School in Oras
Some of the DCSA-JP beneficiaries that received shelter kits. (Photo courtesy of DCSA-JP)
The Oikos Sisters talking with a homeless person near the gate of the Borongan Cathedral. (Photo by Alren Beronio / Este News)