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 3MAY 2017

“COMMUNICATING HOPE AND TRUST IN OUR TIME.” - POPE FRANCIS

By Roy Lagarde

Balikatan: from war games to humanitarian aidBORONGAN, May 10, 2017– “Humanitarian aid and disaster relief trainings allow the US and Philippine forces to rehearse relief activities before a natural disaster or emergency occurs, hence the US and Philippine planners developed this year’s Balikatan to focus on humanitarian aid, disaster relief and counter terrorism to help the Armed Forced of the Philippines and the Filipino people address current challenges”.

This was the message of 1Lt. Martin Meehan of the US Marine Corps, during the formal opening of the 33rd Balikatan, the PH-US Joint Exercise, in Guiuan Eastern Samar.

American forces and their Filipino counterparts are working together to build a one classroom school building, a water catchment facility and rehabilitate the multipurpose stage of the Surok Elementary School in Guiuan, which was chosen as the recipient

of this Humanitarian Civic Assistance.

Mayor Christopher Sheen Gonzales expressed his thanks to the Balikatan planners for choosing his town to host the joint military exercise.

“Two governments joining together to work on a very important project that will not only enhance the learning capability of schoolchildren but will also protect lives, because the structures can be used as shelter in time of calamities” said the Mayor.

Guiuan was one of the towns badly hit by super typhoon Yolanda in 2013.

Aside from the infrastructure work, the US troops will also conduct trainings and knowledge exchange with students on disaster preparedness and climate change, and medical seminars and skills sharing with local doctors.

“The US is committed to

Biggest school in East Samar lacks chairs for senior highBORONGAN CITY, May 26, 2017—Administrators of Eastern Samar National Comprehensive High School are borrowing armchairs from other schools in the division for its senior high school students.

In a press conference, Borongan City division superintendent Judith Boco said while 24 classrooms have been constructed in ESNCHS, not a single armchair has been procured for the use of senior high school students.

This year, the school will open grade 12, the final year of basic education in the country.

“There has been a mix-up

in terms of funds and we have brought the case to our regional office,” Boco told members of the local media.

The superintendent further explained no funds have been downloaded to the city division for the purchase of armchairs for ESNCHS, the biggest high school in the province.

“We have been assured by officials in the region that this matter is being looked into,” Boco said.

Schools governance and operations chief of the city division Jun Nilo Dulfo said, 90 armchairs are being borrowed from Maypangdan National High School and 50

armchairs from Lalawigan Central Elementary School.

“We’re also raising funds from alumni and friends for armchairs to be used in the school,” Dulfo said.

According to DepEd’s website, ESNCHS offers five tracks senior high school students namely: Accountancy, Business and Management (ABM); Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS); Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM); General Academic Strand (GAS); and Technical-Vo c a t i o n a l - L ive l i h o o d . (Medora NB Quirante / Este News)

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Salcedo gets award for efficient health programBORONGAN CITY, May 27, 2017--A non-government organization has recognized the local government of Salcedo, Eastern Samar as one of the top five LGUs in the country in terms of “excellent and efficient implementation” of local health programs.

Salcedo mayor Atty. Melchor Mergal received the award in a ceremony held on May 24, 2017 at the Bayleaf Hotel in Intramuros, Manila.

The Champions for Health Governance, an initiative formed by Merck Sharp & Dohme, Kaya Natin Movement for Good Governance and the Jesse Robredo Foundation, awarded the LGUs with a cash grant worth P100,000.00 to be used in funding local health programs.

In a Facebook post, Mergal thanked the town’s Rural Health Unit headed by Dr. Ma. Socorro Ocampo, Vice Mayor Maricris Fabillar, the Sangguniang Bayan, and office

heads, among others.Mergal likened the LGUs win to winning

the lottery, “I thank God for this award because I consider this a blessing so it can be a blessing to others also,” the mayor wrote on his Facebook account. (Medora NB Quirante / Este News)

One of the housing beneficiaries in Homonhon island. (Photo courtesy of PMPI)

Housing for the poor from Church groups and non government organizations continues for three years now after super typhoon Yolanda. On May 7, 2017, Fr. Ceasar Lenenio A. Garcia led the turn-over of 10 concrete housing units to poor beneficiaries in Brgy. Cagusuan, Homonhon, Guiuan, Eastern Samar. Dubbed as #ProjectPagbangon, the continuing shelter project is a collaborative effort of Philippine Misereor Partnership, Inc., Christian Aid Philippines, Tao-Pilipinas and Misereor. (Alren Beronio / Este News)

Borongan welcomes #LakbayBuhay

Borongan bishop Crispin Varquez delivers his message at the Borongan City plaza where he reiterated the stand of the Catholic Church against death penalty and thanked the Lakbay Buhay marchers, on May 10, 2017. (Photo by Alren Beronio)

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Mayor Melchor Mergal and Dr. Ma. Socorro Campo display the 100k award for an excellent local health program in the municipality of Salcedo. (Photo from the FB page of Melchor Liego Melgar)

Borongan Bishop Crispin Varquez together with staff of the diocesan Commission on Social Action, Justice and Peace and some parishioners hailed the 15 “Lakbay Buhay” core pilgrims that made a stop in Borongan on May 10, as part of their 21-day caravan march to Metro Manila.

Varquez lauded the group’s initiative to drum up public awareness against capital punishment as he reiterated the Church’s stand against death penalty.

“We reaffirm our commitment to life. All people deserve a chance to change themselves and not be punished by death,” Varquez said.

“The Church is for life that’s a gift from God and no one has the right, not even the government, to kill because life is sacred,” he said.

The tour started May 4 in Cagayan de Oro City and ended on May 24 at the Senate where they

called on to prevent the restoration of death penalty.

The pilgrims represented sectors such as the youth, workers, farmers, fishermen, persons with disabilities, and women.

Appeal to congressThe marchers also called on senators to reject the capital punishment saying that it is anti-poor and will not deter crime in a country with an imperfect justice system.

“In the country, in their inability to get good lawyers and where some judges can be bought, death penalty only punishes the poor, and some of them believed to be innocent,” they said.

“We pray for our Senators to decide based on conscience and reason and to side with the poor on this matter by rejecting the death penalty,” they said.

In Manila, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines also

appealed to senators to be “heroes of life” by voting against the death penalty.

In a video message played during the Lakbay Buhay program at the University of Santo Tomas on May 21, Archbishop Socrates Villegas, CBCP President, urged the senators not lose the chance to be protectors of God’s gift.

“Stand up (for your principles). Don’t waste the chance given to all of you. Stand up for life,” Villegas said.

He also lamented how lawmakers in the Lower House, including Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, failed to defend life when they passed the measure two months ago.

“Our congressmen lost a great chance to be heroes when they voted to restore the death penalty,” said Villegas.

Bad for agri-sectorThe government’s move to reintroduce the capital punishment

este VOL 5 NO 1 MARCH 20172 WORLD AND NATIONAL NEWS

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CBCP urges senators to junk death penalty, be ‘heroes of life’MANILA, May 22, 2017—The Catholic Church appealed to senators to be ‘heroes of life’ by voting against the bill reimposing the death penalty in the country.

In a video message, CBCP President Archbishop Socrates Villegas enjoins the senators to “stand for life” and not lose the chance to be protectors of God’s gift.

“To our senators, we entrust in your hands the opportunity to become the heroes of life,” said Villegas, who is also the archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan.

“Stand up (for your principles). Don’t waste the chance given to all of you. Stand up for life,” he said.

The video was played Sunday to hundreds of crowd gathered at the University of Santo Tomas for the “Lakbay Buhay” pilgrims.

A Mass was, presided over by Kalookan Bishop Virgilio Pablo David, along with Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo and several other priests.

The CBCP head lamented how lawmakers in the Lower House ignored to defend the sanctify of life “and stand up for heroism” when they approved the capital punishment two months ago.

“Our congressmen lost a great chance to be heroes when they

voted to restore the death penalty,” said Villegas.

The archbishop reiterated that killing a person is unacceptable regardless of the seriousness of the crime of the condemned.

“If a person guilty of a crime or innocent is killed, it’s called the same thing— killed. So ‘thou shall not kill’’, according to Pope Francis, pertains to the guilty and to the innocent,” he said.

And it’s more inadmissible, Villegas added, if the one responsible for the killing is the people’s own government.

The church leader also thanked the lay people and the clergy who supported the pilgrims and the 21-day cross country pilgrimage.

The 15 core pilgrims from various sectors arrived in Manila last Friday after a 16-day caravan march from Cagayan de Oro City.

They traversed at least 13 cities and provinces including Cebu, Tacloban, Borongan, Catarman, Sorsogon, Naga, Gumaca, Lucena, San Pablo, Lipa and Imus before reaching Metro Manila.

The pilgrimage for life is set to end on May 24 at the Senate to ask senators to reject the proposed measure.

The bishops’ National Secretariat for Social Action (Nassa), one of

the organizers of the caravan, clarified that the initiative was only to demonstrate their stand against death penalty and not against President Duterte.

“This is not anti-Digong (Duterte) or anything. This is a stand against death penalty,” said Fr. Edwin Gariguez, Nassa executive secretary. “This is regardless of party affiliation.”

“The intention of this mobilization is really to bring the message to the senators that they need not support the death penalty,” he said. (Roy Lagarde / CBCPNews)

Pope goes door to door, blessing the homes of the poor

VATICAN, May 22, 2017—Like parish priests throughout Italy do during the Easter season, Pope Francis spent an afternoon May 19 going door to door and blessing homes.

Continuing the “Mercy Friday” visits he began during the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis chose a public housing complex in Ostia, a Rome suburb on the Mediterranean Sea.

The Vatican press office said Father Plinio Poncina, pastor of Stella Maris parish, put up signs May 17 announcing a priest would be visiting the neighborhood to

bless houses. The signs, which indicate a date and give a time frame, are a common site in Italy in the weeks before and after Easter.

“It was a great surprise today when, instead of the pastor, the one ringing the door bells was Pope Francis,” the press office said. “With great simplicity, he interacted with the families, he blessed a dozen apartments” and left rosaries for the residents.

“Joking, he apologized for disturbing people, however he reassured them that he had respected the hour of silence for a

nap after lunch in accordance with the sign posted at the entrance to the building,” the press office said.

The pope’s Friday visits to hospitals and hospices, homes for children, rehab centers and other places of care were planned for the Year of Mercy as tangible ways for the pope to practice the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.

Although the Year of Mercy ended in November, the pope restarted making Mercy Friday visits in March when he visited a home and educational center for the blind and visually impaired. (CNA)

Bishop cries foul after mining firm clears forest in PalawanMANILA, May 19, 2017—The cutting of thousands of century-old trees by a mining company in Palawan has drawn the ire of a Catholic bishop who urged for action so that it won’t happen again.

As the country’s “last ecological frontier” because of its unique biodiversity, Bishop Socrates Mesiona emphasized the importance of protecting the province’s environment and its remaining natural resources.

“This is a tragedy because Palawan is the last frontier so we hope that our environment will be protected, especially the century-old trees,” Mesiona said over Manila archdiocese-run Radio Veritas.

Thousands of trees in Brooke’s Point town were cut just days after former Environment Secretary Gina Lopez was rejected by the Commission on Appointments.

Lopez, who took to Facebook in exposing the “massacre”, accused the Ipilan Nickel Corp. of cutting

trees “without a permit and protected area clearance”.

The former Cabinet official said the cutting of trees will affect 3,000 hectares of agricultural land and 30,000 people in at least five barangays.

The prelate then lauded the unity among the people and local officials who fought to protect the environment.

“It’s a good thing that the people themselves who led the fight because they realized that the environment is really important,” he said.

“My instruction to our Social Action Director is to do whatever we can to help the people because we see the initiative that’s really coming from the public,” he added.

Local officials are also planning to sue the mining company and demand for the cancellation of the firm’s environmental plan permit and a mineral sharing agreement with the government. (Roy Lagarde/CBCPNews)

Pope Francis greets residents as he gives an Easter blessing to a home in a public housing complex in Ostia, a Rome suburb on the Mediterranean Sea, May 19. Continuing his Mercy Friday visits, the pope blessed a dozen homes in Ostia. CNS/L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO

Balikatan.. FROM PAGE 1

bilateral relationship with the Philippines and stands ready to extend support to its Filipino friends in the event of a natural disaster”, Lt Meehan said, while expressing their thanks “for allowing us to train and work

shoulder to shoulder with the AFP”.The opening ceremony was

attended by local government officials and officers and men of both the US and Philippines Armed Forces. (Eden Cidro / Este News)

Borongan welcomes.. FROM PAGE 1may come at the expense of the country’s agriculture sector, anti-death penalty advocates said.

They are concerned that reviving the death penalty would violate existing international treaties where the Philippines government is signatory to.

And these violations, a group of cross-country pilgrims said,

constitute economic repercussions.“The European Union will be forced

to impose tax to 6,000 export products from the Philippines,” it said, adding that the country puts at risk about US$12.3 billion worth of trade.

According to them, these possible consequences will primarily affect farmers and fisherfolk and their livelihoods.

esteVOL 5 NO 1 MARCH 2017 3NEWS FEATURE

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A representative of the Ateneo-based “Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan” (SLB) hands to Bishop Crispin Varquez a check representing initial installment for a 2-storey Kindergarten School Building to be constructed within the Sto. Niño Parish Compound in Lawaan, Eastern Samar. The said project costs nearly 4 Million Pesos. Present during the turn-over of the donation which was held during the Parish Fiesta Mass were Fr Rey Anthony Navidad,Parish Priest, & Fr James Abella, Assistant Parish Priest. (FR. NEIL TENEFRANCIA / ESTE NEWS)

No “mercy compliance,” 4Ps official tells teachersBORONGAN CITY, May 5, 2017—An official of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in the prov-ince has called on public teachers and school administrators to avoid giving “mercy compliance” to chil-dren who belong to 4Ps households.

In Hirohimangraw ha Rawis Re-sort, a media forum moderated by the Eastern Samar News Service, Febie Palines, 4Ps provincial coor-dinator urged the program’s part-ners in the education department to be objective in filling out forms.

DepEd is a partner in monitoring the school compliance of 4Ps ben-eficiaries’ who are required to meet an 85% attendance every month among school-aged children.

“We are aware of cases where teachers do not report absenteeism among 4Ps beneficiaries because the families will get less,” Palines said.

A 4Ps household gets P300 month-

ly for every child aged three to 14, and P500 for 15 to 18 years old.

For every child that fails to meet the 85% attendance as reported by a school teacher, the family gets P300 less.

“A child may have up to four justi-fiable absences in a month and still meet the 85% mark,” Rebecca Pic-ardal, a school administrator said.

In her experience, Picardal said children are often absent because their parents leave them to care for younger siblings while parents tend to their farms.

According to Palines, continuous-ly giving “mercy compliance” goes against the program’s core values.

“The reason why families get the cash grants is so that children may be given enough support going through school, if they’re not in school, the program fails,” Palines said. (Medora NB Quirante / Este News)

Former NPAs get aid from DILGBORONGAN City, May 16, 2017–Twenty four former members of the New Peoples Army in Eastern Samar received financial assistance from the Department of Interior and Local Governments through the Comprehensive Livelihood Integration Program or CLIP, one of the government’s peace and development initiatives.

Almost P1.6 M was distributed during a ceremony held at the Provincial Capitol last week. Engr. Nida de la Cruz, MLGOO 4 of the DILG Provincial office said that the former rebels come from different towns of Eastern Samar, who returned to the fold of the law last year.

The former rebels each received P15,000 in immediate aid and P50,000 in livelihood assistance. Plan Philippines also distributed food packs to the recipients.

According to De la Cruz, before the former rebels

were given the financial assistance, they attended a two day orientation, values formation and livelihood training given by the Provincial Social Welfare And Development Office, DILG, DTI and Office of the Provincial agricultural Services. The training aims to prepare them for integration to the mainstream society, and to equip them with the necessary skills needed to engage in the livelihood activity of their choice.

Most of the former rebels chose to open sari-sari stores, grow pigs and chicken as their livelihood support which hopefully will help them as they transition to their new lives.

Also in attendance during the distribution were officials of the provincial government, PNP and Philippine Army, who are strong partners in the campaign to end the insurgency problem. (Eden Cidro/Este News)

No collection of fees from students, DepEd reminds teachersBORONGAN CITY, May 22, 2017—Weeks before school year 2017-2018 opens, city division officials of the Department of Education reminded teachers and school ad-ministrators of the department’s no collection policy.

In a press conference, Borongan City Division Superintendent Judith Boco reiterated that DepEd Order No. 41, s. 2012 still stands and no fees should be collected from pu-pils and students during the open-ing of classes.

According to Boco, pupils en-rolled in grades one to four should not be made to pay fees during the entire month of June while those in higher grades may pay voluntary contributions.

“Even voluntary contributions are discouraged,” Boco said.

“In the course of our Brigada Es-kwela, we sought the help of other

PAGE 7

Local schools gearing up for June 5 openingBORONGAN CITY, Mary 9, 2017–The Department of Education Eastern Samar Division is now ready for the opening of classes on June 5.

This was the announce-ment made during a press briefing dubbed “Pakisab-ot 2017”.

“Eastern Samar Division is very ready to accommo-date the enrolees of the coming school year”, said Ms. Generosa Genosa, the assistant division superin-tendent.

While there is a need for additional classrooms since this year grade 12 will be implemented, they gave the assurance that it will not be a problem.

There are 24 senior high schools under the Eastern Samar division.

According to Mr. Roy Ador, head of the Schools

Governance Operations Division, construction of school buildings are ongo-ing in the different schools, and they are closely coor-dinating with the DPWH that assured them that by June 5, the structures will be ready.

“But if the rooms will not be finished on time, we can use makeshift classrooms”, said Mr. Ador.

Additional chairs and desks will also be down-loaded from the central of-fice, once the final number of enrolees is determined.

The department has prepared contingencies this year to avoid the same problems encountered last year such as the lack of classrooms and teachers in the senior high school.

The division office said that the shortage of teach-ers for the senior high

school last year will be filled because there are more qualified applicants who were hired recently.

According to Ms. Marco-sa Lavado, focal person for senior high school, these new teachers will undergo training for the academic and TVL tracks.

She said that there is the assurance of “quality ser-vice given to students”.

Meanwhile, our educa-tion leaders are calling on the LGUs, parents and the community and other partners to support the “Brigada Eskwela”, slated from May 15-20.

Brigada Eskwela is more of the physical prepara-tion of the school such as cleaning, painting and re-pairs of facilities, to make our schools more condu-cive for learning. (Eden Cidro/Este News)

este VOL 5 NO 1 MARCH 20174 EDITORIAL

Editorial

Raising the bar of social communicationsIN his message for the 51st World Communications Day, which is celebrated annually on Ascension Sunday, Pope Francis has raised the bar of social communications. He enjoined communicators, the Catholic ones obviously, “to engage in constructive forms of communication that reject prejudices towards others and foster a culture of encounter, helping all of us to view the world around us with realism and trust.”

As every journalist will agree, the most difficult and crucial part of telling a story is finding the lead or the “angulo”. It is the perspective upon which the storyteller builds up the story. Without it the story rumbles or beats around the bush hitting nothing. A master storyteller who has mellowed and aged in the craft of lead-making delivers the strongest blow in shaping public opinion or in provoking a continuing public discourse.

Pope Francis is right in saying that “life is not simply a bare succession of events, but a history, a story waiting to be told through

the choice of an interpretative lens that can select and gather the most relevant data.” The “interpretative lens” is the perspective upon which the lead of the story is given birth, so to speak, and secured. The Pope continues, “Everything depends on the way we look at things, on the lens we use to view them. If we change that lens, reality itself appears different. So how can we begin to ‘read’ reality through the right lens?”

Normally, the “lens” of a journalist is the truth. But the closest that a journalist can get to the truth is to present a balanced story, which means getting all the viable sides of the story and construct “objectivity” out of them. This is how far the truth is unearthed in mainstream journalism. Which, of course, is not enough because objective truth (or at least how philosophers define “truth”) does not absolutely reside in data or information sources. In the end, truth in the story being told will still be relative no matter how balanced the presentation be.

This is where the logic of Pope Francis comes. For him the “lens” or the mindset

of every story is the Gospel, the Good News, Jesus Christ himself. This is not to say that “the Good News--Jesus himself--is not good because it has nothing to do with suffering, but rather because suffering itself becomes part of a bigger picture.” He says, “every new tragedy that occurs in the world’s history can also become a setting for good news, inasmuch as love can find a way to draw near and to raise up sympathetic hearts, resolute faces and hands ready to build anew.”

In the long-standing media landscape where good news do not sell, and where the tragic and sensational easily turns into entertainment, Pope Francis says, “I would like, then, to contribute to the search for an open and creative style of communication that never seeks to glamorize evil but instead concentrate on solutions and to inspire a positive and responsible approach on the part of its recipients. I ask everyone to offer the people of our time storylines that are at the heart of the ‘good news’. He nails it.

Simple and humble thoughts

Bishop Crispin B. Varquez, D.D.

Celebrating Parish Day

THIS year, all our parishes in the Diocese of Borongan will each conduct a PARISH DAY Celebration. This celebration aims to put together the CBCP-inspired Year of the Parish and the 100th Anniversary of the Apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima.

***The theme of the Year of the Parish is ‘The Parish: Communion of Communities’. The objectives of the PARISH DAY celebrations are 1) to celebrate communion of our different communities by providing a venue “to discern the quality of faith life in the parish, the fellowship, belongingness, and participation experienced by its members” and emphasizing our continued efforts to form and strengthen our basic ecclesial communities; and 2) to promote and strengthen our devotion to Our Lady of Fatima by living her message of prayer, communion and reparation.

***There are many communities that comprise the Parish. The mandated organizations in the Parish are also communities. The religious men and women among us also live in communities and form communities of lay people who share in their spirituality. Even each Commission is a community of those who work for it and with it. In this Year of the Parish, we give particular focus and emphasis on the Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC). That is why the Commission on Basic Ecclesial Communities take central role in the activities of each Parish Day celebration. We strive to form faith communities among families who live near each other; a communion of neighbors.

***Jesus said, ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ Forming Basic Ecclesial Communities is an active way of responding to this call of caring for and loving the neighbor. Faith that is shared is a faith that grows.

***The most basic of all Ecclesial Communities is the family. The parents and the children, each one has a role to sustain the faith of each other and make the family grow in communion.

***In the family, there is a strong connection between the celebration of the Year of the Parish and the devotion to Our Lady of Fatima. Father Peyton said, ‘The family that prays together, stays together.’ As Catholics, the image that we see when we think of a family praying together isa family that prays the Holy Rosary together. The Lady at Fatima asked the children to pray the Rosary for world peace, for the conversion of sinners and for the salvation of mankind.

***I hope that each family would bring their domestic communion into communion with all the other communities in the Parish. I pray that every family would teach their children to value communion by praying together. This month of May, I would ask each family to encourage their children to join the integrated activities of the Flores de Mayo where they learn their catechism, develop devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and imbibe communion with other young members of the Parish.

Antigo

Msgr. Lope C. Robredillo, VG

Elections in Eastern Samar in the 1800sELECTION as we know it today, in which Filipino citizens of 18 years or over are qualified to vote, is of recent legislation. This was introduced by the Americans. Under the Spanish regime, it was different. For the election of the “gobernadorcillo” (today’s town mayor) during the late Spanish period, the required number of electors was only twelve (12), in addition to the outgoing “gobernadorcillo”. They were from among the town’s prominent men: 6 from the former “gobernadorcillos” and 6 from the “cabezas de barangay” (today’s barangay captain). The nominees had to be able to read, write and speak Spanish.

The proceedings, presided over by the “alcalde mayor” (today’s provincial governor), were held in secret, usually in the “casa tribunal” (predecessor of

today’s municipal building), with the parish priest in attendance. Then, the three nominees were presented to, and one of them was chosen by, the governor-general in Manila.

A case in point is the election of the “gobernadorcillo” in Dolores (Paric), Eastern Samar on March 19, 1893. It was held in the “casa tribunal” of the poblacion, in the presence of the “alcalde mayor” of Samar island, Don Ricardo Nouvilas y Aldaz, with his secretary, and the parish priest of Dolores (Paric), the Rev Juan Vicente Carmona. The three nominees for the poast were Leon Rivera, Angel Crisologo and Pedro Hecido. Fr Carmona, whose certification on the qualification of the nominees was necessary before the election results could be confirmed by

the governor general, indicated that of the three nominees, only one knew how to read Spanish.

Those who participated in the secret voting were the following: 6 former “gobernadorcillos”: Timoteo Crisologo, Carlos Robredillo, Martines Hobayan, Romualdo Gelin, Bernardo Barlongay and Geronimo Leguin; 6 current “cabezas de barangay”: Juan Balagbis, Apolonio Robin, Manuel Gales, Nepomoceno Cayaanan, Timoteo Hecido and Mamerto Rapes; and the outgoing “gobernadorcillo”: Pedro Hecido. It is interesting to note that Pedro Hecido never nominated himself, even if he could have done so. However, three ex-“gobernadorcillos” chose him as their second preference, one “cabeza” as first preference, and four “cabezas” as second preference.

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esteVOL 5 NO 1 MARCH 2017 5OPINION

Points to Ponder

Atty. Ceferino Baquilod, Jr.

WarningsNOT long ago, the president announced that he does not want to hold the barangay elections this year. The reason for the postponement is because about 40% of barangay leaders are involved in drugs. The president said he was going to replace barangay leaders, especially those who are corrupt or drug users or pushers.

Recently, a friend of mine told me that someone has been going around scouting for possible barangay captains. My friend said he was offered the position but he declined. This guy is telling everyone he is the ‘anointed one’ with specific instructions from the President by virtue of some brotherhood and political affiliation. A few who are interested in the positions are now trying to get hold of this guy for the possible ‘appointment’. Well, I just want to warn everyone to be extra careful. Check him out first. Verify his presidential instructions. As they say, kung may duda, magimbestiga.

I posted a warning on Facebook, a couple of weeks ago, that some guys were going around the city knocking on doors and asking homeowners to allow them to check on their cooking gas connectors for leaks. They would show a special mayor’s permit and announce that it was ‘mandatory’. The guy that came

to my house was allowed by my sister to come in and check ours. He declared right away that he could smell gas and that we had a leak. He warned my sister that she could cause fire in the neighborhood. He continued to scare her by relating how certain towns were gutted down by fire because of gas leaks.

The guy convinced my sister to buy a special type of gas connector with an automatic regulator of some sort, costing P4500, to solve the leak problem. Just as she was about to say yes, I came out of my bedroom and saw what was happening. I asked a few questions and checked on the guy’s papers/permit. Immediately I saw that the so called special permit was long expired. I told the guy to stop what he was doing and questioned him on his expired permit. I called up his office and spoke with his boss. At this juncture, my cousin’s wife came to our house for a visit. When she saw the guy selling the gas regulator, she told us she also bought from him the night before a gas regulator because she was scared. I knew by then that the guy was attempting to victimize us. I knew he lied when he said we had a gas leak. We booted him out of our house. I called up our gas supplier

and we were told the guy is a fraud. Our gas supplier came to our house moments later. I learned that this modus had been going around and a lot have already been victimized. Hence, I posted my warning on Facebook. It was immediately shared and responded to by so many, most of whom also felt deceived and victimized.

A few days later, a group of 4 people came to my house. They claimed to represent the company who sent the guy who checked on our gas connection. They told me they monitored my FB posting and that it had spread so rapidly. They said they lost so much income because of the negative publicity. They wanted me to retract via FB. Of course I told them I will be willing to help them on the condition that they can show me, by unequivocal proof, that they have returned all the monies to everyone who felt victimized by them. I also told them I already reported them to the police for operating on an expired permit. They never came back.

In one of the earlier episodes of the new TV program HIROHIMANGRAW Ha Rawis Resort, where yours truly co-hosted, it was announced by Vice Governor Dindo Picardal that Eastern Samar is no longer the 2nd poorest province in the Philippines. In the 1st quarter

Balik BalaySarah Mabansag Puno

Mothers fourMARINA already a senior with four grown up children and two grandchildren, proudly shares her joy of having not only one mother, not only two, not only three, but lucky to have four mothers.

One, her biological mother who cared for her so much from the womb carried her as a baby and nurtured her that though she is now gone Marina could still feel her loving assurance of her presence. She was treasured as a gift, the answer to her mother’s prayer for five years of marriage and her dancing in Sta. Clara in Obando for fertility. Her mother which she considers first was a working mother, a public school teacher. Her limited time with her was always quality time, a time to care, a time to guide and a time to love. These memories she cherish in her heart.

Since both her parents were working far from home, thanks to her second mother who was left at home to attend to her and her sibling’s needs and care. She was a widow sister of her first mother who treated her and her siblings like her own. Her soft voice still lingers in her mind calling her “mahal”. The picture is still vivid in her mind of her aunt’s sacrifices in being a substitute mother from feeding their picky taste, endless cleaning and housekeeping to worrying and anxiety when they were ill.

Growing up, she was guided and supported by these two mothers in her journey of life allowing her to learn from her mistakes with forgiveness. Encouraging her with pride for every small accomplishment. They were the arms that embraced her in laughter and in tears. They were the driving force that propelled her to reach her goal through college.

Her marriage gave her the gift of a third mother, her mother-in-law who she stayed with longer than with her biological mother and her aunt. A

mother who had always seen the best in her and helped her with exploring her gifts. A mother who taught her the importance of things that are of value to the family. A mother who shared her resourcefulness and creativity in creating her home a haven of peace and tranquility.

And her fourth mother was introduced to her by her first mother and second mother who allowed her to join in her youth the Flores the Mayo and her devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help, strengthened and enriched by her prayerful third mother. Her fourth mother is the greatest of all, the model of her first, second, and third mothers and of all mothers, the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, Mama Mary.

Her four mothers made her the kind of mother she is today. They made a difference in her life. They made her strong to face the journey of life through the things she learned from them and keep on learning because of the faith they shared that is alive and the love that is everlasting.

Her four mothers are her guiding light, her mentors by example to pray, to work hard, to be loyal, to be faithful, to be committed, to sacrifice, to love completely and no matter what, to trust God. No amount of words can express her gratefulness to these four mothers in her life and above all to God’s greatest love and generosity on her.

We praise and thank the Lord for the gift of mothers especially their being instruments of our life and all the graces and blessings through them.

To all the mothers, you all deserve to be offered with all the beautiful and fragrant flowers this month of flowers as we celebrate this month for mothers especially to the greatest mother of all, Our Blessed Mother. And to all of us mothers from the bottom of my heart, “Happy Mother’s Month!”Voice of the Voiceless

Fr. Andiy Navidad Egargo

The Christian Way of Using Social Media (Part 2)

EDUCATION does not only happen inside the four walls of a classroom. Traditional education claims that learning is achieved within the confines of the classroom carried out through a formal system and measured through the achievement of predefined learning competencies. Of course, education is much more than this. The teaching-learning process can take in different forms and media depending on contexts and needs.

The popularity of social media today can no longer be doubted. Among the more popular social media platforms are Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, to name a few. The number of social media users is in the millions. There is a lot of potential for social media in the teaching-learning process. If skillfully used, social media can be a most effective medium for education. The qualifying term “skillfully used” imply that social media as a tool for educating people is not a miracle worker. Just like any other medium of education, application of social media must be critically done by experts or at least experienced practitioners who have the necessary skills in order to maximize the potentials of social media as an educational tool.

Employing the expertise of people does not mean that these so-called experts become the exclusive producers of educational content, just like in a traditional teaching-learning setting. We do not want social media to end up in the same way. A highly centralized, top-down, teaching process using social media will not necessarily deliver the desired results. Such process becomes a tool for manipulation. What we need is an alternative medium that channels information to all social media users who become rational

and critical transmitters and sharers of the same information.

One of the critical areas where social media can take a proactive role is in the field of responsible citizenship. A society needs citizens who are capable of contributing to the common good. The potential of social media as a tool in education for responsible citizenship is wide-ranging. Talk about educating people about rights and responsibilities, enlightening them to distinguish the morally correct from the morally wrong, informing them about social and political realities, opening a forum for informed and intelligent discourse, providing a venue for articulating one’s opinion about issues. An individual can only become a responsible citizen if his involvement in the social and political processes are supported by informed knowledge (of what is true and just) and that such knowledge is used for the common good. On the contrary, if a person’s participation in the social and political sphere is based on “bended” truths (the so-called alternative truth), that person has not yet raised himself to the level of a responsible citizen. He remains in the level of the now-derided trolls.

It is very alarming, however, that social media has recently become a breeding ground for misinformation. Some contents passed around through social media are maliciously intended to hide the truth and, consequently, deceive people. There is the case of the proliferation of fake news from fake news agencies, as well as manipulated strategies of making a certain issue or item trend. This misuse (or irresponsible use) of social media is a disservice to the nation because

The Millennial CatholicMau Obon

Does God need our tithe?GOD is an ultra-powerful, can turn

stone into bread, and water into wine being. So why is he asking for a portion of our earnings? If the Church truly belongs to God, surely, He will take care of Her needs without us giving anything, right? Nope.

God does not need our offerings, it is us who need to tithe. When we do not tithe, we get to miss some blessings, like:

Money Mastery. Giving once, or twice in a year is no challenge. But setting aside one-tenth of our earnings each month, can be nerve racking. It’s like sticking to a healthy diet, when we’re so used to eating junk. It takes discipline and consistency. Once we start tithing however, we start to see money in a different way. It opens the mind and money is viewed for what it truly is, just a tool, not the master.

Joy. The happiest people are givers. Tithing is how we express our gratitude to God for all that He gave us. When we give out of gratitude, our focus is on how blessed we are and not on what life is depriving us. Joy comes when we learn to live our lives as if everything were a miracle.

Detachment from Material Things. Every time we let go of our money, we expect to get something back, that is concrete, valuable and important to us. But tithing is like giving away our earnings, for nothing. That’s why, it hurts. It crushes our expectation of

GETTING something in return, instead, it turns us into GIVERS. Materialism is all about getting, and its antidote is tithing, which is all about giving.

Trust in God. One of the reason which puts us off from tithing is the fear of not having enough for our needs. Fact is, we can never really have enough money no matter how much we are making. When we tithe, especially in those times that we are so hard up, we become a bit like that widow who gave her two mites. We learn to allow God to take care of our needs. Tithing can be difficult, but God dares us to tithe in Malachi 3:10: “Bring the tithes in full to the treasury, so that there is food in my house; put me to the test now like this, says Yahweh Sabaoth, and see if I do not open the floodgates of heaven for you and pour out an abundant blessing for you.”

Overflow of Blessings. We open our hands when we tithe. We do the same when we receive something. Our fingers should not be curled into our palms if we want to be blessed. Luke 6:38 says: “Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap; because the standard you use will be the standard used for you.”

Indeed, God cannot be outdone in generosity. So let’s do tithing and put God to the test.

PAGE 7

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FRECOR 8 NAGDUMARA HIN FRECORLYMPICS 2017 HA BORONGAN CITY

Naguin malinampuson adton guin dumara nga FRECORLYMPICS 2017 hadton nakalabay nga Mayo 9-12, 2017 dinhi han syudad han Borongan nga pinangungunahan han ESAMELCO. Porlominos mga quinientos (500) nga mga empleyado, atleta nga nagtikang hin iba-iba nga mga Electric Cooperatives dinhe ha rehiyon 8 adton nagpartisipar hini nga nasabi nga paug-nat ha kusog. Adton mga Eelctric Cooperatives han rehiyon 8 nga nagpartisipar amo an LEYECO I (DORELCO) han Tolosa Leyte, LEYECO II han Tacloban City, LEYECO III han Tunga, LEYECO IV han Ormoc City, SOLECO han Southern Leyte, ngan BILECO han Biliran. Ha Samar naman amo an NORSAMELCO han Catarman, SAMELCO I han Calbayog City, SAMELCO II han Catbalogan, ngan an ESAMELCO dinhe ha Borongan City. Guintikangan adton una nga adlaw han Mayo 9 hin motorcade han ala una han kulop ha palibot han syudad han Borongan ngan senundan hin Misa ha Capitol Gym nga pinangunahan han aton tinahud nga Obispo hi Bishop Crispen B. Varquez, DD. Sumunod amo an programa kun diin naguin bisita hira Board Member Byron Suyot, Hon. Victor Franco, ngan Rowena Amosco. Tikang han Mayo 10, ngan 11 amo an mahugot nga urugyas han magka deru-delain nga mulay sugad hin Basketball, Volleyball, Badminton, Table Tennis, Chess, Dama, Billiard, ngan iba pa, naguin highlight nn nasabi nga FRECORLYMPICS adton Linemans Rodeo nga kon diin nagpakita adton mga Linemen han ira kapas kamadagmit pagsaka han poste, kamag ilob han stamina, ngan safety ha pag-instolar hin usa nga estraktura, tulo ini nga klase an ira uyas, una an tinatawag nga Pole Climbing, sunod an Pole Climbing Relay, ngan an ikatulo ang installation han C2 Structure. Han gab-i naman guindumara an Search for Ms. FRECORLYMPICS 2017 nga kon diin nagpakita hadton kabaysay ngan ka ismarte han mga kandidata han onse nga mga Electric Cooperatives. An igindeklara nga Ms. FRECORLYMPICS 2017 amo an SAMELCO II, 1st Runner Up naman an LEYECO III ngan 2nd Runner Up an NORSAMELCO. Adi an resulta han mga nasabi nga paisan-isan.

GAME 1ST 2ND 3RD

Basketball SAMELCO II LEYECO IV SOLECO

Volleyball: Men LEYECO IV SAMELCO II DORELCOWomen SAMELCO II LEYECO IV BILECO

Badminton:Men’s Double LEYECO IV DORELCO SAMELCO IIWomen’s Double LEYECO IV SAMELCO II LEYECO III Mixed LEYECO IV SAMELCO II DORELCO

Table Tennis:Men’s Double SOLECO NORSAMELCO LEYECO IIIWomen’s Double SOLECO NORSAMELCO DORELCO Mixed LLEYECO II SAMELCO I NORSAMELCO

Dart:Single SOLECO LEYECO IV SAMELCO IIDouble SOLECO SAMELCO I SAMELCO II

Chess NORSAMELCO LEYECO III SAMELCO II

Dama LEYECO IV SAMELCO I DORELCO

Billiard:Single DORELCO ESAMELCO LEYECO III Double LEYECO V DORELCO LEYECO III

Lineman’s Rodeo:Pole Climbing LEYECO III NORSAMELCO LEYECO IVPole Relay SAMELCO II LEYECO V LEYECO IIIPole Dressing SAMELCO II ESAMELCO NORSAMELCO

OVERALL CHAMPION 1st - SAMELCO II 2nd - LEYECO IV 3rd - SOLECO

MS. FRECORLYMPICS 2017 2nd Runner Up - NORSAMELCO 1st Runner Up - LEYECO III Ms FRECOR - SAMELCO II

esteVOL 5 NO 1 MARCH 2017 7FEATURE

Warnings.. FROM PAGE 5

The Christian way ... FROM PAGE 5

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 e

Donors: Adorers of the Blessed Sacra-ment of the Nativity of Our LadyAgnesia Dilao RocesAllan &CleofeBaquilodAnnie C. CaspeBea & Joyce AmpongBenito Alfeo B. Cabato, Jr.Chona D. BaquilodDuaniePaperprint Gen. MerchandiseEvelyn Norma PadilanFelipe &JovitaBatingaFloria MontesJesse EscotoJudith A. EljiraLea L. CardonaLydia D. AmoyoMano Lando& Ate Flor AquinoMarifeBencitoMark Christian M. SalamidaMelinda NebridaMilagros A. CabalongaMr. & Mrs. Bernardo Corsiga& FamilyMr. & Mrs. Edilberto CardonaNoel C. DiscarRowena PantaleonRuby Ann C. BalbinRuth StrakaSonia E. BagacayVianney Earl AgnesWater Avenue c/o Ms. Belma Mabao

Benefactors: Antonieta C. AnaArnulfo / Doris CajegasChristian Wixar Ty LimCorazon Rubio Dela RosaEllen Grace S. AbudeJonie Allan- Elena &Floren-zDulfoLuisa M. DuzonMarilou G. CastilloMatildeLacdaoMr. & Mrs. Alfredo Cabato, Jr.Myrna P. Guasis- KAHLUCZI Convenient StoreOscar- NoralizaTañadaRebecca A. PicardalRonnil Jim A. LadiaoRussell Mary Abude- BaldoSarah C. GeroyTony & Becky CampomanesIan Carl C. AmoyoRalph Justine C. Amoyo

BORONGAN

Donors: AnastaciaBustilloMarcelosRestotelMr. &Dra. Reynaldo Miflo-res& Children

Benefactors: AnonymousEdgardo JuabanElvis SingzonMr. & Mrs. Aurelio Magalo-na& FamilyMr. & Mrs. CesarioMagalo-na& FamilyMr. & Mrs. RufinoGaradoMr. NiloNaingMrs. Alma MabansagMrs. Beatriz EgargoMrs. Concordia Luma-inMrs. Epifania de VeraMrs. Eva DiazMrs. GregoriaCalumpianoMrs. Juana MacawileMrs. Luz Perez TabernillaMrs. Mary Grace Soraya Du-ranMrs. Mila ObiasMrs. PrincillaBadocMrs. ResalinaAbogadieMrs. RizaLozadaMrs. Rosemarie AmistosoMrs. Sharon AbreraMrs. Veronica MifloresOrocay Family

GUIUAN

Donors: PraxySumeguinVice Mayor Joel Baldo& children

Benefactors: Alexius &RenzyAbellaAlyson StoreFelisaMalindog& FamilyIsabel AriasoIsabel Ariaso, NovyNavares&children ,Abelyn, Vincent &KethJoaquin Lumagbas, Jr. & childrenMr. & Mrs. Randy Castillo & daughter Unah MaeMrs. Myrna Isaig& familyPatroceniaCanitesWilliam Kessler Algo

GENERAL MACARTHUR Donors: Ma.Nida L. Baldado& children Rex Peter & Roselle MarviMr. & Mrs. Renanty G. Madolid

Benefactors: Benelda A. OresteBlesila G. ParacaleCatalina J. OperarioClarisa P. DesolidadDr. Gerry P. PalileoEdel A. Aboga-aElizabeth Aclo- BalitaEvelyn A. OpimoHon. Jun M. GecomoJosephine C. LimboMa.Bibian C. YaputMa. Niña M. PunaMatilde C. PalileoMr. & Mrs. Danilo B. ApeladoMr. & Mrs. Teodulfo M. Lucana& ChildrenPacita A. AseritRoxanneD. SumbillaTeresita B. LusicoWinefreda C. AcongZita D. Acampado

SULAT

Donors: Adrian GayoAida AnasariasCadilariaBadilloElena LobederioEmmanuel & Ella Kristine CeladaGemma G. ApitaJohn Frances IrasgaAmoyoMulti LinkMyka, Miyben& Conrad LaderaPerlaBalagapoRaymond & Christian Felix RosalesTracy Lou Obon

Benefactors: AnabelleCampomanesBrent Gaillian M. DagandanEric BalleraEva S. BalbadaJeric Paul AfableJesse ColesKit Edgar BaleinLoida A. RapadaLucila G. CondradaMelchoraBocoMr. & Mrs. ArnaldoAmosco, Jr.Mr. & Mrs. Dario Wilmer PeñarandaMr. & Mrs. Michael AmbilPrincess Lexi P. AcalaYolanda Morte

SABANG

it promote ignorance, it sows confusion, and it preys on the gullibility of undiscerning victims. If only these creators of fake news and “trenders” would put their skills and time into something that would promote the common good…

In social media, teaching-learning does not involve textbooks and tests. What we have is the sharing and interaction of a

community of teachers who are learners and learners who are teachers. Hopefully, this dynamic community of virtual teachers-learners would influence each other in honestly searching for truth and genuinely pursuing knowledge. No textbooks. No Tests. Just honest-to-goodness responsible citizens searching for ways to promote the common good.

of 2015, the Philippine Statistics Authority had a report stating that our province has improved its economic standing and is now at no. 12. According to Picardal, among the reasons for the improvement were the Yolanda assistance from both local and international organizations and the jobs created by the Millennium Development

Goals road project. Now that both the Yolanda assistance and the millennium road work opportunities are no longer available, are we back to our former standing as the 2nd poorest province? Hopefully not. Various poverty alleviation programs have been undertaken or proposed by our LGUs, per our vice governor.

Capt. Roland L. Mecate & Mrs. Marietta A. Mecateand Grandchildren

Sean Andrie A. MecateCole Dylan M. Fernandez

Maxine M. Fernandez

stakeholders in the community for clean-up and repairs,” Boco said.

In several schools in the city, personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection and Phil-ippine National Police helped in cleaning school buildings and grounds.

The superintendent also assured school administrators received funds for the upkeep of schools under the allocation for main-tenance and other operating expenditures (MOOE). (Medora NB Quirante / Este News)

No collection ... FROM PAGE 3

Celebrating Holy Week in Borongan

By Sarah NoonanI AM a lay missionary from Buffalo, New York, who is volunteering in Borongan with the Oikos Sisters in their work to bring God’s love and care to His beloved poor in Eastern Samar. I have been with the Sisters for a total of one year and am in the midst of my second mission with them.

It never ceases to amaze me how God works in and through our lives. He can use His holy Word, people around us, or even our experiences to touch our lives, to remind us of His love for us and to offer us opportuni-ties to grow closer to Him. He provided just such an experience for me right here in Bo-rongan throughout Lent this year, and espe-cially through Holy Week. Never before have I participated in a more meaningful Triduum, and never before have the days right before Easter awakened me so fully to the love of Je-sus Christ for me, for us all, through His suf-fering, death and resurrection.

Holy Thursday in Borongan is very similar to how we celebrate it in America. The mass on Holy Thursday, the last mass celebrated before Easter, is so beautiful. Not only on this night did Jesus institute the sacraments of the Holy Eucharist and Holy Orders, so meaningful for me as I have a brother who is a priest, but He also gave us a model of how we are to live and treat others in the wash-ing of the apostles feet. Sitting at mass, with more people than I have ever seen at Holy Thursday mass, watching the Bishop kneel before parishioners, washing and kissing their feet…whether in Buffalo or Borongan, it moves me so. This year with the Oikos Sis-ters and the Oikos co-workers, of which I am one, we celebrated the Lord’s Supper and the washing of the feet at our mission house in Sohutan. Let me tell you, kneeling in front of someone, washing and drying his or her feet, kissing them…it is a very humbling experi-ence!! If you’ve never done this, you should! How many times have I watched a priest or bishop wash parishioners feet, but never be-fore this night have I so fully understood how much Jesus wants us to love and care for one another because I have done so myself.

At 5am on Good Friday, we had morning prayer at the Cathedral, and that was fol-lowed by Stations of the Cross at dawn. Not inside the church, which has always been my experience, no this was out around the city of Borongan. Walking with Bishop Crispin and about 3 thousand other people, we stopped at each station to kneel and pray right in the street. As the sun rose, we walked and prayed. It was so solemn and beautiful! Despite the fact that I am just learning the Waray-waray language, my heart under-stood and fully joined in the prayers and the reverence to Our Lord. Children and young mothers, grandparents and teenagers…

Singing, walking, praying out in the street in a procession of sorrow laced with hope for all of Borongan to see...it was easily the most meaningful Stations of the Cross I have ever experienced.

Later that day, along with the Oikos Sisters, I attended the 3pm service including venera-tion of the cross and the burial procession of Our Lord. We walked with statues of Saint Peter, Saint Mary Magdalene, Saint Veronica, Saint John, and Sorrowful Mother Mary. Be-hind us was Jesus in a glass casket. This time, there were around 10,000 people!!! Oh my goodness!!! Once again we marched through the city, this time praying the rosary all to-gether. In the time before I can remember, Catholic Churches in the United States used to have processions throughout their com-munities. Now, however, it is not done. They will say people are too busy to process or we don’t want to make anyone feel bad by leav-ing them out of our procession. But there is something so beautiful about walking throughout your town or city, proudly pray-ing, announcing your faith to all without even having to speak to them. I do hope proces-sions come back in the U.S.!

I have never attended an Easter Vigil mass with so many people! How beautiful it was to be there, hearing the choir ring out the first Alleluia we have sung in six weeks, and be surrounded by so many people who appreci-ated it as much as I did. The music, the light, the water, the welcoming of the Risen Lord joyfully into our hearts and souls… the Easter Vigil mass is full of symbolism and rituals, so full of meaning. The mass was solemn and reverent, as was the congregation. After the experience of Holy Thursday, celebrating the Lord’s last supper and the washing of feet, after the sorrow of Good Friday, this mass completed the Triduum perfectly. It wasn’t until the last moments of the mass that the true joy of Easter was celebrated among us. It filled me up!!

Easter Morning mass was celebrated at the chapel in Sohutan, where one of the Oikos Mission houses is. Oh what joy was shared and celebrated at that mass! Never have I heard the people sing so joyfully as on that Easter morn!! It was a contagious energy that swept through everyone there, and how happy I was to be a part of it!!

God does speak to us through our experi-ences and through others…He did to me this Easter. How blessed I feel to have not only been a witness to the beauty and reverence of Holy Week in Borongan, but to have had the opportunity to join in the experience of our Lord’s passion, death and resurrection with so many people in such a meaning-ful way. Allelia! The Lord is risen!! Happy Easter!!

Bishop Crispin Varquez leads the parishioners of the Nativity Our Lady Cathedral in Borongan in praying the Way of the Cross around town on Good Friday this year. (Photo by Alren Beronio / Este News)

este VOL 5 NO 1 MARCH 20178 NEWS FEATURE

Lawaan town launches Amandaragat FestivalLAWAAN, Eastern Samar—May 8, 2017—The municipality of Lawaan marked its 58th founding anniversary by honoring former town mayors and launching the Amandaragat Festival.

Lawaan Mayor Engr. Florencio A. Almeda, Jr. led the awarding of plaques of recognition and appreciation to former town mayors in a program held on May 7 at the town square.

According to Fr. Neil Tenefrancia, a native of Lawaan who spoke of the significance of Lawaan’s foundation day, “faith, unity and the quest for excellence” bond the townspeople.

“Although Lawaan only became a town 58 years ago, it had been a community for two centuries being a visita of Balangiga,” Tenefrancia said.

“Through this unity, Lawaan stood the test of time—from Moro raids, epidemics, foreign occupation to superty phoons,” he added.

The town has also renamed its cultural and religious festival to “Amandaragat.”

The word is a fusion of Amandaraga–the name of its famed waterfalls and “manaragat” the Binisaya term for fisherfolk.

For this year’ Amandaragat Festival, Divine Child Academy was named champion winning a cash prize of P25,000.00.

Through Republic Act 2185, more than half a century ago, Lawaan became an independent town from Balangiga where it was one of its barrios. (Medora NB Quirante / Este News)

Jipapad-Lapinig road done after 3 yearsBORONGAN CITY, May 25, 2016–The P110M road project that connects the towns of Jipapad in Eastern Samar and Imelda, Lapinig in Northern Samar was turned over by officials from the Office of the Presidential Assistant on the Peace Process (OPAPP) – Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA), Department of Public Works

and Highways, Department of Agriculture to the local government units of said towns.

The turn-over ceremony and exit conference in Jipapad was attended by PAMANA Director in Eastern Visayas Imelda Bonifacio, on May 23, 2017, some three years after the project was launched.

The road, cuts travel time to

the town of Jipapad that in the past was reached through a six-hour pumpboat ride along Oras River.

According to Bonifacio, PAMANA and DPWH will also be funding the construction of a concrete Jipapad bridge with an allocation of an additional P150M. (Medora NB Quirante / Este News)

ESSU signs accord with Morton College, international schools

BORONGAN City, May 19, 2017–The Eastern Samar State University is strengthening its collaboration with other educational institutions here and abroad as one way of improving the quality of education.

Recently, the university signed a memorandum of understanding with Morton College, based in Brisbane, Australia for the opening of two certificate programs starting this school year.

ESSU International Affairs Office head, Rhodora Mendoza said that the new programs are the Certificate lll in Hospitality and Certificate lll in Catering Operations.

They are targeting HRRM students to take the courses, but it is also open to graduates of related fields and those who are interested.

Under the MOU, Morton College will send their faculty members to ESSU to teach, and later will train ESSU faculty.

Students will be evaluated at the end of every semester.

These certificates are registered with the Australian Skills Quality Authority, a skills regulating body, meaning the certificates earned here will be recognized in Australia.

The programs will run for six semesters and a student has to complete 15 units for hospitality and 21 units for catering to get the certificates.

But Mrs. Mendoza made it clear that these are not compulsory for HRRM students since the programs are not free.

“Only those who are willing to pay will be given the additional tasks” she said.

For the certificate in hospitality, three units will cost the equivalent of AUD 86.75, and for catering operation, three units will cost AUD 120.75.

Mrs Mendoza said that an “Australian quality certificate will give them a better chance at being employed in Australia and in other countries as well.”

She is encouraging students and those interested to enroll because they don’t have to leave the country to obtain the certificates.

Aside from Morton, ESSU has tied up with the Vietnam National University for Agriculture, and the National Institute for Education Management also in Vietnam. (Eden (Cidro/Este News)

Danilo S. Campo, Aloha Ador-Campo,

Alexis Danilyn (daughter)

Abenis St., Brgy. D-2 (Baybay 1), Borongan City, E. Samar

A student of Divine Child Academy performs the winning dance that topped the Amandaragat Festival. (Photo by Fr. Neil Tenefrancia / Este News)

ESSU Administration building. (Photo by Alren Beronio / Este News)