VOLUME 3NUMBER 5FRIDAYAPRIL 24, 2009

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MABALACAT, Pampanga —With its success in revivingawareness on the rich culturalheritage of this town, the Car-agan Festival now also servesas a launchpad for local talents,giving them the break to pene-trate national entertainmentscene.

WITH DISCOVERY OF AETA SINGING SENSATION

PAGE 6 PLEASE

Caragan fest,a launchpadfor talents

This year’s staging of Caraganhas produced a 12-year-old Aetasinging sensation in Arjohn Gil-bert from Marcos Village in thistown. The festival is in honor ofAeta Chieftain Caragan, the firstancestral leader of this town.

Gilbert is a son of Johnny andGilbert

REUSE, REDUCE. CDC Environment Management Bureau Manager Juan Miguel Fuentes (right)and CDC Asst. Vice President for Permits, Licensing and Monitoring Mariza O. Mandocdoc (3rd

from right) view the computer monitors that will be shipped to various recycling firms. Theactivity dubbed “CDC Recyclables Collection Event” held on April 22 is part of the state-ownedfirm’s participation in the Earth Day Celebration. PHOTO COURTESY OF CDC-PRD

BY JOEY PAVIA

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO –The Nationalist People’sCoalition (NPC), one of the

most established political partiesin the country, is set to fieldcandidates for the 2010 electionsin Pampanga. PAGE 6 PLEASE

NPC to field full slatein Pampanga in 2010

BY ERNIE B. ESCONDE

BALANGA CITY- The pro-vincial government ofBataan will not allow themovement, removal orshipping out of any ma-chineries, equipment andmaterials from the decom- PAGE 6 PLEASE

Bataan wants $2.8Msale of thermal plant

held in escrowmissioned 225-megawattBataan Thermal PowerPlant (BTPP) in Limaytown unless the proceedsfrom the sale in the report-ed amount of $2.858 mil-lion is held in escrow ac-count.

SIA Engineering (Philip-pines) Corporation a world-class Maintenance, Repairand Overhaul (MRO) facil-ity inside the 2,362 hect-ares Clark Civil AviationComplex is in need of qual-ified Inspectors and Air-craft Mechanics for its slat-ed operations in June thisyear.

The state-of-the-art PAGE 6 PLEASE

Singaporean firmhiring inspectors and

aircraft mechanics$100-million MRO facilityis expected to be opera-tional by June as construc-tion of the world-class han-gar is being fast-trackedwhich will cater to com-mercial aircrafts for repairand maintenance. LastNovember 2008, PresidentGloria Macapagal-Arroyowith officials of Clark In-

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BY JOEY PAVIA

ANGELES CITY – The citypolice director has lamentedthe failure of witnesses to helpthem solve the brutal gunslay-ing of former MalabaniasBarangay Captain ThelmoLalic at a memorial park herelast April 18.

Senior Supt. Pierre Bucsityesterday said they had“identified witnesses” whocould help them identify thetwo suspects in the killing

CITY COP CHIEF LAMENTS

Witnesses fail to help solve Lalic murderof Lalic, 62, at the La Pieta

Memorial Park in BarangaySto. Domingo.

“We need the support ofthe citizenry in solving crimessuch as the murder of Lalic.Some of the witnesses do notcare at all,” said Bucsit.

The police director addedthat “it seems only Lalic andthe killers were at La Pietawhen the incident occurred.”He disclosed that La Pieta “isa jogging area and so manypeople were there in the

morning and at the time Lalicwas shot to death.” Policeinvestigators said Lalic wasgunned down at about 5:40a.m.

Bucsit said the two gun-men missed their target ontheir first salvo using .45caliber pistols. He added thatLalic was able to run but thesuspects caught up with himand finished him off.

Police were able to recoverat least 14 shells of .45 pistolin the area. They said at least

two bullets hit the head ofLalic.

Lalic was the 7th murdervictim involving prominentpersonalities since Decemberlast year. He lost his re-election bid in 2007.

A political ally of formermayor and now First DistrictRep. Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin,Lalic was the Association ofBarangay Councils (ABC)president during the term offormer Mayor Tony AbadSantos.

CLARK FREEPORT— TheClark Development Corporation(CDC) will participate in thefour-day Asian Regional Forum– Voluntary Demonstration ofResponse (ARF-VDR) on di-saster relief to be held in Ma-nila, Clark Freeport Zone, An-geles and Olongapo, and inArayat town on May 4 to 8.

CDC Executive Vice Pres-ident Philip Jose B. Panliliosaid the event is spearhead-ed by the National DisasterCoordinating Council (NDCC)where some 400 foreign andlocal delegates from 27 ARFmembers are expected to at-tend the civilian-military exer-cise on disaster mitigationprogram.

The delegates will comefrom the Philippines, BruneiDarussalam, Cambodia, Indo-nesia, Thailand, Malaysia,Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam andSingapore, Australia, Bang-ladesh, Canada, China, India,Japan, Taiwan, South Korea,New Zealnad, Pakistan, Pap-ua New Guinea, Russia, SriLanka, Timor Leste, UnitedStates and several countriesfrom the European Union.

In his letter to Panlilio, Col.Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr,head of GRP AFR-VDR Sec-retariat, said the exercise willdemonstrate capabilities of var-ious disaster relief programsin the Asia-Pacific Region.

Areas of demonstration in-clude land, air and maritimesearch and rescue, medical as-sistance/evacuation, and engi-neering construction while ci-vilian-military projects will in-clude reconstruction of a schoolbuilding, construction of abridge, installation of a watersystem and the medical treat-ment of approximately 8,000Filipinos in Central Luzon.

The hosting of the AFR-VDR on disaster relief wasagreed upon during the July2008 Ministers Meeting of theASEAN Regional Forum inSingapore to be sponsored bythe Philippine government andco-sponsored by the US gov-ernment.

Catapang said that the ci-vilian-led and military-support-ed exercise is a robust at-tempt to demonstrate ARFnation capabilities in re-sponse to an affected nation’srequest for assistance follow-ing a major disasters such asTyphoon Frank that hit thePhilippines or the earthquakein Sichuan, China.

At the same time, theARF-VDR on disaster relief isthe first major activity that willshowcase the ARF member-nations’ affirmative action toconduct a humanitarian anddisaster response exerciseinvolving civilian and militarycomponents.

The Philippines and USbelieve that the civilian-led,military-supported exercisewill help elevate the level ofcivilian and military coopera-tion in the region in times ofnatural disasters with a viewtowards saving lives, alleviat-ing human suffering, and mit-igating the effects of naturaldisasters.

CDC toparticipatein disaster

forum

BY ROMMEL RAMOS

MALOLOS CITY—It’s all sys-tems go for the Second Bula-can Business Conference(BBC-2) on April 28 and 29where some 300 entrepreneursare expected to participate.

The BBC-2 is organized bythe Bulacan Chamber of Com-merce and Industry (BCCI)which is considered as thevoice of Bulacan business.

Like the first conferenceheld in late February last year,the BBC-2 is expected to gath-er some 300 businessmen,entrepreneurs and local officialsacross the province.

Mara Bautista, the execu-tive director of the BCCI saidthat the focus of this year’sBBC-2 is on recovery of localbusiness from the impact of theglobal financial crisis.

As the focus of the confer-ence, Bautista said that it isjust natural as the provincialgovernment spearheaded theresilience forum last month.

“We would like to encour-age local businessmen to havea mindset on how they will po-sition their businesses for eco-nomic rebound,” said Bautistareferring to the theme of thetwo-day business conferencewill be held at the BarCIE In-ternational Hotel here.

Violeta Luna, president ofthe BCCI, said they have invit-ed a number of resource per-sons for the two-day confer-ence that they hope to give in-spiration to participants.

Among the invited resourcepersons are Las Pinas LoneDistrict Rep. Cynthia Villar,former Governor Josie de laCruz, Director Jaime Santiagoof the Bureau of Internal Reve-nue in Central Luzon, RobertKwan of Chowking, Ambassa-dor Jesus Tambunting of Plant-ers Development Bank, andProfessor Nelia Cruz Sarcol.

Luna said Villar is set to talkabout livelihood and entrepre-neurial opportunities; DelaCruz on the opportunities re-lated with the North Food Ex-change (NFEX) project; Santi-

All systems go for 2nd Bulacan Business Conferenceago on current business tax-es.

Peyuan will discuss match-ing skills development pro-grams with local needs, whileKwan will talk on keys to suc-cessful business Tambuntingon positioning local businessfor economic rebound.

Known as the voice of thelocal business community, theBCCI hosted the BBC-1 lastyear which was highlighted bythe organization of local mar-ket vendors association in theprovince headed by Gilbert An-geles.

The said organization evensubmitted a resolution askingassistance from local govern-ment units and the BCCI thathelped organized them.

Bautista said that assistingan organization of local marketvendors and retailers is a nat-ural response as they are partof the local business and eco-nomic landscape.

Citing earlier statement offormer BCCI president TeofiloRivera Jr., Bautista said eco-nomic development is not con-centrated on bigger businessbecause retailers serves as akey in all economic develop-ment.

As this developed, TonyTengco, the newly electedchairman of BCCI said that thechamber has also helped orga-nized business councils in dif-ferent towns of the province.

These include the businesscouncils of Hagonoy, SanMiguel, Bustos, Calumpit, Pu-lilan, San Rafael, Pandi, Bali-uag, and Plaridel in addition toexisting business councils inSta. Maria and Guiguinto andthe cities of Malolos and Mey-cauayan which were organizedearlier.

Tengco said the officials ofthe newly organized businesscouncils will take oath duringthe two day business confer-ence.

He said local businesscouncils are crucial in the effi-ciency of different programsand projects of the BCCI asthey serve as conduits.

AGRI-SUPPORT. Governor Eddie T. Panlilio distributes the “palay” sprayers duringthe awarding at the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist in Sindalan.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JUN JASO/PIO

NI ARMAND M. GALANG

CABANATUAN CITY - Nagbaliktanaw sa kasaysayan ng pak-ikidigma ng kanilang angkan angmga sundalong Amerikano nakalahok sa Balikatan militaryexercises nang magtungo saPangatian Shrine, dito kamakal-awa.

Ang Pangatian Shrine aylugar kung saan naganap angtinaguriang Great Raid. May 516na Amerikanong prisoners ofwar (POW) ang iniligtas ng

BALIKATAN 09

Balik-tanaw sa pagtutulungan ngsundalong Pilipino-Amerikano

magkasamang puwersa ng Amerikano at gerilyerong Pilipi-no ang nailigtas mula sa pahirapng mga Hapon noong Enero 30,1945 sa naturang lugar.

Task Force Magsaysay CivilMilitary Operations (CMO) Offic-er Major Mark Juvenal Tayamen,ay nanguna sa magkasanib napuwersang kalahok sa Balikatan’09 sa paglilinis ng PangatianShrine.

Karamihan umano sa tro-pang kalahok mula sa Aemrika,na mula sa 294th Infantry Regi-

ment, ay may mga kamag-anakna nakilahok sa pagliligtasnoong 1945 na ibinida sa isangbanyagang pelikula na may pam-agat na “Great Raid.”

May 287 sundalong Ameri-kano ang kalahok ngayon sa 25thjoint RP-US Balikatan militaryexercises., bahagi nito ay sa FortMagsaysay military reservation,Palayan City, ayon kay Lt. Col.George Charfauros, commanderng 294th Infantry Regiment.

May 140 naman ang mgaPilipino.

(PCRB) ng NEPPO na ang ITPay landas patungo sa mas epe-ktibong pagganap sa tungkulinat pagtataguyod ng pamban-sang seguridad.

Ang mga pahayag ay ka-nilang ginagawa kaugnay ngpaglulunsad ng ika-5 yugto ngITP na sinimulan sa pamamagi-tan ng briefing sa mga hepe atpangunahing opisyal ng pulisyasa Nueva Ecija, Tarlac at Aurorana ginanap sa Nueva Ecija Uni-versity of Science and Technol-ogy (NEUST) sa lungsod na itonoong Martes.

Noong Miyerkules ng mad-aling araw, isinagawa sa Pam-panga ang 5th leg ng torch re-lay na pinagunahan nina PNPDirector General Jesus Verso-za at Regional Director LeonNilo Dela Cruz. Sinundan ito ngprograma sa Pampanga Con-vention Center na nilahukan ngmga lokal na opisyal ng pama-halaan, kinatawan ng mga sa-mahang pan-relihiyon, negosyoat iba pa.

Sa briefing na ginawa salungsod na ito, sinabi ni SeniorSupt. Cesar Binag, chief of staffng Program Management Office(PMO) ng PNP na kapansin-pansing may kabagalan ang

pagbabago “ngunit meron kahitkaunti,” kaya’t hindi, dagdagniya, imporsibleng ito’y matu-pad.

Kabilang sa ITP ang pag-aan-gat ng kakayanan ng mga pulissa pagresolba sa krimen sapamamagitan ng pagbili ng mgakagamitan tulad ng sasakyan,baril at mga investigation gad-gets. Sa ballistic test, sabi niBinag, ay umaabot ng apat nataon bago lumitaw ang tunay naresulta sa kasalakuyan subalitkapag nabili nila ang pinaka-bagong gadget ay bababa ito satatlong oras na lamang.

Nagpapagawa rin ng mgaistasyon ng pulisya, dagdag paniya.

Ngunit higit sa lahat, ayonsa PMO chief, ay iangat angkalagayan ng mga pulis sa pam-amagitan ng umento sa suwel-do, pabahay, serbisyongmedikal at iba pang pangangai-langan.

Pinansin ni Binag na mula samahigit P8,000 basic na suwel-do ng bagong pulis ay tumaasna ito sa mahigit P9,000.

Nagpahayag naman ngsuporta ang samahan ng mganegosyante sa Gitnang Luzonsa naturang programa.

Pagbabago sa PNP, hindi imposibleNI ARMAND M. GALANG

CABANATUAN CITY - Nagpa-hayag ng paniniwala ang pamu-nuan ng Nueva Ecija Police Pro-vincial Office (NEPPO) na hindimalayong makamit ang isinusu-long na pagbabago sa imahe ataktuwal na katayuan ng pam-

bansang pulisya noongMiyerkules.

Ayon kay Senior Supt. Ricar-do Marquez, NEPPO director,kailangan lamang ay ituring ngbawat isang pulis na sarili nilangprograma ang Integrated Trans-formation Program (ITP) na iti-nataguyod ng Philippine National

Police (PNP).Ang programa sa transpor-

masyon ay pangmalawakangprograma sa pagbabagong-bihisng PNP na tatagal hanggang2015.

Sinabi naman ni Supt. Ricar-do Villanueva, hepe ng policecommunity relations branch

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Zona LibreBong Z. Lacson

E d i t o r i a l O p i n i o nO p i n i o n

acaesar.blogspot.com

Business & Editorial office at Unit B Essel Commercial Center,McArthur Highway, Telabastagan, City of San Fernando

Tel. No. (45) 636•6327 Cel. No. 0917•481•1416e-mail address: puntogitnangluzon@yahoo.com

pdf file at http://www.punto.com.phPunto! Central Luzon is a proud member ofThe Philippine Press Institute

General ManagerEditor

Editorial ConsultantMarketing Manager

Administrative StaffLayout

Circulation

Atty. Gener C. EndonaJoey R. AguilarCaesar “Bong” LacsonJoanna Niña V. CorderoMa. Teresa U. VillanuevaDondie B. VenturaGilbert Mendoza

LLL Trimedia CoordinatorsPublisher

EDGAR V. MOVIDOFounder

SEED of continuityON TUESDAY some 300 young Fernandinos wereassured of continuous education despite grindingpoverty.

Theirs is the final batch of city scholars this yearbenefitting from the city government’s SEED –Scholarship in Education for Empowerment andDevelopment – Program that aims to keep in schoolpoor but brilliant students deserving all the assistancefrom the government towards attaining a career andbecoming productive citizens.

To date, the SEED Program has helped over 8,000students. An enormous leap from the 200 city scholarsin 2004 when Oscar S. Rodriguez assumed themayorship of the City of San Fernando. A testament toMayor Oca’s commitment to the primacy of educationin the liberation and empowerment of the people, themasa especially, whence the once Ka Jasmin sprouted.

Unlike some other local government scholarshipprograms that are no more than exercises in the politicsof patronage and simple dole-out, the SEED Programsets stringent qualifications for its beneficiaries: fromfamily income to the maintenance of a general weightedaverage of 85 percent. Excellence, after all, is theessence of scholarships.

The SEED Program, impressive as it is, is only onecomponent of the agenda for education of the Rodriguezadministration. The establishment of integrated highschools, and the city community college to open thiscoming school year have their own contribution to theincrease in enrolment in the City of San Fernando, inmarked contrast to the trend reported by the Departmentof Education that enrolment in all educational levels havebeen going down due to poverty and the rising cost ofeducation.

“We have instituted measures to keep our studentsin school and to bring more of those who cannot affordschooling to at least get a chance through availablescholarships,” Mayor Oca said. No empty talk there asthe city government has allotted over 30 percent of itsannual budget for scholarship and educational programs.

Councilor Jimmy Lazatin, chair of the sangguniangpanlungsod’s committee on education, cited statisticsthat only 45 of 100 students who finish the elementarygrades actually go to high school. Of the 45 percent only10 percent can go to college.

“Aside from scholarships, we in the city governmentmade it incumbent upon ourselves to continuously makeways to improve the quality of education in the city. Thisis a task that would take us years but we have alreadystarted and we are making good results,” Lazatin said.

Yeah, good results there, indeed Mayor Oca. And theneed for continuity, finding warranty there in CouncilorJimmy. The city hall succession there clearly emerging.

Napag-uusapanlangNi Felix M. Garcia

Alang pirmingkasangga karaskeng pulitika?NUNG TAU kang tapat makikaluguran,Lagyung pulitika e mu sukat luban;Uling iti kabud e yu balung telanMiras king e dapat niting kamaulian;

Pablasang nu’man pin katibe ing bukludNing pamiyabe yu, e binang malautMasira mu iti at ganap mapatludPotang iti na yang mamilatan lubus.

At keta personal nang interes nitiItang mangibabo king bage mesabi,Kumpara king pamikaluguran detiA muli mung alang kwenta bandang tauli!

Antimo ring sadiang mitiket kanitaA meging mayor at bise alkalde na;Ining tauli uling binang marapal yaKalukluk na pamu aliwa ne tira;

At ta’ne pin aplit sisiran ing metungBan bukas, makadua, ya namang mag-mayor;Iti e mu mekad king balen Sun Sea MoonMiliari keng mengalabas a panaun!

A nu’ pati na ring konsehal kanitaNing meging mayor a sadiang kakampi ra,Oren mayayakit marok ne karelaUli na marahil ning self interest da?

At maging ing metung mu karing konsehalNing alkaldeng iti ketang milabasan,Oyan linto anti ne wari pung mortalA kalaban ngeni ing memitbit bilang.

At bali ala na ita ning masantingA pamiyabe reti pauli namu pinNing katutuan a ing personal da retingInteres yang agad magbabo marahil!

King ngeni planu rang mitiket di LapidAt ning anak na ning kelaban maigpitDi Mark at Among Ed – nung aku ing pilitKutnan yu antini ing kakung akakit:

E ku buring sabian ing kelan dignidadIng suportan ke ing ketunggali’t sukatNing kapamilya ku – nune e masampatIng anti kaniti nung surian banayad;

Kasi balamu yang ala nang ulagaPara karen ing tune kasagraduan naNing intension deting magsilbi talagaNung ala lang respetu king sarili ra.

King makananu me indorsu ing tauA keta sadia mung pakisiran ustu;At kaibat na nita yang pakiabayan muKing ngeni nasa yung talanan a puestu?

O keng pulitika talagang makanian,Ala tamung priming katoto’t kalaban?Ing ngeni kakampi, ating aldo datangYang katunggali mu o kalaban mortal!

Pablasang migit king nanu pa man ataIng mesabing bage kumpara king sablaPeka-marinat ne keti king masalaAt ing prinsipyu ring dakal masisira!

CastigadorJohnny Reblando

NABABAHALA na ang mga residente ng Olongapo City sa sunod-sunod na patayan na magpahanggang sa ngayon ay hindi pa rinnareresolba ng mga kagawad ng OLONGAPO CITY POLICEOFFICE (OCPO).

Taliwas ito sa pagkakaalam ng marami na tahimik angOlongapo at walang nagaganap na karahasan dito, dahil walaman lamang napapaulat na krimen na lumalabas sa ibat-ibangpahayagan dahil pilit itong itinatago ng mga awtoridad ang mganasabing pangyayari.

Magkakasunod nakrimen sa Gapo, diparin nareresolbang Olongapo PNP

Sa buwan pa lamang ng Abril 2009, dalawana ang naitatalang krimen. Una ng paslangin saloob ng kanyang bahay noong Abril 13 ang kawaning Greenwich, Olongapo City na si SusanaVicente sa Barangay Gordon Heights kung saannagtamo ito ng labing-anim (16) na saksak sakatawan at namatay noon din at ang sinasabingdahilan ng motibo ay pagnanakaw daw.

Nasundan pa ito noong Abril 16, 2009, ngmatagpuan ang bangkay ng isang lalaki na walang buhay sa loob ng OLONGAPO CITYMEMORIAL PARK sa Barangay Tabacuhan kungsaan nakatarak pa sa kanyang likuran ang may14 na pulgada ng kutsilyo.

Ang karumaldumal na krimen na ito ay isalamang bang patunay na mahina na umano angkakayahan ng OLONGAPO PNP pagdating saganitong sitwasyon.

Ang tanong ng taumbayan, paano na kungwalang SUPPORT UNIT ng PNP gaya ngZAMBALES CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION ANDDETECTION TEAM (ZCIDT) na tumutulong paramag-imbestiga sa mga kaso? At dahil na rin saimbestigasyon isinagawa ng ZCIDT sapangunguna ni P/Chief Inspector Rogelio Peñoneskaagad nilang nakilala ang biktima na si AivannCarl Pascua, 23-anyos, isang estudyante ngPamatawan, Subic, Zambales.

Bagamat may mga tukoy ng suspek sa mgapagpatay, inaantay na lamang lumabas angWarrant of Arrest ng mga ito para hulihin. Angtanong huhulihin ba kaagad ito? Ilan na bangWANTED PERSON ang nahuhuli ng OCPO ha?Kumilos naman kayo saying na lamang angpinapasweldo ng gobyerno.

Ang tanong ko lang sino ba ang nakahuli saNo. 1 Most Wanted Person ng Olongapo? Di baZCIDT, nasa tabi na lamang ninyo ang suspek dininyo hinuhuli, bakit at anong dahilan?Pinagkakakitaan din ba ito? He he he.

Ang labis na nakapagtataka ay iilan lamangang tauhan ng ZCIDT, sila’y nakakahuli ng mgaKRIMINAL kung ikukumpara mo sa mga tauhanng bawat presinto na saklaw ng OCPO.

Batay sa obserbasyon ng CASTIGADOR, satuwing nagpapalit ang CITY DIRECTOR ng OCPOay may nagaganap na krimen. Noon pa man aynagyayari na yan na tila gustong subukan angkakayahan ng bagong mamumuno sa kapulisano di kaya ay upang sirain ang kridebilidad nito.

Pababayan na lamang ba ito? SanaKUMILOS ang pulisya ng OLONGAPO CITY athuwag tutulog-tulog sa PANSITAN.

Hanggang kaylan kaya makakamit ng mgakamag-anakan ng mga biktima ang tunay nahustisya?

REDUCE. REUSE. Recycle. The three R’s of environmentalpreservation are not exclusive to green warriors. The operative termshave their own good use in politics too. Especially Pampangapolitics, this from an astute(?) politician’s perspective.

Reduce. From being President of the Republic, Her ExcellencyGloria Macapagal-Arroyo is reportedly eyeing the much-reducedposition of representative of Pampanga’s second district.

So it followed – so reportedly he himself reasoned out – thatSenator Lito Lapid is now bent in running for the reduced post ofPampanga governor. This, after the senator utterly failed to reducehimself to Makati mayor. No thanks to Jejomar “Obama” Binaynow puffing himself up for the presidential post.

His own mommie dearest easing him out of his niche,Congressman Mikey Macapagal-Arroyo can reduce himself to thevice gubernatorial post, tandemming with Lapid, but of course. Arepeat of 2001 – ah, there is your recycle – so what else is new?

Vice Governor Yeng Guiao will have to reduce himself to firstdistrict board member, again a redux of 2001.

R’s in politics too

And where will that leave gubernatorial timber,three-term Lubao Mayor Dennis Pineda? Well,he can reduce himself to second district boardmember. The way Sta. Rita’s Art Salalila andSasmuan’s Cinderella, Catalina Bagasina, did in2007.

Vice-governor can-be, three term BacolorMayor Buddy Dungca can do the same reductionwith a sangguniang panlalawigan slot for the thirddistrict.

Reuse. City of San Fernando Mayor OscarS. Rodriguez, who is being strongly pushed to gofor the governorship, will have better use stayingin his post. If only to guarantee the continuity ofthe very, very, very good things he has done, heis still doing, and will still do for the capital city.

Ditto Congressman Dong Gonzales, also avery viable gubernatorial timber. If only to guaranteethe billion-peso mini-Marshall Plan for Bacolor willbe fully implemented and the lahar-devastatedtown fully restored to its old glory as the “Athensof Pampanga.”

If ain’t broke why fix it? So shall be politicallyreused too are 1st District Congressman TarzanLazatin and the 4th District’s Anna York P. Bondoc-Sagum. Weep, Mr. Shooli’s Kuhol. Wail, BM RicYabut.

Recycle. Pampanga’s Beloved Baby, Lilia G.Pineda will be recycled to her previous post ofLubao mayor.

Absolutely, no opposition there.So how do you deal with the most critical point

in the Pampanga political equilibrium?

Governor Eddie T. Panlilio can be recycled tothe priesthood, a full recycling even as parishpriest of Betis.

Absolutely no opposition there from ArchbishopPaciano B. Aniceto and Bishops Pablo VirgilioDavid and Roberto Mallari who – in the words ofPanlilio – have been earnestly asking for hisrecycling, er, return to the ministry.

Possible opposition there though fromputative administrator Atty. Vivian Dabu. Whomay be forced to run for governor – as she saidin the Galing Pook Awards interviews – if only tosustain the quarry collection, no matter howdwindled.

Vehement opposition there from tapa andtocino magnate Madame Lolita Hizon who hasdeemed Panlilio “unfit” for the priesthood – pendinghis taking some DNA test for some paternityissues, the Madame holds – as well as thegovernorship – for reasons given in the petition forhis recall.

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. So it’s all there, forthe political peace and quiet of Pampanga. At leastIn the scenario of a movie in the mind of the Bidang Masa. So his factotum, and he himself,supposedly intimated to a number of politicalleaders lately.

A scheme so grand in bida-centered fantasythat it can only be dealt with most definitively – inkeeping with our R’s – one more environmentalterm – Refuse. In all its dictionary meanings: (n)discarded as useless and worthless, garbage,trash; (v) to decline, to reject, to negate.

ON THIS DAY in 1916, onEaster Monday in Dublin, theIrish Republican Brotherhood,a secret organization of Irishnationalists led by PatrickPearse, launches the so-called Easter Rebellion, anarmed uprising against Britishrule.

Assisted by militant Irishsocialists under James Con-nolly, Pearse and his fellowRepublicans rioted and at-tacked British provincial gov-ernment headquarters acrossDublin and seized the Irishcapital's General Post Office.

Following these success-es, they proclaimed the inde-pendence of Ireland, whichhad been under the repressivethumb of the United Kingdomfor centuries, and by the nextmorning were in control ofmuch of the city.

Later that day, however,British authorities launched acounteroffensive, and by April29 the uprising had beencrushed. Nevertheless, theEaster Rebellion is consid-ered a significant marker onthe road to establishing an in-dependent Irish republic.

Following the uprising,Pearse and 14 other nation-alist leaders were executedfor their participation and heldup as martyrs by many in Ire-land.

There was little love lostamong most Irish people forthe British, who had enacteda series of harsh anti-Catho-l ic restrict ions, the PenalLaws, in the 18th century, andthen let 1.5 million Irish starveduring the Potato Famine of1845-1848.

Armed protest continuedafter the Easter Rebellion andin 1921, 26 of Ireland's 32counties won independencewith the declaration of theIrish Free State.

The Free State became anindependent republic in 1949.However, six northeasterncounties of the Emerald Isleremained part of the UnitedKingdom, prompting some na-tionalists to reorganize them-selves into the Irish Republi-can Army (IRA) to continuetheir struggle for full Irish in-dependence.

In the late 1960s, influ-enced in part by the U.S. civil

Easter Rebellion beginsTODAY IN HISTORY

rights movement, Catholicsin Northern Ireland, long dis-criminated against by Britishpolicies that favored IrishProtestants, advocated forjustice.

Civil unrest broke out be-tween Catholics and Protes-tants in the region and the vi-olence escalated as the pro-Catholic IRA battled Britishtroops.

An ongoing series of ter-rorist bombings and attacksensued in a drawn-out conflictthat came to be known as"The Troubles."

Peace talks eventuallytook place throughout themid- to late 1990s, but a per-manent end to the violenceremained elusive.

Finally, in July 2005, theIRA announced its memberswould give up all their weap-ons and pursue the group'sobject ives solely throughpeaceful means.

By the fall of 2006, the In-dependent Monitoring Com-mission reported that theIRA's military campaign toend British rule was over.

Source: www.history.com

Drink nothing without seeing it; sign nothing without reading it.Spanish Proverb

Character - the willingness to accept responsibility for one's ownlife - is the source from which self respect springs.

Joan Didion (1934 - ),"Slouching Towards Bethlehem"

Poetry often enters through the window of irrelevance.M. C. Richards

Your world is made of your memories, and your memories are givento you by your world. The whispering voice of happenstance isalways in our ears. 'This is the world. This is the way things are.Look. Pay attention. Remember.'

Real Live PreacherReal Live Preacher weblog, 05-25-06

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TheGossip-millerby Cesar Pambid

Pero heto nga, both have project para i-promote kaya sige lang, naglabu-labo sila ngayon to the delight of thereaders na mahilig sa mga ganitong kaganapan.

As it is now, di pa magwawakas itong bangayan nila, until, of course, magtagumpay o pumalpak na’ng mgaproject nila.

Pustahan, when everything is settled down, mananahimik na naman sila’t ipagdaramot sa publiko ang mgaimpormasyong dapat na malaman.

For the meantime, let us enjoy this brouhaha, Diet versus Kristine.Sino kayaSa kanila’ng magwawagi sa banding huli?“Masaya na rin naman siya ngayon, di ba? Parang may inspiration na siyang iba at nakita ko naman na

mukha naman siyang happy, so happy ako,” sabi Kristine referring to the current girlfriend of Diether, RemaOstwani.

“Hindi ko ide-deny na medyo mixed emotions ako noong time na narinig ko yung decision. Nalungkot akokasi ang tagal ko ring ipinaglaban, di ba? Tapos ang tagal din naming pinilit na i-work out yung mga bagay-bagay, pero hindi lang talaga nangyari.

“Yung pinagsamahan namin ni Diet, hindi lang biro yun. Kumbaga, seryosong-seryoso ako doon. Minahal korin ng sobra si Diet. Alam ko, ganun din naman siya sa akin. Parang it didn’t work out lang talaga the way nagusto namin siyang mag-workout.

“Hindi sa nabunutan ng tinik, hindi ganun ang naramdaman ko. Siguro para sa akin, parang it’s just anotherchapter sa buhay namin. Siguro marami pa kaming kailangang ma-realize talaga. Tapos, mayroon pang itinuturosa amin si God na hindi pa namin nare-realize.

“Hindi ko pa siya nakakausap, e. Hindi ko pa siya nakakausap tungkol sa bagay na ‘yan, kasi hindi na kaminagkakausap talaga. Pero if ready na siya na makapunta sa level na yun, magiging kaibigan na naman ako sakanya, sana mabigyan niya ako ng chance na maging kaibigan... Sana bigyan niya ako ng chance na magingkaibigan niya, na magkausap naman kami regarding that.

“Kailangan talagang isipin ng mabuti kung ano ang papasukin niya, kailangan maging seryoso talaga siya.Ang sama na ng ano, e, baka may masaktan na naman. Kumbaga, para pumasok sa bagay na ganung kaser-yoso, hindi biro ‘yan, e. Hindi laro ‘yan, e, na kapag ayaw mo na, puwede mo nang iwan. So, kailangan niyatalagang maging sigurado.”

Kristine reiterated though that she’s happy for Diether’s new love life. “Yun lang ang gusto ko, more than anything else, maging masaya siya talaga. Gusto ko kung sinuman ang

pipiliin niya na papakasalan niya at makakasama niya habang buhay ay yung mahal niya talaga at yung mapa-pasaya siya at maalagaan siya,” pagwawakas pa ni Kristine.

Nagpasalamat si Diether Ocampo sa nag-comment sa presscon ng Only You na mas guwapo siya ngayon.Masaya lang daw siya at kinalimutan ang mga problema lalo na ang nangyari sa kanila ni Kristine Hermosa.

“I don’t wanna comment, she’s part of my past at ang importante sa akin is the present and the future. I’vemoved on at masayang-masaya ako sa buhay ko ngayon. Noong nakita n’yo akong aburido, hindi ko pa nakikila-la si Rima Ostwani (his girlfriend). Na-enlighten ako nang dumating siya sa buhay ko, sobrang bait niya atnaiintindihan ang trabaho ko at hindi niya ako ipinagdadamot. This is the happiest moment of my life,” deklara niDiether.

Kaya heto nga, nakikiusap ngayon si Diether kay Kristine na ‘wag nang magbigay ng advice. “I don’t needyour comment, basta wag mo na lang kaming pakialaman!”

Laos na male sexy starlet bugaw na ngayon(At baklang-bakla na kung magsalita at mag-text)

HINDI NA siguro importante na magbigay pa ng clue tungkol sa identity ng madiwarang male starlet na kamuntiknang sumikat noong kanyang kapanahunan. We don’t wonder anymore kung bakit hindi siya nabigyang-tsansang Diyos na sumikat dahil nga sobrang mapanlait pala siya.

Noong araw, maamong tupa ito kung lumapit sa mga reporter na kesyo wala raw siyang pera at kung maaaritulungan naman siya sa ganyan at ganito.

Natatandaan pa namin nang puntahan at humingi siya ng tulong sa isang editor ng isang tabloid noon nakung maari nga siya na muna ang mag-manage sa career niya. Ang probreng editor, dahil hindi naman daw niyalinya ang pagma-manage ng artista, nangakong magbibigay na lang ng financial aid at libreng publisidad upangkahit paano umandar ang kanyang career. So ganoon na nga, tinulungan niya’ng baguhang nagging alibughanaman sa banding huli. Nagpakabit-kabit ito sa mga bading hanggang sa ito pala ay ibinubugaw na noon sa mgamayamang bakla. Ayon nga sa isang reporter na lagging umaantabay kapag may dyokad siya, sobrang kuripotdaw nito na halos hindi siya mabigyan ng pamasahe pabalik kapag galling na sila sa mga dyokaran.

Anyway, laos na si aktor at kelan lang, muli itong lumabas sa eksena. Bugaw na pala ito ngayon ng mgalalaking mahilig magpatsuktsak gaya niya noong araw. Yung mga dati niyang customer noon, siya namanniyang binubugawan ng mga lalaki ngayon.

At hindi pa nahihiya, nilalapitan pa niya yung mga reporter na naging ka-close niya noong araw upang hinganng mga lalaki at babaing ibubugaw.

And take note, ubod na po siya nang malasado ngayon at madiwara pa. Laging nagtataray sa tonong parangiisipin mong bading na rin siya.

Bading na rin nga kaya ang laos ng male star-let na ito?

Detalye ng kasalangJudy Ann-Ryan A

nagkaroon ng leakageNAKUHA naming sa internet ang kuwentong ito.Na sina Judy Ann Santos at Ryan Agoncillo aysa Mayo 2 ikakasal, araw ng Sabado, sa Batan-gas (Tagaytay) and it will be associated with therelease of “George & Cecil” but not “Oh My Girl(OMG)” with Paul Cabral doing Judy Ann’s wed-ding gown, Ryan’s suit and the entourage’s for-mal wear. Manuel “Manny Boy” Santos, JudyAnn’s biological father, will be there to give thebride away.

Take note Kristine Hermosa…“Wag kang makialam sa buhay ko,‘di ko kailangan ang advice mo!”

–DIETHER OCAMPOMISMONG si Kristine Hermosa ang nagsabing sarado na ang chapter ng buhay nila ni Diether Ocampo nang ma-nullify yung kasal nilawhich was never legal from the start in the first place.

Pero lagi naman siyang nagsasalita tungkol kay Diether dahil nga panay na naman ang pai-interview niya bilang publicity ek ngkanyang upcoming tv drama sa ABS-CBN.

Kumbaga, blah blah nang blah si Kristine na hindi niya alam, natatapakan na niya si Diether Ocampo.Si Diether naman, nagre-react at nagsasalitang ‘di niya gusto ang mga sinasabi ni Kristine. Very vocal siyang akusahan ang ex na

nakikialam pa raw sa buhay niya gayung wala na sila. Kumbaga, dapat daw magtigil na sa pagsasalita si Kristine at ‘wag na silangpakialaman ng present niyang girlfriend. “I am happy with my life kaya sana tigilan na niya’ng pagsasalita,” mataray na sabi pa niDiether.

Ito naman kasi ang kagandahan o kapangitan nung may ipo-promote na project ang isang artista. project. Under normal circum-stances, wala sinoman kina Kristine at Diet ang mag-i-issue ng statement against each other. Alam naman kasi nilang wala namansilang pakinabang kung dadakdak sila.

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This was announcedyesterday by two top NPCprovincial officials – formerthree-term solon and nowEnergy Regulatory Com-mission (ERC) Chair ZenyDucut and former vice gov-ernor and now AgricultureUndersecretary ClaytonOlalia.

Dubbed as “PartnersZeny and Clay” when theyran for governor and vicegovernor, respectively, in2004, Ducut and Olaliasaid they will name theircandidates for governor,

FROM PAGE 1

NPC to field full slate...vice governor, board mem-bers, mayors, vice mayorsand councilors.

“The NPC has been aforce to reckon with notjust in Pampanga but inthe entire country. We ex-pect to do well in the up-coming 2010 elections,”said Olalia.

“We will fill all the avail-able slots for candidates,”he added.

Ducut, NPC chairmanin Pampanga, said theywill name their candidateslate this year following thenew rule imposed by theCommission on Elections

(Comelec) on filing certifi-cates of candidacies. Thepoll body set the filing ofcandidacy on Novemberthis year for the May 2010elections.

“The NPC is known forhaving reliable alternativesfor every post. We alsoadhere to loyalty,” saidDucut.

Some of the NPC stal-warts in Pampanga areformer three-term solonand now Angeles CityMayor Francis “Blueboy”Nepomuceno and two-term First District BoardMember Tars Halili.

Lawyer Joey Angeles,provincial attorney, saidGov. Enrique Garcia is notagainst government’s priva-tization move or the sale ofassets of BTPP but fearedthat once the transactionis consummated, Bataanwill be left alone in theclean-up of alleged toxicwastes that he said wouldcost millions of dollars.

“Gusto lang ni governorna makasiguro na maymagagamit na panggas-tos sa paglilinis ng toxicwastes na iniwan ng plan-ta sa operasyon nito saloob ng mahigit 20 taon,”the lawyer emphasized.

Angeles said Garciahas issued an executiveorder in 2006 yet advisingthe Power Sector Assetsand Liabilities Manage-ment Corporation(PSALM) that “the sale ofthe BTPP equipment andmachineries shall be al-lowed only after the prop-er disposal of toxic mate-rials and the safety of thepeople and the environ-ment are assured by theconcerned governmentagencies in coordinationwith non-governmental or-ganizations.”

FROM PAGE 1

Bataan wants $2.8M sale...He said that the gover-

nor issued the executiveorder after reports that asimilar 130-mgw RockwellThermal Plant in Makatihad produced a deadlypond of toxic waste con-taminated with cancer-causing polychlorinatedbiphenyls (PCBs), thecost of the proper dispos-al of which was estimatedat P400 million.

But he said that theyhave not heard fromPSALM and the reportedbuyer Rubenori, Inc. of anyaction on the requirementfrom the Bataan govern-ment. “We will stand ourground that we will notpermit any material takenout of BTPP in BarangayLuz, Limay unless the pro-ceeds from the sale isheld in escrow account toanswer for the clean-upexpenses of toxicwastes,” Angeles said.

He said that they re-ceived reports that on April20, there was a negotiat-ed procurement made infavor of Rubenori in venturewith a Japanese companyin the amount of $2.8 mil-lion.

Engr. Godofredo deGuzman, provincial envi-ronment officer, said labo-

ratory tests revealing thepresence of PCB contam-inants in the soil of theBTPP is very alarming.PCBs are said to be can-cer-causing chemicals.

“Ang mga contami-nants sa BTPP ay pinu-puno lamang ng buhanginat gravel kaya na-aabsorblamang ang PCBs sa ila-lim ng lupa at sa nakitanaming contamination,kapag lumakas ang ulanay napupunta ito sa dagatna maaaring nakakain ngisda na kung makain na-man ng mga tao ay malil-ipat ang cancer-causingchemical sa mga tao,” deGuzman said.

A group of local report-ers made a tour of the twinplants of the BTPP, one 75-mgw and the other of 150mgw-capacity that beganoperating in 1972 and1977, respectively. TheNational Power Corpora-tion, however, decided todecommission the powerplant on January 1, 2000.

Engr. Jose Manalo, of-ficer-in-charge at theplants, obligingly accom-panied the mediamen buthe politely begged off onsome queries, reasoningout that PSALM is the onein-charge of the sale.

ternational Airport Corp.(CIAC) headed by Presi-dent-CEO Victor Jose I.Luciano, SIA PresidentWilliam Tan and Cebu Pa-cific President-CEOLance Gokongwei led thegroundbreaking of the firstever MRO facility insidethe airport complex. Thehangar is part of the visionof President Arroyo ofmaking the DiosdadoMacapagal InternationalAirport (DMIA) as the pre-mier gateway of the coun-try.

With its slated opera-tions in June, SIA is look-ing for qualified applicantsto fill-up positions such asinspectors and aircraftmechanics who will over-see the repair and main-tenance of long-haul com-mercial aircrafts of theworld.

For inspectors, appli-cants must be licensed by

the Civil Aviation Authorityof the Philippines (CAAP)with valid Federal AviationAuthority (FAA) A&P Li-cense; and with five yearshands-on experience inhangar maintenance andcertification of the AirbusA320 aircraft.

For aircraft mechanics,applicants must be li-censed by the Civil Avia-tion Authority of the Phil-ippines (CAAP) with threeyears in work experiencein aircraft maintenancepreferably on the AirbusA320 aircraft.

Qualified applicantsmay submit their resumesat the CIAC Human Re-source Department atCIAC Corporate Officebuilding Clark Civil AviationComplex Clark FreeportPhilippines and look forHR officer Regiana JoyceS. Santos or send themvia email athrd@clarkairport.com.

Applicants may also

send their resumes to theGeneral Manager SIA En-gineering (Philippines)Corporation atHR_Admin@siaecph.comor siaec_recruit@singaporeair.com.sg.

The company is a jointventure between SIA En-gineering Company Ltd aleading provider of MROservices in Asia Pacificand Cebu Pacific Air amajor airline in the Philip-pines. Cebu Pacific bringsalong knowledge of the lo-cal business environmentwhile SIA Engineeringcompany, with over 50years of experience in air-craft maintenance, pro-vides management andtechnical expertise as wellas operating support fromits reputable MRO base inSingapore and its linemaintenance global net-work in Australia, HongKong, Indonesia, the Phil-ippines and the UnitedStates.

FROM PAGE 1

Singaporean firm hiring...

Rebecca Gilbert. Reportshave it that Johnny’s sur-name was taken from theperson that adopted hisfather. His original sur-name was Juniu.

He was first featured innational television duringthe remote coverage ofGMA-7’s Unang Hirit ofthe Caragan Festival. Heopened one of the threesegments of the dailymorning show with his Rand B version of MariahCarey’s/David Cook’ssong Always Be My Baby.

“I am just glad thatyoung kids are given abreak through the festivalwhile at the same time wemake people more awareof the history and heritageof Mabalacat each timewe hold Caragan festivi-

ties,” June Magbalot, co-chairman of Caragan Fes-tival, said.

Magbalot and MayorMarino Morales are cred-ited for facilitating Gilbert’sbreak when the formersought for his inclusion inthe Caragan program lastFebruary.

Gilbert was also re-cently featured in twoprimetime shows of GMA– Wish Ko Lang and Ka-puso Mo , Jessica Soho.He was subsequentlyawarded a contract by theGMA Artist Center to honeup his singing talent.

Video clips of Gilbertplaying flute and beltingout R n B hits of Rihanna,Mariah Carey and otherforeign and local artistsare also on youtube. Hisrendition of Colbie Calliat’ssong Bubbly has hit close

to 80,000 views. He isalso featured in manyblogsites on the web, in-cluding articles ingmanews.tv.

Aside from Gilbert, theCaragan Dancers werealso featured for the sec-ond straight year now inproduction and openingnumbers in the coronationnight of Binibining Pilipinas.The dancers are wards ofMagbalot in the MabalacatPerforming Arts.

The Caragan Dancersare also set to perform inthe Aliwan Festival inPasay City over the week-end. Aliwan is dubbed as“festival of all festivals” as27 dance groups from var-ious festivals all over thecountry will compete forawards in streetdancing,float design, costumesand craftsmanship.

FROM PAGE 1

Caragan fest...

THINK GREEN

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IBA, ZAMBALES - Zambaleñoculture, products and tourism areagain the focus of the annualZambales Mango Festival whichkicked off at the provincial capitolgrounds Wednesday.

Although the place wassoaked with strange summerrains, this failed to dampen theenthusiasm of thousands ofspectators and visitors alike andthe festivities aimed at promotinga showcase of friendly people,rich culture and the famous“Manggang Kinalabaw,” known allover the world as the sweetestvariety found only in Zambales.

Now on its 9th year, the festivalthis year highlights the selectionof a Mutya ng Mango Festival2009 to promote the rehabilitationof the mango industry which wasseverely damaged by last year’sTyphoon Cosme.

Mango seeds will be generat-ed by using them as voting toolsfor the Mutya candidates. To giveemphasis to the objective, 50percent of the total criteria forjudging the pageant will comefrom the number of seed votesgenerated by the contestant.

Librada Guevarra, festivalcoordinator and tourism officer,said instead of the usual votecasting and counting this time itwill be mango seeds counting.”Mas madaming buto maspanalo,” she added.

The mango seeds gatheredduring the competition will begrown into seedlings which willthen be distributed to farmers,especially those who werehardest hit by last year’s ty-phoon.

According to data from theDepartment of Agriculture, about16,000 fruit-bearing trees, manyof which were centuries old, were

Zambales celebrates 9thCarabao Mango Festival

uprooted by the onslaught ofTyphoon Cosme.

Zambales Governor Amor D.Deloso explained that he intendsto curb the culture of “BinibiningBikini” contest and instead focuson how the province will be ableto rehabilitate, promote andsustain its major industry, theglobally renowned “KinalabawMango”.

“This is a two-pronged cam-paign actually. First, for thepeople to get involved with theprovince’s efforts in the develop-ment of the mango industry andsecond, is for visitors, touristsand locals alike, to enjoy whatZambales has to offer for them,” Deloso said.

The governor added thatZambles, being a summerspectacle, is also eyeing theprospect of being tagged as the“Beach Capital” of Central Luzonand a perfect haven for summeractivities including water sports,mountain climbing and spelunkingcomplemented by the province’pristine beaches and naturaltourist spots like the multiplechambered, unexplored “SagradaFamilia Cave” in Sta.Cruz town,the 7000-ft. Mt. Tapulao whichholds in bonsai trees on a 10-hectare area at its summit, andthe world-renowned MountPinatubo of Botolan

In line with the aim of luringforeigners and local vacationers toits seashores, skim-boardingcontest and the search for the top3 local restaurants and top 3clean and green resort competi-tions will be held.

At the tailend of the festival,residents and patrons includinggovernment officials and localleaders, are expected to ink anaccord declaring Zambales as a“zone of peace and vacationcapital of Central Luzon.”