ANL Jan-Feb 2013 Issue
E D I T O R I A L
What a way to start a new year!?
She was a pretty, promising and multi-awarded seven-year-old
first grader at the Tala Elementary School in Caloocan City, Metro-Manila. In a
swift and cruel stroke of fate, Stephanie Nicole Ella fainted right there and
then while watching fireworks outside her home in Barangay 185 [Tala] the
midnight ushering in new year 2013. A
wayward bullet pierced her skull and injured
her brain. She fought off several cardiac arrests in over a day until she
finally succumbed to death in a Quezon City hospital four o’clock of January 2.
Year
2013 is said to be most significant in that it falls on the dawning of the
first year of the Age of Aquarius which began in 22 December 2012, or a day
after the predicted end of the world the previous day, December 21 which,
incidentally, wound up the Age of Pisces characterized by 2,000 years of
opposing and conflicting ideas. Astrologers say 2013, or the Year of the Water
Snake, exudes a façade of a gentler year of wellness and healing, of forgiving,
of spirituality and universal love.
But
what a way to witness the dawning of a new age; and of a new year 2013!? Asingan NewsLine shudders at the
rapid succession of unsettling events of criminality following Nicole Ella’s
debacle. For January alone, and only in the National Capital Region [Metro-Manila]
and nearby Calabarzon area [Region 4.A], ANL
was able to record about ten major criminal offenses. This is more than two
incidents of a major crime in such a small area per week! Alongside this
record-high criminality, the country was rocked by two major tragic incidents and
two huge financial scams.
In
an ensuing press conference at the heel of this disturbing trend in
criminality, Secretary Mar Roxas of the Department of Interior and Local
Government shared to media the “deep concern” on the matter of no less than
President Noynoy Aquino. But not Secretary Edwin Lacierda, the presidential
spokesman, who seems to care less. The ever-grim, erratic and hostile Lacierda
put the blame entirely on the media who, he says, just play up all these things
and fail to see and report those crime incidents being solved.
In
what looks like a “makeover” to deflect attention away from the surge of crimes
at the onset of the year, government did some deodorizing of itself by coming out in the papers February with some literally
self-serving “big news” on the economy growing by an “stellar” 6.6%; and a survey
indicating a satisfactory rating of +50 enthralling the Philippine National
Police for its crusade against crime, a survey commissioned by no one but
itself.
For
a sweet icing on the cake, February saw P-Noy’s government ordering the release
of a prominent detainee for two years, Ericson Acosta, a song writer-poet and
political activist on reason that his arrest was illegal as was the assertion all
along of Acosta’s lawyers ever since day one of his detention. The Aquino-friendly
Supreme Court likewise ordered an indefinite TRO [temporary restraining order]
against the infamous Republic Act 10175 [Cybercrime Prevention Law] upholding
the antiquated “crime” of libel. Shame on these pretenses! Acosta’s release and
the TRO on RA 10175 were gains from sustained peoples’ protests against shenanigans of government.
Not
to be outdone, P-Noy displayed his brand of chivalry by trekking into a Maguindanao
camp of the Muslim rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front in February 11 to launch a joint
socio-economic project with the MILF dubbed “Sajahatra
Bangsamoro” [Peace Bangsamoro] with
the hope of speeding up the peace process and eventually forge a peace pact
with the bangsamoro people and end the Muslim rebellion in Mindanao.
Meanwhile,
the President and his Team P-Noy senatorial bets stole a lead over their
adversaries in the campaign trail by starting one step too early, invading
media as early as the start of the year campaigning in wild abandon way ahead
the February 12 start of campaign sorties as if no laws were to be followed.
That’s traditional politics [abbreviated “trapo”
to mean “basahan” in local lingo, or “rag”
in English] lording it over this country of vote buyers, “dagdag-bawas” [plus-minus] vote robbing scheme, “Hello, Garci!”
electoral scam, and more.
The
“merry-go-round” for the country’s midterm elections commenced February 12 with
the start of campaigning for senatorial and party-list candidates. It was a
noisy and unruly beginning with the likes of character assassination and rampant
violation of ComElec rules and regulations. And while the Liberal Party
kick-off rally at Plaza Miranda, Quiapo is about to wind up early evening
February 12, a former campaign coordinator of President Noynoy Aquino, Yassen
Ibrahim, was shot and critically wounded from two gunshots fired by an unknown
gunman while on the way home just across the road opposite the campaign rally
site.
Yes,
it’s more fun [and funds!], and danger, too, on election time in the
Philippines! editorial board
N E
W S L I N E
Election
fever heats up!
ASINGAN—“It’s
quite sober over there.., at least for now,” retorts a media worker-friend who shuttles
back and forth Manila and Asingan on weekends. He’s reacting nonchalantly to a phoned
query of this writer as to whether politics is brewing hot at home or not.
“Money talks?” this writer egged him on. “Rumors say so,” coyly said he.
“Indicators?” “Well, one of three contenders is super-rich,” he says pointedly.
“And this politician reportedly bought some votes the last time around,” he
hastens to add.
Finally,
the mayoral toss up will be among three contenders, namely: Incumbent Mayor
Heidee Chua, Incumbent Vice-Mayor Eleanor Viray, and the thorn among the two
roses, Benny Robeniol.
Asingan
had her share of dark stories of
politicking in the tradition of “gold-guns-goons” during the pre-martial law
days. Quite a fortune now in terms of peace of mind for all Asinganians that local elections here in
post-martial law era were relatively less-violent and the freedom of suffrage
generally uncompromised.
What is
fearsome though is the unfading power of the “gold” factor and the prevalent
menace called “political dynasty” ruled by rich and powerful families, or
political clans. Not a few local voters here were alleged to be still delighted
at the prospect of cashing in on the campaign period. “Well, take the cash and vote for what we want,” affirms an adult local
voter interviewed by ANL. jlsevilla
--o0o—
Pangasinan
Governor Espino on “hot seat”
Meanwhile,
at the provincial level, the political climate is somewhat notches up the
barometer. Wrangling about a province-wide
multi-billion racket in Pangasinan called “jueteng”—a numbers game—seized public attention late last year
resulting to the filing of plunder against incumbent Pangasinan governor Amado
Espino early this year by an alleged and erstwhile collector-bagman of his,
Bugallon town mayor Rodrigo Orduna. Governor Espino is alleged to be the
“jueteng lord” of the province, an accusation he vehemently denies branding it
as “politically motivated”.
Espino
is being challenged for the gubernatorial post by Alaminos City Mayor Hernani
Braganza, nephew of former president Fidel Ramos and a former cabinet secretary
of the late former president Cory Aquino. Braganza, a liberal party stalwart in
the province, prides Alaminos as a jueteng-free city of Pngasinan—one of only
two or three local government units free of jueteng’s syndicated operations.
But
Governor Espino could not as yet sit down in comfort after brushing aside the
jueteng case he is facing as “politically motivated”. A non-bailable case of
murder was filed February 12 by the NBI against
him and first district solon Jesus Celeste who, according to a witness, planned
the killing of Infanta mayor Ruperto Martinez December 15 last year. This time,
respondents Espino and Celeste brush aside the murder case as sort of “black
propaganda”. Indeed, in politics—Philippine style—there are no permanent
friends, only permanent enemies. rcdiaz
--o0o—
Asingan
town, Makati City forge “Twinning Agreement”
Going
back to Asingan, here goes what looks like a “hotcake” of a news: Asingan town forges “Sisterhood” with Makati
City!
Asingan town and the City of Makati signed January 29, 2013 an Agreement for the Establishment of a Twinning Relationship by and between the two local government units with the end in view of “strengthening
ties through exchanges in science and technology, culture and arts, tourism,
planning and urban development, commerce/trade and industry, education and
sports development, environmental protection, public health and social
services”.
Not
bad. It’s well said and, in fact, done. But in the name of fair play and
transparency, some gnawing questions demand some objective answers. Credit
grabbing at the expense of the real doer-achiever taste bad in the mouth at
this time when politicians are direly afflicted with election fever.
First,
who, by the way, is the author-sponsor of the resolution leading to the
formulation of said twinning agreement? Our research says that the resolution
was authored by no less than Atty. Roseller “Bong” Viray, sitting town
councilor of Asingan and brother-in-law of Vice-Mayor Eleanor Viray.
Second,
and most importantly, to whom shall we credit the original idea and initiative
to forge Asingan to a twinning relation with Makati? Is it the idea and
initiative of Asingan’s incumbent Chua administration? ANL’s research
points otherwise. “Wala pa si Heidee Chua sa pulitika when the original idea cropped
up and the very first step towards that relation
was initiated,” asserts a former town councilor of Asingan now living
abroad. “It is only now that it is being formalized through a resolution on the
matter sponsored by no less than Councilor Bong Viray,” clarifies the former
local official who refused to be named being friend to all three mayoralty
candidates.
Asingan NewsLine pieced up this revealing story from various
sources, thus: Years ago in a conference of the members and officers of the
Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Atty. Jejomar Binay, then Mayor of Makati
[not yet a city then], met a certain Atty. Jing Viray, then President of IBP-Pangasinan
Chapter. In a “tete-a-tete” between the two “companeros”,
the idea of forging a sister-to-sister [“twinning”] relation
by and between the municipalities of Asingan and Makati cropped up.
For
years, the idea was not realized soon as expected for reasons known only to the
two “companeros” dealing on the
matter. Then comes Councilor Bong Viray’s wake-up resolution formalizing the agreement. Better
late than never, we might say, but then we must thank all the parties concerned
including the local municipal council in whose lap landed the twinning
resolution and voted on it affirmatively. Thanks is due no less to Companeros
J. Binay and J. Viray who jointly fathered the landmark idea and the
initiative. Atty. Jing Viray, by the way, is husband to Vice-Mayor Eleanor
Villanueva-Viray and brother to Councilor Bong Viray. rdantonio
P U
N C H L I N E
Commentary: Tragic incidents,
scams and scandals
“Grandma
of all scandals!”
While the
joyful spirit of yuletide season 2012 envelopes the air and a predicted good year
in 2013 heightens hope and optimism, huge amounts of money change hands at the
august chamber of the Senate in what is seen as a scandalous multi-million peso
gift-giving spree with no less than the honorable senators themselves as
beneficiary-recipients. So-called the “upper house” of Congress of the
Philippines, the House of the Senate sits with the House of Representatives
[the “lower house” ] constituting the
legislative branch of government—a co-equal branch in tandem with the Executive
and Judicial branches leading a tripartite system of governance.
The stunning bonanza
cashing out a cool PhP100 million dragged into 2013 when Senator Miriam
Defensor-Santiago spilled the beans January 9 in a radio interview depicting Juan Ponce Enrile, the Senate
President, a virtual Santa Claus distributing on yearend some PhP1.618 million each for 18
senators as “cash gifts” and “additional budget”.
Whistleblower
Santiago, Antonio Trillanes IV and siblings Allan Peter and Pia Cayetano
received a measly amount of PhP250,000.00 each, igniting a heated wrangling and
whining by and between the “favored” and “disfavored” camps in the supposedly august
body that is the Senate of the Philippines. “It’s a grandma of all scandals!”
grumbles Santiago.
The Philippine
Daily Inquirer described as “gutter, ugly and personal” the ensuing fracas
between the two camps in its January 24 banner headline. “It was not only dirty linen being
washed in public.., but soiled panties, bras and briefs were made to dry on the clothesline as well for all the public to see,”
wrote Ramon Tulfo in his PDI column the next
day.
Before
the bickering, Santiago gave Enrile biscuits for a present on Christmas. The elderly
senator promptly returned the biscuits as he is known to have resented the lady
senator’s vote favoring the Reproductive Health Bill. Santiago was quick on the
draw as she gives back Enrile’s cash. Senator Allan Peter Cayetano broke into
the scene assailing Enrile’s actions even as Senator Panfilo Lacson comes to
the rescue for his embattled aging boss and former martial law architect-administrator,
JPE. A brickbat ensues among the “honorable” men and women of the Senate.
Asingan NewsLine won’t
dare dip a finger into a gutter of liars, cheats and hypocrites hiding behind
the walls of a supposed “august chamber” of Congress. Afterall, the chameleons
conveniently hanging on here-and-there missed the point altogether. In
defending Enrile [who grins ear-to-ear!], Lacson rationalizes that cash
changing hands at yearend in the form of “gifts” and “bonuses” is a practice
done in Congress since time immemorial. “It’s
legal and discretionary on my part,” assumes the lawyer in Enrile.
Lounging
in pompous living , lavish kickback and comfort is despicable in the midst of
40-60% of the population extremely poor and hungry. It pains more the poor
seeing the astute politicians squandering both the peoples’ vote of trust and
taxes. “Hindi sa inyo ang mga pondo na ‘yan, sa taumbayan ‘yan,
mga ungas!” retorts an angry Mang Pandoy.
A
hundred million PhP can go a long way in helping distressed areas like the
victims of typhoons “Sendong” and “Pablo”—in replacing destroyed books and
classrooms, and in providing relief goods, medical services and supplies. With
a six-year senate term, senators can in fact dish out a whooping PhP600 million
to the poor during the period. Senators were said to be earning 10% [or 20
million PhP] from their pork barrel of PhP200 million a year, or a huge “kickback”
of PhP120 million in six years per senator.
Not to
mention numerous perks, “diskarte” or
“palusot” that a highly budgeted
Congress the Filipino taxpayers had to bear. It is lamentable to note that
Congress—the Legislative Branch of government—formulates and approves the
country’s annual budget, e.g., including their own.
No
wonder Senator Santiago taunts her senate colleagues [ergo, herself too!] for being
poker-faced in squandering peoples’ money while earning that much in a
shameless and scandalous way. riabalino
--o0o—
Amalilio’s
Aman Futures amasses 12 billion-peso
fortune!
Another
one for the record is a financial scam so huge that it duped over 15,000 people
wherein a company called Aman Futures
Group owned by Manuel K. Amalilio siphoned off a whooping sum of PhP12
billion from its victims in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur; other parts of
Mindanao; and up to Cebu City in the Visayas.
This “Ponzi-type” [“pyramiding”
] business scheme of Amalilio’s Aman Futures lured so easily many investors
with an assurance of a high “return on investment” [ROI] ranging from 30-80
percent depending on the “tenure” [maturity period] and amount of the cash
invested by a client.
When
the “sailing get rough” for Aman Futures in paying its dubiously high ROIs to
investors who started filing complaints September 2012, and even before the victims
can file a “syndicated estafa” case against Aman’s owner Manuel Amalilio, company
offices closed down and the erring businessman and 38 of his cohort-personnel
were nowhere to be found. On November 14, the National Bureau of Investigation
confirmed that Amalilio had indeed flown abroad to Kota Kinabalu in neighboring
Malaysia as he was said to be a citizen of that country.
Pyramiding
scams were decades old, on-and-off capers victimizing not-so-smart local folks
right under the nose of authorities. In the case of Amalilio and his Aman
Futures, Pagadian City’s Mayor Samuel Co and his wife were implicated by
knowing victims and not a hint of early warning has been sounded off to the
innocent victims.
Another
case of corrupt government official colluding with a syndicate to amass wealth?
We’re afraid so, even as lots of tragic incidents, scams and scandals come and
go unsolved and forgotten along the “daan
na matuwid”. This case is seven [7] months running, dragging not-so-well
into year 2013 without nowhere to go but wait. The extradition effort of
government to get Amalilio back home to face his crimes was overran by yet
another major caper—the Sultanate of Sulu’s reclaiming of “North Borneo” [Sabah]
heating up into a “stand-off” early this year. But that is another story.
--o0o—
Milking
a “holy cow”?
Talking
of corrupt officials in government, let’s take a look at a recent imbroglio at the
PCSO that is alleged to be a “milking cow” and a “nest of corruption”.
Commission on Audit recently singled out the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes
Office to be at it when the betting agency lavishly spent for itself by dishing
out hundreds of millions [PhP 303 M] worth of various cash allowances, Christmas
gifts and grocery bonuses to its employees.
While
overly generous to its employees, COA says that the PCSO used the agency’s
Provident Fund for the lavish spending when this is clearly intended by law for
personnel retirement benefits. A 129-page COA Report covering PCSO’s Operation
in 2011 and released December 2012 [published only this February] describes the
expenditure as “excessive”, “irregular” and “unauthorized”.
In
auditing the fund, COA also found out that some PhP92.3 million in medical aid
to PCSO employees was wrongly charged to the Charity Fund instead of the
Operating Fund. “This is an improper disbursement of government funds and
reduced the financial aid to indigent patients who are the true beneficiaries
of the PCSO’s Charity Fund,” clarifies Mr. Wilfredo Agito, COA’s Director for
Corporate Government Sector in his letter to the PCSO Board. COA likewise found
out the PCSO board of directors to have received PhP 9.61 million unauthorized
salaries and allowances in 2011.
Moreover,
per diems for board and committee meetings and draw allowances totaling PhP 5.5 million were paid without the
necessary supporting documents saying if people actually attended such meetings
and draws,” Agito insists. “The validity, accuracy and existence of property,
plant and equipment amounting to PhP 1.32 billion could not be ascertained and
validated due to insufficient accounting and property records,” further reveals
Agito. “Cash in bank account balances under the Operating Fund with an
aggregate amount of PhP 1.37 billion was of doubtful validity,” adds Agito.
Both
COA and the PCSO are government agencies. COA likewise audits the Senate of the
Philippines albeit less stringently as a mere “certification” would
do instead of an OR [official receipt]. Yup, politicians embowel ‘em ‘ol with
piety!
--o0o—
“Lolong” is a croc, not a prop!
So
it’s February, heralding a sad sequel to a discomforting start of a new year.
On February 10, our prize catch “Lolong”—a
saltwater crocodile captured alive September 2013 in Mindanao with a Guinness
record-size of 20.4 ft. [6.12 meters] died with still unclear or definitive
reason as of this writing. Animal rights advocates surmise that “stress” due to unsuitable environment caused Lolong’s
death. This could be true as initial findings of government probers say that “pneumonia” due to stress is the
apparent cause.
“Lolong”
was a victim to an apparent insensitivity and ignorance of profit-seekers
treating the hapless reptile not as a “croc” but a “prop”; or a “pay per view” sort of “thing” with the captors quite unknowing of
its biological character and habitation needs. The giant creature was virtually
imprisoned in a tiny and totally strange and alienating environment. There goes history, and “Lolong”
likened to the local saying: “Ginto na,
naging bato pa!” [a “gem-turned-stone”].
Mang Pandoy muses: “Ang dami namang buwaya ‘dun
sa kongreso, ba’t si Lolong pa?”
--o0o—
Mine cave-in takes five more lives
At near midnight on “Ash Wednesday”, February 13, 18 miners were trapped in a
cave-in caused by landslide at the country’s largest coal mine, Semirara Mining Corporation, located on Semirara Island, Caluya town, Antique
province in the Visayas. Five of the mine workers were declared later to have
died, three barely escaped, and five missing.
This
tragic incident is the third to occur in various mining sites in the country
over the last six [6] months. Misfortunes such as this one are a part of the
work hazards mine workers have to bear. Anti-mining advocates assert that
mining is perilous to the health; it kills people in the same manner that it
kills the environment.
--o0o—
Foreign vessel sinks off Bolinao, oil spill feared
A foreign
ship sinks off Bolinao, Pangasinan at around midnight February 16 reportedly
because of engine trouble it encountered while approaching Cape Bolinao. The
ship, MV Harita Bauxite, bears the
Myanmar flag and is China-bound from Indonesia. One was reported to have died,
nine rescued by men of a passing Chinese vessel, MV Jin Cheng, and 14
others were missing, all from a 24-man crew.
Ten
days later, oil were observed floating along the seashores of ten towns in La
Union and Ilocos Sur provinces, a mid-portion of North Luzon’s Region 1 [Ilocos].
Some authorities and close observers attribute the oil presence in the area to
the sinking of MV Harita Bauxite
which is quite close and directly across Cape Bolinao where the Myanmar ship
sank.
--o0o--
Sleeping boy hit by stray bullet
An
innocent boy, John Kerth Galang, 17, was hit by a stray bullet while sleeping
at home about 3am February 19 in the same area—“Bukid Area”—of Caloocan City where seven year-old Stephanie
Nicole Ella was fatally hit also by a wayward bullet while watching revelries
at midnight welcoming new year 2013.
According
to John’s mother Marivic Galang, 49, she was roused from sleep by a gunshot and
it was then that she saw his son’s head bloodied and rushed him to a nearby Jose
Rodriguez Hospital at Barangay Tala, Caloocan where the late Nicole resides.
John was later on transferred to East Avenue for a critical operation of his
swelling head where a bullet is still lodged.
Initial
police and barangay investigation results say that a commotion and two gunshots
were heard at around the time John Kerth was seen hurt. Suspected fraternity
men were seen fleeing the area and two slugs were found in the vicinity alleged
to be that of a caliber .45 handgun.
The
east portion of Caloocan City, termed in whole as “Bukid Area”, is known to be
inhabited by a number of retired and active duty police and military personnel
making it suspect that not a few of them possess guns of their own. The prime
suspects in the fatal shooting of Nicole Ella were police and military men.
Sad
though that until now no conclusive result yet has come out and no one has yet
been held responsible for the killing of the young and promising Nicole. In the
case of John Kerth, police are still groping in the dark with not a single
credible lead. It’s even more fearsome to think that even a sleeping innocent
boy, or anyone for that matter, is safe from a blazing gun.
--o0o—
3 big drug convicts “snatched” from jail guards
In
a gangland style seen only in the movies, a “running story is on the shoot” in
Cavite province just south next to Metro-Manila midmorning of February 20 when
about 20 heavily armed men held to a halt a vehicle bearing three notorious
Chinese drug dealers and “snatched” them out from their guards at gunpoint.
The
three Chinese nationals identified by police as Li Lan Yan, alias Jackson Dy;
his wife Wang Li Na; and Li Tian Hua were abducted about 10am on a highway at
Barangay Lapidalio, Trece Martirez City, Cavite while on their way to a court
hearing for another drug-related case. The three are convicted in an earlier
case April 2009 for drug trafficking, a non-bailable case.
Arrested
in 2003, the three were alleged by police investigators to have “bought” their
freedom by paying a syndicate a whooping sum of PhP 140 million to spring them
out from captivity. Jackson Dy is believed to be one of the biggest drug lords
in the country before his arrest, amassing billion-worth of drug money, real
state, and other properties.
The
bitter pill in this spectacular heist was seen in initial progress on the case
implicating men in uniform and even an elected village chief [barangay
chairman] as culprits and/or members of the abducting group or syndicate.
The
four ill-equipped and outnumbered jail guards were a pity at the hands of their
attackers showing ineptness of higher authorities in planning and handling such
a mission of escorting big and hardened criminals and their allied syndicates.
The
power of cash and connection work—as usual—in favor of the corrupt and the criminal.
So distinctly, in the Philippines.
--o0o--
“Killer field trips!”
Killer Field Trip 1: Tanay, Rizal.
It’s
supposed to be a happy weekend for these young high school students of the Holy
Spirit Academy in Malolos, Bulacan enjoying an otherwise educational field trip
out there in chic and scenic Camp Capinpin in Tanay town, Rizal province one bright
afternoon of February 8 when this freak accident spoiled it all.
According
to witnesses’ accounts, Rio Bianca Ramirez, 14, and two of her classmates
identified only as Chelsea and Pamela were merrily taking pictures of the
camp’s surrounding while some colleagues boarded up their hired bus parked
nearby to take some rest.
Unknown
to the happy trio, the bus was moving towards them with Chelsea noticing it
first but paid not much attention as she was thinking the driver was behind the
wheel. The horrified class stood frozen as the bus pinned Rio Bianca to a
military truck, her young face crushed and her brains squeezed out of her head.
Chelsea
managed to jump out of the bus’ way leaving her friends Bianca and Pamela in
its path. Rescuers managed to pull Pamela out from the wreckage but she
succumbed to her serious injuries and died in a hospital days later.
Investigators
later said that the driver switched on the bus’ engine and air-conditioning
unit for some students wanting to rest and left the bus to fetch water for the
radiator. The driver apparently forget to pull up the bus’ handbrake. When the
improvised “object” he inserted between the wheel and the road pavement to
prevent the vehicle from moving, the bus accidentally rolled over and hit
Bianca and Pamela.
Again,
as usual, and for the nth time, various quarters including government aimlessly
whine as to what went wrong, whose fault and what to do. But these are mere
reactive potshots until the next alarm comes along and some more precious lives
wasted.
Asingan NewsLine is a bit heady on why the driver is alone with no assisting
personnel like say a “ bus conductor” or an assisting [reliever] driver?
--o0o--
Killer Field Trip 2: Tuba, Benguet.
Why
the rush to travel down the long, steep and winding Marcos highway extending
from Baguio City down to hilly La Union province before hitting the safer
plains of Pangasinan’s first town of Sison at near-midnight; and with young
college students and professors as passengers? Highly experienced professional
drivers much familiar with the terrain dare traverse the distance under
darkness.
These
are the obstacles overlooked by those who made the decision to go back home on
that fateful night of February 21 when a tourist bus bearing students and
teachers of the Marinduque State College crashed head-on with a ten-wheeler food
container truck along the highway at Badiwan Area in Tuba town, Benguet
province killing on the spot seven, two most seriously hurt, while the rest of
41 on board were less fatally injured but likewise taken to Baguio City General
Hospital and Medical Center for treatment.
One
of those most seriously hurt, student Joana Pizarra,19, became the 8th
fatality when she succumbed to her injuries and died at the hospital a week
after the crash. The other who is more fortunate than Joana, Florilyn Zulueta,
19, survived the fatal accident. The two teachers, Jenny Liza Lantoria, 29, and
Mariel Mingi, 26, were among those who perished on-the-spot. One of two drivers
and a tour guide likewise died at crash site. Others were transferred to the Philippine
Orthopedic Hospital in Quezon City for treatment of their fracture injuries.
Asingan NewsLine is again giddy on two more questions which could possibly
be pertinent in answering some evolving query: 1.Why
that far for a field trip, Marinduque to
Ilocos-Baguio City? Are there not feasible areas in between? With the distance,
is it not so expensive for provincial students and their parents? 2. Why
rent a “colurum” bus, a non-franchise vehicle? The dead and the injured deserve
no less than non-giddy answers.
--o0o--
Boracay Island Resort, October 2012.
In a rather kinky twist of events,
two hotel and restaurant management students from Arellano University in Manila
drowned one after the other October 3, 2012 in one night and at the same site
in the island-resort of Boracay in Antique province when swamped by big waves while
swimming on waters observed to be relatively huge on that particular day.
A third fatality, identified as Dabie Pedrosa,
a local tourist, who tried to rescue student Gino Socito, the first to drown
early evening, also died in his heroic try to save a life. The second student,
Matthew Yambao, was drowned later in the night in the same circumstance as
Socito’s.
This was last year, but the point
here is the fact that these students were required to attend far away and
expensive field trips with accompanying “waivers” required by schools to get
away with any responsibility whatsoever in case of accidents occurring while
the burdened student is performing such requirement.
By any account, the demise of young
and promising students in a dismally planned field trips is unconscionable. Young
lives are as precious as a good future and far weightier than money.
F E
A T U
R E
So-called “Revolution”,
February 1986: False hype!
Note Bene: This is not a revolutionary, much less a
Marxist’s point of view.
This is just a pool of ideas researched and
collated by ANL
Research Desk for reading.
A "genuine
revolution" is comprehensive, not "selective". A "genuine
revolution" is "discriminating" and/or "biased", that
is, in favor of the “underdog”—the poor who were long oppressed and violated].
The "end-result" of a "genuine revolution" does not favor
the "bureaucrats" or "trapos" [traditional politicians]; not
the big landlords or hacienderos; not the foreign monopoly capitalists or
transnational corporations [TNCs]. A "genuine revolution" abrogates
onerous agreements and dubious foreign debts.
A "genuine
revolution" foster "revolutionary justice" to the extent of
using "revolutionary force" or an "extremely justified and/or
necessary defensive--if not offensive--violent reaction" from an oppressed
populace. A "genuine revolution" frees and uplifts society from an
old and rotten socio-cultural and politico-economic system to a higher and new
and genuinely free, democratic, just & prosperous society. Genuine
democracy entails democracy for the oppressed class, not for the oppressor.
A “true revolution” is
handing power to the poor, oppressed and violated. A “true revolution “ is a
liberating experience for a whole country and not for a selected few. “True
revolution” results to a countrywide “genuine land reform” with nary a square
inch of land in exemption as did Hacienda Luisita and other vast tracts of land
owned by the rich and powerful.
A “true revolution”
entails a “genuine nationalist industrialization”, a “ free and genuinely sovereign
foreign policy, and a genuine opportunity in nurturing a Filipino socialist
perspective.
To call the upheaval on
EDSA in February 1986 a “revolution” is a fallacious term or calling. The so-called
“revolution” at EDSA is most precise and accurate to call it a "people's
uprising" that ousted a hated dictatorship resulting to a mere handing of power
to a new set of rich and powerful elite, "trapos", big business [both
local & foreign], & haciendero/comprador families comprising about a
mere one [1] percent of the country's 97
million population.
Your free, independent and
brilliant analysis could very well augment this modest collation done by ANL.
editorial board, anl
L I T E R A R Y
A. Afghan Info War
"According to our mainstream media, civilians don't exist in large
parts of the world.
There are no Iraqis
There are no Afghans
There are no Libyans
There are no Malians
There are No Syrians
There are no Pakistanis
There are no Iranians
None of these countries have
Mothers
Fathers
Sisters
Brothers
Uncles
Daughters
Sons
Aunts
Farmers
Bakers
Teachers
Bus drivers
Technicians
Dentist
Students
School children
Shop workers
There are only
Islamists
Jihadists
Militants
Terrorist
Alqaeda
Taliban
Fundamentalists
Quranists
Militia
Extremists
The military have their own terminology
Towel Heads
Sand Niggers
Etcetera…
This is how we dehumanize people we plan to rob and murder to justify it to ourselves and each other. This is how we can murder them in vast numbers and not feel the need to keep a body count and this is why we have no guilt or remorse. And yes this why we call the murderers heroes."
Via: Soldiers are not heroes. They are tools of war.
There are no Iraqis
There are no Afghans
There are no Libyans
There are no Malians
There are No Syrians
There are no Pakistanis
There are no Iranians
None of these countries have
Mothers
Fathers
Sisters
Brothers
Uncles
Daughters
Sons
Aunts
Farmers
Bakers
Teachers
Bus drivers
Technicians
Dentist
Students
School children
Shop workers
There are only
Islamists
Jihadists
Militants
Terrorist
Alqaeda
Taliban
Fundamentalists
Quranists
Militia
Extremists
The military have their own terminology
Towel Heads
Sand Niggers
Etcetera…
This is how we dehumanize people we plan to rob and murder to justify it to ourselves and each other. This is how we can murder them in vast numbers and not feel the need to keep a body count and this is why we have no guilt or remorse. And yes this why we call the murderers heroes."
Via: Soldiers are not heroes. They are tools of war.
B. Quote, Unquote
E D I T O R I
A L B
O A R D
MEMBERS: Rudy D. Antonio [Canada Correspondent]; Engr. Silver
Casilla & RN Merly Grospe-Mayo [U.S. Correspondents]; Ronilo R.
Corpuz [Vienna Correspondent]; Fely Dumaguing-Malgapo [Milan Correspondent]; Engr. Joe
L. Sevilla [Asingan Correspondent]; Col. Lalin Layos-Pascual; Ross C. Diaz; Engr. Lorie
dG. Estrada; CPA Rod A. Layco; Wena Agaton-Balino [Photo & Lay-out Artist]; Ruben “Bencio” Balino [ Editor-In-Chief].