Headlines & Front Page – February 27, 2012

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Common Effort on DRR Management Launched

Mindanao leaders and residents have committed to collaborate more closely and effectively with each other to coordinate their efforts on capacity building for disaster risk reduction (DRR), preparedness, relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction, and resettlement.

This was manifested in the “Mindanao Declaration on DRR Priorities” (MDDRRP) that they signed at the close of the Mindanao Summit on DRR and Geo-Hazard Awareness at Dynasty Court, Cagayan de Oro City held on Feb. 18-19, 2012.

The 2-day activity was organized by Senators Aquilino Pimentel III and Teofisto Giongona III, who are both from Northern Mindanao, in the aftermath of the devastation brought about by tropical storm Sendong (Wishi).

Senator Teofisto de Lara Guingona III, left and Senator Aquilino Pimentel III meet the Cagayan de Oro media during the recent “Mindanao Summit on Disaster Risk Reduction and Geo Hazard Awareness” which they organized. (Rodolfo D. Mendoza/PIA-10)

“We declare our unity, commitment, and resolve to reduce the risks of disasters in our island, finding strength in the diversity of our backgrounds as we come from different institutions, such as, the Philippine Senate, the House of Representatives, the National Government, the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), local governments at all levels, barangays, municipalities, cities, and provinces, the business sector, civil society, academe, media, and grassroots communities,” the MDDRRP reads, in part.

It also said they recognize that disasters can be natural and human-induced and, in Mindanao, include earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, landslides, extreme weather events such as droughts, typhoons, and excessive rainfall, sea level rise and storm surges, flooding, flash floods, human-induced environmental disasters, forest and other fires, and armed conflict.

Aware of the threat of climate change and that the Mindanao island will be severely affected by its impacts unless integrated adaptation-mitigation programs are implemented at the soonest time possible, they acknowledge that geo-hazards naturally exist in the Mindanao ecosystems and environment and human actions or inaction can aggravate, accelerate, or mitigate the risk of disasters arising from these geo-hazards.

They are concerned particularly that logging, mining, unsustainable agriculture, and other similar land use activities increase the vulnerability of many ecosystems and communities in the island.

They also support the peace process and urge the national government and revolutionary organizations like the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the CPP/NPA to enter into permanent peace settlements that would make widespread dislocation and displacement of large populations a thing of the past.

Recognizing that disasters and calamities inevitably impact on citizens, communities, properties and infrastructure, and as a result, threaten not only Mindanao's but the entire country's sustainable development, they noted the vulnerability of communities and localities to disasters and calamities can be addressed with proper management of the sources of risk, level of exposure, and buildup of adaptive capacity.

The MDDRRP listed eight (8) concerns that needs to be addressed the soonest time possible.

First in the list is addressing the lack of knowledge and/or inadequate communication of existing knowledge on DRR by the Mindanao residents, themselves.

As such, the signatories agreed to address this concern through scientific research, training, and information, education, and communication (IEC) interventions, using up-to-date technology and community-based approaches.

It can also be addressed by integrating DRR and geo-hazard awareness in the educational curriculum, as well, as in religious institutions and production of child-friendly IEC materials and information based on local best practices, which should be popularized and translated into the local dialect.

Second in the list is the emergency preparedness and response which can be addressed through the conduct of regular disaster drills, simplifying disaster response protocols and organizing effective psycho-social interventions to help affected persons and families to cope and adapt to any disaster or calamity situation.

The other concerns in the list are the Implementation of DRR Management Plans aimed at zero-casualty and minimal economic damage at the regional, provincial, city, municipal and barangay levels;

Strict implementation and immediate enforcement of laws on environment, natural resources and land-use, including prohibiting of mining and logging in disaster-prone/ vulnerable areas by the national government and the local government units (LGU’s);

Establishment of a river basin management with an ecosystem-based approach to be implemented in managing areas from ridge to reef and massive reforestation of mangrove forests, through planting of native species to promote biodiversity and sustainability;

Passage of pending bills, such as, the People’s Survival Fund, People’s Solidarity Fund, the Land Use Act, and laws that will establish a permanent, independent DRRM agency and promote inter-LGU cooperation in DRR and climate change adaptation (CCA);

Setting up the appropriate institutional mechanisms for DRR Management implementation, including institutionalizing incident command systems and an LGU rating system for disaster response and accountability, and adequate early warning systems at all levels;

Designing and implementing innovative capacity building, resource mobilization strategies and mechanisms, including monitoring progress to implement these DRR priorities.

The MDDRRP was adopted by consensus as an output of the Mindanao Summit on DRR and Geo-Hazard Awareness last Feb. 18-19, in Cagayan de Oro City, organized by the two (2) Senators from Northern Mindanao, namely: Aquilino Pimentel III and Teofilo Guingona III.

The activity was attended by more than 1,000, leaders from the business sector, civil society, academe, media, and grassroots communities, as well, as the chief executives of provincial and municipal LGU’s from the six (6) regions of Mindanao, who all agreed to unite, commit, and resolve to reduce the risks of disasters in the island. (Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob/PIA-10)

RPOC 10 Moves to Sustain Normin’s Lead

The Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) 10 convened last week with more vigor after Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar S. Moreno ws officially sworn in as its new chairperson, following the appointment issued recently by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse M. Robredo.

For more than a year the RPOC 10 had no chair and under the law its chairmanship has to be appointed by the DILG with the approval of the president and consent of the partner Non Government Organizations as well as from the private sector.

In his message after being sworn, Moreno egged on RPOC members to take the challenge of orchestrating the region’s peace and order plan in order to sustain its status as the leading economy in Mindanao.

Nelieta Q. Noval, Municipal Mayor of Tubod Lanao Del Norte, officially sworn in Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar Moreno as the new Chair for the Regional Peace and Order Council 10 (RPOC 10) following the appointment issued by the DILG. (Rodolfo D. Mendoza/PIA-10)

“While we occupy the position of leadership, it may slip away,” he said, adding that the typhoon Sendong mishap has also affected the region’s economy. “Other regions are fast picking up, we are well positioned but certainly Sendong will take its toll on the whole region and the challenge now, is how do we make up for it - we need to do more, to be able to attract investors, we need to have a commendable peace and order condition, that is the only way we help in making them stay, invest more, as well as attract other player to come in.”

Moreno further cited the “Lantad Peace- Building Experience: Turning Red to Green in Misamis Oriental”, which bagged the Galing Pook Award last year.

He spelled Misamis Oriental Provincial Peace and Order Council’s (PPOC's) innovations and learning's in attaining such and proposes to the RPOC body to attempt in replicating it and likewise requested the DILG to appoint two vice-chairpersons, one from the uniformed and non-uniformed members.

For the uniformed sector the Philippine National Police 10 (PNP) chief automatically takes the place, while the council proposed Bukidnon Governor Alex Calingasan to represent the non-uniformed sector.

The governor has also underscored the importance in engaging the public and private sector in RPOC. (Jorie C. Valcorza/PIA-10)

EDITORIAL

Slow Trial

The Pace of the Impeachment Trial of CJ Corona has slowed down in pace. It is not the fault of just one side but of all.

On the defense side there are just too many interruptions on questions of technicality that, for the ordinary mind, is just too much and unnecessary.

If this is a political exercise then there should be less of the judicial process and facts should just be allowed to come out. This cannot be claimed as in violation of the rights of the accuse because from the very start this was already known to all sides.

The court and the prosecutors have shown a lot of respect for former Justice Cuevas who is the Chief Defense Council and this seems to have gotten to his head and he has taken advantage of the situation. The Senate President, as presiding officer, should exercise more authority over him.

On the side of the court, there are just too many unnecessary questions that are already irrelevant to the issues at hand and it is very clear that the senators asking the questions are just grandstanding.

The prosecutors are perceived to be unprepared but some claim that this is part of their strategy to have the image of an “underdog.” Whether they are prepared or not, they should assert their stand by objection to all the objections raised by the defense so that the proceedings will be speeded up.

In short, the people are bored with the proceedings because of its very slow pace. We are just afraid that if this will go on the people may just decide to hold another “People Power” against the CJ and, judging the way he has been behaving recently, may hold his own. This may end up to be violent.

Heaven Forbid!

We therefore call on the senate to be aware of this situation, that they may be able to speed up the trial so that the country can go back to its normal life.

From the Vatican

Lent, a Time to Shoulder our Christian Responsibilities

During one of his general audience, the Holy Father dedicated his catechesis to the subject of Lent (which began last week, Ash Wednesday), the period of forty days leading up to the Easter Triduum, memorial of the passion, death and resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Benedict XVI reminded the 7,500 pilgrims gathered in the Paul VI Hall that, in the early days of the Church, Lent was a time in which catechumens began their journey of faith and conversion prior to receiving Baptism. Later, all the faithful were invited to participate in this period of spiritual renewal. Thus "the participation of the whole community in the various stages of the Lenten journey underlines an important dimension of Christian spirituality: the fact that redemption is available not just for the few, but for everyone, thanks to Christ's death and resurrection".

"The time leading up to Easter is a time of 'metanoia', a time of change and penance, a time which identifies our human lives and our entire history as a process of conversion, which begins to move now in order to meet the Lord at the end of time".

The Church calls this period "Quadragesima", a period of forty days which has precise references in Holy Scripture. Indeed, "forty is the symbolic number with which the Old and New Testaments represent the most important moments of the People of God's experience of faith. It is a figure which expresses a time of expectation, purification, return to the Lord, awareness that God is faithful to His promises; ... a time within which we must make our choice, shoulder our responsibilities without further delay. It is a time for mature decisions".

Noah spent forty days in the Ark during the Flood, then had to wait forty days more before he could return to dry land. Moses spent forty days on Mount Sinai to collect the Commandments. The Jewish People spent forty years wandering in the desert, then enjoyed forty years of peace under the government of the Judges. The inhabitants of Niniveh made forty days penance to obtain God's forgiveness. The reigns of Saul, David and Solomon, the first kings of Israel, lasted forty years each. In the New Testament, Jesus spent forty days praying in the wilderness before beginning His public life and, following the resurrection, He spent forty days instructing His disciples before ascending to heaven.

The liturgy of Lent, the Pope explained, "has the aim of facilitating our journey of spiritual renewal in the light of this long biblical experience. Above all, it helps us to imitate Jesus Who, in the forty days He spent in the wilderness, taught us to overcome temptation through the Word of God. ... Jesus went into the wilderness in order to be in profound contact with the Father. This was a constant aspect of Christ's earthly life. He always sought out moments of solitude to pray to His Father and abide in intimate and exclusive communion with Him, before retuning among mankind. But in the 'wilderness' ... Jesus was beset by temptation and the seduction of the Evil One, who suggested a messianic path, a path which was far from God's plans because it involved power, success and dominion, not love and the total gift of self on the Cross".

Benedict XVI went on to suggest that the Church herself is a pilgrim in the "wilderness" of the world and history. This wilderness is made up of "the aridity and poverty of words, life and values, of secularism and the culture of materialism which enclose people within a worldly horizon and detach them from any reference to transcendence. In such an atmosphere the sky above us is dark, because veiled with clouds of selfishness, misunderstanding and deceit. Nonetheless, even for the Church today, the wilderness can become a period of grace, because we have the certainty that even from the hardest rock God can cause the living water to gush forth, water which quenches thirst and restores strength".

"During Lent", said the Holy Father in conclusion, "may we discover fresh courage to accept situations of difficulty, affliction and suffering with patience and faith, aware that, from the darkness, the Lord will cause a new day to shine forth. And if we have been faithful to Jesus, following Him on the way of the Cross, the luminous world of God, the world of light, truth and joy, will be ours again".

At the end of the catechesis Benedict XVI greeted pilgrims in various languages. Speaking Polish he highlighted how "fasting and prayer, penance and works of mercy" are the principal means of preparation for Easter.

The Pope also addressed a special greeting to faithful of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, who were present in the Paul VI Hall. The ordinariate was set up a little over a year ago for groups of Anglican clergy and faithful wishing to enter into full visible communion with the Catholic Church. The general audience ended with the apostolic blessing.

… as it is! By Ed Montalvan

Pick Pocket

I was in Manila last week to attend a wedding in the family. I have not been there for about a year now.

We are not too far behind in traffic problems compared to the metropolis but, at least, we see authorities doing something about the situation. Here, our problems are caused more by the authorities and city officials.

I live in Quezon City whenever I am there in Metro Manila. Since I needed to go to the Malate/Ermita area, I decided to take the MRT/LRT to speed up travel.

I also love to walk from one place to the other and enjoy the site of the metropolis, the stores and the street vendors.

On the way back to Quezon City, I realized that I did not have enough change for my fare so I brought out my wallet and the smallest bill I had was P50. So I took that out and got me a ticket to Shaw Blvd., thinking that I would take a Taxi from there to QC.

When I got to Shaw, I thought I would have to have my big bills changed so that the taxi driver will not complain. When I touched my pocket my wallet was already gone. It was picked at the MRT.

This is Metro Manila!

We may not have this much petty crimes here in Cagayan de Oro but, I am afraid, like our traffic woes, we are not too far behind Metro Manila.

For years I have been hearing of stories from people who take the PUJ from Gaisano or UCCP to Kauswagan or Bulua or even beyond. When the vehicle reaches the not so busy portions of the highway, 2 or 3 of the male passengers, who have already positioned themselves, will declare a hold-up and would divest the passengers of their belongings. The driver simply ignores the situation and continues to drive and would simply express ignorance and fear of what took place.

This has remained unsolved and continues to go on.

Going back to my picked wallet, I did not lose much except for my Driver’s License, Credit Cards and ATM Cards and the trouble of having to go through the process of getting a replacement for them.

I just hope we do not catch up with Metro Manila in this regard.

Media Message By: John DeCleene

Media and Leap Year

Certainly special! We know one couple choosing to get married this February 29th! Probably one of the few ways to make a once-in-a-life-time occasion even more special!

Haven’t heard much about ‘Leap Year’ in the local media yet.

For some history: “Leap Years are needed to keep our calendar in alignment with the Earth's revolutions around the sun. It takes the Earth approximately 365.242199 days (a tropical year) to circle once around the Sun. If we didn't add a day on February 29 nearly every 4 years, we would lose almost six hours every year. After only 100 years, our calendar would be off by approximately 24 days!” (http://www.timeanddate.com/date/leap-day.html)

Off hand, can you explain the difference between “leap year” and “leap day?” “Leap Day’ is February 29, which is an extra (intercalary) day added during a Leap Year, making the year 366 days long – and not 365 days, like a common (normal) year.” (same site as above).

Another interesting fact is: “Hundreds of years ago the leap year day had no recognition in English law. The day was 'leapt over' and ignored, hence the term 'leap year'.” (http://www.projectbritain.com/year/leapyear.htm).

There are some interesting tid-bits about the month of February itself. “February was also known to the Saxons as 'sprout-kale' from the sprouting of cabbage or kale. Having only 28 days in non-leap years, February was known in Welsh as 'y mis bach' - the little month. In Shakespeare's time about 400 years ago, the second month of the year was called 'Feverell'. In Isaac Newton's time one hundred years later it had become 'Februeer'. The modern name, February, is only about a hundred years old. The whole idea of leap day and leap year brings to mind Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” Maybe we could even use the extra day ‘as unto the Lord.’

The article began by mentioning that one couple chose the 29th to get married. Maybe we could plan a service project for our church and/or community. Or, it would be the perfect day to spend extra time with family!

Again, according to Proverbs, we might make plans, but God might change them, and, that’s ok! It’s not wrong to make plans. We just need to be flexible.

Some people actually think we shouldn’t make plans because of what Jesus said in Luke 12:19-20 “And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’”

This exhortation is not against planning, rather, it is against thinking we are in control of our own destiny. Again, we make our plans, but, we stay open for any variations God may have for us.

So, make some special plans for leap day, according to God’s will! A great idea for any day!

Ang Peregrino By Eric S. Santillan

A Crisis of Leadership

A few years ago, the President of the Philippines was impeached. It was a difficult time. And while the president that came after him was not impeached, she went down in infamy, and the office of the President was never the same again. The underlying question at the time was: if you cannot trust your President, the highest elected position in the land, who can you trust?

The answer--at that time--was the man who presided over the proceedings. Chief Justice Hilario Davide comported himself with so much dignity and integrity that you wouldn't think of questioning any of his questions, moves, decisions.

And then this happens. The man who is supposed to preside over impeachment proceedings is the one being impeached himself. Are the days of the Davides, Fernans, V. Mapas, J Abad Santoses long dead?

I hope not. But our country is in dire straits. If you cannot trust the President, and the Chief Justice, who is left to trust?

Bill George, author of “True North”, talks about lessons for leaders during crisis times. Think of this as what is expected of leaders when leadership itself is in crises. Those of us from Cagayan de Oro can also relate with this well because we are also going through a crisis of leadership there. I have chosen five of George's lessons for us to think about:

Lesson 1: Leaders must face reality. Reality starts with the person in charge. Leaders need to look themselves in the mirror and recognize their role in creating the problems. Then they should gather their teams together and gain agreement about the root causes. Recognition of reality--and telling the whole truth--is the first step before problems can be solved. Leaders can’t solve problems if they don’t acknowledge their existence.

Lesson 2: No matter how bad things are, they will only get worse. Faced with bad news, many leaders cannot believe that things could really be so bad and they try to convince media that things aren’t so bad, and swift action can make problems go away. Because of this, corrective actions undershoot their mark. Leaders must anticipate the worst case scenario and base their actions on these. That way, they're also prepared for the healthy turnaround when it happens.

Lesson 3: Get the world off your shoulders. In a crisis, many leaders act like Atlas, carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders. They go into isolation, and think they can solve the problem by themselves. In reality, leaders must have the help of everyone to devise solutions and to implement them. This means bringing people together, empowering them, and gaining their commitment to painful corrective actions.

Lesson 4: Before asking others to sacrifice, first volunteer yourself. If there are sacrifices to be made – and there will be – then the leaders should step up and make the greatest sacrifices themselves. Everyone is watching to see what the leaders do. Will they stay true to their values? Will they bow to external pressures, or confront the crisis in a straight-forward manner?

Lesson 5: Never waste a good crisis. When things are going well, people resist major changes or just try to get by. In fact a crisis provides the leader with the platform to get things done that were required anyway and offers the sense of urgency to accelerate their implementation.

To be sure, these are hard lessons to learn, but they're critical if we're to get out of this crisis of leadership we are in right now.

Bounce Pass By John Montalvan

Fr. Calvin Poulin, SJ

Last week, Fr. Calvin Poulin, SJ passed away.

For those who frequent the masses at the Xavier University Chapel, Fr. Cal is quite popular being the University Chaplain.

For the Sports Community, Fr. Cal has always been a silent supporter.

When I was with the Xavier University Athletics Office, we would always invite Fr. Cal to our events. Usually, he would give the invocation in programs and sometimes, we also ask him to give inspirational speeches to the Athletes.

I would always remember Fr. Cal as someone who always enjoyed watching sporting events. He is a frequent watcher of the Varsity Games and would even sit near the team bench and would cheer the players as they play.

Whenever there are games at the Xavier Football Field, whether it would be Inter-School, the Intramurals or the Barkadahan games, Fr. Cal would always step out of his office at the Chapel to watch the games.

One of my high school and college batch mates even shared that while he played 1^st base in a baseball game, Fr. Cal would sit near the first base and would even shout cheers and pointers at him.

In his speeches, he would always share the memories he had of the old basketball scene in Cagayan de Oro. He would share how the likes of Botikol Orquesa, Cito Neri and even Jojo Lastimosa wowed the crowd with their deadly basketball talents.

Fr. Cal would really be missed. He has touched a lot of lives in Cagayan de Oro and seeing him go really brought a sad note in each heart that he has touched.

Rest in Peace Fr. Cal! Thanks for all the Cheers!

Sports & Leisure Edited by John Montalvan

“Best Hope for Olympic Gold”

PH Boxers should Train Abroad

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III stressed that overseas exposure for Filipino boxers would raise their competitive form and boost the country’s medal chances in this sport when the Summer Olympics get underway in London later this year.

Pimentel, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth and Sports, picked the boxers as the Philippines’ “most realistic and best hope” in its bid to win its first-ever gold medal in the quadrennial games.

“Filipino boxers should fight in top-caliber competitions overseas as part of the Philippines’ Olympic preparation,” Pimentel said.

“If our goal is to win the elusive gold medal, our boxers should get the training that is absolutely necessary to bolster their chances of meeting our people’s collective aspiration,” the senator said.

Pimentel encouraged the country’s top sports leaders to “start talking less and doing more away from the glare of publicity” by accelerating the athletes’ preparations for the London Games.

“Raise the bar of excellence, because the world’s athletic standards are constantly getting better,” Pimentel said.

“I believe in the indomitable will of our boxers to win this elusive honor. But we should give them the right exposure to polish their fighting form,” he said.

Two scrappy Filipino boxers who campaigned a generation apart came closest to bringing home an Olympic gold medal.

Featherweight Anthony Villanueva narrowly lost on points to his Russian rival in the gold-medal match of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, and flyweight Manuel “Onyok” Velasco dropped a heartbreaking loss in the division’s gold-medal bout of the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Some ring experts and boxing pundits believed that both Filipinos appeared to have won their controversial fights.

For the London Games, only light flyweight Mark Anthony Barriga has qualified for the tough Olympic elimination matches after his stint in the World Championships last year in Azerbaijan.

Also gunning for Olympic slots in the men’s side are eight other boxers in five weight categories—Rey Saludar (flyweight), Charley Suarez (lightweight), Joejin Ladon and Junel Cantancio (bantamweight), Orlando Tacuyan and Dennis Galvan (light welterweight) and Nathaniel Montealto and Wilfredo Lopez (welterweight).

Campaigning in the women’s side are Kate Aparri, Josie Gabucco and Nesthy Petecio (light flyweight) and Janice Banares and Rica Aquino (lightweight). All boxers are scheduled to leave next month for overseas competitions.

Pimentel, meanwhile, lauded businessman Manny Pangilinan of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company and Smart Communications for taking the lead in extending support to the country’s Olympic campaign.

The senator encouraged other sports patrons to help bankroll the financial needs of Filipino athletes in track and field, taekwondo, archery, shooting, swimming and weightlifting, among others.

Pimentel also appealed to officials of the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission to “get their act together for the sake of our athletes” and seek the cooperation of the heads of various national sports associations.

“The sports pages are a testament to bickering and protection of turf. It’s time to show strength of character and dignity. Let’s be united and become a shinning example of courage and commitment to all,” Pimentel said.

Pimentel said Filipino athletes could overcome adversity and challenges if their sports leaders are “united in purpose, in spirit and in the mission to give the country its first gold medal.”

“They should be all in it together. It should be a team and a country. That’s the way sports should be,” Pimentel said.

The Philippines first entered Olympic competition in 1924 in Paris Games and has, in 88 years, won two silver and seven bronze medals in 20 Olympic Games.

Filipino boxers have won the most Olympic medals with five, including two silver medals.

Socials By Sarah A. Velez

Soroptimist International of Cagayan de Oro

It is my great appreciation to Soroptimist lawyer Minda Siapno for the attached pictures for the club’s recent social activities and recent formal gathering to fulfill its promise to lend homes for the homeless. Thank you again.

Former Executives and personnel of the GSIS Cagayan de Oro Branch Office led by its President Atty. Roberto Mabulay, Atty. Visminda V. Siapno and Mr. Alfredo Cabe during a reunion and Christmas party.

Soroptimists of Cagayan de Oro visited the Sacred Heart Church at R.N. Pelaez Blvd., Carmen-Kauswagan Cagayan de Oro Evacution Center for relief assistance to evacuees

Soroptimist International of Cagayan de Oro current officers led by Club President Dandan Raagas and Director Trinidad Go, District Director for Northeastern Mindanao