The MINDANAO CURRENT

Headlines & Front Page – January 30, 2012

2012-01-28T10:38:00.006+08:00

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FRONT PAGE

PNoy Visits CdeO and Iligan Housing

President benign S. Aquino III visited Cagayan de Oro and Iligan last week, on the birth anniversary of his mother the late President Corazon C. Aquino. Thee President paid tribute to the values espoused by his mother by traveling to the two cities and to join the various agencies involved in the shelter projects and to conduct inspections in areas that were devastated by Typhoon Sendong.

In his speech delivered in both areas, the President said that he is committed to a rehabilitation process that will help the victims get back on their feet at the soonest possible time, while also ensuring that the assistance provided to local government units will reach those who need it the most. He also emphasized that communities should be rebuilt in areas out of harm’s way.

Through the joint initiatives of the DSWD, the local government units, the National Housing Authority, and volunteers from Habitat for Humanity and Gawad Kalinga, the Aquino administration is showing its commitment not just to restoring communities stricken by disaster, or to the people who lost their livelihoods, but also to the very principle that no one should be left behind.

Here in Cagayan de Oro, the president led the inauguration of the Calaanan Relocation site, this city, which is a joint project of the Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD), National Housing Authority (NHA), city government of Cagayan de Oro (CDO), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Habitat for Humanity Philippines (HFHP).

He presented the first four (4) families who will benefit from the housing project. A model quadruplex (four housing units) was constructed at the site.

With the president was President Jejomar Binay, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon J. Soliman, Public Works and Highways Secretrary Rogelio Singson, National Defense Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo, Education Secretary Bro. Armin A. Luistro, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio B. Coloma, Jr., Mindanao Development Authority Chairperson Luwalhati R. Antonino, Presidential Adviser for Environmental Protection J.R. Nereus O. Acosta and National Housing Authority (NHA) General Manager Chito M. Cruz, Mayor Vicente Y. Emano and HFHP CEO and Managing Director Charlie Ayco.

The 12.4-hectare site targets to house 1,400 to 1,600 families left homeless by typhoon Sendong and are now staying in evacuation centers.

The government, through its national and local agencies, and HFHP are fast-tracking the construction of these houses and in developing a community that is suitable for residents.

The president reiterated the commitment of the government to provide homes to those affected by Sendong. He said the shelter build is one of the concrete steps undertaken by the government to help those displaced by Sendong to get back on their feet and live in normalcy the soonest possible time.

He said the government has provided more than Php200-million for the construction of shelters at Calaanan recognizing the victims’ need for decent homes.

He further said that the government is also focusing on the repair and rehabilitation of the infrastructures devastated by the recent tropical storm.

The President likewise expressed appreciation to all those who joined hands and immediately responded to the needs of the victims citing the national line agencies, local government units, non-government organizations, civil society organizations and the private sector.

Similarly, he saluted all the volunteers who continuously provided support to the government in the rehabilitation process.

In his speech, he assured the beneficiaries that his visit in the city, today, will not be the end of it.

“Asahan po ninyo hindi ito ang pagtatapos kung hindi umpisa lamang sa pagsasaayos ng mga buhay ninyo,” the president said.

Aquino noted that the government’s action will not surely run slow on this.

President Benigno S. Aquino III, along with Vice President Jejomar Binay and DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman, joins the volunteers in building housing units during the Shelter Build activity at the Calaanan, Barangay Canito-an in Cagayan de Oro City on Wednesday (January 25). The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Habitat for Humanity, and the local government of Cagayan de Oro City have signed a tripartite agreement for the construction of shelter units in Calaanan, Cagayan de Oro City for Sendong victims. Following the signing of the agreement, Habitat for Humanity will construct quadruplex houses in the area. There will be four families per structure. It can be recalled that a 9.4 hectare lot in Calaanan was identified as a permanent resettlement site for families displaced by Typhoon Sendong. (Photo by: Jay Morales/ Malacañang Photo Bureau/ Rolando Mailo / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO).

“I will not stand before you today to make promises but rather to start this permanent shelter project for families severely affected and displaced by the typhoon,” he said.

The president announced that he already released more than Php200 million through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) quick response fund for the construction of these shelters in the 12.4 hectares property of the city government in the area.

The amount is now transferred by the DSWD to Habitat for Humanity Philippines (HFHP) for the construction of the quadruplex designed houses, with a total of 21 square meter area for the structure in a 40 square meter lot area per family.

President Aquino further assured families that their basic needs like food will continue to be provided in order to ensure that communities will maintain to pick their pace and normalize.

Meanwhile, the President also called on the people to heed government’s warning during emergencies and likewise reminded local leaders to impose and observe safety recommendations on their area to prevent the same tragedy from happening again.

In another development, the number 40 holds various significant meanings for various spiritual and cultural traditions. Jesus fasted in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights,Buddha reached enlightenment after meditating for 40 days under the Bodhi Tree, Prophet Muhammad received his first revelations at the age of 40, and it rained for 40 days and 40 nights during the Great

Flood.

On that day that the president came back to the city, January 25, it was exactly 40 days after Sendong struck and signs of a new beginning for the survivors are taking solid shape in Barangay Lumbia.

Students form a big “HEAL CDO” made of lighted candles on top of Kagay-an Bridge in Cagayan de Oro Wednesday night, Jan. 25, 2012, to mark 40-days after storm Sendong devastated the city and nearby Iligan. Thousands of residents came to pray and light candles during the ecumenical Mass for people who died in Cagayan de Oro Wednesday night. Photo by Froilan Gallardo

Xavier University had the site blessed, a brand new neighborhood for families who have been displaced by the typhoon that destroyed wide swaths of the city. It is called Xavier Ecoville.

Five hundred families – about 2,500 people – will take up residence at Xavier Ecoville, a joint relocation and resettlement project of Xavier University and the local government of Cagayan de Oro.

The relocatees were chosen from a comprehensive list supplied by the City Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the affected barangays and the Archdiocese.

Priority has been given to families whose houses had been completely washed out and those from barangays that have been declared as no-build zones, these areas are considered as dangerously flood-prone to ever allow resettlement.

“Our mandate is to ensure a smooth and organized community transfer,” says Estrella Borja, community organizing and community development head, who went on to explain that the process involves three phases: selection, which covers profiling and orientation of the beneficiaries, and matching of houses to the beneficiaries; transfer to the temporary shelter; and lastly, transfer to the permanent shelter.

The long-term goal is to “facilitate the organization and development of an eco-friendly and sustainable village with the community participating in the process,” adds Borja.

Formation and community development programs will start as soon as the families have settled in.

The first batch of 40 families has already moved in to Phase One of Xavier Ecoville, the temporary shelter provided with help from the Philippine Red Cross, International Organization for Migration, the Philippine Army and DSWD.

The temporary shelter has water from Rio Verde and electrical supply from the Cagayan Electric Power and Light Company, Inc. (CEPALCO), restrooms including sustainable sanitation toilets, and washrooms provided by the Human Resettlement Consortium, a waste disposal system, laundry area, kitchen and a community center.

Phase 2 will be the site for the permanent houses.

A mobile school will also be provided in partnership with the Department of Education to ensure that the children can go back to school immediately even if there might not be enough classrooms yet to accommodate the new students.

Xavier University and DepEd Region 10 will plan the curriculum for emergency education using the mobile school, a bus provided by UNTV equipped with audio-visual components and a public address system, among other learning tools. Knowledge materials will come from the Knowledge Channel.

With the expected arrival of 500 families who will be building their futures at Xavier Ecoville in Lumbia, Xavier University is consequently engaged in community development to help the relocatees establish authentic relationships with their new neighbors.

The master plan of the new settlement involves support for“green” technology through provision of waste water treatment facility and promotion of solid waste management, livelihood, education, community organizing and governance.

“The project is not just about building houses,” says Fr Eric Velandria SJ, head of the partnership management committee. “The project is building a community of responsible citizens who will care for one another, for our city and for the environment.”

The president also visited Xavier Ecoville before flying back to Manila. (With reports from Apipa Bagumbaran and Jorie C. Valcorza of PIA 10)

Less Filipinos Consider Themselves Poor Says SWS

See Report Below

EDITORIAL

2012-01-28T10:36:00.002+08:00

40^th Day

The day PNoy came to the city last week was the 40th day of Sendong. Christians hold this day significant and special prayers are said for the soul that passed away 40 days before.

What makes it significant is based on some Biblical events, like the 40 days that Jesus fasted in the desert. We also have the 40days of lent and the 40 days of Easter.

Buddha was said to have reached enlightenment after meditating for 40 days under the Bodhi Tree, Prophet Muhammad received his first revelations at the age of 40, and it rained for 40 days and 40 nights during the Great Flood.

Earlier that day a Mass was said at Calacala where several lives were lost and in the evening mass and a candlelight ceremony was held at the Kagay-an Bridge.

The 40^th day of Sendong however was not just to pray for the dead but also a new beginning for communities destroyed by the flood. Xavier University had their Xavier Ecoville in Lumbia blessed and the Calaanan relocation checked by the president.

The ceremonies tell us that we should never forget the Sendong incident. We should continue to pray for the dead who are victims of neglect and inaction by our government.

We should always be reminded of it so as to remind people in government that what happened should never happen again.

We still have to see the result of the investigation that PNoy ordered in his first visit here after the incident. There were rumors that PNoy was going to serve suspension orders in his visit here last week but nothing of this sort happened.

We can no longer allow these people to run the city at the expense of the lives of the people while the sit around in their offices smoking their favorite cigarettes.

We need to pray too for the city too, that we will no longer experience such devastating catastrophes and may we be protected from the inaction of our officials.

… as it is! By Ed Montalvan

2012-01-28T10:33:00.002+08:00

Chaos, It Is!

I go around the city almost every day and I know what is happening in the streets. Somebody asked me what is worse than Worst in describing the city’s traffic. I said Chaos.

The city officials just do not care about putting order in our streets. Apparently they do not know what is happening because they do not bother to go around much. When they do they think that what is happening is more of a separate incident than common.

I challenge anyone in city hall to tell me that I am wrong on this point. In fact, the few that I talk to admit that things have gotten out of control.

I remember that when the Trisicad ordinance was discussed in the city council it was said that this will be limited to Rural Barangays. They will not be allowed in urban Barangays. There was a question on some Barangays that are classified as Rural but actually are Urban. These are Carmen, Macasandig, Nazareth, Consolacion, Puntod, Nacabalan, Lapasan and Camaman-an. The Trisicads were allowed to ferry passengers from these barangays upto their boundaries but not beyond.

Today, they are all over.

There is no rural barangays in the Cogon Market. The nearest is Camaman-an and Nazareth and yet these are all over Cogon Market.

Barangay 29 has no rural barangay near it and yet there are trisicads that travel along A. Luna Street and some even go as far as Capistrano and even enter A. Velez.

Motorellas are not allowed in C,M.Recto and A.Velez and there is not a time that we see a few of them in these areas.

Last week I took a taxi from Nazareth to the Capitol and the driver was in shorts and slippers. I asked him if drivers are no longer required to be in uniform and he said he was never required to wear one.

If one would stand along a PUJ lane and check on all the drivers he would see that 9 out of ten drivers are not in uniform and are in shorts and slippers.

Nobody seems to be following the traffic rules in the city and drivers are free to do what they want.

So is the traffic at the Worst Stage? No, it is not, because it is worse than that.

What is worse than Worst? Chaos…It Is!

Media Message By: John DeCleene

2012-01-28T10:31:00.002+08:00

Too Much Hope?

Can too much be written/thought about hope?

Last week a friend shared Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Again, can too much be written/thought about hope?

James speaks to that in James 2:14-17 “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, ’Go in peace; keep warm and well fed’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

So, someone can talk too much about hope, if, they only talk about it.

Some media accidentally focused on those grieving intensely last week during community prayer time on a bridge. It might be ok to show, but, it could have been much less, and, it should have been followed with words of hope.

It is so encouraging to see so many people helping survivors. And, it’s as encouraging to see survivors helping themselves. Some people help survivors on their own: their giving time and money to their friends and/or employees and/or church members and neighbors. Some survivors receive an added blessing when they’re paid to help build the home they’ll live in.

Going back to the hope Jesus spoke of in Matthew. Jesus said His burden is light. He has asked us to take His yoke upon ourselves. ‘Yoke’ of course, is the wooden harness that attaches the animal to the plow. There are a couple of different ways we can picture this. Maybe Jesus is the One controlling the yoke. He is directing us, and, because He is in control, it is “light,” or, bearable.

Perhaps the better way to picture it is that we are yoked together with Jesus. He then, is bearing our burden. We are walking/working side-by-side with Him, but, He is bearing the brunt of the load.

How could being a survivor the flood possibly be seen as “light?” It is hard! Is the unimaginable loss of a loved one easy? Is going back to the scene of the trauma easy? Is sorting through clothes, furniture, appliances and deciding what to toss, what to clean or what to replace easy? Of course surviving is not easy, but, with Christ along side of us, it is easier.

Another verse gives us some insight. First Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” Let’s not be tempted to give up hope.

Ang Peregrino By Eric S. Santillan

2012-01-28T10:29:00.002+08:00

Silence before Death

The past few weeks were difficult for us in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan. Friends and family died. There were lots of help that came from all over the world, but we had to soldier on right smack in the middle of Christmas and New Year and find ways to grieve and celebrate despite everything that happened.

With death all around, with people just beginning to pick up the pieces of a drowned life, I am mute. Before death, I am silent and lose my tongue. I feel presumptuous about giving comfort, audacious to say something about hope, out-of-words and grasping what I could not take hold of and grab, and put a handle to.

When I worked in the National Orthopedic Hospital, when I was asked to talk to the families of the dying and the dead, I would feel what is becoming now an eerily familiar feeling: the humility and the confrontation with presumption. And the silence. Eerie silence. I would feel like an intruder into what were supposed to be very intimate moments for families; moments of great pain and anguish, and moments of surrender.

I am silent before death, partly because of reverence, partly because of fear, but largely because I could not understand it. How do you begin to explain that flood? Who do you blame? Should you even blame? Could you create a formula for what happened hoping that if you did, another Sendong will not happen again? Death is just so much larger than me. It brings finality to a world that is temporary. It is like the clang of the judge’s hammer signaling the end of a court session and the passing of his judgment. It is like the grating of metal on metal as a prison cell is locked with you inside. I could not help but be silent before such moments. Out of reverence, like the way we unintentionally lower our voices to a mere whisper every time we are in front of the Blessed Sacrament but need to talk. Out of fear of saying the wrong things, and of bringing an added burden to an already heavy load. There is also the humility before something I could not fully understand until I face it myself. I face death, but vicariously. It was not me whose close family members died. I remain but a mere spectator.

Death breaks away from our propensity to put things into clear concepts and into understandable definitions. We think we understand it; we can even give words of comfort to friends whose family members have died, but when it happens to someone near, to someone close, the very words of comfort we have given to other people do not seem to mean anything at all.

And so as we face people whose family members have died, we do so with respect and reverence. We do not presume that we know what to say. Maybe we do not even need to say anything at all.

Bounce Pass By John Montalvan

2012-01-28T10:28:00.003+08:00

One after the Other

After the Sendong Run organized by Circle Productions last week, CDO has 2 more races to come! That is 3 consecutive races in 3 consecutive weeks!

This Sunday, PhilHealth is organizing a Run that will be implemented simultaneously in 6 cities.

Aside from CDO, Races will be conducted in Butuan, Zamboanga, Koronadal, Davao and Marawi.

Categories for the race are 3K, 5K, 10K and 17K.

I don’t know the reason why they placed a 17K instead of a 21K but I think the 17K is a good idea.

There are some runners who have been running the 10K but feel that they are not yet ready for the 21K. The 17K is a good distance for a transition to a higher category.

***

A week after the PhilHealth Run, the IBP-MisOr will then hold the IBP Run for Love on February 12.

The Run for Love will have the 3K, 5K, 10K and 21K Categories.

The 3K and 5K Categories will be having the Bar Code Timing System by R.A.C.E. while the 10K and 21K categories will be having the Timing Chip by Run Rio, Inc.

The 21K Finishers will also be receiving a very nice Finisher’s Medal when they cross the finish line.

To register for the IBP Run for Love, you may go to Juan Fuel along JR Borja Extension, the IBP Office infront of the Provincial Hospital, at Zen Travel Resources at Velez-Chavez Sts. Or at Elizaga Caltex along Velez St.

***

The Running Community in the Region seems to have their hands (or feet) full this coming days!

So what are you waiting for? Let’s all hit the road!

Socials By Sarah A. Velez

2012-01-28T10:00:00.005+08:00

Sabal Hospital Inc. Contribute P110,000.00 for Sendong Survivors

Sabal Hospital Inc. together with (Zuellig Pharma) Novartis Healthcare Philippines Inc. conducted a FREE Immunization Program against Influenza (FLU) virus. The anti FLU Vaccine is worth P600,000.00. The Sabal Family also give P110,000.00.

Below are the activities of the Sabal family leaded by Col. Sante Sabal and wife Myrna who worked in several places in MisOr to give food to the victims of the typhoon as attached.

Col. Santi and wife Myrna Sabal endorsed to the ABS-CBN foundation, Inc. Sagip Kapamilya in Mindanao the amount of P110,00.00 as donation of the Sabal family to the Sendong Survivors

Mrs. Sabal was preparing the food (Champorado and Arroz Caldo) for the Sendong victims

The actual feeding took place and Mrs. Sabal was busy distributing the “lugaw” together with some barangay Police at Carmen CdeO

Mrs. Myrna Sabal and Col. Sabal together with the Sendong victims

Champorado and Arroz Caldo were distributed by Mrs. Sabal to the Sendong victims at Licu-an near fly over with her son

The proud husband Col. Santi Sabal and wife, Myrna

Mrs. Myrna Sabal distributed relief goods to the Sendong survivors

Feeding at Balulang, Cagayan de Oro City

Macanhan, Cagayan de Oro City feeding

VISA Q & As By : Litong Roa

2012-01-28T09:57:00.003+08:00

Q: I received a Notice of Termination of Registration from the US Embassy: What does this Mean?

When visas become available for the beneficiary of an immigrant petition, he or she is notified to begin the process of immigrating to the U.S. by the Department of State - usually thru the National Visa Center (NVC) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. (Nowadays, beneficiaries can appoint an agent in the U.S. who can receive notices for them.) Once notified, the first step is for the beneficiary to pay the required immigrant visa application fees - as well as other fees if applicable. When the appropriate payments are received, the beneficiary will be instructed to submit the immigrant visa application form and supporting documents. The process varies according to the particular consular post. But for beneficiaries in the Philippines, the NVC will review the forms and documents and if found to be acceptable, will schedule the immigrant visa interview at the U.S. embassy in Manila.

Throughout this process, beneficiaries (or applicants) have one (1) year to respond to any and all communications from the NVC. What happens if a year passes by without any such response? Sec. 203(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act states in part:

“...The Secretary of State shall terminate the registration of any alien who

fails to apply for an immigrant visa within one year following notification

to the alien of the availability of such visa, but the Secretary shall reinstate

the registration of any such alien who establishes within two years following

the date of notification of the availability of such visa that such failure to

apply was due to circumstances beyond the alien’s control.”

This means that the Secretary of State has the authority to cancel the immigrant petition because of your failure to pursue it. But you have another year from the date of this Notice of Termination where you can ask for reinstatement. While the statutory standard for reinstatement seems very difficult to meet, i.e. circumstances beyond the alien’s control, sometimes explanations like not knowing then and now we have an attorney helping us, can be successful. Affidavits detailing as much of the circumstances as possible are extremely helpful. If you fail to reinstate the registration, your record of registration and the underlying immigrant petition will be destroyed.

From what you tell me, you have just received the initial Notice of Termination. You still have a chance of having your registration reinstated if you are able to show that your failure to apply for an immigrant visa was beyond your control. But you have to do this within a year from the date of the Notice of Termination. Otherwise, you start all over again.

What happens if visas retrogress? This is when visas that were available becomes unavailable again. For example, suppose that when you submitted your immigrant visa application form and supporting documents to NVC, your visa was still available. However, before NVC was able to schedule you for an interview at the US embassy in Manila, your visa became unavailable again.

This is a classic example of circumstances beyond your control, thus no termination can occur.

(Mr. Roa grew up in Cagayan de Oro City, where he obtained his legal education and training. He practices exclusively immigration law in the United States and is based in Arlington VA. (See www.roalaw.com for more details.) The content of this column is for general information only, does not create a lawyer-client relationship and is not meant to constitute a formal legal opinion. It may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, transmitted, sold, transferred or disposed of in any manner without the express written permission of Emeterio G. Roa III, who owns and retains all intellectual property rights over said contents.)

From Across the Seas By Ben Emata

2012-01-28T09:55:00.002+08:00

The Future of the Philippines

The economy of the country is quite bad and unless the present administration hit the right direction, chances are we dive to the lowest level of poverty. So many problems that have been there remained untouched and still the things that trouble us so much. All these things seem neglected because what is happening now is the excessive exercise of political bickerings, hatred and failures.

Pres. Noynoy Aquino should form a team to handle his political activities with his enemies and everyone who belongs to the opposite side of the fence. Somebody should take charge of firing oppositionists in the last elections and everyone he hates so much. This can be handled by someone not the president himself. Political bickerings are things that never end despite the passing of time. It will go one for years and no end in sight.

Pres. Aquino should focus himself on real problems of the country like the ever increasing unemployment problem, the lack of agricultural productions, the general aspect of the economy, foreign affairs like import and export of things badly needed in the country, the food, shelters, medicines and education of the people in the provinces and hinterlands areas.

It is plain politics and no other. It appears the direction of the country is going nowhere and this is precisely the reason why it does not look good for the country. People are divided and so with their loyalty. Instead of uniting people, we scatter them in different places and work for the betterment of the situation is terribly affected.

What is happening now is continuous firing of government executives who are political enemies of the present administration. Sending people to jail especially those who are identified in the side of the past regime. Running after those who belong to other political groups. Naturally, the problem of the economy and other major ones are forgotten and things go upside down.

The president should led this country with friendship, honor and integrity. He must forget politics and proceed on a direction needed by the citizens. He must not show hatred towards anyone and instead let reconciliation prevail. In this way, people will look at him as an honorable leader and deserving of honor and respect.

Why so many Filipinos are leaving the country. I wonder if our leaders and politicians ever asked themselves on this issue. Right now, people go out of the country to foreign lands to seek for works and to live there permanently. They seem to have lost their desires to live in our country. They go to places even if sometimes there are dangers in foreign lands. It is surprising. The reason is they cannot b e happy here if ever they can live with contentment.

Business News – Edited by Pip Panaguiton

2012-01-28T09:49:00.003+08:00

PHILIPPINE STOCK EXCHANGE

MARKET INFORMATION
Market Closed
As of FRI JAN 27, 2012 15:30:00 PM
PSE COMPOSITE AND SECTORAL INDICES
	VALUE	CHANGE	% CHG
PSEi	4,679.89	68.21	1.4791
All Shares	3,168.91	31.24	0.9956
Financials	1,043.56	2.51	0.2411
Industrial	7,369.34	108.22	1.4904
Holding Firms	3,721.32	3.97	0.1068
Property	1,664.41	52.98	3.2878
Services	1,728.27	42.88	2.5442
Mining & Oil	26,092.69	327.24	1.2701
MARKET ACTIVITY
Trades			22669
Volume	7,461,688,176
Value	5,929,962,937
Advances			100
Declines			61
Unchanged			49

BANKO SENTRAL NG PILIPINAS

Key Rates

27 January 2012

US$ 1.00	PhP 42.8720
Repo Rate	6.25%
Reverse Repo Rate	4.25%
Inflation Rate	4.2%(2006=100)
(Dec '11)	4.0%(2000=100)
91-day T-bill Rate	0.92%
Gold Buying/ troy oz.	US$1721.10
Silver Buying	US$33.40

Treasury Department

Reference Exchange Rate Bulletin

27 January 2012

UNITED STATES	DOLLAR	USD	42.872
JAPAN	YEN	JPY	0.5536
UNITED KINGDOM	POUND	GBP	67.2662
HONGKONG	DOLLAR	HKD	5.5275
SAUDI ARABIA	RIAL	SAR	11.4316
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES	DIRHAM	AED	11.6725
CHINA	YUAN	CNY	6.7871
KOREA	WON	KRW	0.0382
EUROPEAN MONETARY UNION	EURO	EUR	56.1795

CEB launches direct flights to Siem Reap, Cambodia with P888 seat sale

Only airline to operate flights between the Philippines and Cambodia

The Philippines’ largest national flag carrier, Cebu Pacific (PSE:CEB) will become the only airline flying direct from Manila to Siem Reap in Cambodia when it launches its flights on April 19, 2012. It will be a thrice weekly service, utilizing one of Asia’s youngest aircraft fleets.

“Adventurous backpackers usually travel by land from Ho Chi Minh or Bangkok to Siem Reap, just so they can visit Angkor Wat, part of the Angkor World Heritage site. Now, Cebu Pacific can fly them to Siem Reap on its trademark lowest fares,” said CEB VP for Marketing and Distribution Candice Iyog.

CEB will also be the only airline operating flights between the Philippines and Cambodia. According to the UNESCO World Heritage Center, Angkor is one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia. The Angkor Archaeological Park contains the remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 15th century, including the famous Temples of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and Bayon.

To launch its newest international route, CEB offers P888 seats between Manila and Siem Reap from January 27 to 29, 2012 or until seats last. These are for travel from April 19 to May 31, 2012.

Flights for CEB’s Manila - Siem Reap - Manila route are scheduled to depart Manila at 7:50pm every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, arriving in Siem Reap at 9:30pm. Return flights will leave Siem Reap at 10:30pm, and arrive in Manila at 2:10am.

CEB operates the most extensive network from the Philippines to the ASEAN region, with 12 weekly flights to Bangkok, 4 weekly flights to Brunei, daily flights to Ho Chi Minh, 4 weekly flights to Jakarta, 3 weekly flights to Kota Kinabalu, twice daily flights to Kuala Lumpur, and up to 7 daily flights to Singapore. It will commence its direct twice weekly Manila-Hanoi flights on March 17, 2012.

Meanwhile, CEB also holds a seat sale to select destinations from January 27 to 29, 2012 or until seats last, for travel from March 1 to May 31, 2012.

P288 seats are up for grabs from Manila to Cauayan or Naga, and from Cebu to Kalibo, Bacolod, Butuan, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Legazpi, Ozamiz, Pagadian, Surigao or Tacloban. The same fare is available from Davao to Zamboanga, from Cagayan de Oro to Iloilo, and from Zamboanga to Tawi-Tawi.

Passengers can also buy P488 seats from Manila to Cebu or Iloilo, and from Cebu to Clark or Puerto Princesa. P888 seats are also available from Manila to Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato, Davao, Dipolog, General Santos, Ozamiz, Pagadian, Surigao or Zamboanga.

Those traveling from Manila to Xiamen, from Clark to Bangkok, or from Kalibo to Hong Kong can also avail of P888 seats. CEB will launch Manila-Xiamen and Kalibo-Hong Kong flights on March 23, 2012. More international seats are also available for P1,088 (from Manila to Brunei, Macau or Ho Chi Minh) and P1,488 (from Manila to Bangkok or Hanoi).

For bookings and inquiries, guests can go to www.cebupacificair.com, or call the reservation hotlines (02) 7020-888 or (032) 230-8888. The latest seat sales and promos can also be found on CEB’s official Twitter and Facebook pages.

CEB currently operates 10 Airbus A319, 19 Airbus A320 and 8 ATR-72 500 aircraft. By the end of 2011, CEB will be operating a fleet of 37 aircraft – with an average age of 3.6 years – one of the most modern aircraft fleets in the world. Between 2012 and 2021, Cebu Pacific will take an additional 23 Airbus A320 and 30 Airbus A321neo aircraft.

Less People Now Consider Themselves Poor

2012-01-28T09:47:00.002+08:00

The Fourth Quarter 2011 survey of the Social Weather Survey show that less families rate themselves as Poor. It shows that 45% (estimated 9.1 million) families consider themselves as Mahirap or Poor, 7 points lower than 52% (estimated 10.4 million) in September 2011. The survey was done on the 4^th quarter of 2011 from 3 to 7, 2011.

The survey also found that 36% (estimated 7.2 million) consider themselves as Food-Poor, 5 points down from 41% (estimated 8.2 million) in the previous quarter.

In the same survey, Self-Rated Poverty fell by 19 points in Mindanao, from 57% in September 2011 to 38% in December and fell by 8 points in Balance Luzon, from 53% to 45%. It also declined by 1 point in the Visayas, from 53% to 52%.

It however rose by 8 points in Metro Manila, from 39% to 47% and fell by 13 points in rural areas, from 62% to 49, and by 2 points in urban areas, from 43% to 41%.

The Self-Rated Poverty Threshold, or the monthly budget that poor households need in home expenses in order not to consider themselves poor in general, remain sluggish for several years despite considerable inflation. This indicates that poor families have been lowering their living standards, i.e., belt-tightening.

Compared to the previous quarter, the median poverty threshold for poor households fell to P10,000 in Metro Manila, P6,000 in Balance Luzon, and P6,000 in the Visayas, while it stayed at P6,000 in Mindanao.

The SWS reported that as of December 2011, the median food-poverty threshold for poor households fell back to P5,000 in Metro Manila, P3,750 in the Visayas, while it stayed at P4,000 in Balance Luzon and P3,500 in Mindanao.

The survey was conducted using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults in Metro Manila, the Balance of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao with a sampling error margins of ±3% for national percentages, ±6% for area percentages).

The area estimates were weighted by National Statistics Office medium-population projections for 2011 to obtain the national estimates.

PNoy Hails Support of Habitat for Humanity to Sendong-stricken Communities

2012-01-28T09:45:00.003+08:00

President Benigno S. Aquino III lauded the immediate response of the Habitat for Humanity Philippines (HFHP) to the needs of the communities devastated by the recent tropical storm Sendong.

Sa nakalipas na mahigit dalawang dekada, tunay na katuwang ang Habitat for Humanity ng nangangailangan nating kababayan; kaagapay sa pagpapatayo ng mga tahanan, paaralan, at mga imprastrakturang pampamayanan, the President said during the inauguration of the Shelter Build Project at the Calaanan Resettlement Site in Barangay Canito-an, this city.

He said the project of the HFHP and the city government in partnership with national line agencies will help ensure that Cagayanons displaced by Sendong will be relocated to a much safer place.

The 12.4-hectare site is expected to house 1,400 to 1,600 homeless families staying in evacuation centers. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through its quick response fund has released more than P200-million to the HFHP for the construction of shelters.

For his part, HFHP Managing Director and CEO Charlie Ayco thanked the President, the DSWD, the National Housing Authority (NHA), and other funding organizations, both foreign and local, for their trust and confidence to HFHP in helping the city.

He also acknowledged San Miguel Corporation (SMC) who made the biggest donation to the project. The SMC has committed to build 2,500 houses in the city and 2,500 in Iligan.

With a vision that every Filipino will have a decent place to live, Ayco said the HFHP is committed to the cause “Ayos Bahay, Ayos Buhay, Ayos Bayan 2010” which aims to reduce housing deficit in 2020 and eliminate poverty housing of all villages in the country by at least 20 percent. (Apipa P. Bagumbaran/PIA-10)

UNISDR Chief Praises CDO Local Relief Operations' Response to Washi

2012-01-28T09:43:00.002+08:00

The Chief of the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) yesterday heaped praises on Cagayan de Oro’s multi-sectoral relief operations’ immediate response to aid survivors of the catastrophe.

“There have already been many natural disasters that happened in Cagayan de Oro but these were not considered as disasters because they have very little impact to the city, unlike tropical storm Washi,” said Margareta Wahlstrom, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon’s special representative on DRR.

Washi, locally named Sendong, left at least 1,257 persons dead and at least 1,100 missing, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.

For residents, only Washi and the flashflood of January 4, 2009, which according to the weather bureau was brought about by the tail-end of a cold front, are considered disasters.

No DRR plan/programme

Since the city has been naturally shielded against typhoons and storms, the city government has not seen it as of utmost importance to have a DRR plan/programme despite the fact that the Philippines approved Republic Act 10121 on May 27, 2010. The city also lacks a Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (LDRRMO).

RA 10121 or An Act Strengthening the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management System clearly states in Section 12(a) that “there shall be established an LDRRMO in every province, city and municipality, and a Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committee (BDRRMC) in every barangay which shall be responsible for setting the direction, development, implementation and coordination of disaster risk management programs within their territorial jurisdiction.”

Among the many functions of the LDRRMO is “(13) Develop, strengthen and operationalise mechanisms for partnership or networking with the private sector, CSOs, and volunteer groups.” But it is always the CSOs and the Church, led by the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro, that always engage the city government — which invitation is often left unanswered — for whatever programme and plans to protect the local environment.

As if adding salt to injury, the City Council — which is under the beck and call of the city mayor — passed City Ordinance No. 12217-2011 approving and adopting a program under the P84.716-million City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (CDRRMF) or the Calamity Fund of 2011 only on December 13, 2011 or a mere 3 days before Washi paid a call to the city.

The city’s utter lack of DRR plan/programme has been one of the many reasons environmentally-aware residents are lambasting the city government and have initiated moves for the recall of the city’s top government official.

“If only the city has a Disaster Risk Reduction plan or programme in place, the death toll could have been not that many,” said a member of the local multi-sectoral relief operations on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to the media.

UNISDR chief praises local relief operations

It is with this backdrop that the UNISDR officials arrived in the city on Wednesday afternoon.

In a briefing at the Archbishop’s House, attended by representatives of CSOs, Church, academe, government agencies and local government unit and the media, Wahlstrom pointed out that DRR plan/programme is of utmost importance in every locality.

She also praised the local multi-sectoral relief operations — co-chaired by the regional office of the Social Welfare department and Jesuit-run Xavier University — for doing all that it can and in providing the leadership in aiding the survivors.

The relief operations centre, however, sorely lack the ability to capacitate the survivors. Its data on the number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) due to the storm is incomplete.

“Capacity building is one big challenge for us and the lack of data on the exact number of IDPs (internally displaced persons), which the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro and the DSWD are trying to gather to help us in our efforts,” said Ermin Stan Pimentel, co-chair of the multi-sectoral relief operations.

Despite the challenges facing the local relief operations, the UNISDR chief was all praises for it. She also pointed out two “lessons” that can be learned from the tragedy.

Wahlstrom said that the city should install “early warning systems” to alert the city residents on an impending calamity. “More must be done to ensure early warning systems are in place and effective in an age when climate change is intensifying the impact of typhoons.”

She also stressed that educating the people on disasters and climate change and their effect is of utmost importance so “they understand the risk they run when they refuse to heed warnings and do not evacuate on time.” (Bong D. Fabe/CBCPNews)

Assistance for Sendong Survivors

2012-01-28T09:39:00.005+08:00

Representatives Rufus B. Rodriguez and Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr. filed a series of resolutions in the House of Representatives to speed up assistance for Sendong affected residents of both Cagayan de Oro and Iligan. The resolutions were intended to speed up the recovery of the residents and/or help them in their difficulties.

The first of the series of resolutions directs the government service insurance system, the social security system and the home development mutual fund (pag-ibig)to grant a one year moratorium on loan payments and contributions and to approve the immediate release of loan applications of those affected by typhoon Sendong in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan city.

The brothers likewise filed a resolution directing the insurance commissioner to order the insurance companies to pay the insurance proceeds of the insured vehicles that were damaged by typhoon Sendong even if these vehicles do not have acts of god coverage.

Resolutions werealso filed addressed to the DOH, NHA and DSWD directing them to concentrate all efforts and all available resources to Cagayan de Oro city in order to address the medical, housing needs of the people affected by typhoon Sendong and to hasten the development of the city.

Finally, a resolution was passed directing the department of public works and highways to immediately start reconstructing all the damaged and destroyed infrastructures in Cagayan de Oro City as a result of typhoon Sendong and immediately release one billion pesos from its lump sum funds to finance these reconstruction projects.

All agencies involved in the rehabilitation efforts for the survivors are hurrying up their projects to be able to normalize the lives of the people as early as possible. Psychologists have said that the earlier the lives of survivors are normalized the less traumatic will the incident be to them.

GRANT FOR COWD

2012-01-28T09:38:00.002+08:00

Speaker of the House of Representatives Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. grants P1 million to Cagayan de Oro City Water District to help finance the rehabilitation of its water supply system which was devastated during Typhoon Sendong. The fund which was channeled through the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) comes from the Speaker’s 2011 Priority Development Assistance Fund. Receiving the cheque on behalf of the COWD are GM Rachel M. Beja and BOD Chair Joel Baldelovar (rightmost). Witnessing the turnover are (L to R) LWUA Public Affairs Dept. OIC Antonio Magtibay; LWUA Chairman Rene Villa; CDO 2^nd District Representative Rufus Rodriguez.

MEDICAL AND DENTAL OUTREACH:

2012-01-28T09:33:00.006+08:00

More than 700 families affected by Typhoon Sendong in Upper Balulang, Cagayan de Oro City avail of the free dental and medical services provided by energy firm STEAG State Power Inc (SPI) and the 4ID-Philippine Army. The activity is in response to growing concerns on prevalence of common illnesses that pose serious threats to the health and wellbeing of flood victims especially those still residing at the evacuation centers.

Saving Freedom Island

2012-01-28T09:06:00.003+08:00

Signature Drive to be Launched

Cause-oriented groups will launch a signature campaign to stop the reclamation of the “Freedom Island” in Las Piñas-Parañaque City boundary, which is a home to rare species of birds and mangroves (bakawan).

In a statement, Save Freedom Island Movement (SFIM) spokesperson Glacy Macabale said their group aims to gather at least one million signatures to petition the halt of the reclamation of the 635.14 hectare (1569.465 acres) Freedom Island, the only fish-bird-and-mangrove sanctuary at the very heart of the busy Metropolitan Manila.

Aside from the ecological impact of the reclamation of that portion of the scenic Looc ng Maynila (Manila Bay), there are about 1,000 fisherfolks who will lose their livelihood because of the project.

Macabale said the bulldozing of the Freedom Island is a part of the flagship project of the local governments of Las Piñas and Parañaque, in partnership with the Philippine Reclamation Authority and All-Tech Contractor, with the latter serving as the project implementer. She also said that the reclamation was made possible through the Private-Partnership Partnership Center of the Philippines.

According to SFIM, the project implementers target to build roads, shopping and entertainment centers, business hubs and ports, schools, and other establishments in the reclaimed portion of the continuously shrinking Manila Bay.

“If the project would push through, that would be catastrophic,” Macabale said. “Based on various studies, eight (8) barangays in Paranaque and 14 barangays of Las Piñas will experience heavy flooding if strong typhoons hit the country because these cities parallel to the Freedom Island are lying in low grounds,” she explained.

Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raymond V. Palatino, church groups, and other sector groups such as small vendors, child advocacy group such as Akap-Bata, and some government officials who are opposed to the project had expressed their support to the signature campaign.

The SFIM said that if the two city governments remain stubborn in pushing the project through, they will intensify the campaign until reaches national levels. [Noel Sales Barcelona/CBCPNews]

Headlines & Front Page – January 23, 2012

2012-01-21T11:42:00.009+08:00

The No. 1 Newsweekly in
Cagayan de Oro and MisOr

No. 1 in Circulation * No. 1 in Readership

FRONT PAGE

Sendong: One Month After

After one month of typhoon Sendong, the DSWD in Region 10 has reported that they have assisted 47,238 families with 283,283 persons in Misamis Oriental which includes Cagayan de Oro City. The city is one of the hardest hit of the flooding that occurred on December 16, 2011.

Cagayan de Oro still has 24 evacuation centers and 913 families from these centers have already been transferred to the 10 Temporary Tent Shelters in various parts of the city while the permanent sites are being prepared and worked on.

There is now a total of 34.9 hectares of land that is being worked on as permanent sites. These include

Calaanan Permanent Site (9.4 hectares)

Lumbia Permanent Site (5 hectares):

Taguano, Indahag Permanent Site (8 hectares) c/o Cong. Rufus Rodriguez

Indahag Permanent Site (9 hectares) c/o City Government of Cagayan de Oro

Balulang (3.5 hectares)

When completed these lands will be able to accommodate more than 6,000 families. Records at DSWD10 show that there are 8,363 families with Totally Damaged Houses 5,564 families with

Partially Damaged Houses.

Meanwhile, Balsa Mindanao, a citizen-led mobilization for disaster response and to advocate for climate justice, reports that a month after the Sendong disaster, some survivor children are still having nightmares that they drowned themselves from the floods.

Children and grown-ups go through a stress debriefing to help them get back to no live niormal lives. Several groups have voluntered to assist in this service. Photos supplied by Balsa Mindanao

A 19-year-old man is also seen running almost daily to the site of their house that was wiped out by the flood, still searching for his missing parents. While a 61-year-old woman is now having bouts of severe depression after she lost her husband and daughter and six grandchildren who are all missing until now.

These are just some of the cases documented by Balsa Mindanao’s volunteers who conducted psycho-social therapy sessions among adult and children survivors in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan last January 14-15. The volunteers were comprised of psychologists, guidance counselors, social workers and some psychology and social work student interns coming from the different Mindanao regions.

More than 300 children were given psycho-social therapy sessions in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan Cities where activities such as group play, drawing and group-sharing were launched. There were also one-on-one sharing for those who suffer severe trauma and depression. For the adults some 170 were given psycho-social sessions in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.

To date, some of the said volunteers for are still in the Cagayan de Oro following up serious psycho-social cases including adults. It is to be recalled that a man had earlier committed suicide in an evacuation site in Cagayan de Oro City due to depression upon knowing that he could not avail of a house for rehabilitation.

Social worker and volunteer Girlie de la Cerna of the Children’s Rehabilitation Center-Southern Mindanao Region said that psycho-social problems are always expected from calamities like Sendong.

She added, however, that psycho-social problems should be seen within the whole structural context saying that wanton environmental plunder by big business ventures such as mining and plantations have caused disasters resulting to psycho-social problems.

The said psycho-social volunteers were among the more than a hundred of volunteers who rendered psycho-social and medical services for the 3rd wave of Balsa Mindanao’s Mission for Sendong survivors. Among them were nuns, pastors, religious brothers, teachers, students, nurses, and doctors and some representatives from various organizations and institutions.

Balsa Mindanao is now preparing for the 40th day of the Sendong disaster on January 25 and the 4th wave of the Sendong Mission which is the rehabilitation phase this coming February.

DSWD, on its part, said that 2,095 individuals have been debriefed by its social workers and volunteer psychologists.

In another development, Environment Groups warn of “Environmental Apocalypse” if Big Mining & Plantations are not stopped

“The tragedy of Sendong not only demonstrates government failure in climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction measures, but it is most especially the catastrophic effect of decades of export-oriented, extractive, and ecologically irresponsible laws governing use of our lands and natural resources,” says PANALIPDAN Mindanao spokesperson Sr. Stella Matutina of the Benedictine Sisters.

The group -- a network of advocates for the environment and national patrimony --- pointed out an obvious irony that while the national government has blamed illegal logging activities for forest denudation in Northern Mindanao, it continues to permit large-scale logging operations by approving six (6) Integrated Forest Management Agreements (IFMAs) that cover 53,578 hectares of forest areas in the region. Government data show that it has approved 298 Community-Based Forest Management Agreements (CBFMAs) covering 213,770 hectares with several of these CBFMAs given the go-signal to conduct logging through Resource Use Permits. “Worse, these legal logging operations have been exempted by the Aquino administration from Executive Order 23 or the total log ban.”

“The series of disasters we are witnessing today emphasizes that Mindanao’s environment has reached its threshold, a saturation point that will only bring about more destruction in communities where there are big mining, logging, mega dams, and large tracts of agribusiness plantations,” says Matutina.

“The large-scale environmental destruction is due to the large-scale extractive industries being pushed by existing government policies and programs that promote foreign investments. We are seeing an environmental apocalypse not caused by nature’s wrath but by capitalist greed and government corruption.”

PANALIPDAN Mindanao believes that the tragedies of Sendong, the Pantukan landslides, and the recent Agusan, Bukidnon and Surigao floods are clear indications that the allocation of 1/3 of Mindanao’s total land area to large-scale foreign mining, logging, and other economic enterprises are taking its toll on human lives and ecological balance.

Under the current administration, more than 730 mining agreements and permits have been awarded to multinational and transnational corporations.

The group urges the Aquino government to learn from the lessons of Sendong, Pantukan and of previous major disasters exacerbated by climate crisis. “It should now be all too clear for our policy makers that the unabated plunder of our national patrimony connects to the overall global warming and climate change problem. The confluence of national and global environmental plunder has led us to this point of destruction and deaths.”

“We press for reversal of national laws and policies that follow a development framework based on extraction, exploitation and export; imperialist plunder of the environment, aided by monopoly of landholdings and resources, and government corruption -- the three social ills that we must eliminate in order to reverse the path of destruction that we now see in our midst.”

Panalipdan vowed to continue advocating for alternative laws that safeguard people’s welfare and environment such as House Bill 4315 or the People’s Mining Bill, while it lauds the people’s victory in opposing destructive mining operations of Xstrata-SMI's copper-gold project in Tampakan, South Cotabato as shown by the recent move of DENR to deny issuance of environmental clearance for the largely Swiss-owned mining company.

Assistance for Sendong Victims...

2012-01-21T11:40:00.004+08:00

Must Meet Their Actual Needs

Reacting on the reported United Nations’ humanitarian action plan program to help thousands of victims of Typhoon Sendong in Mindanao, Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said that the victims should be given the most essential things they need to start their life anew.

According to reports, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) program, “Philippines (Mindanao) Humanitarian Action Plan 2012” purportedly aims to raise some $28 million (P1.26 billion) to help the typhoon victims.

But, the UN’s humanitarian action program for typhoon victims has a catch.

Included in the program is the intention to distribute sexual and reproductive health (RH) “Minimum Initial Service Packages” (MISPs) including RH kits.

Pabillo, who chairs the CBCP’s National Secretariat on Social Action, Justice and Peace (NASSA), said what the victims need are not the non-essentials but the basics that would help them begin again.

“Hindi ‘yun ang kailangan nila. Ang kailangan nila [ay] bahay, tubig, pagkain. Hindi essential ang ang mga bagay na iyon (Those are not what they need. What they need are homes, water, food. Those things (contraceptives) are not essential,” he stated.

The prelate disclosed his intention to verify if such are already being distributed in areas hit hard by floods such as Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City and Dumaguete City.

“Kung meron mang ipinamamahagi na ganun, aalamin natin. Sasabihan ko ang staff natin dun, (If these items are being given out, we will find out. I will instruct our staff in the affected areas),” Pabillo said.

According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) website, RH kits contain condoms, intra-uterine devices (IUD), and other contraceptives, the distribution of which is still the subject of debates in both chambers of Congress. (CBCP for Life)

EDITORIAL

2012-01-21T11:37:00.002+08:00

A Month After

The people living in evacuation centers have been there for a month now. Some of them are not to happy with their condition, not having the proper comfort of a home it is a terrible one month.

There are others however, and this is very apparent if you go around the evacuation centers, who are enjoying their stay in the centers. They are provided with clothes, water, food and there are toilets and even washing machines in the centers. In fact, one month after, assistance continue to come and they do not even have to do anything and they get every thing they want.

We are not blaming the victims. We are simply saying they have never had it so good and some of them are enjoying their stay in the ECs.

For us, this situation will complicate things further when the relief assistance will stop to come.

In the last Housing Summit held here in Cagayan de Oro it was stated that the earliest the survivors can transfer to their permanent houses will be in April and may last ‘til June. This means they will still be in the ECs or temporary tent cities for the next 3 months.

If there is already enough money donated and made available to build the houses why can’t the houses be built as fast as possible? Since these are simple structures and only about 36 square meters floor area for each unit the only problem would be the curing of cement which cannot be shortened. Nevertheless the building of the houses can still be done on a shorter period.

It is the belief of all experts that the faster the survivors are able to normalize their lives the faster for them to forget their trauma. It is better for everyone therefore to work for the normalization of the lives of people as fast as possible so that the engineering sector too can already work on the rehabilitation of infrastructure damaged by Sendong.

… as it is! By Ed Montalvan

2012-01-21T11:36:00.003+08:00

Corona’s Properties

There is an apparent difference in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Net Worth of CJ Corona and the records of the various Register of Deeds of the cities in Metro Manila. Although there is still nothing conclusive about these differences, it is apparent that these were deliberate and may lead to something conclusive.

After 1 week of the impeachment hearings there are already heavy information presented. Though they are not evidences yet it could lead to the conclusion that there were wrong doing that happened.

The SALN of CJ Coronashowed that he declared a property at La Vista in Quezon City at P3 million when it was bought for P16 million; the Bellagio penthouse in Taguig at P6.8 million acquired for P14.5 million; a unit in the Ridge, also in Taguig, at P2.3 million bought for P9 million; the Burgundy condo in Quezon city at P921,000 taken at P2.5 million; and the Columns condominium in Makati P1.2 million that was purchased for P3.5.

For me these are “smoking guns”, so to speak, and, depending on how the prosecution will handle these, it may lead to a conviction of the CJ.

I am following the proceedings closely and, up to this point, I would give the trial to the prosecution, but, the defense is doing its best to do its share and to belittle whatever gains the prosecution has attained. With all the experience of former Justice Cuevas and his being a Law Professor he tries his best to question every aspect of the hearing on technicalities.

The prosecution panel has even raised the matter to the presiding officer because Cuevas tends to lecture on everyone. Some of the members of the panel were his students and they have stood up against their former professor.

This makes the hearing very interesting and glues people to their TV sets.

What’s going to happen next?

Abangan!

Media Message By: John DeCleene

2012-01-21T11:34:00.004+08:00

Continued Media Hope for Sendong Survivors

Debriefing is certainly a new and prominent word in the media. That’s great.

People react differently to trauma. Some people freely speak about their experience. Others need a little prodding. Still others keep to themselves regardless of how many times they have been asked to share their stories. That might be ok, as long as they are processing their thoughts. The opposite may also be true. There may be some people who are quick to talk but slow to act.

Many people react to trauma as an extension of their normal personality. If they’re talkative, they talk. If they’re quiet, they might choose to remain quiet.

Some people might allow tragedy to change them. Some more talkative people may become solemn and reflective in a healthy way. Those normally quiet might see that there are many who care about them, and, choose to become more open about their struggles.

Regardless of where survivors find themselves, they have to have hope. There has been much in the news about help, but, not so much written about hope. Of course help brings hope, but, it’s not the same. The biblical definition of hope is most encouraging. 2 Corinthians 4:18 “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” We have hope in our salvation. If we trust in Christ, our salvation is not tentative, it is sure. We just haven’t reached heaven, but, it is surely ours.

There is hope for survivors of Sendong. More help is surely on the way. But that doesn’t mean there are no struggles between the hassles of life now, and, the stability of life after remodeling or relocation.

Again, there is a biblical perspective. “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18 is definitely talking about persecution because of our faith. The trials of Sendong do not compare to persecution for our faith.

Too often people experience life’s typical difficulty and blame God for testing their faith. Or, they blame Satan for attempting the discourage them, when, in fact, at times, life is just difficult some days.

No doubt the flash flood was, in part, definitely cause by the sins of some: illegal logging, illegal dredging, illegal building, and, more. Worse yet there are legal activities in all of the above, but, most definitely immoral. They are immoral because they most probably illegally obtained papers to make their illegal activity now legal – although completely immoral.

For now the survivors of Sendong have to look beyond corruption and see God’s hope. We have seen hope is clear in God’s Word. We can also see hope in the help of stranger who reached out in the darkness and grabbed a hand as it disappeared under the water. We have seen hope as those not “affected” by the flood used their savings to buy food to bring to the hungry. We have seen hope in all these ways, and, more.

Have hope. Spread hope.

The S Factor By Susan Palmes-Dennis

2012-01-21T11:30:00.004+08:00

Bad Year for Bad Boys!

2011 was a bad year for the bad guys in politics and it seems there is a carryover in 2012. Looking back North Korea’s leader is dead and the trio of the Arab leaders, Egypt Hosni Mubarak, Libya’s Mohamad Gaddafi and Tunisia’s Zine el-Abidine ben Ali, they are not only out but out in shame and humiliation. One is dead but death did not restore his dignity instead was publicly viewed with hatred. They lost their positions on account of unique circumstances; they were turned out by their own people.

In the Philippines impeachment against the Chief Justice is a wait and see event while the immediate past President Gloria Arroyo is under hospital arrest not to mention former Comelec Commissioner Ben Abalos facing charges on electoral fraud; all these three though not recall but changes in the people did not expect.

In Cagayan de Oro Mayor Vicente Emano is facing the greatest obstacle on his entire political career since he started as Municipal Mayor of Tagoloan, his hometown. I am speaking about the recall to be filed against him for loss of confidence and the administrative case pending before the office of President Noynoy Aquino.

Reports’ reaching here in US that the signature gathering is gaining momentum with people asking where they can sign and rallying behind the organizers. What are to be gathered are 25% signatures of those who actually voted in the last election. From Facebook post groups such as: Mata Na CDO, Save CDO, NO Holds Barred and other F/B account are making an impression that the campaign is overwhelming. This is something that happened so fast courtesy of Sendong . It changes the political landscape and a lesson learned that Mayor Donkoy self-styled master politician is after all a mortal. But the recall organizers should be not be complacent. Be on guard. Strategize.

Recall as you can see as a mechanisms for check and balance though seldom used is becoming popular in US is now facing a test in Cagayan de Oro setting.

The political scenarios in the world are changing, people are empowered, people changed, especially if these public officials stayed long in power and does not want to end their terms. But what is worst is when “they” (politicians) want the power to pass to the members of their family as an inheritance. History it is not so kind to tyrant politicians unless these politicians live long enough to write history.

Who would ever thought that this would ever happen to Mayor Emano and his party puppies, who would ever thought city hall occupants are facing public ridicule and the possibility that in time they will be phased out to oblivion and deleted from the pages of local history. Never mind that it is the “elitist SA CDo ang nag start sa recall” That is how it should be from the middle class like the first EDSA. The poor are just swimmers in the tide of survival. They are just pawns, they can be carried in any direction. This is judgment day.

The decision is now in the hands of Mayor Vicente Emano and company to redeem themselves or go away with the filth Sendong brought.

The baptismal of Charles Fredrick Dequina Lightle over the weekend was a success. It struck me to the core. Why? I was reminded of baptismal in the Philippines where family and friends are together to witness the event. The proud parents James and Joan Lightle were so gracious to share Charlie. The celebration of Baptism was so “Filipinized” at St Mark Catholic Church @ Huntersville, NC to the reception. The mother is a Dequina from Bayawan City, Negros Oriental.

The reception followed at Stonewater Development Clubhouse at Mt. Holly. What a way to guide the way of Charlie in life.

Sports & Leisure Edited by John Montalvan

2012-01-21T11:27:00.005+08:00

Why Join a Fun Run NOW?

Many of us were left devastated by SENDONG last December. Almost one month after this tragedy, many victims, even those not directly hit are still traumatized and stressed out. However, we must all move forward as life goes on. One way of releasing those unwanted stress and toxins from our body is through exercise. And RUNNING is a simple yet effective exercise that brings a lot of benefits. It is fun, challenging, improves your health, leads to a healthy lifestyle, raises your self esteem, lets you meet new people, lets you inspire others, EAT MORE, brings you back to nature, helps you sleep better, get over a disappointment, get to know your city or town better, EXPANDS YOUR WARDROBE, CONTROLS YOUR WEIGHT, reduces your stress, channels your compulsiveness, and lets you be part of an ongoing revolution!

This January 28, 2012, Circle Productions would like to invite everyone to "SENDONG Run-for-a-HOME" at SM CITY6:00pm. A 2K and 5K night run in which 100% of all registration fees will be donated to "Give-a-HOME" project.

Register now at La Cabana Spa, any CHAM's Convenience Stores, and SM City for only Php 200.
Let us all RUN to stay fit and relieve ourselves from SENDONG's stress and at the same time help rebuild the lives of flood victims

Socials By Sarah A. Velez

2012-01-21T11:20:00.005+08:00

Celebrating the Feast of The Black Nazarene

Hundreds of devotees carry the image of the Black Nazarene along the highway in Barangay Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City on Monday Jan. 9, 2011.

A devotee carries a small replica of the Black Nazarene. Behind him is the bigger replica of the sufferingg Jesus Christ or Black Nazarene on Monday Jan. 9, 2011.

Devotees gesture to the crowd beside the wooden replica of the Black Nazarene along the highway in Barangay Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City on Monday Jan. 9, 2011.

Vendors enjoy brisk sales selling miniature replicas of the Black Nazarene in front of the Nazareno parish church in Barangay Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City on Monday Jan. 9, 2011.

All Photos by Froilan Gallardo

From Across the Seas By Ben Emata

2012-01-21T11:04:00.006+08:00

In Excess of Politics

Many years ago during the time of Presidents Roxas, Osmena, Quirino, Magsaysay and Garcia, excessive and dirty politics were unknown. Good and qualified people ran for various positions with nothing in mind but to serve. There was no vote-buying, no dirty campaign, no personal attack and other form of violence. There was nothing but respect, peace and friendship.

The country then was one of the best in Asia in terms of prestige, economic stability, development and growth. Some Asian nations envied our country the way it was ran and managed. Of course, there were still sporadic violence and petty crimes but they never reached a frightening magnitude. Politics were exercised with utmost care and friendship for which every after an election process, people and candidates forget everything and went on cooperating. The country grew up to a surprising extent.

It was in the later years during the time of Pres. Marcos that our ways of exercising elections dwindled so much and with it went vote-buying, assassinations, ugly political campaign, private armies and so many others. After each elections, political rivals went on with their fight and they never become friends again. That was true to their supporters who carried on the fight for years until they disappear from the surface of the Earth.

Such highly irregular handling of political exercises dragged on until today and uglier scenarios appear each time there is an elections. Political vendetta became a regular habit of politician as accusations in court surface regardless if the matters had legal basis or not. Murder and all types of violence emerge every time there is political campaign and so many lives are lost in the name of politics.

This is not the kind of politics the Americans are having. Candidates after each elections become friends and forget everything that transpired during the campaign. . They never resort to violence during heated campaign. They fight on issues and matters that concern the country. Elections here are truly beautiful and a nice exercise of democratic procedure.

How we can change our habit of bad elections is the thing that everyone should think about.
We have lots of prestigious organizations like civic, religious, professionals, etc. and all these groups can suggest of things to be done to straighten our kind of democracy. We need determined citizens to introduce new innovations to change our styles of exercising freedom.

For decades, our leaders and people have exercised a false freedom. We keep on passing into our youth such an ugly and distorted method of handling elections. The wrong practice have been accepted and considered a way of life, thus taken as normal and acceptable. It has been a long time that our people are hungry of the truth and the correct things to improve our understanding of freedom. We must get away with vote-buying, dirty campaign propaganda, violence and other ugly practices.

Feature: My Faith has been Tested

2012-01-21T10:11:00.003+08:00

By Andrew Jularbal

I have long wanted to write this down but everytime I try to collect my thoughts, my eyes well up and go to a state of denial. The nightmarish scenes during the night of December 16 up to the wee hours of December 17 keep coming back and haunt me. Our desperate struggle to get out of the house through one of our windows clinging on to the walls and the clothesline while the rampaging floodwaters tried to sweep us away. Our struggle to climb up the concrete fence laced with barbed wire and our shivering long wait on top of an earth mound for the rampaging flood waters full of floating logs and other debris along the highway to subside and allow us to cross the road. I have dreamt of these scenes long before. It was déjà vu to me.

Today marks the first month anniversary of this tragic incident and my eyes well up again but I take pain and courage to finally write down what I feel.

I have always believed that God has sent angels to guide and protect me and my family. Nothing personifies that than all of you who gave us help and assistance, offered prayers, comfort and solace. Family, relatives, friends, friends of friends, co-workers – no amount of gratitude can measure up to what you did. To say the least, we are forever grateful.

I would like to specially thank Jun and Nerissa Hufana who took the risk of searching us out during the early hours of December 17 and accommodated us in their home. Ivy Tapic and her friends who tirelessly helped clean up the mud and muck and volunteered to wash our clothes at no cost. Holcim Phil. for sending staff to help us in the clean up and other relief assistance. Kazzie and the Enriquez family for immediately providing us some of our basic needs. Kazzie’s almost daily visits to check us out has goaded us to move on. The Namocatcat family, Lalai, Aiza, as well as other friends and classmates of Jamjam and Juhai, Tope and Aloha Ambe, Kim and Neng Acoba, Linda and Susan Hufana, Lando and Helen Baguinat, PBS Radyo ng Bayan family, Cagayan de Oro Press Club, Msgr. Elmer Abacahin, PILMICO, and countless others whose names I cannot immediately recall.

We have gone back to live in the house now after more than two weeks of cleaning up sleeping on the floor of our sala with all the Spartan amenities. We’re still waiting for the light and telephone service to be restored. We still fetch our water from our deep well after we changed our damaged jetmatic pump. The road leading to the house is still impassable to vehicles as it is still clogged with logs and other debris. We have put up a temporary barbed wire fence to keep off looters. Some of our appliances, furniture, beddings, and clothes are still caked in mud and still wait to be cleaned up. The ground level in our yard has now been elevated to at least 1 foot of dried mud and a huge mound of it still in our front yard, which I’m thinking of using for re-landscaping. I have to admit that my wife, Beng is far more stronger-willed than I am in coping up.

My daughters tell me reassuringly not to fret too much about the things we’ve lost as they will be eventually replaced in time. But sometimes, I cannot help but give out a sigh of regret for some of the things lost – one of our pet dogs Mongie, whom we were not able to carry back to our room due to the rampaging floodwaters, all of my reference books, my favorite novels and cds, family pictures. Miraculously, our family bible is intact with not a single page blotched with mud. I found the small statue of St. Joseph the Savior left unscathed and the picture of the Divine Mercy still left hanging in its place.

These days, I go around the house and look at what’s left and what has become of it and do a lot of reflection. At times my eyes begin to well up and ask why this had to happen. But then I see the widespread devastation and think of other victims who are in far worse condition as I do. And I say to myself I’m still lucky. We survived because God was there all the time to lead and guide us to a safer place. In those trying moments, God has tested my faith and has made it stronger than ever before.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Starts

2012-01-21T10:09:00.002+08:00

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity started last 18 January, under the theme "We will all be changed by the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ". The Week is promoted by the World Council of Churches (WCC), a worldwide fellowship of 349 Churches seeking unity, common witness and Christian service. The Catholic Church participates in this ecumenical initiative, despite not being a member of the WCC.

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is traditionally celebrated from 18 to 15 January in the northern hemisphere, and around the time of Pentecost in the southern hemisphere. It brings together Christian parishes and congregations from different confessional families all over the world, who meet and pray together in special ecumenical celebrations.

Each year ecumenical partners in a particular region are asked to prepare a basic text on a biblical theme. Then an international group with WCC-sponsored (Protestant and Orthodox) and Roman Catholic participants edits this text to ensure it is linked with the search for Christian unity.

The text is jointly published by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, and by the WCC's Commission on Faith and Order which also accompanies the entire production process of the text. The final material is sent to member Churches and Roman Catholic dioceses, which are invited to translate the text and contextualise it for their own use.

This year's theme comes from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians which promises the transformation of human life - with all its apparent dimensions of 'triumph' and 'defeat' - through the victory of Christ's resurrection. Pope Benedict XVI invited the faithful, "as individuals and in communities, to participate spiritually, and where possible practically in the Week of Prayer, to ask God for the gift of full unity among the disciples of Christ". RV/ VIS 20120117 (320)