Mabuhay Issue No 32

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PPI Community Press Awards •Best Edited Weekly 2003 and 2007

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•Best in Photojournalism 1998 and 2005

Printing is our profession Service is our passion

ISSN–1655-3853 • AGOSTO 8 – 14, 2008 • VOL. 29, NO. 32 • 8 PAHINA • P10.00

67 P. Burgos St., Proj. 4, QC 1109, Philippines (0632) 912-4852 (0632) 912-5706

WALANG MAYOR’S PERMIT AT ECC

Dapat isara ang Ming Hong, ilegal ang operasyon – EMB Basahin ang ulat ni Dino Balabo sa Pahina 5

BIGAS NG NFA PINAG-AAGAWAN PA RIN

Rice traders umaangal dahil nalulugi NI DINO BALABO DINALUYAN NG LANGIS — Mababakas ang panghihinayang sa mukha ni Raldy Pagador ng Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) habang pinagmamasdan ang palaisdaang dinaluyan ng langis na ayon sa mga residente ay mula sa Ming Hong Trading (dulong itaas). Ayon kay Apolonio Marcelo (kaliwa), isa sa mga kasosyo sa Ming Hong at dating alkalde ng Angat, hindi sa kanilang planta nagmula ang langis, samantalang sinabi ni Mayor Feliciano Legazpi ng Norzagaray na hihintayin niyang makatupad sa pamantayan ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) ang Ming Hong. — DB

L UNGSOD NG M ALOLOS — Pinag-aagawan pa rin ng mga mamimili ang murang bigas ng National Food Authority (NFA) sa mga pamilihan, ngunit umaangal ang mga negosyante dahil sa kanilang pagkalugi. Dumarami naman ang magsasakang Bulakenyo na nagbabalik sa tradisyunal na pagsasaka gamit ang mga sinaunang binhi at organikong teknolohiya,

samantalang namahagi ang pamahalaan ng “fertilizer subsidy coupon” bilang ayuda sa mga magsasaka. Ayon sa mga mamimili, kahit pumila sila ay mas pinipili nila ang bigas mula sa NFA dahil sa mas mura iyon. Maging ang mga nagtitinda ng bigas sa mga bayan

ng Hagonoy at Guiguinto ay gayundin ang naging pahayag sa Mabuhay. Binigyang diin nila na dahil sa pagdagsa ng bigas ng NFA sa mga pamilihan ay nahatak pababa ang presyo ng mga komersyal na bigas. Sa kasalukuyan, ang bigas ng NFA ay nabibili sa

 Basahin ang kaugnay na ulat at tunghayan ang mga larawan sa pahina 8.

halagang P18.25 bawat kilo sa mga barangay, at P25 sa mga Bigasan ni Gloria sa Palengke (BGP), samantalang ang mga komersyal na bigas, na dati ay nabibili sa halagang P34 hanggang P40 bawat kilo, ay bumaba na ang presyo sa P28 hanggang P38 bawat kilo. Hindi naman ikinatuwa ng mga negosyante ang sitwasyong ito dahil sila ay nalulugi. Ngunit para kay Arturo  sundan sa pahina 6

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AGOSTO 8 – 14, 2008

EDITORYAL

Malakas na sampal ANG patuloy na operasyon ng Ming Hong Trading sa isang sulok ng Barangay Partida, Norzagaray na nagbubuga ng usok na mula sa sinusunog na gulong ay hindi lamang isang banta sa kalusugan ng mga residente at tibay ng Inang Kalikasan, kungdi isang malakas na sampal sa mga pamahalaang lokal sa Bulacan. Walang business permit ang nasabing planta, bukod pa sa wala ring Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC), at lalong walang Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Ito ang mga pangunahing dokumento na kailangan ng isang katulad na negosyo bago makapagsagawa ng operasyon. Noong nakaraang buwan, binigyan ng Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) sa Gitnang Luzon ang Ming Hong ng Notice of Violation (NOV) at ipinatawag para sa isang technical conference, ngunit matigas ang pamunuan ng planta. Hindi sila nagpakita sa EMB at sinabing wala silang natanggap na notice. Kung tutuusin, walang karapatang magsagawa ng operasyon ang Ming Hong Trading at wala rin silang karapatang unti-unting puksain ang hininga ng mga residente ng Sitio Diliman ng Barangay Partida sa pamamagitan ng patuloy na pagbubuga ng usok mula sa sinusunog na gulong, upang kumita ng salapi mula sa nakakatas na langis. Ngunit tuloy ang ligaya ng Ming Hong sa kabila ng pagdurusa ng taong bayan na umaasa ng proteksyon sa dapat sana ay mapagpalang pamamahala ni Mayor Feliciano Legazpi na isang doktor, na nasa ilalim naman ng pamumuno ng diumano’y “makakalikasang” Bagong Bulakenyo na si Gob. Joselito “Jon-jon” Mendoza at Pangulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyo na patuloy namang nakakaramdam ng pag-asenso. “Hanggang kailan kami magtitiis,” daing ng mga residente ng Sitio Diliman, ngunit ang tunay na tanong ay “hanggang kailan sila tatagal” at “kailan pa kikilos ang pamahalaan na ang pangunahing gampanin ay pangalagaan ang taumbayan.” Hihintayin pang magkasakit at magkamatay ang mga mamamayan bago kumilos ang gobyerno? Dagdag pang hapdi sa mga sugatang residente ng Sitio Diliman at iba pang lugar sa lalawigan na nakakaranas ng katulad na pagkikibit na balikat ng mga taong dapat magtanggol sa kanila ay ang mga ipinagmamalaking karangalang natanggap sa mga nagdaang taon ng Bulacan sa pamamahala katulad ng mga prestisyosong Gawad Galing Pook. Ang tanong: Ano ang halaga ng mga ipinagmamalaking karangalan ng lalawigan kung ang mga taong dapat bigyan ng proteksyon ay unti-unting nalalagutan ng hininga dahil lamang sa kawalan ng pamamahalaang tutugon sa kanilang pangangailangan? May panahon para magbago at kumilos. At ang panahong iyon ay hindi bukas, kungdi NGAYON NA!

Mabuhay LINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980

Jose L. Pavia Publisher/Editor Perfecto V. Raymundo Associate Editor

EDITORIAL Alfredo M. Roxas, Jose Romulo Q. Pavia, Jose Gerardo Q. Pavia, Joey N. Pavia , Jose Visitacion Q. Pavia, Carminia L. Pavia, Perfecto Raymundo Jr., Dino Balabo

PRODUCTION

Anthony L. Pavia Managing Editor

Jose Antonio Q. Pavia, Jose Ricardo Q. Pavia, Mark F. Mata, Maricel P. Dayag

e-mail [email protected]

Eden Uy, Allan Peñaredondo, Joseph Ryan S. Pavia

PPI-KAF Community Press Awards

BUSINESS / ADMINISTRATION

Best Edited Weekly 2003 + 2008 Best in Photojournalism 1998 + 2005

Promdi

DINO BALABO

Kahanga-hanga, kamangha-mangha MULA 1986 hangggang 2007, o mula sa panahon ni dating Gob. Roberto Pagdanganan hangggang sa matapos ang siyam na taong panunungkulan ni dating Gob. Josie Dela Cruz ay katakot-takot na pagkilala at parangal ang tinanggap ng Bulacan. Kahanga-hanga! *** Ito ay batay sa librong Running a Bureaucracy na sinulat ni dating Provincial Administrator Gladys Sta. Rita na naglingkod sa panahong ng dalawang dating gobernador. Kagulat-gulat! *** Ilan sa mga parangal na tinanggap ng Bulacan sa nasabing panahon ay ang mga prestisyosong Gawad Galing Pook (GGP) award para sa mga kooperatiba (1994), kultura (1995), kalusugan at nutrisyon (1996), kabataan (1997), reinventing government (2000), Hall of Fame (2000), constituent responsive governance (2002), women’s commission (2003), continuing excellence (2003), Project JOSIE (2005), at iba pa. Kamangha-mangha! *** Ilan naman sa mga programa ng kapitolyo na binigyan ng parangal o pagkilala ay ang mga programa sa pagpapaunlad ng

kooperatiba (1986), kabataan, palakasan, kultura (1986), e-governance program (1997), Project JOSIE (2001), Gawad Galing Barangay (2002), at iba pa. Katangi-tangi! *** Kung Bulacan ay hinangaan sa bansa mula 1986 hanggang 2007 dahil sa dami ng mga parangal na tinanggap, bakit basura lamang ay hindi masinop. Ay, sus! *** Kung ang mga kagulat-gulat na parangal tulad ng GGP para sa kalusugan at nutrisyon na tinanggap ng Bulacan sa nasabing panahon ay nasulat pa sa libro tulad ng Running a Bureaucracy, bakit wala yatang malinaw na programa nabanggit sa pangangalaga ng kalikasan? Ah, ewan! *** Kung tumanggap ng GGP award ang Bulacan for reinventing government noong 2000, ito ba ay nangangahulugan na nagkaroon ng pagbabago sa pamamahala sa kapaligiran at napigil ang mga kumpanyang nagsisipagtapon ng kanilang waste water sa mga kailugan mula noon? Hindi siguro — may mga naitalang fish kill sa Balagtas at Lungsod ng Meycauayan mula noong nakaraang taon.

Kastigo

*** Kung tumanggap ng GGP award ang Bulacan for constituent responsive governance noong 2002, ito ba ay nangangahulugan na natutugunan lahat ng pamahalaang panglalawigan ang karaingan ng mga Bulakenyo tulad ng mga residente ng Mambog, Malolos sa mabahong basura, pati na ng mga residente ng Barangay Partida, Norzagaray na dumadaing laban sa plantang nagsusunog ng lumang gulong doon? Duda kami! *** Kung ang Bulacan ay tumanggap GGP Hall of Fame Award noong 2002 at continuing excellence noong 2003, ito ba ay nangangahulugan na talagang mahusay ang pamamahala sa bawat bayan at lungsod sa lalawigan hangggang ngayon? Kayo na ang humatol! *** Kung ang Bulacan ay tumanggap ng APEC-ADOC Best e-Practices award para sa information technology noong 2005, bakit mabagal ang paghahatid ng impormasyon at pagpoproseso ng dokumento sa kapitolyo at maging sa iba pang pamahalaang lokal sa Bulacan? Subukan ninyo! ***  sundan sa pahina 4

BIENVENIDO A. RAMOS

Lihim na bentahan IMPOSIBLE, sa palagay ko, na asahan natin ng lantarang pamamahala si Pangulong MacapagalArroyo pagkaraang mabunyag (sila rin ang nagbunyag) ang “Hello, Garci” tape. Kung susuriin, ang pagkakabunyag nito ang naging ugat ng patuloy na paglilihim ng Administrasyong Arroyo, lalo na ng maseselang isyu na may kinalaman sa pambansang interes, dignidad at soberanya ng Pilipinas. Dalawa lamang sa mahahalagang “pakikipagkasundo” na halatang gustong ipaglihim ng Administrasyong Arroyo sa taumbayan ang babanggitin ko: ang Japanese-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) at ang nauntol na paglalagdaan sa Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) sa pagitan ng Pamahalaan ng Pilipinas (GRP) at ng Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) — na sa pagtutuos ay kasunduang magpapatibay sa pagtatatag ng isang malaya at kahiwalay (ng Pilipinas) na bansang Moro. Ang pagmamatigas ng Admi-

nistrasyong Arroyo na huwag ibunyag sa mga Pilipino ang nilalaman ng mahihiwagang kasunduang ito ay ikinakanlong sa umano’y “executive privilege” o karapatan bilang tagapagpaganap ni Gng. Arroyo, na pinagkakaloob ng Konstitusyon. Ibig bang sabihin, kahit gawing tambakan ng nakalalasong basura ng Hapon ang Pilipinas dala ng JPEPA, papayag na tayong masapanganib ang kalusugan at buhay ng 88.5 milyong Pilipino — kapalit ng umano’y magiging pagunlad ng ekonomya? Ibig bang sabihin, kahit humiwalay at magtatag ng sariling bansa nila ang mga Muslim — para magkaroon umano ng “kapayapaan” sa Mindanao — ay payag na sina GMA, Esperon, Garcia at iba pa? Sa palagay ba natin, papayapa nga ang Mindanao kung payagang magtatag ng sariling bansa ang MILF? Paano ang nakararaming Kristiyano — na nakakalat sa maraming lalawigang masasakop ng bansang Moro? Hindi ba lalong

malaking gulo ang mangyayari? Sa pagsusuri, nakalulungkot sabihing hindi lamang salat sa political will si Gng. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, kulang siya, dahop siya at ang umano’y mga lider natin sa pagmamahal at malasakit sa sariling bansa! Lumalabas na SALAPI lamang ang mahalaga sa Administrasyong Arroyo — salaping kinukulimbat sa kabambansa o naka komisyon sa mga kontrata, at ipinamimili naman ng mga kakampi, isinusuhol sa mga magdedepensa at susuporta sa pananatili ni GMA sa Malakanyang. Ngayon ay binibili ang kapayapaan (daw) sa Mindanao; binibili at ipinagpapalit sa kaunting kaluwagang ibibigay ng Hapon ang buhay at kamatayan ng sambayanang Pilipino — sa mga lihim na kasunduan. Sa ibang salita, unti-unti nang ibinebenta ng Administrasyong Arroyo ang buong Pilipinas — sa mga lihim na pakikipagkasundo na makakaagrabyado at makapipinsala sa mga Pilipino.

PHOTOGRAPHY / ART

Loreto Q. Pavia, Marilyn L. Ramirez, Peñaflor Crystal, J. Victorina P. Vergara, Cecile S. Pavia, Luis Francisco, Domingo Ungria, Harold T. Raymundo, Jennifer T. Raymundo, Rhoderick T. Raymundo

CIRCULATION Robert T. Raymundo, Armando M. Arellano, Jess Camaro, Fred Lopez The Mabuhay is published weekly by the MABUHAY COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES — DTI Permit No. 00075266, March 6, 2006 to March 6, 2011, Malolos, Bulacan.

The Mabuhay is entered as Second Class Mail Matter at the San Fernando, Pampanga Post Office A proud member of PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE on April 30, 1987 under Permit No. 490; and as Third Class Mail Matter at the Manila Central Post Office under permit No. 1281-99-NCR dated Nov. 15, 1999. ISSN 1655-3853 Principal Office: 626 San Pascual, Obando, Bulacan  294-8122

WEBSITE

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Kakampi mo ang Batas

ATTY. BATAS MAURICIO

Hindi pagbabayad ng tamang sahod TANONG: Sir, magandang hapon po. Gusto ko po sanang ihabla ang agency namin kasi nasa kontrata na may holiday pay tapos wala naman po. (09262016954). Sagot: Maraming salamat po sa tanong na ito. Ayon po sa Labor Code of the Philippines, o kilala bilang Presidential Decree 442, as amended, kung may kontrata ang kompanya at ang manggagawa ukol sa mga benepisyong dapat bayaran sa huli, kailangang tuparin ito ng kompanya. Kung hindi tutupad ang kompanya sa pagbabayad ng mga benepisyong pinagkasunduan, maaaring makulong ang may-ari o ang mga opisyales nito, batay sa Articles 116 at 288 ng Labor Code. Ang kulong ay mula tatlong buwan hanggang tatlong taon. Upang makuha ng

manggagawa ang benepisyong ayaw bayaran sa kanya, kailangan niyang magsampa ng kasong sibil sa National Labor Relations Commission, dagdag sa kasong kriminal na binanggit natin dito. Kaya lamang, kailangang magpadala muna ang manggagawa o ang kanyang kinatawan o abogado kung mayroon na ng isang demand letter sa may-ari o opisyales ng kompanya, na kung saan bibigyan ang mga ito ang sapat na panahon upang magbayad ng benepisyo. Kung hindi magbabayad ang kompanya sa panahong nakasaad sa demand letter, maaari nang isampa ang kasong kriminal at kasong sibil. Ganito din ang alituntunin kung ang benepisyo ay hindi pinagkasunduan ng management at ng mga manggagawa,

kundi iniutos ibigay ng gobyerno. SSS ID ibibigay sa lahat ng kasapi ng Social Security System TANONG: Magandang tanghali po, Atty. Batas. Magtatanong sana ako. Tungkol po sa pagkuha ng SSS. Anong mga kailangan? ID, NBI, ano pa? At saan puwedeng kumuha? (09069504828). Sagot: Salamat din po sa tanong na ito. Ang problema lamang, hindi ko alam kung anong “pagkuha ng SSS” ang tinutukoy dito. Kung ito ay ID card mula sa Social Security System, ang sinasabi ng mga opisyales ng SSS na nakakapanayam natin sa ating mga palatuntunan sa UNTV ay ganito: kailangang maging kasapi ang manggagawa sa SSS para ito  sundan sa pahina 4

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AGOSTO 8 – 14, 2008

Depthnews

JUAN L. MERCADO

Regarding Henry

Memo to their honors LOCAL officials here should perhaps ask themselves aloud: “Did we ever have the misfortune to clone Cesar Moreno?” Cesar who? He’s the vice-mayor of Aloguinsan, a fifth class town 73 kilometers northwest of Cebu City . His wife, Cynthia, is mayor. But that’s not where Moreno’s “15 minutes of fame” stems from. The curse of dynasties plague us. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s extended family is embedded in official posts. Dynasties corral two-thirds of Congress’ seats, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism reports. The Commission on Audit lashed Aloguinsan officials for rigging contracts, pocketing cash from equipment sold sans bidding, etc. They peddled town assets “as if it were their private property”.

So do many officials in 79 provinces, 136 cities and 1,501 towns. If prosecutors did a tenth of their jobs, our jails couldn’t hold all convicted officials. Aloguinsan’s net income yearly is P7.48 million. Only 12 percent of residents have toilets linked to septic tanks. Yet, officials splurged P540,000 for “a live concert and a dance-breakout”. Worse, their Honors billed it to a trust account for the poorest — “the 20 Per Cent Development Fund.” Have local officials, in this city and province, similarly pillaged this safety net for the vulnerable? Examine this trust’s history. One may start with the landmark “Local Government Code” of 1991. Section 287 provides: Local government units shall appropriate, in its annual budget, no less than 20 centavos out of every

Cebu Calling

internal revenue allotment peso, for “development projects.” But the roots, in fact, go back to Sweden in 1972. Delegates from over 100 countries, including the Philippines, gathered then for the UN Environment Conference in Stockholm. Delegates crafted an innovative “2020 Pact”. This committed governments to earmark 20 percent of development resources for the poorest. Resources were to address basic human needs of the most marginalized: nutrition, health care, medicine, potable water and sanitation, education, etc. “Human development spending,” the Stockholm consensus went, relieves grinding poverty. It curbs disease and tamps down death rates. Unmet human needs “usher more Filipino pre-school  continued on page 4

FR. ROY CIMAGALA

Our crisis of faith WE are supposed to be creatures of faith, but I wonder how we are living according to that ideal. We can look around, and we can readily see signs and symptoms that faith is not lived as it should. Faith seems to be in crisis. Faith is a human necessity. We cannot rely simply on our reason or intelligence, no matter how high it may be. Much less do we solely depend on our senses, no matter how indispensable they are. We need faith. We need to believe, because we are meant for it. We need faith because we know there’s a world beyond what our intelligence can penetrate, and we need to enter it since it’s a world to which we belong also. Our intelligence is more like the moon rather than like the sun. It reflects light, and thus its light is a reflected light. It’s not the original source of light. In our system, that light source is the sun. Our problem starts when we make our intelligence like the sun instead of the moon. Our intelligence emits light insofar as it receives and processes data first from outside itself, and then once it has accumulated some data, it can emit light also from within itself. It has to receive something first, before it can give. Usually we start using the information we gather from the material world. But from there, it can build its own reservoir of knowledge and can continue reflecting on it, emitting more light along the way. Still our intelligence can de-

tect that there is still another source of light other than the material world and itself. In fact, this source is the higher and the ultimate one, ever stimulating the mind to catch it but can never quite get it. It’s the world of the spiritual, and more than that, the world of the supernatural, shrouded in mysteries that are truths that surpass our intelligence’s capacity to understand. This is where we simply have to believe. Of course, we can also choose not to believe. This is the world where we are asked to have faith. This is where we are capable of going beyond the limitations of our human condition to merge ourselves into a deeper, richer albeit supernatural reality. Our problem often is that we get stuck with the sensible and intelligible realities. We ignore the supernatural realities. We prefer to stay on the natural level, failing to see our nature’s longing for the supernatural. We can even go to the extent of claiming that there’s nothing supernatural, nothing outside what is natural, what we can understand. But our catechism says: “The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for.” (27) Obviously, the skepticism about the supernatural world and about faith can stem from the fact that myths and superstitions have

Forward to Basics

very often spoiled if not annulled whatever tendency we may have toward the supernatural. We are afraid that all talk about faith and the supernatural world may just redound to some subtle human invention or some tricks that our mind and will can play on us, that is, that such claim really has no objective basis, that everything is purely subjective. This predicament does not totally negate the existence of objective basis for faith and the supernatural world. Rather, it leads us to discern which among the different faith systems truly have an objective basis. In the case of the Christian faith, it is based on a divine revelation — God coming to us — that is historical, involving a real person and other personages, and events and teachings that can be historically verified. It’s not a figment of someone’s or a people’s imagination. We need to live by faith. For this we need to learn how to think using not only our reason, but also faith. This requires study and the development of certain habits — like praying, reflecting, recollecting, etc. The ideal to reach is that we get to develop such a life of faith that would enable us to see God and his ways in all our daily events and activities big and small. We become contemplatives. This is our crisis of faith. Not so much doctrinal controversies as our indifference to our task to live by faith at every moment. — [email protected]

FR. FRANCIS B. ONGKINGCO

Pilgrimage down under “FATHER, where are you from?” a young girl from Chicago asked. “I’m from the Philippines,” I replied. “That’s really cool!” she exclaimed. “Can you please sign something on my World Youth Day bandana?” “Sure,” I said as I took her pen. “I will not only write something, I will also give you my blessing and I will pray for your parents.” She suddenly became speechless and I noticed how her eyes started to become watery. “Are you alright?” I asked quite concerned. “Yes, Father. I’m just so moved that you should say a prayer for my folks ’coz my mother’s sick.”

“Then, I have more reasons to pray for her. What is she sick of, if I may ask?” “She has cancer and she underwent an operation yesterday.” “What’s her name?” “Claudia … [SNIFFLE]” “Listen, Lisa,” I said, “will it comfort you if I include her in my Mass tomorrow morning?” “Yes, Father, very much! Thanks so much!” *** I was waiting for a relative in front of Milson’s Point when a woman and her companion greeted me. “Gud evenin’, Fathe’!” Hope yu’r njoyin’ Sydney durin’ this World Youth Day!” “Of course, madam! Thank you

and God bless you!” She stopped when she heard these words and slowly walked back to where I was. “Father, please pray for me, because God will never forgive me.” “But our Lord loves you, daughter of God. And there is no sin that His love cannot forgive.” “Thank you, Fathe’! But I have so many sins and it’s been 20 years since I last went t’ confession.” I smiled at her and made the sign of the Cross on her forehead. “Is there anything that God’s love cannot do?” I reminded her. “Yu’r right, Father. But our parish priest is new.”  continued on page 5

HENRYLITO D. TACIO

Vengeance is not ours AT a dinner party one evening, there was a heated exchange between British statesman Winston Churchill and a female member of the parliament. At the end of the argument, the lady said scornfully, “Mr. Churchill, you are drunk.” Replied Churchill, “And you, madam, are ugly. But I shall be sober tomorrow.” Revenge or vengeance consists of retaliation against a person in response to perceived wrongdoing. Although many aspects of revenge resemble or echo the concept of making things equal, revenge usually has a more injurious than constructive goal. The vengeful wish to make the other side go through what they went through or make sure they’ll never be able to do what they did again. Actually, revenge is a deceiver — it looks sweet but is most often bitter. Now, let me share with you a true story that happened to Hungarian artist Arpad Sebesy. At one time, Elmer Kelen came to his studio and when he saw his portrait, he was very angry. Before leaving, Elmer told Arpad: “That’s a rotten portrait and I refuse to pay for it!” The artist was crushed. He had spent weeks on this painting, and now the 500 pengos (Hungarian currency) that he was going to lose on the deal flashed through his mind. Bitterly, he recalled that the millionaire had only posed three times so that the painting had to be done virtually from memory. Still, he didn’t think it was such a bad likeness. Before the millionaire left his studio, the artist called out, “One minute. Will you sign this letter saying you refused the portrait because it didn’t re-

semble you?” Glad to get off the hook so easily, Kelen agreed. A few months later, the Society of Hungarian Artists opened its exhibition at the Gallery of Fine Arts in Budapest. Soon afterwards, Kelen’s phone began to ring. Within half an hour, he appeared at the art gallery and headed for the wing where a Sebesy painting was on display. It was the one he had rejected. He glanced at the title and his face turned purple. Storming into the office of the gallery manager, he demanded that the portrait be removed at once. The manager explained quietly that all of the paintings were under contract to remain in the gallery the full six weeks of the exhibit. Kelen raged. “But it will make me the laughing stock of Budapest. It’s libelous! I’ll sue!” The manager turned to his desk, drew out the letter Kelen had written at Sebesy’s request, and said, “Just a moment. Since you yourself admit that the painting does not resemble you, you have no jurisdiction over its fate.” In desperation, Kelen offered to buy the painting, only to find the price was now ten times that of the original figure. With his reputation at stake, Kelen immediately wrote out a check for 5,000 pengos. Not only did the artist sell the rejected portrait to the man who had originally commissioned it, he also received ten times the first price and achieved his revenge by exhibiting it with the title: Portrait of a Thief. Charles Caleb Colton once said, “Revenge is fever in our own blood, to be cured only by letting the blood of another; but  continued on page 6

Ka Iking Reports IKE SEÑERES

The subject of our conversations THIS is a continuation of my previous column, where I invited everyone to have a conversation with me, about giving charity to others, and about nation building. It may be difficult to establish a connection between these two topics, but suffice it to say that development is all about giving access to public services, and giving access to others as a way of sharing is both an act of charity aside from contributing to nation building. I will leave it up to the Circles and Clubs to choose their own beneficiary targets. As a matter of fact, they could also choose needy individuals as their direct beneficiary targets. Preferably, however, it would be best for them to provide assistance in any of the five main programs, so that we could support them at the national level. It is part of human nature not to talk about our own acts of charity, which we usually keep close to our hearts. This is not a problem, but since we need to hear about what each of us is doing, we should encourage the members of the Circles to talk about what they are doing as a group, or what their friends are doing as individuals. As part of our conversations, I am going to talk about individuals who have come to me for help.

I will also talk about groups that apparently need help, even if they have not approached me. I will list down these individuals and groups, and the members of the Circles could choose which ones they would want to help. In order to be able to keep track of all our conversations, let us all agree to post our comments in the following website, listed below. In order to limit the number of conversations in our website, let us avoid talking about our plans to help. Instead, I would encourage the Circles to talk about their experiences and the problems they are encountering in implementing their own programs. The internet is already full of loose talk; let us be different by balancing our talks with our actions. In a manner of speaking, our public services do need the charity of our citizens, because of the usual reason that government budgets are always lacking, not to mention that these public funds often fall victim to graft and corruption, thus leaving very little to actual public expenditures. Charity to persons is almost always urgent in nature, and would always need urgent actions. While it is good to respond to subjective needs, let us balance our actions with objective purposes, and we could do that by helping  continued on page 4

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AGOSTO 8 – 14, 2008

Napapanahon

Buhay Pinoy

Di sumipot si GMA sa pista ng God the Father

MANDY CENTENO

NOONG ika-3 ng Agosto, ipinagdiwang ng isang misa at kainan ang kapistahan ng God the Father sa Heroes Hall ng Malacañang Palace. Si Bishop Ramon Arguelles ang nagmisa ngunit wala si Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo na dapat ay pinangunahan ang “consecration” ng bansa sa God the Father gaya ng mga nakaraang taon. Gaya noong 2003, idinaos ang pista sa Quirino Grandstand, Luneta sa pamamagitan ng concelebrated mass na pinangunahan ni Bishop Arguelles at may parada ng walong karosa mula sa grandstand hanggang Baclaran at pabalik. Noong 2004 sa Ceremonial Hall ng Malacañang Palace naman idinaos ang pagdiriwang ng God the Father at naroon ang first family, mga miyembro ng gabinete, mga opisyal ng gobyerno atbp. Si Pangulong Arroyo ang nagdasal ng “Consecration Prayer” na dapat ay ginawa din niya noong Linggo. Ayon sa mga ulat, si GMA ay deboto monthly octave devotion ng ng God the Father at nagdarasal ng tatlong oras na nakaluhod. Pero bakit noong Linggo ng kapistahan ay “no-show” siya, inindiyan ang pinakamakapangyarihang Diyos na gumawa ng langit at lupa at lahat ng bagay sa sanglibutan. Dahil ba sa Cha-Cha, martial law at iba pang paraan na makapagpa-

Sona ... Sana! Nasa, Saan S–ONA noong araw pinagsama-sama

Ang kalalakihan upang makilala Kung sinong rebelde o mga girilya? Panahon ng Hapon ganoon ang sona. O–pisyal ng bayan sama-sama ngayon Kilala ng lahat pangunahing layon Isipan ng tao kanilang malason Kasinungalingan daming nagugutom. N–aalimpungatan mga mamamayan Nag-alsa, protesta di na makayanan Ang matinding hirap nitong kabuhayan Hangad pagbabago ang nanunungkulan. A–lipin ng hirap, pasakit at dusa Ang kawawang dukha lalong naghirap pa Taas ng bilihin hindi na makaya Wala na ba tayong tunay na pag-asa? *** S–ana ay magbago itong patakaran Mga nasa poder at nanunungkulan Bayan ang isipin bigyang kabuhayan Hindi ang sariling mga kapakanan. A–buridong tao dahil sa hirap Hindi na maabot ang mga pangarap Halos kahig-tuka itong nagaganap Pag-ukulan SANA ng konting paglingap N–ababagot tuloy sa hirap ng buhay Iniisip wari ang anak na mahal Papaano kaya sila mapag-aral? Sa pagkain pa lang ay kulang na kulang. A–yuda na tulong limang daang piso Katulad ni Ninoy na malungkot ito Ilang kilong bigas mabibili nito SANA ay dagdagan, mahal na pangulo. N–asa ni GMA siya’y makatulong Pagkalinga itong pangunahing layon Kung baga sa limos ay kokonti iyon Kapupuna nito nasa atin ngayon. A–ng kanyang hangarin kahit papaano Lubhang makatulong limang daang piso Batid naman nating tunay kulang ito Damdamin ng pobre nasaktang totoo. S–ilang nasa puwesto nagpapayaman pa Pagawaing bayan may porsiyento sila Sangkaterbang kwarta ang nalulustay na Ang maruming NASA impiyerno ang punta. *** S–aan nangapunta patabang pang-palay? Masukal na lungsod ang kinasadlakan Sa mabatong putik? Ito ay “Joke, joke” lang Madawag na lupa kung SAAN ay tigang. A–no ang nangyari sa combo na “Broad Band”? Dada ni Lozada nawalan ng saysay Ang hilo na Garci ngayon ay nasaan? “Madam, I am sorry” hindi ko po alam. A–lipores ni Ma’am ay nagbabalikan Saan puwesto kaya sila magtatagal? Mga taga-upos walang pakialam Lugar kung saan man hanggang 2010 lang. N–asa Pilipino ang ikasusulong SANA tayong lahat ay magtulong-tulong SAAN mang lupain manirahan doon SONAta ng buhay ay ipagpatuloy. ○

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Ka Iking Reports  from page 3

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LINDA R. PACIS

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patagal ng kanyang termino sa posisyon ng kapangyarihan? Dahil sa bumibitiw na siya at may iba nang ipagmamalaki? Sabi ng mga opisyal ng God the Father Movement, kapag may krisis sa Malacañang kagaya ng nakaraang impeachment proceeding ay tumatawag sa kanila si Madam Gloria kahit hating-gabi at humingi ng dasal. Ngayon ba ay di na niya kailangan ang proteksyon ng Ama ng Sanglibutan? Makakatayo na siya sa sariling lakas at kapangyarihan? Ang debosyon sa God the Father ay nagsimula dito sa Pilipinas noong ideklara ni Pope John Paul II ang taong 1999 na Year of the Father sa kanyang Tertio Millennio Adveniente. Mula 1932 nang si Mother Eugenia Elisabetta Ravasio ay 25 taong gulang hanggang 1943, nakatanggap siya ng mga mensahe sa ilang aparisyon ula sa Diyos Ama. Siya noon ay madre ng French missionary order of “Our Lady of the Apostles” sa Diyosesis ng Grenoble. Nagbigay din ng mga “revelation” ang Diyos Ama kay Barbara Rose Centilli (1996-2003) na mababasa sa aklat na Seeing with the Eyes of the Soul, Vol. 1, 2 at 3. Nadala sa Pilipinas ang debosyon sa pamamagitan ni Tony Yap, kapatid ni Nena Yap (Chair ng God the Father Movement) at Dr. Carmencita ○

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Kakampi mo ang Batas ay mabigyan ng ID. Siyempre, ang kailangan dito ay ang katibayan na empleyado nga ang manggagawa, at, kadalasan, ang katibayang hinahanap dito ay ang certificate of employment (o pagpapatibay mula sa kompanya), at pangalawa, katibayang nai-report ang manggagawa bilang kasapi ng SSS. Sa ibang mga sitwasyon, hahanapin din ng SSS ang inyong birth certificate, marriage contract ng inyong mga magulang o marriage contract ninyo mismo kung may asawa na kayo noong kayo ay mag-apply bilang kasapi nito. Sa kabilang dako, kung ang tinutukoy sa mga salitang “pagkuha ng SSS” ay ang mga benepisyong ibinibigay ng nasabing ahensiya para sa mga kasapi nito, kailangan pong magsumite ng claim ang isang manggagawa o ang kanyang mga tagapagmana sa pinakamalapit na tanggapan ng SSS. Depende sa kung anong benepisyo ang hinahabol, kailangan din ang pagpapatibay ng kung magkano na ang naging kontribusyon ng manggagawa sa SSS. ○

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Depthnews ○

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our local institutions with their physical and material needs, that way we could help more people as they are able to service more people in need. Examples of local institutions are the local governments, the court systems, the prosecution offices, the police units and the health services in your own villages. Examples of infrastructures are roads, bridges, buildings and other physical facilities, including school buildings and hospitals, among others. It’s not a very easy goal, but I am now trying to integrate what I am doing in my TV show, in my website and in my syndicated column. The purpose of my TV show is to bring out “The news behind the news”, but since I am a practitioner of developmental journalism, I always try to pick issues that have something to do with national development and nation building. Generally speaking, we could say that the purpose of mass media is to inform the public about issues and events. Practitioners of developmental journalism, however, would like to also use the mass media as a tool for national development. The challenge I think is to make the mass media participatory, so that readers, viewers and listeners could get involved in issues, not only to comment, but also to do something to solve national needs and problems. I know that I could not convince everyone to do something for others or for our country, but I am sure that there are many individuals out there who would like to do something, or are in fact doing something already. Let these be the subject of our conversations, what we do as individuals or as groups of friends who are doing something for others and for our country. Email me at [email protected] or text me at +639293605140. Watch my TV show “Ka Iking Live” every Friday, 9:30 to 10:30 PM in Destiny Cable Channel 3 (Windows Media Player MMS://202.128.41.99/gnn). Read my column “Ka Iking Reports” published by 24 local newspapers nationwide.

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Promdi

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 mula sa pahina 2

panahong itinakda ng Saligang Batas ng 1987 ay isang uri ng katiwalian. *** BATAS NG DIYOS: Ito ang araw na gawa ng Diyos; tayo ay magalak at magdiwang. (Awit 118:24) *** PAALALA: Maaari po kayong tumawag sa aming mga landline, (02) 99468-05, (02) 433-75-49 at (02) 433-7553, o di kaya ay sa aming mga cellphone, 0917-984-24-68 at 0919-60964-89. O sumulat sa aming address: 18 D Mahiyain cor Mapagkawanggawa, Teachers Village, Diliman, Quezon City. O mag-email sa website na ito, www.batasnews.com, o batas [email protected]. *** PARTY LIST: Maaari na po kayong maging kasapi ng BATAS Party List, o ang Bagong Alyansang Tagapagtaguyod ng Adhikaing Sambayanan. Ipadala po ang inyong mga pangalan at kumpletong address sa parehong mga address at telepono sa itaas.

Mga kaso sa NLRC, kailangang desisyunan sa loob ng 90 araw TANONG: Atty. Batas, magandang umaga po. Tanong ko lang po kung ilang buwan bago magdesisyon ang kaso sa NLRC. (09167665681). Sagot: Salamat po sa text question na ito. Sa ilalim ng NLRC Rules of Procedure, kailangang madesisyunan ang isang kasong “submitted for decision” sa loob ng 90 araw na nakasaad sa Saligang Batas ng 1987. Kung hindi naglalabas ang NLRC — ke ito ay ang kanyang mga commissioner o ang labor arbiter lamang — ng desisyon kahit na nakalipas na ang 90 araw na ito, maaari nang magreklamo ang apektadong partido sa hukuman, sa Court of Appeals, sa pamamagitan ng pagsasampa ng kasong ang tawag ay petition for mandamus. Maaari ding magreklamo ang isang apektadong partido ng kasong katiwalian o graft and corruption sa Ombudsman, dahil ang hindi pagpapalabas ng desisyon sa ○

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 continued from page 3

children to premature graves than even in poorer countries like Egypt, Kenya or Tanzania,” Asian Development Bank noted. Section 287 is the Philippine sidewalks, even “tourism promotion”, etc. GI roofing for a market or filling road potholes can be photographed for voters. But you can’t tack, on election billboards, lower infant death rates, due to vaccine bought from the 20 Per Cent Development Fund. Predictably, officials slurp at this trough. Sangguiang Panlalawigan officials in Davao Oriental paid P669,892 “as financial assistance” — for themselves. Ifugao amortized loans. They “drunk the tears of children and turned deaf ears to the sighs of orphans.” Few LGUs draw up adequate Annual Investment Plans. Many politicians prefer doles. Taking credit for handing out taxpayers money is easy. Others are incompetent. They can’t craft development projects. ○

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Yap, na nagpadala ng mga aklat tungkol sa debosyon. Hindi tumigil ang selebrasyon ng Pista ng God the Father noong nakaraang Linggo, Agosto 3 kahit wala si Pangulong Gloria at masama man ang panahon. Pagkatapos sa Malacañang, nagprusisyon sa Holy Family Parish Church, Roxas District, Quezon City ang mga deboto. Umuulan nang magsimula ang prusisyon ngunit nang lumalakad na ay tumila ng kaunti ang ulan at patak patak na lang hanggang makarating sa headquarters sa Panay Avenue, Q.C. Kaya di nabasa ng ulan ang mga umiilaw. May meryendang inihanda sa tahanan nina Nena at Dr. Mita Yap at marami ang hindi umalis hanggang di natapos ang selebrasyon. Ayon kay Nena Yap, ang taunang selebrasyon ay magpapatuloy at marami nang simbahan ang sumasali mula sa iba’t ibang pook, gaya ng mga sumusunod: Bulacan (Divine Mercy, Marilao; Barasoain Church, Malolos; Regina Carmeli University, Malolos); Imus Cathedral, Cavite; Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, Antipolo; Sto. Domingo Church, Q.C.; God the Father Parish, Sauyo, Novaliches; Claret Parish, Teachers Village, Q.C.; San Fernando Cathedral, Pampanga; Mary the Queen Parish, Parañaque; San Sebastian Parish, Lipa City at marami pang iba.

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Congratulations nga pala sa sa bumubuo ng Doña Rita Realty Corporation sa matagumpay at simpleng pagpapasinaya sa pinakabagong mall sa Bulacan na tinawag na The Cabanas noong Biyernes, Agosto 8. Matatagpuan ang The Cabanas sa kahabaan ng MacArthur Highway sa Barangay Longos, Lungsod ng Malolos. Nakakahalintulad nito ang East Wood Park sa Libis, Lungsod ng Quezon. Magkakaroon ito ng department at grocery store, mga bangko, kainan, sine-

Yet, $50 dollar livelihood loans for poor women, to take one example, won the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank. “Micro-credit is a means … whereby large population groups find ways to break out of poverty,” the Nobel citation said. But the track record on the Fund shows “there’s little for a people-oriented strategy that builds human assets for the poor,” Sun•Star daily noted. “But it reveals elbow room for graft.” Persistent theft of the Fund does not stem from ignorance. Ruling after ruling has come down to safeguard it’s “preferential option for the poorest”. Mountain Province barangay officials, for example, lobbed two questions at DILG: Could they use the 20 Per Cent Development Fund to supplement salaries of national high school teachers? And could they patch up funding deficits in other projects ○

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from the Fund? No way, Jose, said DILG Opinion No. 5 on 10 August 1999. And that policy remains in force today. But it is, alas, honored more in the breach than in the practice, as the Aloguinsan case study shows. Speaking to the League of Provinces, President Arroyo urged: “Prioritize the use of (the 20%) development fund for improvement in delivery of basic social and health services.” Led by Bohol Governor Rico Aumentado, the League responded with a resolution that called on members: Use this Fund to ensure “quality education … access to electricity and potable water, and affording people livelihood opportunities.” Infrastructure projects for job generation can … pump prime the local economy in the countryside.” But when one shashays on the dance floor, as in Aloguinsan, who bothers to listen? — [email protected] ○

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 mula sa pahina 2

han at iba pang negosyo. *** Inaasahan na ang The Cabanas ay magiging isang pangunahing destinasyon, pasyalan at pamilihan sa Lungsod ng Malolos sa mga darating na buwan. Bukod dito inaasahan din na maghahatid ito ng maraming oportunidad sa trabaho para sa mga Bulakenyo dahil bawat negosyanteng magtatayo ng negosyo doon ay tiyak na kukuha ng mga trabahador sa lalawigan. Goodluck

sa mga walang trabaho na gustong magkahanap-buhay! *** Congratulations din kay Rommel Ramos ng Lungsod ng Malolos sa muling pagbabalik ng kanyang palatuntunang Rommel Ramos, Po! sa himpapawid simula noong Sabado, Agosto 9. Mapapakinggan ito tuwing Sabado, mula ika-8:00 hanggang ika-9:00 ng umaga sa DZSS 1494 kilohertz sa talapihitan ng inyong mga radio.

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AGOSTO 8 – 14, 2008

DI PA RIN NAISASARA — Tuloy pa rin ang operasyon ng Ming Hong Trading, ang sunugan ng gulong sa

Sitio Diliman, Barangay Partida, Norzagaray, sa kabila ng mga reklamo ng mga residente. — DINO BALABO

NINJA — Animo’y isang “Ninja warrior” ang manggagawang ito ng Ming Hong Trading na naglalakad palabas mula sa bungad ng isang incinerator dahil sa balot na balot ang buong katawan nang makunan ng larawan ng Mabuhay noong Hulyo 31. Mapapansin ang pangingitim ng damit ng manggagawa at maging ang sahig, pader at bubong ng planta sanhi ng uling na hatid ng ibinubugang usok ng sinusunog na gulong. — DINO BALABO

Dapat isara ang Ming Hong, ilegal ang operasyon – EMB NI DINO BALABO NORZAGARAY, Bulacan — Dapat itigil ang operasyon ng Ming Hong Trading, ang sunugan ng gulong sa Sitio Diliman, Barangay Partida sa bayang ito, dahil ilegal ang operasyon nito. Ito ang pahayag ng Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) ng Gitnang Luzon hinggil sa inirereklamong planta na nagsusunog ng gulong sa kabila ng pangako ng isa sa mga kasosyo doon na isasara iyon sa Agosto 31 kung hindi magiging epektibo ang mga pasilidad na kanilang ikakabit. Ang EMB ay isang sangay ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) na ang mandato ay bantayan ang mga kumpanya o katulad na pasilidad na pinagmumulan ng polusyon. Sinabi naman ni Mayor Feliciano Legazpi, na napakiusapan matapos na magutos noong Hulyo 31 na isara ang planta at nagbanta na ipadadakip sa pulisya ang mga manggagawa ng Ming Hong kapag hindi tumigil, na binibigyan niya ng pagkakataon ang mga mamumuhunan sa Norzagaray na makasunod sa patakaran. Ayon kay Raldy Pagador, environmental management specialist ng EMB, hindi maaaring magsagawa o magpatuloy ng operasyon ang Ming Hong Trading, na matatagpuan sa Sitio Diliman, Barangay Partida hangga’t hindi nakasusunod sa batas. “Dapat tumigil muna sila,” ani Pagador at binigyang diin na dapat ay ipasara muna ng pamahalaang lokal ang operasyon ng nasabing planta na nagsusunog ng gulong, hangga’t hindi pa lumalabas ang resulta ng pagsusuri ng

kanilang laboratoryo sa water at air sample na kanilang kinolekta noong Hulyo 31. Lalabas ang resulta ng mga sample sa susunod na linggo, at kung ito ay hindi nakapasa isusumite iyon ng EMB sa Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB) para makapaglabas ng Cease and Desist Order (CDO). Ayon kay Apolonio Marcelo, ang dating alkalde ng bayan ng Angat na kasosyo sa Ming Hong Trading, ang inerereklamong planta na nagsusunog ng lumang gulong upang makatas ang langis, ititigil na ang kanilang operasyon sa Agosto 31 kapag hindi umepekto ang mga bagong pasilidad na pamigil sa polusyon na kanilang ikakabit. Sinabi pa ni Marcelo na Ming Hong ang tunay na pangalan ng planta at hindi “Meng Hong” tulad ng unang napaulat sa pahayagang ito. “Kung hindi magiging successful ang mga improvements na ginagawa namin ay tuluyan nang ititigil ang operasyon ng Ming Hong sa katapusan ng buwang ito,” ani Marcelo sa Mabuhay nang siya ay makapanayam sa bayan ng Sta. Maria noong Agosto 8. Sinabi niya na namuhunan ang planta ng mahigit P1 milyon para makabili at makapaglagay ng electrostatic precipitator na siyang pipigil sa polusyon na ibinubuga ng planta. Ang electronic precipitator, ayon kay Marcelo, ay parang dust collector na ginagamit ng mga pabrika ng muwebles sa Pampanga at mga pabrika ng semento dito sa Norzagaray. Ipinaliwanag niya na mahihigop ng nasabing instrumento ang mga usok na may dalang uling mula sa sinusunog na gulong. Sa ganitong paraan, ani-

ya, mapipigil ang polusyon na inirereklamo ng mga residente na nakatira malapit sa kanilang planta. Bukod sa nasabing instrumento, sinabi ni Marcelo, na sa kasalukuyan ay kanila itong kinukubkob ng yero na katulad ng isang bodega ang planta upang walang lumabas na usok. “Mayroon kaming application para sa ECC (Environmental Compliance Certificate) mula pa noong nakaraang taon,” ayon kay Marcelo. “Naaprubahan na sana yung ECC namin, kaso, dahil sa open pa yung area ay sinabi ng EMB na hold muna hanggang sa makacomply kami.” Tinanong naman ng Mabuhay kay Marcelo na kung hindi pa aprubado ang kanilang ECC ay hindi ba nararapat lamang na itigil muna ang kanilang operasyon. Ang sagot niya ay kaya patuloy ang kanilang operasyon kahit wala pang ECC ay upang masubok kung epektibo ang kanilang instrumentong inilalagay at pasilidad na idinadagdag. Ayon naman kay Pagador, hindi maaari ang sinasabi ni Marcelo na magpapatuloy ng operasyon habang isinasaayos ang antipollution device. Ani Pagador, “Hindi sila mabibigyan ng ECC hangga’t hindi tumitino ang kanilang operasyon.” Hinggil naman sa kawalan ng Ming Hong Trading ng Business Permit, sinabi ni Marcelo na hindi muna sila kumuha ngayong taong ito dahil hindi pa aprubado ang kanilang ECC. Hinggil naman sa larawan ng isang palaisdaan na puno ng langis na lumabas sa nakaraang sipi ng Mabuhay, pinabulaanan ni Marcelo na sa Ming Hong galing ang mga langis na iyon. Sinabi niya na may nag-

tatapon ng gamit na langis sa isang loteng may sukat na 15 ektarya di kalayuan sa kanilang planta, at iyon ang dahilan kaya’t napuno ng langis ang nasabing palaisdaan. Ngunit nang liwanagin ng Mabuhay ang eksaktong kinalalagyan ng nasabing lote ay taliwas ito sa sinasabi ni Marcelo. Binigyang diin pa ng Mabuhay na batay sa obserbasyon sa topograpiya ng lupa sa paligid ng palaisdaan, at batay na rin sa pahayag ng mga residente ay imposibleng sa sinasabing lote ni Marcelo nagmumula ang langis na nakita sa palaisdaan. Matatandaan na noong Hulyo 31 ay muling nagsagawa ng isang inspeksyon ang EMB sa Ming Hong Trading kung kailan ay kumuha sila ng water at air sample. Ayon kay Pagador, kulang sa water treatment facility

ang Ming Hong kaya’t malaki ang posibilidad na kontaminado ng langis ang itinatapong tubig nito na dumadaloy sa palaisdaan na pag-aari ng isang Luis Clarin. Batay sa pahayag ni Marcelo, ang Ming Hong ay nagsasagawa ng operasyon sa loob ng 12 oras bawat araw at nakakarekober ng 4,000 litro ng langis kung ang lahat ng anim nilang incinerator ay umaandar. Sa kasalukuyan ay tatlo lamang daw sa kanilang incinerator ang umaandar. Ang langis o bunker oil na nakakatas ng Ming Hong sa mga gulong ay ibinebenta nila ng P17.50 hanggang P20 sa mga pabrika sa Lungsod ng Valenzuela at sa bayan ng Sta. Maria. Ito ay higit na mababa sa benta ng mas malalaking kumpanya sa bunker oil na nagkakahalaga ng mahigit sa P20 bawat litro. Sinabi rin ni Marcelo na

mas pinipili ng mga pabrika ang bunker oil dahil mas mura iyon kumpara sa diesel o krudo na ngayon ay nagkakahalaga na ng mahigit P56 bawat litro. Sa panig naman ni Mayor Legazpi na naunang nagutos at nagbanta na ipasasara ang planta ng Ming Hong, hihintayin daw niya na makasunod ang Ming Hong sa atas ng EMB. Ayon kay Legazpi, hindi niya alam na may aplikasyon para sa ECC ang Ming Hong sa EMB. Sinabi pa ni Legazpi sa Mabuhay na bilang isang alkalde, binabalanse niya ang kalagayan ng mga mamumuhunan at mga mamamayan. Inihalimbawa niya ang karanasan sa mga pabrika ng semento sa bayang ito na halos 20 taon bago nagkabit ng mga electro static precipitator na pumigil sa mga alikabok na ibinibuga ng pabrika.

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AGOSTO 8 – 14, 2008

AUGUST 16, 2008

Pagbati sa Pagdiriwang Ika-9 na anibersaryo ng Art Angel Printshop

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Ika-18 kaarawan ni Mikey P. Vergara

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Pang-anibersaryong larawan ng mga nagtataguyod sa Art Angel Printshop. Nasa dulong kaliwa si Bebs Q. Pavia na siyang nagtayo ng imprentang kabahagi ng lingguhang pahayagang Mabuhay.

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Ika-94 na kaarawan ni Lola Dahl Pavia

Micky Pavia Vergara, 18 — ngiti ng isang nagtapos sa high school.

Negosyante umalma sa dami ng NFA rice

Bigas ng NFA pinag-aagawan pa rin

 mula sa pahina 8

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Regarding Henry

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the remedy too often produces a relapse, which is remorse — a malady far more dreadful than the first disease, because it is incurable.” Percy Bysshe Shelley agrees. “Something of vengeance I had tasted for the first time; as aromatic wine it seemed, on swallowing, warm and racy: its after-flavor, metallic and corroding, gave me a sensation as if I had been poisoned.” English author Samuel Johnson is one person who would get even with those people who would exploit him. When he was completing his dictionary, a London journal published two anonymous “previews” of the book. The ar-

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biglang sumibad pataas ang presyo ng bigas sanhi ng kakulangan ng produksyon at pagtaas ng presyo ng produktong petrolyo sa pandaigdigang pamilihan. Sa hanay naman ng mga magsasaka, marami ang nakumbinse na magbalik sa tradisyunal na pamamaraan ng pagsasaka sanhi ng pagtaas ng presyo ng kemi-

 mula sa pahina 1

Figueroa, tagapamahala ng NFA sa Bulacan, walang ibang dapat sisihin sa pagbulusok ng presyo ng bigas kungdi ang mga negosyante. “Panay kasi ang ispekulasyon nila, pero hindi nila naagapan ang magiging reaksyon ng gobyerno,” ani Figueroa, na binigyang diin na noong Marso at Abril ay

negosyante 587,000 kaban ay nasa mga negosyante. Hinggil naman sa presyo ng bigas ng NFA, sinabi niya na sa mga Tindahan Natin (TN) sa mga barangay, ang bigas ng NFA ay ibinebenta sa halagang P18.25 bawat kilo, samantalang sa mga Bigasan ni Gloria sa Palengke (BGP) ay P25. Bukod dito, nagbebenta rin ang NFA ng matataas na klaseng bigas na nagkakahalaga ng P 35 bawat kilo at P 38 bawat kilo. ○

Si Lola Dahl at ang kanyang apong si Edgar Pavia na dumalaw mula Los Angeles, kasama ang amang si Pat Pavia upang magmano.

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kal na pataba na nagmumula sa petrolyo. Ngunit hindi naman lahat ng magsasaka ay nagbalik na sa tradisyunal na pagsasaka kaya’t namahagi ang Kagawaran ng Pagsasaka ng fertilizer subsidy coupon bilang ayuda sa mga magsasaka. Ayon kay Redentor Gatus, director ng Kagawaran ○

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ng Pagsasaka sa Gitnang Luzon, ang pamamahagi ng mga nasabing kupon ay bahagi ng programang tinaguriang Fertilizer, Irrigation, Extension Services, Loans, Dryer and Post–harvest facilities and Seeds (FIELDS). Ang layunin nito, ani Gatus, ay para tumaas ang produksyon ng bigas sa bansa sa 2010. ○

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 continued from page 3

ticles were favorable but superficial. When he learned that the wealthy Earl of Chesterfield had written them, he was furious. After all, he had applied to him repeatedly for patronage while writing the dictionary, but the earl had been cheap, giving the poverty-stricken writer no more than ten pounds (about US$250). Now, Johnson felt, he was trying to take credit as a patron. In the dictionary, he defined patron as “commonly a wretch who supports with insolence, and is paid with flattery.” Irish author George Bernard Shaw had also experienced embarrassing moments. After the premiere of Arms and

the Man (1898), he took the stage to make a curtain speech. When the applause subsided, there was a solitary boo from London critic Reginald Golding Bright. Shaw looked directly at Bright and said, “My dear fellow, I quite agree with you, but what are we two against so many?” Finally, here’s another story that should end this piece. A cigar smoker bought several hundred expensive cigars and had them insured against fire. After he’d smoked them all, he filed a claim, pointing out that the cigars had, in fact, been destroyed by fire. The insurance company refused to

pay, and then the man sued. The judge ruled that because the insurance company had agreed to insure the cigars against fire, it was legally responsible. The company had no choice but to pay the claim. Then, when the man accepted the money, the company had him arrested for arson. “Don’t get mad,” Josh Billings suggests. “Get even.” But Martin Luther King, Jr. reiterates, “That old law about ‘an eye for an eye’ leaves everybody blind. The time is always right to do the right thing.” “Live well,” said Francis Bacon. “It is the greatest revenge.” — [email protected]

7

AGOSTO 8 – 14, 2008

Pangalagaan ang kalikasan at aalagaan ka nito!

Treated unfairly by newspapers that refuse to publish your response?

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES SUPREME COURT OFFICE OF THE EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF MALOLOS CITY, BULACAN

Write us. Philippine Press Council

E.J.F. NO. 229-2008

c/o PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE Rm. 312 B.F. Condominium Building A. Soriano Ave., Intramuros, Manila

EXTRA JUDICIAL FORECLOSURE OF REAL ESTATE PROPERTY/IES UNDER ACT 3135 AS AMENDED BY ACT 4118

PHILIPPINE SAVINGS BANK, Mortgagee, – versus –

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Forward to Basics  from page 3

“But Christ who hears your confession in the priest is always the same one who loves you and forgives you.” “Thank yuh, Fathe’! God bless yuh too, Fathe’” “God bless you,” I repeated as I traced another sign of the cross on her forehead. Then I added, “I will never cease to keep you in mind till you go to confession!” “Thank yuh, Fathe’ and I will also pray for yuh alwayz.” *** These are the few moments of grace among so many, that made us experience God’s proximity, through the Holy Father and the unity of so many pilgrims from all over the world, during those brief but intense days of the World Youth Day in Sydney. Pictures, videos, the endless list of signatures, email, YM, Facebook and Multiply addresses, etc. will not be enough to contain the transforming moments of that historic event. These will, perhaps, only suffice to bring back fleeting remembrances of those spiritually charged days. But they will never replace the spiritual novelty that every World Youth Day impresses ever stronger in the hearts and minds of every Christian. Every World Youth Day

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redefines and actualizes what a pilgrimage is in the Christian’s life. Its historical notion still holds true and is further reinforced: a penitential journey to some geographical point of sacred nature (e.g. Jerusalem, Turin, Lourdes, Fatima, etc.) or a holy person’s remains (e.g. St. Pio, Blessed Mother Teresa, St. Maximillan Kolbe, St. Josemaría Escrivá, etc.) Only now, however, the difference would be in opening the reality of a person’s daily pilgrimage towards God. World Youth Days do not only spiritually transform the places (like Cologne or Sydney) — converting these into spiritual refuges — where they are held. They also reveal the mission of every Christian to be a witness through his pilgrimage within his family, work, rest and social dealings. The dichotomy or division between one’s faith and life disappears and there is but one life — a unity of life — that moves and carries the noble realities of the world towards God. Thus, converting these ordinary events, places and engagements as divine havens where God — the Father, Son and Holy Spirit — become truly present in the midst of the world and in the life of every man and woman.

AFFIDAVIT OF SELF-ADJUDICATION NOTICE is hereby given that the estate of the deceased FLORENCIA LAXAMANA who died intestate on February 12, 1970 at San Luis, Pampanga left a TWO (2) parcels of land covered by OCT No. 1795 more particularly described as follows: (1) “A parcel of land (Lot.No. 2013 of the Cad. Survey of San Luis, Cad. Case No. 52, L.R.C. Cad. Record No. 1972) situated in the Barrio of Sto.Tomas, Municipality of San Luis, Prov. of Pampanga containing an area of FOURTEEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FOUR (14,564) square meters more or less.” (2) (Lot No. 2015 of the Cad. Survey of san Luis, Cad.Case No. 52, L.R.C. Cad. Record No 1972), situated in the Barrio of Sto. Tomas, Municipality of San Luis, Prov. of Pampanga, containing an area of TEN THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY SIX (10,456) square, meters more or less” hereby adjudicate unto MAXIMO L. VICENTE, JR., as her only forced and compulsory heir the TWO (2) parcels of land above described and the Sto. Entierro, its caroza and other equipment/accessories hereby request the Register of Deeds of Pampanga to register and render the same effective as per Doc. No. 321; Page No. 66; Book No. 65 Series of 2008 in Notary Public Pio Kenneth I. Dasal. Mabuhay: August 8, 15 & 22, 2008

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE OF ENRIQUE VALENCIA WITH WAIVER OF RIGHTS NOTICE is hereby given that the estate of the late ENRIQUE VALENCIA who died intestate on June 7, 1997 leaving a parcel of land covered by TCT No. 55738 situated in the barrio of Sindalan, Municipality of San Fernando, Province, of Pampanga was extra-judicially settled among his heirs before Notary Public Nepomucneo Z. Caylao; Doc. No. 238; Page No. 49; Book No. II; Series of 2008. Mabuhay: July 25, August 1 & 8, 2008

SPS. JONATHAN M. UYTICO & JULIET C. UYTICO, Respondent/Mortgagor.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT THIRD JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 82 CITY OF MALOLOS, BULACAN

X—————————————X

NOTICE OF SHERIFF’S SALE Upon extra-judicial petition for sale under Act 3135 as amended by Act 4118 filed by PHILIPPINE SAVINGS BANK with postal address at PS Bank Center, 777 Paseo de Roxas cor. Sedeno St., Makati City, against SPS. JONATHAN M. UYTICO & JULIET C. UYTICO with the postal address at Blk. 615, Lot 19 PH 6, Pelictas Heritage Homes, La Loma De Gato, Marilao, Bulacan, the mor tgagor/s to satisfy the mor tgage indebtedness which as of July, 7, 2007 amounts to THREE MILLION NINE HUNDRED NINETY NINE THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED NINETY NINE PESOS 03/100 (P3,999.199.03), Philippine Currency, including interest thereon, excluding __% of the total indebtedness by way of attorney’s fees, plus daily interest and expenses thereafter, also secured by said mor tgage and such other amounts which may become due and payable to the aforementioned mor tgagee, the Ex-Officio Sheriff of Bulacan thru the undersigned Sheriff hereby gives notice to all interested par ties and to the public in general that on SEPTEMBER 2, 2008 at 10:00 A.M. or soon thereafter, in front of the Office of the Ex-Officio Sheriff of Bulacan, located at the back of the Bulwagan ng Katarungan, Provincial Capitol Compound, Malolos City, Bulacan will sell at public auction thru sealed bidding to the highest bidder for CASH and in Philippine Currency, the described real proper ty below together with all the improvements existing thereon: TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. T- 509595 (M) A parcel of land (Lot 2 of the cons. Subd. Plan Pcs-03-007000 being a portion of the cons. lots 4651-C to D of Psd-03070626 LRC Rec. no. ) Situated in the Bo. of Lawa, Mp. of Meyc. Procince of Bulacan. Bounded on the SW., along line 1 to 4 by Lot 4651-G Psd03-070626(Rd) on the NW., xxx containing an area of THREE HUNDRED TEN (310) SQ. METERS, more or less. xxx TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. T- 509596 (M) A parcel of land (Lot 4651-E-1 of the subd. Plan Psd-03-106428 being a portion of lot 4651-E Psd-03-070626 LRC Rec. No. ), situated in the Bo of Lawa, Mun. of Meycauayan, Province of Bulacan. xxx containing an area of SEVENTY FOUR (74) SQ. METERS, more or less. xxx This Notice of Sheriff’s sale will be posted for a period of twenty (20) days in three (3) conspicuous public places in the municipality where the subject property is located and at Malolos City, Bulacan where the sale shall take place, and likewise a copy will be published for the same period in the MABUHAY a newspaper of general circulation in the province of Bulacan, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks before the date of auction sale. All sealed bids with its accompanying transmittal letter addressed to this office must be submitted to the undersigned on or before the above stated date and hour at which time all sealed bids thus, submitted shall be opened. In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date, it shall be held on SEPTEMBER 9, 2008 at 10:00 A.M. or soon thereafter without further notice. Prospective bidders or buyers are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the title to the property and encumbrance thereon, if any there be. Malolos City, Bulacan, July 29, 2008. EMMANUEL L. ORTEGA Ex- Officio Sheriff By: Pablo R. Glorioso Sheriff IV Copy furnished: All parties concerned Mabuhay: July 25, August 1 & 8, 2008 SHOWING ON AUGUST 13, 2008 ONWARDS

subject to change without prior notice

WALL-E

A VERY SPECIAL LOVE

DOBOL TROBOL

TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR

SPC NO. 173-M-2008 IN THE MATTER OF THE CORRECTION OF THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE OF ROBIE S. MAPE ROBIE S. MAPE, ANGEL C. MAPE AND AMBROCIA S. MAPE, Petitioner, – versus – THE CIVIL REGISTRAR OF PULILAN, BULACAN AND ROGER B. SEVILLA, Respondents. X—————————————X

AMENDED ORDER Before this Court is the Petition for Correction of Entries in the Local Civil Registrar of Pulilan, Bulacan filed on July 15, 2008 by herein petitioner, through counsel, praying that after due notice, publication and hearing, an Order be issued directing the Local Civil Registrar of Pulilan, Bulacan to effect the necessary correction of the entries in the Certificate of Live Birth of Robie S. Mape from the surname Revilla to the correct surname Mape; from the father’s name of Roger B. Revilla to the correct name Angel C. Mape; and that from the entry reflecting that petitioner’s parents were married on September 21, 1985 to the correct entry “Not Married”, pursuant to Rule 108 of the Rules of Court. The petition alleged that the petitioners Robie S. Mape, Angel C. Mape and Ambrocia S. Mape, are all of legal ages, Filipinos and residents of Paltao, Pulilan, Bulacan. The respondents are the Civil Registrar of Pulilan, Bulacan and Roger B. Revilla who is likewise of legal age, Filipino, marital status and whereabouts are unknown and being impleaded herein considering that his name was erroneously written as Robie S. Mape’s father was born on July 24, 1986 in Poblacion, Pulilan, Bulacan, (Annex “A” of the petition); that in the said Certificate of Live Birth, the name Roger B. Revilla was erroneously written as the father the petitioner Robie, when in truth and in fact, the latter’s father is petitioner Angel C. Mape, as evidenced by the latter’s Affidavit of Acknowledgment dated May 20, 2008, (Annex “B” of the petition); that likewise, petitioner Robie’s parents, namely Angle C. Mape and Ambrocia S. Santos were not yet married at the time of petitioner’s birth; that petitioner’s parents were only married on April 29, 1990 as evidenced by their Certificate of Marriage, (Annex “C” of the petition); thus, the following entries in the petitioner Robie’s Certificate of Live Birth are erroneous and should therefore be corrected accordingly to reflect the truth: a) the name of the petitioner is erroneously entered as Robie Santos Revilla, instead of his true and correct name, Robie Santos Mape; b) the name of the father to petitioner is erroneously entered as Roger B. Revilla, instead of the true and correct name of his father as Angel C. Mape; c) the erroneous entry as to the marriage of petitioner’s parents, instead of the correct entry which is “Not Married”; that in all documents where the above entries are also stated, petitioner Robie has stated his correct surname of Mape ad the correct full name of his father as Angel C. Mape, as evidenced by the following documents attached in the petition: a. Certificate of Baptism, (Annex “D” of the petition); b. Certificate of Confirmation, (Annex “E” of the petition); c. Voter’s Identification Card. (Annex “F” of the petition) d. Application for registration, (Annex “G” of the petition); e. Students’ Permanent Record, (Annex “H” of the petition); f. Community Tax Certificate (Annex “I” of the petition); g. Postal Identity Card, (Annex “J” of the petition); and h. TIN I.D., (Annex “K” of the petition); that the erroneous entries in the Certificate of Live Birth of petitioner Robie resulted by reason of the fact that at the time of his birth, petitioner’s grandfather, Jose Santos, did not want his daughter, petitioner Ambrocia, to give birth to an illegitimate child, hence, Jose Santos made it appear that Ambrocia was married to Roger B. Revilla and the later is the father of the petitioner Robie, when in the truth and in fact, the father of the child was Angel C. Mape; that petitioner Ambrocia S. Mape was already pregnant of Robie when her then boyfriend, Angel C. Mape was assigned as a member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Mindanao; thus, when Ambrocia C. Mape gave birth to Robie, her father, Jose Santos, made it appear that Ambrocia was married to one Roger B. Revilla to avoid social embarrassment; that subsequently, petitioner Angel C. Mape returned and was able to marry petitioner Ambrocia on April 29, 1990 as shown by their marriage contract, (Annex “C”)’ and that to avoid confusion and to put in order the Certificate of Live Birth of Robie S. Mape, it is necessary that the erroneous entries therein should be corrected in an adverse proceeding as required under the law. Finding the said petition to be sufficient in form and substance, the Court sets the same for hearing on November 11, 2008 at 10:00 o’clock in the morning at which date and time, interested parties may appear and show cause why the same should not be granted. Let this order be published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the province of Bulacan at the expense of the petitioner. Send copies of this Order to the Local Civil Registrar of Pulilan, Bulacan, to the National Statistics Office, and to the Office of the Solicitor General as well as to the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor, who is directed to appear on behalf of the government. SO ORDERED. July 29, 2008. Herminia V. Pasamba Acting Presiding Judge Mabuhay: July 25, August 1 & 8, 2008

8

Mabuhay

AGOSTO 8 – 14, 2008

LINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980

BUTIL NG BUHAY — Mabilisan ang pagkilos ng mga manggagawa ng National Food Authority (NFA) sa Malolos sa pagsasalin ng kilo-kilong bigas sa mga plastic at sako na ihahatid sa mga pamilihan (itaas), ngunit dahil sa pagdagsa ng murang bigas mula sa NFA halos hindi mabili

LUBOG SA BIGAS — Halos lumubog na sa bigas at hindi makatayo ang manggagawang ito na nagtitimbang ng kilo-kilong bigas sa bodega ng National Food Authority (NFA) sa Malolos, samantalang, mistulang “ghost town” ang dating abalang Inter City Industrial Estate sa Bocaue, Bulacan na itinuturing na sentro ng kalakalan ng bigas sa lalawigan dahil walang mamimili. Bakante at wala ni isang trak sa harap ng mga rice mill sa loob ng Intercity na, ayon sa mga negosyante, ay bunga ng pagbagsak ng presyo ng bigas sa pamilihan. — DINO BALABO

ang tindang bigas ni Macaria Lingad kahit bumaba na ang presyo (kaliwa). Ayon kay Arturo Figueroa, tagapamahala ng NFA sa Bulacan, ang mga negosyante rin ang dapat sisihin sa pagtaas at pagbagsak ng presyo ng bigas dahil sa walang tigil nilang ispekulasyon. — DINO BALABO

Negosyante umalma sa dami ng NFA rice NI DINO BALABO BOCAUE, Bulacan — Bumagsak ng halos 50 porsiyento ang benta ng mga negosyante ng bigas sa Inter City Industrial Estate sa bayang ito, na kinikilalang isa sa mga rice trading center ng bansa, dahil sa pagdagsa ng bigas ng National Food Authority (NFA) sa mga pamilihan na humila pababa sa presyo ng komersyal na bigas. Para kay Arturo Figueroa, tagapamahala ng NFA sa Bulacan, walang ibang dapat sisihin sa pagbagsak ng presyo ng bigas kungdi ang mga negosyante dahil sa walang humpay na ispekulasyon ng mga ito noong Pebrero at Marso. Ayon kay Myra, isang negosyante ng bigas sa Inter City na tumangging ipabanggit ang buong pangalan, umaabot sa 50 hanggang 100 kabang bigas ang kanyang naibebenta sa loob ng isang araw noong Marso hanggang Mayo, ngunit ngayon halos 25 kaban lamang ang kanyang naibebenta. “Matumal na matumal ang benta namin ngayon,” ani Myra. Katulad niya, ang sinisisi ng iba pang negosyante ng bigas sa Inter City ay ang pagdagsa ng murang bigas ng NFA na inaangkat sa

ibayong dagat na may subsidiya ng gobyerno. Itinuturing ang Inter City Industrial Estate na isa sa pangunhaing trading center ng bigas sa bansa dahil matatagpuan doon ang mahigit 100 kiskisan ng palay. Inayunan ni Macaria Lingad, isang retailer ng bigas sa palengke ng Sta. Rita sa Guiguinto, Bulacan ang pananaw ng mga negosyante ng bigas. Sinabi ni Aling Macaria sa Mabuhay na mas maraming tao ngayon ang bumibili ng bigas na galing sa NFA dahil mas mababa ang presyo noon. Iginiit pa niya na maging ang benta niya ay apektado dahil halos bumaha ang bigas ng NFA sa mga pamilihan kaya’t iyon ang binibili ng mga tao. Ito ay sa kabila ng pagbaba ng presyo ng komersyal na bigas na ngayon ay nasa pagitan na lamang ng P28 at P40 ang bawat kilo depende sa klase. Ayon kay Aling Macaria, “Dapat ay mahal ang bigas ngayon dahil tag-ulan, pero baligtad ang sitwasyon. Mas mura ngayon.” Walang ibang dapat sisihin sa pagbagsak ng presyo ng bigas sa pamilihan kungdi ang mga negosyante, ayon sa hepe ng NFA sa lalawigan.

“Nag-speculate kasi sila ng nag-speculate kaya tumaas ang presyo ng bigas,” ani ni Figueroa. “Kaso hindi nila na-anticipate ang move ng pamahalaan. Sa pakikipanayam ng Mabuhay kay Figueroa noong Agosto 7, sinabi niya na pinadagsa ng NFA ang kanilang bigas sa pamilihan mula noong Marso kung kailan tumaas ang presyo ng bigas bunsod ng kakulangan ng supply at pagtaas ng presyo ng petrolyo sa pandaigdigang pamilihan. Inamin ni Figueroa na mababa ang presyo ng bigas ngayon kahit tag-ulan kung kailan karaniwan nang tumataas ang halaga ng pangunahing butil. Sa kasalukuyan, sinabi ni Figueroa na umaabot sa 8,000 hangang 9,000 kabang bigas araw-araw ang kanilang ibinebenta sa mga NFA accredited store sa Bulacan, at ito ay mahigit sa kalahati ng kabuoang 15,574 na kabang bigas na kinokonsumo ng may tatlong milyong Bulakenyo bawat araw. Sinabi rin niya na sa kasalukuyan ay may 1.7 milyong kabang bigas sa Bulacan na tatagal ng 110 araw at ang nasa pag-iingat ng NFA ay 911,574 kaban, ang nasa mga magsasaka 360,000 kaban, at mga  sundan sa pahina 6