The CSCStatesmanThe Official Tertiary Student Publication of the Catanduanes State Colleges

Member: College Editors Guild of the PhilippinesVol. XVIII No.I

To Exalt GodTo Honor Man

Virac, CatanduanesOctober - December 2009

Tungo sa Bagong YugTo

Vol.18 No.1 in this issue

Sa Pagsibol ng Modernong Pamamahayag at Paghulma ng mga Bagong Manunulat

The Triumph of Elitism

Dos mil dies:The Year We Make Contact

New look:A Quick Defiance on Accreditation Fever

Bagong HalalanBagong Kapalaran

HAYOKIsang pagsulyap sa kumakalam

na kabulukan

Catanduanes cashes in on Cassava as alternative crop

Masquerading the tragedywith conquest

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A Clamber to the Spawned Commerce20

Literary

Kultura

Columns

BIPPK

Nginiig

Sports

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UKOL SA PABALAT

Photo Credits: Superbev, Deviantart.com, Bren Garette Rivera Page Layout: beb & doboi

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Nasa ating kamay ang pagbabago.Nasa ating sarili ang inisyatibo.kuyom sa kalyadong palad ang isanlibong pangakokapalit ang sagradong botong magliligtas sana sa panibagong kapalarang tatahakin ng bayan.At sa pagsunggab sa bagong sistema ng halalan kasabay din sanaang pagkakaroon ng bagong simula sa pagpusta ng ating kinabukasansa kamay ng sana’y panibagong pamumuno.

31Poetry

Editorial

Idiocy. Gambling has always been an indecent human diversion. Though punishable by law, still, many are enticed to cross the threshold of this perfidious fad. Gamblers lay wagers to win, seldom to lose. Hefty riches are at stake to the conqueror. While the dark horse, after a painful defeat, absconds packed with laments. Monte Oro Company’s foray to conduct mining in the province exhibits a perilous gamble. But this time, it’s the people’s lives and livelihood that are being pot. Apart from the habitual approach, where a gambler looks forward to triumph, because before this spar was instituted, the chance to thrive was already made futile. The said company was awarded a total of 15,000 hectares of land areas to mine in the towns of San Andres, Caramoran, Panganiban and Viga and the venture was estimated to yield P 6.2 B. The government would also earn P186 M from the 3% royalty, P9 M from taxes and P10 M from workers. These bulk of benefits for the greedy and selfish are mere pittance compared to the massive environmental tragedy it will cause to Catandunganons. A Certificate of Non-Coverage issued by the government, instead of an Environmental Compliance Certificate that is awarded after an Environmental Impact Assessment, ignited the wrath of the church and the people. This only shows a vivid picture of arrogance, crony capitalism and abuse of power. Consequently, Bishop Manolo delos Santos and Katandungan Kontra Mina, a civic organization campaigning against mining, together with the concerned and affected sectors, appealed to the Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) due to absence of public consultations and orientations. Then came the President of this company declaring that they have abandoned the project due to lack of potentials, which in turn will be unprofitable and uneconomical. But until now, we are laid on the verge of enigma. The people are left lynching as the riddle continues to tread its craft. Nevertheless, environmental disaster is not far-fetched once this mining is pushed through. There would be devastation of agricultural lands, mountains, fields and pollution of watersheds.

Then, as the natural resources are recklessly consumed, this will lead to landslides, mudslides, rampaging floods and even add woes to global warming that would result to ecological imbalance. As quoted by a politician, “Mining is governed by law. If you comply with the law, there’s nothing wrong about it as long as you do not degrade the environment.” Therefore we say, indeed, no mining operation ended without its enormous environmental destruction and degradation. We, ourselves, witnessed nature’s agonizing revenge. Monte Oro’s plan to onslaught might have been aborted but threats to our ecology looms everyday. Must we wait until we could endure her verdict no more? We are stewards of the environment. Thus, it is our prime duty to protect and conserve its languid beauty. This is where we dwell and build ourselves. The food we eat, the water we imbibe and the air we breathe emanate from nature. It is but just right to address the distressing state of our haven, brought by drastic changes to our ecology. Another battle fought against threats of mining and incessantly blatant environmental exploitation once again proved our resiliency to protect the pristine beauty of this island province. The prize sought could have been won had the publicized abortion of the Monte Oro’s contract to explore for potential coals (then eventually extract reserves) was genuine and not a mere display of filthy political ploy. Together, we can lend a hand to save our habitat from its total annihilation to regain its lost glory. Let’s wait no more to turn deaf ears and be blindfolded on the real scenario at the moment. Risk is an essential factor in every scheme. But to chase the option when risk prevails over benefit is absurd. We should never let ourselves and our troubled island home be pledged once more. Done with the irresponsibility. Done with the egocentricity. Done with the vanity. What we have today may all be gone tomorrow. The day of salvation is now. Above and beyond, we never inherited nature from the past. We borrowed it from the future.

ILL-FATED GAMBLE

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/ Elvin Randolph Jubay ASSOCIATE EDITOR/ Ferdinand Camilo Kimura MANAGING EDITOR/ John Elmar Templonuevo FINANCE OFFICER/NEWS EDITOR/ Ezekiel Tanael FEATURES EDITOR/ Jann Marvin Posada LITERARY EDITOR/ John Michael Veruen PATNUGOT SA KULTURA’T LATHALAIN/ Maribel Trinidad SPORTS EDITOR/ Jonathan Tulod LAY-OUT & GRAPHICS EDITOR / Ruzzel Valdepeña ASST. LAY-OUT & GRAPHICS EDITORS/ Leonard Bryan Sebuano, Beverly Tatel ART EDITOR/ John Theli Bien ASST. ART EDITORS/ Richard Icawat, Joebert Angelo Toledo CIRCULATION MANAGER/ Shervin Icawat STAFF WRITERS/Cyril Patrice Bernardino, Bren Garette Rivera, Dave Tolentino, Marian Claire Tulod TECHNICAL ADVISER/ Helen Ferida EDITORIAL CONSULTANT/ GSR Member: CEGP

The CSC Statesman The Official Student Publication of the Catanduanes State Colleges Vol. XVIII No.I

in this issue

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CRON

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STORS GOVERNMENT OFFICIA

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CATANDUANES

With a goal of educating and urging the CSC Student Organizations towards

accountability, the Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (CSC Chapter) was directed by the Director of Student Services to audit the Financial Statements of all the CSC Student Organizations.

This is in the light of the past anomalies that had occurred in several student organizations in the campus wherein issues of corruption, fraud and theft had jeopardized the image of the CSC. To support this move, the JPIA conducted a seminar on December 9, 2009 at CSC Little Theater about Standards on Financial Reporting which discussed the basic preparation of an organization’s Financial Statement. The event which started at 1:00 in the afternoon was steered by the Dean of the College of Business and Accountancy, Prof. Ma. Theresa Sarmiento and the Director of Student Services, Dr. Lourdes V.Rodriguez. The seminar was specificallydesigned for the presidents, financeofficers/treasurers, and internal auditorsof all student organizations since they are theresponsibleofficials inthepreparationoffinancialreports. “From now on, our office (OSA)would not clear an organization unless they have been audited by the JPIA,” Dr. Rodriguez stated during the seminar. Joeffrey T. Ereso, the president of the JPIA presented the uniform financialstatement which was formulated by the JPIA Board of Directors specifically forthe school organizations during its regular meeting on November 11, 2009. The seminar also included a workshop where the participants were given a sample problem involving organizational transactions. They were asked to prepare the Financial Statements regarding the transactions in order to familiarize them with the accounts. The Financial Statement standard as discussed by the Board of Directors of theJPIAwasadoptedtofinallyestablishauniform format and a formal procedure in financialreporting,whichisthefirstintheCSC’s student organization’s history.

-Ezekiel V. Tanael

JPIA to audit all CSC student organizations

CSC upgrades library operation

Library automation is a combination of both hardware and software facility. It consist of a computer program designed to perform various library functions such as circulation, cataloging, public access, acquisitions, serials control and interlibrary loan. It also allows users to search for information in one place. The Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC), an advanced equivalent of cardcatalog, iswhat users consult to find andretrieve information of interest. A user who locates an item of interest in the OPAC can obtain the bibliographic information and the call number. The user can also determine thestatusofthatitem(e.g.,check-outdate,duedate,onreserve). In addition, the user can ascertain whether the item being searched in the OPAC is on order, received, claimed, canceled, or sent to the bindery. With this information technology capability, users are allowed to use search strategies that exceed those that can be used with card catalogs. While card catalogs can be accessed by author, title and subject, OPACs can be accessed by author, title, subject and keyword. Onceauserfindstheitemofinterestin the open shelves, a hand-held device

To improve library services and increase productivity, efficiency

and accuracy in performing a variety of library operations, the CSC College Library launched its automation early this school year.

will scan the item’s barcode, download the scanned item in the automated system and generate a variety of reports. At present, the library has fivecomputers with online public access catalog (OPAC) system, one in each section andanother one is located in its center lobby. Before automating the CSC’s main library, the staff and their casual workers had a one-week training in May this year to ensure preparedness in providing new services to its clients.

-Marian Claire V. Tulod

News Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009 2

Students from CHS take part in the dry run of the automated library operations early this school year 2009 - 2010. Top inset is the a sample of a bar coded book(CSC - PRIS)

Joeffrey Ereso, JPIA - CSC President

acquaints some officers of recognized

organizations to the proposed financial

reporting standard. (JPIA - CSC)

CSC Prepares for Random Drug Testing

The program aims to determine the prevalence of drug users among the students and to strengthen the collaborative effortsofidentifiedagenciesagainsttheuseof prohibited drugs. CHED in cooperation with Department of Health will handle the drug testing procedures through an unbiased process of selecting students who will undergo the drug testing. The Selection Board, composed of Drug Testing Coordinators as chairperson, representatives from the students, teaching staff and parents will ensure the confidentialityandintegrityoftherandomselection process. Moreover, the results of the test willbestrictlyconfidential.Theaggregateresults will not include the identities of the students to secure their respect and privacy. On the other hand, several students are still hesitant to undergo drug testing. They are worrying about the sanctions that will be imposed upon them if they will be

found positive. “Katatakot man kaan, baad ipakulong na sana ako ning basang nu magpositibo ako,” said a student from Department of Industrial Technology. “Pano kung magluwas na drug dependent ang sarong estudyante? Kahilak man ta siguradong papatalsikin uya sa State”, a student from College of Education added. However, in case the test results are positive, a confirmation test will beconducted. The result of this will not be a ground for expulsion or any disciplinary action of the students and will not be used in any criminal proceedings. “It concerns more on health issues. It is not intended to condemn the students but to guide them for treatment. Nothing is to worry about” remarked Dr. Sheryll Ditchella,MedicalOfficerIIIoftheCSC. In the event that it is determined that a student is a drug dependent, the student will undergo a three-month observation and counseling under the

supervision of a DOH-accredited facility or physician in consultation with the parent. Such processes of observation and counseling shall be done in coordination with the CSC Drug Counselor. If another drug testing is conducted and the student is found positive the second time around, the administration will proceed in accordance to Section 61, RA 9165. The parents may choose to enroll the student in a private rehabilitation program or to avail rehabilitation services of the government. The administration is hoping that this program will successfully bear good results. However, if the outcome will be unfavorable, a follow up drug awareness program will consequently follow to eliminate drug addiction inside the campus and secure the health and safety of every student in the institution.

In line with Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Memorandum Order No. 19, Series of 2003, random drug testing of students at CSC will be scheduled this school year 2009 until March 2010.

-Dave Tolentino

CSC is country’s

In the recently concluded Search for Sustainable and Eco-friendly Schools in the Philippines which was sponsored by the DENR, CHED, DepEd, and SMART Communications, Inc., CSC bagged the third place honors, following Visayas State University in the 2nd place and Palawan State University which was adjudged as the national winner. CSC was awarded P 30, 000 and a glass-sculpted trophy. The Search was the DENR’s response to the newly signed law, Republic Act9512(AnActtoPromoteEnvironmentalAwareness through Environmental Education),which requires all public andprivate schools to integrate environmental education in their curricula at all levels. CSC was declared Region V’s eco-friendliest school during the regional selection and won a cash prize of 5,000

During these times when an outcry for a greener and cleaner environment is eminent across the world due to climate change, the Catanduanes State Colleges had shown the country what it got as

an environmental friendly institution.

pesos. Consequently, it advanced into the national level competition. A national selection committee composed of authorities in environmental education, the government, and private sector including civil society at the regional and national levels inspected and conducted visits as part of the selection process. The contestants were judged according to environment-related aspects of the school’s policy, environment-friendly school operations and presence of environmental programs, environment-related features of the school curriculum, presence of vibrant eco organizations in campus, and presence of partners and linkages in environment programs/projects. - Ezekiel Tanael

3rd Eco-friendliest School

3Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009 News

THE PRIZE - This glass-sculpted trophy was awarded to CSC as the country’s 3rd eco-friendliest school. (CSC - PRIS)

Log- in

Unti-unti nang nalulusaw ang tinta ng tradisyunal na pamamahayag. Hindi na nakaposas sa kamay ng mga profesyonal na manunulat ang pagkalkal at pagrasyon ng informasyon sa mga gutom na mamamayan. Mula sa pagiging media consumer, ang ordinayong Juan Dela Cruz ngayo’y naging media producer. Napukaw ang natutulog na diwa ng nasyonalismo. Pinili na nilang makilahok. Makialam. Makisawsaw.

Of empowering the people... democracy

Nananahan tayo sa isang bansa kung saan hindi ipinagkakait ang pagpapahayag ng kanyang saloobin; kung saan ang taong-bayan ang pinakamakapangyarihan; kung saan ang taong-bayan ang may hawak ng balota na magpapabago sa kasalukuyang kalagayan ng ating bansa. Di’ ba sila ang nagpalaya sa mahabang pagkakagapos ng bansa sa mga dayuhan. Di’ ba taong bayan din ang nagpaalis sa diktadurya ni Marcos at nagbalik ng demokrasya. At taong bayan pa rin ang magtatanggol sa mga karapatang pantao at mananaig laban sa mga sakim. Sa pagsilang ng “Citizen Journalism”, higit na nabigyan ng kalayaan ang masang Pilipino na muling

Sa Pagsibol ng Modernong

Pamamahayag at Paghulma ng mga

Bagong Manunulat

pukawin ang natutulog na nasyonalismo gamit ang mga makabagong teknolohiya upang ipamahagi ang nakalap nilang balita at informasyon ukol sa isang isyu. Ang citizen journalism o kilala rin sa tawag na “participatory journalism” ay naglalayong paigtingin ang tungkuling ginagampanan ng mamamayan sa larangan ng pamamahayag. Ayon kay Mark Glaser, isang freelance journalist, ang paggamit ng makabagong teknolohiya at Internet ng mga indibidwal na walang professional journalism training o professional affiliationupangmaglikhaomagdagdagng informasyon at mag fact-check media ang ideya sa likod ng citizen journalism.

Citizen Journalism and Activism

Hindi maiiwasang maging laman ng Internet partikular na ang blog ang mga rebolusyonaryong komentaryo galing sa mga aktibistang bloggers. Nagmistulang baha ng kritisismo ang bawat pahina ng Internet. Mula nang pumutok ang iba’t ibang websites ng Internet, nabigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga indibidwal na makialam at magpahayag hindi lamang tungkol sa mga krisis na nakapalibot sa ating arkipelago, ngunit pati rin mga personal na saloobin. Ang “freedom of speech” ay lalong lumawak, at sila’y naging agresibo. Mas umigting sa loob ng Internet ang pakikibaka ng mga aktibista.

Nagmistulang factory na bumubuga ng mabahong hangin ang Internet dahil sa mga paratang na ipinupukol ng mga aktibistang blogger laban sa kasalukuyang rehimeng Arroyo. ‘Santambak na basura mula sa mga pulitiko ang inihahain ng mga aktibista sa Internet. Dahil dito, naipapaalam nila sa kinauukulan at ng taong-bayan ang kanilang hinaing. Nagagamit pa ba ng tama ng mga blogger ang Internet o sila na ang nagagamit nito? Get connected through their fingertips Malaki na ang ipinagbago ng mundong ating ginagalawan. Tumamad lalo si Juan Tamad dahil sa make-over sa kanyang munting paraiso. Nagsulputan ang mga high tech gadgets, dumami na ang gumagamit ng computer at nag-explore sa iba’t ibang websites. Naglalakbay ngayon ang kanilang mga daliri sa keypad at keyboard na dahan-dahang pinipindot ang mga letra ng pagbabago. Kasabay nito ay ang pagbabago sa paraan ng pamamahayag. Sa tulong ng teknolohiya, lumawak ang saklaw ng pagbabalita. Itinutulak nito pasulong ang bagong trend sa paghahatid ng mga makabuluhang balita at informasyon sa mas nakararami. Kung dati’y, taong bayan ang nanginginabang sa mga ito, ngayo’y sila na ang naghahanap, nag-uulat, nag-aanalisa, at naghahatid ng balita’t informasyon sa kapwa nila mamamayan at

Features Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009 4

mga profesyonal na journalist. Radio, dyaryo, at telebisyon. Ito ang karaniwang medium ng pamamahayag. Tradisyunal na maituturing. Ngunit sa paglabas ng Internet ay binasag nito ang tradisyunal na paghahatid ng informasyon. Sa pamamagitan ng citizen journalism, ang ordinaryong tao’y nakakatulong nang makapaghatid na ng informasyon at balita. Halimbawa na lamang ng ginawa ng online community na ginamit ang Internet para kontrahin ang pagtataguyod ng Constitutional Assembly sa Kongreso. Nariyan ang hit na blogging kung saan kaya mong ientry ang sarili mong pananaw, maging ito may komentaryo o balita, o kaya’y para sa personal na gamit. Maaari mo ring gamitin ang You Tube upang i-upload ang nasaksihang video ng isang krimen, o i-post ang isang makabuluhang larawan na maaring mapagkukunan ng balita o kaya naman sa pamamagitan ng mobile phones. Ayon kay Shiela Coronel, isang kilalang investigative journalist, sa isang popular na blog search engine higit isang bilyon o 1/6 ng populasyon sa buong mundo ang nakatutok sa Internet at gumagapang ang mga daliri sa keyboard ng kanilang mga computer. Noong June 2008, mahigit 113 million online journals at blogs ang nalathala sa Web at nasa 175,000 at higit pa ang nadadagdag bawat araw. Mahigit kalahati na rin ng tao sa buong mundo, o umaabot ng tatlong bilyon ang nagmamay-ari ng mobile phone, dagdag pa nya.

“Journalism is Evolving, not Dying”

Matapos talunin ni Mayweather si Marquez sa huli nilang laban, nag-surf agad ako sa Internet upang tingnan kung meron ng ulat tungkol sa kanilang bakbakan. Makalipas lamang ng 27 na minuto, nakapost na agad ang headline na “Mayweather pummels Marquez in ring return” mula sa isang foreign sports writer. Totoo ngang napapabilis ang pag-abot ng informasyon sa madla. Sa isang pindot lang ay nakapost na sa screen ng mga kompyuter ang informasyon na iyong hinahanap na hindi pa nalathala sa mga dyaryo. Ngunit sa kabila nito, isang malaking katanungan kung mapagkakatiwalaan ba ang mga informasyon na naanod ngayon sa Internet. At sa bawat pagdaan ng kamay ng relo sa labindalawang numero, nauungusan na ng online media ang newspapers at iba pang uri ng tradisyunal na pamamahayag. Ayon kay Steven Johnson, isang science writer, “newspapers are dying but journalism is evolving”. Inihalintulad ni Johnson ang mga pahayagan sa mga “old growth forests” na sa henerasyon ngayon ay nag-uumpisang lumikha ng bagong fashion sa pamamahayag ang blogging, citizen journalism, Twittering at iba pang Internet-age information. Datapwat, sa pagtubo ng bagong punla ng pamamahayag, hindi dapat sila mabahala bagkus gawing komprehensibo at dynamic ang tungkuling kanilang pinaglilingkuran.

Sinabi ni Coronel na magkakaroon ng panibago at karagdagang function ang mga mamamahayag. Hindi lamang sa pag-uulat ng balita ngunit pati na rin sa pag-iipon at pagdudugtong-dugtong ng mga informasyon. Sa madaling salita, ang mga mamamahayag ang lilikha ng komprehensibong balita o artikulo gamit ang mga informasyong bumabaha sa Web na bigay ng mga citizen journalist. Isang patunay dito ang programang “Boto mo, Ipatrol mo” na inilunsad ng ABS CBN network upang subaybayan ang mga kaganapan sa susunod na halalan, sa tulong ng mga mamamayan. Isinagawa ang ganitong scheme ng pamamahayag, na nagsimula taong 2007, sa pamamagitan ng pagpapadala ng mga letrato at video sa ABS CBN ng mga sinasabing anomalya noong nakaraang eleksyon. Maging ang CNN ay matagal na at nagunguna na sa paggamit ng ganitong evolution ng pamamahayag.

Log-out Ang pamamahayag ang pangunahing poso na iniigiban ng mga tao ng informasyon. Singhaba ng mga pumipila sa NFA dati ang naghihintay sa pagbulwak ng naglalagablab na mga isyu. Sa pagsibol ng bagong binhi ng mga mamamahayag, umikli ang pila ng mga naghihintay ng balita’t informasyon dahil dumami ang bukal na nagpoprodyus ng tubig. Paalala lang, baka maruming tubig ang iyong mainom. Malaking dulot ang hatid ng teknolohiya. May mabuti. May masama. Nakadepende sa tao kung paano nya ito gagamitin. Pinili nating gawin itong armas sa pamamahayag. Sa pamamagitan nito, lumitaw ang mga nakabinbin na isyu sa mga nakakandadong kaban at lumabas ang katotohanan. Isang patunay lamang nito na hindi dapat mawala sa ugat ng pamamahayag, tradisyunal man o makabago, ang taong-bayan. Sila ang dugo na bumubuhay sa pamamahayag.

5Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009 Features

Article: Jann Marvin Posada Page Design: Ruzzel Valdepeña

Bagamanoc’s Ilihan: Eros Standing Through Time

Article: Cyril Patrice Bernardino Photo Credits: Bren Garette Rivera, Superbev Page Design: Superbev

As a town that has been markedly named after poultry, Bagamanoc could not have been expected to be less bold about its assets. Yet, a visit to this simple albeit strange dwelling would make a guest wonder about how many secrets he could seduce out of it. A walk in the proper, for example, would offer nothing exceptional or explicit beyond that one

offensive oddity openly thrusting itself in the face of what should’ve been a perfectly ordinary little world. Some giant male genitalia, in its full glory, is there in the middle of the sea. After that single liberating surprise, one would think that’s all there is… and it’s what betrays him. That thought that no mysterious subtleties exist behind that one overwhelming peculiarity put out for the world to see. Fromthen,oneonlyhastopause…tofindhimselfinthepathoftheenchanted.Thewickedwindfromabovethecollapsedbreakwaterattheabandonedporttakeshimaway.Itfilmshisvisionandmakes him believe that everything in Bagamanoc is both the familiar and the unfamiliar. Especially thatpenis-shapedrockoncecalledIlihan,foreverfierceagainstthehorizon.Ithasremainedvaliantagainst the most violent rages of storms only so it could exist as Bagamanoc’s Eros – the mythical meeting point of sensuality and spirituality – for the most faithful of peoples.

Chicken Pochero Like most towns in our culture-colored country, Bagamanoc’s history is a pochero of legends and actual events, bak choy half-cooked. Folklore tells of an awesome secret place that thrived in overabundance, where a zoo of beasts and an aviary of fowls partied day in and day out harmoniously, within forests of ancient wood and vine that lined its sparkling grayish blue-black sands. Hardly away from this cornucopia, a swamp islet in Panay Island called “Bagabato”, now named “Taraga”, existed as a chicken-raising settlement. However, with a den of crocodiles in the river at its west; a violent hill at its south; a harsh sea at its north; and a barricading swamp at its east, the place surely had itself made as a failing habitat. Ever a thorn on the side, Moro pirates ravaged the community occasionally, so that it was onlyamatteroftimebeforesomerandomcitizenfinallygainsenoughsensetodaretheoddsandleave his cursed homeland.

“shelter” for the natives. Rumor was that the cave was enchanted. A protection spirit named Kurakog was said to steward the sanctuary. On most days, “Kalarab”, a fair maiden, would linger by the islet, and as small-town talk goes, she was intimately involved with the otherworldly guardian. Like in every run-down pocketbook plot, humanity is scandalized by an affair between two very different social orders. Thus, Kalarab’s parents hosted an engagement for her with some other random mortal. This made the girl distraught to the extent that she jumped off the cliff of Karangkawan. The tragedy enraged Kurakog. The spirit went berserk and set off a destructive rampage that demolished Bagamanoc’s beautiful cove. Sole evidence of the violence remains upright to this day. As if Kurakog was honestly isolating himself from the ingrates who stole his love away, the land bridge has also been swallowed up by the sea. Having lost their “Ilihan”, residents have noticed the ruins’ resemblance to a penis, so they credited the exotic formation to the spirit by giving it the name “Boto ni Kurakog” or “Kurakog’s Penis”. Meanwhile, on the island of Karangkawan, opposite Kurakog’s pillar, a cave molded like female genitalia turned up. Today, people call it “Bubot ni Kalarab” or “Kalarab’s Golden Ticket ”. One can only come up with so many theories for such a sensational event. If youmay,gofigure. Veteran Bagamanocnons claim that incantations still surround the former sanctuary. Feathery stories of subasko taking place roundabout Kurakog’s lair, while the rest of the sea is calm as chamomile tea, are popular to the townspeople. The fortress is also rumored to stand upon an underwater cave which hosts a garden offishes,whichseemtoneverfollowcyclicalmigration.Thebaleteshrub that lives at the peak of Kurakog’s majesty has allegedly survived evergreen despite the inhospitable saltwater. Legend also has it that hugging Kurakog’s tower of strength would give the same effect as participating in Obando’s Fertility Rites. Obando, Bulacan is known for accommodating wishes for childless couples through seasonal dance fests. During townfiestas, at Ilihan Point, local officials install a bulky basketinto which tourists of every civil status can pitch a chicken egg that supposedly embodies wishes they want realized through Kurakog’s blessings.

Effective Promotion As reported by Catanduanes Tribune, in 2005, Mayor Odilon Pascua, along with Bagamanoc’s Comite de Festejos, implementedanofficialdateforatownfiestathatcoincidedwiththe town’s foundation day. Currently, the town’s theme shouts

“Kuyas, Layug Bagamanoc!” which urges Bagamanocnons to “strive” and to “soar”. The motto is a call for unyielding

unanimity and fortitude among the townsfolk against life’s frequent devastations. This is exercised through the Manok-

manok Festival’s promotion of the town’s tourism, which will hopefully open job prospects for the locals.

The celebration runs from June 1st through the 13th, which allows tourists more time to indulge.

For the 2009 fests, the program included the Kuyas-kuyas street dance, wherein different barangays participated prepped up in innovative costumes that represented their wards; the firstBinibining Bagamanoc beauty pageant; Toraokan, an amateur singing competition; Kuruyasan, a seven-daycockfightseriesthatpeakedwithaRoyalRumble and derby; Kurit, a mural painting contest; Pababor, a job fair; Panamit, a food fair that staged exotic recipes and specials from each barangay; and several more events designed to showcase Bagamanoc’s inherent beauty that seems rooted to its residents’ celebration of their traditions.

Throughout the festivities, the organizers have secured scheduled “Fertility

Trips” for tourists who wish to experience a doze of physical intimacy with

their famed landmark.

The epic starts with the young adventurer setting off on a quest to find rattan for his future bride’s family house.Following the shoreline westward, he chances upon a grove of pandan shrubs by the sea just ahead. From his distance, he managed tomake outwhat resembled a chickenflying overthe tallest shrub. He discovers the grove’s territory to be an awesome secret place, which could be the richest repository he couldevercomeacrosswithinhislifetime.Thus,hefledbacktohisclansmen(withhisthickbundleofrattan)toinspirethemwith stories about the luxury he found, which encouraged the tribe’s resettlement. In the end, the tribesmen convened about how their new home was found, and they decided on the name “Baga-manok,” which translates to “like a chicken”. There were no bloody deaths of either man or beast. Aside from these warped little gobbets about the town’s childhood, there lingers all over the proper slight irregularities that give an otherwise normal environment the air of a surrealistic recent past. Toilet bowls still affixed totheir tanks discolor the blue-black coast behind the present Municipal Hall. Along with these, debris patterned by tiles of every motif – probably remnants of a bathroom or kitchen – seem to confess a crime or calamity that is yet to be put on Bagamanoc’s Wikipedia page. Further trekking on the same coast will reveal what appears to be battered cushions in tattered clothinexplicablytrappedunderseasiderocks.Whilefirst-handwitnesses may complete the puzzle and offer a title like “2009: Typhoon Dante’s Totally Badass Love”, imaginations would still beg to argue.

“Fertility Island” Earlier this year, the landmark has gained the pseudonym “Fertility Island” as suggested by Virac Bishop Msgr. Manolo A. delos Santos, who worried that the islet’s local nameas“indecent”andsomething“thatwouldreflectbadly”on the personality of the Bagamanocnons. The name’s a misnomer. Ilihan Point is not an island; so guests, be wary. You can’t reach it without hiring a boat, yes, but you can’t have a picnic with your friends on it either. It is merely a point. It is a cramped spot of land confinedbywater. As far as history goes, Ilihan does not fall far back from its hometown’s lush lores. Ancient stories assert that this stubborn column of dirt wasn’t always the brazen hooded warrior that suppressed powerful storm surges. After all, real warriors aren’t born, they’re made. The simplest myth surrounding the landmark concerns a man of remarkable proportions. “Kurakog” was a goliath who apparently fell into a deep coma at Ilihan Point, where he never woke up. The hostile waves then crumbled every bit of his frame, until all that was left of him is all that people see now: a five-meterpileofclayloomingabovethesea,glaring at mortals. Conversely, elders around the area popularly agree that it used to be a cave. They just disagree on when it was one. Perhaps the most acknowledged stories of yore would always have to be romances. Ill-fated romances, even. Roughly about the Spanish era, Ilihan was a stone arch with brushes of green shrubbery atop. It was bridged to Barangay Bacak by a strip of land. The cave was rich, and it functioned as a fishing cove, wherevarious marine vessels could dock, sail through, cast lines or just randomly hang out. During upsurges, this harbor acted likeasanctuary for residentfishermenthus earning itself the tag “Ilihan” or

Feature Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009 8

For P100, one can hire a boat trip along with a guide to grace him with Kurakog stories galore. Through an arrangement, the trip may be extended to visiting Kalarab in the nearby island of Karangkawan, or the LuyangResort,whereLuyangCave(anothercavernthat looks like a parody of private anatomy) sitsopposite Ilihan Point. In a personal interview with Vice-mayor Juan Velchez Jr., he remarked that while Fertility Island may allude to the ring of outlandish tourist spots found in Bagamanoc,thetermspecificallytagsKurakog’sislet,which has become a celebrity that earned the town a fair amount of tourists annually. Living Asia, a 24-hour travel-oriented Philippine networking company, has featured Catanduanes in one of its broadcasts. Kurakog’s Penis was made known as a place of interest. According to Velchez, the local government needs to aim for that much of an effective endorsement in order for the municipality to establish the island a reputation that can overshadow neighboring traveler magnets. As the present trend among political regions continue to include the investment of LGUs in tourism, the vice-mayor feels it would be hard to compete among rivals, especially those of the same region, for the sponsorship of the national and provincial government. Velchez, chairman of the municipality’s executive committee for tourism , stated that whereas the local government of Bagamanoc has started investing in tourism on 2005, promotions only received more priority on 2007. For the meantime, plans for the development of the Kurakog landmark as a tourist spot are as they are: proposals. Propositions for the

expansion include the installment of floorboards around the islet toserve as a dock for visitors to take a stroll around or even touch the enchanted yet earthy phallus. As for the accommodation of guests from far-flunggalaxies,thecommitteeisdesigningahome-stayingprogram,wherein private houses, pre-inspected by authorities, will provide lodgings for tourists while securing profits earned from the rental.Riskandwastemanagementwouldbecoveredbythefloodofjobandbusiness opportunities that would be opened should the plans achieve

Sword unsheathed, Bagamanoc aims to satisfy with its long beachwalks & hard earning enterprise.

9Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009 Feature

maturity. Hope rests on the promise of a 2010 engagement with the Department of Tourism. At present, guests can only be offered Bagamanoc’s naked and untainted hospitalities, which are probably already temptations in themselves. For what it’s worth, maybe some curious adventurer wouldfindthatthethrillliesintheprospectofamoresophisticatedBagamanoc that challenges its easy yet intriguing essence.

Getting There While an assignment to cover landforms shaped like abnormally large reproductive parts wasn’t really a job we expected as correspondents, we did enjoy our “Boto ni Kurakog” excursions enough to visit thrice. In that sense, I feel the need to relates a few valuable tips we wish we knew before we trudged off to Wonderland so hastily. ForourfirsttriptoBagamanoc,wetookthebus.ThefirstVirac-Bagamanoc trip leaves in the morning at any time between 8:00 and 8:30. The terminal can be found just before the entrance to Virac Port. Bus rates operate at P70.00 per passenger. Based fromexperience,IfeelthatIneedtoencouragefirst-timegoersintomentioning the complete traditional name of the famed islet any chance they feel the need to ask for directions. “Fertility Island” is not yet an established pseudonym for the famed landmark, and locals still call it “Boto ni Kurakog” or “Kay Kurakog”. I warn the carelessthattheymightfindthemselvesdroppedoffatadifferenttown and about to take a boat to a completely different island. On a different note, taking the bus is not a tourist’s onlyoption.The road toBagamanoc is ladenwithpricefinds forpanoramas. Public transport doesn’t provide passengers the comfort of stopping over for spur-of-the-moment photo ops at the heights of a mountain range nor does it give them the treat of posing before some spontaneous waterfall. It does not allow commuters to relish the sight of acres of a nipa plantation nor does it encourage them to contemplate on the contrast of the dark of water against the red of clay.Withfivetemptingtownstocross,eachcapableofluringyouinto detouring, getting your own vehicle isn’t a bad deal. Of course, this is to say you would probably need to drag a number of friends with you. For what it’s worth, if you wish to enjoy a tour with a maxed out itinerary, bring your own wheels or rent one for a day. Expected time of arrival is between two to three hours from time of departure. The harbor, as well as Kurakog’s famous package can already be observed from the town proper. Still, a hike through the crumbly seawall right by the Municipal Hall and towards the

magnetite-rich shore is necessary. Scheduled boat trips to Ilihan Point only run throughout the festival dates,butthetown’shumblefishermenmightkindlyoffer visitors a ride for a rental of P200, all heads counted but within the boat’s capacity. Boat secured, trippers can now choose the luxury of sailing towards whichever bizarre landmark they wish to visit first. However, fortrippers disinclined to boating, Costa Marina resort at Barangay Bacak proposes a fair rendezvous for a satisfactory view of Ilihan Point. For last pointers, I can only hope to urge Ilihan’s visitors to stay attuned to their senses during the experience worth it. There are these little quirks of the island, and probably, of the people that are so subtle and yet so precious that one could easily mistake a treasure for a farce just over the slight hesitationtoindulge.Thetownflauntsthisordinaryunevenness found in most provincial landscapes, yet itisamplifiedinaone-horsetownlikeBagamanoc.It is something weirdly beautiful or beautifully weird, yet it is a vibe the deeply religious residents encourage. For visiting commuters, be warned that the last trip to Virac leaves at two in the afternoon and the town has hardly, if not none, any inns. By any chance, can the alienating feeling be linked to the locals’ virtue of faith? Although this is not to state that faith is always illusive, it’s just that, as Blaise Pascal would have it, Faith certainly tells us what the senses do not, but not the contrary of what they see; it is above, not against them. In Bagamanoc, stories write themselves, and it’s all due. With much strange and foreign allure in the environment, one may be allowed to assume that there could only be too much faith to go around.

Features Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009 10

ELITISMTriumph of

An aristocracy in the making guised as hope cast on “liberal reformism”

How interesting it was - the sudden twist of events brought about by the highly sensationalized death

of the revered “democracy icon”, former President Corazon Aquino - to our country’s politics, which by then was already being marred with overflowing bold ambitions for the upcoming Presidential polls. It was just recently that the talk was all about whom among the aspirants from the opposition shall stand up to lead its fragmented ranks and different winged-parties towards a victorious conquest of the Presidency. The administration on the other hand, is desperately scouting for a viable candidate who could at least be possibly acceptable to the people, owing to the incumbent President’s unpopularity. Then suddenly, the thought of encouraging Cory’s only son and martyred husband Ninoy Aquino’s namesake, Benigno III, or Noynoy, to try the Presidencywasfloated.Itwasthesamepattern to her mother who served as the unifying persona over a similar situation of the then political opposition in standing up against the dictatorship in the contest for the Presidency. The Filipino middle class, whether due to their soft-heartedness or great admiration for both the dictator’s martyred arch-rival and his wife, converted all the sympathies towards the mourning family. Then, the empathy turnedintoafloodofcommittedsupportfor a political movement.This saintly lady

figuretookherhusband’smantleagainstthe dictatorship and eventually led the country after its collapse. Or maybe just simply out of desperation towards a better leadership to replace the present corrupt autocratic regime. But with emotions blinding reason, they pathetically failed to look at the fact that Cory failed to deliver the much needed reforms towards the bettermentofthenation.Corywasthefirstof the post-EDSA Presidents who saw the continued deterioration of the country, worsened steadily by her successors, notably by the incumbent who served as a member of the former’s cabinet. They also forgot her own lapse of judgment over the issue of agrarian reform, which her administration ironically claims as its legacy. The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program was enacted into law but miserably failed to materialize until now due to the lack of will to implement it, owing to their eudalistic backgrounds. Both their revered late couple belongs to the same class of feudal landlords especially the lady who belongs to the renowned Cojuangco clan who owns Hacienda Luisita. Elite and rich, it is sad to note that they did nothing to alleviate the living standards of the masses during their hold to power which could have made a big difference at present. It is also strikingly insulting that they looked unknowingly fooled by those presently propelling Noynoy’s candidacy to the belief that the latter is the country’s only viable hope for change and reform. But then, the neophyte senator’s records in

congress shows a lackluster performance. He did not produce a single bill that was turnedintolawnorhadanyspecificproject for his constituents, especially that of the underprivileged, for his last 9 years in the lower house and nearly 2 years in the Senate. Noynoyalsolacksaspecificagenda for his administration, merely banking on the popularity of his departed parents and her sister-actress, Kris who’s her own following of showbiz personalities and fans and are likely to catch huge number of votes. Such is pathetic nature of the Filipino electorate to vote--not by the candidate’s quality and capacity but rather by popularity and fame. Looking further at the other candidates who earlier threw their hats in the presidential derby, none them has earned enough right to identify themselves with the masses. Not even the self-proclaimed “Mr. Sipag at Tiyaga”, Senator Villar who is undoubtedly more than willing to spend all his riches in producing campaign ads that portrays his beginnings as a poor boy in the slums of Tondo. It is such a pathetic effort to win the sympathy of the underprivileged who commands a lion’s share of the electoral cake. It is not too surprising that the masses would rather welcome and support former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada’s determined attempt of reclaiming Malacañang. He unprecedentedly won in the 1998 Presidential polls mandated by no less than 11 million votes, mostly from class C, D and E. Despite his fall from power after the successful elitist

11Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009 Features

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NEW FACES FOR THE OLD ELITE NAMES: Cojuangcos, front runner Noynoy Aquino and administration bet Gilbert Teodoro; Madrigal clan’s celebrated heiress, Jamby; Fil-American ex- freeport administrator Dick Gordon.

EDSA People Power 2, demonization and humiliation of his successor through his incarceration, trial and conviction as plunderer, the masa’s faith in him remained unshaken. Though it is with high doubts that Erap’s bid will not be contested by his opponents. They are most likely to gang up on him to put him out of the race by citing legal technicalities for his disqualification.Thisisanissuewhichis expected to be dragged up to the SupremeCourtforfinaldecision,butwhilenopetitionisbeingfiled,hewouldstill be part of the campaign circus. He still notably remains a formidable force to reckon with, especially in the hearts and minds of the poor who forever acknowledge him as their champion. The likes, backgrounds and nature of the other aspirants namely Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Senators Richard Gordon, Jamby Madrigal, Evangelist Eddie Villanueva, Councilor JC de los Reyes and Environmentalist Nicanor Perlas are almost the same. They come from well-heeled families. They never experienced having empty stomachs or work for their everyday meal. It is empirical to predict that the masses would neverfindthemselvesepitomizedbyanyof these names, closing the serious contest between the three. Interestingly, Teodoro, is a member of the Cojuangco clan and cousin of Noynoy, Gordon and Delos Reyes, being uncle and nephew, are of the same American ancestry; Jamby is a member of

the rich Spanish-Visayan Madrigal family; Bro. Eddie, himself owns a TV network and even the relatively unknown Perlas, is a son of a well-to-do former public utility administrator. Many new factors are considered tobesignificantinthecomingpolls.Among others, the age factor, where the youthpopulation(ages18-30)comprisesalmost more than 60% of the electorate. The factor of party machineries and local support bases’ strength and effects of sudden maneuvers, like party and alliance shifting among political turncoats is also to be considered. The usual ones are forever to stick to the infamous 3G’s: guns, goons and gold. Yet the chilling thoughts of election failure due to shift from the manual to automated system, sinisterly lingers haunts. The election machines to be used for the coming polls are still being manufactured by the company tapped by the government to take charge of the automatedprocess.Andwithbarelyfivemonths left, the total number of machines produced does not even reach half of the total number of all the polling precincts in the country. The COMELEC stubbornly refuse the idea of partial-automation or reverting back to manual polling as fallback options. That will most likely keep the female pygmy to the throne in a Palace near the murky river. It also catches one’s interest that theparodicalfilingofmorethaneighty(80)nuisancecandidatesforthePresidencyoftheRepublicisironicandreflects

Features Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009 12

EPITOME OF THEIR STRUGGLE: unwavering faith of the masses for Joseph Estrada, their revered champion evident in his provincial sorties.

FACES OF THE NOVEAU RICH: Home-builder realtor Manuel Villar and Evangelist cum TV network owner Eddie Villanueva had their self-made riches while both the virtually unknown conservative moralist JC delos Reyes and Environmental activist Nicanor Perlas, traces themselves from well-endowed familes.

the common people’s despair over the prevailing system. Adding insult to the injury is the deeply rooted public distrust to our electoral system and the COMELEC. Nevertheless the coming election isnothingmorebutlikeamerefireworksdisplay of the people’s ill-fated hopes for change and betterment of their lives. It will give nothing but a split seconds of sparkling lights, only to fade away, with the reality that none of these aspirants are agents of the change but mere adherents of the prevailing status quo. They are out to gamble up everything to protect their selfishinterestswithinthecontextofthepresent system. While we were made to believe that we are in a democratic society guided with equality, freedom, truth justice and popular will, we are indeed in such a travestied reality, in an elitist society where a continuing class struggle is still being waged by the masses to achieve genuine reform and change. Since the era of foreign colonization to the so-called independence era, pre-martial law era, new society era, post-EDSA era to the present, nothing

has changed. The elite only changed their personas from mestizos, caciques, hacienderos to the present day alta sociedad who rule the nation -- from the government, the economy, the church and to the very aspects of our everyday lives. The Philippine democracy is that of a tired one. The people have long resigned to the hope that the government will uplift their lives. Yet they still cast hopes on to so-called “leaders” whom they can identify with as one of them. They would dramatically hold on to this faith, unto the prevailing system brought by imperialists to fool them continuously. We are being fooled by this charade of being a so-called “democracy”. It is nothing but the prevailing status quo of elitism where the rich and the powerful completely holds control of everything. None of the principles of democracy is to be shared to common man and the poor alike. None but the indulgence of suffering, hunger and poverty.

This is the painful truth we are to face -- the prevailing status quo of the elite while in continued betrayal and mockery of the masses. This is the travesty of our democracy. Enough of casting hopes in personalities. It is up to us to bring the real change.

The Year We Make Contact

Article: Maribel Trinidad Page Design: Superbev

Overview- The Philippine General Elections The Presidential, legislative and local elections in the Philippines will be on May 10, 2010, Monday. Whoever will be the elected President will become the 15th President of the Republic, succeeding Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is barred from seeking re-election due to term restrictions. If current Vice-President Noli De Castro shouldnotretakeoffice,hissuccessorwill be the 15th vice president of the Philippines. The legislators elected in the 2010 elections will join the senators of the 2007 polls and will comprise the 15th Congress of the Philippines. However, elections may be suspended, held in advance or delayed in some places that may be declared hotspotsduetoconflicts. The 2010 election will be administered by the Commission on

Elections in compliance with the Republic Act No. 9369 also known as the Amended Computerization Act of 2007. This will bethefirstnationalautomatedelectioninthe history of the Philippines.

General Issues According to the Omnibus Election Code, Article 1, Section 3, the election and campaign period for

Presidential and Vice-Presidential Campaign is 90 days before

election date. Most of the Trapos

have already concocted their strategies

which was started almost a year ago.

Political ads are now being aired through various media channels. But no matter how good or how early their political ads are, let us be aware that premature campaign is against the law. The only problem is, the law does not state what the consequences would be if the candidates disobey this ruling. This happened in past elections and it will always will. Anybody can complain but there are no appropriate actions from the Comelec. On the other hand, in a decision dated December 2, 2009, the Supreme Courtruledthatappointiveofficialsseeking positions in the elections need not resign from their post, striking down Section4(a)ofCOMELECResolution8678, Section 13 of Republic Act 9369, and Section 66 of the Omnibus Election Code, as unconstitutional for being disinclined of the equal protection clause and for being overbroad.

This decision from the Supreme Court will be the one to rule. Hopefully, theseappointiveofficialswhoareaspiring for positions have their own platforms made for the welfare of the people, not for themselves alone.

Election-related political violence Priortotheendofthefilingofcertificatesofcandidacy,theComelechasanticipated several areas to be declared as “election hotspots”. The political violence that erupted in Maguindanao perhaps awakened the sleeping justice in the Philippines from its frozen nightmares. On November 23, 2009, the entourage of the wife of Buluan, Maguindanao Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu, who is running for provincial governor, including journalists and human rights lawyers, were mercilessly abducted and killed in the Ampatuan’stown.(www.abs-cbn-news.com). It is said to be the worst political violence in Philippine history and it is condemned worldwide. For this reason, citing Section 18, Article 7 of the Constitution, PGMA placed Maguindanao under Martial Law in preparation for the arrest of several key

personalities implicated in the November 23 massacre. With this imposition of Martial Law, the military temporarily took over in running the provincial government of Maguindanao. Is it a solution or will just make the situation more complicated? Is this declaration constitutional and truly promotes welfare of the Maguindanao people? There should be no more political killings in some other part of the country because if there is, the whole nation will be declared under martial law.

Worst Nightmare Failure of elections will be the people’s worst nightmare if the Comelec does not get its act together in implementing the automation of the 2010 polls. With no election, our country will be politically devastated; all of us will be swept in turmoil and dictatorship will be installed. However, the Comelec is confidentthatautomatedelectionswilltake place. After all, it is their reputation that is at stake here, not the people’s.

On the other hand, while Comelec is conditioning the minds of the people that there might be “no election’ in 2010, the administration congressmen were doing the maneuvers by pushing Charter Change and install President Arroyo as prime minister. Gloriafiledhercandidacyforcongress representing the second district of Pampanga. PGMA said that she realized, after much contemplation, she’s not yet ready of stepping down from the government service. It is possibly because therearesomanycasesfiledagainstherwhich she will be facing once she stepped down from her position. Now, she’s intending to be the Prime Minister of the Philippines. Worst nightmare for Filipinos indeed.

Defying the Odds We all need to be diligent watchers. We must continue to defy this nightmare brought by the commander-in-chief. We must choose the lesser evil. The judgment is coming. Hope is approaching—this May 2010. Let us now start the countdown. 5,4,3,2,1…

It is time to start the countdown.

Dos mil dies:

The show is about to start. The thrill permeates into the dilated pores of naive bodies. The anticipation pervades in the crowded gymnasium because of the multi-colored dancer’s physique bared on the center stage. And when the Hablon Dawani cultural dancers lined on both sides

of that center aisle, unfamiliar faces marched forward and laid their back at front seats while the audience welcomed them with incessant applause. That was the fashioned-out rites of the welcome portion during the opening ceremonies of Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities of the Philippines Inc. survey visit. It was tooflamboyantforcomfortborderingonoverkill.Itisassimilarto the atmosphere within the respective colleges evaluated by the accreditors, due to huge overhaul sutured by the administration of each department. The status quo today is somewhat peculiar of yesterday. Few days before the much-awaited accreditation, anticipated not by the students but the faculty and personnel, places were not like what we are seeing right now. They came, and everything gets done. They came, and everything gets dressed and changed. They came, and Catanduanes State Colleges turned into like a piece of heaven. This may sound like too much exaggeration but this is the truth. The truth is out there and no one can ever put it out of sight. Our institution is supposed to be serving the banquet for the studentry, not for the accreditors. Though accreditation is a major stepping stone for the upliftment of the academe and betterment of the students, still the administration clearly manifests that the redecoration of the colleges assessed were merely for the sake of accreditation. This institution was established not only to satisfy the tongues and eyes of AACCUP, but they must exist for the students and keep its head above the water to the unanswered petitions and clamors of its clientele. That is what they have paid for

A Quick Defiance on Accreditation Fever

New look

and that is what they deserve for. No one should stand against the never-ending search for wisdom and excellence. We can never deny the fact that few days prior and during the accreditation invasion, the CSC was transformed into a long stretch of conducive avenue for learning. All stuff we have never seen before came from nowhere. Something pleasing to the eyes of everyone appeared. Painted buildings veiled the antiqued walls. But these disguise can never cover the concealed hemorrhage of mediocre, weak instruction. For instance, a teacher, with a rank of associate professor writes on the board, “enterprit” (OMG! It should have been “INTERPRET”.) Imagine she teaches future teachers. Anyway, the surface is not the real score but the condition beneath. Indeed, it’s a miracle, as the commercial of Coat Saver says. How come they have not thought about painting those dumb walls because it is ugly, and not because visitors are expected to come? Can accreditation correct mediocre teachers too? How we wish we can also “re-decorate” and improve teaching competencies. But wow, that’s a cry for the moon. To substantiate these talks, may I cite some of the changes in the colleges visited by the accreditors. The College of Health Sciences shocked their students, and I hope the accreditors too, because of the renovated simulation room equipped with new instructional materials for the return demonstrations of the students. The picture insideisaresemblanceofafirstclasshospital.Comeandbeconfined.Thankstotheaccreditors. The College of Education has its new façade, with their new array of landscape. Comfort rooms were lighted and fragranced. The

college suddenly became an eco-friendly school due to the surprising growth of plants. Walls turned from gray into white. Education students mustbeproudoftheirnewedifice.Givethanksto the accreditors. The College of Industrial Technology, boasted their researches. Unknown to the concern of the accreditors, one output there was researched by CIT students and claimed by professors as their own. That is what you call intellectual thievery. They matched the glaze of CoEd building as they also brushed their walls withwhitepaint.Thebeautificationiscontagious.Extend your thanks to the accreditors. And another trash to excavate. Why does the faculty has just only furnished and compiled pertinent documents? Well, because it was required by the AACCUP. This may be their sweetest perfect alibi. But it was obvious. Accreditation runs this school and dictates what the faculty must do when they come. These documents must always be in the stockpile of every college. It doesn’t matter whether AACCUP investigators will troop to the crime scene or not. The bottom line of these entire role-playing is merely a crime of sabotage and hypocrisy. The evidences were already hidden. A false re-enactment was performed, which is in contrast with what the administration has been doing for how many years. Is this what we call excellence? How I wish there would be a surprise accreditation. How I wish everyday would be accreditation. Accreditation is now over. Hypocrisy is now also over. And as we wait for their verdict, again, we’re back to basics. But their evanescent foray leaves traces that cannot be erased by oblivion, reminding us that we once lived in a “bandage system”.

Article: Jann Marvin Posada Photo: Bren Garette Rivera

Page Design: Ruzzel Valdepeña

Garbage is normally not an interesting subject in a discussion. The word itself is polluted, grimy, stinky, and generally unpleasant. Yet

whenhugecash,millionstobedefinite,andyourfuture perfume the rubbish, are you still going to cover your nose?

RECY CLE

Probing theP75 M Garbagedin

Investigative Journ Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009 16

Article: John Elmar Templonuevo

Garbage

17Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009

Shout out It was early September this year when the garbage hullaballoo started to amplify in the province particularly in the island’s capital, Virac. The commotion is about the 75 million pesos loan of the said municipality for its project of converting its 2.19 hectare open dumpsite at Barangay Casoocan, Virac to a sanitary landfill. Streamers and banners saying “75 M Loan sa Basura,Ibasura” and other statements opposing the move turned out to be the shout out of streets and highways in the poblacion. Yet for most, the ruckus is still blurred.

Triggered Move The idea of the project was born as early as July 20, 1995 when the Sangguniang Bayan of Virac passed the Municipal Resolution No. 95-7-041 authorizing the municipal mayor to negotiateforthepurchaseoflandtobeusedassanitarylandfill,including the approximately 350 L.M access road. On August 15 of the same year, a Deed of Absolute Sale transferred the ownership of the lot at Barangay Casoocan (where the proposed SanitaryLandfillwillbeestablished)toLGUVirac. AsdefinedbyPhilippineBrownEnvironment,asanitarylandfillorSLFisawell-engineered,wellcontrolledlanddisposalsites for solid, non hazardous waste where delivered wastes are spread and compacted in layers a few feet thick. At least once a day, the wastes are covered with a layer of earth and then compacted again. Proper leachate or the contaminated liquid seeping through thelandfillandgasmanagementisalsoprovidedinitsfacility. For 14 years however, the site, which is 10 km from the downtown, served not as a sanitary landfill but an opendumping area, the very norm of disposal. Here, solid wastes are indiscriminately thrown without due planning and consideration for environmental and health standards. By November 21, 2005, LGU Virac already received a Notice of Violation from Environment Management Bureau followed by a cease and desist order for the operation of the said dumpsite on December 19 that year. As stipulated in Section 37 of RA 9003 otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 which is the law that governs the management of solid waste in a system that will pose the least environmental and health impacts, no open dumps shall be established and operated, nor any practice or disposal of solid waste by any person, including LGUs, which constitutes the use of open dumps for solid waste, be allowed after this act took effect which was on February 16, 2001. The National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC)evensentawarningpursuanttothethree-strikepolicythat they issue which is Res. N0. 2005-05 and DENR DAO N0. 2006-09 to the LGU of Virac for its non compliance. DENR Chief Lito Atienza already said that they will not allow the continuing violationsofRA9003and that theywillfile charges for thenoncomplying LGUs. An updated report from the NSWMC cites 931 non-complying LGUS nationwide and they have been issued with warning letters by the DENR. These scenarios prompted Councilor Delia Bagadiong, Giovanni Balmadrid and Eulogio Talaran Jr. and majority of the Sangguniang Bayan officials to push a resolution authorizingMayor Santos V. Zafe to enter into a loan agreement with the Land Bank of the Philippines and approve the conversion of the open dumpsite into an SLF in compliance with RA 9003. It was followed by another resolution authorizing the mayor to negotiate with any consultingfirmtoprepareafeasibilitystudyfortheproject. The aforementioned events somehow debunked the rumors that theproject isamereshowandonly for theofficialssake since the poll is just months away.

Stinks and the strikes Oppositions however were hurled against the project after thefeasibilitystudyundertakenbyWoodfieldsConsultants,Inc.amounting for one million pesos was submitted on September 16, 2009 with the recommendation that the municipal government of Virac must secure a 75 million pesos loan for the accomplishment ofthesanitarylandfill. Critics, headed by Councilor Lemuel Surtida and DPWH Assistant District Engineer Gil Balmadrid together with the baranggay officials, school principals and NGOs, said thatthe study was full of errors and false assumptions and so the municipal government must reconsider their decisions, evaluate the study, and defer the loan until after the 2010 elections. IntheNovember9,2009clarificationmeetingorganizedby the municipal government to shed light on the issue, Balmadrid questioned the title of the study and its content proposing the establishmentofanewlandfillwhereinfactthereisalreadyanexisting dumpsite that is to be converted. He added that the study does not even mention what would be done with the underlying waste that had been dumped in previous years. This has raised concernsthatWoodfieldssimplyliftedthecontentsfromanother,similar study to comply with its obligation to the LGU. A local newspaper reported that the opposition found it strangefortheresearcher,whogotthefiguresinonlysevendays,toclassifythesiteas"idle"landwhenofficialdocumentslabelitas a dumpsite. In our interview, Councilor Surtida declared that the 75 M pesos total project cost has no detailed program of work, scope or estimate. There is an allotment of 16.5 M for equipment yet the equipment to be purchased were not presented. “We already have a bulldozer, loader, dump trucks, and garbage compactors. Without the detailed estimate of the work, how did they come up with the amount?” The study also labeled the garbage to be delivered to the proposed landfill as mixed waste and not residual wastethusviolatingthelandfillstandards,theR.A9003,andeventheMunicipal Ordinance authored by Kagawad Giovanni Balmadrid regarding the segregation of waste. The consultant’s proposal that thegarbageshouldbesegregatedatthelandfillisinviolationofthe law, opponents said. In the research conducted by the USAID-assisted PhilippineEnvironmentalGovernance(EcoGov)Projectonsolidwaste generation in 2003, of the total solid waste generated by localgovernmentunits(LGUs),alittlemorethan60percentarebiodegradable(canbecomposted),about20percentarerecyclableand only 2 percent are special wastes. Only about 18 percent are residual wastes, or those that can neither be composted or recycled and have to go to a dumpsite. This means that close to 80 % of total waste need not to be brought on dumpsites or SLF. Thus, the expected 8 tons per day garbage delivery from Bato and San Andres towns is grossly over-estimated, leading to rosy projections of P540,000 monthly income from the P3,600 tipping fee per ton, not including hauling cost, to be paid by the said LGUs. The recommendations of the mentioned study even underscored that the Municipality of Virac should be assured of the incoming waste of potential clients for garbage disposal to maintain the operational expenses and gain revenues at the same time. Unfortunately, the neighboring municipalities have already enacted a resolution declining in this project. They have their own dumpsites and would not likely to pay more than P10,000 a day for the right of hauling their garbage to Virac’s SLF. Councilor Surtida revealed that with the exclusion of Bato and San Andres, the project will stand to lose and will surely be a failure. He added that the P3,600 per ton tipping fee is so much higher than the tipping fee in all other SLF in the Philippines and even in Asia. If implemented, commercial establishments and households in Virac would pay for the tipping fee on a 70-30 sharing as the study considers the LGU to pay the fee for the

Page Design: Ruzzel Valdepeña Photo: tumblr.com

garbageitwoulddisposeofinitsownlandfill. Opponents said in the local newspaper that even at the break-even tipping fee of P2,291 per ton and break-even garbage volume of 24 tons per day, businesses and households would have to shoulder the amount of P54,984 per day or P1.6 million a month. Stores alone, of which just over 1,000 are registered with the LGU in 2009, would have to cough up an average of P1,150 per month to pay for the privilege of having their trash hauled to the sanitary landfill. In the said clarification meeting, baranggay officialsappealed that another garbage fee is a heavy burden and will be much more difficult to collect. They pleaded not to resortautomatically to a costly SLF if there is another cheaper option. Councilor Surtida disclosed that there is indeed a cheaper option which is the Semi-Aerobic Sanitary Landfill of Bolinao,Pangasinan using Fuokoka Technology of Japan which is effective and cost-efficient solution in proper disposal of wastes. Locallyavailable and indigenous materials like bamboo for secondary leachate and venting pipes, steel drums and old tires were used here thus the total estimated construction cost of the project was onlyPhp1.678millionfortwohectaresofthelandfillcomparedtothe 75 M pesos project for Virac. The councilor also reasoned that DENR is giving a 40% grant for such projects so the 75 M pesos project cost is really not reasonable. “The price should be lesser,” he remarked. Moreover, the councilor questioned why no public hearing, in compliance with Chapter VII Section 51 of R.A. 9003, was made earlier so the constituents will be informed of this project.

Shielding reciprocates On the other hand, Bids & Awards Committee (BAC)chairman and municipal administrator Bernardino Abundo, Jr. answered that there is no need for a public hearing because it is merely a resolution and not an ordinance as stated in Republic Act 9184. This was also the clear reply of Mayor Santos V. Zafe during theclarificationmeeting. HedefendedthatthestudypresentedbytheWoodfieldsConsultants, Inc. is of course an estimate because it is only a feasibility study. It was only made to know whether the project is feasible. He said that the particulars of the project will be presented in the EIA and Detailed Design costing an estimate of P7,000,000. “If we have included the Detailed Design but later found out that the project is not feasible, nagtapon lang tayo ng pera,” said Abundo stressing that the details will be given if the project is seen feasible. He emphasized that the landfill is required by the lawand that it will generate income for the municipality because of the tipping fee. “Bato and San Andres will still avail the hauling of garbage in the SLF because there is a DENR provision that prohibits the operation of dumpsites. Only SLF is allowed so they have no choice.” He also added that the 40% grant which the project opponents are pointing out is not free and DENR will still be paid after availing it. Abundo even underscored that the 75 M pesos loan is reasonable and the municipality can pay for it. TheBureau of Local Government Finance already issued Virac last October 12, 2009 withacertificationsayingthatitsborrowingcapacityis76.437Mpesos with 10 years repayment period, inclusive of 2 years grace period and at 11% interest rate. Furthermore, the municipal administrator said that the constituents will not shoulder any payment. It will just be sourced

Investigative Journ Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009 18

from the Internal Revenue Allotment and the 20% Economic Development fund. He also assured that the allocation for other projects will not be touched as an effect of this costly project. Likewise,OseasS.Alberto,PersonnelOfficerofLGUViracandthe official who handled the Solid Waste Management of themunicipality for seven years said that the 75 M pesos cost is a result of a scholarly study conducted by experts. It cannot be questioned or reputed without presenting another study. “We need the landfill because we have serious problem ingarbage,”Albertowho issaidtobe thefirst topropose theSLFfor Virac uttered. He also corrected that the Bolinao SLF is a failure and no longer a sanitary landfill but amere dumpsite.Alberto andMayor Zafe personally visited the landfill to know whether itcan be applicable to Virac. “Bolinao’s is only serving 3 out of 30 Baranggays. Our landfillwill serve 33 out of 63 Baranggays inVirac and that is more than half. Which one is better?” He also stated that the grand total cost of Bolinao SLF is not 1.6 M but 2.7 M as confessed by the municipal government of that place. “It is not an advisable option because it is very much ordinary and it won’t last. We are serving the people so we should deliver the best and not just the mediocre,” Alberto said, disputing the critics’ claim that instead of an SLF why not pattern the project to Bolinao’s.

Authority speaks SanitaryLandfill is however not the best andpracticaloption recommended in disposing waste due to its high cost. National Solid Waste Management Commission and Philippine EcoGov released a proposal stating that cities that produce less than 70 tons of waste per day can put up locally designed facilities that are safer than controlled dumpsites, but not as stringent and costlyaslandfills.Viracisamunicipalitythatproducesanestimateof 19.68 or that is 20 tons a day and less than the advised ceiling. They also stressed during the forum of the League of Cities of the Philippines last July 14-15, 2009 that contrary to common notion, sanitary landfills are, in fact, not mandatory.What is mandatory is the closure of open dumpsites and that alternative facility must have none of its characteristics. A 2004-2005 EcoGov study also forwards that the volume of residual waste generated by a single LGU does not warrant individual investments in SLFs. It further suggests that clustering of LGUs and having a central SLF where the client LGU pays a certain fee may be the most viable option.

New battlefield Now that the project is already approved and the Land Bank of the Philippines loan is near to follow, for most of the next seven years upon approval and release of the loan, Virac would pay the Bank of about P13 million yearly, a huge amount considering that its 20% Economic Development Fund for 2009 is only P15, 280, 049. Municipal Planning and Development Office (MPDO)head Urgel Santelices cleared that if the payment will be sourced from the 20% Economic Development Fund, there is a big possibility that the allotment for other economic, social and general andprojectswillbedefinitelytouchedforthismajorproject. BAC chairman Abundo already issued the Request for Expression of Interest inviting potential bidders to apply for short listing and submit eligibility documents for the project. He blamed the critics for reacting and opposing instantly without even knowing the true score behind the project. He said that the World Bank, where the money will be borrowed, advised them not

to bring out the project cost so the bidders will offer the lowest price. He feared that bidders will surely level the price to 75 M pesos since they know that there is a big budget. “If only there is no opposition in this loan, World Bank will not think twice in giving us a grant which they usually do,” Abundo ajoined. Theoppositionneverthelessfiledacaseinordertostopthe loan. They admitted that they are not against the sanitary landfill.What they are against is the 75Mpesos loan for thatlandfillwhichtheyfoundunreasonable.Theirmanifestoaskingthe municipality to reconsider their decision and was actually signed by Bishop Manolo de los Santos, Governor Joseph Cua, school principals and teachers, NGOs, youth leaders, and co ncerned citizens not only in Virac, was never given attention so theydecided tobring thefight in courthoping for thebestresults. Councilor Surtida said that there are actually so many concernsthatshouldbegiventhefirstpriority.“Withthat75Mpesos loan, imagine the number of scholars, feeding program, core-shelter or the houses for the poor, classrooms and computers for schools, casual employees, and the kilometer of cemented road we can have for the people. It’s a matter of recognizing one.”

Curtain Call

19Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009

This garbage issue will absolutely diffuse its odor. The hitch however is not just for them to battle or to solve. The setback indeed will not smell this foul if we, generator of 0.3 to 0.5 Kg of solid waste daily, manage our waste properly and wisely. Heck, what did our school taught us?

May we not throw good money that could

have been used productively.

Garbage is not just garbage, after all.

A number of prohibited practices on crab farming have led to the alarming depletion of crab species,

which are endemic in the province of Catanduanes. For the longest time, illegal trading practices, improper gathering, nursery operation and culture of crab larvae pestered the ‘kinis’or ‘an-it’ (localnameofmudcrab)industryintheisland. But a move to protect and further develop this industry has been laid. And this development program is anchored on Provincial Ordinance No. 004-2008 or the ‘Implementing Rules and Regulations for the Operation of

A Clamber to the Spawned Commerce

Devcom Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009 20

the Catanduanes Crab Center’. One of the main features of this local law is the curbing of the decade-long illegal gathering, stocking and trading of crablets outside the provinces. Before this ordinance was set in motion, the local crab industry is unregulated. Traders are forced to sell crabs at a very low price. The major offshoot of the Provincial Ordinance is the establishment of the Catanduanes Crab Center at the Demonstration Farm of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic located at Palnab in Virac and at the Panganiban Demonstration Fish Farm in San Pedro, municipality of Viga. The center is funded with three million

Gravid berried crabs harvested at one of the centers’ strategic location in Palnab, Virac, Catanduanes.

Soaring to New Heights

Towards Progress

21Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009 Devcom

pesos and part of this appropriation is the supply of crablets that may be sourcedbylocalfishpondoperatorsfor crab production. They can also be sold to fishpond operators ifthere is an abundance of supply.

As provided for by the Ordinance,the provincial or municipal government will put up seed money to buy the catch of various gatherers in their respective jurisdictions through an accredited stocker, who in turn shall sell the crab harvests to the province at a profit determinedby the barangay or municipal government concerned and the provincial government. The

Thus, there is a need to provide for and adopt rules and policies relative to the gathering,

nursery operation and the culture of the crab larvae into crablet sizes...

accredited stockers or traders shall only be authorized to buy within the barangay or municipality on the strength of the permit issued by the municipal mayor. The establishment of the crab center aims to protect and conserve the province’s aquaculture industry and ensure food sufficiency, sustain sourceincome and produce export quality crabs. Illegal shipment of crab larvae and crablets outside the province is also expected to be abated so the unique specie of crab in the province will be protected as well as its natural habitats. Local operators will also learn scientificcrab farming, fattening and marketing. Aside from the establishment of crab demo and conservation farms, this project will help local fishermen andaquaculture operators to market their produce. Under this project, the provincial or municipal LGU will put up a fund to purchase crablets collected by gatherers in their jurisdiction, who in turn shall sell the same to the province, specificallyatthecrabcenter.Theconcerned municipal LGU and the provincial government will determine the price. And in order to regulate the local industry, stockers or traders are required to obtain accreditation from the provincial government, through the Crab Center Executive Board (CCEB),whichisthepolicymakingof the center. They must also pay an accreditation fee of P1,500.00 and P215.00 for the governor’s permit per year, renewable on

or before January of every year. Twenty pesos will be charged for shipment of any volume of crabs. To effectively monitor the source and volume of crablets delivered, a barangay transport permit shall be required. Gatherers could only trade their catch to accredited stockers. Correspondingly, the stockers shall sell crablets only to the center at the prevailing market price plus mark-up representing LGU’s incentives. A cash reward of P500.00 will automatically be granted to any fisherman, individual, groupor entity who captured or turned over berried crabs to the center, to authorized representatives or designated person. The berried or mature crabs must be alive, healthy and capable of spawning. Furthermore, the center also stocks the required purchase crablets including those that were confiscated from illegal traders,in modular cages or disposed to fishpond operators based on theneed or stocking agency. The center will award those who tip about illegal crab trade. A cash incentive equivalent to 20% of the prevailing market value of the recoveredorconfiscatedcrabswillbe provided to the informer. The center will then release berried crabs to the sanctuary or naturalhabitat as identified to thepurpose. The accreditation and permit of any stockholder/trader will be automatically cancelled if found violating the ordinance. The province provides technical assistance to local crab

Article: Elvin Randolph Jubay with GSR Page Design: Ruzzel Valdepeña Photo: PGO-MIS

Devcom Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009 22

farmers on the culture and fattening of mud crabs through the Office of Provincial Agriculturist(OPAG). This is toensurequalityand sustainability of the crab industry in Catanduanes and to supervise and monitor the CCEB and OPAG. As part of the plan to distribute shares to LGU who are sources of crablets, a 15% share for the municipal and 10% for the barangay of the net profit perunit volume of crablets will be distiibuted. For January to October 2009, a total of P195, 159.87 was already awarded to nine municipalities composed of Panganiban, Viga, Bato, Caramoran, Baras, Bagamanoc, San Andres, Pandan and Virac. Panganiban posted the highest received incentive at 99,035.85 followed by Viga (P52,746.28) and Bato (5,022.22). Barasand Pandan received incentives at P276.17 and P835.18, respectively andCaramoran’s (P23.90) share isthe lowest. The month of June recorded the highest percentage share given to LGU’s at P37, 215.79. Again, Panganiban topped the list of LGU’s with biggest incentive earned. During the period in review, the

month of March recorded the lowest earning at P9, 931.61. Once again, Panganiban is on the lead for this season, bagging more than half of the pie at P6, 327.98. The month of May recorded the second highest incentive earned, with P30, 959.66 and September with P21, 470.85. Earnings were nil in themonths of January (P10,831.42)andFebruary(P13,190.48). The Panganiban Fisherfolks Association, located in Panganiban, Catanduanes, got the biggest percentage share for a barangay, with P44, 516.05 followed by P28, 513.50 of Brgy. Sta. Rosa in Viga. The barangays of Asuncion in Viga,

Concepcion and Cavinitan in Virac had the lowest percentage of share with P0.24, P0.03, P2.23, respectively. Even before, enterprising Catandunganon’s are already engaged in illegal trade of crab larvae and crablets, in cahoots with buyers in Luzon and Visayas. This is despite the existence of a provincial ordinance banning the transport of, among others, crab larvae and crablets outside Catanduanes. The illegal, though lucrative trading practices were detrimental to province’s crab industry and ecology. Thus, there is a need to implement rules and policies relative to the gathering, nursery operation and the culture of the crab larvae into crablet sizes for disposal or sale to legitimate fishpondoperators. Most importantly, depletion of very unique crab species in the province and the jeopardy of the livelihood of legitimate fishpond operators arevery alarming. Therefore, this must be given ample importance and significance to fully develop thislucrative industry in the province and earn the tag of being the “crab capital” of the Philippines.

Gatherers collecting crab larvae & crablets then either store to the fishpond

or sell to accredited trader/stockers

Modular cages usually made of nylon net & other indigeneous materials where larvae will be reared until juvenile stage/marketable size.

2010

SaPag-usbongMAYO

2010ng

...

Dibuho at lapat: Ruzzel Valdepeña

Maugong na maugong ngayon ang usapang eleksyon na tila isang sikat na telenovela kung saan ang lahat ay nakatutok at walang kurap na nag-aabang sa mga susunod na eksena. Laman ito ng balita at ng dilang pinoy sa kasalukuyan. Halos lahat yata kasi ay atat na atat na sa araw na

muling isisilang ang kapalaran ni Juan. Si Juan na hapo na sa sirang plaka n’yang kasaysayan, nakuba sa bigat ng kawalan ng pagbabago, at sugatan sa kahirapang patuloy na lumalatigo sa kanya. At habang palapit ng palapit ang itinakdang paghuhusga, habang unti-unting naaagnas ang mga araw, lalo namang tumitindi ang pagtutok sa mga mangyayari. Ngunit ano nga ba ang bago at kaabang – abang sa eleksyong darating sa bayan ni Juan?

Bagong Tugtugin, Bagong Sayaw Ang eleksyon sa Mayo 10, 2010 ay tunay na makasaysayan dahil ito ang unang pagkakataon na magpapaalam tayo sa mano-manong sistema ng botohan subalit yayakapin naman ang automated o computerized na eleksyon. Sa maraming halalan na nagdaan, lahat tayo ay nakatali sa mano-manong sistema ng pagboto kung saan inaabot ng ilang linggo ang bilangan kung kaya’t sobrang laganap ang dayaan. Napakaraming butas ng sistemang ito na pinagtiyagaan natin sa pagkatagal-tagal na panahon. Marami na rin ang nahalal dahil sa pagmamaniobra nito. Ngayon, full automation na o lahat ay computerized na sistema na ang magsisilbi sa atin sa paparating na halalan. Ito ay batay sa Republic Act 9369 o ang Amended Automated Election System Law na pinamatnugutan ni Senador Richard Gordon. Sa pambansang batas na ito, tuluyan ng binabasura ang paggamit ng lumang sistema. Ayon sa senador, sa modernong sistemang ito, malalabanan natin ang pakyawang dayaan na kaakibat ng bawat eleksyon dito sa Pilipinas. Nakalululang 11.3 billion ang alokasyon ng pamahalaan sa pagbabagong ito ng sistema ng eleksyon. Napakalaking taya alang-alang sa malinis na halalan. Malaking porsyento ng halagang ito ay ibabayad sa Smartmatic International at Total Information Management Corp. at sa mga gagamiting makinarya,unanad’yanangPrecinctOpticalScan(PCOS)machines. Ang dalawang nabanggit na kompanya ay kabilang sa sampung grupo ng mga bidder na sinala ng Comelec sa ilalim ng 26 na standards ng automated election. Sila ang nagwagi sa bidding kung kaya’t sila ang pangunahing magpapatakbo ng sistema. Samantalang humigit-kumulang 80,000 PCOS naman o ang makinang gagamitin sa halalan na susi daw sa mabilis at mapagkakatiwalaang resulta ng mga boto, ang ipapakalat sa buong bansa. Ngunit, marami pa rin ang duda at natatakot sa maaaring kalabasan ng eleksyon sa 2010 gamit ang automation. Ayon mismo kay Senador Francis Escudero, ang Amerika ay limampung taon ng gumagamit ng sistemang ito ngunit hindi pa rin napeperpekto tapos tayo ay bigla-biglang makikisabay sa agos ng wala man lang masusing pag-aaral at pagsubok dito. Dagdag nya, hindi raw sapat ang testing na nangyari sa ARMM election noong nakaraang tao. Ang ikinakatakot hindi lamang ng senador kundi ng karamihan ay baka mas maging pakyawan pa ang dayaan sa bagong sistemang ito. Mula sa mano-manong dayaan ay baka maging automated na rin daw ang lagay. Kulang rin daw sa kaalaman ng nakararaming botante sa modernong prosesong ito kung kaya’t baka maraming pagkakamali ang mangyari.

BagongHalalan

Kapalaran

Panulat: Elmar Templonuevo Dibuho: John Theli Bien Lapat: Superbev

Lathalain Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009 24

25Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009 Lathalain Pinabulaanan naman ni Comelec Chairman Jose Melo na handa sila sa pwedeng mangyari. Ang mga makina aniya ay mahirap madaya base na rin sa awtoridad na humahawak nito. Pero pinapanawagan pa rin nya ang maiging pagbabantay. Samantala ay patuloy parin sila sa pagbibigay ng voter’s education para sa kaalaman ng mga tao sa proseso ng eleksyon. Tunay ngang masyado nang mapait ang kasaysayan para patugtugin pang muli.

Mga Bagong Mukha Panibagong lista na naman ng mga manok ang magsasabong sa seryeng ito ng eleksyon. Lahat ay may kanya-kanyang masasabi sa kung paano itatayo ang bansa. Lahat ay marunong mangharana ika nga para masungkit ang pinakamataas na pwesto sa gobyerno. May mga bago, may dati na, at may nagbabalik. Sila ang mga mukhang pagpipilian. Nangunguna sa listahan maging sa mga survey ng pagkapangulo ngayon si Senador Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino na humatak ng 44 % na suporta mula sa bayan sa huling labas ng Pulse Asia Survey nitong Oktubre. Ang pambatong ito ng Liberal Party ay ang tanging anak na lalaki ng dating Pangulong Cory at ng dating Senador Ninoy Aquino na kinikilalang bayani ng demokrasya sa bansa. Siya ay naging congressman muna ng pangatlong distrito ng Tarlac mula 1998 hanggang 2007 bago naging senador. Kaakibat niya ang kanyang bise presidente na si Senador Mar Roxas na siyang una sanang pambato ng nasabing partido. Pumapangalawa naman kay Noynoy si Senador Manny Villar na sinasabing pinakamayamang senador sa Pilipinas dahil sa kanyang asset na umaabot sa 1.4 bilyon. Dala n’ya ang bandilang Nacionalista

kasama si Senador Loren Legarda bilang bise. Si Villar

ay nagsilbing congressman ng Las Pinas mula 1992 hanggang 2001 bago naging senador. Matatandaang siya ang unang mambabatas na nakapagpaimpeach ng presidente – si Erap. Pambato naman ng administrasyon at ng partidong Lakas-Kampi si dating Secretary of National Defense Gilbert Teodoro na nanguna sa pag-aksyon ng minsang manalanta ang bagyong Pepeng at Ondoy. Si Gibo Teodoro, na nanungkulang mambabatas ng unang distrito ng Tarlac mula 1998 hanggang 2007 ay isang matagumpay na abogado at pinalad na makapag-aral sa Harvard Law School . Kabalikat n’ya ang artista,TV host, at dating chairman ng Optical Media Board na si Edu Manzano bilang kanyang Pangalawang Pangulo. Hindi man siya bagong mukha sa labanang ito, susubukan namang muli ni dating pangulong Joseph Estrada na makuhaangkanyangdatingpwesto(mula1998 hanggang 2001) matapos s’yangmapatalsik ng EDSA Dos noong 2001 dahil sa kanyang

impeachment bunsod ng kanyang mga kasong korapsyon. Ang dating nakulong na pangulo na napalaya dahil sa executive pardon ay muling idadala ang kanyang Partido ng Masang Pilipino kasama ang bise presidente n’yang si Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay. Ang pinuno ng Philippine National Red Cross, dating Secretary of Tourism, at dating Mayor ng Olonggapo na si Senador Richard Gordon ay tatakbo rin sa pagkapangulo katuwang si MMDA Chairman at dating Marikina Mayor Bayani Fernando sa ilalim ng partidong Bagumbayan. Sa pangalawang pagkakataon din, isusulong muli ni Bro. Eddie Villanueva ng Jesus is Lord Movement at ng kanyang Bangon Pilipinas ang pagsungkit sa pagkapangulo. Tatakbo sa ilalim nya bilang bise si Perfecto Yasay, dating Securities Exchange Commision Chairman. Kabilang pa sa karera ang batang

pambato ng Ang Kapatiran Party na

Lathalain Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009 26si JC de los Reyes na Councilor ng Olonggapo at gayundin ang Filipino activist na si Nicanor Perlas III ng Partidong Marangal na Sambayanan. Ang mga nabanggit ang pangunahing kandidato sa pagkapangulo at pangalawang pangulo maliban sa iba pang nagpasa ng certificate of candidacy sa Comelec. Sila angpinakatinitingala at pinakainaabangan ngayon dahil isa sa kanila ang susunod na magiging pinuno ng ating bansa at inaasahang aahon kay Juan sa kadahupan. At sa kultura ng eleksyon, sila ay inaasahang magpapasikat ng husto, magpapabango, at magpapagalingan upang maakit ang ating mga boto.

Bagong Angkas Milyun-milyon naman ang bagong angkas sa biyaheng halalan 2010 at sila ay walang iba kundi ang mga kabataan at ang mga bagong botante. Ipinahayag ng COMELEC na matapos ang huling araw ng pagpapatala noong nakaraang Oktubre 31, mga siyam na milyon ang mga bagong rehistrong boboto sa Mayo. Ang bilang na ito ay fraksyon din sa 60 porsyentong boboto na nasa bracket 18 taong gulang hanggang 40. Ang bilang na ito ay mas madami kumpara sa mga nakaraang eleksyon. Ayon kay Kabataan Partylist Representative Raymond Palatino, napakalaki ng potensyal ng pwersang kabataan sa darating na halalan. Ang malaking bilang na ito ay posible ng umukit ng kalalabasan ng eleksyon. Kailangan lamang ay magkaisa ang lahat at maging matalino dahil sa kabilang dako, ang lakas ng potensyal ng kabataan sa pagbabago ay maari din maging lakas ng potensyal sa panibagong pagkakamali. “Tayo pa rin naman ang sinabi ni Rizal na pag-asa ng bayan,” dagdag pa ni Palatino na tatakbo naman bilang senador. Malaki ang inaasahan ngayon sa pwersang kabataan na isa sa mga pangunahing magdidikta ng kalalabasan sa darating na halalan.

Bagong Nasyonalismo Samantala ay umusbong naman ang bagong nasyonalismo ngayon sa pangunguna at panggigising ng media at ng iba pang organisasyong humihikayat sa bawat Pilipino na magkaroon aktibong paglahok sa eleksyon. Sinabi ni ABS-CBN senior vice president for news and current affairs Maria Ressa na kailangan nang baguhin ang tradisyonal na pulitika sa ating bansa at mangyayari ito kung lahat ay magiging gising, hindi mag-mamaang-maangan, at kikilos para labanan ang sakit ng ating pulitika. Matatandaang sinusulong ng nasabing istasyon ang Boto Mo, Ipatrol Mo na humihikayat sa mga Pilipino lalo na ang mga kabataan na magparehistro, bantayan at ipatrol ang proseso ng botohan mula sa paghahanda hanggang sa mismong araw ng paghuhusga gamit ang cellphone, Internet at iba pang medium ng komunikasyon. Nariyan din ang kaliwa’t kanang forum ng mga tatakbo sa halalan para mas lalong makilala ng mga Pilipino ang kandidatong nararapat. Isa itong mabisang paraan upang makita ng madla ang kakayahan, saloobin, at determinasyon ng isang kandidato. Kumpara noong mga nakaraang halalan, mas maaga, mas maigting at mas madalas ang pagsasagawa nito sa kasalukuyan na isa namang mabuting aksyon. Kapansin-pansin ngayon ang bagong diwa na kinikilos ng karamihang Pilipino. Ang diwang unti unting nagigising sa katotohanang dapat ng magawa ang nararapat para sa ikabubuti ng bansa. Ito ay dulot na rin ng mabisang aksyon ng mga nabanggit at ang pagkasawa na rin ng Pilipino sa paulit-ulit nitong kinalulugmukan.

Babaguhing Anyo Lahat naman siguro ay hindi bulag sa kasalukuyang

kinakasadlakan ng ating bansa. Kung hindi mo man makita at kung hindi mo man alam, tiyak ay mararamdaman mo naman kung gaano kahirap ang kalagayan ni Juan. Lugmok tayo ngayon sa labis na kahihiyan. Pilipinas ang pinakakurap na bansa sa Asya, may mababang uri ng edukasyon at mabagal na umusbong na ekonomiya, milyun- milyong nagugutom, maraming biktima ng pwersahang pagkawala at pang-aapi at talamak ang pamamaslang kung saan nitong Nobyembre lamang ay lampas limampu ang minasaker ng magkakasama sa Maguindano dahil sa pulitikal na dahilan. Mas lalo na naman tayong nabaon at nanguna sa kahihiyan. Sa kabuuan tulad ng paulit-ulit na mga ulat, tunay na labis ang paghihirap ng Pilipinas. At ang may kasalanan nito, walang iba kung hindi tayo mismo. Ang lahat ay malinaw na dulot ng ating maling pagpili sa mga pinuno ng ating bansa. Hindi tayo naging aktibo. Hindi tayo naging mapagmatyag. At lalong hindi tayo naging matalino.

Bagong Simula Kung iisipin, kaya at madali lang naman ang problema natin. Nangangailangan lamang tayo ng epektibong pinuno. At ang sagot sa tanong na paano natin matutugunan ang pangangailangan na ito ay simple lang din at sa katunayan ay alam natin ito dahil paulit-ulit itong sinasabi tuwing eleksyon ngunit hindi pa rin natin magawa-gawa. Kailangan lamang natin talagang gamitin ang matalinong pagboto. Simple lang, bumoto tayo gamit ang isip. Huwag tayong pipili ng kandidato dahil lamang sa pangalang dala nito, dahil sa kanyang pamilya o magulang man, yaman, pagiging popular, o dahil sa partido man. Bagkus ay kilalanin natin ang kanilang kagalingan at kakayahan sa pamamagitan ng pagtingin sa kanilang pinag-aralan, mga nagawa at naitulong sa bayan, at ang kanilang planong gagawin para sa bayan. Huwag din nating kalilimutan ang kasaysayan na siyang

may dala ng kanilang pagkatao. Ating halukayin ang kanilang buhay nang sa gayun ay mabigyan tayo

ng malinaw na basehan sa ating pagpili. Iwasan nating basta-basta na lamang sumabay sa agos. Iwasan din natin ang agad-agad na paghusga. Hindi dapat mangibabaw ang emosyon sa pagpili. Hindi dapat basta-basta magpadala sa kanilang mga salita. Tayo

ay namumuhay sa kasalukuyan at alam natin ang kalagayan ng ating bansa. Kung kaya’t dapat ay alam din natin kung sino ang makakasagot dito. Kailangang mabago na ang lumang tugtugin. Patuloy nating imulat ang ating mata at hayaan ang diwang magising dahil kailangang aktibo ang lahat para sa bagong simula. Sa darating na eleksyon sa Mayo, magiging pantay-pantay tayong muli sa ating pagboto. Pipiliin natin ang susunod na presidente, bise presidente, senador, representative, governador hanggang sa kagawad. Sila na aasahan nating pangunahing kakayod para

sa ikabubuti ng ating bansa at hindi sa mas ikasasama nito.

Ang tunay na kaabang-abang ngayon ay kung magiging

tama na ba tayo sa pagpili o madadagdagan na naman

ang ating pagkakamali. Malapit na ang

halalan. Malapit na rin ang

pagsilang ng ating bagong kapalaran.

27Lathalain

Umaatungal na ang kanilang sikmura. Sabik na sabik nang masakmal ang puwestong magbibigay sa kanila ng labis na luho at ginhawa; samantalang tayo’y pilit

na inaakay sa dalisdis ng inaagnas nilang liderato. At sa nakakasuyang ayos at mukha ng tradisyunal na pulitika, nanganganib ang kabataan sa mga tuksong nakahain sa hapag ng kawalang malay.BABALA: Huwag magpalapa sa kalansing ng barya. Huwag magpalamon sa mami at de lata. Mag-ingat…

KAPITAL T-S-O-K-O T-S-O-K-O Kumikislap ang noo’y minumuta kong mga mata kapag naririnig ko ang katagang “Tsoko-Tsoko”. Sa tuwing papalarin akong magkaroon ng Tsoko-Tsoko, madalian kong ngangatngatin ang pakete nito hanggang sa mabutas. Matapos niyon, pipisilin ko ang balat at tila ipot ng manok na ilalagay ang lumabas na tsokolate sa gusgusin kong palad, palad na ipinangkawkaw ko sa kanal upang manghuli ng mga nagsasayawang kitikiti. Ilang segundo ko muna itong pagmamasdan sa aking mga kamay at unti-unting didilaan hanggang sa tuluyang maubos. Nakakapagpatulo talaga ng laway ang Tsoko-Tsoko. Ito rin ang madalas na ipansuhol sa amin ng kababata kong si Pikoy upang pumayag kaming siya ang maging bida sa aming paboritong laro- ang pagsasadula ng buhay ni Kaptin Barbel. Nakakainis nga at di ko magawang tumanggi sa alok niyang Tsoko-Tsoko. Ang labas tuloy, ako lagi ang tikbalang, tsanak, impakto o syokoy kahit alam kong mas bibo at di-hamak na mas pogi ako kaysa sa kanya. Siguro’y ganun nga talaga. Sa ating pagkamusmos, binubulag tayo ng tukso upang matakpan ang iba”t ibang mukha ng pagkakamali. Katulad ko na lamang noon. Isang batang napuwing sa linamnam ng Tsoko-Tsoko. Patuloy ngang gumapang ang mga nagdaang taon. Mula sa pagiging paslit nakaalpas na ang aking henerasyon tungo sa mas makulay, higit na malawak, ngunit makalaglag-bitukang daigdig. Napinaw na ang pagkatakam sa Tsoko-Tsoko at nalaos na rin si Kaptin Barbel. Subalit narito pa rin ang nabububulok na ideolohiyang lumalason sa aming mga bagong sibol na kabataan, lalo pa’t nalalapit na ang inaabangang halalan. Isang kaganapang magbibigay sa amin ng pahintulot na makamtan ang kapangyarihang taglay ng mahiwagang balota.

TULO-LAWAY Malayo na nga kami sa uhog at banil ng kamusmusan ngunit ang ilan ay nananatili pa ring bulag sa kabalbalang nakapaligid sa kanila. Hindi pa man sumasapit ang botohan, wari’y isang pulong ng gerilya ang naroon sa isang sulok ng tindahan ni Aling Mameng. Pinagpaplanuhan ng ilang

HAYOK Isang pagsulyap sa

kumakalam na kabulukan

Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009

Panulat: Dave Tolentino Dibuho: Raseldo Lapat: Superbev

SA PAGLIPAS NG GUTOM Ang bilis talagang lumipas ng taon. Halalan na naman. Sa likod ng pangambang baka tuluyan nang bumulusok pababa ang Pilipinas, pinatatatag pa rin tayo ng adhikaing guminhawa ang tinatamasang buhay balang-araw. Di maikakailang gutom tayo sa reporma at uhaw sa ipinagkait na pag-asa. Partz, tol, pre, fwend, pipz, vecky, brod. Anuman ang tawag sayo, ating isaisip na ang bawat pulgada ng ating mga balota ang magsisilbing daang bakal sa milya-milyang pagsubok na tatahakin pa ng masang Pinoy. Kailangan nating makibahagi, hindi sa mga Tsoko-Tsokong inaalok sa atin ni Pikoy kundi sa paglaban at pagsulong tungo sa isang malinis at sagradong eleksyon. Huwag sana tayong palinlang muli sa espirito ng vote buying, bagkus ay lalo pang pag-ibayuhin ang katapatan at integridad ng mga darating pang halalan. Tiyakin nating mananatili ang kalinisan at may magandang patutunguhan ang kuyum-kuyom nating mga balota. Sa sandaling mairaos ang halalang daratal, nakangiti nating bubuksan ang mga Tsoko-Tsokong galing sa ating sariling mga bulsa at buong pagmamalaki nating ihahayag na wala nang kabataang uto. Dala-dala natin sa ating mga puso ang pangakong kailanma’y hinding hindi natin sila pamamarisan… Silang mga ganid sa salapi. Silang masisiba sa kapangyarihan. Silang maiitim ang gilagid. Silang mga hayok!

kabataan kung paano nila wawaldasin ang mga salaping kanilang masasagpang kapalit lamang naman ng ikakalakal nilang mga boto, dangal at kaluluwa. Nakakautot isipin na sa nalalapit na 2010 Presidential Elections, nagsulputan ang mga katulad ni Pikoy sa ating lalawigan. Sila’y hayagan at desperadong mamigay ng sandamukal na Tsoko-Tsoko upang umani rin ng sandamukal na simpatya mula sa mga taong kinakalawang ang utak. Ito ang karimlang hatid ng lumalaganap na sining ng panunuhol. Ito ang sining na pundasyon ng vote buying dito sa pisngi ng minamahal nating isla. At sa kasamaang palad, ang mga botanteng wala pang bautismo ng mabahong pulitika ang puntirya ng mga halimaw at aswang sa paglaganap ng malagim na halalan. Isa pang nakakapangatal ng laman ay ang unti-unting pagyapos at pagkagat ng mga bagong supling na botante sa pain ng mga pulitikong naglalaway sa pwesto. Nabibighani nila ang mga kabataang ito na ibenta sa buwaya ang kanilang mga boto. Parang tawaran tuloy sa ukay-ukay ang eksena. Sa kabila ng mga inaamag na plataporma at nangangamoy-ipis na pamamahala, natutukso pa rin ang ilang kabataang Pinoy na tangkilikin ang mga pulitikong lantarang humahalay sa nagigipit na taumbayan.

PAGMUMUNIMUNI Sa halos isandaang milyong kataong namumugad dito sa Pinas, 27.6 % dito ay kabataan na inaasahang magpupunla ng pagbabago. Datapwa’t sa likod ng propesiyang ito, ang mainit na pagtanggap ng kabataan sa vote buying noong nakaraang eleksyon ay sapat na upang maalarma ang lipunan. Dito nabahiran ng mantsa ang Catanduanes. Balitang-balita sa buong rehiyon ang nagliliparang mukha ni Ninoy at Roxas. Dagdagan mo pa ng ipinamumudmod na pandesal, noodles, tawas, salabat, napkin at sari-sari pang chuwariwap upang ipambili ng boto. At nasaan ang kabataan? Naroon. Nakikipag-agawan. Totoo ngang walang sinuman ang ‘di nakararamdam ng nakamamatay na krisis. Subalit hindi dapat ito ang maging dahilan upang ipagbili natin ang bansa sa kamay ng mga salaulang pulitiko. Sa kakapiranggot na biyayang ipinansusuhol nila,mag-uugat ang pangitaing higit pa sa sanlibong beses nilang sisingilin ang mga taong tumangkilik sa masahol nilang pangangampanya. Napakasimple lang naman eh. Ang lipunang ito ay kawangis ng isang dambuhalang ilong. Patuloy tayong mahihirapan sa paghinga hangga’t maraming nakasuksok at nakabarang elemento sa loob nito. At tayong mga kabataan ang mga daliring susundot at kakalikot sa mga kulangot ng katiwalian sa nakagisnang pamahalaan. Himatong sa ideyang ito, kailangan nang simulan ngayon din ang pagkilos at pagkalikot, kaalinsabay ng wastong pagpili ng manunungkulang pinuno.

28 Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009 Lathalain

Catanduanes Cashes in on Cassava as alternative Crop

For years, Catanduanes has mainly depended on Abaca as its cash crop to pump prime the island province’s economy. Since it is frequently visited by typhoons all-

year round, the weather factor greatly affects the province’s fiber produce, usually yielding lowquality outputswithlow value prices. Prices are usually just enough for a daily meal of the farmers and strippers, better known as parahag-ots. Despite the recent efforts of the provincial government to introduce innovations to boost the abaca industry,theoddssneakedinwiththeglobalfinancialcrisisplunging the industry further into a sudden nose-dive. With the domino effect of recession to foreign importing companies,demandson thefiber reduced.Consequentlythefiberindustry,alongwiththeprovinces’economy,wasleft hostaged. This led the provincial government, under the stewardship of Governor Joseph Cua, to explore other alternative industries due to the decline in the demand of abaca in the world market. In this backdrop, a potential alternative industry oftheprovincewasidentifiedtocushiontheslumpinabacademand due to global economic meltdown. A humble, lowly, “orphan” crop Most people in other places has “mocking” thoughts about planting cassava. Farmers could not grow anything better in their parched sandy soils. It is therefore not surprising that the local cassava industry is underdeveloped. And while there might be extensive growing of cassava, it is usually in small patches for purpose of subsistence rather than as a product for trade. This is buttressed by the study made by Jose L. Bacusmo of Philrootcrops, the national center for root crop research and development. He is also the President of theVisayasStateUniversity(VSU)inBaybay,Leytewhoinvested in the research and development of cassava, its production and post-harvest technologies. It study also reveals that cassava is the only commonly known alternative for rice and corn. It is considered as substitute staple food for people whose lands could not grow rice and corn. It is also the cheapest known sourceofstarch,alsoknownastapiocaflour.Cassavahasalso a relatively low national average yield. But then, it only requires minimal inputs and care unlike other crops. The research also states that there are only few provinces where cassava is grown as a cash crop and on a commercial scale. These are Negros Occidental, Bukidnon, Lanao del Sur and Mindanao which holds most of its principal growing area, accounting for 59% of its land area and 71% of the country’s cassava produce. In a recent feature of the agri-business magazine Greenfields, lands planted with cassava reached 211,633hectares and yielded an average 8.48 tons per hectare annually in 2008. Mindanao remained the biggest producer ofcassava,withtheARMM(AutonomousRegionofMuslimMindanao),hosting94,071hectaresof landsplantedwithCassava, the highest among the regions of the country.

DevcomVol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009 29

Re-discovering cassava’s potentials Researches on cassava made by Bacusmo and Mariscal underscored the crop’s energy potential in the mid-1990’s, with the sudden surge of ethanol production for use in alcohol. This was brought about by the unusual increase in the price of molasses due to decline in sugarcane production. It was not until the country’sfoodsandbeveragegiant,SanMiguelCorporation(SMC),lookedforother alternative sources of raw materials in the production of liquor as substitute to the molasses. Scientificbreakthroughmadecassavaas themostviablealternativesource of raw material for production of alcohol for liquor which is is extracted from dried cassava chips and fresh roots. SMC started investing extensively in cassava production since 1995. Further, cassava was known to be a high-energy component for commercial feed formulations. This demand was fueled by the chronic shortages and consequent high price of domestically produced maize, which is the traditional source of energy in feeds formulation. And with the recent researches’ projections, maize production is set to decline and the demand for cassava for feeds is poised to increase rapidly. Notably, a major manufacturer like SMC’s subsidiary B-MEG now uses cassava chips for its commercial feeds production. At present San Miguel Corporation is considered as an institutional buyer of domestic cassava produce in the country.

Calls for development Greenfieldsmagazine,citingtheUNFoodandAgricultureOrganization(FAO),forwardedthatcassavacouldhelpprotectthefoodandenergyneedsofpoor countries, especially in the light of soaring food and oil prices. Further in a global conference held in Gent, Belgium in 2008, scientists encouraged more investment in research and development to boost cassava yields and explore its promising industrial uses, especially in the production of biofuels. FAO added that cassava is also the cheapest source of starch and is used in more than 300 industrial products. Cassava starch can also be processed into biofuels. Additional studies bared other interesting facts on cassava starch’s potential such as for use in processing of paper, cardboard and in different food products.Itcansubstitutewheatflourinbakedproductsasmuchas10%.Itcanalso be used as ingredient in soup thickeners, baby foods, sauces and gravies. Further,theproductionofethanolfromcassava(asidefromthealcoholforliquoryields),isapromisingandpotentialindustryconsideringthesoaringofoil prices and the demand for more renewable and cleaner energy. Ethanol fuel production demand was proven to be steadily increasing, setting an example from Thailand’s sudden boom, paving way to boost its own cassava industry.

A humble tropicAl root crop only known As substitute for corn And rice, scientific reseArch recently unvAiled A bright future for cAssAvA As A budding potentiAl industry.

30 Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009 Devcom

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Government responses Realizing a sunshine industry and an emerging catalyst for national development in root crops, the government placed cassava production as a priority banner program of Department ofAgriculture under its “GinintuangMasaganangAni” (GMA)program. Outlining a program for its massive propagation and higher production levels, it has adopted a five-year program todouble the area planted with the crop to over 500,000 hectares. Under the said program, the government is set to spend from 26 to 70 million pesos per year to achieve the 500,000 hectare target for cassava. This 2009, cassava-planted land is around 230,000 hectares. Data from Bureau of Agricultural Statistics also notes that thebiggestgainerinthecrops’sub-sectorthisyear’sfirstquarteriscassava.

Catanduanes’ cassava industry in perspective The province’s agriculture is mainly focused on abaca, its main cash crop. The notion of shifting to build a different industry withanewpotentialcropisquiteadifficulttask.Yetwiththerecentdecline in abaca demands, pushing main local buyers to adopt “control-buying” policies [with big decrease on buying prices going as much as 75% lower than its former buying price], most parahag-ots were forced to seek other alternative crops to sustain daily needs. The provincial government, realizing the grave effects of the province’s dependence on abaca industry alone, sought to introduce alternative livelihood industries of its people. This move found an ally in Heindrich Agri-Corporation, who has been also searching for a partner in developing cassava industry. A memorandum of agreement to this effect was forged between the provincial government and Heindrich Agri-Corporation. It was signed on March 17, 2009 in the Municipality of Panganiban, province of Catanduanes. The tie up is set to providethefirm’sdemandsofcassavaproduce,which,thefirm’sDirector for Business Development, Mr. Bob Gabuna, numbers at100,000,000kilograms(100,000metrictons).Thisisjustallfordomestic requirements of processed cassava chips for various uses—food, feeds, and fuel. The agreement also provides for the respective local government units to identify or organize farmer associations or cooperatives that would act as a cluster of production units. This is to facilitate the project implementation and forge agreements with financinginstitutionsthatwillprovide loanstobuytractorsandother farm inputs, using the purchase orders issued by the said firmastheircollaterals. As a start-off point, the provincial government and Department of Agriculture, together with Heindrich Agri Corp. sponsored a Cassava forum in July in Panganiban, where production, processing and marketing of cassava were discussed, together with the present weaknesses of the industry and the steps towards its development. This was highlighted by the evaluation and visit and in the province of Dr. Candidio Camo, National Cassava and Corn programs coordinator, together with Dir. Gabuna of Heinrich, who is also the National Cassava Board’s secretary-general.

A progressive future in sight Cassava is easily grown in areas where corn and even rice cannot thrive, particularly where soil quality and water supply is poor. It is seen that the island’s features and topography, even its frequent-typhoon visits, are not likely to affect the venture on cassava plantation and production. Coupled with optimistic and enthusiastic support from farmers, and matched by determined

efforts by the provincial government, the goal is set with high hopes of progress. Further support from the national government is also assured, with the news that the province will receive a unit of cassava granulating machine together with two chipping machines from theDepartment ofAgriculture (DA) for the said program.This is due to the efforts of Governor Cua through a dialogue with Secretary Arthur Yap. It also added that the provincial government is also borrowing a four-wheel drive tractor from the department’s regionalofficeforuseincassavaproductioninvarioustowns,asreported by the Catanduanes Tribune. Additional reports from Dir. Gabuna stated that the DA chief further issued instructions to the National Cassava Board for the allocation of P30 million for post-harvest facilities for cassava production. In turn, the department asked as counterpart from the provincial government the conduct of training on cassava production for farmers in the municipalities of Viga, Panganiban and Bagamanoc. He also disclosed that the Land Bank of the Philippines had created an innovative lending window amounting to P200 M. This fund will be available to the cassava growers when they need financingintillingnewlandsandpurchasingthenecessaryfarmimplements. Data from the Office of the Provincial AgriculturistSupport(OPAG)earlierthisMayrevealsthattheprovince’scassavaprogram’shasbeenpilotedinthetownsofViga,(with80farmersin17barangayswhostartedplantingcassavaon75hectaresofland);Panganiban,(170farmershavepledgedtoproducecassavaon40hectares)andBagamanoc(some35hectareshavebeenplantedwiththerootcropby80farmers).Early this month, two 10-wheeler trucks brought cuttings of Golden Yellow and Sultan 7 varieties of cassava to be used as initial planting materials for the cassava production program of the provincial government. The cutting, bought for Php 81,000.00 from the neighboring province of Camarines Sur, will be used to plant nearly 44 hectares in several towns which have expressed interest and formed farmers’ associations that would take part in the program. The said undertaking is likely to encourage more farmers into cassava planting as other municipalities in the province started organizing assemblies and formations of cassava planters. It’s delightful to think how the fantastic tandem of an “orphan” crop and a typhoon-struck island can give life to the potentials of a truly promising industry. True enough, with resiliency and perseverance, Catandunganons’ progress is not far behind.

Cassava: A crop likely to serve As A mAjor cAtAlyst for rurAl development And the AllevAtion from poverty for its plAnters.

Tercio*by GSRNatanyóg ang dagâsa pagbayó ning pa£oyni Nang Piling.

Sa lambáng pagbagsákning ha£-o sa £ubang,Minasabáy ang mga naíponna gabát ning sainyánghimángot.

Saarín n’ya man kayâ maáni ang mgabinúbod na pag£áom,budâ mga tina£ókna pangato£ógansa sagóp ning buhay?

Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009 31

An dai mawawara

by Allan Popa

Masakát ako dumán sa pinakaitaas.Aabuton ko an hinog na bunga,

an pula na gatago sa mga dahon.

Dai ka sana tabî magsunod.An saro sató kaipuhan maghalat

sa ibaba asin magtingalog.

Matulay ako sa matapô na kahoy.Tan-awon mo ako hanggan mawará

sa mga dahon: duman taká tatan-awon.

Ika na mahanap sa pag-ultankan mga sanga sa mahamis na bunga

na mamantsa sa saimong badô.

Poetry

*Tercio, in tenant system, is the 1/3 to 2/3 sharing of rice produce in favor of the landowner.

The symbol £ is used to ‘textualize’ the unique Virac (Catanduanes) dialect – not “L”, not “Y”, not “R” and

it is not found in the alphabet. The articulation of this vocal sound is achieved by touching the tip of

the tongue to the inside edge of the lower lip, not the palate which is usual in enunciating most of the

letters in the alphabet.

Di pa rin tayo nabubuwal Matikas pa rin ang ating tindig

at matayog pa rin ang ating mga pangarapkahit marupok na ang sistemang namamayani…

tinik na iniwang nakatiwangwang na ganid ng katakawan at kapalaluangsinisipsip ng mga pestengmay mga makasariling mithiin at hangarin…

pikit matang minumuklatsa demokrasyang pumapailanlang

ngunit tayo’y nagbubulag- bulaganna hindi makita ang ating mga sarili

sa katotohanan...

Literary

1

2

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Antolohiya ng Pira Pirasong Berso

at Litratomatagpuang naliligaw sa gitna ng pag-aalinlangan at maiwan sa walang kasiguruhangpagharap sa dagat ng pagsubok at dagok…

hindi pa rin natin hahayaang mapatid ang ating mga adhikainat iwang biguan at pagalat nag-iisa sa bawat paghakbang…

at sa ating paglakbaysa piniling landasmay pag-asa pa ring nakaangkasna namamayaning lubos…

Larawan: Beverly Tatel, Bren Garette Rivera Titik: John Michael Veruen

Lapat: Raseldo

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unipormeng puti. Malaki ang kanilang malasakit sa nutrisyon ng ating mga pangangatawan.Kung kaya’t madalas silang maghain ng masaganang pagkain. Pampalusog, pampahaba ng buhay, pampabata sa mga tumatanda… Ang house NM naman ay ang mga original housemates ng CHS. Sila ang mga nangangarap makaakyat sa entablado tuwing dumarating ang March, at makapasa sa board exam pagkatapos ng review upang maging ganap na RNs at RMs. Sila ay natutulog katabi ang kanilang anatomy book at MIMS. Nagsusunog ng kilay sa tuwing brownout sa paggawa ng kanilang case studies na copy paste at nakakatulog din naman pagkatapos ng kanilang office hoursna kadalasan ay tuwing gabi—ang duty. Umaangat na ang kolehiyong ito patungo sa mas mataas na larangan ng edukasyon. Marami-rami na rin ang nagkamit ng mga gantimpala, na malamang may mga susunod pa. Mga pagkilala o kung hindi man, pwede naman siguro ang pagpapakila.

College of Business and A c c o u n t a n c y (CBA)Quiet Noise

Thrillers

Nakakabingi ang

kanilang s a r i l i n g

lugar na matatagpuan sa likod ng SBL building, ay nananatili pa rin silang

nakatutok sa anumang mga palabas na nangyayari

sa loob ng kampus na ito.

College of Health and Sciences (CHS)

CHS Doubles Up

Kung ang bahay ni kuya ay may House A at B, ang CHS ay mayroon ding counterpart. Tinatawag itong House ND at House NM. Bagama’t malayo ang distansya sa isa’t isa ay pilit namang pinag-iisa. Matagal-tagal na rin ang nasabing paglipat ng mga bagong housemate sa kolehiyong ito. Sila ay nagmula pa sa kabilang dulo ng kampus nang sila ay maglipat-kolehiyo. Ngunit sa kabila ng mga kaganapang ito, na ang dapat ay manatili sila sa isang bahay, ay nagkaroon nang dalawang bahay. Malayo sa isa’t isa. Dulo sa dulo. Hindi madali ang pagparoo’t pagparito. Nakatirik ang isang building sa likod ng Laboratory HS rooms. Ang isang building nama’y nasa tapat ng CSC gym, na nasa kabilang dako ng kampus. Sa house ND, nakatira ay mga datihang estudyante ng CAS. Sila ang mga nangangarap makapagsilbi at makatulong sa ating bayan sa pamamagitan ng pagpapalaganap ng katuturan pagdating sa tamang pagkain upang tayo’y lumaking malaki at tumanda ng bumabata. Matatandaang

sila ay dati na ring mga nakasuot ng

curriculars. Kung minsan pa

nga, ang ilan sa kanila ay Absent With Out Leave muna sa

academics at focused muna sa kanilang mga extra curriculars.

‘Di rin lingid sa madla na ito ang college na walang sariling building at vicinity. Ebidensiya? Ang opisina ng Dekano ay nasadlak sa Main Building 2nd Floor, samantalang ang mga faculty room ay may iba’t ibang branch- meron sa may harap ng high school department, 2nd floor atfirst floor ngMain Building. Pati ang silid ngmga estudyante ay naka-deploy ng watak-watak- Marcos Type Building, SBL at Room 103, 104 pati yata 214. Mungkahi ko lang sa pamunuan na maglagay sila ng spot map para hindi maligaw ang mga bagong salta at pati na rin ang mga bisita.

College of Agriculture and Fisheries (CAF)Still sprouting

Dito makakasalamuha mo ang angkan ni Arvy, the naturalized woman, na marahil sa tagal din naman ng pananatili sa kolehiyong ito ay nagkaroon na siya ng sariling farmtown. Marami-rami na rin ang kanilang na harvest na mga bunga ng cherry tree at na collect na mga nalagas na feathers ng mga bibe. Marami ring mga kapitbahay ang tumulong at tumutulong sa pag-cultivate sa fertile ground para sa kanilang mga pananim. Sumibol na rin sa Kolehiyong ito ang mga bagong building. Kulang na lang ay palamutian ng pintura upang ito’y maging ganap na colorful houses sa gitna ng masagana, mayabong at magandang farmtown. Ang mga abang estudyante na nananatili dito ay ang ating mga magiging agrikulturista sa mga susunod na henerasyon na magsasalba sa ating naghihingalo at kumakalam na sikmura. Sila ay nanatiling nakayuko sa hamon ng pang araw-araw na bilin ni Mam at Sir. Nakayuko sa kadahilanang sila’y nagtatanim at nagpapayabong ng mga punla upang kinabuksan ay kanilang mapakinabangan. Iba’t ibang crops na nagsisilbing ebidensya sa tuwing mag tse-tsek si Mam ng output project. Hindi man sila masyadong visible sa kampus sapagkat sila’y parating nakakubli sa

“Hindi l a h a t ng bagay ay nakikita ng iyong mga mata”. Sadyang isang malaking specimen ang Isteyt. Hindi nga nakakabigla na pwede pala nating i-dissect ang kabuuan at i-zoom ang gross anatomy ng mga kolehiyo. Masisilip natin ang iba’t ibang istoryang nananalaytay at mga nakapinid na lihim sa kasuluk-sulukan at matagpuan ang ating mga sarili sa namamayaning sistema. Bagong haing putahe o lumang tugtugin man ang ating mga kwento, dumadaloy pa rin sa ating mga ugat ang pinag-isang timpla - ang dugo ng kulturang Isteyt.

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)“For Everyone“ College

Ito ang kolehiyong wini-welcome ang lahat with open arms and feet. For everyone college. Freshmen, second courser, transferee, nag-shift o bumagsak man sa major, this can be your last resort. At base sa aming mga roving spy, ito ang may pinakamaraming kursong inihahain ngunit isa sa mga may pinakamaliit na bilang ng enrollees. Kaya naman maaaring pumili sa ibat-ibang options. Ingat lang baka magkaroon ka ng option paralysis syndrome. Mababanaag dito ang iba’t ibang mukha ng mga estudyante. Halu-halong personalidad. May astig, baduy, japorms, may tipong genius, may ala-pulitiko, may mga hindi tiyak sa kanilang pagkatao. Meron naming tiyak sa kanilang mga pagkataong di-tiyak. Dito pinapanday at dinidiskubre ang mga nangangarap maging pulitiko, abogado at doktor balang araw. Meron ding mga sabay lang sa agos ng ilog kahit ito’y delikado na at hindi na kayang lumangoy,o maski magtampisaw man lang. Isang magandang ehemplo ang mga estudyante rito sapagkat hindi sila bumabagsak sa kanilang mga major gaano man ka-hectic ang kanilang mga skeds ng extra-

Kulturang Isteytproudly presents Peripheral Vision

ANG MICROSCOPIC

NA PAGSILIP SA MGA KOLEHIYO NG

ISTEYT

Siga. May dating. Sila ang mga nangangarap makapagtrabaho sa Dubai, este nangangarap palang makapasa sa board exam at maging mga licensed civil engineers. Madalas silang makita na hindi nakasuot ng uniporme, sakay ng kanilang mga motorsiklong walang gate pass. Matinik sila sa numero kung kaya’t parati silang nananalo sa mga regional and national quiz bee. Ikalawang flavor- Department of IndustrialTechnology. Marami-rami sila kumpara sa mga nangangarap maging engineers. Malakas ang kanilang pwersa sapagkat mas marami ang bilang ng mga lalaki kesa sa mga bilang ng mga binabae, este babae. Mabilis silang tumugon sa mga hakbanging ipinatutupad ng administrasyon, pati ng mga hindi maka-administrasyon. Marami at halu-halo ang kanilang mga pinapangarap sa buhay. Masarap. Manamis-namis. Dito gumagala ang mga gangster ng covered court na sinama na sa curriculum ang basketball. Ikatlong flavor- Department of Information andCommunications Technology. Mga future hackers este technicians at programmers sila. Magaling sila sa manipulasyon ng mga program sa computer. Maging software man yan o hardware.Mahusaydinsilasapagsalbangmgafileskontrasa mga naglipana at mapanirang viruses. Makikitasilangkumpul-kumpolsa1stfloorngmainbuilding.Kungminsannamanaysa3rdfloor.Karamihanay naka uniporme, ngunit mas marami ang nakasuot ng unipormeng sila mismo ang nagdisenyo. Masarap ang kanilang timpla. Mas malasa. Maanghang. Nagmistula na ngan g 3-in-1 mixture ang kolehiyong ito. Marahil sa mga susunod na kabanata ay iisa na lamang ang kanilang kulturang gagalawan. Sadyang hindi na nakabibigla ang mga pagbabagong nagaganap dito sa ating mahal na isteyt. Mga pagbabagong hindi malaman kung nakapagpapagaan o nakapagpapabigat sa kalagayan ng kampus. Malayu-layo na rin marahil ang narating ng institusyong ito mula nang dumating ang iba’t ibang pagkilala at paggawad sa kahusayan ng mga estudyante at fakulti.

Hindi na lingid sa ating kaalaman na tayo’y palapit na ng palapit sa pagiging isang ganap na unibersidad.

Matagal-tagal na rin tayong sumabay at nagpatangay sa agos ng kalakaran dito. Sa mga

epekto at depektong dulot nito sa ating lahat na kailanman ay mananatili ang ating

kwento. Sapagkat tayong lahat ang bumubuo ng kulturang

ating taglay --- ang kulturang isteyt.

makapagturo sa pormal na institusyon ng edukasyon balang araw. Karamihan sa kanila ay nag-aaral ng mabuti, nagsusunog ng kilay kahit hindi gabi, nagpupuyat at napapagod sa kakagawa ng lesson plan araw-araw at inis na sa ingay at kulit ng mga estudyante sa tuwing naa’assign silang mag-observe sa mga estudyante. Lahat ito’y nagagawa nila dahil sa ito ay ang kanilang magiging araw-araw na buhay sa mga darating na panahon--- malamang hindi na magtatagal. At dahil sa kanilang pagpupursige at pagbibigay ng pokus sa kanilang pag-aaral, sila’y nagkakamit ng matataas na antas ng marka mula sa kanilang mga propesor. Mga markang nagbibigay inspirasyon marahil sa karamihang estudyante sa kolehiyong ito. Subalit mayroong impresyong umiiral na ekslusibo lamang sa mga nagkakamit ng mga mataas na antas ng pagkilala. Sa tuwing sasapit ang pagtatapos ng taunang klase, mapapansin na ang kolehiyong ito ang may pinakamaraming bilang ng nagtatapos na may gawad. May nagtatapos bilang cum laude dahil sa kanilang hindi matawarang outstanding academic performance. Subalit kapag ang resulta ng LET ay dumarating, konti at mababa lamang ang nakukuha nilang passing rate (BSED). Ito ba ay dahil samarami na silang alam kaya’t maraming sagot ang naglilipana sa kanilang mga kaisipan sa kasagsagan ng exam? O hindi naman kaya ay taliwas sa dapat matutunan ang napupulot ng mga nagtapos na ito? Marahil sa susunod na taon ay magkaroon na rin sila ng alumnus na mapapabilang sa mga topnotchers o placers ng LET, nang sa ganun ay magawaran naman sila ng bagong pagkilala, kahit hindi man nagtapos bilang cum laude.

College of Technology (COT)The 3 in 1 college

Maganda ang pagkakahalo ng tatlong flavor.Malasa.Maalsa. Siguro nga ay kay lapit na nila ngayon sa isa’t isa. Dati-rati ay madalas silang nagkakalaban sa mga iba’t ibang patimpalak sa

kampus. Ngayon ay nagkakaisa dahil sa sila ngayo’y nabibilang sa iisang pamilya.

Unang flavor- Departmentof Engineering. Home of

board topnotchers. Mga astig.

katahimikan ngunit maingay ang mga magaslaw na kaisipan… Kapansin-pansin ang mga bitbit nilang scientificcalculator at columnar sheet (shit) sa tuwing pumapasok sakampus. Masasabing sila ang grupo ng mga estudyanteng tahimik ngunit matinik. Sila ang mga nangangarap maging negosyante, accountant at abogado. Matatagpuan ang kanilang mga kalahisa3rdfloormainbuilding.Makikita dito ang mga nakasuot ng complete uniform kahit “wash day”. May mga naka palda kahit hindi pwede sa kanila ang palda, dahil nga sa iba ang rehiliyon. Meron din namang nakasuot ng pantalon na ang dapat sana sa kanila’y gamitin ang palda. Malaki ang kanilang populasyon. Sila’y gumagala ng kumpul-kumpol. Marami sila. Maraming kaibigan. Pala-kaibigan. May nag-iibigan. Ginagawa nilang dating site ang ikatlong palapag. Ayon na naman sa aming matabil ngunit demure na source, ginagawa raw na dating site ang mga IGP booths/stores sa palapag na ito. Pinangungunahan ng mga nakatataas nilang student leaders. Matagal-tagal rin daw na naglalagi sa lugar na ito ang mga nabanggit, kasama ang kanilang mga tinatagong loved ones… Marahil ay mga tahimik nga sila subalit may ingay din naman pala sa kaibuturan…

College of Education (CoEd)The Cum Laude Rich

College

Marami ang nagkakamit na mataas na antas ng pagkilala na maaaring matanggap ng isang estudyante ngunit hindi ang antas na makukuha upang maging ganap na lisensyadong guro. Kaakibat na ng kolehiyong ito ang paglikha at paghasa sa mga estudyanteng n a i s

Artik

ulo:

Mar

ibel

Tri

nid

ad L

apat

: Su

perb

ev

In my nearly four-year stay at CSC, this word perfectly delineates the atmosphere of the whole campus,every accreditation conducted by the Accrediting Agency of the Chartered

Colleges and Universities of the Philippines Inc.(AACCUP). The whole administrative structure, turns tensed and frenzied whenever the visit approaches. The heat is on with rushed refurbishment, facelifts, repairs ineveryofficeanddepartments;productionof all required documents, reports and papers in full-blast speed. Chiefs, staffs and other personnel generously and vigorously spendupovertimeworkintheiroffices. Even more derisive are the sudden policy shifts and mushroom entities that would come out from nowhere, only to be imposed in line with something like a script of a drama spectacle to be acted by everyone in the institution. Not for good or better, yet only within the duration of the survey visit. Just before the recently concluded accreditation visit, the lobby seemed to be converted into a botanical garden and walking the corridors seemed to be a walk in the park owing to the amazing prowess of the last-minute impresarios, no smoking signs suddenly appeared into the usual bare walls, proper hand-wash instructions posted into the suddenly tended and neat comfort rooms. Suddenly, politeness and efficiency came into practice at the usualservice offices, with professionalism andcompetence becoming their virtues. More of the ridiculousness, students are compelled to join the charade - painting over the rooms, doing repairs, mowing lawns and yes, even producing the required documents, reports and papers which their college faculties need to show off to the evaluators. Even more striking is the sudden enforcement upon students of speedily producing research presentations, college publications or papers and other requirements. Failure to cooperate and to give the best of portrayal, may bear a dangerous consequence for the student when things are already back to “normal”. They are even conditioned of acting out actively in their classes to be observed, while the usually idle and incompetent instructor acts up a lively and interesting performance towards them aiming to impress observers. The usual boring “manila paper” festivals types of reporting are supplanted by required power-point presentations. Consented absenteeism is suddenly retorted, neatly

Hypocriticaldonned uniforms strictly required. Nevertheless, this pure baloney quickly ends, as after the guests leave, the status quo returns. They are all back to their usual postures and nature, while polishing their gleaming pride having perfectly executed their part during the stage-play and hypocritically insensitive of their hidden incompetence. But while their stage-act is a success, there would always be the price to pay. That in a sad travesty, we are included and greatly affected. While we boast of the great showing of our graduates in the national licensure examinations their employability is still wanting. We are greatly contributing to the country’s army of the unemployed while those who are employedarefindingtheirknowledgeand

The hard Side

Ferdinand Camilo Kimura

The 23rd day of November this year shall always be remembered as one of the darkest days of our country. Still rejoicing from the victory of Manny Pacquiao after gaining his 7th world

title thirteen days before, news spread like wildfire thatat least57peopleweremassacredin Ampatuan, Maguindanao. The crime which was allegedly masterminded by Datu Unsay Municipal Mayor Datu Andal Ampatuan Jr. was motivated to stop his political rivals from opposing him in the upcoming 2010 elections. This event reminds us of past genocides committed against humanity such as the reign of Nazi in Germany during the 1940s, the Rwandan Patriotic front in 1994, the Serb forces in Srebrenica in 1995, and many more undocumented atrocities. The Maguindanao massacre or shall we say the Ampatuan Massacre to be precise (since it happened in Ampatuan), was not thefirstofitskindinthePhilippines. The chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation front (MILF) secretariatMuhammadAmeen enumerated several massacres in the past wherein up to now, justice is yet to prove its rule. Some of the massacres he said were the Palimbang Massacre (1,000 Moros brutallykilled), Patikul Massacre (700), Pata IslandMassacre (more than 2,000), Manili Massacre(70), Kauswagan Massacre (40), MagsaysayMassacre(66),andmanymore.

Boxed

ouT

ezeKiel Tanael

degrees highly irrelevant to their jobs. How ironic it is that students would end up wishing that accreditation be made permanent or on daily basis just in order to have the best of performance and services from our dear institution. While the allegory is perfect, it is but pathetically the reality. After all we are in a public-run institution, usually run by those who could hardly practice what they preach. Hypocrites.

The Evil in Men

Genocide has so many motivations. A few of them may be due to classism, racism, religious intolerance, reverse discrimination, sexism, homophobia, speciesism, xenophobia and transphobia. All of these motivations were the result of the unwillingness of men to share or respect other people’s belief, faith or principles on things. It is also the consequence of power corrupting and blinding those inflicted by itto become unaware of his surroundings and become egotistical. The indignation caused by this event in Maguindanao to the Filipinos and the international community was so intense as to create a sensation in the media and the Internet. The ways ordinary people responded were quite similar to the evil committed by the perpetrators. In the segment of the ABS-CBN’s Boto mo, I-patrol mo, a texter commented on saying that “the Ampatuans should be buried alive or be cut into 50 pieces to be distributed among the victims.” Quite ironic to say that people respond to evil by suggesting another act of evil even in thought or words. What difference do we have from these killers if we share the same thoughts and actions? This is the proof that the same evil dwells in every person and if given the chance to be in the same situation as these killers, we could have done the same mercilessly.

“Evil is the result when man does not have the love of God” -Albert einstein

36 Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009 Opinion

Side Bar

John miChael Veruen

Postscript to “Sensasyon”

Sensasyon Ikalimang paghabi has been the talk of the campus and blog after it has been circulated in the CSC community and was posted in statesmanrocks.

deviantart.com. The literary folio’s packagingsalutestothefivesenseorgansassociated in different forms of literary genressuchthattanog(depictsthemusicofpoetry),namit(linkstovariousflavorsof short stories), muklat (photography’sperspective),kurit(showcaseofartworks)and hangos (which breathes to life ondifferent essays). As what the folio’sconcept accounts for, the outcome is sensational. Different comments arose as it was distributed randomly at the CSC campus. There was a huge mass demands for an individualized literary folio. But the publication can not stomach this because the price of each exceeds from the subscription fee. Therefore it is limited. Only for those limited students who have a sense of wisdom and imagination. Above all, the literary folio is not only meant for our eyes, for publicity and for display but for how we show life’s stories. Literary is another discipline. Not like the news that becomes stale at the end of the day and a showbiz item that has been sensationalized just to feed the readers’ bubonic minds. It’s a whole new thing, and Abakatanduanes just do its job of compiling the best poems, artworks and stories. It is not just a waste paper basket for mechanical short stories and the ever jaded love rhyme poetry and personal accounts which were masturbated out of the blue. Literary uses a language and approach not really intended for a huge mass consumption and is the reason why the publication has produced limited copies is that Abakatanduanes is intended for those who have a penchant for literary value and the arts. Some students hate to attend their literature class because they do not understand its essentiality due to mediocrity and knowledge deficit. Even

Maybe, her thirst for power was never quenched. She has already wallowed for almost nine years in power, yet she again

craves for it, though tendered at mediocre echelon. GMA’s pronouncement to run as Representative of the 2nd district of Pampanga substantiates prior theory on the plan to extend her term, through the selfishly proposed charter change(chacha). This is amidst suspicions onher drama to stay no more. The shift of the present presidential system to a federal-parliamentary form will surely not let her take the curtain call and make herfinalbow.Hence, thiswillpave theconcrete road of her continuous slavery, travesty and consummation of the Filipino masses. Because this change in the system would mean another long, long years of agony under the regime of a puppet that fools around with her numerous soiled puppets. Apparently, the people, as the audience, did not savor the grubby politicalshow.AnddefinitelytheySwillnot wish for another genre of stage play. In fact, no one would even care to lend their calloused hands to bestow a big round of applause. It was noted that GMA did not disclose her future political plan in her last State Of the Nation Address (SONA?), of which her adversariesawaited for her declaration not to include herself to the 2010 electoral race. But now the answer was absolutely rendered clear. She has not loosened her grip to the pleasure of supremacy. That had there been diagnosis of the country’s state, uninterrupted ill-system would be

DroughtelVin randolph Jubay

Blind Folded

thefindings. More to the point, who would like to step out of a glimmering spot when all you have is luxury while most have misfortune. More likely to happen in the arena after the election, is the jump start, again, of the so called perilous dance of chacha. It was in 2005 when this event unfolded, thus served as an edifying manifestation of political positioning and yields of power. The allies of GMA naively authored and approved a resolution for a constituent assembly but did not know what step to take afterwards. Hence, this was deemed as an indisputable threat to this nation’s economical, social and moral condition. Then eventually,withher croniesfleeingin the grimy house of the Congress, an instantaneous Prime Minister would emerge. While GMA capriciously claims her economic and social achievements, private economists are obliterating her account, and are totally in clash to see whose mathematical device is malfunctioning. Most Filipino’s would believe that her only factual achievements are the corruption of country’s democracy and the reduction of this country into a nation of wanderers and adventurers. We had miscalculated her farewell. Again, she thirsts. She needs to be dampened. But what magical solvent could eradicate this drought? She’s maybe in the throne of Presidency at present; she’s geared up to dwell in a bigger mansion. Prevention is still better than cure. Open your eyes. Do not be blindfolded.

the students who have submitted their entries for literary folio doesn’t know the rules of the trade. Our consultant will point out these stuffs, as too emotive for comfort. “Ipadala na lang sa kinauukulan .”, would be the usual mark. Creative writing requires creative thinking. It aches my head and feels disturbed when some students react from the high falutine vocabulary of the sensational Abakatanduanes. The bottomline - these students have less exposure to the dynamics of language. And this is an eye opener. We are laid on the line in the stereotyped pocketbooks and text quotes. We are not exposed to media that will give us the chance to think

abstractly and not “literally” .We are then only confined in the traditional Englishand Filipino. We are in higher learning therefore we must think and imagine in our highest heights. To quote from a famous line “Your taste for coffee is not my taste of poetry”. It is indeed for people who have a dose of imagination and think beyond the border of their thoughts. Imagine and think of this. You can't think rationally on an empty stomach, and a whole lot of people can't do it on a full one either.

OpinionVol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009 37

I rememberthefirsttimeIsangthishymn.Stimulatedbymyteacher’s honeyed and digestible offer, I internalized this song and built in me the awe for my new school. Greatness, prodigy, excellence, they all came sweeping me off into a pristinestand-thestandthatI’minaschoolthatsatisfiesa

student’s fervor. Oh how easy a freshman can be carried. Catanduanes State Colleges actually savors the prestige of being the only comprehensive higher education institution in this island province and joins the squad of the premier SUCs not only in the region but in the entire country as well. In fact, Isteyt is constantly robed with accolades and acknowledgement both in regional and national level. Ironically,whatissweetinthesuperficialismostlybitterbeneath. Behind the praise sprawls the disparaging defect that is truly disheartening. Let’s be frank. This institution has subject offerings which have teachers handling it but have no reference at all. Or if there is a reference, it’s yet one or two, antiqued, outmoded, and obsolete. Relevantly, these teachers will just reason that everythingisfinebecausetheworldwidewebcansupplementtheneed without the knowledge that only a little percentage of the data in the net is valid and reliable. They are proud saying this as if they know how to surf the net or even to control the mouse of a computer. This is embarrassingly a pure hypocrisy. The upshot isthatlessonsarediscussedsuperficially.Theyarepushingsuchsubjects even at the expense of the learning that will be reaped. Our isteyt is even allowing teachers to handle subjectsevenifitisnotreallytheirfieldofspecialization.Imagine the discussion and the learning transpiring inside the classroom. Highbrows’ eyebrows are meeting badly to be exact. Nevertheless, the shatterproof fact is that knowledge can never be bluffed. Teaching in college is evidently and precisely different from teaching in elementary and secondary. The reason that tertiary education is labeled higher education is basically because the teaching in this stage is more advance, rich, and complex. Subjects here are not ordinary subjects. Morphing to the suitable or appropriate level of discussion and manner of subject presentation crushing out premature interpretations is likewise a deep-seated prerequisite. Yet the best action still is giving the warrior his mastered weapon – his craft, and vice versa. In one way or another, we can then ask what basis is behind the division of subjects. Or considering where it all started, the basis of hiring our teachers. Negligence is also a tag mark. Let’s face it. There are teaching authority here that sees reporting as an avenue to be free and spree to their obligation of pasturing the students. Some are even doing other business not in line and related with what they should do as the teacher. Some are leaving the room, not attending the class, not listening, and dispiritingly letting the reporters to handle the day for them. And what’s the comment afterwards? “Excellent, a very comprehensive report,” they say, even if it is not and even if they never listened. The word is indeed full disregard. Heck, are they pointing out that the students need them no more to learn? Inauspiciously, they end up the victor as they still receive their crispy salary - the same amount they expect to receive.

Another act of negligence is giving a mean interest to the mediocre students yet gives much of the focus to the performing ones, which should be the reverse. Education must not be prejudiced or function like racism. In accordance with assessment principles, we have culprits who use assessment to establish their name to their student as the brainy thus including in the exam questions which are actually out of the syllabus, out of the discussion, and was undoubtedly never taught. Likewise, assessment is used as an excuse rooted from negligence and lack of preparedness and as a disciplining and fear-installing tool. Assessment is measuring students learning in a discussion. Now, what are they exactly measuringthere?Inafluffyside,wecanobservea-not-so-goodconstruction of questions in their test papers. Typographical error oratestoffindingtheflaw?Againwhatshouldberememberedisthat college is college and not any other level. Similarly, projects must always be an outgrowth of the lesson and not as compliance only. There are authorities who require students to pass projects not related to the lesson and sometimesfortheirownbenefit. Moreover, some subjects also are somehow not in line with the student’s course. Are they practically included just to fillintherequiredunitsforthesaidcourse?Relatively,therearecourses in this institution that have different inclination in the end. Political Science graduates for example are conscious that the said course here which is basically a preparatory for law is taught more bound or favored to teaching, same with BS Biology which is a preparatory to medicine. By hook or by crook, we can say at the outset that this institution must sharpen its curriculum, its subject offerings, and course content. What does the course wants to turn the students into? What is its target? The students must be brought and developed to the expected crop or else, all are rubbish or worthless. These are only some of the blemishes that can drain one’s established awe. CSC has certainly potential and enthusiastic students that can be even developed if right and needed actions will be undertaken. They are blessings that should never be taken for granted. After all, we the students are the clientele that the CSC serves. Negligence is shame. Incompetence is antipathy. Excuses are folly. And so we have to honor and thank those who never considered the aforementioned and just do what is expected from them instead. They are absolutely heroes. Isteyt can indeed propel to even loftier heights. Higher passing rate, more quality graduates, more achievements and citation from regional, national, and hopefully international, and other commendable prizes will be even made possible if quality and the best instruction will be catered. Yet what ever the case there is, we the students must not overlook the efforts that we should do. The passion, will, and perseverance must never drain. Higher education is not dependence after all. Anyway about the hymn, this time I believe I will not be carried anymore. I guess I gained weight... or muscles perhaps. Oh cheers to CSC.

God bless the CSC

BehindVanguardS

John elmar TemplonueVo

All hail the name of CSCSeat of Wisdom, Rich and Free

Your sons and daughters join the bandFuture pillars of the land.

38 Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009 Opinion

ruzzel Valdepeña

Ito ang una at huling pagkakataon ko na magsulat ng kolum sa diyaryong ito. Sa loob ng limang taong pakikipag-buno sa pagaaral, sa wakas makakapagtapos na rin ako.

Dagliang pagpapakilala lang naman iyan. Nais ko lang sana na sa pagkakataong ito’y maihayag ko sa inyo, mga mahal kong kamag-aral, ang aking mga saloobin.

Pilipinas Mula ng dekada singkwenta hanggang sa kalagitnaan ng dekada sitenta, namayagpag ang Pilipinas sa buong rehiyon ng Asya. Ang bansa ang siyang unang nakalaya umano sa mahigpit na kamay ng mga dayuhan. Ang palitan ng piso sa dolyar ay umabot pa nga kwatro pesos kada isang dolyar, isang patunay na ang ating ekonomiya noon ay sadyang matatag. Ang pasistema ng pamahalaan ay maayos sa kabila ng patagong pag-asa sa tulong ng imperyalistang Amerika. Hindi na maaalis ang kurapsyon sa isang demokratikong bansa, subalit ng mga panahong iyon, kaunti pa lamang ang epekto nito sa mga mamamayan. Sa kasalukuyan, tanggap na ng nakararaming Pilipino ang kabulukan ng sistema. Alam mo yan. Hayaan niyo akong magsalaysay ng ilan. Tila isang pamaskong regalo ang hatid ng EDSA sa Pilipinas. Sa katagang ito lumaya umano ang Pilipinas sa tanikala ng mapaniil na diktaturyang Marcos, at sa bulok na pamamamaraan ng gobyerno ni Estrada. Sa totoo lang HINDI. Dahil para sa akin, pinairal lamang ng mga taga-Maynila ang kanilang katangahan. Sobrang katangahan. Matapos ang rehimeng Marcos, naupo si Aquino, isang mahina at walang alam sa pagpalutang ng isang maliit na bangkang palubog. Lumobo ang utang ng Pilipinas. EDSA Dos. Muling pinabilib ng bansa ang mundo. Pinabilib sa angking kabobohan ng Maynila. Hindi maako ng mga nagpatalsik kay Erap na isang pandak

Solusyonna diyablo ang kanilang pinatungan ng korona. Hanggang ngayon, ang malanding babaeng bayaran ang may hawak kay Juan Dela Cruz sa leeg. Sa kasamaang palad, bakal at nalilibutan ng tinik ang kamay na sumasakal kay Juan. Isa ring katatawanan ang termino sa mga Pilipino, Juan dela Cruz, isang obrerong may pasan na krus. Hindi maiiwasang ihambing ang noon sa ngayon. Kung ikaw ay may kaunting kaalaman sa mga nangyayari, marahil, nais mo na ring umalis na lamang sa bansang ito.

Catanduanes Isang maliit na nunal sa tubig ng Pasipiko. Kay gandang lugar. Kay yuyumi ng kababaihan. Noon ‘yan sabi ng lola ko nung buhay pa siya. Salamat lola at namahinga ka na, hindi mo na mararanasan pa ang hirap sa lugar na ito. Pangunahing produkto dito ang abaka. Ibig sabihin, maraming magsasaka ng abaka, isang napakaselang tanim. Kaunting tulak lang ay magugupo na, tsk, at nagkataong bagyuhin pa naman ang isla. Pag may bagyo, walang abaka, pag walang abaka, walang pera, pag walang pera, walang pagkain. Kawawa ka naman, pobreng Catandunganon. Ang islang ito ay isa ding maliit na imperyo. Naghahari-harian ang mga buwayang hindi naman talagang likas na umusbong sa lugar na ito. Ang pulitika rito ay may pambansang kalidad. Kayang tapatan ang anumang kahihiyang kayang lunukin ni Gloria. Magmasid ka lamang ng maigi at ika’y lubhang matatawa. Ngayong malapit na ang eleksyon, tatapalan na naman ng pera ang mata ng mga mamamayan kapalit ng tatlong taong pag-sipsip ng mga halimaw na ito sa pwesto. Magkano lang naman yan? Sanlibo? Naku, ang mura naman ng mga tao dito. Catandunganon, tama na ang pagtulog, sobra na ang katangahan mo. Tama na.

Pampamahalaang Kolehiyo ng Catanduanes Sentro umano ng linangang pang-edukasyon sa probinsiya. Patunay diyan ang daan-daang pasado sa board exams taon taon. Palakpakan naman kayo diyan mga estudyante oh! Kayo lang, mga bobo kayo eh. Sobra.

Ito ang paaralang walang pagpapahalaga sa kanyang mga mag-aaral. Ito ang paaralang, walang pakialam ang mga mag-aaral sa pambababoy ng paaralan. Nakakatawa. Tanging pera lang talaga ang rason ng patuloy na pag-daloy ng mabahong buhay sa paaralang ito. AACCUP lang ang dahilan ng pag-ganda ng mukha nito. Magaling CSC, para kang nagpalit ng damit ngunit hindi naligo. Nagmumog ngunit hindi nagsepilyo. Tumae, ngunit hindi ka naghugas ng puwet. Oh sadyang kaysakit tanggapin ng mabahong katotohanan. Pinapatawan mo ang iyong mga bulag na anak ng pasakit na kibit-balikat na lamang sa kanila. Ikaw CSC, ang siyang dapat manganak ng mga batang magsisilbi sa kanyang bayan, ngunit, isang pambubugaw ang iyong ginagawa. Sumasayaw sa saliw ng musika ng “GLOBAL COMPETETIVENESS,” tugtuging gawa ng Amerika. Sabi nga ni Bob Ong, “Gag*han ang College”. Totoo yon. AdNauseam,AdInfinitum,CSC.

Paalam Ang Pilipinas ay isang patay na puno ng uod. Punong-puno ng uod. Samut-sari ang uri ng uod nasumisippsip sa bulok na bangkay nito. Yaong mga buwaya at ang kanyang mga kauri ang nasa ilalim. Sila ang pikamatatabang uod sa lipunan. Nakatanim na sa bansa. Ang masa, pinakamarami, ngunit pinakamangmang, pinagkaitan ng mga uod sa ibaba. Ngunit ang masa, balang araw ay gigising din. Dahil na rin sa tayo ay nasa gitna ng napakadilim at walang buwang gabi. Malapit nang sumikat ang araw, at sinisiguro kong muling mapipintahan ng pula ang pagsikat ng umaga. Hindi edukasyon ang solusyon, Jesli. Mali ka dahil mayaman ka. Ito, Jesli, ito ang solusyon. Rebolusyon. Rebolusyon ang solusyon. Paalam.

OpinionVol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009 39

BANAT NI ISKAY PLIKS AT PINAT KING Medyo nahuray-huray kita nin katosmag ah, tsk. Sukat pano, kahaharang na. hehe! Dyok lang mga made kasin pade. Mana ta maerestoryahan kita nin kabalbalan ditoyan sa eskwelahan tang MAHAL.

Inot na labarda: Oras nin pagbasa, de-oras na. Iso baga daa, de-oras na ang pagbasa sa atong library. Tsk, isyan ang resulta nin pag-automate? Anong innovation man yan? Hapoton daw namo kamo, dating sanggatos na ang bayad kada semestre para sa library iso? Ta’yon tapaglimitahan ang pag-adal? Atang mie pa naman yan inagi sa among mga estudyante ang pagapruba nin singil na yan. Tapos mabayad pa nin singgko kada dos minutos? Ay anong kabuahan, eh sa computer shop sa luwas singgko kada kinse minotos nin internet. Madyag pang iinternet na sana iso? Anong kor-catalog, itype sana sa Google search yang topic antemano maotwar ang resulta. Mie pa nata-pogan sa luma buda ralapa nang libro. Maoyam na kamo, asa tama kami, kadakor pa namo. Kamo? Inda sana sa inyo, pila man sana kamo.

Ikawhang labarda: An pagkalupa nin propesyonalismo ni Doc. Hantong doctor na to yan, sadong ardaw, maklase kutana siya, pagabot niya sa kiyang assigned na klasrum, ikan ng naenot. Tapos hantong medyo maypagkaikan na instructor na to yan, nagparwala sa pasilyo mismo nin college nila. Pinakihurunan man siya na maghanap nin room pansamantala ta nakasugna na si mam nin klase sa rum na yon. Sos, ugali bga yan nin doctor. Sabagay, baad isyan talaga ang kiyang ugali bilang doctor iso, mga made? Tsk. Lawgaw baga ano? Hana baad maarog ka ki Haydon Kho. Hek! Hek! Hek!

Ikatlong labarda: An barkada kong nahabonan. Ikan kami barkada, gaeskwela pa ninto, sanang off-campus siya, siyempre mie namo itaram ang pangaran. Si pade namo, nagreklamo ta yo gibo daa nin grupo nila sa research, ipinangaran sa apat na maestro diyan sa department na halani sa calatagan gate. Tamang kanilopet kotana nin pakagibo nila nin study na ‘yon, tapos ipangpahamot sana sa apat na maestrong yon? Sukat mga bo-rad magresearch. Bo-rad ba o talagang mae pa masyado bated? Masupog man oy, gibo yan nin estudyante ninyo, hahabonon niyo pang pampahamot nin ngaran niyo sa mga Accreditors? Hek hek hek. Pagtorortor daw kamo.

BIPPK

Ikaapat na labarda: An branyung bang bus Ang apelido nila, santa rosa. Ikan kaming barkada na student ng automotive na sabi daa ikawhang gamit ta na daa sila. kahilak man, gamit na paran siya, pinapasapasahan na, minik-apan lang daa, tsk. Mahar mahar daa pero ang pakabugaw sa kiya. Hek hek hek. Inda sana kun sino inot na masakay sa kiya, hana, lugi siya jan. Basta kami ni pade, syertong buko na silang branyu. Hek hek hek.

Ikalimang labarda: “Just sign your nem & everythin’s gonna be fayn.” Sabiyannisir/mamna__________(clue,teachersiyanatagaCBA,CAS,CAF,CHS,COT,CoED).Manongodinisapag-rate nin estudyante sa maestra. Ano kita? morong? ikaw? baad iso, pero kami buko. Ako ninyan botngan ko yan nin uno, labot ko, kun ikan sanang negatib 1 million isurat ko yan dyan. hek hek hek. buko man silang tayo’ maghu’no. hek hek hek.Gudbay

As the title implies, iso talaga. mae nang masunod pang kabanata nin atong “panlilibak asin panlanse” sa mga maeng kanortoran asin maeng kaayadan na mga tawo buda pangyare. Mga dudes, guys, pre, part, we leave to you the legacy of jason gainza, i mean, you know, of standing up, just like buto ni corakog, no malice dudes, were gonna miss you including this page a lot. tsk. no more hek heks, tsk tsks, and laughing trip while reading our article. Sorry, but, we have to grow kasi eh. So long, s*ckers!

P.S. Rejoiceevil-doersandrealsuckers,(sakitmag-englis),ho, you may resume your damn work without those two pests atop this paper. But, but, buttttttt! (sisipaonmian!hekhekhek!)

BIPPKthe Lighter SideVol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009 41

oksi

mor

on p

olit

iks

ni:k

onix

Natunghayan natin

sa taong ito ang

katakut-takot na

kababalaghan. Lalo na

kung ika“y mapagmasid at

ginamit ng maigi ang

inyong kanya-kanyang third

eye. Sinasabi na tayong

lahat ay mayroong third

eye, kailangan lang natin

itong IMULAT, ilang

paranormal expert na rin

ang nakapagpatunay na

sa kabila ng pisikal na

pagkabulag, nananatiling

aktibo ang third eye.

Hayaan ninyong isalaysay

ko ang ilan sa mga

nasaksihan ng aking

matang mapagmatyag.

HAUNTING SA CSC Noong nakaraang semestre, isang pagtitipon ang

ginanap sa gym. Isang haunting ika nga ang naganap.

Nakakatakot dahil sa pagtitipong ito nagmistulang

possessed ang mga mag-aaral na dumalo, maliban na

lamang kaunting naniwala sa kanilang mga panalangin.

Sa nasabing pagtitipon lumitaw ang balak na itaas ng

mga haunters ang singil sa presyo ng kamote“t daing

na dapat bilhin ng mga estudyante. Hindi natuloy

ang nasabing pagtataas. Salamat na lamang sa mga

naniwala. Kaya nga lang yaong mga nakararami“y hindi

maintindihan ng lubusan ang lahat ng pangyayari. Ang

inaakala nilang komedyang palabas ay isa pa lang

katatakutan. Huli na ng kanilang napagtanto.

HOLLOW MAN: ANG PAGBABALIK Unang nagparamdam ang halimaw na ito noong

nakaraang taon. Tinagurian siyang hollow man dahil

sa kanyang angking kakayahan sa pagiging tagabulag.

(Invisibility sa mga hindi nakaaalam). Matindi ang

kanyang pagpaparamdam sa CSC Gymnasium. Tanging

sa pakiramdam lamang malalaman na siya ay nasa

paligid. Kamakailan, may nag-ulat sa amin na siya“y

nakapaglimas ng kulang-kulang dalawang libong

piso mula sa pondo ng CPEC. Ayon sa nag-ulat na

nagkataong kalbo, mistulang holdap ang nangyari

dahil sapilitan ang pangha-harass ng Hollow Man

makuha lamang ang kanilang membership fee. Dagdag

pa niya, tatlo ang klaseng hawak ng halimaw na

ito kaya kung susumahin ay aabot sa dalawang libo

ang nalimas ng karumaldumal na nilalang na ito.

Napag-alaman na lamang ng kawawang estudyante na

mayroong derby ng araw na iyon. Hindi makatarungan

ang ginawa ng hollow man sa kanilang klase. Maging

ang mga kasamahan nito sa trabaho“y nagsabi na sila

mismo“y hindi (remit) sa organisasyon ang perang

kanilang nalilikom mula sa mga estudyante.

Makapanindig balahibo ang pagpaparamdam.

Sana“y mamulat ang mga mag-aaral sa tunay na

kababalaghan.

CREEPS Kung pamilyar ka sa larong "DoTA", karakter

ito sa laro na mukhang diyablo at laman-lupa ang

itsura. Naglipana ang mga creeps na ito sa COT Dep“t

of Industrial Technology. Nakakatakot ang kanilang

mga itsura. Ilang mga mag-aaral ang nagsumbong

sa amin na madalas magreklamo sa kanilang paraan

ng pagtuturo. Ang mga creeps na ito mismo ang

nagsasabing "..inda ko sana kung makapasa pa kamo",

"pagluwas niyo baad kami pa ang ipasupog nindo,

pati iskwelahan idaramay ninyo pa ning inyong

kasosopgan niyo". Ayon sa mga estudyante, hindi

naman ganoon ang pakikitungo sa kanila ng mga

halimaw na ito noon. Nagbago na lamang noong mga

nakaraang taon. Marahil dahil na rin sa mga creeps

na ito, mababa ang performance ng mga graduates ng

nasabing departamento.

Creeps na nagturo sa kanila ng apat na taon

ang sila mismong magtutuligsa sa kanilang sariling

produkto. Hinihiling namin sa otoridad ang agarang

pagsiyasat sa kanilang kakayanang magturo. Isang

board passer lang sa isang taon, minsan ay wala.

Sabagay, matatanda na rin naman sila“t nakakalbo pa.

Kailangan na dapat mamahinga, tutal mga tamad rin

naman sila di“ba?

Ilan lamang iyan sa kababalaghan na aking napagmasdan.

Sadya ngang nakakapangilabot lalo na'“t sa atin mismo

nagparamdam. Maniwala lang tayo sa ating mga kakayahan.

Marami tayo. Kailangan lang nating imulat ang ating mga

third eye. Sana malaman niyo rin na tayo ay nasa gitna

ng walang buwang gabi.

Matagal pa bago tayo sikatan ng araw.

Ang kababalaghan ay magpapatuloy kung ating

pahihintulutan.

Artikulo: Santelmo Lapat: Raseldo Larawan: Bren

43

ON

The Exodus Eight of the nine events participated in by the Catanduanes State Colleges in the 2009 Region V SCUAA Meet held at the CamarinesSurPolytechnicCollege(CSPC)Naga City Campus last September 28, - October 2, 2009, bagged six gold, 14 silver and nine bronze medals. The men’s basketball team composed of Van Ashley Cervantes, Jose Mari Louis A. dela Cruz, Ivan Keith S. Go, Joel T. Litong, Bert Dominic T. Pitajen, Jan Marvin A. Toledana, Francois T. Razal, Jayson L. Traqueña, Matt R. Tabligan and Loueigi Z. Tomes bannered the gold medal harvest of CSC after trouncing the powerhouse defending champion Bicol University in a twice-to-beat disadvantage inthechampionshipandfinallyrecapturingthe title after an almost six-year gold medal drought. Meanwhile, Rose Ann M. Bantayan, a senior BS Math student gallantly carried the flag of CSC taekwondo team, earninggold in the Taekwondo Bantamweight Division along with her compatriot Perfecto D. Bien snaring the bronze medal in the Flyweight Division. Furthermore, the CSC softball

As the tradition and thrill of the State Colleges and Universities Athletic

Association (SCUAA) Meet continue to elevate the sports enthusiasms of many, competition also gears up into a different level. The quest for pride and honor to be dubbed supreme in the Bicol sporting world has always been a matter of great interest. And now, another regional sports gala has concluded and the dominance of some once again surfaced in the Bicol’s sports arena while the underdogs are still desperately in search of the elusive glory of winning the gold.

TOUCHDOWNS & SETBACKSteam hurled by Janice A. Cabrera, Joanne T. del Barrio, Ann Frances T. delos Santos, Carmi Joy B. Giray, Michelle Karl Ibayan, Stephanie Marie C. Ibayan, Jogie A. Sarmiento, Riolita I. Satairapan, Andelyn C. Sorra, Rowena G. Tablate, Karen P. Tenerife andWemmy T. Traqueña defiedthe muddy field and fierce competitor toclinch the First Runner up honors. Also providing the CSC a vantage team standing is the Lawn Tennis women’s team who pocketed the silver medal. The CSC lady netters were Perlita A. Posada, Karen Joy G. Tindoc, Katrina A. Peña and Mary Anne V. Cabrera. Adding to the CSC’s medal tally is the men’s Volleyball team who netted the 2nd Runner up honors. They were composed of Louiegi Z. Tomes, Mark S. Reyes, Oriel D. Icaro, John Alvin T. Tonio, Ronald C. Rojas, Edelbert D. Dalipe, Joel J. Litong, Vincent Cris T. Tapel, and Audi Jose A. Manlangit. Danilo Tipo Jr. likewise outlasted the rigors of eliminations in the Athletic High Jump to eventually capture the Silver Medal. Also gaining bronze medals were Sonny B. Tayoto (swimming, 50m-backstroke), Raffy Roncar Tivar (chess-

board1) and Jeremy Y. Sapico (Athletics-500mrun).

The Aftermath Compared to last year’s outcome, it is quite obvious that we have a far better ratio of medal harvest this year with respect to the number of athletes sent. Last year we had entries in almost all sports disciplines but we were just able to bring home two golds, 21 silvers and 37 bronzes in our medal hunt. With 63, the leanest number of participating athletes this year, the CSC squad surpassed last year’s dismal finish with 46% efficiency compared tolast year’s 35%. But the odd thing is that, still, we remained in the 7th place inching DEBESMSCAT with only three gold, one silver and two bronze medals to escape the humiliating bottom of standings. The dominance of Bicol University as one of the premier state-run universities in Bicol once again proved that they are one of the sports superpowers, enabling them to defend their “over-all championship” title with a commanding 83 gold, 51 silver and 44 bronze medal record. This just demonstrates the solo

Sports44

TOUCHDOWNS SETBACKS

show of BU, revealing the glaring reality that an institution with better and solidly-established sports development plan has the edge to conquer the SCUAA’s center stage. Then we’ll ask, “…what’s the CSC’s sports development plan?” It could be recalled that last year we hosted the said sports fest, then we hoped we could have the home court advantage, but then again, we failed. Hosting the SCUAA last year draws further setbacks in the sports sector of our institution. Financial impediments to be specific. It’s disappointing tosay that the honor of hosting the most prestigious sporting event of SUC’s in the region has been ironically translated to a major financial hurdle, prompting theadministration to take drastic measures to be able to cope with the demands of the present sports status. That’s why only those events with assurance of securing medals were the ones given attention and those new breed of potential medal-source events were risked not be exposed. We could not blame them for opting to such decision because that’s what the present dilemma is calling for. In fact, it has brought better reputation than last year. I could say, that was pretty clever.

But we could not hide the disadvantage of that wise maneuver. Remember that exposure to competitions is a vital factor in enhancing an athlete’s competitive spirit. The heart of an athlete when exposed to battles breeds passion and confidence; passionand confidence boosts ego which isthen converted to optimism causing psychological advantage, then that means winning. If we will deprive this opportunity to our deserving athletes we’re just letting our chances to slip in our hands. How can we gain the respect of other powerhouse SUC’s if we will just contain ourselves to this limit? If the administration will adapt the same scheme next year, that would probably be not pretty clever. Another thing that seemed to be peculiar is the duration of training allotted to the athletes. Staging the Intramurals on September 2-4 gives the athletes only three weekstoprepareandgetfiredupfortheiractual battle. That’s definitely not prettyclever. Journeying into a war without any armor and weapon dooms you to death and catastrophe. If this will be a habit, that’s impeccably irresponsible. How could we have caliber athletes that could go neck-to-

neck against the better-trained warriors of mainland SUC’s if we will not invest a little more time and effort to venture into modern and wittier strategies? If we dream to be one of the sports superpowers, then we should eliminate irresponsibility. We could never be too passive. The next battle has already geared its way. The coin has been tossed once more. But it is not a matter of head and tails. It’s not always a physical brawl. Wisdom, passion and heart matters more. Maybe we’re an island province, a remote SUC and we could not settle in their culture of air-conditioned stadiums and chlorinated swimming pools, but we’ve got a whole lot of guts to emerge supreme. The challenge rests upon our shoulders. The clarion call is too deafening for us not too respond. The future of CSC’s quest for glory is still a jig saw puzzle. Will our institution be dubbed once more as the underdog? Or are we going to have the paybackandmakethefinaltouchdown? What’s your bet?

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THE ART OF TRIAL - SCUAA 09 is about the field, the players, the strategies and the stories.

Skim boarding: a Budding Tourism

Attractionin Catanduanes

Article: Bren Garette Rivera Photo Credits: John Paulo Valdepeña, Bren Garette Rivera Page Design: Superbev

Sports Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009 46

Skim boarding, also known as skimming, is now a nascent water board sport played by youngsters all over the Philippines and is a rapidly budding sport in the shorelines of the island of Catanduanes.

Unlike surfing, skim boarding uses a petite and sleekerversion of a surfboard fitted to transcend on wave washes. The sport originated way back 1920’s with proofs of photographs of lifesavers and coastguards skimming along the shoreline of Laguna Beach, California. In the Philippines, it started in Tanauan, Leyte sometime in year 2000. Catanduanes, tagged as the “Land of the Howling Winds” is known as an island rich with magnificent beaches and now showcasing anotherpotential for the water sport -- skim boarding. This is in addition to the tourism spot at Puraran, Baras, which is internationally known for its majestic waves best apposite for surfers. According to sport enthusiasts, Cabugao Bay coastline, located near TESDA was said to be an excellent skim boarding spotwith awide and long range of flatland.However, you can find skimmers anywhere at the shorelineof Virac and other towns depending on the tide and wave levels. Mamangal and Batag Beach, both at the town of Virac also got a high number of penchants for its quality shoreline suited for flatland skimming while the mostaccessible spot is the water edges of Salvacion, Virac. In the recent Catandungan Festival, a skim boarding clinic was proposed to be held in Puraran, Baras to introduce the water sport in Catanduanes but was cancelled due to the reduction of events since the province took part in paying sympathy for those victims of Typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng. However, Skimheads- a group of students and young professionals, was planning to establish a skim boarding clinic and competition in the province as an initiation for other youth to showcase their skimming skills and talent and to prove the island’s potential in hosting such event. CSC grounds once served as a skimming spot and is also preferred by those who played on it after heavy rainfall but the thrill was lessened since traditional skim boarding includes the act that a skimmer must wait for an incoming wave and ride on its wave washes. Catanduanes’ beaches’ expanses continue to create a center of interest not only for skimmers but also for tourist and visitors eager on viewing breathtaking panoramic beach sites and having a relaxing experience.

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47Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009 Sports

Skimming 101 Consideraflatbeachshoreline.Thiswouldplayavitalroleforskimboarderssincethesportrequirestheflatwashofprevious waves. The best time running for a wave is right after the wave breaks. Accurate timing is necessary for this would lead the skimmer to a good ride. If the skimmer did not catch the right run time and wave, this would lead to trouble in jumping off the board and during the ride. Dexterity is a must. Once the skimmer reaches the water or the wet sand, they throw down the board so they can perform their skim board ride. Probably, this part would be the most physically challenging obstacle for novices and maybe the reason why many beginners don’t stick to the said water sport. Equipped with a lot of endurance and persistence, anyone could learn the basics of skim boarding, but take note, not everyone will be free from bruises and other cases requiring medical attention. Once on the board, the skimmers must have power over their weight and balance at the center of the board to avoid falling off. They must also pump or glide onto the board to accelerate. Running too fast is not that necessary for it causes the skimmer to lose control. When the basic step “Run, Drop, Slide” is faultlessly completed, the rider might have the opportunity to perform other tricks and ride the wave, considering the speed, balance and skill to do a variety of maneuvers while banking off the wave and pointing towards the shore. Skim boarding can be classified into flatland skimboarding wave riding or advanced skimming. Flatland skim boarding, the most commonly played here in the shorelines of the island, requires the need of skim board made out of thick quality plywood or simply wood boards. On the other hand, foam boards are fitted for wave riding because of itslight weight. Wave riding, as a more complex technique in skim boarding, is not yet practiced that much here in the island since the sport is on its burgeoning stage and foam boards are not yet available. Although, Catanduanes’ potential waters can hold either of the two skim boarding event.

Sports Science Skim boards are designed thru the principle of hydroplaning, wherein the board rises out of the water as it accelerates and gain speed. The film surface of the flatwash ofwaves prevents the board frommakingfirm contactwith the water surface. Skim boards are typically smaller and thinner than those of surfboards because these do not require much buoyancy. Thanks to Archimedes. Eureka!

Caution Just like any other sport, players would never be free from danger. So for a beginner, it is a must to be physically alert to avoid these circumstances. Skim boarding, as a growing popular activity at the beach may cause different types of dangers that skimmers can face regularly. It is not uncommon to see skim boarders getting wounds, fractures, lacerations, bruises and other sort of cases due to impacts with the board itself, or rocks, logs and other obstacles present on beaches. However, cases of drowning among skim boarders are not as likely as those with surfers due to the shallow waters where skim boarding is practiced.

Water wonder - Mark Anthony de Leon skims the Mamangal beach’s frothy hemline.

At the height of glory and bliss of the Filipino fans during the “Firepower” bout between the pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao and Puerto Rican legend Miguel Cotto, 11 fatalities in the Philippines

ironically arose due to extreme excitement and great anticipation of another epic conquest of the beloved Filipino warrior. According to the ABS-CBN Regional Network Group, nine of the 11 casualties were declared dead on arrival after experiencing fatal heart failures. Three of them came from theDavaoRegion,fivehailed fromthecitiesofTalisay,Cebu,Butuan and Batangas and one from Virac, Catanduanes. In Talisay City, Atillano Caneda, 67, died of heart-attack while watching pay-per-view in their home. Rolando Sala, 53, from Cebu; Concordio Paredes, 70, from Butuan City; Cecilio Cabrera,62, and John Allan Feranil, 38, both from Batangas also hadtheirecstaticfarewellwhilesavoringthethrillofthefightintheir respective TV sets. Some of them got unconscious in places like restaurants, hotels and business establishments where they had their fair share of viewing their idol. Also adding to the count were Vicente Bernal of Carmen Davao del Norte, Lord Espina, barangay councilor of Poblacion Dos, Bansalan, Davao del Sur and Jose Paco, a retired police from Davao City. Meanwhile, a Catandunganon named Florencio Bonaobra, 71, a resident of Francia, Virac, Catanduanes was likewise included on the list. Based on the stories of the relatives, Bonaobra is a “self-proclaimed” number one fan of Pacquiao, nevermissinganyofPacquiao’sfightsdespitehisheartcondition.Hehadacardiacarrestinthefinalminuteofthe2ndroundwhile“Pacman”isfiringuphisrampageandonslaught. On the other hand, a report by ABS-CBN Regional Network Group said Amelita Pasado went into labor at her home in Naawan, Misamis Oriental past 12 p.m. Sunday at the start of thePacquiao-Cottofight.Unfortunately,herhusband,Ricardo,wasnotathomesincehewaswatchingthefightatarestaurantin the town. Ricardo brought his wife to a local hospital after being informed of her condition but the latter died due to blood loss. Their baby also died during delivery. This was the tragedy. Eleven harsh adieus behind the Filipino icon’s triumph. Though glory and pride were once more bestowed to our slowly declining dignity as Filipinos, this kind of issue still draw a sudden gravity of social interests. Then here’s the skepticism. What do these deaths imply? If we will trace the roots of these deaths, there could be one possible answer, Fanaticism. The Filipino’s vulnerability to succumb to such fame and dominance. We’re not blaming anyone for their patriotism in support of our compatriot bringing our country’s banner. We’re not even insulting Manny’s historicalwinbeingthefirsteverboxertoholdsevendifferenttitle divisions. The case is that, we Filipinos are too fragile to patronize and idolize. Even to the point that we give all our heart out just to offer support and clamor to our revered idols. The malady of subduing ourselves to be followers of

popular icons - this is the real culprit. This is the reason why we are in the midst of moral agony. We are unconsciously hypnotized by fanaticism, colonialism’s ally. We are morally brainwashed. Good if we are in support to our fellowmen who bring positive reputations to the Philippines. But it would be pathetic if we will degrade our integrity as Filipinos, praising thosepublicfiguresgivingnothingbutshameandtrashtalks.Worse, if we become helpless fanatics of strange, foreign and Hollywood culture. Maybe that’s why we’re always being under estimated, because we lack conviction in our identity as a Filipino. Because we see them as a higher and more dominant race, than us. Drawing the line from the perspective of sports and sociology, it is to note that winning doesn’t mean triumph at all. In more particular times, it draws back further disguised blemishes. We seldom see the tragedy behind the conquest. Sometimes in our blindness, we are the ones being conquered. Kudos to those Manny Pacquiaos who continue to uplift our nation’s pride! To those who dreamed to witness Manny’s inspiring conquest but unluckily had their early euphoric twilight, may you all rest in peace. To those who are dazzled by the blinding neon lights of fame and victory… Beware. You might be wearing the masquerade.

Sports Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009 48

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Kalokohan ang sistema sa library. Commercialized ang sistema. For discipline daw ng studes ang time limit sa pag-loanngbookobakanamanIGPlang.Ismellsomethingfishy,Statesmanpakiimbestigahan. --BS Agri na time out muna sa gardeniaO sige! Next assignment namin yan in collaboration with Cheche Lazaro. Imbestigahan! Ta ngata dai galaug sa major subject ang reyna ning salung department sa CAS. Clarion call tabi ini sa kinauukulan, pakiaksyunan tabi ta kahelak mi man na mga estudyante. --Estudyanteng concerned sa tuition niyaPaalisin lahat silang mga incompetent na prof (daa!?). Hindi naman sila astang prof. Hanggang title lang sila. USELESS.

Pana-panahon ang mga placers sa board exam. Kasu mga nakaaging taun engineering ang nasa limelight ngunyan mga taga College of Health Sciences ang mga newsmakers. Sa arin kaya magkakaigwa ning placer ang mga edukador? --Chokadora na gustong maging placer sa LETHayaan mo kapag time mo naman. Ikaw na ang may tarpaulin sa harap ng isteyt. Kapag asensado na ang CSC, baka paggawa ka pa billboard sa may Kemji. Bongga ka!

Ta ngata kapag uya si tita akring, daing ga sigarilyo buda gabutwa ang NO SMOKING sign sa istakan. --Stude na may allergy sa fumes ng volatile kemikals Next time dala ka antihistamine kapag kukuha ka ng kemikals. ok?

Attention sa mga involved na SBO presidents: may memo pala na dai kamu pwede magkolekta ning intrams fee. Pero nagkolek pa man siyempre kamu.pwede pong mag-explain kamu or else silence means you are guilty. --Estudyanteng dai nakaisi sa purpose ng intrams feeGo…go… We want refund!

Mayad pa uya sa nursing balatid ang mga estudyante mag-post ning subjects. Pero yan ang mga taga- agri buda industrial technology kaalawat kaan ta dai batid kung ano ang gigibuhun. --CSC employee na ga-monologue sa jurassic park na computerGrabe man. Discrimination, gabayad an mam. Customer is always right.

Mga manyakis ang staff ning salung skolarship. Beware, mag-ingat kapag magpasa ng requirements huwag magpasa alone kailangan by group o kaya dapat may kasama. --Vavavoom, iskolar na sosyal Just asking? Pwede pa bang mag-apply?

On-air na naman tayo pipz at marami na naman ang nasa hitlist at watchlist. Basta ang

alam namin, batu-bato sa langit ang tamaan ay huwag magagalit.

Huwag mo nang i-deny! Basta kapag alam mo na, eh ‘di yun na.

Kagsing! Kulahaw! Kimot!

The CSC StatesmanVol.18 No.1Oct. - Dec. 2009All Rights Reserved

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