(Turn to page 2)

“The marker stands at the site of the famous battle won by the Marinduquenos over the well-armed American forces on Sept. 13, 1900.

Battle of Pulang Lupa commemorative stamp is-sued by the Philippine Postal Corporation in 2000.

ISSN 01165343

VOL. 9 NO.46 SEPTEMBER. 11-17, 2012

Formerly Pacific MONITOR

NEWSMAGAZINE

Bringing the

PHILIPPINES To Every Home...

“WE ARE NOW FIVE (5)YEARS ON

PUBLIC SERVICE”

A PRIME TOURIST DESTINATION

MARINDUQUE:

Courtesy of:

marinduque.gov.ph

‘ISLANG ANGAT SA IBA!’ see page 4

By: Eli J. Obligacion

By Dinnes Manzo Page 4

Romblon:

NCCA approves teaching of 'Kalutang'

in Marinduque

By Mayda N. Lagran, see page 3

By: Luis T. Cueto

Mindoro: Nation‟s biggest

wind power project breaks

ground... Page 8

Palawan: DOTC bids out P135 M for San Vicente airport

upgrade By Victoria Asuncion S. Mendoza… page 8

NSO Romblon naghahanda para sa

2012 Census of Agriculture and

Fisheries

By: Eli Obligacion

Battle of

Pulang Lupa:

Battle of

Masaguisi?

2 SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2012

The Americans led by Capt. Deverieux Shields surrendered to the Marinduque Revolutionary Forces led by Col. Maximo Abad. They were held captive for a month and were released on October 14, 1900 upon orders from the Revolutionary Government in Cavite.” – says the Battle of Pulang Lupa Historical Park Signage in Poctoy, Torrijos, Marinduque, courtesy of the Department of Tourism, LGU Torrijos and Philippine Tourism Authority. This battle has been commemorated from the early 60s when September 13 was first declared as ”Marinduque Day” under the administration of Pres. Diosdado Macapagal, then by President Ferdinand E. Marcos who issued a proclamation referring to it also as “Marinduque Day”. It was only during the term of President Corazon C. Aquino when a law was passed (RA 6702) in 1988 declaring September 13 of every year as “Battle of Pulang Lupa Day”. Up to the present, no study has been made on the origin of “Pulang Lupa” as a place-name. Stories, however, are being told that it refers to pulang lupa, red soil that could be found in the mountain range of Kambindol, (apparently an older name of the same mountain range that could be traced to older maps). Other stories attrib-ute the origin of Pulang Lupa to that bloody battle that transpired there in 1900. But where „there'? That a historical marker stands at the site of that famous episode in local history, a site even listed as a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Institute, is not evi-dence.

Battle... (from page1)

Teatro Balangaw group re-

Not evidence that the battle happened atop that rugged mountain which offers a great panoramic view of the north-eastern and south-eastern sections of Marinduque. All accounts of the battle (and there are numerous ac-counts now available from primary sources) contradict that repeated claim, as well as books with stories of that battle written by some of the world‟s foremost historians. „Pulang Lupa‟ as a place-name does not appear in eyewitness reports, soldier‟s diaries, nor in U.S. military rec-ords relating to that war, nor in newspaper arti-cles published in the U.S. during that period. The name appears, however, in a very brief ac-count of the bat-tle written by local historian, Ramon Madrigal, in 1963. A highly informa-tive website that contains signifi-cant literature, first-hand accounts and photos of the American engage-ment in Marinduque available in U.S. libraries, that have been researched and compiled by a Marinduque history and culture enthusiast, Curt Shepard and his Filipina wife Dalia, could be found on www.ulongbeach.com. This will prove invaluable to historical researchers and may prompt a desire to know more.

www.ulongbeach.com Battle of Pulang

Lupa Page

In an earlier post e n t i t l e d „Pulang Lupa: S c a n n i n g M a s a g u i s i t h i s time‟ (Sept. 11, 2010), I pointed out a location men-tioned in pri-mary sources that could not be the „battle site‟ as we

have been made to believe all these years. A place where, as described by Capt. Shields, he fell seriously wounded. This was a rice field near Masaguisi (written by the Americans as Massiquisie), where renewed enemy fire forced the Americans to take cover behind paddy dikes. By his own account, Shields and his companions had to march in a brook and run over an extremely rocky bed. Then he took a direction that led to Masaguisi. There he was again wounded with the bullet passing through his neck and mouth, falling partly in a small stream until he was lifted out of the water. Carried by his men about two hundred yards farther until they were captured by the local forces. Some

(Turn to page 10)

3

Ay...Marinduque

Ni: NOEL V. MAGTURO

SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2012 SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2012

NCCA approves teaching of 'Kalutang' in Marinduque

MARINDUQUE (PIA) -- National Commission for Culture and the Arts

(NCCA) Chairman Felipe de Leon signed a Memorandum of Agreement with

Governor Carmencita O. Reyes for the teaching of a musical instrument called

„Kalutang.‟

The project, initiated by Provincial Travel and Tourism Officer (PTT) Din-

do Asuncion and coordinated by Erwin Penafiel, is designed to ensure the con-

tinuity of Kalutang‟s intangible heritage and to perpetuate the skills of playing

Kalutang for the next generation.

De Leon said that the preservation of Kalutang in the province must be

given highest priority because if failed to do so, the province will be „culturally

poor.‟ The original and only “Kalutang” band under the tutelage of Maestro

Tirso Serdena from Gasan is now on its senior years.

Reyes and Asuncion made necessary arrangements with Officer-In-Charge-

Schools Division Superintendent Terresita Bacudo for the teaching of Kalutang

to their teachers.

Kalutang, an early type of musical instrument in Marinduque, is composed

of graduated sets of softwood bars made from Kwatingan tree which is careful-

ly cut to their desired sizes and specifications. The Kwatingan softwood bar

when strike together, produce notes of definite pitches and of tonal quality that

remotely resembles a cross between an unsustained marimba and castanets.

(Mayda Lagran/Marinduque Coffee Table Book)

Photos by: Erwin Penafiel

newstourismworld.blogspot.com

4 SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2012

‘ISLANG ANGAT SA IBA!’ ni ELI J. OBLIGACION

Pagdating sa temang cultural identity maghanap ka

na ng isa sa 7,107 na mga pulo sa Pilipinas na hihigit pa

sa angkin ng kulturang-Marinduque.

Ano ang panama ng mga beach-

es ng Marinduque kung iha-

hambing sa mga dalampasigan

ng Puerto Galera sa Oriental

Mindoro o iba‟t-ibang lugar sa

Puerto Princesa at el Nido sa

Palawan? Ano ang laban ng Ma-

rinduque sa mga Natural Parks

ng lahat ng mga islang-

lalawigang MIMAROPA gayong

sa ngayon wala naman tayong

deklarado nang protected areas

dito?

Maigi pa nga sa Rom-

blon may Mt. Guiting-Guiting

Natural Park (2,058 metro ang

taas ng bundok), na protektado

ng mga naninirahan katulad ng

sa Mts. Iglit-Baco National Park

at Aruyan-Sablayan Forest Res-

ervation sa Mindoro, kabun-

dukan ng Mt. Calavite, Mt. Hal-

con at Mt. Eagle Pass sa kala-

wakan din ng Mindoro Island.

Ihanay mo nga ang Bathala Cave

sa St. Paul Subterranean Park ng

Puerto Princesa at Tabon Caves

complex at tingnan kung sino

ang manliliit.

Huwag ka nang magpu-

milit pang maghanap ng mga

spectacular landscapes, dahil sa

isang napakaliit na islang-

lalawigan ay hindi ka halos

makakakita noon.

Kapag sa palagay mo‟y may

nakita ka na, tiyak na personal na

desisyon mo lamang iyon, pilit at

may kahirapang papaniwalain

ang sino man. Kung ihahambing

sa gamot, ang palasak na tawag

doon ay mga tanawing generic sa

Pilipinas. Huwag nang ipilit na

maihanay iyon sa Chocolate

Hills, Banawe Rice Terraces,

Mayon Volcano, Lake Taal, Bo-

racay, at iba pa.

Mayroon namang nag-

sasabi na ang nagawang pagsira

sa kalikasan ng Marinduque ng

Marcopper mines ay spectacular.

Baka gumuho naman dito ang

huntahan.

Subalit kapag nalihis

naman sa kultura ang usapan,

tiyak na may mapupuntahang

mas malayo ang hantungan ng

pag-uusap. Sangkatutak na di

hamak ang maiibahagi ng Marin-

duque tungkol dito. Dito, angat

ang islang-lalawigan. Ito ang

susubukan nating tumbukin.

MGA BANYAGA Hin-

di kagulat-gulat na ang unang

nakakapansin nito ay mga taga-

labas ng isla, lalo na ang mga

banyaga, at tila ang huling naka-

kaalam ay mismong mga tagari-

to. Ganoon naman talaga sa

buhay. Kung ano

ang nakasanayan mo na ay

siyempre hindi na kapansin-

pansin sa iyo.

Kasing natural ng pag-

titimpla mo ng kape sa umaga,

kumbaga. Awtomatikong gina-

gawa at nakikita mo at hindi na

pinagtutuunan ng pansin.

Ilang mga banyaga na ang

nakapaghambing sa pamumu-

hay at galaw din ng mga nanini-

r a h a n s a i s a n g

pinagkakaguluhang isla sa

buong mundo at ni hindi pinag-

sasawaan hanggang sa kasalu-

kuyan – ang Bali sa Indonesia.

Wala raw kuwenta ang mga

beaches sa Bali kung ihahamb-

ing sa iba pang beaches sa

ibang panig ng mundo. Ni hindi

naman daw ganoon kagila-

gilalas ang mga templo roon.

Isa lamang daw ang pinupun-

tahan ng mga bisita doon mula

sa iba‟t-ibang panig ng daigdig

at ito‟y ang kanilang hindi

naaapektuhan, hindi nagbago, at

tila hindi na mababagong pa-

mumuhay. Dito kitang-kita ang

kanilang cultural identity.

PARANG BALI. Ang

pagkakaroon ng karanasang

kaayaaya at kakaiba sa pama-

magitan lamang ng pakikisal-

amuha sa mga Balinese ang

binabalik-balikan dito ng mga

bisita. Hindi naman naiiba ito

sa mga rason na sinasabi mismo

ng mga Pilipinong taga-labas

ng isla natin at lalo na ng mga

banyagang balik-masok na dito

sa Marinduque. Mula sa bibig

ng mga nasanay na o namalagi

ng matagal sa Bali, iisa ang

kanilang sinasabi:

“Marinduque has much more, a

lot more things to offer than Ba-

li”. Kahit na isama pa raw ang

mga first-class hotels na mata-

tagpuan sa Bali, kaya raw lu-

nurin ang mga iyon ng mga hindi

makakalimutang kahit-saglit

man lamang na makabuluhang

pakikisalamuha sa mga Marindu-

queño. Dahil naiiba nga ang kul-

tura dito.

Hindi ba pambobola lamang ito?

Kung susuriin, iba-iba

namang sadya ang kulturang

Pilipino mula Batanes hanggang

Jolo. Resulta ito ng pakikisal-

amuha sa mahabang panahon ng

mga orihinal na katutubong Ma-

lay-Polynesian sa mga Intsik,

Bumbay at Muslim bago pa man

dumating ang mga Kastila. Ma-

kalahi ang mga katutubo at

malalim ang pinanggagalingan

ng respeto nila sa kanilang mga

nakatatanda. Nananalaytay na sa

dugo iyon. Sila, sa loob ng

maraming siglo (kunwari ay hin-

di mo alam), ay mga animistang

naniniwala sa iba‟t-ibang espir-

itong nasa paligid. Nililok mula

sa mga kahoy ang kanilang mga

ganito upang sila ay bigyan ng

gabay sa iba‟t-ibang gawain,

maging hanggang kamatayan.

SAGAD SA BUTO.

Bagamat naipakilala ng mga

Kastila ang bagong relihiyong

Katolisismo, hindi naman

naglaho ang mga dating panini-

walang sagad sa buto ng mga

katutubo. Nang dumating ang

mga Kanong mananakop naging

palamuti lamang sa kaisipang

Pilipino ang mga dala-dala

nilang makabagong aliwan.

mapsir.com

(Sundan sa pahina 5...)

5 SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2012

Atty. Roberto Renido

Sta. Cruz, Marinduque

SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2012

Nanatiling bukod tangi ang

kaugalian ng mga Pilipino.

Makikita ito sa ating mga kuwen-

tong katutubo, mga kaugalian at

tradisyong ginagawa hanggang sa

kasalukuyan. Higit na makikita ito

sa ating naiiba at sariling pa-

mumuhay.

ISLA KASI. Sa katunayan,

higit na makikita ito sa mga islang

-lalawigan. Hindi maitatanggi na

sa loob ng maraming siglo ay

limitado lamang sa mga mangan-

galakal, mangingisda at ilang mga

adbenturero o misyonaryo ang

bumiyahe sa malawak na kara-

gatang upang makarating sa mga

isla.

Dahil sa ganitong sit-

wasyong, ang pamumuhay ng

mga taong nakatira sa mga pulo

ay masasabing buo pa rin sa kala-

hatan ang kultura, kung ihahamb-

ing sa mga taga-ibang mga lugal

na madaling marating sa pama-

magitan ng kabayo, kalesa o sa

paglalakad lamang. Sapagkat ang

pakikisalamuha at pakikipag-

talastasan sa mga taga –labas ng

kapuluan ay may hangganan.

Kaya‟t masasabing ang kaisipan,

kaugalian at pamumuhay ng mga

taga-isla ay mas malapit sa likas

nilang pagkatao, kung gayon.

Dito na lumilitaw at

mapapansin ang kaibahang sadya

ng buhay sa pulo, ang kaisipan,

kaugalian at pamumuhay ng mga

taga-isla. Hindi man naisip ng

kusa, subalit para sa mga taga

rito, sa kanilang daigdig mistu-

lang umiinog ang mundo. Sa gan-

kalagayan nailuwal ng higit na

maliwanag ang pagkikilala sa

kaibahan ng kulturang Marindu-

queño.

MGA PAG-AARAL. Hindi

aksidente na laging nangunguna

sa listahan ng mga archaeologists

ang isla ng Marinduque magmula

ng mauso sa modernong kasaysa-

yan ang sangay na ito ng pag-

aaral. Hindi nabigo ang unang

naitalang ekspedisyon sa Pilipinas

na isinagawa ni Alfred Marche,

isang Pranses, noong 1879-1885

sa yamang-pang-archeology na

nasilayan sa Marinduque taong

1881. Dito niya natagpuan ang

nag-iisang imahen ng anito na

gamit ng mga pre-colonial Taga-

log, sinaunang ginto, samot-saring

mga katutubong kagamitan noong

panahon pa ni Isabel.

Si H. Otley Beyer, isang

kilalang propesor sa anthropology

na Amerikano naman ay nag-

tagumpay din sa pagkalap ng mga

katutubong alamat, mga katutu-

bong awit, mga bugtong, mga

paniniwala, mga tradisyon at kau-

galian ng mga Marinduqueño.

Nagsagawa si Beyer ng pamama-

raan sa pagdokumento ng mga ito

upang matulungan ng higit ng

mga iskolar sa hinaharap kung

ano man ang kanilang pagiging

konklusyon tungkol sa paglaga-

nap ng mga alamat, katutubong

awit, bugtong, paniniwala,

tradisyon at mga kaugaliang Ma-

rinduque, palabas ng pulo patun-

gong hilaga. Isalarawan na

lamang natin sa isip.

SALITA. Hindi malinaw

kung may kinalaman naman

ating mga ninuno, mga labing

napaglimutan nang ating moder-

nong pananalita, bagama‟t

nananatiling napakahalaga para sa

mag-aaral ng mga wika.”

FOX. Isa pa rin sa mga

pangunahing arkeyolohikong

Amerikano, si Robert Fox, sa

tulong ng National Museum of the

Philippines, ang nagsagawa

noong dekada-60 ng sistimatikong

pag-aaral sa mga artifacts na na-

tagpuan sa mga kuweba ng Ma-

rinduque. Nakumpirma ang kahal-

agahan ng mga ito sa pag-aaral ng

kasaysayan ng Pilipinas sa

panahong bago dumating ang mga

mananakop. Kabanatang hindi pa

rin naiisulat ng lubusan at may

pagtatapos hanggang ngayon.

Ang ilang labi ng kanyang mga

nadiskubre ay matatagpuan sa

Marinduque Branch ng National

Museum sa Boac kasama ang

ilang pira-pirasong artifacts.

ROCES. Marahil ay lin-

gid naman sa kaalaman ng

maraming kabataan sa kasalu-

kuyan na pumailanlang

sa pananaliksik na pinagtiyagaan

ni Beyer ang isinagawang imbes-

tigasyon ni Cecilio Lopez, isang

linguist tungkol sa pinag-ugatan

ng salitang Tagalog. Tinukoy sa

kanyang masusing pag-aaral

noong 1923, ang salitang Tagalog

sa Boac, Marinduque at tila

mapangahas ang kanyang

konklusyon, bagamat hanggang

ngayon ay walang pang naitalang

naglakas-loob na pabiro man o

seryosong hindi sumang-ayon

dito:

“Ang Boac Tagalog ay

mas simple, mas imperpektong

porma ng kanyang sariling mas

mataas na ang inunlad na

pananalita (ang standard Taga-

log)..Subalit hindi natin dapat na

kalimutan na, bagamat ang mga

ito‟y naiiba ang sinundang pag-

unlad, ang mga salitang probinsi-

yang ito ang orihinal na pinag-

ugatan, o kasama sa pinag-ugatan,

kung saan ang modernong pam-

bansang pananalita ay umusbong,

at sa mga ito, kung ganoon,

maaaring matagpuan ang mga labi

ng mga sinaunang pananalita ng

Islang angat mula sa pahina 4..

Sundan sa pahina 6...

SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2012 6

ang Marinduque noong dekada

‟60 rin sa pandaigdigang usapang

p a n g k u l t u r a d a h i l s a

„pagkakadiskubre‟ dito ng

tradisyong Moryonan. Hanggang

noong panahong iyon, ang

moryonan lamang ang kinilalang

nag-iisa at katangi-tanging

tradisyong pangkultura sa buong

Pilipinas na pinaggagamitan ng

mascara. Si Alejandro Roces,

kinilalang National Artist sa Pani-

tikan noong nakaraang taon ang

nagsagawa ng pag-aaral at

pagpapakilala sa Moryonan

(bagamat tinawag niya itong Mo-

riones). Di na mabilang sa daliri

ang mga lugal sa bansa na dito

kumuha ng inspirasyon para

magsagawa ng sarili nilang festi-

val.

KASILAG. Dekada ‟60 rin

isinagawa sa ilalim ng pamama-

hala ni Lucresia Kasilag, N a -

tional Artist naman sa Musika, sa

pakikipagtulungan ng Department

of Education, ang pagpapalaganap

ng bagong porma ng “putong”. Ito

ang bersiyon na tuluyang naging

popular na at inaawit sa

kasulukuyan ng mga bata at mata-

tatanda.

T i n a t a y a n g h i g i t s a

walumpung bersiyon ng mga

putong ang inawit sa iba‟t ibang

panig ng Marinduque mula pa ng

panahon ng kopong-kopong. Kar-

amihan ay napaglimutan na at

hindi na naisulat. Subali‟t walang

duda na sa mga awit, indak, ka-

sayhan o masidhing damdaming

kakambal ng ritwal na ito masisi-

layan ang halimuyak at kabuuhan

ng pagkatao ng mga taga Marin-

d uq ue . Gu mal in g ka sa

karamdaman, nakaligtas ka sa

isang krisis, sinuwerte ka at ibig

magpasalamat kay bathala, sasa-

lubungin ang mga bagong bisita,

magdiriwang ng isang masayang

pesta? “Putong” ang sagot at wala

ng iba. Sa nakatalang kasaysayan,

ito ang pinakasinaunang porma ng

katutubong teatro sa pulong-

lalawigan.

MGA HIWAGA. 85% ng

mga Pilipino ay mga kristyanong

na isinasagawa ang pananam-

palataya sa katutubong pamama-

kinalaman sa mga hiwaga at kaba-

balaghan. Ang lahat ng nang-

yayari sa buhay ay may kauku-

lang paliwanag lalo na ang kama-

lasan, pagkakasakit, pagkabigo at

mga aksidente kasama na ang

mga sakunang dulo t mg

kalikasan. Kung bakit ang

maraming pananampalataya,

mananaliksik at magaaral sa mga

ganitong uri ng mga bagay ay

nabibighani sa Marinduque ay sa

kadahilanang tila palagian ding

naghihintay lamang ng mga man-

ononod at makikinig sa kanikanil-

ang sariling paliwanag ang mga

tagarito.

Dahil sa yaman ng kul-

turang Maridukenyo na nakatali

sa mahabang panahon ng katutu-

bong paniniwala sa mga nakikita

at hindi nakikita, pakikisalamuha

sa mga estranghero, pagiging ma-

k a l a h i , b u o n g l o o b a t

matagumpay na pakikipaghamok

sa mga mananakop (ang matind-

ing laban sa mga Kastila, Ameri-

kano at Hapon ay nangan-

gailangan pa ng panibagong panu-

lat), pagkiling sa mga likhaing

mga Gawain, pagawit at pag-

bubunyi sa buhay tuwi-tuwina,

ang pagkamalikhain at pagkahilig

sa mga sining, lahat ng ito ay nat-

ural na maging likas sa isipan at

gawi ng mga taga-rito. Kapag

nabigyan ng pagkakataon, pu-

mapaimbulog ang kanilang talino

ng higit sa karamihan, at apaw

ang paghanga ng daigdig.

ARTIST.Dugong Marin-

dukenyo ang nanalaytay sa ilan

lamang sa mga alagad ng sining

tulad ni Eveyn Mandac ( dating

kilala sa Europa bilang pangunah-

ing Asyanong Diva), Rita Gomez

( premyadong aktres ng peliku-

lang Pilipino), Raymond Red

(film maker na kinilala sa iba‟t

ibang bansa), Ric Manrique Jr.

(bantig na mangaawit ng mga

kundiman sa buonng bansa), Au-

rora Sevilla at Marilou Sadiwa

(dalawa sa mga tanyag na national

beauties na naging mga artista

din), Jonjon Briones (mas kilala

sa London bilang Broadway star),

at Padre Simeon Reginio (hindi

lubos na kilala ang pangalan

subalit ang kanyang daang-daan

mga komposisyong hymno ay

liko sa bawat sulok ng mundo.

MGA TANYAG. Sa

pagguhit ng tadhana at paghugis

ng pambansang kaisipan, pag-

bubuo ng pambansang polisiya o

pagtulong sa kapwa, ay maba-

bangit ang ilan lamang sa mga

pangalan ng mga Marinduken-

yong sina Ricardo Paras Sr.

(naging Supreme Court Justice);

Cardinal Ricardo Vidal, (Arch

bishop of Cebu); General Ri-

caredo Sarmiento, (naging PNP

chief); Robert Aventajado;

(naging presidential adviser on

flagship project); Gen. Santiago

Alino, Gen George Alino, Deped

Director Saturnino R. Magturo,

Edmundo Reyes, (naging Com-

missioner on Immigration and

Deportation), Gen Alexander

Aguirre, Dr. Fe del Mundo,

(pioneer sa kalusugan ng mga ng

mga bata).

P A N G K U L T U R A N G

TURISMO . Hindi na nga

kailangang maghanap pa kung

saan-saang sulok na maipagma-

malaki pang mga bahagi nitong

pulong hugis-puso. Wala sa kala-

wakan ng nasalanta ng mga

lupain. Ilog at karagatan nito.

Kundi sa misming mga taong

dito‟y palagiang naninirahan. Mu-

la sa mga nananahan sa pinkali-

blib na mga lupain hanggang sa

mga may kaingayang sentro ng

kaunlaran. Sa kanila at sa angking

kultura makikita ang kaibahan na

iba.

May kabaguhan ang kon-

septo para sa ating bansa na tina-

tawag na “Pangkulturang Tu-

rismo”. Higit na magpupungas-

pungas ang mga mata ng mga

Marindukenyo. Marahil sa mga

kadahilainang una ng nabanggit.

Sa maraming mga bansa lalao na

sa Europa, ito ang isang katoto-

hanan na tinatayang haligi ng in-

dustirya ng turismo, at tuluyang

nagpapalago nito kung nanaisin.

Sa loob ng nakaraang

dalawang dekada, malayo na ang

narat ing ng Pil ipinas sa

pagpapakilala ng sarili bilang

bansang katatagpuan ng pinaka

magagandang isla sa daigdig. Sa

7,107 na mga pulo nito, alam na

natin marahil sa ngayon kung alin

dito ang pinakamahalaga, pinaka-

mayaman sa tradisyon at kultura

at pinaka ayaaya.

Kung matatanggap ang

payak na katotohanang ito ng

maaga, higit na mapapaaga din

a n g a t i n g p a g u n l a d a t

pagpapaimbabaw sa pagpapaya-

bong pa ng kulturang Marin-

dukenyo. Subalit ito‟y bagay na

pang islang polisiya, pampamaya-

na desisyon kung saan lahat ay

dapat lamang makialam. Hintayin

ang pamumulaklak, pamumukad-

kad, ano pa man ang magaganap

sa kasulukayang kapanahunan ng

ating kulturang Marindukenyo,

katulad ng sa awit ni Aiza,

‘Pagdating ng panahon’.

Town proper of Gasan, Marinduque

Islang angat mula sa pahina 5..

7 SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2012

Anti-Aging is Sweetest News From Sweet Potato By Carlos J. Andam – VP PSciJourn Inc. Marinduque Chapter

ANY PEOPLE WHO ARE BEAUTY CONSCIOUS

spent a lot of pesos in buying anti-aging pharmaceuti-

cal preparations in their quest for staying youthfulness

but a recent discovery of a natural source of antioxdants

point out that one could just grow right in the backyard a source

with no centavo to spend at all. This refers to a crop which is of-

tentimes frowned upon by many people because it has been brand-

ed as the “poor man‟s crop”, yet, associated with dullness as an

old story told and retold by many to “go home and plant camote”

to a child who was not able to answer the question of a teacher in

school. Probably, this discovery of outmost importance in the

human diet would turn around sweet potatoes‟ stature in the con-

suming public.

This development is contained in a report from the Food

and Fertilizer Technology Center (FFTC) in Taiwan in coopera-

tion with the Rural Development Administration (RDA) of South

Korea which indicates that sweet potato or camote as it is known

locally contains antioxidants such as chlorogenic acid, isochloro-

genic acid and caffeic acid.

While camote is one of the most nutritious foods in nature,

and in fact, it has been said time and again that it is a complete

food because of its richness in nutritional contents, it is quite diffi-

cult to make its servings popular in the diet especially among the

youngsters. With this discovery, it is hoped that its lowly stature

in the diet may be elevated to a health and beauty food that is so

useful in maintaining not only a healthy but young and beautiful

body. Beauty and anti-aging products available in the market,

never mind if they are effective or not, though expensive, are still

bought by age-conscious people. People often want to be younger

after they reach thirty so it is no surprise if they buy anything they

have heard of from other people to arrest the aging process. After

all, to sustain beauty is to stay young and to stay young sustains

beauty in the human body.

This modern day discovery of an antioxidant source from a

plant that is easy to grow but dislike by many could be also the

key to live a life with less medicine.

Antioxidants which are mostly present in fruits and vegeta-

bles are phytochemicals that neutralize or counterbalance the free

radicals generated by the body during normal metabolism.

On the other hand, free radicals are the most viscious and

toxic by-products of

metabolism. When

these are not neu-

tralized, they can

travel through the

body cells, disrupt-

ing the structures of

proteins, lipids, car-

bohydrates, and

cause cell damages.

These damages are

believed to contrib-

ute to aging and

degenerative diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes,

stroke, cataract, and the like.

The antioxidants in camote are higher in their leaves than in

the tops, but higher in the tops than in the roots and petioles. Yet,

all parts of the camote especially the leaves and tops contain pro-

tein, lipids, carbohydrates, calcium, iron, phosphorus, and vita-

mins A and C. They are relatively low in calories and have no fat.

They are rich in beta-

carotene, having five

times the recommended

daily allowance of Vit-

amin A in one sweet

potato, as well as load-

ed with potassium.

These nutrients help to

protect against heart

attack and stroke, and

the potassium helps

maintain fluid and elec-

trolyte balance in the body cells, as well as normal heart function

and blood pressure.

In the Philippines, recent studies on sweet potato, according

to a Philippine Information Agency (PIA) news dispatch in

Tacloban City, reveal that there are some unique root storage pro-

teins with potent antioxidant effects. In one study, these proteins

had one-third the antioxidant activity of glutathione, one of the

body‟s most impressive internally produced antioxidants.

Furthermore, the report revealed that as an excellent source

of vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene) and a very good source

of vitamin C, sweet potatoes have healing properties as an antioxi-

dant food. Both beta-carotene and vitamin C are very powerful

antioxidants that work in the body to eliminate free radicals. The-

se free radicals damage cells and cell membranes and are associat-

ed with the development of conditions like atherosclerosis, diabet-

ic heart disease, and colon cancer. This may explain why beta-

carotene and vitamin C have both been shown to be helpful in pre-

venting these conditions.

Finally, it concluded with a good news for smokers. “If you

or someone you love is a smoker, or if you are frequently exposed

to second hand smoke, then making vitamin A-rich foods, such as

sweet potatoes, part of your healthy way of eating, may save your

life, suggests research conducted at Kansas State University.”

HAPPY 5TH ANNIVERSARY !!

Marinduque Province

SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2012 8

CA-

LAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro (PIA) -- The 48-MW wind power project

in this province, said to be the biggest of such undertaking so far in the

country, is set for ground breaking on September 7 at Puerto Galera.

This was announced recently by Oriental Mindoro First District Con-

gressman Rodolfo G. Valencia as he disclosed that the three-phased project,

called the 48-MW Wind Energy Power System (WEPS) is worth P2 billion

per component or has a total cost of P6 billion.

The second of its kind in the Philippines and a brainchild of Valencia,

who is acknowledged as the “father of renewable energy in Oriental Mindo-

ro,” the said project will be conducive for expanding business and tourism,

manufacturing, and other industries, thereby improving the economy of the

whole province.

It is also designed and capable of generating 16 megawatts of electric

power and is touted to be the biggest wind power project in the country.

Among the expected guest in the event are Italian Ambassador to the

Philippines Luca Fornari, Oriental Mindoro Governor Alfonso V. Umali Jr.,

Rep. Reynaldo V. Umali of the second district of the province, Energy Sec-

retary Jose Rene D. Almendras and representatives from Italian power firm

CMC Asia Inc. led by its chairman, Engr. Armando de Rossi, who is also

the chief executive officer of the project owner-developer Philippine Hybrid

Energy System Inc. (PHESI).

Also expected to grace the event are representatives from the Spanish

contracting firm Gamesa Eolica S.L. Unipersonal, PHESI Chief Operating

Officer Nicky Villaseñor, officers of Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative

(ORMECO), foreign and local investors and selected local government

units.

The project‟s facility site in the village of Baclayan, overlooking Puerto

Galera‟s scenic resorts and coves, has an area of 1,296 ha located within the

Department of Energy-approved Renewable Energy Service Contract

(RESC), approximately six km from the interconnection point of the Na-

tional Power Corp.-Small Power Utilities Group (NPC-SPUG) 69 KV Min-

doro Grid.

WEPS will start official commercial operations on or before 2015. The

project is a component of the power development program supported by the

Provincial Development Council (PDC) of Oriental Mindoro.

Valencia said aside from this project, they have identified energy power

renewable sources in this island province which are hydro, wind and geo-

thermal, with an estimated total or combined generating capacity of 380

MW. He added that 35 identified waterfalls in the province are being stud-

ied.

This development on power in the province is strengthened by the Na-

tional Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), approval and inclusion

in its Transmission Development Plan of the Batangas-Mindoro Intercon-

nection Project (BMIP), which will link the island of Mindoro to mainland

Luzon through the submarine power cable. It has now pending application

in the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to start development. (LBR/

JRM/LTC-PIA4B/OrMin)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan(PIA) -- The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has concluded the bid-ding of two contracts worth P135.7 million for the rehabilitation and improvement of the San Vicente Airport in northern Palawan.

In his last State of the Nation Address, President Aquino mentioned San Vicente Airport as one of the seven airports to be upgraded this year.

The upgrading of the airport will support the growth of tourism and commerce in the area. San Vicente which is situated in the northwest of mainland Palawan is famous for its white sand beaches foremost of which is the 14-kilometer long stretch in Barangay Alimanguan and Port Barton.

The first contract which was allotted P62.72 million in the 2011 budget includes the construction of a 1,350 sq m passenger terminal building, runway extension with slope protection, hill obstruction re-moval, construction of a fire station building and construction of an elevated 2,500-gallon water tank.

This contract was bid out in July with Brostan Construction and De-velopment offering the lowest bid at P50.16 million among six bidders that participated in the project auction.

The second contract with funding under the 2012 budget costs P72.35 million. It includes a runway extension 150 meters long and 30 meters wide, a 19,670 sq m vehicular parking area, security fence, concrete hollow block perimeter fence, drainage system, hill obstruc-tion removal and installation of two pedestrian and vehicular gates.

The deadline and the opening of the bids for the second contract was held yesterday. Both contracts will have a timetable of 360 calen-dar days. Constructions on both contracts are expected to start by the last quarter of the year. (VSM/TBO -PIA-Palawan)

ROM-

BLON, Romblon (PIA) -- Magsasagawa ng consultative forum sa ika-12 ng

Setyembre ang National Statistics Office (NSO)-Romblon bilang paghahanda sa

gagawing Census of Agriculture and Fisheries (CAF) sa Pebrero 2013.

Ipinatatawag sa nakatakdang magpulong ang lahat ng 17 Municipal Agriculture

Officers (MAO), Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) Presidents ng probin-

sya, Provincial Planning and Development Officer (PPDO) at lahat ng mga

stakeholders. Ang consultative forum ay gaganapin sa NSO, Multi-Purpose

Building, Barangay Capaclan, Romblon, Romblon.

Sabi ni Provincial Statistics Officer Abraham F. Fabicon, ang 2012 CAF ay

sabay-sabay na isasagawa sa lahat ng mga rehiyon at mga lalawigan sa buong

Pilipinas sa Pebrero 2013.

Aniya, ang epektibong bunga at tagumpay ng survey na ito ay nakasalalay sa

makatotohanan at lehitimong impormasyong makakalap sa mga respondents,

gaya ng mga nagmamay-ari ng bukirin, mga magsasaka, mga nag-aalaga ng

hayop at mga namamalakaya sa dagat o mangingisda.

Layunin ng isasagawang consultative forum ng NSO ay upang hingin ang

kooperasyon ng mga inimbitahang indibidwal sapagkat malaki ang kanilang

maitutulong sa ahensiya sa pagpapalaganap ng impormasyon sa kani-kanilang

nasasakupan.

Malaking ambag, ani Fabicon, sa kanilang tanggapan ang tulong ng mga

Punong Barangay at MAO para maipaliwanag ng maayos sa mga stakeholders

ang kahalagahan ng kanilang partisipasyon sa naturang survey upang lubos na

maunawaan ng mga stakekeholders ang kahalagahan ng tunay at napapanahong

estadistika.

Ang resulta ng survey ay mahalaga hindi lamang para sa pamahalaan kundi

pati na rin sa mga pribadong sektor, mga mag-aaral na nangangailangan ng datos

at maging sa hanay ng mga mamamayan upang magamit sa pagpaplano ng isang

proyekto at pagpapatupad ng mga programa ng ating pamahalaan. (TBO/DM-

PIA4B Romblon)

9 SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2012

DOST’s NCC Team installs Information

System Software in Marinduque State College National Computer Center (NCC), Information and Communication

Office of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) successfully

installed the NCC-developed Human Resource Management Information

System (HRMIS) Software Package for Marinduque State College (MSC)‟s

Human Resource Management computerization requirements, recently.

The three-day installation was facilitated by NCC Team experts-Ms.

Grace Martha T. Amberong, Ms. Delia E. Basada and Mr. Ruben P. Canto.

“It is one way of the institution for immediate access of information and

systematized documents of the employees (Teaching & Non-Teaching Per-

sonnel) of the College,” MSC President Dr. Romulo H. Malvar said.

With the technical assistance and services of NCC, the designed inte-

grated system enables MSC to achieve operational efficiency and effective-

ness in its administrative systems and computerization efforts in the Human

Resource Management Office. NCC team conducted an executive orienta-

tion/user‟s training to those MSC operating personnel to ensure management

commitment and support in the implementation of the said software package

project.MSC on the other hand, paid a total amount of Seventy Thousand

(P70,000.00) Pesos for the cost of user‟s training, software installation, as-

sistance of NCC Team in data conversion, operational assistance, profession-

al service fee and the like.

The installation of NCC-developed HRMIS Software Package is provid-

ed on an “as is basis” (as originally designed). It was installed under the

Windows-based operating environment using hardware, software and de-

fined network specification. NCC assured that the functional requirements

based on the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and Commission on Audit

(COA) rulings are performed by the said software package.

National Computer Center (NCC) is the leading Information and Com-

munication Technology (ICT) advocate in the government that provides nec-

essary environment for the diffusion and use of IT in missions critical func-

tions, governance, development, administration, public services delivery,

resource generation and general office productivity.

MSC is looking forward for extension programs with NCC and

more new technology to all its facilities to attain excellence in the service to

its clientele. (Jofel Joyce Lancion, MSC-PIPRU)

MSC Universityhood update

House Bill No. 04457

introduced by Cong. Lord

Allan Jay Q. Velasco in

March 2011, seeking the

conversion of the Marindu-

que State College including

its satellite campuses into a

state university to be known

as Marinduque State Uni-

versity (MSU), has under-

gone First and Second

Reading in Congress. A

committee hearing was con-

ducted on August 28, 2012, by the Committee on Higher and

Technical Education in the lower chamber where the bill was

passed for calendaring of the same for Third Reading. The

bill will then be filed in the Office of the Secretary, Senate of

the Philippines where it will undergo the same procedures.

In his earlier introduction of the bill, Cong. Velasco stat-

ed that since its establishment, Marinduque State College has

developed as an institution of higher learning living up to its

mission of providing quality, responsive and dynamic leader-

ship in the areas of Education, Technology, Engineering,

Fisheries, Culture, Arts and Sciences. Courses in Allied Medi-

cine, Entrepreneurship, Communication and Tourism, and

I n f o r -

m a t i o n

Technolo-

gy are

now also

offered by

MSC in

addition to

Industrial

Technolo-

gy and

T e a c h e r

Education.

(Eli J.

O b -

ligacion)

MSC officials led by President, Dr. Romulo H. Malvar

were present during the Committee hearing.

Cong. Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco

at the Committee hearing.

Committee on Higher and Technical Education hear-

ing with Chairperson, Cong. Juan Edgardo M. Angara.

“What began as a slow withdrawal quickly turned into a race down a rocky stream bed, as the Americans scrambled to escape the pincers that were moving to surround them, the beleaguered detachment entered a rice field near the barrio of Massiquisie” , (From American War Department Record).

To the point, here now comes a new publication, The Encyclope-dia of the Spanish- American andPhilippine-American Wars: A Political, Social, and Military History – Spencer C. Tucker ABC-CLIO. 2009. It is a book that covers the conflict between the U.S. and Spain “with a depth and breadth no other reference work can match”. BATTLE OF MASSIQUISIE Event Date: September 13, 1900 Excerpts: "In early September, the presence of the U.S. Navy (ex-Spanish) gunboat Villalobos gave Shields the opportunity to de-ploy his forces in Torrijos, located on Marinduque‟s southeastern coast. Ordering First Lieutenant M.H. Wilson and 41 soldiers by water to land on September 11 near Torrijos. There the Ameri-cans scattered a group of 20 guerillas and demolished their com-pound. "On September 13, Shields and his troops marched into

the interior, intending to return to Santa Cruz. Abad then massed virtually his entire insurgent force of some 250 men with rifles and

another 2,000 with bolos beside a vertical height overlooking the

path. Shields led his detachment right into the trap.

SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2012 10

Battle... (from page2)

Following several hours of fighting, he ordered a withdrawal into a concealed gorge. But this soon became a dash through a rock-strewn stream as he and his men struggled to flee the in-surgent flanking columns that were attempting a double envel-opment. After withdrawing for more than 3 miles, the harassed Americans took cover in a rice paddy close to the town of Massiquisie; guerilla rifle fire compelled them to seek shelter behind paddy dikes. Shields was among the wounded. "With no other recourse, Shields surrendered his en-tire force. Four Americans died in the action, and all others were taken prisoners, 6 of them wounded. The Americans esti-mated that 30 insurgents had perished in the fight, but this fig-ure was never verified. Following months of stealth, in less than a day of fighting Abad had eliminated a third of the U.S. force on Marinduque. "The Battle of Massiquisie prompted sharp reprisals from the Americans, who reinforced their garrison on the island and launched a number of stronger punitive raids, which did little to cripple guerilla activities." - RODNEY J. ROSS

Hinulugan

Falls in Torri-jos, Marindu-

que is located b e t w e e n

Brgy. Sabong

and Sitio Kitay. It has

a small rock cave at the

side of the raven where

water also

enters.

Hidden Falls in Marinduque

More hidden falls could be found in the central Marinduque area, Magdumog-dumog Falls and Batingaw Falls in Tumagabok (Boac). With 4-wheel drive vehicles or mountain bikes, access to areas near these sites has been made possible with the construction and rehabilitation of the Boac-Torrijos Road project that cuts through interior Boac to Torrijos.

Courtesy of

Eli Obligacion