MORE NEWS, BAGUIO CITY

Poor Cordillera areas link with foreign firms for projects
By Dexter A See

BAGUIO CITY April 11 – At least 14 poverty-stricken and conflict-ridden areas in the Cordillera have established linkages with 16 prospective foreign donor agencies for closer ties and ensure implementation of small poverty alleviation projects in remote areas which are expected to spur economic development in the future.

Juan Ngalob, regional director of the National Economic Development Authority and acting chairman of the Regional Development Council in the Cordillera, said the recently-concluded donors forum opened opportunities for the identified beneficiary communities to access the needed assistance for their priority poverty alleviation projects provided that they will be able to comply with the stringent regulations being imposed by the donor agencies.

The donors forum was a joint undertaking of the RDC-CAR, the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Cordillera Affairs headed by Tom Killip and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process led by Jesus Dureza.

During the forum, it was agreed that the Cordillera must pursue follow through activities with the World Bank and the International Labor Organization for possible future partnership, especially on the expansion of current poverty alleviation projects and other community-driven development programs and projects.

Furthermore, representatives of donor agencies would conduct frequent exposure visits in the different parts of the region to see for themselves the actual situation on the ground and to evaluate whether the identified poverty alleviation projects are worth providing funding.

At the same time, the OPAPP was mandated to initiate the conduct of a high level meeting of cabinet Secretaries to discuss the implementation of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act issues and concerns for possible government intervention.

The participating donor agencies include, WB, ILO, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Word Food Program (UNWFP), German Development Cooperation (GTZ-GDC), European Union (EU), Czech Republic (CR), Embassy of France (EF), Embassy of New Zealand (ENZ), Agencia Espanola de Cooperacion (AEC), Embassy of Thailand (ET), Embassy of Qatar (EQ), World Health Organization (WHO).

The donors forum, with the theme “Exploring Partnership with the Cordillera Indigenous Communities in Pursuit of a Just and Lasting Peace, aims to establish linkages with foreign funding agencies for the smooth implementation of small projects with the view of having bigger development projects assisted in the future.
The identified poverty-stricken and conflict-ridden areas in the region include San Quintin and Tubo in Abra; Calanasan and Pudtol, Apayao; Kibungan, Benguet; Banaue, Hingyon and Tinoc, Ifugao; Tanudan, Kalinga; Bontoc, Sadanga, Sagada, Tadian and Besao in Mountain province. Recognizing the academe’s role in research in the region’s development, the Ifugao State College of Agriculture and Forestry (ISCAF) was able to actively participate in the forum.

Holcim: Cement prices Stable in northern Luzon
By Nonnette C. Bennett

BAGUIO CITY – Cement prices in northern Luzon will remain stable, said a Holcim executive. Senior Vice President for Aggregates and Construction Materials Francis Felizardo said there will be no increase in the price of cement in Region I and Cordillera because the cement is made locally. Speaking during the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, Inc. 8th Region I/CAR West Regional Conference, Felizardo told engineers production costs of cement will not be affected by the increase in oil prices because this is produced in the Bacnotan Holcim Plant located in La Union.

The proximity of the plant and the use of alternative materials were Felizardo’s explanations for the stable cement prices in this region. “Cement is locally made,” Felizardo told engineers and this did not require shipping costs from other areas in the country. He told the engineers that this was the advantage to having plants near high demand areas. He encouraged the engineers to try the ready mix concrete that the company was producing instead of just the cement.

He said factors affecting construction mixtures were removed with the use of the ready mix concrete because the production of the mixture was controlled scientifically in laboratory conditions. This he said guaranteed the high quality of the concrete that was to be used in the construction of walls and other parts of the buildings.

Felizardo cited the construction practices of supervision during the mixing of cement, aggregates and water. He noted that not all the time was the engineer around to assure the correct proportions of the mixtures or the grading of the additives. He said these mixtures already computed the required higher strength concrete for buildings in the areas which consider the geologic and wind factors before construction takes place.

He told the engineers that the blended cement included additives that increase the density and toughness of concrete. This increases the durability of the concrete. He added that aggregate selection is important considering the areas where the construction will take place. He told the engineers they should try Excel cement because of the additives placed in the cement mixture.

Although priced a little higher than ordinary cement, he said that the outcome was better performance cement in terms of the PSI required.

Former world karate champ leads Samaritans
By Ramon Dacawi

BAGUIO CITY -- They may be out there trying to secure a better life for their families, but some expatriates from Baguio and the Cordillera may as well never left home, at least in the eyes of patients here through which they reconnect to the homeland.
Igorot karate player Julian Chees left for Germany in 1983 where he eventually gained the distinction of being the only non-German by birth to be member of its national karate team.

With world and international championships to his name, he now heads over 50 traditional karate teams in West Germany.

Early this month, the Shoshin Kinderhilfe, a humanitarian foundation he organized and heads, transmitted P20,000 for Pablo Langpawen, a gold panner recovering from surgery due to spinal injury.

Although both hail from Bontoc, Mt. Province, benefactor and beneficiary never knew each other and may never meet. Chees read of Langpawen’s plightthrough news feeds from home and asked Renate Doth, his student and foundation secretary, if the amount could be sent.

Chees was back here last week, on his way home to Maligcong, Bontoc, to visit his ailing mother.

In another homecoming last December, he bankrolled the medical expenses of several patients. It’s a personal practice he started in Christmas, 2004, when he motored to Banaue, Ifugao and handed P70,000 two families who lost two kids in a landslide along the famous rice terraces.

In April, 2006, Baguio boy Freddie de Guzman started shelling out some P50,000 to complete six chemo sessions of Linda Claire (not her real name), a widow and mother of nine who had nowhere else to knock.

Linda Claire survived breast cancer. Inspired by her courage, Freddie, an architect hasn’t stopped reaching out to other patients here.

His two last remittances totaling P27,000 went to the medical needs ofseven-year old leukemia victim John Brix de Guzman, psychiatry patient Nora (not her real name), kidney patient Filbert Almoza and nine-year old leukemia patient Simon Lardizabal.
Freddie is not related to John Brix, a barbecue vendor’s son. He doesn’t know Nora, a mother of three who depends on him for her mind-pacifying maintenance doses against depression and the milk formula of her six-month old son Jason.

Since the other year, an Ibaloi mother who survived cancer and is singlehandedly raising her own daughter in Kentucky has been transmitting amounts for other mothers and patients here.

Her latest contribution of $200 was allocated to widow Marilou Serrano (P1,000) whose husband Rodel, died of cancer last year; Isabel Gayao (P2,000), ailing mother of Manny Gayao, fund-raiser for patients; garbage-picker Rhoda Boquiren (P468.75), and Almoza (P1,126.29).

Of the amount, P1,700 paid for the tuition fees of two children of Grace Biogan, whose husband Elmer, succumbed to lymphoma last year.

Another woman Samaritan who also overcame cancer, set up her own fund last February, of which P17,500 went to the chemotherapy of Jose Gundino III, a 12-year oldtaxi driver’s son suffering from Hodgkins lymphoma; P5,000 for heart patient Geraldine Agustin and an equal amount for a former Samaritan who recently himself needed help.

Still another anonymous donor recently coursed P14,000 through bank vice-president Roly de Guzman of RCBC.

Bulk of it went to Simon’s chemo (P4,836.29), Langpawen (P4,000), farmer Jun Villegas (P1,500), refreshments and posters used by the Simit Dance Troupe of in fund-raising street performance performances for heart patient Roldan Cuyango-an (P1,990), and to Almoza’s chemotherapy (P1,873.71).

Generosity knows no age. Recently, Elana and Bryan Aliping, young kids of expats Joel and Emily Aliping in El Sobrante, California, sent P4,000 for Rose Ann Cordova, a house-wife on remission from breast cancer.

A forester who requested anonymity added P2,000.

Completing the list of Samaritans is an unknown donor who supported kidney patient and lawyer Amado Adquilen, heart patient Juanito Mejia and cancervictim Myrna Buhong.


89th BCNHS alumni reunion set May 2-3
BAGUIO CITY -- The 89th grand alumni homecoming of the old Mountain Province High School, the Baguio City High School and the Baguio City National High School and annexes will be held on May 2-3 at the BCNHS grounds. Dr. Teddler Depaynos, president of the alumni association bared this saying hosts for the occasion are members of BCNHS Class ’83.

Activities for the alumni homecoming start with the opening program on May 2 and followed by a mini-sportsfest. Alumni lunch will follow and in the evening with cocktails and fellowship dinner.

On May 3, the homecoming will start with a parade along Session Road and wind up at the BCNHS grounds where a business meeting and election of alumni officers will be held. Lunch will follow and later, at night, a program will be held at the Diamond Hall, Supreme Hotel followed by dinner and alumni ball.

Also highlighting this year’s alumni homecoming is the presentation of awards to deserving alumni. These are:

Loyalty awards: Ms. Naty Bautista, ’66;Beverly Villamueva ’66:Evelyn Garcia-Lleva, ’66: and Pilipinas Beltran, ’60.

Special awards: Mayor Ernesto Matuday, ’58; and Mr. Ramon Estolas, ’85. Leadership award: Ms. Victorina Paraan-Flores. On top of the list of awardees are nine alumni who will receive the professional outstanding awards: Judge Rodolfo Manzano, ’57, judiciary; Prosecutor Gloria Agunos, ’65, legal profession; Gabino Garoy, ’53. education; Gerry A. Evangelista Sr., ’48. journalism; engineer Tony Tan, ’59, asset business management; engineer Arcadio Regacho, ’53.government service; Gen. Oscar Florendo, ’55, military service (posthumous), lawyer Conception Hermano Luis, ’60, social services and engineer Aquilino De vera, ’56, engineering. -- Gerry Evangelista Sr.