RAIN OF FIRE

Cesar G. Bonilla
Kalayaan Phils-Hawai International

LAOAG CITY -- The Kalayaan Philippines-Hawaii International (KPHI) was born on July 27, 1977, a non-profit and non-stock organization simply aimed to help young Filipinos in Hawaii and the Philippines. Initiated by six individuals namely Ben Ranada, Nelson Menor, Joel Udarbe, Della Bimbo, Jun Pagtulingan and Ben Pulido, the group made a name.

Upon registration at the Department of Commerce as a legitimate and official association, the group chose its set of officers to conceptualize projects and execute these. Pulido was elected president and is still the top honcho.

The group has a vision to make the Filipino youth more educated and culturally rooted with good values like love for country. Projects have to be created to source out funds to initially support a scholarship program for bright and young Filipinos in the Philippines.

The staging of popularity contests among generous social groups became the inspiration of the group to launch the Mr. and Ms. Teen Kalayaan Hawaii Filipina. The success of projects immediately brought impact to the first recipients after the formal tie-up and linkages with the City of San Fernando, La Union, and Laoag City in Ilocos Norte with the Philippines Education Department.

From the first venture followed other significant projects such as the Kalayaan Ms Young Filipina (beauty and brain pageant) Ms Filipino popularity contest and the Kalayaan Binibining Pilipinas-Hawaii. Significant events transpired with the association and the official tie up with the City Government of Laoag, the Mariano Marcos State University, District II of Laoag Department of Education and the Regional Special program for Arts with Mayor Roger C. Farinas, Dr. Venus P. Taylan, Edel Duran and Dr. Teresita P. Ines.

The Kalayaan Dance Troupe became an organized group of young children and friends of its members. Holding on to its vision of culturally rooted youth, the young kids learn the rudiments of Philippine folk dances as well as other dance forms. Community service is one of the group’s functions by giving free dance shows with small token but largely seeking aid and donations to help indigent hospitals patients back in the Philippines.

Dr. Larry A. Gabao is one of the most prominent folk dance educator, a professor and chair of the Philippine Normal University department of physical education. With him is able researcher of Ilocano folk dances, officer of PF.DS and professor of Mariano Marcos State University, Dr. Teresita P. Ines.
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Andres Bonifacio is truly the Father of the Philippine Revolution. In his book, La Revolucion Filipina, “ Apolinario Mabini, the Sublime Paralytic, who was called the “Brains of the Revolution,” minced no words in criticizing Aguinaldo’s role in the elimination of the two patriots; Andres Bonifacio and Antonio Luna.

He called Bonifacio’s execution “ The first victory of personal ambition over true patriotism,” and Luna’s assassination the result of “treachery plotted by the very same soldier whom he (Luna) had disarmed and court-martialled for abandonment of their posts and disobedience to his orders” and who “ induced Aguinaldo to believe that Luna was plotting to wrest from Aguinaldo the supreme authority.”

Mabini added that to rid himself of Luna, Aguinaldo had recourse to the very soldiers whom Luna had punished for breaches of discipline. With the death of Luna, the revolution fell and, the ignominy of that fall bearing wholly on Aguinaldo, brought out in turn his own moral death, a thousand times bitter than physical death. The role of Bonifacio in founding the Katipunan as a battlecry for Filipinos’ freedom and independence against the shadow of imperialism was vindicated by history.
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The 34th Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) yearend convention awards was garnered by PICE Ilocos Sur Chapter. First, third most outstanding community projects and second best celebrated civil engineering week.

This was held in Cagayan de Oro on Nov. 27. Merry Christmas to all the officers and members of PICE-Ilocos Sur Chapter led by able leader Dr. Gavino Castaneda.
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The bombing of the landmark 565-room Taj Mahal Hotel by terrorists signified the existence of violence in different parts of the globe. The league of demons demonstrated their power once again in a sub-continent like India after the bombing of the twin towers in New York at the beginning of the decade and who will be the next?

Despite the global crisis and poverty that underdeveloped countries had been experiencing the power struggle is a cancer that will ruin the destiny of the people. Despite the unabated greed, alleged graft and corruption or anomalies in government, those in power should be more analytical and reasonable if they could no longer hold on with pride the mandate of the people.

Know thyself. A blind follower of a detestable regime is a walking robot worthy to be carried by a whirlwind. The great nations in the world have condemned double-faced liars and oppressors of the people. In the Philippines, may our leaders be as brilliant and sagacious as the Athenians in leading this country into the peak of political and economic stability.
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The proposal to amend or revise the 1987 Constitution is not the proper solution to solve the problems of our country. It could be compared to a patient who received a great dose of medicine to recuperate but the person itself was the problem for refusal to obey the right prescription (of the doctor) given by the doctor.

We must listen to the voice of the people. The 1987 Constitution had been the masterpiece of intellectually gifted Filipinos whose brilliance and competence have been compared to the best legal minds in the world. Now top officials of this country are saying provisions of the Constitution are inadequate so they could forward their personal ambition and use charter change to justify their immorality in the political scene.

What kind of human beings are we? Look at the political system of United States of America. Since the time of Washington to the present administration of Bush then to President-elect Barack Obama, the US Constitution remained the epitome of democracy, integrity and fairness. The leaders are not greedy nor power-hungry. They have respect and honor. They have delicadeza. Merry Christmas to all!