Ilocos Norte events /Trinidad elders tour

RAIN OF FIRE
Cesar Bonilla

LAOAG CITY – The past days have been eventful in Ilocos Norte. One worthwhile affair was the 14th annual regional convention of the council of personnel officers at Playa Tropical Resort Hotel in Barangay Victoria, Currimao, Ilocos Norte with the theme "Enhancing social capital towards excellent organizational productivity.”

"Social capital pertains to relationships that make organizational work effective,” said Fe P. Siazon, supervising administrative officer of the provincial capitol and president of the council of personnel officers, Ilocos Norte-Laoag City chapter.

The convention enabled participants to be aware of their responsibilities. Siazon revealed to this writer problems encountered by the provincial government were absenteeism and tardiness.

Gov, Michael Marcos Keon, who has a dynamic and effective style of leadership encouraged workers take masteral courses to heighten their productivity. Madam Fe said a leader should lead by examples and must be a good model.

The Civil Service Commission field directors who attended the convention were: Nieves Duldulao, Hedy Jose Lardizabal, Violeta Mendoza and Lyrma Oalin. The two brilliant speakers were: Regina Galang-Reyes, president of Optimus Innovations, Inc. and Fe Dolores G.Sugay, consultant of Optimus Innovations,Inc. U would like to mention the names of Reidemor Bumanglag, Marline Bonilla, and Zonia A.Tinio as active participants of the convention.

The Eastern Pangasinan Chapter was led by Remedios T. Tuliao, Ilocos Norte delegates under Fe P.Siazon, Western Pangasinan under Mr. Vicente H. Romero, Jr., La Union Chapter under president Maria Corazon A. Padilla and Ilocos Sur delegates by Jocelyn L. Lamadrid. The president of regional council of personnel officers was Marlon F. Soria, the administrative officer IV of the city government of Batac.

The last day of the convention was a tour for delegates to see the windmill farm in Barangay Baruyen, Bangui, Ilocos Norte. I was impressed by delegates from Western Pangasinan for their kindness and courtesy afforded to this humble writer. I was invited by them to visit their place.

To all the delegates, may you have a successful journey in the field of productive governance for you are indeed, the heart and soul of the Organization. Lastly, I would like to congratulate the governors of Region I like Gov. Keon, Ilocos Sur’s Deogracias Victor Savellano, La Union’s Manuel C. Ortega and Pangasinan’s Amado T.Espino, Jr.

Also to mayors Michael V.Farinas of Laoag, Batac City’s Jeffrey Jubal C. Nalupta. Currimao’s Rosario Chua Go and lawyer Myrna V. Macatangay ,Director IV of the Civil Service Commission stationed in San Fernando, La Union. The 14th annual regional convention was indeed a big success for Region I.
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The Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Ilocos Norte-Laoag City Chapter, is doing its share of civic consciousness with its president Richard L.Tumaneng.
The young lawyer enumerated IBP activities like visitation for suspects who are languishing in jail with cases not yet decided upon by the courts so they could be given legal services.

Another program is holding of “legal clinics” in barangays to extend their legal knowledge or opinions to resolve grievances and problems. The IBP also participated in h the Liga ng mga barangay basketball tournament and emerged inaugural champion.

I asked Tumaneng’s opinion on sex videos being sold like hotcakes in the market and he said there must be strong implementation and application of law on pornographic materials or videos to stop the manufacture of CDs and VCDs which disregard dignity and reputation of those in the video whose personalities have been destroyed by opportunistic and morally sullied individuals. The distribution of pornographic materials is punishable under the Revised Penal Code.

No law has yet been passed defining or penalizing those responsible for reproduction, distribution, and proliferation of cybersex crimes thru the use of the computer. He said Congress should enact a law to stop sex scandals or pornographic scenes on video accessible through the internet to save the honor and at the same time protect the rights of victims.

Those who are in need of the services of the IBP especially those too poor to hire a lawyer, the IBP, Tumaneng said, can help. He urged those with such cases to visit the IBP office at the second floor of the Marcos Hall of Justice.

Clients are required to fill up forms like a certificate of indigency from their barangays statinf they have no capability to pay the services of a lawyer. Another COI must be produced from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The officers of IBP Ilocos Norte-Laoag City Chapter aside from Tumaneng are lawyers Emilio Edgar V. Doloroso, Jr, vice president; Roxanne Lee I. Castro, secretary; Isidro Corpuz, treasurer; Rainald C. Aquino, auditor and Michael Garces as PRO..Board of directors are Mariano R. Nalupta, Jr., Juan D. Hernandez, Jose Roy B. Raval, Quezon B. Alejandro and Francisco A. Musni.
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Lawyer Ameurfina Respicio earlier chosen by the Roman Catholic Church and the provincial government as Hermana Mayor and the Reyna Elena during the recent celebration of the Santacruzan in Laoag City and Ilocos Norte is a legal luminary known as an active leader, organizer, civic-minded citizen, educator, and lawmaker.

She has a heart of gold especially for less privileged segments of society. Her expertise in the field of law and jurisprudence are towers of wisdom for I was one of her students at Northwestern University. She is an advocate of women's rights and welfare and had been chosen overwhelmingly as president of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines for a long period of time in Ilocandia.

A leader of many organizations since the start of her career, her humility and character inspired others to follow her good examples. May the blessings of the Almighty God be poured upon the Respicio family for they have kept an excellent tradition of love and generosity.
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It was my great pleasure and privilege to tour the senior citizens group of Barangay. Pico, La Trinidad, Benguet with Madam Virginia L.Fianza as their leader. The group made a courtesy call at the office of Mayor Bonifacio Clemente of Paoay wherein the and the mayor’s spokesman narrated the history of the town and cited historical and panoramic spots like the St. Augustine Church inscribed in 1999 in the UNESCO world heritage list.

The hospitality of Rosario T. Clemente, president of the Paoay Senior Citizens Group enlivened discussions in the hall. Then, we visited Fort Ilocandia Resort Hotel and Casino through coordination with VIP Tours and sales department of Fort Ilocandia.

Our thanks to Sarita Ablan, sales director of the 5-star hotel. On-the-job training students of University of Northern Philippines in Vigan City like Jovelyn, Jean, Joan, and Jersey toured the visitors to see amazing facilities of Fort Ilocandia.
Members of the Pico Senior Citizens Group were: Virginia Fianza, Manuel Andres, Raymundo Fianza, Lucien Mang-usan, Ricardo Dagdag, Valeriano Bovila, Betty Paulino, Ursula Bobila, Nenita Buya, Dionisio Baladad, Maria Aplasen, Edna Abalos, Simeona Baliwas, Mary Manodon, Esther Nabus, Angela Gondales, Ruby Tanas, Esperanza Tanas, Magdaline Nabus, Purita Saley, Nena Vasqquez, Leona Sacla, Nelie Bane-il,Doris baladad, Hilda Lubos, Julie Tabao-ican, Josephine Fabian, Juanita Lee, Adeline Tiotioen, Jenny Costina, Elsie Sartin, Ondia Julian, Esther Manansala, Mary Manodon, Flora Elwas, and all the participants of this friendly tour.