COMMUNITY BILLBOARD

 Peace pacts signed in 4 Isabela towns

By Charlie Lagasca

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya  – Four more towns in Isabela conducted simultaneous peace covenant signings last week, as the campaign period for local elective positions is fast approaching.

Peace pacts among local bets were signed in the towns of San Manuel, Santo Tomas, Gamu and Ramon, and other municipalities would soon follow, said Senior Supt. Franklin Mabanag, Isabela police director.

The covenants are aimed at ensuring honest, orderly and peaceful elections in May, Mabanag said.

Folks swap stories in  Anglican bishop’s wake

BAGUIO CITY -- Bishop Miguel ParedesYamoyam, a popular Bishop of the Anglican Church in the Philippines died of cancer of the esophagus last March 1 at the age of 64.

 His two-night Wake at the Resurrection Cathedral Church Baguio city was attended by his colleagues and thousands of people from all walks of life until his interment March 4 at Buyagan Cemetery.

According to his younger sister Purita Yamoyam Bondad, before he was diagnosed of cancer of the esophagus, he had a serious stroke on Oct. 27, 2007 while delivering his report during the International Bishop’s Convention held at the United States of America.

This rendered him comatose for almost a week and took his voice His foods were all in liquid form until he got so weak and bedridden last January 2013.

“ManongPadi did not just give up, though he can hardly walk he still want to be of help and so manages to go out and pick out the laundries and folds them ready for ironing. He had been slowly recuperating from his serious stroke had it not been with the big C.” she added.

Bishop Yamoyam had been assigned in the province of Apayao when he was still a deacon.

His first assignment was in Sagada, Mountain Province as hospital chaplain of Saint Theodore’s Hospital for 2 years and vicar of Barangay Bangaan for two months before  he  was assigned to Besao, Mountain Province as rector of Saint Benedict and at the same time school chaplain of St. James High School, Kiniway, Besao.

He then stayed at Bontoc, Mountain Province, for five years as suffragan bishop.

He was assigned to Manila as National Evangelism Officer of the Philippine Episcopal Church until his  stroke that rendered him incapable of work.

“Father Mike” was known to his colleagues and parishioners, and simply “Apo PadiDupisen” to the  community of Sabangan where he was born and raised.   He was the first child among the nine children of  GeraldoYamoyam and Emilia Paredes(deceased).

Born just after the second world war on  Dec. 20, 1948, he is survived by his wife, ZosimaDonglaYamoyam and their four kids, Zigfrid, Waga, Damey and Bogan.

The municipal officials of Sabangan, headed Mayor DonatoDanglose considered him an inspiration to the youth because of his achievements.

He was always the best subject of parents in the community when they advised their children to pursue their studies.

They often cited his early high school years, when  he had to walk to the only high school in Kayan, Tadian, Mountain Province twice a weeka, almost 40 km  away from Sabangan until San Alfonso High School, in Sabangan opened  was among its first graduates.

During the wake, old folks were all praises for him being the first child and first grandson and the first to become successful who instilled humbleness among his younger siblings and cousins who are now mostly successful in their professions.  

His sermons which were all full of good stories and jokes were often pirated by politicians.

Some would add his stories and jokes to liven their boring speeches. A story that he delivered during one wedding celebration whom he entitled “War” was very popular.

A boy asked the help of his mother who was washing the dishes after dinner to help in his homework. The boy said their teacher gave them an assignment to find the meaning of war.

The mother explained that the word “war” is synonymous to the word “fight,” however “war” is often used if countries of a big number of people fight each other using weapons.

The mother gave an example to his child that if in case the Philippines is going to fight United States of America then that is war.

However the father cut her off and said that Philippines cannot go to war with America because they are allies.

The mother retorted that what she said was just an example but the father insisted that an example must be more factual like if Russia and America will fight each other.

The mother reiterated that it was just an example and got mad accusing her husband of shouting at her.

The husband denied this but then the wife went inside their room and threw out a pillow and a blanket and closed the door.

The child then said to his father that he now understood what war meant. This story was often retold and even modified to suit the occasion.

Some would retell the story just for fun and as a joke but would always acknowledge the source was a sermon of Apo PadiDupisen.  -- Gabriel Moguet

Sagada execs trained on sugarcane production

SAGADA, Mountain Province -- Just in time for the “asilebek,” a traditional activity that falls on February in the SagadaIgorot calendar, barangay officials of Patay, Poblacion were trained on muscovado production with the aid of a sugarcane presser.

Said training last month was done with trainorMrBal-o. The sugarcane presser was blessed by Fr. Asterio Dal-is followed by a customary prayer from barangay official Michael Kiwang. 

With the efficiency of the sugarcane presser operating at five horsepower, barangay officials of Patay through the leadership of chairman William Baldo encouraged everyone to plant sugarcane and produce muscovado. 

Muscovado is featured as a healthy alternative to refined sugar as it retains all vitamins and minerals of the sugarcane.  

The sugarcane presser was donated by the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Philippines through Bishop Brent Alawas.

Earlier, a sugar cane presser was long requested by the Unas Growers of Patay to the Cordillera Highland Agricultural Resource Management Project 2 (CHARMP2) as part of their project investment plan but this was not granted. -- GraalOmaweng

DPWH personnel undergo values orientation workshop

BONTOC, Mountain Province – To enhance efficiency in delivery of public service of the Public Highways personnel here, an orientation-workshop on values was initiated by the DPWH in coordination with the Civil Service Commission last week of February.

The workshop was attended by the newly appointed permanent employees and job order personnel of this district engineering office.

Topics discussed focused on being a civil servant, one’s personhood and citizenship. It also included the “Code of conduct and ethical standards for Filipino Public Officials and employees” also known as RA 6713.

During the opening, CSC provincial director Ruben U. Wacas said “an organization/department is like the human body wherein if part of the body is in pain, everything else will be hurt. If a section or division of a department does not align with the office’s mission and goal, the growth of this office will be hampered.”

Administrative officer Josephine Lagasca of the DPWH regional office acquainted  personnel on DPWH guidelines, circulars and orders and policies for alignment of the district’s activities and programs with the department’s mission and vision.

On the other hand, rank and file employees of the MPDEO who have already undergone said workshop were required to undergo training on basic costumer service which was conducted by the same CSC team.

OIC district engineer Wilbur K. Likigan, in his message, reminded all personnel of the district to put “Public interest first before personal interest.” -- Pamela F Dungala

Ifugao town passes law for elderly, pregnant, PEDs

LAMUT, Ifugao -- The Sangguniang Bayan here has passed an ordinance providing a separate lane for senior citizens, persons with disability, and pregnant women during community activities where foods or goods are served.

Authored by SB members Ferdinand Dulinayan and AdryanChaguile, the ordinance known as, “Special lane for senior citizens, persons with disability and pregnant women," aims to help the said sectors by giving them priority service.

The councilors explained it is mandatory for any person, group, private or government unit within the municipality to provide a separate lane exclusively for senior citizens, persons with disability, and pregnant women when hosting occasions which require “pila (queue)" where people tend to push each other.

"To protect them, there should be a special lane for them due to their physical conditions that cannot endure the heat and length of line,” the authors reiterated.

The heads of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office and Office of the Senior Citizens Affair (OSCA) or their representatives will coordinate and assist barangay officials for effective implementation of the ordinance.

It will also be the task of the civil registrar to inform or remind couples applying for civil marriages about the ordinance during the “hamul” or celebration of their marriage. -- Marcelo L. Lihgawon

DOST promotes oleoresin tapping to boost Cordi jobs

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet- - The Department of Science and Technology – Cordillera is promoting the tapping of oleoresin in pine trees as source of livelihood among the locals.

Initial steps in promoting the income-generating project was through a training in Kabayan, according to DOST provincial chief Arnold Inumpa.

Participants underwent hands-on training on oleoresin extraction in pine trees including processing.

The oleoresin is processed to remove the sticky substance to come up with gum rosin already in crystal form, said Inumpa.

The resin is used in manufacture of products such as paint, adhesive products, asphalt cement, varnish, lacquer, printing ink, soap, linoleum among others.

Oleoresin when processed produces turpentine and is also used as raw material for perfumes, solvent thinner for oil-based paints, oil wood finishes, protective coating, and anti-septic for cleaning agents.

As there is not enough supply in the country, manufacturers import the raw material, Inumpa said.

He said there is an assured market for this product which cost from P95 to P125 per kilogram depending on the classification.

According to Inumpa, the output from the training among participants in Kabayan was considered as premium class which commands a higher price, and two companies already signified their interest in buying the processed product.

He explained that an average of one kilogram could be extracted per tree and harvest could be done weekly as resin regenerates. Oleoresin tapping does not harm the tree and even foresters are aware of the process, he added.

Oleoresin tapping, according to Inumpa, is not a new practice and had been done in the past but it died down due to the very low selling price. Accordingly, in the 1970s the processed resin was sold at a very meager price of only P1 per kilogram.

In venturing in such a business, Inumpa said there are legal procedures such as securing permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and other relevant permits that may be required. -- Susan C. Aro

US-based Abrenians conduct eye surgery for poor folks

BANGUED, Abra -- A total of 117 cataract patients in the province were recently operated at the Abra Provincial Hospital here by the ophthalmologists of the Surgi-Med Volunteers Association of Sacramento, California, USA.

The surgical mission was successfully brought to Abra to serve the poor Abrenios through the sponsorship of two Abrenian Associations here and abroad.

These are the Abrenian Association of America, Inc., in San Jose, California, led by Atty. Gloria Acena-Florendo, chairperson of the Board of Directors, and the Abrenian Association of the Philippines based in Metro Manila chaired by Ms. Ma. TitaAlcanzaren-de Guzman in partnership with the Holy Spirit Academy of Bangued Batch ‘71.

In an interview with Florendo, the surgical mission for the cataract patients had been planned and prepared since her last homecoming during the AbrenianKawayan Festival last year when Gov. Eustaquio P. Bersamin invited their group to come for the said mission.

Dr. Maribel Bobila-Abaya started the initial screening of the patients in her clinic in Bangued.

More than a thousand patients flocked to her clinic but since there were only five ophthalmologists participating in the project, the patients had to be short-listed depending on the gravity of their case.

The 117 patients with cataract were given priority. A completely blind 10-year old boy, Raffy Damian from Brgy.Macarcarmay, Bangued, was among those operated and he is hopeful that he be in school soon.

The post-surgery check-ups were done by Dr. Abaya and Dr. Oliver Yu from Bohol.

Aside from the cataract operations, the group also gave free reading glasses.

The missionaries said they look forward to coming back in the future to help other Abrenios in need.

The Surgi-Med Volunteers conduct the cataract operation mission every two years and they go to other countries in the Central Americas and other provinces in the Philippines. -- Maria Teresa B. Benas