Thursday, March 14, 2019

‘Wang-wang’ and ‘momos’


BEHIND THE SCENES
Alfred P. Dizon

BAGUIO CITY – The “findings” of a local poll survey in Baguio bared incumbent Mayor Mauricio Domogan and retired Philippine National Police Director Benjamin Magalong are leading the congressional and mayoralty race respectively in the summer capital for the coming May elections.
According to the “survey,” Domogan took the lead with 53.40 percent in the congressional race, followed by incumbent Baguio Rep. Marquez Go with 32.28 percent, former Mayor Peter Rey Bautista with 7.52 percent, former Rep. Nicasio Aliping with 5.83 and Rafael Wasan with 0.97 percent.
In the mayoralty race, Magalong took the lead with 35.19 percent, lawyer Edgar Avila with 27.18, Leandro Yangot with 11.41, incumbent Vice Mayor Edison Bilog with 10.44, lawyer Jose Molintas with 9.71 and Tony Boy Tabora with 3.88.
Of those who took the poll survey, 52.43 percent are reportedly male and 47.57 female while 95.39 percent of these are registered voters and 4.61 are not.
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According to this survey, 25.49 percent of those who took the poll are Ilocanos, 17.96 are Kankanaey, 16.5 are of mixed ethnicity, 8.25 are Ibaloy,7.53 are Tagalog,  7.04 are Bontoc, 5.83 are Pangasinense, 3.16 are Ifugao, 1.94 are Bicolano, 1.46 are Kapampangan, 1.21 are Kalinga while the rest are from Mindanao.
As to age bracket, 17.72 percent are between 31 to 35 years old, 17.23 percent between 26 to 30, 16.99 are between 36 to 40, 19.95 between 21 to 25, 9.47 between 41 to 45, 7.04 between 51 to 55, 5.58 between 46 to 50, 5.10 between 56 to 60, 4.85 aged 66 and above, 3.64 between 61 to 65, and 2.43 between 18 to 20 years old.
On religious affiliation, 63.59 percent are Roman Catholic, 14.32 are Protestant, 14.37 Baptist, 1.94 are Iglesia ni Kristo, 1.46 are Seventh Day Adventist, 1.21 are Islam, 0.24 are Methodist, while the rest were of other religions.
When it comes to educational attainment, 58.25 are college graduates, 15.29 finished their masters and/or doctorate degrees, 13.35 took postgraduate courses, 7.28 are high school graduates, 2.43 finished technical or vocational courses, 0.97 finished elementary school and another 2.43 finished other courses.
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An article about the survey e-mailed to the Northern Philippine Times did not say who made the survey or who commissioned it.
Suffice to say, surveys are surveys and nothing is over until it’s over as a tired cliché goes. Preferences of people are fickle until voting day so candidates have to be visible and present themselves well to voters particularly their programs to uplift lives of people.
Somehow, maybe the people of this Banana Republic are getting more discerning in whom to vote in national and local levels this coming elections.   
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People should by now have an idea who the “clean,” dedicated and competent guys are and who are not. It the corrupt, unqualified and the dumb still get elected to public office, then we can say constituents of this blighted nation deserve it.
Then maybe, we can ask China to take over the country and make all corrupt officials face the firing squad. Anyway, they have taken almost all this nation’s islands in the West Philippine Sea, err China Sea with nary a whimper from concerned government officials.
Lest any government nincompoop think of filing sedition charges against this jaded newsman for saying these, then maybe, they can take a cue from Presidential Spokesman Sal Panelo about the meaning of hyperbole.
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Despite the gun law of the Commission on Elections as the May polls near, hard-headed individuals are still violating it and getting arrested for it.
A few days ago, a certain Oliver Wakas Biteng, 44, miner, native of Fidelisan, Sagada, Mt. Province and resident of  Fatima, Ucab, Itogon, Benguet was arrested near his residence by police for carrying an unlicensed Cal. 45 pistol loaded with seven bullets.
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In Tayum, Abra,  police also arrested Amor Quesgay Ugbos, 44, jobless, and resident of Lapat-balantay, Tineg after failure to present documents for carrying a CZ 75 9 mm pistol with one magazine loaded with 15 bullets at a Comelec checkpoint along Abra-Kalinga Road, Poblacion, Tayum on Tuesday.
Police Cordillera regional director Chief Supt. Rolando Nana said they have violated not only Republic Act 10591 known as the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition, but also the Comelec gun ban.
Charges against Biteng and Ugbos were filed in court and they are now under the custody of the concerned units.
Nana had ordered all city and provincial chiefs of police to implement 24/7 checkpoint operations in the region this election period.
He also reminded the public, especially gun owners that permits to carry firearms have been cancelled. He urged gun owners/handlers to surrender their firearms to authorities for safe keeping. 
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A 3k and 5k Run Happy foot race will be conducted in Baguio from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. today (Sunday, March 17).
The foot race, which will allow free registration, will start along Lake Drive in Burnham Park, with the theme “A Breath of Fresh Air.”
Upon finishing, cash prizes will be awarded to the top 3 males and top 3 females, while medals will be given to the top 12 finishers.
Trophies will also be given to the two biggest groups that will register, while the first 500 race finishers will also get a free t-shirt upon finishing.
For registration details and inquiries please contact Rosario Velasco-Alberto, the race organizer and race director, at mobile telephone number 09177450378 or at the registration center located at the entrance gate of the Laperal Building located along Session Road.
Walk Happy, Baguio City is an advocacy campaign that encourages walking and responsible tourism.
The campaign promotes carpooling and the use of existing public transport systems to reduce our carbon footprint.
The advocacy campaign was initiated by the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio (HRAB), Baguio Flower Festival Foundation, Inc. (BFFFI) and Baguio Conventions and Visitors Bureau (BCVB) in cooperation with The Workshop for Infinite Media, Inc.

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