COMMUNITY BILLBOARD

College head dies of stroke
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya– A college president in Quirino province succumbed to stroke shortly after delivering a message during a mañanita for the 31st birthday of Rep. Dakila Cua Monday.

Engineer Edilberto Acio, head of the provincial government-run Quirino Polytechnic College, was declared dead on arrival at the provincial hospital where he was rushed after collapsing just after extending his birthday greetings to Cua.

Mañanita is traditionally performed at dawn to greet someone during special occasions like birthdays. – Charlie Lagasca

Halsema waste campaign upped
TUBLAY, Benguets – The massive information drive for proper waste disposal on Halsema Highway is targeting to reach about 5,000 motorists, travelers and passengers traversing one of the major thoroughfares in Cordillera region.

In an environmental forum, groups were clustered into four and stationed at strategic locations in Ambassador in Tublay; Pali or Highest Point in Sayangan; Atok, Pakpakitan, Natubleng in Buguias; and in the area of Sinto, which is the boundary of Benguet and Mt. Province to halt more than a thousand vehicles to warn them against throwing trash on the highway.

Mass transport vehicles were also provided with trash bins so that passengers will not throw their wastes outside the window. -- Dexter A. See


COPS 2011 launched in Ilocos Region
CAMP FLORENDO, La Union— Supt. Eric Noble, who was one-time recipient of the Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service (COPS) award, encouraged Tuesday other police officers to be loyal and dedicated to the performance of their duties as the search for COPS 2011 kicked off recently.

The award was launched last Oct. 27 with the signing of a memorandum of agreement among financiers and organizers of COPS 2011 – Metrobank Foundation Inc., the Rotary Club of New Manila East, the Philippine Savings Bank and the Philippine National Police.

The COPS award is now a career service award given annually to 10 winners consisting of four police commissioned officers (from police inspector to superintendent) and six police non-commissioned officers (from police officer 1 to senior police officer 4).

'Christmas ed Kapangan'scheduled December 10-11
KAPANGAN, Benguet – This town in coordination with the provincial government and Department of Tourism presents an early Christmas escapade “Christmas ed Kapangan” on Dec. 10-11.

Kapangan is located at the western part of Benguet, 1,700 meters above sea level with a total land area of 17, 327. 25 hectares.

It has a population of 18, 380 in 15 barangays. Farming or agriculture is the main source of livelihood of residents. Kankanaey and Ibaloi are their main dialects.

According to Tourism Operations Officer Clarita Prudencio, the two-day tour is one way of boosting the local tourism industry since the place has the most number of tourist attractions in Benguet. Besides, it also serves as an early celebration for the coming Christmas season.

The first day of the tour would be visitation to the Anthurium Forest and to the Municipal Livelihood Center for their high quality silk being their One town One Product (OTOP).
Camping at Balakbak E/S campsite, fellowship and programs such as cañao and cultural shows will follow.

Hands on harvest at the Obellan/Catampan Rice Terraces, spelunking at the Longog Cave, picnic at the Amburayan River and shopping for fresh fruits, vegetables and handicrafts at Taba-ao will complete the tour.

Registration fee varies from P1,500 to - P2,000 depending on the date of registration. – Dianne Estino

1st BSA deanery recommitment held
BONTOC, Mountain Province – Seventy seven members of the Brotherhood of Saint Andrew of the central deanery of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Philippines attended the first deanery rededication at Barangay Gonogon here on Nov 29 at the St. Agustine Mission Church.

The central deanery is composed of all Anglican churches in the capital town of Bontoc and Sabangan municipality.

EDNP diocesan bishop Brent Alawas urged the brethrens to religiously follow the footsteps of Apostle Andrew who is the organization’s patron saint.

“We members must strengthen our fraternal ties with other chapters nationwide as this will help prevent conflicts among member and church members as well,” he said. “As a cohesive religious organization we can assist in the resolution of some problems between and among other people such as tribal conflicts especially if we have brothers in the conflicting parties.”

Before the rites seven individuals were received as new members of the BSA. An orientation on the history of BSA and a short meeting ensued after the service.

The brotherhood is a lay organization among men and youth of the Anglican or Episcopal Church worldwide with the objective of Spreading Christ’s Kingdom or bringing others nearer to Christ.
It has three disciplines that a member must have to abide such as to study the bible regularly, conduct of daily prayer for the organization and all people in this world and extend services to the church and community.

The organization’s patron saint is Apostle Andrew who with his brother Peter was called by Jesus Christ to become “fishers of men.” -- Francis B. Degay

19 Ifugao youths get DAR grants
LAMUT, Ifugao -- The Department of Agrarian Reform in the province has provided scholarship grants to deserving children of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries, which is part of the interventions of concerned government agencies to boost rural development.

Leanor Bascos, Senior Agrarian Reform Program Officer, said the Programang Agraryo Iskolar of DAR was awarded to 19 dependents of ARBs in the province to help them finish a four-year agriculture related degree course so they will be able to utilize their acquired skills and knowledge for agriculture development in the countryside.

Bascos said qualified scholars are currently enrolled at the Ifugao State University with 13 of them studying at the main campus, four at the Portia campus and two at the Lagawe campus. -- Dexter A. See

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All in the name

THOUGHTS UNLIMITED
Eugene Balitang

The gods had condemned Sisyphus to ceaselessly roll a rock to the top of the mountain, whence the rock would fall back of its own weight. They had thought with some reason that there is no more dreadful punishment than futile and hopeless labor.–The Myth of Sisyphus

LAGAWE, Ifugao -- A mediocre lawyer in a law office that carries a big name. That’s me. Or rather, that’s what I have become. Ok, let’s talk about the law offices in an attempt to market it to the hordes of would-be clientele, or as a logical first topic. After all, we got to start somewhere before we move on to unlimited fields. And we shall begin by weaving a portrait of the stable from where this self-declared poet who has undertaken this endeavor towards literary fame is nestled. Here goes…

In the City of Baguio , practicing under a law office that carries a name of character and integrity has its ups and downs, the delineations are very much apparent like our double-edged hinalong. For one, you would be accorded the respect deserving of the office name by your brethren in the Bar and, to a certain extent, in the Bench. And that, the performance expected of you will be in direct proportion to the esteem and prestige accorded to the name of your office. Conversely, you will bear the wrath of vengeance of those who have bled blood for the glory of the name you now carry.

The friends in the profession that the Boss has made and kept during his 21-year law practice became quite naturally our friends also. Personally, I was given some leeway in my bungling performance by these friendly judges and opposing counsels. Some even go out of their way to lend a hand in shaping me up in my chosen profession.

But the downside is, the legal gladiators who have bled blood from the sword of the Boss in many legal combats have eaten us alive in and out of the courtroom arena. It is on these occasions where I have felt my mediocrity. At least, the Boss did not forget to forewarn us. Roll with the punches, he always advised. Roll with the punches and get in the ring again. Fall if we must, but rise we must, too. Die another day.

The clients are a different story. Their expectations are sometimes way beyond our utmost capacities. Many a time have I told clients how much I am sorry for not being half the legal eagle the Boss is no matter how hard I try. In fact, some clients have withdrawn their cases from the office after the Boss took his oath as solon for the lone district of Ifugao. Some withdrew afterwards when they realized that we are not at par with the man whose name our office carries. Others wanted the quality and speed of service expected of the Boss that we, most often, cannot match – these clients would later claim that we are not minding their cases (and report it to the Boss).

But you could say I am lucky. I joined the office at a time when the Boss was still around to teach the basic rudiments of the profession. And for this, I am forever grateful and indebted. In the year and a month that I have trekked the narrow road under his guidance, I could honestly say I was ready to fly on my own when he took his dazzling exit from the race. But alas, when the rest of the Falcons came aboard, I knew I am a poor mentor in their solitary trek on the narrow path. Though I was an avid student of the art of courtroom drama, I cannot teach it myself.

The situation in the City of Baguio is similar here in our Province of Ifugao as far as law practice under the office is concerned-but with some very heavy additives. The expectations are very much similar-and more. Here, practice and politics are Siamese twins.

Looking back, I guess there was an unknown hand that muddled the circumstances and played with our pitiful mortal lives. Destiny? Or karma? Honestly, I had intended to carry the torch the Boss had passed on until it’s time to pass it on to somebody more worthy of the fame the name of the office carries. And this I had planned to do in the City of Baguio . But then the wind changed its course and I was blown sky high unknowingly. I became a husband and a father in the year that I am about to start carrying the flaming torch that is the office, or rather, the name of the office.

We have mentioned time and again that hunger is a constant friend in the narrow road of law practice. I have been in more hunger-ridden paths before and I wouldn’t have minded walking another road of this nature. But alas, what kind of man is he who lets his wife and son share the hunger unnecessarily, no matter how lofty the journey may be. So we came home and decided to stay – for good. At least, life in the province for a mediocre lawyer with a family is more bearable than in the city, unless you have your roots in the city in the first place.

And so here I am in the province plying my trade and earning the dough for tomorrow’s bread. Doing my mediocre best for the glory of the profession and the name of the office. Upholding the esteem with which it is held high under the surrounding circumstances. So far, it is no easy feat. But we try hard each day to move on. Die another day.

Half of the poor souls who flock the law office here in Lagawe since we started operating last June of this year are actually not after our legal services. Their concerns range from contracts, scholarships, jobs, promotions down to recommendations and things related to the Boss in his political self and not as a legal eagle. Time and again have I explained to these lost souls that there is now a Congressional District Office right at the heart of Lagawe – and more importantly, there is an official Congressional District Officer, a lawyer to boot, who is responsible for all political matters concerning the Boss here in the province. Some understand. Some stubbornly insist that I am the nearest plate to the stove, thanks to my mom who still harbors the thought that I am the right-hand man. Uh, mothers!

Alas, half of the hombres who come for our legal services are por pabor. Pro-bono. After all, isn’t it the office of the congressman? Indeed. But once in a while when I’m in the mood, I tell our clients that the law office is independent of the Boss as a politician. What he lent us was only his name and the prestige that goes with it - but we still have to pay Don Oscar whenever we get our office supplies at Lagawe Trading. We have to pay the postal corporation when we send out legal pleadings and official communications-even if the client is a charity case since he is a volunteer political leader of the Boss (complete with his appointment papers). If the mood hits me, I refer them to the best lawyer in town-the Legendary Public Attorney (after all, he claims that PAO is an extension of the CLO).

We’ve hung a billboard carrying the name of the office in kilometric dimension just the other day without bugles and drums-even our office secretary, R-33, did not notice. But what the heck! Billboard or no billboard, we are already branded like cows. The name is already attached to us-or rather, we are already attached to the name, no matter how hard we deny it. We will rise and fall with the Boss-be it in the legal arena or in the political battlefield. This is our tragedy. Our destiny. Our pitiful life. All in the name… (reprinted from Thoughts Unlimited, November 2002)

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