Sunday, April 30, 2023

Council to NCIP exec: Stop linking IPs to terrorism, insurgency

By Jordan G. Habbiling

BAGUIO CITY -- The City Council has passed a resolution urging National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Commissioner Gaspar Cayat to refrain from linking any individual or group, particularly indigenous peoples (IP) communities, to terrorism or insurgency.
    The council resolution told Cayat to “exercise caution” in his language and public statements so as not to equate dissent with terrorism.
    Cayat was also urged to instead look into grievances of IP communities and provide them proper and adequate assistance.
    The resolution stemmed from a forum during the city council’s regular session last April 17 where Cayat was asked to explain his statement during the launching of the NCIP Epanaw Coffee Table Books at SM Baguio on March 21, 2021.
    During the said public event, Cayat was quoted as saying: “I want to caution or refrain you, ladies and gentlemen, that these words, Igorot, Lumad, and Tumandok, are the very words used by the CPP-NPA-NDF or the communist terrorist groups."
    During the council session last April 17, Councilor Arthur Allad-iw said Cayat's statement was “worrisome” as it was a form of red-tagging. 
    Councilor Jose Molintas said declaring an organization a communist terrorist group is a “judicial pronouncement” and that the NCIP was not authorized to “brand” people as communists or terrorists. 
    The office should instead focus on its mandate which is to protect and promote the interest and well-being of the IPs in the country, Molintas added.
    Cayat said he did not mean to red-tag Cordillerans.
    He claimed he was only denouncing certain groups who intend to exploit the IPs for “political intentions.”
     “Igorot, in its present use, refers to people from the mountains. But for some people, this term refers to natives who are co-opted or used by some ideological groups in order to agitate, arose [sic], mobilize, and organize against the government,” Cayat said during the council forum. 
    “Likewise, the Tumandok in Visayas. This term refers to the natives of the Visayan island and the warriors who can rise against the government due to alleged prodding by some progressive groups who are identified with the left,” he added.
    The NCIP official explained that his statement regarding the term Igorot during the public event was brought up in light of the discussion about Commission en banc No. 08-009- 2021, Series of 2021 which condemns and denounces the use of the term "Lumad' to refer to the ICC/IP groups, particularly the ICC/IPs of Mindanao.
    Although admitting that his statement does not represent the position of the NCIP, he claimed that it is the mandate of their office to “fix these terminologies so that our identity will not be used or co-opted by interest groups.” 
    Meanwhile, Allad-iw said the word “Igorot” was used by lowlanders even prior to the Spanish colonization to refer to people from the mountains.
    He addressed earlier claim of Cayat that the word was used by Spaniards to describe the natives as “savage, backward, and uncivilized people.”
 
 
 
 

Palace exec proposes solution to Mt Prov, Kalinga tribal war

By Robert James De Roque  

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity urged the local government units of Sadanga, Mountain Province and Tinglayan, Kalinga for sobriety and calmness following the killing of a hunter from Barangay Bekigan, Sadanga recently.
    “The OPAPRU is deeply saddened by the continuing tension between the tribes of Sadanga, Mountain Province and Tinglayan, Kalinga that has unfortunately resulted in the demise of members from both tribes,” said Sec. Isidro L. Purisima, acting presidential adviser on peace, reconciliation and unity.
    Such acts of violence have no place in a humane, democratic and peaceful society. “The impact of these incidents will not only increase violence among members of the feuding tribes, but also in surrounding communities.
    “We commend the efforts of the local government and council of elders in containing the situation and pursuing peaceful means of resolving this long time conflict. And while we have faith in the Cordillera practices and traditions, may we continue to contribute to a lasting peace by honoring the rule of law, and uphold the peace covenant that was signed by the governors of Kalinga and Mountain Province in 2022.
    Isidro said OPAPRU was taking all possible measures and have requested the assistance of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to help prevent the possible escalation of hostilities.
    He proposed a peace agreement which could be undertaken by both parties to prevent such situations of violence from arising, entitled, “An agreement to uphold peace and harmony between the Province of Kalinga and the Province of Mt. Province,” 
    The said peace covenant proposed the “just settlement of inter-boundary disputes by peaceful means through negotiation, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to agencies, and other diplomatic approaches which does not endanger national peace and security, and justice.”
     “More importantly, the peace covenant seeks to help create the conditions where genuine peace and sustainable development can be achieved by building a stronger and more meaningful partnership between the two provinces,” he said.
    “We enjoin the elders of the feuding tribes and the governors of the two provinces to come together once again in the name of peace, in hopes of resolving their differences in a manner that will be beneficial for all for the sake of the future of their respective provinces.”
    Hostilities resumed between the tribes men of Bugnay, Tinglayan, Kalinga and Betwagan, Sadanga , Mountain Province resulting to the death of Richard Bannoya Sagwil, 40, while wounded was Edward Chay-as Alunday, 47, both farmers and residents of Bugnay recently.
    The Kalinga Provincial Police Office earlier reported the two were walking down the foot trail at Mt.Kumaykay,Bugnay around 4:30 p.m. when they were shot.
    They were delivering food to their fellow tribesmen at the rice fields in the mountain when suddenly armed men positioned around 500 meters away from the two shot them.
    The shooting lasted for almost an hour.
    The sudden burst of gunfire resulted to the immediate death of Sagwil who was hit on his left eye. Alunday was hit on his abdomen.
    Their fellow tribesmen who came to the rescue had to wait until past 5 p.m. that day to get the two victims.
    The tribesmen retrieved the body of Sagwil while some of them rushed Alunday to the Tinglayan Municipal Health Office.
    The perpetrators allegedly belonged to the Betwagan tribe of Sadanga.
    Betwagan tribe of Sadanga and Butbut tribe of Tinglayan have a decades-old boundary dispute.
    Countless efforts by government officials, police and other stakeholders to restore the peace between the two tribes went futile.

Single Ilocos mom passes Bar exam


LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte — On the day of the release of the Bar examination results on April 14, Loi Kristel Mendoza Tubera of Vintar town in this province was all alone inside a church.
    And when the results were finally out, her phone started to buzz with notifications, but she ignored them.
    She thought she did not make it again on her third try.
    “I got used to not seeing my name, so the acceptance this time if I do not make it will be faster. I thought the notifications were from people reaching out to offer comfort,” Tubera told this writer in an interview on Monday, April 17.
    But she said that it was the people who reached out and offered help that made all the difference on her third attempt to become a licensed lawyer.
    Overcoming her pride, she opened her doors just as she had done when she thought everyone had turned their backs on her when she did not pass the exams in 2018 and 2019.
    The 30-year-old newly minted lawyer realized that she was “not alone in this journey. Dati kasi, sinolo ko (It was because I kept it to myself) but for this Bar examination, there were people who wanted to help, so I opened up and accepted them.”
    On April 14, Tubera was one of the 3,992 passers of the 9,183 examinees for the November 2022 Bar exams.
‘Acceptance’
    Passing the Bar exam was a grueling journey for Tubera, who studied law school while raising a son as a single mother and taking care of her own mother, who was diagnosed with breast cancer.
    “I had to give up my job in 2017 while in law school so I could take care of my mother and my son,” Tubera said. And just when she graduated and started to review for the 2018 Bar examinations, her father also faced a major health crisis that necessitated an admission to a hospital’s intensive-care unit.
    After two attempts, she accepted her reality, and the only way for her to survive the review stage for the third time was to “let [things] be.”
    “I no longer resisted, hindi ko na linabanan (I did not resist) by wishing for things to be different than my situation then. I surrendered everything to the Lord and accepted, prayers work talaga (really),” she said.
Aside from this, Tubera said that she strategized ways to make the most of her situation.
    And if she would not make it again on her third attempt, she said she was ready to accept whatever the outcome would be because she also needed to think about the future of her son.
    “I was ready to turn my back on my dream of becoming a lawyer and seek another career aside from being in the legal field,” she said.
    But she will not deny that not passing the 2018 and 2019 exams were a “traumatic” experience for her.
    “I reached a point where I questioned everything; why was I experiencing this; why was my family going through all these problems while I was studying for the Bar. Why have I not made it despite exerting efforts,” she said.
    Tubera revealed that she decided not to pursue taking the 2020-2021 Bar Examinations anymore because she was already “ashamed” to ask for help from her family. She remained thankful that her siblings continued to support her and believed that she would become a lawyer.
    And through all this, it was her 8-year-old son, who has been with her since law school days and who kept her going as she shared how he pushed and motivated her to continue studying when she felt like giving up.
“We all will have our moments talaga, hindi man tayo sabay-sabay (really, we may not be together),” Tubera advises those who did not make it on the list this time.
Different battles
Looking back, a tearful Tubera said she had to go through failures and challenges to mold her into the kind of person and lawyer that she would become.
    “If I became a lawyer then, my strength and wisdom would not be the same as the ones that I have today,” added Tubera.
    For those who did not make it, Tubera advised keeping the faith.
    “We are built to experience different kinds of battles or difficulties, but through all of these, He knows that we will surpass.”
    The stigma persists for retakers of the Bar examinations, but she said that those who are aspiring to become lawyers should “carry on and stop only when you believe that you have exerted everything.”
    “Other people will always have their opinions, but if they have not personally experienced what it was like to take the Bar examinations, let alone do it twice, or numerous times, they will never understand. Just don’t lose hope,” she said.
 

IP culture helps Bontoc fire victims with P5.5 M



By Aldwin Quitasol

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Igorots or people of the mountains have recently shown the rich cultural heritage of the indigenous peoples of Mountain Province as they unselfishly answered to the call to help the families and individuals displaced by the large fire that razed establishments and residences in Bontoc.
    The aid came after fire broke out April 11 here  where fire fighters from nearby towns also provided assistance to put out the blaze which saw 19 establishments and houses totally burnt while 10 were partially damaged and nine vehicles charred.
    At least 114 individuals were left homeless and seek temporary shelter at the Anglican Church of the capital town of Mountain Province.
    Hours after the fire, residents of Bontoc called for an “Og-ogfo”, the cultural practice of working as one in helping each other.
    Alongside authorities, residents helped clear debris and cleaned the place.
    Town and other residents of the province, not minding their financial status, chipped in whatever amount they can give and handed it to the concerned agency of the town in aiding the victims as other local government units in Mountain Province and Kalinga donated cash, food and other materials to Bontoc.
    Women, men and children of the town worked hand-in-hand in building temporary houses for the victims, with some helping in cooking food for the fire victims and the volunteers and workforce.
    As of April 16, the amount collected is now more than P5,431,505.55
    On April 18, an ecumenical mass will be celebrated at the fire site.
    A total of 34 residential houses and business establishments here in Barangay Poblacion were burned and destroyed after fire broke at around 2:30 a.m. on April 11 and declared out by the Bureau of Fire Protection 7:20 a.m. same day.
    A report from the Bontoc Emergency Operations Center said 24 structures were totally damaged, 10 partially damaged, and 11 vehicles burned. 
    A total of 194 individuals or 96 families were affected by the incident.
    No one was burned nor injured in the incident.  
    This as donations in cash or in kind from individuals, organizations, institutions and groups are still being accepted here at the Emergency Operations Center of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management (MDRRMC) Office.
    Cash and in-kind donations continue to pour in. A total of P2,053,534 was received by the Bontoc local governmentfor fire victims as of 3 p.m. of April 14.
    Donors included Mountain Province Contractors Association with a donation of  P600,000; Province of Kalinga with P100,000, Barangay Caluttit of Bontoc with P45,226 and other persons from Bontoc, other municipalities of Mountain Province, elsewhere and abroad.   
    Bontoc MDRRMC Officer Johanna Padaen said cash donations shall be equally divided among displaced house owners.
    Individual renters of boarding house establishments shall be given cash assistance from the Social Welfare and Development, Padaen added.    
    MDRRMC distributed food, sanitary items and vegetables from donations to the fire victims given by members of the immediate community.
    Initial help of 39 family kits worth 359 thousand pesos from the Office of Civil Defense 161 free food packs from the Dept. of Social Welfare and Development worth P75,000 and 46 hygiene kits were given to the displaced fire victims.
    Of the 22 damaged structures, 12 were commercial stores for rent, boarding houses for students and working folks.
    Nine of the 10 partially damaged concrete structures are commercial spaces.  
    Also burned during the conflagration were 11 totally damaged vehicles including three tricycles and a Pajero.
    Affected folks were brought to evacuation sites at All Saints Cathedral Compound and Jehovah’s Witnesses Church while some of the displaced individuals were accommodated by relatives in town.
     “The fire spread so fast,” Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Provincial Fire Marshall SINSP Ferdinand Ammiyao said. 
    Ammiyao said they received a distress call from the Bontoc Police at 2:36 a.m. of April 11.
    “We immediately went to the site and found the place in total fire,” he added.  
    Ammiyao said he called for assistance from the nearby municipal fire stations of Sagada, Sabangan, Sagada and Bauko.
    Fire was declared out at 7:20 a.m. with help from the BFP, Philippine National Police, MDRRMC, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Bontoc Water Delivery Organization, Criminology student interns of Mountain Province State Polytechnic College and other volunteers.
    Asked where and how the fire started, Ammiyao said investigation was still on going.
    Cost of damage is yet unknown pending submission of individual losses.
    Ammiyao advised the public to report any incident of fire immediately to the BFP.
 
 

59 % of Baguio male inmates drug offenders

BAGUIO CITY – Around 59 percent of the city jail’s population here are drug offenders.       
Jail superintendent April Rose W. Ayangwa, warden of the jail’s male dorm, said 216 out of the facility’s 376 persons deprived of liberty are drug offenders that account for 59 percent of the total jail population.           
    She said following drug cases on top of the list of PDLs is rape which accounts for 10.16 percent of the PDLs detained in the male dorm.        
    She said the facility implements programs such as therapeutic community modality program, Katatagan, Kalusugan at Damayan sa Komunidad , alternative learning system, drug symposia and lectures on the ill effects of illegal drugs, outpatient drug treatment and rehabilitation  program by the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center and other development opportunities in line with the government’s program on the whole-of-agency approach to eradicate illegal drugs in the country and the Buhay ay Ingatan Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA) advocacy program of the Department of the Interior and Local government (DILG).
    On the data of PDLs with special needs, Ayangwa revealed that there are 26 Muslim residents, 14 members of the LGBTQIA+ community, 10 senior citizens, 8 diabetic patients and 4 tuberculosis patients.        
    She said these PDLs had already been separate and have their own respective dorms inside the male dorm and that their needs are being addressed by the jail personnel on duty.        
    The jail officer said regular treatment and monitoring of all PDLs under medication for tuberculosis, hypertension, psyche and other related concerns are being administered by the assigned health personnel.        
According to her, the male dorm has provided and will continue to provide various training skills for the development of the PDLs as part of the vision of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) as an agency capable to be highly efficient in providing humane safekeeping and developmental opportunities to PDLs.            
At the start of the quarter, the male dorm has coordinated with the Technical Education and Skills development Authority (TESDA) and other service providers where the facility manages skills training such as tile setting, dressmaking, rattan weaving, and bayong making.           
Ayangwa explained that through these trainings, the PDLs were able to produce exceptional products which the public can check in the facility’s official Facebook page or they can directly visit the facility for orders.   
She stipulated that the increase in livelihood programs presents income-generating activities to PDLs during their confinement where they are able to earn for their personal upkeep and for financial support to their families. By Dexter A. See

 

Cordillera PNP chief awards 12 Ifugao cops


LAGAWE, Ifugao -- Twelve police officers of Ifugao Police Provincial Office were awarded with PNP medals during the command visit of Cordillera police director Brig. Gen. David K. Peredo here in Camp Dunuan, Poblacion North on April 17.
    In recognition of their notable accomplishments, awarded medals to the 12 awardees assisted by Col. Davy Vicente Limmong, Ifugao police director and members of provincial police command group.
    Medalya ng Kagalingan (medal of merit) was given to Capt. Jackson K. Nginhena and SSg. Gilbert A Dulnuan of Lagawe municipal police station for the arrest of the no. 4 most wanted person in Ifugao.
    Same award was given to SMS Levy S. Aliba and MSg Joseph B. Guinichon of Alfonso Lista town police for arrest of the no. 5 most wanted person in the province.
    Meanwhile, Medalya ng Kasanayan (PNP efficiency medal) was awarded to SSg. Robal Bandao and Cpl. Maria Villa Najchuman of Aguinaldo town police station for being conviction of  individual arrested for violation of Republic Act 9262 (Anti-violence against women and their children).
    Same award was given to SMS Eleanor D. Gunan and Cpl. Paul Mar T. Magastino of Banaue town police station for conviction of an individual arrested for rape.
    Same award was given to SMS Rolly P. Daulayan, SMS Aldrin L. Gacayan, Cpl Enden P. Dinamling and Cpl. Ariston T. Dulnuan of Asipulo police for execution of deed of usufruct with local government unit of Asipulo, Ifugao covering an area of 212 sq.m. for construction of Asipulo MPS COMPAC building located in Barangay Antipolo, Asipulo.
 

128 wanted persons nabbed, 57 Cordi towns post no crime


CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet -- Eighteen wanted persons were arrested in Cordillera April 9 to 15.
    Based on records from the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division, Benguet Police Provincial Office recorded highest number of arrests with eight followed by Baguio City Police Office with six; Abra PPO, 2 and one arrest each for Ifugao and Mountain Province PPOs.
    Of those arrested, one was listed most wanted person at city level.
    Meanwhile, 57 municipalities in the region and two police stations in Baguio City posted zero crime incidents during same week.
    Zero crime incidents were recorded in 24 municipalities of Abra; five in Apayao, eight in Benguet, four in Kalinga, 10in Mountain Province and six towns in Ifugao.
    This, as Naguilian Police Station 1 and Aurora Hill PS 6 also recorded zero crime incidents out of 10 police stations in Baguio City.
 


LTO driving lessons price cap in effect

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) started enforcing its price cap for driving lessons nationwide starting April 18.
    The LTO will implement a memorandum that sets the maximum prescribed rates for theoretical and practical driving courses, LTO chief Jay Art Tugade said Tuesday.
    He added that driving schools have committed to bringing more affordable driver’s education lessons for the public, following complaints of exorbitant prices earlier this year.
    Under Memorandum Circular 2023-2390, driving schools will be allowed to charge a maximum of P1,000 for theoretical driving courses, both for motorcycles and four-wheeled vehicles.
    For practical driving courses, the maximum fee was set at P2,500 for motorcycles, up to P4,000 for light vehicles and P8,000 for heavy vehicles such as buses, trucks and other articulated vehicles.
    This is for the standard eight-hour practical driving course and the 15-hour theoretical driving course, which the LTO said is sufficient to educate and test the skills of an applicant.
    Practical and theoretical driving courses are required for new student driver and driver’s license applicants under Republic Act 10930, which extended the validity of licenses in the country.
    The Omnibus Guidelines on the Accreditation, Supervision and Control of Driving Institutions, and the Standardization of Driver and Conductor’s Education also set heavy sanctions and penalties on driving schools that will fail to comply with the new regulations.
    This includes a P50,000 fine and six-month suspension for the first offense, P100,000 penalty and one-year suspension for the second offense and revocation of their accreditation on the third offense.
 


4 Cordi cops pass Bar exams with 43 PNP nat’l personnel

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Four police officers of Cordillera passed the recent Bar examinations.
    The four new lawyers are Maj. Leonardo Danasen, S/Sgt. Jefferson Cadap, Cpls. Tetchie Assudo and John Bryan Cong-o.
    Forty-three officers and civilian employees of the Philippine National Police  hurdled the 2022 Bar exams to become new lawyers.
    The 22 other Bar passers are from different national support units and regional offices.
    PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. Thursday congratulated 11 police commissioned officers, 29 non-commissioned officers and three non-uniformed personnel for being among the 3,992 newly minted lawyers of the country.
    “I hope that our new lawyers will continue to serve in the police force. The PNP needs their services to add more teeth to our legal offensive in the campaign against criminality, illegal drugs, and corruption,” he said in a statement.
    Data from the PNP Directorate for Personnel and Records Management showed the National Capital recorded the highest number of passers with eight, namely Lt. Col. Erving Chan; M/Sgt. Jose Mari Whiteside; Sr. S/Sgts. Rey Vincent Mamauag, Jerusalem Dulnuan, Marie Rannele Dulnuan and Desiree Pasong, and Cpl. Dizzy Buyuccan.
    The Zamboanga Peninsula police is second with five passers: Maj. Alvin Lepiten, M/Sgt. Marifel Sabandal, S/Sgt. Roderick Isong and civilian employees Mariefer Miguel and Loi Dominic Alarcon.
    Four are from the Northern Mindanao police led by its former spokesperson, Lt. Col. Michelle Olaivar; S/Sgts. Naif Malawani and Elmond Monteron, and non-uniformed personnel Rose Anna Abuhan.
    The Supreme Court said a total of 3,992 out of the 9,183 examinees, or 43.47 percent passed the exams.
 

New Asipulo police station to rise soon

ASIPULO, Ifugao -- A new Community Police Assistance Center (COMPAC) building of Asipulo Municipal Police Station will soon rise here in Antipolo following groundbreaking ceremony on April 17.
    Cordillera police director Brig. Gen. David K. Peredo, Jr. graced said event accompanied by Col. James Mangili, chief of Regional Operations Division, Col. Byron Tegui-in, chief of the Regional Community Affairs and Development Division; Col. Marlon Diplat, chief of Regional Intelligence Division; Lt. Col. Georgte Marca, officer-in-charge of Regional Engineering Unit Cordillera and Lt. Col. Ruel Tagel,  acting commander of Regional Mobile Force Battalion 15 (RMFB15).
    Other key officers and personalities present during the ceremony were Col. Davy Vicente Limmong, Ifugao police director, Capt. Francisco Buyuccan, chief of police of Asipulo police station, Asipulo mayor Archie Lee Quindo , Vice-Mayor Clarence Bahingawan and local leaders of the town.
Peredo Jr., in his message extended his appreciation to Asipulo government for donating the lands where the COMPAC will be erected.
“To the LGU family of Ifugao, thank you for your generosity and steadfast support for donating this 200 square meter land that paved the way for the construction of the Community Police Assistance Center (COMPAC).
This building of the Philippine National Police will be of aid in extending better public services to our kakailyans (townmates) here in Ifugao.” Pereco Jr. said.

Ilocos, Mimaropa receive tourists from cruise ships

LAOAG CITY -- — Hundreds of tourists from cruise ships flocked to Ilocos Region, Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) region several days before and until the end of the Holy Week break, the Department of Tourism (DOT) reported Tuesday.
    The M/V Star Breeze, owned by the Windstar Cruises, docked in Puerto Princesa and Coron in Palawan in late March.
    After the Palawan tour, the Breeze proceeded to the Hundred Islands National Park in Alaminos, Pangasinan on Palm Sunday, according to the DOT’s regional offices in Mimaropa and Ilocos.
    The ship was carrying at least 476 crewmembers and passengers including foreigners and Filipinos.
    From Pangasinan, the Breeze proceeded to Hong Kong.
    Several cruise ships carrying thousands of tourists and crewmembers also visited Puerto Princesa in February and March.
    Among these vessels were the Arcadia with 2,960 passengers and crewmembers; Europa, 488; Nautica, 1,084; Queen Elizabeth, 2,885; Seabourn Encore, over 1,000; Seven Seas Mariner, 1,145, and Westerdam with 2,000 passengers and crewmembers.
    The Seven Seas Explorer with 914 passengers and crewmembers on board also docked in Coron.
    The province of Romblon also welcomed passengers from Europa and Silver Shadow, the DOT-Mimaropa said.
 
 

City council approves Baguio housing program

By Gaby B. Keith

BAGUIO CITY -- The City Council passed resolution  218, series of 2023, confirming memorandum of understanding (MOU) entered into by the city government of Baguio with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) for implementation here of Pambansang Pabahay Para Sa Pilipino Zero ISF (informal settler families) program for 2028.
    The local legislature considered a letter of Mayor Benjamin Magalong dated March 8, this year, forwarding the MOU between DHSUD represented by Sec. Jose Acuzar and Baguio City represented by the mayor to the local legislative body.
    The city council's committee on laws, human rights and justice, in its 2nd Indorsement dated March 22, 2023, recommended the MOU's formal ratification.
    The committee said the DHSUD recently issued department circular 2023-004 granting authority to the agency and local government units to implement measures to address their respective housing gaps under the 4PH program.
    It also provides each partner LGU will act as the lead proponent in the implementation of the housing projects under the program, and that LGUs must formulate local policies and programs to support and facilitate project financing, construction and property management.

 

‘Mangan Taku 2023 back to Rose Garden

By Gaby B. Keith

BAGUIO CITY -- The 2023 staging of the “Mangan Taku” (Let’s Eat) food fair will be conducted at the Rose Garden in Burnham Park where the gastronomic event was first held.
    Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong issued executive order 46, series of 2023 mandating the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) to reserve and allow the Department of Tourism – Cordillera Administrative Region to use the Rose Garden from April 17 to 26 as venue for activities.
    The CEPMO was told to extend all support such as landscaping of the venue, waiving of all fees pertinent to the use of the Rose Garden, tapping of water, additional workers for cleaning and upkeep of the venue.
    Meanwhile, the city General Services Office was directed to provide logistics for the opening program and the entire duration of the event as well as assign additional street sweepers and collection of garbage at the area.
    The Baguio City police Office will implement its operations plan for security, traffic management and crowd management round-the-clock the area.
    Other offices of the city government were also given tasks in support of the Mangan Taku event.
    On the 5th edition of the “Mangan Taku” food festival, the DOT-CAR highlights “tapuey” or rice wine in the cook fest from April 21 to 24.
    The food festival was institutionalized in 2019 per City Ordinance No. 81 declaring Mangan Taku to be conducted in the month of April as part of the Summer Vacation activities in the Summer Capital featuring Cordilleran cuisine.
    The lead implementing agency is the DOT-CAR in partnership with the city government of Baguio.
    The activity is pursuant to Proclamation No. 469 in 2018 declaring the month of April as the “Buwan ng Kalutong Pilipino” or Filipino Food Month to promote the appreciation, preservation and promotion of Philippine culinary traditions and treasures, ensuring transfer of knowledge to future generations and to support the various industries, farmers, and agricultural communities. – JMPS
 

Laoag-Cebu direct flights start in May

LAOAG CITY – Direct flights between this city and Cebu are expected to start in May in time for Ilocos Norte’s month-long fiesta celebration.
    Provincial tourism officer Aianree Raquel confirmed this in an interview on March 10, after Philippine Airlines (PAL) President Capt. Stanley Ng visited Ilocos Norte recently.
    “As of the moment, we are finalizing our collaboration with PAL for the start of Laoag-Cebu direct flights,” Raquel said, noting that the proposed direct flights between Laoag and Cebu would connect this northern gateway of Luzon to the Central Visayas region for business and tourism.
    Even in pre-pandemic times, the Provincial Tourism Office reported that they have been constantly receiving inquiries should the airlines consider adding new flights, such as for the Laoag-Cebu route.
    In 2011, then Ilocos Norte Gov. now Sen. Imee Marcos and Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia signed a sister province agreement between Ilocos Norte and Cebu.
    To date, there are two options to travel to Ilocos Norte from Cebu – fly to Manila and catch a connecting flight here or take a flight from Cebu to Clark in Pampanga and then ride a bus for approximately eight hours.
    Meanwhile, a tourism booth promoting summer travel deals and home-grown products of Ilocos Norte is at the World Trade Center in Pasay City during the Philippine Councilors League national convention from March 9 to 11. -- PNA
 

Baguio building owners without permits warned

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY -- The city government warned building owners in this summer capital in titled lots but still not covered by building permits.
    Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the city government will give building owners chance to legalize the status of their structures to make them compliant with Presidential Decree 1096 or the National Building Code.
    City Building Official Architect Johnny Degay said they have started farming out letters to qualified structure owners at DPS Compound where more than 30 unpermitted buildings within titled lots had been identified.  Others in line are barangays Cabinet Hill, Marcoville and Teachers Camp.
    The letter would inform and encourage the building owners to signify their intent to apply for building permit by accomplishing the form found at the link: https://tinyurl.com/4jwcz2fj.
    They will be given 15 days to initiate the proceedings and if after 15 days they failed to signify their intention, they will be given a 15-day extension through a follow-up letter.
    If they will still fail to secure the permit despite the extension then they city will be forced to issue a notice of violation and commence the proceedings as per the building code.
    The city leveled up its building permit program starting with an inventory of all existing permitted and unpermitted structures.
    The census has so far covered a total of 120,000 structures in the different barangays and out of this, 80 percent or 96,000 were found to have no building permits.
    To address this problem, the mayor ordered the implementation of a program to help those without building permits to secure their own permits and legalize the status of their buildings through simplified procedures starting with those whose structures are built on titled lots or covered by a notice of award.
    To date the CBAO said they have received only 100 applications from the targeted sector.
    The mayor said the city should double its efforts to convince them to secure their permits and facilitate the process.
    The city even coordinated with the different groups of professionals like civil and electrical engineers to lower their fees to help applicants comply with the requirements and City Administrator Bonifacio Dela Pena said that the associations had agreed to the city’s request.
 


 

Two men wanted for slay of 5 persons, stealing P14-M gold bars in Lepanto Mines nabbed

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet -- Two men, among six others charged with robbery with homicide after killing five persons and carting away P14 million worth of gold bars at Lepanto Consolidated Mining compound, Mankayan, Benguet in 2003, were arrested in Barangay Pantukan, Compostella Valley,  Davao de Oro on April 14.
    Based on reports submitted to Cordillera police director Brig. Gen. David K. Peredo, nabbed were Danny Domyong Nabulay, 43 and Rimando Domyong, 46, Mankayan natives and residing in place of arrest and hiding from authorities for nine years Nabulay was listed most wanted person with reward of P250,000 for their capture issued by the Departments of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and National Defense (DND).
Elements of Provincial Intelligence Unit of Benguet Police Provincial Office, Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit     Cordillera, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of Davao De Oro and Pantukan Municipal Police Station arrested the suspects based from warrant of arrest issued by Judge Agapito K.
Laoagan Jr. of Regional Trial Court Branch 64 in Buguias, Benguet on Dec. 3, 2014.
    Both the accused are now under the custody of Provincial Intelligence Unit of Benguet Provincial Police Office.

Cordillera autonomy hearings pushed


By Gaby B. Keith

BAGUIO CITY -- Mayor Benjamin Magalong ratified city council resolution no. 204, series of 2023, urging Baguio Rep. Marquez Go to conduct public consultations on the latest version of the Autonomy Bill pending in Congress and the proposed amendments to the Revised Charter of the City of Baguio, if any.
    The approved measured stated that Go is actively doing important legislations such as the Autonomy Bill and Constitutional Amendments, the Summer Capital’s Revised Charter under Republic Act No. 11689 and the Metropolitan Baguio, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay Development Authority (MBLISTTDA).
    “These may soon become laws. It is therefore just and proper that the citizenry should be well informed and be part in crafting these legislations, otherwise, for lack of consultation and information, they might reject the law one way or another,” it stressed.
    The resolution pointed out that considering that these legislative measures will have significant implications on the lives and property rights of citizens and the City of Baguio, “a public consultation should be an important aspect of democratic governance allowing citizens to voice their opinions and concerns about matters that will affect them; consultations should be made part of national and local legislation.”
    It disclosed that in the consultation held on February 28, 2023 at the Baguio Cultural and Convention Center, the participants made an observation that the city’s revised charter could have included the amalgamation of barangays to comply with the standard requirement for a barangay set by the Local Government Code.
    Cordillera Congress representatives are rushing passage of House Bill 3267 that seeks establishment of  Cordillera Autonomous Region in the House of Representatives before adjournment of Congress the first week of June this year.
    Kalinga congressmen Allen Jesse Mangaoang of Kalinga, Maximo Dalog Jr. of Mountain Province and Mark Go of Baguio City, who headed a public consultation on the autonomy bill, said the bill was being calendared for plenary debates once Congress resumes its first regular session second week of May for the same to be approved on second and third readings before adjournment.
    Mangaoang said they wanted the autonomy bill will first be passed by the House so that there will be a compelling reason for them to request a meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for him to certify the bill a priority administration measure.
    A meeting with the President will be scheduled before he delivers his second State of the Nation Address before a joint session of Congress by 4th week of July so he will include the same in his address.
    Go said the approved House version of the autonomy bill will be submitted to Sen. Robinhood Padilla, who will author the Senate version and facilitate immediate passage of the bill.
    At present, no counterpart bill on the proposed autonomy law has been filed in the Senate.
    Mangaoang said former and incumbent Cordillera leaders who will be meeting with the President will present to him signatures from the region to support their request for certification of the autonomy bill as a priority administration measure.

2022 Bar Top 2 attains dream of being lawyer

2022 Bar Top 2 Erickson Mariñas hails from Jacinto, Pangasinan. 


SAN JACINTO, Pangasinan — Years ago, Erickson Mariñas, 26, wrote in his high school graduation yearbook: “Ten years from now, I will be a lawyer.”
    Mariñas never would have thought back then that he would not only fulfill his dream but also clinch the second-top spot at the 2022 Bar exams.
    When he was a law student during the pandemic, Mariñas followed a “systematic” time schedule, his mother, Loreta Mariñas told this writer.
    Every 5 p.m., he would pause his online law classes, go to the yard where he would pick ripe guavas, and pet his dogs until it was dinner time.
    “That is how he relaxed during his law studies and review, aside from watching Hollywood movies on which he wrote long reviews,” Loreta said in a phone interview on April 15.
    Loreta’s heart swelled with pride as her son secured second place in the rigorous Bar exams. After grappling with challenging classes and facing off against “terror” professors at the University of the Philippines (UP), her son succeeded.
    “But he never considered quitting, so I knew that his heart was in what he was pursuing,” Loreta said.
    Loreta described Erickson, the youngest of three siblings, as “not so studious when he was in the elementary grades.”
    “This was why I was focused on him, tutoring him and reviewing him in his lessons, especially before tests. I think I was more nervous when he was taking tests. I was so strict that he would sometimes tell me to stop teaching him,” Loreta, the budget officer of the San Jacinto municipal government, recalled.
    Mariñas went through three schools for his elementary education – Sunrisers Merryland School for kindergarten and grade I, San Jacinto Catholic School for grades 2 to 3, and Cherished Moments School in Mangaldan town from Grades 4 to 6.
    It was at the Cherished Moments when he spent his secondary school, during which his mother stopped tutoring him.
    “But he must have imbibed the discipline of studying, as he excelled in high school, bagging first honors from his first to his fourth year. He was also the supreme student council’s president in his third and fourth years and shone in extemporaneous speaking and debate, winning top prizes in those fields during private school contests in the district. That early, I can see he had the makings of being a lawyer,” Loreta said.
    Loreta said it was her oldest daughter, Daisy, a scholar at the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), who wanted to be a lawyer.
    It was also at ADMU where Erickson finished his Bachelor of Science in Legal Management course with a scholarship.     He graduated magna cum laude and was the class valedictorian.
    Daisy, however, decided to find employment after graduation to help with the family’s finances and Erickson’s studies.
    Loreta said that without the scholarship, she could not have sent Erickson to the expensive university for college with her income as a municipal employee.
    Her husband was a former overseas Filipino worker who returned to the country to farm until he died in 2019.
    When it was time for Erickson to enter law school, Loreta hoped he would hurdle the tough UP law entrance test, as there was no way she could afford the ADMU’s hefty P150,000 per semester tuition fee.
    UP Law School accepts only 300 new students every year. Thus, entering it is really challenging, even for a straight-A student like Erickson.
    When he graduated in 2022, he already had offers of employment from several law firms due to his outstanding performance.
    He started to work at a law firm based in Makati City in January 2023 after he took the Bar exams last year.
    When he was in his second year of law school, he worked as a research assistant for a professor. -- Yolanda Sotelo 
 
 

Top 10 Baguio City barangay heads cited

BAGUIO CITRY – The City Council commended the ten outstanding punong barangays of the city who were recognized by the Rotary Club of Metro Baguio during awarding ceremony here at Mansion House April 15.         
    In a resolution, local legislators stated that the city government extends its warmest greetings and commendation to the ten awardees and salutes them for their hard work and dedication to the service.         
    This year’s outstanding punong barangays are Aurora Hill proper punong barangay May B. Gonzales, Abanao-Zandueta-Chugum-Kayang-Otek (AZCKO) punong barangay Jefferson Cheng, Bakakeng Central punong barangay Dan P. Daniel, Cabinet Hill-Teachers Camp punong barangay Edward Lumsang, Hillside punong barangay Jose Cawiding, Gibraltar punong barangay Nemesio Huag, Scout Barrio punong barangay Manolo Llaneta, Sto. Tomas Proper punong barangay Josephine Balusdan, Upper Rock quarry punong barangay Joey David and Upper Market Subdivision punong barangay Ma. Teresa Caracas.          
    Earlier, the Rotary Club of Metro Baguio recognized the ten outstanding punong barangays of the city during the annual awarding ceremony held at the Mansion House last April 15, 2023.          
    The recognition given to the outstanding punong barangays is an annual institutionalized activity of the Rotary Club of Metro Baguio and is now on its 30th year.
    The program is being conducted by the club to give honor to the hard work and dedication of the grassroots leaders in their commitment to serve and deliver the basic services for the welfare of their constituents who are residents of the city. By Dexter A. See
 

COA audit bares Baguio ‘irregular’ projects; city council wants reports

BAGUIO CITY – City councilors told the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) to submit to the local legislative body a report on actions taken relative to observations and recommendations made by the Commission on Audit on city government projects some of which were reportedly irregular for not being completed or incurred slippages which included those based from memorandum of agreement between the local government and Baguio Lion’s Club. 
    Resolution 196, series of 2023 made by the council’s committee on laws, human rights and justice, in its 5th endorsement dated March 14, 2023, said management observations and recommendations should be attended to.         
    Taking note of annual reports for years 2020 and 2021, the body said there was need for the city council to be appraised on actions on matters dependent on action taken by the executive on observations or recommendations.       
    The body said it may not be proper to expect the body to act on a contract or memorandum of agreement that was not presented to it or on one that it has not confirmed or authorized.         
    For the said purpose, the committee recommended that the CEPMO submit a report to the council on action taken relative to the audit observations and recommendations on the MOA the local government entered into with the Baguio City Lion’s Club.        
    Earlier, in her letter dated June 30, 2020, lawyer Eden D. Tingson-Rafanan, regional director of the regional Commission on Audit  transmitted annual audit report on the local government for 2019 with findings and recommendations.        
    These included validity and accuracy of adjustments made in the amount of P148,067,240 to the Land Bank account under the PPE that cannot be established due to non-submission of relevant supporting documents thereby precluding complete validation, verification of the pertinent accounts contrary to the provisions of COA Circular No. 2010-001; completion of project ‘reforestation/urban greening project, access road opening and construction at Botanical Garden known as establishment of Baguio City arboretum phase 2’ with a contract cost of P12,292,367.92 that was delayed with the contractor incurring a significant negative slippage of 48.82 percent as of Dec. 31, 2019 and depriving constituents of timely use of the facility.
    The council said out of 534 remaining local development projects from 2008-2019, only 12.36 percent or 66 projects were reported as completed as of Dec. 31, 2019 while the rest remained unimplemented defeating the purpose for which the fund was created as prescribed under the DILG and DBM Joint Memorandum circular (JMC) No. 2017-1 dat6ed Feb. 22, 2017
Programs, projects and activities indicated in the city government’s report on the utilization of local risk reduction and management fund programs, plans and activities, disclosed 64 activities of which 24 activities or 37.50 percent was fully implemented at year end for various reasons, thus, the goals and objectives of the LDRRMP were not fully attained, the council said.
    Collection of market stall rentals was not efficient resulting to delinquency of payments ranging from three months to 17 years totaling P966,613 contrary to  provisions of City Tax Ordinance No. 2000-001, the legislative body added.
    Final, executory audit disallowances and audit charges amounting to P522,792.81 and P3,479,925.30, respectively, reportedly remained unsettled as of Dec. 31, 2019 contrary to the provisions of COA Circular No. 2009-006 dated Sept. 15, 2009.
 

NFA Ilocos buying palay at P19/kg

By Leilanie Adriano

LAOAG CITY – The National Food Authority (NFA) in Ilocos Norte province on Wednesday announced that it has started buying palay (unhusked rice) from local farmers here at PHP19 per kilogram.
    NFA-Ilocos Norte provincial manager Jonathan Corpuz said the continuing procurement of palay aims to ensure sufficient supply in the locality and to give farmers an accessible market for their crops.
    In Ilocos Norte, the NFA buying station is located in Barangay 2, Sta. Joaquina.
    When selling their palay to any of the NFA buying stations, farmers are advised to bring their "basic sectors in agriculture" stubs for verification and as proof of their registry in the system.
    The NFA, an agency attached to the Office of the President, is mandated to ensure national food security and stabilize the supply and prices of staple cereals, both at the farm and consumer levels.
    The food agency buys palay from farmers not only to stabilize farm-gate prices but also to boost its stockpile.
    “We have 40,277 bags of palay and 34,145 bags of rice stored in our warehouses in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Abra,” said Corpuz.
    Meanwhile, the NFA has started distributing its one time rice assistance for government employees in the province.
    Recently, the Department of Budget and Management released funds to the NFA for the grant of the one-time rice assistance to all eligible government employees under the national government agencies. Each recipient is entitled to receive one cavan each weighing 50 kilos. -- PNA
 
 

LMP-Cagayan Chapter supports EDCA sites

By Liezel Basa Inigo

TUGUEGARAO CITY -- The Cagayan Chapter of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) had already signed a resolution expressing and manifesting its support for Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
    Resolution No. 05 series of 2023 dated February 15, 2023 stated the collective support of the mayors of the Cagayan province for the establishment of a military base in the province in relation to EDCA.
    The resolution was made prior to last April 17’s prayer rally attended by about 5,000 Cagayanos who expressed their opposition to EDCA sites in the province.
    The resolution even declared that the presence of these new EDCA sites will result in a rapid support for humanitarian and climate-related disasters in the Philippines and other countries.
    The resolution also stated that the league is considering the benefits it may bring to the province, particularly in terms of peace and security.
    Said resolution was signed by the mayors of Cagayan during the first regular meeting of the league of municipalities of the Philippines – Cagayan Chapter, held on February 15, 2023 at the Lal-lo Multi-purpose Center, Lal-lo Cagayan.
    The EDCA is an agreement between the Philippines and the United States which is envisioned to advance the implementation of the Philippine-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT).
    It is designed to promote interoperability, Capacity Building towards AFP modernization, Strengthening AFP for external defense, maritime security, maritime domain awareness and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) between the Philippines and its defense treaty ally, the United States.
    On Monday (April 17), more than 5,000 Cagayanos joined a prayer rally led by Prayer for Peace Cagayan Movement at Rizal Park in Tuguegarao City to voice out their strong opposition to EDCA sites in the province.
    Gov. Manuel Mamba thanked his constituents who joined the prayer rally. The people ventilated their respective opinions on the possible danger that the two EDCA sites would bring to the province..

Bayah

CULTURAL NOTES

Richard Kinnud

It is the general term for wine native to Ifugaos.  It is usually made from glutinous rice though some native fruits and rootcrops can be processed to wine and also called bayah. (In writing, many would spell it without the letter “h” but under the rule of writing as pronounced, I think it should be written with the consonant in its end.)
    The process of making bayah is “iwa”.  Thus, attaching prefixes, the person or people in the process are the “mun-iwa” (also the future tense of it as a verb - will still do the iwa) or “nun-iwa” (the past tense when used as verb).
The process starts with the pounding of the glutinous rice (daya’ot or dayakkot in the Ifugao languages).  Tuluy botok (three bundles) to hin-hongol (five bundles in the Ifugao way of measuring rice harvests) would usually make a hin-iwa (good for one processing).  The more, of course, the more rice wine is produced.
    The next process is the cooking.  If the glutinous rice is of the dark variety, it is preferred that this is roasted first in a vat.  In making the ratio for the rice and water, the mun-iwa makes sure that it is not too watery when the rice is a little over half-cooked.  At that point, the rice would be spread on ligawu (winnower) for cooling down.
    The cooling process will give time for other procedures.  One is getting banana leaves and neutering them over fire.  These leaves will be used later in wrapping.  Also, the binokbok (native yeasts) is also pulverized.  The binokbok is usually processed or procured earlier.  It is made from onwad (a native herb), finely ground rice, mother yeasts, and ginger juice.
    After cooling down, the powdered yeast is sprinkled and mixed delicately with the half-cooked rice.  The amount of binokbok to be mixed is usually on the ono’nong (intelligent estimate) of the mun-iwa.  The good ono’nong is what usually distinguishes the “maphod di pun-iwa na” (good rice wine maker) from the rest.
    The mixture is then transferred to a labba or tudung (these are holders made of rattan and/or bamboo).  The labba is prepared by spreading the neutered banana leaves onto it before transferring the rice.  The mixture is then carefully wrapped with the banana leaves.  The holder containing the mixture will be hanged with one end lower than the other preferably in a room or at a corner away from disturbance.
    After a day, a very small hole is punched on the lowest end of the mixture.  This will allow the initial juice from the mixture to flow out.  This juice, called the tonoh, will be collected in a clean container.  The mun-iwa will just let it flow until no more tonoh is expected, usually two or three days.  The mixture will then be transferred into clean and dry jars and the tonoh will be remixed to it.  The jar or jars  will be covered tightly with clean banana leaves and kept again in a place where it should not be disturbed until mapgot (the term for matured wine.)
    It is again upon the ono’nong of the wine maker when would he or she would extract the wine.  It could be from five days to two weeks.  On a appointed day, the wine maker can extract the initial rice wine and when desired, add more liquid for fermentation.  This process is called tomyang.  A hin-iwa can produce at least four bottles of undiluted rice wine.  A bottle is usually of the 4 x 4 of the popular ginebra brand.  The additional liquid for fermentation is usually the mixture from sugar heated until it becomes dark, dissolved and boiled in the desired amount of water.  The process can be repeated until no fermentation is expected.  The pure wine (initial extraction) is called the pinahapa while the last wine juices usually bitter in taste is called the hubul.
    In earlier times, as related by elders, bayah is at the core of festivities hosted by abled households.  In these festivities, days are designated for preparing the wine and for extracting them at the homestead of the hosts.   This is the reason why the couple hosts are called the “bumayah” (future tense) or “bimmayah” (past tense). Households in neighboring hamlets can also prepare their own rice wine simultaneously with the hosts.  One of the climaxes is a day designated for drinking the wine coupled with dancing.  In the morning of that day, it is expected that guests from everywhere come and go around the village especially in hamlets where wine was expected.  This is the day of the “gotad” which is actually an eve of a grander day of lunching.
    This kind of festive occasion is unheard of as hosted by household these days.  There could be similar events such as weddings but to some elders who saw “bayah” of old, what society has today are incomparable.
    Even bayah, the wine, at times takes backstage.  For one, the process of making as discussed earlier is very wearisome and takes time.  In occasions where alcoholic drinks can be appropriately served, it is more convenient to purchase those that are readily available in stores.  Additionally, the production of glutinous rice, the main ingredient is also tedious.  And, it also happens that those who do consume wine prefer the smoother taste of the ones in wine shops than the natively manufactured ones.
    At any rate, bayah remain to be icons of a distinct culture.  For the wine, the elements are a produce of the native land and the elaborate process is a labor of passion.  These make it a nectar of love that should remain to be cherished.
    As a festival supposedly hosted by households, they are symbols of abundance, of sharing, of good neighbor relations, of prizing relatives, and many other values.  It could be for the good that the present society remembers these by using it as names of barangay, municipal and provincial fiestas.  It would be an opportunity for the generations to examine culture.
Incidentally, Kulpi ad Lagawe (fiesta of the capital town of Ifugao) and Imbayah ad Banaue (fiesta of the home to the more known rice terraces of Ifugao) are still ongoing with many of the cultural parts happening this week.  This corner greets the i-Lagawe, and the i-Bannawer/Ifannawor, and every other else celebrating their town fiesta – Happy festivities!  Hopefully, the young would indeed look into the good cultural and social values and uphold them, aside of course from the economic opportunities that these give in terms of commerce and tourism.