tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58718787996396929262024-03-13T22:04:36.182-07:00Northern Philippine TimesA weekly publication of opinion and news from the Cordillera, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley and Central LuzonNorthern Philippine Timeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911088608042080261noreply@blogger.comBlogger22778125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871878799639692926.post-70193650508216910042024-01-08T06:50:00.000-08:002024-01-08T06:56:22.368-08:00 SWS: 96 percent Filipinos enter New Year with hope<p> <b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: medium;">EDITORIAL</span></span></b></p><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span lang="EN-US"><div><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span lang="EN-US"><div style="text-indent: 27pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Instead
of fear, around 96 percent of adult Filipinos are entering the New Year with
hope, the highest recorded since the pre-pandemic in 2019, according to a
survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) released on Thursday.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>Results of the Dec. 8-11 survey found that hope for the coming new
year is one point higher than the 95 percent recorded in 2022 and the highest
since the pre-pandemic 96 percent in 2019.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>Meanwhile, 3 percent answered they are entering 2024 with fear, down
by 2 points from 5 percent in 2022.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>Entering the New Year with hope was the highest among respondents in
Metro Manila and Balance Luzon at 97 percent, followed by Mindanao at 96
percent, and Visayas at 93 percent.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>The pollster said New Year hope at the end of 2023 rose slightly
across educational levels compared to the end of 2022: from 92 percent to 93
percent among non-elementary graduates, from 95 percent to 97 percent among
elementary graduates, from 95 percent to 96 percent among junior high school
graduates, and from 96 percent to 98 percent among college graduates.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>The survey was conducted using face-to-face interviews of 1,200
adults aged 18 years old and above nationwide: 300 each in Metro Manila,
Balance Luzon (or Luzon outside Metro Manila), the Visayas, and Mindanao.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>The sampling error margins are ±2.8 percent for national
percentages, and ±5.7 percent each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the
Visayas, and Mindanao.</span></div><div style="text-indent: 27pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></div></span></span></div><h3><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span lang="EN-US">EDITORIAL <br /></span></b><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></b><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span lang="EN-US"><b>Transport crisis looming with PUV modernization </b></span></span></span></h3></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;">More than 100 Sangguniang Kabataan officials have signed a unity statement opposing the government’s franchise consolidation plan for public utility vehicles (PUV), warning that the franchise consolidation requirement would lead to a mass transport crisis among millions of commuters.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>According to a statement shared by the Kabataan Partylist, the SK officials said they oppose the franchise consolidation deadline set on Dec. 31 as it threatens to strip off the livelihood and income of more than 60,0000 jeepney operators by forcing them to submit to the management of transport cooperatives or corporations.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>Kabataan Partylist told reporters in a message on Sunday that 111 officials have signed the statement. <br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>“The repercussions of drastically reducing the number of PUVs in January 2024 extend beyond economic implications. Aside from creating dents in commuter’s budgets, especially those working or studying, it threatens to plunge millions of Filipino commuters into a dire transport crisis, profoundly impacting crucial sectors of our economy,” the statement read.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>The youth leaders also urged Marcos to review the PUV modernization program and “either set aside or completely revoke” the deadline for franchise consolidation to "avert an impending transport crisis."<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>“Though government information insists on progress in terms of franchise consolidation, ground reports paint a different picture — one that ensures that existing policies will neglect the conditions of the transport industry,” the statement added.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>The SK officials also hit the government’s franchise consolidation requirement, saying that this essentially violates the rights of jeepney drivers and operators to form their own associations by “compelling them to dissolve their existing associations to comply or risk losing their means of livelihood.”<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>A memorandum circular issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board last Dec. 22 allows jeepney drivers and operators who have not yet consolidated to still ply the roads after the Dec. 31 deadline. However, they will no longer be allowed to join cooperatives or corporations. </span><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Northern Philippine Times</div>Northern Philippine Timeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911088608042080261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871878799639692926.post-71969941182942887692024-01-08T06:49:00.000-08:002024-01-08T07:00:24.266-08:00Time to rethink New Year’s resolutions<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"> </span><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span lang="EN-US">BEHIND THE SCENES</span></b></span></h3><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span lang="EN-US">Alfred P. Dizon<br /></span></b><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;">Here’s some pieces of advice about New Year’s resolutions. But how much of it actually works? Is it even a good idea to set resolutions at the beginning of the year?<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>In an article, three Ascend editors, Kelsey Alpaio, Christine Liu, and Elainy Mata, break down five tactics — backed by research — for making New Year’s resolutions work for you: Do resolutions right. Create “fresh starts.” Reframe to make it fun. Break goals into micro habits. Evaluate your resolutions. Consider the negative risks.<br /></span><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span lang="EN-US">Tip 1: Create “fresh starts”<br /></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;">ALPAIO: This is actually something I tried in both 2019 and 2020. These are the journals I used to keep track of it, actual journals that I used to do this with. So instead of setting a goal for the whole year, I set monthly resolutions for myself. Here’s why this works. When we typically set resolutions at the beginning of the year, there’s really no end in sight.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>When you set monthly goals instead, you’re creating these sort of fresh start moments for yourself at the beginning of every month, instead of just the beginning of the year. And that keeps you motivated for a longer period of time.<br /></span><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span lang="EN-US">Tip 2: Reframe to make it fun!<br /></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;">LIU: If you just want to, like, adopt better habits or make a change, whatever, there’s one thing that you can do to substantially increase the chance of it sticking. You actually want to have fun. So that means you actually enjoy the thing in the moment, not just waiting for that magical day months later that you’re going to be like, oh yeah, I feel better about myself.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>Let’s say I want to resolve to eat more vegetables. The worst thing I could do is be like, “I’m going to eat more vegetables because of health benefits.” Because, you know, that’s pretty boring, and I’m not going to, like, choke down this salad just because I know it’s good for me. I mean, most salads out there are boring.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>Instead of boring salads, I’ll be like, oh, I really love the act of researching what ingredients are in season. Even if something is important or meaningful, I want this goal to be fun.<br /></span><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span lang="EN-US">Tip 3: Break goals into micro habits<br /></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;">ALPAIO: As somebody who’s set some pretty lofty goals for themselves over the years, I absolutely love this tip. Basically, it’s all about taking those big, intimidating, lofty goals and slashing them into micro habits.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>When a resolution is too big or too vague, it makes it easier for you to make up excuses why you’re not going to do it. For example, say your resolution is to read more. That’s a very scary, intimidating, and vague goal. To break it down into a micro habit, maybe you would say, OK, I’ll read for 45 minutes a day. That’s still too big. All right, I’ll read a chapter every night. That’s still too big.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;">Your goal should be something like, I’m going to read a paragraph before bed every single night. Now, that is a micro habit. I know that sounds really small, but it’s called a micro habit for a reason. It’s supposed to be something that’s so small that it almost feels ridiculous to do. But that’s the point. It’s supposed to feel achievable. It’s supposed to feel like something that you aren’t intimidated to do on a daily basis.<br /></span><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span lang="EN-US">Tip 4: Evaluate your resolutions<br /></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;">MATA: I actually don’t like New Year’s resolutions because I feel like they add more pressure to my already pressure-filled life. But I thought about it, and I realized that the reason why I don’t like New Year’s resolutions is because I do too many of them at the same time.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>Evaluate your goal list. Ask yourself a few questions. Does this goal align with my values? Should I put this goal off for another time, or should I just get rid of it all together? If you’re in your office or a group of friends and you’re hearing all of them talk about their New Year’s resolutions, don’t panic. You don’t have to have a New Year’s resolution. It’s actually OK.<br /></span><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span lang="EN-US">Tip 5: Consider the negative risks<br /></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;">LIU: No one really talks about maybe the risks or the side effects of having goals. Harvard Business School published this research paper that has the title — I’m dying here — it’s called “Goals Gone Wild.” What’s really interesting here is that setting goals, especially around work, can wreak havoc if not applied appropriately. So unreasonable goals, or ones that are too narrow or too ambitious can cause damage. There are psychological costs. You get into tunnel vision. And in the effort to hit those “capital G” goals, a lot of things may cost you in the long run.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>ALPAIO: These are the tactics that we found useful. We hope that you found them useful, as well. Let us know how you feel about New Year’s resolutions, how you feel about this advice, and any resolutions that you have in the works. Happy new year!</span><div><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><br /></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><div style="text-indent: 27pt;"><h3><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> <br /></o:p></span><span lang="EN-US"><b>BEHIND THE SCENES</b></span></span></h3><span lang="EN-US">Alfred Dizon <br /></span><h3><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US">OPAPRU: 2023 peace process </span><span lang="EN-US">with armed groups ‘fulfilling’</span></span></b></h3></div><div style="text-indent: 27pt;"><span lang="EN-US">The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. described 2023, a “banner year for comprehensive Philippine process,” amid the <span> </span><span> </span>Marcos administration’s commitment to realizing its peace agenda for the nation.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>In a statement e-mailed to the Northern Philippine Times, Galvez said a “significant peace milestone” was achieved by the Philippine government and Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDFP).<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>He said the series of back-channeling and exploratory talks between the government and the NDFP resulted in the signing of the Oslo Joint Communique last Nov. 23 in Oslo, Norway.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>“The intention of the parties is very clear. This is to end the armed conflict, to end armed struggle, and transformation of the CPP-NPA-NDFP,” Galvez said, who announced the peace breakthrough in Malacañang on Nov. 28.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>“We want to resolve all the socioeconomic drivers of conflict, and at the same time, end armed struggle through peaceful resolution of conflict. We’ve been divided as a people by this conflict for more than 50 years,” he added.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>Galvez said the government is making headway with the Localized Peace Engagement (LPE) initiative. The LPE cluster of the National Task Force to Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), which is co-chaired by OPAPRU and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, continues to roll out the Transformation Program for former rebels, their families and communities.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>“We have been conducting Transformation Program workshops together with provincial local government units and partner agencies nationwide to help former rebels fully reintegrate into mainstream society and rebuild their lives,” Galvez said.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>Meanwhile, Galvez said the government’s peace processes with the Cordillera Bodong Administration-Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CBA-CPLA) and Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas-Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB), now called KAPATIRAN, are moving forward as well.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>“The government continues to implement a Normalization Program for both groups that enable its members and their families to improve their socioeconomic well-being,” he said, adding he “is confident they will serve as examples for others to give up armed struggle and embrace a peaceful and productive life.”<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>“Once people start enjoying the dividends of peace and their lives start to improve, there is no longer reason for them to engage in armed struggle. They themselves will volunteer to become instruments of peace and development as what our CBA-CPLA and KAPATIRAN have shown," he noted.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>He cited "major milestones" in the government's peace efforts with various groups, including the Bangsamoro, Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Moro National Liberation Front, National Democratic Front, and those in the Cordilleras.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>“Major milestones have been achieved in the comprehensive Philippine peace process under the Marcos administration’s Five-Point Peace, Reconciliation and Unity agenda,” Galvez said in a statement Thursday.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>“We would like to assure you that the Marcos administration is determined to push forward, build upon and sustain the gains of the comprehensive peace process,” he added.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>Galvez said amid two major wars in different parts of the world, the Philippines is looked upon by the international community as a beacon of hope and inspiration for its successful peacebuilding efforts. “Our country has shown that good things come to those who choose and walk the path of peace. Let us continue doing so and become a beacon of hope, mutual understanding and solidarity.”<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>Galvez cited significant progress under the Bangsamoro peace process, as the Bangsamoro Parliament has passed five of its seven priority codes, which aims to improve the socioeconomic conditions of its people and boost the region’s economy. These codes include the Administrative Code, Civil Service Code, Electoral Code, Local Government Code, and Education Code.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>“The crafting of these codes is an indication that the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) has really gotten stronger, especially in terms of passing key legislation that will unlock the full economic potential of the region and bring economic progress to the people,” Galvez said.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>All seven mechanisms of the National Government – Bangsamoro Government Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB) have been established and are now functioning, he added.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>These IGRB mechanisms include the Philippine Congress-Bangsamoro Parliament Forum (PCBPF); Intergovernmental Fiscal Policy Board (IFPB); Joint Body for the Zones of Joint Cooperation (JBZJC); Intergovernmental Infrastructure Development Board (IFPB); Intergovernmental Energy Board (IEB); and Bangsamoro Sustainable Development Board (BSDB); and the Council of Leaders.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>“With the accomplishments of the IGRB this year, we have no doubt that the body will be able to sustain its momentum in 2024, as it effectively addresses pressing issues brought to its attention, and help uplift the lives of the Bangsamoro people,” he said.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>“The BARMM is a very good example that once you create a peaceful and secure environment for the people, economic development will follow as trading, investments, and tourism will thrive,” he said.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>In 2023, Galvez said 26,145 former MILF combatants have also been decommissioned and “are now living as peaceful and productive civilians in their communities.”<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>A key component of the Normalization Program under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), decommissioning is the process wherein the former combatants lay down their arms and return to mainstream society.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>“These former MILF combatants are now fighting a different battle and that is, a battle to improve their socioeconomic well-being and create a better future for themselves and their families,” Galvez said.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>He added that the Transformation Program for MNLF combatants, which was launched in October this year, is expected to uplift the lives of the group’s members and empower them as agents of peace and development.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>“Our MNLF brothers and sisters are demonstrating their determination to help move forward the national government’s peace agenda and walk the path of peace,” Galvez said.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>“More importantly, the national government is showing the MNLF that it is focused, more than ever, to fulfill all the commitments it had made under the 1996 Final Peace Agreement,” he added.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>The OPAPRU's Social Healing and Peacebuilding Program (SHAPE) is also helping to mend the torn social fabric of society caused by armed conflict through peace conversations and other peacebuilding initiatives.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>“We are committed to conduct trauma healing sessions for the victims especially in light of the recent bomb attack in Marawi City. Through this intervention, we hope to help the victims recover emotionally from the harrowing incident and move forward,” Galvez said.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>He said they continue to work closely with international and local partners, to directly address the roots of violence that is used by terrorists and extremists to bring in recruits into their fold.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>“We believe that the best way to effectively and permanently address the threat of violent extremism is to involve everyone in the healing and peacebuilding process, especially the most vulnerable sectors of society,” Galvez said.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>The OPAPRU together with the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), as well as civil society organizations and the international development community, launched the fourth generation of the National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security (NAPWPS) 2023-2033 in early December.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>The NAPWPS is the Philippine government’s commitment to the United Nations Security Country Resolution (UNSCR) No. 1325, which calls for women’s participation in conflict prevention and resolution, peace negotiations, peacebuilding, peacekeeping, humanitarian response, and post-conflict reconstruction.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>Meanwhile, the OPAPRU's Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan or PAMANA Program is also building much-needed infrastructure projects that are helping to bring social cohesion and create more livelihood opportunities for residents in focus areas nationwide.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>“The bulk of OPAPRU’s nearly P7 billion budget for 2024 will be used to fund the PAMANA Program, which seeks to bring essential government services closer to the people, especially in remote, undeveloped communities in focus areas,” Galvez said.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>He said he is optimistic that with the upcoming roll-out of the national government’s amnesty program for former rebels, “more will be encouraged to turn away from armed struggle, lay down their arms, and return to the fold of the law.”<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>He said the granting of amnesty is an integral part of the comprehensive peace process that will foster genuine healing, reconciliation and deepen the trust and confidence in the government which is needed for the economy to grow while building on the gains of peace.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>“It is a path towards normalization that would allow former rebels not only to fully reintegrate themselves into mainstream society as peaceful, productive and law-abiding citizens, but more importantly, enable them to rebuild their lives and ensure a better future for themselves and their families,” Galvez said. <br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> <br /></o:p></span><br /></div></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Northern Philippine Times</div>Northern Philippine Timeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911088608042080261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871878799639692926.post-57060048444589395222024-01-08T06:48:00.000-08:002024-01-08T07:02:41.490-08:00The university and cultural pride<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;"><h3><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><o:p><b style="text-indent: 27pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: medium;">CULTURAL NOTES</span></span></b></o:p></span></h3><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Richard Kinnud<br /></span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><br /></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">LA TRINIDAD,
Benguet -- For a paper towards brand management of a state university, an item
I asked from student-respondents of Benguet State University, the setting of
the study, was their level of expectations and experiences about the university
taking the lead in offering subjects or courses that promote culture and
national pride. The result on this particular item is noteworthy as it shows
students having a “very high” expectation on that aspect.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>The
study’s objective did not include exploring the reason for such level of
expectation but I suppose it must be coming from some degree of awareness that
the university to certain extent is a haven and promoter of culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This awareness can be from information that
has been transmitted from the several generations that trod the university
since its beginnings more than hundred years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or from research works published on the
matter especially that there are those freely available online.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>A study
of Dr. Stanley F. Anongos, for instance, on accommodation of indigenous dances
in Northern Luzon had it government higher education institution in the
Cordillera, which includes Benguet State University, had it that these schools
are “sanctuaries for Cordillera cultural dances.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br /> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>The
paper cites that as early as the 1920s, students from Trinidad Agricultural
School, the institution that has soon became Benguet State University, were
active in highland dance performances either to entertain tourists and guests
or as contestants in “Igorot tribal dance” competitions.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>With the
school established primarily for the natives near its location, and as a
regional institution to serve the peoples of the so-called old Mountain
Province which has now become essentially the Cordillera Region with the
addition only of one adjacent province, the cultural inclination is of the
Cordilleran, a term that is sometimes if not often used interchangeably with
the appellation Igorot or highlander.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br /> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>It is
written in official accounts that Benguet State University is promoting
cultural development.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the markers
at the BSU Centennial Park (where students, those from surrounding communities,
and guests flock at Christmas time for the lights) had these texts: “The school
had been a venue for cultural development awakening ethnic consciousness and
allowing the growth of cultural dance troupes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br />
</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>This was
institutionalized by the creation of Special Cultural Office in 1986 that grew
into the present Center for Culture and the Arts formally established in
2009.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br /> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>Of
course as the university grows and manifests itself to a wider limelight,
students, employees and other stakeholders come in from different cultural
affiliation and thus creating diversity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The better-known cultural groups under this Center for Culture and the
Arts umbrella are the Sinagtala, Rondalla, and Kontad where only the latter is
for highland cultural performances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br /> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>But it
remained that the population of the school, students especially, are coming
from the Cordillera region and it follows that the place’s ethos is prominent
during cultural performances.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>Going to
the experience part of the study first mentioned, the result also showed that
students highly regard that the university is taking the lead in offering
subjects/courses that promote culture and national pride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br /> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>Again,
the study’s general objective was not able to cover the why but it can be
assumed that they must have experienced something inside their classrooms or
from their professors as basis for the responses.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>Just
very recently, professors from the university have joined forces with
professors from other universities and colleges in the region together with
other higher education stakeholders to push for what is called Cordillera
Heritage 101, a general subject intended to be taken by undergraduate students
of whatever course in universities in the region. The focus is on history and
heritage of the Cordillerans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br /> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>Benguet
State University is among the current implementers.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>Of
course, even before this, many of the faculty, particularly in the education,
social sciences, languages, and the art and humanities fields had integrated
indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) in their subject areas.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>Aside
from these developments in the instruction milieu, cultural promotion is active
in other areas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As mentioned, cultural
groups continue to exist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the
research departments, researchers from the university are into culture-related researches.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>Also
very recently, the university hymn which had been traditionally in English is
now sung in the Kankanaey, one of the major languages in the locality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The current president, Dr. Felipe Salaing
Comila is credited for this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An Ibaloi
version is now also being refined.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>At the
university library, there is what is called a CARiana section which is devoted
for books and materials about the Cordilleras and also by Cordillerans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lately, they have introduced book holders
that are essentially Cordilleran images.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>These
actions are certainly to the cause of promoting culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we say culture here, it would not just
be the material things or the performances that we behold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It includes the morals, ideals, and
philosophies that they embody, encourage and employ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The question is where should these all lead?<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>For Dr.
Anongos, the dean of the university’s College of Social Sciences, culture can
be what would make unique the university’s graduate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To paraphrase him, every school may produce
the skilled, competent, highly knowledgeable, excellent graduate but the
socio-cultural orientation will surely make a difference.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>On
January 12, the university will be celebrating its 38th Charter
Anniversary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From Mountain State
Agricultural College, it has become Benguet State University on January 12,
1986.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year’s theme is “BSU
Addressing the Educational and Entrepreneurial Needs of the Communities.”<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>It is
very apt as one of the news lately was the signing into law of a measure that
allows the university to open a College of Medicine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The management is now keen on opening it up
on the first semester of the next school year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When it finally opens and produces the doctors, it can address community
needs.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>On the
other hand, one may argue that other universities too are addressing such
educational and entrepreneurial clamor in communities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This thus boil down to the issue earlier
raised on what makes the graduate different. This corner iterates it could be
the cultural esteem.<br /> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>Happy
Charter Anniversary to all i-BSU to include the students, alumni, faculty,
staff, workers, benefactors, the community around it, and all the other
stakeholders. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><br /></span><span lang="EN-US">CULTURAL NOTES</span></span></h3><div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><div style="text-indent: 27pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Richard Kinnud<br /></span><h3><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: medium;">Beyond celebrating a birthday</span></span></h3></div><div style="text-indent: 27pt;"><span lang="EN-US">LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- I was late going home one night because of a Christmas program I went to attend in one unit of my workplace. The following day, I was late again for the same reason, a Christmas program in another unit of my workplace.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>My seven-year-old son sat on my lap and said, “I have a question for you daddy.”<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>“What’s it?”<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>“Is a man born only once?”<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>I was somehow perplexed by the query as I do not know where he is coming from and so I have to clarify, "Why do you ask?"<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>He answered back, "Because last week we had our Christmas program. They said we were celebrating the birthday of Jesus. So the birthday is already finished. But you came home two times from Christmas program. So Jesus have three birthdays!"<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>I almost chuckled at his reasoning of multiple birthdays then posed to him, "Isn't it that a birthday can be celebrated many times?" I continued to tell him that Christmas is more than just celebrating a birthday.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>So what else then is Christmas, he asked. He was distracted by other things to listen to me and got down from my lap, but his questioning put me into the mode of reflecting.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>That moment brought me back to a recent Christmas convocation at my workplace. The presiding reverend started his prayer with the reading of the popular Bible verse John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave us his only son that whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life." He would further say that the point here is how exactly do we people respond to that love.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US">In the run-up to Christmas, there is this so-called Simbang Gabi or Aguinaldo Masses that is practiced in some Christian denominations. Those who were attending must have noticed that the Gospel Readings are stories related to birth of Christ that illustrated how certain characters responded. One is the introduction of a forerunner of of Jesus Christ which is John the Baptist. People of those times responded with acceptance. Another is the story of the conception of John the Baptist. <br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>Elizabeth and Zechariah, John's parents, at first responded with doubt as for them they were too old to bear a child. But the angel assured them that there is nothing impossible to God. Also, there is the story about Joseph, the one who was to become the earthly father to Jesus, when informed by the angel of his role responded with the plan to discretely quit his relationship with Mary who has begotten Jesus in her womb. <br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>The angel though told him not to be afraid and then he replied with obedience. There was also the story of the announcement by an angel to Mary that she is to become the mother of Jesus. Mary responded at first with skepticism, but later with obedience and giving of oneself. These are all illustrations on how one may respond to that love.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>My seven-year-old who noticed that I was saying something went to me again and said, "What did you say, daddy?"<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>I told him that Christmas is reminding us that Jesus is also being born in our hearts and also that we are waiting for his second coming.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>My wife nudged me, "How would a child understand that?"<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>"Born in our hearts! Then he will come again?" my son repeated some of what I said, sign that his mother was correct that he did not pick up what I was saying, then went on again to play.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>It dawned to me that even to my mind, it is often hard to grasp what Christmas really is all about. It would be noted that as a religious season, Christmas, which officially starts on the eve of December 25, is filled with feasts and solemnities.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>To the church, feasts and solemnities highlights "important mysteries of our faith". It is thus a call not just for celebration but also to more special reflection on how are we in our journey to "salvation".<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>The feasts and solemnities of the season can make us reflect on our own families, on our own version of "Let it be done to me according to your word" as said by Mother Mary when an angel told her that she will become the mother of Jesus, on the epiphany or manifestation of the Lord in our own life, on our own baptism, and on how is the child and Child in us.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>On the other hand, our reflection can go wild and declare that the story of Christmas is not really inspiring. How can we for example accept poverty just like how Jesus was born in an animal's abode. Isn't it that comfort is what our God should will for us?<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>We had accepted the faith and hence God has manifested to us but how can we gift back "gold" "myrrh" and "incense" if God himself does not grant that we have them? We may even question our own baptism as simply a human activity.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>Or to stay as a humble "child" is not really a good thing for in today's time, we have to prove our knowhow, skills, capabilities and productiveness. Indeed, it becomes tempting to simply treat Christmas as a mere birthday celebration to enjoy with food and dancing, or a holiday that makes way for an enjoyable vacation before we go back to our routine in the succeeding year.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>A popular song says, "May the Spirit of Christmas, be always in our heart." The song is implying a Christmas without beginning and without an end. Christmas is a way of living which means that if the virtues and values in the Christmas stories written in the Bible, they can be our response or they show us how to deal with things that come out life.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>From the Cultural Notes corner, I greet readers of the Northern Philippine Times a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!</span></div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="font-weight: bold;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Northern Philippine Times</div>Northern Philippine Timeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911088608042080261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871878799639692926.post-14045093304091131232024-01-08T06:43:00.000-08:002024-01-08T06:43:16.463-08:00Wishful New Year<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"> </span><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">LETTERS FROM THE AGNO</span></b></span></h3><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">March Fianza<br /></span></b><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;">The first month of the year was named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings or in other words, the god of openings, by Julius Caesar (July 100 BC - March 15, 44 BC). Janus was also called the god of doors and gates.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>Julius Caesar, the emperor of Rome declared January 1st a national holiday in honor of Janus, the god with two faces, one looking forward and one looking back. Medieval Christians then attempted to replace January 1 with more religiously significant dates but Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 revised a calendar that officially established January 1 as New Year's Day.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>Early medieval Christian thinkers were really thinking. To have a continuous celebration of the season, they conveniently placed New Year’s Day a week after Christmas Day and a week into the first month comes the Three Kings bearing gifts for the King of Kings.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>If not for the official declaration of January 1 as New Year’s Day a week after Christmas Day by Pope Gregory XIII, the world today could awkwardly be celebrating Christmas Day and New Year’s Day in two separate seasons. <br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>Life truly is full of conflicts. Whatever, we all wish for the best every time the New Year comes, and may those wishes come true. Once I was told that to attain a good percentage of that, the best move is to choose the opposite in order to come up with a positive result.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>Quite similar to the Law of Interaction which says “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” You have a list of wishes but it is not easy to choose the best. Sometimes, there are wishes that need opposite actions that need to be done.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>I do wish that the act of forgiving someone comes easy even to one who does not deserve to be forgiven. I wish people have enough patience when things seem to be unreachable, and for people to be calm in times of anguish.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>When one wants to shout at the top of his voice, I wish that he chooses the opposite and be quiet instead. I wish that people learn to love those who hate them, to include the excluded, to forgive without apology, and to be strong to accept mistakes.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>I wish that we get disappointed too in order to realize the importance of doing favors for others, never to refuse their simple requests in order to remember the little kindness that we received in the past.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>I do wish that our failures make us realize humility. I wish that our losses make us value the little that we have left, and may our spirits be broken so that God may save our souls. I do wish that when one feels he needs to be comforted, he comforts someone instead; to suffer the pain of a broken heart in order to make others happy, and smile when he feels like crying.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>I wish that we all be part of other peoples’ lives even while we do not know where to fit. I do hope that pieces of us fill the empty spaces in other people’s lives who will feel that they may never be complete without others.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;">May you be blessed with the best in 2024 and may your wishes all come true! <br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"> </span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Northern Philippine Times</div>Northern Philippine Timeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911088608042080261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871878799639692926.post-87697235150076431462024-01-08T06:41:00.000-08:002024-01-08T06:41:40.460-08:00Street gangs banned in Baguio/ Satellite business processing/ Peaceful holidays<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;"><h3><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">CITY HALL BEAT</span></span></b></h3><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Aileen P. Refuerzo<br /></span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">BAGUIO CITY -- Residents were reminded on the existence of an ordinance prohibiting the establishment and operation of street gangs and recruitment of minors to instigate violence and community disorder in the city.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>Adapted in December 2021, Ordinance No. 99 series of 2021 prohibits the following: creation and operation of street gang that vehemently disregards the safety and well-being of an individual; recruitment of persons including minors to participate in street gang violence; instigation on the conduct of gang graffiti; and other activities that disturb public order and threatens public safety and convenience.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>The ordinance was adapted to address activities of street gangs and similar groups taking advantage of misguided minors, children at risk and children in conflict with the law and use and expose them to violence and illegal activities that turn them into juvenile delinquents, unruly citizens and future burdens of society.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>Penalties for adult violators of the measure are a fine of P5,000 or imprisonment of 1 to 30 days or both.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Minor offenders are subject to intervention mechanisms put in place under the Comprehensive Local Juvenile Intervention Program formulated by the<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>The Local Council for the Protection of Children which is taking the lead in the implementation of the provisions of the ordinance.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the city needs to sustain the intensive implementation of the ordinance to stop violent incidents especially those involving minors.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> ***<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">The city government through the City Treasury Office and the Business Permit and Licensing Office set up a satellite Business One-Stop Shop (BOSS) at City Hall at a mall here to provide an alternative venue for businessmen to process their business licenses.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>Located between Cinemas 3 and 4, the offsite BOSS at the mall is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Mondays to Fridays from January to March.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>While SM opens at 10 a.m., an arrangement was made for business permit applicants to be allowed entry at 8 a.m.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>"Applicants may just tell the guards at the entrance fronting the grocery area that they will process their permit at the BOSS and they will be accommodated," Permits and Licensing Officer Allan Abayao advised.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>Abayao said the offsite processing scheme was implemented to decongest the BOSS at City Hall and avoid overcrowding and long queues.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>The main BOSS is located at the City Treasury Office One-Stop Shop.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>As of Jan. 4, 2024, the city has processed a total of 607 permit renewal, 13 new business applications, one new business line, one new management, one retirement of business line and 19 full retirement of business.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>Abayao reminded that business permit application is available online via the eBPLS Portal at <a href="http://ebpls.baguio.gov.ph/" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration-line: none;">ebpls.baguio.gov.ph</span></a> .<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> ***<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Mayor Magalong said the city's yuletide celebration turned out to be peaceful and orderly thanks to the efforts of law enforcers and the community.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>"Overall, we had a great holiday season in our city with the different colorful and joyful activities that were staged and the various attractions that were offered for enjoyment of all," the mayor said.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>He commended the Baguio City Police Office for the success of its anti-criminality efforts and the community for its cooperation during the entire Christmas season.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>He said the city's crime volume for the entire duration decreased by as much as 56 percent when compared to last year owing to the BCPO's aggressive crime prevention campaign.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>He said the traffic problems encountered were also minimal after adjustments and measures were adopted learning from the bad experience the city had on the first weekend of the month.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>BCPO Director Col. Francisco Bulwayan Jr. affirmed that the city's total crime volume during the Christmas rush from Dec. 21-31 significantly dropped by 56.47 percent or 48 cases from the figure for the same period last year.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>He cited data from the Crime Information Reporting and Analysis System (CIRAS) showing a 33.3 percent decrease in focus crimes, including serious offenses like murder, robbery and rape.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>"This positive trend reflects the city's successful efforts in curbing major criminal activities," he said.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>He said non-index crimes including various illegal acts also decreased by 14.29 percent while special law violations dropped by 72.73 percent.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>"The detailed breakdown emphasizes the city's success in addressing both major and minor offenses showcasing a huge improvement in public safety compared with the same period last year," Bulwayan said.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>Bulwayan said that traffic incidents also decreased by 59.38 percent.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>"Based on the experience of traffic gridlock we had at the start of the month, we made adjustments and adopted strategies to avoid a repeat of the problem and we find these strategies very effective. There were traffic jams that happened but these did not last and were resolved in a short time," he said.</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Northern Philippine Times</div>Northern Philippine Timeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911088608042080261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871878799639692926.post-49094942386879264992024-01-08T06:39:00.000-08:002024-01-08T06:39:10.688-08:00‘Complete blood count’<p><b style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">WELLNEWS</span></span></b></p>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Victor Dumaguing</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"><br /> </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">In most laboratory
requests, it is written as CBC, which a lot of patients, even
professionals-except perhaps those in health sciences, take the letter “c” to
mean “complete; thus patients who gave 5ml of their blood-venous- go home
thinking that the results would include their blood levels of sugar,
cholesterol, uric acid, BUN, creatinine etc and be disappointed of the
“incomplete results.”<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>Most doctors
or their medical secretaries write the words, “cbc differential” if they want
to know the immune capabilities of the patient in terms of his/her white blood
cells-soldiers of the body- with the word “differential” meaning how much each
of the different leukocytes are there per 100 white blood cells counted.<br /> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>An adult
human has 5000 ml of blood within his/her circulatory system, some amounts of
the 5 liters are extracted depending on the clinical needs of the patient. For
patients in serious conditions in which there is a big concern about the
relationship off oxygen and carbon dioxide affecting the ph of the blood, the
doctor would request ABG-arterial blood gases; the sample is carefully
extracted from arteries- radial in the wrist, femoral in the groin and at
times, carotid in the neck.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>In medical
missions sponsored by civic organizations with the participation of generous
pharmaceutical companies, the so-called screening laboratory tests-usually for
blood sugar, cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid etc, blood samples are for
the most part done thru aseptic, sterile finger pricking –capillary blood- by
the doctor or medical technologists or a trained health professional, with the
results available after a few minutes, with the appropriate prescription made
immediately.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>For CBC
differential, venous blood is extracted from the vein in the ante-cubital area,
or the area opposite the elbow. Normal WBC is 5000-10,000 cu mm, neutrophils
60-65, lymphocytes 25-30, monocytes 0-2, basophils 0-1, eosinophils 2-5 with
slight variations but the total should always be 100 white blood cells counted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br /> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>At this
juncture, it must be emphasized that different laboratories have normal values
depending on their unit measurements; example, some use the mo don’t be
surprised if the normal WBC count is from 4.0-11.0 in your result, the good
thing about laboratory results now include the “normal ranges” of results
whether white blood cells sugar, cholesterol and other clinical parameters.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>An elevated
or high WBC count means “infection”; so the “differential would provide useful
information. A High WBC, and neutrophils-also called PMN for
polymorphonuclears- indicate an “acute” infection- infection which has a sudden
onset, meaning earlier the patient is well, the all of a sudden, he/she is not
well, example is a pupil caught in the rain going home and after a few hours,
complains of sore throat, difficulty of swallowing and starts running a fever.
A doctor consult yields big tonsils, with a diagnosis of “acute tonsillitis.
Our professor in microbiology had emphasized that the level of WBC is a
reflection of the virulence or pathogenicity of the microbe, while the level of
neutrophils indicates the ability of immune system of the patient to cope up
with the infection, thus the presence of young neutrophils in the blood- stabs
and bands- means the body is trying its best to mount a defensive response.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>Lymphocytosis
or elevated levels of lymphocytes-smallest white blood cells- means that the
patient is suffering from chronic- long standing lingering illness- an example
is tuberculosis, leprosy or in certain cases, viral infections.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Monocytes-the
biggest WBC- with is unique horse-shoe or kidney-shaped form- is within normal
levels in most microbial infections, except in certain rare forms of leukemia.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>Basophils too
should normally 0-2 in most CBC differential; with the added fact that, aside
from mast cells, basophils could also be a source of histamine.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>Eosinophils
deserve some focus because an elevated level should make the doctor ask
questions as to whether the person has some allergies to food/meds, asthma,
allergic rhinitis, eczema/atopic dermatitis and with a lot of tact and
diplomacy, request for a stool exam because the patient might be having
helminthiasis, that’s parasitism in simple terms, yes, worms.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>By the way,
the complete blood count differential request, does NOT include anemia concerns-red
blood cell, hemoglobin hematocrit- and for those worried about dengue,
chikungunya- NOT platelet count.<br /> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>Dear readers,
this article is for general information only and does not claim to be the
standard by which your lab results should be evaluated for or against. In
clinical practice, there are myriad variations and combinations in the ratio of
different white blood cells or leukocytes depending on the peculiar health
status of the patient. Thus, an open, honest candid communication between you and
your family physician is of paramount importance.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Northern Philippine Times</div>Northern Philippine Timeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911088608042080261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871878799639692926.post-50041907264755665922024-01-08T06:34:00.000-08:002024-01-08T06:34:13.830-08:00Small biz owners see better year with gov’t training<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <b style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Entrepreneurship</span></b></span></h3><b style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Liza Agoot<br /></span></b><b style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;">BAGUIO CITY – Small businesses that opened right before the Covid-19 pandemic have high hopes of better opportunities, especially with the capacity building training from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>Guil Ocampo, a young entrepreneur in his mid-30s who is operating a coffee shop along Session Road here, is hopeful of good prospects for another year after seeing good signs in recent months and after undergoing management and financial preparation training from DTI’s “Kapatid Mentor Me” (KMM) program.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>He said the KMM training “was a big change in the set-up (of my business)” since it allowed him “how to view the daily sales for a long-term situation.”<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>“Knowing how to make the financial report and interpret it, and how to properly run the business without encountering problems with government regulatory offices are also important factors. More importantly, having the confidence that I know what I am doing in managing the business is a big boost,” he said in Filipino.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>Ocampo joined the KMM program in 2022, when he nearly lost everything and realized the need to be equipped with additional knowledge.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>“I was unemployed after resigning from work to start a business and my life's savings were drained from opening the cafe and moving to another location along Session Road," he shared.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>Ocampo and his friends opened their business in Feb. 2020 in a hotel near Wright Park after seeing the potential of a coffee-related business while doing documentaries as a government media practitioner.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>Around a month later, a nationwide lockdown was declared due to the pandemic, prompting the immediate closure of the establishment.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>Ocampo tried to continue operating by adopting a delivery service as there were no dine-in clients.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>He said the pandemic taught him a lesson - - to cooperate and collaborate with other businesses.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>The current location of his coffee shop was used as a drop-off area for cosplay items.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>To date, the venue houses not just a coffee shop that allows its customers to play board games but also a place where cosplayers can display and sell their costumes and other items.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>Similarly, Florence Aquino, 45, and her sister opened a mini grocery in 2021 on the ground floor of their family residence in Irisan.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>Like Ocampo, she and her sister first opened a small milk tea and fruit shop at the university belt in January 2020, but which also became a casualty of the pandemic.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>Aquino was forced to attend the KMM training in 2022 since her sister cannot attend because she was working as a nurse at the local health office.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>"The mentoring program of your specific venture was very helpful. It will allow you to take a glimpse at the future while standing in the present," she said in Ilocano.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>Samuel Gallardo, assistant director of DTI-Cordillera in an earlier interview, said the KMM program is a regular activity of the agency that is being implemented with the help of stakeholders from the private sector who serve as mentors.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>"This is a good opportunity to be trained as an entrepreneur since this allow the business to flourish. Everything that will make a person well-rounded in knowing how to start, run the business and improve it are provided free to trainees, " he said. -- PNA<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Northern Philippine Times</div>Northern Philippine Timeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911088608042080261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871878799639692926.post-83801282525986379772024-01-08T06:32:00.000-08:002024-01-08T06:32:43.833-08:00Dealing with artificial intelligence (AI)<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">SENSENERES</span></b></span></h3><b style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Ike Seneres<br /></span></b><b style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;">Many people are now scared that the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) could directly affect them because they could lose their jobs.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>That is actually more than just a possibility now, because it is already happening. There is no way that we could go around AI, because the only way to deal with it is to go heads on with it.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>Right now, I could say that no one really knows what form or shape AI is going to take. I could only say that whatever happens next, we should control AI as a technology, instead of being controlled by it.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>The fear of many people is that the emergence of AI could lead to a battle between mankind and machines. That could happen if we do not control the technology. Perhaps one way to deal with AI is to learn our lessons from how we dealt with nuclear technology.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>Generally speaking, technology is neutral, that means that it could be used for either good or bad, depending on who is controlling it.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>However, the fact that it could be used for bad is no reason to stop it and discard it as it is emerging. When it comes to the management of technology, I propose that the government should separate the developmental functions from the regulatory functions, because there is an inherent conflict of interest between the two.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>One should check each other, to keep a balance that is generally good for the whole society.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"> ***<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;">(Author Ramon Ike V. Seneres resumes his column in the Northern Philippine Times this week. Seneres was former director of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), Philippine Information and Communications Technology Organization (PICTO) and Alliance of Civil Society Institutions, Organizations and Networks (ACSION).<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>He was also former Press Attaché, Philippine Embassy to Washington DC and Fellow of University of Life (UL).<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;">Seneres was also former Group Product Manager, Bliss Marketing Corporation (BMC); Brand Coordinator, San Miguel Corporation (SMC); Career Diplomat, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Director General of National Computer Center (NCC).<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>He was also Executive Director of National Crime Information System (NCIS), National Computer Institute (NCI), UNDP Transfer of Knowledge Thru Expatriate Nationals (TOKTEN) and Science and Technology Advisory Council (STAC) <br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>The author was also former Delegate of Science and Technology Advisory Council (STCC)<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"> and National Information Technology Council (NITC).<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>He was also former Chairman of COMELEC Modernization Committee and Commissioner of Philippine Y2K Commission.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;">Seneres was also former CIO at APEC, PCSO, DFA and NCC. – ed)<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"> <br /></span><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Northern Philippine Times</div>Northern Philippine Timeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911088608042080261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871878799639692926.post-88821153856813661052024-01-08T06:30:00.000-08:002024-01-08T07:07:31.405-08:00The Yin and Yang of education:Understanding the concept <h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <b style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US">EDUCATION UNBOXED</span></b></span></h3><b style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt;">Erwin Rimban</span></b><div><br /></div><div><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;">Education plays a crucial role in shaping individuals, societies, and civilizations. It is the foundational factor in determining the success or failure of a person and the overall progress of a nation. While education is often seen as a positive force, it is important to recognize that it embodies the concept of Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang are opposing energies that exist in nature and are deeply intertwined.<br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>These opposing energies are characterized by light and shade, motion and rest, firmness and softness. In the context of education, Yin represents the more feminine and receptive aspects, including creativity, intuition, and holistic thinking. Yang, on the other hand, represents the more masculine and active aspects of education, such as logical reasoning, analysis, and structured learning.<br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>The balance and interplay between Yin and Yang in education are vital for holistic development and meaningful learning experiences. Education that solely focuses on Yang aspects, emphasizing rote memorization, standardized testing, and rigid curriculum, may lead to a lack of creativity, critical thinking, and overall holistic development. On the other hand, an education system that solely emphasizes Yin aspects, without providing a strong foundation of knowledge and skills, may result in a lack of academic rigor and practical application.<br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>Yang and yin. Male and female. Light and dark. Heaven and earth. These archetypal energy patterns are fundamental in Chinese philosophy and they have captured the attention of the world ever since these concepts were made accessible to the western mind. This archetypal energy pair has many applications. If a system of thought has a concept of polarity, then Yin and Yang can be inserted into the picture. In the context of education, the concept of Yin and Yang provides a framework for understanding the complementary and contradictory dynamics that exist within the field.<br /></span><b style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt;">The role of Yin and </span></b><b style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt;">Yang in education<br /></span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;">The Yin-Yang principle in education encompasses the idea that both Yin and Yang aspects should coexist and be in balance to achieve optimal educational outcomes. This principle recognizes that education should cater to the diverse needs, strengths, and learning styles of individuals. It acknowledges that different subjects and disciplines require varying degrees of Yin and Yang energies. For example, subjects like art and literature may require more Yin energy to foster creativity and self-expression, while subjects like mathematics and science may require more Yang energy for logical reasoning and problem-solving.<br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>The left brain is the part of the human anatomy that deals with logical-mathematical reasoning. Thus, the disciplines which feature logic and computation in their processes, like physics, mathematics, accounting, engineering, and chemistry are governed by left brain processes. When a child is excelling at these disciplines he is said to be proficient in logical-mathematical thought and thus is using his left brain very strongly. Outstanding examples of this kind of thinking are scientists like Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, Werner Heisenberg and Niels Bohr. Even chess players like Bobby Fischer, Gary Kasparov, Jose Raul Capablanca and Magnus Carlsen would demonstrate exceptional left brain processing.<br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>On the other hand, the intuitive-aesthetic realms of the human personality have their roots in right brain thinking. The right brain governs such activities as art, music, dance, mysticism and intuition. A child manifesting right brain functions is very creative, innovative, intuitive and perceptive. But, at the same time, he is more sensitive and sometimes, even more introverted than his fellows. Outstanding examples of this kind of thinking are Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, and Picasso. <br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>The way our educational system is organized causes these knowledge systems to be compartmentalized. Left brain processes are thought separately from right brain processes. Subjects are lumped into their respective arenas. Ever heard of the artists-scientists?<br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>These are extraordinary people who have managed to transcend traditional schools and taught themselves to understand how the right brain can be made to connect with the left brain to achieve what is termed as synergistic thought. Truly remarkable, these people have accessed parts of the human mind that were traditionally taught to be beyond the capacities of ordinary men.<br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>The result is exceptional literary, scientific, artistic, mathematical and mystical accomplishments. The most outstanding example of an artist-scientist is the phenomenal Leonardo da Vinci, the greatest genius in the history of the world, the pride of humanity. <br /></span><b style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt;">Incorporating Yin and Yang </span></b><b style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt;">principles in classroom settings<br /></span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;">Incorporating Yin and Yang principles in classroom settings can lead to a more holistic and balanced approach to education. By recognizing and valuing both left brain and right brain thinking, educators can create an environment that fosters creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence. This can be achieved by incorporating different teaching methods and activities that cater to both analytical and imaginative modes of thinking. For example, incorporating analytical tasks such as problem-solving exercises and logical reasoning into the curriculum can engage the left brain and promote critical thinking skills. On the other hand, incorporating artistic activities such as music, art, and storytelling can engage the right brain and foster creativity and emotional expression. Furthermore, incorporating collaborative projects and group discussions can encourage students to work together and learn from one another, integrating both yin and yang elements of social interaction.</span></div><div><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span> This approach can also be applied to the assessment process, where a balance between objective and subjective evaluation methods can be implemented. For instance, using traditional exams and quizzes to assess analytical skills and knowledge acquisition can be complemented by projects, presentations, and portfolios to assess creativity and depth of understanding. Overall, incorporating Yin and Yang principles in education can create a more holistic and balanced learning environment that nurtures the development of both left brain and right brain thinking abilities, allowing students to reach their full potential.<br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>So, what is the point of all these? It is the fact that ordinary men and women can learn how to synergize their cognitive capacities in order to dully maximize the functions of their left and right brains. And these techniques have been around for generations. In the future, I will try</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;">to expand on these and reveal some techniques for those interested on expanding their cognitive frameworks. Meanwhile, parents must make an effort to recognize the predominant cognitive processing employed by their kids. If you observe that your child employs left brain processing more than the other then encourage him to explore right brain processing and vice versa. The goal is always a harmony of two spheres. To conclude, let us refresh ourselves with the immortal words of the Swedish film director, Ingmar Bergman:<br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>“I make all my decisions on intuition. I throw a spear into the darkness. That is intuition. Then I must send an army into the darkness to find the spear. That is intellect.”<br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>For comments and reactions, you may send an email to: </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;">elrimban@alum.up.edu.ph</span></div><div><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><b style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">EDUCATION UNBOXED<br /></span></b></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">Erwin Rimban</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Geopolitical Chess: The art
and </span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">challenges of deterrence
strategies</span></b></span></h3><div><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-indent: 27pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">In the high-stakes arena
of global affairs, where nations jostle for influence and strategic advantage,
the concept of deterrence emerges as a crucial player in the grand chessboard
of geopolitics. This week, let's delve into the art of deterrence, exploring
its nuances, historical applications, and the contemporary challenges it
presents in shaping geopolitical strategy.<br /></span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Defining Deterrence in
Geopolitics:<br /></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Deterrence,
in the realm of geopolitics, is the strategic use of military, economic, and
diplomatic tools to dissuade adversaries from taking certain actions. It's the
implicit threat that the costs of unwanted actions will far outweigh any
potential gains, thus steering behavior toward more desirable outcomes.<br /></span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Historical Perspectives:
The Cold War and Beyond:<br /></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">The Cold War
stands as a quintessential chapter in the history of deterrence, where nuclear
arsenals and the doctrine of mutually assured destruction shaped the
geopolitical landscape. Examining historical instances of successful and
unsuccessful deterrence strategies provides valuable insights into the
complexities of international relations.<br /></span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Nuclear Deterrence:
Balancing Power and Peril:<br /></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">The
possession of nuclear weapons introduces an unparalleled layer to the deterrence
calculus. While nuclear arsenals can deter large-scale conflicts, the delicate
balance between showcasing strength and avoiding catastrophic consequences
poses a constant challenge in geopolitical strategy.<br /></span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Regional Dynamics:
Tailoring Deterrence to Unique Challenges:<br /></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Geopolitical
landscapes vary widely, and effective deterrence strategies must be tailored to
the specific challenges of each region. From the Korean Peninsula to the South
China Sea, understanding regional dynamics and crafting nuanced deterrence
approaches become imperative in maintaining stability and preventing conflict
escalation.<br /></span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Economic Leverage and
Soft Power:<br /></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>Beyond
military might, economic leverage and soft power play pivotal roles in
contemporary deterrence. Sanctions, trade agreements, and cultural influence
become tools to shape the behavior of nations, demonstrating that the strategic
game extends beyond military posturing.<br /></span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Challenges in the Modern
Era: Cyber Warfare and Asymmetrical Threats:<br /></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">In the
digital age, deterrence faces new frontiers with the rise of cyber warfare and
asymmetrical threats. The challenge lies not only in deterring traditional
military actions but also in safeguarding against covert cyberattacks and
unconventional tactics, requiring a reevaluation of traditional deterrence
doctrines.<br /></span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Multilateral Approaches
and Alliances:<br /></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Coordinated
deterrence efforts often involve alliances and multilateral agreements.
Understanding the dynamics of these partnerships, the reliability of allies,
and the potential for collective responses adds another layer of complexity to
the geopolitics of deterrence.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>As we unravel
the intricacies of deterrence in the realm of geopolitical strategy, it becomes
evident that the chessboard of global affairs is ever-evolving. Navigating this
landscape requires not only a deep understanding of historical precedents but
also an adaptability to the unique challenges posed by the modern era.
Effective deterrence strategies, balancing power, diplomacy, and innovation,
stand as critical instruments in shaping the course of nations on the world
stage.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>For comments
and reactions, you may send an email to: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">elrimban@alum.up.edu.ph<br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"> </span></div>
</span><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Northern Philippine Times</div>Northern Philippine Timeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911088608042080261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871878799639692926.post-64596648432820908682024-01-08T06:26:00.000-08:002024-01-08T07:08:53.733-08:00New Year through Mary<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: medium;">THOUGHTS AND VIEWS</span></span></b></h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt;">Fr. Roy Cimagala</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 9pt;">HAPPY NEW YEAR,
everyone! Once again, we begin a new year and let’s hope that as another year
starts, we can truly say that we are getting stronger in our resolve to pursue
the real purpose of our life here on earth.<br /></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>Liturgically,
January 1 celebrates the divine motherhood of Mary which tells us a lot of
amazing things. From the Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians, for example, we
are told this wonderful, if incredible, truth about ourselves, about who we
really are:<br /></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <span> </span></span>“When the fullness of time had come, God sent
his Son, made of a woman, made under the law: that he might redeem them who
were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you
are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying: Abba,
Father. So, you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then also an
heir, through God.” (4,4-7)<br /></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>We need to
process these words slowly so they may sink into our very consciousness and
start to live them out. Hopefully, we can little by little overcome whatever
disbelief and awkwardness we can feel about this truth about ourselves.<br /></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>Of great help
to us in this regard is to have a deepening devotion to Mary, the mother of
Jesus and our mother. If we try our best to imitate her faith in God, we too,
despite all the difficulties and effort involved, can somehow also incarnate
Jesus in our own lives. We are actually meant for that, since we are patterned
after him and he is also the savior of our humanity that has been wounded by
our sins.<br /></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>With Mary
always in our mind and heart, we would always be led to Christ. She would teach
us how to find Christ in everything that we do, no matter how mundane things
are. Even the little ordinary things we deal with everyday can be an occasion
to have an encounter with Christ as well as a chance to be like Christ as we
should. As one saint had put it, Mary is the shortest, surest and safest way to
Jesus.<br /></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>If we truly
have Mary in our mind and heart, then we can learn how to always ponder the
truths of our faith and to act on them. (cfr. Lk 2,19) Yes, we can develop a
contemplative life even right in the hustle and bustle of our earthly affairs.
Yes, we are all meant to be contemplatives because we need to be aware that we
are meant to live our life with God and with everybody else.<br /></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>We are never
alone. Feeling alone is an anomaly in our life. As persons, endowed with
intelligence and will, we are meant to be always in relation with God and with
everybody else. This potential of ours should be actualized. We need to find
ways of how to actualize such potential.<br /></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>We need to
see to it that we should always feel the urge to pray, to engage with God, to
be with him. If we do not feel that urge yet, let’s convince ourselves that we
have something most important to work on. Thus, like the disciples of Christ,
impressed by how Christ was to them, we should beg him to teach us how to pray.
(cfr. Lk 11,1-4)<br /></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt;">Again, Happy
New Year, everyone! And good luck! -- Email: <a href="mailto:roycimagala@gmail.com"><span color="windowtext" style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">roycimagala@gmail.com<br /></span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></span><h3><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><o:p> <br /></o:p></span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">THOUGHTS AND VIEWS<br /></span></b></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">By Fr. Roy Cimagala</span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Never feeling entitled</span></b></span></h3><div style="font-size: 12px; text-indent: 27pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">THE gospel reading of the Mass on December 29, the 5th day of the Christmas Octave, brings to our consideration the example of Mary and Joseph who complied with the legal custom at that time of presenting the Child Jesus in the temple. (cfr. Lk 2,22-35)<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>Given who the child was and who they were, they should have known that they were completely exempted from complying with such law. But they did go just to the same, never feeling entitled because of the highest privilege and honor they enjoyed as being chosen as the parents of the very Son of God. What an example they give us!<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>In the process, that gesture of theirs also played out a providential event because a man, Simeon by name, who was promised not to see his death until he could meet the promised Redeemer, had that promise fulfilled.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>In that momentous meeting, Simeon pronounced a prophecy about the child and Mary—that the child would be a sign of contradiction, and that a sword would pierce Mary’s heart so that the thoughts of many would be revealed.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>All these should make us realize that we too, if we are to be consistent in our Christian life, should expect to be some sign of contradiction also, and that some sword would also pierce our own heart.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>We should not be afraid to encounter these scenarios in our life, and should just be prepared. In fact, we should expect these things to happen in our life, what with all the differences and conflicts we are already having these days, not only in matters of opinion, but also in matters of belief and morals.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>But we really have no reason to fear nor to worry. If our faith is strong, deep and abiding, we know that God is always around. How many times did Christ tell his apostles not to be afraid! We should therefore always assume the attitude of confidence that everything would just work out for the good. (cfr. Rom 8,28) Even our limitations, mistakes, sins, as long as referred to Christ, would somehow work out for the good!<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>While it’s true that in this life, we have to contend with all kinds of challenges, trials, difficulties and all other possible negative things, we can always count on the help of the Divine who will never abandon us.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>Yes, we have our own share of weaknesses, and we are always hounded by temptations coming from the world around and especially from evil spirits who are more powerful than us (cfr. Eph 6,12), but let’s also remember that we can count on the powerful help of angels and saints.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>Our Christian faith tells us that no matter how powerful the evil spirits are, the good ones will always prevail. It would really just depend on us as to whom we choose to side.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>But again, we cannot deny that in this life, we cannot help but share with Christ in being a sign of contradiction, and with Mary in that a sword should pierce our heart also. We should learn how to suffer with Christ, with Mary and all the angels and saints. It would be suffering that would be meaningful to us, one that would do us a lot of good.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>That is why we should just imitate Mary and Joseph in complying with the indications given to us by the Church, without feeling entitled. -- Email: <a href="mailto:roycimagala@gmail.com">roycimagala@gmail.com</a></span></div></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Northern Philippine Times</div>Northern Philippine Timeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911088608042080261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871878799639692926.post-89355813816164673412024-01-04T17:13:00.000-08:002024-01-04T17:13:27.662-08:00Drive against colorum vehicles up in Baguio<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"> </span><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 12.84px;">Mayor issues order amid holiday proliferation </span></b></span></h3><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px;"><br /></span></b><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px;">By Aileen P. Refuerzo</span></b><div><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px;"><br /></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;">BAGUIO CITY -- Mayor Benjamin Magalong ordered the Baguio City Police Office to launch an aggressive campaign against colorum public utility vehicles observed to have proliferated anew this holiday season.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>"We have to put a stop to the operation of these colorum vehicles because they not only contribute to our traffic problem but also put the safety of our commuting public at risk," the mayor said.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>He asked the riding public to help the city weed out these unauthorized PUVs by not patronizing them.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>"There are four reasons why we should avoid patronizing these illegal transportations: Their safety is questionable. These colorum trips are crime magnets.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>Commuters are more at risk of inconvenience and colorum vehicles are not insured," the mayor said.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>He said to address this, the city needs to intensify implementation of City Ordinance Number 55 Series of 2017 or the Anti-Colorum Ordinance.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>The operation of colorum vehicles heightened due to increased demand for transportation during the holiday.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>The Land Transportation Office penalizes colorum operations with a fine of P200,000 and impounding of the motor vehicle used in the illegal activity.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>This, as the LTO warned motorists with unregistered vehicles regarding strict implementation of the 'No Registration, No <span> </span>Travel' policy starting January 2024 to be implemented nationwide.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>The central office of LTO has issued a memorandum regarding strict implementation of this policy although this was suspended during the Christmas season.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>The LTO is coordinating with local government units for registration of service vehicles.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>Vehicle owners may renew their motor vehicle registration two months before due date.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>LTO records bared about 24.7 million unregistered motor vehicles all over the country.</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Northern Philippine Times</div>Northern Philippine Timeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911088608042080261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871878799639692926.post-23883522452958781642024-01-04T17:11:00.000-08:002024-01-04T17:11:56.077-08:00Mayor orders closure of San Juan beaches after drowning cases<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 12.84px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Victims from Baguio, Benguet </span></span></b></h3><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px;"><br /></span></b><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px;">By Aldwin Quitasol</span></b><div><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px;"><br /></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;">SAN JUAN, La Union -- The mayor of this town ordered closure of beaches and halt of water activities in this seaside municipality after drowning incidents. <br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>A 12-year-old boy and his nine-year-old cousin, both residents of Kibungan, Benguet, drowned while swimming on a beach in Barangay Taboc in this town on Tuesday.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;">Initial reports showed the victims, who have yet to be identified, were swept away by big waves.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>The boy was declared dead on arrival at the Bacnotan District Hospital.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>Rescuers were still conducting search and rescue operations for the girl at press time.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>On Dec. 27, a 19-year-old male from Baguio City drowned at a beach in Barangay Urbiztondo, also in San Juan.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>His companion went missing with no update provided yet by local police.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>In Pangasinan, Aira Mae Velasquez, 13, drowned while swimming on a beach in Barangay Nibaliw Vidal in San Fabian town.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>In his executive order 23-2023, San Juan Mayor Mayor Arturo P. Valdriz, said San Juan beaches should be closed to avoid further incidents.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>He said according to PAGASA report, the municipality is experiencing northeast monsoon or "amihan" winds which produces higher level of waves intensified by strong currents in the West Philippine Sea.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>He said the extraordinary water condition in the municipality waters poses risk to beach goers which could lead to drowning. -- With reports by Cesar Ramirez and Jun Elias</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Northern Philippine Times</div>Northern Philippine Timeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911088608042080261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871878799639692926.post-53928277971698673262024-01-04T17:09:00.000-08:002024-01-04T17:09:48.751-08:00Vehicle carnapped in Sagada on Christmas<p><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px;">By Gina Dizon</span></b></p><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;">SAGADA, Mountain Province -- A white vehicle with model H-100 2016 was carnapped early morning Christmas Day in this tourist town.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>Jessica Dapliyan, owner of said vehicle said CCTV footage showed a man in cap and face mask opened the back window of the vehicle and drove away with the car at 4:23 a.m. on Dec. 25. <br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>The key of the car was inserted in the ignition of the steering wheel when it was carnapped, she said.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>Dapliyan told this writer one of her guests told her the carnapped vehicle was seen around 10 a.m. same day at Atok, Benguet, around 120 km from here.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>Sagada police were alerted to the incident around 7:30 a.m. Christmas day when they found out their family vehicle with plate number BAA1628 was missing.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>Dapliyan appealed to police, Highway Patrol Group, National Bureau of Investigation and public to help locate their family car. <br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36px;"><span> </span>Police are investigating to locate the vehicle and carnapper.</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Northern Philippine Times</div>Northern Philippine Timeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911088608042080261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871878799639692926.post-16275684437695548392024-01-04T17:08:00.000-08:002024-01-04T17:08:08.211-08:00Veggies not from Baguio, Benguet sold as highland produce in Phl markets<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px;">LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- A group of vegetable traders based in this capital town of Benguet warned potatoes and carrots in paper boxes marked as Benguet and Baguio City produce are being sold in vegetable retail markets throughout the country.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px;"><span> </span>The La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Areas Inc. said paper box packaged vegetable produce are not coming from Benguet nor Baguio City as strewn on the markings of the items.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px;"><span> </span>The paper boxes were reportedly marked "A.B.C. Baguio.”<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px;"><span> </span>According to the vegetable league, the products are being distributed by unscrupulous individuals in Manila, Sariaya in Quezon and other vegetable retail locations in the country.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px;"><span> </span>The association said Baguio is not mass-producing potatoes and carrots.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px;"><span> </span>The group added Baguio City and Benguet are not promoting imported vegetables like carrots and potatoes.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px;">According to the league, the vegetable products are smuggled and were supposed to be confiscated last Nov. 10 by the <span> </span>Bureau of Customs in Olongapo, Zambales. <br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px;"><span> </span>With this, the traders’ group appealed before government agencies to probe the issue and take appropriate action to stop the practice and protect the country’s farming industry.</span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px;"> </span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Northern Philippine Times</div>Northern Philippine Timeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911088608042080261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871878799639692926.post-39186862037569553792024-01-04T17:03:00.000-08:002024-01-04T17:03:37.024-08:002 NPA guerillas killed in Cagayan identified<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px;">By Freddie Lazaro</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px;"><br /></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px;">CAMP MELCHOR F. DELA CRUZ, Upi, Gamu, Isabela – The two New People’s Army rebels killed in an encounter with soldiers in Barangay San Carlos, Gattaran, Cagayan on December 23 have been identified.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px;"><span> </span>Major Rigor Pamittan, spokesperson of the 5th Infantry Division, said on Wednesday the fatalities were identified through members of their unit who surrendered.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px;"><span> </span>Pamittan identified the fatalities as Maria Valencia, an amazon from Tatalon, Quezon City, and “Ka Jero” of General Santos City.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px;"><span> </span>“The real name of Ka Jero is subject for verification and validation,” Pamittan said.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px;"><span> </span>Their bodies are under custody of Gattaran police while the military is coordinating with families of the two slain communist rebels.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px;"><span> </span>Major Gen. Audrey L. Pasia, commander of the 5th ID, urged NPA guerillas in Cagayan to surrender.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px;"><span> </span>Pamittan said they were pursuing NPA remnants in Region 2 or Cagayan Valley.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px;"><span> </span>On Christmas Day, the 95th Infantry Battalion and 52nd Division Reconnaissance Company seized an R4 rifle, one M-16 rifle, bandoliers, medical paraphernalia, subversive documents, and personal belongings owned by the NPA in Barangay T. Elizaga, Gattaran.</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Northern Philippine Times</div>Northern Philippine Timeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911088608042080261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871878799639692926.post-28247912308227513662024-01-04T17:02:00.000-08:002024-01-04T17:02:17.230-08:00Fire razes Ilocos Norte grocery store<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 27.0pt;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By Leilanie Adriano</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 27.0pt;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">LAOAG CITY – The Bureau
of Fire Protection (BFP) on Wednesday urged the public anew to take all
necessary precautions as fire hit a grocery store in a building located in
Barangay 2, Garreta, Badoc, Ilocos Norte.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span> </span>Responding
firefighters from the BFP in Badoc station said the investigation is ongoing to
determine the cause of the fire which started around 5:20 a.m. at the grocery
building owned by Emma Baldovi and was declared fire out on the first alarm at
6:45 a.m.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span> </span>The BFP
has earlier launched the “Oplan Paalala-Iwas Paputok” nationwide to avoid
firecracker-related incidents, and BFP personnel in Ilocos Norte have been on
full alert status or “Code Red" from December 23, 2023, to January 1,
2024.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span> </span>In an
interview, Fire Officer III Lee Jay Lucero, chief of the Public Information
Unit of BFP-Ilocos Norte, said all personnel are on standby to respond to
fire that may be caused by faulty Christmas lights and firecrackers, among
others.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span> </span>He also
reminded the public of fire safety tips and the proper lighting of
firecrackers.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span> </span>“Para
maiwasan ang mga sunog sa mga bahay dahil sa paputok, maaring maghanda ang mga
residente ng fire extinguishers o mga timba na may tubig para mas maagang
maagapan kung magka-sunog (To avoid fire in houses due to firecrackers,
residents could prepare fire extinguishers or pails of water for immediate use
in case of fire),” he said.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Households
with "anahaw" (palm leaves) roofing are likewise advised to
wet the roofing an hour before the New Year’s revelry as a precautionary
measure in case a lighted firecracker falls on the roof.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span> </span>In the
meantime, Lucero said personnel of BFP-Ilocos Norte have been continuously
inspecting firecracker vendors to confiscate any illegal fireworks, check their
permits to sell, and make sure that they have emergency fire extinguishers in
their stores.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span> </span>Prohibited
firecrackers include watusi or dancing firecracker, piccolo, pop pop, Super
Lolo, boga, big Judah’s belt, Goodbye Philippines, Mother Rockets, Lolo
Thunder, pillbox, Big Bawang, kwiton, kabasi, Atomic Bomb, five star, pla-pla,
og, giant whistle bomb, and unlabeled firecrackers.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span> </span>As per
Republic Act No. 7183 or the law on pyrotechnic devices, persons caught
manufacturing, selling, distributing, and purchasing illegal firecrackers may
be imprisoned from six months to a year, and may be fined from P20,000 to
P30,000.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span> </span>The BFP
is also encouraging the public to use alternative noisemakers
like “torotot” or horns, car or motor honks, banging pot lids, and
pan covers as improvised cymbals, tambourines or drums, or play music to
welcome the new year. – PNA</span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Northern Philippine Times</div>Northern Philippine Timeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911088608042080261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871878799639692926.post-29327410382906022462024-01-04T09:28:00.000-08:002024-01-04T09:28:20.582-08:00 Baguio students seek aid for smart trash bin invention<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">BAGUIO CITY — Three computer engineering students in Baguio City are seeking financial aid to finally finish developing their local invention that aims to help ease garbage disposal woes in Baguio City.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>The three students — Kyle Russell Lucero, Aryk John Mosquete and Samuel Sta Cruz, soon to be computer engineers from the University of the Cordilleras (UC), presented in June a "Smart Garbage Bin" installed at the Rose Garden in Burnham Park.</span></div><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>Lucero explained that the garbage bin has built-in sensors that enables the trash bin to open its lid everytime a person will come near to it to throw their garbage. He said that the lid will not close until the person goes away or leave the trash bin. <br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>The student said that the bin is also equipped with advanced technology where it can transmit signals to the central command in the smart command center in the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>According to Lucero, the command will be able to detect if the trash bin is already full and its contents should already be hauled. He said that this will ensure the timely collection of garbage.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>The three students called on the government of Baguio, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), UC, other agencies and groups who can extend aid to them. <br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>They plead logistical help to their humble invention will enable them to add more features to the smart trash bins and produce more to help the growing garbage problem in the city, thus helping the city’s tourism and save the environment.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"> </span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Northern Philippine Times</div>Northern Philippine Timeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911088608042080261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871878799639692926.post-61860548752260323102024-01-04T09:27:00.000-08:002024-01-04T09:27:02.128-08:00 Pangasinan police shootfest raises funds for ill colleagues<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">By Hilda Austria</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;">MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – The Pangasinan Police Provincial Office held a two-day shoot fest recently to raise funds for 21 ill officers</span></div><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>In an interview, provincial police office director Col. Jeff Fanged said parts of the proceeds of the invitational fundraising activity will go to the medication and other needs of their members, some of whom are bedridden, undergoing dialysis or are cancer patients.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>Participants paid P600 (police) and P700 (for guests) as registration fees.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>“Kailangan din alagaan ang mga tumulong sa pagganap sa serbisyo. In our own little way, ito yong hinahandog para makatulong kahit papano sa kanila (We also need to take care of those who have rendered service. This is our little way to ease their plights),” Fanged said.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>PPPO recently raised P855,000 from a June shoot-for-a-cause event to help sick officers and for the construction of a day care center for the children of employees.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>He said presidential son and Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Sandro Marcos also chipped in P100,000. -- PNA<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></span><b style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></b><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Northern Philippine Times</div>Northern Philippine Timeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911088608042080261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871878799639692926.post-1765908087902386932024-01-04T09:25:00.000-08:002024-01-04T09:25:01.985-08:00 DILG setting governance center in Baguio City<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">By Gaby B. Keith</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;">BAGUIO CITY -- The Dept. of the Interior and Local Government Baguio office under Millicent Carino is set to meet Mayor Benjamin Magalong and heads of the Management Information and Technology Division, City Library and Public Information Office, early this coming year to strengthen partnership on knowledge sharing specifically on local governance.</span></div><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>The meeting was supposed to have been held last Dec. 12 at the DILG-Cordillera office but had to be postponed due to unforeseen circumstances.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>Carino said her office is currently in the process of establishing a Sub-Local Governance Resource Center of Baguio City (Sub-LGRC Baguio) as the knowledge distributor and source of knowledge products regarding local governance.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>She said the center is a convergence platform for developing, brokering, managing, and facilitating the exchange of information and knowledge between and among local governance stakeholders.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>Carino disclosed that her office has identified select Learning Resource Institute, Civil Service Organizations and LGU Baguio to be part of the Multi-Stakeholders Advisory Council for Sub-LGRC-Baguio.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span><b style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></b><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Northern Philippine Times</div>Northern Philippine Timeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911088608042080261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871878799639692926.post-72322471116610745662024-01-04T09:19:00.000-08:002024-01-04T09:19:35.289-08:00 Demise of first PNP chief from Cordillera mourned<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">BAGUIO CITY -- Mayor Benjamin Magalong ratified city council resolution no. 727, series of 2023, expressing the city’s deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of the late retired Police General Camilo Pancratius ‘Pikoy’ Pascua Cascolan, former Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief and Dept. of Health (DOH) Undersecretary who passed away last Nov. 24at age 59.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>The resolution stated Cascolan, (a Baguio boy). had an illustrious military and police career that spanned 42 years and that on Sept. 1, 2020, then Pres. Rodrigo Duterte selected him as the 22nd PNP Chief, making him the first Cordilleran to hold the position.</span></div><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>After he retired from the PNP, Cascolan was appointed by Pres. Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. on Oct. 23, 2022, as DOH Undersecretary.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>Cascolan received more than 180 medals throughout his military and police career, the resolution revealed.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>“The City of Baguio mourns the loss of Ret. Gen. Cascolan. We are grateful for his contributions and service to the country. His memory will remain in the hearts and minds of the people of the city,” it stated. -- Gaby B. Keith</span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></span><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Northern Philippine Times</div>Northern Philippine Timeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911088608042080261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871878799639692926.post-50847398793704095582024-01-04T09:18:00.000-08:002024-01-04T09:18:21.147-08:00 Scammers exploiting online apps, bypassing telcos: PNP<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Scammers and internet-connected applications are bypassing telecommunication providers and making detection challenging, an official of the Philippine National Police-Anti Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) said last week.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>In an interview over radio dzBB, PNP-ACG cyber response unit chief Col. Jay Guillermo said scammers continue to exploit various platforms.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>“Instead of using direct mobile phones, they now leverage internet-connected applications, such as WhatsApp, Viber or Facebook,” he said in Filipino.</span></div><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>He added these applications operate independently of telcos and directly access the internet, making them harder to trace through traditional means.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>Guillermo said scammers take advantage of the loophole in SIM registration.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>“While a SIM card has a signal upon purchase, it requires registration to be usable for texts or calls. <span> </span>However, scammers manipulate the system by initiating communication through applications, prompting users to input personal information and receive one-time passwords,” he said.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>Guillermo cautioned against sharing information if someone requests confirmation of bank account or personal details.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>He emphasized the importance of reporting and not engaging with such requests, encouraging users to take immediate action and even record the incident.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>Regarding voice imitation, Guillermo mentioned that while software exists to mimic voices, it is currently “more feasible for scammers to replicate well-known personalities.”<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>Guillermo stressed the need for vigilance, especially during online transactions.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>He advised against believing in requests for financial assistance and recommended verifying through official channels.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>Guillermo also urged individuals to change passwords regularly, especially for crucial social media accounts.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>Vulnerable individuals, especially the elderly and less tech-savvy, fall victim to scams, he added. <br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></span><b style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></b><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Northern Philippine Times</div>Northern Philippine Timeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911088608042080261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871878799639692926.post-28160840614391334312024-01-04T09:17:00.000-08:002024-01-04T09:17:05.533-08:00 DOH: Eat healthy this holiday season<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">By Ma. Teresa Montemayor</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;">The Dept. of Health (DOH) reminded Filipinos to consume healthful food and drinks during the holidays to avoid non-communicable illnesses like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.</span></div><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>“Eat a balanced, well-moderated and varied diet. Let’s limit ‘ma’ foods -- maalat, mataba at matamis (salty, fatty, and sweet),” Health Secretary Teodora Herbosa said in media forum last week.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>Processed foods such as junk foods, sweetened beverages, and oily dishes must be eaten in moderation if they cannot be avoided, he added.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>Vegetable salads and fruits are the best replacements of such foods, he said.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>Latest data from Philippine Statistics Authority show that ischemic heart disease remained the leading cause of death among Filipinos from January to November 2022 with a total of 121,558 cases, or 18.3 percent of the death toll for that period.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>It was followed by cerebrovascular diseases with 57,411 deaths and neoplasms with 57,354 deaths.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>Meanwhile, diabetes ranked as the fourth leading cause of death among Filipinos for the same period with 32,339 deaths recorded.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>In its "Ligtas (Safe) Christmas" campaign, the DOH advised the public to avoid alcohol consumption, drink lots of water, have enough sleep, and exercise at least 30 minutes a day amid holiday celebrations.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>“We’re encouraging the public to wear masks if you’re experiencing symptoms or stay at home if you have acute respiratory illnesses, coughs, colds even if you are [Covid-19] negative,” Herbosa said.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>The DOH also opted for safe and age-appropriate gifts that are suitable to the child’s capabilities for their overall development.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>“Please avoid giving toys containing harmful chemicals. Some of the cheaper toys use lead-containing paint. Always check the labels and packaging of the gifts you’re buying,” Herbosa added. -- PNA<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></span><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Northern Philippine Times</div>Northern Philippine Timeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911088608042080261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871878799639692926.post-1612861348245180642024-01-04T09:15:00.000-08:002024-01-04T09:15:40.003-08:00 Council restricts trade fairs at People’s Park<div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">BAGUIO
CITY -- City officials recently restricted conduct of trade fairs and similar
activities here at Malcom Square or People’s Park and its surrounding vicinity,
specifically Perfecto Street.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>Under
resolution 724, series of 2023, the City Council stated that as early as August
17, 1956, the city council passed Ordinance No. 264, series of 1956 to prohibit
certain acts contrary to the proper care and maintenance of public parks,
playgrounds, gardens and plazas, roads or streets that sell or offer for sale
or peddle of any food stuff, fruit, vegetables or ice cream in public park or
garden; provided that any person holding any concession or lease duly
authorized by the body may sell at stalls or structures constructed by the
local government for the purpose, only light food stuff usually for snacks and
non-intoxicating drinks.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>Various
ordinances were also passed by the body to regulate the conduct of a<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">
trade fair or other similar activities in the city such as Ordinance No. 049,
series of 1994 or the Trade Fair Ordinance of 1994; Ordinance No. 001, series
of 1997 which amended certain provisions of Ordinance NO, 049, series of 1994;
Ordinance No. 32, series of 2006 that further amended Section 12 of Ordinance
No, 049 series of 1994 as amended; Ordinance No. 10 series of 1997 and
Ordinance No. 13, series of 2012 that furthermore amending the Trade Fair
Ordinance of 1994.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>The
council noted that Malcolm Square or People’s Park has been a favorite venue of
organizers for the conduct of trade fairs considering that the public place is
located at the heart of the city where residents and visitors converge as it is
near the city public market and the famous Burnham Park, the city’s premier
tourist destination.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><span> </span>The
People’s Park has been earlier declared as the city’s freedom park where gatherings
groups may be conducted for the redress of their grievances. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><br /></span></b><br /></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Northern Philippine Times</div>Northern Philippine Timeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911088608042080261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871878799639692926.post-77213437721347530002024-01-04T08:50:00.000-08:002024-01-04T08:50:58.232-08:00 Wearing mask not mandatory but encouraged – health execs<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">By Liza Agoot</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;">BAGUIO CITY – Health authorities in Cordillera region urged the public to wear masks when in public places to reduce the chances of virus transmission, as the weather gets colder.</span></div><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>“It is not mandatory but we encourage the public, especially if you have flu or is not feeling well, to wear a mask to avoid transmission of any illness to loved ones and the public when going out of your residence,” Dr. Rio Magpantay, director of the Dept. of Health Cordillera, said in a recent interview.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>He said people should always remember the experience during the pandemic when the use of masks was mandatory to avoid being infected or infecting others.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>“We all know what masks do to protect us, let us not forget that,” he said.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>Marie Ruby Magsino, a nurse at the city health office, in a phone interview, said Acting City Health Officer Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes encouraged residents and visitors to wear face masks as respiratory and influenza-like illnesses are expected, especially when temperatures drop during the "ber" months until February of the following year.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>The Baguio station of the weather bureau recorded 13°C, the lowest temperature in this city so far this year, on Nov. 20 and again on Dec. 15.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>The daily average temperature in this city is at 17°C. -- PNA<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"> <br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Northern Philippine Times</div>Northern Philippine Timeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911088608042080261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871878799639692926.post-51853638037813202512024-01-04T08:49:00.000-08:002024-01-04T08:49:23.478-08:00 Ilocos school in forest gets internet boost<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">b</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; font-weight: bold;">y Leilanie Adriano</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></div><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;">LAOAG CITY – Internet connectivity at the Sideg Elementary School (SES), a rural school located on a hilltop of Paoay’s agro-forested land, got a boost with the installation of a SpaceX-powered satellite dish on Thursday.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>“We are blessed in Sideg for being selected as a beneficiary of Starlink. We no longer need to search for signal and connect to a faster internet downtown whenever we need to pass our digital reports or when our students need to do their research online,” said Arlyn Dumaoal, officer-in-charge of the SES in an interview.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>The school is regarded as the smallest school in the second district of the province in terms of student population as it only has 41 learners from kindergarten to Grade 6.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>Alegado said the improved internet connectivity in their area would result in their competitive advantage while making the teaching-learning process more engaging and fun for them.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>Sourced from the personal funds of Senator Loren Legarda, the satellite dish powered by Starlink Internet, a satellite Internet constellation operated by American aerospace company SpaceX, was installed on one of the rooftops of the school.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;">Legarda's childhood nanny, "Nanay Fely," hailed from Sideg village.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>“Sideg ES takes pride in having a Nanay Fely who was able to raise a senator like Ma'am Loren. We treasure all these blessings and make it useful for the children,” Madelyne Alegado, who teaches Grade 5 and 6 learners, said.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>Before getting access to Starlink, the school only relied on local telcos for their internet connection.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>Alvin Pascual, sales engineer officer of Data Lake PH, an authorized reseller of Starlink in the Philippines, told the Philippine News Agency that they could just detach the satellite disk and bring it down temporarily for safety during a super typhoon.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>“Latency is 30 milliseconds while the download speed can be up to 500 Mbps (Megabits per second) and upload speed of up to 80 Mbps,” he said as he shared the features of the newly installed Starlink to boost the school's digital connectivity.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;">Aside from the SES, the Paoay East Elementary School also got the same internet upgrade.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>Both schools also received a total of 90 tablets for selected learners from the senator last Oct. 28, 2023, that they can use during their information and communications technology classes. -- PNA<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"> <br /></span><b style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span></b><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Northern Philippine Times</div>Northern Philippine Timeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911088608042080261noreply@blogger.com0