The assertions of “Igorotak”

 Richard Kinnud

IGOROTAK is a very popular one-word sentence that is often found printed on shirts and other souvenir items sold here in the Cordillera region.  One of the t-shirt designs defines “Igorotak” as “a statement asserting one’s ethnic origin as in ’I am an Igorot’”
    One definition of the word “assert” is to express something confidently and with importance.  Thus, Igorotak seems to aim at convincing people born in the region and those actually residing in the region to call themselves as Igorots.  This is the reason why I never got to buy one of those shirts nor souvenir item even if it was tempting to do so, considering that it could also be being proud to be from the region.  I have my reasons for preferring not to be referred to as an Igorot.  I favor the term Cordilleran to generally refer to the citizens of this mountain region.
    But I love the term “Igorotak” for another message that it conveys.  The word “assert” also means declaration of a rightful entitlement to something.  The term thus reminds that there is that certain thing that a united people whether called “Igorots” or “Cordillerans” can rightfully claim.
    A student of the Constitution in the late eighties up to the present might easily give a guess to what I am referring to.  There is that provision about the establishment of an autonomous region in this part of the country. 
    Two of the words that often stand out during autonomy campaigns are “self-determination” and “land.”  These are often presented distinctively but certainly are entwined concerns.  Advocates would say, the people of the region should be in control of growth and development of the Cordilleras, thru a government autonomous from the national leadership, with the ultimate goal of uplifting people’s living.  Recognizably, when development is talked about, discussion on issues pertaining to land as an important resource cannot be separated.
    The Constitution is now more than thirty years old though and what have been had so far is a separate administrative region for the Cordillera and two plebiscites that rejected separate organic acts for an autonomous region.   The push though for the realization of the constitutional provision haven’t yet fizzled.  Those campaigning for it still voices out as a reality that the rationality of autonomy still stands. 
    The people have a right for self-determination and fight for their land.  And this this also could be what “assertion of one’s ethnic origin” say the “Igorotak” or the many of its variations in the words of other ethnolinguistic groups in the Cordillera like “Ifugawak” or “Ibaloi-ak”, truly means. 
    Macli-ing Dulag whose death anniversary is commemorated at about this time of the year has been presented as icon on these.  He was a member of a community that was part of group of communities that opposed a dam project that was perceived to be inimical to land.  Their act is certainly an exhibit of self-determination and defense of land. 
    The events were before this constitutional provision on autonomy.  It goes to show that whether an autonomous government would be realized or not, the nobility of these mindsets was deep-rooted and should not be diminished.
    There is this story about someone who during the foundation day of a certain province here in the Cordillera, in private celebration, posted in Facebook nature tourism destination in all but one of the municipalities of the province.  When asked about why he has not posted about that municipality, he replied, “Aw tan ginaldin yu met amin din bantay yu.” 
    On the other hand, there is that story of a community from where a mining company has long departed.  What has been left behind were areas in risk of major sinking and an open pit that has soon become a lake.  There were intentions for companies to go back again for mining but the people spoke against it.  Instead, they are now developing this lake that has sprung into a tourism site.
    I think these stories, far from being grand as the Dulag and other similar experiences, are expressions of realities of how people see self-determination and the land as a resource for progress.  They are interpretations and ways of living that popular word “Igorotak” and other similar terms.
    A vote on Cordillera autonomy is at this point far yet from happening.  But as illustrated the essence of self-determination and fight for land are always present in daily living.  Also, there is the upcoming elections as a venue for collectively voicing out how we want ourselves be governed and led individually as provinces and to some extent collectively as a region.  The vote surely has implications on the development of the land as at present we listen to candidates expound on their stand on “galdin”, mining, natural resources, and tourism among other subjects.   The result will somehow show how people elucidate meaning of “Igorotak.”
 
 

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Brooks challenges world champ Team Lakay’s Pacio to fight

 Carlo Quinto

Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks has had his eyes set on the ONE Strawweight World Championship since joining The Home of Martial Arts. In fact, the Mash Fight Team representative has been calling out current titleholder Joshua “The Passion” Pacio after every fight he’s had inside the Circle.

The 28-year-old combatant will finally get his wish after defeating Bokang “Little Giant” Masunyane at ONE 156. Brooks will be Pacio’s next challenger, and he gave a timetable on when the ONE World Title showdown may happen.

“It's going to be sooner than later if Joshua takes it,” the Michigan-based competitor said before adding: “Joshua, you better take it.”

Brooks made his first three fights in ONE Championship look easy. He defeated Pacio’s teammate, Lito Adiwang, via a second-round submission and dominated Hiroba Minowa to score a unanimous decision victory.

Masunyane should have offered a stiffer challenge, given that he was the top-ranked strawweight contender. However, Brooks ensured that his rear-naked choke would stick. The South African tried to escape but tapped out at the 4:39 mark of round one.

“What I wanted to do was go wrist-to-wrist instead of going the S-grip. So, I finally got that through my head to go wrist-to-wrist and fight each way to get underneath his neck,” Brooks said.

“Luckily, I got underneath when I did, but if we went to the second or third, I think it would have been similar.”

Pacio paid close attention to the contest that determined his next foe. And, in Team Lakay fashion, he congratulated Brooks on his latest accomplishment. But ever the showman, Brooks found a way to take another verbal jab at the ONE Strawweight World Champion.

“I just watched his Instagram story congratulating me, and he's a classy guy. But I got to get that guy some more money with the TV that he has. I'll buy him a new TV with the money [I get from beating] him,” he said.

Furthermore, the Mash Fight Team competitor thinks their ONE World Title bout will be a stroll in the park. While he sees Adiwang as the more explosive fighter, he does point out that Pacio is a technically savvy warrior who is patient in setting up his strategy. Despite their differences, Brooks sees no problem dethroning “The Passion.”

“I think it would go the same way as Lito, that I would choke him out in the first or second round. I think I'm getting better in almost every fight, and I think I could make him have trouble on the feet and the ground,” he said.

But while he will be a thorn in Pacio’s quest to retain the belt, the American indirectly recognized the Baguio-based titleholder’s reign.

“He's pretty much had that belt for four years straight. If I can beat him, and then I end up fighting him again and beat him again, that just puts a staple on an outstanding career so far,” Brooks said.

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Another lawyer in the family

BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – First, I would like to congratulate my son Robin, who just passed the Bar exams, results of which were released by the Supreme Court on Tuesday.
    We never talked about the matter when he took the exams and it had been a heavy cloud on us not knowing what the outcome would be.
    I called him up when news reached me that he passed. I could see he was visibly relieved when I saw him later since he lives along Brookside which is near the Environmental Management Bureau of the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources where he works as an environmental management specialist.    
    He now joins my namesake, his elder lawyer-brother Alfred “Jay” Dizon Jr. in the roster of lawyers. Jay passed the Bar two years ago. How time flies.
                                     ***
Somehow, I guess their hard training since they were kids as layout artists, newspaper distributors, folders and other work the Northern Philippine Times demanded of them and their brothers and sisters, molded and pushed them to dream and attain something better than doing tedious newspaper work for the rest of their lives.
    I was 38 years old when I started the NPT in year 2001 and everybody in the family had to do their share to make copies come out and hit newsstands week after week. I always told them to bear with the work since we did not have enough finances and since it was our main bread and butter for everyday expenses like to pay for their tuition.
    ***
I guess they understood since nobody complained knowing I worked even at night as a musician in some Baguio bars until the wee hours of the morning even though the pay was not that much to make ends meet, then wake up early to work.
    Somehow, life became a little bit easier when we acquired some printing machines, but then the main one bogged down and it was back to basics.
                                        ***
Seeing the hardship over the years, I guess, made the kids strong- willed to finish their studies and are now working in different fields with others staying far away from home like Manila.
    Life is still hard, but a little bit better now somehow and I’m gladdened when the kids, now adults, come home once in a while like during the Holy Week.
    When the others left this weekend, it seemed something was lacking once again -- the  rooms bare. But I knew they had to get out in this world to pursue what they wanted in life.
    Somehow, they are succeeding and when somebody attains something momentous in their lives, like Robin and Jay passing the Bar, it gladdens the heart, knowing that somehow, in raising children and making choices in life -- we, which includes their mother Ma. Consolacion “Babette” whose maiden name is Antonio of Caluttit, Bontoc, may have walked the right path after all -- with God’s grace. 

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Vetoing SIM registration bill

EDITORIA

President Rodrigo Duterte has vetoed the proposed Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Card Registration Act, Malacañang said on Friday.
    The provision ordering the mandatory registration of social media accounts prompted Duterte to veto the measure, acting Presidential Spokesperson, Communication Secretary Martin Andanar, said in a press statement.
    “The President has decided to veto the consolidated Senate Bill No. 2395/House Bill No. 5793, which seeks to mandate the registration of all SIM cards and social media accounts, with the purpose of deterring electronic communication-aided crimes,” he said.
    While Duterte lauded the Congress’ efforts in finding ways to address the increasing incidence of cybercrimes and offenses related to information and communications technology (ICT), he was “constrained to disagree with the inclusion of social media in the measure, without providing proper guidelines and definitions,” Andanar said.
    The President, he said, expressed concern that the contentious provision “may give rise to a situation of dangerous state intrusion and surveillance threatening many constitutionally protected rights.”
    “It is incumbent upon the Office of the President to ensure that any statute is consistent with the demands of the Constitution, such as those which guarantee individual privacy and free speech,” Andanar said.
    Duterte sought a “more thorough” review of the proposal to mandate social media registration, he added.
    “Prior versions only mandated the registration of SIM cards. The President similarly found that certain aspects of state intrusion, or the regulation thereof, have not been duly defined, discussed, or threshed out in the enrolled bill, with regard to social media registration,” Andanar said. “The President noted that the inclusion of social media providers in the registration requirement was not part of the original version of the bill and needs a more thorough study.”
    He expressed hope that despite Duterte’s decision to veto the SIM Card Registration bill, lawmakers would continue crafting measures that would create a “safe and secure online environment” for the Filipino people.
    “This notwithstanding, we ask Congress not to lose heart in passing effective and strengthened measures that offer our citizens a safe and secure online environment, provided that the same would stand judicial scrutiny,” Andanar said.
    In February, the Senate and the House of Representatives ratified the bicameral conference committee report on contrasting provisions of the proposed SIM Card Registration Act.
    Under the measure, Public Telecommunications Entities (PTEs) must require the registration of SIM cards for collection in a centralized database as a pre-requisite to the sale and activation of SIM cards.
    The bill has a provision that states, “All social media account providers shall require (the) real name and phone number (of a user) upon creation of account.”
    It penalizes those who sign up for social media accounts using fictitious identities with a fine of P200,000 and a jail term of up to six years or both.
    Direct sellers will require the end-user to present their valid identification with a photo along with an accomplished control-numbered registration form provided by the respective PTE.
    A person who wants to purchase a SIM card but cannot personally register for a valid reason may opt to authorize another person to buy, given that there is a Special Power of Attorney and proper identification of the principal buyer and representative. 
    The President may have vetoed the bill but its viability is still being debated.

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Leni rides the crest of Pink Tsunami

PERRYSCOPE

Perry Diaz

THREE WEEKS TO ELECTION DAY, the tide of the Philippine election is turning the other way!  Yes, it’s happening!  You can feel it when you listen to the political rallies around the archipelago.  From Basilan in Southern Mindanao to Cagayan in Northern Luzon, the Filipino people are coming out enthusiastically for their presidential candidate of choice: be it Bongbong Marcos, Leni Robredo, Isko Moreno, Manny Pacquaio or Ping Lacson.  But only one will end up elected President of the republic.
    In my last column, “My crystal ball for the 2022 Philippine election,” I wrote: “As in previous Philippine elections, the early frontrunners tripped over some issues that torpedoed their candidacies.  It happened to Fernando Poe Jr. in 2004, Manny Villar in 2010, Grace Poe in 2016 and Jejomar Binay in 2016, who both lost to Rodrigo Duterte.” 
    Back in February 18-23, Pulse Asia showed Marcos Jr. had 60% approval rating and Robredo had 15%.  But in a survey of 2,400 people taken between March 17 and 21, when the official campaign was underway, Marcos Jr.’s lead dropped to 56% while Robredo’s support jumped significantly to 24%, a nine percentage-point increase.
    Usually, surveys are taken based on the socioeconomic classes (SEC) that divide the Philippines’ primary social classes into: Low-income class, the Middle-income class, and the High-income class.  The latest Family Income and Expenditure Survey by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) shows that the majority (58.4%) of Filipinos belongs to the low-income class, the middle class comprises around 40%, and the high-income class about 1% of the population.  The classes are further divided into income segments: i.e., High-income = A, B; Middle-income = C, D; and Low-income = E.
    It was revealed that the Pulse Asia survey did not include Classes A and B.  Their reason was that only one percent comprise Classes A and B, which might look insignificant but would still make the survey incomplete.   Nevertheless, for the sake of brevity, let’s accept Pulse Asia’s explanation since it’s “negligible.”   However, if the results are very close, it could make the difference.
Noticeable trend
With May 9 just a few weeks away, there is a noticeable trend in the surveys: Bongbong’s approval rating came down while Leni’s went up. 
    Barry Gutierrez, Leni’s spokesperson, said that her 9-point surge in the latest survey reflected the mounting support for her presidential candidacy.  “What we are seeing now is the turning of the tide,” Gutierrez said in a statement.
    He said that the survey results actually showed Leni scoring a 13-point swing as Bongbong’s rating went down by 4 percentage points.  He reasoned that the survey numbers are starting to reflect what the Robredo campaign has been seeing on the ground all along: “The massive crowds, the fierce passion, the untiring commitment of Filipinos from all walks of life, coming together to rally behind Leni Robredo’s bid for the presidency.”  He also said that the momentum that Leni is now enjoying would “only further intensify and accelerate” in the run-up to the May 9 election.
    Meanwhile, Bongbong’s spokesperson, Vic Rodriguez, told Bongbong’s supporters not to be complacent and to remain focused on their goal of 70-percent preference mark, which might seems improbable right now, considering that Bongbong’s approval rating has gone below 50% and continues to go down. 
Grassroots campaign
With Leni’s successful crowd-drawing record -- she just had a 220,000 attendance to her Pampanga rally last April 9, the largest to date – and house-to-house campaigns, which now explains her increase in voter preferences, would contribute to increasing her numbers against Bongbong.  If she could increase her volunteers to at least 100,000 going door-to-door from barangay-to-barangay, she could surpass Bongbong’s numbers.  
    As of April 2, she had 10,000 volunteers and increasing it ten times is doable considering the youth and enthusiasm of her army of volunteers called “kakampinks.”  It’s bringing the campaign down to face-to-face grassroots level, which was determined to be the most effective in winning elections.
     The day before, the Leni-Kiko tandem was welcomed by 76,000 supporters in Dagupan City in Pangasinan.  Shouting “Awan ti Solid North!” (There is no Solid North), the Pangasinenses’ unabashed enthusiasm for Leni and her running mate Kiko Pangilinan seem to suggest that the Marcoses’ hold on the Solid North was just a myth.  Encouraged by the big turnout in the heart of Ilocandia, Leni said, “It’s not over ’til it’s over.”  Yes, indeed.
    What is interesting to note is that Moreno, Pacquiao and Lacson are helping Robredo chip away at Bongbong’s lead because they direct their attacks against Bongbong, which would insulate Leni from being accused of negative campaigning because she wasn’t the one who raised the issue.  
    The fact that it did not come from Leni is good because Filipino culture still tends to look down on those who do negative campaigning. For them to stay in the race would be beneficial to Leni.   Hopefully, they’ll all stay in the race.  
    The next survey results should be very interesting.  With the P203-billion estate tax that just became the hottest issue against Bongbong and compounded by Bongbong’s refusal to pay the tax assessment, his campaign is headed over the cliffs.     
Cheating and disinformation/misinformation
With the campaign season now in the homestretch, it is expected –- as has been rumored –- that Bongbong will resort to cheating and black propaganda.  Actually, there was already unfounded disinformation and misinformation being spread about Leni. 
    According to Tsek.ph (a collaboration of over 30 academic and media organizations), Leni is the “biggest victim of disinformation” on social media, while Bongbong stands to benefit the most.  Bongbong is also the favorite subject of false claims, which are “largely positive or in his favor seeking to promote him,” Tsek.ph head Yvonne Chua said.
    In regard to cheating, Bongbong’s late father allegedly used the “Three G’s” – Guns, Goons, and Gold -- to win the election in 1969.  It described the violence and vote-buying that characterized the political campaign period during the presidential reelection campaign of 1969. 
    Another method of cheating in elections is called dagdag-bawas, which literally means “adding and subtracting,” is done by inserting fake ballots and removing legitimate ones.
    The good news is:  “The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), the accredited citizen’s arm of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), rekindled its partnership with a private education conglomerate on Monday, March 28, as the poll watchdog readies its command center for the 2022 elections,” the report said.
    For the fifth straight election, the PPCRV has teamed up with AMA Education System, which will lend the poll watchdog its computers, and provide information technology support and student manpower.  It opened its command center at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila.
    As reported in the news, “after voting ends on May 9, PPCRV’s volunteers across the country will pick up election returns (ERs) from some 106,000 clustered polling precincts. These ERs will be delivered to the command center in UST, where these will be encoded by about 200 volunteers per day for a period of 10 days.”
    What they do at the command center is match via encoding the results in the ERs to that which the vote-counting machine transmitted electronically.   Since the ERs were picked up before transmission, it would ensure that no dagdag-bawas would happen.
     The PPCRV targets to register 500,000 volunteers for the May 9 vote, but so far, the group only has around 350,000.  Hopefully, they’d reach their goal on Election Day.
    While all the preparations for an orderly election and accurate vote-counting are being done, Leni is riding the crest of a pink tsunami.
(PerryDiaz@gmail.com)
 
 

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Pacio, Sangiao react to potential Folayang vs. Northcutt showdown

Carlo Quinto

Former ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang isn’t the type of fighter who calls out or selects his next opponent. His legend grew because he faces anyone presented to him inside the ONE Championship Circle.
    But after Folayang’s victory over John Wayne “The Gunslinger” Parr at ONE X on 26 March, the Filipino mixed martial arts icon revealed who he would like to tackle next.
    If given an opportunity, the 38-year-old competitor wants to keep his momentum in ONE Super Series going by challenging multiple-time karate world champion “Super” Sage Northcutt.
    ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong revealed that Folayang versus Northcutt could have happened before ONE X, but the talks fell through.
    The 26-year-old American was also scheduled to fight Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki at “ONE on TNT 4” last year but withdrew due to COVID-19, prompting Folayang to take his spot.
    The crossing of paths by Folayang and Northcutt is inevitable because of the massive success they’ve had in their respective striking disciplines. The Texas native was inducted into the Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame in 2012 and is also a third dan black belter in taekwondo.
    Meanwhile, Folayang won a bronze medal in the 2005 Wushu World Championships in Hanoi, Vietnam, and a silver medal in the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar. He also won three gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games.
    Team Lakay athletes Jhanlo Sangiao and ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio reflected on Folayang’s reasons for wanting Northcutt.
    “For me, manong Eduard wants to test his skills in striking or, in general, he wants to venture into other disciplines. And why not Northcutt, right?” Sangiao said.
    “Many people think that it’s time for him to leave the fighting scene, but you know kuya Eduard, he will be there to prove that he is far from the finish line,” Pacio added.
    If this fight pushes through, Sangiao expects nothing but an exciting showdown.
    “If he faces Northcutt,” he said, “then that would be a nice matchup. I’m sure this will be pure entertainment for fans, a match between a karate specialist and a wushu legend.”
    B ut while Pacio agreed with Sangiao, he also pointed out another exciting factor.
    “That would be a cutthroat match,” he added. “Both want to trade shots. But let me also add that one of the fights that excites me is kuya Eduard versus [Yoshihiro] Akiyama.”
    Northcutt and Akiyama might be solid challenges for Folayang. But if “Landslide” already faced an icon earlier this year, why not cap off his 2022 against another legend?
 

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Nueva Vizcaya high- value crops get boost

Leander C. Domingo

KASIBU, Nueva Vizcaya -- A farm-to-market road project worth P205 million here is expected to boost the citrus industry in this province.
    Agriculture Secretary William Dar said the FMR road project, particularly in Malabing Valley in this upland town, was funded under the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP).
    To provide easy transport access for citrus and other agricultural products and inputs in this municipality, Dar said the 12.07-kilometer FMR road project will benefit upland farmers in the more than 1,850 hectares of farmlands.
    "With an ongoing move to rejuvenate the citrus industry in Nueva Vizcaya, the FMR project will surely boost the production, transport and marketing of citrus products in this town," Dar said.
    The DA-Regional Field Office 2 led by Executive Director Narciso Edillo said the implementation of the balanced fertilization and pesticide use strategy (BFPUS) is expected to rejuvenate the citrus industry in this upland town.
    Dar said the road project is being implemented since the farmers need support by providing quality infrastructure facilities for the citrus industry.
    "This will be a big boost because we will expand the high-value crops industry that includes citrus," he added.
Dar said the project will also reduce travel time, especially during the wet season, where transport has always been a challenge with muddy roads in the upland areas.
    Meanwhile, Mayor Romeo Tayaban said the DA's continuous help will inspire upland farmers in far-flung areas of the municipality to produce quality citrus products in compliance with the agency's BFPUS.
    "Our farmers will have more reasons to further engage in citrus farming because of the infrastructure support that will bring positive impact in this highland town," he said.
    Dar also vowed to support citrus farmers since the DA and the town of Kasibu have the same vision towards the farmers.
    He also assured his continuing support to the Malabing Valley Multipurpose Cooperative in the form of road improvement and development and post-harvest facilities like cold storage, among others.
    Kasibu town is one of the major sources of fruits and vegetables to Bambang town's Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal, which supplies Metro Manila, Baguio City, and other neighboring provinces with agricultural products.
 

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Bontoc health workers undergo nutrition training

 Alpine Killa-Malwagay

BONTOC, Mountain Province - Twenty-one health workers in this capital town underwent a four-day training of trainers on basic course for barangay nutrition scholars on April 4-7 at Samoki village.
    The participants were Municipal Health Officer Dr. Diga Kay Gomez, Municipal Nutrition Action Officer Venous Faith Cofulan, midwives in 16 barangays of Bontoc, barangay health worker coordinator, and barangay nutrition scholars (BNS).
    According to Cofulan, the training aimed to capacitate the BNS to effectively deliver nutrition services and other related activities such as community health; backyard food production; environmental sanitation; culture, mental feeding, and family planning to the barangay.
    Mayor Franklin Odsey who chairs the Municipal Nutrition Council approved the training proposal funded by the Bontoc local government under its Nutrition Program and Gender and Development (GAD) Fund recognizing the need to enhance knowledge of health workers and develop their skills on health and nutrition since they are the ones who are in the frontline in the delivery of basic health services in villages.
    As its counterpart, the National Nutrition Council Cordillera Administrative Region (NNC-CAR) provided resource speakers.
Resource speakers from NNC-CAR were officer in charge regional nutrition program coordinator Bella Basalong, nutrition officers Velanie Dao-ines and Perlyne Martin.
    Midwife Lilia Angagka from Bontoc Municipal Health Office was also resource speaker.
    Module 1 covered four sessions including legal mandates and rationale of the BNS on selection, recruitment, benefits, and incentives, roles, function and core values.
    Module 2 covered the topic of Basic Concepts on Food and Nutrition; Understanding Food and Nutrition Concepts; and Malnutrition: Forms, Causes, and Consequences.
    Module 3 focused on developing skills of the BNS with seven sessions: skills on communication, presentation, advocacy, documentation, report writing, and record-keeping, time management, organization and coordinating skills.
    Module 4 was on situating barangay nutrition program in local development system with three sessions -- nutrition program management, definition, principles, characteristics and Uses; BNP in local development system and organizing, mobilizing or reactivating.
    Module 5 included topics on role of BNS in barangay nutrition program management, assessing, planning and implementing BNS.
    A BNS expressed her gratitude to the Bontoc LGU through the Municipal Health Office and the NNC-CAR for the opportunity of undergoing the said training.
 

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Living the Easter spirit

THOUGHTS AND VIEWS

Fr. Roy Cimagala

THE joyous celebration of Easter Sunday clearly tells us that Christ indeed as risen! That’s why we sing, Alleluia, alleluia. As a psalm would put it: “This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (118,24)
    With his resurrection, he has conquered sin and death, and has given us a new life in him. We are now a new creation, with the power from Christ to conquer sin and death and everything else that is not in keeping with our dignity as children of God.
    As St. Paul would put it, “If we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him.” (Rom 6,8) And he continued, “For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again. Death no longer has dominion over him.” (6,9)
    And so, we have every reason that we can live forever in Christ over whom death no longer has dominion. In spite of whatever, we have every reason to be happy and confident, as long as we are faithful to Christ.
    With the celebration of Easter, we are told by our Christian faith that we are made new. We are now a new creation. And to make ourselves new again after we have fallen into sin and thus putting ourselves in the system of getting old and dying, we need to be forgiven, to receive God’s mercy.
    Christ’s death on the cross and his resurrection actually represent the ultimate of divine mercy and forgiveness. His death represents his bearing and assuming all the sins of men, from that of Adam and Eve to the last sin that still has to be committed, of the last man who still has to be born. His resurrection represents his victory over sin and death. His death and resurrection therefore comprise the ultimate of divine mercy.
    There’s just a very interesting passage in the Book of Lamentation in the Old Testament that can give more forcefulness to this divine mercy that is responsible for making us a new creation.
    It says: “Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassion fails not. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.” (Lam 3,22-23)
    Let’s remember that in this Easter season, we are called to become an Easter person. And the way is laid open for us to be so. It’s for us to take it up and go the distance.
    To be an Easter person is first of all a gift from God. It’s his divine will for us, since we are his image and likeness, and adopted children of his. For sure, we achieve the fullness of our being Easter persons in heaven. But here on earth, we need to work it out. We have to move toward it.
    The grace for this purpose is given to us abundantly. Everything that we need to attain this goal is provided by God’s providence. But we have to correspond. New wine requires new wineskins too. And as St. Augustine once said: “He who created us without us, cannot save us without us.”
    To be an Easter person is for us to realize that as persons we need to unify and integrate all the parts and aspects of our life, with God through Christ in the Spirit as the principle, means and end of such unity and integration. What we should try to avoid is to be fragmented in these parts and aspects. In other words, it is for us to live a unity of life in Christ.
    Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

THOUGHTS AND VIEWS

Let’s have complete  trust in God

Fr. Roy Cimagala

“FOR the one whom God sent speaks the words of God.” (Jn 3,34) With these words of Christ, we are made to understand that Christ is the word of God who would lead us to eternal life. The immediate conclusion that we can derive from these words is that we should have full trust in God’s providence.
    In a sense, while we try our best to make our own life and to shape it according to our freedom, we need to understand that our life can only be properly lived and can be led to its proper end when conformed to God’s will and ways.    
    We need to understand that the ultimate reason we have freedom is for us to freely follow God’s will, for that would constitute the true essence of love which is the essence of God, and which is also meant for us since we have been created in God’s image and likeness. While we have that popular saying, “Like father, like son,” we can also say, “Like God, like man.”
It is for this reason that we should really believe in Christ, since he is “the way, the truth, and the life, no one goes to the Father except through me.” (Jn 14,6) That is also why he also said, as if begging us as well as reassuring us, “You believe in God, believe also in me.” (Jn 14,1)
    We cannot deny that all our life, we would always be hounded by our weaknesses, challenges, difficulties, trials, temptations and, of course, our sins, but as long as we go to Christ, things would just be made right. Only in this way can we aspire to be faithful and live in confidence, peace and joy despite whatever.
    We should just strengthen our faith in God through Christ in the Spirit, especially because it is unavoidable that we would encounter in our life forms of hatred, persecution, misunderstanding, and so, we would have to wage continuing struggle.
    Christ already warned us about this. “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also,” he said. (Jn 15,20) In another instance he also said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16,33)
So we need to enliven our faith, always renewing it since we all know that our profession of faith and trust in God, no matter how fervently said, can only go so far. We need to continually renew our faith in order to trust God’s will and ways when we encounter seemingly unbearable predicaments.
    Remember that episode of the apostles in a boat that was about to sink because of the big waves. (cfr. Mt 8,23-27) Christ reproached them for their lack of faith. And in that parable of the wheat and the weeds, (cfr. Mt 13,24-30) Christ was clearly telling them and us that we should just go on doing a lot of good even if we are disturbed by many evils, because in the end Christ would make the proper judgment.
    He assures us that with him we will never work in vain and everything would just work out for the good. (cfr. Is 65,23; Rom 8,28) He assures us that as St. Teresa of Avila once said, he can write straight with crooked lines.
The whole idea is that we should just keep a strong faith and trust in God’s will and ways. -- Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

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Covid 19 is still here; booster vaccines are available

WELLNEWS

Victor Romulo Gallardo Dumaguing MD
   
AN APPEAL, a plea and a stern order rolled into one is the fervent and impassioned message by no less than President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for Filipinos to wear facial mask up to the end of his term, and that’s perfectly understandable, not only because of the inputs and feedbacks regularly provided by the Interagency Task Force (IATF) but by the alarming surge of Covid 19 in countries much financially higher than us-thus can afford all the vaccines they need- but the proximity of countries besieged by the virus-China and Hong Kong- to our islands , a fact more disconcerting by the loosening of international travel to the Philippines.
    On the positive side, even our Department of Health has publicly acknowledged the encouraging pattern of decrease in active cases, low positivity rate, low utilization of hospital facilities and for the most part, asymptomatic or mildly-affected Covid-infected persons; a feat and a hard-earned achievement of our dedicated doctors, nurses, contact tracers, medtechs as well as scientist and experts who shared their skills and knowledge in the prevention of transmissibility as well as in the management of Covid cases, which hopefully open the eyes of Bloomberg to be more objective and fair in their assessment of the Philippines’ handing of the pandemic.
    Be that as it may, the writings are still clearly written on the wall, so to speak, that as the DOH itself also emphasized, we are not out of the woods yet. A collective sigh of relief reverberated across the globe when Omicron took over the devastating presence of the Delta variant, although more transmissible, Omicron was not as infectious or more virulent than Delta so much so that eager and excited experts trumpeted the demise of a pandemic into a more manageable endemic illness.
    Viruses, unfortunately, even they contain only either DNA or RNA, are wily in that, among the microbes, they have the greatest capacity for mutation- a process in which there is a significant change in their genome or genetic characteristics. Wily as they are, or entitled as some may call them, they are not so smart, in the sense that in the process of replication-multiplication or making copies of themselves- there may be some slight errors or mistakes especially in the quality (kind) or quantity (amount) of amino acids in their structure. The surface receptors of the Covid 19 virus in Wuhan has undergone varied changes that brought the alpha, beta, kappa, and delta and later the Omicron, which in its wake, a sublineage of B.1 and B.2 emerged. And with almost similar but not exactly the same genome, B.1 and B.2 underwent recombination process, voila, Omicron Ex- a not so well understood yet variant but with a potential  of wreaking havoc to our still slowly-recovering world.
    And maybe for the nth time, we are made aware that our immunity wanes within 3-6 months, with our natural immunoglobulin- IgM and IgG- eventually decreasing making us susceptible to infections, especially Covid and other life-threatening illnesses.
    Thus, the urgent need for booster doses, on top of the primary vaccines-first and second dose spaced apart-. Why? Because while it’s true active case are down, most new cases are among the unvaccinated and more alarming are statistics of more unvaccinated persons, especially among the elderlies and those with co-morbidities having serious and even fatal Covid 19.
    Considering the global situation, especially during the early part of the pandemic, I would like to rise, above political stripes and religious persuasions that the Philippine government has fought, tooth and nail the scourge of Covid 19 and indeed, they did a good job- a concerted effort of those who procured, secured the storage and potency of vaccines as well as their efficient orderly roll-out to the citizens. Again the Corona SARS Cov2 and its variants are still around and booster doses are aplenty.
    Incidentally, I just got my Moderna booster jab, how about you?

 Nutritional needs of the elderlies

Victor Romulo Gallardo Dumaguing MD

First and foremost, the author wish to correct last statement in the past Sunday issue which said “so for the ‘mercury’ tablets sent by well-meaning friends; the word ‘ mercury’ should have been Omega-3-fish oil tablets. There are no mercury tablets. The message is, since the source of some omega-3 fish oils are from deep sea fishes, where mercury may have settled, a few fish oils might be tainted with HgCl2, and thus it’s safe to bring them to your family doctor for his evaluation.
     As of latest statistics, senior citizens comprise 9% of the 110 million + Filipinos and probably more. Epidemiological studies show that with better medical services and a high awareness of senior citizens of the health benefits of combined sensible dietary choices plus some reasonable mobility exercises, more and more elderlies are enjoying the so-called sunset years of their lives.
     However, certain realities exists. Once a person is officially declared a “senior”- 60 or 65 years old- even those with ideal lifestyles- no vices, good hygiene, restful sleep- there would be significant changes in the different organs of the body.
     For the nutritional needs of the seniors, let’s zero into the digestive process. We are born with about 40,000 taste buds receptors in our tongue, which at 40 years after, there would have been a big decrease in their number, with only sweetness and salty receptors being active, thus old folks prefer those food with the exclusion of other nutrients. Most likely, their dentition Is,- now mostly dentures-false teeth- which if ill-fitting- would affect the mastication(chewing) and thus lessen the appreciation of the texture and taste of the food.
     Absorption of nutrients is also a factor- from the mucosa of the stomach to the small intestines- duodenum, jejunum-where most absorption takes place; ileum, up to colon or large intestines where water is reabsorbed back into the blood, thus explains why most stools are solid or at least, semi-solid.
     Thus, there is the glaring fact that, there are now certain gaps in the nutritional needs of the elderlies and that’s where food supplements can be helpful.
     With the kind permission of our editor, allow me to share with our readers the adult nutritional supplement ENTRASOL Platinum which offers” balanced nutrition” ; to wit, high protein for cell repair and regeneration, 75% whey protein for easy absorption as well as prevention of muscle loss, its 80% inulin-not insulin- is high-fiber which is useful in healthy bowel function, easy regular defecation, and with its 20% beta glucan, would help strengthen the immune system, together with Vitamin C, D, E and the essential Zinc.  For strong bones, aside from Vitamin D, there is also calcium and the presence of magnesium contributes to good functioning of heart muscles. A big bonus is its zero content of trans fat, thus it does not cause lipid problems, like cholesterol or triglycerides.
     The life of every living organism on Earth- humans, animals, plants- is dictated and programmed by our DNA, which includes physiologic-normal- ageing process of the different cells and organs of the human body, which obviously beyond our absolute control. We take consolation with the fact that somehow, we can modify it, even delay its onslaught by lifestyle changes and sensible nutritional choices.
     Hashtags of Entrasol Platinum, “Get More, Be More”. We add, Know More, ask your Doctor!

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Baguio gets lot offers for housing projects / Health centers get permits

CITY HALL BEAT

Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY -- The city government has received at least eight lot offers for its socialized housing projects.
    City Assessor Maria Almaya Addawe said the lots are now being inspected to determine their viability for the purpose.
    “Due diligence will be done to check if these lots are fit for our intended purpose which is for socialized housing projects,” she said.
    The mayor earlier tasked Addawe to scout for lots inside and outside the city to implement more socialized housing programs for informal settlers.
    He promised to help city government employees who are still renting to be allocated slots in future projects.
    The mayor said Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario had committed to help the city implement more projects next to its first socialized permaculture housing venture, the Luna Terraces in Irisan barangay.
    Luna Terraces was made possible through the DHSUD which gave a P155 million grant for the site development and the National Housing Authority which allocated a total of P326 million for the city’s housing projects, P50 million had been downloaded for the initial two buildings with 64 units.
    The project will have 270 units for award to qualified beneficiaries subject to the criteria set by the Office of the City Social     Welfare and Development Officer (OCSWDO).
    Priority will be given to informal settlers or families residing in danger areas or displaced by natural or human-induced disasters, among other criteria.
    At present, the city has an estimated 15,000 families in need of socialized housing prompting the city government to scout for more lots to develop as housing for them.
    ***
Ten of Baguio’s 16 district health centers have been issued licenses to operate as primary health care facilities (PCFs) by the Dept. of Health in compliance with the requirements of Republic Act (RA) No. 11223 or the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act.
    The district health centers of Asin headed by Medical Officer Dr. Anna Marie Banta; Atab under Dr. Carla Tabin; Atok Trail under Dr. Catherine Posadas; City Camp under Dr. Nelson Hora; Engineers Hill under Dr. Helen Colewan; Irisan under Dr. Vanessa Fagcangan; Lucban under Dr. Maria Lourdes Pakoy; Pacdal under Dr. Edna Tabooy; Pinsao under Dr. Elvira Belingon; and Quirino Hill under Dr. Marie Therese Sumbillo received their licenses from DOH Cordillera led by Regional Director Dr. Rio Magpantay, Licensing, Regulation and Enforcement Division Chief Dr. Virginia Narciso and DOH Baguio City Office DMO Jennifer Valenzuela during the City Hall flag-raising rites April 4.
    As licensed PCFs, the health centers are now authorized to deliver initial-contact, accessible, continuous, comprehensive and coordinated care to the communities they serve.
    They are also accredited as “Konsulta” package provider by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and can now render individual-based health services including initial and follow-up primary care consultations, health screening and assessment and access to selected diagnostic services and medicines.
    Mayor Benjamin Magalong lauded the City Health Service Office under Dr. Rowena Galpo for their diligence in keeping the city’s public health care system responsive to the needs of the constituents.
    He said the konsulta package is a relevant health program considering the challenge posed by Covid-19 and other illnesses.
    The facilities satisfied the requirements set forth under DOH Administrative Order No. 2020-0047 or the Rules and Regulations Governing the Licensure of Primary Care Facilities in the Philippines in compliance with Section 27 of the UHC Act which mandates the DOH to “institute a licensing and regulatory system for stand-alone health facilities including those providing ambulatory and primary care services and other modes of health service provision.
    The PCF regulation is part of the UHC Act’s goal to ensure that only safe and quality primary care services are being delivered to every Filipino.

 

Baguio vagrant who roamed   streets 34 years rehabilitated

Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY -- - A long-time vagrant used to roaming city streets was rescued and successfully rehabilitated through joint government-private efforts led by mental health advocate Ricky Ducas of the Baguio City Health Services Office Mental Health Program unit.

Nanay Calteya, 64, is now happily living with her family in a home built by her family for her away from the streets she inhabited for 34 years.  

It took nine months of whole-hearted efforts from both the government and the private sectors for her to be reintegrated to the community.

“Ngayon si Nanay Calteya ay nag-aalaga ng apo, nagluluto, naglalaba at nakikisimba.  Tumatawa, nagbibiro at higit sa lahat nanumbalik ang ilan niyang ala-ala.  Na-enroll na rin si nanay bilang senior citizen at may social pension pa siya,” Ducas said.

“Tuloy-tuloy ang gamutan.  Monthly and kanyang monitoring at nabibigyan natin ng ‘piskao ken bagas lang’ (tuyo at bigas lang) na unang na sambit niya sa akin noong tinanong ko kung ano ang kanyang gusto,” he added.

Ducas said he made it his mission to rescue Nanay Calteya after observing her daily and being reminded of a lesson he learned from his St. Louis University (SLU) nursing course that “we may have a lot of injustices but everyone deserves to die with dignity.”

His resolve was fanned after seeing her in a social media meme captioned, “Hindi ka taga- Baguio kung hindi mo siya kilala.”

“I was hurt but took it as a challenge.  Matanda na si nanay, at noong kasagsagan ng pandemya wala siyang mapuntahan na mahingian ng pagkain pero salamat sa mga nag-magandang loob na siya ay bigyan,” he said.

The rescue took a month of planning and resource building with the help of various government offices and private groups and individuals.

“We conducted a concert-for-a-cause with the private sector July 15 last year for her.  We located her family through the help of the Office of the City Social Welfare and Development Officer (OCSWDO) and we learned that the family had been longing for their loved one to come home and be taken care of by them but was at a loss as to how to do it after several failed attempts,” Ducas related.

Learning of the rescue, the family even built a modest home for her.

The operation undertaken at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic was not easy.

“We had to plan it carefully because nanay habitually transfers from one place to another.  We did surveillance and observed her daily and after establishing her routine, we coordinated with her family and the different agencies,” Ducas recounted.

Coordination was done with the Baguio City Police Office, BCPO-Women’s desk, OCSWDO, Baguio General Hospital Medical Center Psychiatry Mental Health Support and Services, Baguio City Health Services Office, Baguio City Emergency Medical Service-BCEMS and Anxiety and Depression Support Group- Baguio City Board Members.

The rescue was a success and the next step of the mission was the clinical and medication stage.

“Through the help of the private partner, TG Homes Apartelle, nanay was given a temporary accommodation to bathe and sleep in while waiting for the result of her swab test and admission to the BGHM Psychiatry Department,” he said.

She stayed in the hospital for a month under the care of her senior citizen brother with their needs supplied through the help of volunteers until her discharge to the community.

“Anak na din ang tawag niya sa akin at sobrang saya ng pakiramdam na nagawa natin ang akala natin ay imposible. Sa tulong ng Dios at kayo na may puso na gawin akong tulay sa mga tulad nila. Iyaman! Sumya tako!,” Ducas said issuing a challenge: “Sana magawa natin ito sa lahat ng mga nasa lansangan na may psychosocial disability subalit una sa lahat dapat merong pamilya na handang yumakap muli sa mga tulad nila. Dahil may awa ang May Likha at maraming tao ang handang tumulong sa inyong kapamilya,” Ducas said.

(As part of the strategies on the early detection of mental disorders among individuals, the CHSO made available a helpline that could be immediately contacted by people suffering from mental disorders open from 8am to 5pm: 09190696361.

Beyond said hours, people can reach the National Center for Mental Health 24/7 hotlines: 09178998727; 09663514518; 09086392672.) 

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An ‘unholy’ week

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

March L. Fianza 

BAGUIO CITY -- The lazy days of Holy Week are usually spent with family and old acquaintances. But this time Media Camp Peppot, named after the late newsman Jose Nicolas Ilagan, was unusually lonely. The southeastern spot of Burnham Park is where ties are renewed and not so solemn parties are held from Palm Sunday up to the late hours of Easter Sunday.
    However, for the first time since the Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club, Inc. (BCBC) occupied that corner 12 years ago, Camp Peppot was opened to local tourists who came up to the city to beat the lowland heat, sans the usual media organization.
    What was not missed were the person to person or face to face political maneuvers by politicians and their supporters. As normal as it had been since it started in February, fake news, recycled news and smear campaigns continued, especially against the presidential frontrunner.
    I think Holy Week in tourist destinations like Baguio will be “unholy” everytime, and will always be a sub-activity to politics.         This is so, especially in an election season when politicians catch up with voters who are vacationing here.
    Aside from mudslinging politicians, we saw businessmen selling everything genuine and fake, taking advantage of the Holy Week and big lowland crowds that came up to Baguio and Benguet.  
    It was also on a Holy Tuesday six years ago when then US President Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro discussed reconciliation, new life and tying a broken cord. That led to thousands of Cubans going home after their self-exiles.
    But there was an unholy contrast in Brussels six years ago when a series of three bombs exploded at the airport, immediately killing 34 and injuring 230. While the Christian world was in the Lent, Belgians were slaughtered by Islam extremists.
    Going through religion books is helpful. There was already fake news 2000 years ago when high priests launched hate campaigns against Jesus because many believed what he preached. Then he was arrested, tortured and crowned with thorns on his head as he carried his cross to the hill where he was crucified.
    Prior to that, the Jews and Israelites welcomed Jesus to Jerusalem while waving palm branches, but within days the same people called for his crucifixion after believing the fake news peddled by the high priests who accused him of blasphemy for claiming he was the son of God.
    The Jews and Israelites waved palm branches to welcome Jesus. Hence, Palm Sunday. The palms could also be any plant branch, thus the terms “Branch Sunday,” Domingo de Ramos and Dimanche des Rameaux.
    In some countries in Europe, real palms are unobtainable, so that people use these plants such as olive branches in Italy, yew, spruce, willows and pussy willows. In other places, some plants were called “palms” because of their usage, as the yew in Ireland, the willow in England called “palm-willow” and in Germany – “Palmkatzchen”.
    From the use of willow branches, Palm Sunday was called “Willow Sunday” in some parts of England and Poland, while in Lithuania Palm Sunday was called “Verbu Sekmadienis” or Willow-twig Sunday. The Greek Church uses the names “Sunday of the Palm-Carrying” and Hosanna Sunday”.
    Hundreds of years ago, it was customary to bless not only branches but also flowers of the season. Hence the name “Flower Sunday'', Flowering Sunday or Blossom in England, Blumensonntag in Germany, Pasques Fleuris in France, and Pascua Florida in Spain.
    The next Sunday after Palm is called Easter. It is linked to the Jewish Passover. In many languages, too, “Easter” and “Passover” are identical and very similar terms. Passover was the Jewish festival that took place before the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ.
    The two holidays have been entangled since the beginning so that the word “Pasch” that meant “Passover”, later came to mean Easter. The Passover, as we know, originally developed from the time Moses was ordered by God to confront the Pharaoh as told in the book Exodus.
    The confrontation gave rise to a competition of powers between the two that led to nine plagues against Pharaoh. Still, the Pharaoh did not want to free the Israelites so God brought down a 10th and most fearsome plague.
    The last plague was that every firstborn offspring in every house in Egypt would die that night except those who remained in houses where a lamb had been sacrificed and its blood painted on the doorposts of that house.
    The promise was that everyone would be safe. Death would “pass over” that house. So this day was called Passover. For the Pharaoh, his loss would be that “his son and heir to the throne would die” if he did not obey.
     Happy Easter to all.
 

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