Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Lito Osmeña's Case Versus ABS-CBN Is An Apparent Language Discrimination

March 23,2010
Lito Osmeña’s Case VS. ABS-CBN Is An Apparent Language Discrimination
By Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.

Tagalog-speaking people must give respect to the other groups of Filipinos who have possessed their respective languages or Mother Tongues different from theirs. They should not think that their language, that is Tagalog, has become superior with the rest of the languages in the country for the reason that it was chosen as our national language. If the choice of a national language was based on numbers or of the majority, it should be Cebuano or the Binisayang Sinugboanon.
However, this was not the case, it was the reverse. A Tagalog-speaking President in the person of Manuel Quezon was the one, as I’ve learned in high school, who proclaimed Tagalog as our national language thru the so-called “nearness of the heart” nomination or emotional choice. I do not know how the other groups of Filipinos have reacted to the proclamation at that time since they are living very far from the Presidential Seat in Metro Manila.
Thru the powerful broadcast media like the radio and TV other groups of Filipinos in various regions of the country have gradually learned to speak Tagalog. Aside from the elementary and secondary level where it was also taught as a subject. Because of this scheme many Filipinos have learned to speak it. But it does not mean that the Tagalog language has become a superior language.N0!
The Tagalog-speaking people in Luzon and now in other places of the country where they’ll have chosen to live or were married to other groups of Filipinos with their own inherent languages, should not think that their language is superior compared to other Filipinos’ Mother Tongues. Particularly for the educated Tagalog-speaking individuals, they must give respect to other languages that each of us have inherently learned from our parents and forebears. They should avoid enforcing their languages to other groups of Filipinos. They should be given the freedom to speak their respective languages to their provincemates in the privacy of their off-screen activities even in some Tagalog-sponsored shows and to any kind of audience outside their places.
Every group of Filipinos should also speak and write in their respective languages to their fellowmen provincianos. Speaking in Tagalog to our fellow Visayans or fellow Waray-Waray or Bicolano or llonggo,or Ilocano,or Kapangpangan and others is not the proper way of nurturing,patronizing,cherishing,sustaining and loving our respective languages.
It is only by using our respective languages in our speaking and in writing that we are intellectualizing our respective Mother Tongues. There’s no other way to do that than what I have stated above..
If you asked why I write my article in English, it’s because it’s my chosen medium. Although occasionally I also write in my Mother Tongue which is Cebuano or the Binisayang Sinugboanon. Another reason for writing my article in the English language is because I’m addressing this to all educated Filipinos including those non-Filipinos who happen to read my article.English, my chosen medium in writing my articles, is my preference because the English language is an international language or universal language. A language that is internationally declared or chosen as the universal language is no longer a foreign language to all educated people in every country of the whole world, regardless of his /her race, color, creed or nationality.
It should be the second language to all educated peoples in the face of the earth. They ought to know now how to write and speak in this particular language besides their own languages. Learning other languages is an advantage to any Filipino or other nationality because he/she has a unique edge than those who only know to speak their respective local tongues. Multi-lingual speaker Filipinos have the broad flexibility to adjust their tongues to another languages spoken by other races of the world.
Going back to the case of senatorial candidate Lito Osmeña of Cebu City versus ABS-CBN,the latter should come to realize that there are many languages in the Philippines archipelago that also need to be respected with equality and fairness. A senatorial candidate though not a Tagalog speaker should be allowed to speak in his inherent language in his campaign ads on TV or radio.
Airing his political ads in Manila-based media as I understand it, is also important because a senatorial candidate has a nationwide voting coverage because he’s representing not just one group of Filipinos but for different groups of Filipinos in various provinces and regions. He is not only a representative of one region but a representative of all Filipinos. His representation is different from that of a Congressman who only represents one district in a particular province. It is understood that any group of Filipinos who would approach a Senator for assistance of which he is capable of doing is also welcome. Besides, a senatorial candidate wants that a great majority of Visayan voters who are also living in different places of the country, and some are even residing in Luzon can convey his intention to run for an elective post.
Therefore, there’s no need for the ABS-CNB management to change Osmeña’s message on his ads into Tagalog.Osmeña has his own inherent language and the network should give him due respect for the Bisaya/Cebuano senatorial candidate.
Atty. Manuel Faelnar cited article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights(the Philippines is a signatory of this declaration) that says, “Everyone has the right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression; the right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers”.
Atty.Faelnar adds, “In Article 12 of the UN Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights, it says, “Everyone has the right to carry out all activities in the public sphere in his/her language, provided it is the language specific to the territory where he/she resides. These activities in the public sphere include political advertisements. Furthermore, ABS-CBN’s requirement for as Tagalog translation so the advertisement could be aired is vexing and humiliating, not only to Cebuanos but to all non-Tagalog Filipinos”.
In this respect, Article 26 of the Civil Code of the Philippines provides: “Every person shall respect the dignity, personality, privacy and peace of mind of his neighbors and other persons. The following and similar acts, though they may not constitute a criminal offense, shall produce a cause of action for damages, prevention and other relief.” As always Atty.Faelnar ends his messages with a quote from Ornolfor Thorsson, Iceland’s Presidential Adviser who said, “Without our languages, we have no culture, we have no identity, we are nothing”.
Hence, the only effective way to patronize,nurture,cherish,sustain,love and intellectualize our respective languages here in our country, the Philippines, is to use it always in our speaking and in writing in all occasions towards our fellow provincianos wherever we are living or staying. Abandoning or neglecting our respective Mother Tongues by using other language which is not inherently ours in speaking or in writing towards our fellow provincianos means you are abandoning your own culture and you have no identity. Can you live with that? If we like/love to speak another language or languages that are acquired thru persistent learning in some linguistic schools, why can’t you cherish and love your own language? We should speak only either in Tagalog or English to other groups of Filipinos who cannot understand our own respective languages.Why should a Cebuano or a Bisaya would say “bawal”to his/her fellow provincemate when we can say “guidili or guinadili”?Why should a Cebuano or Bisaya would say “Huwag magtapon nga basura dito” when speaking to his/her fellow Bisaya when he can say “Ayaw paglabog og basura dinhi”.Why should a Cebuano or a Bisaya would say “kayang-kaya” when he can say it in his/her own language “mahimo kaayo” o kaha “sayon kaayo”Ug uban pa nga maingon-ingon niini. We should always cherish, sustain and love our respective Mother Tongues by using it always in our speaking and in writing towards our fellow provincianos throughout our lives because these are the legacies of our forebears.
These measures that I have been mentioning here are also recommendably applicable to other existing languages in the whole world regardless of races, creeds, nationalities or religions.Again, we should always put in our minds the statement of Mr. Ornolfor Thorsson, Iceland’s Presidential Adviser, who said, “Without our languages, we have no culture, we have no identity, we are nothing”.
Freeman/PhilStar Columnist Valeriano ‘Bobit’ Avila says,”Indeed, language has always been a major irritant in our journey to nationhood. It is unfortunate that after we got rid of our Spanish, American and Japan colonizers and given true Independence, another ethnic group wants to colonize all Filipinos and force them to become Tagalog speakers.” (Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.)

SL Delegation Joins The Visayas Trade And Investment Mission To Taiwan

March 23,2010
SL Delegation Joins Visayas Trade And Investment Mission To Taiwan
By Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-Five representatives comprising the Southern Leyte delegation, together with other 13 delegates from four Visayas regions, have joined the recent seven-day Visayas Trade and Investment Mission to Taiwan.
The Visayas business mission has constituted regions 5, 6, 7 and 8. Of the total 18 delegates, 2 were from Eastern Samar,6 from region V1,5 from region V111 and another 5 from Southern Leyte.
The Trade and Investment mission is to promote the Visayas regions as primary destination for Taiwanese investments in agri-aquaculture, information and communication technology, light manufacturing and as a lucrative market with which to source consumer products and raw materials.
Also the mission, our source said, intends to acquire some information and access to the latest technological developments in Taiwan in the field of agriculture and aqua-culture that can be operational in the Visayas.
SP Albert Esclamado, Chairman Committee on Tourism, one of the SL delegates, informed that for the province of Southern Leyte the concern for Trade and Investment were on eco-tourism, aquaculture and processing utilization of coconut products.
Investment seminar, forum and business to business meeting were conducted during their stay in Taiwan whose speakers were mostly potential investors and big businessmen.
The Visayas delegations were also having their field trips and visitations to various firms and establishments in that country. Like the Kashiung Software Park and Food Shows, marine culture farms and Koi farms at Pingtung County, Clone International Biotechnology,Inc.,Hay Long Corp(main products are beverages),First GMP foods manufacturer and GMP model Plant, Whitewood House(specializes in the production of cakes and sweets).
Other establishments that they were able to visit were the Pingtung Agricultural Biotechnological Park-233 hectares government-initiated Research & Development and Investment facility and the only Science Park in Taiwan dedicated to agricultural purposes. Research and Development support with a maximum of 50% subsidy for R & D payment expense; expense subsidies which commissioned academic institutions to help research.
Advanced Green Biotechnology, Inc., founded by Feng –Jhih Liu, who was engaged in a real state construction business in China. Afflicted with cancer that spread to his lungs he stopped construction business and return to Taiwan. He believed that his cancer as in many other cancers, is caused not be hereditary but by the toxic food we eat. He funded AGBT in 2002.
Esclamado also disclosed that both food manufacturers were fully automated and employed only a minimal number of workers. He revealed that most of the companies they have visited give importance to R & D, quality control, and packaging of their products to meet the standard and competition of the global market.
“Companies that we have visited”, he said, “are mindful of their social responsibility and obligations.Hey Long is more committed to community services, while Whitewood House donates a good part of its income to the cause of the elderly”.
The SP member said that during the power point presentation DTI Manager Michael Nunez, also one of the SL delegates highlighted the investment opportunity for eco-tourism on its world-class scuba dive sites including prospects for Limasawa Island, the islands of San Pedro and San Pablo in Hinunangan.
Nuñez also introduced potential fish-caging in Sogod Bay, Cabalian Bay and the prospect of food processing and coconut products.
According to our source John Kuo,also Taiwanese investor, has already visited the country particularly Mindanao and the Visayas.It was further learned that Kuo stated his confidence that the Philippines as compared to Latin America has much better investment climate and opportunity and the skills, trainability and work attitude of the Filipinos.
The Taiwanese consultant also said that the country has the potential investments in aqua-culture, food and fruits like mango, banana chips, jackfruit and coconut vinegar processing, including the market for technology and equipment.
The Southern Leyte delegation furthermore has extended an invitation to John Kuo, CEO of Taiwan Plant Consultants Center to visit the province.
The province representatives to the Taiwan mission moreover recommended the creation of Investment Promotion office under the office of the Govenor,documentary videos of the potential opportunities for investment in Southern Leyte in eco-tourism, aquaculture and processing of coco products, invite the would-be Taiwanese investors who expressed initial interest to visit and explore opportunities for investments, for the LGUs to encourage and initially give attractive incentives to local entrepreneurs to engage in marine culture, food and coco processing and eco-tourism and to make into reality the “Industrial Park” of the province beyond resolutions and proclamations.
General Observations
1).Several water impounding ponds for irrigation and fish culture are very common sights in Taiwan’s rural and urban landscape.
2.)Every bit of land spaces even the surrounds of factory and big buildings are planted to crops, notably rice,vegetables,sights of what appears to be low-cost greenhouses, mostly for growing high value crops and vegetables. Extensive agricultural in practice and applications of new technologies derived from R and D(Research and Development).
3.) Metro cities of Taipei and Kaoshiung are clean and orderly, traffic is smooth and people are generally friendly and willingly helpful. Public toilets are clean and provided with soap, disposal paper towel and hot-air hand dyer. In some toilets disposable towel bowl covers are also available.
4) The ban on smoking in public places, public transports including taxes, restaurants, malls and lobbies of hotels including streets are strictly observed. Smoking is allowed only is pre-designated areas.
5) Impressively the Taiwanese people are brisk/fast walkers and very rarely can one see fat and obese Taiwanese. They are generally trim and slim. A probable reflective of their diet which was observed to be high in fiber (vegetables).
6) Communication was a big problem. Very rarely can an individual find a local who can speak English.Indeed, even choosing a menu in restaurants or asking for salt during mealtime can become an ordeal.
7) Exchanging of business or calling cards is in vogue after 2 new acquaintances are introduced to each other. The delegations learned on this practice during the one-on-one meeting in Taipei and Kaoshiung.
The Southern Leyte delegation, aside from Esclamado and Nuñez were composed of Engr. Dominador Clavejo-DOST Provincial Director; Arturo Marte-Marte Technova Machinecrafts (private sector representative) and former VISCA professor Dr. G.R. Gerona, private sector representative.
Furthermore, the SL delegation also thanked Governor Damian Mercado “for his foresight and commitment to send the delegation to participate in the VTIM to Taiwan” and to Crispin Arong, Jr. for his administrative support. Together with Catherine Marcelo, Maria Aurora Sabalo and Bennites Paloma-Gido “for their diligent and relentless efforts to facilitate and follow-up the preparation of the documents required even beyond normal office hours and other Capitol officials/staff who make their trip a reality”.
The Visayas Trade and Investment mission to Taiwan was organized by the Manila Economic Cooperation office, the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Taiwan and the Department of Trade and Industry-Regional Operations and Development Groups.
Names of businessmen/businesswomen the VTIM have met during their trip to Taiwan, for potential partnerships in various business undertakings in the province:
1)Doris Lee-Tao Hang Corp-Chairwoman, Women Entrepreneurs Association(reful.gence@mse.ninet.net); 2)Shih Jing Lee-(bbok17@yahoo.com.tw); 3)John Kuo-CEO,Taiwan Plant Consultant Center and Taiwan Turnkey Project Association-(John@tpcc.org.tw); 4)Martin Lee-Project Manager, Taiwan Plant Consultant Center; 5)Long Diann Biotech Company,Ltd.; 6)Tih-Rin Chen-Red Tilapia; 7)Akimoto Hung-Director, Strong Way Industrial Company(akimoto.hung@gmail.com); 8)Charles Cheng-President, King Logistics Equipment Engineering; 9)Patricia Chen-Spring Pond; 10)Mac H.M. Chiu-Cheng Shun Hsing Co,Ltd (aqchiu@yahoo.com.tw); 11)Emma Liu-Advanced Green Biotech (agbt@agbt.com.tw).(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)

Lending Collector Breaks His Leg

March 23,2010
Lending Collector Breaks His Leg
By Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-A lending collector who was on his way to Macrohon to collect money from loaners of the place broke his right leg when his motorcycle rammed against a concrete wall in brgy. Ibarra. here.Macrohon is about 15 kilometers away from Maasin’s city proper.
The collector-victim was identified as Junrey Consigna Cerro, 24 years old, single.He was a resident of brgy. Combado here and an employee of the Orange Groove, a lending agency located in the same barangay.Aside from his fractured leg, he has also some bruises.
In an interview the victim said that he was on his way to Macrohon to collect money from the lenders of the place. He said he would proceed to Padre Burgos after all the scheduled payment collections in Macrohon would be finished.
However, as he drove his motorcycle towards Macrohon he had overtaken a motorcab passenger upon reaching brgy. Ibarra, he said. But a Pajero with a combination of dark blue and gray color suddenly maneuvered a U-turn. Trying to avoid a collision, he said, he swerved to the left side and his motorcycle hit on the right side light at the rare wheel of the vehicle.
Losing control of his motorcycle it rammed against a concrete wall and he was thrown away. He said his leg was struck on a nearby jackfruit tree and could hardly move because of severe pain. His motorcycle was damaged.
He said a not-for-hire truck that happened to pass by had picked him up aboard and he was brought to the provincial hospital for emergency treatment.
Nevertheless, Traffic Officer Donato Cervantes clarified that based on the witnesses’ statements at the accident site, it was not a Pajero as he victim claimed but a van-type vehicle which the victim-collector had evaded.
According to the police officer the witnesses said that Cerro was avoiding a collision with the van by driving back his motorcycle. He instead hit a stone the police said, and rammed his motorcycle upon a concrete wall and was thrown away.
When asked for some documents relative to the possession of his motorcycle, Cervantes said, the victim-collector could not present anything, not even a license to drive.”Ang drayber nga walay licensya mapilde gyud sa kaso kung maagrabiyado ang tagtungod.Mas maayo nga ayha kita momaniho og unsa man nga sakyanan,molukat gyud ta og licensya”,he said in Cebuano.(A driver who has no license would be defeated in any accident case by a concerned individual involved. It’s better that before we intend to drive a motorcycle or any type of vehicle we must get a license.)
X-ray result showed that the victim’s right leg has a fractured bone above the knee.Dr.Elpidio Sibud, an Orthopedic Surgeon who was the physician on-duty when the victim-collector arrived at the provincial hospital’s emergency room has operated on his fractured leg.
A stainless steel was screwed on his fractured bone as support base, it was learned, which would be detached years after the broken bone would be reconnected to its original form thru the body’s natural healing process.
The victim further informed that it was his employer who shouldered for his medical and operation expenses.
As of this writing the victim’s fractured leg was still swollen. He has taken some medication for his swell and pain together with injectable and dextrose-mixable vitamins to recover his strength.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)

Friday, March 12, 2010

The New System Helps GSIS Management Detecs 1.3M Fictitious Members- Mooney

March 12,2010
The New System Helps GSIS Management Detects 1.3M Fictitious Members-Mooney
By Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-The adoption of the new computerization system that started in 2002 has greatly helped the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) management in identifying some fictitious members.
This was the disclosure of GSIS Regional Manager Velma Fuentes-Mooney in a get-together held during the recent evening at the Supercha Restaurant here. It was attended by almost all of the print and broadcast media practitioners in the province.
The Regional Manager informed that the computerization has started in 2002 up to 2007.During this period a total of 2.7M GSIS members were detected to have 1.3M fictitious members and only 1.4M were bonafide or real members. “Without the adoption of the new system, we could not have identify some of the fictitious members and the pension fund would be gone by 2009”, she predicted..
She implied that from time to time the GSIS management was providing pensions and loans to its members.However,it doesn’t mean that the office is going into business. “Loans are just a privilege offered to members”, she said “and they are obliged to pay it with 12% interest per annum.”
She said those loans’ interests were used as administration’s expenses and other line of services.
She revealed that there were criticisms hurled at them because of the new system but said that they will have to face it. “Its better that critics get angry today and curse us today that be angry with us forever. We are doing it for the benefit of the members”, she emphasized.
Mooney clarified that yearend bonuses are for qualified members and that cash advances for pensioners are optional.
Asked by the group how true is the rumor that GSIS-Maasin branch has been relegated into a satellite office, she replied that GSIS-Maasin has remained as branch office.
Mooney explained that the previous widening of the road has affected GSIS makeshift tent-shade constructed alongside the building for waiting pensioners. “The situation would endanger their (pensioners’) safety”, she said, “the reason why we decided to transfer to a two-storey government building at Maasin Pier which is lower in monthly rental”. Aside from that some of the personnel were transferred to Tacloban-GSIS office, it was learned.
She clarified that a satellite office has only 5 staff. It has no treasurer, no cashier and no legal officer, which is a stark contrast to that of the Maasin-GSIS.
She informed that GSIS-Catarman and Borongan were both satellite offices under the Catbalogan-GSIS.While GSIS-Ormoc is also a satellite office under the regional GSIS-Tacloban office.
The Regional Manager said that before, the GSIS has different databases that were hard to reconcile. “With the new system all data from various GSIS branch offices were merged as one database in a so-called GSIS oracle. In this system it’s easy to access any members’ name”, she confided.
She also pointed out that the GSIS management will stick to the new system and has no intention in going back to the manual operation and that the “Oracle Migration” was done in December. “If we did not change and adopt a new system, maybe in 2009 the money would be gone”, she reiterated.
The amiable GSIS Manager in answer to some speculation about its office fund, underscored that based on the current pecuniary condition of the entire GSIS pension fund, it will last up to 2067.”It’s not true that GSIS has no more money”, she said.

Full Dependent, Full Support
Mooney further clarified that qualified pensioners who have dependents will continue to receive full support. However, “If a spouse will get married again her support will be cut off”, she said. “But if he/she will remain without another partner, he/she will also continue to receive monetary support for lifetime”. She claimed this is a worldwide law.
Nonetheless, those who have live-in partners, if reported to us, we’ll act on the report and if found to be true their pensions will be cut off, she stressed.
The congenial Manager furthermore underscored the need for all bonafide GSIS members to have their e-cards.
She added that GSIS will spearhead as the prime mover in the use of unified cards for all government employees. “The unified cards can serve its holders, not only as GSIS ID cards but also in various government transactions like in SSS, BIR, NSO, PhilHealth and Pag-Ibig Fund. The multi-purpose ID cards which were pilot-tested are to be rolled out this March 2010.”(Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.)

Manny Pacquiao Should Shun Politics

March 12,2010
Manny Pacquiao Should Shun Politics
By Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-Manny Pacquiao, an obscure man in the past, but now shines like a gem in the world of boxing as champions in 6 different divisions, should not and must not enter politics. He should take heed to the advice of his mother, relatives and fans. Whoever advises Manny Pacquiao to enter politics is not actually helping him. He /she would be leading him to a potentially unredeemable downfall. Manny himself must also recognized that academically and educationally he is not qualified, whether he would accept it or not. This is an advice of concern from one of his fans. Most of his fans think that he should not enter politics and must remain as a boxing icon, being the only Asian who wins in 6 various weight divisions (including the 3 successive wins in his career within a year in 2008).
He must be proud of this achievement of course, but not to the extend of entering the political arena, where he knows nothing yet about governance.Pacquiao can serve and help the poor Filipinos if he really wants too without tainting himself with dirty politics. This is one of the things that he must avoid venturing into, for it’s not sure hit for him. With his millions and millions of money he can create jobs that would generate employment and preferably hire the poor and jobless people where his businesses are established. There’s no need for him to enter politics, which he is not prepare to face this strange area. He must be satisfied in what he has already accomplished.
It would be better for him now to continue his study in Business Management and his English language tutoring and to engage in marketing and in other business activities to improve his skill in business endeavor. With his vast money deposits, he can now provide for a good quality education for his children.
Courses like Medicine, Science and Technology, Education, Aeronautics, Engineering, Architecture, Music and Arts, Commerce, Military Service, Foreign Service and Journalism are among recommendable college courses that his children can now choose because Pacquiao has the big means and can well afford for the good future of his children
To start disciplining also his children as part of nurturing and raising his family and showing a good example for them would lead them to become good and productive citizens of this country in the future. In these things should Manny Pacquiao must focus his attention, time and effort after retiring from boxing. Since he is already recognized as a popular pound-for-pound fighter and is chosen as the Man of the Year 2008 by the Philippines Sportswriters Association, he is now in turn a legend in the field of boxing. Is he not contended and satisfied with this kind of hard-earned benchmark and accolades bestowed upon him?
On the other hand, if Pacquiao really is seriously interested in serving the country as a politician, he must prepare himself by taking a 4-year course in Public Administration and a 4-year-course in law. This is because one of the works of a Congressman or Senator in Congress is to legislate and enact laws. But this will take another long years of dedication and devotion for Manny before he could finish these courses. In the Philippines our kind of politics is tainted with irregularities and anomalies that will most likely would also taint his name as former champion boxer.
If Manny Pacquiao is sensitive enough to perceive the reason why some politicians and businessmen want him to run as Congressman, is that they are only riding on his popularity status. They seem not to look into consideration how the low-graded boxer would fare in his uncharted and unknown course. The only way that Manny can keep his name untainted by political maneuverings and irregularities is to keep away from politics’ temptive prodding and urgings. Those political paddings of condescension and sweet talks are just a passing scene and will vanish in the air after the political campaign sorties. It would be much better for him also to save his millions from being wasted in a political exercise where he has a very slim chance of winning. This is an advice of concern from a fan.
Furthermore, if any Filipino citizen really wants to serve his country, he/she must prepare himself/herself to any position in the Government Service by taking one or two 4-year college courses needed and required in a government positions he/she is planning to occupy. I don’t think that any position in the Government Service is just a joke that anybody will just be allowed to run even without meeting first the necessary requirements and qualifications. To run for any government position should not be a product of an actor’s,actress’or any other Filipino’s whims and caprices but of being and having prepared for such positions by finishing a 4-year college course or courses. A simple law stating that able to read and write and a natural born Filipino citizen are enough requirements for those who want to run for President or any position in the Government Service must be amended now.
This kind of such a very simple law is no longer workable and acceptable in our modern times. The current age of space travel, state-of –the-art gadgets, modern communication facilities, sophisticated weapons of destruction, cellphones and computer-internet connections has shrank the distances of millions of miles among nations by just a cellphone call or a computer-internet click which cause for the transformation of all nations into global communities and global villages.
Now that Manny Pacquiao has successfully won his recent 7th world title in a historic bout against Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico at MGM Grand Arena in Nevada, Las Vegas,USA, and become the first ever boxer worldwide to win in 7 different weight divisions, the more he should remain humble. He can retire now. But if he still wants to fight one more bout with Mayweather or Valerio (now Clottey), that would be alright.However, after this incoming event, win or loss, he should retire from boxing for good. He should stop subjecting his body to over absorption of more punishing punches, jabs, blows and uppercuts to lessen the adverse effects of bodyhits when he reaches the old age. Even how much the temptive pressure he will going to receive from politicians to enter the political arena, he should not allow himself to be carried away by any kind of persuasion and flattery. It would be the best and the excellent to remember Manny Pacquiao as the greatest Asian boxer of his era by winning 7 titles in 7 different weight classes sans participation in dirty politics.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)

Achieving A Sustainable Preservation Of The Ozone Layer

March 12,2010
Achieving A Sustainable Preservation Of The Ozone Layer
By Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-The annual commemoration of the Preservation of Ozone Layer that falls on Sept. 16 should served as a reminder for us the need to continually sustain the mandate of the Montreal Protocol signed by the leaders of nations on Sept.16,1987. This kind of treaty enjoins all leaders of the world to gradually phase out in a certain period of time the production of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) in particular. The scientists believed that CFC is the cause of the disastrous damage in the depletion of ozone layer which serves as the protective mantle of the earth.
The main function of this element/substance is to diffuse the ultraviolet rays from the sun’s light needed by the animals, plants, humans and other forms of life on Planet Earth, which if excessive, will ensue an ominous
effect to all living things if remain unchecked.
Sometime in the 1980s, a group of scientists have discovered a huge hole in the Antarctic region of our planet that has raised alarm in the scientific communities. The phenomenon has created a wave of shocks
and fear by the experts and ordinary citizens. This finding has led in the gathering of all leaders to sign the abovementioned treaty.
It is now almost 23 years since that historic event. Did the gradual reduction in the manufacturing of CFC has a prevailing effect in the healing of the wounded ozone layer? The facts I’ve gathered revealed that as of NASA’s 2006 report the big hole was 11.5 million square miles. However, NASA’S latest report indicates that
the hole has shrunk to 9.7 million square miles, a 16 percent decrease from that in 2006 report.
This disclosure is a significant development despite of the fact that the hole is still as big as North America, it was disclosed. Still large enough to cause disastrous effect to all life on earth.
Based on the information that I have gathered, there’s a continuing necessity to seriously and religiously implement all the provisions and guidelines under the Montreal Protocol. All the leaders of the world must possess the political will to commit themselves relentlessly to realize the objective in achieving a full recovery of the damaged ozone layer.
This kind of undertakings manifested by leadership by example from among conscientious, persistent and determined govermment officials and NGO leaders should prod and inspire future leaders and the next from generations to generations to also implement and devotedly apply the Montreal Protocol to the letter.
Nevertheless, I have the suspicion that other substances/compounds created by some chemists worldwide of various specializations possessed some contributory characteristics which is potential to the destruction of the ozone layer. This cover substances/compounds that inherently possessed pungent and excruciating odors. There’s also the need to examine the different brands and classification of chemicals by our experts and scientists worldwide to determine if really these man-made chemicals that pollutes our environment are equally disastrous to the ozone layer. If after some in-depth research and experimentations, proofs would surface that some of the available chemicals and compounds in the market also cause to the destruction of the ozone layer, then such kind of chemicals must be stopped from its production.
When all nations of the world will reach the target of achieving a full recovery of the ozone layer in the coming years after NASA’s space survey, man’s temptive tendency for the restoration in the production of CFCs and other harmful chemicals that damage the earth’s protective mantle, must be resisted and prevented.
Bitter lessons learned out of man’s carefree, abusive attitude and ignorance in the caring, conserving and protecting our environment which resulted to its destruction cannot be overemphasized. The kind of implementation that will achieve the objective by the current leaders of nations in attaining a strongly sustainable preservation of the ozone layer must be seriously and religiously followed from generations to generations of mankind.( Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)

How Clean Is The Coal-Fired Power Plant?

March 12,2010
How Clean Is The Coal-Fired Power Plant?
By Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.

I am somewhat astounded upon reading the front page of a Cebu-based daily The Freeman with a huge picture of a streamer placed at the stage which says “246MW Clean Coal-Fired Power Plant”: during its “Switch On Ceremony” with PGMA as its guest speaker held at the CEDC Multi-purpose Hall in Toledo City, Province of Cebu (The Freeman, March 6, 2010 issue).
I am surprised because all I have learned about coal is that it is the dirtiest fossil fuel on earth. According to the information that I have gotten from the US Environmental Protection Agency it was reported that coal-fired power plants account for most of the pollutant elements emitted by the power industry in the United States. Coal-fired power plants emit 93% of the nitrogen oxide,96% of the sulfur oxide,88% of the carbon dioxide and 99% of the mercury emissions that pollute the air. Any person can just imagine the high percentage of pollution and health hazards pose by the coal-fired power plants to the residents within the surrounding vicinity where the projects are constructed.
How can it be that it was described as “clean”? What process the management was using to make the emission of coal be filtered? Is there now an existing technology that can filter the pollutants being released by the burning of tons of coal to produce power equivalent to 246MW as was stated on a huge tapestry at the stage? I have learned on the news story that it was 82MW, part of the three units to be constructed comprising a total of 246MW,an additional power output for the province of Cebu.
If there’s already an existing coal emission filter technology, is it a Filipino invention or one that is from other country either in the USA,Germany,Japan,India,China,Australia,Austria,France,Italy or Egypt?
Are some technical men and experts from a country where such invention has originated were invited to inspect and make experiments and tests to see how the new coal cleaner technology works?
If there were no technical men and experts from other country or countries invited, was the conduct of series of experiments and tests done by our very own Filipino technical men and experts?
If the answers to my questions were met with positive actions relative to the objective of making emissions of tons of coal everyday throughout the whole year being cleaned by filtration or other means of
cleansing its pollutants, how come that there’s no detailed reports that we can read in Cebu’s leading newspapers either from The Freeman or Cebu Daily News?
Most of the reports that I have read were that of the oppositions/objections among the residents in the constructions of coal-fired power plants in the area. Although the project was welcome by no less than the Chief Executive of Toledo City because of its employment and revenue generations for the city’s coffer. But without counting the environmental pollution which would be the eventual result of coal’s continual emissions of pollutants into the surrounding air. On the other hand,CEDC’s $450M or roughly P3billion has another 2 and 3 units expected to go on line by the end of May and the end of December according to the report.
Is the DENR that is in-charged in the inspection and approval of such delicate project do some checking and testing of its equipments,. apparatus and gadgets to see if the plant is applying the provisions under the Clean Air Act of 1999?
Our planet Earth is already suffering from heavy pollution because of man’s less caring of his environment and ecosystem but more on material gains and profits. Because of this we are now feeling the effects of global warming as the outcome of too much emission of different kinds of pollution that stuck and hover in the Earth’s atmosphere.
According to the Scientists and some experts the heat from the sun that is supposed to bounce back to the atmosphere was blocked by the heaps of heavy pollution hovering in the Earth’s atmosphere and goes back to the Earth again-the result is the inevitable global warming.
Additionally, global warming caused some thick hard ice or icebergs in some parts of the earth to gradually melt. The melting would result to higher water elevation of some oceans of the world that shall potentially submerges small islands in the near future if global warming would continue unabated.. Now we have this so-called erratic weather conditions that begets climate change. If you are an observant of weather conditions you know and will understand what climate change is all about.
If the manufacturers of various products for human consumptions and other human needs like cars, airplanes, vehicles, chemical sprays, pesticides and other things needed by today’s modern world would religiously implement some measures to reduce by 3/4 of the volume of their emissions (release) of pollutant elements and substances into the air, they will greatly contribute to the gradual reduction of global warming on our only life-giving planet.
WE hope that the adjective “clean” describing the newly-open unit one which is a part of the 246MW coal-fired power plant in Toledo City is not a bluff neither a misleading flattery, but a palpable reality. I hope so. We hope so.
On the other hand, our public officials and other high government officials including the NGOs and the private sector ought to lead the entire population in seriously always adopting environment-friendly measures in the establishing and constructing of any income-generating projects in the country. This primary important step is mainly to protect and preserve our only one ecosystem, the Planet Earth, for the seek also of other coming generations of man who should enjoy the same benefits and privileges as we have.(Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.)

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Yesteryears Songs,Regional Songs,New Songs Must Be Played Side By Side On The Airwaves

March 8.2010
Yesteryears Songs,Regional Songs And New Songs Must Be Played Side By Side
On The Airwaves
By Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-Yesteryears songs, regional songs and new songs must be played side by side on the airwaves in the three mediums-English,Tagalog,Cebuano-or other languages and current hits because these compositions whether in English,Tagalog,Cebuano or other languages in the Philippines and in other countries’ languages are irreplaceable, timeless and inimitable.
I have been observing for many years now that majority of music stations here in the Philippines only play a very limited number of songs within weeks or months. They keep on repeating the same songs for weeks or months making it monotonous to listen to by listeners particularly the music lovers in us-full-blooded music lovers. Their style in playing the limited number of songs seems to show that there are only few songs available in the record bars and stores. The reality is that there are numerous and thousands of good songs available in various recording companies that were sold during the past decades. Does playing a limited number of songs means that they have no collections of various albums in the past years?
Station Managers must choose discs jockeys who are full-blooded music lovers themselves that will handle the musical programmings.This kind of music lovers have the natural inclination to listen to various kinds of songs and music. They are the kind of disc jockeys who can meet the music lovers’€™ expectations of providing them with a wide variety of songs during musical programming.
In the Philippines there are many languages, so that playing only English and Tagalog songs is a kind of disc riminatory approach on the part of disc jockeys managing the different musical programs. It is only fortunate that Tagalog was chosen as the country’s national language.However,the fact is that majority of the inhabitants in the Visayas and Mindanao are Cebuano-speaking people, aside from other form of languages in these areas. Making as one of the subjects in all school levels, Tagalog, which was dubbed as Pilipino as a subject has gained it ‘s influence in achieving the objective of the Tagalog-speaking people in Central Luzon who want it to be our national language.
Speaking on the matter of predominant languages in the composition of songs in the archipelago, regional songs refer to the song compositions written in Cebuano, Waray-waray, Hiligaynon, Bicolano, Ilocano and other language predominant in a particular region. In Samar provinces and part of Leyte, the inhabitants speak inWaray-waray.Although there are places in Samar and Leyte whose denizens also speak and understand Cebuano.The same also in Negros Island whose people speak in Hiligaynon(Ilonggo)and Cebuano languages.
When it comes to recorded songs the predominant languages used by the composers in different regions are those that I have aforementioned. There are various and many original songs in each of the predominant languages in the Philippines . They are worth playing on the airlanes for the listening pleasure and entertainment of its respective people who speak and understand these languages side by side with English and Tagalog. It should not be relegated to the sidelines by playing only casually at the start of the opening program or in the dead of night when majority of the radio listeners are already sleeping. Like the English and Tagalog songs that were being played during the whole of daytime, so also with those regional songs in every particular regions of the country.
FMs, including AMs and SWs disc jockeys have the great privilege in adapting this idea since they are always on the airlanes belting out songs from various artists for their listeners nationwide, and even perhaps outside the Philippines via the internet links.
Generally, most of the radio stations have a voluminous stock of records/albums in their shelves so that some are perhaps gathering dust and untouched for years. Some were either dotted with moist and molds. Time to open wide these shelves now and start cleaning those dirtied albums and instrumental pieces and play them on the airwaves for additional entertainment.
Since there are too numerous to count those various compositions of songs-adaptation songs, love,classic,rock,ballads,jazz,reggae,rap,antic songs,etc-covering the 1930s,40s,50s,60s,70s,80s and 90s,a round-robin scheduling in playing these songs should be adopted as a policy for a fair playing. This system of playing should be strictly imposed by the FMs/AMs/Sws Station Managers to their disc jockeys who should be obliged to implement the new musical programmings. Not forgetting that in playing English and Tagalog songs, regional songs in a particular region should be played side by side with it. Cebuano songs in the Cebuano-speaking regions; Waray-Waray and Cebuano in the Waray-Waray-speaking region; Hiligaynon and Cebuano in Negros Oriental and Occidental; Bicolano in the Bicol region and Ilocano in the Ilocandia regions.
In applying this new kind of musical programming, which is a radical departure from the traditional ones employed by the majority of disc jockeys in the country for many many years now, it must be closely monitored by the respective Station Managers. This is to see that the newly-adopted system will be put into practice and maintain by all of the FM s/AMs/SWs stations.
As it is discussed earlier, songs of the past 7 decades are irreplaceable, timeless and inimitable. What were composed at that time cannot be composed anymore by the breed of composers and songwriters nowadays. The simple reason is that the gift of music varies from composers to composers. We should not abandon the songs of the past decades. They are precious and priceless as long as real and full-blooded music lovers, young and old, are concern. Songs are also agless.Only man will aged. Songs will always remain unchanged by the movement and the passing of time. If the songs were pleasant and melodious to hear and listen to in the past, it will remain the same. The pleasantness of its tunes and melodies will not be affected by the passing of years and even decades. Relegating yesteryears songs in the shelves of oblivion is a waste of talent and time among the composers’ efforts in creating those songs. Its existence would then become meaningless. The only way to make it meaningful and useful to the society of music lovers is to play them from time to time via the round-robin scheduling.
All music lovers, regardless of his/her nationality, creed or race, will love to listen to various music and all kinds of songs and music.
When I was a kid in the 1950s,I love listening to music/;songs and instrumental pieces done in guitar and in piano. Although I do not understand English, Tagalog or Spanish songs at that very young age, I love to listen to their songs everytime I heard it on the radio. Much more to Cebuano songs. It seems that irrespective of what kind of lyrics the songs were written I always love the singers’ renditions of the songs’ tunes and melodies. I have also learned that some of the songs I have heard at that time were in the1930s and 40s compositions. It is also much better for the current disc jockeys to revive the style of the past disc jockeys of announcing the titles and names of the singers of some songs that are seemingly new to the listeners but in truth have already recorded ten or more years ago. The purpose of this measure, which is actually a public service, is a kind of sharing of informations to make their respective hundreds and thousands of listeners become familiar with those songs. This is the main reason why until now I can still recall some titles of songs and names of singers in the past decades.
Notwithstanding the kind of songs an FM/AM/SW stations have compiled and kept, the important thing is that it will adopt a system of a round-robin scheduling so that every song has the opportunity and a chance to be heard by radio listeners. Disc jockeys in either aforementioned radio stations should not wait for a request of songs to be played. They should adopt a free-wheeling style of playing various songs from various bands and different local/foreign soloists/singers for 3 days. What would be the only changes is the time the various songs are being played. The three-day successive playing is an important measure for the listeners to embed the lyrics and tunes of the songs in their minds for familiarity. and easy recall. Then another set of songs will be culled from the same bands and soloists as every band and soloist has commonly numerous songs to their credit, also for 3 successive days playing. When all of the songs of some bands and soloists were already played on the airwaves, and then time to subject other bands’ and soloists’ albums for selections. The same pattern will be continually applied to other bands and soloists until all stock of songs available in every radio stations will all be played, then back to square one.
The playing of selected songs schedule always starts every Monday. It would mean that the playing of the second batch would start playing on Thursday up to Saturday. Sunday would always be featured songs from various bands and soloists that a certain FM/AM/SW stations have possessed. Songs played on that particular
Sunday should be repeated the next Sunday. Of course with the same purpose to embed the songs’ tunes and lyrics for the listeners familiarity.
The round-robin scheduling of playing numerous collections of songs/music is the only fair and effective way in order that available songs in all FM/AM/SW stations in every country throughout the world will have the time to be played on the airlanes and be heard by its respective listeners for total musical entertainment.
How can the young, adult and old music lovers recognize and appreciate a song or songs if they don't hear them at all? How can they make a request of any songs if they do not know its title and name of singers and its composers? Putting this idea into sustainable implementation and serious application by all concerned Station Managers of all kinds of radio stations in all countries of the world is profoundly beneficial to all peoples who are under the mantle of a Musical World.
Songs of (living and dead)bands and soloists to be covered in a wide collections of repertoire in the three mediums, local and foreign, among others, are the following: Jaime Salazar, Nora Hermosa, Al Comendador,Taks Suguete,Serges dela Peña,Carmen Camacho, Pauline Sevilla, Ben Zubiri,Dos Compadres, Max Surban, Yoyoy Villame,Diomedes Maturan, the new breed of Cebuano singers in the 1970s,80s and 90s,Pelita Corrales, Nora Aunor,Carmen Soriano,Linda Alsid,Mercy Molina, Eddie Mesa, Eddie Peregrina,Victor Wood, Carmen Pateña, Louie Levant, Fred Panopio,Cenon Lagman,Ruben Tagalog,Ric Mandrique,The Reycard Duet, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Nat King Cole, Natalie Cole, Pat Boone,Sherley Boone, Helen Reedy, Andy Williams, Buddy Haley, DianaRoss, Whitney Houston, Bobby Goldsboro, Barry Mannilow,The Platters, The Drifters, The Four Seasons, The Temptations, The Association, The Turtles, The Animals, The Four Tops, The Righteous Brothers, José Feliciano,Freddie and The Dreamers, Connie Francis, Doris Day,Timi Yuro,Brenda Lee, Sue Thompson, Paul Anka,Niel Sedaka,Herman’s Hermits, Del Shannon,Niel Diamond, Cliff Richard, Carole King, Jack Jones, Tom Jones, Sarah Vaughn, Dusty Springfield,Lulu,Lettermen,Dave Clark Five, The Beattles,The Rolling Stones, Gerry and the Peacemakers, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, The Village People, Credence Clearwater Revival, The Monkees,The Beach Boys, Bee Gees, The Cascades, The Bread,Everly Brothers, Simon and Garfunkel, ,The Ghost Squad,Air Supply, , Firehouse, Bobby Vinton, The Ghost Squad, Shamrock and the Pharaohs, Ohio Express, Peter and Gordon, Chad and Jeremy, Patti Page, Celia Black, The Hollies, The Searchers, The Spiral Staircase, The Fabulous Echoes, Anita Bryant,Petula Clark, Jerry Vale, Eddie Fisher, Billy Walker, Teddy Randazzo,Matt Monroe, Patsy Cline, Joni James,Engilbert Hamperdenck,Chubby Checker, Michael Jackson, Julie Andrews, Steve Lawrence, Johnny Mathis, The Eagles, Johnny Tilottson,FreddieFender,TheScorpions,Metallica,Queen,Bon Jovi;Tito,Nash and Bill;Harry Velafonte and all Spanish songs, instrumental numbers done in guitar and in piano pieces, and among other singers whose songs are available in some of the music stations worldwide.
Since there are countries in the world whose mother tongue is not English, the round-robin scheduling of playing various songs in 3 or 4 languages in any music stations is likewise applicable and adaptable to those countries that have music stations. We must sustain, cherish, nurture and patronize the songs and music written and compose in our respective mother tongues so that each country throughout the world can develop its respective strong multicultural foundations as a distinct identity of each race and nationality.
This novel idea, unperceived by the majority of disc jockeys in the Philippines, and most probably in other countries, is a win-win thing to adapt.1)FM/AM/SW disc jockeys who will adopt this ideas discussed in this article and put into regular practice in weeks, months and years indefinitely from generation to generation will have a gradual increase on its listeners, thus making their respective stations popular;2)Their respective listeners will be able to hear and listen to a wide variety of songs that would satisfy their cravings for various melodies and tunes;3)Recording companies would increase their sales of different albums to meet the demands from music lovers who want to listen and sing it themselves for learning and mastery;4)Paying of radio slot time for advertisements would increase as well as free-of-charge public services;5)Composers/Musicians will also continue to receive their royalties from their recorded songs that they’ve composed, thus encouraging and inspiring them to compose more and more songs for the pleasure and satisfactory entertainment among music lovers worldwide.
Additionally, all recording companies in the Philippines and worldwide must have their respective 2 copies as files for every song’s lyric and 2 copies for its music sheets that they have recorded for future references. This is vitally important because in the future some music companies, music lovers and musicians may want some lyrics of the songs and music sheets they like but could not find any lyrics and music sheets of some songs anymore even in the internet. Two files of every album/CD from every band and every singer is also recommendable for future reference as the needs arises. Because of overlooking the importance of having files for every song’s lyric and its music sheets, some websites like that of Cliff Richard, Del Shannon, Brenda Lee, Timi Yuro, Jerry Vale, Eddie Peregrina and other websites dedicated to some of the yesteryears popular singers, viewers were invited to post/contribute their songs’ lyrics if they have any in their possessions (Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.)

Websites For Cebuano Songs And Lyrics Needed

March 8,2010
Opinion/Commentary
Websites For Cebuano Songs And Lyrics Needed
By Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.
Do our Cebuano/Visayan musicians, composers, singers and music lovers aware of the pitiful situation that in the internet there’s no active website for all kinds of Cebuano/Visayan songs and lyrics of the past and present? But the Tagalog people of similar fascination and inclination in music and songs have their various websites accessible in the internet for all kinds of Tagalog songs. The Americans, British, Australians and other white men who are equally great musicians and singers and composers have theirs in plentiful in the internet. You can ask for the songs or the lyrics of your favorite singers or bands by typing inside the box being provided for your search. Mostly, you can get what lyrics or songs you want.
Personality backgrounds of your favorite singers or bands are also made available by typing their specific names prior to clicking the search menu. Can we do the same thing if we want to know the songs and backgrounds of our Cebuano/Visayan singers, whose songs we have been listening in the past years? No, we can’t! And no lyrics either.
On the other hand, we are fond of singing numerous Tagalog and English songs, but we can rarely sing our very own indigenous song compositions.Why? Mainly because lyrics of these Cebuano/Visayan songs that we used to sing in the past have been forgotten. And we have no immediate guide to re-learn its wordings and tunes since there’s no proper venue to get it.
The availability of Cebuano or Visayan songs in record stores particularly in small places are only a various collection album commonly one or two kind. Names of singers in each selected song were not even mentioned. Most music lovers, particularly the young, know the singers of the songs that they’ve sang, whether English or Tagalog. Ironically, when it comes to local talents, they hardly know anybody. Except Max Surban and Yoyoy Villame whose antics and humorous songs tickled their senses. But rarely, if they ever knew of Jaime Salazar’s antics and funny songs that will also equally tickle their senses.
But for Visayan singers of standard love songs and ballads, the young .generation of music lovers or even some old ones, could hardly mention some local singers. Why can’t we have a display of individual albums of various popular Cebuano singers, among others, like that of Taks Suguete,Al Commendador, Sergs De La Peña,Pauline Sevilla,Nora Hermosa, Carmen Camancho,Jaime Salazar,Dos Compadres, Diomedes Maturan,Pelita Corrales, Nora Aunor’s original English songs, Victor Wood,Dulce de Amor,Gina Morales, the young popular Cebuano singers of the 1970s, l980s,1990s and the current popular singers. What I’ve mentioned here are the singers of yesteryears favorite Cebuano songs. Theirs are the songs that we want to have it heard always from time to time. Its compositions of songs are irreplaceable and timeless. If the songs of these singers were pleasant to hear in the past, the same kind of pleasantness has remained until this very day. The taste in its melodies will not dissipate. Songs are ageless-whether it is Cebuano, Tagalog, English, Ilocano, Bicolano, Waray-waray, Hiligaynon, or other regional songs in the Philippines. As a music lover myself since my childhood days, I still love to listen now to some songs that I heard in those days, whether it be Cebuano, English or Tagalog.
If concerned Cebuano musicians and composers lack the influence in convincing the recording companies in Metro Manila to make Cebuano/Visayan songs be made available in individual albums of the past popular Cebuano singers, then it would be much better that people in the music industry in the Visayas and Mindanao should join hands in establishing our very own recording companies in Cebu City, Mandaue City, Davao City, Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City,.Ozamis City,Bohol and in Dumaguete City.. Like what the Tagalogs and the English people are doing to promote their various countless songs in albums, we in the Cebuano-speaking regions should also patronize our very own songs by buying it and playing them regularly in all radio stations in the Visayas and Mindanao side by side with Tagalog and English songs. Our discs jockeys, particularly FM stations have a great role in this kind of musical promotion to achieve success, including our AM radio stations.
Again musicians and composers should start educating and informing our young generation of music lovers by exposing them to Cebuano songs and music thru the FM and AM stations in the Visayas and Mindanao. It would be too strange and ridiculous if we can easily sing Tagalog and English songs but find it hard to sing our very own native songs. We must remember that our original Cebuano song compositions are not inferior to English and Tagalog if we want a comparison. Even the adaptation songs of Jaime Salazar, Pauline Sevilla and other Cebuano singers for instance, are also pleasant to listen to. Theirs should be played side by side on the airlanes with the bisrock’s new raw, crude and seductive Cebuano lyrics composed by the current breed of amateur Visayan composers who still need to learn from the professional composers.
The only thing that varies is the creation of tunes, melodies and the kind of wordings use by the composers to fit for the tunes of such songs. For a fact, some of our Visayan songs have a national and international appeal, the reason why some Cebuano songs’ tunes were adopted by some Tagalog composers with Tagalog lyrics. Example: “Kasadya Ning Taknaa”,(Ang Pasko Ay Sumapit); “Sa Kabukiran”(The same title for Tagalog song) and other Cebuano songs. Our “Matod Nila” song composed and sang by Ben Zubiri is being sang by many Ilocanos.When I asked an Ilocano while I was living in Metro Manila during the past years, he said that he was so fascinated by its melody even though he do not understands the wordings. And a Tagalog composer who obviously likes it too has adapted the Matod Nila’s tune and wrote Tagalog lyrics. It was sung by Sharon Cuneta.
As I have said earlier,Cebuano songs comprising the classical love and ballad songs, some antic songs and even various adaptations songs of the past popular and current Visayan singers must be given equally ample time to be played in a round-robin scheduling. This will give every Cebuano song be heard regularly for recognition via regular playing of various songs in all FM and AM stations in all Cebuano-speaking regions. By letting Cebuano songs available in all recording companies and by playing regularly throughout the whole year side by side with English and Tagalog.The inculcation of our kind of music to our old and young generations of music lovers must be pursued until it will reach the climax of appreciation to the very hearts and souls of every Cebuano-speaking Filipinos.
The consideration of this noble idea must be put into practice now by those who have the means and the capability to execute this remedial measure. The realization of our objective is that Cebuano songs be elevated onto the pedestal of recognition and appreciation equal to what the Tagalog and English songs have achieved in the hearts of young and old Filipino music lovers. We have to sustain, cherish, nurture and patronize our songs written in our respective mother tongues in order to achieve a strong multicultural foundation in our Philippine archipelago as our distinct identity as Filipinos.
The plight of Cebuano songs and lyrics under the perspective of internet links,
is similarly applicable to that of the Waray-Waray songs and lyrics which also
needs a website availability to cater to its internet-user music lovers in some areas of
Leyte and Samar Islands. Waray-Waray is the predominant language in most of the municipalities of Samar and Leyte Islands with Cebuano as the second language.
WE hope that there are music lovers in Cebu City, Mandaue City, Davao City, Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City, Ozamis City, Tagbilaran City, Dumaguete City and other places in the Visayas and Mindanao who are literate in computer programming or B.S. Information Technology graduates who will build websites in areas that I have mentioned for this purpose. (Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.)

Railings Construction Saves Motorcycle Driver From Sudden Death

March 8,2010
Railings Construction Saves Motorcycle Driver From Sudden Death
By Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-A motorcycle driver together with his neighbor-companion rammed his motorcycle against the railings constructed beside a deep cliff when he changed gear but lost control of its speed as he descended down the “Saddle” road in Pintuyan town where they were going to participate in a disco dance one Sunday evening.
The victim was identified as Gerald Miole Castaños,21 years old, single, and a fourth year high school student. He is a resident of San Francisco town and was enrolled at Caasai High School of the same place.
His neighbor-backrider was identified as Nobi Aspirin, 18 years old, single,an out-of-school youth. He was his neighbor and a boon companion is going to disco dancing.
In an interview with LSDE he said that they went to Pintuyan town about 40 kilometers away from San Francisco to participate in a disco dance. On their way to the place they have to hurdle the upclimb zigzag road dubbed as “Saddle” This kind of difficult rough road was inevitably constructed beside a deep cliff overlooking the vast open ocean.
This rare geological barrier has no substitute where a public and private car or vehicle can avoid passing it as there’s no other access road or detour road to reach the proper town of Pintuyan and San Ricardo.
A faint-hearted individual/.person may shun going to either of the two aforementioned municipalities by car for any purpose, if he/she could not dare to see below the cliff, which is estimated at 300 feet above sea level.
Castaños narrated that as he negotiated the upclimb zigzag road another single motorcycle has overtaken him. A passenger bus was also following his trail.
As he was about to reach the descent portion of the road he changed gear, he said. But suddenly he lost control of its speed as he descended down and rammed his motorcycle against the railings constructed just beside the cliff.
He said his right arm was struck upon the railings and it was so painful that he could not help but shout if touched by anyone.
He said the passenger bus stopped and he was helped aboard together with his companion and they were brought to the Pintuyan District Hospital for emergency treatment.
However, the on-duty physician, whom he failed to identify, told his parents the following day to bring him to the provincial hospital here because the Pintuyan hospital has no x-ray apparatus. Besides, the hospital has no orthopedic surgeon to attend to any problem regarding bone fractures.
“Ang akong tuong bukton nga nalamba sa railings ninghubag ug guihilantan ako pag-ayo”, he said in Cebuano “ug ning-anam-anam lang pagkunhod ang akong hilanat sa dihang nakainom ako sa antibiotic or pain reliever sulod sa upat ka adlaw.Pagka sunod adlaw gui-operahan na dayon ako sa doctor bisan naa pay hubag gamay.(My right arm was struck on the railings and it swelled and I had a high fever. It only started to subside when I was taking antibiotic and pain reliever for five days. The following day the doctor has operated on my fractured bone despite a little trace of swell.)
He said that x-ray results showed that he had a fractured bone below the elbow. He said that five days after his admission he was operated on by Dr. Jaime Carbonillla, an Orthopedic Surgeon who was the on-duty physician when hey arrived at the Emergency Room. A stainless steel was attached to his fractured bone, he said, as support base and to strengthen it until such time that it will be healed completely before the stainless support shall be taken out several years from now.
“Kung pareho pa sa una nga walay mga railings”, he said in Cebuano, “modiritso lang gyud ko pagkahagbong sa ubos.Ambot lang kaha kung unsay akong hitsura inig motugdang na ako sa yuta! Hunahunaa lang pipila ka gatos ka tiil ang guihabugon? Ug ang akong kauban nga silingan maunsa pod kaha?”
(If the railings were not constructed until now, I’ll just fall straight down below. I do not know what would be my appearance as I would hit the ground. Just imagine the hundreds of feet above sea level. How about my companion, a neighbor what would be his condition?)
Confirmly for many years the so-called “saddle “ road in that part of Panaon Island in going to Pintuyan and San Ricardo is rough and has no railings that could serve as defense to a vehicular fall in case of accidental ,mismanuever. The construction of railings were only carried out when a contractor ItalThai consigned for the concreting of the roads in Panaon has reached that part of Pintuyan,two years ago, it was learned.
The victim further confided that he and his neighbor and some friends have participated in several disco dances during the previous years anywhere in the area of Panaon Island’s four municipalities of Liloan, San Francisco, Pintuyan and San Ricardo.
He intimated that he and whoever would be his companions, he’s always be driving his motorcycle with some backriders in going to and in attending disco dances. It was only several days ago for the first time, he said, that he met an accident and was severely injured.
His neighbor-companion has no bone fracture. But he sustained a holed wound below his left knee, he said.. He was not hospitalized. A doctor on-duty at Pintuyan hospital treated his wound, Castaños said. As of this writing the victim has continued taking his medications. He said that he and his mother, his watcher at the hospital, are still waiting from Dr. Carbonilla’s instruction while in confinement.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)

Motorcycle Driver Dies In Bus Collision

March 8,2010
Motorcycle Driver Dies In Bus Collision
By Quirico M.Gorpido,Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-A motorcycle driver together with a backrider who is his girlfriend has collided with the Bachelor Bus as the two speeding vehicles were negotiating in two opposite directions at a curved road in brgy.Lib-og during the recent Monday at about 12:00 noon.
The victim-driver was identified as Adonis Legaspi Bascug,35 year old, single and a resident of brgy, San Rafael, about 10 kilometers away from here.
His backrider-girlfriend was identified as Marife Javier Mendozs, 32 year old, single and a resident of a neighboring barangay of San Jose.
The bus driver–suspect was identified as John Reli Dejos, 49 years old, married, and a resident of Mabate, Banaybanay, Davao Oriental.
In an interview with LSDE, Traffic Officer Donato Cervantes said that based on on-the-spot investigation, the victims came from San Jose where the driver fetched his girlfriend of 2 years and were going towards Matalom,Leyte, about 30 kilometers away from Maasin.
The Bachelor Bus came from Tacloban City passing thru Ormoc City and proceeded towards Maasin to pick up some waiting passengers bound for Surigao, Butuan, Davao or Cagayan.de Oro
As the two speeding vehicles ran in opposite directions (south to north; north to south) met at the curved road in brgy. Lib-og, Cervantes said, the two accidentally collided when the bus swerved to the left side, which was the proper place of the motorcycle. The motorcycle driver was in his right way, the police said.
He said that the bus’ right side bumper was damaged and its headlight was shattered. The driver-victim of the motorcycle suffered serious injuries. His face was bathed with blood and he vomited blood. He was rushed to the provincial hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival by the attending physician.
His motorcycle has only a little damage. It was driven by Cervantes’ colleague to the police station for custody, a witness said. The victim’s girlfriend surprisingly has only slight bruises, except for a single wound on her head that has several stitches.
The Traffic Officer revealed that this was the second time Marife was involved in a vehicular collision. The first was a motorcycle collision at the curved road of sitio Puerto Princesa, brgy.Bagtikan where her father who drove the motorcycle died. That was in 2005. In that particular incident she suffered only slight bruises and had no bone fracture, he said. But in this latest accident, she was shocked that she could not talk on that day due perhaps to the impact of the collision where a big bus was involved, he said.
The police disclosure was confirmed by the victim’s elder sister Maribel Mendoza-Moralde, 39 years old, married, who was the former’s watcher at the hospital.”Suerte guihapon ang akong manghod kay wala siya’y bali sa bukog sa iyang lawas ug ang iyang ulo kalooy sa Dios walay liki ug wala usab siya magluwa ug dugo ug wala magsukasuka”,she said in Cebuano.(My younger sister was still lucky because she has no bone fracture and her head with the mercy of God has no crack and she did not vomit blood or was nauseating.)
Asked if the rumor being circulated was true that the two protagonists were about to be married, she replied that there was no schedule for a wedding ceremony yet.”Duha katuig na silang manag-uyab,pero dila pa sila kaslonon kay wala pa may skidyol or pitsa sa ilang kasal nga guitakda”’she clarified in Cebuano.(They are now two years in their intimate relationship, but there was no schedule yet of their wedding ceremony.)
SPO1 Cervantes said that based on Atty.Gerry Dator’s evaluation of the case, the Bachelor management represented by its “adjuster”, was ordered to pay P200, 000.00.as damages. However, the defendant’s party did not accept the amount imposed as damages, he said. Hence, the complainant had filed a case of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide at the City Prosecutor’s Office.
The police officer further informed that due to “lapse in time” affected by sudden brownout which delayed the filing of the case, the Prosecutor has likewise released the driver-suspect thru the mediation of Bachelor’s “adjuster”.
Nevertheless, an arraignment was scheduled. Both the complainant and the defendant shall be going to receive subpoenas prior to the hearing to be held sometime in March 2010, he said. The police also observed that most of this kind of cases, amicable settlement was the favored choice of both parties.
(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Places Where Faultlines Have Traversed Are Landslide-Prone-Abad

March 4,2010
Places Where Faultlines Have Traversed Are Landslide-Prone –Abad
By Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-Municpalities where Philippine Faultlines were detected to have traversed underground its respective areas become automatically landside-prone and earthquake-prone.
This was the disclosure of Eva Abad, head of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Management Office (PENRMO) in a recent interview at the provincial capitol here.
Tracing the UP-Tacloban-GTZ’s partnership creation of the geo-hazard map, with the guidance of the map’s legend, she pointed out that a faultline from Abuyog, Leyte is passing to Silago down to Hinunangan and Hinundayan areas.
Another faultline from Abuyog passes to St.Bernard and crosses to Cabalian Bay up to Panaon Island sea on both sides facing Mindanao. A faultline was also traced coming from Biliran which traverses up to Southern Leyte and also crossing the Leyte Province. A faultline was also detected in Mahaplag, Leyte.
Mahaplag’s faultline likewise traverses to Sogod, Libagon and Liloan. While that of San Francisco’s and San Ricardo’s detection of faultlines are passing along the sea.
A branch-out of the Philippine Faultline also passes along the sea of Bontoc, part of Tomas Oppus, Malitbog,
and also Part of Padre Burgos and Limasawa Island.Still another faultline was found in Inopacan,Leyte
while other faultlines, have traversed in some areas along the sea. Along the faultline, Abad reiterated, are also earthquake-prone areas. “Those areas having faultlines underneath the mountains”, she informed, “are also prone to landslides”.
On the other hand, cited as tsunami-prone areas in the province of Southern Leyte are the coastal municipalities of Silago, Hinunangan, Hinundayan, Anahawan, San Juan, St.Beranrd, and the whole of Panaon Island facing Mindanao.
Specifically, landslide-prone areas are identified like Panaon Island, Libagon, Sogod, Macrohon, part of Tomas Oppus and Padre Burgos, all of the Pacific towns’ mountainous areas, and Maasin.While Hinunangan aside from being a tsunami-prone municipality, is also a flood-prone area.
Abad added that majority of the mountainous areas of the province are landslide-prone.

Helpful Solutions
The PENRMO head informed that for the landslide-prone and flood-prone areas, one of the effective and helpful solutions is for the barangay, municipal and LGU officials to spearhead the compulsory planting
Of forest trees that are endemic in Southern Leyte.
Abad pointed out that every LGU municipalities and its comprising barangays must have a reforestation project whose budget must have a regular funding in the annual investment plan. For flood-prone areas an all-out reforestation in all denuded forests must be pursued.
If a hill or part of a mountainous area is used for agriculture, she further emphasized, farmers must adapt sloping agriculture technology thru the technical assistance of the Local Govt. Unit Office.

Shoreline Easement
For the tsunami-prone areas of the province.Dr. Jurgenne Primavera, a Filipino Scientist, disclosed during a recent seminar-workshop held at Sogod attended by representatives of tsunami-prone municipalities that to reduce the destructive impact of typhoons and tsunami, shoreline easement must be conducted and implemented.”20 meters away from the shoreline(landward)must be planted with beach forest trees like anunang,bitaog,talisay,bituon,nino,abgao,lagundi,bani and other associated species that thrive along the coastlines”, Primavera said.
Primavera also urged concerned public officials to identify areas with coastal erosions and conduct tree-planting activities to prevent more damages. He enjoined Chief Executives and LGU officials whose jurisdictional municipalities are located near the sea to have nurseries for all types of mangroves and maintain its operational existence to meet future needs.
For her part, Abad furthermore said that abandoned fishpond areas be reverted for mangrove rehabilitation and denuded mangrove areas be rehabilitated. The cutting of beach forest trees along the designated shoreline easements of the province should not be allowed.
Our source added that intensive educational drive and awareness to the local leaders, the academe, People Organizations,NGOs,the private and the religious sectors must be conducted so that the people in the entire province be made aware of the areas’ condition and would help in the realization of the remedial measures being undertaken. (Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.)

Grand Finals' Winners Of Leyte Idol Should Be Tapped As Recordingr Artists

March 4,2010
Opinion/Commentary

Grand Finals’ Winners Of Leyte Idol Should Be Tapped As Recording Artists
By Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-Tapping the winners of the Leyte Idol’s Grand Finals in a series of four seasons now, both in band and solo categories, should be tapped as region 8’s(Leyte ands Samar) new recording artists. Their talents should not be gone to waste after the grueling competitions, which is aim to discover talented singers and bands in our place.
Grand finals’ winners to be tapped as recording artists must come from the first, second and third placers of every season in the past years. If we are fond of listening to songs and music rendered by the English and Tagalog singers and bands outside our region, why can’t we do the same by tapping our very own talented and gifted singers and make them meaningfully productive?
We should also tap our composers in our region, both Waray-Waray and Cebuano-speaking individuals. They should be given the choice to compose songs either in Waray-Waray, Cebuano, English or Tagalog.Would it not be highly appreciable for our local talents to also sing our original songs that are locally composed by our talented composers? WE have been buying albums in CDs containing past and present songs of our favorite domestic and foreign artists who are not residents of our region. We can patronized more our very own singers and bands who have won as winners from the past contest of “Leyte Idol’s” Grand Finals. When this suggestion and recommendation would be adopted and considered by the concerned Tacloban high officials led by the incumbent Governor, this could serve as the stepping stone for them (winner singers: soloists and bands) to become recording artists who can later earn regular royalties of every song that sells Our songs should not only be in Waray-Waray or Cebuano, but also in English and Tagalog, if our composers can compose songs in either of our dominant languages in the country. Every new song should be promoted by playing it regularly in all our radio stations both AM and FM in the region. Number of requests from listeners per song should be recorded as basis for judging which among the new songs being promoted on the airlanes would be the number one, number two, number three, number four etc.in the songs’ chart. Singer and composer of each new song must also be mentioned every now and then to make them become popular among the countless radio listeners. Their popularity later on would help make some potential sponsors in other places of our region to invite them for some concerts.
With the initiative of incumbent Governor Oscar Jericho “Icot” Petilla, son of former Leyte Province Governor Remedios “Matin” Petilla, to talk and discuss these things to our music-minded businessmen and enterpreneurs, composers, musicians and music arrangers, we know that this can possibly be done and achieved.
The move would make meaningful and productive the existence of our local talents-soloists or bands. When everything will be discussed and agreed upon in relation to the realization of the objective by all the stakeholders involved, then this also necessitates the establishment of recording studios in Tacloban City and in Ormoc City. There would be the need to hire experienced technicians and other music experts that will manage and supervise the operation of the recording studios.
Now is the right time for our concerned leaders like Governor Petilla to do the initiative just as what he did thru the sponsoring of the Leyte Idol, in behalf of the Provincial Government of Leyte Province, to discover our very own untapped talented singers.
With future availability of new albums/records containing our very own original song compositions in some local stores and record bars, countless music lovers and radio listeners here in our region will only be glad buying it. in their respective cities and municipalities. Later on we can reproduce more and more albums/records and distribute it to different regions of the country where music lovers are also interested to buy new songs with joyful charming melodies and lively pleasant tunes.
The love for songs and music among music lovers, who love to listen to a wide variety of tunes and melodies, would then be boosted and broadened and might become boundless and limitless. This could be the trend considering that we can have additional songs/music in the near future which we can possess like what we did already by buying numerous songs of various popular bands and soloists in different cities and municipalities where we happen to visit during our tour.
To boot, the province of Leyte can also hold an open song writing contest every year with enticingly attractive huge prizes to encourage inexperienced and potential composers to join the event. The main objective for this is to discover more of our dormant composers in our very own 6 provinces. Yearly winners from first up to the fourth place composers must be tapped and persuaded to write original songs, not only in Waray-Waray but also in Cebuano, English and Tagalog as materials for our Grand Final winners of the Leyte Idol’s 4 seasons and the Grand Final winners of the following seasons’ potential recording artists. It is also of great importance for all the composers and musicians to have mutual communications among the soloists and bands winners. Talking to each other on light moments during socialization would make composers, musicians and the singers develop mutuality and friendship among themselves.
If in case Governor “Icot” Petilla would no longer be the Governor of the Province of Leyte and want to divert on other things that interest him, he should turn it over to musically-inclined or music lovers businessmen who have the penchant and the passion to manage and supervise a music industry for continuity of this meaningfully productive project.(Quirico M, Gorpido,Jr.)

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Corruption: A Lingering Problem In Our Society-Puguon

March 3,2010
Corruption: A Lingering Problem In Our Society-Puguon
By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Director Atty. Forter G. Puguon in his message revealed to the audience that there is a lingering problem in our society that intruded in both the government and the private sector, which is corruption “that we cannot ignore”.
He disclosed this during the “Working Youth Day Celebration” held at the city gym recently which was in partnership with the City Government of Maasin.
He claimed that his observation was based on his experiences while working in both the government and in the private sector occupying capacities in various positions until he decided to go back to DOLE.
He said that in the 1960s the Philippines was number one in terms of economy, but has declined several years later and was surpassed by her Asian neighbors.
He explained that those who have committed some misdeeds in the government service were only considering their fellowmen who could see them, but failed to consider the spiritual realm where the Almighty Being could see them what they have done in secret.
“If we have faith in God”, Puguon said,” “we will not be committing any wrongdoing in the government service or in the private offices where we worked”. He said “we go to church but we do not practice its teachings as Christians”.
He stressed there’s really the need for a moral regeneration and values formation in all sectors of society. He said the Human Resource Management office is one entity that could monitor and conduct seminars for such kind of change that should begin within in every Filipino.
“We have many agencies providing many livelihood projects and trainings to help the people but it only become meaningful at the operation level”, he observed.
Congressman Roger Mercado for his part claimed that the reality is that “we are now living in an egoistic and materialistic world” where majority of people are only thinking of themselves and their own vested interest to acquire more things.
However, being materialistic on the tolerable level is not quite bad at all, provided in acquiring the things we desire we get it thru sacrifice, hard work and in honest way, he said.
Quoting a certain writer, he said that “an inner revolution is what the people need to attain a genuine change
within ourselves”.
He also urged all sectors of society to adopt and practice a sustainable development in all business activities, in food production, in industrial planting and in every other kind of livelihood undertakings.
Mercado further enjoined, not only among the Southern Leyteños, but all people in other provinces of the country, particularly those who have vacant lots, to plant forest trees and fruit-bearing trees.
He informed that trees provide us shades, water from the springs, oxygen we need everyday,fruits,prevent floodings,hold the soil and water, give us cool surroundings and as protective shields to our polluted environment.
Earlier, the DOLE Regional Director has turned over a check worth P300, 000.00 to Mayor Maloney Samaco in behalf of the City Government .for 20 working youth beneficiaries for DOLE’s “Negosyo Sa Kariton” program.
Fe Norma Valuis, DOLE Provincial Head, Southern Leyte Field Office said the City Government will add 20% of the amount as counterpart of the livelihood project.
Valuis clarified that the recipients of the project will not be holding the money as it is keep in the Treasurer’s Office.
She said that when the making of the karitons shall be completed, launching of the project shall follow.
Valuis also told the beneficiaries that they are not the ones who will buy their goods for sale but the City Government and that every month they should deposit the money from sales for future liquidation.
She said that liquidated money shall also be lent to other group of individuals who are interested to engage in other kind of livelihood.
The DOLE provincial head further informed that when the grant shall be liquidated 100%, DOLE will again release another check in bigger amount for the beneficiaries’ continuity of their kind of livelihood.
Also present during the affair were City Councilors, Heads of offices, city hall employees, some students of the Maasin City College, some Barangay Captains and DOLE staff.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)

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