Marquez and Feihl: Both Giants

The agreement reached in the exploratory talk between Mayor Walter “Bong” Marquez of Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro, and Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Legend Edward Joseph "E. J." Feihl on September 16, 2022, is about to blast off this coming November 19 (Saturday). The meeting was held in Sablayan, where the 7'1" cager, along with top honchos of Okada Elite Eagles Club, came to visit the mayor in his office.

Marquez, approximately 5'3" in height, may be one of the shortest mayors of the province, but for sure, Feihl was the tallest Filipino professional basketball player ever to play in the PBA. Feihl is just two inches shorter compared to the tallest Filipino in basketball history held by 7'3" Raul Dillo who played for the University of the East (UE) in the 1990s and the San Juan Knights in Metropolitan Basketball Association or MBA many years ago.  

E.J. played for two seasons at Barangay Ginebra before his trade to Purefoods for the late  Cris Bolado. The PBA's Gentle Giant played four seasons with the Hotdogs then returned briefly to the Palanca franchise. He had short stints with Alaska, Red Bull, and Welcoat before his retirement in 2007.

PBA legends Allan “The Triggerman” Caidic, Willie “The Thriller” Miller, Jerry “The Defense Minister” Codiñera, Marlou “The Skyscraper” Aquino, Vince “The Prince” Hizon, Gherome Ejercito, and of course, E.J. "The Gentle Giant" Feihl will play against the cream of the crop basketeers of the province. 

My mother is an avid fan of Caidic since his Presto days. She is very eager to see her favorite player in person but she is having a hard time now traveling. An autographed photo, if not a signed jersey of the Triggerman will be just fine for her. We just celebrated her 84th birthday last November 9. She said that Caidic looked like my long-deceased father.

I still remember how she cursed Sonny Jaworski to the high heavens when the Living Legend was caught on camera making a slit-throat gesture while her crush is lying on the floor in pain, vomiting. It was a game between Gordon's Gin and Caidic's San Miguel Beer sometime in April 1997. It was the same year when Gordon Gin's E.J. Feihl was traded to  Purefoods.

But this is not the first time that PBA legends came to Sablayan and had an exhibition game. Feihl and Aquino played at our Astrodome on April 22, 2012, exactly a decade ago, together with our very own Nelson “The Bull” Asaytono, Val “Flash” David, and Noli “The Tank” Locsin. The event was supported by basketball fans all over the town. It was held when World Earth Day was celebrated.

Talking of basketball, Mayor Bong and Vice-Mayor Edwin Mintu, a basketball player himself, had a tie-up with Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) specifically by conducting the Technical Officials’ Accreditation and Licensing Training last October 2. The other sports enthusiast from the local legislative board is Honorable Manny Tadeo, a basketball coach during his heydays. The handpicked point person for the sports program is Mr. Jhyson Daingdingan.

The Marquez-Mintu tandem’s First Sablayan Festival of Sports will be unveiled in the coming days, presenting badminton, baseball, billiards, boxing, chess, and basketball tournaments. We hope that this could attract many local tourists from all over.

The upcoming loop show, dubbed “All-Star PBA Legends sa Sablayan”, will take place at the Sablayan Astrodome at around 6:00 in the afternoon, coinciding with Philippine Farmers’ Day. They are expected to teach a thing or two to our homegrown hoopsters in this particular outing.

VIP tickets are sold for Php 500, and general admission coupons are for 300. KMB Fuel Station and MRG Group of Companies sponsor it. Before the game, there will be a motorcade that will go around the main thoroughfares in town. Tickets are available at KMB station in Sitio Busaran, this municipality.

According to its organizer, the game is their humble way of giving a bonanza of basketball entertainment dedicated to the youth of her town of birth after two years of suffering the agony of the COVID-19 pandemic. This hopefully alleviates the two-year hunger for flesh-and-bone basketball among the local fans.

The game will offer a raffle, and the winner will get a brand new Rusi Motorcycle as a prize to the lucky ticket holder. As a basketball lover and in my official capacity as the municipal administrator, I invite everyone, for it will be one heck of a once-in-a-blue-moon show!

The First Sablayan Festival of Sports included.

The above unguarded moment photo of Mayor Bong and E.J. Feihl brings this personal reflection: A public servant and an athlete do not attain their full heights until they play and serve with complete dedication. They are both giants in many aspects. And both are gentle too.

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(Photo from Mayor Bong Marquez’s Facebook Page)

 

My SAMOA

This blog entry is not about my affection for that Polynesian island country led by a woman prime minister named Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa. It is just an acronym, actually a pun. It stands for Silent Address as Municipal OIC Administrator. In short, SAMOA.

On July 1, 2022, by Special Order No. 22-SO-1, Series of 2022, I was designated by Hon. Mayor Walter “Bong” B. Marquez of Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro. Therefore, like my principal, October 10, 2022, marks my first 100 days in the Office of the Municipal Administrator. These are my thoughts about reaching a century mark on my new designation here in this Local Government Unit.

May I always keep in mind that my position is just a speck of my whole being.

I downed three months in Office and nine more to complete my one year. Still a long, long way. Everything depends on the mayor who designated me for this position.

The 100-day concept has its roots in France, where the idea of "Cent Jours" (Hundred Days) refers to the period of 1815 between Napoleon Bonaparte's return to Paris from exile on the island of Elba and his final defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, says History Channel. But it was U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt who institutionalized it.

SAMOA is my parody version of SOMA or State of the Municipal Address. The SOMA is a report customarily given annually by the mayors in the Philippines. Since it is established by custom rather than law, it is not compulsory; nonetheless but it has legal bases in Sections 444(b)(1)(iii); 445(b)(iii), and 465(b)(iii) of the Local Government Code (LDC). Sablayan’s BBM calls it the State of the Local Government Address, not SOMA.

Here in the Municipality of Sablayan, we religiously follow such an informative tradition in line with the ideals of Transparency in governance. Mayor Bong will render his speech on his 100^th day as mayor on Monday, October 10, 2022. Incidentally, as per Presidential Proclamation No. 63, on October 10 of every year, “Local Government Day” is commemorated. He will report and present his achievements to his constituents. He will not waste this opportunity of setting the tone for his administration. This is the moment of transition so he has to talk to the people.

If the SOMA or the State of Local Government Address usually covers Transparency, Accountability, Participation, and Administrative, Social, and Economic Governance, my SAMOA mainly revolves around Organizational Development. My Office covers two facets of general dimensions: Administrative Services and Human Resources. Though the Local Enterprise and Investment Development Promotions Office (LEIDPO) is under the Office of the Municipal Administrator's organizational structure, it has its independent thrusts and operation.

Generally, my Office oversees various income-generating facilities such as the public market, grand terminal, slaughterhouse, municipal port, etc. Still, the LEIDPO under Ms. Erminda V. Vicedo directly operates it. We now manage through other public utilities such as the sports complex and the sporting facilities inside it, such as the swimming pool. Also included are the astrodome and the municipal public cemetery. In the spirit of Transparency and the right to information, we now report to you, dear reader, our accomplishments for the period.

My staff, Brenda Catalan, Relly De Vera, Clarita Rosario, Noelyn May Santos, Leonora Urieta, King Labadan, Kent Gayo, MJ Mabagos, Edna Urieta, Agnes Dangeros, Rad Santos, Helen Ramos, Jenny Ann Lineses, Froilan Fernandez, Ariel Serna, and special mention to  Mr. Medel Q. Bundang and Ms. Buena Fe F. Quiatchon, my predecessor, comprehensively prepared a short breakdown of our department's significant achievements for the first 100 days:

We initiated the conduct of Gender Sensitivity Training is an effective way to reduce gender barriers in the workplace and community. The training also provides a platform to heighten awareness of LGU employees on gender needs and to protect gender interests towards achieving an equally varied role in society.

The training was held on September 12-14, and September 19-21 at the Adventure Camp and was facilitated by GFPS Members and the Technical Working Group.

As part of the Health and Safety Welfare Program, the symposium on Mental Health was provided to LGU employees on September 27-28, 2022, to imbibe and practice a work-life balance amidst the challenges brought about by the pandemic.

The conduct of this activity is also consistent with Republic Act 11036, also known as the Mental Health Act, as well as the Memorandum Circular (MC) no. 4, series of 2020 of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) on Mental Health Program in the public sector which directs all constitutional bodies, departments, agencies and offices of the National Government to develop an agency mental health program. 

The Resource Person was Dr. Sahlee Montevirgen Sajo from the Department of Health, Regional Office.

The Civil Service Commission Region IV-B recognized the Municipal Government of Sablayan for the extraordinary services rendered by its officials and employees, driven by admirable courage and dedication in performing duties amid the COVID-19 health crisis.

In a virtual ceremony held on September 20, 2022, the CSC Regional Office conferred the certificate of recognition to the LGU Sablayan through this representation, MHO Dr. Meldie O. Driza-Soriano, and HRMO III, Medel Q. Bundang.

The LGU Sablayan kicked off the month-long celebration of the 122nd Philippine Civil Service Anniversary with a Holy Mass officiated by  Fr. Rolly Villanueva, followed by a motorcade on September 5, 2022.   After the motorcade, the teams convened at the Sablayan Sports Complex for the Zumba competition, athletics, and parlor games.

The Office of the Municipal Administrator led the activity through the Human Resource Management Division headed by HRMOIII, Medel Q. Bundang.   This year's celebration is anchored on the theme "Transforming Public Service in the Next Decade: Honing Agile and Future-Ready Servant-Heroes." 

The event is punctuated by a Sports Festival and Culmination Activity, including a Singing and Dancing Competition and a Search for G. at Bb. Lingkod Bayani 2022.

The Performance Management Team (PMT) facilitated the calibration of the Office Performance Commitment Review (OPCR and the Department's Performance Commitment Review of all offices/departments in the LGU Sablayan for the first semester last August 20-29, 2022.

With the entry of the new administration, the newly appointed workforce was provided with an orientation and induction program to introduce them to the organization and work environment and help them to align with their new position, responsibilities, and work culture.

Through these programs, essential information was given to new employees for the best possible start and integration into the organization, which will help them grow and reach their full potential. Different activities were conducted in the LGU Main and extension offices by the HR Division.

There are still things that need to be done. Primarily is about the Program to Institutionalize Meritocracy and Excellence in Human Resource Management (PRIME-HRM). This is under CSC Memorandum Circular No. 19, series of 2016. It has four (4) pillars or core areas: Recruitment, Selection, and Placement; Learning and Development; Performance Management; and Rewards and Recognition.

We will work double time to get accreditation from the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to strengthen our drive further to cultivate excellence in the workplace. We will respond to Mayor Bong's firm resolve to advance the human capital of this local government with the help of its officials like you and me. 

This is an essential life value among Samoans worldwide: ‘o le ala i le pule o le tautua’ (the pathway to leadership is through service).

May all of us be continuously reminded of this adage from Samoa.

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(Photo: From L to R:  Yours truly, Jayrome S. Dela Cruz, Municipal Accountant; Edward J. Cabalbag, GSO; Erminda V. Vicedo, LEIDPO; Luzviminda C. Alto, MPDC; Vice-Mayor Edwin N. Mintu; Mayor Bong Marquez; Fe T. Santos, Budget Officer; Atty. Melvie Silverio-Dacayanan, Municipal Civil Registrar; Lily D. Dangupon, Municipal Assessor; Mary Joie S. Angway, MSWDO; Arcris D. Canillo, MDRRMO; Reynaldo A. Factor, Municipal Agriculturist; and, Robert P. Duquil, MENRO. 

Not in the photo: Engr. Admer Trillana, Municipal Engineer; Greg Sagana, Municipal Treasurer, and Dr. Meldie Soriano, Municipal Health Officer.)

 

An Alangan Mangyan Eco-warrior-Legislator Falls

 

It was Governor Ed Gadiano who first broke the sad news to me last Friday. Over the phone, he asked me to arrange the transfer of the cadaver of the first Mangyan legislator in the country from the emergency ward of San Sebastian District Hospital (SSDH) back to their community in Kulasisi. The governor called from Cavite because he was on a business trip that day. 

Gov. Ed told me that an emissary of Kuyay Burnay, the Alangan chieftain of the said cultural community, told him that his nephew, former Indigenous People’s Mandatory Representative (IPMR) to the Sangguniang Bayan, suffered from a cerebrovascular disease. He was found lifeless by passersby on the road inside the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm (SPPF) with his motorcycle on Friday, September 30, 2022. He is 43 years old for he was born January 5, 1979.

It was in 2012 when then-mayor Gov. Ed created the Indigenous People’s Affairs Office (IPAO) under his office, and I was designated as its officer. One of my urgent tasks was facilitating the process of putting an IPMR in our local municipal board in consonant with the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act, or IPRA, known as Republic Act 8371.

As directed by now Mayor Bong Marquez, who was still the executive assistant of then Mayor Ed, I took part in the community processes headed by the National Commission for the Indigenous Peoples or NCIP for the mandatory IP representation in the local legislative board. Ultimately, the Philippine history’s first-ever Mangyan municipal legislator was finally sworn into office on February 4, 2012, as mandated in Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Memorandum Circular No. 2011-119 dated October 20, 2011. 

It was then vice-president Jejomar Binay who administered his oath of office on that very historic day. For three years, Ruben Pasajol Dangupon an Alangan Mangyan, represented the indigenous peoples and their cultural communities. He was indeed a pioneer in such a legislative post. Despite his many shortcomings due to cultural attributes, he tried hard to be the voice of the Mangyan populace in the said august body.

In his first 100 days as Sanggunian, Dangupon already sponsored more or less six resolutions forwarded to concerned national agencies and government officials. Those legislations consist of the immediate awarding of the Certificate of Ancestral Domain Titles (CADTs) of the two IP sub-tribes of Sablayan, the appeal to stop the application of JCET Mining, and the proposed socialized housing in specific IP areas, among others. IPMR Ruben Dangupon then surpassed some of his colleagues regarding the quantity and quality of legislation sponsored in the legislative body.

During his term, Councilor Dangupon worked closely with Bong Marquez and has been his people’s voice against the Mindoro Nickel Project (MNP), as the Alangan communities will be directly hit by said aggressive and destructive mineral extraction project. Dangupon belongs to the northern aboriginal ethnolinguistic groups occupying the mountainous interior of Mindoro island. The Alangans are found within the municipalities of Naujan and parts of Baco and Victoria in Oriental Mindoro, and across the high central boondocks within the towns of Mamburao, Sta. Cruz and Sablayan are on the other half of this island of our birth.

In an island-wide anti-mining conference held in Puerto Galera in 2013, Dangupon echoed this thundering message in a roundtable of known pro-environment advocates: “These destructive projects threaten the land we have inherited from our ancestors. We would not let Kapwambulod (the Alangan forest god) be disturbed and turned against us.”

According to his twin brother Rudy, Ruben will be laid to rest the lowlanders' way for some practical and personal reasons. His remains underwent embalming and will be buried not in the Alangan's burial ground but in Barangay Batong-Buhay Public Cemetery on October 4, 2022.

Kapwambulod is weeping as the clouds atop Siyaldang (Alangan name for Mt. Halcon) lament for the loss of another great earth warrior. At the same time, the Sangguniang Bayan of Sablayan equally lost another former legislator whose feat goes down in local history.

Agusop, Pakan." (Sleep well, Brother).