Of Boxing Sweets and Sugars

Sugar Shane Mosley and Sugar Ray Leonard only borrowed it from the "original" Sugar Ray Robinson AKA Walter Smith, Jr, who was born in Detroit on May 3, 1921. Boxing historians said that to beat the minimum age on his maiden fight, Smith borrowed the birth certificate of his friend, Ray Robinson, and hit the big time when he defeated Tommy Bell in December of 1946 for the welterweight division in a title fight and not unlike Manny Pacquiao, Sugar Ray bring sweetness to social, political and economic bitterness of many countries around the world and World War II’s acidic aftertaste that time.

Ray Robinson acquired this nickname after a journalist for a local newspaper named Jack Case told George Gainford (Robinson's manager) that he had a sweet fighter in Robinson, and his manager replied, "As sweet as sugar". Jack Case remembered this comment because in his newspaper article the next day, he named Ray "Sugar Ray Robinson", thus the ring name.

The statistic shows the sourness and sweetness of Sugar Ray Robinson’s career: In 202 professional fights he registered 109 KOs, won 66 on-point decisions, had 6 draws, lost 18 via scorecard, was knocked out once, and had 2 no contest. He died on April 12, 1989, at 67 due to Alzheimer's disease and, of all diseases, diabetes!

Robinson’s boxing career was a combination of bitter-sweet-sweet-bitter journey. Not unlike Pacquiao. Sugar Ray lost when he challenged Joey Maxim for the light-heavyweight title and opted to retire in 1952 but after 3 years, he once again climbed the ring and beat the middleweight title from Carl “Bobo” (Certainly, a Filipino would not choose it for a ring name!) Olson.

Sugar Ray’s career was a roller coaster ride until he lost the title for good to Paul Pender on January 22, 1960, exactly two years and one day before this scribe was born.

But why is boxing called a sweet science? British journalist named Pierce Egan in 1824, while he was covering the sport, referred to boxing as “the sweet science of bruising”. Since then, boxing has been referred to as the "sweet science."

It was the summer of 1947 when Sugar Ray Robinson slugged it out against Jimmy Doyle and Robinson beat him so badly that Doyle collapsed and died. Some days later, at the hearing into the death, the district attorney turned to Ray and asked accusingly, "Couldn't you see he was hurt?" Sugar Ray looked at him resentfully. "Sir," he told him, "it's my business to hurt people."

Even today, the statement is true. The business of boxing is still aimed at hurting the opponent. It is the unmatched gruesome business that we all love to watch. But it has no place for arrogance and conceit because boxing is a dignified sport.

Indeed, the sweet science of hurting people with full respect. Boxing is a paradox.

Of Bruce Lee and Manny Paquiao

There are two Asian fists that shook the world. One is that of Bruce Lee and the other belongs to Manny Pacquiao.

Bruce Lee was born November 27, 1940 in San Francisco, more than 8 decades ago today.

Manny Pacquiao is an avid fan of Bruce Lee no doubt. SenaPac (Yes, this is how I call him at times) told GMA news that Bruce Lee is his idol. Boxing’s only 8-division champ further said, “All of Bruce Lee’s movies, I watch it. The quickness of his hand speed – bop!” Pacquiao admitted that he formed his fighting style watching the martial arts legend’s flicks when he was still the Kid Kulafu of General Santos City.

In case you do not know, Leo Fong, former Bruce Lee student told EsNews Boxing in 2015 that Bruce Lee got his footwork from Muhammad Ali. Well, in this sense, Lee’s Jet Kune Do, in one way or another, has a root in boxing. In an interview in 2011, Jet Kune Do follower Teri Tom observed that Pacquiao throws his jab with his fist, turning his hip and putting the strong side forward, in a feinting movement that looks very similar to Lee’s technique. Tom further said, “There are people who have studied Bruce Lee for many, many decades and they can’t break it down and figure it out. Manny has done it,” Tom told GMA that year. “And I would assume he’s done it without an instructor. It seems like he absorbed a lot of what he saw Bruce Lee doing, he put the strong side up front,” Tom also said in 2011. 

Bruce Lee would have been 83-years-old today, had he not passed away at the young age of 33. His followers went towards different ways after his untimely demise at passed his legacy across generations influencing the only 8-division boxing champion Manny Pacquiao.

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Reference : https://www.scmp.com/sport/boxing/article/3016526/manny-pacquiao-channels-bruce-lee-keith-thurman-fight-his-actions-and

https://biography.yourdictionary.com/articles/how-did-bruce-lee-die.html

Photo: Twitter/Manny Pacquiao

Tapales Vs. Inoue and the big upsets in Tokyo

 

Filipino boxer Marlon Tapales will be passing through a monstrous test this coming December 26 in Japan. It is a grand four-belt unification bout against the boxing sensation, the WBC & WBO super bantamweight champion and spotless record-holder (25-0, 22 KOs) Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.

Tapales (37-3, 19 KOs), AKA “Maranding Nightmare” is the current IBF & WBA champion. Maranding by the way, is a village in the southern part of the Municipality of Lala in Lanao del Norte province in the Philippines, Tapales’s home province.

Tapales became world champion when he challenged and won against the then incumbent unified champion Murodion Akhmadaliev for the unified WBA and IBF super bantamweight titles. The bout was held at Tech Port Arena in San Antonio, Texas. Tapales shocked the sweet science world as he was the underdog against the undefeated Akhmadaliev. The Filipino won via SD on that 8 April 2023 fight.

The Tapales-Inoue mega-fight is promoted by Hideyuki Ohashi of Ohashi Promotions. Tapales’ manager is JC Manangquil of Sanman Boxing Promotions.

Fighting spirit

Tapales and his team are now in Baguio preparing for the year’s biggest yearend brawl. "I will be the Japanese monster’s biggest nightmare this coming December in his hometown," said Tapales.

The 31-year-old Filipino pugilist is not only aiming for a fat purse but to make history in Philippine boxing as the country’s first-ever four-belt unified champion. It is the first-ever battle between two Asians for such a historic feat.

According to MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons, who is in charge of negotiating on behalf of Team Tapales, "Marlon is known for his never-give-up attitude despite the tall odds. He fights in any given situation, adjusts, and never fears. He will be coming for the monster.”

If Filipino champion Tapales beats Inoue, then it's going to be boxing's biggest upset this year.

Upsets happen

Every underdog boxer, as their fight approaches, is aimed at a high-definition upset. And in this particular case “doing a Morris.” But what is in that “Morris” allusion of mine?

Also in Tokyo on September 9, 1992, Filipino boxer Morris East downed the heavy favorite Akinubo Hiranaka for the WBA World Super Lightweight Championship at Nippon Budokan Hall. Hiranaka is 1984 Los Angeles Olympian and his country’s biggest prospect those days.

In a very intense fight, East unleashed an almost invisible left straight to the chin on the 11^th round and the Japanese knelt, rolled, and laid face down on the canvas. That was 31 years ago today.

Boxing is beautiful because it offers a lot of surprises. It is a game that would change everything in just a wink of an eye.

The bearded Hiranaka was diagnosed with an intracranial hemorrhage after the fistival and was forced into retirement. His record was 20-2-0 (18KOs). He also has the highest KO percentage of any Japanese boxer (90%) whereas Inoue has just 88%.

East’s assault on Hiranaka was named the 1992 Ring Magazine Knockout of the Year.

Also, Mike Tyson- Buster Douglas’ first fight, which is considered the biggest upset in sports history, was also held in Tokyo, the same city as the Hiranaka-East and Inoue-Tapales fights.

Youngest Champ

Morris East was the youngest Filipino World Champion ever.

Morris East, who had a 15-2 win-loss record at that time, was born and raised in Olongapo City on August 8, 1973, to an American serviceman father and a Filipina mother. He was just 19 years old then and the youngest Filipino world champion ever and very controversial too.

Would Tapales do a Morris in December in that same Japanese city? The whole nation prays so.

Except for the dyed-in-the-wool fans of a certain Filipino fighter who mostly hate or are skeptical about him for very irrational reasons. This includes boxing pundits from all over judging objectively from all aspects of the sport saying that the Filipino has no chance against the Japanese.

Tapales and his team, led by Coach Ernel Fontanilla, are destined to prove them wrong.

 

GARDEMET!

That was his favorite expression.

As we all know, in the Philippines, it is the bastardized version of the English, “God damn it.” The word is a minced oath, a euphemistic expression common to police and military officers during our days.

Tito Alfon blurts out such a word not when he is mad. He usually yells it out when he is joking or full of joy.  Sober or otherwise.

His old-fashioned “profane” utterances are heard every time his “bottle mates” are keeping the nearly full glass of Emperador or Red Horse in their hands long. He would stare at the glass, tap his friend’s shoulder, and yell out loud, “Gardemet!,” followed by a hearty laugh. Or when he heard an exaggerated or funny rumor, new or recycled, from anybody from the drinking table, be it Norly (Saballo), Alex (Flores), Bihoy (Abeleda), or Allan (Villar).

Tito Alfon's other drinking buddy is Ronaldo "Roy" Robles, manager of the Tamaraw Rural Bank Sablayan Branch. "He (Alfon) only drinks beer and brandy, or mixing these two potions up. He is so introverted but a very kind man." Roy remembered him always escaping in every social gathering. "But he is such a jolly good fellow when surrounded by his close friends," he adds.

Police Lieutenant Alfonso Cabrera Paz, (Ret.), born December 19, 1949, might not be as religious and as sociable as his wife Flor but he gained respect from the people. With his long career in the police force and being assigned to three municipalities of Occidental Mindoro, he was never been involved in any wrongdoings and irregularities, especially brutality and corruption. He lived an honest life as an officer of the law which is so uncommon today. He is so proud of his family, his children and grandchildren. He is an excellent provider. Sober or otherwise.

Almost everybody in town has the impression that he is “suplado” but he is the most snobbish person in Sablayan with so many friends. That is because he has a very kind heart and a helping hand.

He loved to tell stories like how in the 90s he was nearly killed in an ambush staged by the communist rebels near a coconut plantation in Sta. Lucia. In that ensnarement, there were Sablayan policemen who died and several were fatally wounded. It happened while the police convoy was on its way to San Jose for physical training. He tells me in what way he and his Pare Oca (Tamares) managed to dodge the enemies firing from behind bushes and trees atop a hill. Including their operation against Ka Waras at Bungangang Pating in Barangay Burgos where the most wanted bandit disguised himself as a Mangyan and scaped the dragnet. While on duty away from home especially when on a delicate mission, he kept thinking about the safety of the family he left behind.

Municipal Executive Senior Police Officer (MESPO) Sergeant Jovanie Balicol said that the late police officer was one of the best investigators Sablayan ever had. “He finishes everything that he has started,” says Balicol who is now semi-retired. “He taught us that during an investigation, we should not leave even a single stone unturned. He has exemplary work ethic,” he added. 

He also told me in detail how he locked horns with an influential public figure over a gambling operation he got busted, standing solidly on his principle with the law behind him. He is a courageous policeman who is not afraid of any felon.

He was a basketball star way back in college and a varsity player at the Divine Word College of San Jose. He took up Commerce but finally decided to enter the municipal police unit that later became part of the Integrated National Police (INP) after he graduated.

My Tito Baby (whom he calls Ute) was his classmate in high school and he revealed to me how my uncle got that nasty scar on his wrist. When I was little, Tito Baby made me believe that he got it in a brawl, and knocked down his enemy armed with a knife even though he was wounded.

After 50 years or so I knew exactly the score. Tito Alfon revealed to me that Ute’s scar came from the broken jalousie glass window he was dusting as a punishment for being naughty in school. My biological uncle just made that story up.

When Ute’s daughter Barbie was temporarily assigned to Sablayan, Alfon accepted her to stay with them. She lived with his family ahead of me. May the souls of friends Ute and Alfon both rest in peace.

Wine and beer make him a good storyteller.

The last time I talked to her was during John Paul’s wedding. We just chatted a little for he was restless then as he is always when not at home. I expected to talk to him at length but he went ahead right after the ceremony ended. He skipped during the reception.

The night before his demise, I talked with Tita Flor before the saying of the Holy Rosary started at the San Sebastian Parish Church which was led by the employees of the LGU. She told me that Tito Alfon kept on mentioning me to her and asking what and where I am now. I told Tita that I was going to visit him one of these days. But that visit did not come. I was informed by Ate Nora (Urieta) the following day that Tito Alfon was gone.

From my family, our most heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and rest assured of our prayers.

I will remember him who welcomed me and let me stay in their house in my first four years in Sablayan and I was not able to fully thank him for that personally since I left their household.

I know he understands as he always does and he will just laugh and say, “Gardemet”.

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(Photo courtesy of JP Paz)

 

Philippine Asian Golds: 1962 and 2023

It took 61 years for us to regain that most elusive gold.

The Philippine basketball team's win of the gold in the Asian Games is all over the news, but little has been told about how we won that loop battle in Jakarta in 1962 in that tournament lasted from August 25 to September 3, 1962. I was barely seven months old then. (Shhh.)

Led by the legendary Carlos "Caloy" Loyzaga, who was born in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, according to some sports historians, the Philippine team was composed of Engracio Arazas, Kurt Bachmann, Narciso Bernardo, Geronimo Cruz, Manuel Jocson, Alfonso Marquez, Roel Nadurata, Eduardo Pacheco, Cristobal Ramas, Alberto Reynoso, and, Edgardo Roque. There were no naturalized player then. Though Loyzaga and Bachmann are meztisos, there were no naturalized players then. But basketball evolved a lot since then. 

In the championship game held on September 3 of that year, our team, the defending champion, massacred the Japanese dribblers via a 101-67 tally. We need help finding in the net how we won that medal that year.

But before the Jakarta event in '62, basketball was first introduced in the Asian Games in New Delhi, India, in 1951, where we first got our gold against Japan in the finals. In 1954, we defeated China as we hosted the games, and in 1958, we again defeated China in Tokyo, Japan. From 1951 to 1962, we were consistent basketball "gold diggers" in Asia. Until China came into the picture and defeated us by various off-court and on-court elbowing tales that are saddening and make us angry.

Indeed, while it's Jordan that we edged this time, China is our closest rival regarding the number of gold gathered. From 1951 to the present, China won 8 golds while we have 5. Slowly, we must move closer.

That is why, aside from that political territorial underpinning, Coach Tim Cone and his boys' 77-76 victory over China speaks a lot. We could regain or claim what was ours if only our foreign policy actors and national leaders were as decisive, witty, and courageous as the Gilas Pilipinas champion team.

I look forward to the Nagoya Asian Games come 2026.  

I hope that by then, our government's maritime policies and territorial principles are already forcefully riveted on Sovereignty as firm as our "Never Say Die" (Ginebra) attitude in a basketball match.

In basketball, as in political leadership, there is objective certainty to greatness: fighting and defending your court. This is the lesson some authorities in our midst have neglected. 

That win is GILAS from all angles: Gold In a Lasting, Activated Spirit.

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(Photo: https://olympics.com/en/news/asian-games-2023-basketball-final-gilas-pilipinas )

 

 

EPSA “Revolt”

 

Last April, many local politicians in Occidental Mindoro and the populace in general, hailed the move of National Electrification Administration chief Antonio Mariano Almeda consulting with the Occidental Mindoro Consolidated Power Corporation (OMCPC), the province’s sole power distributor, which consequently ended the 20-hour rotational brownout in the province.

Everybody praised Almeda and even thanked the OMCPC owner Manuel Luis Banson for agreeing to run their power plants. A local legislative council even issued a resolution along this line. We are generous enough to thank the same entity that mainly caused the crisis.

We proudly and happily declared then: “Hindi baleng mahal (ang kuryente), basta walang brownout.” Those who were with him on that occasion praised the administrator to the high heavens.

Clouded with our political biases, we succumbed to a propaganda blitz and we excessively believed those. We fed their egos and bred the messianic complex deep inside their very bones. Except for one, our representatives to the OMECO Board threw us into this monetary mess.

We are like oysters stuck to a rotting pole in a murky river as we believe that “Hindi baleng mahal (ang kuryente), basta walang brownout.” But such a frame of mind is not acceptable to me as an electric consumer, who counts to nearly 87,000 province-wide, I cannot afford to pay unjust power rates. Not only because of the prevailing prices of basic commodities and a very high standard of living but because such a situation is full of greed. This will have a domino effect on our local economy. Believe me. All of the small and middle-income families will be affected by this.

On July 13, 2023, Almeda issued a directive to OMECO BOD to withdraw its Joint Application with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for the approval of the SAMARICA Power Supply Agreement (PSA) and instead enter into a negotiated Emergency Power Supply Agreement (EPSA). The order is an insult to me as OMECO MCO.

The EPSA becomes a silver platter bestowing undeserved financial advantage to OMCPC through the full instant payment of the unreasonably ridiculous True Cost Generation Rate (TCGR) without going into regulatory processes approved both by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and the National Power Commission (NPC).

Under EPSA, the electricity coming from OMCPC's SAMARICA plant will be paid by MCOs at its total cost or TCGR, since EPSA is not covered by government subsidies. This will reach P16.67 to P20.70 per kilowatt hour (kWh) based on the P53.57 cost of crude oil. The EPSA in SAMARICA is an additional nail on the consumer’s cross as it gives a great advantage to OMCPC as I have said.

Still, we are fooling ourselves by adhering to this mindset: “Hindi baleng mahal (ang kuryente), basta walang brownout,” just to defend those people on top of the pedestal sponsoring or supporting and mum on the EPSA and giving the power provider a VIP treatment.

Even if the order is instantaneously deprived, we are denied the UCME Subsidy that we are entitled by law to enjoy, just to please and defend your political patron you keep on believing this foolish phrase you erroneously planted in your predisposed mind: “Hindi baleng mahal (ang kuryente), basta walang brownout.” Yes, the EPSA trampled our rights to enjoy our UCME Subsidy by requiring us to pay the OMCPC the full cost for the power supplied from the 20mw bunker-fired power plant per 12 January 2022 EPSA for the municipalities of San Jose, Magsaysay, Rizal, and Calintaan. This EPSA might also be proposed in other service areas of EC and that would spell further disaster.

Even those who are declaring then that, “Hindi baleng mahal (ang kuryente), basta walang brownout,” are now ranting over social media. They result in sarcasm and other gestures of anger. Only now they separate their principles from being a MCO and a political partisan. Having such a point or mindset, we all become part of the debacle we are in. Too late the hero.

All we must do is actively appeal to the national government to continue to include us and other off-grid island provinces in getting the subsidy even if we enter any emergency supply deal. Moreover, we also must assert the termination of the 24-MW SAMARICA PSA and immediately go on with the Competitive Selection Process (CSP) adjusted for the recent power demand. For the concerned power regulators to investigate or look into the alleged violations our sole power provider for the reportedly non-delivery of contracted capacities, among other issues.

Power and electricity must be available and affordable. Everything and anything in the middle is revolting.

We need a sustained supply of electricity, the same way we need it at affordable and reasonable prices.

One should not be sacrificed for the other.

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(Photo: OMECO IEC)

 

 

A Filipina Peacebuilder

  

A friend, Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer or Iye, is the only female of the four 2023 Ramon Magsaysay awardees for her peace-building contributions. This year marks the 65^th anniversary of the so-called Nobel Prize of Asia.

Iye, whom I first met in 2005, is a Political Science Professor at the University of the Philippines (UP), where she has also served as the Director of the UP Third World Studies Centre, and Convener of the Program on Peace, Democratization, and Human Rights under the UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies.

In 2015, she was the Chief Negotiator of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) in talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for the Mindanao peace process.

Prof. Iye, helped us, while I was still a program coordinator for the Social Action Center of the Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose, coordinating the documentation and facilitation of a series of dialogues between the Mangyan leaders and Army Officers operating at that time here in Occidental Mindoro. We escorted Ms. Ferrer to visit the far-flung IC/ICCs and military camps for interviews to develop a Peace Manifesto between the Mangyan leaders, elders, and the Philippine Army Officers. It was in her capacity as the main convenor of the Sulong Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law or Sulong CARHRIHL Network.

Finally, in 2005, a Covenant Between the 203^rd Brigade of the Philippine Army and the Pantribung Samahan sa Kanlurang Mindoro was signed by 203^rd Brigade Commander Col. Fernando Mesa and PASAKAMI Chairman Juanito Lumawig. It was held at the Chancery Building of the St. Joseph Seminary in San Jose.

The Covenant was an offshoot of a bloody incident we call the Talayob Massacre where the entire Mangyan family was fired upon by army soldiers from the 16th Infantry Battalion of the Armed Forces of the Philippines last July 21, 2003, in So. Talayob, Brgy. Nicolas, Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro. The victims who died from the indiscriminate firing were Roger Blanco who expired on the way to the hospital, his wife Oliva, who was then eight months pregnant, and their two sons John Kevin, 3, and Dexter, 2.

This tragic incident opened the fortunate partnership between PASAKAMI/AVSJ and the Sulong CARHRIHL Partner organizations in Manila where Mangyan leaders are always invited to various conferences on peace-building and other human rights-related activities and events in the national capital.

The Sulong CARHRIHL Network was instrumental in facilitating the drafting of the National Action Plan on the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security that was subsequently adopted by the Philippine Government in 2010.

To my knowledge, even now, PASAKAMI is still a member of the network (now Sulong PEACE), where our IPs contribute to peace-building and constantly share their indigenous ways of peace-making on the center stage, so to speak.

I believe that Prof. Iye has an instinctual understanding that injustice is not an ally to peacebuilders.

This is what I learned from her: Peacebuilders are everywhere, and anyone can be one. Regardless of our differences. Regardless of gender.

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(Photo: Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Kuryenteng Abot-Kaya

Ipinabatid ni NEA Administrator Antonio Almeda noong ika-13 ng Hulyo, 2023 sa Board of Director ng OMECO na ayon umano kay ERC Chairperson Atty. Monalisa Dimalanta na hindi nito mabibigyan ang SAMARICA PSA ng Provisional Authority to Operate (PAO) dahil sa hindi pa umano nakukumpleto ng OMCPC ang dalawa sa tatlong component ng PSA, ang Diesel at Solar. Pabor na pabor ito sa OMCPC na sa kasalukuyan ay wala pang linaw kung kailan makukumpleto ang mga natitirang component ng kasunduan.

Kung walang PAO, brown out na naman ang aabutin ng mga bayan ng San Jose, Calintaan, Magsaysay at Rizal. Para maiwasan ang kawalan na naman ng kuryente sa mga nabanggit, iniutos ni Almeda sa OMECO BOD na hugutin ang naunang aplikasyon para dito at umpisahan nang makapasok sa EPSA o Emergency Power Supply Agreement (EPSA) ang OMECO. Tumalima naman agad sa atas ng pinuno ng NEA ang OMECO, siyempre dahil ito ang “mother agency” nila.  Noong ika-18 ng Hulyo, 2023, nagpalabas ang BOD ng isang Resolusyon nag-wi-withdraw sa aplikasyon ng PSA sa SAMARICA na nakahain sa ERC.

Papaano kaya tatanggapin ng mga lokal na lider natin ang hakbang na ito ni Administrator Almeda? Ganito ba talaga ang ibig nilang mangyari?

Ang tanging tumutol sa Resolusyon ay si BOD President Dr. Eleanor Sy- Costibolo sa paniniwalang hindi makatwiran na ipasa ito sa mga konsumidor at maging dagdag na pasakit-pinansiyal ito sa mga mamamayan sa mga nabanggit na bayan.

Sa kakapalabas na dissenting opinion sa kanyang objection sa pagpasok sa EPSA sa OMCPC, iginiit ni Sy-Costibolo na malinaw na paglabag ito sa sariling polisiya ng Energy Regulatory Board (ERC) na "One Plant, One Power Supply Contract". Papaano nga naman nagkaroon ng dalawang kasunduan sa ilalim ng iisang power plant? 

Ayon pa rin sa kanya, hindi makatarungan para sa mga konsumidor ang magbayad ng True Cost Generation Rate (TCRG) na walang competition, transparency at malinaw na accountability ng mga regulatory officials. Sasagka pa umano ito sa pagkamit ng ating pinakalalayon na mababang presyo at sustinableng serbisyo ng kuryente.

 Malinaw at tiyak na sa oras na tayo ay pumailalim sa EPSA, matapos ang mga dadaanang proseso, ang babayaran na natin ay TCGR. Meaning, ipapasa na sa ating mga konsumidor ang pabigat na patong na hindi bababa sa P5 kada kilowatt ng kuryenteng ating makukunsumo. Ito ay dahil sa ilalim ng EPSA, hindi na entitled ito sa subsidy mula sa gobyerno at hindi na rin mamumroblema gaano ang OMCPC sa pagsingil sa usapin ng subsidiya.

Nasa kritikal na tagpo tayo ngayon sa gitna ng dalawang nag-uumpugang bato. May isang paksyon sa ating lipunan na nagsasabing, “Hindi baleng mahal, basta walang brown out.” Sa isang panig ay may nagsasabing ang halagang ito ay hindi makatwiran at dagdag na pahirap sa mamamayan.

Nasa gitna tayo ng nag-uumpugang “Murang Dilim” at “Mahal na Liwanag”.

Saang panig kayo dito?

Noong nakaraang AGMA sa San Jose noong Mayo 28, na malaking porsyento ng mga dumalo ay taga-Sablayan, isinulong at pinagtibay, maliban sa ibang bagay, ang pagkakaroon ng espesyal na AGMA sa usapin ng EPSA at mga kaugnay na bagay upang kasapian ang magpasya.

Aming ipinamamanhik na sana, bago tuluyang pumasok sa EPSA, marinig muna ang hinaing at pagsang-ayon dito ng kasapian. Kung kaya, panawagan po na ilunsad kagyat ang espesyal na AGMA sa lalong madaling panahon, at tutulan ang anumang hakbang na lalong magpapahirap sa mga mamamayan. Kasihan nawa tayo ng BOD sa layong ito.

Noon ko pa sinasabi, mga 2002 pa, na ang puno at dulo ng ating nararanasan ngayon sa off grid system ay ang maka-korporasyong Electric Power Industry Reform Act o EPIRA. Noon pa man, ipinagmamalaki ng mga nagsusulong ng EPIRA na sa ilalim umano nito ay magkakaroon na ng ganap sa solusyon sa kawalan ng kuryente at ang mataas na halaga nito. Pabababain daw umano nito ang presyo ng kuryente. Ngayon, 20 percent lang ang demand ng off grid sa more or less 20,000MW sa buong bansa. Mumo lang ang natatanggap ng 38 off grid provinces tulad natin kasi nga ay 20 percent lang ang contribution natin. 

Kaya tama lang na isilong ang malawakang pagbusisi sa EPIRA at amyendahan kung kinakailangan kung hindi man tuwirang ibasura na!

Kaya hanggang ngayon ay nasa kumunoy pa rin tayo ng batayang mga probema ng suplay at mataas na bayarin. Habang sa ibang mga bansa sa Asya tumutugon na sa teknolohikal na pagpapataas ng antas at pagpapataas ng kalidad ng serbisyo, naka-bagak pa rin tayo dito sa Pilipinas sa usapin ng presyo at kawalang katiyakan sa power situation natin.

Muli, walang sawa na maglunsad tayo ng mga talakayan at kilos-bayan para sa pagsusuri sa usapin. Kung krisis ang dulot ng brown out, krisis din ang dulot ng pagkakaroon nito sa ‘di makatarungang halaga.

Sa mga katulad namin, hindi lang kuryente ang mahalaga, kundi liwanag na abot-kaya.

Hindi namin alam sa inyo…

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(OMECO IEC)

Farewell, Councilor Obet

 

We laid to rest today, July 14, 2023, the remains of Hon. Roberto “Obet” C. Lim and this is the elegy written and delivered by his niece, Bernadette D. Ordenes during the necrological service at the Main Municipal Building, Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro I am posting here in verbatim:

Dear Friends and family,

We are gathered here today in memory of our dear Hon. Roberto Cruz Lim who passed away on the 5th of July 2023. When we heard that he was no more we were shocked and saddened. Death has taken away a genuinely warm individual, more importantly, a loving husband and father, and deprived so many others, including us all, of a good friend. While we all mourn, we pay tribute and celebrate a life that was well lived. A life committed to public service with dedication, passion, and engagement as ever — working long hours, going the extra mile, and showing a level of caring for those that he served.  Not many leave behind a legacy of such dedication and accomplishment.

Roberto Cruz Lim was the youngest among 5 siblings namely: Conchita Villarama, Baby Vicente, Rogelio Lim, Elisa Hizon of Sixta Cruz, and Juanito Lim. He was born on February 15, 1955 in Sta. Cruz Manila, and spent his early life in the province of Angat, Bulacan. He acquired his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at the University of the East Manila. He landed Sablayan Occidental Mindoro when his work was contracted to build the then Municipal Health Center in Buenavista. This is where he met and married his loving wife Mrs. Emma Dimayacyac Lim in 1987 and they were blessed with 3 children, Kristoffer Ian Lim, Karl Mikail Lim, and Kaori Mae Lim- Alvarez. He served as:

Barangay Treasurer of Barangay Buenavista from 1994 to 2000

Sangguniang Bayan Member from 2001-2004 – 3 years

Sangguniang Bayan Member from 2007-2016 – 9 years

Sangguniang Bayan Member from 2019-2023 – more than 4  years

He was also a member of:

Kappa Epsilon Fraternity from 1970 to present

Rotary Club of Sablayan President from 2005-2006

To his wife, he was a backbone and moral support. Even though, like every human, he erred once in a while, he always ensured he settled any differences they had in due time. He never drove her out nor considered leaving the marriage when they had misunderstandings, instead, he showed love and brought an aura of peace into the marriage. He supported her business drives and in return, she supported his political career. He created an environment where both were working together in family growth and proper upbringing of the children.

His consistent triumph in becoming a public official is a manifestation of how the people of Sablayan showed love and respect to Hon. Lim. He enjoyed the company of friends in the community, where he was respected as a leader and a reputable public servant.

Roberto fought till the last. His determination to carry on despite trying personal circumstances demonstrated his commitment to duties and responsibilities. In his own quiet and calm manner, he showed how to work through challenging times and to carry everyone along. 

Life can be fleeting. But a life lived to the fullest stays in fond memories. Roberto through his decorum and grace endeared himself to many. This is particularly a difficult and painful time for his family. In extending to them our heartfelt condolences, we wish them courage and strength to bear this irreparable loss.

Dear Tito Obet, you were a husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend to many, before death plucked you from our midst. Even though we are saddened by losing you, we take solace in the Word of God which says:

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live even if he dies” – John 11:25

And we believe that you are living and resting in the bosom of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

You will be missed by many!

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(Photo: Jasper Francisco)

Ludy's Beauty (Parlor)

She was the town’s best hairdresser for decades but due to the silent outrage of COVID-19, her business perished. The pandemic is so devastating for those like her who make a living by touching people, literally speaking.

“At my age, I can still work but my passion and livelihood were lost as quick as a wink of an eye,” she says. In late 2019, Ludy’s Beauty Parlor was then transferred to Chua Commercial Complex which is adjacent to the Municipal Public Market from its former location for almost half a century along Rajah Soliman Street fronting Michael Shopping Center. At her age, this petite granny (she didn’t even reach 5 feet, I think.) is one of the towering figures in the business in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, this scribe’s place of birth.

Her parents, Pedro Reotan of Naga City and Marcela Razon of Manila, migrated to Pandurucan (San Jose’s name of yore) in the early 50s. Ludy was born in Manila on June 3, 1943. Her old man, from being a Malacañang Palace employee during the Philippine Commonwealth period, was assigned to Occidental Mindoro as part of the Philippine-American Program for Malaria Control in the Philippines. He was a Bicolano.

I was able to bump into her while attending the 70^th birth anniversary of Mrs. Liwayway Viaña Delas Alas, mother of Ma’am Roselle (Santos), my wife’s principal, last Saturday, July 8, 2023, at Grandiya Venue and Restaurant along the famous nighttime destination in town, the Aroma Beach Baywalk.

This historic beach is usually where Ludy brisk walks every morning. The place is very accessible to her for she and her husband Romy, a retired police officer, live in Nolasco Subdivision in the nearby Barangay Bubog. Romy and Ludy’s marriage produced three children: Ed, Julius or Jojo, and Ginalyn (now Santos). “I keep myself physically and mentally in top shape,” she says. Though she occasionally visits the doctor, unlike those seniors of her age, she was not prescribed any maintenance medicine.

With all her antics and as a frivolous, flighty person who can't keep still, she came to the birthday party donning Adidas rubber shoes, a neatly ironed checkered light brown polo, and black short pants. She danced around like a child to every music aired in that ship-shaped venue that afternoon.

Lourdes “Ludy” Reotan Villaflores, now 80 years of age, started putting up her parlor in the mid-70s. She took a Bachelor of Science in Education at the National Teachers College (NTC) upon the assertion of her parents to become a teacher, she enrolled at NTC which was opened to the student public on June 10, 1929, and was granted government recognition on February 17, 1930. But her true passion is fashion and not teaching. She opted for this vocational course than any academic one.

Against the will of her parents, the young lady in Ludy dropped her course at NTC and went to Samson Fashion School and took up Hairdressing, a vocational course and after two years, she got her diploma.

Ludy worked with the legendary Dory Acuña who was, in the late ’50s and early ’60s, the counterpart of today’s Ricky Reyes. She worked with Acuña who is considered during her time "the beautician of the stars". Ludy’s stint with the known beautician opened the opportunity for her to meet movie stars. She was frequently sitting on the set of movie director Pablo Santiago where she rubbed elbows with her favorite silver screen idols in the 60s, I was told.

“I love dressing somebody’s hair. Even today, when I go out for a walk or hear mass, I always bring along my comb and scissors with me. I hair-style my friends for free,” she said between laughs.  “To see someone look at themselves and smile gives me the most satisfaction imaginable,” says she.

In many of her Career Week speeches in different schools, she keeps on emphasizing the importance of doing what you love. There is dignity even in taking up vocational courses and that is what she always imparts to her young audiences.

“I could no longer cite the names of my customer-friends. They are too many to mention,” she said. “All I can say is that I am forever honored that they let me accentuate their beauty,” she said with her face aglow.

My short chat with her made me understand more these words from Kahlil Gibran: "Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart."

And there lies Aling Ludy’s true beauty.

Who Has the Say?

On classes’ suspension and cancellation when there is no TCWS, who has the say? Is it the DepEd or the LGU?

On May 30-31, 2023, there is a social media exchange about why a certain mayor not declaring suspension or cancellation of work on classes last May 30 to 31, 2023. Note that no Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) is issued by the Weather Bureau, including other related agencies on such dates.

On October 28, 2022, The Department of Education (DepEd) through spokesperson Michael Poa reminded the Local Government Units (LGUs) that they must implement the latest class suspension guidelines in times of typhoons and other calamities issued in September of that year, following Department Order 37 or the Guidelines on the Cancellation or Suspension of Classes and Work in Schools in the Event of Natural Disasters, Power Outages/Power Interruptions, and other calamities.

“DepEd is against the unnecessary cancellation of classes and the use of our schools as billeting areas for events that are not related to the curriculum,” Poa said in the statement. “Your [LGU’s] support affords uninterrupted class sessions for our learners, and helps our teachers avoid unnecessary make-up classes, which pose an additional burden to their teaching load.” It is perhaps in this context that Sablayan Mayor Bong Marquez refused to issue an order of cancellation of classes in his area of jurisdiction on said dates. The letter and intent of such a directive are to give the education department an order to guard against unnecessary abruption of classes.

The DepEd Guidelines state that "If heavy rainfall warning is issued at the time when classes have already begun, the SCHOOL shall immediately suspend the classes and work and send everyone home if it is safe to do so. However, SCHOOLS are obliged to keep the students and personnel safe in school if traveling has become unsafe. " (Capitalization, mine) "SCHOOL" here refers to the school administrator.

The decision of that Local Government to suspend or cancel classes must be based on the assessment of its local DRRMO anchored on the weather bulletin issued on a particular period. Without such scientific input, a decision is yet to arrive. The LGU should not prioritize the online noise and social media pressure from the public in their decision-making.

But many LGUs tend to give in to the social media pressure that arises when one LGU decides to suspend classes. This should not be the case considering the different hazards present in each locality or area of a municipality. The push should come from the respective DRRM councils based on scientific data and not from the rantings of netizens or social media personalities and influencers. 

Therefore, the suspension of classes cannot be solely based on the declaration of other LGUs. It cannot be the basis for it’s no longer based on scientific data provided, for instance, by the DRRMO of a municipality. The declaration by any LCE cannot be driven by social media pressure, by allies or foes, or even by assertions or ranting from teachers and parents. As I have said, there should have a factual and scientific basis for doing such.

We are imparting bad values to children that when it rains coupled with strong winds on a particular morning, the classes must be outrightly suspended. There are even adults, government employees included, that are wishing to suspend work just because there is bad weather or because it is raining hard. It even teaches the youth to easily submit to hardships later in life as an individual and as a citizen.

The respective mayors or officials from other LGUs have all the rights to declare any executive orders on their respective jurisdictions independently as an autonomous entity as provided by the Local Government Code and other existing laws.

Each LGU has its independent executive issuances to follow by its constituency. Each LCE has its wisdom in governance and decisions on certain concerns. Therefore, going with the bandwagon is a no-no in governance as well as in life.

Regardless of such an order whether from the school officials or the mayor, it is the parents or guardians who are primarily responsible for the safety of their children. 

In fairness to DepEd, there are a lot of school heads who do not wait for the issuance of the LGU or the weather bureau but already decided on their own to suspend classes considering their community’s vulnerability and other factors. There as many school heads that I know already issued a cancellation of classes on the night of May 29. Those are the responsible and learned school administrators that take the cudgels and took responsibility for not waiting for the decision of any other higher authority. They are worth commending and considered climate-change resilient educator heroes.

Even with the absence of such order, in whatever weather we are experiencing, it is our prime duty as parents or guardians to decide if we will allow our children to go to school or not, thinking primordially of their safety. It is our freedom of choice as parents or guardians, first and foremost to spare them from danger brought about by inclement weather.

It is not fair to say that those who do not issue such an order in this particular situation do not care for the school children. And in some instances, inclement weather can be politicized too.

Those who are lambasting the local official for not issuing or issuing such an order do not trust their safety officers or the DRRs most especially the mayor deciding this way. By the way, every LCE also sits as chair of the LGU’s DRRMO and there are also representatives from DepEd like principals and district superintendents.

Or it is more to our tendency of relying too much on politicians which is not always good.

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(Photo: Biennard Capiral)

Luningning De Jesus: Shining for Jesus

Down in History

She was born two years ahead when President Manuel L. Quezon was elected to the presidency. Quezon, as history taught us, became the first president of the Philippine Commonwealth, the administrative body that governed the country from 1935-1936.

Luningning De Jesus first unleashed her baby yelp when the Philippines was still under the Insular Government under US Governor-General Theodore Roosevelt, Jr and the Pope was Pius XI the pontiff who issued numerous encyclicals, including Quadragesimo anno.

Everybody’s Tia Ning was born on May 27, 1933, here in Sablayan, and is 90 years old now, alive, blabbing, and still hearing mass unaccompanied and receiving the Holy Eucharist. The Sablayan’s most adored nonagenarian was already 11 or so when World War II broke out and outlived 15 out of 17 presidents this country has.

She was by then 7 when the people of Sablayan elected their first-ever municipal mayor Pedro Gonzales.

This woman touched many lives, including mine. How do you remember Tia Ning?

Town’s Echo

Medel Bundang recalled Tia Ning as his religion teacher way back in his elementary days in the late 60s. “To her, from my point of view as a child, I think her way of teaching the subject is more than forming our faith but an invitation to a way of life,” says Bundang, 59, the town’s Human Resource Officer. Tia Ning started to work under Fr. Father Ludwig (Luis) Halász, SVD, the missionary who first came to Sablayan in 1958. Tia Ning spent almost all her life as a catechist together with the late Minerva “Tia Meny” Gallardo. 

Father Ronald Panganiban, present parish priest of Sablayan said that despite her age, though she is already retired, she is still active in various religious organizations like the Daughters of Mary Immaculate (DMI), Catholic Women’s League (CWL) and Mother Butlers League (MBL), among others. The clergy said that she even received the Gawad San Sebastian, Huwarang Lingkod ng Simbahan bestowed by the parish on January 17 this year.

The word catechist comes from a Greek word meaning "to echo". True enough, this curly-haired little woman who has a stature like Mother Teresa of Calcutta echoed the Word of God to the children of the town whose patron saint is Sebastian. She was a full-grown lass of 20 when San Sebastian Parish church was canonically erected. From there she became every catechumen’s catechist in this Christian community in Occidental Mindoro.

Almost every prominent settler and resident in the town proper considered Tia Ning as one of their main travel companions in faith, keeping alive the memory of Jesus. As Pope Francis aptly puts it, "Catechists are people who keep the memory of God alive; they keep it alive in themselves and can revive it in others." The numerous priests who hailed from the place called Dongon of yore could very well attest to that.

Exemplary Spirituality

“She is my idol when it comes to spirituality,” narrates Flordeliza Paz or Tita Flor, who came to work as a government employee in Sablayan from Agkawayan, Looc in Lubang Island in 1973.

Tita Flor reiterates that Tia Ning’s devotion to Mary is worth emulating for she learned many examples from Mary, as a teacher and “model of catechists.” “Tia Ning’s ministry is especially enriched by her prayerful devotion to the Blessed Mother,” concludes Tita Flor who is also a member of the parish’s Lectorate Ministry. Like the Blessed Virgin, she is faithful to Jesus, the Light of the World.

Her fellow parish server, Sheryll Kenept (Naning), cannot forget how Tia Ning asserts herself to lead prayers before a dining table on every occasion. Her prayers are very long and religiously follow the sequence of Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. “Pero mahaba talaga. Gutom na gutom na ang mga kakain, hindi pa siya tapos magdasal. Grace before meals pa lang, parang rollo na sa Cursillo,” narrates Naning in jest. What is her membership in Cursillo (Spanish for “Short Course”) in Christianity and Apostolada ng Panalangin for? But Naning believes that her main secret to staying alive is her every day going to the Holy Mass, her devotion and everything follows like a stress-free mind and healthy lifestyle and all.

Naning is the daughter of equally illustrious Dr. Susana Diaz, the town's longtime physician, and past councilor.

Luningning Daprosa Orlina De Jesus’s spirituality defines who she is and what her life is all about.

Couple Shirts

Councilor Clarinda Lorenzo (nee Alvarez), 56, can still vividly remember Tia Ning and her late husband Leopoldo De Jesus, known in the neighborhood as Tio Polding, attending the mass donning clothes with identical color and design. She was so aristocratic with her elegant dress, complete with her signature handbag and lady shoes. Those were the days when couple shirts are still things of the future.

Like the lady councilor, our birthday granny also dived into politics. She was voted kagawad (councilor) of Barangay Poblacion and served her full term from 1998 to 2002 with Amable Urieta as the Punong Barangay, because, understandably, she is everybody’s Tia Ning.

“She sings like nightingale be it with the regular choir or during processions where she leads the singing,” recalls the local lady lawmaker who was once a teacher and a police officer. In SB Clarinda’s mind, such matching or complementary clothing of Polding and Ning gives a strong message: belonging, unity, and togetherness. Death did not separate Ning and Polding for in her heart, he lives eternally.

Though they are not used to wearing couple shirts, though a dozen of them were kept in their closet, Clarinda and her husband Edmon are trying to live up to such an example of being in love together, belonging in each other’s arms, and united by the bond of marriage, forever.

Birthday Bash

It started with a challenge or provocation, you may say. Mylen Lontoc, proprietor of the town’s famous Mylits Restobar along Medalla Boulevard told this scribe that when Tia Ning reached her 85^th birth anniversary in 2018, the retired catechist is very sickly. Her weight dropped and was not in the pink of health.

“Sinabi ko kanya, kapag umabot ka ng 90, libre venue mo sa Mylits. Basta magpalakas kayo at kumain ng mabuti,” (I told her, when you reach 90, you will have a free venue at Mylits. Just get strong and eat well.) the restaurateur assures her. 

Lo and behold, at 90, Tia Ning is very much alive to date, still praying and kicking!

Her Wishes

This is how she wants to be remembered, especially by the young generation:

“Gusto kong maalala ng mga kabataan ng Sablayan na minsan ay may taong kalakbay nila sa pananampalataya, namuhay nang simple at inilaan ang buhay sa paglilingkod sa Diyos at kapwa.” (I want the young people of Sablayan to remember that there was once a person who joined them in their journey of faith, who lived a simple life and devoted her life to serving God and others.) 

She fervently wished she will live long and continue to accumulate not earthly treasures but heavenly ones.  

It is a sure ball that many were invited to Mylits tomorrow and greet her and share this momentous moment with her. Wishing her good tidings and may she reach the century mark of life or even beyond.

Truly, Jesus loves those who make His light shine for the world.

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(Photo: Mrs. Tina Paz)