Shutdown?

A letter that circulated on social media recently apparently sent by Occidental Mindoro Consolidated Power Corp. (OMCPC) to Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (OMECO) caused great alarm to netizens and not only to the latter’s member-consumer-owners (MCOs). The letter is supposed to be just between the two entities as far as I see it.

In the letter dated May 26, 2022, and addressed to Cesar E. Faeldon, NEA Supervisor of the EC, OMCPC said and I quoted here in verbatim “Please be informed that our plant can only operate up to June 1, 2022 at 0600 hrs, if we will continue to operate our 3 gensets at full capacity. This is in connection with our previous letter informing you that the plant will cease operation due to the reason that our fuel supplier will no longer deliver fuel to our plant site unless we settle our payments to them. Our existing fuel stock in the plant will only last up to the said date and we do not have any choice but to shutdown our plant operations." The letter was signed by OMCPC-SAMARICA Plant Head Edgardo D. Cruz.

Supposed internal correspondence such as this should be kept confidential between the EC and the power provider and should not be publicized because it may create public panic and it did. Having it posted on social media, it would draw unnecessary alarm, anxiety, and intrigue. With high probability, the letter leaked from the camp that would benefit from it. To me, making it public pressured, if not threatened, OMECO particularly its BOD to facilitate the release of the estimated 300M peso subsidy from the National Power Corporation (NPC).  

I attended in person the 41^st Annual General Assembly (AGMA) at Mayor Juan G. Santos Memorial Gymnasium in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro last Sunday, May 29, 2022, 3 days after the letter circulated on social media. Through teleconferencing, the AGMA has other two satellite venues, the Sablayan Astrodome and the Mamburao Municipal Gymnasium. The keynote speaker, Emmanuel P. Juaneza, NEA administrator, rendered his speech via zoom due to equally important commitment he has to attend in person.

The previous online discussions went overboard and went far as to conclude that the OMECO has an unpaid debt to OMCPC. The OMCPC people did not attend the AGMA for an unknown reason. So with other invited municipal and provincial officials. Only out-going mayor Romulo “Muloy” Festin of San Jose, the host municipality, who rendered a message and swore in the incoming BOD members attended the AGMA but immediately left after the oathtaking. I also spotted there SB Mercy Alvaran, also of said town sitting at the long and neatly covered table with immaculate white tetoron allotted for said officials-MCO.

In his report, the outgoing BOD President Rodolfo Plopinio made it clear that OMECO has no standing debt or whatsoever to OMCPC. They were ordered by the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to prioritize the paying of their supplier. Plopinio even added that their payment to the lone supplier is always in advance and concluded that OMECO does not owe OMCPC anything. Earlier today, May 30, 2022, OMECO had a advance payment of 65M pesos for OMCPC to settle their account to their fuel supplier, ergo, no shutdown is about to happen this coming June 1, 2022. They already got what they want.

If OMECO did not publicize the supposed internal letter from OMCPC, who leaked it? Be the judge, my dear readers.

In other developments, in 2021, there are 3 sources of power supply in the whole Occidental Mindoro according to the Power Supply Update presented by Engr. Celso D. Garcia, manager of the EC’s Technical Services Department: The OMCPC 20MW Bunker-Diesel Power Plant in Pulang Lupa, the Pag-Asa Grains Center, Inc. (PGCI), and the Net Metering Agreement (NMA) with Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative or ORMECO. The NMA is suspended at present due to a lack of supply in Oriental Mindoro. The PSA of 9MW in MAPSA was docketed on April 13, 2022 and there is already a Provisional Authority (PA) from ERC that was already posted in their website recently.

In sum, the demand for electricity in the whole province during peak hours is pegged at 27MW while they can only supply 24.5MW, therefore, the rotational brown-out we are experiencing since the start of this year.

The PSA for Sablayan’s 6MW Diesel Plant signed on January 12, 2022, was already docketed to Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) only last May 2, 2022, and soon it will be for commissioning, connection, replacement of the existing system, and in full service hopefully before December 2022. At present, we are just waiting for PA to operate before its full service (For specific details of the power supply update, you may contact OMECO on the matter-NAN).

Please be informed too that the PGCI is a biomass power plant and providing the company's excess power from 1.5 to 2MW. It is more cheaper for it is classified as renewable energy so it is exempted from taxes.

To set the record straight, again, OMECO has no debt whatsoever to the OMCPC. This is just a figment in the imagination of the irresponsible social media personalities and users and the enablers of the entity, the capitalists, and personalities that will benefit from the letter’s exposure to the public on the impending, alleged shutdown. The culprit/s in thinning out such external business correspondence broke the ethical standard in a business partnership.

Shame on them!

Still, OMECO continuous to be our favorite whipping boy, fall guy, and scapegoat rolled into one although most of the problems in electricity we are facing are rooted in various negligence and vested interests of top to bottom players, those who are in power, in business and politics alike, and their cahoots in the industry throughout the country including neoliberal laws and policies on energy that are anti-people. We singled  out our very own cooperative for blame.

Shame on us!

Survey Says ...

An apparent result of a political survey in the form of an infographic is circulating in Facebook lately being shared and posted by some netizens with this caption: “Nagsalita na ang masa, sa looban (sic) lang ng tatlong buwan, batid ng lahat kung sino ang nararapat ihalal sa darating na eleksyon.” The post is insinuating that the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation of Occidental Mindoro allowed if not commissioned a pre-election survey supposedly conducted on its members.

By the way, Hon. Marffin Tuscano Bergonia Bayog Dulay, SK Federation President of Sablayan confirmed to me that there is no such survey made in the municipality for the purpose or perhaps it was exclusive only in selective areas. To be fair, this space is open for Hon. Trisha Kay Fabic-Mancilla’s reaction to settle things up and rest assured that I will insert it here in the form of a tailpiece. 

The infographic seemingly has SK official seal or logo on it so unless there’s a disclaimer from the provincial federation president about this, I will assume that this is indeed legitimate. I just hope that the OPs are mature and responsible enough for what they have posted. Those who posted or shared it are certain Bhea Pacheco, Harry Perez, Jobert Lorenzo, and Mary Cris B. Vibal. With very high probability, all are fictitious names. Remember their handles and be warned about what they post next time. 

I have no qualms about the personalities or the numbers in the survey per se. My point is, the disclosure was not supplemented with the necessary information and the original posters and/or sharers failed to be transparent about it. I made attention (or patol) to this because of such negligence and lack of accountability and transparency on the pollsters’ part spells lack of accountability. This impression of mine, of would only change if the survey people supply us with those important verifiable data if they wish. If not, of course, that’s at their discretion. I cannot do anything about that.

But generally speaking, surveys, especially those conducted by non-experts can be manipulated in many diverse methods. Many of the unscrupulous instigators of these polls or surveys want to create a public impression that a certain politician or a political group is about to lose or win come election day. The posters concluded, “Naway magtuloy-tuloy na ang pagbukas ng kamalayan ng taong bayan at maging responsabli (sic) sa naayong desisyon sa pagluluklok sa isang lingkod bayan na may PUSO, TALINO AT DANGAL.” It is very obvious, they are close-in supporters of those leading in the supposedly SK Provincial Federation survey that is said to have ensued from September 15 to December 15, 2021.

I am addressing this piece, not to the instigators of the project but to the unaligned and silent majority from the ranks of my readers. 

The professed SK Federation provincial survey has it that for congress, Peter Alfaro is leading at 44.34%, followed by Philip Ramirez with 24.12%, Bunny Villarosa-Kalaw garnering 12.40%, Noli Leycano with 10.03%, Odie Tarriela getting 5.27%, and lastly, Jojo Melgar 3.84%. For the gubernatorial position, Cong. Josephine Sato gathered 65.75% while Gov. Ed Gadiano, 34.25%. For vice-governor, the survey says that Mayor Eric Constantino got 52.41% and SP Diana Apigo-Tayag, 47.49%. 

Fine. 

Notably, it did not mention in the posts who conducted the survey, how many respondents were, where are they from when the survey was conducted, and even what questions were asked of the respondents. Without such verifying information, this survey is dubious if not an outright hoax.  The absence of these details in surveys and its result is already suspicious. It can be fake as the identity of the social media trolls in our midst. Who would expect courageous truthful things from cowardly hiding posers?

In the natural course of things, polls or surveys are not designed to be prognostic or predictive. They are just a spur-of-the-moment decision at that precise time, therefore, things can change and they often do change. Also, randomness is the key to surveys. Let us take a closer look at this supposed SK survey on its member throughout the province. How could the SK members represent the whole 289,953 plus voters of Occidental Mindoro? 

The reputation of the entity which conducted the survey (including those who publicized the result) matters the most. To put it more succinctly, no surveys are authoritative and this can be tricky. The public disclosure must include what type of sampling they have employed (e.g., random sampling, weighted sampling, etc.) and what techniques they engaged to generate those samples. If the sampling system is incorrectly applied, then the result of the pre-election survey would be erroneous, if not entirely false.

Pre-election surveys are important barometers for all political camps so that they could adjust or alter their campaign plans and strategies for the better. To have a bird’s eye view of their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) of the day. But as thinking voters and independent-minded citizens and netizens, we must look at it through critical lenses. The numbers laid cannot be gospel truths but just something forced on us by the politicians usually the traditional ones and their lackeys.

This will be the first and the last time I will tackle the subject for the same issues like this will go on as the election comes near. I do not want to be repetitive but still, I will look for the same concerns I emphasized here.

In general, without direct reference to this case, I firmly believe that unscientific pre-election surveys tend to mislead the voting public and create a false sense of the political situation. Surveys, as we all know, can be used as propaganda artillery against certain rivals. But I am not outrightly saying that this is true in this particular case.

Let me conclude this with this question from Robert Orben: "Do you ever get the feeling that the only reason we have elections is to find out if the surveys were right?"

Ponder on, fellows. Critically and sensibly for we are not mere guessing Family Feud contestants. 

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Photo: Sophia M. Novio

 

To Farm is to Survive

He was a survivor of a plane crash happened in the mountains of Sablayan 53 years ago.

It was the most horrible peace-time air tragedy in Occidental Mindoro history where 26 people, mostly prominent residents of San Jose including the plane’s 4 crew, died after the Philippine Airlines’ DC3 Flight No. 785 reportedly crashed into a ravine of the northern slope of Mount Rabañgan that fatal Wednesday morning of June 29, 1966.

Based on the investigation conducted by authorities then, the PAL DC-3 took off from Mamburao Airport, which actually came from Manila after its stop-over at the capital town was bound for San Jose Airport. Official document has it that the probable cause of the accident was the "misjudgment of the terrain clearance of which resulted (in) the collision with trees.” That time, all the flights going to San Jose-Manila and vice-versa drop and pick passengers in Mamburao.

The crash site is believed to be part of Sitio Yapang (now part of the area called Palbong) inside the property then of Sablayan Penal Colony. One of the two lucky survivors was an Engineering student at FEATI University named Federico “Erick” Aguilar, eldest son of the late Joven and Conching Aguilar, 90, a farme parents from Barrio Bubog. The ill-fated aircraft which was found by the rescuers beyond repair first flew in 1944 and it was a twin engine Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92.

The other survivor also a farmer from San Jose identified as Donato Magpiling. His whereabouts are now unknown. Most of the passengers who died in the mishap were businessmen and professionals. He (Aguilar) survived because of the fresh water he drank from the Rayusan River and the abundance of vegetation in the mountain. Aguilar’s story instantly became talk of the town, how he survived for days with wounds all over his burned body before he was found by the rescuers. He endured the hardship by eating raw wild vegetables in the woods.

But Federico “Erick” Aguilar, at more than 70 years of age is still alive and kicking. He took up high school at the Divine Word College of San Jose in the early 60s. He stopped schooling at age 13 to help his Ilocano father tend their farm. That fatal air accident did not stop him from finishing college and started his career afterwards.

He later married Carol Liong of Baguio City giving him two loving and talented children, a boy and a girl. Their children have now a family of their own. The eldest is Dr. Lielanie Mae Liong Aguilar-Pascasio who lives in Florida, USA and Dr. Errol Charles Liong Aguilar now resides in Doha, Qatar. Erick lost his Carol in 1995 but remarried in 2002 and exchanged marital vows with Elena Salangsang, a widow from General Santos City. He has five grown-up step-children. Erick and Elena live and permanently reside in San Mateo, Rizal.

In 2009, Erick (some close friend call him Einstein, his dead ringer, according to them) retired from his work at the Kanlaon Broadcasting System-Radio Philippine Network as news cameraman. Now a retiree, he goes abroad almost every year and have a 6-month with visit to his grandchildren, either in Florida or Doha.

As I write this blog entry, Erick is busy in his new life project. The OMG or Oh May Gulay. The construction of the farmers' vegetable market is now underway. When asked how did he came into this business idea, he said, “Our Barangay (Bubog) is very rich with sea and farm resources kaya lang binabarat ng town market retailers.” What is OMG in reality? “It is a place where farmers can sell their freshly picked products”, he added. The site of OMG is in Barangay Bubog at the opening of the feeder road going to Glendenning Resort. It is expected to open in a few months time.

The scars in his body proved that he indeed survived his deepest wounds. That in itself, for him, is an accomplishment and they bring to mind something else, too. They remind him that what life has inflicted him left him stronger and more resilient.

"To farm is to survive." This made Federico Aguilar better equipped to face the present…

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(Photo from Erick Aguilar’s Facebook page showing he and his mother Conching on her 90^th birthday last February)

Occidental Mindoro: Water World, Almost

Due to recent incessant rain which results to flooding in various municipalities of Occidental Mindoro, the necessity of addressing the problem in a long-term basis is very much needed. Interventions regarding environmental and water resources engineering can also be employed.

On its 94^th Regular Session, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan evaluated the damage to properties and agriculture brought about by these flooding. The Provincial Engineering Office pegged the total damages on provincial road and bridges in the amount of P42,240,000.00. In that particular outing, agricultural damages is estimated at P398,364,963 Million broken down as follows: Rice P223,000.744.00, Corn P18,044,200.00, High Value Crops P17,275,819.00, Fisheries P122,000,000.00. The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist issued a report that the most damaged towns are Sablayan, Magsaysay, Sta. Cruz, Rizal, San Jose and Abra de Ilog.

Overall, the country’s total forest cover went down by 4.59% from 2003 to 2010. MIMAROPA had the biggest drop among all regions. And in the region, the whole Mindoro Island has the highest decrease in forest cover. Oriental Mindoro has 61.03% decreases and in Occidental Mindoro, the number is 53.62%. Aside from logging, both legal and illegal, according to authorities the problem is also attributable to charcoal-making and kaingin (swidden farming). The Mangyans are truly engaged in such an economic activity but not all kaingin are destructive, as far as I know. The problem is that majority of our indigenous peoples espoused the practice of the low-landers throwing the ethnic or cultural ways of doing it. Kaingin farming, also known as shifting cultivation or rotational farming, is a type of accepted sustainable agroforestry system. It is a customary livelihood common across indigenous communities in Asia. In fact, the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC) explained that shifting cultivation among ethnic groups is not a major cause of deforestation in countries across the region.

But also consider this: only in May this year, the Manila Standard reported that the DENR-MIMAROPA has approved the cutting of 10,9045 trees standing inside the gigantic Amnay Watershed listed by the department itself as a “critical watershed area.” As we people of Mindoro know, Amnay River is one of Mindoro’s prime rivers that provides irrigation to Sablayan’s five top rice-producing barangays, namely, Claudio Salgado, Lagnas, Elvita, Pag-asa and Victoria, which are all flood-prone barangays. Said communities are most hit in the recent flooding brought about by TS Josie in said municipality. Six persons died in the incidents of flooding in the province. TS Josie causes us P400M damage in agriculture sector, according to reports.

The provincial government and the rest of the municipal LGUs did all they can in the area of relief by way of responding in rescue and other measures in their respective areas of jurisdiction. They all exerted efforts in helping the evacuees, launching relief and rescue operations and medical missions and distributing goods to evacuees and victims.  They also requested other forms of subsidies and assistance for the farmers and fisherfolk from the DA. But we lack the forward-looking plans on flood mitigation and we focus more on reactionary measures rather than pro-active ones.  

If you are living the urban centers of the province, it is easy to blame our poorly designed, clogged or lack of drainage system. But I think drainage or land cover cannot be blamed alone. Generally, the problem must be traced to geography. We all know that most populated parts of municipalities of Occidental Mindoro are positioned in an area next to a river that is swamped when water rises. A land so fertile and suitable for agriculture but when transformed, converted or re-used to residential or commercial areas, it became prone to floods. In areas situated near creeks and rivers, even the most well-maintained and well-constructed drainage system would be hopeless during heavy rains and high tides when rivers overflow. As of this posting, there are still incidents of flash floods in some downtown of the province.

The LGUs have no other choice but to strictly enforce 10-20 meter easements along rivers and lakes, and 3.5 meter easements along creeks and esteros. Retrofitting government facilities against flood waters must incorporate our short-term goal. Massive reforestation of the catch basins and watersheds must also be started and sustained.

In general, spillways and floodways must be built in flood-prone areas of every target municipality. A certain lake or low-lying area will act as initial floodwater container and another one nearby as secondary container. When major rivers reach critical levels, its excess water is diverted to the designated initial floodwater container to the secondary container to protect the barangays near the rivers.

One may immediately design a construction or master plan project similar to this. Since this is a long-term target, we need not less than 15-25 years to finish or at least gain or see initial outcome of this. I heard that the World Bank, through the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery Trust Fund could help us formulate or fund, say, a 25-year Occidental Mindoro Flood Management Master Plan. Malay natin.

I am not an engineer and is in no way an expert in urban and rural planning but these are just product of my little readings on flood control measures by governments here and elsewhere. I believe with sufficient fund and resources from the national government and outside funding with the will and dedication on the part of the implementors, this is very possible.

It is now high time to think beyond the canals, drainages and gabions. As a short-time goal, we need to construct road dikes along our flood-prone rivers and relocate settlers to higher areas if necessary so it is but proper to establish relocation areas if there is a need for relocation. But it’s time to turn to a more lasting solution or mitigation. Along with long-term plans on urban development, it is now time to start (re)thinking of a province-wide flood control mechanisms to effectively contain and channel floodwaters in certain parts of municipalities of the province. The provincial government can now initially conduct a study on such a grand project I am discussing above. We have experts to give flesh and bone on this I am sure.

Visionary leadership, good planning and design and good governance would surely ensure our success against this impending “Water World” situation….

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Photo: news.abs-cbn.com

References:

http://manilastandard.net/lgu/luzon/267194/mangyans-protest-10k-trees-cut-in-watershed.html

https://www.rappler.com/science-nature/environment/105742-mangyan-mindoro-forests

http://opinion.inquirer.net/106142/solve-flooding-problem

Occidental Mindoro lass, Top 10 of the 2017 Bar Exams

She is the true beauty and brains Occidental Mindoro should be proud of.

Emma Ruby Aguilar, the 2011 Binibining San Jose made it to the Top Ten as tenth placer in the 2017 Bar Examinations. Aguilar, a graduate of University of Santo Tomas (UST) College of Civil Law, was born and raised in San Jose Occidental Mindoro. She was in Greece on an official travel when the result came out. She’s a nurse turned lawyer.

Her Facebook cover photo reads, “Dear God, I am placing 2018 in your hands.” Her FB post yesterday reads, “Still in awe for one of the biggest blessings God has given me! Thank you Lord for making me a lawyer (with a bonus) while we were on the plane from Istanbul to Greece. Literally and figuratively in cloud nine earlier!”  The news also came while her hometown is in the midst of its week-long fiesta celebration.

Aguilar was assigned in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro in line with her short stint with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program after she finished Nursing also from UST, as cum laude. She later took up Civil Law. She garnered 88.40% in said examinations.

She is a grand daughter of former Regional Trial Court (RTC) judge Restituto Aguilar. Her father, Manny, is an engineer while her mother, Ruby, works in a bank.

The first ever Occidental Mindoro- born Bar Top Ten will take her oath on June 1 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

There were a total of 7,227 law graduates who were allowed to take the bar exams. The exams covered eight subjects: Political Law and Labor Law, Civil Law and Taxation, Mercantile Law and Criminal Law, Remedial Law and Legal Ethics and Practical Exercises.

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(Photo: From Emma Ruby Aguilar’s Facebook page)

Decorum on Colorum: The Passenger Vans in Occidental Mindoro, Part 2

Contrary to reports, it is not true that the Land Transportation and Regulatory Board or LTFRB is yet to receive any applications for franchise from van operators operating in the whole province now and in the past few years. The application of a certain van transport group had been processed since 2014, as I have stated in my previous blog entry. Unless if the LTFRB already considered all the applications null and void.

It appears that the LTFRB is painting a wrong picture here and some officials easily believe them.

As early as January 21, 2014, Mayor Eduardo B. Gadiano wrote to Atty. Wilson M. Gines, chair of the LTFRB, thru Atty. Roberto D. Peig, director for Region IV. In the letter, Gadiano endorses the franchise application of Mindoro Aircon Van Transport Cooperative, Inc. (MATSCOOP) to operate via San Jose, Occidental Mindoro to Abra de Ilog Port. Also in August 5, 2014, Gov. Mario Gene J. Mendiola made the same endorsement to same authorities and bearing the same prayer.

Both Gadiano and Mendiola cited the benefits of immediate release of the request for franchise of said cooperative, saying that it would contribute largely to progress and development of the province. Despite of this reality, the LTFRB then turned down the request. In the letter dated 19 December 2014, Sherielysse R. Bonifacio, DOTr’s assistant secretary for planning and finance said that “the proposed route of operation is currently served by existing transport services.” Apparently the mentioned “existing transport services” are the bus companies operating in Occidental Mindoro and one of them is Dimple Star Transport. The LTFRB seemingly has a moratorium issuing such franchise then. I just do not know.

As of this moment, only buses are insufficiently catering the needs of the commuters all over the province. With the massive crackdown against colorum vans, it is the general public that suffers the most. There are also reports of some negligence of bus companies coming from passengers especially those who are taking the Manila-OCM route and vice-versa. 

The MATSCOOP was issued by a Certificate of Accreditation by DOTC’s Office of Transport Cooperatives pursuant to Board Resolution No. 2013-09-04. MATSCO was represented by Mr. Camberlen F. Jimenez, a resident of Mamburao where anyone could fact-check the all the data I have presented here.

Not only that, seriously responding to the problem, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan headed by Vice-Governor Peter J. Alfaro approved Resolution No. 191, S. 2014, which is authored by SP Antonio A. Rebong, Jr., chair of the transportation and communication committee of the provincial board, asking for the same plea before the LTFRB. In short, there are transport groups, specifically passenger vans, who had been into intent of getting their franchise. Unless of course if the LTFRB already dumped all their previous requests.

The LTFRB and the concerned LGUs must hurry the tedious processes of finalizing the province’s Public Transport Route Plan (PTRP) and the consequent application (or re-application?) of all the public utility vehicles operating in the province as per the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines of the DOTr or DO 2017-011. 

In outright believing that there are no existing application for franchising, we are killing all our hopes for an inclusive, responsive and progressive transport industry in our province along with other economic gains the industry could bring to us. The solution must be win-win. Anything less is unacceptable! 

Allow me to reiterate what I have said in my previous blog entry, aside from chasing or running against colorum vans in my province, our local leaders must help these transport organizations in cutting down the fees for transport franchises and speed up its application process.

There are applications, believe me. But that depends on how they look at them now. I am a commuter, by the way ...

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elnidoparadise.com

Rest Now, Ka Bise

Rodolfo “Ka Bise” Acebes, the paraplegic author and local historian is now gone. He, to me, as far as writing local history is concerned, is a role model. His foosteps must be followed, so to speak.

I had a last chat with Ka Bise last May 2016 asking me to help him spread the news about the launching of his last book, “Mindoro: The Stepping Stone”. The milestone started when Ka Bise received a letter from Lucky Guillermo, top honcho of Spyron AV Manila, a national creative production company that has close partnership with (Douglas) MacArthur Memorial, one of the auspices of City of Norfolk, VA’s Department of Cultural Facilities, Arts and Entertainment. Guillermo’s letter contains this remarkable opening message: “Your book is definitely a good material in history. From a perspective, students and followers of World War II will have a fresh treat from your book.”  Acebes already published over half a dozen works to his credit and in the Introduction of “Stories of 100 Families”, he wrote, “People must remember the past. People should know that stories of the past, once impressed upon their memories, are indestructible.” These are the words, from the man who just left us, summing up his sterling achievements as a devotee of history that many of the influential residents failed to notice. Perhaps for one reason or another.

Ka Bise writes from his bed after that fatal accident in 1988 which paralyzed half of his body. In an interview for the Inquirer in 2008, Ka Bisi recalled, “After the accident, I went back to reading and writing to keep my sanity. I worked on a borrowed manual typewriter placed on top of three pillows on my right side.” He made more than two dozen of letters to the editors of various broadsheets and magazines. Maybe, just maybe, if he did not went through this trial, his writing potential would forever be imprisoned by his erstwhile happy-go-lucky attitude. He was with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) when the misfortune happened. Many lives were touched by the man as a writer, activist, paralegal and journo.  

As I have written in my tribute to him on his 61^st birthday, Acebes’ reminded me of another great intellectual named Marcel Proust of France. Proust was asthmatic and dying and could write well only when bedridden. Ka Bise was my Bureau Chief at Mindoro Guardian in the late 90s and I still remember him lying in a lay half-suffocating in a room hazy with inhalation and his bedclothes serving as his desk. In our intimate moment way back then, he encouraged me to write a book.

Blaise Paschal and Lucretius too were at their best in writing their respective masterpieces and not eaten up by their severe illness, solitude and destitution. Such situation did not hinder these great men of science and prose to concentrate. They have special gifts that are easier to cherish than to describe. And we thank them all for their contributions to the world despite of their previous conditions when they are still alive. They are in no way forgotten.

And that includes Ka Bise…

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(Photo : Kenneth D. Pangilinan)

Is the spending for MIMAROPA-RAA 2018 lavish?

The 2017 health statistic shows that Occidental Mindoro is number 2 in the list of prevalence of malnutrition in MIMAROPA and yet, the province still come up with the money for a lavish hosting of a regional athletic meet. Well, meets like this need not be this extravagant or, pardon the word, wasteful.

The last time an event held in the province with this intensity is in 1970 and that was 48 years ago. True, this would boost local economy in a way and really an opportune time to put our province in the map. But these cannot be laid as excuses for such an excessive spending especially if our children, the fair hopes of our locality, are suffering from the debacle with regards to nutritional status.

As far as I know, the DepEd’s only main concern in each RAA holding, aside of course from the non-tangible development of youth in sports, is the safety of the athletes and delegates, the appropriateness and suitability of sports facilities and accommodation. The preparation, as others have observed, is more sumptuous than Palarong Pambansa, the national meet. The holding of RAAs provides an avenue for friendly competition that develops physically fit and upright individuals. It also serves as springboard in the development of desirable attitudes and values among the youth to become productive, responsible and worthy leaders and citizens of our country. So, the grandeur of the welcome and closing ceremonies are supposedly just optional and not the main menu.   

In 2016, the Municipality of Sablayan lost its bid to host the 2017 RAA to Municipality of Brooke’s Point in Palawan. Prior to the bidding, the municipality already put into place major requirements, especially sports facilities and physical structures. According to certain DepEd policy, hosting of a municipality in any province requires first the official nod of its governor and the municipality’s Letter of Intent must be endorsed by him/her. That is why Sablayan didn’t get it the first time. The following year, while the games are unfolding in Brooke’s Point, the MIMAROPA RAA Meet Board again convened for the bidding. Instead of endorsing Municipality of Sablayan’s second bid, the governor bid for the whole Province of Occidental Mindoro.

So, both the Municipality of Sablayan and the Province of Occidental Mindoro joined the process as competitors. There it was voted and approved by the Board that the 2018 RAA will be held in a Municipality in Occidental Mindoro (and later the provincial officials decided to hold it in San Jose). For the year 2019, an election year, the Municipality of Sablayan was officially selected to host the RAA.  Sablayan is next in line, as the song goes.   

  

I have heard from the grapevine that an estimated total amount of Php 17,856, 250.00 is allocated by the Provincial Government for the event broken down as follows: Opening Program and Grand Parade, Welcome Night, Solidarity Meetings, Unity Night, Closing Program, Incident Command System, Sports Equipment and Coordinators’ Meeting. Not included, of course, is the financial allotment for the physical construction of sports facilities and the newly-constructed Occidental Mindoro Grandstand which is allegedly pegged at Php 27M. In DepEd’s DO 14, s. 1999 on the Austerity Measures in the Conduct of Sports Meets it is stated, “Austerity measures shall be observed in the conduct of sports meets in all levels. Ceremonies shall be in the simplest mode and format, with entertainment numbers included without additional costs.”  The Welcome Night alone has a budgetary requirement of Php 6.2M and the purchase of sports equipage is marked at Php 5M, the two largest cuts of the pie. I have no qualms about the latter for the equipments can be used in other sporting events. It's the former that wowed me!

Obviously, there was financial sharing pact among the Provincial Government, the Office of the Congressman and LGU-San Jose other than that from private donors or outsources like, maybe, Senator Loren Legarda, who happens to be the guest of honour to grace the occasion. Same assistance from said internal sources is expected next year since the future host municipality is also part of the province like San Jose.

Based on the data from the state of nutrition for MIMAROPA, Occidental Mindoro ranked 2^nd in malnourishment. The province has a total of 3,440 pre-school children that are underweight; 1,175 pre-school children are severely underweight. The province’s total number of malnourished children is 4,698. In sum, Occidental Mindoro’s malnutrition prevalence rate is 83.03% and a malnourishment precedence rate of 7.71%.  Ranked 1^st is Palawan. Palawan as a province never bid for RAA but Puerto Princesa and Brooke’s Point, all belong to Palawan, already hosted the regional meet.

After the RAA, a backlash in the public coffer for the rest of the year is imminent. The chunk of big money allotted to the meet could be more responsive if forestalled to address the malnutrition issue and other health issues in general like manpower resources for public hospitals especially health care professionals like nurses. Not to mention the job orders or JO personnel stationed in health care facilities whose salaries are always delayed. Not to mention the shortage of medicines in said hospices. With such a huge cut in the MOOE and other expenditures in the year's Annual Investment Program (AIP), our agony on health care will be prolonged. Also, every time an indigent child-patient dies in a public hospital, say, San Jose District Hospital, due to diseases attributable to malnutrition and was not given proper medicines and treatment, people will think how improvident the province’s accommodation of the 2018 RAA is. This is how I see it and I may be wrong.

To be fair to all, among us Filipinos, hospitality and simplicity are bi-polar values which can be negative or positive, healthy or unhealthy. Depending on how we see and weight things in a given time…

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(Photo: CJ Dangeros)

Mar Roxas V. Rody Duerte in a Slapping Galore

Since when slapping is the cavalier’s way to resolve a conflict? Ask Mar Roxas and his rival Digong Duterte that question. From a lowly  street bully as well as to big time warlords, manly conflicts are resolved by action that results pain on both sides. Compared to a gunfight or fistfight, slapping does not really have the potential to inflict damage. Do Mar and Digong really mean to slap each other? Isn’t slapping unmanly? Merely imagining Mar and Digong slapping each other ala Sharon Cuneta and Cherie Gil in Bituing Walang Ningning, would send us to the floor laughing. It’s a political hilarity to the maximum! 

How about male slappers? In early Philippine movies about the Japanese occupation, I’ve seen scenes where Japanese male soldiers slapping Filipino civilians and Japs military officials slapping fellow soldiers under their command. Slapping the face is an ordinary form of discipline, especially among Japanese Army, while among Filipinos it is an insult. To the captive guerrillas, I was told by my grandfather, that it is more honourable to die by bayonet or a bullet than being slapped repeatedly in the face. The “acceptability” and application of slapping can differ from one culture to another.

In the Philippines, slapping is socially unacceptable even in situations confined only to our homes, for instance, when parents seek to punish our children though domestic slapping galore does happen. Slapping, from dominant male Filipino mind sets, no matter how bad it is, is reserved between two married (or in a relation) men and women. Slapping is only acceptable in Philippine culture when young women shield themselves from undesirable sexual advances. Maybe to people like Mayor Digong and Mr. Mar, people belonging to the upper echelon of society, slapping is considered a grave affront to man’s honor and dignity. But to a common man in the slums or the rural area, slapping another man is a little bit “yucky” if not unmanly. To men of achievements like Mar Roxas and Rody Duterte, being slapped is a big shame to the perceived honor and the present fine status they are presently in as distinctive presidential aspirants of this great nation of ours. The slap that gives shame is what they both want to give to each other, if they truly mean what they say. Rody and Mar are adhered to a doctrine called Lex Taliones and that would bring bad example to their most ardent supporters, specially the youth, no doubt.

Duterte and Roxas displayed manhood showing their true colors as human male species. Theirs are pseudo-strong manhood that retaliates against dishonor to return slap for slap. Contrary to what the Great Leader have taught us. He who was born in a lowly manger and later called Prince of Peace...

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(Photo: www.mb.com.ph)

NCIP-OCM Holds CADT Forum

The National Commission on the Indigenous Peoples or NCIP conducts a forum on Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro last August 5-7, 2015. The event is aimed at updating on the status of CADT applications of the 7 sub-tribes of the Mangyans in the whole island of Mindoro, to clarify the the processes being undertaken by the NCIP, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Land Registration Authority (LRA) to speed up the issuance of pertinent documents and certifications for the registration and eventual awarding of their CADTs. The event held Juan G. Santos Memorial Gymnasium was sponsored by the Provincial Government of Occidental Mindoro.

NCIP Commissioner Dionesia O. Banua and Ruben S. Bastero, CESO III, director for Region IV serve as the forum’s main reactors. Focusing on the Joint DAR-DENR-LRA-NCIPAdministrative Order No. 1, Series of 2012, it was attended by hundreds of Mangyan leaders and tribal elders including those coming from Oriental Mindoro who are saluted by Mayor Romulo M. Festin and SP Member Roderick Q. Agas representing both Gov. Mario Gene J. Mendiola and Rep. Josephine Ramirez-Sato. Mario Mulingbayan, the province's Mangyan affairs officer oversee the logistical needs for the event.

The forum highlighted the presentation of the Revised Omnibus Rules on Delineation and Recognition of Ancestral Domains and Lands of 2012 presented by Engr. Sandy P. Padilla, Engineer IV of NCIP IV. It was followed by status of CADT in whole Occidental Mindoro by Noe Raul A. Zoleta. There was also presentation of IP Issues and Concerns coming from the 7 Mangyan leaders from all over the island.

On her opening message, Commissioner Banua, gave special recognition, among others, to the exemplary support of Sablayan LGU under Mayor Eduardo B. Gadiano especially in terms in the realization of the IPMR or the IP Mandatory Representation to the local municipal legislative board which was first in the whole island. She challenged all the attending LGUs to do the same. RD Bastero said that since there are glaring differences in the mandates of concerned government agencies like DENR, DAR, LRA and of course NCIP, towards the tittling of the ancestral lands, there is a dire need to discuss major policies regarding such requirements and processes. Indeed, there are jurisdictional and operational issues between and among said agencies that was clarified by the Joint Administrative Order or JAO. The JAO is truly a welcome development for the Mangyans and their mission partners.

The activity also serves as venue for the airing of grievances of the Mangyan leaders and elders concerning the government projects, like the National Greening Program, the PLAs, CBFM, and the likes. Speakers from different agencies made suggestions and promised actions on the matter with the cooperation of the IPs themselves.

During the Responses and Commitment part of the Forum, this lowly blogger  discussed what the LGU is presently doing for the Taobuid and Alangan of Sablayan. Specifically on the local government’s mission of empowering them by taking part in the development and in governance, a room in the mainstream government respecting their culture and rights. Majority of the Municipal LGUs with considerable number of Mangyan population were in attendance.

In their concluding talks, both Banua and Bastero lauded the Municipality of Sablayan for having the establishment of Tribal Barangays in our CADEV-ELA and our advocacy for the Indigenous Peoples’ Mandatory Representation or IPMR which are under the mandate of NCIP. All of the barangays of Sablayan now have their respective IC/ICC representatives through the IPMR.

Day Two dwells with the formulation/validation of IPMR Guidelines for the IP representation at the Provincial Level and the undersigned only served as observers. The forum was facilitated by Mr. Noe Raul A. Zoleta, the NCIP OIC Provincial Officer along with his staffs coming from its offices in Mamburao, San Jose and Sablayan headed by Sablayan Field Officer Mr. Reynaldo F. Tupas, CDO-III and Ms. Ann Stephanie T. Tapales, CAO I at San Jose Field Office, as the gathering's emcee.

We all gathered in San Jose that day looking for a bright future where the Mangyans, Mindoro’s indigenous people maintain control over their ancestral lands and territories. As proximate stewards of our upland ecosystems, their rights must be respected as stipulated in the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act or IPRA law also known as RA 8371.

So, CADT Now!...

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(Photo grabbed without permission from Steph T. Tapales’ FB wall)

The Making of Sablayan’s Tourism Blue Print

Aimed at boosting further the tourism industry in Sablayan, the municipality’s ecotourism office led by Ms. Sylvia T. Salgado launched the inception workshop last July 15, 2015 at the Sangguniang Bayan Session Hall located at the 2nd Floor of the Sablayan Municipal Building. This also serves as a kick-off activity towards the drafting and formulation of the local government’s Tourism Master Plan. The workshop participants came from practically all over the place from both public and private spheres. The tourism blue print formulation is facilitated by Ms. Chen Reyes-Mencias and her hubby Louie F. Mencias of the Blue Water Consultancy, both staunch advocates and prominent figures in Asia with regards to environmental education and preservation. The firm’s main task is to provide technical assistance to the local government unit in coming up with tourism master plan. Next to agriculture, tourism is lifeblood of this largest municipality in the Philippines.

Ms. Mencias, while presenting the rationale of the project, have made me discover the negative impacts of unplanned tourism like what was exposed in the documentary “Gringo Trails”. Right here in the Mindoro Island, in April last year, Robert Evora in an article in the Manila Standard Today wrote about the enormous shortage of potable water in Puerto Galera. Romeo Roxas, president of the Puerto Galera Business and Tourism Enterprises Association as quoted in the news item disclosed that, “The town has no tourism development plan, no environment management plan and Puerto Galera is fast losing its former grandeur”. Uncontrolled sewage discharge to its coastal waters is the main ecological disturbance threatening said former quiet and serene coastal town of Oriental Mindoro. In Puerto Galera, particularly the White Beach, urban planning and zoning was overlooked. These are classic examples of lack of effective and sustainable tourism plan, aside from hundreds of cultural, social (and moral) dangers posing as hazards brought about by unplanned tourism. This also caused concern to environmental groups due to said tourist destination’s close proximity to a highly sensitive marine biodiversity area like the world acclaimed Verde Island Passage, a strait that separates the islands of Luzon and Mindoro. 

In Lubang town, also in Occidental Mindoro some years back, Blue Water assisted in mapping out the municipality’s tourism plan through resource mapping and resource inventory of its islands. Lubang Island’s tourism industry is gradually claiming prestige as of this time. Many people, me, included, made mistake in thinking that tourism only deals with promotion or promoting tourist destinations or spots in the social media or elsewhere. Tourism isn’t just organizing tourism councils and establishing tourism offices. Tourism is not only event organizing and projecting cultural activities only the elites and the socialites taking the center stage. Tourism must also serve the people in the community and not just the tourists,- both foreign and local, the local government, businessmen and the contractors. How? That should be considered in the blue print. Ms. Mencias’ input was Tourism 101 for me for it’s the first formal lecture I have received about the industry. This is the first time I’ve ever heard of the so-called Butler’s Tourism Life Cycle.

The administration of Mayor Eduardo B. Gadiano is in full gear vying for an ecotourism program for “Amazing Sablayan”. It looks forward for sustainable and pro-poor tourism programs which highly consider the plight of the people and their base resources. But to his mind, as relayed in the opening remarks of his executive assistant Bong Marquez in the inception workshop, Sablayan’s best practices in local governance, as magnified in various national awards that made the municipality as a frontline municipality in the country, could also attract tourists aside from its being one of the ecotourism destinations in MiMaRoPa region.

Sablayan in more ways than one (for lack of space I cannot enumerate all here), have demonstrated key features of good governance which include openness, participation, effectiveness, accountability and coherence. These principles must be adhered and/or added to town’s tourism program. The local chief executive also expects that aside from his town’s tourist destinations like national parks Mts. Iglit-Baco and the Apo Reef and the other scenic places, people or tourists from all over would visit Sablayan to study the programs and policies initiated by his administration that again, are too many to mention.

And of course, any visionary leader would not allow his or her tourism program become contributory channel for social, natural and cultural attenuations …

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(Photo: Heraldion Manzano)

http://www.bluewaterconsultancy.info/

http://bulatlat.com/main/2010/03/06/on-mindoros-lubang-islands-a-clash-between-morals-and-tourism/

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/02/23/travel/gringo-trails-review/

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/04/29/big-tourist-drop-in-puerto-galera/

http://www.philstar.com/nation/2015/04/16/1444200/jesse-robredo-legacy-draws-tourists-naga

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The Abandoned Chinese Invasion of Mindoro

Even pronounced nation like China passes through turbulent times. In 2012, it experienced a severe shortage of human tetanus vaccinations when many medicine trade companies cease to produce said medicines after seeing that it is no longer profitable. China was alarmed over the spread of tetanus among its citizen. Great nation as it claims to be, today, China is undeniably conducting a creeping incursion in our territorial waters. But did you know that Mindoro could have already been invaded by the Chinese as early as the 13th century? I cannot imagine how life would feel like if it turned that way.

According to Wikipedia, “The first semblance of a political system in Mindoro's experience was provided by China in the 13th century”. The Chinese tried to annex Mindoro but the plan was abandoned when an internal trouble in the Chinese home front ensued. An ancient Chinese explorer named Cheng Ho gained a page in Mindoro history as we have seen. Cheng Ho or Zhen He (1371–1433 or 1435) was a Hui court eunuch and fleet admiral during China's early Ming Dynasty.

In the 13^th century, unlike today, there was that strict traditional Chinese isolationist policy. Cheng Ho recalled the armada going to Mindoro and other parts of the archipelago because of this rule. In 1500, it was capital offense to build big ships with the purpose of using it going to foreign soils. Chinese coastal officials in 1525 destroyed all such ships while that time Ferdinand Magellan and other Europeans reached Asian waters. As Portugal, Britain, France and Spain and other European countries dominated global waters, China padlocked her ports and destroyed her gigantic ships.

Contraction, not expansion, was China’s order of the day in the 14^th century. Not anymore as the present headlines suggest.

China then was superior compared to other country in the West when it comes to technology, living standards and global influence. But the country became enveloped in a smug self-sufficiency, cultural and economic inwardness, a closed and centralized political system, and an anti-commercial culture. China believes that they do no lack anything in many aspects like that of economy, politics and culture so she closed its door to the rest of the world. It was during the 14^th and 15^th century. Not anymore as the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea row now suggest.

The recent case filed by Manila against Beijing before the United Nation-backed arbitral tribunal at The Hague, Netherlands, according to Supreme Court Senior Justice Antonio Carpio who is part of the Philippine delegation to the tribunal said that the case, “[It] could take maybe ten years,” and reminded us that, “We should steel ourselves that this will be a long struggle.” But if by chance the Philippines win its case at the tribunal, there is no UN body to enforce the ruling. So, in essence, the decision of the tribunal would not mean much.

Meanwhile, a ship called BRP Sierra Madre, a military outpost cum navy ship is holding its position in the disputed waters. The World War II vintage ship, even if it is already covered with rusts stays as symbol of our sovereignty.

It could be a potent armament too against the Chinese, in case they run short of anti-tetanus vaccines again…

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(Photo: Pray4hui.com)

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occidental_Mindoro 

http://www.famouslives.com/chengho.html

http://www.cato.org/publications/speeches/trade-transformation-china

http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20120509000009&cid=1103

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/07/14/15/ph-reinforces-rusting-ship-spratly-reef-outpost-sources

Ang Salitang “Diyos” sa Vision Statement ng DepEd

Una, ibig kong ibahagi sa inyo kung ano ang vision statement ng Bayan ng  Sablayan : “Sablayan: Sentro ng ekonomiya at pulitika, mapayapa at ligtas na pamayanan, may saganang likas na yaman at mamamayang nananalig sa Dakilang Lumikha.” Pansininin ang huling apat na salita dito.

Ikalawa, ibig kong ibalita sa inyo na kamakailan lang, ayon sa isinulat ni Rei Lemuel Crizaldo ng NationWatch, inalis na ‘di umano ng Kagawaran ng Edukasyon o DepEd (na pinamumunuan ni Bro. Armin Luistro, na isang mala-diyakono ‘yata), ang mga salitang “God-loving” sa kanila ring vision statement. Ipinapalagay sa ulat na bunsod umano ito ng pagigiit ng ilang grupo ng ateistang Pinoy na ito ay tanggalin dahil labag daw ito sa prinsipyo sa ating Saligang Batas na “Separation of Church and the State”, at kung anu-ano pang mga argumento’t punong kaisipan mula sa ilang kanluraning bansa.

Ang grupo ng mga ateistang ito sa totoo lang ay hindi naman talaga sagarang maituturing na ateista. Sila ay maaari lang galit sa mga kleriko at relihiyon, o mga dismayadong mananampalataya na hindi tanggap ang marami o lahat ng doktrina at dogma ng alinmang relehiyon at pananampalataya na dapat namang igalang at kilalanin ang pananaw nilang ito. Kabilang na yaong pinagsasabong imbes na pagtibayin ang kumplementasyon ng siyensya at pananampalataya o ang kilalanin ang ambag nito sa isa't-isa. Datapwa't aminin din natin na marami rin sa kanila ang mas makatao at matuwid kaysa sa atin. At ang atin ding hindi maka-Kristiyanong mga gawi, ang ating mga maling patakaran at kaisipan at gawi ng ilang lider ng Simbahan ay lalo pang nagpapahigpit sa pagkapit nila sa kawalan ng paniniwalang ito sa Maykapal.

Umalma sa pagbabagong ito ang maraming mga taga-kagawaran at pati na rin ang ilang relihiyoso, Katoliko man o Protestante, denominasyon at sekta. Lalo na sa mga social networking sites lalo na sa kanilang fan page sa Facebook bagama’t hanggang isinusulat ito ay wala pang opisyal na pahayag dito ang DepEd. Kung totoo nga ito, may dahilan tayong mabahala dahil baka nga naman dumating ng panahon ang isunod nila ay ang baklasin din sa ating Preamble  ang salitang “Almighty God”, ipagbawal ang mga relihiyosong simbolo at simbolismo sa mga tanggapan ng gobyerno, na ang pinaka-malapit ay ang pagpapa-alis na rin sa salitang “Maka-Diyos” na isa sa mga core values ng DepEd.

Bagama’t nababahala ay hindi dapat tayo sagarang maging affected o mangamba sa balitang ito. Maliit na bagay lang ito kung ako ang tatanungin. Igalang na lang natin ang pananaw na ito gayundin ang nasabing hakbang ng pamunuan ng kagawaran. Wala namang gaanong epekto ito sa mayoryang Kristiyanong Pilipino, hangga’t gumagawa sila ng mga bagay na ayon sa banal na disenyo at nasa ng Diyos, sa palagay ko lang. Alisin na nila ang lahat ng may salitang “Diyos” sa anumang mababasa mula sa gobyerno kung gusto nila. Bahala sila!

Pero bilang sundalo ni Kristo, dapat din nating ipagtanggol ang ating paniniwala sa pamamaraang itinuro ni Hesus sakaling hatakin nila tayo sa kanilang paniniwalang walang Diyos o alipustahin ang ating mga doktrina o kutyain ang anumang bagay na sa atin ay sagrado o banal.

Kung ang Facebook nga raw ay isang bansa sabi ni Ed Shefffer,- sa 400 milyon kataong naka-rehistro dito, ito na ang ika-tatlong pinaka-populated na bansa sa mundo. Hindi nga ba ito matatawag na prime missionary field o lugar at oportunidad kung saan tayo ay maaaring magpahayag o ipagtanggol ng lohikal o rasyunal ang ating mga pinaniniwalaan?

Hindi mababago ng balitang ito sa DepEd ang katotohanang hindi mababaklas ninuman ang Diyos sa ating pagkatao. At dito hindi magtatagumpay ang mga ateista. At ang katotohanang ito ang mas mahalaga lalo na kung isinasa-buhay natin ang ating pananampalataya.

Pero tiyak ko na walang papayag na taga-Sablayan (o kahit na aling bayan sa Kanlurang Mindoro kundi man sa buong Pilipinas) na tanggalin ninuman ang huling apat na salita sa vision statement nito. ..

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(Photo: Philippine Information Agency)