A Need for a Political Research about Occidental Mindoro

Marty Rubin, one of my favorite modern-day aphorists, penned this one-liner: “An echo has no voice of its own.” To put it in the positive light, I think an echo can be likened to a research work that only resonates the voices of the respondents.

When I was still at the Social Action Center (SAC) of the Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose, I dreamed of reading a sort of a political research work aimed at describing and analyzing the structure and the dynamics of the present-day Occidental Mindoro, say from 1970s to date, which is anchored on the province’s politics of public administration. My search was futile. The people in the academic field are apparently more interested in some other scholastic endeavors than this particular kind of investigation or study.

Talking of researches and echoes, in 1962, there was a student paper published by the University of the Philippine’s (UP) students from Mindoro called “The Mindoro Echoes” where some of its staff members are tasked to conduct researches financed by the university’s Institute of Public Administration. Its editor that time is a student named Edgar Tarriela. The Up research team was led by Dr. Remigio E. Agpalo and started 15^th of April that year. Aside from Tarriela part of the team are Juan Tapales and Artemio Arellano. They, at that time, are all graduates of UP with AB Political Science degrees. Tapales and Arellano then are both working for their master’s degree while Tarriela is pursuing his course in law.

The research mostly consists of field interviews and ocular observations and their interviewees were local elected officials in select towns of Occidental Mindoro.  The tedious tasks made by the OCM-born students paved the way for the publication of Agpalo’s book, which was published a decade later (1972), titled “The Political Elite and the People: A Study of Politics in Occidental Mindoro”. This is the only documented and published research on the subject matter as far as I know. I just do know why.

As far as I know, there are colleges in San Jose which are offering graduate studies in Public Administration. I do not know what prevents the students in researching such a badly needed academic output. I have my own speculations that I do not want to share here.

Why such a research is important? First and foremost, the citizens can be provided with information on our political mindsets as a people living in one community that could very well guide us to our main quest of participatory citizenship, civic duty and public functions.

On the part of the local government officials, it will provide data that could help evaluate and assess the needs and aspirations of their constituents or the people. And, from Agpalo’s own words, “Thus, public officials will be able to formulate and adopt enlightened policies based on adequate and objective information to cope with the province’s problems.” I just do not if these are important to them other than winning each electoral race.

Allow me to reiterate the need for such a research and call on the attention of the competent and independent men and women in the academic field to please initiate it for you are the most qualified, credible and capable to handle such a noble work than this biased, lowly blogger and story-teller.

Or I just sound like an echo talking only to myself…

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(Photo: researchguides.library.wisc.edu)

Source: Remigio E. Agpalo;“The Political Elite and the People: A Study of Politics in Occidental Mindoro”; 1972; p. 390-390; University of The Philippines’ College, College of Public Administration, Manila.

Sablayan is Hosting a Provincial Chess Festival

The most popular board game in the world that made many Filipinos famous has never been fully developed in Occidental Mindoro. While Oriental Mindoro is taking pride in the 12-time national champion Grandmaster (GM) Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. of Calapan, Occidental Mindoro is still on its way to discover such a GM-potential among our youth. By the way, GM Antonio a proud native of the other half of Tamarawlandia, is the second ranked player in the Philippines and number 391 in the world. We have so many young talents in the sports but never been fully developed, a determined chess program must be immediately put into flesh.

Responding to such challenge, the newly-formed Occidental Mindoro Chess Academy (OMCA) led by Mr. Renator G. Gatuz and Mayor Eduardo B. Gadiano are holding a Provincial Chess Festival scheduled on October 27, 2018, Saturday, at Sablayan Astrodome in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro. Along with GM Gatuz, OMCC’s other “pieces of rank” as I have told before are Frederick D. Isip, Branch Head of Social Security System (SSS) in San Jose, GM Renato G. Gatuz of San Jose Water District and Mr. Emmanuel “Noel” Asi, manager of United Coconut Planters Bank or UCPB also of San Jose.

The 7 rounds Swiss System Chess Tournament will be employed in an outing dubbed as First Mayor Eduardo B. Gadiano Chess Festival. In a Swiss-system tournament, players are never eliminated. Instead, players are paired in every round. The number of rounds is predetermined, and the winner is the player who earns the most points by the end of the tournament. Players typically earn a single point for a win and a half-point for a draw, though other scoring systems are possible. In every round, each player is paired against an opponent who has the same or a similar number of points in the tournament. 

There will be a Php 100.00 membership fee per participant to cover expenses such as the rental of clocks, tables and chairs, among others. The remaining amount will be utilized to purchase other training materials for the academy.

With regards to the rating of the participants, the OMCA issued this advisory: “This tournament shall be rated. The OMCA has its own rating system which will be used to measure player’s tournament performance and future progress. A provisional rating of 15000 shall be assigned to unrated players in Kiddies Division, while provisional rating of 1700 shall be assigned to unrated players in Open Division.”  They in the OMCA will also explain to the children participants, if need arises, how to use the chess clock.

For additional information, you may visit and join the Facebook Group of Occidental Mindoro Chess Academy or contact Mr. Elmer Dimafilis at CP No. 09075531545 for further details.

This chess festival falls part in Mayor Gadiano’s program for sports development for the youth in the widest possible reach. Since he considers Occidental Mindoro Chess Academy as a scholastic local chess club, they would provide a challenge for young participants while helping build confidence and self-esteem.

The chess festival in Sablayan offers a combination of educational and social activity so every enthusiast, young and old from all over Occidental Mindoro, are invited to join…

References:

http://nanovio.blogspot.com/2018/07/on-chess-remembrance-and-revival.html

https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/04/30/10/antonio-seeks-guinness-record-facing-600-opponents

https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/the-swiss-system-611537

Wikang Filipino sa Saliksik at Beauty Pageants

Kaalinsabay ng pagdiriwang ng Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa sa bawat paaralan sa bansa ay pumipili din ng Lakan at Lakambini ng Wika. Ang puntong layon sana ng buong buwan na pagdiriwang taun-taon ay upang mapaigting pa ang paggamit ng wikang Filipino para lubos na maipaunawa sa nakararami na wala nang mas hihigit pa sa sariling wika kung ito ay gagamitin sa matuwid at mabisang pagpapahayag o komunikasyon, lalo na sa saliksik, na siyang pokus ng tema ngayong 2018.

Subalit sa labis na pagka-humaling ng mga Pinoy sa mga patimpalak-pagandahan, sa pa-bonggahan ng mga kasuotan ng mga kalahok dahil sa magneto ng masmidya, lumalabnaw ang marka nito sa layon ng pagdiriwang na dapat ay hulmado sa ating kultura at wika. Sa palagay ko, mas marami pang adik sa beauty contest na mga kabataan kaysa sa droga. Bakit nga ba hindi, kahit sa observance ng Science Fair, Valentine’s Day, Nutrition Month ay may beauty pageant at kung saan-saan pa, simula Day Care hanggang sa kolehiyo.

Palibhasa nga parang naka-pagkit na sa kalendaryo ng Kagawaran ng Edukasyon (DepEd) ang mga patimpalak paggandahan (o pa-pogian), hindi gaanong nabibigyan ng timbang at wala ang interes ng maraming mag-aaral sa iba pang larangan o aktibidad pang-akademiko tulad ng Pagkukwento ng Likhang Pabula, Pagtatalumpati, Pagsasabuhay ng mga Karakter sa Maikling Kwento at Pagbuo ng Awit, at iba pa.

Sa kanilang Kapasyahan Blg. 18-24, pinagtibay ng Kalupunan ng mga Komisyoner ng KWF na ang tema ng Buwan ng Wika para sa ngayong  2018 ay "Filipino: Wika ng Saliksik." Sa pagitan ng beauty contest at research, walang dudang mas intresado ang maraming estudyante (at ilang guro) sa una kaysa sa huli. Kahit sabihin pa na sa pagpili ng Lakan at Binibini ng Wika ay sinasala sa mga pamatayang ganito: Pilipinong Anyo, Kaakmaan ng Kilos at Gawi, Tindig at Tikas, Pagdadala ng Kasuotan at Pagdadala ng Sarili.

Laksang mga batang babae (at may mga “pusong babae”) ang ginaganyak ng kanilang mga magulang na sumali sa mga patimpalak-pagandahan kaysa sa magsulat, manaliksik, sabihin na natin halimbawa, ng mga kuntil-butil ng kasaysayan ng kanyang pamayanan. Siyanga pala, kapuri-puri ang isinasagawang hakbangin na pinangungunahan ng lokal na historyador na si G. Rudy A. Candelario na muling bisitahin, rebisahin at isulat ang may 20 taon na niyang naipalimbag na Kasaysayan ng Kanlurang Mindoro at mga Bayan.

Sa palagay ko nga, darating ang panahon na wala nang mananaliksik na kabataan at mas kukupas pa ang mga letra sa pahina ng libro kaysa sa kolorete sa mukha ng lipunan. Sa lipunang ito na mas pinahahalagahan ang pagpapaganda kaysa sa pagbabasa (mas mabili ngayon ang mga beauty products kaysa mga aklat).   

Pansinin natin na ang patimpalak-pagandahan sa bansa ay tagos-tagusan sa lipunan. Wala itong kinikilalang uri. Kasama ang LGBTcommunities, mga senior citizen, mga estudyante mula Day Care hanggang Grade 12, at iba pa. Kahit ang mga OFW ay nagsasagawa ng kani-kanilang mga sariling patimpalak sa ibayong dagat. May mga buting layon din marahil ang pagsali sa mga beauty contest, dahil kung wala, hindi bababad ang kamalayang Pinoy larangang ito. May mga magandang bunga na walang duda ang mga komersiyalisadong beauty contests sa portamoneda ng masa pero lalo na sa kaha-de-yero ng kapitalista. Pero ang punto ko lang, sa layong diwa ng Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa, lalo na sa tema ngayong taon, mas dapat na higit nating palawakin ang ating pag-iisip at pagsusuri at paglapat ng interpretasyon sa mga kaisipan sa paggamit ng wika sa pagpapayaman ng kaisipan tungo sa pangkalahatang layon ng bawat saliksik.

Marapat na gawing salalayan ang wika sa pagpapalawak ng karanasan, pagkalap ng mahahalagang datos, pagbabasa, pag-galugad sa mga kaugnay na literatura. Kung ang saliksik ay naglilinang ng tiwala sa sarili ng mananaliksik, may mas katiwa-tiwala pa ba sa kanya at sa kanyang kinakapanayam kaysa sa kanilang sariling wika?

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(Photo: KWF)

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

On Chess: A Remembrance and Revival

Three top honchos of the newly-organized Occidental Mindoro Chess Academy came to our office a couple of weeks ago and presented initial activities in preparation for the forthcoming provincial chess tournament this October. The tourney’s target host is Sablayan being at the geographical center of the Mindoro West Coast.  The visiting local “three kings of chess” I am referring to are Frederick D. Isip, Branch Head of Social Security System (SSS) in San Jose, GM (short for General Manager, not Grand Master!) Renato G. Gatuz of San Jose Water District and Mr. Emmanuel “Noel” Asi, manager of United Coconut Planters Bank or UCPB also of said municipality.

They informed this lowly blogger and Municipal Councilor Walter B. Marquez that platoons of chess players will be joining the contest. The Occidental Mindoro chess comes to life once more and its every step is sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).

In the middle of our conversation, Mr. Asi asked me if I play chess. I said I just read a lot about the game.  Actually, one of my greatest frustrations in life is to be a chess player. I was a wood-pusher (it’s the sports lingo for chess player who is not good at the game and has nothing to do with trading illegally-cut logs) but I am pinning high hopes on the “three kings” that they may be successful in their noble endeavor.

I am about to graduate high school when the World Championship was held in Baguio City from July 18 to October 18, 1978. Incidentally, it is on its 40th anniversary this year. The championships set some sort of record for a series of bizarre stunts and even more wacky reactions from the camps of Anatoly Karpov and Viktor Korchnoi. The Baguio event been considered as the Most Bizarre and Zany World Championships of all. Nonetheless, Karpov won the trophy and Florencio Campomanes, the Filipino political scientist and a chess player, from then on gained prominence at FIDE or World Chess Federation. He’s an ally of former strongman Ferdinand E. Marcos. I dropped playing chess as a hobby when I graduated in high school and turned to writing when I reached college.

My interest in chess reawakened when Sophia, my youngest child, was selected to represent her school, the Divine Word College of San Jose, in the Private Schools’ Athletic Association (PRISAA) girls’ chess competition. As parents, we are glad when our children achieve things we failed to achieve. I posted over FB a photo of her team jersey and jacket and another photo of her playing with his cousin Patrick asking my friends to send me chess book for my dear Sophia. A cyber-friend by the name of Art Catapang who resides in the US, with all his old but generous heart, sent her four books: Tim Harding’s “Better Chess for Average Players”, the US Chess Federation’s “Official Rules of Chess”, James Eade’s “The Chess Player’s Bible”, and, Fred Reinfeld’s “The Complete Chess Player”.  Her “Lolo Art” sent her the books as a Valentine’s Day gift.  He even advised her to, “stay the course and have fun.” I have no illusions of seeing my girl to be a chess master in the future or be the next Judit or Susan Polgár. Sophia didn’t get the most-coveted chess medal in Bongabon’s PRISAA for she only won 1 out of 4 games.

Nonetheless, the tournament made her experience many things and gain friends from different provinces. Chess made her a growing person, I suppose. Chess made my little girl how to be patient, how to bide her time, how to analyze other people’s point of view, how to read the mind of her opponent, how to handle discouraging situations and most especially, how to learn from her disappointments or frustrations, just like her father.

In the Introduction of Reinfeld’s book it says, “Having a feeling of assurance about your game will make it possible for you to extract to the full all the pleasure that chess can give.” (Underscoring, mine) Change the underlined words with the word “life” and that’s it.

My child now understands that in real life, even the backward pawn, if properly fixed, can be promoted to queen when it reaches its 8^th rank…

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(Photo: Wikipedia)

Duterte and Pacquiao in Mahathir’s Malaysia

President Rodrigo R. Duterte is expected to be at ringside as Senator Manny Pacquiao slugs it out against the Argentine WBA welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse at Axiata Arena in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia on Sunday, July 15, 2018. As far as I could remember, this will be the first time a sitting Philippine president will sit among the crowd and see his fellow Filipino fight in a foreign land.

The SenaPac (pretty odd but this is what I call Pacman since he became senator) is aiming for his 9^th title in this bout dubbed “Fight of Champions”. As of press time, both Pacquiao and Mathysse already arrived in the land of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. Though President Duterte’s presence in KL is a “private” visit, there is a scheduled meeting between Duterte and Mahathir after the boxing match if we are going to believe Harry Roque, the president’s main mouthpiece.

Pacquiao as a boxer should learn a lesson or two from Mahathir in some ways and Duterte from the fall of the former Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Who are Mahathir Mohamad and Najib Razak, by the way? Mahathir, Malaysia’s longest-serving prime minister for 22 years, who defected to the opposition to take on former Prime Minister Najib Razak’s party, again voted to power a couple of months ago. Mahathir’s political alliance Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) won at least 112 of 222 parliamentary seats in May polls that made a pivotal shift for Malaysia as a nation.

Like Mahathir’s winning moves, Pacquiao has to show that he still knows how to unleash solid blows and be dominant in the ring. Like how Mahathir swept traditional government strongholds of Johor, Kedah and Negeri Sembilan and neutralized Najib’s advantage in the Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak. In such a win, Mahathir showed that age doesn’t matter. Mahathir is 92 and Pacquaio is 39. In this brawl in Malaysia, Pacquiao must be, as alleged by Najib on Mahathir during the campaigns, “obsessive about control, calling the shots.” And that is the only way to win against Mathysse and grab the belt. Like Mahathir, Pacquiao has to show the world that he is not done yet as a pugilist. Like Mahathir, Pacquiao need to be the time-tested and thinking dictator in the ring.

Not unlike Duterte, Najib met increased public anger over so many issues. In the case of Najib, according to reports, it’s the goods-and-services tax that boosted prices and a money laundering scandal involving hundreds of millions of dollars siphoned from state investment firm 1MDB that nailed his coffin. Mahathir called Najib, his protégé-turned-rival, a “thief” during the campaign.

Duterte on the other hand fell short in delivering his nation not only from the perils of criminality and drugs but from economic chaos and large-scale trampling of human rights. His government is expected to look or focus more on the economic condition of the people and the fiscal health of the country rather than pushing an allegedly red carpet to totalitarian rule disguised as “Federalism”.  

Surely, the Filipino people will temporarily forget about the P500% in the Office of the President’s expenses for 2017 for the cost of the ASEAN Summit, financial assistance to soldiers, maintenance of presidential choppers and billions of intelligence funds. Why the maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) of the Office of the President zoomed up to P14.9 billion in 2017, up 534.24 percent, according to COA annual audit report. The bulk of funds, or P8.19 billion, went to “other MOOEs” allotted to expenses such as advertising, printing and publication, representation, transportation and delivery, rent/lease, membership dues and contributions to organizations. The dangers of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas or BSP’s expectation that inflation will settle in at 4.6% this year, above its 4% upper target. This means we can expect inflation to further increase till the third quarter of 2018 before it subsides, among other issues involving the national coffer including that dreaded TRAIN Law and the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Asian Development Bank (ADB) covering an indicative 7.1 billion US dollars sovereign lending program to the Philippines from 2019 to 2021. Not to mention other evident issues of the day such as spate of killings of elected officials, our inaction to Chinese military build-up in West Philippine Sea and Duterte’s “stupid God” remark which Pacquiao downplayed by saying “we all have different beliefs.”  Lately, though he didn’t had a chance of selfie with the Almighty, Duterte finally apologized (to God) for calling God “stupid.”

As expected, come Sunday, Filipinos will once more cheer and rally behind the Pambansang Kamao together with Duterte including those in the human rights movements and the Catholic Church even if they are Duterte’s favorite punching bags of late!

Momentarily, we will be forgetting the hardships and the ills around us as a nation especially when the president himself is there to witness our boxing legend’s ring greatness, whether it’s his swansong or not. Along with other celebrities from all over the world, from the entertainment and the boxing circle itself, Duterte, controversial as he is, would certainly add drama to the fight or color to the bout’s media coverage.

Win or lose, Senator Pacquiao, and this time with President Duterte, will in a while send this impoverished country to La-La Land, a speculative state of mind mainly characterized by blissful lack of touch with reality….

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(Postscript: Pacquiao won via 7th round TKO)

References:

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1008595/duterte-to-watch-pacquiao-mathysse-fight-in-kl-meet-with-pm-mahathir

https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Malaysia-in-transition/Mixed-fate-greets-Malaysian-companies-after-historic-election

https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-07-05/sea-change-in-southeast-asia

https://www.rappler.com/nation/206646-office-of-the-president-expenses-2017-choppers-consultants-intel-funds

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/659853/coa-reports-office-of-the-president-spent-p14-9b-in-2017-up-534-from-2016/story/

Photo: ABS-CBN News

Another “Basketbrawl”: Gilas-Australia

Last night’s “basketbrawl” between Gilas Pilipinas and the visiting Australians in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers' game at Philippine Arena was not actually the first in the history of the Philippines’ involvement in such a melee in an international competition or against foreign players.

Just like what happened last night, there was also a game known after a heated physical game erupted into a tangled mess of men punching, kicking, and Jeff Horn-ing and Manny Pacquiao-ing each other with flying kicks and elbows in the sidings. The was a match 1998 Philippine Centennial team against the NCA Division I team, the Minnesota Gophers. The game was televised only on the local ESPN channel in Minnesota. Be reminded that in 1998, the Philippines celebrated the 100^th year of its independence, therefore, they are called the Philippine Centennial team. Patriotic Katipuneros are they?

But we are not only hotheads against foreign opponents. In 1988, the ugliest “basketbrawl” in the PBA happened. It was during the Game 4 of the battle for third place between Añejo (Ginebra) and Presto. It was too a bench-clearing incident also in the 3rd quarter. Though it was the Añejo explosive imports Joe Ward and Tommy Davis who started it. Yes, having two imports in a certain conference is allowed for each team then.

In last night’s brawl here’s the Rappler’s story: “Punches were thrown and kicks were landed in a game that had Australia having its way over the Philippines with a 31-point lead, 79-48, with 4 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. With the game already seething of intensity as the Filipinos were seeking to mount a comeback, Gilas' RR Pogoy shoved Christopher Goulding to the ground before he was decked by Australia's Daniel Kickert.

That did not end there as a flying Jayson Castro landed a punch on Kickert. It turned into a free-for-all with Thon Maker unleashing flying kicks. Andray Blatche, Calvin Abueva, Terrence Romeo, Carl Bryan Cruz, Matthew Wright were seen in the replay landing punches against their Australian counterparts. … On a different replay, Allein Maliksi, who was part of the Gilas pool but did not suit up for the Australia game, was seen unloading continuous blows to Goulding at the back of Gilas' basket.” Suddenly, the world renown Filipino hospitality landed in the dustbin! 

In the 1998 game, here’s an eyewitness exaggerated account: “Andy Seigle desperately aching to have a face touch his erratic elbow. "The Captain", Alvin Patrimonio, perhaps in his angriest self, going apeshit by pounding at least 4 solid punches to a hapless Gopher.  Jun Limpot, after getting whacked at the back of his head by No. 10, searching for a vacant chair he could use to send someone to afterlife. The referee crawling out as if he's just been rescued from a rubble. Kenneth Duremdes testing the sole of his shoe if it would produce a squeaking sound if planted on a human head.” Whew!

The 1998 incident was just an invitational exhibition match while the game last night was part of a regular competition. The FIBA Media said that the body will open its disciplinary proceedings against both teams and the decision will be announced soon. The story will not end here, I am sure.

 And “basketbrawl” is here to stay… 

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References:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgj4-5q3ZfQ

Photo: ABS-CBN News

Lumintao Bridge: Epitome of Poor Keenness

The Lumintao Bridge is at the verge of falling down thus pulling down our local economy, the quality of government service and the peoples’ trust and confidence with authorities. Specifically those top brasses at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the province.

As early as October last year, the riding public from all walks of life already informed the authorities about the situation of Lumintao Bridge. For their part, both the municipalities of Rizal and Calintaan sought the attention of the Provincial Government and the DPWH-Mindoro Occidental District Engineering Office but no specific major intervention was made except for placing warning signs and barriers made up of twigs atop the structure. As nobody is displaced in the area then to mitigate violations, heavily loaded trucks and heavy vehicles continue to ignore the sign and the thorny barrier. Until the rainy season was officially declared and flooding occurred due to incessant rain brought about by southwest monsoon. The bridge continues to tilt and move downward on the downstream side of the river.

In his letter dated June 19, 2018, DPWH District Engineer Josefino M. Melgar, Jr. informed the public, specifically the local government units, that the agency is temporarily closing the bridge “to ensure the safety of the travelling public and to avoid more damages to Lumintao Bridge.” In a meeting with the Sangguniang Panlalawigan live-streamed at Radio Mindoro Network Facebook Page on that same day and in response to the query of SP Sonia C. Pablo, who hails from Rizal town and doing her oversight function as legislator from the Second District, Engr. Danilo S. Muniz, head of maintenance in San Jose District, assured the august body that the bridge will be passable in just a matter of 5 days. It is now on its 8^th day since it was closed. Bokal Pablo, needless to say, wants an immediate and effective solution to the problem.

Not to dwell on the hellish situation atop the troubled infrastructure affecting the travelling public, it hampers the delivery of services by the local governments, our economy in general and it epitomizes the neglect of the agency whose main thrust is to provide and manage quality infrastructure facilities and services that are responsive to the needs of the people in the pursuit of development. This is Lumintao Bridge’s coordinate: 12.5239857, 120.9879682. Google earth it and you will find the true score in the last few days and see it for yourself.

The Rizal Municipal Police Station on June 21, 2018 inquired with Engr. Melgar on the estimated cost damage of the bridge and it is pegged at Php 35 million. No doubt, this sorry predicament that we are into is due to both natural and man-made explanations, rolled into one. Emergency and disaster reduction efforts were made though by nearby local government units.

Aside from Lumintao Bridge, it is also reported that the Pinamanaan Bridge in Barangay Mabini, San Jose is in a volatile situation too. There are also various reports from other bridges in other municipalities that need attention. To my mind, any land development projects like putting up and repair of bridges in flood- prone rivers need more than civil engineering. The DPWH must get a lesson from this situation. Civil engineers in the department and the local governments in the province should be informed and be familiarized on storm water issues, basic hydrology and water resource engineering. It would boil down to the problem of governance and political vision from the lenses of the people.

As of this moment, according to Celestino C. Aroc III, maintenance foreman for DPWH, they are now re-channeling the river and after that, his crew could start to erect steel poles to support the broken part down the bridge. The work is snail-paced says many of the observers and regular passers-by.  

Neglect comes in many forms. The DPWH, as proposed by many concerned citizens, must issue an updated, (again, updated!) inventory of bridges within Occidental Mindoro to know the status of said infrastructures. This report is vital in the crafting of an effective intervention plan on rehabilitation, repair and replacement of a particular bridge. There is no substitute to general information and public knowledge. The people have the right to know. The Occidental Mindoro District Office of DPWH, as of 28 December, 2016, Lumintao Bridge (B00084MR) is posted as a permanent and concrete bridge with a “Fair” rating.

There could be no neglect if proper planning on maintenance was enacted in the most fitting time. I was informed that the root of the problem started when a huge timber was stuck at one foot of the bridge creating a strong current that made the foot rickety. The timber dawdled there for months hammered constantly by the angry river during heavy rain, said some locals. Logic dictates that in the planning, the repairs are logically to be implemented during the so-called dry season which is the most conducive season of the year for such activity. Why is that every year construction and maintenance work on the roads and bridges started just before the onset of the monsoon? It is the poor who suffered most.

This is the best lesson we learned: as we value the appearance of the Lumintao Bridge’s structures we must understand that it should function not as mere utility. And in this particular case, it became an epitome of poor keenness, if not neglect…

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(Photo: from Divine Pascual Martizano’s FB account)

Walang Kasarinlan sa Ilalim ng Pundilyo ng Iba

Sa lente ng siyensiyang pampulitika, hindi interchangeable ang salitang “kalayaan” at “kasarinlan”. Ang una ay literally means “freedom,” habang ang “kasarinlan” is a more appropriate translation for “independence.” Sa alinmang diksiyonaryo, ang katumbas ng salitang Ingles na “independence” ay  “kalayaan, kasarinlan, pagsasarili, independensiya.” Pero sabi ko nga, hindi ito ang saktong kahulugan kung political science ang pag-uusapan.

Kahit hindi na bansa, kahit ang indibidwal na lider-pulitiko, kapag sa pundilyo lamang ng mas nakatataas sa kanya iniaamot at iniaasa ang sariling pamumuno, ang kanyang nasasakupan ay hindi magiging magiging malaya kailanman. Ang isang bansa (o lider) na susunod-sunod lang at bubuntot-buntot sa kanyang padrino at hindi makapag-isa ay lider na mas masahol pa sa salabay na walang gulugod!

Kasarinlan at hindi kalayaan ang nakamit natin noong Hunyo 12, 1898 bagama’t kahit kailan ay hindi pa naman tayo naging ganap na malaya at nagsasarili bilang bansa sapul noon. Ipalagay na, kahit na ang nakamit natin noong Hulyo 4, 1964 ay kasarinlan din at hindi kalayaan. Noong 1898, nagkaroon tayo ng kalayaang gumawa ng ating sariling batas at ihalal ang ating mga pinuno, ngunit naging tunay malaya na nga ba ang mga Pilipino matapos ang 120 taon? Hindi ba ang mga patakarang pampulitika at pang-ekonomiya na ipinatutupad sa atin ng ibang bansa ay kolonyal pa rin?

Nagkakaisa ang mga diksiyonaryo na ang katumbas ng salitang Ingles na independence ay “kalayaan, kasarinlan, pagsasarili, independensiya.” Maging sa mga poster at slogan ngayong KALAYAAN 2018 mula sa mga sangay ng pambansang pamahalaan ay iisa ang kahulugan nito, mas wasto na ating gamitin ang katangang “kasarinlan” na siyang layon natin upang makawala sa kolonyalismo at pailalim na panghihimasok ng ibang bansa. Mapa-US man yan o Japan, lalo na ang Tsina. Sa kasarinlan, kalayaan sa panghihimasok at pananakop ng ibang bansa ang ating pinag-uusapan.

Ang dokumentong Espanyol na binasa sa Cavite Viejo noong Hunyo 12, 1898, ay pinamagatang Acta de la Proclamación de la Independencia del Pueblo Filipino. Officially translated ito sa ating wika na may pamagat na “Katitikan ng Pagpapahayag ng Pagsasarili ng Bayang Filipino.” Sinasabi sa “Katitikan” na ang “mga naninirahan sa mga Islas Pilipinas” ay “malaya at nagsasarili [libres e independientes] at may karapatang maging malaya at nagsasarili.” At naniniwala naman tayo na tayo ay totoong nagsasarili na nagsimula daw kay Aguinaldo hanggang kay Duterte. Ang soberenya ay nananatiling nasa papel lang ‘ata.

Idinagdagdag pa ng “Katitikan” na “sila ay dapat lumaya sa pagsunod sa Korona ng Espanya; na ang lahat ng pampulitikang ugnay sa pagitan ng dalawa ay ganap na pinuputol at pinawawalang-bisa at dapat na maputol at mapawalang-bisa; at tulad ng alinmang malaya at nagsasariling Estado, mayroon silang ganap na kapangyarihan na magdeklara ng pakikidigma, makipagkasundo sa kapayapaan, magsagawa ng mga kasunduang pangkalakalan, pumasok sa mga alyansa, pangasiwaan ang kalakalan, at magpatupad ng lahat ng gawain at bagay na tungkuling ipatupad ng mga nagsasariling estado.”  Ganito sila sa Espanya noon, papaano naman tayo sa Tsina ngayon?

Sa isang usapin na lang tayo pumaling. Ang pambu-bully kamakailan ng mga Chinese Coast Guard sa ating mga mangingisda sa ating teritoryo sa Scarborough Shoal sa West Philippine. Maliban pa ito sa ka-traydurang pagtatayo nila ng mga pasilidad sa ating mga nasasakupang isla. Sa kabila nito, kani-kanina lang sa Kawit, sa pagdiriwang ng Araw ng Kasarinlan, mismong si Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana ang kaututang-dila ni Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua. Hindi ba ito pinaka-nakaririmarim na tagpo sa makabuluhang araw na ito?

Hindi kaya sinadya ng mga nauna sa atin na i-interchange ang “kalayaan” at “kasarinlan” para iligaw tayo sa katotohanan na hindi pa tayo nagsasarili. At isa pa, dahil sa ang salitang “kalayaan” ay ‘sing lawak ng galaxy at  subject sa iba’t-ibang depinisyon, teorya, karanasan at pananaw na depende sa ating mga pinaniniwalaan, inihalili nila ito salitang “kasarinlan” na mas kongkreto at tuwirang tumutukoy sa pananakop at pakiki-alam ng isang bansa sa kapwa niya bansa. Bagay na gusto nilang i-tone down upang tayo marahil ay patuloy na mabuhay sa ilalim ng pundilyo ng ibang bansa hanggang sa wakas ng panahon. Well, produkto lamang ito ng aking kalayaan sa pag-iisip. 

Ang mamuno sa ilalim ng pundilyo ng ibang bansa (o tao man) ay pananatiling alingawngaw at anino na lamang ng iba. Tayo ay mananatiling pala-asa, walang angas, pala-suko at atubiling bansa.

Gabayan nawa tayo ng kaluluwa ng ating mga bayaning nagpakamatay at pumatay para sa ating kasarinlan. Mabuhay ang totoong kasarinlan ng Pilipinas!

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Photo: DFA

Of Judging and the Entertainment Kiss

Each time a high government official appears in public, the good citizen among the crowd must think like a courtroom judge and not a freak show audience. Governance must not be reduced to entertainment. 

Incidentally, in any court of law, buffoonery is greatly considered contemptuous. With few exemptions, here in this ever-seeking-for-justice country of ours, some incumbents or aspirants for national political positions are pundits in their own buffoonery!

Every now and then, a controversy or scandal transpires from public appearance of our sitting president, be it in Davao City or in Seoul. About the so-called Korean Kiss, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Assistant Secretary Marjorie Jalosjos herself said that it was “just part of entertainment”. Well, entertainments too are subject to judgments and criticisms. Judges scattered around every corners of the earth coming in different political colors and brain sizes.

Taking the risk of stepping into the realm of lawyers, I would like to share some thoughts from a book I read some days back. The book is titled “Law and Philosophy” (Appleton Century Craft, NY; 1970; pp 408 – 409) by Joseph C. Hutcheson, Jr. He was a United States federal judge. Born in Houston, Texas, Hutcheson received an LL.B. from the University of Texas School of Law in 1900, according to Wikipedia. There’s a chapter there discussing types of intuitive judgments rendered by courtroom judges and what produces them. The author categorized them into five types.

The Intuitive Judgment, according to Hutcheson, is a product of a hunch or a feeling been reasoned out. The Aleatory Judgment is a product of something depending on the throw of a dice or on chance, random and a thing that avoids thinking. Pusillanimous Judgment is the product of fear of apprehension of displeasing authority or showing a lack of courage. Venal Judgment is a product of bribe, corruption sometimes offered but of late, often demanded. And lastly, Asinine Judgement which is plainly a product of an ass!

The 5^th  item is our usual doughnut, complete with its hole…

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Photo: mfwa.org.

Sources: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/998783/dilg-exec-on-presidents-seoul-kiss-just-part-of-entertainment?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1528433235

Remigio Agpalo & the Local Dance

Only a tiny portion of our province's population was able to know the legacy of the late Prof. Remigio E. Agpalo, PhD, the political scientist who was born in Occidental Mindoro.

To commemorate his 90^th birth anniversary this coming Sunday, this little space is this lowly blogger's humble tribute to him.

Born in Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro June 10, 1928, 3rd of 8 children, born to Paulino Agpalo and Paulina Escalona, Remigio studied college at the University of Maine and returned to the Philippines in September 1952 to fulfill his promise of sharing his gift of academic quest and taught at UP in 1953. He later went to University of Indiana and took his doctoral studies. Agpalo taught at the University of the Philippines (UP) for almost 50 years and was laid to rest February 10, 2008. He succumbed to prostate cancer. He was 79.

The political picture that Agpalo emphasized decades back remains relevant even today. In his book “Pandanggo sa Ilaw : The Politics in Occidental Mindoro” published in 1963 he wrote, “The elite exploited these (Filipino traditional) values and brought them into play, together with their material potentials, to their own advantage. The unsatisfactory economic situation, the general poverty of the population, the insufficient education … as well as broadening gap between the elite and the masses…” (pp. 83). For me it is a very imaginative as well as accurate description or emblem of how politics is practiced in the whole country until today.

The Pandanggo sa Ilaw is a native folk dance where his political concept is derived. The dance which originated in Lubang Island is described in terms of the following according to Agpalo himself: 1) the participant dancers, 2) the objects the dancers carry or hold, and 3) the way the participants dance. The participants are male or female, two or more of them, who carry lighted glass oil lamps on their heads and the back of their hands. Dancing to the rhythm of lilting music, they sway and balance, go around the stage or dance floor, intermingle, manipulate the glass lamps with amazing and spectacular deftness, and maneuver for dramatic and arresting position on the floor. Swift of hands and agile of feet, the dancers do not trip or drop the glass lamps that they carry.

Here’s the analogy: The dancers are the politicians (and their staunch supporters and the citizens in general) and the glass lamps are the political powers while the stage is the political arena. Agpalo wrote further, “The movement of the political actors can be compared to those of the dancers; these consist in skillful manipulations and manuevering. For this reason, the political actors, like the dancers, are fascinating to watch.”  In his another book called "Adventures in Political Science" at full length he explained, “Unlike the politics of ideology where the ideological doctrines guide, direct, and dominate the political process, there are no doctrines guiding and directing the political actors in Pandanggo sa Ilaw politics. Thus, elections, legislations, administration, adjudication, and other processes of the government in this system are not ideology-oriented ... What interests them are personal and practical matters -- what favors can be allocated to supporters and burdens imposed on non-supporters; what personal traits certain public officials or citizens have or do not have; what party can grant favors and what group cannot give patronage; and the like. In other words, Pandanggo sa Ilaw politics is oriented towards personality, practicality and material goods." Now, who says that this isn’t true today? Our “dancers” (read: political leaders) been lingering on the “stage” (read: political positions) almost for life resting the proverbial “glass lamp” (read: political power) in their hands endlessly amusing and fascinating the “audience” (read: citizens) with stunts and trivialities in between, as emphasized by their critics.

Dr. Remigio Agpalo did not stay in Occidental Mindoro most of his life except during his twilight years and that's maybe the reason why only a few of us know him. He was called the Father of Political Science in the Philippines and the leading political scientist during his time. Dr. Remigio E. Agpalo’s invaluable collection of books were turned over at the DLSU Library in June 10, 2013 and afterwards, Ms. Christine Helen Perez-Eustaquio, the daughter of Dr. Agpalo, delivered the Remarks of Circumstance and shared some stories she has about her father. Well while known in the intellectual circle, only a few knows Dr. Agpalo in his province because he did not stay here for long.

Only last month, I stumbled from the web a book titled “Dance & Politics: Moving Beyond Boundaries” (Manchester University Press, 2017) by Dana Mills. Mills, stressed that, “Our political world is in constant motion. Our lives are continually shifting. Collective communicative structures which have held us together in various forms of communal life are relentlessly being challenged by new languages.” In our context, I believe that these “new languages” suggest aspirations of the common people, the masa, and the non-hardliners. What they hoped is a first-hand dance with different dancers on the deep-rooted stage holding firmly and efficiently the sacred but desecrated glass lamp. 

Mills’ book expounds on why dance is political and how it can articulate political perspectives. As such, therefore, searching for and learning a new “dance”, like searching for and learning new politics, provide opportunity and outlet for those who are fed-up of this national situation...

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Photo: https://www.geni.com/people/Remigio-E-Agpalo/6000000027893713165

References:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eN3Wa-FHyzo

http://librarynewsette.lasalle.ph/2013/06/remigio-e-agpalo-collection.html 

http://newbooksnetwork.com/dana-mills-dance-and-politics-moving-beyond-boundaries-manchester-university-press-2017/

Ancajas at Sultan, Lilikha ng Kasaysayan

Kahit ang magkatunggali, anuman ang kalabasan ng kanilang tunggalian, ay kapwa lumilikha ng kasaysayan.

Ito ang aral na mapupulot natin sa sagupaang Jerwin Ancajas (29-1-1 with 20 KOs) at Jonas Sultan (14-3 with 9 KOs) sa Sabado, ika-27 ng Mayo, 2018 (sa Pilipinas) na mapapanood natin live sa ESPN 5 mula Fresno, California.

Ang makasaysayang enkwentro ay ang unang world championship fight sa pagitan ng dalawang Pinoy sa loob ng 93 taon. Noong 1925, tinalo ni Pancho Villa sa pamamagitan ng UD si Clever Sencio at napanatili ng una ang kanyang korona sa world flyweight noon. Mandatory challenger ni Ancajas ang kababayang si Sultan na ika-limang ulit na sasampa sa ring para idepensa angsuot niyang IBF junior bantamweight belt.

Isinulat ko rin sa blog entry na mababasa mo kung iki-click mo ito, kung papaano naging makasaysayan ang Pinoy versus Pinoy na labang ito.

Ipapalabas ang laban sa Channel 5, Aksyon TV at ESPN 5.com ay hatid ng MP Promotions at Knuckleheads Pro Boxing Fraternity sa pakikipag-tulungan sa Joven Sports Promotions. Si Wayne Hedgpeth na siyang tatayong reperi ng laban at ang mga judges ay ang mga taga-California na sina Jonathan Davis, Daniel Sandoval at Zachery Young at si Robin Scott ng New Jersey ang magiging supervisor.

Langit at lupa ang layo ng estilo ng dalawang boksingero sa isa’t-isa. Poetiko ang pagsasalarawan dito ni Ed Tolentino, isang sikat na boxing analyst: “You have Ancajas, the skilled tactician who dissects foes with clinical precision. And then you have Sultan, who offers an unconventional style that almost borders on the kamikaze.” Para kay Tolentino, bentahe at angat sa sagupaan ang kampiyon na si Ancajas. Kung susumahin, mas maraming karanasan naman ito talaga kaysa kay Sultan na may 29 na naging laban habang 14 lamang ang sa huli.

Pero para kay Edito Villamor na trainer ni Sultan, hindi umano mahalaga ang bilang ng laban para sa pandaigdigang kampiyonato. Sabi niya, “Kahit anong record yan, kahit anong experience yan, mawawala lahat (pagdating sa ring).” Idinagdag pa ni Villamor na kukuha ng inspirasyon si Sultan kay Vasyl Lomachenko na naging world champion agad sa ikalawang professional fight lamang. Si Sultan ay pinanday ng suntukang-kalye kaya tiyak na magpupukol ito ng pakyawan at malulutong na suntok.

Hinulma si Ancajas sa Survival Camp sa Magallanes, Cavite ni Joven Jimenez, habang si Sultan ay produkto ng kilalang ALA stable sa Cebu. "There are many great fighters in the Philippines, and I am happy that Jonas and myself can share this big stage. We are making history, and I am glad that we can fight to see who is the best," ani Ancajas. Sinegundahan naman ni Sultan ang kababayang kampiyon. Aminado si Jimenez na ang lahat ng mga challenger ay mapanganib.

Masaya na naman ang mga boxing aficionado sa weekend na ito. Pahinga muna tayo sa mga balitang pulitika sa Linggo.

Pero ang pulitika ay parang boksing na kahit ang magkakalaban ay sama-samang lumilikha ng kasaysayan sa kumpas ng pusok ng kanilang tunggalian…

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References : http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/22/18/boxing-ancajas-jonas-sultan-present-battle-of-contrasting-styles

https://www.spin.ph/boxing/news/jonas-sultan-not-concern-with-the-experience-of-jerwin-ancajas

https://www.philstar.com/sports/2018/05/24/1818233/wary-hungry-sultan-ancajas-vows-not-be-overconfident

https://sports.mb.com.ph/2018/05/22/ibf-assigns-ref-judges-for-ancajas-sultan-fight/

Photo: Boxing Scene.Com