v 3 tuesday august 11, 2009 ‘polluters fight back’punto.com.ph/data/pdf/vol3no80.pdf · tuesday...

VOLUME 3NUMBER 80TUESDAYAUGUST 11, 2009

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BY JOEY AGUILAR

ANGELES CITY – “They arefighting back. Not withreason but with terror.”

‘Polluters fight back’ Anti-stink crusader harassed

So said Ruperto Cruz,chairman of the Pinoy Gu-mising Ka Movement(PGKM) of “polluters reel-ing from denunciations oftheir degradation of theenvironment and the dan-ger they pose on the citi-zens.”

The PGKM, along withthe Krusada Kontra Amoy

(KKA) have been at theforefront of a campaignagainst piggeries emittingfoul odor and causing theproliferation of flies notonly in the Porac baran-gays of Sta. Cruz andManibaug-Paralaya butalso in adjacent villages ofAngeles City and Bacolor

The Range Rover luxury vehicle blocking the roadto the Royal Garden Golf and Country Club inBarangay Pulung Maba, Porac. Its registration isalready expired at the end of February.

BY JOEY PAVIA

ANGELES CITY – The“billboard war” pitting toppolitical clans here resurg-es – and worsens asnames had been droppedon who could be respon-

Lazatin asks police directorto probe ‘missing billboards’

sible for the removal ofPresident Gloria Macapa-gal –Arroyo’s and the con-gressman’s billboards invillages here.

Pampanga First Dis-trict Rep. Carmelo “Tarzan”Lazatin, in his recent let-

ter to the regional policedirector, urged an investi-gation into the alleged “de-liberate removal of the bill-boards of her Excellencycontaining the details ofthe program.”

“Indeed, the unreason-

able removal of the bill-boards is a deliberatemove to disrespect HerExcellency being the mainproject proponent of theseinfrastructure projects,”said Lazatin in a letter to

BY DING CERVANTES

CITY OF SAN FERNAN-DO – Zambales Gov. AmorDeloso said yesterday hisprovincial government isbraced for the prolongedstay of over 10,000 evac-uees in seven centers inBotolan town as the ebb-

PAGE 6 PLEASE

Deloso: 10-T Botolan folkto stay in evacuation centers

Ebbing floods reveal houses buried in mud

NI ROMMEL RAMOS

ANGELES CITY – Ikin-wento ng isang sundaloang kanyang malagim nakaranasan sa kanilang gi-nawang rescue operationsa Mt. Pinatubo dahil samalakas na pag-ulan ngnakaraang linggo.

Inilahad ni 1st Lt. Ed-die Layan, commander ng

‘Muntikna kamingmamatay’Kwento ng sundalo na tumulong sarescue operation sa Mt. Pinatubo

PAGE 6 PLEASEPAGE 6 PLEASE

Crow Valley squadron ngFAP, ang gahiblang pagi-tan niya sa kamatayan sakanilang rescue operationnoong Biernes ng madal-ing araw para sa

mga foreigners na na-tabunan ng putik sa Mt.Pinatubo.

Aniya, nagmula saBarangay Sta.Lucia, Tar-

ing floods have revealedmost of their homes wereeither totally or half-buriedin mud.

In an interview withPunto, Deloso also urgedgovernment engineers tofinish within five days afootbridge and, within twoweeks, a semi-permanent

bridge to connect anewfive northern towns isolat-ed by the damage of anold bridge and the wash-ing out of a portion of thenational highway in Baran-gay Karael.

“There is another routevia Pangasinan, but if com-

PAGE 2 PLEASE

Residents of BarangayCarael in Botolan,Zambales rush to bringtheir belongings andlivestock during theflooding on Saturday.PHOTO BY JOHNNY REBLANDO

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BY ERNIE B. ESCONDE

BOTOLAN, Zambales – An offi-cial of the Department of Pub-lic Works and Highways an-nounced on Saturday that theCarael portion of the Olongapo-Bugallon Road in Botolan, Zam-bales will not be passable forvehicles in four weeks.

“Walang makakatawid nasasakyan sa loob ng apat nalinggo hanggang hindi mataposang tulay na ilalagay. Sisimu-lan ito agad ng DPWH sa orasna gumanda na ang panahon,”said Engr. Domingo Mariano,DPWH assistant regional direc-tor in Region 3. He is also con-sidered as the “DPWH man onsite.”

Mariano who flew by heli-copter and assessed the dam-

NOT PASSABLE IN 4 WEEKS

Vehicles barred from usingOlongapo-Bugallon road

age done by flood waters saidDPWH Sec. Hermogenes Eb-dane had asked them to imme-diately put up the bridge as soonas the water subsides.

“Hindi titigil ang DPWHhanggang hindi maremedyuhanang problemang ito sa lalongmadaling panahon,” the assis-tant regional director said.

Ebdane and other DPWHtop officials went to Botolan onFriday and inspected the areasdamaged by the flood.

Showing a location planbased on his aerial inspection,Mariano said that strong waterfrom Mt. Pinatubo directly hitBalinbaquero and Maradhot riv-ers. It spilled over Bagullan Riv-er instead of totally rushingthrough the wide Bucao Riverwhere a long bridge stands.

“Sa lakas ng tubig, sam-pung barangay ang binahamatapos magkaroon ng halosisang kilometrong breachingang Bucao Dike at magkaroonng one-kilometer scouring angnational secondary road sa Zam-bales-Tarlac Road,” Marianosaid.

He added that the three ki-lometer part of the Olongapo-Bugallon Road in Caraelwaswith flooded around 1.3 to 1.5meters deep on Friday.

Mariano also said that whathappened to Carael was ex-traordinary.

“Perennial problem ang flashflood dito pero sandali lamanghindi katulad ngayon na napa-kalakas ng tubig na tumamadito at sa iba pang siyam nabarangay ng Botolan,” he said.

Zambales District Engr. Hercules Manglicmot shows the map of the Bocao river tojournalists. Its dike was destroyed causing the waters flow into the national highway inBotolan. PHOTO BY JOHNNY REBLANDO.

mercial commodities are trans-ported by that route, the com-modities will be so costly thatwe won’t even be able to affordsoap for bathing,” he said.

He said some P175 millionwould be needed to repair theone-kilometer collapsed portionof a dike along the Bucao river.The dike gave way last Thurs-day at the height of rainsdumped by typhoon Kiko.

The damaged bridge andhighway isolated from the souththe towns of Iba, Palauig, Mas-inloc, Candelaria and Sta. Cruz.Another route via Tarlac andPangasinan would add anotherfour hours of travel time to reachthese towns from suppliers ofbasic commodities in MetroManila and Central Luzon.

Deloso said the Departmentof Public Works and Highways(DPWH) has released an initialP5 million for the footbridge and

the rechanneling of the Bucaoriver which sought a new pathafter its strong currents dam-aged the dike in Barangay Car-ael.

He noted that the “right side”of Botolan was spared from thefloods which hit Barangays SanJuan, Paudpod, Baton Lapok,Karael, Pako, San Miguel, Tam-po, Beneg, Kapagawan andBangan on the left side of theriver.

He noted that only 27 hous-es in these barangays were to-tally swept away by the flood-waters from the Bucao river.While the houses of the othersremained standing, all of themwere half or totally buried bymud.

“We already have an initialof P3 million from calamity fundsfor their basic needs such asfood, slippers, mosquito netsand other items. I think we haveenough friends to help us inthis,” he said.

Deloso...FROM PAGE 1

JOHNNY R. REBLANDO

BOTOLAN, Zambales – Mahigit sa P175 milyon ang gagastusinsa gagawing rekonstruksyon sa nawasak na dike sa Bocao Riverna siyang dahilan para malubog sa tubig baha mula sa Mt. Pinatu-bo ang 10 barangay ng nasabing bayan.

Ayon kay Zambales Gov. Amor Deloso, ang halaga ng rekon-struksyon ay para sa dike na may habang 800-metro.

Aabot naman sa P30 milyon ang gagastusin ng pamahalaansa pagpapaayos sa nawasak na kalsada sa Barangay San Juanna siyang unang timaan ng malakas na pag-agos ng tubig baha nasiyang kumalat sa iba pang barangay ng Botolan.

Idinugtong pa ng gubernador na hanggang hindi naayos angdike ay hindi huhupa ang tubig sa kahabaan ng National Highwaysa Barangay Carael.

“Ang gagawin diyan ay lalagyan ng “steel bridge” para makata-wid yung mga tao patungo sa limang bayan ng Northern Zambalesgayun din yung mga magtutungo ng Olongapo City at Maynila”,dagdag pa ng gobernador.

Sinisikap naman ng mga rescue team mula sa Philippine CoastGuard (PCG) Subic Station, Philippine Army, PNP-SAF at Navy namaitawid sa pamamagitan ng “rubber boat” ang mga na-strandedna pasahero.

Nanantiling sarado parin sa trapiko ang nasabing lugar dahil sanapakalakas na agos ng tubig.

Pagpapagawang muli sadike aabot ng P175-M

CLARK FREEPORT – Festivi-ties for the Fiesta Mimosa thiscoming September 22, 2009 willnow run for five “grand” days incelebration of the event’s fifthanniversary, officials of the Mi-mosa Golf & Country Club(MGCC) announced.

MGCC General ManagerDanny Licardo said the FiestaMimosa 5 aims to further “bringlife” to the tourism industry inCentral Luzon region “by cele-brating music, love, beauty, lifeand all its gifts.”

“As we move on, the legacygoes on. No [global] crisis willstop us as we celebrate FiestaMimosa’s fifth year. The event ispoised as the most awaited andgrandest event of Mimosa Golf& Country Club and is againbound to conquer the hearts ofmany and bring life to the regionwith its festivities and celebra-tion,” Licardo said.

Licardo said the commercialvalues in the annual event havebeen tremendous, adding that itnow attracts more corporatesponsors and benefactors.

The Mimosa Leisure Estate(MLE), the home of the MGCC,is a subsidiary of the Clark De-velopment Corporation (CDC),said CDC President Benigno N.Ricafort.

“Undeniably, Fiesta Mimosahas reached this far partly be-cause of the support and assis-tance of both from private andgovernment sectors who believein the cultural and socio-civicendeavors,” Ricafort said.

Ricafort stressed that Mimo-

FESTIVITIES TO RUN FOR 5 ‘GRAND’ DAYS

Fiesta Mimosa celebrates 5th yearsa has increased its popularitythrough the Fiesta Mimosa cel-ebrations where people from dif-ferent walks of life gather to wit-ness a part of the Mimosa Life-style.

Licardo announced that thisyear’s theme is “Fiesta Mimo-sa, Sa Ika-5, Limang Araw Na!”

He noted that they decidedto add two more days to cele-brate Fiesta Mimosa noting thatthe event has increased popu-larity in the region, particularlyto schools that participate in theChefs on Parade (COP) compe-tition.

He said Mimosa will be of-fering promo packages toschools whose student-partici-pants in the COP will be stay-ing for at least three days in theposh Mimosa Leisure Estate(MLE).

Also, among the objectivesof the festivities “is to promoteMimosa as an advocate of life,beauty, culture and environmentfriendly leisure through the dif-ferent competitions to be held,both the new ones and the nowvery popular old ones,” Licardosaid.

“This year’s marketing andpromotional activities areplanned well. Aside from com-ing up with intensive marketingthrough different collaterals, spe-cial promotional and screeningcommittees have been formed inorder to ensure an extensivecoverage in terms of participantsin all competitions, thus, result-ing to a wider scope and cover-age,” Licardo added.

NEW FACILITY. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, assisted by CHED ChairmanEmmanuel Y. Angeles (right) and Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. (left),inaugurates the Higher Education Development Center, in Diliman, Quezon City recently.

THE PAMPANGA Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) teambagged the second runner up place in the recently concluded6th Regional First Aid and Basic Life Support - Cardio Pulmo-nary Resuscitation Olympics at the Balanga City Oval in Bataan.

According to Filipina R. Sevilla, PDCC secretariat unit head,the said olympics featured events on situational analysis andapplication focus on immobilization and control bleeding; ban-daging and transfer relay; basic life support and cardio pulmo-nary resuscitation on infant, child and adult victims.

The eight-man Pampanga team is composed of personnelfrom both the provincial disaster management unit (PDMU) andprovincial health office (PHO).

Sevilla said that the annual event served as an opportunityfor the Council’s rescue team to assess its capability and pre-paredness in responding to emergency situations.

More so, it served as a venue where the team members metand shared related experiences with their counterparts in theprovinces of Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija and Zambales.

The event is sponsored by the Office of Civil Defense and thePhilippine National Red Cross (PNRC).

Aside from the trophy, the winning team received medals,spineboard and certificates of commendation.

The Bulacan team won the first place while the group fromNueva Ecija ranked second in the said regional olympics.

Mark Sarmiento, PDCC training team leader, said that thePampanga team underwent eight days of intensive training con-ducted jointly by the PDCC and volunteers from the PNRC Pam-panga Chapter.

Sarmiento said that the training focused on the provision oflearnings and skills on standard first aid, basic life support andcardio pulmonary resuscitation to enable the participants betterrespond to emergency situations. (Pampanga PIO)

PRESS RELEASE

Pampanga DCC placessecond in health olympics

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Zona LibreBong Z. Lacson

E d i t o r i a l O p i n i o nO p i n i o n

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Business & Editorial office at Unit B Essel Commercial Center,McArthur Highway, Telabastagan, City of San Fernando

Tel. No. (45) 636•6327 Cel. No. 0917•481•1416e-mail address: [email protected]

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Circulation

Atty. Gener C. EndonaJoey R. AguilarCaesar “Bong” LacsonJoanna Niña V. CorderoMa. Teresa U. VillanuevaDondie B. VenturaGilbert Mendoza

LLL Trimedia CoordinatorsPublisher

EDGAR V. MOVIDOFounder

Job well done“WE DID not do anything extraordinary. We simplydid our job.”

Yes, and it was one heck of a job – governingthe capital city of Pampanga that has earned newplaudits for the administration of Mayor Oscar S.Rodriguez.

The City of San Fernando will be conferred“Institutionalized Status” in the public governancesystem (PGS) by the Institute for Solidarity in Asia(ISA) based on the performance audit findingsconducted by the Universal Access toCompetitiveness and Trade.

In 2005, in partnership with the ISA, the citygovernment adopted the PGS as its governanceframework. This in essence is but a formalizationof Rodriguez’s article of faith: Magsilbi Tamu (Weserve.)

Within the past five years, the City of SanFernando has achieved more than 100 percentgrowth in business enterprises, 33 percent growthin local income, and a high constituencysatisfaction rating for efficient delivery of services.

Processing time for the issuance of businesspermits was streamlined from six weeks to twohours.

The creation and institutionalization of the Multi-Sectoral Governance Council (MSGC), establishedan effective governance model for public-privatepartnership, totally devoid of partisan politics.

“The City of San Fernando was successful inincreasing the level of dynamism and cohesivenessof the legislative-executive dialogue process toensure public accountability.” So the performanceaudit cited, and “successfully initiated substantialreforms in the conduct of business processes andtransactions, improving the issuance of businesspermits and licensing and real property taxassessment through an ISO-certified managementsystem.”

This paved the way for the enactment of a newRevenue Code, Market Code, Environment Codeand Revision to the Property Tax Administration, itadded.

A committed leadership, a committed – andworking – bureaucracy, a responsive privatesector, imbued with a public service ethic andguided at all times by transparency – nothingextraordinary really, in the City of San Fernando.

Elsewhere, a seeming impossibility.Viva Fernandinos! Mabuhay Mayor Oscar

Rodriguez!

“E KAMI memirait anyang pengampanya at binoto mi ya y AmongEd (We did not cheat when we campaigned and voted for Panlilio).We didn’t have the means to do that.”

So cried one Virginia Manuguid of Betis, Guagua town.“We didn’t have guns, goons and gold. How can we cheat?”So asked one Adriano David.“Di ko hahayaang sabihin, kahit pa ng Korte Suprema, na ang

sagrado kong balota noong 2007 para kay Among Ed ay nabili,nandaya at kailangan usisain uli. Hindi para dito ang luha ko parakay Cory. Laban Pampanga! (I will not allow – even the SupremeCourt – to say that my ballot for Panlilio in 2007 was bought, acheat and needed to be restudied. The tears I shed for Cory are notfor this. Fight Pampanga!)”

So ululated one Fr. Raul de los Santos.“Cory Aquino stands for democracy. People behind the recount

are for pera (money)-cracy.”So punned one Fr. Marius Roque.“I forgive them all for their abject ignorance.”

Unctuous ululations

So remarked – in his characteristic cool andcasual manner – my seminary elder Don Luisitoon the various reactions to the 2007 gubernatorialvote recount quoted in the story here yesterdayof intrepid journalist Tonette Orejas.

That’s a harsh judgment, especially on thereverend fathers, I told my elder over cups of latteat Starbucks SM City Pampanga.

“That’s the truth, harsh as it is, and thereforehurts. Although I believe in what they’re saying.”

Contradictions there, you believe what theyare saying – that they, the Panlilio camp for thatmatter, did not cheat in the elections. And yet,you call them ignorant. How’s that?

“Yes, your compadre did not have thecapability, much less the guts, to cheat in theelections. But that did not mean that there wasno cheating in the 2007 elections.”

Now I am completely befuddled, pleaseenlighten me.

“I don’t know why a lot of people take you foran astute political analyst when you are asignorant as these people we’re talking about.”

Stop the insulting intro, go to the brass tacks.“In all probability, Panlilio is an indirect

beneficiary of dagdag-bawas (vote shaving).”An improbability, I see clearly. As the moral

alternative, Panlilio can’t be a party to any immoralact!

“Bobo! Panlilio, and his ululating – to useyour word – minions, are completely ignorant ofthis. It is another party that could have fomentedthe cheating.”

The Pineda camp cheated to lose?“Mal gran bobo! Board Member Lilia Pineda

is the victim here. Votes in her favor could havebeen taken from her – that’s the bawas part –and credited to another – that’s the dagdag part.While the votes shaved from her tally and given tothe beneficiary were not enough for the latter towin, they were more than enough to reduce herlead over, and be overtaken by the votes of Panlilio,untouched as they were.”

Wow. Such novelty!“Nothing new there really. In the ‘70s, it was

done in the province with the same results asmaybe in 2007. The front-running candidate at thattime, also nicknamed Baby, suddenly lost – by asmall margin too – to an unknown political upstartwho made megabucks from the forests ofIndonesia. And yes, the incumbent was a poorthird too.”

Swell, but a successful dagdag-bawasrequires expertise and practice, much practice.

“So what do you make of the quarry collectionsat the Capitol before Panlilio? There is where yourpractice of dagdag-bawas came to perfection.”

Aaaagh!

Napag-uusapanlangNi Felix M. Garcia

Huli manat magaling,

palpak pa rin!AYWAN LANG kung itong si Lito AtienzaAy marapat maging Kalihim talagaNitong DENR sa klase kumbagaNg pag-aruga niya sa naturalesa;

Pagkat imbes magsilbing tagapagtanggolNg kapaligiran at ng katutubongYamang bigay ng Diyos, ay siya pa itongTila lumalabas na tagapaglipol!

At maituturing na kabaligtaranNg tungkulin niya ang naging papel n’yanSa pag-masaker ng halos di mabilangNa punong kahoy na kanyang ‘pinapatay;’

Kung saan ang pagiging padalus-dalosNi Atienza sa pagbigay ng pahintulotSa DPWH ang siyang nasunod,Pero haya’t binawi rin pagkatapos;

At ang sabi’y tila di na matutuloyItong “road widening,” kung kaya’t ang planongItumbang lahat ang mga punong kahoySa kahabaan ng Hiway ng McArthur,

Ay lubusan na nga yatang pinatigilNg kanyang tanggapan at nitong KalihimMismo ng Public Works, matapos sayanginAng buhay ng mga punong kahoy natin!

Magagawan pala nila ng paraangMaisalba yan sa tiyak na kamatayan,Eh bakit di nila agad naisipanKundi ngayong tayo’y naperwisyo na r’yan?

Kasi naman itong mga SecretaryNitong iba’t-ibang government agency,Departamento o Kagawaran pati,Kung magdesisyon ay palagi nang huli;

Gayong karamihan nama’y wala namangPinagkaka-abalaan sa tanggapanKundi mag-kape at pumirma po lamangNg mga papeles na lubhang kailangan;

Na posibleng kadalasan ay di nilaMarahil gaano pang inu-usisa,Kaya’t nangyayaring sila’y pumipirmaNg kung anong hindi nararapat pala!

Kasi nga, kung sadyang sinuri ng hustoAng “negative effect” ng naturang isyu,Malayong mangyari ang bagay na itoPartikular sa City of San Fernando;

Na ipaputol n’yan basta nang ganoonAng mga akasya’t ibang punongkahoy,Nang ni wala man lang ‘public consultation’At ng kaukulang permiso ni Mayor;

Na ayon sa aming balitang nakalapAy basta na lamang nila pinatupad,Ang “massive tree cuting” nang kaagad-agad,Sa kabila ng pagtutol nitong lahat;

Na ng iba’t-ibang sektor ng lipunan,Na kumokondena sa DENRAt DPWH sa ginawa po n’yan;(O nina Atienza’t Ebdane, kabayan!)(Na dili’t iba ang mga Kalihim n’yan!)

Insider’sInfoby Bong Endona

WE CALL the former president as “Cory” or “Tita Cory”. Verypersonal, with attachment, sounding like family, friend, companion.We call the present president as GMA. Like a boss who is calledby the initials of her name, distant, feared.

Cory gave another meaning to “yellow”, aside from Ninoy. GMAhas no known color.

Cory toppled a dictator and gave us democracy. GMA toppled acorrupt president and gave us more incidents of corruption.

Cory never showed her anger in public, and according to thoseclosed to her, had never shown either in private. GMA hits theheadlines every time that she demonstrated anger against hercabinet, government official or even teachers who failed to providetrashcan the last time she demonstrated how to wash hands toavoid the H1N1 virus.

Cory kept her promise not to run for another term and in factendorsed Ramos as her successor. GMA broke hers even whenshe made the promise on Rizal Day celebration prior to the 2004elections. And until now, she has not endorsed anyone to succeedher, not even a clue.

She was whatshe is not

Cory left the presidency and became contentedas a private citizen. GMA is said to be eyeing aseat in Congress to be elected as Prime Ministeronce the constitution is amended.

Cory did not have a First Gentleman; GMAhas a controversial one.

Cory led a simple life, mindful of public opinionon extravagance; GMA recently had dinner withher large entourage at Le Cirque (after visitingObama), “ordered several bottles of very expensivewine, pushing the dinner tab at $20,000” (NewYork Post, August 7, 2009). That is P980,000 fora dinner.

Cory fought against amending the constitutionunder the present set-up and was very vocal aboutit. GMA never lifted a finger to stop her allies in

congress from doing so, invoking separation ofpowers, and even if her perceived cling to poweris said to be the main agenda.

Cory is still very popular. GMA has negativeratings on popularity.

Oh! But there are also similarities between thetwo.

Both became president by popular uprising.Cory has Kris in showbiz; GMA has Mikey(what was his last movie?). Cory has Noynoyin the Senate; GMA has two sons in Congress.Both came from Central Luzon provinces(Tarlac and Pampanga). Both successfullyprevented and defended the government fromcoup d’etats and rebellion. And of course, bothare women.

LIFE HAS BEEN defined as thesum total of all a person’s choic-es. From the cradle to grave, weare faced with many importantdecisions. Life, so goes a pop-ular saying, is what we make it.In other words, you are what youare from the decisions you havemade.

Dr. Charles Wood, longtimehead of the psychology depart-ment at Baylor University, usedto tell his students: “There arethree decisions each personmust make for himself – thechoice of a profession, of a life’smate, and of a religious faith.Parents and friends will, attimes, try to decide one of thesethings for you, but if you are tobe happy and successful in life,they are decisions you alonecan make.”

Concerning our choices, Jo-seph Epstein wrote: “We do notchoose to be born. We do notchoose our parents. We do notchoose our historical epic, orthe country of our birth, or theimmediate circumstances of ourupbringing. We do not, most ofus, choose to die; nor do wechoose the time and conditionsof our death.”

Epstein added: “But withinall this realm of choicelessness,we do choose how we shall live:courageously or in cowardice,

honorably or dishonorably, withpurpose or adrift. We decide whatis important and what is trivial inlife. We decide that what makesus significant is either what wedo or what we refuse to do.”

He ended his explanation withthese words: “But no matter howindifferent the universe may be toour choices and decisions, thesechoices and decisions are oursto make. We decide. We choose.And as we decide and choose,so are our lives formed.”

His name was Lt. John Blan-chard, an American soldier in ba-sic training in Florida during WorldWar II. One evening, he wanderedinto the post library and found abook to read. The feminine hand-writing in the margins intriguedhim, so he turned to the front ofthe book and found the name ofthe previous owner – a Miss Hol-lis Maynell.

Blanchard did some researchand found her address in NewYork. The following day, he wasshipped overseas. For 13months, the two corresponded byletter and began to open theirhearts to each other as both weresingles. He asked for her picture,to which she refused by sayingthat if he really loved her itwouldn’t matter what she lookedlike.

Finally, the day came when

they were to meet in Grand Cen-tral Station in New York City. Shehad instructed, “You’ll recognizeme by the red rose that I’ll bewearing on my lapel.”

From the words of Blanchard,here’s what happened next: “Ayoung woman was coming to-ward me, beautiful, trim, blonde,eyes were blue as flowers, andin her pale green suit she waslike springtime come alive. I start-ed toward her forgetting that shewas not wearing the rose… andthen I saw Hollis Maynell! Shewas standing behind the girl. Awoman with graying hair, but shewore a red rose on the rumpledbrown lapel of her coat. So deepwas my longing for the womanwhose spirit had captured me thatI approached her. There shestood, face was gentle and sen-sible and her gray eyes had atwinkle. I didn’t hesitate. My handgripped the small worn blueleather book which was to identi-fy me to her.

“I squandered my shouldersand saluted and held out the bookto the woman while choking backthe bitterness of disappointment.‘I’m Lt. John Blanchard and youmust be Miss Maynell. I am so

glad to meet you. May I take youto dinner?’

The woman’s face broadenedinto a smile. “I don’t know whatthis is about, son,” she an-swered, “but the young lady inthe green suit who just went by,asked me to wear this rose. Andshe said if you were to ask meout to dinner, I should tell you thatshe is waiting for you in the largerestaurant across the street.”

If you were Blanchard, willyou do the choice he did? Or justforget the old lady and go straightto the woman who you fell in lovewith at first sight? Again, whenwe have to choose, along with itis also a risk. Life after all is abig gamble, either you win or youlose.

We make our choices andthen our choices make us.French existentialist, Jean-PaulSarte, expressed it this way: “Wecreate ourselves by virtue of themultitude of our choices.” Ourchoices produce acts which pro-duce character and charactereventually become permanent.

I was reminded of a story sentto me a friend via e-mail. Althoughit is short, the anecdote – whichI have modified -- tells more about

life and the choices we make:A week before their college

graduation, seven friends went tothe office of their professor andtalked with him. “Sir,” one of themsaid, “is it possible if eight yearsfrom now we will meet in yourhouse and have a reunion?”

The professor answered affir-matively. Several years passedand the seven friends becamevery successful in their chosenfields. Jonathan is now headinghis own business firm in Makati,Philippines. Rudy is a highly re-spected forester working in aUnited Nations agency in Rome,Italy. Gary has a flourishing ca-reer as a consultant in Bangkok,Thailand. Anselmo is a renownedphysician in Cebu City, Philip-pines.

The three others - Carlos,Rodel, and James - are all engi-neers working in other parts of theworld: Saudi Arabia, Singapore,and Canada, respectively.

Eight years later, all seven gottogether at their professor’shouse. Talk, talk, talk, and moretalk. Soon, conversation turnedinto complaints about stress inwork and life.

Offering his guests coffee,the professor went to the kitch-en and returned with a large potof coffee and an assortment ofcups - porcelain, plastic, glass,

some plain looking and someexpensive and exquisite, tellingthem to help themselves to hotcoffee.

When all the seven friendshad a cup of coffee in hand, theprofessor said: “If you noticed,all the nice looking, expensivecups were taken up, leaving be-hind the plain and cheap ones.It is but normal for you to wantonly the best for yourselves. Andthat is the source of your prob-lems and stress. What all of youreally wanted was coffee, not thecup, but you consciously wentfor the better cups and are eye-ing each other's cups.”

The professor continued:“Now, if life is coffee, then thejobs, money and position in so-ciety are the cups. They are justtools to hold and contain life, butthe quali ty of l i fe doesn’tchange. Sometimes, by con-centrating only on the cup, wefail to enjoy the coffee in it.”

Life is a matter of choice.There are always two sides of acoin. Left and right. Good andbad. Beautiful and ugly. Rich andpoor. Each of us is given achoice to make. And life is a lotlike tennis – the one who canserve best seldom loses.

For comments, write me [email protected]

Regarding HenryBY HENRYLITO D. TACIO

A matter of choice(COURTESY OF MABUHAY NEWS)

The freethinking of one age is the commonsense of the next. Matthew Arnold (1822 - 1888)

'God and the Bible,' 1875

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TheGossip-millerby Cesar Pambid

TATLO ANG kanyang tv shows, “The Wedding,” “Nasaan Ka Maruja,” at ang Nurserye show with Judy Ann Santos, at dalawangbagong movies, “And I Love You So” kasama Bea Alonzo and the Metro filmfest entry, “I Love You, Goodbye” with real life squeezeAngelica Panganiban. Siya rin yung nag-iisang matinee idol na kasama ng mga top athletes headed by Manny Pacquiao sa bagongSan Miguel TV commercial na “Isang Platitong Mani.”

“Siyempre, I’m thankful,” sabi ni Derek. “But it has its downside. Wala na akong tulog. Nagkasakit ako at naospital sa sobrangpagod. But I’m not complaining. Mas mabuti na ito kaysa jobless. I’m very excited with the way my career is going.”

Hindi ba siya nahirapan kay Bea Alonzo sa “And I Love You So” knowing na ngayon palang sila nagkatambal?“It’s great. She’s so good, even when we worked sa ‘Maging Sino Ka Man, Book 2’, I saw agad na magaling talaga siya. Star

Cinema had a private viewing and they texted me how great the movie is, directed by Lauren Dyogi. Masayang katrabaho si Bea,even before sa ‘One More Chance’ where I had a short role. Kaya lang mahilig ako mangulit at mabilis siyang mapikon, lalo na abouther weight. Sabi ko, when she’s no longer affected sa mga pang-aasar ko, dun lang ako titigil. Effective naman kasi she’s lost a lotof weight and is definitely sexier now as you’ll see in ‘And I Love You So’.”

Pero talagang di raw siya in love kay Bea, kaibigan lang daw talga. Dahil nga yung mga katagang and I love you so, ay kayAngelica Panganiban lang niya puwedeng ipahayag.

True ba na dadalhin niya sa ibang bansa si Angel next year?“Yes, at the World Cup in Johannesburg, South Africa in March. I’m a big football fan and I want her to experience the whole

atmosphere of the World Cup with me, cheering together.”Nagregalo pa nga siya ng kotse kay Angel, hindi po ba?“She mentioned kasi that she loves the mini-Cooper two years ago. So now that we’re on our third year, I thought it’d be the best

gift for her as it’s her favorite car. Tuwang-tuwa naman siya.”

Derek Ramsay pinakasuwertengmatinee idol sa Dos

Carlo J. Caparas karapat-dapat na National Artist sa tunay na kahulugan nitoHINDI NATITINAG si Direk Carlo J. Caparas kahit may mga nagpoprotesta sa pagkakapili sa kanya ng Malacañang bilang National Artist for Visual Arts and Film.

Habang ginaganap ang presscon for Direk Carlo and Cecille Guidote-Alvarez, awardee rin bilang National Artist, sa opisina ng NCCAay may nagra-rally naman sa CCP bilang protesta.

Sinagot lahat ng mag-asawang Carlo J Caparas at |Donna Villa ang mga batikos ng mga elitistang nagsasabing walangkarapatang maging National Artist ang sikat na novelist-director.

“Sa nakikita kong reaction ng iba, palagay ko nabibigla lang sila. Makakapag-isip-isip pa rin sila na ‘yong pambansangparangal na ‘yon ay hindi ko hiningi. Hindi ko ipinakiusap kahit kanino kundi ipinagkaloob sa akin ng mga lupon na siyangpumipili at ng Pangulo ng Pilipinas. Sino naman ako para tanggihan ang ganoong klase ng parangal. Yong sinasabinilang pagiging malapit ko kay PGMA, totoo na malapit talaga ang loob ko sa Pangulo dahil naniniwala ako sa lideratoniya.

“Tinulungan kami ng Presidente nang i-revive namin ang komiks at hindi na naputol ang pasasalamat ko saginawa niyang ‘yon.”

Sabi pa ni Direk Carlo, sana ay huwag haluan ng pulitika ang parangal na natanggap niya dahil kawawa namanang mga tulad nilang mga alagad ng sining.

“Gusto yata nitong mga sectoral elitista na sila lang ang may karapatang tanghaling National Artist. Paanona lang kaming mga nabibilang sa mahihirap na angkan? Wala na ba kaming karapatan na mahirang naNational Artist?

“Sila lang ang may mataas na pinag-aralan at nabibilang sa mararangyang buhay ang da-pat pagpiliangmaging National Artist?” wika ni Direk Carlo na may hinanakit sa tinig.

“Nakakalungkot para sa akin na sa hanay namin ay maroon pa ring tagapuna at nagigingalipin ng pamumulitika. Unang-una po, ang karangalang ibinigay sa akin ay hindi ko hinin-gi. Ang katangian ko po na napansin ng mga pumili, ng Palasyo, ng mga nag-nominate aypinaghirapan ko po. “Inaaliw ko sila sa pamamagitan ng aking mga nobela sa komiks, ngaking mga pelikula, ng aking mga teleserye. Dahil ako ay nasa entertainment business,kailangang maaliw ko ang aking mga mambabasa at malibang ang mga manonood.“Maypaaralan po tayo para bigyan sila ng edukasyon. May simbahan po tayo para matutuhannila ang relihiyon. Huwag po nilang hanaping masyado ang edukasyon, ang relehiyon saginagawa naming pang-aaliw sa entertainment world.“Karamihan po ng mga NationalArtist ay sectoral at elitista. Ngayon, ’yung mga tumututol po sa amin, kabilang po silasa mga sectoral artist. Na kung hindi ka pa nakapag-aral ng napakataas, hindi momababasa ang kanilang mga trabaho. Hindi mo makikilala ang kanilang persona.“Angmga elitista naman, kung hindi kabilang sa mga makikinis ang mukha at may napa-kataas na edukasyon, hindi po nila kikilalanin ang mga hanay na nasa ibaba.“’Yan poang nakikita nating problema sa pagkakawatak-watak sa ating bansa at ang ugat poniyan ay pulitika,” dire-diretsong paliwanag ng direktor at tinaguriang Komiks King.Sapatuloy na laban ni Direk Carlo ay palaging nakaalalay at nakasuporta sa kanya angbutihing asawang si Donna Villa. “Siyempre, laban ’yan ng asawa ko kaya dapat kasa-ma ako. He’s a very good person. Madami siyang natutulungan kaya alam kong maramiring nagmamahal sa kanya,” sambit pa niya.

‘Paano na ang buhay, Mariankung wala si Dingdong Dantes?’

NAIPALABAS NA ng Linggo ng gabi ang primer ng Darna featuring Marian Rivera.Ang Darna ang pumalit sa Zorro.Pagkatapos ng Darna ni Angel Locsin na sinasabing isa sa bagay na bagay na

Darna, heto na nga si Marian who is said to be the most beautiful Darna ayon sa mganakalaalam ng history ng Darna ni Mars Ravelo.

Veteran actress Celia Rodriguez could attest to this as she was part of the threeprequels before this particular one with Marian. Of the “Darna” episodes which she waspart of were “Lipad, Darna, Lipad” in 1973, “Darna Kuno?” in 1979, and with AngelLocsin’s 2005 series. We remember her always as Darna’s main villainess, “Valentina”but now she will be playing the role of Perfecta. The chosen “Valentina” now is Iwa Moto.Mark Anthony Fernandez plays Darna’s love interest here.

Bukod kina Celia, Iwa at Mark, kasama rin sa gigantic cast sina Eddie Garcia,Caridad Sanchez, Jestoni Alarcon, Janice de Belen, Raymart Santiago at Rita Avila.

Wala si Dingdong sa proyektong ito at ito na yung kauna-unahang di sila magkasa-ma.

Sila na sa tunay na buhay na nagsimula nga sa paging magka-tandem nila. Umaaminsilang pareho na nagmamahalan sila.

Di kaya magkamali si Marian sa pagsigaw ng Ding, ang bato, at sa halip ay masabiniyang, Dingdong ang bato?

Rufa Mae may kalanturang pulitikoBAGAMAT PABIRO ang pag-amin ni Rufa Mae na true yung meron siyang lover na pulitiko,madaling i-reconcile na talagang realidad ito.

At may mga statement pa si Rufa Mae na dahil sa pulitikong lover niya, kung kaya siyanakabili ng mga properties sa Untied States. Malaking halaga rin kasi ang balor ng mga propertiesna naipundar ni Rufa Mae sa naturang bansa.

“Of course, pinaghirapan ko ‘yun, dugo, pawis ang puhunan ko,”sabi niya sa tonong nagpapa-kakikay kaya talagang may credence rin yung hulang galling sa pulitiko ang mga properties niya.

Pero tikom ang bibig ni Rufa Mae tungkol sa identity ng pulitiko. “In due time, hindi pa ngayon,kapag tama na ang panahon, ipakikilala ko siya sa publiko,”sabi pa niya

Sino kaya’ng pulitikong sinasabing lover niRufa Mae Quinto?Seryoso na kaya siya rito at hinda na mabulilyaso sa bandang huli?

Mari

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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINESDepartment of Transportation and

CommunicationsLAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING

AND REGULATORY BOARDRegional Office No. III

City of San Fernando, Pampanga

Application for Approval of Sale andTransfer of a Certificate of PublicConvenience to operate a PUJ Servicewith Extension of Validity

CASE NO.RFRO-III-2004-00807

CECILIO DE GUZMANApplicant-Vendor

REINIL A. DE GUZMANApplicant-Vendee

x————————————————xNOTICE OF HEARING

Application-vendor is a grantee of aCertificate of Public Convenience to operate aPUJ Service issued under Case No. RFRO-III-2004-00807 for the transportation ofpassengers and vice versa on the route:HAGONOY – MEYCAUAYAN viaPAOMBONG, MALOLOS (Bulacan) and viceversa with the use of one (1) unit whichcertificate is valid up to August 4, 2009. In theApplication filed on August 3, 2009, Applicant-Vendee request authority for the Approval ofSale and Transfer of said Certificate in his favorincluding the unit authorized therein.

NOTICE is hereby given that thisApplication will be heard by this Board onAugust 18, 2009 at 9:00 A.M at the aboveaddress.

Applicant-vendee is hereby ordered topublish this Notice at least TEN (10) days beforethe above date of hearing once in a weeklynewspaper of general circulation in REGIONIII.

Parties opposed to the granting of theApplication must file their written oppositionssupported by documentary evidence on orbefore the above date, copy of the same befurnished to the applicant, and may if they sodesire appear on the said date and time.

This application will be acted upon bythis Board on the basis of the records of thiscase submitted by the parties, unless the Boarddeems it necessary to receive additionaldocumentary evidence for the judiciousresolution of the same.

WITNESS the Honorable Atty. ROBERTD. PEIG, Regional Director, this 3rd day ofAugust 2009, in the City of San Fernando,Pampanga.

Atty. JONATHAN V. JAVATE Attorney IV

Punto! Central Luzon: August 11, 2009





Application for Approval of Sale andTransfer of a Certificate of PublicConvenience to operate a PUJ Servicewith Extension of Validity


DARNA & BONIFACIO VICENTAApplicant-Vendor

JOSELITO BERNALApplicant-Vendee


Application-vendor is a grantee of aCertificate of Public Convenience to operate aPUJ Service issued under Case No. RFRO-III-97-04380 for the transportation of passengersand vice versa on the route: MALOLOS(Bulacan) – MALINTA (MM) via MACARTHUR HIGHWAY, (Bulacan) and vice versawith the use of one (1) unit which certificate isvalid up to October 13, 2009. In the Applicationfiled on August 4, 2009, Applicant-Vendeerequest authority for the Approval of Sale andTransfer of said Certificate in his favor includingthe unit authorized therein.





WITNESS the Honorable Atty. ROBERTD. PEIG, Regional Director, this 4th day ofAugust 2009, in the City of San Fernando,Pampanga.







Application for Change party Applicantof a Certificate of Public Convenience tooperate a PUJ Service


NORMA T. OLAESFormer Party Applicant

SPS. ZOILO & NORMA OLAESNew Party Applicant


Former Party – Applicant is a grantee ofa Certificate of Public Convenience to operatea PUJ Service for the transportation ofpassengers and freight on the route:BALANGA – HACIENDA via ABUCAY(Bataan) and vice versa with the use of one(1) unit which certificate is valid up to July 31,2013. In the Application filed on August 4,2009, New Party Applicant requests authorityto transfer the said application in his favor filedby the Former party Applicant of the saidauthorized therein.





WITNESS the Honorable Atty. ROBERTD. PEIG, Regional Director, this 4th day ofAugust 2009, in the City of San Fernando,Pampanga.



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town “posing a clear andpresent danger to thehealth of the communities.

On Friday, Cruz foundan abandoned Range Rov-er luxury vehicle drapedwith a streamer reading“No trespassing. PrivateProperty” blocking theroad to the Royal GardenGolf and Country Club inBarangay Pulung Maba,Porac which is a joint ven-ture between Cruz and aKorean firm. The vehiclewas also decorated with vi-olet ribbons.

Cruz told The ManilaTimes that witnessespointed to Robin Nepo-muceno, chairman ofBarangay Cutcut wherethe golf course is located,as the one who left thevehicle at the site.

Punto tried but failed tocontact Nepomuceno. (Inthe spirit of fairness, we areopen to the side of Nepo-muceno on the issue any-time he wishes)

The Nepomuceno fam-ily reportedly owns prop-erty adjacent to Cruz’swhich they are renting outto a poultry raiser. The foulodor and the flies alleged-ly coming out of the poul-try farm have been the sub-ject of complaints not onlyof the PGKM and KKA butalso the nearby housingareas including upscaleEnclave, Emerald and Ti-mog Park.

“This is pure harass-ment. They are now hitting

FROM PAGE 1

‘Polluters fight back’back because of our con-tinuous campaign againstpollution, against the foulsmell that the poultry andpiggery emit, against thethreat to our very health,”Cruz said.

“I take this seriously,especially the messagefrom the violet ribbons. Thecolor violet is traditionallyassociated with mourning,with death,” Cruz added.

The harassment camethe day after Cruz had aface-to-face confrontationwith Porac Mayor RogelioSantos over the televisionshow Hamon Central Lu-zon hosted by John Susion CLTV-36.

Cruz lambasted San-tos during the program forhis failure to solve the pol-lution problem and threat-ened to take the issuebefore a Senate commit-tee hearing.

Earlier, Sen. Ana Con-suelo “Jamby” Madrigal,chairman of the committeeon environment, ex-pressed intention to inves-tigate the piggeries in Po-rac after she was apprisedof the issue by AlfonsoDobles of the Advocacy forthe Development of Cen-tral Luzon.

Santos is reportedlyclose to Nepomuceno,whose wife Cecille is aformer Porac councilor anda losing contender for themayoralty post in the late‘90s. The Nepomucenocouple were among theprominent guests at the in-auguration of Santos as

mayor in 2007.“Clearly, they have

joined forces to protect thepigs and the chicken andhit hard at all those whoare advocating for theirright to breathe clean air,”Cruz said. “They are im-pacting their political po-sitions and influence tofrighten us into submissionto further environmentaldegradation.”

Nepomuceno sits ascity councilor, being thepresident of the Associa-tion of Barangay Captains.He is also the elder broth-er of Mayor Francis “Blue-boy” Nepomuceno.

“Instead of being terri-fied, we are all the moreinspired by this harass-ment, even by deaththreats, for we know weare in the right. ThePGKM, KKA, the Advoca-cy for the Development ofCentral Luzon, other con-cerned groups and Poracresidents will remainsteadfast in this cam-paign,” Cruz vowed.

Cruz is contemplatingof filing charges of Abuseof Authority before the Of-fice of the Ombudsmanagainst the elder Nepo-muceno.

“I would also like to callthe attention of the LandTransportation Office tocheck on the Range Rov-er which plate numberRBV 692 sported 2008registration which is al-ready expired at the endof February. Bakas smug-gled pa ito,” Cruz said.

lac ang kanyang tropanoong Huwebes ng gabidahil sa rescue operationdin sa insidente ng pagba-ha doon.

Pagkatapos ay tumu-ngo naman sila sa Mt. Pi-natubo upang iligtas angmga biktimang nilamon ngputik ngunit ng papatawidna sa isang ilog na mayhabang 50 metro ay mun-tik na umano siyangmamatay.

Ayon sa sundalo, tu-matawid sila sa ilog sapamamagitan ng lubid ngbiglang anurin ang kasa-mahan niyang sundalo nasi Sgt. Ticatic.

Sinubukan umano niy-ang sagipin si Ticaticngunit siya naman angtinangay ng rumaragasang

FROM PAGE 1

‘Muntik na kaming mamatay’putik.

Bagamat hanggangbewang lamang aniya angtaas ng tubig ay hindi nasiya nakalaban pa dahil salakas ng current na maykasama pang mga bato atkahoy.

Hindi umano siya bu-mitiw sa lubid ngunit ma-rami na siyang naiinom natubig na may kasamangmga putik at buhangin.

At nang nasa punto nasiya ng papabitiw sa lubiddahil sa hirap sa paghin-ga ay mapalad na hinataknaman siya ng iba pangkasamahang sundalo.

Umaga na umano ngsiya ay magkamalay da-hil sa dami ng putik at tu-big na pumasok sa kan-yang katawan.

Halos mag-collapse naaniya ang kanyang baga

at hirap na hirap na siyanghuminga ngunit pinilit niyaitong isuka hanggang sasiya ay malapatan ng lu-nas sa isang ospital saTarlac.

Sa kasalukuyan aynagpapagaling na si Lay-an sa Airforce City Hospi-tal sa Clarkfield, Pampan-ga habang ligtas na rin angisa pang kasamang sun-dalo na inanod ng putik.

Laking pasasalamatumano niya at buhay parin siya hanggang sa kasa-lukuyan.

Aniya, ito rin ang kau-na-unahang pagkakata-on na tila may buhawi natumama sa gi l id ngkabundukan na siyangnagpabagsak sa lupanito na siyang tumabonsa mga turistang nag-tungo doon.

Central Luzon Police Di-rector Chief Supt. LeonNilo Dela Cruz obtained byPunto on Friday.

“What is worst is thatafter removing the bill-boards of her Excellency,billboards of the AngelesCity administration wereinstalled,” added Lazatin,referring to his arch politi-cal rival, Mayor Francis“Blueboy” Nepomuceno.

But City AdministratorMark Allen Sison, in a textmessage, said “we haveno idea” when asked tocomment about the letterof the solon to the policedirector. He added that “it’sthe Department of Public

Works and Highways(DPWH) who installed ourbillboards.”

District Engineer Jua-nito Reguyal of the DPWHsub-district office here, ina phone interview, deniedthe allegations of Sisonthat the DPWH had beenresponsible for the instal-lation of the mayor’s bill-boards at the expense ofLazatin’s.

Reguyal added that “itcould not be possible be-cause they only install bill-boards of Lazatin as theyonly get projects from thesolon.” He added that theDPWH Sub-District officein this city had not doneroad or other infrastructureprojects for Nepomuceno.

Lazatin, in the sameletter, said the “removedbillboards were situatedalong MacArthur High-way in Barangays Sal-apungan and Claro M.Recto” and “in the site ofthe P25 million drainageproject in Barangay Ma-ragul.”

Lazatin said his infra-structure project “hasbeen one of his major pro-grams to improve the ac-cessibility of our area” and“in parallel to Arroyo’s ownprograms for the country.”Last year, Lazatin alsocomplained to police aboutthe mysterious disappear-ance of his billboards an-nouncing his projects forthe city.

Lazatin asks police director...FROM PAGE 1

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BY DING CERVANTES

CLARK FREEPORT – The newroute taken by the ill-fated for-eign tourists who died after be-ing swept off by strong currentson the slopes of Mt.Pinatubolast Thursday was built by aKorean investor without theneeded permits from govern-ment agencies.

Director Ronnie Tiotuico ofthe regional office of the De-partment of Tourism (DOT) saidthat the new route, dubbed as“Skyway” was developed sometwo years ago by Korean inves-tors who established the Pi-natubo Development Corp.(PDC) in Barangay Sta. Julianain Capas, Tarlac.

The Skyway, he said, wasbuilt “without the necessaryclearances from governmentagencies concerned such asthe Philippine Institute of Vol-canology and Seismology (Phi-volcs), the Department of En-vironment and |Natural Re-sources (DENR) or the Depart-ment of Public Works andHighways (DPWH).”

Tiotuico said he did not ex-pect Phivolcs to approve theSkyway, amid its earlier advi-sory declaring that “no otherway except what nature hasprovided should be used fortrekking” up to Mt. Pinatubo’scrater-lake summit which isbeing promoted by the govern-ment as a tourist destination.

He said Phivolcs recom-mends on the “streambed” ofthe O’Donnel river, which ema-nates from the upper reachesof Mt. Pinatubo as the safestroute to the summit. This, hesaid, is the reason why trek-king to the volcano is sup-posed to be totally prohibitedduring the rainy season, as theO’Donnel river becomes activein channeling waters from theslopes during the rainy month.

Tiotuico lamented that theSkyway was even promoted bythe PDC as an “all-seasontrail”.

No one from the PDC couldbe contacted, as its office inBarangay Sta. Juliana wasclosed yesterday.

Two French nationals and aBelgian died at the O’Donnelriver on the volcanic slopes lastThursday after swelling watersin the river swept them off. Fiveother French nationals andthree Koreans survived.

The foreign tourists initiallyregistered with the PDC whichreportedly gave them the per-mit for their volcano trek onboard three vehicles providedby the Angeles 4x4 Club.

“Going up by the streambedrequires one hour drive and twohours of walking to reach thesummit. The Skyway requiredonly a one-hour drive and 30minutes of walking towards thecrater lake,” Tiotuico said, butnoted that the latter route iswithout safety features such assignages at dangerous turns.

He said there had alreadybeen several cases of acci-dents along the Skyway but nodeaths were reported until lastThursday.

Meanwhile, Lt. Col. JoseCaparas, commander of the Ar-my’s 3rd Mechanized Batallionunder the Light Armor Divisionbased in Tarlac, lamented un-authorized intervention appar-ently by the PDC is the con-duct of search and rescue op-erations for the tourists lastThursday.

BUILT BY KOREAN INVESTOR

New Pinatubo route sans gov’t permitsCaparas, who headed the

army rescue team, said confu-sion arose during the opera-tions as the PDC failed to co-ordinate with government res-cue teams while barking out itsown instructions on what to do.

He said that last Fridaymorning, one of the rescue he-licopters which was supposedto pick up an injured French na-tional on the slopes, was gone.

Later on the injured tourist,along with four other French na-tionals and three Koreans whowere reported trapped, showedup near the base of the rescueteams in Sta. Juliana.

“I am glad they were safe,but my point is that such res-cue missions must be system-atic and coordinated. If any un-toward thing happened tothese tourists who survived, myunit would be blamed,” he said.

Caparas said the PDC ap-parently carried out instruc-tions to the foreigners throughthe radio equipment of the driv-ers of the vehicles used for thetrek.

At the same time, CapasMayor Rey Catacutan, who ear-lier said the tourists should havebeen prevented from trekking upto Mt. Pinatubo by a Philippine

Air Force (PAF) team stationedat the Crow Valley area in histown, said that he was “not re-ally blaming the Air Force” forlast Thursday’s tragedy.

“The fact is I even plan toformally honor a certain Lt.Layan who was injured duringthe rescue operations,” he said.

This, even as Tiotuico saidhe is also interested in findingout who owned the hut wherethe stranded tourists stayed onthe slopes of Mt. PinatuboThursday night. He said the hutowner gave the tourists warmsoup and dried clothes andhosted them overnight.

Tiotuico also said he wouldlike to know who also accom-modated the tourists a cara-bao-driven cart for them tocross the O’Donnel river thefollowing day.

These events were relayedby French national Helene Rad-jou, one of the survivors, notedTiotuico who said he plans tocite the unknown persons forthe help they extended to thetourists.

The tourists who stayed inthe hut and crossed the riveron a carabao cart later sur-faced in Sta. Juliana, surpris-ing rescuers.

v 3 tuesday august 11, 2009 ‘polluters fight back’punto.com.ph/data/pdf/vol3no80.pdf · tuesday...

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