Vice Mayor attacks Mayor`s pet projects, Mayor replies

Friday’s Puerto Galera Beach Resort: to be or not to be ... page 5
Vice Mayor attacks Mayor’s
pet projects, Mayor replies
Volume 4 No. 16, November 1-15, 2009 A PGOnline Publication
Candidates for 2010 polls
Its election time once again.
Although the official campaign
period for candidates for municipal officials starts March 26,
would-be candidates for Mayor,
Vice Mayor and Councilor have
making the rounds and proclaiming their intentions for the May
2010 polls.
Incumbent Mayor Hubbert
Dolor will run for re-election
against Vice Mayor Teo Atienza.
Mayor Dolor will run under the
Liberal Party with Jimmy
Delgado as his Vice Mayor.
Vice Mayor Atienza will run
under the LAKAS-KAMPI
party with Councilor Berting
Macatangay reportedly as his
Vice Mayor.
Reliable sources say that
Mayor Dolor now has a complete slate for members of the
Sangguniang Bayan, namely,
Polying Lopez, Jay-Jay
Evangelista, Grace Manongsong, Melchor Arago, Engr. Ed
Axalan, Edwin Suzara, Marlon
Lopez and Noe Lineses.
Meanwhile, a reliable source
said that Vice Mayor Atienza’s
councilors are as follows: Cenon
Salcedo, Venancio Yap, Mario
Ceniza, Susan Andal, Seming
Balitaan, Benjamin Villanueva
and Kardo Ilagan. Our source
said that the Vice Mayor is still
For Mayor
Hubbert “MD” Dolor
Aristeo “Teo” Atienza
For Vice Mayor
Jimmy Delgado
Berting Macatangay
waiting for the nod of another
candidate to complete the 8
councilors line-up.
There are 2 or 3 likely candidates for Councilor who will run
as independent; one is rumored
to be Paul Arevalo.
The Sangguniang Bayan or
Municipal Council is the legislative branch of the Municipal
Government, a co-equal of the
Executive branch headed by the
Mayor.
More often than not, voters
focus too much on the candidates for Mayor. Pundits however contend that “what this
town need is not only a good
Mayor; what we desperately
need is a Sangguniang Bayan
that will be responsive to the
needs of the time.”
In a privilege speech a few
months ago, Vice Mayor Teo
Atienza criticized nearly if not all
of Mayor Hubbert Dolor’s major
projects including the rehabilitation of the water system and
the sewerage treatment plant for
Sabang.
Vice Mayor Atienza is reportedly running for Mayor against
his nephew and incumbent
Mayor Hubbert Dolor and the
scathing remarks, many say, is a
prelude of things to come as the
election draw near.
In an hour-long speech during his State of the Municipality
Address last July, Mayor Dolor
fire back against his detractors
saying that most of what were
being said against his projects
are false.
The Mayor defended his
projects and said that the new
water system is a must to provide strong clean water to all the
barangays. The sewerage treatment plant (STP) is also needed
to prevent the contamination of
the seashore from coliform which
had reached critical level. The
Mayor said that the upswing
growth of Puerto Galera demands better water service especially in tourist areas and STP
that will protect the dive sites
along Sabang shore.
Both projects will be financed under a Build-TransferOperate scheme.
Vice Mayor Atienza also
criticized Mayor Dolor’s for
seeking nearly 38 million pesos
loan from the Land Bank. The
loan will be used for various
infrastructure projects including a municipal hospital, convention center, expansion of
the town hall and a low-cost
dormitory.
Many residents have been
clamoring for a decent hospital.
Many deaths have occurred
while on the way to Calapan hospitals which is 50 kilometers
away.
The convention center and
the low-cost dormitory, the
Mayor said, will earn money for
the municipality and bring income to nearby shops and stores.
The Mayor also said that
there is a need for the expansion
of the town hall as Puerto Galera
is now a first-class municipality.
The town is growing and the
people are asking for better services.
The Sangguniang Bayan
passed a resolution supporting the Mayor’s loan application. However, Vice Mayor
Atienza has yet to sign the
resolution. The Sangguniang
Bayan is now seeking a writ of
mandamus from the court to
compel the Vice Mayor to sign
the resolution.
Govt bares EUF allocation for 2009
The Municipal Government presented the allocation
of the first-year collection of
the Environment User Fee.
Puerto Galera collects 50 pesos for every tourist enters the
municipality to pay for
projects to protect and preserve the environment.
From November of 2007 up
to November of 2008, more than
10 million pesos were collected.
The following is where the
money went:
a)1 million pesos – partial
payment for the purchase of a
3000 sqm lot in Big La Laguna
which will be the site of the
Waste Water Treatment Plant,
total price is 1.8 million pesos;
b)3.5 million pesos – partial
payment for the purchase of a
10.5 hectares of land in
Dulangan which will be the site
of a sanitary landfill, total
amount is 4.5 million pesos;
c)1.3 million pesos as operation and administrative cost;
d)2 million pesos as mobilization fund; and
e)1.7 million pesos as share
of the 13 barangays. Each
barangays was given more
than 133 thousand pesos for
environmentally friendly
projects.
Calapan road soon to be finished
One of Mayor Hubbert
Dolor ’s solid accomplishments is the completion of the
newly-cemented Puerto Galera
National Road that leads to
Calapan. Finally, we will soon
have a first-class road which
would further contribute to the
progress of this town.
Kudos to President GMA
and the Public Works department for the ongoing project,
thank you all. There are concrete, beautiful guard rails
which complement the scenery along the zigzag road.
Meanwhile as the last kilometer is being constructed,
a dispute among the jeepney
operators and the newly es-
tablished aircon van association arose. The aircon van
started servicing commuters
to Calapan city last October.
The jeepney drivers and operators protested and sought
the suspension of the service
until the aircon van group had
all the necessary permits and
clearances.
2
PUERTO GALERA FORTNIGHTLY
NOVEMBER 1-15, 2009
NOVEMBER 1-15, 2009
PUERTO GALERA FORTNIGHTLY/OPINION
Tourism still affected by tragedy
Six months after the sinking
of Commandos 6 that killed 12
tourists, resort owners report
low occupancy and less interest even with big discounts to
holiday packages in Puerto
Galera.
Tourism sunk with the ferry,
says one exasperated resort
owner.
Travel agents list ferry
safety as one of the foremost
concerns of tourists going to
Puerto Galera.
The Mayor had several
meetings to address the concerns of the tourists on the
safety of the outrigger boats.
There were many positive suggestions but it appears that after months of inactivity, the
authorities might have forgotten the lessons of the recent
tragedy.
The Coast Guard and MARINA promised that they will
compel boat owners to mark the
boats with signs that will enable
passengers to alert the authorities if there is probable over-
loading. It is a simple solution
to a perenial problem yet unfortunately ignored and which if
implemented can definitely save
lives.
One more tragedy and
Puerto Galera’s tourism might
suffer an even bigger, more lasting blow. Let us not wait for
another unfortunate incident to
happen. Again there were many
doable proposals in the last
public hearing. It will be lifesaving if the promises made will
see the light of day.
Unsolve killings, other side of Puerto Galera
To us who have seen both
the good and bad side of tourism, nothing is more alarming
than the growing number of
unsolve crimes; worst of all, the
recent killings of 2 well-known
residents.
Remember Atty. Christian
Garcia who was gunned down a
short distance from his home.
If he was alive he would definitely be running for Vice
Mayor, one of his friends said.
But he was gone and so were
his assassins. A year later, another Garcia would suffer the
same fate.
The killer shot to death
Carmelo Garcia, manager of
Sand Bar Resort and then
fled on foot under cover of
darkness.
Carmelo was the president of TOSCA, an umbrella
organization of the local tourist industry. He dined with
and escorted President
Gloria Arroyo when she came
to visit.
It is painful to lose a love
one, more so when justice is
elusive, and the criminals
roam free. We strongly hope
that the authorities will leave
no stone unturned to bring
the killers to justice.
On President GMA’s Puerto Galera hiatus
It happened last year but
still the President’s overnight
stay in Puerto Galera was one
for the books.
She attended a meeting
which was first planned to be
held in Puerto Galera but since
there was no convention hall
that can accommodate an expected audience of more than
400, the organizer had no
choice but to hold the meeting in Calapan city.
Fortunately, we got a stubborn President who had made
up her mind to stay the night
in Puerto Galera. In 1997, then
Senator Arroyo came to Puerto
Galera but stayed for a brief
moment and now that she’s
President – its one night in
Puerto Galera.
The President wanted the
Puerto Galera experience. After dinner, she dragged
Mayor Dolor and provincial
leaders to go beach-hopping
and bar-hopping.
Off to White Beach they
go, had 1 pitcher of the famed
Mindoro Sling and then she
asked about Sabang. Mayor
Dolor was hesitant to tell her
about the red light district of
Puerto Galera, however her
Excellency was adamant to
see the real Puerto Galera so
she said, “she can tell her all
her friends”. So they told her
that there were a lot of prostitutes in Sabang and it might
not be proper for her to go
there. The locals gave a sigh
of relief when she calmly said
there are “pampams” every-
where.
Off to Sabang they go,
stopping at Atlantis then in a
bar in front of Pink Panther
Disco.
It was a treat to have the
President in Puerto Galera. It
would have been great if she
would have been able to help
us with our problems.
She made several promises
and if she plans to keep them,
it would be historic.
Another rare Sabang underwater wedding
There are many things extraordinary in Puerto Galera
especially when one speaks
of nature. But a wedding in
Sabang is a welcome addition
to the list of extraordinary.
Octopus Divers hosted
another underwater wedding
starring a Japanese couple
who brought with them their
friends and families to witness
their unusual union.
Macmac of Octopus
divers played the role of “the
priest” complete with a white
robe and shark fin above his
head. The bride and the
groom and Father Macmac
immersed underwater and performed the ceremony as their
diving buddies filmed the
event.
It was a rare event, happy
and full of meaning especially
as far as the new couple were
concerned. The tourism officials should take note of
events like this. It brings more
attention to our number one
industry in Puerto Galera and
everything about it is refreshingly positive. Hopefully, another underwater wedding in
the future will bring more interest amongst the locals and
the media.
3
EDITORIAL/PUERTO GALERA FORTNIGHTLY
4
Noe Lineses SILVER BULLET
Koreans ‘invade’ Puerto Galera
Koreans are the number one tourists in the Philippines today.
Together with the increase in tourists has been an influx of Korean residents. We could not get the actual figures from the Immigration Office and
the Department of Tourism, but one only has to look around to see the rising Korean population in the country. Over the past few years, establishments like English schools for Koreans, Korean restaurants, Korean resorts, Korean dive shops and even Korean churches have sprouted all over
the Philippines.
The reasons why there is an increasing number of Koreans in the country
are varied. These include wanting to learn to speak English and doing it in
the Philippines is cheaper; studying college here (as tertiary education is
cheaper); a lower cost of living (in some cases only the mother and children are here, the father stays in Korea to work).
Here in Puerto Galera, the Koreans are everywhere. A few days ago, a
Korean bought another resort in Sabang for a huge amount of money. They
are buying businesses left and right, engaging even in undertakings normally
exclusive to Filipinos, like the girlie bars in Sabang. They own some of the
best resorts in the area.
Some Koreans have been helpful to local schools, donating millions of
pesos worth of materials and even giving teachers an all-expense holiday
trip to Korea.
But not all Koreans who landed in our shores are generous and civicminded.
There are many who like to remain invisible, by keeping themselves to
their own kind, avoiding interaction with other nationalities even with the
host community.
There are many meeting where you won’t see them participating, sending Filipino employees to represent them, even in meetings directly affecting their business.
The Korean tourists that flock to Puerto Galera are always a welcome
sight to behold. However most of them stay only at Korean-owned resorts
and those that stayed elsewhere have most often than not left with negative
comments from the resorts. They are known to be the most kuripot (stingy).
The Koreans need to be more visible; their growing influence directly
proportional to their thriving business demands more involvement in the
community. It would not be good to all if they remain as “outsiders”.
The Puerto Galera Fortnightly Journal
Published by PGOL Printing Press Telefax: 043-287-3101
Website: www.puertogalera.org E-mail: info@puertogalera.org
Melody C. Lineses - Publisher
Help Us Help Puerto Galera, www.puertogalera.org
A Korean has been showering Minolo elementary school
with donations easily amounting to hundreds of thousands
of pesos. Mr. Lee Gi Tae earlier
gave the school 5 sets of desktop computers, 6 pianos, and
electric fans in all classrooms, a
hi-fi sound system, a 50-inch
LCD TV and laptop computers
to all the teachers.
He gave each pupil a complete set of school uniform, bag
and school supplies. He also
paid for the repair and improvement of the school.
Not much is known about
the Korean whom the pupils
fondly call Mr. Lee. It is said
that he had been frequenting
Puerto Galera and had been helping schools in the Philippines.
He was introduced to the Minolo
teachers by Maristela Cereza,
the school’s canteen keeper and
an acquaintance of Mr. Lee. The
Korean visited the school and
came back with the donations.
His latest gift to the school
is a 6-day Korean vacation for
the Minolo school teachers and
the canteen keeper, all expenses
paid. The teachers will be leaving for Korea on November 27
and be back December 2.
Mrs. Maylene Montero, preschool teacher, Marcelina
Villanueva, grade one teacher,
Pelagia Pumida, grade two
teacher, Ginalyn Magnaye,
grade three teacher, Emely
Magbuhos, grade four teacher,
Elvie Lucila Sandoval, grade five
teacher, Marilou Tapel, grade
six teacher and Amelia Cataquis,
head teacher, Maristela Cereza,
the school’s canteen keeper, will
head to Korea thanks to Mr. Lee.
HK studes help Tabinay school
I got a call from a friend who
owns a resort in Big Lalaguna
to cover an event in Tabinay.
There were a group of students
from a classy school in
Hongkong who came to Puerto
Galera to help paint the elementary school in Tabinay.
When we arrived at the
school, the students were
huddled in a classroom, getting
tips from the teachers on how
to apply the paint. At first
glance, we noticed that the students were no ordinary students
from a government school. The
teachers told us that the school
fees would reach hundreds of
thousands of pesos in one year.
They came during the semestral
break, a vacation for grade
school students and thus, only
the principal of Tabinay school
was present to convey thanks
to the students who brought all
the materials and tools to do the
job which would amount in pesos quite considerably.
We were told that the students baked cakes and sold
them to raise funds for the
project and that they will raise
more funds to bring more
projects to Tabinay elementary
school. As we took photos
while they smother the patio
with bright paint, we were
struck by the generosity and
irony of it all.
When the grade school pupils returned to school, they saw
a freshly painted building courtesy of students they never saw
from a country 800 miles away.
Here even if the students bake
hundreds of cakes, the proceeds could buy them enough
paint for 1 classroom only. The
same number of cake sold in an
exclusive school in Hongkong
can paint an entire school.
Puerto Galera compared to
other municipalities is lucky to
be chosen as the recipient of
many charitable deeds from Filipinos and foreigners from all
over the world.
“For the discriminating traveler, desiring
and deserving the very best...
at very reasonable prices.”
Puerto Galera’s only beach front
Italian-Spanish condominium and resort hotel.
Portofino is the Asia home of “Huevos Rancheros” –
Famous throughout the Western Pacific.
C.
YA
CH
Korean pours aids to Minolo
N
PU
RA
TO GALE
R
E
NOVEMBER 1-15, 2009
T CLUB, I
Bar & Restaurant, Friday Evening Grand B-B-Q
Dinghy Hire, Sail Training,
Sailing Regattas, Small Boat Storage
Puerto Galera Yacht Club
Web: www.pgyc.org Phone: 043-442-0136
Small La Laguna Beach, Sabang
Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro
5203 Philippines
Tel/Fax: +63 (43) 287-3227
E-mail: resort@portofino.com.ph
NOVEMBER 1-15, 2009
COMMUNITY FORUM
5
Spared from Typhoon Ondoy Friday’s Puerto Galera
by: Josepina D. De Leon, Teacher III - ISMS
Ciao Italia is a welcome addition to Puerto Galera’s tourist
industry. This Italian Restaurant is on a hill overlooking
White Beach.
The owner, Mario Umberto
Mori, had managed several Italian restaurants in Manila. A fellow Italian brought him to
White Beach and he immediately fell in love with Puerto
Galera. A year later he became
the new owner of a restaurant,
now called Ciao Italia.
Ciao Italia serves genuine
Italian cuisine with imported ingredients to ensure the best
quality for its customers. They
also have imported wines, pizza
as big as 14 inches, pasta and
more importantly, you get the
best view of White Beach.
***
There was a mammoth
crowd that went to the Mayor’s
birthday last November 3 where
speaker after speaker gave kudos and pledged support for the
re-election bid of the young
Mayor.
Prior to the Mayor’s birthday party, a healing mass celebrated by Father Fernando
Suarez, a world renowned Filipino priest who had been instrumental for numerous miraculous
healing. The mass was held in
the morning and thousands
jampacked the municipal gym
where Father Suarez lay hands
on all those that came.
While the good priest was
praying for healing, several
people went on stage to proclaim that they have been
healed. One young man who
could not walk was later seen
walking and crying in gratitude.
Father Suarez goes around
the world 3 times to celebrate
healing masses. Mayor Dolor
invited him to come and Puerto
Galera is fortunate to have gotten the oppurtunity during the
Mayor’s birthday for one healing mass.
Father Fernando Suarez
Father Suarez said that he
hope he can return one more
time to help the people of Puerto
Galera.
Father Suarez is busy raising funds for his mission to
erect one of the biggest monument in the world known as
Mary, Mother of the Poor.
Ordained at the age of 35,
Fr. Suarez belongs to the Companions of the Cross, a Canadian-based congregation
founded in the 1980s. His superiors quickly became aware of
his gift and set him free to reach
out to the world.
"I am the only one who was
assigned to go worldwide so
soon after ordination," he told
members of Manila media sometime ago.
His gift of healing first became known abroad and only
later in The Philippines. But, the
humble priest says he is just a
channel for God's healing power,
adding he treats everybody as
the same and without partiality.
Fr. Suarez established the
Mary Mother of the Poor Healing Ministry, which now feeds
more than 2,000 students daily,
and sponsors hundreds of poor
families, seniors, scholars, and
seminarians in the depressed
areas of the country.
***
Josephine Ringholm of
Sabang Hill Resort also celebrated her birthday recently.
Josephine treated her
guests to a seafoods feast while
a popular local band played
good music.
Ondoy is now regarded as
one of the worst natural disasters in recent history. Manila
was gravely hit with floodwaters rising above houses, isolating communties and hampering rescue efforts. We all saw
the pain and sufferings of victims on TV with experts saying it will take years to recover.
Puerto Galera is lucky as
we only experienced strong
winds and heavy rain during
the typhoon. In Manila, thousands were left homeless and
nearly 500 loss their lives. The
damage to both government
infrastructures and private
properties amount to billions
of pesos.
Environmentalists are
pointing to global warming and
the destruction of forests as
contributing heavily to the calamitous floods that swept all
throughout mainland Luzon.
Yes, we are witnessing perilous changes in our climate
with deadly droughts in one
part of the world and devastating floods in another.
What is lamentable is the
fact that even with clear warnings, man continue to destroy
the environment. Man at
present stand guilty for the 7
deadly sins against nature deforestation, depletion of the
ozone layer, global warming,
soil erosion, garbage and
waste, air pollution and loss of
TARPAULIN
PANAFLEX
POSTERS
BROCHURES
We accept
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CALL:
043-2873101
Fishermen’s Cove
*Diving Center*Italian Restaurant*
Beach Resort, Diving, Canyoning,
Hiking, Mountain Bike,
Kayak, Trekking, Beach
& Island Hopping
Portolan Giuseppe
0917-365-2559
Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines
Tel/Fax No.: 0063 043 2873257 Tel No.: 0063 917 533 2985
E-mail: info@fishermenscove.com Website: fishermenscove.com
bio-diversity or extinction of
species.
Over the last few decades,
very large areas of natural habitat, once rich in plants and animal life have disappeared under buildings, roads and farms.
Modern farming methodswith
large fields, intensive use of
pesticides do not give many
wild flowers a chance to survive. Some of the natural habitats are disappearing fast and
constant effort is needed to
conserve what is left. Otherwise they may deteriorate so
much that they become unsuitable for species that depend on
them for survival.
Here in Puerto Galera, there
are still reports of illegal logging even though the government had been strictly and
strongly campaiging to protect
the remaining rainforest of
Puerto Galera.
The rainforest helps in preventing floods, that will not
only destroy lives and properties but the subsequent pollution will kill our abundant marine life which is one reason for
our thriving tourism.
We must have a change of
heart and have a reassessment
of our values. As we modernize and develop we must bear
in mind that there are fundamentals, these include, human
dignity, patrimony of our
people and the environment.
branch, to be or not to be
by Noe Lineses
Last May, a press release
was issued announcing the
opening of a Puerto Galera
branch of Friday’s Boracay
Beach Resort. The report said
that the new Friday’s will open
next year with the first 18 rooms
ready before December 2010.
“The Fridays Boquete
Beach at Puerto Galera was designed to have 75 rooms, with
spa and idyllic carefree resort
features, and most importantly,
conforming to indigenous design and environmentally
blended architecture, once
fully completed at end 2010”,
says the report.
An inquiry with the municipal government, however, resulted negative: no one has
heard of Fridays Puerto Galera.
Officials said that no one has
approached them or had even
inquired on the construction of
the resort and all the necessary
documents to be tendered.
In a meeting of the Puerto
Galera Most Beautiful Bays
Club, prominent residents have
voiced concerns on the possible environmental effects of
a large resort inside the bay.
The Puerto Galera Bay is recognized as one of the most
beautiful bays in the world.
There are also several Presidential Decrees to protect and
preserve its natural beauty.
Friday’s Boracay is owned
and developed by Boulevard
Holdings Inc. which is reportedly controlled by the Panlilio
family. BHI estimates the employment of 220 people for
Friday’s Puerto Galera, tourism
being deemed as an alternative
to help fight unemployment in
the country. With this, BHI
Chairman, Jose Marcel Panlilio
said, “Resort developers like
us and many others, for as
long as they continue to do
sensible and environmentally
blended resorts and resort
destination infrastructure,
while getting their economic
payback, will help the country
ease its way out of the global
slump and temporary tourism
decline.”
Observers say that the
Locsin Family which had consistently been fighting to preserve the natural allure of the
bay might oppose the Panlilio
resort. If this happen, battle between the millionaires is in the
offing.
The Panlilios will also have
to contend with laws, ordinances as well as declarations
by municipal officials which
hinder any development inside
the bay.
In 1998, municipal officials,
business leaders and prominent
residents signed an ecotourism
manifesto to conserve, preserve
and protect Puerto Galera Bay.
puertodegalera.com
Online Community Forum for Visitors and Residents of Puerto Galera
Rafael’s Rare Chord’s Bar
Western End, Sabang Beach Cell No. 0919-262-0179
Fastfood/ Reasonable price on drinks all the time
130 degree water view
Large selection of music
TV for sporting events
Pool 8 Ball Competition 3:00PM Sunday (maximum 16)
1st 1200p 2nd 600p 3rd & 4th 200 Prizes pro rata on number entrys’s
6
PUERTO GALERA FORTNIGHTLY
Kilalanin si Atty. Estee M. Aceron na
nagpahayag ng pagtakbo bilang
Kongresista ng Unang Distrito sa 2010
¨ Valedictorian Elementary Holy Infant Academy, 1986
¨ Valedictorian HighSchool Holy Infanct Academy, 1990
¨ President of the Student Council. She fought till she succeeded to have
a school paper. Thus, she became the first Editor-in chief of “Waves”.
¨ Gerry Roxas Leadership Awardee
¨ Dean’s Lister BS Botany , University of Santo Tomas.
¨ University Scholar, University of Santo Tomas. Miss Biochem-Botany, 1st
Runner up. Miss College of Pharmacy, UST, First Place
¨ Miss University of Santo Tomas, 2nd runner up
¨ Graduated in San Beda College of Law in 1998
¨ Passed the Bar with the rating 83.10
Got the highest number of votes as city councilor, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro; Got the
highest number of votes as Board Member; Got
the highest votes difference as Vice-Governor
(103,000 votes difference) in 2007; The youngest Vice-Governor of the Province, the second
female Vice-Governor.
Authored Child and Welfare Code of Calapan
City; Co-authored Environmental Code of
Calapan City; She initiated one of the firsts in
the country, PAPERLESS session at the
Sangguniang Panlalawigan to save trees, time
and money.
She is the FIRST MINDORENO to be a
guest speaker at the Helena Benitez Global Forum held at the UNITED NATIONS, New York,
May 2008. She studied at the Kennedy School
of Government, HARVARD UNIVERSITY,
Massachussetts, USA, “Innovations in Governance”. She was a scholar at the Executive Education at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public
Policy, National University of Singapore on
“Healthcare Policy and Management”
She is THE FIRST in the Region (Region
IV-B) to be given Sandugo Award for her Blood
Donation Advocacy. She is also the first in the
Region to receive the same Award from the National Level, DOH. She advocated for the creation of the Oriental Mindoro Provincial Blood
Council. She wrote and sung the song, “Dugo
Ko, Buhay Mo” (for blood donation advocacy), “Servants’ Prayer” (Song for Public Servants), among others. She was given a special
award by the DOH for her song, “Dugo Ko,
Buhay Mo” and the song became the national
themesong of DOH on its blood donation program.
Although she is the youngest President of
the Rotary Club of Downtown Calapan (RY
2006-2007), she was given the Most Outstanding President’s Award by RI District 3820 and
the club received 12 awards--the highest number of awards received by the Club. For her
achievements, she was invited as a guest
speaker at Rotary Club of Woodland Hills, California.
She is the brainchild of COOPERATIVE
CONGRESS in Oriental Mindoro; She is at
present the LVGP (League of the Vice-Governors of the Philippines)’ REPRESENTATIVE
to CONGRESS.
She plays badminton, bowling, golf. She’s
into target shooting, boxing, singing, ballroom
dancing, and songwriting; She plays the drums
as well.
NOVEMBER 1-15, 2009
PUERTO GALERA FORTNIGHTLY
NOVEMBER 1-15, 2009
7
Soma ng punumbayan, tagumpay na nabigyang daan
July 08, 2009, matagumpay
na naidaos ang ikalawang State
of the Municipality Address o
SOMA ng minamahal na Ama
ng Malaparaisong Dalampasigang bayan ng Puerto
Galera na si Hon. Mayor
Hubbert Christopher “MD”
Dolor na dinaluhan ng
napakaraming tao mula sa iba’t
ibang sector na nananatiling
sumusuporta sa magagandang
layunin at adhikain ng
punumbayan na walang tigil na
nagsusumikap at nagsusulong
ng “Isang Bagong Puerto
Galera!”.
Ang nasabing SOMA ng
Punumbayan ay isa na namang
pangyayaring umugit ng
kasaysayan sa ating bayan ng
Puerto Galera. Ang program ay
sinimulan sa isang panalangin
at sinundan ng pagkanta ng
National Anthem na pawang
ginampanan ng mga piling
empleyado ng pamahalaang
bayan. Nagbigay rin ng Inspi-
rational Message para sa
Punumbayan sina Hon. Councilor Policarpio Lopez, Hon.
Councilor Virleo Persia at Hon.
Councilor Graciela Magbuhos.
Kabilang din si Hon. ABC President Eleno Candava sa mga
nagbigay ng mensahe sa
punumbayan
bilang
pagpapahayag ng kanilang
taos pusong pagsuporta sa
mga programa at proyekto ni
Mayor MD.
Nang dumating ang
sandaling pinakahihintay ng
lahat, ang pag-uulat ng
Punumbayan ng kanyang mga
natapos na programa at
proyekto para sa taong
kasalukuyan, matamang nakinig
ang lahat habang pinanonood
sa big screen ang isang
napakagandang presentasyon
ng kanyang mga programa,
proyektong pangkaunlaran,
mga adhikain at mga award na
kanyang nakamit bilang isang
huwarang Punumbayan na
Tagumpay ng Kaaldawan ’09 hindi napantayan
Isinulat ni Julie Ann Ola, Rising Puerto Galera
Sa kabila ng mga balakid at
ilang sitwasyong nagtangkang
humadlang sa mabuting
hangarin ng ating Punumbayan
para sa pag-alala sa araw ng mga
Katutubong Mangyan, ay
matagumpay pa ring nairaos ang
pagdiriwang ng 11th Kaaldawan
Iraya Festival na may temang
“Mapagkalingang Dampi sa
mga Mangyan” na ginanap
noong ika-12 ng Oktubre, 2009
sa Sitio Talipanan, Barangay
Aninuan.
Sinimulan ang selebrasyon
sa pagdaraos ng isang Banal na
Misa sa pamumuno ni Father
Jojo at siya rin ang nagbigay ng
maka-antig damdaming homilya.
Ang unang bahagi ng
pagdiriwang ay ang pagbibigay
ng kasiyahan sa mga kabataang
katutubo sa pamamagitan ng
mga palaro katulad ng pabitin
at pagpalo sa palayok na
naglalaman ng mga kendi at
pera.
Ang ikalawang bahagi ng
selebrasyon ay ang programang
inihanda na tinampukan ng mga
piling katutubong mag-aaral at
maging ng mga estudyante mula
sa Central Elementary School,
PGA, PGNHS at MDTTC. Si
Councilor Raffy Cataquis ang
nag emcee sa naturang programa. Bilang suporta sa
napakagandang mga adhikain at
layunin ng Punumbayan ukol sa
kapakanan ng mga katutubong
Iraya Mangyan, ay nagbigay ng
kanyang opening remarks si
Brgy. Captain Gloria Bunquin.
Nagbigay rin ng mensahe ang
Punumbayan para sa mga
katutubo at maging sa mga
panauhing dumalo sa nasabing
pagdiriwang.
Isang sorpresa naman ang
handog ng ina ng ating
Punumbayan na si DepEd Superintendent Estrelita A. Dolor
sa mga katutubo. Walang
pagsidlan ng kaligayahan ang
mga katutubo lalo’t higit ang
kabataang Iraya ng masaksihan
ang mga pakwelang gimik ng
Mascott na si Jollibbee at ng
Magician na kasama ni Gng.
Dolor bilang natatanging
I got wrecked at
handog sa kaarawan ng mga
katutubong Iraya Mangyan.
Patuloy ang mga palabas
habang ipinamimigay ang
inihandang pananghalian ng
mga empleyado na kung saan
ay pinangunahan ni Mayor MD
at ng kanyang maybahay na si
Dra. Elizabeth Dolor ang
pamimigay ng pagkain sa mga
katutubo at sa mga panauhing
dumalo sa pagdiriwang.
Ang huling bahagi ng
programa ay ang pamimigay ng
mga relief goods, mga
donasyong damit, sapatos at
mga laruan sa mga katutubo na
pinangunahan din ni Mayor at
ng mga masisipag na
empleyado ng munisipyo.
ayon kay Mayor MD ay hindi
nya makakamit kung wala ang
patuloy na pagsuporta ng mga
mamamayan ng Malaparaisong
Dalampasigang Bayan ng
Puerto Galera! Sa SOMA ding
ito ay ipinagmamalaking
inihayag ng Punumbayan na sa
kasalukuyan ang bayan ng
Puerto Galera ay isa nang “First
Class Municipality” mula sa
pagiging 3 rd Class sa
napakatagal nang panahon. At
ayon sa kanya, patuloy siyang
mangangarap at hindi malayong
sa banda roon, ang ating bayan
ay hindi imposibleng maging isa
nang siyudad. Ito ay patunay
lamang na ang ating
Punumbayan ay hindi tumitigil
mangarap para sa ating
minamahal na bayan, at batid
nating lahat na hindi niya ito
mabibigyang katuparan kung
hindi natin siya sasamahang
mangarap na buuin ang “isang
bagong Puerto Galera!”
(Isinulat ni Julie Ann Ola)
Crissia, Ms. Oriental Mindoro...
pagtatanghal ng mga kandidata,
tinawag na ang limang finalist,
Ms. Victoria, Ms. Calapan City,
Ms. Baco, Ms. Bulalacao at Ms.
Puerto Galera. Ang 2nd Runnerup ay ang Ms. Calapan City,
siya rin ang Best in Talent; Ms.
Victoria naman ang 1st Runnerup. Ms. Oriental Mindoro
MAHALTA 2009 ay nakamit
naman ng Ms. Baco at ang Ms.
Bulalacao naman ang siyang
naging Ms. Oriental Mindoro
Tourism 2009; at ang nagwagi
bilang Ms. Oriental Mindoro
2009 ay si Ms. Crissia Del
Atienza, ang Ms. Puerto Galera.
Nakamit rin niya ang Best in
Swimsuit, Best in Production
Outfit at 1 st Runner-up sa
Evening Gown. Napalukso sa
tuwa si Mayor Dolor sapagkat
talaga namang kitang kita sa
mga ginawa ni Ms. Crissia Del
na siya ang tatanghaling Ms.
Oriental Mindoro 2009. Ang ina
na si Gng. Delia Atienza at mga
kamag-anak ni Ms. Puerto Galera
ay halos napaiyak sa tuwa. Si
Konsehal Raffy Cataquis at Mr.
Nonoy Brucal, mga advisers ni
Ms. Crissia Del ay napalukso
din sa tuwa. Nagbunyi ang mga
taga-suporta ni Ms. Crissia Del.
Masayang nagsi-uwi ang mga
taga-Puerto Galera dala-dala ang
tagumpay na nakamit ng Ms.
Puerto Galera, Ms. Crissia Del
A. Atienza, ang bagong Ms.
Oriental Mindoro 2009.
www.asiadivers.com
Since 1983
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Sabang Beach, Puerto Galera
Tels. (043) 287-3071 / 0973 496 691
Mobile: 0917 540 4570
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Manila Contact:
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International Food
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Hot And Cold Water
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El Galleon Beach Resort / Asia Divers
Small La Laguna Beach, Puerto Galera,
Oriental Mindoro, 5203 Philippines
Email contact: admin@asiadivers.com
Phone: (+63) 917-8145107 Tel/Fax: (+63) 43 287-3205
Isang panayam kay Noe Lineses
Volume 4 No. 16
November 1-15, 2009
Crissia itinanghal bilang
bagong Ms Oriental Mindoro
ni Macneil M. Malapitan
November 13, araw ng Biyernes ng
ganapin ang final at coronation ng
search para sa Ms. Oriental Mindoro
2009 sa Gymnasium ng Jose J. Leido,
Jr. Memorial National High School sa
Calapan City.
Ika-6 ng hapon ng araw na iyon ay
halos puno na ang Gymnasium ng
LEMNAHIS sa dami ng tao na nais
makapanood ng finals ng Ms. Oriental
Mindoro. Ang mga manonood ay
galing pa sa iba’t ibang bayan na todo
suporta sa kanilang mga kandidata.
Nang magsimula na ang paglabas ng
mga kandidata sa kanilang kasuotang
pang-production, napuno ng sigawan
at palakpak ang gymnasium, halos ay
hindi na marinig ang sinasabi ng mga
emcee. Lalong tumindi ang sigawan at
palakpak ng muling lumabas ang mga
kandidata sa kasuotang swimsuit, na
kung saan lumitaw ang tunay na hubog
ng kanilang katawan.
Naging tampok na bahagi sa
nasabing search ay ang pag-uusap sa
entablado ng mga kandidata kasama
ng mga Mayors o Tourism Officers ng
bawat bayan upang bigyang daan na
makilala ang kanilang bayan
salarangan ng turismo. Si Ms. Crissia
Del Atienza ang unang nakipag-dialogue sa butihing Mayor ng Puerto
Galera, Hon. Hubbert Dolor.
Makabuluhan ang kanilang naging
paguusap, bagama’t kinulang sila ng
oras.
Matapos
ang
mahabang
>>> sa pahina 7
Bagong kooperatiba binubuo
Nasa proseso ngayon ng
pagbubuo ng isang kooperatiba ng
pautang (credit cooperative) ang mga
dating naglingkod sa bayan sa 13
barangay ng Puerto Galera.
Nagkaisa ang mga dating lingkod
na magkaroon ng kooperatiba upang
matulungan ang mga kasapi nito na
hangad umutang ng puhunan sa
mababang interes at mabilis na paraan.
Nagsimula ang plano para sa
bagong koop matapos magbigay ng 1
milyong piso na tulong pinansyal si
Senadora Loren Legarda sa hiling ni
dating Congressman Ato Leviste para
ayudahan ang mga dating opisyal ng
pamahalaan.
Ang pera ay hahatiin sa 8 bayan sa
unang distrito ng Oriental Mindoro at
tatanggap ang bawat bayan ng 125,000
pesos. Bukod dito marami rin ang
nagpahayag na tutulong sa bagong
kooperatiba.
Si ex-Kapitana Dhora Lorin ng
Tabinay ang nahalal na pangulo.
Sa mga interesado na sumali, meron
na membership fee na 100 pesos at
saping puhunan na 1250 pesos na
babayaran loob ng 1 taon. Kapag ito
ay nabayaran, pwede na umutang.
Ang koop ay nagme-meeting kada
15 at 30 ng bawat buwan sa Angel
Wings Restaurant sa harap ng bahay
ni ex-Konsehal Noe Lineses.
Si Noe Lineses ay ipinanganak at
lumaki sa Puerto Galera, anak ni Ka
Pabling Lineses, na kilalang
mangagamot at naglingkod bilang OIC
Mayor ng Puerto Galera.
Nag-aral siya sa Pamantasan ng
Pilipinas at naging lider ng isang
organisasyong ng mga kabataan ng
Oriental Mindoro noong 1992. Noong
taon ding yaon siya ay naging No. 1
Councilor at humawak ng mga
mabibigat na komitiba ng Sangguniang
Bayan.
Hanggang
sa
ngayon
nakikinabang ang Puerto Galera sa mga
ordinansang isa siya sa may-akda.
1.Ordinansa na nagsasa-ayos ng
patubig (1994).
2.Ordinansa para sa mga tricycle
(TFRC).
3.Ordinansa para sa mga yate
(Mooring Block Ordinance).
4.Ordinansa nag-sasaayos ng
trapiko sa Poblacion.
5.Ordinansa para magkaroon ng
Opisina ng Turismo.
Ngayon siya ay isang manunulat
at me mga negosyong me relasyon sa
mga bagong teknolohiya at turismo.
Kahit hindi na siya konsehal, tumulong
siya para isulat ang 2 sa mga
mahahalagang ordinansa ng bayan.
1.Ordinansa para sa mga Videoke
Bars ni Konsehala Minda Justiniano.
Isang ordinansa para mabigyan ng
mga tamang regulasyon ang
negosyong Videoke Bar matapos ang
sunod-sunod na kaguluhang nangyari
sa Poblacion.
2.Ordinansa para sa BMBE ni
Konsehal Danny Enriquez. Isang
ordinansa na tutulong ng malaki sa mga
maliliit na negosyante subalit
hanggang sa ngayon ay konti lang ang
may alam at hindi pinakikinabangan sa
bayan natin.
Tinanong namin siya sa kanyang
mga pananaw sa ibat-ibang isyu ng
bayan.
T: Meron ba tayo magagawa para
i-kontrol ang presyo ng bilihin?
S: Limitado ang magagawa natin sa
ilalim ng batas subalit ako ay
naniniwala na pwedeng tulungan ng
pamahalaan ang mga negosyante
upang mapababa ang kanilang
gastusin sa pag-angkat ng mga
pangunahing produkto at sa ganun ay
mapababa ang presyo ng bilihin.
Naniniwala rin ako sa “power” ng
kooperatiba na napatunayan sa
maraming lugar na epektibong
solusyon sa pag-kontrol sa presyo ng
bilihin.
T: Paano natin papaunlarin ang
turismo?
Ang turismo ang “lifeblood” ng
bayang ito. Ang problema ng turismo
ay hindi kayang resolbahin ng
pamahalaan lamang subalit ang
pamahalaan ang dapat manguna sa pagresolba ng mga problema ng turismo
natin. Magsagawa ng malawakang
plano na kung saan magkaroon tayo ng
“honest-to-goodness assessment”
kung ano ang meron tayo at ano ang
wala tayo. Alam nating lahat na
maganda ang bayan natin subalit
dumarating pa rin ang panahon ng taghirap, low season na matagal pa sa high
season. Naniniwala ako na sa tamang
pagplaplano at pagkakaisa ng lahat ay
mawawala ang low season, dadagsa ang
turista, sisigla ang negosyo at
manganganak ng maraming trabaho.
Naniniwala ako na pinakamalaki ang
papel ng Sangguniang Bayan sa
kaunlaran ng turismo natin sa dahilan
na ito ang may kapangyarihang
magtakda ng mga polisiya at batas,
mag-takda ng tamang budget para sa
promotion at development ng turismo
at agad na tumugon sa mga
problemang may kaugnayan sa
industriya.
T: Ano ang papel ng kabataan sa
ating bayan?
S: Ika nga ng isang presidentiable,
“ang kabataan ay hindi lamang pagasa ng bayan, dapat siya maasahan na
ng bayan”. Kapansin-pansin na marami
sa ating mga kabataan ay walang pakialam sa nangyayari sa kanilang
kapaligiran. Bigyan natin ng papel at
hikayatin natin ang mga kabataan na
tumulong sa pagpapa-unlad sa bayan
natin. Huwag nating sabihin na ang
kabataan ay para sa isports lamang
manapay kaakibat dapat sila sa mga
plano para sa bayan ng Puerto Galera.
T: Paano mapapangalagaan ang
kapakanan ng mga katutubo?
S: Marami ng batas na ginawa para
mapangalagaan ang kapakanan ng mga
katutubo subalit dapat gumawa ng
mga ordinansa na magbibigay ngipin
laban sa pang-aabuso sa mga kapatid
nating Mangyan. Naniniwala rin ako
na dapat araling mabuti ang karanasan
sa Cordillera at Mountain Province na
kung saan naging magandang
hanapbuhay ang pagpapakita ng
kultura ng mga katutubo sa mga turista.
T: Ano ang masasabi mo sa
pagiging First Class Municipality
natin?
S: Dapat nating i-congratulate ang
bawat isa sa pagiging First Class ng
bayan natin. Naniniwala ako na dahil
First Class na tayo ay dapat maging
First Class din ang serbisyo ng
pamahalaan natin. At sa palagay ko
ay nasa tamang daan ang tinatahak
natin. Hindi madali ang posisyon ng
mga namumuno sa atin, napakaraming
puna at batikos na maririnig at
ipupukol. Naniniwala ako na ang
isang lider ay dapat i-welcome ang
lahat ng puna at hikayatin ang lahat
na tumulong sa paglutas ng mga
problema ng bayan.
Napakaraming hamon na dapat
nating tugunan. Nandyan ang hamon
ng kahirapan, kawalan ng trabaho at
sobrang taas ng presyo ng mga bilihin.
Nandyan ang hamon ng kalikasan, ang
pagkalbo sa ating rainforest, ang
malawakang kamangmangan sa
kahalagahan at relasyon ng kapaligiran
sa turismo natin. Nandyan ang hamon
sa kultura at kaluluwa ng ating bayan,
ang kawalang pahalaga sa natatanging
kasaysayan ng bayan natin at ang
pagiging materialistic na unti-unting
bumubura sa ating kinagisnang
kultura.
Napakalaki ng papel ng
Sangguniang Bayan sa pag-sulong o
sa pag-atras ng ating bayan.
Napakaraming ordinansa na dapat
gawin, baguhin at limbagin. Kung ang
Mayor ang may hawak ng timon, ang
mga konsehal ang mga tripulante na
katulong upang makarating sa
matiwasay na pampang ang barkong
sinasakyan nating lahat.