Vol 4 No 20.pmd
Transcription
Vol 4 No 20.pmd
P 8.00 VOLUME 4 NUMBER 20 FRI - SAT JULY 2 - 3, 2010 ‘Magtrabaho tayo S bilang 1 pamilya’ (Talumpati ni Gov. Lilila “Baby” Pineda sa kaniyang inagurasyon noong Hunyo 30, 2010 sa Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center) A ATING mga congresista, Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales, at Ana York Bondoc, sa ating bise gobernador Joseller Yeng Guiao, sa mga board members, mga mayor ng bawat bayan, bise mayor at mga konsehal, sa kanilang mga pamilya at sa ating mga minamahal na kalalawigan isang magandang hapon ng bagong simula sa ating sa ating lahat. PAGE 7 PLEASE ‘GHOST EMPLOYEES’ UNDER BLUEBOY 108 workers take care of 100 pigs BY JOEY PAVIA ANGELES CITY – At least 108 job order (JOs) employees were hired by former mayor Francis “Blueboy” Nepomuceno for a project in 2010 in- volving the propagation and disbursement of 100 piglets, which Mayor Edgardo “Ed” Pamintuan said “many of them are ghost employees.” “100 piglets are being PAGE 8 PLEASE ALL SMILES. Rep. Arroyo and Gov. Pineda during their inauguration in the City of San Fernando. PHOTO COURTESY OF RIC GONZALES AGYU TAMU! To rise yet again (Inaugural speech of Mayor Edgardo D. Pamintuan on July 1, 2010 at the Angeles City Hall) MULA SA AKING PUSO, sa ngalan ng aking mga mahal sa buhay, nais kong magpasalamat sa inyong lahat – sa inyong muling pagpapahayag ng pagsuporta sa akin, upang muling pamunuan at pangasiwaan ang ating mahal na siyudad ng Angeles. Ang aking tagumpay ay inyong tagumpay! There are so many individuals and groups whom I wish to thank. But in order that I will not commit the injustice of missing some names, let me just thank you all. Maraming-maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat. The overwhelming victory you have given me is most humbling. The margin of victory, according to local political pundits, has PAGE 6 PLEASE BAPTISM OF FIRE. Pamintuan at his first-ever face-off with the local media as Angeles City mayor. Beside him is Vice Mayor Vicky VegaCabigting. PHOTO BY JOEY PAVIA Tetangco-Yap murders still unsolved But probers find another fatal bullet BY DING CERVANTES BIG, HAPPY FAMILY. Morales takes oath before Judge Balderama. With the mayor are members of his family, including wife Niña Manipon and Dau Barangay Captain Atlas Morales. PHOTO COURTESY OF RIC GONZALES ‘More classrooms in Mabalacat’ –Boking BY JOEY PAVIA MABALACAT, Pampanga – “More classrooms and better health service for the people.” Thus said Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales in his inaugural speech on Thursday at the jampacked covered court of Xevera-Mabalacat North here. Morales disclosed that he will construct a new three-storey building at the Mabalacat Community College (MCC) in Barangay Dolores, the first-ever public college in the province run by a local government unit (LGU). “I want to prove to you that you were not wrong in making me win again,” said Morales. He won via landslide in the recent elections against three oppo- nents, including his won daughter Marjorie Morales-Sambo. “Politics is over and we need to do our respective job,” added Morales. The 59-year-old mayor disclosed that he will work hand in hand with Gov. Lilia “Baby” Pineda to improve the health care service in the first class municipality. Morales vowed to provide “necessary hospital equipments” at the Mabalacat District Hospital (MDH) which is now under construction. Morales acknowledged his supporters for giving him “a convincing win.” He also thanked his family, including his wife Nina Manipon who stood beside him as Judge Magdalena Balderama administered his oath-taking. Edwil Carillo, president of the Association of Barangay Secretaries of Mabalacat (ABSM), said he and 26 members urged Morales to continue the development and progress in the first class municipality. “Many good developments, especially infrastructure projects, in the town. Several new businesses as well,” said Carillo, secretary of San Francisco Barangay Captain Marcelino “Boy” Cruz. But some residents who attended the inauguration urged Morales to clamp down on crimes affecting the growth and progress here. They were referring to the series of unsolved robberies and murders cases in Barangays Dau, Sta Ines and San Francisco. ANGELES CITY – Still without any suspect exactly a month today since the murder of a brother of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) governor and two others here, the police task force tasked to solve the case has backtracked its probe to the day of the crime to find yet another M-16 bullet that killed one of the victims. Senior Supt. Wendy Rosario, head of Task Force Tetangco-Yap, told Punto that despite testimonies from 25 persons queried by the police, probers have yet to identify suspects in the killing of Rena Tetangco, brother of BSP governor Amando Tetangco, businessman Florencio Yap and Yap’s aide Dennis Guinto. Their bullet riddled bodies were found inside Yap’s Ford Expedition van abandoned on a vacant lot in Barangay Pampanga here last June 2. In a text message, Rosario said he ordered his men to back track their investigation to the day of murder by asking personnel from Ford car company to scrutinize the Expedition van in the hope that this would yield more physical evidence. Ecija officials take oath before Corona PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • JULY 2 - 3, 2010 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY BY ARMAND GALANG 2 “We hired experts from Ford who removed the carpets and seat covers. This enabled Scene of the Crime Operations (SOCO) probers to recover another slug of M16 embedded in the seat where victim Guinto was seated,” he said. When found, the body of Guinto was crouched on the floor of the vehicle’s back compartment. “My theory is that that bullet was the one that killed Guinto,” Rosario said. Rosario lamented that despite a reward of P400,000 offered by the police to anyone who had information that could identify the suspects in the killing, “there has been no significant development” in the case. “Twenty five individuals were invited (by the police) and they voluntarily gave their statements. But their statements have not pointed to any suspect,” he said. Among those who had given statements were former Bacolor Mayor Romeo Dungca and former provincial board member Dinan Labung., The victims were on their way to play poker with them at Kinbg’s Poker and Sports Club here, but they were killed on their way. CABANATUAN CITY – Unlike in neighboring provinces, the oath taking rites of Nueva Ecija’s top officials lacked funfare and party. This as re-elected Gov. Aurelio Umali, along with his wife, reelected Rep. Czarina Umali of the 3rd district, Vice Gov. Gay Padiernos and Board Member Anthony Umali took their oath before Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona at the Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday. Umali said he chose Corona to administer his oath to manifest “respect to the judiciary” which is one of the three branches of the government. But back in Nueva Ecija, Umali said he would also take oath before an executive official and a legislator. “This is not an inaugural because this is not my first,” Umali said. He added that he was sworn into office by some officials of the three branches during his first term. “In 2007, I also took my oath before then-Chief Justice Reynato Puno,” he said. Most of the local officials who won in the nation’s first automated elections took their oath before municipal and regional trial court judges, it was learned. Padiernos said they are planning a mass oath-taking with other provincial officials. Metro Clark area cited as ICT Center of Excellence CLARK FREEPORT – Stakeholders of the Metro Clark area are expecting more Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and Information and Communications Technology-related investments to be poured into the periphery of the Clark Freeport after it was cited with the ICT Center of Excellence award. The Business Process Association of the Philippines (BPAP), Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) conferred the award to Clark Development Corporation (CDC) President Benigno N. Ricafort during the 2010 Recognition Night of the Top Ten Next Wave Cities held June 22 at the Cebu Sports Club Ballroom. Ricafort said the awards night is the culmination of a year-long process of screening and research spearheaded by BPAP, the country’s leading association of ICT contemporaries led by its president, Oscar Sanez, CICT the cyber services group of the PAGE 8 PLEASE CIAC board asks Ombudsman to probe scrap scandal at DMIA CLARK FREEPORT – The board of directors of the Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) approved yesterday a resolution urging the Office of the Ombudsman to probe the demolition of 17 buildings within the Clark aviation complex. CIAC chairman Nestor Mangio also said in an interview here that the resolution also asked for a probe on the allegedly missing P20 million raised from the buildings’ scraps purportedly meant for donations to Aeta tribal folk. The board also issued a resolution asking CIAC president and chief executive officer Victor Jose Luciano to go on leave during the investigation to be conducted by the Ombudsman. “He told me, however, that he had already filed his resignation addressed to Pres. Aquino,” said Mangio, while noting that Luciano’s resignation could not affect the pending Ombudsman probe. Mangio said that the Ombudsman could file a case before the Sandiganbayan should its fact-finding team confirm alleged anomalies in the demolition controversy. Earlier, the CIAC board’s fact finding committee came out with a recommendation to “at the very least a reprimand” Luciano over the controversies on the demolished buildings. Mangio cited contractors as estimating that the scraps from the demolished buildings were worth some P33.5 million, amid a claim from an “intermediary” of the Aetas that only P13 million went to the tribal folk. Luciano, who authorized the demolition of 17 unused buildings here, claimed the fact-finding committee “did not follow due process” before it came out with its final report submitted to the CIAC board. Earlier, scrap dealer Josie Gomez, who acted as intermediary between Aetas led by chieftain Oscar Dizon and buyers of scrap, said she raised P9.5 million from the sale of scraps from only 11 buildings. She claimed to have used P4.5 million of this amount for a day care center construction and jetmatic pumps in Aeta villages in Bamban Tarlac, while the rest she gave in cash to Aetas on installment basis since the demolitions started last year. Gomez said that even earlier, she sold scraps worth P3.5 million from two other buildings for the benefit of a group of Aetas under Oscar Rivera, head of the Bamban Aeta Tribal Association (BATA). Rivera, however, insisted he got only P15,000 and 100 sacks of rice from her. Another supposed beneficiary was Aeta Catalino Saplala who requested Malacanang for the use of two of the unused buildings. He said, however, that he was surprised when told by one Roger from the CIAC that the two buildings he requested for HAPPY HOST. CIAC President and CEO Luciano (right) enjoys a conversation with members of a Hong Kong travel agency group (seated) which recently toured Clark and Subic Freeports during a farewell dinner at the Holiday Inn-Clark. With him are CIAC marketing manager Sammy Daswani and Noemi Garcia, Clark Development Corp. tourism and promotions office manager. PHOTO BY JOEY PAVIA was already demolished and had a buyer of scraps. He said he got only P50,000 from the deal. The CIAC committee report also noted that Luciano failed to give “complete accounting of all the proceeds of the sale of the 17 buildings demolished.” It also noted that the demolished buildings still had “commercial Alvarado, his wife Marivic and members of their family at the governor’s inauguration at the Bulacan Capitol. PHOTO BY DINO BALABO IN FIRST 100-DAYS Alvarado vows to crush corruption at Bulacan capitol BY DINO BALABO MALOLOS CITY—Bulacan governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado vowed to crush corruption in the provincial government and stop all destructive mining after he took oath yesterday at the capitol gymnasium here. He also vowed to rehabilitate the Marilao-MeycauayanObando River which has been included in the list of 30 dirti- est places in the world in 2007, and urged all local officials in the province to practice austerity measures by stopping all politically inclined projects. Alvarado also assured that no provincial government employee will be remove yet but since he has been the vice governor of the province for three years, he noted that he knows who really work for the benefit of the Bulakenyos. “I will crush corruption in the provincial government in my first 100-days in office,” Alvarado said in Filipino during his inaugural speech. His pronouncement was cheered by thousands of Bulakenyos who witnessed his oath office as the 31st governor of Bulacan since General Gregorio Del Pilar was appointed civil and military governor of PAGE 8 PLEASE value” and were “economically repairable.” Despite this, however, the CIAC board admitted that the “matrix” of the CIAC on the powers of Luciano to donate is silent on limitations on donations. Luciano insisted he did not violate the circular of the DBM on donations which, he noted, covers only government agen- cies with funds from the general appropriations. He, however, admitted that COA rulings might have been violated. He also said that the Mangio committee’s estimate of the value of the scrap materials was largely “guesswork” and that he did not have any idea of their worth when he approved the demolitions. MABALACAT, Pampanga – The Japanese embassy has debunked reports that skeletons of Filipinos dug up from local graves are being passed off as remains of Japanese soldiers who died in the Philippines during World War II. In a letter to Punto, Motohiko Kato, minister and deputy chief of mission of the Japanese embassy, also said that the Japanese government is not paying for the remains of the Japanese soldiers, contrary to reports that a Tokyo based syndicate has been paying P1,000 per set of skeletons from Filipino graves. “For the collected remains of Japanese soldiers in the Philippines, we respect the legal procedure in the Philippines,” Kato said, noting that officials from the National Museum have been actively participating in locating and identifying remains of Japanese soldiers. Kato was reacting to an allegation of Japanese businessman Koji Nakamura who informed Mabalacat, Pampanga tourism officer Guy Hilbero that a group he identified as Ken Tai has allegedly been purchasing skeletons, including those belonging to deceased Filipinos, for P‘1,000 per set. Hilbero is known for promoting Philippine-Japan friendship and was one of the founders of the Kamikaze shrine in his town where the Kamikaze suicide squad of the Japanese imperial forces was founded during the last war. Nakamura expressed doubt on the authenticity of some 7,000 skeletons already reportedly forwarded by the group to Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. But Kato said that “in our understanding, Kuentai, whose activities are under the guidance of the Japanese government, has never bought the collected bones.” “The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan has requested Kuentai, a non profit organization to assist the government of Japan for the retrieval of bones in the Philippines in the Japanese fiscal year 2009 and 2010, from April 2009 to March 2010,” Kato said. Kato stressed that “the Japanese government has undertaken the verification of bones in the most careful manner in close cooperation with the Philippine government.” “Please note that the procedures have been developed as a result of various collected remains from collectors or informants (are) duly notarized. Comments or advices are rePAGE 8 PLEASE Skeletons belong to Filipinos, not Japanese soldiers PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • JULY 2 - 3, 2010 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY BY DING CERVANTES 3 Editorial Opinion Green, indeed, is SM PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • JULY 2 - 3, 2010 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY BLUE IS the color of SM. From its iconic logo to its magnificent edifices. Green, however, is the core value of SM. Environmentalism as much preached as practiced in all the SM malls. Beyond sheer corporate social responsibility, the care for the environment is a culture long inhered in SM. It was SM that introduce the regular recycling fair at its malls, where still usable scraps, from paper and cardboard to plastics, overused tires and discarded batteries, and some other junk, are taken in exchange for some cash from dealers. SM it was too that pioneered the no-plastic-bagday at its supermarkets and department store, and came out with the usable shopping bag, so artfully designed by foremost artist Baldemor. Yeah, good enough for even the most discriminating fashionista to tote. The annual Earth Hour – when for an hour all lights are turned off to save energy, to lessen the fossil-fuel impact on Mother Earth – is ever one defining moment at SM. Now, in the wake of the success of the Green Film Festival simultaneously held in 32 malls last Feburary 10, SM is expanding its green campaign among students, aiming to reach out to at least one million students by December 2010. The SM Supermalls 2010 Green Film Festival runs the academic circuit with eye-opening documentary films that picture the true state of the environment. Free of charge, but of course. To run every third Monday and Tuesday of the month, from June till December, the festival aims to promote sustainability among the youth and the community and is a part of the “SM Cares” program for the environment. In Pampanga, SM City Pampanga and SM City Clark in cooperation with the Department of Education’s Adopt-a-School Program have partnered in this endeavor for the youth’s awareness on pressing environmental issues. SM reported that on the first screening month at SM City Pampanga, some 900 students from Dominican High School, ICT High School, City College, Basic Thoughts, Northville Integrated High School, San Lorenzo Ruiz Center of Studies and Schools and St. Scholastica’s Academy watched the environmental films that included State of the Planet, Planet Earth, and The 11th Hour. Another 400 students from J.F. Kuzma and Angeles City National High School viewed the films at SM City Clark. A green youth for a greener world, SM’s initiatives are a hedge for the future of Mother Earth. 4 EDGAR V. MOVIDO Founder LLL Trimedia Coordinators Publisher General Manager Atty. Gener C. Endona Editor Joey R. Aguilar Editorial Consultant Caesar “Bong” Lacson Marketing Manager Joanna Niña V. Cordero Administrative Staff Ma. Teresa U. Villanueva Layout Dondie B. Ventura Circulation Gilbert Mendoza 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•1416 e-mail address: puntogitnangluzon@yahoo.com pdf file at http://www.punto.com.ph Punto! Central Luzon is a proud member of The Philippine Press Institute Inaugural bytes acaesar.blogspot.com Zona Libre Bong Z. Lacson ”WE OBSERVE today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom—symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning—signifying renewal, as well as change… …For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe—the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God… … Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans—born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage—and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this Nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world. Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty… Soaring eloquence. Stirring rhetorics. Lofty ideals. John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address has long served as a benchmark, nay, the very template of presidential inaugural speeches. Thus, the unabashed paraphrase of it by Bill Clinton:Today we celebrate the mystery of American renewal… …Today, a generation raised in the shadows of the Cold War assumes new responsibilities in a world warmed by the sunshine of freedom but threatened still by ancient hatreds and new plagues... …Today, we do more than celebrate America; we rededicate ourselves to the very idea of America. An idea born in revolution and renewed through two centuries of challenge. An idea tempered by the knowledge that, but for fate, we—the fortunate and the unfortunate—might have been each other. An idea ennobled by the faith that our nation can summon from its myriad diversity the deepest measure of unity. An idea infused with the conviction that America’s long heroic journey must go forever upward… Thus, Barack Obama’s rise to the challenge of greatness: …At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we the people have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents. So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.… That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a farreaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age… …Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America, they will be met… …On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord… On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics… As eloquent were Philippine presidential inaugural addresses. Thus, Manuel Luis Quezon’s at the time of the Philippine Commonwealth era: The event which is now taking place in our midst transcends in importance the mere induction into office of your Chief Executive. We are bringing into being a new nation. We are seeing the fruition of our age-old striving for liberty. We are witnessing the final stage in the fulfillment of the noblest undertaking ever attempted by any nation in its dealing with a subject people. And how well this task has been performed is attested to by the blessing which from fourteen million people goes to America in this solemn hour… As we enter the threshold of independent nationhood, let us pause for a moment to pay tribute to the memory of Rizal and Bonifacio and all the heroes of our sacred cause in grateful acknowledgment of their patriotic devotion and supreme sacrifice. Fellow countrymen: The government which we are inaugurating today is only a means to an end. It is an instrumentality placed in our hands to prepare ourselves fully for the responsibilities of complete independence. It is essential that this last step be taken with full consciousness of its significance and the great opportunities that it affords to us. Under the Commonwealth, our life may not be one of ease and comfort, but rather of hardship and sacrifice. We shall face the problems which lie in our path, sparing neither time nor effort in solving them. We shall build a government that will be just, honest, efficient, and strong so that the foundations of the coming Republic may be firm and enduring — a government, indeed, that must satisfy not only the passing needs of the hour but also the exacting demands of the future. We do not have to tear down the existing institutions in order to give way to a statelier structure. There will be no violent changes from the established order of things, except such as may be absolutely necessary to carry into effect the innovations contemplated by the Constitution… …In the enormous task of fully preparing ourselves for independence we shall be beset with serious difficulties, but we will resolutely march forward. I appeal to your patriotism and summon your nobility of heart so that we may, united in the common endeavor, once more dedicate ourselves to the realization of our national destiny. I face the future with hope and fortitude, certain that God never abandons a people who ever follows His unerring and guiding Hand. May He give me light, strength, and courage evermore that I may not falter in the hour of service to my people! Thus the Great Ferdinand Edralin Marcos’ Mandate of Greatness in his first inaugural: …This nation can be great again. This I have said over and over. This is my article of faith, and Divine Providence has willed that you and I can now translate this faith into deeds. I have repeatedly told you: each generation writes its own history. Our forbears have written theirs. With fortitude and excellence we must write ours. We must renew the vision of greatness for our country. This is a vision of our people rising above the routine to face formidable challenge and overcome them. It means the rigorous pursuit of excellence… …It is our people bravely determining our own future. For to make the future is the supreme act of freedom. This is a vision that all of you share for our country’s future. It is a vision, which can, and should, engage the energies of the nation. This vision must touch the deeper layers of national vitality and energy. We must awaken the hero inherent in every man. We must harness the wills and the hearts of all our people. We must find the secret chords, which turn ordinary men into heroes, mediocre fighters into champions. Not one hero alone do I ask from you – but many; nay all, I ask all of you to be heroes of our nation. Offering all our efforts to our Creator, we must derive ourselves to be great again… Lofty ideals. Stirring rhetorics. Soaring eloquence. And then, just last Wednesday… Walang lamangan, walang padrino, at walang pagnanakaw. Walang wang-wang, walang counterflow, walang tong. Thus was President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, doing his best impersonation of President Joseph Ejercito Estrada’s “Walang kama-kamaganak. Walang kumpa-kumpare.” Was it the erudite Inquirer columnist Conrado de Quiroz who said something like “from the sublime to the paralytic”? Deciphering marriage Regarding Henry Henrylito D. Tacio OKAY, God initiated the first marriage and sanctified it! The Holy Bible stated that so: “For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). In these days of crass materialism, some people marry for prestige or wealth. But, generally, a lot of people tie the nuptial knot because of love. “The need to love and be loved is the simplest of all human wants,” says Charles Galloway. “Man needs love like he needs the sun and the rain. He perishes without it. His basic longing is to be the object of love and to be able to give love. No other need is quite so significant to his nature.” Love is blind, William Shakespeare said so. “But marriage restores its sight,” Samuel Lichtenberg added. To Beverly Nichols, marriage “is a book of which the first chapter is written in poetry and the remaining chapters in prose.” Is this the reason why Filipinos are marrying less and less? The website of the National Statistics Officer reported that in 2003, some 593,553 got married. Three years, the registered marriages went down to 492,666. Whatever happened? “Marriage is an alliance entered into by a man who can’t sleep with the window shut, and a woman who can’t sleep with the window open,” George Bernard Shaw said. Rita Rudner agreed: “I love being married. It’s so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.” During courtship, the lovers are at their best. But once they get married, it’s another story. It means trouble. “Marriage is the alliance of two people, one of whom never remembers birthdays and the other never forgets them,” Ogden Nash said. Experience is the best teacher, so they say. “I never knew what real happiness was until I got married,” Max Kauffman revealed. “And by then it was too late.” He probably didn’t heed the words of Hollywood actress Zsa Zsa Gabor: “A man in love is incomplete until he has married. Then he’s finished.” A man won’t have so much fun anymore. “Do you know what it means to come home at night to a woman who’ll give you a little love, a little affection, a little tenderness?” Henny Youngman asked. “It means you’re in the wrong house, that’s what it means.” Women have different views about men. Humorist Helen Rowland thinks: “Before marriage, a man declares that he would lay down his life to serve you; after marriage, he won’t even lay down his newspaper to talk to you.” Katharine Hepburn thundered: “If you want to sacrifice the admiration of many men for the criticism of one, go ahead, get married!” To which Barbra Streisand wondered, “Why does a woman work ten years to change a man’s habits and then complain that he’s not the man she married?” (Trivia: The two Hollywood actresses tied winning the Best Actress Oscar in 1968 when Hepburn was handpicked for her tour de force performance in The Lion In Winter and Streisand for her film debut in Funny Girl.) Ideas of husbands and wives differ when it comes to their spouse. “Women hope men will change after marriage but they don’t; men hope women won’t change but they do.” That was what Bettina Arndt wrote in 1986’s Private Lives. Fortunately, there are marriages made in heaven. “Success in marriage does not come merely through finding the right mate, but through being the right mate.” So said Barnett R. Brickner. “I have learned that only two things are necessary to keep one’s wife happy,” American president Lyndon B. Johnson disclosed. “First, let her think she’s having her own way. And second, let her have it.” Marriage counselor James C. Dobson offers this advice: “Don’t marry the person you think you can live with; marry only the individual you think you can’t live without.” In 19966’s The Second Neurotic’s Notebook, Mignon McLaughlin wrote: “A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.” More advices. “What counts in making a happy marriage is not so much how compatible you are, but how you deal with incompatibility,” George Levinger pointed out. Jerry McCant believes “you can never be happily married to another until you get a divorce from yourself. Successful marriage demands a certain death to self.” Remember the movie War of the Roses? Marriage should not be that way. Listen to the advice of Ogden Nash: “To keep your marriage brimming, with love in the loving cup: Whenever you’re wrong, admit it; whenever you’re right, shut up.” “Chains do not hold a marriage together,” French actress Simone Signoret bared. “It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads which sew people together through the years.” Doug Larson is even more direct: “More marriages might survive if the partners realized that sometimes the better comes after the worse.” In United States and other industrialized countries, divorce is defined as the past tense of marriage. “In every marriage more than a week old, there are grounds for divorce,” Robert Anderson wrote in Solitaire and Double Solitaire. “The trick is to find, and continue to find, grounds for marriage.” Finding happiness in marriage? Go ahead! “All marriages are happy,” Raymond Hull declared. “It’s the living together afterward that causes all the trouble.” Nathaniel Hawthorne has this idea: “What a happy and holy fashion it is that those who love one another should rest on the same pillow.” Despite all the differences, the troubles, and the pain of marriage, people still get married. George MacDonald one simple reason: “One of the good things that come of a true marriage is that there is one face on which changes come without your seeing them; or rather there is one face which you can still see the same, through all the shadows which years have gathered upon it.” Napaguusapan lang Ni Felix M. Garcia Utang ng City Hall ang pamana kay Edpam ni Blueboy? KUNG ‘millions of pesos’ ang iniwang utang Ng ‘outgoing mayor’ kay Ed Pamintuan, Nangangahulugan na ang pinalitan Ay naging bulagsak sa pera ng bayan O kumbaga sa isang ama ng tahanan Ay baka may bisyong di dapat tularan Kung kaya nabaon sa pagkaka-utang Ang dati ay sagana sa kabuhayan? Di ko sinasabing di naging mabuti Ang pamalakad ng butihing Alkalde, Pero di malayong mali ang diskarte Ng ex-mayor kaya ganyan ang nangyari. ‘Allocated’ na ang lahat ng bayarin Ng city hall para sa isang ‘fiscal year,’ Kasama r’yan pati na ang ‘electric bill’ At iba pa nitong legal na gastusin; Gaya ng para sa serbisyo publiko, Partikular na ang sahod ng empleado; Kaya’t papaanong nagkautang ito Ng ‘millions’ gayong may ‘budget’ para rito? At di lamang yata utang sa kuryente Itong hinayaan din nilang lumaki, Kundi maging sa tapunan nila pati Ng basura’y tila mas lalong malaki! At kung saan bunsod ng di pagbabayad Ni Blueboy, sa naging atraso ng siyudad, Umabot sa puntong isinara’t sukat Ang Kalangitan Landfill sa Capas, Tarlac Para mapilitan ang ‘city government’ Upang bayaran ang sitenta milyones Na pagkaka-utang ng siyudad Angeles Sa tapunan nga ng bagay na ‘unwanted’. At tumataginting na daang milyones Ang posibleng maging utang ng Angeles Kung di pumasok sa eksena si Ka Ed At si Blueboy itong nakapag-’reelect’ Pagkat di malayong lalong mababaon Sa utang ang siyudad sa kamay ni Blueboy Kung siya’y nabigyan pa ng pagkakataon Na maupong muli bilang isang Mayor. Dahil imbes proyektong pagkakitaan Ng siyudad ang bigyan ng prayoridad n’yan Ay baka pamuling magpapatayo yan Ng kung anong hindi pakikinabangan; Na kagaya nitong aniya’y Sports Complex Na inaakala niyang magpapanhik Ng kuwarta sa kabang-bayan ng Angeles, Gayong inutang lang din nila ang ‘budget’ For comments, write me at henrytacio@gmail.com Na ang halaga ay halos isang bilyon Para ipatayo ang kagaya nitong Proyektong baka ni isang daang milyon Ay di kikitain n’yan sa sampung taon; Kaya suma-total, baka ni interes Ng halagang yan ay hindi maibalik, Sa kabang-bayan ng ‘City of the Angels’ Sakali’t matuloy man ang Sports Complex. Di po ba malaking kahihiyan itong Pati serbisyo ng kuryente’y maputol, Pero haya’t pinangutang ang city hall Ng halos bilyones para sa proyektong Magarbo at wala namang katiyakan Na mababawi ang halagang naturan; Gayong may utang na marapat bayaran Sa AEC at sa ‘landfill’ na naturan? PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • JULY 2 - 3, 2010 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY Opinion 5 To rise yet again PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • JULY 2 - 3, 2010 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY FROM PAGE 1 6 been the biggest so far in the recent history of mayoral contests in Angeles City. I interpret this victory as an expression not only of confidence on me, but on your desire for change and better governance for our beloved city. My only wish is that you continue to support and guide me and my team, to be able to confront the enormous challenges that we now face; to be able to prevail over these challenges and bring our city back to its feet, and to finally breach the threshold to become one of the country’s premier cities. My friends, I cannot do this alone, without your help. I recall that when I first aspired, and succeeded, to be the mayor of the city in 1991, I was fully aware of the great difficulties that I had to face. Out city then was in a state of severe devastation, a desolate and ruined city buried in ash and lahar from the wrath of Mount Pinatubo, one of the most violent volcanic eruptions in the world in recent history. The memories of that devastation are still fresh among all of us, and I need not recall the horror and the anxiety that we all had to go through during those times. The important thing, and this we should always relive and relish, was that we prevailed. Our battle cry then was Agyu Tamu! And we did just that. We have risen from the ashes, like the Phoenix bird. And we proceeded to outperform all the previous records of our city, when Pinatubo has not yet erupted and when the American air force base was still at Clark. WHEN I ASPIRED AGAIN as mayor of Angeles City last May 10 – an aspiration you have overwhelmingly supported – I knew that I shall again be facing difficult challenges. I knew that the city was in dire straits, and it was precisely because of these challenges that I answered to our people’s clamor for change and better governance. Thus, I can now assure you that electrical power will not be cut off in city hall again. Noong ako po ay kumandidato, sa tingin ko po ay alam ko na ang mga problema ng ating siyudad – at noon pa man ay pinaghandaan ko na ang mga hakbanging dapat kong gawin. But my friends, when I won and when I cut short the euphoria of my comrades in the campaign and ordered them to buckle down to work; when we started to look at the facts, figures and documents that my transition team dug up — because the former administration formed rather late its counterpart transition team to ensure smooth turn-over — that was when the reality about the true state of our city began to sink in. And we were shocked. My friends, a lesser politician would dwell on the shock value of the findings that we unearthed. Certainly, these findings would make good sound bites and headlines, but I choose to be magnanimous at this point. However, magnanimity ends where justice should begin to prevail. WHAT IS IMPORTANT at this point, my friends, is how we start all over again. Ang higit na mahalaga po ay kung papaano natin harapin at iigpawan ang mga hamong ito. Ang dapat pagtuunan ng pansin ay kung papaano natin ibalik ang sigla ng ating mahal na syudad – sa ekonomya nito, sa larangan ng pagbibigay serbisyo, sa pangangalaga sa kapaligiran at kulutra, at sa marami pang iba. During the campaign, Team “Agyu Tamu” presented to you a covenant — a Contract with Angelenos — an 8-point program that outlines the priorities of my administration from the short-term, medium-term to the end of my term. I believe that it was because of the program, more than the personal charisma of my team, that you elected us to office. I am assuring you that we shall implement and stay the course of the program that we committed to. The Contract with Angelenos cover the following program areas: education, good governance, environment, the economy and poverty alleviation, social services delivery, transparency in policy and physical improvement of public markets, peace and order and capability-building and upgrading of our barangays. To be able to do all this, there are certain realities – and they say, reality bites – that we have to immediately tackle during the first 100 days of our administration. We need to swallow bitter pills, to purge out the toxins from our system. FIRST in the order, city hall needs to tighten its belt. Tightening our belts is a “term of endearment,” the softest metaphor that I could use to illustrate the condition of our city coffers. The city treasury is practically empty. We have inherited a debt amounting to P812 million representing a loan from the Philippine Veterans’ Bank. Of this, P600 million was supposedly for the construction of a sports complex, a project whose propriety we have questioned. And to think that this does not include the P47 million for unpaid garbage fees and the P18 million that we owe to Angeles Electric Corp. In this regard, we need to improve on our revenue generation and collection and curb graft and corruption related to the collection of taxes and levies, without passing the burden to our people in the form of increased and new taxes. I have ordered for the identification of revenue streams by reviewing and strictly implementing the provisions of our city tax code. We shall immediately do a systems audit to determine the efficiency of our revenue generation measures. Also, we need to improve and automate our financial and revenue generation systems, which we can only do so if our budgetary capabilities allow it. My position on this matter, however, is firm – automate or bust. Nakakalungkot pong malaman na talung-talo pa tayo ng San Fernando, Pampanga – na kabagobago lang pong maging siyudad – sa paglikom ng buwis. SECOND, we need to reorganize, to trim off the fat and the blubber of the city bureaucracy that caused it to plod heavily in delivering the much needed services to our people. Would you believe, the city maintains about 3,000 job order employees, some of whom are paid up to P900 a day. At an average pay of P6,000 a month, these JOs alone cost the city government a whooping P21 million a month in payroll, over and above the salaries of regular, contractual and casual employees of city hall. I want a lean, mean and highly professional administration. Most of these JOs would have to go, many of them are “ghost employees” anyway. And those who are found to have perpetrated and benefited from this crude way of fleecing the city coffers would also have to go. THIRD, we need to rationalize our priorities and streamline the programs of the city government. My transition team, even without the cooperation of the non-existent transition team of the outgoing administration, has discovered startling redundancies in the programs implemented by the previous administration. There are many programs that we have to do away with. Allow me to cite an example, just for you to realize the importance of these three points, and I promise not to comment on it. I just would like to state the facts. The previous administration implemented a program called “Women in Agriculture.” The program had a budget of P10 million a year. Under the program, training and seminars were supposedly undertaken. Also, 100 piglets were dispersed to 100 women beneficiaries. To administer the program, the following job order employees were hired: 20 administrative assistants, 25 farm technicians, 25 assistant farm technicians, 23 farm workers, and 15 utility drivers – for a total of 108 people. Now, if we compute the cost per piglet vis-à-vis the total budget of P10 million, that would mean that each of the 100 piglets dispersed cost P100,000. Gaya ng nasabi ko, ayaw kong magkomen- Angeles City First Lady Miniang Pamintuan (R) with celebrities Gino Padilla and Maui Taylor at the Mayor’s office. Both artists performed during the Tigtigan, Terakan at the City Hall compound after the inauguration of Mayor Pamintuan. PHOTO BY JOEY PAVIA taryo kaugnay sa nasabing proyekto. Sasabihin ko na lang sa inyo ang reaksyon ng kaibigan ko at dating konsehal Alex Cauguiran nang nakita namin ang detalye ng programang “Women in Agriculture.” “Diyos ko po…!” sigaw ni Alex. Other items that I noticed in the 2010 city budget are allocations of P5 million for the Office of the Mayor and P2 million each for the City Administrator and the city information officer for the purchase of vehicles. Ironically, the former administration donated and gave away 27 almost brand new vehicles to a few barangay captains and even an NGO group, right after the May 10 elections. I do not like to believe that this was a deliberate attempt to disable the incoming administration. We are now resorting to legal remedies to retrieve these assets. Now the FOURTH thing that we must do immediately is to implement and deliver basic services to our people, notwithstanding the mess we have to fix up. The first thing that we shall immediately do starting today, July 1, is to clear the mountain of garbage that has been irresponsibly dumped at the Pampang compound of the Department of Public Services (DPS), which is very near the city public market and a hospital, and may cause the spread of diseases. We all know that the previous administration owes about P63 million in garbage disposal fees, which constrained the sanitary landfill and hauling operators to stop their services. As a result, garbage is strewn all over. In this regard, we have negotiated with the landfill operators, and they agreed to resume services starting today, as we work on solutions to the huge debts incurred by the city. I have also personally appealed to the good sense of responsible and civic-minded citizens and business establishments that own dump trucks to allow us the use of their facilities for at least a month at very minimal cost to the city, just to rid our city of the garbage and the stink. I am happy to report that many responded to our plea. For a more permanent solution to the problem, and as a matter of policy, my administration shall foster collective responsibility among our communities, households and business establishments on waste disposal. Our battle cry shall be: “Basurang nakakalat, responsibilidad nating lahat.” We shall enlist the participation of the communities, individual households and business establishments on the issue of waste disposal. If your recall the “Pala mo, Buhay ko” project that we undertook during the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, we shall summon the spirit that drove us then, and harness it again to collectively resolve our problems, including that of garbage disposal. We shall institute discipline on waste disposal, and reward those who adhere to such discipline. Traffic management is also one area which we must focus on immediately. The chaos in the streets must be reined. I have already enlisted the help of experts who shall give their services for free to the city, to be able to rationalize and improve our traffic systems. CONSISTENT WITH my covenant with the Angelenos, I shall also focus on the following: 1. To work on establishing Angeles City as the “Education Capital for Central Luzon.” We already have a good number of education institutions in our city. We shall aim for the establishment of the Angeles City College, which shall offer specialized courses and degrees that shall respond to the professional needs of the emerging mega-logistics hub within the Clark-Subic Corridor. 2. Active engagement with the youth as partners to good governance and development. We shall set up a Youth Bureau under the Office of the Mayor, which shall work to develop and harness the energies of the youth to production and creative endeavors. 3. Upgrading of the facilities and expansion of the capabilities of the Ospital Ning Angeles. In my recent trips to the United States, I have touched base with Filipino-American groups and personalities who are just too willing to help with regards to health services, and provision of health and hospital facilities, at no cost to the city government. Prominent among them is a cabalen, Mr. George Samson, president and CEO of the World Medical Relief based in Michigan. Mr. Samson has brought into the country about $180 million worth of medicines and health equipment since 1993. Mr. Samson, who is a friend, recently visited Angeles and toured ONA. Immediately, he adopted the expansion and modernization of ONA as a personal project, which has won the support of his organization. Before the end of this year, I shall go to the United States to personally receive the first batch of hospital equipment that Mr. Samson has arranged for us. 4. We shall aggressively cultivate and develop a business-friendly environment for the city, particularly among tourism oriented investments and establishments. Tourism appears to be the industry for Angeles City that we must build on. But we need to improve on the image of our city as a tourist destination. In relation to this, we shall radically transform the otherwise honky-tonk district of Fields Avenue into a more wholesome tourism area. We are also in the midst of consultations with model and successful local governments with end in view of putting together the “best practices” of these LGUs in the areas of social services delivery, efficiency in tax collection NEXT PAGE PLEASE ‘Magtrabaho tayo bilang 1 pamilya’ Una gusto kong ipaabot ang pagbati sa lahat ng mga bagong halal nating mga opisyal ng lalawigan, distrito at bayan ng Pampanga. Gusto ko ring ipaabot sa lahat ng aking mga kalalawigan ang taos pusong pasasalamat sa tiwala na ipinagkaloob ninyo na pamunuhan ang ating lalawigan sa susunod na tatlong taon. Bagamat wala akong degree sa kolehiyo na maipagmamalaki sa lahat subalit ako’y isinilang sa isang simpleng pamilya dito sa lalawigan ng Pampanga at naglingkod sa mahabang panahon bilang mayor at board member nakita ko ang tunay na kalagayan ng ating mga kalalawigan. Sa panahon na nawala ako sa mundo ng politika sa nakalipas na tatlong taon ipinagpatuloy ko ang pagsisilbi sa ating mga kababayan lalo na sa mga maysakit at dahil doon, nakita ko ang tunay nilang kalagayan kayat naipangako ko sa aking sarili na pag nabigyan ako ng pagkakataon at ngayon nga ay naibigay na, isa sa mga paguukulan ko ng pansin ang larangan ng kalusugan sa ating lalawigan. Sa aking paniwala ang isang kaunlaran ay nagsisimula sa isang malusog na mamamayan. Pipilitin nating matugunan ang pangangailangan ng ating mga kalalawigang maysakit kayat asahan po ang pagtutok ko sa mga pampublikong pagamutan natin. Maliban sa kalusugan gusto ko ring pagtuunan ng pansin ang edukasyon lalo na ang mga kabataan na gustong makapag-aral subalit walang kakayahan na tustusan ang pangangailangan. Bibigyan natin ng pansin ang ating mga pampublikong paaralan kayat asahan po ninyo na personal akong bibisita sa mga susunod na araw sa ating mga paaralan upang makita ang tunay nilang kalagayan, hindi lamang sa mga silid aralan nila kundi pati ang kanilang silid aklatan at mga palikuran na malaki ang epekto sa kanilang pag-aaral at kalusugan. Limang araw po bago ang ating panunumpa ay nabigyan ako ng pagkakataon kasama si Bise Gobernador Yeng Guiao upang makipagusap sa mga negosyante ng Pampanga, at doon po ay hiningi namin ang kanilang suporta sa aking administrasyon upang mapalago ang ekonomiya ng ating lalawigan. Ang makapagbigay ng karagdagang hanapbuhay upang unti-unting maibsan ang kahirapan, kayat ngayon ay hinihingi ko ang kooperasyon ng ating mga namumuno simula sa ating mga barangay captain na sana ay magkaroon tayo ng impormasyon ng bawat nasasakupan ninyo at malaman natin kung sa paanong paraan natin sila matutulungan at mapagsisilbihan. Hihikayatin natin ang mga negosyante sa ating lalawigan, subalit ang pamumuhunan ay lalago lamang kung meron tayong tahimik at payapang lalawigan kayat sa tulong ng ating PNP o kapulisan ay bibigyan natin ng pansin ang peace and order dito sa ating lalawigan. Sa nakalipas na mga taon ay nakita po natin ang pag-unlad ng ating mga tulay at kalsada na nagbigay ng malaking daan ng pag-unlad sa ating lalawigan kaya’t gusto po nating ipaabot ang pasasalamat sa ating dating Pangulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at sa ating mga kongresista at mga alkalde. Umaasa po ako na higit na uunlad ngayon ang ating lalawigan sa tulong niya at ng iba nating mga kongresista at mga negosyante. Alam ko rin pong tayo’y tutulungan ng ating bagong Pangulo Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III pagkat kaisa po nya tayo sa adhikain nyang paangatin ang bayan. Tiyak ko pong ipagpapatuloy ni Pangulong Noynoy ang pagsuporta sa ating lalawigan kayat hinihingi ko rin po na sana’y suportahan natin ang kanyang pamumuno bilang presidente ng ating bansa. Ang Pampanga po ay 70% na agrikultural na la- lawigan kaya’t sa atin pong magsasaka sisikapin po nating matugunan at matulungan sila sa abot ng ating makakaya upang mapaunlad ang pagsasaka. Napakarami pa po ng mga plano ko para sa pag-unlad ng ating lalawigan subalit hindi ko po ito kakayaning mag-isa, kaya’t hinihingi ko po ang suporta ng bawat isa sa inyo. Sa mga empleyado ng ating kapitolyo, sana’y tulungan nyo ako na makapagbigay ng magandang serbisyo sa ating mga mamamayan, magtrabaho po tayo bilang isang pamilya na may kooperasyon at malasakit sa bawat isa. Sa ating mga kasamahan sa pamamahayag lalo na sa ating local media batid kong malaki ang maiaambag ninyo sa tagumpay ng ating administrasyon sana’y tulungan nyo akong maipabatid sa lahat ang tamang impormasyon sa ating mga kalalawigan at maipakilala sa buong bansa at sa buong mundo ang kagandahan ng Pampanga. Sa mga namumuno ng bawat sector ng pananampalataya sana po’y patuloy nyo akong gabayan at bigyan ng espiritual na lakas upang laging pagkaisahin ang ating mga nasasakupan. Sa ating mga barangay officials, bagamat nalalapit na ang susunod ninyong halalan, sana’y wag muna nating pagtuunan ng pansin ang pamumulitika, tulungan muna ninyo ako sa pagsisimula ng ating administrasyon, kailangan ko kayo upang maging daan na mailapit ko ang serbisyo ng kapitolyo sa bawat barangay, bigyan po natin ng taos pusong serbisyo ang ating mga kabarangay. Sa ating dating Gobernador Eddie Panlilio, sana po ay maibahagi pa rin ninyo ang suporta sa aking administrasyon at maraming salamat po sa serbisyong ibinigay ninyo sa ating kalalawigan. Ang susunod na tatlong taon ay isang malaking hamon tungo sa pagunlad ng Pampanga, hamon po hindi lamang para sa akin at sa mga halal nating opisyal kundi hamon sa lahat ng Kapampangan na magtulungan at gampanan ang tungkulin ng bawat isa. Malaki po ang tiwala ko sa bawat isa sa inyo and revenue generation, among many other areas. Their inputs have given us a fair idea on how to implement our programs, based on the prevailing and unique environment and conditions of Angeles City. Nais ko rin pong siguraduhin sa ating mamamayan, lalo na sa mga ordinaryong Angelenos, na ang inyong mayor ay maaari ninyong makausap, makikita at makakadaupang-palad 24/ 7, wika nga. Hindi-hindi po tayo magtatago sa inyo. Ang buong city hall, at maging ang aking tahanan, ay bukas sa inyo. (Huwag lang po ninyo ako hanapin doon sa mga magagarang bahay daw na sinabi nila noong kampanya na pagaari ko daw po. Baka po kayo ma-trespassing dahil wala po akong ibang bahay kundi yaong nasa Villa Angelina at yaong tinitirhan ng aking mga anak sa Quezon City.) WHILE THERE ARE many challenges, there are also enormous opportunities before us. If we stay together, if we set aside our animosities, if we cut off the shackles that bound us to excessive politicking, if we focus well enough, if we harden our resolve to again bring back our beloved city to its feet, if we are able to transcend our difficulties – as we have done in the past crises – there is no rea- son for us not to benefit from these opportunities. I have to salute our cabalen, former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for laying down the foundations from where we could anchor the long-term development of Angeles City. Her vision of a mega-logistics hub within the ClarkSubic Corridor is now coming to fruition, and I am very happy and honored to have been part of its development stages as chair of the Subic-Clark Development Alliance Council and as development champion of the Urban Luzon Beltway super region. The development of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, which has been an object of a fierce advocacy by me and many prominent Angelenos, is now being realized. A few days ago, we inaugurated the new passenger tubes of the DMIA terminal. Many giant local and international companies are now rushing to propose to develop the DMIA to be, finally, the premier international gateway of the country. The NLEx, the SCTEx, the Northrail are all traversing and going towards Angeles City, making the movement of people and logistics to and from and other development and growth areas in Central Luzon and Mega Manila a lot faster and easier. We foresee a boom in the immediate future, if only we sustain and nurture these at sa bawat Kapampangan, ang tagumpay po ng ating administrasyon ay nasa kamay ng bawat isa sa atin. Muli po isang magandang bagong simula sa ating lahat. Mabuhay po ang bagong Pangulong Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, mabuhay po ang Pampanga at mabuhay tayong lahat. All out support for 2nd District Rep. Arroyo are members of her family (L-R): Rep. Dato Arroyo, Luli and former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo. PHOTO BY JOEY PAVIA Vice Gov. Yeng Guiao at the press conference shortly after the mass inauguration at the the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center. With him are Gov. Pineda (center) and Senior Board Member Edna David. PHOTO COURTESY OF RIC GONZALES development infrastructure and facilities. Kailangan po maging handa tayo, mga kasama, hindi sa muling pagsabog ng bulkan at paglisan n gating mamamayan, kundi sa pagsabog ng mga oportunidad, sa pag-usbong at pagyabong ng kaunlaran at kasaganaan. Bagama’t sa ngayon ay kailangan muna nating magsakripisyo, kailangan muna natin ng walang humpay na pagpupursigi, nagsisimula nang maginat ang silahis ng kaunlaran at pag-asa, at sa ilang sandali ay mamumukadkad na. Samahan po ninyo ako. Kailangan ko po kayo. Kailangan kayo ng Angeles City. Muli po, sa kaibuturan ng aking puso, maraming salamat po sa inyong muling pagtitiwala sa akin. Sa aking mga nakatunggali, iniaalay ko ang aking kamay ng pakikipagkasundo at pakikipagtulungan. Sana po ay magtulungan tayong lahat. Ano man po ngayon ang ating mga problema, basta’t sama-sama tayo ay kaya nating lutasin at lagpasan ang mga ito. Kayang-kaya nating ibangon muli, at dalhin sa kaunlaran ang Angeles City. Abe-abe, saup-saup! Mabuhay ang mamamayan ng Angeles City! Sabay-sabay nating isigaw — Agyu tamu! Agyu tamu! Agyu tamu! Maraming salamat po! PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • JULY 2 - 3, 2010 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY FROM PAGE 1 7 Gordon: Palaganapin 108 workers take care of 100 pigs ang blood donation FROM PAGE 1 LUNGSOD NG OLONGAPO – Bilang paggunita sa taunang “Blood Donor’s Month” ay hinikayat ni Mayor James ‘’Bong” Gordon, Jr. ang mga Olongapeños na suportahan at makilahok sa Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) sa layunin nitong palaganapin ang “blood donation” sa lungsod. “This year’s ‘Blood Donor’s Month’ will again be celebrated on a national scale to create wider awareness of the need for safe blood transfusion and the importance of blood donation,” pahayag ni Mayor Gordon kaugnay sa selebrasyon ng “Blood Donor’s Month” sa buwan ng Hunyo na may temang “Young Donor’s, New Blood for the World”. Kaugnay sa nito, isang motorcade ang nakatakdang ganapin sa ika-14 ng Hulyo, 7:30 ng umaga sa Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC)-Olongapo City Chapter office, Old Hospital Road, East Tapinac. Ang motorcade ay pangungunahan ng PNRC Olongapo staff, volunteers and support groups buhat sa Olongapo City at Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBMA). Samantala, highlight rin ng selebrasyon ay ang “mass blood donation” sa ika-16 ng Hulyo sa Olongapo City Convention Center (OCCC). Ang mga sumusunod ay ang mga maaaring maging blood donors: 1.) Age: 18 to 59 years old; 2.) Weight: 50 kilos or 110 pounds; 3.) Blood pressure: 110/70-130/90, at 4.) Must have a minimum of six hours sleep. Sa pag-aaral ng mga health experts, ang blood donation ay nagbibigay ng maraming health benefits kabilang na rito ang pag-aalis ng mga sobrang “iron” na maaaring maging sanhi ng “free radical formation” sa katawan. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT THIRD JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 60 ANGELES CITY IN THE MATTER OF CORRECTION OF ENTRIES IN THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE OF MARVIN CLARK BAYKER ATIENZA, SPS. MARIO C. ATIENZA AND MA. CONSUELO D. BAYKER – ATIENZA HEREIN REPRESENTED BY THEIR ATTORNEY – IN – FACT, SOFIA BAYKER JIMENEZ, Petitioners PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • JULY 2 - 3, 2010 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY -versus- 8 SP. PROC. CASE NO. 8203 THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF MABALACAT, PAMPANGA AND NATIONAL STATISTICS OFFICE, SPS. WILSON ATIENZA AND MARIA ATIENZA AND SPS. ELIAS A. BAYKER (DECEASED) AND CARMELITA D. BAYKER, Respondents. x—————————————————————————————x AMENDED ORDER In the verified Amended Petition for Correction of Entries in the Birth Certificate of Marvin Clark Bayker Atienza filed by the Spouses Mario C. Atienza and Ma. Consuelo D. Bayker – Atienza through their representative Sofia Bayker – Jimenez, they pray that after publication and hearing, judgment be rendered directing the Local Civil Registrar of Mabalacat, Pampanga and the National Statistics Office to correct the Birth Certificate of their minor son Marvin Clark Bayker Atienza, so that the entry under Date and Place of Marriage of Parents would read as not married. The Amended Petition, being sufficient in form and substance, is hereby given due course. The Court sets the hearing of said Amended Petition on July 29, 2010 at 8:30 o’clock in the morning at Session Hall of this Court, Hall of Justice, Pulung Maragul, Angeles City, after this Order shall have been published in a newspaper of general circulation in the Province of Pampanga and Angeles City, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks at the expense of the petitioners. Notice is hereby given that anyone who objects to the Petition should file on or before the date of hearing his/her opposition thereto with a statement of his/her ground therefore. Serve copies hereof, together with copies of the Amended Petition and its annexes, upon Office of the Solicitor General at 134 Amorsolo Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City; Civil Registrar General, National Statistics Office at Edsa cor. Quezon Avenue City; Office of the City Prosecutor of Angeles City; and Office of the Local Civil Registrar of Mabalacat, Pampanga. Furnish Atty. Ronaldo P. Duro and the petitioners with copies of this Order. SO ORDERED. Angeles City, Philippines, June 4, 2010 OFELIA TUAZON PINTO Presiding Judge Punto! Central Luzon: June 25, July 2 and 9, 2010 NOTICE OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT Notice is hereby given that LETICIA OMYAN-FELDT, heir of WILLIAM NELSON FELDT who died intestate on November 13, 2009 in Angeles City, executed an Extrajudicial Settlement invoking the provision of Section 1, Rule 74 of the Rules of Court and hereby adjudicate unto herself his entire estate more particularly described as monies and deposits in the Security Bank, Balibago Branch and Bank of Commerce, Balibago Branch. Punto! Central Luzon: June 25, July 2 & 9, 2010 directly taken cared of by 50 farm technicians. How special are these pigs as there are more human beings used in the project than the animals?” said Pamintuan in an interview on Thursday. “Heads will roll,” he said when asked by reporters in a press conference on Thursday about his plan on alleged illegal transactions and anomalies in the previous administration headed by Nepomuceno. Pamintuan disclosed that Nepomuceno had allegedly maintained about 3,000 ghost employees, including those at the Women in Agriculture Program (WAP) which had a budget of P10 million derived from the funds of the Gender and Development office (GAD). In the WAP project, 25 farm technicians, 25, assistant farm technicians, 20 administrative assistants, 23 farms workers and 15 utility workers and drivers were employed for one year beginning in January 1, 2010, according to the program of work approved by Nepomuceno and prepared by his ally, former Councilor Agapito “Pitong” Del Rosario. At least P7.5 million would be used to pay the JOs employed for the WAP project. Some P1.55 million would be used to buy 100 piglets, supplies and materials and the training and seminar for the JOs and the intended beneficiaries. In the same document, P1 million or 10 percent of the total budget would be used as contingency funds. Metro Clark area cited as ICT Center... FROM PAGE 2 DTI, represented by Commissioner Monchito Ibrahim and Secretary Ray Anthony Roxas-Chua respectively. With the award, the Metro Clark area has been categorized as a prime investment destination for ICT and BPO investments. All the essential components for sustainable BPO and ICT operations are present in this zone/vicinity. “We owe this Center of Excellence Award to the unwavering support of our Metro Clark stakeholders and to the men and women who have worked hard to promote and develop Clark towards attaining its vision of becoming the preferred investment destination for IT and IT-enabled industries in the ASEAN region” Ricafort said. This is the second time that the Clark Freeport and its peripheral communities were cited by the three award-giving agencies. In December 2008, the Clark Freeport, along with Angeles City, the Municipality of Mabalacat and its barangay, Dau, were cited as one of the country’s top 10 hosts for Information Technology (IT) and BPO industries. The following year, Cyber City Teleservices, Inc. Senior Executive Vice President George D. Sorio, Sr. formed the Metro Clark ICT Council (MCICTC) and soon after chaired the newly-established National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP) which is composed of some 33 ICT Councils nationwide. The MCICTC is composed of key stakeholders from various industries: BPO firms, software, telecom, real estate, business chambers, the academe, and government sectors like the CDC, DTI, and National Economic and Development Authority. In its ICT sector alone, Ricafort said the Clark Freeport boasts of 11,172 employees with 43 investor firms. He also noted that the Clark Freeport as a whole has over 400 lo- cators employing close to 60,000 workers in various industries. The ICT sector accounts for an equivalent of US$113Million in value of BPO exported services originating from Metro Clark in 2009. Aside from the Metro Clark area, Metro Cebu was likewise cited with the Center of Excellence award. Ricafort said Metro Clark and Metro Cebu are now considered at par with Metro Manila as the leading ICT investment centers in the country. For 2010, the Top 10 Next Wave Cities are Davao, Sta. Rosa, Bacolod, Iloilo, Metro Cavite, Lipa, Cagayan de Oro, Malolos, Baguio and Dumaguete. Alvarado vows to crush corruption... FROM PAGE 3 the province in 1898. Bulakenyo’s cheer came in the light of allegations of misuse of provincial funds by previous administrations and allegations that high officials in the provincial government have been benefiting from their positions. The new governor also vowed to stop all destructive mining in the province saying that he will move heaven and earth. He said that he will asked national government agencies to temporarily withdraw permits given to all mining operators in the province until such time they have reviewed it. “Environment protection is a key ingredient not only in agriculture and food production, but by our society as well and we need to correct the mistakes that had been done before,” he said in vernacular. Alvarado also vowed to lead the rehabilitation of the Marilao-MeycauayanObando River which has been included in the “dirty 30” or list of 30 dirtiest places in the world in 2007. He said that the inclusion of the Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando Rivers in the “Dirty 30” is a symbol of misgovernnance, misadministration and lack of concern to the environment and communities surrounding it. With regards to local governance finance, he urged all local government units in the province from the city and municipal level to barangay levels to practice austerity measures. “Tigilan muna natin ang mga proyektong pasikat upang sa mga proyektong higit na makikinabang ang Bulakenyo magamit ang pondo. We must invest more on our people,’ he said. With regards to the feared dismissal of capitol employees, he said that no one will be dismissed yet. However, he said that he knows who really worked for the benefit of the Bulakenyos, compared to those who worked to benefit someone politically. A former mayor of Hagonoy town for 12 years, Alvarado served as congressman of the first district of Bulacan from 1998-2007. In 2007, he was elected Vice Governor, and defeated former Bulacan Governor Josie dela Cruz by more than 40,000 votes in the historic 2010 automated elections. Yesterday, Alvarado took oath of office along with some local officials of the province. However, it was notice- able that some local mayors in the province were conspicuously absent yesterday as they joined the oath taking ceremony last Friday led by former Governor Joselito Mendoza who has been elected as congressman of the third district of Bulacan. It was also observed that Mendoza’s partymates in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan did not participate in yesterday’s mass oath taking. There are also towns in the province which completely ignored the mass oath taking as only one of their elected councilors took part in the event. This is particularly true for the towns of Bocaue and Marilao. After the mass oath taking, Alvarado walked to the provincial capitol building then to the governor’s office with his supporters in tow. Skeletons belong to Filipinos... FROM PAGE 3 quested as necessary from local residents living in the area for a long time,” he said. Kato said that after such procedures, “authorized representatives from the national museum which is under the Office of the President of the Philippines, and members or representatives of the Japanese government missions review and ex- amine the remains.” “Thereafter the national museum representative issues a certification recognizing the collected remains as Japanese soldiers’ remains. Finally we send the said remains back to Japan with the certification,” he added. He stressed that “the Japanese government has never bought the collected remains from anyone.” “It should be recognized by the Filipino pub- lic that the Japanese government received the cooperation of the National Museum in searching for the remains of Japanese soldiers in the country,” he added. At this time of the year, the Japanese people are preparing for their annual ancestral ceremony called Bon held either in July or August which, along with the New Year’s celebration, is considered to be one of the two most important observances in Japan. During Bon ceremony, family members return to their parental homes to honor all spirits of the dead who are believed to return to their homes at that time. Japanese people are known to remember and venerate their ancestors through purification rituals that take place from the seventh to the hundredth year anniversary of their death. –Ding Cervantes Korina Sanchez, Noli De Castro out na sa ABS-CBN OUT NA MUNA si Korina Sanchez at Noli De Castro sa ABS–CBN. Mukhang doble-malas ang inabot ni Korina dahil nga natalo ang mister niyang si Mar Roxas sa vice presidency at ngayon nga, nawalan pa siya ng trabaho. Hindi rin daw kukunin si Noli Boy ngayong political lame duck na siya. Humarap sa entertainment press ang head ng News and Current Affairs ng ABS-CBN na si Maria Ressa kasama ang kanyang mga news anchors sa TV Patrol at Bandila sa isang presscon na ginanap last Monday. Ang nasabing presscon ay para sa malaking pagbabago sa naturang dalawang news programs ng network kasabay ng pagpapalit ng dating administrasyon. Aside from Ressa, naroroon sina Julius Babao, Karen Davila, Alex Santos, Henry Omaga-Diaz, Bernadette Sembrano, supervising producer Cheryl Favila and Director, Multi-Platform Strategy, Program Development and Customer Satisfaction na si Anna Rodriguez. Hindi nakarating si Ted Failon dahil may family emergency raw ito at si Ces Drillon na kasalukuyang may istoryang kino-cover. Sa nasabing presscon ay napakaraming katanungan ang nasagot at mga isyung nabigyan ng linaw. Isa na rito ay ang tanong ng bayan na kung babalik pa ba si Korina Sanchez ngayong tapos na ang eleksyon. “A good rule of thumb for us is exactly what happens in government when you run for office. You campaign, and you either don’t get the office or you resign in the process. There’s a one-year rule. I think it’s a good rule for us to take on because in the campaign, while Korina herself did not run for office, she also campaigned. It will be hard to think that she will be able to say reports on Vice President Binay. So a one-year break and we’ll assess again,” paliwanag ni Ms. Ressa. Natanong din kung totoo ba ang tsismis na babalik na rin si Kabayang Noli de Castro at say ng lady executive, “Let me put by Cesar Pambid it this way. I’m very, very happy with the anchors that we have. They work very hard to give you the news. So at this point in time, I don’t see our news anchors changing.” Isa sa mahalagang nabigyan ng linaw ng News and Current Affairs team ay ang akusasyong Aquino REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES station ang ABS-CBN at biased daw sa pagre-report during the campaign. REGIONAL TRIAL COURT “We are not an Aquino station, at least, the news,” paglilinaw ni Ms. Ressa. “People have said we’re THIRD JUDICIAL REGION biased, and I always answer back, ‘Bias is in the eyes of the beholder.’ An independent monitoring group, BRANCH 49 the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, analyzed all of the news programs of GMA-7 and ABSGUAGUA, PAMPANGA CBN during elections and they came out with a study that showed that ABS-CBN had no bias in their coverage. IN THE MATTER OF THE CORRECTION “I don’t think the way we report the news will change in the administration. We are in many instances, OF ENTRIES IN THE CERTIFICATE harder than any of our competition, because, we, even internally, we really try to push aside vested OF LIVE BIRTH OF LEONY MACASPACinterests. Our goal is to serve the Filipino people the best way possible and that means telling them the CRUZ, way it is even if it’s hurtful to us.” Petitioner, Napag-usapan din ang reklamo ni Willie Revillame na biased ang news department pati na rin ang komento minsan ni Kris na ang mga taga-news ay evil people dahil na rin sa ipinakita nila ang footages ni – versus – SP. PROC. NO. 10-2316 Baby James na nagsasalita ng “Villar”. THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRY OF “Willie Revillame was campaigning for a candidate, perhaps they weren’t happy with the way we were LUBAO, PAMPANGA AND THE reporting on it. Our goal is not to make them happy, our goal is to tell the truth. So on that day, we ran OFFICE OF THE CIVIL REGISTRAR Willie saying that we are biased, that same report, we also ran Kris saying that we’re evil people,” GENERAL (National Statistics Office), pahayag pa ng lady executive na bahagyang natawa sa huling sinabi. Respondents. Tungkol naman sa isyung may malaking utang na loob daw ang may-ari ng ABS-CBN (Lopez’) sa mga x————————————————————x Aquino, ani Ms. Ressa, “Look at our reports, look at our reporters. We’re not the ones, we have no utang ORDER na loob. Ako as a reporter, as a journalist, I have no utang na loob to anyone except the people I write On May 17, 2010, petitioner, through counsel, Atty. Edgardo M. reports for.” Vitug, filed the instant petition praying that after due notice, publication Nagsimula na ang malaking pagbabago sa TV Patrol sa tulong ng makabagong augmented reality at and hearing, an Order be issued directing the Local Civil Registrar of touch screen technologies na unang ginamit sa matagumpay na Halalan 2010 election coverage noong Lubao, Pampanga to make the necessary correction/cancellation on the record of birth of petitioner relative to the entry of her sex or gender Mayo 10. and the same be changed from Male to Female. Sa Bandila naman, malaking pagbabago rin ang ihahatid ng late night newscast kasama ang anchors WHEREFORE, finding the petition to be sufficient in form and na sina Henry Omaga Diaz at Ces Orena Drilon. Mas malalim na pagbusisi ang hatid ng programa sa mga substance, the Court hereby: paksa tulad ng consumerism na iuulat ni Alvin Elchico at malalim na talakayan tungkol sa pulitika na (a) sets the case for hearing on August 24, 2010 at 1:30 o’clock ihahatid ni Lynda Jumilla. The Gossipmiller JESUSA MYLENE C. SUBA – ISIP Presiding Judge Punto! Central Luzon: June 25, July 2 and 9, 2010 NOTICE OF ADOPTION Notice is hereby given that BASTI, whose picture appears herein, was abandoned by his mother sometime on October 2007 and that Teresita Dela Rosa, 60 years old, married and a resident of Essel Park Subdivision, Telabastagan, City of San Fernando wishes to adopt said abandoned child. Punto! Central Luzon: July 2, 2010 Sa relasyon kay John Lloyd Cruz… “Kung saan masaya si Shaina, masaya na rin ako!” –VINA MORALES NAGSALITA NA si Vina Morales tungkol sa love affair ng kapatid niyang si Shaina Magdayao at John Lloyd Cruz. Ito yung pag-amin ni John Lloyd sa relasyon nila ni Shaina sa The Buzz, pero ’di niya napanood kaya ayaw mag-comment. “I just heard it from other people at nirerespeto ko ang sinabi niya. Thankful ako dahil bilang kapatid, gusto ko lang happy si Shaina.” Kanino mas masaya si Shaina kina John Lloyd at John Prats? “Hindi ako makakasagot niyan, si Shaina ang makakasagot n’yan, basta kung saan siya masaya. Siya na lang ang kausapin nyo.” At yung tungkol Ruffa, wala raw rason para maapektuhan ang friendship nila ni Ruffa Gutierrez na kumare niya at welcome itong pumunta sa Ystilo pati si John Lloyd. And speaking of Ystilo, Ang co-owners na sina Vina Morales at bayaw na si Frederico Moreno ang nag-welcome kay Geoff Eigenmann as the newest and male endorser ng Ystilo Salon na after 10 years of operation, may more than 30 branches na. Balak nilang palaguin pa ang salon business nila and who knows, after ilang years, madagdagan ang endorsers nilang sina Pilita Corrales, Shaina Magdayao at Geoff. Dream ni Vina na magkaroon sila ng international branches. Sabi ni Vina, company decision ang pagkuha kay Geoff as their male endorser at ’di isyu kung Kapuso ito at si Vina ay Kapamilya. “Naniniwala kami kay Geoff and its easy to dress him up at nakita n’yo naman sa AVP,” pagmamalaki ni Vina. MMFF official entries inihayag na INIHAYAG NA sa Club Filipino ng MMFF Selection Committee ang walong pelikula na official entry sa darating na Metro Manila Film Festival sa December. Ang mga pelikulang nakapasok sa walong official entry ng MMFF ay ang mga sumusunod: 1) Ang Agimat Ni Enteng na unang pagsasamahan nina Vic Sotto at Bong Revilla at ipoprodyus ng GMA Films, M-Zet, APT, OctoArts at Imus Productions. 2) Ang Tanging Ina Mo Rin (Last Na ‘To!) na pagbibidahan ni Ai-Ai delas Alas under Star Cinema, 3) Dalaw ng Cine Media, 4) Father Jejemon ng RVQ Productions na pagbibidahan ni Dolphy. 5) Rosario ng Cine Mabuhay, 6) RPG na isang animation film ng Star Cinema, 7) Shake, Rattle & Roll ng Regal Films na isang all-star-cast movie at Super Inday and The Magic Bibe na pagbibidahan ni Marian Rivera. Sa dami ng producers ng Ang Agimat ni Enteng, tiyak na hindi basta-bastang pelikula ang gagawin nila. Exciting din ang pagsasama na ito nina Vic at Bong sa isang pelikula. Sigurado kaming si Wenn Deramas na gumawa ng Tanging Ina series ang magdidirek ng Tanging Ina (Last Na ‘To!) at tiyak na ibubuhos din niya lahat ng powers para maging bonggacious ito. Hindi rin dapat isnabin ang Shake, Rattle & Roll ni Mother Lily at ang Super Inday ni Marian. I’m sure, di rin sila magpapatalbog! Exciting ang line-up this year, kaya tiyak panalo ang moviegoers, huh! May napili ring pang 9th slot ang Selection Committee ng MMFF at ito ay ang pelikulang Ana Salamangka ng Regality Entertainment. Mapapasama lang bilang official entry ng 2010 MMFF ang naturang pelikula kung magkaroon ng aberya sa walo nilang napili. Ang criteria for the selection of the 8th official entries are story, creativity, wrting excellence, innovation and thematic value na ang equivalent ay 40%. Dapat ay meron ding commercial viability na 50% ang equivalent at dapat may Filipino cultural and/or historial value na 10% ang equivalent with an overall total of 100% Ayon sa chairman ng MMFF Selection Committee, matindi nilang pinagdebatehan ang 12 pelikulang nag-submit ng kanilang script bago nila napili ang Top 8. PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • JULY 2 - 3, 2010 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY in the afternoon; (b) orders petitioner (1) to serve within seventy – two (72) hours from receipt hereof copies of the petition and its annexes to the Office of the Solicitor General of the Philippines at 134 Amorsolo St., Legaspi Village, Makati City, Office of the Provincial Prosecutor, City of San Fernando, Pampanga; and the Local Civil Registrar of Lubao, Pampanga; and (2) to show proof of said service to this Court; (c) orders all persons interested in this petition: (1) to appear on said date and time before this Court – Regional Trial Court, Branch 49, Guagua, pampanga; (2) to show case, if any, why the petition should not be granted; (d) orders the Solicitor General to enter his appearance in this case for the State seventy-two (72) hours from receipt of this Order; (e) orders the Officer-In-Charge of this Court to furnish copies of this Order to the petitioner, her counsel, the Solicitor General, the Local Registrar of Lubao, Pampanga, the Provincial Prosecutor of Pampanga, the Civil Registrar General of the Philippines and the National Statistics Office who are given fifteen (15) days from notice of the petition or from the last date of publication of such notice, within which to file their comment/opposition thereto, if any. Further, let the petitioner at her expense, publish this order before the date of hearing for three (3) consecutive weeks in newspaper of general circulation in the Province of Pampanga in accordance with P.D. 1072. Likewise, the petitioner is directed to pay the amount of Five Hundred (Php500.00) Pesos to the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor, City of San Fernando, Pampanga, as appearance fee of the Public Prosecutor and through whose office the Solicitor General shall be represented in the proceedings, and to show proof to the Court of such payment made on or before the scheduled hearing. SO ORDERED. Guagua, Pampanga. May 25, 2010 9 GMA’S NEW TITLE: ‘President-congresswoman’ BY DING CERVANTES PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • JULY 2 - 3, 2010 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – President-congresswoman Gloria Macapagal- 10 Arroyo. This seems to be the new title for former Pres. Arroyo by dint of informal consensus here during the swearing in ceremonies for provincial victors in the last May 10 polls. “I had wondered how to address her, but when I heard her being introduced earlier as president-congresswoman, I thought it most appropriate,” said newly installed Gov. Lilia Pineda in her inaugural speech after Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Eduardo Nachura administered their oaths at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center here last Wednesday. Reelected Rep. Aurelio Gonzalez of this province’s third district was the first to introduce Mrs. Arroyo as president-congresswoman. From thereon, the former president, who turned over her post to Pres. Benigno Aquino III in ceremonies at the Quirino Grandstand earlier in the morning, had been addressed president-congressman for the duration of the oath-taking rites. Mrs. Arroyo is the first president in Philippine history to become a member of the House of Representatives after her term. Thus, the issue on how to address her became a conundrum for many, some of whom suggested that she be addressed as “president” as a matter of courtesy to her, while others batted for her to be simply addressed as congresswoman in formal ceremonies. Yesterday’s consensus, although informal, should resolve the issue, said reelected Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo. Arriving at the convention center at 12 noon, Mrs. Arroyo, who was wearing a butterfly-sleeved pina gown, took her oath at about 2 p.m. with her husband Miguel Arroyo and their children Mikey, Dato and Luli and brother Arturo behind her. She said in an interview that her gown was not new. The program started with a Mass officiated by San Fernando Archbishop Paciano Aniceto and 14 other Kapampangan priests. In his homily, Aniceto urged political leaders to shelve aside partisanship and personal agenda and unite for the progress of the country. Mrs. Arroyo still had to have her lunch, together with some 2,000 others in the convention center, at the time she was sworn into office. Packed lunches consisting of fried chicken, pancit, and rice were served after her oath. Luli, Mrs. Arroyo’s youngest child, said she was relieved that her mother is no longer president when asked by Punto how she felt. Despite her apparent double stature, Mrs. Arroyo played second fiddle to Gov. Pineda who, for the finale of the finale of the entire program, was the last to be sworn into office. Master of ceremonies Rosve Henson announced Pineda’s oath taking as the “main event” which, unlike the swearing in of Mrs. Arroyo, was also ushered in by a band music that played the score “Can’t Take My Eyes Out of You.” Mrs. Arroyo smiled almost throughout the swearing in ceremonies that also installed the newly elected congressmen from three other Pampanga districts, board members of municipal and city councils, town and city mayors and, provincial board members. In her speech, Pineda vowed to focus on health and education, even as he thanked her predecessor former Gov. Eddie Panlilio for the latter’s accomplishments in Pampanga. Pineda also expressed hopes that Pres. Aquino will continue to help Pampanga, while she appealed to her constituents in the province to support the Aquino administration. Arroyo with her loyal ally Mayor Pamintuan at the mass oath-taking. PHOTO BY JOEY PAVIA