Statesman The CSC To Exalt God

To Honor Man

The Official Tertiary Student Publication of the Catanduanes State Colleges

Member: College Editors Guild of the Philippines
Vol. XVIII No.I October - December 2009 Virac, Catanduanes

Tungo sa
Bagong Yugto
 18
Vol.
1
No. in this issue
Sa Pagsibol ng Modernong Pamamahayag
at Paghulma ng mga Bagong Manunulat 4
The Triumph of Elitism 10
Dos mil dies:
The Year We Make Contact 13
A Quick Defiance on Accreditation Fever
New look:
14
6 A Clamber to the Spawned
Commerce 20
Bagong Halalan
Bagong Kapalaran 23
HAYOK
Isang pagsulyap sa kumakalam
na kabulukan
27
16 Catanduanes cashes in on
Cassava as alternative crop 29
31
Poetry
Masquerading the tragedy
with conquest 48
46 Literary
32
Kultura
34
UKOL SA PABALAT Columns
36
Nasa ating kamay ang pagbabago.
Nasa ating sarili ang inisyatibo.
BIPPK
40
kuyom sa kalyadong palad ang isanlibong pangako
kapalit ang sagradong botong magliligtas sana
sa panibagong kapalarang tatahakin ng bayan.
Nginiig
42
At sa pagsunggab sa bagong sistema ng halalan
kasabay din sana
ang pagkakaroon ng bagong simula
Sports
44
sa pagpusta ng ating kinabukasan
sa kamay ng sana’y panibagong pamumuno.

Photo Credits: Superbev, Deviantart.com, Bren Garette Rivera Page Layout: beb & doboi
Editorial
TORS G O V ER N M
VE S ENT
IN OF
FI
NY C

IA
CR

L
S
CA ES
TA NDUAN

ILL-FATED GAMBLE
Idiocy.
Gambling has always been an indecent human diversion.
Though punishable by law, still, many are enticed to cross the
threshold of this perfidious fad. Gamblers lay wagers to win, seldom
to lose. Hefty riches are at stake to the conqueror. While the dark
horse, after a painful defeat, absconds packed with laments.
Monte Oro Company’s foray to conduct mining in the
province exhibits a perilous gamble. But this time, it’s the people’s
lives and livelihood that are being pot. Apart from the habitual
approach, where a gambler looks forward to triumph, because before
this spar was instituted, the chance to thrive was already made futile.
The said company was awarded a total of 15,000 hectares
of land areas to mine in the towns of San Andres, Caramoran,
Panganiban and Viga and the venture was estimated to yield P 6.2 B.
The government would also earn P186 M from the 3% royalty, P9 M
from taxes and P10 M from workers.
These bulk of benefits for the greedy and selfish are mere
pittance compared to the massive environmental tragedy it will cause
to Catandunganons.
A Certificate of Non-Coverage issued by the government,
instead of an Environmental Compliance Certificate that is awarded
after an Environmental Impact Assessment, ignited the wrath of the
church and the people. This only shows a vivid picture of arrogance,
crony capitalism and abuse of power.
Consequently, Bishop Manolo delos Santos and
Katandungan Kontra Mina, a civic organization campaigning against
mining, together with the concerned and affected sectors, appealed
to the Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR) due to absence of public consultations
and orientations.
Then came the President of this company declaring that
they have abandoned the project due to lack of potentials, which in
turn will be unprofitable and uneconomical.
But until now, we are laid on the verge of enigma. The
people are left lynching as the riddle continues to tread its craft.
Nevertheless, environmental disaster is not far-fetched
once this mining is pushed through. There would be devastation
of agricultural lands, mountains, fields and pollution of watersheds.
Then, as the natural resources are recklessly consumed, this will
lead to landslides, mudslides, rampaging floods and even add woes to
global warming that would result to ecological imbalance.
As quoted by a politician, “Mining is governed by law. If
you comply with the law, there’s nothing wrong about it as long as
you do not degrade the environment.” Therefore we say, indeed,
no mining operation ended without its enormous environmental
destruction and degradation.
We, ourselves, witnessed nature’s agonizing revenge. Monte
Oro’s plan to onslaught might have been aborted but threats to our
ecology looms everyday. Must we wait until we could endure her
verdict no more?
We are stewards of the environment. Thus, it is our prime
duty to protect and conserve its languid beauty. This is where we
dwell and build ourselves. The food we eat, the water we imbibe and
the air we breathe emanate from nature. It is but just right to address
the distressing state of our haven, brought by drastic changes to our
ecology.
Another battle fought against threats of mining and
incessantly blatant environmental exploitation once again proved our
resiliency to protect the pristine beauty of this island province. The
prize sought could have been won had the publicized abortion of the
Monte Oro’s contract to explore for potential coals (then eventually
extract reserves) was genuine and not a mere display of filthy political
ploy.
Together, we can lend a hand to save our habitat from its
total annihilation to regain its lost glory. Let’s wait no more to turn
deaf ears and be blindfolded on the real scenario at the moment.
Risk is an essential factor in every scheme. But to chase the
option when risk prevails over benefit is absurd. We should never let
ourselves and our troubled island home be pledged once more.
Done with the irresponsibility. Done with the
egocentricity. Done with the vanity.
What we have today may all be gone tomorrow.
The day of salvation is now.
Above and beyond, we never inherited nature from the past.
We borrowed it from the future.

The CSC Statesman The Official Student Publication of the Catanduanes State Colleges Vol. XVIII No.I
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/ Elvin Randolph Jubay ASSOCIATE EDITOR/ Ferdinand Camilo Kimura MANAGING EDITOR/ John Elmar Templonuevo FINANCE
OFFICER/NEWS EDITOR/ Ezekiel Tanael FEATURES EDITOR/ Jann Marvin Posada LITERARY EDITOR/ John Michael Veruen PATNUGOT SA KULTURA’T
LATHALAIN/ Maribel Trinidad SPORTS EDITOR/ Jonathan Tulod LAY-OUT & GRAPHICS EDITOR / Ruzzel Valdepeña ASST. LAY-OUT & GRAPHICS
EDITORS/ Leonard Bryan Sebuano, Beverly Tatel ART EDITOR/ John Theli Bien ASST. ART EDITORS/ Richard Icawat, Joebert Angelo Toledo CIRCULATION
MANAGER/ Shervin Icawat STAFF WRITERS/Cyril Patrice Bernardino, Bren Garette Rivera, Dave Tolentino, Marian Claire Tulod TECHNICAL ADVISER/
Helen Ferida EDITORIAL CONSULTANT/ GSR Member: CEGP
 2 News
CSC upgrades library operation JPIA to audit
T W
o improve library
services and increase
productivity, efficiency
and accuracy in performing a
variety of library operations,
the CSC College Library
launched its automation early
this school year.
Library automation is
combination of both hardware and software
facility. It consist of a computer program
designed to perform various library
functions such as circulation, cataloging,
public access, acquisitions, serials control
and interlibrary loan. It also allows users to
search for information in one place.
The Online Public Access Catalog
(OPAC), an advanced equivalent of card
catalog, is what users consult to find and
retrieve information of interest. A user who
locates an item of interest in the OPAC can
obtain the bibliographic information and
the call number. The user can also determine
the status of that item (e.g., check-out date,
due date, on reserve).
In addition, the user can ascertain
whether the item being searched in the
OPAC is on order, received, claimed,
canceled, or sent to the bindery.
With this information technology
capability, users are allowed to use search
strategies that exceed those that can be used
with card catalogs. While card catalogs can
be accessed by author, title and subject,
OPACs can be accessed by author, title,
subject and keyword.
Once a user finds the item of interest
in the open shelves, a hand-held device
Joeffrey Ereso,
JPIA - CSC President
acquaints some
officers of recognized
organizations to the
proposed financial
reporting standard.
(JPIA - CSC)
a of Student Services to audit the
Students from CHS take part in the dry run of the
automated library operations early this school year
2009 - 2010. Top inset is the a sample of a bar
coded book(CSC - PRIS)
will scan the item’s barcode, download the
scanned item in the automated system and
generate a variety of reports.
At present, the library has five
computers with online public access catalog
(OPAC) system, one in each section and
another one is located in its center lobby.
Before automating the CSC’s main
library, the staff and their casual workers
had a one-week training in May this year
to ensure preparedness in providing new
services to its clients.
-Marian Claire V. Tulod
Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009
all CSC student
organizations
ith a goal of educating and
urging the CSC Student
Organizations towards
accountability, the Junior Philippine
Institute of Accountants (CSC
Chapter) was directed by the Director
Financial Statements of all the CSC
Student Organizations.
This is in the light of the past
anomalies that had occurred in several
student organizations in the campus
wherein issues of corruption, fraud and
theft had jeopardized the image of the
CSC.
To support this move, the JPIA
conducted a seminar on December 9, 2009
at CSC Little Theater about Standards on
Financial Reporting which discussed the
basic preparation of an organization’s
Financial Statement.
The event which started at 1:00 in
the afternoon was steered by the Dean of
the College of Business and Accountancy,
Prof. Ma. Theresa Sarmiento and the
Director of Student Services, Dr. Lourdes
V.Rodriguez.
The seminar was specifically
designed for the presidents, finance
officers/treasurers, and internal auditors
of all student organizations since they are
the responsible officials in the preparation
of financial reports.
“From now on, our office (OSA)
would not clear an organization unless
they have been audited by the JPIA,” Dr.
Rodriguez stated during the seminar.
Joeffrey T. Ereso, the president of
the JPIA presented the uniform financial
statement which was formulated by the
JPIA Board of Directors specifically for
the school organizations during its regular
meeting on November 11, 2009.
The seminar also included a
workshop where the participants were given
a sample problem involving organizational
transactions. They were asked to prepare
the Financial Statements regarding the
transactions in order to familiarize them
with the accounts.
The Financial Statement standard
as discussed by the Board of Directors of
the JPIA was adopted to finally establish a
uniform format and a formal procedure in
financial reporting, which is the first in the
CSC’s student organization’s history.
-Ezekiel V. Tanael
 News
Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009
3
CSC is country’s
3rd Eco-friendliest
School
D
uring these times when an outcry for a greener and cleaner
environment is eminent across the world due to climate change, the
Catanduanes State Colleges had shown the country what it got as
an environmental friendly institution.

In the recently concluded Search pesos. Consequently, it advanced into the

for Sustainable and Eco-friendly Schools
in the Philippines which was sponsored
by the DENR, CHED, DepEd, and SMART
Communications, Inc., CSC bagged the
third place honors, following Visayas State
University in the 2nd place and Palawan
State University which was adjudged as the
national winner.
CSC was awarded P 30, 000 and a
glass-sculpted trophy.
The Search was the DENR’s
response to the newly signed law, Republic
Act 9512 (An Act to Promote Environmental
Awareness through Environmental
Education), which requires all public and
private schools to integrate environmental
education in their curricula at all levels.
CSC was declared Region V’s
eco-friendliest school during the regional
selection and won a cash prize of 5,000
national level competition.
A national selection committee
composed of authorities in environmental
education, the government, and private
sector including civil society at the regional
and national levels inspected and conducted
visits as part of the selection process.
The contestants were judged
according to environment-related aspects
of the school’s policy, environment-
friendly school operations and presence
of environmental programs, environment-
related features of the school curriculum,
presence of vibrant eco organizations in
campus, and presence of partners and
linkages in environment programs/
projects. THE PRIZE - This glass-sculpted trophy was awarded to
- Ezekiel Tanael CSC as the country’s 3rd eco-friendliest school.
(CSC - PRIS)

CSC Prepares for Random Drug Testing

I
n line with Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Memorandum Order No. 19, Series of 2003, random drug
testing of students at CSC will be scheduled this school year 2009 until March 2010.

The program aims to determine found positive. supervision of a DOH-accredited facility

the prevalence of drug users among the
students and to strengthen the collaborative
efforts of identified agencies against the use
of prohibited drugs.
CHED in cooperation with
Department of Health will handle the drug
testing procedures through an unbiased
process of selecting students who will
undergo the drug testing.
The Selection Board, composed of
Drug Testing Coordinators as chairperson,
representatives from the students,
teaching staff and parents will ensure the
confidentiality and integrity of the random
selection process.
Moreover, the results of the test
will be strictly confidential. The aggregate
results will not include the identities of
the students to secure their respect and
privacy.
On the other hand, several students
are still hesitant to undergo drug testing.
They are worrying about the sanctions that
will be imposed upon them if they will be
“Katatakot man kaan, baad
ipakulong na sana ako ning basang nu
magpositibo ako,” said a student from
Department of Industrial Technology.
“Pano kung magluwas na drug
dependent ang sarong estudyante? Kahilak
man ta siguradong papatalsikin uya sa
State”, a student from College of Education
added.
However, in case the test results
are positive, a confirmation test will be
conducted. The result of this will not be a
ground for expulsion or any disciplinary
action of the students and will not be used
in any criminal proceedings.
“It concerns more on health issues.
It is not intended to condemn the students
but to guide them for treatment. Nothing
is to worry about” remarked Dr. Sheryll
Ditchella, Medical Officer III of the CSC.
In the event that it is determined
that a student is a drug dependent, the
student will undergo a three-month
observation and counseling under the
or physician in consultation with the
parent. Such processes of observation and
counseling shall be done in coordination
with the CSC Drug Counselor.
If another drug testing is
conducted and the student is found positive
the second time around, the administration
will proceed in accordance to Section 61, RA
9165. The parents may choose to enroll the
student in a private rehabilitation program
or to avail rehabilitation services of the
government.
The administration is hoping that
this program will successfully bear good
results. However, if the outcome will be
unfavorable, a follow up drug awareness
program will consequently follow to
eliminate drug addiction inside the campus
and secure the health and safety of every
student in the institution.
-Dave Tolentino
 4 Features
Log- in
Unti-unti nang nalulusaw ang
tinta ng tradisyunal na pamamahayag.
Hindi na nakaposas sa kamay
ng mga profesyonal na manunulat ang
pagkalkal at pagrasyon ng informasyon sa
mga gutom na mamamayan.
Mula sa pagiging media
consumer, ang ordinayong Juan Dela Cruz
ngayo’y naging media producer.
Napukaw ang natutulog na diwa
ng nasyonalismo.
Pinili na nilang makilahok.
Makialam.
Makisawsaw.
Of empowering the people...
democracy
Nananahan tayo sa isang
bansa kung saan hindi ipinagkakait ang
pagpapahayag ng kanyang saloobin;
kung saan ang taong-bayan ang
pinakamakapangyarihan; kung saan ang
taong-bayan ang may hawak ng balota na
magpapabago sa kasalukuyang kalagayan
ng ating bansa. Di’ ba sila ang nagpalaya
sa mahabang pagkakagapos ng bansa sa
mga dayuhan. Di’ ba taong bayan din
ang nagpaalis sa diktadurya ni Marcos
at nagbalik ng demokrasya. At taong
bayan pa rin ang magtatanggol sa mga
karapatang pantao at mananaig laban sa
mga sakim.
Sa pagsilang ng “Citizen
Journalism”, higit na nabigyan ng
kalayaan ang masang Pilipino na muling
Sa Pagsibol
ng Modernong
Pamamahayag at
Paghulma ng mga
Bagong Manunulat
pukawin ang natutulog na nasyonalismo
gamit ang mga makabagong teknolohiya
upang ipamahagi ang nakalap nilang
balita at informasyon ukol sa isang isyu. aktibistang blogger laban sa kasalukuyang
Ang citizen journalism o kilala rin sa
tawag na “participatory journalism” ay
naglalayong paigtingin ang tungkuling
ginagampanan ng mamamayan sa
larangan ng pamamahayag.
Ayon kay Mark Glaser, isang
freelance journalist, ang paggamit ng
makabagong teknolohiya at Internet ng
mga indibidwal na walang professional
journalism training o professional
affiliation upang maglikha o magdagdag
ng informasyon at mag fact-check media
ang ideya sa likod ng citizen journalism.
Citizen Journalism and
Activism
Hindi maiiwasang maging laman
ng Internet partikular na ang blog ang mga
rebolusyonaryong komentaryo galing sa
mga aktibistang bloggers. Nagmistulang
baha ng kritisismo ang bawat pahina ng
Internet. pagbabago.
Mula nang pumutok ang iba’t
ibang websites ng Internet, nabigyan
ng pagkakataon ang mga indibidwal na
makialam at magpahayag hindi lamang
tungkol sa mga krisis na nakapalibot
sa ating arkipelago, ngunit pati rin mga
personal na saloobin. Ang “freedom of
speech” ay lalong lumawak, at sila’y
naging agresibo.
Mas umigting sa loob ng
Internet ang pakikibaka ng mga aktibista.
Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009
Nagmistulang factory na bumubuga ng
mabahong hangin ang Internet dahil sa
mga paratang na ipinupukol ng mga
rehimeng Arroyo. ‘Santambak na basura
mula sa mga pulitiko ang inihahain ng
mga aktibista sa Internet. Dahil dito,
naipapaalam nila sa kinauukulan at ng
taong-bayan ang kanilang hinaing.
Nagagamit pa ba ng tama ng
mga blogger ang Internet o sila na ang
nagagamit nito?
Get connected through their
fingertips
Malaki na ang ipinagbago ng
mundong ating ginagalawan. Tumamad
lalo si Juan Tamad dahil sa make-over sa
kanyang munting paraiso. Nagsulputan
ang mga high tech gadgets, dumami
na ang gumagamit ng computer at
nag-explore sa iba’t ibang websites.
Naglalakbay ngayon ang kanilang mga
daliri sa keypad at keyboard na dahan-
dahang pinipindot ang mga letra ng
Kasabay nito ay ang pagbabago
sa paraan ng pamamahayag. Sa tulong
ng teknolohiya, lumawak ang saklaw
ng pagbabalita. Itinutulak nito pasulong
ang bagong trend sa paghahatid ng mga
makabuluhang balita at informasyon sa
mas nakararami. Kung dati’y, taong bayan
ang nanginginabang sa mga ito, ngayo’y
sila na ang naghahanap, nag-uulat,
nag-aanalisa, at naghahatid ng balita’t
informasyon sa kapwa nila mamamayan at
 Features
Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009
5
Sinabi ni Coronel na magkakaroon ng panibago at
karagdagang function ang mga mamamahayag. Hindi lamang
sa pag-uulat ng balita ngunit pati na rin sa pag-iipon at
pagdudugtong-dugtong ng mga informasyon. Sa madaling salita,
ang mga mamamahayag ang lilikha ng komprehensibong balita o
artikulo gamit ang mga informasyong bumabaha sa Web na bigay
ng mga citizen journalist.
Isang patunay dito ang programang “Boto mo, Ipatrol
mo” na inilunsad ng ABS CBN network upang subaybayan
ang mga kaganapan sa susunod na halalan, sa tulong ng mga
mga profesyonal na journalist. mamamayan. Isinagawa ang ganitong scheme ng pamamahayag,
Radio, dyaryo, at telebisyon. Ito ang karaniwang na nagsimula taong 2007, sa pamamagitan ng pagpapadala ng
medium ng pamamahayag. Tradisyunal na maituturing. mga letrato at video sa ABS CBN ng mga sinasabing anomalya
Ngunit sa paglabas ng Internet ay binasag nito ang tradisyunal noong nakaraang eleksyon.
na paghahatid ng informasyon. Sa pamamagitan ng citizen Maging ang CNN ay matagal na at nagunguna na sa
journalism, ang ordinaryong tao’y nakakatulong nang paggamit ng ganitong evolution ng pamamahayag.
makapaghatid na ng informasyon at balita. Halimbawa na
lamang ng ginawa ng online community na ginamit ang Internet
para kontrahin ang pagtataguyod ng Constitutional Assembly Log-out
sa Kongreso. Nariyan ang hit na blogging kung saan kaya mong
ientry ang sarili mong pananaw, maging ito may komentaryo Ang pamamahayag ang pangunahing poso na iniigiban
o balita, o kaya’y para sa personal na gamit. Maaari mo ring ng mga tao ng informasyon. Singhaba ng mga pumipila sa NFA
gamitin ang You Tube upang i-upload ang nasaksihang video dati ang naghihintay sa pagbulwak ng naglalagablab na mga isyu.
ng isang krimen, o i-post ang isang makabuluhang larawan na Sa pagsibol ng bagong binhi ng mga mamamahayag, umikli ang
maaring mapagkukunan ng balita o kaya naman sa pamamagitan pila ng mga naghihintay ng balita’t informasyon dahil dumami
ng mobile phones. ang bukal na nagpoprodyus ng tubig.
Ayon kay Shiela Coronel, isang kilalang investigative Paalala lang, baka maruming tubig ang iyong mainom.
journalist, sa isang popular na blog search engine higit isang Malaking dulot ang hatid ng teknolohiya. May
bilyon o 1/6 ng populasyon sa buong mundo ang nakatutok sa mabuti. May masama. Nakadepende sa tao kung paano nya ito
Internet at gumagapang ang mga daliri sa keyboard ng kanilang gagamitin.
mga computer. Noong June 2008, mahigit 113 million online Pinili nating gawin itong armas sa pamamahayag.
journals at blogs ang nalathala sa Web at nasa 175,000 at higit pa Sa pamamagitan nito, lumitaw ang mga nakabinbin na isyu
ang nadadagdag bawat araw. Mahigit kalahati na rin ng tao sa sa mga nakakandadong kaban at lumabas ang katotohanan.
buong mundo, o umaabot ng tatlong bilyon ang nagmamay-ari Isang patunay lamang nito na hindi dapat mawala sa ugat ng
ng mobile phone, dagdag pa nya. pamamahayag, tradisyunal man o makabago, ang taong-bayan.
Sila ang dugo na bumubuhay sa pamamahayag.
“Journalism is Evolving, not Dying”
Matapos talunin ni Mayweather si Marquez sa huli
nilang laban, nag-surf agad ako sa Internet upang tingnan kung
meron ng ulat tungkol sa kanilang bakbakan. Makalipas lamang
ng 27 na minuto, nakapost na agad ang headline na “Mayweather
pummels Marquez in ring return” mula sa isang foreign sports
writer.
Totoo ngang napapabilis ang pag-abot ng informasyon
sa madla. Sa isang pindot lang ay nakapost na sa screen ng mga
kompyuter ang informasyon na iyong hinahanap na hindi pa
nalathala sa mga dyaryo. Ngunit sa kabila nito, isang malaking
katanungan kung mapagkakatiwalaan ba ang mga informasyon
na naanod ngayon sa Internet.
At sa bawat pagdaan ng kamay ng relo sa labindalawang
numero, nauungusan na ng online media ang newspapers at iba
pang uri ng tradisyunal na pamamahayag.
Ayon kay Steven Johnson, isang science writer,
“newspapers are dying but journalism is evolving”. Inihalintulad
ni Johnson ang mga pahayagan sa mga “old growth forests” na
sa henerasyon ngayon ay nag-uumpisang lumikha ng bagong
fashion sa pamamahayag ang blogging, citizen journalism,
Twittering at iba pang Internet-age information.
Datapwat, sa pagtubo ng bagong punla ng
pamamahayag, hindi dapat sila mabahala bagkus gawing
komprehensibo at dynamic ang tungkuling kanilang
pinaglilingkuran.

Article: Jann Marvin Posada Page Design: Ruzzel Valdepeña

Bagamanoc’s Ilihan:
Eros Standing Through Time
A
s a town that has been markedly named after poultry, Bagamanoc could not have been
expected to be less bold about its assets. Yet, a visit to this simple albeit strange dwelling
would make a guest wonder about how many secrets he could seduce out of it. A walk
in the proper, for example, would offer nothing exceptional or explicit beyond that one
offensive oddity openly thrusting itself in the face of what should’ve been a perfectly ordinary little
world. Some giant male genitalia, in its full glory, is there in the middle of the sea. After that single
liberating surprise, one would think that’s all there is… and it’s what betrays him. That thought that
no mysterious subtleties exist behind that one overwhelming peculiarity put out for the world to see.
From then, one only has to pause… to find himself in the path of the enchanted. The wicked wind
from above the collapsed breakwater at the abandoned port takes him away. It films his vision and
makes him believe that everything in Bagamanoc is both the familiar and the unfamiliar. Especially
that penis-shaped rock once called Ilihan, forever fierce against the horizon. It has remained valiant
against the most violent rages of storms only so it could exist as Bagamanoc’s Eros – the mythical
meeting point of sensuality and spirituality – for the most faithful of peoples.

Chicken Pochero
Like most towns in our culture-colored country, Bagamanoc’s history is a pochero of legends
and actual events, bak choy half-cooked.
Folklore tells of an awesome secret place that thrived in overabundance, where a zoo of
beasts and an aviary of fowls partied day in and day out harmoniously, within forests of ancient
wood and vine that lined its sparkling grayish blue-black sands. Hardly away from this cornucopia,
a swamp islet in Panay Island called “Bagabato”, now named “Taraga”, existed as a chicken-raising
settlement. However, with a den of crocodiles in the river at its west; a violent hill at its south; a
harsh sea at its north; and a barricading swamp at its east, the place surely had itself made as a failing
habitat. Ever a thorn on the side, Moro pirates ravaged the community occasionally, so that it was
only a matter of time before some random citizen finally gains enough sense to dare the odds and
leave his cursed homeland.

Article: Cyril Patrice Bernardino Photo Credits: Bren Garette Rivera, Superbev Page Design: Superbev
 The epic starts with the young adventurer setting off
on a quest to find rattan for his future bride’s family house.
Following the shoreline westward, he chances upon a grove
of pandan shrubs by the sea just ahead. From his distance, he
managed to make out what resembled a chicken flying over
the tallest shrub. He discovers the grove’s territory to be an
awesome secret place, which could be the richest repository he
could ever come across with in his lifetime. Thus, he fled back
to his clansmen (with his thick bundle of rattan) to inspire them
with stories about the luxury he found, which encouraged the
tribe’s resettlement. In the end, the tribesmen convened about
how their new home was found, and they decided on the name
“Baga-manok,” which translates to “like a chicken”. There were
no bloody deaths of either man or beast.
Aside from these warped little gobbets about the
town’s childhood, there lingers all over the proper slight
irregularities that give an otherwise normal environment the
air of a surrealistic recent past. Toilet bowls still affixed to
their tanks discolor the blue-black coast behind the present
Municipal Hall. Along with these, debris patterned by tiles
of every motif – probably remnants of a bathroom or kitchen
– seem to confess a crime or calamity that is yet to be put on
Bagamanoc’s Wikipedia page. Further trekking on the same
coast will reveal what appears to be battered cushions in tattered
cloth inexplicably trapped under seaside rocks. While first-hand
witnesses may complete the puzzle and offer a title like “2009:
Typhoon Dante’s Totally Badass Love”, imaginations would
still beg to argue.
“Fertility Island”
Earlier this year, the landmark has gained the
pseudonym “Fertility Island” as suggested by Virac Bishop
Msgr. Manolo A. delos Santos, who worried that the islet’s local
name as “indecent” and something “that would reflect badly”
on the personality of the Bagamanocnons.
The name’s a misnomer. Ilihan Point is not an island;
so guests, be wary. You can’t reach it without hiring a boat, yes,
but you can’t have a picnic with your friends on it either.
It is merely a point. It is a cramped spot of land
confined by water.
As far as history goes, Ilihan does not fall
far back from its hometown’s lush lores. Ancient
stories assert that this stubborn column of dirt wasn’t
always the brazen hooded warrior that suppressed
powerful storm surges. After all, real warriors aren’t
born, they’re made. “Kuyas, Layug Bagamanoc!” which urges Bagamanocnons
The simplest myth surrounding
the landmark concerns a man of remarkable
proportions. “Kurakog” was a goliath who
apparently fell into a deep coma at Ilihan Point,
where he never woke up. The hostile waves
then crumbled every bit of his frame, until all
that was left of him is all that people see now: a
five-meter pile of clay looming above the sea,
glaring at mortals. Conversely, elders around
the area popularly agree that it used to be a
cave. They just disagree on when it was one.
Perhaps the most acknowledged
stories of yore would always have to be
romances. Ill-fated romances, even. Roughly
about the Spanish era, Ilihan was a stone
arch with brushes of green shrubbery
atop. It was bridged to Barangay Bacak
by a strip of land. The cave was rich, and
it functioned as a fishing cove, where
various marine vessels could dock, sail
through, cast lines or just randomly hang
out. During upsurges, this harbor acted
like a sanctuary for resident fishermen
thus earning itself the tag “Ilihan” or
“shelter” for the natives.
Rumor was that the cave was enchanted. A protection spirit
named Kurakog was said to steward the sanctuary. On most days,
“Kalarab”, a fair maiden, would linger by the islet, and as small-
town talk goes, she was intimately involved with the otherworldly
guardian. Like in every run-down pocketbook plot, humanity is
scandalized by an affair between two very different social orders.
Thus, Kalarab’s parents hosted an engagement for her with some
other random mortal. This made the girl distraught to the extent
that she jumped off the cliff of Karangkawan. The tragedy enraged
Kurakog. The spirit went berserk and set off a destructive rampage
that demolished Bagamanoc’s beautiful cove.
Sole evidence of the violence remains upright to this day.
As if Kurakog was honestly isolating himself from the ingrates who
stole his love away, the land bridge has also been swallowed up by
the sea. Having lost their “Ilihan”, residents have noticed the ruins’
resemblance to a penis, so they credited the exotic formation to the
spirit by giving it the name “Boto ni Kurakog” or “Kurakog’s Penis”.
Meanwhile, on the island of Karangkawan, opposite Kurakog’s
pillar, a cave molded like female genitalia turned up. Today, people
call it “Bubot ni Kalarab” or “Kalarab’s Golden Ticket ”. One can
only come up with so many theories for such a sensational event. If
you may, go figure.
Veteran Bagamanocnons claim that incantations still
surround the former sanctuary. Feathery stories of subasko taking
place roundabout Kurakog’s lair, while the rest of the sea is calm as
chamomile tea, are popular to the townspeople. The fortress is also
rumored to stand upon an underwater cave which hosts a garden
of fishes, which seem to never follow cyclical migration. The balete
shrub that lives at the peak of Kurakog’s majesty has allegedly
survived evergreen despite the inhospitable saltwater.
Legend also has it that hugging Kurakog’s tower of
strength would give the same effect as participating in Obando’s
Fertility Rites. Obando, Bulacan is known for accommodating
wishes for childless couples through seasonal dance fests. During
town fiestas, at Ilihan Point, local officials install a bulky basket
into which tourists of every civil status can pitch a chicken egg that
supposedly embodies wishes they want realized through Kurakog’s
blessings.
Effective Promotion
As reported by Catanduanes Tribune, in 2005,
Mayor Odilon Pascua, along with Bagamanoc’s Comite de Festejos,
implemented an official date for a town fiesta that coincided with
the town’s foundation day. Currently, the town’s theme shouts
to “strive” and to “soar”. The motto is a call for unyielding
unanimity and fortitude among the townsfolk against life’s
frequent devastations. This is exercised through the Manok-
manok Festival’s promotion of the town’s tourism, which
will hopefully open job prospects for the locals.
The celebration runs from June 1st through the 13th,
which allows tourists more time to indulge.
For the 2009 fests, the program included
the Kuyas-kuyas street dance, wherein different
barangays participated prepped up in innovative
costumes that represented their wards; the first
Binibining Bagamanoc beauty pageant; Toraokan,
an amateur singing competition; Kuruyasan, a
seven-day cockfight series that peaked with a Royal
Rumble and derby; Kurit, a mural painting contest;
Pababor, a job fair; Panamit, a food fair that staged
exotic recipes and specials from each barangay;
and several more events designed to showcase
Bagamanoc’s inherent beauty that seems rooted to
its residents’ celebration of their traditions.
Throughout the festivities, the
organizers have secured scheduled “Fertility
Trips” for tourists who wish to experience
a doze of physical intimacy with
their famed landmark.
8 Feature Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009

Sword unsheathed, Bagamanoc aims to satisfy with its

long beachwalks & hard earning enterprise.

For P100, one can hire a boat trip along with a guide
to grace him with Kurakog stories galore. Through
an arrangement, the trip may be extended to visiting
Kalarab in the nearby island of Karangkawan, or the
Luyang Resort, where Luyang Cave (another cavern
that looks like a parody of private anatomy) sits
opposite Ilihan Point.
In a personal interview with Vice-mayor Juan
Velchez Jr., he remarked that while Fertility Island may
allude to the ring of outlandish tourist spots found in
Bagamanoc, the term specifically tags Kurakog’s islet,
which has become a celebrity that earned the town a
fair amount of tourists annually.
Living Asia, a 24-hour travel-oriented
Philippine networking company, has featured
Catanduanes in one of its broadcasts. Kurakog’s Penis
was made known as a place of interest. According to
Velchez, the local government needs to aim for that
much of an effective endorsement in order for the
municipality to establish the island a reputation that
can overshadow neighboring traveler magnets. As
the present trend among political regions continue to
include the investment of LGUs in tourism, the vice-
mayor feels it would be hard to compete among rivals,
especially those of the same region, for the sponsorship expansion include the installment of floorboards around the islet to
of the national and provincial government. serve as a dock for visitors to take a stroll around or even touch the
Velchez, chairman of the municipality’s enchanted yet earthy phallus. As for the accommodation of guests from
executive committee for tourism , stated that whereas far-flung galaxies, the committee is designing a home-staying program,
the local government of Bagamanoc has started wherein private houses, pre-inspected by authorities, will provide
investing in tourism on 2005, promotions only received lodgings for tourists while securing profits earned from the rental.
more priority on 2007. For the meantime, plans for the Risk and waste management would be covered by the flood of job and
development of the Kurakog landmark as a tourist business opportunities that would be opened should the plans achieve
spot are as they are: proposals. Propositions for the
 Feature
Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009
9
maturity. Hope rests on the promise of a 2010 engagement with the
Department of Tourism.
At present, guests can only be offered Bagamanoc’s naked
and untainted hospitalities, which are probably already temptations
in themselves. For what it’s worth, maybe some curious adventurer
would find that the thrill lies in the prospect of a more sophisticated
Bagamanoc that challenges its easy yet intriguing essence.

Getting There
While an assignment to cover landforms shaped like
abnormally large reproductive parts wasn’t really a job we expected
as correspondents, we did enjoy our “Boto ni Kurakog” excursions
enough to visit thrice. In that sense, I feel the need to relates a few
valuable tips we wish we knew before we trudged off to Wonderland
so hastily.
For our first trip to Bagamanoc, we took the bus. The first
Virac-Bagamanoc trip leaves in the morning at any time between
8:00 and 8:30. The terminal can be found just before the entrance
to Virac Port. Bus rates operate at P70.00 per passenger. Based
from experience, I feel that I need to encourage first-time goers into
mentioning the complete traditional name of the famed islet any
chance they feel the need to ask for directions. “Fertility Island” is
not yet an established pseudonym for the famed landmark, and
locals still call it “Boto ni Kurakog” or “Kay Kurakog”. I warn the
careless that they might find themselves dropped off at a different
town and about to take a boat to a completely different island.
On a different note, taking the bus is not a tourist’s
only option. The road to Bagamanoc is laden with price finds for
panoramas. Public transport doesn’t provide passengers the comfort
of stopping over for spur-of-the-moment photo ops at the heights of
a mountain range nor does it give them the treat of posing before
some spontaneous waterfall. It does not allow commuters to relish
the sight of acres of a nipa plantation nor does it encourage them to
contemplate on the contrast of the dark of water against the red of
clay. With five tempting towns to cross, each capable of luring you
into detouring, getting your own vehicle isn’t a bad deal. Of course, magnetite-rich shore is necessary. Scheduled boat
this is to say you would probably need to drag a number of friends trips to Ilihan Point only run throughout the festival
with you. For what it’s worth, if you wish to enjoy a tour with a dates, but the town’s humble fishermen might kindly
maxed out itinerary, bring your own wheels or rent one for a day. offer visitors a ride for a rental of P200, all heads
Expected time of arrival is between two to three hours from counted but within the boat’s capacity.
time of departure. The harbor, as well as Kurakog’s famous package Boat secured, trippers can now choose
can already be observed from the town proper. Still, a hike through the luxury of sailing towards whichever bizarre
the crumbly seawall right by the Municipal Hall and towards the landmark they wish to visit first. However, for
trippers disinclined to boating, Costa Marina resort
at Barangay Bacak proposes a fair rendezvous for a
satisfactory view of Ilihan Point.
For last pointers, I can only hope to urge
Ilihan’s visitors to stay attuned to their senses during
the experience worth it. There are these little quirks
of the island, and probably, of the people that are
so subtle and yet so precious that one could easily
mistake a treasure for a farce just over the slight
hesitation to indulge. The town flaunts this ordinary
unevenness found in most provincial landscapes, yet
it is amplified in a one-horse town like Bagamanoc.
It is something weirdly beautiful or beautifully
weird, yet it is a vibe the deeply religious residents
encourage. For visiting commuters, be warned that
the last trip to Virac leaves at two in the afternoon
and the town has hardly, if not none, any inns.
By any chance, can the alienating feeling be
linked to the locals’ virtue of faith? Although this is
not to state that faith is always illusive, it’s just that,
as Blaise Pascal would have it, Faith certainly tells
us what the senses do not, but not the contrary of what
they see; it is above, not against them. In Bagamanoc,
stories write themselves, and it’s all due. With much
strange and foreign allure in the environment, one
may be allowed to assume that there could only be
too much faith to go around.

10 Features
Triumph of
ELITISM An aristocracy in the making guised as hope cast on “liberal reformism”
H
ow interesting it was
- the sudden twist
of events brought
about by the highly
sensationalized death
of the revered “democracy icon”,
former President Corazon Aquino
- to our country’s politics, which by
then was already being marred with
overflowing bold ambitions for the
upcoming Presidential polls.
It was just recently that the talk
was all about whom among the aspirants
from the opposition shall stand up to lead
its fragmented ranks and different winged-
parties towards a victorious conquest of
the Presidency. The administration on the
other hand, is desperately scouting for
a viable candidate who could at least be
possibly acceptable to the people, owing to
the incumbent President’s unpopularity.
Then suddenly, the thought of
encouraging Cory’s only son and martyred
husband Ninoy Aquino’s namesake,
Benigno III, or Noynoy, to try the
Presidency was floated. It was the same
pattern to her mother who served as the
unifying persona over a similar situation
of the then political opposition in standing
up against the dictatorship in the contest
for the Presidency.
The Filipino middle class,
whether due to their soft-heartedness or
great admiration for both the dictator’s
martyred arch-rival and his wife,
converted all the sympathies towards
the mourning family. Then, the empathy
turned into a flood of committed support
for a political movement.This saintly lady
figure took her husband’s mantle against
the dictatorship and eventually led the
country after its collapse. Or maybe just
simply out of desperation towards a better
leadership to replace the present corrupt
autocratic regime.
But with emotions blinding
reason, they pathetically failed to look
at the fact that Cory failed to deliver
the much needed reforms towards the
betterment of the nation. Cory was the first
of the post-EDSA Presidents who saw the
continued deterioration of the country,
worsened steadily by her successors,
notably by the incumbent who served as a
member of the former’s cabinet.
They also forgot her own lapse
of judgment over the issue of agrarian
reform, which her administration
ironically claims as its legacy. The
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program
was enacted into law but miserably failed
to materialize until now due to the lack
of will to implement it, owing to their
eudalistic backgrounds.
Both their revered late couple
belongs to the same class of feudal
landlords especially the lady who belongs
to the renowned Cojuangco clan who
owns Hacienda Luisita. Elite and rich,
it is sad to note that they did nothing to
alleviate the living standards of the masses
during their hold to power which could
have made a big difference at present.
It is also strikingly insulting that
they looked unknowingly fooled by those
presently propelling Noynoy’s candidacy
to the belief that the latter is the country’s
only viable hope for change and reform.
But then, the neophyte senator’s records in
Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009
congress shows a lackluster performance.
He did not produce a single bill that was
turned into law nor had any specific
project for his constituents, especially that
of the underprivileged, for his last 9 years
in the lower house and nearly 2 years in
the Senate.
Noynoy also lacks a specific
agenda for his administration, merely
banking on the popularity of his departed
parents and her sister-actress, Kris
who’s her own following of showbiz
personalities and fans and are likely
to catch huge number of votes. Such is
pathetic nature of the Filipino electorate
to vote--not by the candidate’s quality
and capacity but rather by popularity and
fame.
Looking further at the other
candidates who earlier threw their hats
in the presidential derby, none them has
earned enough right to identify themselves
with the masses. Not even the self-
proclaimed “Mr. Sipag at Tiyaga”, Senator
Villar who is undoubtedly more than
willing to spend all his riches in producing
campaign ads that portrays his beginnings
as a poor boy in the slums of Tondo. It is
such a pathetic effort to win the sympathy
of the underprivileged who commands a
lion’s share of the electoral cake.
It is not too surprising that the
masses would rather welcome and support
former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada’s
determined attempt of reclaiming
Malacañang. He unprecedentedly won
in the 1998 Presidential polls mandated
by no less than 11 million votes, mostly
from class C, D and E. Despite his fall
from power after the successful elitist

Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009
NEW FACES FOR THE OLD ELITE NAMES: Cojuangcos, front runner Noynoy
Aquino and administration bet Gilbert Teodoro; Madrigal clan’s celebrated
heiress, Jamby; Fil-American ex- freeport administrator Dick Gordon.
EDSA People Power 2, demonization
and humiliation of his successor through
his incarceration, trial and conviction
as plunderer, the masa’s faith in him
remained unshaken.
Though it is with high doubts
that Erap’s bid will not be contested by
his opponents. They are most likely to
gang up on him to put him out of the
race by citing legal technicalities for his
disqualification. This is an issue which
is expected to be dragged up to the
Supreme Court for final decision, but
while no petition is being filed, he would
still be part of the campaign circus. He
still notably remains a formidable force
to reckon with, especially in the hearts
and minds of the poor who forever
acknowledge him as their champion.
The likes, backgrounds and
nature of the other aspirants namely
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro,
Senators Richard Gordon, Jamby Madrigal,
Evangelist Eddie Villanueva, Councilor
JC de los Reyes and Environmentalist
Nicanor Perlas are almost the same. They
come from well-heeled families. They
never experienced having empty stomachs
or work for their everyday meal. It is
empirical to predict that the masses would
never find themselves epitomized by any
of these names, closing the serious contest
between the three.
Interestingly, Teodoro, is a
member of the Cojuangco clan and cousin
of Noynoy, Gordon and Delos Reyes,
being uncle and nephew, are of the same
American ancestry; Jamby is a member of
Features
11
the rich Spanish-Visayan Madrigal family;
Bro. Eddie, himself owns a TV network
and even the relatively unknown Perlas, is
a son of a well-to-do former public utility
administrator.
Many new factors are considered
to be significant in the coming polls.
Among others, the age factor, where the
Article: Ferdinand Camilo Kimura Page Design: Ruzzel Valdepeña Photos: Google Images
youth population (ages 18-30) comprises
almost more than 60% of the electorate.
The factor of party machineries and local
support bases’ strength and effects of
sudden maneuvers, like party and alliance
shifting among political turncoats is also to
be considered. The usual ones are forever
to stick to the infamous 3G’s: guns, goons
and gold.
Yet the chilling thoughts of
election failure due to shift from the
manual to automated system, sinisterly
lingers haunts. The election machines to
be used for the coming polls are still being
manufactured by the company tapped
by the government to take charge of the
automated process. And with barely five
months left, the total number of machines
produced does not even reach half of the
total number of all the polling precincts in
the country. The COMELEC stubbornly
refuse the idea of partial-automation
or reverting back to manual polling as
fallback options.
That will most likely keep the
female pygmy to the throne in a Palace
near the murky river.
It also catches one’s interest that
the parodical filing of more than eighty
(80) nuisance candidates for the Presidency
of the Republic is ironic and reflects
12 Features Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009

EPITOME OF THEIR STRUGGLE: unwavering

faith of the masses for Joseph Estrada, their
revered champion evident in his provincial
sorties.

FACES OF THE NOVEAU RICH: Home-builder realtor Manuel Villar and Evangelist cum TV network
the common people’s despair over the owner Eddie Villanueva had their self-made riches while both the virtually unknown conservative
prevailing system. Adding insult to the moralist JC delos Reyes and Environmental activist Nicanor Perlas, traces themselves from well-
injury is the deeply rooted public distrust endowed familes.
to our electoral system and the COMELEC.
Nevertheless the coming election This is the painful truth we are to
has changed. The elite only changed face -- the prevailing status quo of the elite
is nothing more but like a mere fireworks
their personas from mestizos, caciques, while in continued betrayal and mockery
display of the people’s ill-fated hopes for
hacienderos to the present day alta of the masses.
change and betterment of their lives. It
sociedad who rule the nation -- from the This is the travesty of our
will give nothing but a split seconds of
government, the economy, the church and democracy.
sparkling lights, only to fade away, with
to the very aspects of our everyday lives. Enough of casting hopes in
the reality that none of these aspirants are
The Philippine democracy is personalities. It is up to us to bring the real
agents of the change but mere adherents
that of a tired one. The people have long change.
of the prevailing status quo. They are out
resigned to the hope that the government
to gamble up everything to protect their
will uplift their lives. Yet they still cast
selfish interests within the context of the
hopes on to so-called “leaders” whom they
present system.
can identify with as one of them. They
While we were made to believe
would dramatically hold on to this faith,
that we are in a democratic society guided
unto the prevailing system brought by
with equality, freedom, truth justice
imperialists to fool them continuously.
and popular will, we are indeed in such
We are being fooled by this
a travestied reality, in an elitist society
charade of being a so-called “democracy”.
where a continuing class struggle is still
It is nothing but the prevailing status quo
being waged by the masses to achieve
of elitism where the rich and the powerful
genuine reform and change.
completely holds control of everything.
Since the era of foreign
None of the principles of democracy is
colonization to the so-called independence
to be shared to common man and the
era, pre-martial law era, new society era,
poor alike. None but the indulgence of
post-EDSA era to the present, nothing
suffering, hunger and poverty.

Overview- The Philippine
General Elections
The Presidential, legislative
and local elections in the Philippines
will be on May 10, 2010, Monday.
Whoever will be the elected President
will become the 15th President of the
Republic, succeeding Gloria Macapagal-
Arroyo, who is barred from seeking
re-election due to term restrictions. If
current Vice-President Noli De Castro
should not retake office, his successor
will be the 15th vice president of the
Philippines. The legislators elected in the
2010 elections will join the senators of
the 2007 polls and will comprise the 15th
Congress of the Philippines.
However, elections may be
suspended, held in advance or delayed
in some places that may be declared
hotspots due to conflicts.
The 2010 election will be
administered by the Commission on
Dos mil dies:
It is time to start the
countdown.
Elections in compliance with the Republic
Act No. 9369 also known as the Amended
Computerization Act of 2007. This will
be the first national automated election in
the history of the Philippines.
General Issues
According to the Omnibus
Election Code, Article 1, Section 3,
the election and campaign period for
Presidential and Vice-Presidential
Campaign is 90 days before
election date.
Most of the Trapos
have already concocted
their strategies
which
was
started
almost
a year
ago.
Political ads are now being aired through
various media channels. But no matter
how good or how early their political
ads are, let us be aware that premature
campaign is against the law. The only
problem is, the law does not state
what the consequences would be if the
candidates disobey this ruling. This
happened in past elections and it will
always will. Anybody can complain but
there are no appropriate actions from the
Comelec.
On the other hand, in a decision
dated December 2, 2009, the Supreme
Court ruled that appointive officials
seeking positions in the elections need
not resign from their post, striking down
Section 4(a) of COMELEC Resolution
8678, Section 13 of Republic Act 9369, and
Section 66 of the Omnibus Election Code,
as unconstitutional for being disinclined
of the equal protection clause and for
being overbroad.
The Year We Make Contact
This decision from the Supreme
Court will be the one to rule. Hopefully,
these appointive officials who are
aspiring for positions have their own
platforms made for the welfare of the
people, not for themselves alone.
Election-related political
violence
Prior to the end of the filing of
certificates of candidacy, the Comelec has
anticipated several areas to be declared as
“election hotspots”.
The political violence that
erupted in Maguindanao perhaps
awakened the sleeping justice in the
Philippines from its frozen nightmares.
On November 23, 2009,
the entourage of the wife of Buluan,
Maguindanao Mayor Esmael
Mangudadatu, who is running for
provincial governor, including journalists
and human rights lawyers, were
mercilessly abducted and killed in the
Ampatuan’s town. (www.abs-cbn-news.
com).
It is said to be the worst political
violence in Philippine history and it is
condemned worldwide.
For this reason, citing Section
18, Article 7 of the Constitution, PGMA
placed Maguindanao under Martial Law
in preparation for the arrest of several key
Article: Maribel Trinidad Page Design: Superbev
personalities implicated in the November
23 massacre. With this imposition of
Martial Law, the military temporarily took
over in running the provincial government
of Maguindanao.
Is it a solution or will just make
the situation more complicated? Is this
declaration constitutional and truly
promotes welfare of the Maguindanao
people?
There should be no more political
killings in some other part of the country
because if there is, the whole nation will be
declared under martial law.
Worst Nightmare
Failure of elections will be
the people’s worst nightmare if the
Comelec does not get its act together in
implementing the automation of the 2010
polls.
With no election, our country will
be politically devastated; all of us will be
swept in turmoil and dictatorship will be
installed.
However, the Comelec is
confident that automated elections will
take place. After all, it is their reputation
that is at stake here, not the people’s.
On the other hand, while
Comelec is conditioning the minds of the
people that there might be “no election’
in 2010, the administration congressmen
were doing the maneuvers by pushing
Charter Change and install President
Arroyo as prime minister.
Gloria filed her candidacy for
congress representing the second district
of Pampanga. PGMA said that she
realized, after much contemplation, she’s
not yet ready of stepping down from the
government service. It is possibly because
there are so many cases filed against her
which she will be facing once she stepped
down from her position. Now, she’s
intending to be the Prime Minister of the
Philippines. Worst nightmare for Filipinos
indeed.
Defying the Odds
We all need to be diligent
watchers. We must continue to defy this
nightmare brought by the commander-in-
chief. We must choose the lesser evil.
The judgment is coming. Hope is
approaching—this May 2010.
Let us now start the countdown.
5,4,3,2,1…
New look
A Quick Defiance on
Accreditation Fever

T
he show is about to start. The thrill permeates into the
dilated pores of naive bodies. The anticipation pervades
in the crowded gymnasium because of the multi-colored
dancer’s physique bared on the center stage. And when
the Hablon Dawani cultural dancers lined on both sides
of that center aisle, unfamiliar faces marched forward and laid their
back at front seats while the audience welcomed them with incessant
applause.
That was the fashioned-out rites of the welcome portion
during the opening ceremonies of Accrediting Agency of Chartered
Colleges and Universities of the Philippines Inc. survey visit. It was
too flamboyant for comfort bordering on overkill. It is as similar
to the atmosphere within the respective colleges evaluated by the
accreditors, due to huge overhaul sutured by the administration of
each department.
The status quo today is somewhat peculiar of yesterday.
Few days before the much-awaited accreditation, anticipated not by
the students but the faculty and personnel, places were not like what
we are seeing right now. They came, and everything gets done.
They came, and everything gets dressed and changed. They came,
and Catanduanes State Colleges turned into like a piece of heaven.
This may sound like too much exaggeration but this is the
truth. The truth is out there and no one can ever put it out of sight.
Our institution is supposed to be serving the banquet
for the studentry, not for the accreditors. Though accreditation
is a major stepping stone for the upliftment of the academe and
betterment of the students, still the administration clearly manifests
that the redecoration of the colleges assessed were merely for the
sake of accreditation. This institution was established not only to
satisfy the tongues and eyes of AACCUP, but they must exist for
the students and keep its head above the water to the unanswered
petitions and clamors of its clientele. That is what they have paid for

and that is what they deserve for. No one should
stand against the never-ending search for wisdom
and excellence.
We can never deny the fact that few
days prior and during the accreditation invasion,
the CSC was transformed into a long stretch
of conducive avenue for learning. All stuff we
have never seen before came from nowhere.
Something pleasing to the eyes of everyone
appeared. Painted buildings veiled the antiqued
walls. But these disguise can never cover the
concealed hemorrhage of mediocre, weak
instruction. For instance, a teacher, with a rank of
associate professor writes on the board, “enterprit”
(OMG! It should have been “INTERPRET”.) Imagine
she teaches future teachers. Anyway, the surface
is not the real score but the condition beneath.
Indeed, it’s a miracle, as the commercial of Coat
Saver says. How come they have not thought
about painting those dumb walls because it is
ugly, and not because visitors are expected to
come? Can accreditation correct mediocre teachers
too? How we wish we can also “re-decorate” and
improve teaching competencies. But wow, that’s a
cry for the moon.
To substantiate these talks, may I cite
some of the changes in the colleges visited by the
accreditors.
The College of Health Sciences shocked
their students, and I hope the accreditors too,
because of the renovated simulation room
equipped with new instructional materials for the
return demonstrations of the students. The picture
inside is a resemblance of a first class hospital.
Come and be confined. Thanks to the accreditors.
The College of Education has its new
façade, with their new array of landscape.
Comfort rooms were lighted and fragranced. The
college suddenly became an eco-friendly school
due to the surprising growth of plants. Walls
turned from gray into white. Education students
must be proud of their new edifice. Give thanks
to the accreditors.
The College of Industrial Technology,
boasted their researches. Unknown to the
concern of the accreditors, one output there
was researched by CIT students and claimed by
professors as their own. That is what you call
intellectual thievery. They matched the glaze of
CoEd building as they also brushed their walls
with white paint. The beautification is contagious.
Extend your thanks to the accreditors.
And another trash to excavate.
Why does the faculty has just only
furnished and compiled pertinent documents?
Well, because it was required by the AACCUP.
This may be their sweetest perfect alibi. But it
was obvious. Accreditation runs this school and
dictates what the faculty must do when they
come. These documents must always be in the
stockpile of every college. It doesn’t matter
whether AACCUP investigators will troop to the
crime scene or not.
The bottom line of these entire role-
playing is merely a crime of sabotage and
hypocrisy. The evidences were already hidden.
A false re-enactment was performed, which is in
contrast with what the administration has been
doing for how many years. Is this what we call
excellence?
How I wish there would be a surprise
accreditation.
How I wish everyday would be
accreditation.
Accreditation is now over. Hypocrisy is
now also over. And as we wait for their verdict,
again, we’re back to basics. But their evanescent
foray leaves traces that cannot be erased by
oblivion, reminding us that we once lived in a
“bandage system”.
Article: Jann Marvin Posada
Photo: Bren Garette Rivera
Page Design: Ruzzel Valdepeña
 Investigative
16 Journ
Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009

G
arbage is normally not an interesting subject
in a discussion. The word itself is polluted,
grimy, stinky, and generally unpleasant. Yet
when huge cash, millions to be definite, and your
future perfume the rubbish, are you still going to

E
cover your nose?

R
CY
CLE

Probing the
P75 M
Garbage
din
Article: John Elmar Templonuevo
Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009
Shout out
It was early September this year when the garbage
hullaballoo started to amplify in the province particularly in the
island’s capital, Virac. The commotion is about the 75 million pesos
loan of the said municipality for its project of converting its 2.19
hectare open dumpsite at Barangay Casoocan, Virac to a sanitary
landfill. Streamers and banners saying “75 M Loan sa Basura,
Ibasura” and other statements opposing the move turned out to
be the shout out of streets and highways in the poblacion. Yet for
most, the ruckus is still blurred.
Triggered Move
The idea of the project was born as early as July 20, 1995
when the Sangguniang Bayan of Virac passed the Municipal
Resolution No. 95-7-041 authorizing the municipal mayor to
negotiate for the purchase of land to be used as sanitary landfill,
including the approximately 350 L.M access road. On August 15 of
the same year, a Deed of Absolute Sale transferred the ownership
of the lot at Barangay Casoocan (where the proposed Sanitary
Landfill will be established) to LGU Virac.
As defined by Philippine Brown Environment, a sanitary
landfill or SLF is a well-engineered, well controlled land disposal
sites for solid, non hazardous waste where delivered wastes are
spread and compacted in layers a few feet thick. At least once a day,
the wastes are covered with a layer of earth and then compacted
again. Proper leachate or the contaminated liquid seeping through
the landfill and gas management is also provided in its facility.
For 14 years however, the site, which is 10 km from
the downtown, served not as a sanitary landfill but an open
dumping area, the very norm of disposal. Here, solid wastes are
indiscriminately thrown without due planning and consideration
for environmental and health standards.
By November 21, 2005, LGU Virac already received
a Notice of Violation from Environment Management Bureau
followed by a cease and desist order for the operation of the said
dumpsite on December 19 that year.
As stipulated in Section 37 of RA 9003 otherwise known
as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 which is
the law that governs the management of solid waste in a system
that will pose the least environmental and health impacts, no
open dumps shall be established and operated, nor any practice
or disposal of solid waste by any person, including LGUs, which
constitutes the use of open dumps for solid waste, be allowed after
this act took effect which was on February 16, 2001.
The National Solid Waste Management Commission
(NSWMC) even sent a warning pursuant to the three-strike policy
that they issue which is Res. N0. 2005-05 and DENR DAO N0.
2006-09 to the LGU of Virac for its non compliance. DENR Chief
Lito Atienza already said that they will not allow the continuing
violations of RA 9003 and that they will file charges for the non
complying LGUs. An updated report from the NSWMC cites 931
non-complying LGUS nationwide and they have been issued with
warning letters by the DENR.
These scenarios prompted Councilor Delia Bagadiong,
Giovanni Balmadrid and Eulogio Talaran Jr. and majority of the
Sangguniang Bayan officials to push a resolution authorizing
Mayor Santos V. Zafe to enter into a loan agreement with the Land
Bank of the Philippines and approve the conversion of the open
dumpsite into an SLF in compliance with RA 9003. It was followed
by another resolution authorizing the mayor to negotiate with any
consulting firm to prepare a feasibility study for the project.
The aforementioned events somehow debunked the
rumors that the project is a mere show and only for the officials
sake since the poll is just months away.
Page Design: Ruzzel Valdepeña
17
Stinks and the strikes
Oppositions however were hurled against the project after
the feasibility study undertaken by Woodfields Consultants, Inc.
amounting for one million pesos was submitted on September 16,
2009 with the recommendation that the municipal government of
Virac must secure a 75 million pesos loan for the accomplishment
of the sanitary landfill.
Critics, headed by Councilor Lemuel Surtida and
DPWH Assistant District Engineer Gil Balmadrid together with
the baranggay officials, school principals and NGOs, said that
the study was full of errors and false assumptions and so the
municipal government must reconsider their decisions, evaluate
the study, and defer the loan until after the 2010 elections.
In the November 9, 2009 clarification meeting organized
by the municipal government to shed light on the issue, Balmadrid
questioned the title of the study and its content proposing the
establishment of a new landfill where in fact there is already an
existing dumpsite that is to be converted. He added that the study
does not even mention what would be done with the underlying
waste that had been dumped in previous years. This has raised
concerns that Woodfields simply lifted the contents from another,
similar study to comply with its obligation to the LGU.
A local newspaper reported that the opposition found it
strange for the researcher, who got the figures in only seven days,
to classify the site as "idle" land when official documents label it
as a dumpsite.
In our interview, Councilor Surtida declared that the 75
M pesos total project cost has no detailed program of work, scope
or estimate. There is an allotment of 16.5 M for equipment yet
the equipment to be purchased were not presented. “We already
have a bulldozer, loader, dump trucks, and garbage compactors.
Without the detailed estimate of the work, how did they come up
with the amount?”
The study also labeled the garbage to be delivered to
the proposed landfill as mixed waste and not residual waste
thus violating the landfill standards, the R.A 9003, and even the
Municipal Ordinance authored by Kagawad Giovanni Balmadrid
regarding the segregation of waste. The consultant’s proposal that
the garbage should be segregated at the landfill is in violation of
the law, opponents said.
In the research conducted by the USAID-assisted
Philippine Environmental Governance (EcoGov) Project on solid
waste generation in 2003, of the total solid waste generated by
local government units (LGUs), a little more than 60 percent are
biodegradable (can be composted), about 20 percent are recyclable
and only 2 percent are special wastes. Only about 18 percent are
residual wastes, or those that can neither be composted or recycled
and have to go to a dumpsite. This means that close to 80 % of
total waste need not to be brought on dumpsites or SLF.
Thus, the expected 8 tons per day garbage delivery from
Bato and San Andres towns is grossly over-estimated, leading
to rosy projections of P540,000 monthly income from the P3,600
tipping fee per ton, not including hauling cost, to be paid by the
said LGUs.
The recommendations of the mentioned study even
underscored that the Municipality of Virac should be assured of
the incoming waste of potential clients for garbage disposal to
maintain the operational expenses and gain revenues at the same
time. Unfortunately, the neighboring municipalities have already
enacted a resolution declining in this project. They have their own
dumpsites and would not likely to pay more than P10,000 a day
for the right of hauling their garbage to Virac’s SLF. Councilor
Surtida revealed that with the exclusion of Bato and San Andres,
the project will stand to lose and will surely be a failure.
He added that the P3,600 per ton tipping fee is so much
higher than the tipping fee in all other SLF in the Philippines
and even in Asia. If implemented, commercial establishments
and households in Virac would pay for the tipping fee on a 70-
30 sharing as the study considers the LGU to pay the fee for the
Photo: tumblr.com
 Investigative
18 Journ
garbage it would dispose of in its own landfill.
Opponents said in the local newspaper that even at the
break-even tipping fee of P2,291 per ton and break-even garbage
volume of 24 tons per day, businesses and households would have
to shoulder the amount of P54,984 per day or P1.6 million a month.
Stores alone, of which just over 1,000 are registered with the LGU
in 2009, would have to cough up an average of P1,150 per month
to pay for the privilege of having their trash hauled to the sanitary
landfill.
In the said clarification meeting, baranggay officials
appealed that another garbage fee is a heavy burden and will
be much more difficult to collect. They pleaded not to resort
automatically to a costly SLF if there is another cheaper option.
Councilor Surtida disclosed that there is indeed a cheaper
option which is the Semi-Aerobic Sanitary Landfill of Bolinao,
Pangasinan using Fuokoka Technology of Japan which is effective
and cost-efficient solution in proper disposal of wastes. Locally
available and indigenous materials like bamboo for secondary
leachate and venting pipes, steel drums and old tires were used
here thus the total estimated construction cost of the project was
only Php 1.678 million for two hectares of the landfill compared to
the 75 M pesos project for Virac.
The councilor also reasoned that DENR is giving a 40%
grant for such projects so the 75 M pesos project cost is really not
reasonable. “The price should be lesser,” he remarked.
Moreover, the councilor questioned why no public
hearing, in compliance with Chapter VII Section 51 of R.A. 9003,
was made earlier so the constituents will be informed of this
project.
Shielding reciprocates
On the other hand, Bids & Awards Committee (BAC)
chairman and municipal administrator Bernardino Abundo, Jr.
answered that there is no need for a public hearing because it is
merely a resolution and not an ordinance as stated in Republic Act
9184. This was also the clear reply of Mayor Santos V. Zafe during
the clarification meeting.
He defended that the study presented by the Woodfields
Consultants, Inc. is of course an estimate because it is only a
feasibility study. It was only made to know whether the project is
feasible. He said that the particulars of the project will be presented
in the EIA and Detailed Design costing an estimate of P7,000,000.
“If we have included the Detailed Design but later found
out that the project is not feasible, nagtapon lang tayo ng pera,”
said Abundo stressing that the details will be given if the project is
seen feasible.
He emphasized that the landfill is required by the law
and that it will generate income for the municipality because of
the tipping fee. “Bato and San Andres will still avail the hauling of
garbage in the SLF because there is a DENR provision that prohibits
the operation of dumpsites. Only SLF is allowed so they have no
choice.”
He also added that the 40% grant which the project
opponents are pointing out is not free and DENR will still be paid
after availing it.
Abundo even underscored that the 75 M pesos loan is
reasonable and the municipality can pay for it. TheBureau of Local
Government Finance already issued Virac last October 12, 2009
with a certification saying that its borrowing capacity is 76.437 M
pesos with 10 years repayment period, inclusive of 2 years grace
period and at 11% interest rate.
Furthermore, the municipal administrator said that the
constituents will not shoulder any payment. It will just be sourced
Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009
from the Internal Revenue Allotment and the 20% Economic
Development fund. He also assured that the allocation for other
projects will not be touched as an effect of this costly project.
Likewise, Oseas S. Alberto, Personnel Officer of LGU Virac and
the official who handled the Solid Waste Management of the
municipality for seven years said that the 75 M pesos cost is a result
of a scholarly study conducted by experts. It cannot be questioned
or reputed without presenting another study.
“We need the landfill because we have serious problem in
garbage,” Alberto who is said to be the first to propose the SLF
for Virac uttered.
He also corrected that the Bolinao SLF is a failure and
no longer a sanitary landfill but a mere dumpsite. Alberto and
Mayor Zafe personally visited the landfill to know whether it
can be applicable to Virac. “Bolinao’s is only serving 3 out of 30
Baranggays. Our landfill will serve 33 out of 63 Baranggays in
Virac and that is more than half. Which one is better?”
He also stated that the grand total cost of Bolinao SLF is
not 1.6 M but 2.7 M as confessed by the municipal government of
that place. “It is not an advisable option because it is very much
ordinary and it won’t last. We are serving the people so we should
deliver the best and not just the mediocre,” Alberto said, disputing
the critics’ claim that instead of an SLF why not pattern the project
to Bolinao’s.
Authority speaks
Sanitary Landfill is however not the best and practical
option recommended in disposing waste due to its high cost.
National Solid Waste Management Commission and Philippine
EcoGov released a proposal stating that cities that produce less
than 70 tons of waste per day can put up locally designed facilities
that are safer than controlled dumpsites, but not as stringent and
costly as landfills. Virac is a municipality that produces an estimate
of 19.68 or that is 20 tons a day and less than the advised ceiling.
They also stressed during the forum of the League
of Cities of the Philippines last July 14-15, 2009 that contrary to
common notion, sanitary landfills are, in fact, not mandatory.
What is mandatory is the closure of open dumpsites and that
alternative facility must have none of its characteristics.
A 2004-2005 EcoGov study also forwards that the volume
of residual waste generated by a single LGU does not warrant
individual investments in SLFs. It further suggests that clustering
of LGUs and having a central SLF where the client LGU pays a
certain fee may be the most viable option.
New battlefield
Now that the project is already approved and the Land
Bank of the Philippines loan is near to follow, for most of the
next seven years upon approval and release of the loan, Virac
would pay the Bank of about P13 million yearly, a huge amount
considering that its 20% Economic Development Fund for 2009 is
only P15, 280, 049.
Municipal Planning and Development Office (MPDO)
head Urgel Santelices cleared that if the payment will be sourced
from the 20% Economic Development Fund, there is a big
possibility that the allotment for other economic, social and general
and projects will be definitely touched for this major project.
BAC chairman Abundo already issued the Request for
Expression of Interest inviting potential bidders to apply for
short listing and submit eligibility documents for the project. He
blamed the critics for reacting and opposing instantly without
even knowing the true score behind the project. He said that the
World Bank, where the money will be borrowed, advised them not
Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009
19
Curtain Call
to bring out the project cost so the bidders will offer the lowest
price. He feared that bidders will surely level the price to 75 M This garbage issue wi
pesos since they know that there is a big budget. “If only there The hitch however is no ll absolutely diffuse
t just for them to battle its odor.
is no opposition in this loan, World Bank will not think twice in setback indeed will no or to solve. The
giving us a grant which they usually do,” Abundo ajoined. t smell this foul if we
to 0.5 Kg of solid waste , generator of 0.3
The opposition nevertheless filed a case in order to stop daily, manage our wa
wisely. Heck, what did ste properly and
the loan. They admitted that they are not against the sanitary our school taught us?
landfill. What they are against is the 75 M pesos loan for that
at could
landfill which they found unreasonable. Their manifesto asking w good money th
the municipality to reconsider their decision and was actually May we not thro .
oductively
signed by Bishop Manolo de los Santos, Governor Joseph Cua, have been used pr
school principals and teachers, NGOs, youth leaders, and co
ncerned citizens not only in Virac, was never given attention Garbage is no
t just garbage,
so they decided to bring the fight in court hoping for the best after all.
results.
Councilor Surtida said that there are actually so many
concerns that should be given the first priority. “With that 75 M
pesos loan, imagine the number of scholars, feeding program,
core-shelter or the houses for the poor, classrooms and computers
for schools, casual employees, and the kilometer of cemented road
we can have for the people. It’s a matter of recognizing one.”
20 Devcom
A Clamber to the
Spawned Commerce
Gravid berried crabs harvested at
one of the centers’ strategic location in
Palnab, Virac, Catanduanes.
A
Soaring to number of prohibited
practices on crab farming
have led to the alarming
New Heights depletion of crab species,
which are endemic in the province
Towards of Catanduanes. For the longest
time, illegal trading practices,
improper gathering, nursery
Progress operation and culture of crab larvae
pestered the ‘kinis’ or ‘an-it’ (local
name of mud crab) industry in the
island.
But a move to protect and
further develop this industry has
been laid. And this development
program is anchored on Provincial
Ordinance No. 004-2008 or
the ‘Implementing Rules and
Regulations for the Operation of
Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009
the Catanduanes Crab Center’. One
of the main features of this local
law is the curbing of the decade-
long illegal gathering, stocking
and trading of crablets outside the
provinces. Before this ordinance
was set in motion, the local crab
industry is unregulated. Traders
are forced to sell crabs at a very low
price.
The major offshoot of
the Provincial Ordinance is the
establishment of the Catanduanes
Crab Center at the Demonstration
Farm of the Bureau of Fisheries
and Aquatic located at Palnab
in Virac and at the Panganiban
Demonstration Fish Farm in San
Pedro, municipality of Viga. The
center is funded with three million

Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009
pesos and part of this appropriation
is the supply of crablets that may be
sourced by local fishpond operators
for crab production. They can also
be sold to fishpond operators if
there is an abundance of supply.
As provided for by the
Ordinance,the provincial or
municipal government will put
up seed money to buy the catch
of various gatherers in their
respective jurisdictions through
an accredited stocker, who in turn
shall sell the crab harvests to the
province at a profit determined
by the barangay or municipal
government concerned and the
provincial government. The
Thus, there is a need to provide for and adopt
rules and policies relative to the gathering,
nursery operation and the culture of the crab
larvae into crablet sizes...
accredited stockers or traders shall
only be authorized to buy within
the barangay or municipality on
the strength of the permit issued
by the municipal mayor.
The establishment of
the crab center aims to protect
and conserve the province’s
aquaculture industry and ensure
food sufficiency, sustain source
income and produce export
quality crabs. Illegal shipment of
crab larvae and crablets outside
the province is also expected to be
abated so the unique specie of crab
in the province will be protected as
well as its natural habitats. Local
operators will also learn scientific
crab farming, fattening and
marketing.
Aside from the
establishment of crab demo and
conservation farms, this project
will help local fishermen and
aquaculture operators to market
their produce.
Under this project, the
provincial or municipal LGU
will put up a fund to purchase
crablets collected by gatherers
in their jurisdiction, who in turn
shall sell the same to the province,
specifically at the crab center. The
concerned municipal LGU and
the provincial government will
determine the price. And in order
to regulate the local industry,
stockers or traders are required
to obtain accreditation from the
provincial government, through
the Crab Center Executive Board
(CCEB), which is the policy making
of the center. They must also pay
an accreditation fee of P1,500.00
and P215.00 for the governor’s
permit per year, renewable on
Article: Elvin Randolph Jubay with GSR Page Design: Ruzzel Valdepeña Photo: PGO-MIS
Devcom
21
or before January of every year.
Twenty pesos will be charged for
shipment of any volume of crabs.
To effectively monitor the source
and volume of crablets delivered, a
barangay transport permit shall be
required.
Gatherers could only trade
their catch to accredited stockers.
Correspondingly, the stockers
shall sell crablets only to the center
at the prevailing market price
plus mark-up representing LGU’s
incentives.
A cash reward of P500.00
will automatically be granted to
any fisherman, individual, group
or entity who captured or turned
over berried crabs to the center,
to authorized representatives or
designated person. The berried
or mature crabs must be alive,
healthy and capable of spawning.
Furthermore, the center
also stocks the required purchase
crablets including those that were
confiscated from illegal traders,
in modular cages or disposed to
fishpond operators based on the
need or stocking agency. The
center will award those who tip
about illegal crab trade. A cash
incentive equivalent to 20% of
the prevailing market value of the
recovered or confiscated crabs will
be provided to the informer.
The center will then release
berried crabs to the sanctuary or
natural habitat as identified to the
purpose.
The accreditation and
permit of any stockholder/trader
will be automatically cancelled if
found violating the ordinance.
The province provides
technical assistance to local crab
22 Devcom
Gatherers collecting crab larvae &
crablets then either store to the fishpond
or sell to accredited trader/stockers
farmers on the culture and
fattening of mud crabs through the
Office of Provincial Agriculturist
(OPAG). This is to ensure quality
and sustainability of the crab
industry in Catanduanes and to
supervise and monitor the CCEB
and OPAG.
As part of the plan to
distribute shares to LGU who are
sources of crablets, a 15% share
for the municipal and 10% for
the barangay of the net profit per
unit volume of crablets will be
distiibuted.
For January to October 2009,
a total of P195, 159.87 was already
awarded to nine municipalities
composed of Panganiban, Viga, Bato,
Caramoran, Baras, Bagamanoc, San
Andres, Pandan and Virac.
Panganiban posted the
highest received incentive at
99,035.85 followed by Viga (P52,
746.28) and Bato (5,022.22). Baras
and Pandan received incentives at
P276.17 and P835.18, respectively
and Caramoran’s (P23.90) share is
the lowest.
The month of June recorded
the highest percentage share given
to LGU’s at P37, 215.79. Again,
Panganiban topped the list of LGU’s
with biggest incentive earned.
During the period in review, the
month of March recorded the
lowest earning at P9, 931.61. Once
again, Panganiban is on the lead for
this season, bagging more than half
of the pie at P6, 327.98.
The month of May recorded
the second highest incentive earned,
with P30, 959.66 and September
with P21, 470.85. Earnings were
nil in the months of January (P10,
831.42) and February (P13, 190.48).
The Panganiban Fisherfolks
Association, located in Panganiban,
Catanduanes, got the biggest
percentage share for a barangay,
with P44, 516.05 followed by P28,
513.50 of Brgy. Sta. Rosa in Viga.
The barangays of Asuncion in Viga,
Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009
Concepcion and Cavinitan in
Virac had the lowest percentage
of share with P0.24, P0.03, P2.23,
respectively.
Even before, enterprising
Catandunganon’s are already
engaged in illegal trade of crab
larvae and crablets, in cahoots
with buyers in Luzon and Visayas.
This is despite the existence of
a provincial ordinance banning
the transport of, among others,
crab larvae and crablets outside
Catanduanes.
The illegal, though
lucrative trading practices were
detrimental to province’s crab
industry and ecology. Thus, there
is a need to implement rules and
policies relative to the gathering,
nursery operation and the culture
of the crab larvae into crablet sizes
for disposal or sale to legitimate
fishpond operators.
Most importantly,
depletion of very unique crab
species in the province and the
jeopardy of the livelihood of
legitimate fishpond operators are
very alarming. Therefore, this must
be given ample importance and
significance to fully develop this
lucrative industry in the province
and earn the tag of being the “crab
capital” of the Philippines.
Modular cages usually made of nylon
net & other indigeneous materials where
larvae will be reared until juvenile stage/
marketable size.
 10
20

Sa
Pag-usbong
ngMAYO
2010...

Dibuho at lapat: Ruzzel Valdepeña

24 Lathalain Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009

l a l a n
H a r a n
g a l a
B a g o n K a p
M
augong na maugong ngayon ang usapang eleksyon na tila isang sikat na telenovela kung saan
ang lahat ay nakatutok at walang kurap na nag-aabang sa mga susunod na eksena. Laman ito
ng balita at ng dilang pinoy sa kasalukuyan. Halos lahat yata kasi ay atat na atat na sa araw na
muling isisilang ang kapalaran ni Juan. Si Juan na hapo na sa sirang plaka n’yang kasaysayan, nakuba sa
bigat ng kawalan ng pagbabago, at sugatan sa kahirapang patuloy na lumalatigo sa kanya.
At habang palapit ng palapit ang itinakdang paghuhusga, habang unti-unting naaagnas ang
mga araw, lalo namang tumitindi ang pagtutok sa mga mangyayari. Ngunit ano nga ba ang bago at
kaabang – abang sa eleksyong darating sa bayan ni Juan?

Bagong Tugtugin, Bagong Sayaw

Ang eleksyon sa Mayo 10, 2010 ay tunay na makasaysayan dahil ito ang unang pagkakataon
na magpapaalam tayo sa mano-manong sistema ng botohan subalit yayakapin naman ang automated o
computerized na eleksyon.
Sa maraming halalan na nagdaan, lahat tayo ay nakatali sa mano-manong sistema ng pagboto
kung saan inaabot ng ilang linggo ang bilangan kung kaya’t sobrang laganap ang dayaan. Napakaraming
butas ng sistemang ito na pinagtiyagaan natin sa pagkatagal-tagal na panahon. Marami na rin ang nahalal
dahil sa pagmamaniobra nito.
Ngayon, full automation na o lahat ay computerized na sistema na ang magsisilbi sa atin sa
paparating na halalan. Ito ay batay sa Republic Act 9369 o ang Amended Automated Election System
Law na pinamatnugutan ni Senador Richard Gordon. Sa pambansang batas na ito, tuluyan ng binabasura
ang paggamit ng lumang sistema. Ayon sa senador, sa modernong sistemang ito, malalabanan natin ang
pakyawang dayaan na kaakibat ng bawat eleksyon dito sa Pilipinas.
Nakalululang 11.3 billion ang alokasyon ng pamahalaan sa pagbabagong ito ng sistema ng
eleksyon. Napakalaking taya alang-alang sa malinis na halalan. Malaking porsyento ng halagang ito
ay ibabayad sa Smartmatic International at Total Information Management Corp. at sa mga gagamiting
makinarya, una na d’yan ang Precinct Optical Scan (PCOS) machines.
Ang dalawang nabanggit na kompanya ay kabilang sa sampung grupo ng mga bidder na sinala
ng Comelec sa ilalim ng 26 na standards ng automated election.
Sila ang nagwagi sa bidding kung kaya’t sila ang pangunahing
magpapatakbo ng sistema. Samantalang humigit-kumulang
80,000 PCOS naman o ang makinang gagamitin sa halalan na
susi daw sa mabilis at mapagkakatiwalaang resulta ng mga
boto, ang ipapakalat sa buong bansa.
Ngunit, marami pa rin ang duda at natatakot
sa maaaring kalabasan ng eleksyon sa 2010 gamit
ang automation. Ayon mismo kay Senador Francis
Escudero, ang Amerika ay limampung taon ng
gumagamit ng sistemang ito ngunit hindi pa
rin napeperpekto tapos tayo ay bigla-biglang
makikisabay sa agos ng wala man lang masusing
pag-aaral at pagsubok dito. Dagdag nya, hindi
raw sapat ang testing na nangyari sa ARMM
election noong nakaraang tao. Ang ikinakatakot
hindi lamang ng senador kundi ng karamihan
ay baka mas maging pakyawan pa ang dayaan
sa bagong sistemang ito. Mula sa mano-manong
dayaan ay baka maging automated na rin daw
ang lagay. Kulang rin daw sa kaalaman ng
nakararaming botante sa modernong prosesong
ito kung kaya’t baka maraming pagkakamali
ang mangyari.

Panulat: Elmar Templonuevo Dibuho: John Theli Bien Lapat: Superbev

 Lathalain
Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009
25
Pinabulaanan naman ni Comelec ay nagsilbing congressman ng Las Pinas impeachment bunsod ng kanyang mga
Chairman Jose Melo na handa sila sa mula 1992 hanggang 2001 bago naging kasong korapsyon. Ang dating nakulong
pwedeng mangyari. Ang mga makina senador. Matatandaang siya ang unang na pangulo na napalaya dahil sa executive
aniya ay mahirap madaya base na rin mambabatas na nakapagpaimpeach ng pardon ay muling idadala ang kanyang
sa awtoridad na humahawak nito. Pero presidente – si Erap. Partido ng Masang Pilipino kasama ang
pinapanawagan pa rin nya ang maiging Pambato naman ng bise presidente n’yang si Makati Mayor
pagbabantay. Samantala ay patuloy parin administrasyon at ng partidong Lakas- Jejomar Binay.
sila sa pagbibigay ng voter’s education Kampi si dating Secretary of National Ang pinuno ng Philippine
para sa kaalaman ng mga tao sa proseso Defense Gilbert Teodoro na nanguna National Red Cross, dating Secretary of
ng eleksyon. sa pag-aksyon ng minsang manalanta Tourism, at dating Mayor ng Olonggapo
Tunay ngang masyado nang ang bagyong Pepeng at Ondoy. Si Gibo na si Senador Richard Gordon ay tatakbo
mapait ang kasaysayan para patugtugin Teodoro, na nanungkulang mambabatas rin sa pagkapangulo katuwang si MMDA
pang muli. ng unang distrito ng Tarlac mula 1998 Chairman at dating Marikina Mayor
hanggang 2007 ay isang matagumpay na Bayani Fernando sa ilalim ng partidong
abogado at pinalad na makapag-aral sa Bagumbayan.
Mga Bagong Mukha Harvard Law School . Kabalikat n’ya ang Sa pangalawang pagkakataon
Panibagong lista na naman ng mga artista,TV host, at dating chairman ng din, isusulong muli ni Bro. Eddie
manok ang magsasabong sa seryeng ito ng Optical Media Board na si Edu Manzano Villanueva ng Jesus is Lord Movement
eleksyon. Lahat ay may kanya-kanyang bilang kanyang Pangalawang Pangulo. at ng kanyang Bangon Pilipinas ang
masasabi sa kung paano itatayo ang bansa. Hindi man siya bagong mukha pagsungkit sa pagkapangulo. Tatakbo sa
Lahat ay marunong mangharana ika nga sa labanang ito, susubukan namang muli ilalim nya bilang bise si Perfecto Yasay,
para masungkit ang pinakamataas na ni dating pangulong Joseph Estrada na dating Securities Exchange Commision
pwesto sa gobyerno. May mga bago, may makuha ang kanyang dating pwesto (mula Chairman.
dati na, at may nagbabalik. Sila ang mga 1998 hanggang 2001) matapos s’yang Kabilang pa sa karera ang batang
mukhang pagpipilian. mapatalsik ng EDSA Dos noong pambato ng Ang Kapatiran Party na
Nangunguna sa listahan maging 2001 dahil sa kanyang
sa mga survey ng pagkapangulo ngayon
si Senador Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino
na humatak ng 44 % na suporta mula sa
bayan sa huling labas ng Pulse Asia Survey
nitong Oktubre. Ang pambatong ito ng
Liberal Party ay ang tanging anak na lalaki
ng dating Pangulong Cory at ng dating
Senador Ninoy Aquino na kinikilalang
bayani ng demokrasya sa bansa. Siya
ay naging congressman muna ng
pangatlong distrito ng Tarlac mula
1998 hanggang 2007 bago naging
senador. Kaakibat niya ang kanyang
bise presidente na si Senador Mar Roxas
na siyang una sanang pambato ng
nasabing partido.
Pumapangalawa naman kay
Noynoy si Senador Manny Villar na
sinasabing pinakamayamang senador
sa Pilipinas dahil sa kanyang asset
na umaabot sa 1.4 bilyon. Dala
n’ya ang bandilang Nacionalista
kasama si Senador Loren Legarda
bilang bise. Si Villar
26 Lathalain
si JC de los Reyes na Councilor ng Olonggapo at gayundin ang
Filipino activist na si Nicanor Perlas III ng Partidong Marangal na
Sambayanan.
Ang mga nabanggit ang pangunahing kandidato
sa pagkapangulo at pangalawang pangulo maliban sa iba
pang nagpasa ng certificate of candidacy sa Comelec. Sila ang
pinakatinitingala at pinakainaabangan ngayon dahil isa sa kanila
ang susunod na magiging pinuno ng ating bansa at inaasahang
aahon kay Juan sa kadahupan.
At sa kultura ng eleksyon, sila ay inaasahang magpapasikat
ng husto, magpapabango, at magpapagalingan upang maakit ang
ating mga boto.
Bagong Angkas
Milyun-milyon naman ang bagong angkas sa biyaheng
halalan 2010 at sila ay walang iba kundi ang mga kabataan at ang
mga bagong botante. Ipinahayag ng COMELEC na matapos ang
huling araw ng pagpapatala noong nakaraang Oktubre 31, mga
siyam na milyon ang mga bagong rehistrong boboto sa Mayo. Ang
bilang na ito ay fraksyon din sa 60 porsyentong boboto na nasa
bracket 18 taong gulang hanggang 40. Ang bilang na ito ay mas
madami kumpara sa mga nakaraang eleksyon.
Ayon kay Kabataan Partylist Representative Raymond
Palatino, napakalaki ng potensyal ng pwersang kabataan sa
darating na halalan. Ang malaking bilang na ito ay posible
ng umukit ng kalalabasan ng eleksyon. Kailangan lamang ay
magkaisa ang lahat at maging matalino dahil sa kabilang dako,
ang lakas ng potensyal ng kabataan sa pagbabago ay maari din
maging lakas ng potensyal sa panibagong pagkakamali.
“Tayo pa rin naman ang sinabi ni Rizal na pag-asa ng
bayan,” dagdag pa ni Palatino na tatakbo naman bilang senador.
Malaki ang inaasahan ngayon sa pwersang kabataan na
isa sa mga pangunahing magdidikta ng kalalabasan sa darating
na halalan.
Bagong Nasyonalismo
Samantala ay umusbong naman ang bagong nasyonalismo
ngayon sa pangunguna at panggigising ng media at ng iba pang
organisasyong humihikayat sa bawat Pilipino na magkaroon
aktibong paglahok sa eleksyon.
Sinabi ni ABS-CBN senior vice president
for news and current affairs Maria Ressa na
kailangan nang baguhin ang tradisyonal na
pulitika sa ating bansa at mangyayari ito
kung lahat ay magiging gising, hindi mag-
mamaang-maangan, at kikilos para labanan
ang sakit ng ating pulitika.
Matatandaang sinusulong ng nasabing
istasyon ang Boto Mo, Ipatrol Mo na humihikayat sa
mga Pilipino lalo na ang mga kabataan na magparehistro,
bantayan at ipatrol ang proseso ng botohan mula sa paghahanda
hanggang sa mismong araw ng paghuhusga gamit ang cellphone,
Internet at iba pang medium ng komunikasyon.
Nariyan din ang kaliwa’t kanang forum ng mga
tatakbo sa halalan para mas lalong makilala ng mga Pilipino
ang kandidatong nararapat. Isa itong mabisang paraan upang
makita ng madla ang kakayahan, saloobin, at determinasyon ng
isang kandidato. Kumpara noong mga nakaraang halalan, mas
maaga, mas maigting at mas madalas ang pagsasagawa nito sa
kasalukuyan na isa namang mabuting aksyon.
Kapansin-pansin ngayon ang bagong diwa na kinikilos
ng karamihang Pilipino. Ang diwang unti unting nagigising
sa katotohanang dapat ng magawa ang nararapat
para sa ikabubuti ng bansa. Ito ay dulot na rin ng
mabisang aksyon ng mga nabanggit at ang
pagkasawa na rin ng Pilipino sa paulit-ulit
nitong kinalulugmukan.
Babaguhing Anyo
Lahat naman siguro ay hindi bulag sa kasalukuyang
Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009
kinakasadlakan ng ating bansa. Kung hindi mo man makita at
kung hindi mo man alam, tiyak ay mararamdaman mo naman
kung gaano kahirap ang kalagayan ni Juan.
Lugmok tayo ngayon sa labis na kahihiyan. Pilipinas
ang pinakakurap na bansa sa Asya, may mababang uri ng
edukasyon at mabagal na umusbong na ekonomiya, milyun-
milyong nagugutom, maraming biktima ng pwersahang
pagkawala at pang-aapi at talamak ang pamamaslang kung
saan nitong Nobyembre lamang ay lampas limampu ang
minasaker ng magkakasama sa Maguindano dahil sa pulitikal
na dahilan. Mas lalo na naman tayong nabaon at nanguna sa
kahihiyan.
Sa kabuuan tulad ng paulit-ulit na mga ulat, tunay na
labis ang paghihirap ng Pilipinas.
At ang may kasalanan nito, walang iba kung hindi
tayo mismo. Ang lahat ay malinaw na dulot ng ating maling
pagpili sa mga pinuno ng ating bansa. Hindi tayo naging
aktibo. Hindi tayo naging mapagmatyag. At lalong hindi tayo
naging matalino.
Bagong Simula
Kung iisipin, kaya at madali lang naman ang problema
natin. Nangangailangan lamang tayo ng epektibong pinuno.
At ang sagot sa tanong na paano natin matutugunan ang
pangangailangan na ito ay simple lang din at sa katunayan ay
alam natin ito dahil paulit-ulit itong sinasabi tuwing eleksyon
ngunit hindi pa rin natin magawa-gawa. Kailangan lamang
natin talagang gamitin ang matalinong pagboto.
Simple lang, bumoto tayo gamit ang isip. Huwag
tayong pipili ng kandidato dahil lamang sa pangalang dala nito,
dahil sa kanyang pamilya o magulang man, yaman, pagiging
popular, o dahil sa partido man. Bagkus ay kilalanin natin
ang kanilang kagalingan at kakayahan sa pamamagitan ng
pagtingin sa kanilang pinag-aralan, mga nagawa at naitulong
sa bayan, at ang kanilang planong gagawin para sa bayan.
Huwag din nating kalilimutan ang kasaysayan na siyang
may dala ng kanilang pagkatao. Ating halukayin ang
kanilang buhay nang sa gayun ay mabigyan tayo
ng malinaw na basehan sa ating pagpili.
Iwasan nating basta-basta na lamang
sumabay sa agos. Iwasan din natin ang agad-
agad na paghusga. Hindi dapat mangibabaw
ang emosyon sa pagpili. Hindi dapat basta-
basta magpadala sa kanilang mga salita. Tayo
ay namumuhay sa kasalukuyan at alam natin
ang kalagayan ng ating bansa. Kung kaya’t dapat
ay alam din natin kung sino ang makakasagot
dito.
Kailangang mabago na ang lumang tugtugin.
Patuloy nating imulat ang ating mata at hayaan
ang diwang magising dahil kailangang aktibo
ang lahat para sa bagong simula.
Sa darating na eleksyon sa Mayo, magiging
pantay-pantay tayong muli sa ating pagboto.
Pipiliin natin ang susunod na presidente,
bise presidente, senador, representative,
governador hanggang sa kagawad. Sila na
aasahan nating pangunahing kakayod para
sa ikabubuti ng ating bansa at hindi sa mas
ikasasama nito.
Ang tunay na kaabang-abang
ngayon ay kung magiging
tama na ba tayo sa pagpili o
madadagdagan na naman
ang ating pagkakamali.
Malapit na ang
halalan.
Malapit na rin ang
pagsilang ng ating
bagong kapalaran.
 Lathalain
Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009
27

U
maatungal na ang kanilang sikmura. Sabik na sabik
nang masakmal ang puwestong magbibigay sa kanila
ng labis na luho at ginhawa; samantalang tayo’y pilit
na inaakay sa dalisdis ng inaagnas nilang liderato.
At sa nakakasuyang ayos at mukha ng tradisyunal na
pulitika, nanganganib ang kabataan sa mga tuksong nakahain
sa hapag ng kawalang malay.
BABALA: Huwag magpalapa sa kalansing ng barya.
Huwag magpalamon sa mami at de lata.
Mag-ingat…

KAPITAL T-S-O-K-O T-S-O-K-O

Kumikislap ang noo’y minumuta kong mga mata
kapag naririnig ko ang katagang “Tsoko-Tsoko”. Sa tuwing
papalarin akong magkaroon ng Tsoko-Tsoko, madalian
kong ngangatngatin ang pakete nito hanggang sa mabutas.
Matapos niyon, pipisilin ko ang balat at tila ipot ng manok
na ilalagay ang lumabas na tsokolate sa gusgusin kong palad,
palad na ipinangkawkaw ko sa kanal upang manghuli ng
mga nagsasayawang kitikiti. Ilang segundo ko muna itong
pagmamasdan sa aking mga kamay at unti-unting didilaan
hanggang sa tuluyang maubos.
Nakakapagpatulo talaga ng laway ang Tsoko-Tsoko.
Ito rin ang madalas na ipansuhol sa amin ng kababata kong si
Pikoy upang pumayag kaming siya ang maging bida sa aming
paboritong laro- ang pagsasadula ng buhay ni Kaptin Barbel.
Nakakainis nga at di ko magawang tumanggi sa alok niyang
Tsoko-Tsoko. Ang labas tuloy, ako lagi ang tikbalang, tsanak,
impakto o syokoy kahit alam kong mas bibo at di-hamak na
mas pogi ako kaysa sa kanya.
Siguro’y ganun nga talaga. Sa ating pagkamusmos,
binubulag tayo ng tukso upang matakpan ang iba”t ibang
mukha ng pagkakamali. Katulad ko na lamang noon. Isang
batang napuwing sa linamnam ng Tsoko-Tsoko.
Patuloy ngang gumapang ang mga nagdaang taon.
Mula sa pagiging paslit nakaalpas na ang aking henerasyon
tungo sa mas makulay, higit na malawak, ngunit makalaglag-
bitukang daigdig. Napinaw na ang pagkatakam sa Tsoko-
Tsoko at nalaos na rin si Kaptin Barbel. Subalit narito pa rin
ang nabububulok na ideolohiyang lumalason sa aming mga
bagong sibol na kabataan, lalo pa’t nalalapit na ang inaabangang
halalan. Isang kaganapang magbibigay sa amin ng pahintulot
na makamtan ang kapangyarihang taglay ng mahiwagang
balota.

TULO-LAWAY
Malayo na nga kami sa uhog at banil ng kamusmusan
ngunit ang ilan ay nananatili pa ring bulag sa kabalbalang
nakapaligid sa kanila. Hindi pa man sumasapit ang botohan,
wari’y isang pulong ng gerilya ang naroon sa isang sulok
ng tindahan ni Aling Mameng. Pinagpaplanuhan ng ilang

HAYOK Isang pagsulyap sa

kumakalam na kabulukan

Panulat: Dave Tolentino Dibuho: Raseldo Lapat: Superbev

28 Lathalain
kabataan kung paano nila wawaldasin ang mga salaping kanilang
masasagpang kapalit lamang naman ng ikakalakal nilang mga boto,
dangal at kaluluwa.
Nakakautot isipin na sa nalalapit na 2010 Presidential
Elections, nagsulputan ang mga katulad ni Pikoy sa ating lalawigan.
Sila’y hayagan at desperadong mamigay ng sandamukal na Tsoko-
Tsoko upang umani rin ng sandamukal na simpatya mula sa mga
taong kinakalawang ang utak.
Ito ang karimlang hatid ng lumalaganap na sining ng
panunuhol. Ito ang sining na pundasyon ng vote buying dito sa
pisngi ng minamahal nating isla. At sa kasamaang palad, ang mga
botanteng wala pang bautismo ng mabahong pulitika ang puntirya
ng mga halimaw at aswang sa paglaganap ng malagim na halalan.
Isa pang nakakapangatal ng laman ay ang unti-unting
pagyapos at pagkagat ng mga bagong supling na botante sa pain ng
mga pulitikong naglalaway sa pwesto. Nabibighani nila ang mga
kabataang ito na ibenta sa buwaya ang kanilang mga boto. Parang
tawaran tuloy sa ukay-ukay ang eksena. Sa kabila ng mga inaamag
na plataporma at nangangamoy-ipis na pamamahala, natutukso pa
rin ang ilang kabataang Pinoy na tangkilikin ang mga pulitikong
lantarang humahalay sa nagigipit na taumbayan.
PAGMUMUNIMUNI
Sa halos isandaang milyong kataong namumugad dito
sa Pinas, 27.6 % dito ay kabataan na inaasahang magpupunla ng
pagbabago. Datapwa’t sa likod ng propesiyang ito, ang mainit
na pagtanggap ng kabataan sa vote buying noong nakaraang
eleksyon ay sapat na upang maalarma ang lipunan. Dito nabahiran
ng mantsa ang Catanduanes. Balitang-balita sa buong rehiyon
ang nagliliparang mukha ni Ninoy at Roxas. Dagdagan mo pa ng
ipinamumudmod na pandesal, noodles, tawas, salabat, napkin at
sari-sari pang chuwariwap upang ipambili ng boto. At nasaan ang
kabataan? Naroon. Nakikipag-agawan.
Totoo ngang walang sinuman ang ‘di nakararamdam ng
nakamamatay na krisis. Subalit hindi dapat ito ang maging dahilan
upang ipagbili natin ang bansa sa kamay ng mga salaulang pulitiko.
Sa kakapiranggot na biyayang ipinansusuhol nila,mag-uugat ang
pangitaing higit pa sa sanlibong beses nilang sisingilin ang mga
taong tumangkilik sa masahol nilang pangangampanya.
Napakasimple lang naman eh. Ang lipunang ito ay
kawangis ng isang dambuhalang ilong. Patuloy tayong mahihirapan
sa paghinga hangga’t maraming nakasuksok at nakabarang
elemento sa loob nito. At tayong mga kabataan ang mga daliring
susundot at kakalikot sa mga kulangot ng katiwalian sa nakagisnang
pamahalaan. Himatong sa ideyang ito, kailangan nang simulan
ngayon din ang pagkilos at pagkalikot, kaalinsabay ng wastong
pagpili ng manunungkulang pinuno.
Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009
SA PAGLIPAS NG GUTOM
Ang bilis talagang lumipas ng taon. Halalan
na naman. Sa likod ng pangambang baka tuluyan nang
bumulusok pababa ang Pilipinas, pinatatatag pa rin
tayo ng adhikaing guminhawa ang tinatamasang buhay
balang-araw. Di maikakailang gutom tayo sa reporma at
uhaw sa ipinagkait na pag-asa.
Partz, tol, pre, fwend, pipz, vecky, brod.
Anuman ang tawag sayo, ating isaisip na ang bawat
pulgada ng ating mga balota ang magsisilbing daang
bakal sa milya-milyang pagsubok na tatahakin pa ng
masang Pinoy.
Kailangan nating makibahagi, hindi sa
mga Tsoko-Tsokong inaalok sa atin ni Pikoy kundi
sa paglaban at pagsulong tungo sa isang malinis at
sagradong eleksyon. Huwag sana tayong palinlang muli
sa espirito ng vote buying, bagkus ay lalo pang pag-
ibayuhin ang katapatan at integridad ng mga darating
pang halalan. Tiyakin nating mananatili ang kalinisan
at may magandang patutunguhan ang kuyum-kuyom
nating mga balota.
Sa sandaling mairaos ang halalang daratal,
nakangiti nating bubuksan ang mga Tsoko-Tsokong
galing sa ating sariling mga bulsa at buong pagmamalaki
nating ihahayag na wala nang kabataang uto. Dala-dala
natin sa ating mga puso ang pangakong kailanma’y
hinding hindi natin sila pamamarisan…
Silang mga ganid sa salapi.
Silang masisiba sa kapangyarihan.
Silang maiitim ang gilagid.
Silang mga hayok!
 Devcom
Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009
29
Catanduanes cashes in on
Cassava as alternative crop

F
or years, Catanduanes has mainly depended on Abaca
as its cash crop to pump prime the island province’s
economy. Since it is frequently visited by typhoons all-
year round, the weather factor greatly affects the province’s
fiber produce, usually yielding low quality outputs with
low value prices. Prices are usually just enough for a daily
meal of the farmers and strippers, better known as parahag-
ots.
Despite the recent efforts of the provincial
government to introduce innovations to boost the abaca A humble tropical root crop only known as substitute for
industry, the odds sneaked in with the global financial crisis corn and rice, scientific research recently unvailed a bright
future for cassava as a budding potential industry.
plunging the industry further into a sudden nose-dive.
With the domino effect of recession to foreign importing
companies, demands on the fiber reduced. Consequently
the fiber industry, along with the provinces’ economy, was Re-discovering cassava’s potentials
left hostaged. Researches on cassava made by Bacusmo and Mariscal underscored
This led the provincial government, under the the crop’s energy potential in the mid-1990’s, with the sudden surge of ethanol
stewardship of Governor Joseph Cua, to explore other production for use in alcohol. This was brought about by the unusual increase in
alternative industries due to the decline in the demand of the price of molasses due to decline in sugarcane production. It was not until the
abaca in the world market. country’s foods and beverage giant, San Miguel Corporation (SMC), looked for
In this backdrop, a potential alternative industry other alternative sources of raw materials in the production of liquor as substitute
of the province was identified to cushion the slump in abaca to the molasses.
demand due to global economic meltdown. Scientific breakthrough made cassava as the most viable alternative
A humble, lowly, “orphan” crop source of raw material for production of alcohol for liquor which is is extracted
Most people in other places has “mocking” from dried cassava chips and fresh roots. SMC started investing extensively in
thoughts about planting cassava. Farmers could not cassava production since 1995.
grow anything better in their parched sandy soils. It is Further, cassava was known to be a high-energy component for
therefore not surprising that the local cassava industry commercial feed formulations. This demand was fueled by the chronic
is underdeveloped. And while there might be extensive shortages and consequent high price of domestically produced maize, which is
growing of cassava, it is usually in small patches for purpose the traditional source of energy in feeds formulation.
of subsistence rather than as a product for trade. And with the recent researches’ projections, maize production is set
This is buttressed by the study made by Jose L. to decline and the demand for cassava for feeds is poised to increase rapidly.
Bacusmo of Philrootcrops, the national center for root crop Notably, a major manufacturer like SMC’s subsidiary B-MEG now uses cassava
research and development. He is also the President of chips for its commercial feeds production. At present San Miguel Corporation
the Visayas State University (VSU) in Baybay, Leyte who is considered as an institutional buyer of domestic cassava produce in the
invested in the research and development of cassava, its country.
production and post-harvest technologies.
It study also reveals that cassava is the only
commonly known alternative for rice and corn. It is
Calls for development
Greenfields magazine, citing the UN Food and Agriculture Organization
considered as substitute staple food for people whose lands
(FAO), forwarded that cassava could help protect the food and energy needs of
could not grow rice and corn. It is also the cheapest known
poor countries, especially in the light of soaring food and oil prices.
source of starch, also known as tapioca flour. Cassava has
Further in a global conference held in Gent, Belgium in 2008, scientists
also a relatively low national average yield. But then, it only
encouraged more investment in research and development to boost cassava
requires minimal inputs and care unlike other crops.
yields and explore its promising industrial uses, especially in the production of
The research also states that there are only few
biofuels.
provinces where cassava is grown as a cash crop and on a
FAO added that cassava is also the cheapest source of starch and is
commercial scale. These are Negros Occidental, Bukidnon,
used in more than 300 industrial products. Cassava starch can also be processed
Lanao del Sur and Mindanao which holds most of its
into biofuels. Additional studies bared other interesting facts on cassava starch’s
principal growing area, accounting for 59% of its land area
potential such as for use in processing of paper, cardboard and in different food
and 71% of the country’s cassava produce.
products. It can substitute wheat flour in baked products as much as 10%. It can
In a recent feature of the agri-business magazine
also be used as ingredient in soup thickeners, baby foods, sauces and gravies.
Greenfields, lands planted with cassava reached 211,633
Further, the production of ethanol from cassava (aside from the alcohol
hectares and yielded an average 8.48 tons per hectare
for liquor yields), is a promising and potential industry considering the soaring of
annually in 2008. Mindanao remained the biggest producer
oil prices and the demand for more renewable and cleaner energy. Ethanol fuel
of cassava, with the ARMM (Autonomous Region of Muslim
production demand was proven to be steadily increasing, setting an example
Mindanao), hosting 94,071 hectares of lands planted with
from Thailand’s sudden boom, paving way to boost its own cassava industry.
Cassava, the highest among the regions of the country.
30 Devcom
Government responses
Realizing a sunshine industry and an emerging catalyst
for national development in root crops, the government placed
cassava production as a priority banner program of Department
of Agriculture under its “Ginintuang Masaganang Ani” (GMA)
program. Outlining a program for its massive propagation and
higher production levels, it has adopted a five-year program to
double the area planted with the crop to over 500,000 hectares.
Under the said program, the government is set to spend
from 26 to 70 million pesos per year to achieve the 500,000 hectare
target for cassava. This 2009, cassava-planted land is around 230,000
hectares. Data from Bureau of Agricultural Statistics also notes that
the biggest gainer in the crops’ sub-sector this year’s first quarter is
cassava.
Catanduanes’ cassava industry in perspective
The province’s agriculture is mainly focused on abaca, its
main cash crop. The notion of shifting to build a different industry
with a new potential crop is quite a difficult task. Yet with the recent
decline in abaca demands, pushing main local buyers to adopt
“control-buying” policies [with big decrease on buying prices
going as much as 75% lower than its former buying price], most
parahag-ots were forced to seek other alternative crops to sustain
daily needs.
The provincial government, realizing the grave effects
of the province’s dependence on abaca industry alone, sought to
introduce alternative livelihood industries of its people. This move
found an ally in Heindrich Agri-Corporation, who has been also
searching for a partner in developing cassava industry.
A memorandum of agreement to this effect was
forged between the provincial government and Heindrich Agri-
Corporation. It was signed on March 17, 2009 in the Municipality
of Panganiban, province of Catanduanes. The tie up is set to
provide the firm’s demands of cassava produce, which, the firm’s
Director for Business Development, Mr. Bob Gabuna, numbers
at 100,000,000 kilograms (100,000 metric tons) . This is just all for
domestic requirements of processed cassava chips for various
uses—food, feeds, and fuel.
The agreement also provides for the respective local
government units to identify or organize farmer associations or
cooperatives that would act as a cluster of production units. This is
to facilitate the project implementation and forge agreements with
financing institutions that will provide loans to buy tractors and
other farm inputs, using the purchase orders issued by the said
firm as their collaterals.
As a start-off point, the provincial government and
Department of Agriculture, together with Heindrich Agri Corp.
sponsored a Cassava forum in July in Panganiban, where production,
processing and marketing of cassava were discussed, together with
the present weaknesses of the industry and the steps towards its
development. This was highlighted by the evaluation and visit and
in the province of Dr. Candidio Camo, National Cassava and Corn
programs coordinator, together with Dir. Gabuna of Heinrich, who
is also the National Cassava Board’s secretary-general.
A progressive future in sight
Cassava is easily grown in areas where corn and even
rice cannot thrive, particularly where soil quality and water supply
is poor. It is seen that the island’s features and topography, even
its frequent-typhoon visits, are not likely to affect the venture on
cassava plantation and production. Coupled with optimistic and
enthusiastic support from farmers, and matched by determined
Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009
Cassava: a crop likely to serve as a major catalyst
for rural development and the allevation from
poverty for its planters.
efforts by the provincial government, the goal is set with high hopes
of progress.
Further support from the national government is also
assured, with the news that the province will receive a unit of
cassava granulating machine together with two chipping machines
from the Department of Agriculture (DA) for the said program.
This is due to the efforts of Governor Cua through a dialogue with
Secretary Arthur Yap. It also added that the provincial government
is also borrowing a four-wheel drive tractor from the department’s
regional office for use in cassava production in various towns, as
reported by the Catanduanes Tribune.
Additional reports from Dir. Gabuna stated that the DA
chief further issued instructions to the National Cassava Board for
the allocation of P30 million for post-harvest facilities for cassava
production. In turn, the department asked as counterpart from
the provincial government the conduct of training on cassava
Article: Ferdinand Camilo Kimura Photo Credits: Wikipedia.com, Page Design: Superbev
production for farmers in the municipalities of Viga, Panganiban
and Bagamanoc.
He also disclosed that the Land Bank of the Philippines
had created an innovative lending window amounting to P200 M.
This fund will be available to the cassava growers when they need
financing in tilling new lands and purchasing the necessary farm
implements.
Data from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist
Support (OPAG) earlier this May reveals that the province’s cassava
program’s has been piloted in the towns of Viga, (with 80 farmers in
17 barangays who started planting cassava on 75 hectares of land);
Panganiban, (170 farmers have pledged to produce cassava on 40
hectares) and Bagamanoc (some 35 hectares have been planted with
the root crop by 80 farmers).
Early this month, two 10-wheeler trucks brought cuttings of Golden
Yellow and Sultan 7 varieties of cassava to be used as initial planting
materials for the cassava production program of the provincial
government. The cutting, bought for Php 81,000.00 from the
neighboring province of Camarines Sur, will be used to plant nearly
44 hectares in several towns which have expressed interest and
formed farmers’ associations that would take part in the program.
The said undertaking is likely to encourage more farmers
into cassava planting as other municipalities in the province started
organizing assemblies and formations of cassava planters.
It’s delightful to think how the fantastic tandem of an “orphan” crop
and a typhoon-struck island can give life to the potentials of a truly
promising industry. True enough, with resiliency and perseverance,
Catandunganons’ progress is not far behind.
Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009 Poetry 31

An dai
mawawara
by Allan Popa

Masakát ako dumán sa pinakaitaas.

Aabuton ko an hinog na bunga,
an pula na gatago sa mga dahon.

Dai ka sana tabî magsunod.

An saro sató kaipuhan maghalat
sa ibaba asin magtingalog.

Tercio*
Matulay ako sa matapô na kahoy.
Tan-awon mo ako hanggan mawará
sa mga dahon: duman taká tatan-awon.

Ika na mahanap sa pag-ultan by GSR

kan mga sanga sa mahamis na bunga
na mamantsa sa saimong badô. Natanyóg ang dagâ
sa pagbayó ning pa£oy
ni Nang Piling.

Sa lambáng pagbagsák
ning ha£-o sa £ubang,
Minasabáy
ang mga naípon
na gabát ning sainyáng
himángot.

Saarín n’ya man kayâ

maáni ang mga
binúbod na pag£áom,
budâ mga tina£ók
na pangato£ógan
sa sagóp ning buhay?

*Tercio, in tenant system, is the 1/3 to 2/3 sharing of

rice produce in favor of the landowner.

The symbol £ is used to ‘textualize’ the unique Virac

(Catanduanes) dialect – not “L”, not “Y”, not “R” and
it is not found in the alphabet. The articulation of
this vocal sound is achieved by touching the tip of
the tongue to the inside edge of the lower lip, not
the palate which is usual in enunciating most of the
letters in the alphabet.
 1
Di pa rin tayo nabubuwal
Matikas pa rin ang ating tindig
at matayog pa rin ang ating mga pangarap
kahit marupok na ang sistemang namamayani…

2
tinik na iniwang nakatiwangwang
na ganid ng katakawan at kapalaluang
sinisipsip ng mga pesteng
may mga makasariling mithiin at hangarin…

3
pikit matang minumuklat
sa demokrasyang pumapailanlang
ngunit tayo’y nagbubulag- bulagan
na hindi makita ang ating mga sarili
sa katotohanan...

Literary
32
 Antolohiya ng
Pira- Pirasong Berso
at Litrato

4
matagpuang naliligaw
sa gitna ng pag-aalinlangan
at maiwan sa walang
kasiguruhang
pagharap sa dagat ng pagsubok
at dagok…

5
hindi pa rin natin hahayaang mapatid
ang ating mga adhikain
at iwang biguan at pagal
at nag-iisa sa bawat paghakbang…

6
at sa ating paglakbay
sa piniling landas
may pag-asa pa ring nakaangkas
na namamayaning lubos…
Larawan: Beverly Tatel, Bren Garette Rivera
Titik: John Michael Veruen
Lapat: Raseldo
 Kulturang Isteyt
AN
NA G MICR
MG PAGSI OSCO
proudly presents
ISTEA KOL LIP SA PIC
“Hindi
l a h a t
YT EHI
YO
NG Peripheral Vision
ng bagay ay
nakikita ng
iyong mga
mata”.

Sadyang isang curriculars.
malaking specimen Kung minsan pa
ang Isteyt. Hindi nga, ang ilan sa kanila ay
nga nakakabigla na Absent With Out Leave muna sa
pwede pala nating academics at focused muna sa kanilang
i-dissect ang kabuuan mga extra curriculars.
at i-zoom ang gross ‘Di rin lingid sa madla na ito ang college unipormeng
anatomy ng mga na walang sariling building at vicinity. Ebidensiya? puti. Malaki ang kanilang
kolehiyo. Masisilip Ang opisina ng Dekano ay nasadlak sa Main malasakit sa nutrisyon ng ating
natin ang iba’t ibang Building 2nd Floor, samantalang ang mga faculty mga pangangatawan.Kung
istoryang nananalaytay room ay may iba’t ibang branch- meron sa may kaya’t madalas silang maghain
at mga nakapinid na lihim harap ng high school department, 2nd floor at ng masaganang pagkain.
sa kasuluk-sulukan at first floor ng Main Building. Pati ang silid ng Pampalusog, pampahaba ng
matagpuan ang ating mga mga estudyante ay naka-deploy ng watak- kanilang buhay, pampabata sa mga
sarili sa namamayaning watak- Marcos Type Building, SBL at Room s a r i l i n g tumatanda…
sistema. Bagong haing 103, 104 pati yata 214. Mungkahi ko lang sa lugar na Ang house NM
putahe o lumang tugtugin pamunuan na maglagay sila ng spot map para
matatagpuan sa likod naman ay ang mga original
man ang ating mga kwento, hindi maligaw ang mga bagong salta at pati na
ng SBL building, ay housemates ng CHS. Sila
dumadaloy pa rin sa ating rin ang mga bisita.
nananatili pa rin silang ang mga nangangarap
mga ugat ang pinag-isang
nakatutok sa anumang makaakyat sa entablado
timpla - ang dugo ng kulturang College of Agriculture and Fisheries
mga palabas na nangyayari tuwing dumarating ang
Isteyt. (CAF) sa loob ng kampus na ito. March, at makapasa sa
board exam pagkatapos
College of Arts and
Still sprouting
Sciences (CAS) College of Health and ng review upang maging
F
“ or Everyone” College
Dito makakasalamuha mo ang angkan Sciences (CHS) ganap na RNs at RMs.
ni Arvy, the naturalized woman, na CHS Doubles Up Sila ay natutulog
marahil sa tagal din naman ng pananatili katabi ang kanilang
Ito ang kolehiyong sa kolehiyong ito ay nagkaroon na siya ng
Kung ang bahay ni kuya anatomy book at MIMS.
wini-welcome ang lahat with sariling farmtown. Marami-rami na rin
ay may House A at B, ang CHS Nagsusunog ng kilay
open arms and feet. For everyone ang kanilang na harvest na mga bunga ng
ay mayroon ding counterpart. sa tuwing brownout sa
college. Freshmen, second courser, cherry tree at na collect na mga nalagas na
Tinatawag itong House ND at paggawa ng kanilang
transferee, nag-shift o bumagsak feathers ng mga bibe. Marami ring mga
House NM. Bagama’t malayo case studies na copy
man sa major, this can be your last kapitbahay ang tumulong at tumutulong
ang distansya sa isa’t isa ay pilit paste at nakakatulog din
resort. At base sa aming mga roving sa pag-cultivate sa fertile ground para sa
namang pinag-iisa. naman pagkatapos ng
spy, ito ang may pinakamaraming kanilang mga pananim.
Matagal-tagal na rin ang kanilang office hours
kursong inihahain ngunit isa sa Sumibol na rin sa Kolehiyong nasabing paglipat ng mga bagong na kadalasan ay tuwing
mga may pinakamaliit na bilang ito ang mga bagong building. Kulang
housemate sa kolehiyong ito. Sila gabi—ang duty.
ng enrollees. Kaya naman maaaring na lang ay palamutian ng pintura upang
ay nagmula pa sa kabilang dulo Umaangat na ang
pumili sa ibat-ibang options. Ingat ito’y maging ganap na colorful houses
ng kampus nang sila ay maglipat- kolehiyong ito patungo
lang baka magkaroon ka ng option sa gitna ng masagana, mayabong at
kolehiyo. sa mas mataas na
paralysis syndrome. magandang farmtown. Ngunit sa kabila ng mga laranganngedukasyon.
Mababanaag dito ang iba’t Ang mga abang estudyante kaganapang ito, na ang dapat ay Marami-rami na rin
ibang mukha ng mga estudyante. na nananatili dito ay ang ating
manatili sila sa isang bahay, ay ang nagkamit ng
Halu-halong personalidad. May astig, mga magiging agrikulturista sa
nagkaroon nang dalawang bahay. mga gantimpala, na
baduy, japorms, may tipong genius, mga susunod na henerasyon na
Malayo sa isa’t isa. Dulo sa dulo. Hindi malamang may mga
may ala-pulitiko, may mga hindi tiyak magsasalba sa ating naghihingalo at
madali ang pagparoo’t pagparito. susunod pa. Mga
sa kanilang pagkatao. Meron naming kumakalam na sikmura.
Nakatirik ang isang building sa pagkilala o kung
tiyak sa kanilang mga pagkataong di- Sila ay nanatiling nakayuko likod ng Laboratory HS rooms. Ang hindi man, pwede
tiyak. sa hamon ng pang araw-araw na isang building nama’y nasa tapat ng naman siguro ang
Dito pinapanday at bilin ni Mam at Sir. Nakayuko sa
CSC gym, na nasa kabilang dako ng pagpapakila.
dinidiskubre ang mga nangangarap kadahilanang sila’y nagtatanim
kampus.
maging pulitiko, abogado at doktor at nagpapayabong ng mga punla
Sa house ND, nakatira ay
balang araw. Meron ding mga sabay upang kinabuksan ay kanilang
mga datihang estudyante ng CAS. Sila College of
lang sa agos ng ilog kahit ito’y delikado mapakinabangan. Iba’t ibang
ang mga nangangarap makapagsilbi Business and
na at hindi na kayang lumangoy,o crops na nagsisilbing ebidensya
at makatulong sa ating bayan sa A c c o u n t a n c y
maski magtampisaw man lang. Isang sa tuwing mag tse-tsek si Mam
pamamagitan ng pagpapalaganap ng (CBA)
magandang ehemplo ang mga estudyante ng output project. katuturan pagdating sa tamang pagkain Quiet Noise
rito sapagkat hindi sila bumabagsak Hindi man sila masyadong upangtayo’ylumakingmalakiattumanda Thrillers
sa kanilang mga major gaano man ka- visible sa kampus sapagkat ng bumabata. Matatandaang Nakakabingi ang
hectic ang kanilang mga skeds ng extra- sila’y parating nakakubli sa
sila ay dati na ring mga nakasuot ng
katahimikan ngunit maingay ang makapagturo sa pormal na institusyon
mga magaslaw na kaisipan… ng edukasyon balang araw.
Kapansin-pansin ang Karamihan sa kanila ay nag-aaral
mga bitbit nilang scientific ng mabuti, nagsusunog ng kilay kahit
calculator at columnar sheet hindi gabi, nagpupuyat at napapagod
(shit) sa tuwing pumapasok sa sa kakagawa ng lesson plan araw-
kampus. Masasabing sila ang araw at inis na sa ingay at kulit ng mga
grupo ng mga estudyanteng estudyante sa tuwing naa’assign silang
tahimik ngunit matinik. mag-observe sa mga estudyante. Lahat
Sila ang mga ito’y nagagawa nila dahil sa ito ay ang
nangangarap maging negosyante, kanilang magiging araw-araw na buhay
accountant at abogado. sa mga darating na panahon--- malamang
Matatagpuan ang kanilang mga hindi na magtatagal.
kalahi sa 3rd floor main building. At dahil sa kanilang pagpupursige at
Makikita dito ang mga nakasuot pagbibigay ng pokus sa kanilang pag-
ng complete uniform kahit “wash aaral, sila’y nagkakamit ng matataas na
day”. May mga naka palda kahit antas ng marka mula sa kanilang mga
hindi pwede sa kanila ang palda, propesor. Mga markang nagbibigay
dahil nga sa iba ang rehiliyon. inspirasyon marahil sa karamihang
Meron din namang nakasuot ng estudyante sa kolehiyong ito.
pantalon na ang dapat sana sa Subalit mayroong impresyong umiiral
kanila’y gamitin ang palda. na ekslusibo lamang sa mga nagkakamit
Malaki ang kanilang ng mga mataas na antas ng pagkilala.
populasyon. Sila’y gumagala Sa tuwing sasapit ang pagtatapos ng
ng kumpul-kumpol. Marami taunang klase, mapapansin na ang
sila. Maraming kaibigan. Pala- kolehiyong ito ang may pinakamaraming
kaibigan. May nag-iibigan. bilang ng nagtatapos na may gawad. May
Ginagawa nilang dating site ang nagtatapos bilang cum laude dahil sa
ikatlong palapag. kanilang hindi matawarang outstanding
Ayon na naman sa academic performance. Subalit kapag
aming matabil ngunit demure ang resulta ng LET ay dumarating, konti
na source, ginagawa raw at mababa lamang ang nakukuha nilang
na dating site ang mga IGP passing rate (BSED). Ito ba ay dahil sa
booths/stores sa palapag na marami na silang alam kaya’t maraming
ito. Pinangungunahan ng mga sagot ang naglilipana sa kanilang mga
nakatataas nilang student kaisipan sa kasagsagan ng exam? O hindi
leaders. Matagal-tagal rin daw naman kaya ay taliwas sa dapat matutunan
na naglalagi sa lugar na ito ang napupulot ng mga nagtapos na ito?
ang mga nabanggit, kasama Marahil sa susunod na taon ay
ang kanilang mga tinatagong magkaroon na rin sila ng alumnus na
loved ones… mapapabilang sa mga topnotchers o placers
Marahil ay mga ng LET, nang sa ganun ay magawaran naman
tahimik nga sila subalit may sila ng bagong pagkilala, kahit hindi man
ingay din naman pala sa nagtapos bilang cum laude.
kaibuturan…
College of Technology (COT)
College of Education The 3 in 1 college
(CoEd) Maganda ang pagkakahalo ng tatlong
The Cum Laude Rich flavor. Malasa. Maalsa.
College Siguro nga ay kay lapit na nila
Marami ang ngayon sa isa’t isa. Dati-rati ay madalas silang
nagkakamit na mataas nagkakalaban sa mga iba’t ibang patimpalak sa
na antas ng pagkilala na kampus. Ngayon ay nagkakaisa dahil sa sila
maaaring matanggap ngayo’y nabibilang sa iisang pamilya.
ng isang estudyante Unang flavor- Department
ngunit hindi ang antas of Engineering. Home of
na makukuha upang board topnotchers.
Siga. May dating. Sila ang mga nangangarap makapagtrabaho
sa Dubai, este nangangarap palang makapasa sa board exam at
maging mga licensed civil engineers.
Madalas silang makita na hindi nakasuot ng
uniporme, sakay ng kanilang mga motorsiklong walang gate
pass. Matinik sila sa numero kung kaya’t parati silang nananalo
sa mga regional and national quiz bee.
Ikalawang flavor- Department of Industrial
Technology. Marami-rami sila kumpara sa mga nangangarap
maging engineers. Malakas ang kanilang pwersa sapagkat
mas marami ang bilang ng mga lalaki kesa sa mga bilang ng
mga binabae, este babae. Mabilis silang tumugon sa mga
hakbanging ipinatutupad ng administrasyon, pati ng mga
hindi maka-administrasyon.
Marami at halu-halo ang kanilang mga pinapangarap
sa buhay. Masarap. Manamis-namis. Dito gumagala ang mga
gangster ng covered court na sinama na sa curriculum ang
basketball.
Ikatlong flavor- Department of Information and
Communications Technology. Mga future hackers este
technicians at programmers sila. Magaling sila sa manipulasyon
ng mga program sa computer. Maging software man yan o
hardware. Mahusay din sila sa pagsalba ng mga files kontra
sa mga naglipana at mapanirang viruses.
Makikita silang kumpul-kumpol sa 1st floor ng main
building. Kung minsan naman ay sa 3rd floor. Karamihan
ay naka uniporme, ngunit mas marami ang nakasuot ng
unipormeng sila mismo ang nagdisenyo. Masarap ang
kanilang timpla. Mas malasa. Maanghang.
Nagmistula na ngan g 3-in-1 mixture ang kolehiyong
ito. Marahil sa mga susunod na kabanata ay iisa na lamang
ang kanilang kulturang gagalawan.
Sadyang hindi na nakabibigla ang mga pagbabagong
nagaganap dito sa ating mahal na isteyt. Mga
pagbabagong hindi malaman kung nakapagpapagaan o
nakapagpapabigat sa kalagayan ng kampus.
Malayu-layonarinmarahilangnaratingnginstitusyong
ito mula nang dumating ang iba’t ibang pagkilala at
paggawad sa kahusayan ng mga estudyante at fakulti.
Hindi na lingid sa ating kaalaman na tayo’y palapit na
ng palapit sa pagiging isang ganap na unibersidad.
Matagal-tagal na rin tayong sumabay at
nagpatangay sa agos ng kalakaran dito. Sa mga
epekto at depektong dulot nito sa ating lahat
na kailanman ay mananatili ang ating
kwento. Sapagkat tayong lahat
ang bumubuo ng kulturang
ating taglay --- ang kulturang
isteyt.
Artikulo: Maribel Trinidad Lapat: Superbev

maging ganap na Mga astig.

lisensyadong guro.
Kaakibat
na ng kolehiyong
ito ang paglikha at
paghasa sa mga
estudyanteng
n a i s
36 Opinion
The
Hard
Side
Ferdinand Camilo Kimura
I
n my nearly four-year stay at CSC,
this word perfectly delineates the
atmosphere of the whole campus,every
accreditation conducted by the
Accrediting Agency of the Chartered
Colleges and Universities of the Philippines
Inc. (AACCUP).
The whole administrative
structure, turns tensed and frenzied
whenever the visit approaches. The heat is on
with rushed refurbishment, facelifts, repairs
in every office and departments; production
of all required documents, reports and
papers in full-blast speed. Chiefs, staffs and
other personnel generously and vigorously
spend up overtime work in their offices.
Even more derisive are the sudden
policy shifts and mushroom entities that
would come out from nowhere, only to
be imposed in line with something like a
script of a drama spectacle to be acted by
everyone in the institution. Not for good or
better, yet only within the duration of the
survey visit.
Just before the recently concluded
accreditation visit, the lobby seemed to
be converted into a botanical garden and
walking the corridors seemed to be a walk
in the park owing to the amazing prowess
of the last-minute impresarios, no smoking
signs suddenly appeared into the usual
bare walls, proper hand-wash instructions
posted into the suddenly tended and neat
comfort rooms.
Suddenly, politeness and
efficiency came into practice at the usual
service offices, with professionalism and
competence becoming their virtues.
More of the ridiculousness,
students are compelled to join the charade
- painting over the rooms, doing repairs,
mowing lawns and yes, even producing the
required documents, reports and papers
which their college faculties need to show
off to the evaluators. Even more striking is
the sudden enforcement upon students of
speedily producing research presentations,
college publications or papers and other
requirements. Failure to cooperate and
to give the best of portrayal, may bear a
dangerous consequence for the student
when things are already back to “normal”.
They are even conditioned of
acting out actively in their classes to be
observed, while the usually idle and
incompetent instructor acts up a lively
and interesting performance towards them
aiming to impress observers. The usual
boring “manila paper” festivals types
of reporting are supplanted by required
power-point presentations. Consented
absenteeism is suddenly retorted, neatly
Hypocritical
donned uniforms strictly required.
Nevertheless, this pure baloney
quickly ends, as after the guests leave, the
status quo returns. They are all back to their
usual postures and nature, while polishing
their gleaming pride having perfectly
executed their part during the stage-play
and hypocritically insensitive of their
hidden incompetence.
But while their stage-act is a
success, there would always be the price to
pay. That in a sad travesty, we are included
and greatly affected. While we boast of
the great showing of our graduates in
the national licensure examinations their
employability is still wanting. We are
greatly contributing to the country’s army
of the unemployed while those who are
employed are finding their knowledge and
The Evil
in Men
“Evil is the result when man does not have the love of God”
-Albert Einstein
T
he 23rd day of November this year
shall always be remembered as one of
the darkest days of our country. Still
rejoicing from the victory of Manny
Pacquiao after gaining his 7th world
title thirteen days before, news spread like
wildfire that at least 57 people were massacred
in Ampatuan, Maguindanao.
The crime which was allegedly
masterminded by Datu Unsay Municipal Mayor
Datu Andal Ampatuan Jr. was motivated to stop
his political rivals from opposing him in the
upcoming 2010 elections.
This event reminds us of past
genocides committed against humanity such as
the reign of Nazi in Germany during the 1940s,
the Rwandan Patriotic front in 1994, the Serb
forces in Srebrenica in 1995, and many more
undocumented atrocities.
The Maguindanao massacre or shall
we say the Ampatuan Massacre to be precise
(since it happened in Ampatuan), was not the
first of its kind in the Philippines.
The chair of the Moro Islamic
Liberation front (MILF) secretariat Muhammad
Ameen enumerated several massacres in the
past wherein up to now, justice is yet to prove
its rule. Some of the massacres he said were
the Palimbang Massacre (1,000 Moros brutally
killed), Patikul Massacre (700), Pata Island
Massacre (more than 2,000), Manili Massacre
(70), Kauswagan Massacre (40), Magsaysay
Massacre (66), and many more.
Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009
degrees highly irrelevant to their jobs.
How ironic it is that students
would end up wishing that accreditation
be made permanent or on daily basis just in
order to have the best of performance and
services from our dear institution.
While the allegory is perfect, it is
but pathetically the reality.
After all we are in a public-run
institution, usually run by those who could
hardly practice what they preach.
Hypocrites.
Boxed
Out
Ezekiel Tanael
Genocide has so many motivations.
A few of them may be due to classism, racism,
religious intolerance, reverse discrimination,
sexism, homophobia, speciesism, xenophobia
and transphobia.
All of these motivations were the
result of the unwillingness of men to share or
respect other people’s belief, faith or principles
on things. It is also the consequence of power
corrupting and blinding those inflicted by it
to become unaware of his surroundings and
become egotistical.
The indignation caused by this
event in Maguindanao to the Filipinos and the
international community was so intense as to
create a sensation in the media and the Internet.
The ways ordinary people responded
were quite similar to the evil committed by the
perpetrators. In the segment of the ABS-CBN’s
Boto mo, I-patrol mo, a texter commented on
saying that “the Ampatuans should be buried
alive or be cut into 50 pieces to be distributed
among the victims.”
Quite ironic to say that people respond
to evil by suggesting another act of evil even in
thought or words. What difference do we have
from these killers if we share the same thoughts
and actions?
This is the proof that the same evil
dwells in every person and if given the chance to
be in the same situation as these killers, we could
have done the same mercilessly.
Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009
Side
Bar
John Michael Veruen
Postscript to
“Sensasyon”
S
ensasyon Ikalimang paghabi has
been the talk of the campus and
blog after it has been circulated
in the CSC community and
was posted in statesmanrocks.
deviantart.com. The literary folio’s
packaging salutes to the five sense organs
associated in different forms of literary
genres such that tanog (depicts the music
of poetry), namit (links to various flavors
of short stories), muklat (photography’s
perspective), kurit ( showcase of artworks)
and hangos (which breathes to life on
different essays). As what the folio’s
concept accounts for, the outcome is
sensational.
Different comments arose as
it was distributed randomly at the CSC
campus. There was a huge mass demands
for an individualized literary folio. But
the publication can not stomach this
because the price of each exceeds from the
subscription fee. Therefore it is limited.
Only for those limited students who have
a sense of wisdom and imagination. Above
all, the literary folio is not only meant for
our eyes, for publicity and for display but
for how we show life’s stories.
Literary is another discipline.
Not like the news that becomes stale at
the end of the day and a showbiz item that
has been sensationalized just to feed the
readers’ bubonic minds. It’s a whole new
thing, and Abakatanduanes just do its job
of compiling the best poems, artworks and
stories. It is not just a waste paper basket
for mechanical short stories and the ever
jaded love rhyme poetry and personal
accounts which were masturbated out of
the blue.
Literary uses a language and
approach not really intended for a huge
mass consumption and is the reason why
the publication has produced limited
copies is that Abakatanduanes is intended
for those who have a penchant for literary
value and the arts. Some students hate to
attend their literature class because they
do not understand its essentiality due to
mediocrity and knowledge deficit. Even
Drought
M
aybe, her thirst for power
was never quenched. She
has already wallowed
for almost nine years in
power, yet she again
craves for it, though tendered at mediocre
echelon.
GMA’s pronouncement to run
as Representative of the 2nd district of
Pampanga substantiates prior theory
on the plan to extend her term, through
the selfishly proposed charter change
(chacha). This is amidst suspicions on
her drama to stay no more. The shift
of the present presidential system to a
federal-parliamentary form will surely
not let her take the curtain call and make
her final bow. Hence, this will pave the
concrete road of her continuous slavery,
travesty and consummation of the
Filipino masses. Because this change in
the system would mean another long,
long years of agony under the regime
of a puppet that fools around with her
numerous soiled puppets.
Apparently, the people, as
the audience, did not savor the grubby
political show. And definitely they Swill
not wish for another genre of stage play.
In fact, no one would even care to lend
their calloused hands to bestow a big
round of applause.
It was noted that GMA did
not disclose her future political plan
in her last State Of the Nation Address
(SONA?), of which her adversaries
awaited for her declaration not to include
herself to the 2010 electoral race. But
now the answer was absolutely rendered
clear. She has not loosened her grip to
the pleasure of supremacy. That had
there been diagnosis of the country’s
state, uninterrupted ill-system would be
the students who have submitted their
entries for literary folio doesn’t know the
rules of the trade. Our consultant will
point out these stuffs, as too emotive for
comfort. “Ipadala na lang sa kinauukulan .”,
would be the usual mark.
Creative writing requires
creative thinking. It aches my head and
feels disturbed when some students
react from the high falutine vocabulary
of the sensational Abakatanduanes. The
bottomline - these students have less
exposure to the dynamics of language.
And this is an eye opener. We are laid on
the line in the stereotyped pocketbooks
and text quotes. We are not exposed to
media that will give us the chance to think
Opinion 37
Blind
Folded
Elvin Randolph Jubay
the findings.
More to the point, who would
like to step out of a glimmering spot when
all you have is luxury while most have
misfortune.
More likely to happen in the arena
after the election, is the jump start, again,
of the so called perilous dance of chacha.
It was in 2005 when this event unfolded,
thus served as an edifying manifestation of
political positioning and yields of power.
The allies of GMA naively authored and
approved a resolution for a constituent
assembly but did not know what step to
take afterwards. Hence, this was deemed
as an indisputable threat to this nation’s
economical, social and moral condition.
Then eventually, with her cronies fleeing
in the grimy house of the Congress, an
instantaneous Prime Minister would
emerge.
While GMA capriciously claims
her economic and social achievements,
private economists are obliterating
her account, and are totally in clash
to see whose mathematical device is
malfunctioning. Most Filipino’s would
believe that her only factual achievements
are the corruption of country’s democracy
and the reduction of this country into a
nation of wanderers and adventurers.
We had miscalculated her
farewell. Again, she thirsts. She needs
to be dampened. But what magical solvent
could eradicate this drought?
She’s maybe in the throne of
Presidency at present; she’s geared up to
dwell in a bigger mansion.
Prevention is still better than
cure.
Open your eyes. Do not be
blindfolded.
abstractly and not “literally” .We are then
only confined in the traditional English
and Filipino. We are in higher learning
therefore we must think and imagine in
our highest heights.
To quote from a famous line
“Your taste for coffee is not my taste of
poetry”. It is indeed for people who have
a dose of imagination and think beyond
the border of their thoughts. Imagine and
think of this. You can't think rationally
on an empty stomach, and a whole lot of
people can't do it on a full one either.
38 Opinion
God bless the CSC
Behind
Vanguards
Your sons and daughters join the band
John Elmar Templonuevo
I
remember the first time I sang this hymn. Stimulated by my
teacher’s honeyed and digestible offer, I internalized this
song and built in me the awe for my new school. Greatness,
prodigy, excellence, they all came sweeping me off into a
pristine stand - the stand that I’m in a school that satisfies a
student’s fervor. Oh how easy a freshman can be carried.
Catanduanes State Colleges actually savors the prestige
of being the only comprehensive higher education institution in
this island province and joins the squad of the premier SUCs not
only in the region but in the entire country as well. In fact, Isteyt
is constantly robed with accolades and acknowledgement both in
regional and national level.
Ironically, what is sweet in the superficial is mostly bitter
beneath. Behind the praise sprawls the disparaging defect that is
truly disheartening.
Let’s be frank. This institution has subject offerings
which have teachers handling it but have no reference at all. Or
if there is a reference, it’s yet one or two, antiqued, outmoded,
and obsolete. Relevantly, these teachers will just reason that
everything is fine because the worldwide web can supplement the
need without the knowledge that only a little percentage of the
data in the net is valid and reliable. They are proud saying this as
if they know how to surf the net or even to control the mouse of
a computer. This is embarrassingly a pure hypocrisy. The upshot
is that lessons are discussed superficially. They are pushing such
subjects even at the expense of the learning that will be reaped.
Our isteyt is even allowing teachers to handle
subjects even if it is not really their field of specialization.
Imagine the discussion and the learning transpiring inside
the classroom. Highbrows’ eyebrows are meeting badly to be
exact. Nevertheless, the shatterproof fact is that knowledge can
never be bluffed. Teaching in college is evidently and precisely
different from teaching in elementary and secondary. The reason
that tertiary education is labeled higher education is basically
because the teaching in this stage is more advance, rich, and
complex. Subjects here are not ordinary subjects. Morphing to the
suitable or appropriate level of discussion and manner of subject
presentation crushing out premature interpretations is likewise
a deep-seated prerequisite. Yet the best action still is giving the
warrior his mastered weapon – his craft, and vice versa.
In one way or another, we can then ask what basis is
behind the division of subjects. Or considering where it all started,
the basis of hiring our teachers.
Negligence is also a tag mark. Let’s face it. There are
teaching authority here that sees reporting as an avenue to be
free and spree to their obligation of pasturing the students. Some
are even doing other business not in line and related with what
they should do as the teacher. Some are leaving the room, not
attending the class, not listening, and dispiritingly letting the
reporters to handle the day for them. And what’s the comment
afterwards? “Excellent, a very comprehensive report,” they
say, even if it is not and even if they never listened. The word
is indeed full disregard. Heck, are they pointing out that the
students need them no more to learn? Inauspiciously, they end
up the victor as they still receive their crispy salary - the same
amount they expect to receive.
Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009
All hail the name of CSC
Seat of Wisdom, Rich and Free
Future pillars of the land.
Another act of negligence is giving a mean interest to the
mediocre students yet gives much of the focus to the performing
ones, which should be the reverse. Education must not be
prejudiced or function like racism.
In accordance with assessment principles, we have
culprits who use assessment to establish their name to their
student as the brainy thus including in the exam questions which
are actually out of the syllabus, out of the discussion, and was
undoubtedly never taught. Likewise, assessment is used as an
excuse rooted from negligence and lack of preparedness and as
a disciplining and fear-installing tool. Assessment is measuring
students learning in a discussion. Now, what are they exactly
measuring there? In a fluffy side, we can observe a-not-so-good
construction of questions in their test papers. Typographical error
or a test of finding the flaw? Again what should be remembered is
that college is college and not any other level.
Similarly, projects must always be an outgrowth of the
lesson and not as compliance only. There are authorities who
require students to pass projects not related to the lesson and
sometimes for their own benefit.
Moreover, some subjects also are somehow not in line
with the student’s course. Are they practically included just to
fill in the required units for the said course? Relatively, there are
courses in this institution that have different inclination in the
end. Political Science graduates for example are conscious that the
said course here which is basically a preparatory for law is taught
more bound or favored to teaching, same with BS Biology which
is a preparatory to medicine.
By hook or by crook, we can say at the outset that this
institution must sharpen its curriculum, its subject offerings,
and course content. What does the course wants to turn the
students into? What is its target? The students must be brought
and developed to the expected crop or else, all are rubbish or
worthless.
These are only some of the blemishes that can drain one’s
established awe. CSC has certainly potential and enthusiastic
students that can be even developed if right and needed actions
will be undertaken. They are blessings that should never be taken
for granted. After all, we the students are the clientele that the
CSC serves.
Negligence is shame. Incompetence is antipathy. Excuses
are folly. And so we have to honor and thank those who never
considered the aforementioned and just do what is expected from
them instead. They are absolutely heroes.
Isteyt can indeed propel to even loftier heights. Higher
passing rate, more quality graduates, more achievements and
citation from regional, national, and hopefully international, and
other commendable prizes will be even made possible if quality
and the best instruction will be catered.
Yet what ever the case there is, we the students must
not overlook the efforts that we should do. The passion, will,
and perseverance must never drain. Higher education is not
dependence after all.
Anyway about the hymn, this time I believe I will not be
carried anymore. I guess I gained weight... or muscles perhaps.
Oh cheers to CSC.

Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009
Ruzzel Valdepeña
I
to ang una at huling pagkakataon ko
na magsulat ng kolum sa diyaryong
ito. Sa loob ng limang taong
pakikipag-buno sa pagaaral, sa
wakas makakapagtapos na rin ako.
Dagliang pagpapakilala lang naman iyan.
Nais ko lang sana na sa pagkakataong ito’y
maihayag ko sa inyo, mga mahal kong
kamag-aral, ang aking mga saloobin.
Pilipinas
Mula ng dekada singkwenta
hanggang sa kalagitnaan ng dekada
sitenta, namayagpag ang Pilipinas sa
buong rehiyon ng Asya. Ang bansa
ang siyang unang nakalaya umano sa
mahigpit na kamay ng mga dayuhan.
Ang palitan ng piso sa dolyar ay umabot
pa nga kwatro pesos kada isang dolyar,
isang patunay na ang ating ekonomiya
noon ay sadyang matatag. Ang pasistema
ng pamahalaan ay maayos sa kabila
ng patagong pag-asa sa tulong ng
imperyalistang Amerika. Hindi na maaalis
ang kurapsyon sa isang demokratikong
bansa, subalit ng mga panahong iyon,
kaunti pa lamang ang epekto nito sa mga
mamamayan.
Sa kasalukuyan, tanggap na ng
nakararaming Pilipino ang kabulukan ng
sistema. Alam mo yan. Hayaan niyo akong
magsalaysay ng ilan.
Tila isang pamaskong regalo ang
hatid ng EDSA sa Pilipinas. Sa katagang
ito lumaya umano ang Pilipinas sa tanikala
ng mapaniil na diktaturyang Marcos, at
sa bulok na pamamamaraan ng gobyerno
ni Estrada. Sa totoo lang HINDI. Dahil
para sa akin, pinairal lamang ng mga
taga-Maynila ang kanilang katangahan.
Sobrang katangahan. Matapos ang
rehimeng Marcos, naupo si Aquino, isang
mahina at walang alam sa pagpalutang
ng isang maliit na bangkang palubog.
Lumobo ang utang ng Pilipinas.
EDSA Dos. Muling pinabilib ng
bansa ang mundo. Pinabilib sa angking
kabobohan ng Maynila. Hindi maako ng
mga nagpatalsik kay Erap na isang pandak
Solusyon
na diyablo ang kanilang pinatungan ng
korona. Hanggang ngayon, ang malanding
babaeng bayaran ang may hawak kay Juan
Dela Cruz sa leeg. Sa kasamaang palad,
bakal at nalilibutan ng tinik ang kamay na
sumasakal kay Juan. Isa ring katatawanan
ang termino sa mga Pilipino, Juan dela
Cruz, isang obrerong may pasan na krus.
Hindi maiiwasang ihambing
ang noon sa ngayon. Kung ikaw ay may
kaunting kaalaman sa mga nangyayari,
marahil, nais mo na ring umalis na lamang
sa bansang ito.
Catanduanes
Isang maliit na nunal sa tubig
ng Pasipiko. Kay gandang lugar. Kay
yuyumi ng kababaihan. Noon ‘yan sabi
ng lola ko nung buhay pa siya. Salamat
lola at namahinga ka na, hindi mo na
mararanasan pa ang hirap sa lugar na ito.
Pangunahing produkto dito ang
abaka. Ibig sabihin, maraming magsasaka
ng abaka, isang napakaselang tanim.
Kaunting tulak lang ay magugupo na, tsk,
at nagkataong bagyuhin pa naman ang
isla. Pag may bagyo, walang abaka, pag
walang abaka, walang pera, pag walang
pera, walang pagkain. Kawawa ka naman,
pobreng Catandunganon.
Ang islang ito ay isa ding maliit
na imperyo. Naghahari-harian ang mga
buwayang hindi naman talagang likas na
umusbong sa lugar na ito. Ang pulitika
rito ay may pambansang kalidad. Kayang
tapatan ang anumang kahihiyang kayang
lunukin ni Gloria. Magmasid ka lamang
ng maigi at ika’y lubhang matatawa.
Ngayong malapit na ang
eleksyon, tatapalan na naman ng pera
ang mata ng mga mamamayan kapalit ng
tatlong taong pag-sipsip ng mga halimaw
na ito sa pwesto. Magkano lang naman
yan? Sanlibo? Naku, ang mura naman ng
mga tao dito.
Catandunganon, tama na ang
pagtulog, sobra na ang katangahan mo.
Tama na.
Pampamahalaang
Kolehiyo ng Catanduanes
Sentro umano ng linangang pang-
edukasyon sa probinsiya. Patunay diyan
ang daan-daang pasado sa board exams
taon taon. Palakpakan naman kayo diyan
mga estudyante oh! Kayo lang, mga bobo
kayo eh. Sobra.
Opinion
39
Ito ang paaralang walang
pagpapahalaga sa kanyang mga mag-
aaral. Ito ang paaralang, walang pakialam
ang mga mag-aaral sa pambababoy ng
paaralan. Nakakatawa. Tanging pera lang
talaga ang rason ng patuloy na pag-daloy
ng mabahong buhay sa paaralang ito.
AACCUP lang ang dahilan ng pag-ganda
ng mukha nito. Magaling CSC, para kang
nagpalit ng damit ngunit hindi naligo.
Nagmumog ngunit hindi nagsepilyo.
Tumae, ngunit hindi ka naghugas ng
puwet. Oh sadyang kaysakit tanggapin ng
mabahong katotohanan. Pinapatawan mo
ang iyong mga bulag na anak ng pasakit
na kibit-balikat na lamang sa kanila.
Ikaw CSC, ang siyang dapat
manganak ng mga batang magsisilbi
sa kanyang bayan, ngunit, isang
pambubugaw ang iyong ginagawa.
Sumasayaw sa saliw ng musika ng
“GLOBAL COMPETETIVENESS,”
tugtuging gawa ng Amerika. Sabi nga ni
Bob Ong, “Gag*han ang College”. Totoo
yon.
Ad Nauseam, Ad Infinitum, CSC.
Paalam
Ang Pilipinas ay isang patay
na puno ng uod. Punong-puno ng uod.
Samut-sari ang uri ng uod nasumisippsip
sa bulok na bangkay nito. Yaong mga
buwaya at ang kanyang mga kauri ang
nasa ilalim. Sila ang pikamatatabang
uod sa lipunan. Nakatanim na sa bansa.
Ang masa, pinakamarami, ngunit
pinakamangmang, pinagkaitan ng mga
uod sa ibaba. Ngunit ang masa, balang
araw ay gigising din. Dahil na rin sa tayo
ay nasa gitna ng napakadilim at walang
buwang gabi. Malapit nang sumikat
ang araw, at sinisiguro kong muling
mapipintahan ng pula ang pagsikat ng
umaga.
Hindi edukasyon ang solusyon,
Jesli. Mali ka dahil mayaman ka.
Ito, Jesli, ito ang solusyon.
Rebolusyon.
Rebolusyon ang solusyon.
Paalam.
 BIPPK
BANAT NI ISKAY PLIKS AT PINAT KING
Medyo nahuray-huray kita nin katosmag ah, tsk. Sukat pano, kahaharang
na. hehe! Dyok lang mga made kasin pade. Mana ta maerestoryahan kita nin
kabalbalan ditoyan sa eskwelahan tang MAHAL.
Inot na labarda: Oras nin pagbasa, de-oras na.

Iso baga daa, de-oras na ang pagbasa sa atong library.
Tsk, isyan ang resulta nin pag-automate? Anong innovation
man yan? Hapoton daw namo kamo, dating sanggatos na ang
bayad kada semestre para sa library iso? Ta’yon tapaglimitahan
ang pag-adal? Atang mie pa naman yan inagi sa among mga
estudyante ang pagapruba nin singil na yan. Tapos mabayad
pa nin singgko kada dos minutos? Ay anong kabuahan, eh
sa computer shop sa luwas singgko kada kinse minotos nin
internet. Madyag pang iinternet na sana iso? Anong kor-
catalog, itype sana sa Google search yang topic antemano
Ikawhang labarda: An pagkalupa nin maotwar ang resulta. Mie pa nata-pogan sa luma buda ralapa
propesyonalismo ni Doc. nang libro. Maoyam na kamo, asa tama kami, kadakor pa
Hantong doctor na to yan, sadong ardaw, maklase namo. Kamo? Inda sana sa inyo, pila man sana kamo.
kutana siya, pagabot niya sa kiyang assigned na klasrum,
ikan ng naenot. Tapos hantong medyo maypagkaikan na
instructor na to yan, nagparwala sa pasilyo mismo nin
Ikatlong labarda: An barkada kong nahabonan.
Ikan kami barkada, gaeskwela pa ninto, sanang off-
college nila. Pinakihurunan man siya na maghanap nin room
campus siya, siyempre mie namo itaram ang pangaran. Si pade
pansamantala ta nakasugna na si mam nin klase sa rum na
namo, nagreklamo ta yo gibo daa nin grupo nila sa research,
yon. Sos, ugali bga yan nin doctor. Sabagay, baad isyan talaga
ipinangaran sa apat na maestro diyan sa department na halani sa
ang kiyang ugali bilang doctor iso, mga made? Tsk. Lawgaw
calatagan gate. Tamang kanilopet kotana nin pakagibo nila nin
baga ano? Hana baad maarog ka ki Haydon Kho. Hek! Hek!
study na ‘yon, tapos ipangpahamot sana sa apat na maestrong
Hek!
yon? Sukat mga bo-rad magresearch. Bo-rad ba o talagang mae
pa masyado bated? Masupog man oy, gibo yan nin estudyante
ninyo, hahabonon niyo pang pampahamot nin ngaran niyo sa
Ikaapat na labarda: An branyung bang bus mga Accreditors? Hek hek hek. Pagtorortor daw kamo.
Ang apelido nila, santa rosa. Ikan kaming barkada
na student ng automotive na sabi daa ikawhang gamit ta na
daa sila. kahilak man, gamit na paran siya, pinapasapasahan
na, minik-apan lang daa, tsk. Mahar mahar daa pero ang Ikalimang labarda: “Just sign your nem &
pakabugaw sa kiya. Hek hek hek. Inda sana kun sino inot everythin’s gonna be fayn.”
na masakay sa kiya, hana, lugi siya jan. Basta kami ni pade, Sabi yan ni sir/mam na __________ (clue, teacher siya na
syertong buko na silang branyu. Hek hek hek. taga CBA, CAS, CAF, CHS, COT, CoED). Manongod ini sa pag-
rate nin estudyante sa maestra. Ano kita? morong? ikaw? baad iso,
pero kami buko. Ako ninyan botngan ko yan nin uno, labot ko,
kun ikan sanang negatib 1 million isurat ko yan dyan. hek hek hek.
Gudbay buko man silang tayo’ maghu’no. hek hek hek.
As the title implies, iso talaga. mae nang masunod pang
kabanata nin atong “panlilibak asin panlanse” sa mga maeng
kanortoran asin maeng kaayadan na mga tawo buda pangyare.
Mga dudes, guys, pre, part, we leave to you the legacy of jason
gainza, i mean, you know, of standing up, just like buto ni
corakog, no malice dudes, were gonna miss you including this
page a lot. tsk. no more hek heks, tsk tsks, and laughing trip while
reading our article. Sorry, but, we have to grow kasi eh.
So long, s*ckers!

P.S.
Rejoice evil-doers and real suckers, (sakit mag-englis),
ho, you may resume your damn work without those two pests
atop this paper. But, but, buttttttt!
(sisipaon mi an! hek hek hek!)
Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009 the Lighter Side 41

ni:konix
oksimoron politiks
N atunghayan natin
sa taong ito ang
katakut-takot na
kababalaghan. Lalo na
kung ika’y mapagmasid at
ginamit ng maigi ang
inyong kanya-kanyang third
eye. Sinasabi na tayong
lahat ay mayroong third
eye, kailangan lang natin
itong IMULAT, ilang
paranormal expert na rin
ang nakapagpatunay na
sa kabila ng pisikal na
pagkabulag, nananatiling
aktibo ang third eye.
Hayaan ninyong isalaysay
ko ang ilan sa mga
nasaksihan ng aking
matang mapagmatyag.
HOLLOW MAN: ANG PAGBABALIK
43

Artikulo: Santelmo Lapat: Raseldo Larawan: Bren

Unang nagparamdam ang halimaw na ito noong
nakaraang taon. Tinagurian siyang hollow man dahil
sa kanyang angking kakayahan sa pagiging tagabulag.
(Invisibility sa mga hindi nakaaalam). Matindi ang
kanyang pagpaparamdam sa CSC Gymnasium. Tanging
sa pakiramdam lamang malalaman na siya ay nasa
paligid. Kamakailan, may nag-ulat sa amin na siya’y
nakapaglimas ng kulang-kulang dalawang libong
piso mula sa pondo ng CPEC. Ayon sa nag-ulat na

nagkataong kalbo, mistulang holdap ang nangyari
dahil sapilitan ang pangha-harass ng Hollow Man
makuha lamang ang kanilang membership fee. Dagdag
pa niya, tatlo ang klaseng hawak ng halimaw na
ito kaya kung susumahin ay aabot sa dalawang libo
ang nalimas ng karumaldumal na nilalang na ito.
Napag-alaman na lamang ng kawawang estudyante na
mayroong derby ng araw na iyon. Hindi makatarungan
ang ginawa ng hollow man sa kanilang klase. Maging
ang mga kasamahan nito sa trabaho’y nagsabi na sila
mismo’y hindi (remit) sa organisasyon ang perang
kanilang nalilikom mula sa mga estudyante.
Makapanindig balahibo ang pagpaparamdam.
Sana’y mamulat ang mga mag-aaral sa tunay na
kababalaghan.
CREEPS
Kung pamilyar ka sa larong "DoTA", karakter
ito sa laro na mukhang diyablo at laman-lupa ang
itsura. Naglipana ang mga creeps na ito sa COT Dep’t
of Industrial Technology. Nakakatakot ang kanilang
mga itsura. Ilang mga mag-aaral ang nagsumbong
sa amin na madalas magreklamo sa kanilang paraan
ng pagtuturo. Ang mga creeps na ito mismo ang
nagsasabing "..inda ko sana kung makapasa pa kamo",
"pagluwas niyo baad kami pa ang ipasupog nindo,
pati iskwelahan idaramay ninyo pa ning inyong
kasosopgan niyo". Ayon sa mga estudyante, hindi
naman ganoon ang pakikitungo sa kanila ng mga
halimaw na ito noon. Nagbago na lamang noong mga
nakaraang taon. Marahil dahil na rin sa mga creeps
na ito, mababa ang performance ng mga graduates ng
nasabing departamento.
Creeps na nagturo sa kanila ng apat na taon
ang sila mismong magtutuligsa sa kanilang sariling
produkto. Hinihiling namin sa otoridad ang agarang

HAUNTING SA CSC
pagsiyasat sa kanilang kakayanang magturo. Isang
board passer lang sa isang taon, minsan ay wala.
Noong nakaraang semestre, isang pagtitipon ang Sabagay, matatanda na rin naman sila’t nakakalbo pa.
ginanap sa gym. Isang haunting ika nga ang naganap. Kailangan na dapat mamahinga, tutal mga tamad rin
Nakakatakot dahil sa pagtitipong ito nagmistulang naman sila di’ba?
possessed ang mga mag-aaral na dumalo, maliban na
lamang kaunting naniwala sa kanilang mga panalangin.
Sa nasabing pagtitipon lumitaw ang balak na itaas ng
mga haunters ang singil sa presyo ng kamote’t daing
na dapat bilhin ng mga estudyante. Hindi natuloy
ang nasabing pagtataas. Salamat na lamang sa mga
naniwala. Kaya nga lang yaong mga nakararami’y hindi
maintindihan ng lubusan ang lahat ng pangyayari. Ang
inaakala nilang komedyang palabas ay isa pa lang
katatakutan. Huli na ng kanilang napagtanto.

Ilan lamang iyan sa kababalaghan na aking napagmasdan.

Sadya ngang nakakapangilabot lalo na'’t sa atin mismo
nagparamdam. Maniwala lang tayo sa ating mga kakayahan.
Marami tayo. Kailangan lang nating imulat ang ating mga
third eye. Sana malaman niyo rin na tayo ay nasa gitna
ng walang buwang gabi.
Matagal pa bago tayo sikatan ng araw.
Ang kababalaghan ay magpapatuloy kung ating
pahihintulutan.
44 Sports
A
s the tradition and thrill
of the State Colleges and
Universities Athletic
Association (SCUAA) Meet
continue to elevate the sports
enthusiasms of many, competition
also gears up into a different level.
The quest for pride and honor to
be dubbed supreme in the Bicol
sporting world has always been a
matter of great interest. And now,
another regional sports gala has
concluded and the dominance
of some once again surfaced in
the Bicol’s sports arena while the
underdogs are still desperately
in search of the elusive glory of
winning the gold.
ON TOUCHDOWNS
The Exodus
Eight of the nine events participated
in by the Catanduanes State Colleges in the
2009 Region V SCUAA Meet held at the
Camarines Sur Polytechnic College (CSPC)
Naga City Campus last September 28, -
October 2, 2009, bagged six gold, 14 silver
and nine bronze medals.
The men’s basketball team
composed of Van Ashley Cervantes, Jose
Mari Louis A. dela Cruz, Ivan Keith S. Go,
Joel T. Litong, Bert Dominic T. Pitajen, Jan
Marvin A. Toledana, Francois T. Razal,
Jayson L. Traqueña, Matt R. Tabligan
and Loueigi Z. Tomes bannered the gold
medal harvest of CSC after trouncing the
powerhouse defending champion Bicol
University in a twice-to-beat disadvantage
in the championship and finally recapturing
the title after an almost six-year gold medal
drought.
Meanwhile, Rose Ann M. Bantayan,
a senior BS Math student gallantly carried
the flag of CSC taekwondo team, earning
gold in the Taekwondo Bantamweight
Division along with her compatriot Perfecto
D. Bien snaring the bronze medal in the
Flyweight Division.
Furthermore, the CSC softball
& SETBACKS
team hurled by Janice A. Cabrera, Joanne
T. del Barrio, Ann Frances T. delos Santos,
board1) and Jeremy Y. Sapico (Athletics-
500m run).
Carmi Joy B. Giray, Michelle Karl Ibayan,
Stephanie Marie C. Ibayan, Jogie A.
Sarmiento, Riolita I. Satairapan, Andelyn The Aftermath
Compared to last year’s outcome,
C. Sorra, Rowena G. Tablate, Karen P.
it is quite obvious that we have a far better
Tenerife and Wemmy T. Traqueña defied
ratio of medal harvest this year with
the muddy field and fierce competitor to
respect to the number of athletes sent. Last
clinch the First Runner up honors.
year we had entries in almost all sports
Also providing the CSC a vantage
disciplines but we were just able to bring
team standing is the Lawn Tennis women’s
home two golds, 21 silvers and 37 bronzes
team who pocketed the silver medal. The
in our medal hunt. With 63, the leanest
CSC lady netters were Perlita A. Posada,
number of participating athletes this year,
Karen Joy G. Tindoc, Katrina A. Peña and
the CSC squad surpassed last year’s dismal
Mary Anne V. Cabrera.
finish with 46% efficiency compared to
Adding to the CSC’s medal tally
last year’s 35%. But the odd thing is that,
is the men’s Volleyball team who netted
still, we remained in the 7th place inching
the 2nd Runner up honors. They were
DEBESMSCAT with only three gold, one
composed of Louiegi Z. Tomes, Mark S.
silver and two bronze medals to escape the
Reyes, Oriel D. Icaro, John Alvin T. Tonio,
humiliating bottom of standings.
Ronald C. Rojas, Edelbert D. Dalipe, Joel
The dominance of Bicol University
J. Litong, Vincent Cris T. Tapel, and Audi
as one of the premier state-run universities
Jose A. Manlangit.
in Bicol once again proved that they are one
Danilo Tipo Jr. likewise outlasted
of the sports superpowers, enabling them
the rigors of eliminations in the Athletic
to defend their “over-all championship”
High Jump to eventually capture the
title with a commanding 83 gold, 51 silver
Silver Medal. Also gaining bronze medals
and 44 bronze medal record.
were Sonny B. Tayoto (swimming, 50m-
This just demonstrates the solo
backstroke), Raffy Roncar Tivar (chess-

show of BU, revealing the glaring reality
that an institution with better and solidly-
established sports development plan has
the edge to conquer the SCUAA’s center
stage. Then we’ll ask, “…what’s the CSC’s
sports development plan?”
It could be recalled that last
year we hosted the said sports fest, then
we hoped we could have the home court
advantage, but then again, we failed.
Hosting the SCUAA last year draws
further setbacks in the sports sector of
our institution. Financial impediments
to be specific. It’s disappointing to
say that the honor of hosting the most
prestigious sporting event of SUC’s in the
region has been ironically translated to
a major financial hurdle, prompting the
administration to take drastic measures
to be able to cope with the demands of
the present sports status. That’s why only
those events with assurance of securing
medals were the ones given attention and
those new breed of potential medal-source
events were risked not be exposed.
We could not blame them for
opting to such decision because that’s what
the present dilemma is calling for. In fact,
it has brought better reputation than last
year. I could say, that was pretty clever.
THE ART OF TRIAL - SCUAA 09 is about the field,
the players, the strategies and the stories.
But we could not hide the disadvantage of
that wise maneuver.
Remember that exposure to
competitions is a vital factor in enhancing
an athlete’s competitive spirit. The heart
of an athlete when exposed to battles
breeds passion and confidence; passion
and confidence boosts ego which is
then converted to optimism causing
psychological advantage, then that means
winning. If we will deprive this opportunity
to our deserving athletes we’re just letting
our chances to slip in our hands. How can
we gain the respect of other powerhouse
SUC’s if we will just contain ourselves to
this limit? If the administration will adapt
the same scheme next year, that would
probably be not pretty clever.
Another thing that seemed to be
peculiar is the duration of training allotted
to the athletes. Staging the Intramurals on
September 2-4 gives the athletes only three
weeks to prepare and get fired up for their
actual battle. That’s definitely not pretty
clever. Journeying into a war without any
armor and weapon dooms you to death
and catastrophe.
If this will be a habit, that’s
impeccably irresponsible. How could we
have caliber athletes that could go neck-to-
neck against the better-trained warriors
of mainland SUC’s if we will not invest
a little more time and effort to venture
into modern and wittier strategies?
Article: Jonathan Tulod Photos: GSR Page Design: Ruzzel Valdepeña
If we dream to be one of the sports
superpowers, then we should eliminate
irresponsibility. We could never be too
passive.
The next battle has already
geared its way. The coin has been tossed
once more. But it is not a matter of head
and tails. It’s not always a physical brawl.
Wisdom, passion and heart matters
more. Maybe we’re an island province, a
remote SUC and we could not settle in
their culture of air-conditioned stadiums
and chlorinated swimming pools, but
we’ve got a whole lot of guts to emerge
supreme.
The challenge rests upon
our shoulders. The clarion call is too
deafening for us not too respond. The
future of CSC’s quest for glory is still a
jig saw puzzle.
Will our institution be dubbed
once more as the underdog?
Or are we going to have the
payback and make the final touchdown?
What’s your bet?
46 Sports Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009

S
kim boarding, also known as skimming, is now a
nascent water board sport played by youngsters
all over the Philippines and is a rapidly budding
s
Thi sport in the shorelines of the island of Catanduanes.
Unlike surfing, skim boarding uses a petite and sleeker
version of a surfboard fitted to transcend on wave washes.
The sport originated way back 1920’s with proofs
of photographs of lifesavers and coastguards skimming
along the shoreline of Laguna Beach, California. In the
Philippines, it started in Tanauan, Leyte sometime in year 2000.
Catanduanes, tagged as the “Land of the
Howling Winds” is known as an island rich with
magnificent beaches and now showcasing another
potential for the water sport -- skim boarding.
This is in addition to the tourism spot at
Puraran, Baras, which is internationally known
for its majestic waves best apposite for surfers.
is how According to sport enthusiasts, Cabugao Bay
coastline, located near TESDA was said to be an excellent
skim boarding spot with a wide and long range of flatland.
However, you can find skimmers anywhere at the shoreline
of Virac and other towns depending on the tide and wave
levels. Mamangal and Batag Beach, both at the town of
Virac also got a high number of penchants for its quality
shoreline suited for flatland skimming while the most
accessible spot is the water edges of Salvacion, Virac.
In the recent Catandungan Festival, a skim boarding
clinic was proposed to be held in Puraran, Baras to introduce
the water sport in Catanduanes but was cancelled due to the
reduction of events since the province took part in paying
sympathy for those victims of Typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng.
However, Skimheads- a group of students and young
professionals, was planning to establish a skim boarding
clinic and competition in the province as an initiation for
we other youth to showcase their skimming skills and talent
and to prove the island’s potential in hosting such event.
CSC grounds once served as a skimming spot
and is also preferred by those who played on it after
heavy rainfall but the thrill was lessened since traditional
skim boarding includes the act that a skimmer must
wait for an incoming wave and ride on its wave washes.
Catanduanes’ beaches’ expanses continue to
create a center of interest not only for skimmers but also
for tourist and visitors eager on viewing breathtaking
panoramic beach sites and having a relaxing experience.

do it.
Skim boarding:
a Budding Tourism
Attraction
in Catanduanes
Article: Bren Garette Rivera Photo Credits: John Paulo Valdepeña, Bren Garette Rivera Page Design: Superbev
 Sports
Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009
47
Skimming 101
Consider a flat beach shoreline. This would play a vital
role for skim boarders since the sport requires the flat wash of
previous waves. The best time running for a wave is right after
the wave breaks. Accurate timing is necessary for this would
lead the skimmer to a good ride. If the skimmer did not catch
the right run time and wave, this would lead to trouble in
jumping off the board and during the ride. Dexterity is a must.
Once the skimmer reaches the water or the wet sand,
they throw down the board so they can perform their skim
board ride. Probably, this part would be the most physically
challenging obstacle for novices and maybe the reason why
many beginners don’t stick to the said water sport. Equipped
with a lot of endurance and persistence, anyone could learn
the basics of skim boarding, but take note, not everyone will be
free from bruises and other cases requiring medical attention.
Once on the board, the skimmers must have
power over their weight and balance at the center of
the board to avoid falling off. They must also pump or
glide onto the board to accelerate. Running too fast is not
that necessary for it causes the skimmer to lose control.
When the basic step “Run, Drop, Slide” is
faultlessly completed, the rider might have the opportunity
to perform other tricks and ride the wave, considering the
speed, balance and skill to do a variety of maneuvers while
banking off the wave and pointing towards the shore.
Skim boarding can be classified into flatland skim
boarding wave riding or advanced skimming. Flatland skim
boarding, the most commonly played here in the shorelines
of the island, requires the need of skim board made out of
thick quality plywood or simply wood boards. On the other
hand, foam boards are fitted for wave riding because of its
light weight. Wave riding, as a more complex technique in
skim boarding, is not yet practiced that much here in the
island since the sport is on its burgeoning stage and foam
boards are not yet available. Although, Catanduanes’ potential
waters can hold either of the two skim boarding event.

Sports Science
Skim boards are designed thru the principle of
hydroplaning, wherein the board rises out of the water as
it accelerates and gain speed. The film surface of the flat
wash of waves prevents the board from making firm contact
with the water surface. Skim boards are typically smaller
and thinner than those of surfboards because these do not
require much buoyancy. Thanks to Archimedes. Eureka!

Caution
Just like any other sport, players would never be free
from danger. So for a beginner, it is a must to be physically alert to
avoid these circumstances. Skim boarding, as a growing popular
activity at the beach may cause different types of dangers that
skimmers can face regularly. It is not uncommon to see skim
boarders getting wounds, fractures, lacerations, bruises and
other sort of cases due to impacts with the board itself, or rocks,
logs and other obstacles present on beaches. However, cases of
drowning among skim boarders are not as likely as those with
surfers due to the shallow waters where skim boarding is practiced.

Water wonder - Mark Anthony de Leon skims

the Mamangal beach’s frothy hemline.
48 Sports Vol. XVIII No.I | October - December 2009

Masq uerading the

with Tragedy
Conq uest popular icons - this is the real culprit. This is the reason why
we are in the midst of moral agony. We are unconsciously
hypnotized by fanaticism, colonialism’s ally. We are morally
brainwashed. Good if we are in support to our fellowmen who
bring positive reputations to the Philippines. But it would be

A
pathetic if we will degrade our integrity as Filipinos, praising
t the height of glory and bliss of the Filipino fans those public figures giving nothing but shame and trash talks.
during the “Firepower” bout between the pound- Worse, if we become helpless fanatics of strange, foreign and
for-pound king Manny Pacquiao and Puerto Rican Hollywood culture. Maybe that’s why we’re always being
legend Miguel Cotto, 11 fatalities in the Philippines under estimated, because we lack conviction in our identity
ironically arose due to extreme excitement and great anticipation as a Filipino. Because we see them as a higher and more
of another epic conquest of the beloved Filipino warrior. dominant race, than us.
According to the ABS-CBN Regional Network Group, Drawing the line from the perspective of sports and
nine of the 11 casualties were declared dead on arrival after sociology, it is to note that winning doesn’t mean triumph at
experiencing fatal heart failures. Three of them came from all. In more particular times, it draws back further disguised
the Davao Region, five hailed from the cities of Talisay, Cebu, blemishes.
Butuan and Batangas and one from Virac, Catanduanes. We seldom see the tragedy behind the conquest.
In Talisay City, Atillano Caneda, 67, died of heart- Sometimes in our blindness, we are the ones being
attack while watching pay-per-view in their home. Rolando Sala, conquered.
53, from Cebu; Concordio Paredes, 70, from Butuan City; Cecilio Kudos to those Manny Pacquiaos who continue to
Cabrera,62, and John Allan Feranil, 38, both from Batangas also uplift our nation’s pride!
had their ecstatic farewell while savoring the thrill of the fight in To those who dreamed to witness Manny’s inspiring
their respective TV sets. Some of them got unconscious in places conquest but unluckily had their early euphoric twilight, may
like restaurants, hotels and business establishments where they you all rest in peace.
had their fair share of viewing their idol. To those who are dazzled by the blinding neon lights
Also adding to the count were Vicente Bernal of Carmen of fame and victory…
Davao del Norte, Lord Espina, barangay councilor of Poblacion Beware.
Dos, Bansalan, Davao del Sur and Jose Paco, a retired police from You might be wearing the masquerade.
Davao City.
Meanwhile, a Catandunganon named Florencio
Bonaobra, 71, a resident of Francia, Virac, Catanduanes was
likewise included on the list. Based on the stories of the relatives,
Bonaobra is a “self-proclaimed” number one fan of Pacquiao,
never missing any of Pacquiao’s fights despite his heart condition.
He had a cardiac arrest in the final minute of the 2nd round while
“Pacman” is firing up his rampage and onslaught.
On the other hand, a report by ABS-CBN Regional
Network Group said Amelita Pasado went into labor at her home
in Naawan, Misamis Oriental past 12 p.m. Sunday at the start of
the Pacquiao-Cotto fight. Unfortunately, her husband, Ricardo,
was not at home since he was watching the fight at a restaurant
in the town.
Ricardo brought his wife to a local hospital after being
informed of her condition but the latter died due to blood loss.
Their baby also died during delivery.
This was the tragedy. Eleven harsh adieus behind the
Article: Jonathan Tulod Graphics: Raseldo

Filipino icon’s triumph. Though glory and pride were once more
bestowed to our slowly declining dignity as Filipinos, this kind
of issue still draw a sudden gravity of social interests.
Then here’s the skepticism. What do these deaths
imply?
If we will trace the roots of these deaths, there could
be one possible answer, Fanaticism. The Filipino’s vulnerability
to succumb to such fame and dominance. We’re not blaming
Page Design: SuperBev

anyone for their patriotism in support of our compatriot

bringing our country’s banner. We’re not even insulting Manny’s
historical win being the first ever boxer to hold seven different
title divisions. The case is that, we Filipinos are too fragile to
patronize and idolize. Even to the point that we give all our heart
out just to offer support and clamor to our revered idols.
The malady of subduing ourselves to be followers of
 On-air na naman tayo pipz at
marami na naman ang nasa
hitlist at watchlist. Basta ang
alam namin, batu-bato sa langit
ang tamaan ay huwag magagalit.
Huwag mo nang i-deny! Basta
kapag alam mo na, eh ‘di yun na.
Kagsing! Kulahaw! Kimot!
Kalokohan ang sistema sa library. Commercialized ang sistema. For discipline daw ng studes ang time limit sa pag-
loan ng book o baka naman IGP lang. I smell something fishy, Statesman pakiimbestigahan.
--BS Agri na time out muna sa gardenia
O sige! Next assignment namin yan in collaboration with Cheche Lazaro. Imbestigahan!

Ta ngata dai galaug sa major subject ang reyna ning salung department sa CAS. Clarion call tabi ini sa kinauukulan,
pakiaksyunan tabi ta kahelak mi man na mga estudyante.
--Estudyanteng concerned sa tuition niya
Paalisin lahat silang mga incompetent na prof (daa!?). Hindi naman sila astang prof. Hanggang title lang sila. USELESS.

Pana-panahon ang mga placers sa board exam. Kasu mga nakaaging taun engineering ang nasa limelight ngunyan mga
taga College of Health Sciences ang mga newsmakers. Sa arin kaya magkakaigwa ning placer ang mga edukador?
--Chokadora na gustong maging placer sa LET
Hayaan mo kapag time mo naman. Ikaw na ang may tarpaulin sa harap ng isteyt. Kapag asensado na ang CSC, baka paggawa ka
pa billboard sa may Kemji. Bongga ka!

Ta ngata kapag uya si tita akring, daing ga sigarilyo buda gabutwa ang no smoking sign sa istakan.
--Stude na may allergy sa fumes ng volatile kemikals
Next time dala ka antihistamine kapag kukuha ka ng kemikals. ok?

Attention sa mga involved na SBO presidents: may memo pala na dai kamu pwede magkolekta ning intrams fee. Pero
nagkolek pa man siyempre kamu.pwede pong mag-explain kamu or else silence means you are guilty.
--Estudyanteng dai nakaisi sa purpose ng intrams fee
Go…go… We want refund!

Mayad pa uya sa nursing balatid ang mga estudyante mag-post ning subjects. Pero yan ang mga taga- agri buda
industrial technology kaalawat kaan ta dai batid kung ano ang gigibuhun.
--CSC employee na ga-monologue sa jurassic park na computer
Grabe man. Discrimination, gabayad an mam. Customer is always right.

Mga manyakis ang staff ning salung skolarship. Beware, mag-ingat kapag magpasa ng requirements huwag magpasa
alone kailangan by group o kaya dapat may kasama.
--Vavavoom, iskolar na sosyal
Just asking? Pwede pa bang mag-apply?
 Tuluyan na sanang makaskas
ang nakalapat na pait.
Tuluyan na sanang iluwal
ang sariwang simula.

The CSC Statesman

Vol.18 No.1
Oct. - Dec. 2009
All Rights Reserved