“Dealer of quality home appliances & furnitures”
Multibrand
Intercollegiate Unity. Student athletes from different state colleges and universities in Bikol region gather at the opening program of this year’s SCUAA (State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association) at BU grounds as the
Philippine Airforce showed its support by showering confetti during the event. Bicol University hosted the event and emerged as overall champion.
Buhi fish kill caused by highly
polluted waters --BFAR
Mount Bulusan erupts for the
Water quality tests confirmed lake’s
high toxicity level
R. CaNaBE
legaZPi CiTY (12 noveMBer) --
The massive fish kill that hit Lake Buhi
on October 29, 2010 was caused by highly
polluted waters according to the water qual-
ity monitoring conducted by the Bureau of
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)
Regional Office No. 5.
Water quality survey was conducted
with the physical and chemical parameters
Militants slam AKB for Las Vegas trip to
watch Pacquiao fight
legaZPi (14 noveMBer) -- The
MiliTanT Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-
Bikol (BAYAN-Bikol) hit Ako Bicol (AKB)
party list representatives for leaving their
distressed constituents in Sorsogon affected
by the increased activity of Bulusan Volcano
in order to watch Rep. Manny Pacquiao’s
fight today.
AKB Reps. Rodel Batocabe and Alfredo
Garbin Jr. were among the congressmen
listed by House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte
who asked for travel permits to the US cover-
ing the date of the Pacquiao match.
According to Tessa Lopez, public infor-
mation officer of BAYAN-Bikol, “they could
not have left at a worst time considering that
Bulusan is about to erupt and that immediate
assistance is needed by their constituents. It
is as if they forgot that the volcano is acting
up and the towns of Sorsogon are already
covered with ash.”
tests such as water temperature, dissolved
oxygen, pH, ammonia nitrogen, nitrite nitro-
gen and hydrogen sulfide. The first sampling
was done in five stations on November 2,
2010 while the second test was conducted in
eleven stations two days later.
Based on the results obtained, Lake
Buhi has very low dissolved oxygen content
and very high ammonia nitrogen concentra-
BuHi / pagE 5
“What type of representatives are these
who would turn their backs on their constitu-
ents in their time of need? Aside from medi-
cal and financial assistance what these people
aKB / pagE 4
7th Pagsurat Bikol to honor Vincentian
schools’ founders,
PreParaTions are underwaY
For The 7th Juliana Arejola-Fajardo
Workshop sa Pagsurat-Bikol, Bicol’s only
annual creative writing workshop. Tradi-
tionally held in the summer months, the
write-shop is finally scheduled on Novem-
ber 27 and 28 at the Our Lady’s Hall of the
St. Louise de Marillac School (SLMS) in
Pili, Camarines Sur.
To honor of the 350th death anniver-
sary of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise
Main: Cor. P. Burgos & gen. luna sTs., naga CiTY Tel nos.: (054) 473.72.62 / 478.34.58
BranChes: IRIGA
5th time --Phivolcs
legaZPi CiTY, nov. 12 -- MounT
Bulusan in Sorsogon province belched on
Friday morning a voluminous ash plume
700 meters above its crater rim that drifted
and covered villages in the southwest flank
of the volcano, the Philippine Institute of
Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs)
said.
Phivolcs said the phreatic explosion
occurred at 6:59 a.m., sending light gray ash
column that was accompanied by rumbling
sounds, a typical characteristic of Bulusan’s
restive state.
Ash falls were reported in the villages
in the towns of Irosin and Juban.
Phivolcs seismic instruments recorded a
total of four volcanic earthquakes during the
past 24 hours.
Prior to the ash explosion, weak steam-
de Marillac, founders of the Pauline order
of priests and the Daughters of Charity
respectively, this year’s Pagsurat Bikol
workshop is open only to the student writ-
ers and literature teachers of the Vincentian
schools in Camarines Sur, Pili’s SLMS and
the Universidad de Santa Isabel in Naga
City.
Workshop convener Carlos A. Arejola
will conduct a creative non-fiction seminar
pagsuRaT / pagE 5
disTriBuTor
• LEGASPI • SORSOGON
Photo: Vicco Ian Sayat G. / cs photography
ing was observed from the crater during
times of good visibility, Phivolcs said.
Ed Laguerta, Phivolcs resident volca-
nologist, said Friday’s phreatic explosion
had brought to five the ash and steam explo-
sions since Nov. 6 when the volcano showed
signs of restlessness, prompting the agency
to raise its alert status to Level 1.
Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum said
following an aerial survey on Thursday that
the series of explosions at the summit of the
volcano resulted to the joining of two explo-
sion craters of the 2006-2007 eruptions into
one crater.
He also observed that ash deposits of
the Nov. 9 explosions indicated that the ash
grains are old and no new material from the
magma is involved.
BulusaN / pagE 5
Cop and three others face
kidnapping raps
naga CiTY (8 noveMBer)—a PO-
LICE personnel of the Camarines Sur Police
Office (PPO) and three other suspects are
facing charges of Frustrated Kidnapping,
Illegal Possession of Firearms and Ammo,
and violation of the COMELEC Gun-Ban,
before the City Prosecutor’s Office here.
Naga City Police Community Precinct 2
(PCP-2), Police Sr. Insp. Benigno Albao Sr.
identified the suspects as Gerardo San Jose
Oliver, 51, of Zone 6, Del Rosario, Naga
KidNappiNg / pagE 5
2 Volume XXVIII | Issue no. 25|
Watching Pacquiao
The militant BAYAN-Bikol had been
very critical of party list group AKO BICOL or
AKB ever since the latter fielded itself in the
last National and Local Elections of May 2010.
Very obviously
funded and well-
connected, AKB Editorial
had been charged by
BAYAN-Bikol of being a “front” for erstwhile
Malacañang occupant Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-
Arroyo. The numerous advertisements it had on
TV, print, radio, and even the huge billboards
AKB put up during the campaign period indeed
proved that it had adequate funding. This was
not so surprising as the fact that even before it
won in the elections, AKB was the only party
list group whose press releases were carried by
government media outlets PIA and PNA, indi-
cating that AKB (or at least people within it)
was in “friendly terms” with the Arroyo regime.
Aside from AKB’s connection with the
Arroyo administration, BAYAN-Bikol’s mo-
tive for opposing AKB at the time of the May
2010 Elections can also be viewed as due to the
former’s cognizance that AKB’s triumph in the
polls would entail BAYAN’s defeat. Simply put,
AKB was poised to get the “Bikol votes” which
were previously netted by BAYAN; and in fact,
AKB did.
BAYAN-Bikol’s recent criticism of AKB
Representatives Rodel Batocabe and Alfredo
Garbin Jr. for being among the congressmen
who flew to Las Vegas to watch Saranggani
Rep. Manny Pacquiao’s boxing match, how-
ever, is significantly cogent. Why leave for the
US to watch live a Pacquiao match when your
Sorsogon constituents are presently severely
affected by Mt. Bulusan’s eruptions and are in
dire need of medical and financial assistance,
BAYAN-Bikol asked.
We too ask the two AKO BICOL Represen-
tatives: why leave for a boxing match when your
duties as duly-elected representatives require of
you to attend sessions at Congress, one of which
are scheduled on November 15, a Monday? Are
you not being paid taxpayers’ money to be pres-
ent in these sessions and participate meaning-
fully in them? Or are you being paid taxpayers’
hard-earned pesos to watch Manny Pacquiao
fight live in Las Vegas?
With Congress reportedly being expected to
approve the 2011 national budget amounting to
P1.645-trillion, House Speaker Sonny Belmonte
remarked that Congress’ sessions this week,
beginning November 15, “[are] a very criti-
cal time and I think it is necessary for me to be
around.”
Those who flew to Vegas to watch Pac-
quiao’s fight think otherwise. Shame on them.
Vox Bikol Viewpoints
Coops
I thought I’d share with our readers some salient
points of my lecture for fellow lawyers at the UP Law
Center in Diliman, Quezon City, on Nov. 15, as part of our
compliance with Mandatory Continuing Legal Education
(MCLE) as decreed by the Supreme
Court.
I decided to discuss “Cooperative
Law and Jurisprudence,” in light
of a new major law that is supposed
to further propel social justice and
economic development especially
in the provinces: the PHILIPPINE
COOPERATIVE CODE OF 2008 or
RA No. 9520. Congress passed it on Dec. 16, 2008, and
former Pres. Macapagal-Arroyo signed it into law on Feb.
17, 2009.
Notably, the Dept. of Finance (DOF) and the Cooperative
Development Authority (CDA) issued the joint rules on tax
exemptions of cooperatives under RA 9520 only on Feb. 5,
2010. Thereafter, during its meeting on Feb. 16, 2010, the
Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Cooperatives
approved the implementing rules and regulations of the other
provisions of RA 9520. The BIR further issued Revenue
Memorandum Order No. 76-2010 on Sep. 27, 2010, which
prescribes the policies and guidelines in the issuance of
certificates of tax exemption of cooperatives.
In law school, there is actually no course on cooperative
law. It is also not included in the Bar examinations. Thus,
lawyers have never really been trained in the laws on
cooperatives. We get to learn them if and when coops
consult us or if we help in organizing or managing coops.
But there is one new thing that should encourage our
people to do business using the coop model. Under article 61
The Films Young Filmmakers Make
Last Saturday, we have just finished the
deliberation for the awards to be given for the 2010 Cinema
One Originals Digital Film Festival. This is an annual
event where the cable channel gives a million peso each to
selected young filmmakers. Out of some 100 entries, seven
qualified this year.
It is interesting how the sample
gives so much about the obsession
and interests of this generation. On
the material, Joey Javier Reyes,
a member of the jury, noted how
the directors opted to work on the
techniques – the form – of their works
instead of the content. The films had
lots of style and were highly referential.
The directors, it appear, were bent on impressing the
audience with the approaches that came from video games,
MTVs and animation, Hollywood genre.
Away from the surface and into the depth of what they
are trying to say, the contents of the films this year reveal
what, perhaps, this generation has been bothered with.
Almost all of the films are about families, their dysfunction
and their disappearance. Even in a dark film like “Dagim”
by Joaquin Pedro Valdez, the tale begins with the father
not coming home. In this film which deals with all kinds
of vanishing, the two children set out to the mountains and
find there a new family, or at least a brotherhood. Extreme
to the end, the film shows an entire village disappearing.
Militarization deals darkness to the village in this film
In “Astro Mayabang,” the unusual hero goes home to a
family where the father is always unconscious, drunk, and
the mother is battered, drinking and smoking while praying
the rosary. In “Tsardyer,” the Tausug family loses the
mother. The boy then finds himself going to the mountains
where he sees his uncle he so admires. The boy then starts
working for the Abu Sayyaf as a “tsardyer,” meaning he
is tasked with charging the cellphones being used by the
group out there in the forest. The boy runs to the nearest
home with electricity in order to do this.
As in the previous years, I am a bit saddened by the
fact that there are no entries using Bikol language in this
8 - 14 november 2010
of the new code, as the above-mentioned BIR Memorandum
Order explains, “transactions of members with cooperatives
are now expressly exempt from any imposition of taxes
and fees thereby making the legislative intent for taxation
to give way to the demands of social
justice more apparent.”
Our Constitution actually
mandates the promotion of the
“viability and growth of cooperatives
as instruments of social justice and
economic development.” (Art. 12, sec.
15).
Indeed, Commitment 9 (h) of
the 1995 Declaration and Programme of Action of the
World Summit for Social Development adhered to by the
Philippines resolved that states and governments, at the
national level: “Utilize and develop fully the potential and
contribution of cooperatives for the attainment of social
development goals, in particular the eradication of poverty,
the generation of full and productive employment and the
enhancement of social integration.”
Significantly, the UN has proclaimed 2012 as the
“International Year of Cooperatives” as “a way of promoting
cooperatives and raising awareness of their contribution to
social and economic development.” (UN Doc. A/Res/64/136,
11 Feb. 2010)
CDA reports that as of Dec. 31, 2009, 5.9 million
people are members of operating cooperatives or 13.04%
of our population 19 years old and above. There were
78,611 registered cooperatives and 102 laboratory coops
(by minors) nationwide. But there were only 23,836
cooperatives actually operating.
Much work certainly needs to be done.
batch. Two finalists in this year’s Cinema One Originals are
given this label “regional” film. It is an exoticizing name
but one that makes films in non-Pilipino language special.
The film “Astro Mayabang” comes from Pampanga and
is directed by Jason Paul Laxamana. The subtitles do not
isolate the film because it stars Aaron
Villaflor who has quite a following.
The film itself is engaging because it
tells the story of this young man who
is very literal about his nationalism: he
wears the flag around his body by way
of a jacket bearing the flag design. He
is proud of his being a Filipino even if
it means putting down another nation.
The nationalist is a racist, and we are
not even aware of it.
My favorite in the batch is a film from Cebu called
“Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria Kirschbaum” (The Dream of
Eleuteria Kirschbaum). Shot on extended takes, with the
camera trailing Terya with her father, mother, sister, and
cousin, the film is about Terya leaving home for Manila,
and from there to Germany. She is going to marry Hans,
a person she never sees yet. She is leaving not only her
home but also her boyfriend. The action is simply that, but
the film engages the audience with what I believe to be
the best ensemble performance ever. On location in Olango
island, a sanctuary from birds flying in from the northern
hemisphere, the film adeptly manipulates the metaphor of
freedom in birds that are either flying away or fleeing the
island. While not winning Best Film, the Cebuano work by
Remton Siega Zuasola gets the Jury Prize.
I dream of sitting as member of Jury again but this
time reviewing a film in Bikolnon, in all the splendors of
its variations.
The author, a member of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang
Pilipino, sat as member of Jury in this year’s Cinema One
Originals Digital Film festival with Joey Javier Reyes,
acclaimed film director, Joji Alonzo, film producer, and
Roger Garcia, Executive Director of the Hong Kong
International Film Festival Society Limited.
8 - 14 november 2010 Vox Bikol Viewpoints Volume XXVIII | Issue no. 25| 3
Rapsodas Bicolanas, III: Cancion ni Oriol Pope Benedict XVI’s Message for G-20 Summit:

J. Pilapil Jacobo

Yaon digdi sa kaawotan, Salin Sa FIlipino

The World “Expects
sa tahaw kan laboy,
digdi sa sakuyang kinapupuroputan, Narito sa damuhan,
That Appropriate
Solutions Will Be
an minamawot mong togdokan sa gitna ng putikan,
nin sarong magaya-gayang kinaban. dito sa aking kinapupuloputan,
ang minimithing pagtayuan
Kaya, madya, dumulok sana,
ranihan na ngani ining daga,
lakawon an distancia
ng magiliw na santinakpan.

Kaya, halika, lumapit lamang,

Adopted to Overcome
pasiring sa katahawan.
Saimo an sakong pag-andam.
dumulog sa lupaing ito,
lakarin ang agwat
the Crisis”
patungo sa kalagitnaan.
Kasubago, Sa iyo ipinauubaya itong paghihintay.
humininghing ako sa mga burak Mr. President,
na mamula sa kaogmahan, Pulutin ang mga bungang nakakalat: The meeting about to take place in Seoul of Heads
asin magpasabog nin pahamot. duhat, kamyas, aratiles, bayabas. of States and Government of the world’s twenty-two
Pinakioloyan ko man an mga kahoy Bakit ang tamis di pa nananamnam? leading economies together with the Secretary-General
na tawan ka nin dalan. Kung ika’y maligaw,
Mapalumhok daa an mga gapo, may mga usang mag-aabang.
of the United Nations Organization, the Presidency of
tanganing dai magkalugad Kumapit sa kanilang mga sungay, the European Union and some regional Organizations,
saimong pamitisan. o sakyan sila, as well as the leaders of various specialized Agencies,
pag dumapo ang kapaguran. is not only of global importance but also clearly
Purota an frutas na nakakuriyat:
expresses the significance and responsibility which
amhi, iba, aratiles, bayawas. Kanina,
Tano ta an hamis dai pa nanamitan? bumulong ako sa mga bulaklak Asia has acquired on the international scene at the
Kun mawara ka, na mamula sa kasiyahan, beginning of the 21st century. The Korean Presidency
may mga usa na maabang. at magpasabog ng halimuyak. of the Summit is a recognition of the significant level
Kaputan mo an saindang mga sungay, Pinakiusapan ko ang kakahuyan of economic development attained by your country,
o lunadan sinda, na bigyan ka ng daan.
pag inabot nin pagal. Magpapalambot daw ang mga bato,
which is the first among those not belonging to the
upang hindi magkasugat G8 to host the G20 and guide its decision in the world
Sa saimong pagrani iyong paanan. after the crisis. The Summit seeks solutions to quite
sa sakuyang katahawan, complex questions, on which the future of upcoming
diklom sana an makakahampang. Sa iyong paglapit
generations depends and which therefore require the
Dai na umasa sa aking kalagitnaan,
na padarhan taka nin luciernaga. dilim lamang ang makakaharap. cooperation of the entire international community,
Maski pa nin de color na liwanag Huwag nang umasa based on the acknowledgement -- which is shared and
hale sa mga mariposa. na padalhan kita ng alitaptap agreed by all peoples -- of the primary and central
o ng makulay na liwanag value of human dignity, the final objective of the
Yaon na ako duman. mula sa paruparo.
Naghahalat sana, sa katahawan.
choices themselves.
Naroroon ako, The Catholic Church, in accordance with her
Handa ka nang maging hade? naghihintay, sa kalagitnaan. specific nature, regards herself as involved and shares
Bistohon ako the concerns of the leaders who will take part in the
bago pa sambiton an inosip Handa ka nang maging lakan?
Seoul Summit. I therefore encourage you to tackle the
saimong pangaran. Kilalanin ako
bago pa man sambitin ang iniulat numerous serious problems facing you -- and which,
Araatyan sana, sa iyong pangalan. in a sense, face every human person today -- bearing
patatanogon na an hawak, in mind the deeper reasons for the economic and
poon payo hanggan lawas: Mamaya lamang, financial crisis and giving due consideration to the
patutunugin itong katawan,
Bakong babayi. na aking kabuuan:
consequences of the measures adopted to overcome
Bakong halas. the crisis itself, and to seek lasting, sustainable and just
Bakong gamgam. Hindi babae. Hindi ahas. Hindi ibon. solutions. In doing so, it is my hope that there will be
a keen awareness that the solutions adopted, as such,
Huminuba sanang kagayonan. Hubo’t hubad na bathaluman.
will work only if, in the final analysis, they are aimed
at reaching the same goal: the authentic and integral
For More Than Half a Century, Justice Remains Elusive to development of man.
Filipino Comfort Women The world’s attention focuses on you and it expects
that appropriate solutions will be adopted to overcome
Lila Pilipina, the organization of Filipino women who were remaining 109 lolas are still willing to continue their struggle the crisis, with common agreements which will not
used as sex slaves by the Japanese Imperial Army during World for justice despite their age. favor some countries at the expense of others. History,
War II, said the Supreme Court decision denying their petition “We would not stop until we achieve justice. We experi-
furthermore, reminds us that, no matter how difficult
to hold the Japanese government accountable for its crimes enced extreme exploitation at the hands of the Japanese during
against them, which was penned by Associate Justice Mariano the war,” Lola Isa said tearfully. it is to reconcile the different socio-cultural, economic
del Castillo, was not only plagiarized but was also “twisted.” Despite their age, Lola Isa and 84-year old Pilar Frias and political identities coexisting today, these
could still remember vividly how they were repeatedly raped by solutions, to be effective, must be applied through
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL Japanese soldiers. combined action which, above all, respects the nature
Bulatlat.com They were both in their teenage years then when Japanese of man. It is decisive for the very future of humanity
soldiers began abducting girls, mostly teenagers. Lola Isa, then
to show the world and history that today, thanks also
MANILA – Narcisa Claveria or Lola Isa, 80, viv- 14 years old was a Grade 2 student while Lola Pilar was 16, she
idly recalls her horrible experience with the Japanese Imperial was in Grade 5. to this crisis, man has matured to the point of being
Army during World War II. Lola Isa is one of the 174 comfort “There was one empty house in our barrio that was able to recognize that civilizations and cultures, like
women who bravely went public to demand justice from the inspected by the Japanese and they suspected that those who economic, social and political systems, can and must
Japanese government. lived in that house were guerillas. Then they started to look for converge in a shared vision of human dignity, which
“Lila Pilipina is demanding for an apology from the Japa- the capitan del barrio (village chief) who happened to be my respects the laws and requirements placed in it by God
nese government. We want the truth to be written in history that father,” Lola Isa told Bulatlat. They lived in Balintog, Abra. the Creator. The G20 will respond to the expectations
the Japanese Imperial Army committed a horrible crime during While the Japanese soldiers interrogated her father, she
the Second World War.” said Rechilda Extremadura executive and her other siblings were asked to fall in line by the Japanese
placed in it and grant real success to future generations,
secretary of Lila Pilipina, adding that rape or sexual slavery is a soldiers. “The Japanese soldiers asked my father how many if taking into consideration the various and sometimes
crime against humanity children he has and he answered nine. But one of my siblings contrasting problems afflicting the peoples of the earth,
Lila Pilipina is an organization of comfort women who sur- went to Manila. The Japanese soldiers then became very furious it is able to set out the characteristics of the universal
vived the Second World War. It was formed in 1994 under the when they discovered that one of my siblings was not with us. common good and demonstrate its willingness to
auspices of the women’s group Gabriela. Prior to Lila Pilipina, They accused him of being a guerilla.” cooperate in order to attain it.
in July 1992, the Task Force For Comfort Women (TFFCW) Then the cruelty began. The Japanese started to peel off
With these sentiments I invoke God’s blessings
was organized by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) to- the skin of Lola Isa’s father while her mother was being raped
gether with six women’s organization. The TFFCW through its by Japanese soldiers. Her two other youngest siblings aged four on all taking part in the Seoul Summit and I avail
massive media campaign encouraged victims of sexual slavery and five were thrown in the air and were skewered with a bayo- myself of the occasion to renew to Your Excellency the
during the Japanese occupation to come out and hold the Japa- net. While trying to help his father, Lola Isa was forcibly pulled assurance of my highest consideration.
nese government accountable. by the arm by a Japanese soldier. This dislocated the joints of
In 1992, after more than half a century of silence, the her left elbow.
women who were repeatedly abused by Japanese soldiers Then the Japanese took her and her older sister Metria to
From the Vatican, 8 November 2010
finally came out to tell their stories. Maria Rosa Luna Henson the garrison where girls were confined and being raped by Japa-
was the first. nese soldiers several times every night. “I was separated from
my sister because she was directly put inside the garrison and I BENEDICTUS PP XVI
The Horror of 1943 was not. I was put in some place also near the garrison together
There are 174 cases of comfort women that were docu- with some Japanese soldiers and some Filipinos. I was raped
mented by Lila Pilipina, 65 victims have already died. The COMFORT WOMEN / page 6
4 Volume XXVIII | Issue no. 25|
DENR to assess country’s iron
deposits
RAWIS, LEGAZPI CITY (8
November) -- Environment
and Natural Resources Secretary
Ramon J.P. Paje has directed the
Mines and Geosciences Bureau
(MGB) to conduct an assessment
of local iron deposits as possible
raw material feeds to an inte-
grated iron and steel facility that
the government is planning to
establish in the country.
“We have to assess if we have
sufficient iron ore reserves here
in the country for the production
of pig iron in case we put up our
own integrated iron and steel
facility. Being self-sufficient in
iron ore raw materials will enable
the government to save millions
of dollars it is now spending in
the importation of semi-finished
steel raw materials for the govern-
ment’s steel industry,” Paje said
The move to establish an
integrated iron and steel facility is
A rich harvest for 10th Ateneo
National Writers Workshop
If poets, as Ann Lauter-
bach forwards, protect language
from serving any master, then this
year’s Ateneo National Writers
Workshop (ANWW) more that
proved this truism, considering the
dynamism and sovereignty of its
literary genres, as well as its fel-
lows and panelists.
It was indeed a rich harvest
of 24 literary pieces from 12
writing fellows in three session
days in the 10th Ateneo National
Writers Workshop held on October
25-27, 2010 at Instructional Media
Center, Ateneo de Naga Univer-
sity. The workshop received a
generous endowment from the
National Commission for Culture
and the Arts (NCCA) and from the
Office of the President, Ateneo de
Naga University.
An exhaustive critiquing of
the writer’s outputs was done by
13-member panel comprised of
Dr. Benilda S. Santos, Dr. Michael
Coroza, Dr. Alvin Yapan, Prof.
D.M. Reyes, Dr. Jazmin Llana,
Kristian Cordero, Carlo Arejola,
Mikael Co, Allain Derain, Jayson
Jacobo, Alwynn Javier, Marco
Lopez, Frank Peñones Jr. and Vic
Nierva.
This year’s fellows were
Rodel Añosa (Masbate), poetry in
Bikol; Jimple Borlagdan (Tabaco,
Albay), fiction in Bikol; Maureen
Gaddi dela Cruz (San Pedro,
Laguna), poetry in Filipino; Glenn
Diaz (Manila City), fiction in
English; Noel Fortun (Las Piñas
City), Poetry in Filipino; Adrian,
Remodo (Naga City), Poetry in
Bikol; Gerry S. Rubio (Virac,
Catanduanes), Poetry in Bikol;
Alyza Mae Timbol Taguilaso
(Quezon City), Poetry in English;
Michele Abigail Tiu Tan (Quezon
City), fiction in English; Eduardo
Uy (Gubat, Sorsogon), Poetry
in Bikol, and Arnold Matencio
Valledor (Panganiban, Catan-
duanes), fiction in Filipino.
The inclusion of Bikol litera-
ture in the annual workshop is in
intended to protect the country’s
economy from being drained of its
dollar reserves resulting from the
importation of semi-finished steel
as raw materials for the country’s
steel industry.
MGB study showed that
the current consumption of the
country’s steel industry is approx-
imately four million tons per year,
and is expected to increase to 8
million to 10 million annually.
Current price of imported iron ore
is $70 per ton.
The study further showed
that steel imports today, mostly in
the form of semi-finished steels,
represent the second highest
importations, next only to oil and
petroleum products.
Paje said the MGB is tasked
not only to evaluate the quantity
of local iron ore reserve but also
to determine if the grade of the
iron deposits is sufficient for the
line with the development and pro-
motion of regional creative writing
across the country being corner-
stones in Philippine literature.
Kristian Cordero and Yolando
Jamendang served as the workshop
directors, with Mitch Cerda and
Mark Benedict Lim as workshop
coordinators.
Dr. Danny Gerona, Director
of the Institute of Bikol Culture
and History and professor of At-
eneo de Naga University delivered
the keynote address during the
opening program. The region’s ac-
knowledged historian cited Bikol’s
rich history in culture and the arts,
where literature had already started
to flourish even before Spanish
times.
The annual fellowship in cre-
ative writing, which is organized
by the Ateneo Institute for Liter-
ary Arts and Practices (AILAP),
Ateneo de Manila University, is
bestowed upon emerging writers
across the nation. It immerses
the fellows in the “fundamen-
tals of writing as a craft, art, and
philosophical engagement so that
they can enter the mainstream of
Philippine Literature with a sense
of responsibility that adds depth
and direction to national cultural
practices.”
Meanwhile, Naga City Mayor
John Bongat feted the workshop
fellows and panelists at Bob Mar-
lin at Magsaysay Avenue, Naga
City. The night illuminated with
the literary-musical performances
of selected fellows and panelists,
including its special guest, Mrs.
Sonia Roco who sang the classic
Tagalog love song ‘Saan ka Man
Naroon.’
Another significant activity
of the workshop was the Bikol
Night mounted by the Ateneo de
Naga University. The workshop
panelists, fellows, and guests were
treated to an evening of poetry
readings by Kabulig members, a
Bicol literary group and selected
Vox Bikol Bikol News
production of steel in an integrat-
ed iron and steel facility.
MGB metallurgical study re-
vealed that iron ores must have a
grade of at least 60% iron (Fe) in
order to be eligible as raw mate-
rial for the production of steel.
As of 2009, MGB Director
Leo Jasareno said the country’s
iron reserve is placed at 493.5
million tons. The iron reserves
are located in the following
regions: In Region I, 6.07 million
tons; Region II, 25.1 million tons;
Region III, 15.23 million tons;
Region IV-A, 34.92 tons; Region
IV-B, 10.7 million tons; Region
V, 318.6 million tons; Region VI,
Region VI, 44,190 tons; Region
VII, 17.9 million tons; Region
VIII, 44.4 million tons; Region
IX, 309,310 tons; Region XII, 4
million tons; and Region XIII,
17.04 million tons. (SONNY
SALES)
fellows, and were serenaded by the
AdNU Chorale and the city-based
standup comedians and singing trio
Pork Barrel. Poets Benilda Santos
and DM Reyes were also honored
during the Kabanggihan.
A tree planting activity by the
panelists, fellows and workshop
organizers at Pacol, Naga City
served as a fitting kick off for the
10th ANWW’s graduation ceremo-
nies held at Panicuason Resort in
Barangay Panicuason, Naga City.
(Gerry S. Rubio, Virac, Catan-
duanes)
Waste...
He said the amount of time the
boxer spends in training reduced
the time he should be serving the
people. “There is a conflict of
interest because he is in Las Vegas
when he is supposed to be here,”
Bishop Gutierrez said.
But the bishop said it’s up to
Pacquaio to decide whether to quit
boxing or not.
“It’s up to him,” he said,
adding that he understands why
Pacquiao wants to fight and win
his match with Margarito.
Vigil...
he said.
The prayer assembly on
November 20 will also serve as a
spiritual prelude to a prayer vigil in
defense of life called by the pope
on November 27.
AKB...
need are the presence of their con-
gressmen for moral support,” added
the militant leader.
“It is really disheartening to
know that we have these types of
leaders that would say and do any-
thing just to get elected and leave
UNEP top brass attends
worklife seminar
With the University
of Northeastern Philip-
pines’ (UNEP) insatiable desire
to continuously aim for better
and quality education, also comes
the package of building a well
mannered relationship amongst its
staff and members of the faculty.
This was the essence of
the just concluded Quality of
Worklife Seminar held at the Cari-
tas Christi Prayer and Renewal
Center on November 9 and 10 and
was conducted by Mr. Rodolfo C.
Menguita, Training Director of
D.M. Consunji.
The two-day activity was
headed by no less than the Uni-
versity President, Atty. Remelisa
Alfelor-Moraleda, together with
the Vice President for Finance,
Mrs. Deli Alfelor-Tibi; Vice Presi-
dent for Academic Affairs Mrs.
Eleonor Osea and various UNEP
Department heads who all came
up with a positive realization that
understanding oneself could lead
to a better perception of one’s
work and appreciation of one’s
worth.
Atty. Moraleda believes that a
harmonious working relationship,
especially among the university’s
personnel will have an encourag-
ing atmosphere to anyone who
values camaraderie, loyalty and
solidarity.
“Positive thought will gener-
ate positive results. Any optimis-
tic idea will also be translated into
a successful endeavor. I guess
that’s the best way to explain how
important it is that you also un-
derstand others the way you want
yourself to be also understood.”
Ms Tibi, known for her reli-
giosity and piousness affirms that
indeed deepening your relation-
ship with our Creator could fill
in the vacuum of any unfulfilled
longing—whether for your own
personal relationship with other
“I understand he is raising
money to put up a hospital in Sa-
rangani,” the bishop said.
Eastern Samar Representative
Ben Evardone defended lawmak-
ers who will attend Pacquiao’s
fight.
“I see nothing wrong with the
congressmen watching to show
their moral support… especially
that they are not using government
money,” Evardone said.
“It’s not only Pacquiao’s title
that is at stake but our country,” he
Pope Benedict has earlier
called on all Catholics to join the
prayer vigil for “All Nascent of
Human Life” on the eve of the
first Sunday of Advent which will
be celebrated in all dioceses and
the people who placed them there
afterwards,” Lopez furthered.
Earlier, a Catholic bishop from
Marbel criticized lawmakers for
wasting money by flying to Las Ve-
gas and watching the boxing match.
Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez
8 - 14 november 2010
people, or your own personal com-
munication with God.
“We work to earn a living
but you should not miss the main
purpose of why we are here. All
of us, at some point in our lives
have to realize that there are things
higher than ourselves and we have
to realize that HE wants us to live
and co-exist harmoniously.”
Other attendees were the
University’s Pinnacle Team which
includes Ms. Violeta Lomibao,
Dean of Education; Mr. Ricardo
Gamurot, Jr, Dean of Liberal Arts
& Sciences and GenEd; Mrs.
Purissa Tan, Dean of CBED; Mrs.
Wilma S. Ramos, OIC Dean for
Nursing & Midwifery; Arch. Jose
M Malazarte, Dean of Engineer-
ing; Mr. Ruel Malte, OIC Dean
of Criminology; Ma. Chuchay
Bailon, Program Head HRM
and Mrs. Maria Dela Vega, High
School Principal.
Other participants were Ms.
Editha F. Evangelista, Elementary
Principal; Mr. Isidro Candido Jr.,
Director of Student Affairs; Ms.
Herminigilda H. Salazar, Uni-
versity Librarian; Dr. Regina A.
Gonzales, Alumni Director; Mrs.
Amihan Marifreda Peyra, Property
Officer; Mrs. Virginia Aguila,
Campus Ministry Coordinator;
Dr. Nilo Romeroso, PACUCOA
Chairperson; and Engr. Alberto C.
Bico, Physical Planning Director.
Other personnel who took
the time to temporarily stay from
work and attend the seminar were
Mrs. Gabriela Pornillos, Admis-
sion Officer; Mr. Julius Balles-
teros, Head of Laboratory and
Instrumentation; Col. Maximo
Secilliano, Security Officer, Mr.
Juanito Esplana, Head of MIS; Mr.
Romeo Abano, Director for Folk-
loric Dances; Mrs. Celeste Bel-
gado, Human Resources Director
and Bernadette Joy S, Dychinco,
Quality Systems Manager
From PAGE 8
said.
Pacquiao will fight Mar-
garito on Saturday for the super
welterweight championship at
Dallas’Cowboys Stadium in Ar-
lington, Texas.
Pacquiao is a seven-division
world champion, the first boxer in
history to win nine world titles in
seven different weight divisions.
He is also the first boxer in history
to win the lineal championship in
four different weight classes.
From PAGE 8
parishes.
Tirona urged all lay organiza-
tions to participate in both activi-
ties and affirm their “commitment
to the sacredness of family and
life.” (CBCPNews)
From PAGE 1
expressed dismay that the money
wasted by lawmakers in making the
trip could have been spent for the
poor; the prelate also questioned
Rep. Pacquiao’s dedication to his
duty as lawmaker when the latter is
busy with boxing.
8 - 14 november 2010
Buhi...
From PAGE 1
tion as compared to the optimum
ranges set by the South East Asian
Fisheries Development Center
(SEAFDEC). Moreover, very high
traces of hydrogen sulfide was
detected in five sampling stations
during the water quality monitor-
ing conducted on November 4.
This critical water condition of the
lake probably led to the massive
fish kill in Lake Buhi.
Low dissolved oxygen (or low
volumes of oxygen in the water)
occurs when water temperature
rise and stratification occurs dur-
ing respiration of plants and fish
and during aerobic decomposi-
tion of organic matter. Under low
dissolved oxygen, fishes will have
poor growth, be prone to diseases
or even die.
It was also observed that
about one-fourth of the lake is
covered by water hyacinth which
contributed to the depletion of
dissolved oxygen by blocking the
sources of oxygen such as photo-
synthetic activity by phytoplank-
ton and wind aeration.
Meanwhile, ammonia (NH3)
is the major end product of protein
catabolism excreted by fish.
Its unionized form called UIA
is highly toxic. It is caused by
decomposed organic matters like
unconsumed feeds and fertilizers,
industrial and domestic wastes and
decomposition of phytoplankton.
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a
poisonous gas which arises from
a by-product of decaying and
Pagsurat...
during the two-day write-shop, a
reprise of the workshop he con-
ducted for the Department of Edu-
cation Camarines Sur Division
Office sponsored by the National
Commission for Culture and the
Arts in August this year.
Arejola, who is sitting for a
second 3-year term in the Na-
tional Committee for Literary
Arts, was a panelist at the recent
Ateneo de Manila National Writ-
ers’ Workshop and is scheduled
to read a paper at the Writing in
RH...
will of most Filipinos,” the 79-year
old prelate said.
He noted that during the
EDSA I and II, “when the issue
was political, and the goal was top-
pling a dictator or a corrupt leader,
the Church was hailed as a force
for reform and liberation.”
Having served President of
the Catholic Bishops Conference
of the Philippines in 1986, he said
when the voice of the Church
proved a useful instrument to at-
tain the tipping point, “virtually
everyone whose voice mattered
praised the role of the Church.”
“Now that the issue is
moral and much more proper to the
Church’s concern, we are accused
of using undue influence and inter-
fering in politics,” he added.
He said he witnessed bishops
and archbishops who drafted the
post-election statement which
declared the 1986 elections were
marked by massive fraud.
He further said had the bish-
ops then thought it undemocratic
to issue that statement and if they
decomposed organic matters like
unconsumed feeds, plant debris,
dead phytoplankton and fish feces.
Too much of this will cause mass
mortality due to suffocation and
hemorrhages in gills of fish.
These results were presented
by Irmi Mora, BFAR Regional
Fish Health Officer to municipal
officials of Buhi on November
6, 2010 during a meeting held
at the town’s session hall. Also
present in this activity was a team
from the Environment Disaster
Management and Emergency
Response Office of the Province of
Camarines Sur headed by Luzena
Bermeo; Caridad Roxas, Fishery
Division Chief of the Provincial
Agriculture Office and Central
Bicol State University for Agricul-
ture Environment Science Profes-
sor Joyce de la Trinidad.
The 2007 data of the local
government of Buhi showed that
there were 15,597 registered fish
cages that occupy 226 hectares of
the 1,707 hectare lake. However,
Lake Development Officer Ronilo
Leal said that there are more to
this figure with the growing num-
ber of unregistered fish cages.
Fish cages in the lake produce
9 to 10 tons of tilapia daily. About
100 tons of tilapia and other fish
stocks was lost due to the recent
fish kill with an economic value of
P80 million.
Section 51 of Republic Act
8550 or the Philippine Fisheries
Code limits aquaculture activities
such as fish cages and fish pens
Luzon panel of the 53rd Philip-
pine PEN Confab in Cebu City on
December.
Also slated for a last quarter
staging is the 7th Premio Tomas
Arejola para sa Literaturang
Bikolnon, previously held dur-
ing the September Peñafrancia
festivities. This year’s awards
rites is slated on the last week of
December in the charming garden
fronting the Museo de Caceres in
the historic grounds of the Holy
Rosary Minor Seminary in Naga
respected the views of those who
thought contrary to their opinion,
history might have made a few
more twists and turns before some-
thing like EDSA could happen.
“I assure you, the drafters of
the statement did not rely on sur-
veys and opinion polls as they read
the situation based on their collec-
tive experience as they illumined
their experience with principles
from Scriptures and Church doc-
trines because they drew conclu-
sions using right reason and sound
logical principles,” he explained.
Cardinal Vidal told the
delegates that it is the same right
to speak from the same principle
which is being exercised by the
Church as the issue then was not
about toppling a dictator “but the
reclaiming of justice.”
“The issue not is not about
claiming the power to dictate, but
the protection of the values that
hold our nation together and while
the issues than and now may be
different, the Church uses the same
principles in its courses of action
Vox Bikol Bikol News
in lakes to only 10% of the lake’s
surface area. Ideally, the allow-
able percentage specified by law
for fish cage culture in Lake Buhi
should not exceed 170 hectares.
However, the registered fish cages
in Buhi Lake alone exceeded the
allowable percentage.
Municipal Councilor Zaldy
Arcilla commented that the
implementation of this national
law can have more teeth once
the municipal fishery ordinance
(which is now on its second read-
ing) is approved. He admitted
that up to ninety percent of the
lake has been occupied by fish
cages contrary to the prescribed
ten percent. He added though that
the other lake resource users such
as the National Power Corpora-
tion’s Hydro Electric Plant and the
National Irrigation Administra-
tion’s controlled structure in Tabao
River complicates the problem
of increasing siltation of the lake
by blocking the lake’s outlet in
washing out sediment and water
hyacinth.
Municipal Administrator
Beethoven Nachor presided over
the meeting representing Mayor
Rey Lacoste who was on official
travel. He proposed a stakehold-
ers conference to be attended by
fish cage operators and marginal
fisherfolk with BFAR officials
and other researchers as resource
speakers.
BFAR-Bicol Regional Direc-
tor Dennis del Socorro for his part
said that regular water quality
From PAGE 1
City.
Top entries in the poetry,
fiction, drama, children’s fiction,
essay categories and the newly-
launched screenplay for short
films category, along with winners
of the Premio Bibiano Sabino
Bikol Book Award, the Rawit-
dawit para ki Ina, and the Writer
of the Year will be honored at
the December awards rites. The
Premio Arejola is widely regarded
as the region’s premiere literary
prize.
From PAGE 8
– what the Holy Father (Benedict
XVI) calls as ‘the ethical founda-
tion of civil discourse,” he added.
Referring to churchmen who
criticize the Church for its vigor-
ous opposition to the Bill on demo-
cratic principles who “may have
also missed the point” because to
reduce the debate into a purely
religious issue is to imply that the
objective moral principles that
ground consensus are subjective
opinions which will be open to
further debates.
Cardinal Vidal explained in
many cases when consensus is not
attained “the resulting action has
always been one of license – to
allow everybody to do what he or
she wants as long as nobody gets
hurt.”
He said there is more to the
RH Bill in its current form than
mere democratic consensus or
license because “if the RH Bill, in
its present form passes into law,
ironically, it will annul consensus”
because it will impose itself on the
consciences of individuals.
surveys will be done by his office
at least once a week and support
remedial measures in coordination
with the Local Government Unit
Bulusan...
Alert Level 1 remains in ef-
fect over Bulusan Volcano.
Villagers, as well as tourist,
were advised to keep out of the
designated four-kilometer Perma-
nent Danger Zone due to danger
posed by sudden phreatic or ash
explosions.
Pilots were likewise advised
to avoid flying close to the vol-
cano’s summit as ejected ash and
volcanic fragments from sudden
explosions may pose hazards to
aircraft.
Meanwhile, the Bicol Disaster
Risk Reduction and Management
Council (DRRMC) the other
day requested the Department of
Interior and Local Government
(DILG) regional office in Bicol to
coordinate with local government
units (LGUs) in Sorsogon affected
by the Bulusan volcanic activities
regarding the use of their respec-
tive calamity fund.
Chief Supt. Cecillo Calleja,
Philippine National Police (PNP)
regional director, told members of
the DRRMC at a council meeting
that newly-elected town mayors
in eruption- affected municipali-
ties in Sorsogon expressed their
Kidnapping...
City; Nicasio Casimiro Tipones,
44, Zone 4, of Barangay Capuc-
nasan; and Richard Agravante
Agapito, 35, of Barangay May-
aopayawan, both of Milaor, Cam.
Sur; and SPO1 Francisco “Bong”
Bustinera Y Agricola, who was
implicated by one of the suspects.
Oliver alleged that it was
Bustinera who masterminded the
foiled kidnapping of four year-old
Zybelle Anne Delgado Parafina at
Villa Sorabella Sub., Concepcion
Grande, in this city last Friday
(Nov. 5).
In an official report of the
Naga City Police Office, PO3 Al-
len Buen foiled the kidnapping on
the 4 year-old minor at the latter’s
residence at Lt. 22, Block 26, Sol
St. Villa Sorabella Subdivision,
at about 11:00 noon of Nov. 5,
when suspects Oliver, Tipones and
Agapito were caught grabbing the
minor at said residence.
Reportedly, PO3 Buen had
been conducting surveillance at
the area as directed by PSI Albao
based on an informant’s tip that a
probable kidnapping will occur in
the vicinity.
According to the investiga-
tor on the case, PO2 Romeo Idian
“It will penalize virtually any-
one who speaks against it because
it will mandate employers, even if
against their will, to provide con-
traceptives to their employees,” he
added. He also explained the bill
will subject the country’s young
to a brand of sex education that is
foreign to Philippine culture and
corrosive to values as it purports to
reject abortion but classified abor-
tifacients as essential medicines.
The cardinal concluded by
saying “it is this spectre of a soci-
ety that has lost its moral bearings
Volume XXVIII | Issue no. 25| 5
such as capacity building trainings,
provision of alternative livelihood
to displaced fisherfolk and fish
stock enhancement in Lake Buhi.
From PAGE 1
lack of knowledge with the ways
in using their respective calamity
funds.
Under the General Appropria-
tions Act (GAA), LGUs could use
five percent of their 20 percent
economic development fund
for calamity purposes provided
the Sangguniang Panlalawigan
or Sangguniang Bayan pass a
resolution placing the area under a
“state of calamity.”
Bernardo Alejandro, Office
of Civil Defense (OCD) director
and concurrent DRRMC chair,
explained that aside from placing
a locality under a state of calam-
ity, an executive order issued by
former President Gloria Macapa-
gal Arroyo has given local chief
executives authority to use their
calamity fund for disaster pre-
paredness measures.
Alejandro asked the DILG to
facilitate and inform town chief
executives in Sorsogon regard-
ing the proper use of the calamity
funds.
He said that “once they learn
about the use of the calamity
funds, they can start with their
contingency measures.” (PNA)
From PAGE 1
Vargas Jr., during the course of the
apprehension, SPO1 Bustinera ar-
rived in a green Wrangler jeep and
urged Buen to release the suspects
to his custody, allegedly to be
brought to the PPO; Buen did not
agree and pursued with the arrest
of the three suspects.
It was moreover reported that
Bustinera had hidden a blue-green
Yamaha motorcycle used by the
suspects at a grassy lot some
200-meters from the Parafina
residence.
Vargas said that in a sworn
statement executed by Oliver
before a certain Atty. Rodel
Abogado, Bustinera provided the
Cal. 38 revolver and ammunition,
including the Yamaha motorcycle
used during the kidnapping.
It was also Bustinera, accord-
ing to Oliver’s sworn statement,
who planned the criminal activi-
ties of their group.
The victim’s parents, Edwin
Morandarte Parafina, a local con-
tractor, and wife Josefina Delgado
Parafina, claimed that their daugh-
ter is a “special child,” and was
partly traumatized by the failed
kidnapping. (SONNY SALES)
that keeps me from throwing in
the towel even though I am now
retired.”
He reiterated his commitment
to stand with human life advocates
as they engage the larger society in
dialogue as well as work together
in “purifying” reason to recognize
the objective moral principles
essential to the proper functioning
democracy.
The international congress
is being held at the Hotel Dusit
Thani, Makati City from Novem-
ber 6 to 8. (Melo M. Acuna)
6 Volume XXVIII | Issue no. 25|
Ang Parabula ng
Kambing
Inihanda na ang alagang hayop. Hindi na
mahalaga kung sino ang nag-alaga kung kayâ hindi na
rin kinuha ang pangalan nito ng eskribano na siyang
nakatalagang mangasiwa sa buong ritwal. Hindi nga rin
tiyak kung inaalagan nga talaga ang nasabing hayop. Basta
ang mahalaga naroroon ito at walang pakiwari sa kung ano
ang nakatakdang maganap sa umagang iyon.
Dumating ang hari at reyna sakay ng karwahe.
Naroroon din ang mga kawal at ang buong taong-bayan.
Ginagawa lamang sa loob ng isang taon sa bukana ng bayan,
ang nasabing ritwal bago ang ikalawang pamimilog ng
buwan at ang paglitawan ng mga kakaibang bulaklak sa
parang kung saan bago ito sumibol, madalas na makita ang
mga ligaw na tupa, kambing at paminsan-minsan naliligaw
din dito ang mga baboy na hindi rin nila pinapansin dahil
sa paniniwalang mga naparusahang anghel ang mga baboy.
Subalit minsan may isang ketongin na humuli, kumatay at
kumain ng nasabing hayop. At balitang may ilang tao sa
kaharian na kumakain na rin nito mula nang makita nilang
nagpipiyesta ang ketongin. Lasang anghel daw ang laman ng
mga hayop. Ngunit hindi tungkol sa baboy ang parabulang
ito.
Hila-hilang inilabas ang kambing sa kanyang hawla.
Katulad ng ibang kambing naging maingay din ang nasabing
hayop dahil na rin sa pangangaladkad ng kawal. Sa ritwal na
ito, pamumunuan ng eskribano ang panimulang panalangin
para sa kapatawaran ng kasalanan ng buong bayan. Ito
ang taunang pampublikong pangungumipisal kung kailan
ginagamit ang isang kambing bilang alay sa kanilang diyos.
Kinakailangang lumahok sa nasabing ritwal ang
lahat ng mamamayan ng lungsod, simula sa edad na pito
hanggang pitumput-pito. Ang mga wala na o wala pa sa
edad ay hinahayaan na lamang na magsunog ng kamangyan
at mag-alay ng isang dosenang itlog ng pugo sa templo. Ang
mga magulang naman ang nag-aalay para sa kapatawaran
ng kasalanan ng kanilang mga anak na hindi pa abot sa
hustong gulang ng paglahok sa kumpisal ng bayan. Sa pag-
usal ng mga dasal ng eskribano, lumakas ang ihip ng hangin
at tinangay nito papasok ng bayan ang mga buhangin na
nagmumula sa disyerto— dito nila itinataboy ang alay na
hayop upang gumala at maligaw at sa kalauna’y inaasahang
mamamatay sa gitna ng pag-iisa kasama ang kanilang mga
kasalanan.
Pagkatapos ng dasal ng eskribano, unang lumapit ang
hari sa kambing, na para sa ritwal na ito’y nagsuot ng sako
ng abono at naglagay ng abo sa kanyang ulo. Pagkalapit ng
hari, lumuhod ito sa harapan ng hayop na walang muwang
na ang hari ng lungsod ang naninikluhod sa kanya.
Pinigilan ng ilang kawal ang hayop na nababalisa sa kahit
Comfort Women...
before they transferred me to the garrison.” In the garrison, her
sister Metria was beaten up and raped by the Japanese.
Their house was burned down by the Japanese soldiers.
Their mother and father and two siblings were buried alive. Her
other brothers were also taken by Japanese soldiers and became
their slaves.
Lola Pilar, on the other hand, was slashed on her face by
a jungle knife when she did not answer the Japanese soldier
who was asking her questions. “He was asking me in Japanese,
I did not answer because I could not understand.” She and her
auntie were doing laundry at the back of their house then. Her
mother and father were not in the house. The Japanese soldiers
submerged her head in a drum full of water. Her hands were
tied at her back and then the two Japanese soldiers took turns
raping her.
The sexual abuse did not end there. When they evacuated
from their house in Sipocot, Camarines Sur to a school together
with other families, a group of Japanese soldiers came to the
school. Only the girls were left behind in the school as many of
the men went on hiding because they were being suspected to
be members of the guerilla and would probably get killed. Lola
Pilar said there were many guerillas in their place.
Lola Pilar still remembers the Japanese officer who took
her to the mountains, “Capt. Kodama took me and three other
girls. We were tied by our waist with abaca rope and they took
us on their journey looking for guerillas in the mountains.” It
was in the mountains while the Japanese were hunting guerillas
where we were used as sex slaves,” she said. Fighting back her
tears, Lola Pilar said they were too tired not only from walk-
ing but also because they were repeatedly raped. She was also
brought to the garrison later. She was again repeatedly raped,
“When we declined they would beat us up or burn us with
cigarettes.”
Both lolas were able to survive the cruelty of the Japanese
soldiers. In 1944, both were able to escape when the Japanese
soldiers fled. In September of 1945, Japan formally surrendered.
Vox Bikol Feature
Kristian Sendon Cordero
anumang nangyayari paggalaw.
Sa kaliwang tenga ng kambing, ibinulong ng hari ang
kanyang mga kasalanan. Inabot ito ng limang minuto.
Agad na tumayo ang hari pagkatapos ng pagbuyboy at
nakayukong tinungo ang karwahe habang nakalagay ang
kanyang kaliwang kamay sa kanyang dibdib. Sumunod
naman ang reyna na para sa okasyong ito nagsuot ng itim
na belo. Sa araw na ito, may ilan pang ginawang penitensya
ng reyna. Napansin ng taumbayan na hindi ito nagsuot ng
sapatos sa kabila ng balitang may isang silid ito na puno ng
mga bulawan na sandalyas. Nang umagang iyon, nakayapak
itong naglakad patungo sa kambing. Samantalang napansin
din ng mga kawal na hindi gumamit ng anumang pabango
ang reyna na balitang naliligo sa pinaghalong gatas, tubig
mula sa natunaw na niyebe ng isang bundok na, katas
ng mga rosas at iba pang mamahaling samyo na regalo sa
kanya ng iba pang pinuno.
Katulad ng hari, ibinulong din ng reyna ang kanyang
kasalanan. Kanang tenga ng kambing ang nakalaan
para sa kanyang pangungumpisal. Inabot ng anim na
minuto ang reyna. Ngunit sa totoo lang, tatlong minuto
lamang siyang bumulong ng kanyang mga itinuturing na
kasalanan. Halimbawa, ang pagkalimot niyang magsuklay
at magsepilyo. Nagkunwari na lamang siyang nagbubuyboy
hanggang sa makaabot ang anim na minuto. Nakakahiya
kasi na lumabas na mas makasalanan ang hari kaysa
sa kanya. May ilang kawal at ilang babaeng alalay ang
nagsabing hindi raw sinabi ng reyna ang lahat ng kasalanan
nito dahil dapat daw ay buong araw itong nakaluhod
sa hindi kukulangin sa sampung kambing. Samantalang
nag-aamoy alimuom na ang paligid. Ito raw ang amoy ng
kasalanan ng kanilang mga pinuno.
Pagkatapos ng anim na minuto, tumayo ang reyna
kasabay ng eskribano na siyang naghatid sa reyna patungo
sa karhawe kung saan naghihintay ang haring nakayuko
pa rin. Sa pagtapos ng pangungumpisal ng kanilang mga
pinuno, ang taumbayan, ang mga kawal at ang babaeng
alalay ng reyna ang sunod na magsasabi ng mga kasalanan.
Ngunit hindi ito gagawing pabulong. Tanging ang mag-
asawang pinuno lamang ang may karapatan na gawin ang
nasabing akto sa ganoong pamamaraan.
Pakakawalan ng eskribano sa pagkakatali ang
kambing at dahan-dahang isasatinig ng lahat ang kanilang
iba’t ibang kasalanan, habang itinataboy ang kambing
palabas sa kanilang bayan patungo sa disyerto. May mga
magsisimulang magpukol ng bato sa kambing na sa ilang
pangyayari’y nagmistula na ring bato ang hayop. Hindi na
ito gumalaw kahit anong pilit na pagtataboy. Kayâ minsan,
inisip na lamang nilang sunugin ito mula sa hawla. At
Lola Isa was reunited with her other siblings, only four of
them were alive and one went missing. Lola Isa’s older sister
Metria lost her sanity. Lola Pilar was also able to reunite with
her whole family. Survival after their dreadful ordeal was also
difficult. All their crops were ruined, even the farm animals
were dead and supplies were scarce. Lola Isa said that they
barely ate. “Before the Japanese came here our life was not
difficult. I did not experience hunger because we had plants and
other crops within our backyard.”
Their Struggle for Justice
Lola Isa and Lola Pilar struggled to live a normal life. “I
dreamt of being like my grandfather who was a teacher. But the
Japanese took that away from me,” Lola Isa said while crying.
She said she is so enraged by the inaction of the Philippine
government and that her tears are more because of anger than
agony.
They were not able to continue their studies since the Japa-
nese occupation. They also went through psychological prob-
lems as they were perceived as dirty women who worked as
sex slaves for the Japanese soldiers. But Lola Isa was thankful
that his husband Aneceto was able to understand what she went
though. “His two sisters were also victims and they were never
found at all.” Lola Pilar, on the other hand, did not tell her first
husband of her ordeal. Her first husband died, they have three
children. Her second husband knew about her ordeal when she
went public after Henson. “He was ashamed; he even said that
he married a whore. Now we are separated.”
Lola Isa has six children and Lola Pilar has seven children,
two of them have died.
Despite old age, both are determined to continue fighting
until they achieve justice. “We demand for not only an apol-
ogy and compensation. We demand that our story be written
in history, that there were women like us who they abused and
some were even killed. We believe that by giving us justice this
8 - 14 november 2010
itapon palabas ng lungsod. Mahalagang mailabas ang labí
ng kambing. Hindi kailangang manatili ang kasalanan sa
kanilang gwardyadong teritoryo.
Sa maraming pagkakataon, hindi na nakalabas pa ng
buhay ang kambing sa bayan dahil nasasapol kaagad ito
sa ulo. At katulad ng nakatakda, itinatapon na lamang ito
sa disyerto. Noong nakaraang ritwal napatay kaagad ng
isang kawal ang alay na kambing kahit hindi pa nauubos
na sabihin ng marami sa taumbayan ang kanilang mga
kasalanan. Balitang nakiniig sa asawa ng iba pang asawa
ang kawal na iyon na ibinunton sa kambing ang galit nito
sa kanyang karibal. May mga nagagalit kung namamatay
kaagad ang kambing dahil nangangahulugan daw ito ng
kamalasan para sa mga negosyo ng kaharian. Dahil hindi
lahat ng kasalanan ay naipapasa sa hayop. Ngunit may
mga natutuwa rin dahil maagang matatapos ang taunang
suanoy na ritwal.
At dahil sa napakaraming, sabay-sabay na tinig ng
mga kasalanan, wala ring naiintindihan ang dalawang
pinunong nag-aabang sa mga kasalanan ng taumbayan.
Lalo na ang haring nagbabalak sanang ilista ang mga
kasalanan ng kanyang mga kawal at ang reyna naman sa
kanyang mga babaeng alalay. Maging ang eskribano’y wala
ring nauunawaan. Ito rin sana ang okasyon ng isa’t isa na
malaman ang mga lihim ng kanilang nasasakupan, subalit
wala ni isa man na kasalanan ang nakakalusot sa kanilang
mga tengang hawig sa kambing.
Sa pagpapatuloy ng ritwal, isang napakalaking
halimaw na umuungol mula sa kailaliman ng kuweba, isang
baliw na unos, o sigaw ng lehiyon ng mga pinalayas na
anghel ang nalilikhang tunog ng pinaghalu-halong tinig ng
mga kasalanan. Samantalang kumakaripas naman sa takbo
ang kambing palabas sa bayan, palayo sa mga makasalanan.
Kapag tuluyan nang nawala sa kanilang paningin
ang kambing dahil sa palagay nila’y kinakain ito ng mga
buhanging naghuhugis alon sa disyertong kasing lawak ng
dagat— isa-isa nang magsisipag-uwian ang lahat papasok
sa kanilang bayan. Buong araw silang mamamahinga at
patuloy na mag-aayuno.
Habang sa gawing silangan ng disyerto, may isang
bayan din ang nagsasagawa ng isang mahalagang ritwal.
Isang liturhiya, isang paghihintay at pag-aabang, kung
saan ang kambing ang pinapaniwalaan nilang sugo ng
kanilang diyos. Sa bayang iyon, walang nakakatiyak kung
saan nagmumula ang mga naliligaw na kambing na ito.
Mga kambing na dumarating na hapong-hapo. Sugatan.
Mga kambing na kailangang iligtas sa kamatayan. Hindi sa
lahat ng kanilang pag-aabang, may dumarating na kambing
kung kayâ ganoon na lamang ang kanilang pasasalamat sa
pagkakataon na may marinig na tinig ng kambing o kaya’y
makakita ng aninong gumagalaw at may sungay sa gitna
ng disyerto. Kapag dumating ang kambing itinuturing
nilang parang ang diyos ang bumisita sa kanila at dahil
mula sa sugong ito’y kukunin nila ang gatas at keso,
dalawang bagay na pinaniniwalaan nilang kaloob ng diyos,
na nananahan sa pusod ng disyerto, sa pinagmamasdang
kawalan.
from page 3
grave violence against women will never happen again,” said
Lola Isa.
“We would never get tired of fighting. This struggle is not
only for us but for all victims of violence against women,” Lola
Pilar said. The lolas of Lila Pilipina also support the fight of
other women victims of rape by American soldiers like Nicole
and Vanessa as well as in other parts of the world like Iraq and
Afghanistan.
Extremadura said they have exhausted all venues to make
the Japanese government accountable. But justice remains
elusive. The US, Canada, the Netherlands and the European
Union have already passed resolutions supporting the demands
of comfort women while the Philippines did not even pass one.
On Nov. 8, Gabriela Women’s Party (GWP) refiled House
Resolution No. 576, a resolution urging the government of
Japan to formally acknowledge, apologize for, and accept
its historical responsibility over the sexual slavery of young
women during World War II.
“Despite having Filipino victims estimated to reach
thousands, the Philippines is the only country in the world that
chose not to support the claims of its comfort women. Instead,
the government upheld the San Francisco Peace Pact where the
State allegedly waived all further claims for compensation in
exchange for nominal war reparations.” GWP said in a state-
ment.
What is even more painful for the lolas is that their own
government did not even make a move to make the Japanese
government responsible for their crime. The country’s Su-
preme Court denied their petition, worse, the decision was even
plagiarized. “It was not only plagiarized, it was also twisted,”
said Extremadura referring to the decision penned by Associate
Justice Mariano del Castillo who allegedly lifted portions from
foreign sources without proper attribution. “This is an injus-
tice committed by our very own judicial system,” she added.
(Bulatlat.com)
8 - 14 november 2010
Republic of the Philippines
NATIONAL POLICE COM-
MISSION
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL
POICE
BAAO MUNICIPAL PO-
LICE STATION
Baao, Camarines Sur
NOTICE OF LOST
Malanie Borason y Lunelli,
52 years old (July 22, 1958),
married, and resident of
Zone 1 Bgy. San Juan, Baao,
Camarines Sur., appeared
personally to this office and
requested to put into record
that on or about 8:00 A.M. of
October 13, 2010, allegedly
the wallet color black of his
husband Giovannie S. Lunel-
li, Italian Citizen, were found
believed to be slipped at the
Bacsain Store located at Bgy.
San Ramon this municipality
when her husband were buy
a red horse beer at aforesaid
store on or about 5:30 P.M. of
October 12, 2010, said wallet
is containing of some impor-
tant document to wit: I-Card,
Non-Professional driver
license, cedula and cash mon-
ey more or less six thousand
pesos (Php 6,000.00), exerted
effort to locate the same but
to no avail.
Vox Bikol:
October 25, Nov. 1 and 8,
2010
Republic of the Philippines
REGIONAL TRIAL COURT
5th Judicial Region, Naga
City
EJF No. 2010-18
NOTICE OF EXTRA
JUDICIAL SALE
Upon extra-judicial peti-
tion for sale under Act 3135
filed by HOME DEVELOP-
MENT MUTUAL FUND
(PAG-IBIG FUND) with
principal business address
at the Atrium of Makati
City, as mortgagee, against
LINA C. ALCANTARA, of
Welville Subd., San Felipe,
Naga City, as Mortgagor, to
satisfy the mortgage indebt-
edness which as of August
23, 2010 amounts to SIX
HUNDRED SIXTY ONE
THOUSAND SIX HUN-
DRED EIGHTY TWO &
70/100 (P661,682.70) Philip-
pine Currency, inclusive
of interest, penalty charges
but excluding expenses of
foreclosure, the undersigned
will sell at public auction
on NOVEMBER 8, 2010 at
10:00 A.M. or soon thereafter
at the main entrance of the
City Hall of Naga City to
the highest bidder, for cash
or manager’s check and in
Philippine Currency, the fol-
lowing property with all its
improvements, to wit:
TCT NO. 40755
A parcel of land (Lot 9 Blk-4
of the consolidation subdivi-
sion survey Pcs-05-01253,
being a portion of Lots 3182-
E 3183-F, 3182-G, 3182-H,
3182-I, Pcsd-05-005152
& Lot- 3182-D-1, Pcs-05-
019463) situated in the
Barangay of San Felipe, City
of Naga, Island of Luzon.
Bounded on the NE., along
line-1-2; by Lot-10, on the
SE, along line 2-3; by Lot-
17, on the SW., along 3-4; by
Lot-8 all of Blk-4, and on the
NW., along line 4-1; by Road
Lot-4, all of Pcs-05-001253.
Containing an area of ONE
HUNDRED TWENTY (120)
Square meters more or less
registered in the name of Sps.
Allan F. Alcantara and Lina
C. Alcantara, of legal age,
Filipino and with residence
at No. 32 Jacob Extension,
Naga City.
All sealed bids must be
submitted to the undersigned
on the above stated time and
date.
In the event that the public
auction should not take place
on the said date due to lawful
cause/s, it shall be held on
November 12, 2010 without
further notice.
September 22, 2010, Naga
City, Philippines.
(Sgd) JORGE B. LOPEZ
SHERIFF IV
Vox Bikol:
October 25, Nov. 1 and 8,
2010
DEED OF EXTRAJUDI-
CIAL SETTLEMENT OF
ESTATE
WITH ABSOLUTE SALE
OVER A MOTOR-VEHE-
CLE
Notice is hereby given that
the late JEDION R. BAL-
DOVIA died on August 11,
2009 at San Fernando, CSur
left a motor-vehicle and
more particularly described
to wit: “Make: MITS/
FUSO; Type of Body: Jitney;
Model: 2003; Engine No.:
4D30358023; Chassis No.:
SPM2003121824C; Plate
No. EVN-694 Certificate of
Registration No. 6858158-6
dated June 10, 2008 includ-
ing its Franchise covered by
Certificate of Public Con-
venience under Case No.
05-2003-1000 with Route at
Naga-Pasacao vice versa”
That this deed was settled
and do sell, cede, transfer
and convey absolutely by
way of absolute sale unto
Jackson John Marco Vergara.
Acknowledged before notary
public Tirso Mariano, per doc
no. 2311, page no. 64, book
no. XXXXI, Series of 2010.
Vox Bikol:
October 25, Nov. 1 and 8,
2010
Republic of the Philippines
REGIONAL TRIAL COURT
Fifth Judicial Region
Branch 23
Naga City
EJF No. 2010-13 DEED OF EXTRAJUDI-
IN THE MATTER OF THE
CORRECTION
OF ERRONEOUS ENTRY
IN THE CERTIFICATE
OF LIVE BIRTH OF ABIG-
AEL MARCIAL
ANDAL BY CORRECTING
THE GENDER
FROM MALE TO FEMALE
AND TO DELETE
MARCIAL BESIDE HER
Vox Bikol Notices
FIRST NAME,
ABIGAEL MARCIAL
ANDAL,
Peti-
tioner,
Spec Proc. No. 2010-0076
-versus-
THE LOCAL CIVIL REGIS-
TRAR OF
NAGA CITY, AND THE
NATIONAL
STATISTICS OFFICE,
Re-
spondents.
x-------------------------------x
ORDER
Filed before this court is a
verified petition seeking the
correction of some erroneous
entries in the record of birth
of petitioner Abigael Marcial
Andal under Local Civil
Registry No. 91-1629 of the
Naga City Civil Registry.
These entries are:
1. Petitioner’s gender which
is incorrectly recorded as
male instead of female; and
2. The name Marcial which
appears in petitioner’s record
of birth as part of her given
name is actually the family
name of her mother, Yolanda
Anyayahan Marcial, and thus
must be deleted so that her
true and correct name AB-
IGAEL MARCIAL ANDAL
may appear thereon.
Finding the petition to be suf-
ficient in form and substance,
the same shall be heard by
this court on January 25,
2010 at 8:30 o’clock in the
morning, at which time and
date, all persons who have
claim any interest which
would be affected thereby
may appear and register their
opposition thereto.
Have this order published
once a week for three (3)
consecutive weeks in a news-
paper of general circulation
in the province of Camarines
Sur.
Furnish the Civil Registry
Office of Naga City, the
National Statistics Office,
the Office of the Solicitor
General, the City Prosecution
Office of Naga City, and the
parents of the said petitioner
with copies of this order and
the instant petition.
SO ORDERED.
Given this 8th day of No-
vember, 2010 at Naga City,
Philippines.
(SGD.) VALENTIN E.
PURA, JR.
Presiding Judge
Vox Bikol:November 8, 15
and 22, 2010
CIAL SETTLEMENT
OF ESTATE WITH ABSO-
LUTE SALE
Notice is hereby given that
the intestate estate of the
late JOSE BORABIEN died
on September 28, 1991 at
Manila, consisting of a parcel
of land, situated at Vinagre,
Tigaon, CSur, with an area
of 204 sqm., covered by TD
No. 97-023-0958. This Deed
was extra judicially settled
by way of Absolute Sale unto
Rosseler D. Lim. Acknowl-
edged before notary public
Tirso P. Mariano, per Doc no.
2976, Page no. 96, Book no.
XXXXI, Series of 2010.
Vox Bikol:
November 8, 15 and 22,
2010
DEED OF EXTRAJUDI-
CIAL SETTLEMENT
OF ESTATE WITH WAIV-
ER OF SHARES
Notice is hereby given that
the intestate estate of the
late ROSARIO AGOTILLA
died on January 24, 2005 at
Gogon, Camaligan, CSur left
a parcel of agricultural land,
situated in the Bo. Of Patong,
Pamplona, CSur, with an
area of 16,841 more or less,
covered by TCT No. 10981,
Certificate of Land Owner-
ship Award No. 00579282,
TD No. 97-008-00950. This
Deed was extra judicially
settled by way of waiver of
share unto Victor I. Agotilla.
Acknowledged before notary
public Tirso P. Mariano, per
Doc no. 2956, Page no. 92,
Book no. XXXXI, Series of
2010.
Vox Bikol:
November 8, 15 and 22,
2010
DEED OF EXTRAJUDI-
CIAL SETTLEMENT
OF ESTATE WITH ABSO-
LUTE SALE
Notice is hereby given that
the intestate estate of the late
TERESITA DE LOS SAN-
TOS SAN JUAN died on De-
cember 6, 1999 at Naga City
left a parcel of land, situated
in Balatas, Naga City, with
an area of 142 sqm., covered
by TCT No. 640, Emancipa-
tion Patent No. A-189924-H.
This Deed was extra judicial-
ly settled by way of Absolute
Sale unto Sps. Toribio Mag-
alona Domer Jr. and Zora
Hernandez Domer portion of
land with an area of 50 sqm.,
that the remaining portion of
90 sqm., shall be transferred
as co owners among heirs.
Acknowledged before notary
public Tirso P. Mariano, per
Doc no. 2911, Page no. 83,
Book no. XXXXI, Series of
2010.
Vox Bikol:
November 8, 15 and 22,
2010
EXTRAJUDICIAL
SETTLEMENT
OF ESTATE WITH WAIV-
ER OF RIGHTS
Notice is hereby given that
the intestate estate of the late
EPIFANIO MENDIZABAL
died on July 12, 2010 at
Bicol Medical Center, Naga
City and buried at Bula,
CSur left a certain parcel of
residential land together with
residential house situated at
Gogon-Dugcal, Camaligan,
CSur, KATIBAYAN NG
ORIHINAL NA TITULO
BLG. 18765, with an area of
Volume XXVIII | Issue no. 25|
150 sqm., more or less. This
Deed was extra judicially
settled by way of waiver
of rights in favour unto
Mercedes B. Mendizabal.
Acknowledged before notary
public Florencio B. Rosales,
per Doc no. 798, Page no.
150, Book no. ____, Series
of 2010.
Vox Bikol:
November 8, 15 and 22,
2010
NOTICE OF EXTRA
JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT
WITH SALE
Notice is hereby given that
Extra-Judicial Settlement is
made and entered into by and
among:
ANGELICA I. TUDIO, of
legal age, Filipino, mar-
ried and resident of Blk. 49,
Lot 11, Kapayapaan Ville,
Canlubang, Calamba City;
JOSEFINA L. CARTER, of
legal age, Filipino, married
and resident of 13697 E
55th Lane, Yuma, Arizona,
ERLINDA P. LAGDAMEO,
of legal age, Filipino and
resident of Balayan St.,
Bagobantay, Quezon City
and BERNARDITA T. LAG-
DAMEO, of legal age, Fili-
pino, single and resident of
Himaao, Pili, Camarines Sur
and ARTURO T. LAGDA-
MEO, of legal age, Filipino,
married and with residence
and postal address at Himaao,
Pili, Camarines Sur.
That they are the surviv-
ing heirs of the late Josefina
Tiongko, who died intestate
on January 22, 1998 at Pili,
Camarines Sur, without a
Will or Testament, and with-
out any outstanding debts
with any person or entity;
and that said deceased left
Gospel...
And Jesus replied, “Tak-
ing husband or wife is proper
to people of this world, but
for those who are consid-
ered worthy of the world to
come and of resurrection
from the dead, there is no
more marriage. Besides,
they cannot die for they are
like the angels. They too are
sons and daughters of God
because they are born of the
7
a parcel of land covered by
TCT No. 25603 and is more
particularly described as
follows:
“A PARCEL OF LAND (Lot
1689-A of the subdivision
plan Psd-0517280-013105,
being a portion of Lot 1689,
Cad-291, Pili Cadastre),
situated in the Barangay of
Himaao, Municipality of Pili,
Province of Camarines Sur,
Island of Luzon. Bounded on
the E., along lines 9-1-2 by
Irrigation Canal; on the SW.,
along lines 2-3-4-5 by Lot
1689-B, Psd-051728-013105;
on the E., along line 5-6
by Irrigation Ditch (3.00m.
wide); and on the NE., along
lines 6-7-8-9 by Lot 1688,
Cad-291, Pili Cadastre.
Beginning at a point marked
“1” on the plan being S. 45
deg. 42’W., 23.39m. to point
2; thence N. 79 deg. 34’W.,
130.12m. to point w; thence
N. 84 deg. 01’W., 37.05m.
to point 4; thence N. 58 deg.
58’W., 148.19m. to point
5; thence N. 05 deg. 10’W.,
61.82m. to point 6; thence
S. 80 deg. 31’E., 9.23m. to
point 7; thence S. 76 deg.
21’E., 39.40m. to point 8;
thence S. 82 deg. 07’E.,
234.24m. to point 9; thence
S. 00 deg. 28’W., 94.35m. to
point of beginning, contain-
ing an area of THIRTY
THOUSAND (30,000)
SQUARE METERS.
This Deed was a subject of
of Extrajudicial Settlement of
Estate among ourselves with
Absolute Sale in favor unto
ELLEN E. BAGASINA,
acknowledged before notary
public Felix V. Brazil Jr.
under Doc. No. 3302, Book
No. 649, Page No. IX, Series
of 2010.
VOX BIKOL
Nov. 15, Nov. 22, and Nov.
29, 2010
resurrection.
“Yes, the dead will be
raised, and even Moses im-
plied it in the passage about
the burning bush, where he
calls the Lord the God of
Abraham, the God of Isaac
and the God of Jacob. For he
is God of the living and not of
the dead, and for him all are
alive.”
INA NIN BIKOL FOUNDATION, INC.
Peñafrancia Basilica,
Balatas, Naga City
Available at:

Volume XXVIII | Issue no. 25| 8 - 14 november 2010
Gospel (November 7, 2010)
Some Sadducees arrived. These people claim that
there is no resurrection and they asked Jesus this ques-
tion, “Master, in the Scripture Moses told us: ‘If anyone
dies leaving a wife but no children, his brother must take
the wife, and the child to be born will be regarded as
the child of the deceased man.’ Now, there were seven
Lk 20:27–38
brothers; the first married a wife, but he died without chil-
dren; and the second and the third took the wife; in fact
all seven died leaving no children. Last of all the woman
died. On the day of the resurrection, to which of them will
the woman be wife? For the seven had her as wife.”
continued on page 7

Naga prelate clears priest of molestation charges

HATAW. College students from different colleges and universities in Bikol released their baloons after the field cs PHOTOGRAPHY

Catholic laity to demonstration dubbed as HATAW in this year’s Regional SCUAA meet hosted by Bicol University.

hold prayer vigil vs

RH bill
MANILA, Nov. 9, 2010—A
coalition of pro-life, family life
and lay organizations are coming
together in a collective show of
resistance against the proposed
reproductive health bill being
deliberated in Congress.
Led by the Sangguniang Laiko
ng Pilipinas, the laity are organiz-
ing a prayer vigil called “Prayers
and Reflections on Human Life”
on November 20 from 6:00 to 9:00
p.m. at the Manila Cathedral.
Laiko National president Ed-
gardo Tirona said now is the time
for the laity to defend the Catholic
faith “against those who are trying
to propagate the culture of death in
the guise of alleviating the lives”
of the poor.
“As a Church, we cannot
just be complacent and allow this
insidious attempt to ruin the moral
and spiritual fabric of our society,”
vigil / page4

Cardinal Vidal
sees ‘head-on
collision’ on RH Bill
MANILA, Nov. 7, 2010—
Speaking before 500 delegates
during the 17th Asia-Pacific
Congress on Faith and Family,
Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal
Vidal said the Church’s struggle to
preserve and promote the values
conducive to nurturing faith, fam-
ily and life appears to be heading
“towards a head-on collision” with
those who push for the passage of
RH Bill.
He downplayed claims by
some sectors that the Catholic
Church tries to impose itself on the
rest of the citizenry.
“The Church is being por-
trayed as an intolerant power block
bent on imposing its will on the
nation, running roughshod over the
RH / pagE 4
MANILA, Nov. 9, 2010—Ca-
ceres Archbishop Leonardo
Z. Legaspi has cleared a member
of the archdiocesan clergy from
charges of molesting a teen-age
boy in a local motel.
In a statement sent to CBCP
Media Office today, the 74-year
old prelate said apparent attempts
to destroy and discredit the church
have been made by some sectors
and individuals.
“The accused priest and the
Archdiocese of Caceres vehe-
mently deny the said accusation,”
Archbishop Legaspi said in his
statement.
“We are saddened by the fact
that this false and malicious ac-
cusation is being made at the time
when our priests are having their
annual clergy retreat,” he added as
he asked the faithful for prayers at
this time.
The investigation initiated by
church authorities revealed a com-
plaint made with police authori-
ties of an alleged sexual offense
committed against the complainant
who identified the alleged perpe-
trator through the plate number of
a car.
As the police performed
follow-up investigation, it was
learned the plate number belonged
to a car owned by Msgr. Peter
Beriña. It was Msgr. Beriña’s
driver who admitted using the car
without the priest’s knowledge
and permission. The driver said he
entered the motel with a female
companion on the date and time of
the alleged incident.
The same driver said Msgr.
Beriña was nowhere near the place
of the incident, but “out of no-
where, the 17-year old boy comes
forward complaining and accusing
Msgr. Beriña.”
“Apparently, Msgr. Beriña is
innocent and the accusation against
him is false and fabricated,” Arch-
bishop Legaspi said.
He vowed to look into the
possibility that some malicious
ploy against the church and its
priests has been launched.
The prelate further said the
Archdiocese of Caceres is prepared
to take appropriate legal action
against the people behind in what
he described as “defamatory ac-
cusations.”
He likewise called on the
faithful “to be cautious and
discerning, and ultimately take
the side of the truth.” (Melo M.
Acuna)

Bishop says
politicians’ Las
Vegas visit a waste
UCAN (12 November) -- The
money spent by 50 politicians
flying to the United States to watch
Filipino boxing icon Emmanuel
“Manny” Pacquiao meet Mexican
boxer Antonio Margarito on Oct.
14 would be better spent on the
poor, a Catholic bishop says.
Pacquiao, a member of the
House of Representatives after
winning in the May 2010 elec-
tions, was also letting down his
constituents by not giving them his
full attention, said Marbel Bishop
Dinualdo Gutierrez.
“It’s really a big hindrance.
How can you serve full time if you
are practicing because your focus
is boxing?” the bishop said.
waste / page 4