Olongapo native serves aboard US Navy’s newest carrier

April 27, 2016, 7:19 pm

≫ Next: I had fun in VP debate—BBM

≪ Previous: Animal dispersal program beneficiary thanks PGIN for fulfilled wish

$

0

0

Airman Regine Garcia

By Nathan McDonald

USN Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class

NORFOLK—A 2004 Aura De Laurentus graduate and Olongapo, Philippines native is serving in the U.S. Navy aboard the aircraft carrier, PCU Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78).

Airman Regine Garcia is an aviation boatswain's mate (handling) aboard the Ford-class aircraft carrier operating out of Norfolk, Virginia.

A Navy aviation boatswain's mate (handling) is responsible for flight deck firefighting and directing aircraft.

“I like that we have the opportunity to save lives,” said Ms. Garcia.

Named after the 38^th US President, Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr., the Ford-class aircraft carrier is 1,092 feet long and hosts a wide array of quality of life improvements and state-of-the-art upgrades from a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. New technology, including a new reactor plant, propulsion systems, electric plant, Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), advanced arresting gear and integrated warfare systems enables the Navy to operate the ship with less manpower, contributing to the Navy saving approximately $4 billion in total ownership costs over the ship’s 50‐year life when compared to NIMITZ-class.

“It's a privilege to be stationed aboard a new class of ship,” said Ms. Garcia.

Approximately 170 officers and 2000 enlisted men and women make up the ship's company, each highly specialized and operating in a number of jobs ranging from managing shipboard telecommunications networks and damage control systems to maintaining machinery and weapons.  With more than 40 new or modified systems, Ford Sailors are unique in their training as many are among the first in the Fleet to train on and operate the ship’s cutting edge technology.  The crew continues to explore innovative training solutions as Sailors prepare to take ownership of equipment and systems from contractors and shipbuilders.

“It is the sailors who serve onboard Gerald R. Ford, who comprise the weapons system of this ship,” said Capt. John F. Meier, Gerald R. Ford’s commanding officer. “Their enthusiasm and the commitment to excellence has created an infectiously positive command climate and they remain wholly committed to delivering this much needed asset to the Fleet.” 

While Ford has yet to conduct its first mission abroad, those serving aboard this ship will experience things that most Sailors don’t get to, being a part of the ship’s initial crew. The crew must be highly motivated and adapt quickly to changing conditions to ensure the ship is ready to defend America at all times when called upon. There are high expectations for this ship and its Sailors; however, the crew is thriving under pressure.

“The Navy has taught me a lot of life skills that I will use while serving and beyond,” said Ms. Garcia.

As a member of the U.S. Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, Garcia and other Ford Sailors are excited to be a part of the crew that will take this advanced war-fighting vessel on its first voyage to protect this country on the world’s oceans.

---

I had fun in VP debate—BBM

April 28, 2016, 7:12 am

≫ Next: Integrity and competence

≪ Previous: Olongapo native serves aboard US Navy’s newest carrier

$

0

0

Vice presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. bared that he had fun in the vice presidential debate sponsored by the Commission on Elections at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila on April 10 and that despite the mudslinging, he would never hold a grudge against any of his rivals.

Mr. Marcos made the statement in a press conference in Jaro, Iloilo as he shrugged off the hardline tirades leveled against him saying it was just a “standard political strategy” of candidates who are trying to catch up with a frontrunner.

“Alam mo that is a standard political strategy, pagka gusto mong gumanda ang numbers mo e you attack the one who is leading. So ganyan naman talaga. Expected ko naman yan e kayat hindi ako nagugulat. So I hope that we can raise the level of discussion higher than what it was and bring it to the programs and the projects that we plan to do in the next administration,” he suggested.

Despite the outbursts, he still enjoyed the debate.

“Masaya, masaya yung debate kagabi. Okay naman, masaya dahil masaya yung sagutan. Pero I think, more importantly, kesa sa yung mga deba-debate na directed sa isang kandidato, I think more importantly, para sa akin, at least kahit papano meron tayong nasabi na ating mga programa na ating mga binabalak kapag tayo’y bigyan ng pagkakaton na magsilbi,” he stressed.

He said he does not take the attacks against him personally and will not hold a grudge against any of them.

“Wala naman akong sama ng loob sa kanya pero biglang nagkaroon siya ng maraming sama ng loob sa akin na hindi naman niya sinasabi sa anim na taon kaming magkapartido, sa anim na taon kaming magkasama sa Senado wala naman siyang sinasabi tungkol dyan. I just put it down to politics. I hope that even after the elections e maisantabi na namin yung politika at bumalik kami sa dati naming pagsasama,” he said referring to Sen. Allan Peter S. Cayetano.

Mr. Marcos also pointed out that he still considered the attacks as constructive. “Syempre hindi na matatanggal sa debate yung konting sagutan, at konting ingay—entertainment, ika nga. So that was part of it. I have to say that I think it was constructive,” he said.

He also did not feel he was singled out in the debate and the system put in place was just fair. “I did not feel singled out in any way. Maybe, again, because my numbers are improving in the surveys, maybe it’s to be expected na syempre the attention will be directed to me. Mas mabuti na yun kesa walang pumapansin sa iyo,” he said.

Integrity and competence

April 28, 2016, 7:15 am

≫ Next: Notices for April 18, 2016

≪ Previous: I had fun in VP debate—BBM

$

0

0

THESE are what we have to look for in choosing our public officials. Of course, to be realistic, we have to put these qualities in the context of the candidates’ popularity and electability. But for Pete’s sake, let’s not make mere popularity the main guide in electing our officials.

We have to go beyond looks, PR gimmicks, smart sound bites, spins and vote-getting machineries. Sad to say, we cannot help but observe how local candidates tend to congregate around national candidates and political parties with vast and deep war chest. They are there more for the “fund” of it.

Neither should we go by mere genealogy and pedigree—that one is the son or daughter of so-and-so, or that his father or mother died in some dramatic circumstances. This is a dangerous way to elect officials. It’s like impulse buying that leaves many of us with the buyer’s remorse.

Neither still should we be guided by some forms of kinship—blood, political, cultural, social, geographical. While these factors and conditions have their valid values, they can only play a secondary role. They should never be the primary criteria. Of course, a big no-no is choosing candidates on the basis of who give us more money, dole-outs and other forms of perks. This way can only spell disaster.

We should not even be guided solely by the candidates’ fame or their mass appeal, though that would already be a big help. We have to be wary of image-building tactics that do not necessarily show the true character of the candidates.

We should not be naïve as not to consider the many subtle forms of propaganda that sway people’s favor unfairly. We have to discern whether that mass appeal that candidates may have, spring truly from some divine or humanly legitimate charisma, or it is simply a product of some witchery.

What we should look into in vetting the candidates is their track record, their performance in public service, their achievements and their mistakes and how they handled those.

Integrity and competence should always go together. Integrity without competence would not give us good governance. Neither competence without integrity. They are supposed to have a mutual relationship.

Integrity evokes a sense of completeness and wholeness as well as order, harmony, consistency, honesty. For us, it is crucial because it is something to work and live out, protect, defend and even fight for. It does not come automatically with our DNA.

We have to know its real essence, its firm basis and real source. We have to know the different elements involved in achieving it, as well as the techniques and skills to get the act together. Hopefully we can develop a clear and correct science about it, both in its theoretical and practical aspects.

Offhand, we have to be clear that the ultimate foundation, source and goal of our integrity is God, our Creator and Father. Hence, we have to understand that the pursuit of integrity cannot be done outside of this original religious context. Any understanding of integrity outside of this would be compromised right from the start.

Even if our concept of God and of how to relate to him is not yet clear, we have to hold it as a necessary prerequisite, at least theoretically, because it would be funny to look for the origin, meaning and purpose of integrity simply in ourselves or in the world.

That way of pursuing integrity would make it a mere human invention, and given the way we are, we could not help but be subjective and therefore prone to have different versions of integrity.

Competence requires a working knowledge of the common good and of what it requires. It involves a good understanding and practical skills to live the social principles of solidarity and subsidiarity. It demands one to have a clear vision of the goals to achieve. Otherwise, there would be disorder and chaos.

It requires continuing formation, continuing effort to know the concrete conditions and circumstances of the relevant issues and situations of one’s work. Thus constant updating of relevant knowledge and skills is needed.

It urges the officials to always polish their virtue of prudence, making due study, consultations as well as timely decisions and action. It requires the officials to know how to coordinate the different elements of his office. It also involves a certain sensitivity to changes taking place and the ability to correspond to them without getting lost in the essentials.

With what we are seeing in this funny but painful episode of the “tanim-bala” in NAIA, let’s hope that we can learn the lesson of how to choose our leaders and public officials.

Notices for April 18, 2016

April 28, 2016, 7:17 am

≫ Next: Accenture conducts coastal clean-up drive in Currimao

≪ Previous: Integrity and competence

$

0

0

R.A 9048 Form No. 10.1 (LCRO)

Republic of the Philippines

Local Civil Registry Office

Province: Ilocos Norte

Municipality: Pasuquin

NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION

          In compliance with Section 5 of R.A. Act No. 9048 a notice is hereby served to the public that JANETTE T. CABALLERO has filed with this office a petition for change of first name from IMELDA to JANETTE in the birth certificate of IMELDA TAGUPA who was born on Nov. 2, 1961 at Pasuquin Ilocos Norte and whose parents are NORBERTO TAGUPA and SALOME MENOR.

          Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this office not later than May 2, 2016.

(SGD) FELIZA C. RATUITA

Municipal Civil Registrar

April 18-24, April 25-May 1, 2016*IT

______________________________________________________

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

REGIONAL TRIAL COURT

FIRST JUDICIAL REGION

Branch 19

Bangui, Ilocos Norte

DARWIN RAMON VALDEZ y

CACAO,

Petitioner,

-versus-

MARY ANN AQUINO y PADILLA,

Respondent

CIVIL CASE NO. 2786-19

For: Declaration of Nullity of Marriage

x--------------------x

Summons By Publication

(Petition)

          PETITIONER, in the above-entitled case, through the undersigned counsel, and unto this Honorable Court, most respectfully alleges that:

1.       Petitioner DARWIN RAMON C. VALDEZ is of legal age, Filipino Citizen, married to MARY ANN P. AQUINO (herein respondent), and a resident of Brgy. San Lorenzo, Bangui Ilocos Norte, Philippines, where he has been residing for more than six (6) months prior to the filing of this petition and where he may be served with summons, notices orders and other processes of this Honorable Court, copy of the Barangay Certification to this effect is hereby attached as Annex “A”;

2.     Respondent is likewise of legal age, Filipino citizen and married to petitioner. He may be served with summons notices, orders and other processes of this Honorable Court at her last known address at 056 Magsaysay St. Brgy. Quirino, Solano, Nueva Viscaya;

3.      Petitioner and respondent tied the marital knot on April 1, 2003 in Quezon City, a copy of their Marriage Certificate issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is hereby attached as Annex “B”;

4.     It was during college that petitioner and respondent met each other at the campus of Far Eastern University in Manila. Petitioner courted the respondent for six (6) years until he finally got her sweet yes. During their sweetheart period, they had a love hate relationship because of respondents closeness with the opposite sex that triggered jealousy on the part of petitioner;

5.     Respondent is also a nagger, manipulative, and controlling. Early on, Petitioner already knew that respondent is hard to handle because of her hard headedness. She also manifested provocative and irrational behaviors like she being a fault finder. Although it was a roller coaster ride due to their frequent fights, arguments and momentary break ups, petitioner managed to keep their relationship because of his love to her. They lasted to five years until petitioner proposed marriage;

6.     At first respondent did not want to get married because she had plans of going abroad. Petitioner, however, convinced  respondent by supporting her financially to finish a caregiver course;

7.     In 2002, she completed her course in caregiving and immediately filed her application for Canada while they planned to get married.

8.     After the wedding, the new couple stayed at Petitioner’s family house. Petitioner worked while respondent stayed home while waiting for her application. It was a blissful marriage for the couple for the first week but just the same, they fought on the same issues. Her closeness to her male friends and flirty behaviors persisted even if they were already married. She became irritable especially when her husband, the petitioner was around. She also refused to do household chores while her husband goes to work leaving their house dirty and messy;

9.     Petitioner tolerated her behavior believing that it was an adjustment period for both of them. He was hopeful that his wife will someday turn into a better woman, but their daily life became miserable because they fought almost everyday. They argued over simple and trivial things because of her irate disposition.

10.  Petitioner tried every approach to manage his wife but he failed to do so. There were times that they do not talk to each other even for days, and it was the petitioner who would say sorry for her most of the time. She also started to reject their sexual life by making lame excuses.

11.    After several months of being married, respondent finally got her working visa. She promised the petitioner that she would immediately file a petitioner for him as soon as she qualifies to do so. In return, petitioner swore to become a faithful husband in her absence;

12.  Respondent left for Canada in May 2003. However, just two weeks after she arrived in Canada, petitioner noticed that she no longer communicates with him. Thus he made his best effort to call the respondent even if it was expensive in spite of  petitioner’s longing, respondent exhibited disinterest in talking to him. It came to a point that she no longer answered his telephone calls or deliberately rejected them. Just after two months of staying in Canada, she became more evasive until she revealed that she met someone in her workplace. Subsequently, petitioner began to hear rumors that respondent was having an affair with one “Suguitan” in Canada, but he ignored it and remained faithful to his wife;

13.   Admittedly, he became anxious with the idea that his wife was fooling around until one day, respondent blatantly told the petitioner that she is no longer interested with her marriage because she was already in love with someone else. It was heartbreaking experience for the petitioner to have been rejected by his wife so many times just because of another man. He experienced depression and loss of interest in working because f his situation. Respondent’s painful words kept on resounding on his mind. He wondered why his wife just gave up with their marriage so easily after years of courtship and engagement;

14.  Eventually petitioner was informed by reliable sources that respondent married her boyfriend in Canada. He later on discovered that when respondent applied, she declared herself as single. This discovery led petitioner into a conclusion that respondent never respected the essence and sanctity of their marriage. She remained intensive, unfaithful, irresponsible, evasive and rejecting while petitioner kept on chasing her back into his arms.

15.  This time, petitioner already realized that respondent already came to a point where she no longer wish to preserve their marriage. Petitioner already lost his love, respect and confidence to the respondent who kept on jeopardizing their marital vows. For the petitioner, it is no longer rational to remain married with the respondent because she already have three children with her bigamous husband in Canada;

16.  Verily, the marriage of the petitioner and respondent was only a paper marriage, never ever nurtured by them to bloom to its fullest purpose of establishing a conjugal family life. It is never existed within the spirit and meaning given by law. Their marriage was already doomed even before it started.

17.  The foregoing facts and circumstances clearly manifest that herein respondent is suffering from psychological incapacity before, during and after the celebration of their marriage and such incapacity prevents her from being able to fulfill her basic marital obligations to the petitioner in accordance with the provisions of Article 36 of the Family Code, and which incapacity shall be proven by a psychologist during the course of the trial;

18.  Petitioner and respondent do not have any common child nor any common property that may be the subject of dissolution; and

19.  A copy of this petition shall be furnished to the Office of the Solicitor General at 134 Amorsolo St., Legaspi Village, Makati City, and the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor, Marcos Hall of Justice, Laoag City within five (5) days from filing and to file proof of service within the same period pursuant to Sec. 5 (4) of AM No. 02-11-10-SC.

WHEREFORE, above premises considered, petitioner most respectfully prays that after due notice and hearing, judgment be rendered declaring the marriage contracted by the petitioner and respondent null and void from the very beginning on the ground of psychological incapacity as provided for in Article 36 of the Family Code of the Philippines.

Petitioner also prays for such other reliefs as may be deemed just equitable under the foregoing premises.

          Laoag City, for Bangui, Ilocos Norte, Philippines, January 25, 2016.

GARCES LAW OFFICE

Counsel for the Petitioner

Room 825, 80-888 Realty Building

Gen. Luna cor. Balintawak St.

2900 Laoag City

By: (SGD). MICHAEL M. GARCES

Roll of Attorney’s No. 54898-4/30/2008

I.B.P. No. 0990632-I.N. 01/04/16

P.T.R. No. 1158709-L.C. 01/04/16

MCLE Compliance No. V-0005282, January 8, 2015.

          WHEREAS this Court in its Order dated April 5, 2016 issued an Order directing the publication in a newspaper of general circulation the summons upon respondent MARY ANN AQUINO y PADILLA considering that respondent was not personally served summons and copy of the petition on ground that respondent’s present address cannot be ascertained by the petitioner despite diligent inquiry.

          NOW THEREFORE, you respondent MARY ANN AQUINO y PADILLA is hereby summoned through this medium of publication, and therefore required to file with the Office of the Clerk of Court, Regional Trial Court of Bangui, Ilocos Norte at Justice Hall, Bangui Ilocos Norte, your answer to the above entitled case within sixty (60) days form the date of the last publication hereof, serving at the same time a copy of your answer upon the petitioner’s counsel, Atty. Michael Garces with office address at Garces Law Office, Room 825, 80-888 Realty Building, Gen. Luna cor. Balintawak St., 2900 Laoag City.

          Let this summons be published at the expense of the petitioner in a newspaper of general circulation once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks.

          WITNESS THE HONORABLE ROSEMARIE V. RAMOS, Presiding Judge of this Court, this 14^th day of April 2016 at Bangui, Ilocos Norte, Philippines.

(SGD) MARGIE GINES-LAROYA

Clerk of Court VI

April 18, 25, 2016*IT

______________________________________________

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

REGIONAL TRIAL COURT

FIRST JUDICIAL REGION

Branch 19

Bangui, Ilocos Norte

IN RE: PETITION FOR THE CHANGE AND/OR

CORRECTION OF ENTIRES IN THE CERTIFICATE

OF LIVE BIRTH OF HAZEL LAGUATAN QUINTO-

ELAYDO PARTICULARY THE DATE AND PLACE

OF MARRIAGE OF PARENTS FROM

“DECEMBER 18, 1982, SAN CARLOS CITY” TO

“08 OCTOBER 2015, PASUQUIN ILOCOS NORTE”

HAZEL LAGUATAN QUINTO-ELAYDO

Petitioner,

-versus-

THE MUNICIPAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF

PASUQUIN, ILOCOS NORTE AND THE

CIVIL REGISTRAR GENERAL, PHILIPPINE

STATISTICS AUTHORITY, MANILA AND

ALL PERSONS WHO HAVE OR CLAIM

ANY INTEREST HEREWITH.

Respondents.

SPEC PROC. NO. 2817-19

x------------------------------------x

ORDER

          Filed with this Court is a Petition for the Correction of Entry in the Certificate of Live Birth of HAZEL LAGUATAN QUINTO-ELAYDO.

          Finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, it is hereby set for hearing on May 24, 2016 at 8:30 o’clock in the morning before the Court in session in Bangui, Ilocos Norte, where this Court is holding sessions.

          Let a copy of this order be published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Province of Ilocos Norte so that all concerned may appear on or before the scheduled hearing and show cause, if any there be, why the petition should not be granted.

          Let a copy of the petition with its annexes be furnished the Civil Registrar General, Manila, the Solicitor General of the Philippines, 134 Amorsolo St., Legaspi Village, Makati, Metro Manila, the Provincial Prosecutor of Ilocos Norte and the Local Civil Registrar of Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte, counsel for the petitioner and the petitioner for their information and guidance.

          SO ORDERED.

Given in chambers this 11^th day of April 2016 at Bangui, Ilocos Norte.

(SGD) ROSEMARIE V. RAMOS

Judge

April 18, 25, May 2, 2016*IT

______________________________________________

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH QUITCLAIM AND ABSOLUTE SALE

Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of the late GREGORIO BAGAOISAN and FRANCISCA ALCANTARA consisting of a parcel of land designated as Lot No. 18521 of the Batac Cadastre covered by OCT. No. P-34707 containing an area of 715 sq.m. situated at Brgy. Baay, City of Batac, Ilocos Norte has been the subject of Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate with Quitclaim and Absolute Sale executed by their heirs in favour of Allan B. Garcia ratified and acknowledged before Notary Public ANTONIO R. CAJIGAL as per Doc. No. 177; Page No. 36; Bk. No. XLIX; S. of 2016.

April 18, 25, May 2, 2016*IT

______________________________________________

DEED OF ADJUDICATION

Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of the late AVELINO A. TACATA consisting of three (3) Passenger Jitney more particularly described as follows :Make-Isuzu; Motor Nos. C240-434525, 449599 and 346302; Chassis Nos. HMW 5768 C90, SPMM-9727-86-C and HMW 5646 C90 and Plate Nos. UV-AVF 243, AVD 613 and UV-AVG145 respectively has been adjudicated by his heir ratified and acknowledged before Notary Public MA. GOLDA. G. ARQUILLO as per Doc. No. 215; Page No. 41; Bk. No. 5; S. of 2012.

April 18, 25, May 2, 2016*IT

______________________________________________

AFFIDAVIT OF CLAIM WITH WAIVER OF RIGHTS

Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of the deceased depositor ENRIQUETA C. MATA consisting of a Savings Deposit Account and Time Deposit Account with the PHILIPPINE VETERANS BANK-LAOAG CITY, ILOCOS NORTE BRANCH under Savings Account No. 0044-516307-100 and Time Deposit No. 2018611 has been the subject of Affidavit of Claim with Waiver of Rights executed by her heirs in favor of NORMA M. CAYETANO ratified and acknowledged before Notary Public YVETTE N. CONVENTO-LEYNES as per Doc. No. 9; Page no. 1; Bk. No. C; S. of 2016.

April 18, 25, May 2, 2016*IT

______________________________________________

DEED OF ADJUDICATION WITH ABSOLUTE SALE

Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of the late CONCEPCION DEUS consisting of four (4) parcels of land designated as Lot Nos. 8633, 8635, 8639 and 8611 all of Laoag Cadastre, covered by TCT Nos. T-21114 and T-28088 containing an area of 1,867 sq.m., 692 sq.m., 1,311 sq.m. and 10,331 sq.m. with improvements thereon situated at Barrio of Buttong, City of Laoag and Municipality of San Nicolas, Province of Ilocos Norte has been adjudicated the first and second property and a portion of 3,878 sq.m. of the fourth property by her heirs and simultaneously sold to VENVI AGRO INDUSTRIAL VENTURES CORPORATION, represented by its Chairman, Atty. HILARIO P. VALDEZ ratified and acknowledged before Notary public LUCIANO R. CARAANG as per Doc. No. 377; Page No. 76; Bk. No. CXIV; S. of 2015.

April 18, 25, May 2, 2016*IT

______________________________________________

DEED OF ADJUDICAITON OF SOLE HEIR WITH ABSOLUTE SALE

Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of  the deceased JOSEFA CRISTOBAL consisting of a share of a parcel of land designated as Lot No. 2-J-I-F, Psd-01-049677 of the Laoag Cadastre covered by TCT No. T-33508 containing an area of 500 sq.m. situated at Brgy. 38-A Mangato, Laoag City has been adjudicated by her heir and simultaneously sold to JAY ROGER BRACEROS married to FLORENTINA JANAPIN-BRACEROS ratified and acknowledged before Notary Public LUCIANO R. CARAANG as per Doc. No. 399; Page No. 80; Bk. No. CXXVII; S. of 2016.

April 18, 25, May 2, 2016*IT

______________________________________________

AFFIDAVIT OF SELF-ADJUDICATION

Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of the late VICENTE G. DAOANG, JR. consisting of a safety deposit box at METROPOLITAN BANK AND TRUST COMPANY (METROBANK), SAN NICOLAS, ILOCOS NORTE BRANCH under Safety Deposit Box No. 825 has been adjudicated by his heir ratified and acknowledged before Notary Public KRISTOFFERSON E. BADUA as per Doc. No. 62; Page No. 13; Bk. No. I; S. of 2016.

April 18, 25, May 2, 2016*IT

______________________________________________

DEED OF ADJUDICATION

          Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of the late SPS. LUIS IGNACIO and PAULA LABUGUEN-IGNACIO consisting of a parcel of land designated as Lot No. 10792 covered by TCT No. T-7163 containing an area of 538 sq.m. situated in Barrio of Sta. Angela, Laoag City has been adjudicated by their two (2) heirs CONSTANTE IGNACIO and BIN MILDRED IGNACIO-BUKALAN, the one-seventh (1/7) undivided area of the above-described property for each of them with an area of 76.85 sq.m. as their individual respective shares ratified and acknowledged before Notary Public JOEL P. DADIS as per Doc. No. 51; Page No. 11; Bk. No. XIII; S. of 2015.

April 18, 25, May 2, 2016*IT

______________________________________________

DEED OF ADJUDICATION

Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of the late SPS. LUIS IGNACIO and PAULA LABUGUEN-IGNACIO consisting of a parcel of land designated as Lot No. 10792 covered by TCT No. T-7163 containing an area of 538 sq.m. situated in Barrio of Sta. Angela, Laoag City has been adjudicated by their heir LUIS IGNACIO JR. the one seventh (1/7) undivided area of the above-described property with an area of 76.85 sq.m. as his lawful share ratified and acknowledged before BOLIVAR L. BAO, Consul of the Republic of the Philippines, in and for the consular district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada as per Doc. No. 5293-15, Service No. 13322, S. of 2015.

April 18, 25, May 2, 2016*IT

______________________________________________

DEED OF ADJUDICATION

Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of the late SPS. LUIS IGNACIO and PAULA LABUGUEN-IGNACIO consisting of a parcel of land designated as Lot No. 10792 covered by TCT No. T-7163 containing an area of 538 sq.m. situated in Barrio of Sta. Angela, Laoag City has been adjudicated by their heir ZENAIDA MILA IGNACIO-DACANAY the one seventh (1/7) undivided area of the above-described property with an area of 76.85 sq.m. as her lawful share ratified and acknowledged before ARLENE TULLID-MAGNO, Consul of the Republic of the Philippines for the District of  Columbia and the States of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia as per Doc. No. ACK-15-34922, Service No. 12803, S. of 2015.

April 18, 25, May 2, 2016*IT

______________________________________________

DEED OF ADJUDICATION

Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of the late SPS. LUIS IGNACIO and PAULA LABUGUEN-IGNACIO consisting of a parcel of land designated as Lot No. 10792 covered by TCT No. T-7163 containing an area of 538 sq.m. situated in Barrio of Sta. Angela, Laoag City has been adjudicated by their heir MADELINE IGNACIO the one seventh (1/7) undivided area of the above-described property with an area of 76.85 sq.m. as her lawful share ratified and acknowledged before BOLIVAR L. BAO, Consul of the Republic of the Philippines, in and for the consular district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada as per Doc. No. 5292-15, Service No. 13323, S. of 2015.

April 18, 25, May 2, 2016*IT

______________________________________________

DEED OF ADJUDICATION

Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of the late SPS. LUIS IGNACIO and PAULA LABUGUEN-IGNACIO consisting of a parcel of land designated as Lot No. 10792 covered by TCT No. T-7163 containing an area of 538 sq.m. situated in Barrio of Sta. Angela, Laoag City has been adjudicated by their heir MERLYN IGNACIO the one seventh (1/7) undivided area of the above-described property with an area of 76.85 sq.m. as her lawful share ratified and acknowledged before BOLIVAR L. BAO, Consul of the Republic of the Philippines, in and for the consular district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada as per Doc. No. 5291-15, Service No. 13324, S. of 2015.

April 18, 25, May 2, 2016*IT

______________________________________________

DEED OF ADJUDICATION

Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of the late SPS. LUIS IGNACIO and PAULA LABUGUEN-IGNACIO consisting of a parcel of land designated as Lot No. 10792 covered by TCT No. T-7163 containing an area of 538 sq.m. situated in Barrio of Sta. Angela, Laoag City has been adjudicated by their heir MEDIATRIX IGNACIO-NGO the one seventh (1/7) undivided area of the above-described property with an area of 76.85 sq.m. as her lawful share ratified and acknowledged before BOLIVAR L. BAO, Consul of the Republic of the Philippines, in and for the consular district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada as per Doc. No. 5294-15, Service No. 13321, S. of 2015.

April 18, 25, May 2, 2016*IT

______________________________________________

DEED OF ADJUDICATION

 Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of the late PETRA ABAD consisting of a parcel of residential land designated as Lot No. 522 located at Brgy. 9, Aglipay, Batac City, Ilocos Norte, covered by OCT No 0-3423 with an area of 286.30 sq.m., has been adjudicated by her only and forced legal heir, ratified and acknowledged before Notary Public Atty. FRANCISCO A. MUSNI as per Doc. No. 399; Page No. 80; Book No. LXXVIII, Series of 2016.

April 18, 25, May 2, 2016*IT

______________________________________________

DEED OF ADJUDICATION

Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of the late PONCIANO BALATICO LIUAN consisting of a parcel of Agricultural land located at Barangay Nalvo, Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte designated as Lot No. 150077 (Cad-578) covered by Katibayan ng Orihinal na Titulo (KOT) Bilang P – 75026; a Dollar Savings Deposits at the Philippine National Bank, Pasuquin Branch, Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte under Account No. 1559-0240-0026; a Dollar Saving Deposits at the Philippine National Bank, Pasuquin Branch, Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte under Account No. 1559-0240-0018 and a Peso Savings Deposits at the Philippine National Bank, Pasuquin Branch, Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte under Account No. 1559-0270-0010 have been adjudicated by his Heirs ratified and acknowledged before Notary Public Atty. ERME S. LABAYOG as per Doc. No. 366; Page No. 74; Book No. XXI; Series of 2016.

April 18, 25, May 2, 2016*IT

______________________________________________

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF ILOCOS NORTE

FIRST JUDICIAL REGION

BRANCH 12, LAOAG CITY

IN RE: PETITION FOR THE CORRECTION OF ENTRIES IN THE BIRTH RECORDS OF MHELDRICK S. VALDEZ, PARTICULARLY IN THE MIDDLENAME COLUMN OF THE CHILD FROM S TO SUSA AND IN THE MOTHER’S MAIDEN NAME COLUMN FROM RODELA S. VALDEZ TO RODELA C. SUSA;

MHELDRICK S. VALDEZ

Petitioner,

-versus-

THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR ofTHE SAN NICOLAS, ILOCOS NORTE AND THE CIVIL REGISTRAR GENERAL, PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY, MANILA AND ALL OTHER PERSONS THAT MAYBE AFFECTED THEREBY,

Respondents.

SP. PROC. NO. 16867

x------------x

AMENDED ORDER

          This is a verified petition filed with this Court for the correction of entries in the birth records of Mheldrick S. Valdez, particularly in the middlename column of the child, from S to Susa and in the mother’s maiden name column, from Rodela S. Valdez to Rodela C. Susa filed by herein petitioner through counsel.

          Finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, notice is hereby given that this petition is set for hearing on May 13, 2016 at 8:30 am before the Regional Trial Court, Branch 12, Laoag City at which time, date and place, any interested person who is adversely affected may appear and show cause why said petition should not be granted.

          Let this Order be published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in any newspaper of general circulation in the City of Laoag and in the Province of Ilocos Norte at the expense of the petitioner, the last date of publication being at least one week prior to the date of the scheduled hearing.

          Let copies of this Order and the petition be furnished the offices of the Local Civil Registrar of San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, the Provincial Prosecutor of Ilocos Norte, the Civil Registrar General, Manila and Philippine Statistics Authority, Manila, and the Solicitor General, Manila.

          SO ORDERED.

          April 15, 2016, Laoag City, Ilocos Norte

(SGD) NIDA B. ALEJANDRO

Presiding Judge

April 18, 25, May 2, 2015*IT

_________________________________

Accenture conducts coastal clean-up drive in Currimao

April 28, 2016, 7:21 am

≫ Next: The Ilocos Times April 25-May 1, 2016

≪ Previous: Notices for April 18, 2016

$

0

0

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

CURRIMAO, Ilocos Norte—Over a hundred employees of the new delivery center of Accenture in this northern part of Luzon participated in a coastal clean-up drive on April 10 at the Pangil rocks formation, a declared conservation site here with its rich coral gardens and marine fish sanctuary.

The two-kilometer sprawling coastline of unique coral gardens and shallow tidal pools ideal for swimming, beach goers frequently visit this place particularly during summer. 

Despite implementation of the solid waste management ordinance, several picnickers leave their garbage there unattended.  

As part of the community outreach program of Accenture, under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project, the company initiated the coastal clean-up activity as they also donated at least 21 indigenous trash bins made of clay and covered with bamboo materials.

These were set up near the highway or just a few meters from picnic sheds facing the coral rocks formation.

“Accenture believes that the health of its business is inextricably linked to the health of the environment in which it operates. Thus, we make an effort to preserve our environment and support environmental initiatives such as tree planting, waste segregation, habitat conservation and coastal clean-up,” said in its company website.

Lilia Tabucao, Brgy. Pangil chairperson said leaving garbage is strictly prohibited in the area but there are times when they could not closely watch all those going to the municipal beach park.

Among those commonly found garbage here include styrofoam plates, cups including sanitary napkins and plastic bottles.

Ms. Tabucao said they are thankful for being a recipient of Accenture’s CSR project and for choosing their village as part of their outreach program. 

The Ilocos Times April 25-May 1, 2016

April 28, 2016, 7:56 am

≫ Next: A vow to remember

≪ Previous: Accenture conducts coastal clean-up drive in Currimao

$

0

0

Click photo for the PDF file

A vow to remember

April 28, 2016, 5:35 pm

≫ Next: That great generation

≪ Previous: The Ilocos Times April 25-May 1, 2016

$

0

0

By Demetrio T. Ubay

Contributor

“Education is something you can’t lose and it is only the wealth that we can give you.” This line was often times reiterated by my tatang and inang over dinner when we were young. It was in the same stage also that I have already fathomed a bitter sweet reality—life isn’t a bed of roses. Some of us are born with a silver spoon, some of us aren’t, and our family belonged to the latter. It might be easy for some to get educated and fulfill their dreams especially those who belong to the former. But a whole lot different if you have six siblings who live under the same roof of poverty. When the only means of living was the meager income of your parents who were both little farmers. 

The reiterated line and our condition made me believe it would be the wisest choice to get educated as much as I can regardless of paucity. It was in the same stage of my life too when I thought education was the only way to realize my young dream of making my parents happy and proud of me. So I vowed to become somebody. I have promised myself that their toils and sacrifices will all be paid off someday somehow.  I never thought of anything that would uplift our lives except to educate myself and find a good job right after. I believed in the nobility of education as the only key for me towards my aspirations in life and to overcome poverty.

Thus I took the craggy race, traveled the dusty road, and struggled the winding road towards those promises. I chose to be stolid and strong amidst life’s challenges just to get in the finish line. I have worked very hard. There were cries. There were failures. It wasn’t easy. But the reiterated lines of tatangand inang and the vow when I was young personified my steadfastness and resiliency to get an elementary certificate to a college diploma. All of which were realized. I became a teacher by profession. I was never wrong that my diploma and my siblings’ triumphs have made our parents happy and proud of us.

I taught young souls. For 19 years as a classroom teacher I came to understand that indeed the best teachers are patient, understanding, and kind. They can put themselves in their learners’ shoes and imagine what they are thinking and feeling, thus anticipating what they need in order to learn and thrive. When a learner is struggling, good teachers hide their frustration and refrain from making disdainful comments that only make the situation worse. Instead, compassionate teachers try anything and everything in order to reach each and every learner. It can be challenging at times, but great teachers know what separates them from the rest of the pack is the heart and soul they bring in the classroom. I was hopeful I was one of those teachers as perceived by my pupils for that nineteen long arduous years.

I was once also a teacher who inspires. Like my tatang and inang, I repeatedly uttered the lines, “You might never succeed until you realize that your life is in your hands and no matter how bad, your success can never be determined by your situation.”

Again I understood, life isn’t a bed of roses, and so is teaching. Teachers are faced with numerous problems and setbacks which tested our patience and determination. The same old glitches like lack of good and well-edited textbooks, shortage of teaching materials, degrading values of pupils, and many more. Then I thought if not for our poor state and how corrupt our political leaders and higher ups are it would have been easier to provide these scarcities. But how many of us believe our failure and stagnancy is a result of the poor government and economy of our country? Of course we don’t put all the blame to the two. Let’s put it this way, each of us has a share to make. Then maybe we could make a difference to these usual digs.

But there came a time when I was no longer contented of just being a classroom teacher.  Maybe because of these grievances that I wanted a little difference in the picture. Or more like, I wanted to inspire teachers to do more, to do better, and be the best of whatever they are.  Indeed, my spirit thirsted for a bolder responsibility, which led me to where I am now, a school administrator.

These made me think that if the government couldn’t afford to give teachers what they really deserve then maybe we could still stand that teaching remains to be the noblest profession. Well, teachers are regarded with the utmost degree of admiration and recognition. Who wouldn’t if they selflessly devote themselves to mold the character and the mind of the human individual through their inspiring and enjoyable lessons every day. Though a barrel of obstacles come their way, from the inadequacy of learning materials to the overcrowding of learners in just one diminutive room, they enjoyably teach the ABCs to the 123s of life. With all these predicaments, they unwaveringly direct remedial and reinforcement measures to resolve inevitable learning problems. With the multi-colored behaviors of learners, they unceasingly inculcate the essence of Values Education to the minds of the young to minimize in anyway the growing number of delinquencies among students. Hail to the teachers! Hail to us!

Thanks to my wide experiences as a classroom teacher and my realizations in the field of teaching that I chose to be compassionate. Just administration. Effective and affective instruction. Competent and talented learners. Well-equipped and upgraded facilities. Now, these are just some of my aspirations as a school principal. Again, thanks to experiences which taught me to become better. Thank God that there are seminars which reiterate the basic things that we should behold.

At this point in my life, I feel gratified, satiated, and nurtured. More than just the rejuvenation these things bring me, and the personal and professional growth, the appreciation of people, the smiles of the pupils, and the teachers’ gratitude nurture and rebuild the fast growing passion for this job laid on my hands.

Moreover, I come to understand that the situations in the educational landscape before and nowadays may remind us that mediocrity is of no place in this era. That a teacher should always aim for academic excellence. Hence, our motto, should be EXCELSIOR…strive always for excellence. Let teachers be guided for the best and the most effective teaching strategies that would deviate the learning process from the usual passé and humdrum practices.

Lastly let us appreciate more the nobility and the prestige of the teaching profession. Certainly I say I am really fated to be part of the noblest profession. And I am proud to be one. Education is indeed the most powerful weapon which you can use to change your life and the world.

That great generation

April 28, 2016, 5:39 pm

≫ Next: Gloria, Oriental Mindoro Lakbay Aral in Laoag City

≪ Previous: A vow to remember

$

0

0

(Keynote Speech of Senator Loren Legarda during the Forum on Making Renewable Energy a Vehicle for Inclusive Growth on 26 February 2016 at the IFC Headquarters in Bonifacio Global City)

We toil today to provide a brighter future for our children. But that future can be bleak, dark and dirty if we go business as usual, if we continue to burn fossil fuels, if we continue to believe that coal is cheap, if we continue to rely on oil to fuel our needs.

The late Nelson Mandela once said, “Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. You can be that great generation.”

Yes, we can be that generation. We can do so much to change the way we fuel our development so that we leave a greater future for our planet, for our children.

Is it not ironic that 16 million Filipinos continue to live in the dark due to lack of access to electricity when we have more than 200,000 megawatts of untapped renewable energy capacity? This is thirteen times more than our current installed capacity.

Before I proceed to discuss renewable energy development in the Philippines, allow me first to correct the long-held belief that “coal is cheap”.

Coal is definitely not cheap. Coal affects our health, kills biodiversity and the environment, affects our waters, pollutes the air we breathe and increases the risk of climate change. If we input all of these in the cost of coal, we can no longer say that coal is cheap.

As a developing nation, the Philippines needs more energy, but it cannot be “we need power at all costs and we will develop at all costs.”

Why do places with no renewable energy resources have more RE than us? Germany is known as the solar capital of the world, but only receives half the sunlight of the Philippines. In Europe, they are scaling down on coal, while the Philippines has approved 21 new Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECC) for coal as of 2015.

The sustainable development-energy nexus requires an urgent examination of how we can tap on the power of innovation and new technologies to provide for the energy we need in a sustainable and inclusive manner. 

I was among the co-authors of the Renewable Energy Law in 2008. Our laws are hailed as among the best in the world, but without strict and effective implementation they are of very little use. At the time, people considered that renewable energy sources like wind and solar would only become a small share of the energy mix. Since then, we have seen installations increase, with hundreds of megawatts of solar and wind in excess of even the Department of Energy’s (DOE) targets back then. But we are still far away from tapping and maximizing RE’s potential.

What is the potential of renewable energy for the Philippines?

The major forms of RE being utilized in the country today are geothermal, hydro, biomass, solar and wind.  Ocean energy is also currently being developed, although not yet in use.

The DOE’s estimates on the country’s untapped renewable energy resources are as follows:

·5.1 kilowatt-hour per square meter per day for solar

·13,097 megawatts for hydropower

·2,600 megawatts for geothermal

·70,000 megawatts for wind

·170,000 megawatts for ocean

We are a country rich in renewable energy, the amount of sun and wind is more than enough to power our entire country many times over, and we must take greater steps to harness these abundant natural resources to ensure a sustainable future.

The National Renewable Energy Program has set out aggressive targets on renewable energy development from 2011-2030, aiming to increase RE capacity to 15,304 megawatts by the year 2030.

We have the legal framework that provides the necessary policy mechanisms such as the Feed-in Tariff, Net Metering, Renewable Portfolio Standards, Green Energy Option, Renewable Energy Market, and other fiscal incentives such as income tax holiday. 

There have been challenges, however, in our efforts to fast-track the development of our renewable energy resources more aggressively. Impacts on electricity pricing have been a major consideration among our regulators, particularly as we already have one of the highest electricity rates in the world. 

But we take note of the DOE’s efforts on streamlining the Renewable Energy application process of service contracts. The agency has fast tracked the approval of pending service contracts by cutting the application process from two years to 45 days. Though there had been a significant increase on renewable energy installations, RE only accounts for more than a third of the country’s total energy demand, thus, still not reaching its maximum potential. 

There are two compelling reasons for accelerating the development and utilization of renewable energy in the country—energy self-sufficiency and environmental sustainability.

Growth is difficult to imagine without energy; and energy that does not take into consideration the needs of future generations can only destroy and not build. Development, progress, and quality of life cannot be the exclusive domain of a few.

Inclusive growth begins with making basic services available to all. Fostering the participation of micro, small, and medium enterprises in the regional and global markets, much less in the domestic supply chain, will not happen unless energy access is guaranteed to everyone.

With the onset of technological innovations in energy, achieving universal access to clean energy technologies is within reach. As I have mentioned earlier, estimates indicate that we have more than 200,000 megawatts of untapped renewable energy capacity. Failure to develop these capacities would be unforgivable.

The government needs to focus on promoting the growth of the low-carbon economy as a means to create jobs and curb carbon emissions. 

Other countries are already gaining jobs and riches from renewables. In Europe, 650,000 jobs have been created in the renewable energy sector. The US employs 75,000 citizens in the wind industry and more than 100,000 in the solar industry.

It has been found that renewables, as opposed to fossil fuel industries such as coal, often produce higher-value, better paying, cleaner, healthier jobs. With hundreds of thousands of untapped renewable energy resources and the legal framework to develop RE in the Philippines, renewable energy is sure to create thousands of good jobs for Filipinos.

Moreover, renewable energy is recognized as a long-term solution to the global effort to avert climate change. It could help mitigate the environmental impacts of our expanding energy use. But at the same time, the energy sector must be climate-proof. This is crucial for the Philippines, which is among the top five countries most vulnerable to climate impacts and natural hazards.

The energy infrastructure system receives the brunt of disaster impacts. This results in disruptions in businesses and in the delivery of services.

Interconnecting systems is considered as one of the most critical features of the energy sector. Natural hazards put the highly interdependent energy system at risk.  Disturbances in the energy system, in turn, upset economic activities and cause distress to other critical infrastructure sectors, like transportation, water supply and communications.

We need to give focus on risks, as understanding our vulnerabilities supports decision-making in the context of climate change. 

The approach we must advance is the incorporation of information parameters and benchmarking in carrying out vulnerability assessments and emergency response planning. Our aim is to identify major energy networks that may be compromised by natural hazards. 

I have authored two laws, the Climate Change Act of 2009 and the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, which mainstream disaster risk reduction management and climate change adaptation in the development processes in policy formulation, socio-economic development planning, budgeting and governance in critical areas, including the energy sector. 

Our experiences with Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, whose intensity is unmatched in recent history, give us crucial lessons.  The total damage to the electricity sector then was estimated at US$ 155 million. The distribution utilities were the hardest hit, which accounted for 76 percent of the total damage to the energy sector, causing disruptions in electricity supply to residential consumers and public buildings. 

This underscores the importance of building adaptability in the energy sector.  Climate proofing the energy infrastructure has clearly become a necessity. The government must work with the private sector to develop clean and energy-efficient, climate-friendly technologies.

Last year, the Philippines committed to achieve the goals under the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the country’s Intended Nationally-Determined Contributions.

The energy sector has a crucial role to play in achieving these goals. My challenge to all of you today, both government and the private sector, is to put climate action and the sustainable development goals at the core of your mission and at the heart of your respective organizations’ programs and development agenda.

This forum is indeed an opportunity to involve ourselves in the continued sharing of information and experiences that facilitate the development of our respective capacities and potentials.  Towards this end, we can show solidarity, share scientific knowledge, and work within the framework of mutually beneficial partnerships.

Together, let us tread the path that will lead our nation towards a brighter, livable, resilient and sustainable future.

---

Gloria, Oriental Mindoro Lakbay Aral in Laoag City

April 28, 2016, 5:52 pm

≫ Next: Unpresidential

≪ Previous: That great generation

$

0

0

Gloria, Oriental Mindoro Lakbay Aral. Laoag Mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas welcomes the employees and officials of the municipality of Gloria (Oriental Mindoro) headed by Gloria Vice Mayor Ramon G. Solas. The group travelled to Laoag as part of their Lakbay Aral to on March 18, 2016. (Doms dela Cruz)

Unpresidential

April 28, 2016, 5:54 pm

≫ Next: Ani dance

≪ Previous: Gloria, Oriental Mindoro Lakbay Aral in Laoag City

$

0

0

DAVAO CITY Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte’s “rape joke” is not only tasteless and insensitive; it is more so unpresidential.

His excuse that it was just “gutter language” and was speaking the language of the masses not only betray his lack of sensitivity and empathy; it also speaks ill of the Filipino people for they find insensitivity funny. His loyal supporters have come out in droves to defend the Davao mayor. But in their defense, they not only showed how insensitive they are as a group; they also displayed a naïve belief that all of Mr. Duterte’s words and actions would move the country out of the economic quagmire it is in.

Mr. Duterte may be his own man. He may want to do things his way. It would have been alright if he would only be representing himself. But when he aspired for the country’s highest post, he should have understood that he would end up bearing the whole Filipino nation. His pronouncements, anecdotes and speeches have blurred the lines between jokes, seriousness and utter absurdity. His motherhood statements on stopping crime altogether in three to six months is not only unrealistic; it is pretty much deranged. And with the way he explains what he would do, he may end up stopping all crimes in the country by committing the biggest crime by killing all crime suspects without due process.

Right off the bat, Mr. Duterte has been flip-flopping on all issues. He filed his candidacy for President at the last minute after playing out a guessing game on whether he will or won’t. Since then, he has been stating conflicting statements on all issues under the sun.

As disturbing as this, the most alarming situation now is that a lot of people believe him. Surveys have shown Mr. Duterte either on top or near the top. And if this trend continues, he may indeed end up winning the presidential race.

And from all angles, it will not bode well for the country and its people. The fallout from his “rape joke” had the Australian and United States embassies calling for him to be more sensitive. He replied by saying he would cut ties with the two countries if he wins. His recklessness and immaturity in responding to diplomats point to a direction wherein the country may end up severing all ties to all countries that would criticize him should he win.

Yet the biggest danger lies on his inability to listen to others. From his stories, pronouncements and statements, he intends to become judge, jury and executioner. And since he would not be able to inflict his kind of governance on other countries and nationalities, the Filipino people whom he should be leading and uplifting may end up becoming his biggest victims.

Ani dance

May 2, 2016, 4:46 am

≫ Next: DOST, Comelec train teachers for 2016 elections

≪ Previous: Unpresidential

$

0

0

Thousands of local and foreign visitors flocked to Dingras, Ilocos Norte for the 2016 Ani Festival. The festival features a colorful dance parade followed by a dance showdown. Six contingents from secondary schools in the Dingras participated in the event held March 19. (Doms dela Cruz)

DOST, Comelec train teachers for 2016 elections

May 2, 2016, 4:51 am

≫ Next: Notices for April 25, 2016

≪ Previous: Ani dance

$

0

0

Around 168 teachers from the different municipalities of La Union have been assessed and trained on March 7 and 8 by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Commission on Elections (Comelec) here for the proper operation and management of the Vote Counting Machine (VCM).

This is in response to section 3 of Republic Act 9369 where at least one member of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) must be Information Technology-capable towards ensuring a clean, fair and safe conduct of the 2016 upcoming elections as certified by the DOST.

In an interview with Virginie C. Rendon, Teacher II of Paraoir National High School in the municipality of Balaoan said, the orientation to them was excellent because of the film viewing, giving them a background for an effective facilitation of voting with ease.

"Through this orientation, we have seen a strong partnership between the Comelec and DOST as they were able to help us in fully determining the parts and use of the VCM, final testing and sealing procedure, and election day procedure," Rendon further said.

Moreover, the conduct of the DOST orientation and certification to BEI is simultaneously being conducted regionwide and will end on March 22, 2016.

(DOST)

Notices for April 25, 2016

May 2, 2016, 4:56 am

≫ Next: DPWH completes road widening project in Ilocos Norte’s 2nd district

≪ Previous: DOST, Comelec train teachers for 2016 elections

$

0

0

RA Form No. 10.1 (LCRO)

Republic of the Philippines

Local Civil Registry Office

Province of Ilocos Norte

Municipality of Sarrat

NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION

          In compliance with Section 5 of R.A. Act No. 9048, a notice is hereby served to the public that EDUARDO TAGABI GALAMAY has filed with this Office a petition for change of first name from WILSON EDUARDO to EDUARDO in the birth certificate of WILSON EDUARDO TAGABI GALAMAY who was born on 18 March 1962 at Sarrat, Ilocos Norte and whose parents are IRINEO CALARO GALAMAY and FLORIDA GANOTISI TAGABI.

          Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this Office not later than May 9, 2016.

(SGD) JOAN A. DUQUE

Municipal Civil Registrar

April 25-May 1, May 2-8, 2016*IT

______________________________________________________________

RA Form No. 10.1 (LCRO)

Republic of the Philippines

Local Civil Registry Office

Province of Ilocos Norte

MUNICIPALITY OF BANGUI

NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION

          In compliance with Section 5 of R.A. Act No. 9048, a notice is hereby served to the public that FLORDELIZA R. MOSQUITO has filed with this Office a Petition for Change of First name from FLORDELINA to FLORDELIZA in the birth certificate of FLORDELINA RAVINA RIDON who was born on January 10, 1965 at Bangui, Ilocos Norte and whose parents are FRANCISCO S. RIDON and FRANCISCA M. RAVINA.

          Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this Office not later than May 11, 2016.

(SGD) GLORIA B. AMUDO

Municipal Civil Registrar

April 25-May 1, May 2-8, 2016*IT

______________________________________________________________

RA Form No. 10.1 (LCRO)

Republic of the Philippines

Local Civil Registry Office

Province of Ilocos Norte

MUNICIPALITY OF BANGUI

NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION

          In compliance with Section 5 of R.A. Act No. 9048, a notice is hereby served to the public that EMELY V. ACIDO has filed with this Office a Petition for Change of First name from EMELYN to EMELY in the birth certificate of EMELYN RIVERA VINTERO who was born on June 15, 1956 at Bangui, Ilocos Norte and whose parents are ALEJANDRO VINTERO and PASTORA RIVERA.

          Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this Office not later than May 11, 2016.

(SGD) GLORIA B. AMUDO

Municipal Civil Registrar

April 25-May 1, May 2-8, 2016*IT

______________________________________________________________

DEED OF ADJUDICATION

          Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of the late JIMMY A. CALAPAO consisting of two (2) parcels of land designated as Lot Nos. 405-A, Psd-012306-027449, being a portion of Lot 405, Cad-398 Batac Cadasre covered by Katibayan ng Orihinal na Titulo P-9697 and TCT No. T-20014 containing an area of 8,956 sq.m. and 115 sq.m. situated in Payao, Batac, Ilocos Norte and Brgy. Barani, Mun. of Batac, Prov. of Ilocos Norte has been adjudicated by his heirs ratified and acknowledged before Notary Public BERNIE FRANCIS B. CONSTANTINO as per Doc. No. 493; Page No. 99; Bk. No. XXXVI; S. of 2015.

April 25, May 2, 9, 2016*IT

_______________________________________________

DEED OF ADJUDICATION WITH EXTRAJUDICIAL PARTITION

          Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of the late ANSELMA PACUNANA consisting of a parcel of land designated as Lot 12622, Cad-445-D covered by OCT No. P-64149 containing an area of 7,275 sq.m. located at Paoay, Ilocos Norte has been the subject of Deed of Adjudication with Extrajudicial Partition executed by her heirs ratified and acknowledged before Notary Public JOHN PAUL A. MARTIN as per Doc. No. 6; Page No. 2; Bk. No. XXV; S. of 2013.

April 25, May 2, 9, 2016*IT

_______________________________________________

DEED OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT, PARTITION AND QUITCLAIM

          Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of the late JULIANA RUMBAOA married to PABLO GELACIO consisting of two (2) parcels of land designated as Lot Nos. 14466 and 28359 covered by TCT No. T-1321 containing an area of 653 sq.m. and 114 sq.m. both situated in the Barrio of Vira, now Camanggaan, Municipality of Laoag has been the subject of Deed of Extrajudicial Settlement, Partition and Quitclaim executed by their heir EMILIANO RUMBAOA GELACIO in favor of MARTINA GELACIO-FONTANILLA ratified and acknowledged before Notary Public FRANCISO A. MUSNI as per Doc. No. 213; Page No. 43; Bk. No. LXXI; S. of 2015.

April 25, May 2, 9, 2016*IT

_______________________________________________

DEED OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT, PARTITION AND QUITCLAIM

          Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of the late JULIANA RUMBAOA married to PABLO GELACIO consisting of two (2) parcels of land designated as Lot Nos. 14466 and 28359 covered by TCT No. T-1321 containing an area of 653 sq.m. and 114 sq.m. both situated in the Barrio of Vira, now Camanggaan, Municipality of Laoag has been the subject of  Deed of Extrajudicial Settlement, Partition and Quitclaim executed by their heir SATURNINO RUMBAOA GELACIO in favor of MARTINA GELACIO-FONTANILLA ratified and acknowledged before REGINALD S. BERNABE, Consul of the Republic of the Philippines for Northern California, Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Northern Nevada, Oregon, Litah, Washington and Wyoming as per Doc. No. 6519; Page No. 14; Bk. No. XXXV; S. of 2015.

April 25, May 2, 9, 2016*IT

_______________________________________________

DEED OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT, PARTITION AND QUITCLAIM

          Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of the late JULIANA RUMBAOA married to PABLO GELACIO consisting of two (2) parcels of land designated as Lot Nos. 14466 and 28359 covered by TCT No. T-1321 containing an area of 653 sq.m. and 114 sq.m. both situated in the Barrio of Vira, now Camanggaan, Municipality of Laoag has been the subject of  Deed of Extrajudicial Settlement, Partition and Quitclaim executed by their heir PABLO RUMABAOA JR. in favor of MARTINA GELACIO-FONTANILLA ratified and acknowledged before ROBERTO T. BERNARDO, Consul of the Republic of the Philippines, in the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A as per Doc. No. 642; Page No. 30; Bk. No. XLI; S. of 2015.

April 25, May 2, 9, 2016*IT

_______________________________________________

NOTICE OF ADJUDICATION WITH DONATION INTER VIVOS

          Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late FLORANTE GAPAS, SR. consisting of parcels of land located at Batac, Ilocos Norte, designated as Lot 1362, covered by OCT No. 0-4541; Lot 2885, covered by OCT No. P-42738; Lot 2886, with OCT No. P-42738; Lot 2833 with OCT No. P-42730; Lot 2851 with OCT No. P-42730; Lot 2838 with TCT No. T-14519; Lot 2882 with OCT No. P-42739; Lot No. 45484 with KOT No. P-1436; Lot No. 43701 with KOT No. P-1418; Lot No. 45497 with KOT No. P-1415; Lot No. 45455 with KOT No. P-1221; Lot No. 45681 with KOT No. P-1299; Lot No. 2834 with OCT No. P-63225; Lot No. 2883 with OCT No. P-42849; Lot No. 2837 with OCT No. P-42729; Lot No. 2876; Lot No. 45698; Lot No. 2881; has been adjudicated by heirs, CARIDAD M. GAPAS, LILIBETH G. BIGORNIA; VENUS M. GAPAS and FLORANTE M. GAPAS, JR., as per Deed of Adjudication with Donation Inter Vivos duly notarized before Notary Public BERNIE FRANCIS B. CONSTANTINO dated March 7, 2016 with Doc. No. 208; Page No. 42; Book No. XLI, Series of 2016.

April 25, May 2, 9, 2016*IT

_______________________________________________

NOTICE OF ADJUDICATION AND SALE

          Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late ANACLETO GALAMGAM consisting of a parcel of land at Brgy. Aglipay, #9, Batac, Ilocos Norte, designated as Lot No. 561-B, covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-5216 has been adjudicated by heirs, NATITVIDAD S. GAPPI, ROMEO G. SALUT, SR., BENJAMIN G. GAPPI, TERESITA G. MARIANO, ANGELES G. MANZANO and FERNANDO G. GAPPI, and simultaneously sold to MA. CLEOFE ICUSPIT GALUT as per Deed of Adjudication and Sale duly notarized before Notary Public DA VINCI M. CRISOSTOMO dated February 4, 2016, with Doc. No. 369; Page 75; Book No. CCCVII, Series of 2016.

April 25, May 2, 9, 2016*IT

_______________________________________________

NOTICE OF DEED OF ADJUDICATION AND SALE

          Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late AGUSTIN F. RIGONAN, II consisting of a parcel of land located at Brgy. Quiling Sur, #16-S, Batac, Ilocos Norte, designated as Lot No. 12379 covered by Original Certificate of Title No. P-33982 has been adjudicated by heirs, ROSALIA A. RIGONAN, FLORIDA R. ROSARIO and ADOLFO VICENTE A. RIGONAN and simultaneously sold to Spouses JOSEPH B. HERNANDEZ and AILEEN M. HERNANDEZ as per Deed of Adjudication and Sale duly notarized before Notary Public DA VINCI M. CRISOSTOMO dated March 4, 2016, with Doc. No. 208; Page No. 43; Book No. CCCIX, Series of 2016.

April 25, May 2, 9, 2016*IT

_______________________________________________

DEED OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE

          Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of the late HILARION C. RUIZ, SR. who died on 03 March 2016 in Brgy. 15 San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte consisting of a parcel of land designated as Lot No. 2840-P under TD No. 2014-19-009-00534 containing an area of 168 sq.m. and a residential building under TD No. 2014-19-009-00535 located in San Jose, San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte and bank deposits under Regular Savings Account No. 151119900015 maintained at PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BANK-LAOAG BRANCH and Peso Savings Account No. 5190001785 maintained at BANCO DE ORO-BALINTAWAK ST. BRANCH, Laoag City has been extrajudicially settled by his heirs per extrajudicial settlement executed by Notary Public Atty. ADEL CRISTINA Z. DIÑO as per Doc. No. 334; Page No. 67; Bk. No. X; S. of 2016 dated April 11, 2016.

April 25, May 2, 9, 2016*IT

_______________________________________________

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH WAIVER

          Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of the deceased CANDIDO N. PALTING consisting of his share of a parcel of land designated as Lot 9248-B of the subdivision plan Psd-01-04-3454, being a portion of Lot 9248, Cad. 195, Laoag Cadastre, L.R.C. Cad. Rec. No. 1212 containing an area of 216 sq.m. situated in Brgy. of No. 14, Sto. Tomas Iro., City of Laoag has been the subject of Extrajudicial Settlement with Waiver executed by his heirs ratified and acknowledged before BERTHA ELISA ROJAS, Notary Public-California, Los Angeles County authenticated by MARY JOY B. RAMIREZ, Consul of the Republic of the Philippines in the City of Los Angeles, California as per Service No. 1649-1653; Doc. No. 17831-17835; Page No. 170; S. of 2015.

April 25, May 2, 9, 2016*IT

_______________________________________________

DPWH completes road widening project in Ilocos Norte’s 2nd district

May 2, 2016, 4:59 am

≫ Next: Siak ni Ilokano ken igpilko a saluyot iti Kailokuan ditoy Hawaii

≪ Previous: Notices for April 25, 2016

$

0

0

By Dominic B. Dela Cruz

Staff reporter

San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte—The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 2^nd district engineering district said they have completed all the road-widening project along the Manila North Road in the province’s second district.

DPWH 2^ndengineering district chief Engr. Mathias Malenab said the national road project along their territorial jurisdiction is fully completed and is now open to the public.

He, however, disclosed that an ongoing road-widening project along parts of Badoc, Ilocos Norte is a project of the DPWH regional office.

With the completion, Mr. Malenab said their ongoing projects for now includes bridges, roads, flood control, school buildings, and multi-purpose buildings among others.

Mr. Malenab also stressed that he already made a reportorial notice as required by the Commission on Elections. The notice states that all the ongoing projects were bid out prior to the March 25 election ban.

Meanwhile, the DPWH engineer said his office is open to all with regards to suggestions, queries, concerns and comments on ongoing projects within their jurisdiction. This also applies to DPWH national and regional projects as long as they are in the province’s second district.

He intimated that he endorsed two text messages complaining about the dust from an ongoing road rehabilitation project along Brgy. 19 (San Lorenzo) in this town. He said the dust is a form of air pollution. He endorsed the complaint to the Project Management Office (PMO). The PMO’s satellite office in the province immediately acted through the project contractor by watering the affected area. The project in question is a regional DPWH project.

Mr. Malenab said this shows that the DPWH is not only concerned with their projects but also with the public that may be affected by them.

Siak ni Ilokano ken igpilko a saluyot iti Kailokuan ditoy Hawaii

May 3, 2016, 12:24 am

≫ Next: PNB Centennial Torch

≪ Previous: DPWH completes road widening project in Ilocos Norte’s 2nd district

$

0

0

(Fourth part of a series)

Iti Lions Club International

Nakipagbangonak iti Honolulu Fil-Am Lions Club, nagpaayak a Lions Tamer, Secretary, Vice President, Honolulu Fil-Am Lions & Leeward Lions Club. Nag-Chairman, Citizenship Committee, Leeward Lions Club; Chairman, Public Relations Committee, Leeward Lions Club; Chairman, Leo and Youth Committee, Leeward Lions Club; Chairman, Membership, Publicity & Newsletter. Delegado iti  Annual Convention: Hilo, Hawaii, Lihue, Kauai, Honolulu, and Kahului, Maui.

 

Iti kina-ilokanok, patiek a naitalek kaniak ti nadumaduma posision iti  Lions Club kas volunteer Agpakan iti Elderly &Senior Citizens Adopt a- Highway Clean-up.

Citizenship training:

Agbirok iti missing persons: Diane Suzuki, Deborah Lopez, Lisa Au

Agpinta iti school classrooms; bleachers; cafeteria; hallway ti House of the Blind; bus shelters.

Agpatakder iti bus shelter iti sango iti Waipahu Daiei; sango iti Elena’s Restaurant, Waipahu’; sango iti Times Market, Waipahu; sango iti Waipahu High School; sango iti Elena’s Restaurant, Kalihi, King St.

Chancellor, Order of Knights of Rizal-Hawaii Chapter.

Agpatakder ti monumento ni Dr. Jose Rizal iti sango ti  FilComCenter; agpinta ti monumento ni Dr.  Rizal iti River St., iti Fil-Com Center.

Gumil, media, radio and writers’ association

Dati a kameng iti Gumil Filipinas. Sangapulo ket uppat a tawen bise presidente iti Gumil Hawaii; Literary Adviser, Gumil Ilocos Sur, Philippines; Literary Adviser, Hawaii Talent Searcher Club; Dati nga opisial iti Gumil Sinait, Gumil Ilocos Sur; Nakipangrugi iti regular a Gumil Oahu Literary Forum; Moderator, Gumil workshop, 1^st Gumil Filipinas International Conference with Gumil Oahu, November 15-17, 2002; Co-Chair, Handouts, Flyer, Production Committee, 1^st GF International Conference with Gumil Oahu, 2002

Others

Writings engagements

Winner in poetry, short story, feature story, drama, bucanegan, sarindaniw, biography writing.

Novelette: Adda Pitpiting a Napan Idiay Hawaii; Agsinatan!

Columnist and contributing writer in Bannawag, The Ilocos Times, Tawid, Saringit, Fil-Am Courier, Filipino Chronicle, Leeward Sun Press, Philippine News, Amianan, Ilokandia, Pacific Journal, Pacific Courier, Hawaii Filipino News, Santak, Pluma, Baggak, others

Participant: Gov. Roque A. Ablan For Iluco Literature (GRAAFIL).

3^rd prize Winner: Short Story writing, ETTI 1985, umuna ni Rogelio Aquino, maikadua ni Peter La Julian.

1^st prize: Ulopan Literary Award 1995, maikadua ni Roland Bueno, maikatlo ni Lorenzo Tabin.

Sponsor to Literary and Youth Leadership Development: Journalism Award, Dakilang Ugat Award, AMMA Foundation Literary Awards, MAA Foundation for Literary Award

Song writer: Sika, Ammuem Koma, Others

Rimat, Hawaii Bureau Chief 2002-2004

Editorship

Editor-in-Chief, Pingki, Ilocos Surian Assn of Hawaii; Editorial Board, Oahu Filipino Times, OFCC; Editorial Staff, Fil-Am Courier: “Bareng Maisalat Ni Gasat”; Editor/Author: Pluma: Siit ken Rosas, poems anthology; Author: Yubuyoban: Sukogan ken Pasnaan: Wen, Kabaelem Met ti Agsurat (pamphlet); author: “Get Hired Now: Ace Your Interview” (pamphlet); editor, Ilokandia Magasin, 1977-1981; editor, Santak, Hawaii Filipino News Supplement; Editorial Consultant: Gumil Hawaii Anthologies; Editor/Co-Editor, Dawa, Bin-i, Agtangkayagen ti Init; Co-Publisher and Editor, Pluma Magasin;

Staff member, Hawaii Filipino News; Staff member, Hawaii Bannawag Bureau, Inc.; Staff member & Columnist, Community Advocate News Magazine; President, Tangguyob, Gumil Oahu; Member, Federation of Filipino Media Assn of the US and Canada FFAMAS. 

(To be continued)

---

PNB Centennial Torch

May 3, 2016, 12:28 am

≫ Next: OWWA Region I scholars now registered pharmacists

≪ Previous: Siak ni Ilokano ken igpilko a saluyot iti Kailokuan ditoy Hawaii

$

0

0

As a part of the centennial celebration of Philippine National Bank (PNB), Mrs. Metty Guerrero, PNB Laoag branch manager, receives the centennial torch from Mr. Leo Farinas, PNB Laoag-Castro branch manager. PNB was established as a banking institution on July 22, 1916 with headquarters in Escolta, Manila. Its primary mandate was to provide financial services to Philippine industry and agriculture and support the government’s economic development effort. (Aceyork Guerrero)

OWWA Region I scholars now registered pharmacists

May 3, 2016, 12:39 am

≫ Next: Gift is another name for love

≪ Previous: PNB Centennial Torch

$

0

0

 

OWWA Scholar Nathalia Jann Biluan (left) takes pride at being a registered pharmacist, after passing the licensure examination on January 2016. Sharing her pride is her family, especially his father, OFW Renato Biluan (fourth from left, top), and her classmates at Lorma Colleges, City of San Fernando, La Union.

By Justin Paul D. Marbella

OWWA RWOI

Scholars of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Regional Welfare Office I (OWWA RWOI) have recently passed the Licensure Examination for Pharmacists, and now join the roster of OWWA Scholars who now enter a new milestone in life by becoming professionals.

Sharmaine Gale Daos and Nathalia Jann Biluan, both scholars under the Overseas Filipino Worker Dependent Scholarship Program (ODSP), have passed the licensure examinations administered last January 24-25, 2016.  

Mss. Daos and Biluan, both 20 years old, have earned their Pharmacy degree at the Lorma Colleges in the City of San Fernando, La Union. They graduated in March 2015. 

OWWA Scholar Sharmaine Gale Daos (leftmost) beams with pride during their graduation day on March 2015, as her mother Violeta and brother John Wayne joins her. Daos is the daughter of OFW Jimmy Daos, who works in a construction company in Saudi Arabia.

Ms. Daos is the daughter of OFW Jimmy Daos, 44, who works in a construction company in Jeddah, KSA for three years now. Since the head of the family is away, Ms. Daos and her 10-year old brother John Wayne are taken care of by their mother, Violeta. The family hails from San Eugenio, Aringay, La Union.

Ms. Biluan, on the other hand, is the daughter of OFW Renato M. Biluan, 51, who worked as steel fabricator in KSA for two years. The Daos family, including the mother Lilia and two other children Nadnine Janette and Noeh John Ren, resides in Lioac Sur, Naguilian, La Union.

The newly-registered pharmacists are keen in entering the so-called real world, as they are excited to become full-fledged pharmacists. Both of them are now employed in local pharmacies in La Union.

“We want to practice our profession here in our home place first because we want to serve our neighbors,” said the ladies. “But when the right time comes, we also dream of going out for self-development,” they added.

The scholars are thankful to the OWWA for all the support extended to them in their schooling.

“The OWWA scholarship didn’t only help us financially, but also made us responsible students because we had to do good in our academics,” shares Ms. Daos. “The scholarship also made us strive so that our family, especially our OFW parents, will be proud of us,” added Ms. Biluan.

The ODSP offers educational assistance of P20,000 per school year to a qualified dependent of an active OWWA member-OFW whose salary is not more than US$400. To date, the OWWA RWOI maintains 168 ODSP scholars, taking up various baccalaureate degrees in different universities and colleges in Region I.

Gift is another name for love

May 3, 2016, 12:43 am

≫ Next: Laoag City to implement new salary increase for City Hall workers

≪ Previous: OWWA Region I scholars now registered pharmacists

$

0

0

IT’S now becoming a standard practice that during birthday celebrations, the celebrants would profusely thank God for the “gift of life.” This expression has become so common it is getting to be a cliché or a meme, and can invariably be expected to be heard on such occasions.

That, of course, should not come as a surprise. It is the least thing one can say on such happy moments. It is really what is proper. But what I would also like to hear is for the celebrants to profusely offer themselves, by way of truly meaning their gratitude, as a gift to God, and because of God, as a gift also to all the others.

This is simply the language of love. That’s why a gift is the other name of love. When one is in love, he gives a gift. And when one receives a gift, a certain unspoken law would suggest that he returns the favor. This is the sense of indebtedness that, thanks be to God, is quite developed in our Filipino culture. We call it “utang ng loob” in Tagalog, and “utang kabubut-on” in Bisaya.

Our culture tries to express in some way what truly is in the hearts of people when they are in love or are given a favor or a gift. We do this by giving or exchanging tokens, i.e., certain objects that somehow express how we feel inside toward a person.

But what we should not forget is that what are given and received are not just objects but our own selves. Christ said this very clearly when asked about the greatest commandment which is nothing but loving and giving oneself.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important commandment,” Christ said. “The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mt 22,37-39)

From these words we should then understand that we are meant to give ourselves as a gift to God and to the others. This should be our most basic attitude on which all the other considerations in our life have to be built. We are meant to be a gift to God and to everyone else. Are we, at least, aware of this truth? And once aware, are we doing something to live it to the full?

To start developing this basic attitude, we need to consider what God has gifted us in the first place. He has given us the ‘gift of life,’ and together with it, the gifts of faith, hope and charity. He has given us the seven-fold gifts of the Holy Spirit, and many other, endless things.

All of these, because in the first place God has created us in his very image and likeness. We have been made children of his, which means that what God has is also given to us. This is a tremendous reality for which we can never thank him enough, love him enough, or gift him enough.

Even when we stray from him through sin, which we have done starting with our first parents, God has not stopped to love us. He instead has undertaken a complex work of salvation, sending his own Son to us, and the Son offering his own life as a ransom for our sins. And that redemptive work of his continues up to now through the Church. Can we afford to be indifferent before this overwhelming love of God for us?

We really need to learn to give ourselves as a gift to God first, and then to our neighbor, whoever he is. This is the proper basic attitude and frame of mind to have. Everything else that we think, speak or do has to spring from this attitude.

Thus, we have to give ourselves to God and others with joy, because as St. Paul once said, “God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Cor 9,7) Our self-giving has to be total, and in all seasons.

It has to go beyond the limits of rationality and justice, without any compulsion nor ulterior motive. It has to be done completely out of freedom which is how love is. As Christ himself described it, “Freely you have received, freely give.” (Mt 10,8)

We should not be afraid to give because Christ reassured us that what we lose we actually would gain a hundredfold. He himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20,35)

We should immerse ourselves in the dynamics of gift-giving

that starts and ends with God.

Laoag City to implement new salary increase for City Hall workers

May 4, 2016, 8:25 am

≫ Next: McDonalds Announcement

≪ Previous: Gift is another name for love

$

0

0

By Dominic B. dela Cruz

Staff reporter

Laoag City—The city government here is set to implement a compensation adjustment this year for City Hall employees.

The adjustment is based on the Local Budget Circular issued by President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III on February 19, 2016 thru Executive Order No. 201 series of 2016. The said EO is entitled “Modifying the Salary Schedule for Civilian Government Personnel and Authorizing the Grant of Additional Benefits for Both Civilian and Military and Uniformed Personnel”.

Coverage of this circular include all positions for salaried LGU personnel whether regular, contractual or casual in nature, elective or appointive, full time or part time, and positions from barangay personnel which are paid monthly honoraria.

However, those hired without employee-employer relationships and funded from the non-personnel services are excluded in the circular.

With this order city government accountant Edgar Pascual said Laoag Mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas has instructed him and other members of the local finance committee to implement the Salary Standardization Law (SSL) 4 this year.

Mr. Pascual said the finance committee has received the guidelines relative to the salary increase and requested all city department offices to implement budget-saving measures to fund the salary adjustment.

He explained that the salary adjustment was not anticipated by the city government and thus was not included in this year’s annual budget.

Based on the initial computation of the City Budget Office, the city government needs at least P15 million to implement the said increase for this year alone plus another P15 million for the additional bonuses.

The guidelines states that aside from the 13^th month pay, there should also be a mid-year bonus equivalent to one-month basic salary and should be given not earlier than May 15 of every year.

It also includes the Enhancement Incentive (PEI) in the amount of P5,000 to qualified government personnel to be given not earlier than December 15 of every year subject to the specific guidelines to be issued by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Mr. Pascual assured the implementation of the salary increase this year; however, he could not specify the time when it will be implemented. He stated that this depends on the availability of funds.

The Ilocos Times learned that the increase for every employee depends on the schedule given by the DBM.

The amounts required to its implementation shall be sourced exclusively from the LGU funds subject to the PS limitation in LGU budgets and such amount shall be authorized through an appropriation ordinance to be enacted by the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

The implementation shall not be earlier than January 1, 2016 subject to the authorization from the sanggunian.

The last salary increase was implemented during the administration of former President Gloria M. Arroyo.

McDonalds Announcement

May 4, 2016, 8:33 am

≫ Next: PAMB eyes development of Region I’s protected areas

≪ Previous: Laoag City to implement new salary increase for City Hall workers

$

0

0