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ALIMODIAN - Politics and Government II
Categories: Bantayan Kang Alimodiananon, 81 words410 feedbacks •When posting comments on this space, please observe the policy of Alimodian Worldwide as noted above. The focus of this Blog is on public issues and the performance by the public officials of their public duties.
Supporters of Ruperto Rodriguez: Taken in 1936, after Gregorio Alvior was elected mayor of Alimodian. Seated (left to right): Saturnino Sta Cruz, Gabriel Alingasa, Jose Alonsabe, Juan Albano, David Tolentino Standing (left to right): Ruperto Rodriguez, Nicomedes Albeza, Maximo Tina, Felix Altura, Roque Alingasa, Alejandro Amiscua
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01/26/08 @ 22:45WE ARE BETTER THAN WE THINK WE ARE
Someone described the recent back and forth discussion among Alimodiananons in this Blog as makahuruya.
Makahuruya for whom?
For people outside of Alimodian because they would think badly of Alimodian and Alimodiananons? Should we care about how we look from the outside?
Of course we should. But that is not as important as how we look at ourselves. Why should we put on a kumbaya face when in reality we are deeply divided as a community and we do not even try to bridge the chasm?
We should ask ourselves why things are the way they are, and turn to our better angels to make them better.
It is also a reality that every day there are Alimodiananons in and outside of Alimodian who do their hometown proud. They are Alimodiananons who transcend the culture of politics and indifference and try to do right by the town of their birth.
We should celebrate these Alimodiananons.
01/27/08 @ 19:37There are some people who missis some key points why there is a dabate and issues raised in Alimodian.
I think there are two kinds of people who are involve in this blog.
1) people who are serious in raising serious issues and willing to compromise and solve the problem.
These group of people are true Alimodiananon. and...
2) people who are using this blog to humiliate and insult other people to promote their own personal agenda.either that agenda is politically motivated or just to voice their own personal hatred to certain individual.
I think that's wrong!
my observation is based to our previous postings. I might be wrong but I think a lot of our bloggers will agree with me.
Now.. here is the key! if you are serious.. why you don't be like PANAGBALAY who transform himself to APOLDON CA. and become a credible critic and advocate to help his hometown.
stop hiding in your Alias we all know who you are!
be a man! be serious! and be a credible cretic. Alimodian needs your good ideas.
APOLDON CA. is a perfect example! and we applaud his action. APOLDON CA.we love to hear more from you again.
01/27/08 @ 19:57CARE USA is now a registered tax exempt from federal income tax.any contributions from us is now tax deductable. special thanks to Nong Greg Amarra for making this things happen.
PLEASE FOR THE CHILDREN OF ALIMODIAN!!!!
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE P. 0. BOX 2508 CINCINNATI, OH 45201
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Date: JAN 18 2008
CONCERNED ALIMODIANANON RESOURCE ON
EDUCATION INC C/0 NOAH MONTENEGRO 45 UNCAS RD STAMFORD, CT 06902
Employer Identification Number:
14-1997998 DLN:
17053184029007 Contact Person:
GERALD MINK ID# 31228
Contact Telephone Number:
(877) 829-5500
Accounting Period Ending:
DECEMBER 31 Public Charity Status:
Form 990 Required: -- — .----
YES Effective Date of Exemption:
APRIL, 9, 2007 Contribution Deduct ibility:
YES Advance Ruling Ending Date:
DECEMBER 31, 2011 Addendum Applies:
NO
Dear Applicant:
We are pleased to inform you that upon review of your application for tax exempt status we have determined that you are exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to you are deductible under section 170 of the Code. You are also qualified to receive tax deductible bequests, devises, transfers or gifts under section 2055, 2106 or 2522 of the Code. Because this letter could help resolve any questions regarding your exempt status, you should keep it in your permanent records.
Organizations exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Code are further classified as either public charities or private foundations. During your advance ruling period, you will be treated as a public charity. Your advance ruling period begins with the effective date of your exemption and ends with advance ruling ending date shown in the heading of the letter.
Shortly before the end of your advance ruling period, we will send you Form 8734, Support Schedule for Advance Ruling Period. You will have 90 days after the end of your advance ruling period to return the completed form. We will then notify you, in writing, about your public charity status.
Please see enclosed Publication 4221-PC, Compliance Guide for 501(c)(3) Public Charities, for some helpful information about your responsibilities as an exempt organization.
Letter 1045 (DO/CG)
CONCERNED ALIMODIANANON RESOURCE ON
Sincerely,
Enclosures: Publication 4221-PC Statute Extension
Robert Choi
Director, Exempt Organizations
Rulings and Agreements
Form 1023 (Rev. 6-2006)_______Name:______________________________________________EIN: _____________Page 11
ISBW^ Public Charity Status (Continued)
e 509(a)(4)—an organization organized and operated exclusively for testing for public safety. CD
f 509(a)(1) and 170(b)(1)(A)(iv)—an organization operated for the benefit of a college or university that is owned or CD
operated by a governmental unit.
g 509(a)(1) and 170(b)(1 )(A)(vi)—an organization that receives a substantial part of its financial support in the form CD of contributions from publicly supported organizations, from a governmental unit, or from the general public.
h 509(a)(2)—an organization that normally receives not more than one-third of its financial support from gross CD
investment income and receives more than one-third of its financial support from contributions, membership
fees, and gross receipts from activities related to its exempt functions (subject to certain exceptions).
i A publicly supported organization, but unsure if it is described in 5g or 5h. The organization would like the IRS to M decide the correct status._______________________________________________________
6 If you checked box g, h, or i in question 5 above, you must request either an advance or a definitive ruling by
selecting one of the boxes below. Refer to the instructions to determine which type of ruling you are eligible to receive.
a Request for Advance Ruling: By checking this box and signing the consent, pursuant to section 6501 (c)(4) of the Code you request an advance ruling and agree to extend the statute of limitations on the assessment of excise tax under section 4940 of the Code. The tax will apply only if you do not establish public support status at the end of the 5-year advance ruling period. The assessment period will be extended for the 5 advance ruling years to 8 years, 4 months, and 15 days beyond the end of the first year. You have the right to refuse or limit _ the extension to a mutually agreed-upon period of time or issue(s). Publication 1035, Extending the Tax Assessment Period, provides a more detailed explanation of your rights and the consequences of the choices you make. You may obtain Publication 1035 free of charge from the IRS web site at www.irs.gov or by calling toll-free 1-800-829-3676. Signing this consent will not deprive you of any appeal rights to which you would otherwise be entitled. If you decide not to extend the statute of limitations, you are not eligible for an advance ruling.
Consent Fixing Period of Limitations Upon Assessment of Tax Under Section 4940 of the Internal Revenue Co
For Organization
(Signature of Officer, Director, Trustee, or other (Tyjje or print name of signer) (Date)
authorized official)
(Type or print title or authority of signer)
For IBS Use
JAN 18 2008
IRS Director, Exempt Organizations (Date)
b Request for Definitive Ruling: Check this box if you have completed one tax year of at least 8 full months and D you are requesting a definitive ruling. To confirm your public support status, answer line 6b(i) if you checked box g in line 5 above. Answer line 6b(ii) if you checked box h in line 5 above. If you checked box i in line 5 above, answer both lines 6b(i) and (ii).
(i) (a) Enter 2% of line 8, column (e) on Part IX-A. Statement of Revenues and Expenses. ___________ (b) Attach a list showing the name and amount contributed by each person, company, or organization whose CD gifts totaled more than the 2% amount. If the answer is "None," check this box.
(ii) (a) For each year amounts are included on lines 1, 2, and 9 of Part IX-A. Statement of Revenues and
Expenses, attach a list showing the name of and amount received from each disqualified person. If the
answer is "None," check this box. CD
(b) For each year amounts are included on line 9 of Part IX-A. Statement of Revenues and Expenses, attach a list showing the name of and amount received from each payer, other than a disqualified person, whose payments were more than the larger of (1) 1% of line 10, Part IX-A. Statement of Revenues and
Expenses, or (2) $5,000. If the answer is "None," check this box. CD
___________________________________________________________________/
Did you receive any unusual grants during any of the years shown on Part IX-A. Statement of CD Yes M No
Revenues and Expenses? If "Yes," attach a list including the name of the contributor, the date and
amount of the grant, a brief description of the grant, and explain why it is unusual.
Form 1023 (Rev. 6-2006)
01/30/08 @ 16:57WHAT HAVE THESE PUBLIC OFFICIALS ACCOMPLISHED SO FAR?
Mayor: Juanito Alipao
Vice-Mayor: Geefre Alonsabe
SB Members (Councilors):
Julius Alejo
Nicanor Allones
Concepcion Almacen
Nery Alonday
Larriette Altubar
Felicita Amba
Freddie Anibigno
Julie Salarda
_________
It has been more than six months since the officials of the LGU assumed office.
If they are working in the same world that most of us do, whether in the government or public sector, they would have been assigned or on their own would have come up with personal OBJECTIVES in their job, and now, at mid-point of the fiscal year, would have submitted a report on their PERFORMANCE in pursuit of their objectives.
Accounting for the job we do is how many of us who are in the labor force earn the money we get as salaries. Our public officials should do the same, i.e., tell us what they have done in the last six months to deserve the salaries they have collected (at least 28,000 pesos/month x 6 months = at least 168,000 pesos).
I call on the above public officials to publicize their accomplishments by distributing flyers to the households in Alimodian or posting them in public places in Alimodian; posting their performance report in this Blog or in the Alimodian LGU website.
THEY SHOULD NOT BE SHY ABOUT LETTING ALIMODIANANONS KNOW ABOUT THE WORK THEY HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SINCE THEY WERE ELECTED INTO OFFICE OVER SIX MONTHS AGO.
Not to speak that it is their duty to do so.
* * *
In case our public officials need to be reminded of the PROBLEMS they are supposed to find SOLUTIONS to, here are some of them:
POVERTY (i.e., lack of opportunities to earn a decent LIVELIHOOD)
ACCESS TO AND DELIVERY OF HEALTH SERVICES
MALNUTRITION AMONG CHILDREN
POOR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SCHOOLCHILDREN
WATER SUPPLY and related issues
CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE (roads, school buildings, etc.)
HAPHAZARD LAND USE AND ZONING
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS related to water source, water quality, flooding, etc.
LOW MORALE AMONG ALIMODIANANONS because of the lack of developmental progress in their town and alleged corruption among public officials
02/06/08 @ 01:45what the majority of our concerned kasimanwas are expecting is a reform for development, we do hope that on these politics & government part 2, we have the right step to draw more to look forward at the worst scenario of the town!
kabay pa nga indi ta pag divert ang issues on irregularities to other shows on this website.
lets go for justice!
02/06/08 @ 05:41Another swearing or profane language,threats, and personal attacks to the powerful Alipao Corporation in Alimodian:
Alipao couple's agenda is to enhance LGU employees efficiency for growth and provide advanced skills and trainings for effective and efficient public service.
apang nasa papel ka programa de gobierno lamang.
Another Alipao in Munisipyo - Atty. Joejohn Alipao, hinablos ni Mayor Juaning nagpungko sa daad pwesto ni Gleemy Caceres Anas ang Acting SB Secretary. Siguro pigado na gid ang income kang abogado gani ginhagad nga didto sa munisipyo ang manggad siputon ta!!! kay ang munisipyo para lamang sa mga Alipao. Another Alipao leading to their monarchy, dynasty and family business. Bisan hambalon pa ka bug-os nga kalibutan nga bastos ang statement kang mga bloggers nga naga away sa kagarukan kang administrasyon, may bloggers man nga pirit dampigan ang kalainan.
nagalaum daad kami nga MAY INBISTIGASYON ron nga matabo pay pati taga abroad naimpluwensyahan man gali ka first couple. So, what shall we do here in Alimodian? Maghulat lang nga magbag-o ang liderato... ? I'm not Gleemy Anas nga naga agrabyo kundi agrabyo man dya kang inyo kasimanwa didya sa Alimodian nga nagapanukot sa kakulangan kang mag-asawa nga inyo nahamut-an!
02/06/08 @ 05:44ang rason nga desisyon kuno ka Sangguniang Bayan nga iplastar ang hinablos ni Mayor Juaning. Ti, nagapakita lamang nga ang Sannguniang Bayan waay gid ti panindugan kay waay ti tinun-an.
Kay matuod dya... kundi, awayon nyo ruman si barbie dolls... .
Kung Hie Fat Choi!!
02/07/08 @ 07:35With due respect to Barbie Dolls, I beg to disagree that the SB has something to do with the appointment of Atty Joe John. First, the position has been vacant for a long time, and Joe John is applying for it. 2nd, the LGU has the Promotion and Selection Board who screens deserving employees and recommends for promotion to fill up vacant position or screens applicants and recommends to fill up the vacant position. Maybe, Joe John is more qualified than Gleemy per the evaluation of the PSB. 3rd, it is the vice mayor who has the appointing authority not the Sangguniang Bayan and the appointing authority has a wide discretion to appoint any person who had met the minimum qualification standard set for that particular position.
Let's give Joe John the benefits of the doubt and let him prove his own worth. He will be judged by history not now.
What we will be hoping is that the Sangguniang Bayan will be guided by the legal know how of Atty Joe John. I had seen a lot of SB Resolutions that were legally absurd. By the appointment of a lawyer as the SB Secretary maybe the SB will be better off.
Any way, Gleemy married the son of my first cousin from Buhay.
02/07/08 @ 10:06ARE OTHER ALIMODIANANONS BEREFT OF TALENT AND SKILL?
I am sure that Atty. Joe John is more than qualified to be the Sanggguniang Bayan Secretary.
That is not the point. There is something in play here that trumps QUALIFICATION.
It is called CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
In the olden days this is also called “delicadeza,” but as someone once said in this Blog, i-bunggo na ang ulo na sa pader if someone uses that word again.
We have become SHAMELESS when it comes to political patronage.
It is bad enough that we have a Municipal Administrator who is the WIFE of the Mayor, who is also “qualified,” but for heaven’s sake, it makes the position of mayor conjugal -- and if we have a little sense of decency, the position should not even have an "appearance" of being conjugal.
Now the NEPHEW of the Mayor has joined the entourage.
Why is it that in Alimodian only the people named ALIPAO are qualified to hold the important positions in the municipality?
We have a Mayor named ALIPAO.
We have a Municipal Administrator named ALIPAO.
We have a Sangguniang Bayan Secretary named ALIPAO.
Does anyone have any doubt that the next mayor of Alimodian will also be named ALIPAO?
If we Alimodiananons think there is nothing wrong with this set-up, then we truly deserve the government we have.
02/07/08 @ 16:53Hurrah! This is Philippines!
With its own unique culture, laws and regulations were enacted/formulated to serve the ends of the previlleged. Political decisions are beyond scrutiny and political actions are beyond question. Alimodian is one of its political subdivision.
JDV on his emotional speech last monday in congress admitted that there were tampering of the election results in 2004 presidential election. It happened in the hall of congress, it could also happened in the Municipal Hall.
Malacanang Palace machinated the ouster of JDV in a legal way and our local palace could do its own thing too.
FM appointed or cause to be appointed his wife to head the Metro Manila Commission and his brother to head the Medicare then, and so with a lot of former presidents appointed their closest of relatives and associates in high positions in government. Its epidemic in the Philippines. Alimodian is also becoming trendy and fashionable.
So be it, we deserve all these things in the Philippines.
02/07/08 @ 17:11To Barbie Dolls,
How about the rumored coup in the ABC presidency? How true is this? And why one of the trusted Punong Barangay resigned just after a month in office? Please verify these reports.
Thanks.
02/08/08 @ 11:01Just because everybody does it does not make it RIGHT.
There are lots of small towns like Alimodian that are doing well in spite of the fact that their municipal administrator is NOT the wife of the mayor and the SB secretary is NOT the nephew of the mayor.
NEPOTISM IS NOT A TEMPLATE FOR SUCCESSFUL GOVERNANCE.
Accepting the conventional wisdom that this is the culture in the Philippines and all we could do is accept the reality because we cannot do anything to change it is -- a COP-OUT.
We speak out against things that we think are not right even if we are literally speaking in the wilderness, and knowing fully well nothing will happen (at least not instantly), BECAUSE WE MUST.
CHANGE does not happen because people accept things as they are. It happens because people don't and do something about it.
02/10/08 @ 06:57t anu kung alipao lng tanan?..... uli kmu ja kg mg padalagan sa 2010 pra man an nyo kung nsa gusto ka tga uma c alipao.. inyo anu nbulig nyo sa pamuluyo sa mga brgy specially sa 7 cities nga ga knahanglan gd ka raku nga bulig kg attention? t nkatao kmu mzkan sardinas man lng pg christmas?..
02/11/08 @ 08:14The story being told in the following column is an all-too-familiar Philippine political story. But it is also a cautionary tale, and a hopeful story of how a few courageous citizens can make a difference.
SHANGHAI POLICY
by Juan L. Mercado ( Phil Daily Inquirer & Cebu Daily News 12 Feb 08 )
“This rings a bell”, the wife said after reading Inquirer’s report: “Nuns Outwit Cop Escorts of Lozada”, the engineer “shanghaied” by security agents to prevent his testifying on the national broadband network scandal.
The Inquirer earlier ran a front page photo on “Guardian Angels”: Good Shepherd, Salesian and Daughters of Charity nuns linked arms to escort Rodolfo Lozada to a pre-dawn press conference at La Salle. The nuns “were able to spirit ( him ) out to the Senate afterwards to testify”.
Before the Blue Ribbon Committee, Lozada linked First Gentleman Miguel Arroyo and ex-poll commissioner chairman Bejamin Abalos to a deal that ballooned from $132 million to $329 million.
“I’m just an ordinary lawyer,” Mr Arroyo protested. Like Dennis Thatcher? “I trust my husband completely,” Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said. “He doesn’t fall asleep when I give a speech. And he claps at the right places.” Or is he cut like Asif Ali Zardari, the corruption-hounded husband of Pakistan’s late Benazir Bhutto?
What bells?, we asked the wife. San Francisco Examiner’s report on soused Marcos minister Jolly Benitez after snap elections fraud triggered People Power One, she replied. Priests and nuns blocked rigging of tallies for Corazon Aquino’s landslide vote.
“It’s all those nuns’ fault,” a tipsy Minister Benitez told Examiner’s Lin Neumann at Manila Hotel. “How were we to know those (expletive deleted ) nuns would sit on ballot boxes? Marcos is finished”.
Is the Arroyo-Macapagal regime finished? Not yet. But how was Malacanang to know that nuns would shield Lozada?. They later sat in a stolid phalanx in the Senate gallery. “Angels shall guard your camp,” the Psalmist writes.
Lozada’s testimony ripped the fig leaf: that he voluntarily vanished for 27 hours, then sought protection, as National Police chief Avelino Razon mumbled. No way Jose, Lozada told senators. Armed men spirited him away, as airport officials acquiesced. They kidnapped Lozada from family, the Senate Sargeant-at-Arms, and media.
Under duress, Lozada signed an affidavit that he “asked for security”. His abductors drove him from Manila, Cavite to Los Banos -- until directed to return because “media was red hot” on the trail. They dumped Lozada at La Salle where the Christian Brothers earlier gave sanctuary to Lozada’s terrified family.
“In a democracy, people should not be afraid of government. It is government that should be afraid of people,” Senator Panfilo Lacson said in a lucid sound-bite. Take it from Ping. Lacson’s rose to national from being a “star” of Marcos’ torture agency: the Military Intelligence Security Group. The MISG specialized in torture, abductions and salvaging.
Misuse of state power for abduction and crime never tainted presidents like Manuel Quezon, Elipidio Quirino, Corazon Aquino, Carlos Garcia or Sergio Osmena – although his grandson, Tomas, as Cebu City mayor, winks at 183 summary executions by vigilantes.
Today, this country reels from serial abductions. The Abu Sayyaf kidnaps for loot in Islam’s name, seen in the Los Palmas abductions. Over 156 Filipino Chinese have been kidnapped for ransom, including Coca Cola Export Corporation’s Betty Sy. And the New People’s Army abducts, both for ideology and cash.
But these were by brigands. In contrast, state agents “shanghaied” Lozada. That clones Burma’s tatmadaw ( military ) who abducted Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. Protectors that we train, arm and pay, with taxes, turn predators. When government evolves into a Mafia, everyone is threatened.
This brings back May 1970 . Military and immigration agents abducted the Chinese Commercial News publisher and editor. Quintin and Rizal Yuyitung were shoved aboard an Air Force C-47 and handed to Taipei.
Like Violeta Lozada, Veronica Yuyitung didn’t know what happened to her husband. Like Immigration Commissioner Edmundo Reyes, General Razon denied they were abducted. Both were brazen daylight grabs. Quintin was picked up at the Manila Overseas Press Club. Lozada was bundled off from Manila International Airport’s arrival tube.
A Filipino citizen, Quintin Yuyitung was “deported”. Blind to historical irony, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Sergio Apostol sneered : "They say Lozada’s a Chinese from the province. Bagay sa iyo ideport ka. Magulo ka dito (You should be deported because you're troublesome)."
The Yutitung kidnapping short-circuited a petition that Joker Arroyo lodged with the Supreme Court, questioning immigration’s jurisdiction. Lozada’s abduction would have derailed the broadband probe. But “there is much law at the end of a bayonet.”
Marcos’ imprimatur, in the Yuyitung case, developed into martial law policy. “A country with a remarkable constitutional tradition turned into a gulag of safe houses where members of the Armed Forces (were) responsible for acts of unusual brutality,” Amnesty International found. Between 1975 and 1985, some 737 Filipinos “disappeared”. Among these were sons of Supreme Court Justices Abraham Sarmiento and Pedro Yap.
Under Joseph Estrada, Pagcor employee Edgardo Bentain filmed the President playing high-stakes baccarat – and disappeared. The burned remains of abducted publicist “Bobby” Dacer and driver were recovered in a shallow grave in Cavite. Then PNP chief Lacson’s men, Rey Aquino and Cesar Mancao, skipped town when linked to the kidnap-murder.
Will abduction form part of the legacy, of a troubled Presidency, advised to “moderate” what the Buddha called “the torrent of greed?
(E-mail: juanlmercado@gmail.com )
02/13/08 @ 18:19Because of serious issues and problems of the town, ang pinaka remedyo nga gindalaganan sang mga agrabyo nga bloggers kag pomuluyo sang alimodian amo ang BLOG instead of COMPLAINING to the proper court because of influential and dictator couple administration. Allegations and testimonies from unanimous bloggers are considered to be reliable not just because of their revealations but the real scenario of the town.
Are those bloggers are considered :kontra partido kag may personal nga agrabyo sa poderoso, diktador kag kurakot nga administrasyon”? Kon may ara gid man nga may agrabyo, the issues are not personal!
Take note Dear friends: “May irigularidad nga nagakatabo” kag kuntani didto kita focus sa pagpatigayon sang inbistigasyon sa ginapropose ni Dr. Gemma Guanco and a proper transmittal and process of complaining the local officials as sugested by Mr. Greg Amarra.
1.) Ang natabo, wala matigayon ang inbistigasyon bangud kay nagtawag ang mag asawa sa states nga indi pag entertain ang mga issues kay wala sang basehan ang akusasyon.
2.) Nagaduhaduha man ang mga Alimodiananon sa abroad kag sa alimodian kay mismo madalahig wala liwan mga paryente man lang.
3.)Gusto gid sang taga states nga matindog ang mga compalianants sa ibabaw sang entablado kag magpakilala ang mga bloggers apang wala kasigurohan ang ila kabuhi kag kahimtangan sa oras nga makilala. Hasta sa guwa na sang Alimodian ang impluwensya sang mag-asawa nga alipao. Amo na nga imbis mag imbistigar, maghipos na lang!
Ang iban nga taga states nangin spokespersons na sang mag-asawa!!!!!
4.) Nag una focus ang pamangkutanon kon sin-o ang nagareklamo kag nagdula ang pamangkot kon ANO ANG GINAREKLAMO... Bangud nagbaliskad ang panan-awan sang iban, nag conclude na lang dayon, pati ang factfinding team na-abolished na.
5.) Makapila na kabeses nga ang pahayag sang iban nga ang ebedinsya yara sa munisipyo pero sin-o ang may kaisog nga magpangita?
6.) Wala epekto ang pagpangita ni Madam Angiol Loredo sang kamatuoran kay ang gintawagan nga si SB Julie Salarda amo man ang manugtabon sang mantsa sang administrasyon. Gin una ni SB Salarda ang personal nga interes imbis sang pagluntad sang kamatuoran. Pati si Dr. Gema Guanco gintawagan man sang mag-asawa nga magkalma!!!
I'm sure manawag naman ang administradora sa kon sin-o sa taga abroad ang magbukas sang inbistigasyon kag magbukad sang kamatuoran.
Take note again, ang ginagamit nga telepono sa pagtawag sa abroad telepono sa munisipyo???? magasto bala ang unlimited call sa abroad.... ..
ANG ENDING SANG KASAYSAYAN SANG BANWA:
Ang kurakot padayon kag hilway nga nagapangurakot sa gihapon
Ang taga abroad naga ayuhan ang pangabuhi bangud sang ila paghimakas kag kapisan.
Ang taga Alimodian nga illeterate sa barangay hulat naman kwarta kon eleksyon para makakaon.
02/13/08 @ 22:36CALL AND TOUCH SOMEONE
Before these conspiracy theories spin out of control . . .
The idea of an “investigation” was, at best, a throw-away line. Someone threw it into the mix without fleshing out the proposal, much less followed it up. The word “investigate” itself is a loaded one. Does one mean “research,” or “call on witnesses”? Who will investigate, how do you investigate, and what do you do with the results of the investigation?
The problem then, as now, is simple – we Alimodiananons are better at talking than doing. Not only that, we expect OTHER Alimodiananons to do it for us. For every Alimodiananon who thinks that ang mga taga-abroad has to do something about the problems in Alimodian, there is another Alimodiananon who resents the taga-abroad voicing out their opinions, and taunts them to come home and run for public office themselves.
The reasons, as has been stated time and again, are understandable. Among others, there is a personal price to pay for criticizing the powers-that-be in Alimodian, and most people cannot afford the price, or do not want to pay the price.
So the “investigation” proposal did not die, or did not get off the ground, not because of the transatlantic phone calls but because no one took it up – for a variety of reasons.
The phone calls are vastly overrated. It is not as if the people who were recipients of the phone calls (how many were they?) were on the warpath, and were persuaded to call off the war. Like, a rebellion was averted, and the callers could pat themselves on the back for pacifying the rebels.
If the powers-that-be think that the telephone is an effective weapon of mass destruction, I mean, damage control – dream on.
02/17/08 @ 21:34Since my last comments about my pinalangga ko nga Dalid,and how the quarry operation damage the area that put the residence in great danger,Barbie dolls I'm still waiting for the pictures that you've taken during your last trip to Dalid and neigboring Barrio.
Please don't tell me "basi tikal wala tupa man lang to imo?"I'm beginning to dislike you!
I heard about this transatlantic call from the first couple.looks like that's the sign of disparation and admission of quilt. it's sounds like a front runner offering to debate a challenger.which is likely unusual if you're in good shape.
I hope the phone call has been productive in favor to them.or has been counter-productive because they look defensive and paranoid about the truth that linger their mind.
as far as i know we have a commom understanding that their is a huge loophole in Alimodian when it comes to our budget,shady dealings,under the table handshake to some politicians, contractors and other unethical practices like appointing your own family member to a paid position in expense of the tax payers.
THAT NEEDS TO BE STOP!!
The invistigation will go on..and the advocacy for change will continue to who ever will ran the town in the future, if the situation is still the same.
I don't think the transatlantic call would help,instead we are encourage to speak more because we know that they're listening.
The only thing i think that can solve this rotten situation is when Alimodian is under the new management.
That will happen?,when that happen? and who will make this happen.
THE ANSWER IS..
it's up to Alimodianon who cast their votes and willing to embrace the real meaning of change,and stop taking the sardenas kong christmas from the administation as what alipaoalipaoalipao is trying to argue in exchange to a porter steak and red wine in their table on christmas eve and new year.
THAT'S WHY THESE PEOPLE HAVE REASON TO CELEBRATE!!!
02/18/08 @ 00:21Dugang lang akon dya.Ano gid bala ang nagakaltabo sa banwa ta? Wala kami amon kamaan haw. Tani, hululogpong kita tanan sa kaayohan sang banwa.
02/20/08 @ 17:03quarry quarry quarry... cn.o bla ang nag pirma kanguna ka quarry contract nga d.a? d bla dw 10 yrs ang contract nga dia? d bla sa Ambut administration man d.a ang time nga gn pirmahan d.a.. t nsa i basul ka tag amerika sa Alipao administration ang aning quarry nga d.a?? bw mga taga amerika y gd kmu kama.an ka d.a? puro lng kmu pang libak py waay man kmu namasnga.an.. alang alang untaton ni alipao d.a ky my contract d.a nga gn pirmahan ka Ambut administration.. C mayor Ambut gni to dw sunod2x man lng to sa Vice mayor na kg ky toto nyo erin.. t nami bla d.a? grbi man kmu nga taga amerika, ang tanan nga kahigko kg kagarukan ka administrasyon nga gn buslan ni Mayor Alipao gna pasa nyo kana.. inyo dw my nabulig gd kmu ja sa Alimodian.. t anu kmu...
02/21/08 @ 21:56First: of all alipaoalipaoalipao, i admire you of being so honest and informative when it comes quarry operation,and a stance defender of current admistration.
you are a good spinner,and i thank you for sitting this topic of who's to blame and who started this quarry operation in Alimodian.
Second: i don't think this is not pang-libak kay this issue is not the issue that affect directly the alimodianon sa america.this is the issue of the people in alimodian who directly affected by quarry, that so happen.. people in america often talk and share their opinion,kay nahadlok kamo sa alimodian amo di-a nga naga panago alias.
What puzzled me here..and makes me wonder.. daw mabo-ut man ang aton mayor? i know our mayor personally? i haven't any problem with him even back then. unless he change.that one i don't know.
What i don't understand here is.. and i admit,that you sounds like a pro-administration. that's understandable.
BUT! you your self is also hiding under the shadow of alias.ano pati ikaw hadluk kay mayor? just kidding!
Anyhow that's besides the point.
My point here is..kong si Narding Ambut nag-perma kag sala to ang decision na parti sa quarry operation,and it's proven wrong kay naga reklamo ang taho sa Alimodian kay naga ab-ab ang suba kag guba ang karsada.
I think as a responsible mayor and as a responsible member of the town council, they should do something about it.not to blame Narding kay tana nag perma. I think that's ridiculous.
Ano ang importanti ang perma ni narding Ambut in the past or will of the people in Alimodian in the present.I'm not a legal expert when it comes to contact but!based to what i heard,contract could be breach if there is a public outcry,invironmental issue and especially if the wealth and safety of the people is at stake.
In our case corruption,natural resources and safety issues.
That's why we elected our town council to serve, listen and address our concern. not to listen and cradle the special interest group and quarry operators,or our personal interest and play a blame game to the past admistration.
I think that's the old school politics of fear and dirty tactics.
I just want to clear my self here. I'm not a potician..nor have plan to be a politician.i have nothing against with the Mayor or to any member of our town council.mine is just a mere advocacy and hopefully i could help thru this blog.
our family is a friend of both family Alfeche's and Alipao's for years.
my comment here is based with our common understanding that we have a serious problem in Alimodian,that needs to be address.that's why we have this debate.it's all about alimodian and alimodian only.
well..Doesn't really matter to me,if who is listening or what they think.
AFTER ALL I'M JUST A POOR BOY FROM DALID WHO WANT'S TO SHARE MY HUMBLE OPINION.
02/22/08 @ 05:15sorry for not revealing my self.. by the way this will be the last message for all the people in this blog and to Noah who replied to my opinion, because my mother just scolded me for posting my opinion in this lousy blog.. thanks,, i know you a bit Noah and you are one of my uncles friend..
so if you think that blaming the last administration is ridiculous, so blaming the present administration is also ridiculous... so lets us all do what we can do to help our kasimanwa and our town.. lets do something instead of doing all this talking in this blog..
To Doroy and Dolor, i know the two of you.. GIMAK GIMAK kmu ha.. bsi gusto nyo malupad kg tadlungon panurukan nyo.. ubraha t nsakto ubra nyo.. gusto nyo mbuslan ang administrasyon pra tawhay kmu no. hahaha.. ingkaso kambyo administrasyon lagaw2 lng kmu sa ct miskan naka time in eh no. hehe.. nami eh.. dw ma Bering man kg dw ma lupad man ulo ko ninyo darwa ba. hehehe
To all my kasimanwa, lets talk the talk and walk the walk..
thank you thank you thank you......
02/22/08 @ 10:54INSA HAW, PINANUBLI MO ANG POSISYON NGA DYA?
What is it about the political leaders in Alimodian? WHY CAN’T THEY TAKE CRITICISMS?
Once upon a time, when I was growing up in Alimodian, I always hear the “olds” berate those who were so full of themselves that they swaggered about as if the public positions they held were their entitlement.
They would ask: INSA HAW, PINANUBLI MO ANG POSISYON NGA DYA?
And if they were feeling a tad more sarcastic (and sadistic), they would add: HOY, WAAY KA TI GINA KAPTAN NGA TITULO SA BANWA KANG ALIMODIAN.
Alas, times have not changed.
Why shouldn’t the Alipao&Alipao Inc., the members of the Sangguniang Bayan, and all the officials and employees who earn a generous living from PUBLIC FUNDS be criticized?
How else would they know how (badly or brilliantly) they are doing their job, or how their performance is perceived by their kasimanwas if not by Alimodiananons passing judgment on their political action (or inaction)?
Or are they so arrogant that they do not think they have to account for their job?
If the criticisms are unfair, unfounded, or downright lies, it is their duty to rebut them. SO THE PEOPLE OF ALIMODIAN MAY KNOW.
Most of the time it is only by criticizing that Alimodiananons get a glimpse of the reality of political life in Alimodian. Left on their own, the politicians do not have any incentive to inform or explain the decisions they make or the actions they undertake that affect the lives of Alimodiananons.
Their political philosophy seems to be: DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL, JUST GIVE ME MY SALARY.
Why do we always have to remind them that criticisms of public officials are par for the course in a democracy?
To quote Winston Churchill: “Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfils the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things. “
Better still, to quote the wise elders of Alimodian in the old days: INSA HAW, PINANUBLI MO ANG POSISYON NGA DYA?
02/28/08 @ 01:14waay ang sulosyon didya sa blog.
Wait nyo lang makalakat ang first couple jan sa Amerika kay nagaplano sanda malagaw jan, I hope ang pamasahe indi ana ka banwa....
magpakitlooy kag maghibi-hibi naman nga mas makalolooy pa sanda sa mga pigado kag ginapigos kag mga ginatonto nanda dya nga pomuluyo.
ang problem... may Hold departure order si mayor, rason na lang sa taga barangay waay kuno mapa renew visa na, expire don!!
abi na guro ati sa bukid gina istoryahan na.. .
02/28/08 @ 01:18madam and Sir!
ang ebidensya dyan sa munisipyo!
ang witnesses mga empleyado ka munisipyo!
mga akusado dyan man sa munisipyo!
ang inbistigasyon maga umpisa sa munisipyo!
ang makalooy kon takpan naton dya amo ang banwa!
02/29/08 @ 13:29To Teleskopyo,
If you can gather the evidence, the witnesses that you metioned above and all the necessary documents/information in writing then, let the bloggers know and we will support you.
Maybe this will be a good start to proceed prosecuting those concerned.... Haka haka will do us NO good!
just a thought............
03/03/08 @ 07:18Concerned Alimodiananon Resource on Education, Inc. (CARE)
3 March 2008
The Members of the Sangguniang Bayan
Alimodian, Iloilo, Philippines
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
As some of you know, the Concerned Alimodiananon Resource on Education, Inc. (CARE), organized in 2006 and recently approved as a nonprofit/tax-exempt corporation by the State of Connecticut, is committed to helping educate the children of Alimodian.
CARE is proud of its book-lending, Drop Everything and Read (DEAR), and mentorship and awards initiatives. Like most projects that involve the “life of the mind,” the results are not tangible, and therefore do not lend to visual presentation, but a casual observation of the operations of the book-lending in the Kamalig and the reading program (DEAR) in the Plaza area validates our optimism that efforts of the sort that CARE is involved in do make a difference.
CARE would like to reach as many children as it could by expanding its initiatives to the outlying barangays of Alimodian. In the last two years it has shared its modest resources with the public school teachers in more than half of the 51 barangays. Now that it has more resources to share, CARE is now in a position to increase it contribution to the education of children outside of the poblacion. For starter, we can provide a set of encyclopedia to every barangay. Our hope is that every barangay will use this initial offering to organize a reading center that is all its own, and provide reading and educational resources to its own residents, especially its schoolchildren.
In this regard, we will appreciate if you will provide us with the names of the barangay kagawad/kapitan, and, more importantly, if you will encourage them to work with CARE in bringing an educational resource to their barangays.
We at CARE believe that every child in Alimodian deserves to realize his/her God-given potential, and all Alimodiananons owe her/him the chance to realize that potential. The numbers do not matter; one child we help raise into adulthood is one potential realized to become a productive citizen of Alimodian – and ALL we Alimodiananons will be better for it.
Please visit us at www.alimodian.net.
On behalf of CARE, thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Leila C. Amarra
President, CARE
Concerned Alimodiananon Resource on Education, Inc.
Leila Caparanga Amarra . Raymond Altura Deza . Angioline Loredo . Noah Montenegro.
Michelle Ann Loredo . Cirilo Caparanga . Mariel Fleur Loredo
03/09/08 @ 07:37to teleskopyo:
puro lng atik, waay ka man... himua ang gusto mu, d sagad atik jn.. d mu man mapahalin ang gna tkoy mu kung puro ka lng adak jn.. anu gapangita pa kw my ma finance nimu? lawlaw man ah....
03/09/08 @ 07:38to teleskopyo:
puro lng atik, waay ka man... himua ang gusto mu, d sagad atik jn.. d mu man mapahalin ang gna tukoy mu kung puro ka lng adak jn.. anu gapangita pa kw my ma finance nimu? lawlaw man ah....
03/10/08 @ 17:28panawagan abi dyan sa kay barbie doll o teleskopyo o bakero o sa taga munisipyo, ukon sin-o man nga kamaan!!! i confirm abi ang haka-haka nga may didyan kuno nga plano nga mang-utang ang banwa ka kwarta para sa project??? Nagapangutang ron gali ang banwa ta, kag kun nagapangutang man ti pira ron ang outstanding ta nga utang?
Basi mayad man tana ang project nga dya and it could be a money worth spending for.
03/17/08 @ 12:37Nothing like the Holy Week – a time of spiritual reflection – to send
AN OPEN MEMO TO:
Mayor: Juanito Alipao
Vice-Mayor: Geefre Alonsabe
SB Members:
Julius Alejo
Nicanor Allones
Concepcion Almacen
Nery Alonday
Larriette Altubar
Felicita Amba
Freddie Anibigno
Julie Salarda
THE POLITICS OF PARANOIA – OR, THE PARANOIA OF POLITICS – IN ALIMODIAN
The LGU of Alimodian is probably one of the few LGUs in the Philippines that do not encourage, much less care about, the participation of its citizens in the civic affairs of the town.
Wait, let me correct that –
The LGU of Alimodian is probably one of the few LGUs in the Philippines that encourage, or care about, the participation of its citizens in the civic affairs of the town ONLY – and ONLY -- IF the participation meets the following criteria:
The idea and form of the project comes from the LGU itself or its individual members. If it comes from somebody else, forget it, UNLESS:
*Money is involved and the LGU or an SB member control the disposition of the money (think proceeds of the fiesta souvenir program and other related events)
*The LGU or an SB member can claim credit for the project. The question asked is not “How can this project help the ALIMODIANANONS?” but, rather, “How can this project help ME (get reelected?”
This criteria derives from what can only be described as a deep-seated PARANOIA that the person proposing or carrying out the project has political ambitions, and, heaven forbid, may run against them in the future. He/she is perceived as a THREAT to the political security of the incumbents, and, therefore, must not be given a political platform on which to mount a challenge. In a town where the LGU defines the residents as either FOR or AGAINST them, this perception comes naturally to its political leaders.
It goes without saying that well-meaning citizens of Alimodian who want to help their fellow Alimodiananons (for the simple sake of helping) cannot expect a helping hand, don't even think about a pat on the back, from the LGU.
Why, you won’t even get the simple courtesy of an acknowledgment to your letter.
03/17/08 @ 12:53As president of CARE, this letter was sent via email and also by post office mail and I believe I am due for a response. CARE was organized in 2006 and to date, a lot of Alimodiananons benefited from the programs manned by young volunteers in town. In a year, we successfully garnered an approval from the IRS for a tax-exempt status to encourage donors to help out our "cause".
We are asking the SB for names of barangay kapitans so we can coordinate and extend our services to the barrios. We are also encouraging teachers assigned in the barrios to borrow books for the residents. There is no political color to this but just to extend our services and share the love of reading to everyone.
Concerned Alimodiananon Resource on Education, Inc. (CARE)
63 Turning Mill Lane, Quincy, MA 02169
3 March 2008
The Members of the Sangguniang Bayan
Alimodian, Iloilo, Philippines
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
As some of you know, the Concerned Alimodiananon Resource on Education, Inc. (CARE), organized in 2006 and recently approved as a nonprofit/tax-exempt corporation by the State of Connecticut, is committed to helping educate the children of Alimodian.
CARE is proud of its book-lending, Drop Everything and Read (DEAR), and mentorship and awards initiatives. Like most projects that involve the “life of the mind,” the results are not tangible, and therefore do not lend to visual presentation, but a casual observation of the operations of the book-lending in the Kamalig and the reading program (DEAR) in the Plaza area validates our optimism that efforts of the sort that CARE is involved in do make a difference.
CARE would like to reach as many children as it could by expanding its initiatives to the outlying barangays of Alimodian. In the last two years it has shared its modest resources with the public school teachers in more than half of the 51 barangays. Now that it has more resources to share, CARE is now in a position to increase it contribution to the education of children outside of the poblacion. For starter, we can provide a set of encyclopedia to every barangay. Our hope is that every barangay will use this initial offering to organize a reading center that is all its own, and provide reading and educational resources to its own residents, especially its schoolchildren.
In this regard, we will appreciate if you will provide us with the names of the barangay kagawad/kapitan, and, more importantly, if you will encourage them to work with CARE in bringing an educational resource to their barangays.
We at CARE believe that every child in Alimodian deserves to realize his/her God-given potential, and all Alimodiananons owe her/him the chance to realize that potential. The numbers do not matter; one child we help raise into adulthood is one potential realized to become a productive citizen of Alimodian – and ALL we Alimodiananons will be better for it.
Please visit us at www.alimodian.net.
On behalf of CARE, thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Leila C. Amarra
President, CARE
Concerned Alimodiananon Resource on Education, Inc.
Leila Caparanga Amarra . Raymond Altura Deza . Angioline Loredo . Noah Montenegro.
Michelle Ann Loredo . Cirilo Caparanga . Mariel Fleur Loredo
03/17/08 @ 20:29More on THE POLITICS OF PARANOIA IN ALIMODIAN
About two years ago I received a memorable e-mail from a young Alimodiananon whom I have not had the pleasure of meeting (yet), but whom I have heard good things about through the years. By all accounts he is an outstanding young man whom all Alimodiananons could be proud of, not only for his personal accomplishments, but, more importantly, for caring deeply about the town of his birth. Unfortunately, like many others, at one important point in his life when he could have made a little contribution to Alimodian, the political leadership of the town had made him feel inconsequential. The e-mail was intended for my eyes only; it was his way of “encouraging” and supporting CARE in the early days (for which I was profoundly grateful). I apologize to him now for violating his confidence by reprinting parts of his letter, but I hope he will understand my reason for doing so.
Here goes (a slightly edited version):
“When I was in (a Philippine government agency), I had the opportunity to inform our mayor (then and now again) that the agency was developing the ________all over the country. To make the story short, that’s how ______ came to be. I, together with a group of civic-minded people, was happy to received a certificate of appreciation from the local government, and before that, a “personal thank you” from the mayor. And I still remember _______ telling me with amusement how the candidates related their own efforts/sacrifices (in making that project possible) during the succeeding 1995 elections.
“I thought that small tip was the beginning of a collaboration between the civic-minded people and the town officials for the betterment of our town. But I was wrong. After I left the agency, I got involved in projects sponsored by a certain politician. I made a tip again (about how we could take advantage) but there was no feedback from the mayor. After the 2004 elections I got to know someone who’s very close to another senator and said that he could help. So I made a call again to the mayor, and even went to his residence just to give the information and the requirements so the senator could put aside some amount for the _______, or whichever (project) they deemed a priority. Still, I got nothing.
“With that, I began to wonder if I did something to offend them. There must have been one because I couldn’t find any reason why they could not get the municipal council to make a resolution asking a senator or congressman for financial assistance for this and that. That was all I needed. But they did not bother at all to politely tell me that they had other sources in mind. Maybe it was the joke that someone started (that I was to run for mayor in 1998) that did me in.
“I wasn’t after for anything. How disappointing it was to be turned down because perhaps they perceived you to be a threat to their positions. The fruit was just right there for the picking. But they won't use a ladder from someone else.”
03/24/08 @ 05:55‘MASUBO NA ANG HOLY WEEK SA ALIMODIAN. INDI NA MASADYA’
Here’s one young Alimodiananon’s take on the recent Holy Week celebration in Alimodian:
“Last Wednesday night I travelled to Alimodian to be with my folks for the Lenten celebration. Part of me was anticipating a huge turn out of crowd for this special event. I always boast to my friends and co-workers here in the city that the Holy Week in Alimodian is something out of ordinary -- more festive, more joyous and having one great time with friends and family though this should be the time for some reflection on the life and passion of Jesus Christ.
“Holy Thursday night, I chit-chatted with friends at the plaza, waiting for the crowd to show up. It's just so different, the feeling that it was indeed "semana santa." The atmosphere was mellow, the plaza was nothing like it used to be in the good times gone by. That night, you could actually count the people present. Where was the crowd that used to stay up till the wee hours of the morning? The crowd that used to watch the Last Supper stage play? The crowd sitting at the volleyball/sepak takraw and basketball court, eating balut, barbecue or mani, or just chit-chatting? Whatever happened to the barrio folks who would spend the night at the tienda or plaza waiting for the next day procession and dignum at night?
“I had written before about this dying tradition of Alimodian's Holy Week celebration. There used to be a procession during Holy Thursday, but the parish abolished it. So what if the people would like to walk around the town, praying the rosary, praying at every station of the cross, not just on Good Friday but on Holy Thursday as well? Wouldn't it be considered as "penitensya"? Although this season can also draw some tourists into town, the local government is not very supportive. The decorations of the stations of the cross (kapiyas) was just so mediocre. So I just went to bed early.
“On Holy Friday, since there was a procession and "dignum" at night, there was a good crowd turnout. Still, nothing compared to the "golden years" when you could hardly move around the plaza and everyone was bumping into one another.
“Yesterday, Easter Sunday, the "bitay" ay naka tongtong na lang.
“So this Holy Week, I was overcome with nostalgia, of poignant memories of the past and how I really missed those days. I am lucky that I was able to witness it and had been part of those years when the Holy Week was about rejoicing and being thankful that I was saved by the Savior.
“That's what happened here...masubo na ang Holy Week sa Alimodian. Indi na masadya.”
03/24/08 @ 19:15Question for discussion:
WHO KILLED THE LENTEN TRADITION IN ALIMODIAN?
03/31/08 @ 04:22we are proud of that young Alimdodiananon who for his contribution in the perception of our town development. isa lang ang mahambal namon nga ang merito kag indi proyekto ang ambisyon kang sa mga gamhanan sa banwa.
About the P100Million Loan of the LGU, 10Million will be the kickback by the first couple and of course a little part for SB Salarda because of her "paghimakas nga maaprubahan ang loan with the concurrence of the sangguniang barangay"
maaram man bala si SB Salarda pero nagapagamit pa gid being a Chairman of the Committee on Budget & Appropraitions, tana gid nagahimakas magbinutig ka eksplikar sa kabarangayan about the loan.
if we remember during the incumbency of Mayor Marylou, waay na ginabaton ang mga project proposals ni Cong, Syjuco kay kontrahanay sanda, gani nag utang ang Alimodian kag ang nagabayad ang taga barangay, dapat taw-an daad ti budget ang barangay kay pigado indi nga kilkilan pa ti budget nga inugbayad sa utang. Karon kay mayaday naman ang first couple kag syjuco, insa mautang pa? kay waay man nagatupa ang mga promisa ni Syjuco hasta karon amo ra nga mautang na lang ang banwa ta.
waay pa mataho ang mga apo ta may utang ron. Dapat ekplikar ka LGU Officials ta ang rason kag ang padulongan kang utang nga P100Million antis naman otison ang taga barangay nga magpirma kag ang indi mapirma indi katiraw bisan isa ka hakup nga baras para sa proyekto ka barangay. kay ang nagligad nga loan waay man ti mehora gid sa economic growth ka banwa ta kag puro lang kick back nga ang makaginansya amo lamang ang mag-asawa kag ang mga promoters nanda.
Who killed the lenten tradition in Alimodian?
ang simbahan may kakulangan man. Poor evangelization about the Catholic Faith and Traditions. kag waay man gina encourage ang mga volunteer workers sa simbahan amo ra nga tama ka kulang ang resources pati ang workers.
Upliftment of traditional values for moral recovery are needed to reform and to promote the faith and tradition of the Alimodiananon. Dapat ang eskwelahan may hanggud man nga role sa aspekto nga dya.
if still we don't mind of the investigation, on graft & corruption cases in alimodian, hopefully we should take an oppurtunity to announce this;
WANTED SPOKESPERSONS OF THE CORRUPT ALIMODIAN LGU OFFICIALS!!!!
Qualifications: Pangayaw kag tumandok
04/01/08 @ 10:34JE ME SOUVIENS – THE MOTTO OF QUEBEC, AND, NOW, ALIMODIAN’S
I can no longer recall the details of this story, but I’ll tell it anyway, never mind whether or not I get the “facts” correctly, to illustrate a point.
It must have been the mid-60s, the mayor could have been Tio SIMEON SALARDA (?) and the parish priest could have been Rev. Fr. SANTIAGO SEBERIAGA(?).
Anyway, during that particular Semana Santa, the long-simmering issue of whether or not to have a procession on Holy Thursday came to a head. Then, as now, the church was insisting on being ecclesiastically correct; that is, that holding a procession on the day before Good Friday was superfluous.
To make the long story short, the political and cultural leaders of the town at that time took control of the issue, directed the purok leaders to prepare the kapiyas for a Holy Thursday procession, and “ordered” the parish priest to walk in the procession. The blessed father hewed and hawed, at one point threatening not to stop at the kapiyas, but in the end, there was a Holy Thursday procession – and Alimodiananons were treated to an added bonus of a parish priest walking in the procession flanked by uniformed security guards. Needless to say, we giggled over the story of the unholy spectacle for a very long time.
I had always admired that older generation of Alimodiananons, but since that Holy Week incident, I loved them forevermore.
They were wise – and they had the temerity to put the parish priest in his (proper) place.
They understood, as the present political and religious leaders of Alimodian do not, that traditions like the celebration of the Holy Week and the Town Fiesta are not just religious celebrations – they are community celebrations. Therefore, they belong to everyone, to ALL Alimodiananons, including those who belong to other religious affiliations and those who do not practice organized religion. They are ecumenical celebrations; they belong to the ages. That is why they are called “traditions” in the first place; the word comes from the Latin “traditio,” meaning to hand over (to the next generation). Our grandparents and the grandparents before them had observed the Holy Week in a certain fashion, and that certain fashion had been passed on to their children and grandchildren (until lately). Generation after generation had shared the same rituals; we had shared them long enough they have defined who we are as Alimodiananons.
It is not for the parish priest to decide for himself on how to observe the traditions of Alimodiananons. But if he must, he must do so with utmost respect of the town’s cultural sensibilities.
What is so terribly blasphemous about holding an extra day of procession? Any occasion that brings people together is good for the town’s “spiritual” existence. Surely, there could have been an accommodation between the political and religious establishments on the form and substance of the Holy Week celebration. Surely, they could have come up with a compromise that both honored our heritage and kept our faith.
I don’t know what traditions (if there are still left) that the present-day political and religious leaders of Alimodian would like to hold on to.
Maybe only sentimental fools like us feel a nostalgia for that certain time and certain place called Alimodian – and wish we had leaders who are as wise as in the old days.
This sentimental fool cannot let that time and place pass into oblivion without comment.
Je me souviens. I remember.
04/04/08 @ 01:45Kung ako kanimo Barbie Doll, aplayan mo ang position nga spokesperson.
04/04/08 @ 22:32barbiedolls and LGU Connections, dont be hot!
explain ti mayad ang sitwasyon, comments ko sa grupo nyo kag dyan sa munisipyo, indi kamo dapat magkomentar, manugbalita lang tinyo, plastar lang ang masubo kag bisan masadya nga sitwasyon ka banwa nga apektado ang pomuluyo.
to the SB Members, kon may SB Members gid man ang Alimodian, ano ang panindugan nyo??
tagpira ka milyon ang ginpahamham sa kada SB Member nga maga aprroved sa loan nga dya?
bati ko nag cash advance ron iban nga SB Member kuno kag c/o lang sa kickback sa loan??
palihog explain ka P100Million loan (UTANG) ka mga inanak ni Magtanong.
ano ang panindugan ka mga Saragudon ka Banwa ta sa isyu nga dya?
Tama ka klaro ang kickback nga P10Million out of P100Million loan in preparation for 2010 Election of the Alipaos Corporation.
Ginapalibot nyo lang ulo ka taga barangay naga-arasik laway nyo ka explain sa publiko nga bangud indi masarigan si Syjuco kang 2001 gani waay makaagum ka proyekto ang alimodian amo ra nga nagutang kita sang tiempo ni Mayor Marylou, karon kay pati dapa dapa ni Syjuco ginadilapan nyo na gid, mangutang pa gid kita...!
Makaloloy nga taga barangay.
To my favorite teacher Maam Julie Salarda, through an informant, ikaw gid ang nagahimakas nga matigayon dya nga loan. Lihog paathag dya sa blog abi para mahangpan ta, kay mas nakaintiende tamon nga taga abroad and other open minded, professionals and Alimodiananon with dignity and concern compare sa taga baryo (in fairness, indi man tanan) nga ginapahog nyo para mapirma kag isa pa MAHU-OD man lang dia mga barangay officials.
paigmaan nyo lang sa balay ni mayor kag kurongon, waay ti isa kananda nga magbalibad magpirma.
Let the Alimodiananon here and abroad be informed about the LGU loan. Pomuluyo ka banwa ka dya ang magabayad kag indi ang mag asawa nga Alipao.
TO SB MEMBERS: Kon interes ka banwa gina-apinan nyo, indi pagpatigayunon ang loan, instead, sukton ta si Syjuco ka mga promisa na sa Alimodian nga waay matuman.
Apang kon interes ka alipao ginadampigan nyo, next Session nyo, aprob dayon ah!!!!
04/05/08 @ 07:50"explain ti mayad ang sitwasyon . . ."
Yes, please.
It would be helpful for all of us to have the what, who, where, when, and why of this 100 million loan that the LGU is getting on behalf of the people of Alimodian.
Editorializing is fine, but it is not a substitute for "facts".
If we have to advocate for/against issues such as this, we have to do so on an evidence-based position. Otherwise, what credibility do we have, given that there are no names of real people that we can attach to the comments being made?
However, if we have the "facts," we can say,
"let the facts speak for themselves".
So, Barbie Dolls et al., please explain what the loan is all about, even just the bare facts in the meantime, and some of the verifiable circumstances surrounding it.
Thank you.
04/06/08 @ 19:19Last March 29 during the ALSA dinner dance Dr. Gema Guanco made an appeal to raise a significant amount of money to help our needy townmates and some important projects.personally i like her idea.i think it's a great idea.
By the way the party was great!and the food was fabulous! thanks to Alicer team to make that event a memorable one!
We owe the Alicer's a MILLION THANKS for that success.THANK YOU..THANK YOU...THANK YOU..!
Dr.Guanco plan is fantastic,heroic a noble and compassionate one.I was touch by her speech that i made a pledge my self to chip-in for a good cause.to those who didn't pledge yet? please do. para man dya sa tanan.
As always Dr.Gema Guanco is a geniune Alimodianon that always look back and think what she can help.she is setting a good example for us to follow.
What hurt me and makes my heart bleeds is..if this new allegation of Barbie Dolls is proven to be true..this is really an insult to people like Dr.Guanco and the rest who pledge to help and been helping already financially to make a difference in Alimodian.the potential donors might also change their mind.
It is mind bugling and airy to think that these people who suppose to take responsilities to address the basic needs of their people are the same people who abuse and take advantage of them.
Ano dya wa-ay ron ti katapusan dya nga kurakot?
abi barbie dolls i buyag-yag ang detalyi ka breaking news nga dya para ma athagan ang tanan.
as I said before..and i will say it again in fairness to those whose been accused please give us a detailed facts.
"BASI TIKAL WALA TUPA LANG IMO NI YA?"
Is this FICTION or FACTS! daw kara-hadlukan ang figure nga gin mention mo.
BY THE MILLIONS.
04/07/08 @ 10:13WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?
Ang mayad daad ka dya, ang LGU mismo ang mag explain sa taga-Alimodian what the loan is all about, what it is for, how it is going to be paid, etc.
After all indi dya personal loan kang mga SB members -- utang dya ka banwa. And the amount involved is indi sinentimos.
For the life of me I cannot understand tu waay gid ti information program ang aton LGU. The lack of desire to inform the Alimodianons of important issues borders almost on arrogance -- or is it incompetence? Ang anda mantra is -- you need not know anything, trust us, we know best.
Daw mayad pa tu sa kapanahunan ni Tio MELITON TACAL -- may bando. Granted those were simpler times, but the idea is as modern as the technology now available for spreading information, i.e., SO THE PEOPLE MAY KNOW.
Absent any information from the LGU, is it any wonder that some people are extrapolating right and left, top and bottom, from what little information they have at hand?
What do you expect?
The LGU cannot simply cry "Foul"; it must release all the information relevant to the 100M loan.
It is its responsibility; it owes it to all Alimodiananons.
04/07/08 @ 11:34KOREK GID AL!
Mayad pa to tiempo ni Tio MELITON TACAL! ana ka iba nga taga baryo ka una ma LUB-OK ron ALOY kag KARAHO na kay ma mati anay ka bando para aware man sa mga balita ka banwa.
Tulad ang guwa na is..HE SAID SHE SAID NA LANG!daw divorce hearing ni judge Judy LOL!
Abi e double check ta dya kay Wil Anas kong tu-od dya ang gina alegar ni Barbie dolls.nami tana si Wil kay detalyado kag non-partisan.
HOT PANAWAGAN kay Wil Anas basi may inside scope ka sa issue nga dya please share it with us.
Also to Maniningad sa Hong kong Di-in ka ron?
abi tugda-tugda ka man sa blog. nahidlaw man kami ka nimo. dya issue P100 million kuno ang loan ka Alimodian ano ang say Mo?
04/07/08 @ 15:33Ang akon nakolekta nga mga haka-haka as of now are these: waay pa matupa ang loan nga ja, sa planning/or maybe second phase pa lang? Gin presentar sa SB ang plano nga ja para itaw-an authority ang mayor para mag negotiate ka loan without specifying kon sin-o ang magrant ka loan, pira ang interest rate, diin maadto ang kwarta, etc.. Gin approve ka SB nga taw-an ang mayor ti authority para manegotiate. Maan kon may nag object man sa mga SB members ta?
Ang bati ko pa gid nga kung mayad ang banwa magbayad ka anda monthly/yearly payments for say 5 years ang loan mahimo na lang nga grants. (Are you kidding) Ang kwarta nga halin sa loan ipaobra ka tinda kag iban pa nga proyekto.
Ang question nga dako is diin kita ma-buol ka inog bayad? Bu-ol bu-ol lang.
04/07/08 @ 19:06Basi siguro long term loan dya eh..? good credit on-time payment mahimo lang nga grant instead of loan? wow! sounds like a good deal to me? better than low interest rate.
sa di-in kita ma bu-ol ka inog bayad? ti? asta man mga apo ta ka dya ma bayad? basi pati apo ta sa tuhod ma dalahig pa.
One thing pa siguro aton ha-um ha-um lang dya!(pasinsiya lang ang mga taga LGU kay you guys are keeping us in the dark.)
Ano dya klasi loan? conventional or sub-prime.basi abutan na ka dya is mortgage meltdown?
Ti? kong tu-od dya nga uso ang kick-back ka naton ti? ma meltdown lang gid siguro dya ang P100 million.kabay pa nga ma tupa dya sa mayad nga prohekto. kong indi ang ma write-off ka dya ay Alimodian tax payers.
Good luck gid sa loan kabay pa nga ma aprovahan dayon.
04/16/08 @ 11:07Allow me to share with everyone what I learned from my MBA course in OB (Organizational Behaviour):
The issue with the voting public of Alimodian is VALUES.
They guide our choices and our decisions. Values are influenced by ETHICS, what we believe is good or bad, right or wrong. These value systems are unique from one individual to another. They are influenced by cultural, religious, and social factors.
It is not a surprise to me why all of the efforts to “wake up” the voters are falling on deaf ears.
It is not a surprise to me why they sell their votes.
Selling their votes is what they believe is good for them. Our town mates in Alimodian live day to day just satisfying their PHYSIOLOGICAL NEEDS (food, shelter, clothing). Money therefore, is the strongest motivator. Mere survival is what they worry about. If they are able to feed their family, clothe themselves and their children, and have a roof over their heads, they believe that they did the RIGHT thing. I’m not saying they are not ethical. What I’m saying is that their ethical view of what is right or wrong, good or bad, is very PRIMAL. They see doing crimes as wrong. Selling votes is not.
We abroad have our physiological, safety and social needs easily fulfilled on a regular basis. We now have a need for ESTEEM. This relates to self-esteem, self-respect, gaining recognition, as well as engaging in activities and causes that gives us a sense of contribution. Our value system is different, and money is not a strong enough motivator for us to change our beliefs. This is what drives NOAH, AL, among others, to go on and on and on, trying to make a difference. We see a different set of right and wrong on what is going on in Alimodian, because we can AFFORD to. We rose above what is pragmatic, those where money rules.
This incongruence between our value systems is like a wall. We are not getting through. However we should not stop trying. The only thing worse than failure is not doing anything.
Php500 is barely enough to take 4 people to Ted’s Batchoy for an afternoon snack, depends if you want to have puto and softdrinks.
My question to those selling their votes:
Is an afternoon snack at Ted’s Batchoy enough to bear four years of corrupt governing?
04/17/08 @ 23:44want to learn more about alimodian?
just visit the place and ascertain realities.
want to hear lgu affairs?
ask the market vendors and not the the lgu employees.
want to find out the truth about alimodian?
ask the church leaders.
want to kow lgu assets?
ask the administrator.
want to monitor the price of groceries?
ask the mayor.
want to know barangay fiesta schedules and activities?
ask the sangguniang bayan.
want to shed light on graft & corruption issues?
ask the opposition.
04/18/08 @ 05:10Talking of values? Mirror, mirror on the wall.......
04/18/08 @ 23:08It's always interesting to see some people say something just for the sake of saying something.
It's also interesting to see some people, instead of challenging your thoughts and opinions openly, they respond through personal attacks and hiding behind an alias on top of that.
Have seen it happen several times in this blog.
04/19/08 @ 18:35It is interesting to read some suggestive questions by LGU@connect about the real picture of Alimodian and what's really happining behind the curtain of political stage show in Alimodian.
probably the answer to some of those questions is most likely true or just a mere political issue.
suggesting to ask the opposition about graft & corruption in Alimodian?
My question is..who are those opposition they're talking about. is there any so called organized opposition or authentic oppositopn in Alimodian?
Those people who really care to oppose of what is wrong at the same time offering the solution to the problem. a UNITER not a DIVIDER (sounds a familiar line)
I think the answer to my question is NO! I think the opposition in Alimodian is opposing only because of their own vital personal interest
which is..
1.Kwar-kwar ni Congressman and...
2.
3.
4.
5.
please fill in the blanks!
04/21/08 @ 02:26opposition you mean MAKIKWARTA????
the same with ADMINISTRASYON nga NANGWARTA MAN??
04/21/08 @ 04:48Maman-an ta ria kung maka pwesto sanda (although some of them had held office in previous LGU administrations)-- if they are any DIFFERENT from the people they accuse of graft and corruption, incompetence, etc.
WHAT DO THE REST OF THE ALIMODIANANONS THINK?
As usually happens in Alimodian, most Alimodiananons have made up their minds one way or the other about the personalities in the opposition party.
My beef with the so-called opposition party in Alimodian is -- you do not know what the party or its members stand for.
That is, apart from its/their primarily talent of lobbing personal attacks at the members of the other party.
When they say they want to serve the town and their kasimanwas, what exactly do they mean?
Does anyone have any idea?
Let me share the story of our encounter with a candidate in last year's LGU election.
During the launching of CARE Binalud, Nong Ramon Anino and an SB candidate sought us out in Binalud for a brief chit-chat.
Now, I respect Nong Ramon Anino and his courage in running in the last election. I have had a good conversation with him about the political landscape in Alimodian, and I understand where he is coming from. Among others, that, as he has said himself, his time has come to pass, his role is simply to give advice when sought; it is up to the "younger" opposition members to carry on (whatever the objectives are).
The SB candidate who came with him made a big fuss of how CARE, i.e., Education, was just the kind of initiative that excited her.
She promised that after the election, she will organize the same set-up in CARE Binalud in her own neighborhood in the poblacion.
Wow, we thought, here's someone who understood the importance of helping educate all the children of Alimodian. How lucky for us. How lucky for Alimodian.
The election came and went. Like most of the opposition party members, she did not make it.
We waited for her to contact us. After a good many months with no word from her, we asked someone to follow-up. Finally, we wrote the whole thing off.
We do not bear her personal ill-will. In this business, you live and learn. We were just disappointed, not so much that she did not keep her word, but that she did even try to contact us.
At the same time we realize yet again that in the heat of the campaign, politicians will tell you what you want to hear.
She was just another politician.
So, would anyone from the opposition party tell us exactly what they stand for?
04/22/08 @ 05:09This is not an answer to Al's question about opposition but just a comment on the "mentality" of some (or most) Alimodiananons.
During the ACES reunion, I showcased CARE's "Drop Everything And Read" (DEAR) program with our young Alimodiananon volunteers who took time out of their busy schedules to help the kids, etc.
Here's the response from one the the SB candidates:
"Kon madaog ako, maserbisyo ako dyan. Buligan ta kamo."
Isn't running for SB considered public service? CARE is public service, too! The difference? One gives you salary possibly without giving much of your time and the latter is giving much of the your time without monetary reward but a GREAT FEELING that YOU HELPED!
04/22/08 @ 21:17"Kon madaog ako,maserbisyo ako dyan.Buligan ta kamo" ti? ano kuno to kong indi ka mag da-og bay?indi ikaw ma bulig? porke ka pa nag kandidato.
I think that was a lousy arguement.whoever that SB candidate was,i hope he/she was not elected. because i don't think she/he will be a good legislator.
Buttomline here is..you don't have to be a elected official or candidate to help for something useful like DEAR and other useful project in Alimodian.
I think DEAR is the best case for a future candidate to argue and show to the people of Alimodian that he/her care about education.
But..then back to the conversation of how authentic that candidate will be or may be gimmick lang ana kay election time.just like what LCA and AL mentioned above.
Everybody knows that a good education is a passport to a better life.most of the time that statement is true.there is no debate about that.
Right now are way..way.. behind when it comes to books and reading materials that our children in Alimodian needs.that's why there is CARE/DEAR program.it is design to address that huge gap.
To advocate or to oppose something that is not right is the duty of every citizen.that's the beauty of democratic and civilized society.i assume everybody knows that.or may be they didn't want to know,for some obvious reason "tamad ka gamo"that's understandable.
Not because we're inticing revolution in Alimodian by drumming up opposition..but i think the more people say and complain of something fishy and stinky is better off than doing nothing and keeping quite.
Again this is nothing to do to who's in the administration.this is just something that you need a courage to say something.something that is not right,and you have nothing scare or ashame of.
By doing that you're doing your share of helping your community.
04/23/08 @ 12:06Quote: Everybody knows that a good education is a passport to a better life.most of the time that statement is true.there is no debate about that.
Nong Noah,
I personally testify to that statement. My brothers and I grew up slightly privileged. We had access to most material things available to show that we had a "good life".
But like all things material, one day it's here, the next day it's gone. Especially if the "good life" as I knew it was not something I had to work for to enjoy. You take it for granted, and you don't know how to take care of it since you don't appreciate the effort it took to obtain it.
Through the hard way I realized that the most precious commodity that one person can own is knowledge. Nobody can take that away from you.
The more you enhance it, the more it rewards you if you put it to good use.
I haven't stopped studying. I am currently pursuing another educational goal. Has it contributed to me having a better life? Definitely. Has it helped making me a better person? Absolutely.
We are now in an era where it no longer matters whom you know, or what strings you can pull. It still exists, yes. However, these are only temporary and very uncertain. At the end of the day, it is only you who can do something for yourself. But if you possess the knowledge, you have the very basics to succeed.
04/23/08 @ 16:46Inday Lyn,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I agree with you. you guys grew up priviledged.
but..the difference between you to some other priviledge kids is..
"indi tinyo hambog"
I like the notion nga bisan sin-o maka huram ka racer bike ni Dodoy silver kag Tatot kag maka sakay sa Kotsi ni tatay mo,kag naga bulig kong sin-o may kinahanglan,kay may extra tinyo.
Kag si Nanay mo Linda palangga na ang mga taho sa baryo.
Wa-ay naga lubad. I wish you the best of luck for your further studies hope you can attain your goal soon!
I'm sorry to hear of what happened to Dodoy Silver.
04/23/08 @ 17:47Ay, thank you for your kind words! Everyone of us learn our lessons throughout our lives, and finding a way to rise above those experiences, makes us who we are now.
Si Manang mo Linda dya ay, lipay ron nga tunaw ron ang snow. Kag lipay gid na nakapa kodak nga naga pala kang snow. Tulad naga dali mag-uli sa pinalangga na nga Alimodian.
Humility is something ingrained, I guess. Kon si Manang mo Linda pa, she still describes herself as a "manog tagabang" in her early days. Si Tatay used to also describe himself as a ticket seller sa Negros Navigation.
The have always been aware of their roots and they made us aware of it everyday.
One of the important life lessons I learned:
Just providing fish without teaching how to fish is never a good thing. What happens when the fisherman dies?
04/23/08 @ 23:30Good day!
I'm too busy this day and laid out on this site for almost a month now, any way, when I read the issues on the alleged LGU proposed loan, I tried to dig deeper on this issue and I've got the following informations.
The SB indeed approved a resolution granting the Mayor to negotiate a loan from the Finbar Asia, a Non Governmental Organization of which I have no knowledge and information on what they are doing. According to my source, the head of this NGO is a certain Yosuph Diokno, also I have no information about him.
The authority to negotiate a contract granted to the Mayor does not create an obligation it is merely an authority to explore the possibility of contracting an obligation. The mayor has been granted an authority to ask questions on the terms and conditions of the proposed loan and how it might be availed by the LGU. That's the only authority given by the SB. The Mayor then, after knowing everything he wanted to know, inform the SB on the terms and conditions of the loan and request the SB to grant him an authority to contract a loan together with the authority to sign a loan agreement in behalf of the Municipality of Alimodian. The guiding principle here is that the proposed loan should benefit the common 'tao'.
The loan offered by Finbar Asia is of a minimum amount of P500 million. Alimodian is one of the 5 municipalities in the second district of Iloilo conceived to avail the loan of P500 million. Fifty percent on this availment is a grant and the remaining fifty percent is a loan payable in 25 years, however, my source has no information on the rate of interest, and etc.
Another terms this loan is that, all projects under this loan shall be constructed and supplied by the contractor and supplier of which the Finbar Asia shall appoint or name.
So far, there were no concrete projects being eyed on this loan, however, I would guess that a proposed transfer of Alimodian Public Market in sitio Taban is the primary candidate, another is the construction of a Promenade Along the Aganan River from Nichols Bridge to Legaspi Street with a dual purpose of containing flash flood and an alternative road inside Poblacion.
I hope I had shed lights on this issue, and as what I had said, the guiding principle in contracting this loan is for the benefit of common tao.
04/24/08 @ 05:14Welcome back brother!
Thanks for stepping up in the plate and telling us partial story about this loan offered by NGO Finbar Asia.
Seems like it's a good fifty/fifty deal? 500 million deal,split 50 percent grant 50 percent loan. payable in 25 years,interest rate remain to be seen.I assume it's a skyrocket interest rate..sa di-in bawi-on ka FINBAR ang 250 million nga grant kundi sa interest rate.(forgive me if i'm wrong.)
In other words 250 million payable for 25 years..how much is our monthy or yearly payment? and the source of revenue or income to pay this loan.
"INDAY LYN BALOLOT PLEASE DO THE MATH PART"
Package deal grantor will appoint the contractor/subcontractor and supplier.
sounds fair?
please input your comments.
04/24/08 @ 08:00HOW ABOUT IF THE LGU INVESTS ON THE FUTURE OF THE CHILDREN OF ALIMODIAN?
It does not need to take out millions in loan for the purpose, the investment will benefit directly the intended recipients (i.e., the common tao), and the benefits are long-term.
It beats constructing a “paseo” from Nichols to Legaspi.
Of course we must invest on physical infrastructure, but just as importantly, we must invest on PEOPLE.
It won’t matter where you relocate the public market, if you do not stimulate growth in PRODUCTIVITY and COMMERCE at the same time, a brand-new marketplace won’t improve the economic life of the common tao.
Sometimes we think that building edifices is an end in itself. We build a handsome “gym” and confuse it for “educating” our children. Buildings do NOT educate children – good teachers, dedicated mentoring, healthy children, availability of books, school supplies, and educational materials, etc. DO.
You can educate children under a mango tree.
Many children of Alimodian do not go beyond a high school education, let alone an elementary education. It is mostly a function of economics, but partly a function of motivation and other unquantifiable social factors.
The educational system by itself CANNOT educate adequately our children. The town, as a whole, should make the education of its children a main responsibility. The political leadership and the adult population can do this with initiatives that require mostly time, energy, and commitment.
The town does not need to take out loans to do these initiatives.
We wish that all our children will go beyond high school, get a higher education, and pursue professions and careers that will give them the lives they have imagined.
But if it does not happen (and we know that for most it wont), by educating and mentoring them, at the very least we would have raised functional literates, and caring and productive adult citizens of Alimodian.
If as an added bonus we had taught the children to love books and they carry the habit of reading throughout their lives, we would have given them a life of the mind that no one can take away from them.
04/24/08 @ 09:16Below is the website of Finbar Asia.
http://finbarasia.com/
Php250M loan payable in 25 years, assuming 7% FIXED interest:
If paid monthly:
Monthly principal payment - 833,333
Monthly interest payment - 1,458,333
Total monthly payment - 2,291,667
Total interest paid per year - 17.5 million
Total interest paid in 25 years - 437.5 million
If the lending rate is more/less than 7% p.a., then these amounts will change. If the interest calculation method is not FIXED, then the amounts will also change.
04/24/08 @ 14:45Quote: Another terms this loan is that, all projects under this loan shall be constructed and supplied by the contractor and supplier of which the Finbar Asia shall appoint or name.
Comment: It is obvious from this comment that the freedom to have the contracts up for bidding will be lost. Finbar Asia will have full authority to appoint any supplier or contractor, with whom I believe they will earn a commission from. The Municipality of Alimodian will eventually end up paying more than it would if these projects were open for bidding to the public.
Quote: So far, there were no concrete projects being eyed on this loan, however, I would guess that a proposed transfer of Alimodian Public Market in sitio Taban is the primary candidate, another is the construction of a Promenade Along the Aganan River from Nichols Bridge to Legaspi Street with a dual purpose of containing flash flood and an alternative road inside Poblacion.
Comment: A crucial part of Project Management includes not only the identification of the projects, but a solid forecast on:
1. Project Cost - including the timing of cash outflow
2. Project Benefits - since the town is paying interest plus a premium on Finbar Asia's approved contractors and suppliers, a projection should be made whether or not the 500M investment can generate enough revenues to cover the interest paid for the whole term.
3. Cash Flow - assuming the cost-benefit analysis is favourable, there is also the timing of cash. Will there be sufficient funds available to meet the scheduled repayment of the loan on its due dates? For this to be a succesful venture, it has to be SELF-SUSTAINING, since it's borrowed money.
If these basic considerations are not carefully examined, the town of Alimodian will quickly spend all of the 500 million, then end up with a loan for the next 25 years that they won't know where to get the repayment from. What will they do then? Borrow again? Pass it on to the next administration?
Unless there is evidence that this plan can generate at least 2.5 million pesos a month, this is not going to work.
Also, is the whole amount of 500 million necessary?
04/24/08 @ 21:12To summarized this issue and the benefits of this propose project is..
1) do we really need a new market location, and spend a tons of loan money for construction and operating expences?
2) Is this new propose market is triggered by economic boom,consumer demand simply because the product and supply is overwhelming? and no more room for expansion?
3) what is the new use of old market and the benefits to the town people. is it be a new prime real estate property to attract investors to invest and creat a new job or business opportunity for the town folks? or is it be a de ja vu all over again.
I think the other proposed project which is construction of double purpose promenade to prevent flood that could wipe out the river bank residents at the same time an alternative road is very strategic.
The damage created by quarry operation kay naga ab-ab ron ang suba..and the chances of having a severe flood damage sa Alimodian is 20 times greater than 20 years ago nga wa-ay ti quarry.
That's why i consider this propose project strategic and smart.
The new Market location is debatable.it depends who said and what persoanl interest and party he or she is leaning toward.
We leave that responsibility to our LGU to clarify the doubts and questions that linger our mind.
04/26/08 @ 06:44LOVE IS NEVER HAVING TO SAY YOU'RE SORRY
Speaking of the LGU, for more than two years now, we have written the SB and/or the Mayor/Municipal Administrator on a regular basis on various concerns affecting Alimodiananons.
In our last communication, LCA had requested a list of barangay kapitans, and, indirectly, sought its cooperation in networking with the kapitans on CARE initiatives.
Of course we have not had the pleasure, much less the courtesy, of getting responses from them, much less an acknowledgment of our letters.
We have had knowledge of and interaction with other LGUs in Iloilo and in other parts of the Philippines, and Alimodian seems to be an exception in that its political leadership does not seem to give a damn about what its citizens think.
Let me correct that -- the LGU does not give a damn about what its citizens think unless it can use them for its political advantage.
ASK NOT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR ALIMODIAN, ASK WHAT YOU CAN DO TO GET US REELECTED.
Most likely we will continue writing the LGU until hell freezes over – as a matter of courtesy (something we believe in) and because hope springs eternal.
Next time the LGU and/or its apologists criticize(s) “ang mga taga-abroad” for not doing anything, it will give us great pride and joy to throw these letters at their faces.
04/30/08 @ 03:00Excerpts from the speech of Ram Pineda (PamagCUSA Chairman) during the FALCON Summit on "Good Governance and the Art of Cooking Bibingka"
Millenium Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles, CA, April 26, 2008)
..."But for all the blessings we have attained, the Philippines is like our first love in high school, you know, the one that we cannot forget and cannot get over with, the one that sometimes occupies our mind, delighting us with fantasies of 'what ifs' and what could have been.
But the recent news that has been reaching us about our first love has been quite disturbing. It seems that our people are now neck-deep in misery, and it might not be long before despair turns to desperation.
In the face of unprecedented mudslinging, black propaganda, financial hand-outs and vote-buying, an innovative political campaign was launched by this assembly that was centered on hope and that appealed on conscience. Perhaps it helped that the candidate was a priest who was willing to sacrifice the practice of his vocation just to serve the Kapampangans in more fundamental ways. In the end, Fr. Eddie Panlilio won over an entrenched son of a popular actor-politician and the wife of the alleged top gambling lord in the Philippines. The unthinkable, the impossible happened. This life-changing experience has been set into a book by campaigners, entitled Luid Ka, which, translated, means Hail, a salute of dignity to a fellow human being.
In the past nine months, Among Ed, as the elected governor is more affectionately known, has achieved notable gains, including the collection of sand quarry revenues to the tune of 191,862,000 pesos as of April 18, as opposed to an average of 19 million pesos yearly in the past three administrative terms; the active and genuine campaign with bidders, contractors and suppliers against the so-called SOP, which is a euphemism for graft or grease money; the empowerment of the capitol employees through continuous capacity-building programs; the eradication of the 15-30 or ghost employees; the proper funding of the agricultural and aquaculture undertakings of the province; the establishment of an office that will exploit the tourism potentials of Kapampangan history and culture; the upgrading and re-equipment of district and provincial hospitals; and the rationalization of services for the poor and marginalized.
At the same time, the citizenry has been awakened to participate more actively in the shaping of their destiny. Civil societies were formed in order to represent the interests of different sectors; organizations and corporations from within the province, the nation and even from overseas, have stepped up their advocacies in social responsibility. Village organizations have been tapped to monitor the accomplishment of infrastructure projects.
This, in essence is the paradigm of cooking bibingka in Pampanga politics: init sa itaas, init sa ibaba, at maluluto ang galapong. (Bibingka, a type of rice cake, is a Filipino treat especially during Christmas. It is traditionally cooked with charcoal from above and below). From above, the elected leaders and the civil servants must persevere to implement change through good example. From below, the sovereign people must always take responsibility for themselves and for the policies of the leadership. The implementation and institutionalization of change in society should always involve transparency and accountability in government and the active vigilance of the citizenry. Even now, the Panlilio administration is besieged on all sides by those who want him to fail, especially those who have lost the opportunities to profit from the suffering of the poor. But the crusade for good governance still holds, because there is a responsible citizenship that remains vigilant of their desire to implement change.
Similarly, on a larger scale, the present political crisis surrounding our national leaders does not absolve the people from sharing in the blame, and when I say the people, it is inclusive of you and me. We are a part of the bibingka, for we are among those who stoke the fire from below, not only with our remittances, but also with our wealth of experiences in good citizenship. If we excuse ourselves from becoming influential voices in the confluence of events, then the bibingka of national culture will come out half-cooked at best. Even from across an ocean, we remain a part of nation-building, and even more so, because the Unites States remain to be the strongest ally of the Philippines.
Like other expatriate Filipinos all over the globe, we have been exposed to some of the best practices in humanity. We return our thoughts to home and ask, why not in our country? Then we realize that there are indeed points of hope in the bleak landscape, not only in Pampanga, but also in Marikina, in Naga City, in Isabela, in the City of San Fernando, even in pockets like Subic and Clark, (and Alimodian?) and so many other localities where government and citizenry cooperate and collaborate to bring out the best in the Filipino spirit. We can contribute to the uplift of our mother country by offering new practical paradigms, so that in the community of nations, the Philippines will be constrained to follow the path of modern political practice.
Conversely, the Pampanga Experience teaches us Fil-Americans two lessons. Kapampangans focused their unity on their collective dignity which was put to risk when the electorate was limited to a choice of the lesser of two evils. In a parallel vein, our common outrage was awakened when our revered medical practitioners were maligned by a television show that celebrates values contrary to our tradition. The Kapampangans have discovered lately that victory in the polls is but an initial step towards a journey of great struggle. Similarly, we in FALCON have realized that our outrage should be translated into a common action, and our unity should be sustained through common vision and consistent advocacy.
We here present may yet represent a few, but given the motivation to uphold our heritage and our name, we can bring down the goliaths of fragmented, parochial and regionalistic attitudes that have marked our communities here in the States. Filipinos of good will and unfailing hope have done it back home. They have proven that it is possible.
In the name of all Kapampangans of hope, I enjoin you, my fellow FilAmericans, let us not forget the Philippines, the first country we loved. I enjoin you, FALCON members, to help in cooking a good bibingka. Together, let us embrace the advancement of good governance and responsible citizenship and make it one of our primary advocacies.
Nuan ka, America, God bless America!
Luid ka, Pilipinas, Hail, Philippines
04/30/08 @ 09:22WHILE WE TALK OF LOANS TO BUILD A NEW MARKETPLACE AND A PROMENADE . . .
Excerpts from: “KNEE-JERK SUBTITUTES” by Juan L. Mercado ( Phil Daily Inquirer & Cebu Daily News 29 April 08 )
Since January, rice prices spurted by 141%. Thailand only partially filled Philippine export orders – at triple 2007 prices. Vietnam capped exports. The US partially closed the gap with hurried shipments.
The global spurt in food prices is crimping even middle-class families, notes World Food Programme’s Josette Sheeran. They’ve pulled belts a notch tighter: “But the poorest are selling their animals, tools, the tin roof over their heads – making recovery, when it comes, much harder.”
There’s no mystery why food is short. Farm lands shrank as urban areas expanded. “Asphalt is the last crop” in many places. Grain reserves dwindled. Shifting rainfall patterns, due to climate change, affect harvests, seen in Australia’s drought, Asian Development Bank notes.
New affluents in China and India tuck in more grain and meat stressing already eroded lands and depleted fishing grounds. Biofuel programs guzzle cereals into ethanol. And there are more mouths at dinner tables.
The overdue Philippine census claims there are now 88.5 million Filipinos, up from 76.5 million in 2000. This is an undercount, some scientists think. Some international groups, in fact, estimate there will be 92.6 million Filipinos come July. Yet, few "leaders" think of food security.
This crisis did not erupt full-blown over night. Food prices started to surge in 2001. FAO’s early warning system tracked the steady draw down of grain reserves. And agencies like Oxfam, among others, hit the alarm klaxon.
“We neglected agriculture,” Secretary Arthur Yap told Inquirer. “It was only recently that we started to fund irrigation, extension, seeds, post-harvest programs, etc.” Hindi ka nagi-isa Sec. “We are paying for 15 years of neglect”, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Bob Zeigler commented.
Congress belatedly pledges to vet 17 food bills. The opposition feebly murmurs ‘amen’, as the administration ‘throws money” at the crisis with a P43.7 billion program. National Food Authority import bills would chew up all VAT earnings from fuel, ADB notes. Thus, Sen Edgardo Angara lucidly argued this hemorrhage be staunched by a curb on NFA rice trading.
The Palace hints the President may dip into the P120-billion coconut levy for this bail out. Skimming this trust fund is serial theft. It would dwarf the Joc-Joc Bolante fertilizer scam.
Rice does not ripen upon signing of a check. Farmers must plow, sow, weed and reap. “Dreaming up a new seed and growing it commercially takes 10 to 15 years,” IRRI notes. Politicians don’t produce food. Only farmers and fisherfolk do.
A permanent solution to hunger rests, ultimately, with impoverished farmers and fisherfolk. Skewed social structures must be overhauled, so, they acquire land, seed, credit – and a fair share of the harvest or catch. “It is unfair that those who produce our food often go hungry first,” former Malayasian agriculture minister Datuk Hussien Ong wrote.
“The era of cheap food is over,” the Economist asserts. The transition from overflowing granaries to short rations has been “prolonged and more painful than anyone expected”.
Will our grandchildren be able to shop for tomorrow’s costlier food? Yes, if future policies are crafted now. But are the politically-distracted regime and opposition up to this task? Given the way they bumbled into today’s food quagmire, one wonders. Or will the President dump this task on whoever succeeds her in 2010, if ever?
Dogged inaction, however, guarantees disaster. “To a people idle and famished,” Mahatma Ghandi said, “the only form in which God dares to appear is food and the promise of work.” ####
(E-mail: juanlmercado@gmail.com)
05/01/08 @ 22:05"Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed, there are many rewards; if you disgrace yourself, you can always write a book."
- Ronald Reagan
05/12/08 @ 23:11SHOW US A COPY OR OPEN ANOTHER SECRET ENVELOP?
This is the only first page draft of market feasibility study copied from a piece of paper presented to the Economic Managers. To those concerns, show to the public the HIDDEN and current pages of the project proposals(napurot ko lang dya nga inpormasyon kay waay man ang gobyerno lokal ta nagapanugid ka anda plano, of course, nagakabalaka man ta kay bukon ti Alipao Corporation magbayad ka dya.)
ALIMODIAN MARKET FEASIBILITY STUDY:
AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
(according to the Alipao Corporation, Inc.)
The proposed Public Market Improvement Project of Alimodian aims to:
1.To provide convenience for the Alimodiananons and residents of adjoining municipalities, for traders to sell their products, buy consumer items and avail other services provided by the market.
2.To provide additional locally generated revenues for the Local Government Unit of Alimodian.
3.To improve existing management system, structures and procedures and to provide opportunity for the municipal government to operate an effective and efficient economic enterprise office.
Project component includes construction and improvement of market facilities to accommodate permanent and transient vendors, drainage systems, water and electric utilities.
A planned and ongoing development project particularly on infrastructure project is expected to increase economic activities in the Municipality of Alimodian.
The farm to market road network project will improve accessibility by motor vehicles, all 50 barangays to the Barangay Poblacion where the public market is located.
Complex will link he Municipality of Alimodian to adjoining municipalities and the second and third congressional district in the Province of Iloilo.
Market operation to include market space and market stall rentals and entrance fees is expected to increase due to increase in population and number of households who will sell their farm and consumer products and buy consumer goods and avail services.
The rate of market fees is also expected to increase by the amendment of local tax code, particularly on areas related to market operation.
The improved creation of the Office of the Economic Enterprise Development to integrate the Market, Solid Waste Management, Cemetery, Slaughterhouse and hopefully the Water System Operation in Barangay Poblacion will result to spreading of administrative and operating cost and make the Market Operation more viable.
Financial analysis shows a 12.5% internal rate of return. However, social benefits generated for the Municipality of Alimodian and adjoining municipalities could make the public market improvement project acceptable for financial grant from the loaning agency.
(The comprehensive details of budgetary requirements of this project will be sourced from the Office of their corporation.)
05/15/08 @ 06:43DREAM ON
Let's see, the LGU cannot handle a simple road construction (note the status of the karsada in Alimodian).
What inspires us CONFIDENCE that it can carry out an "economic enterprise development" project?
How about a feasibility study on how to finish a project quickly?
05/15/08 @ 11:53I would love to see that financial analysis showing an IRR of 12.5% !
05/15/08 @ 17:47I had a seroius discussion with Manong Ingol (Gamay)Aguilar last Friday.he himself is not buying the idea of Jumbo loan and sending the bill to Alimodian tax payers.
The projected revenue that our LGU is banking to pay this loan is somewhat blurry if not totally punching in the dark.
12.5% internal rate of return? daw ma hapo-hapo dya.kay indi mo man ma 100% ang taga San Miguel,Leon kag Ma-asin ma dalagan sa Alimodian to sell their goods.probably we can attract more merchant and traders but the question is..can they deliver this 12.5% IRR?
Let's not forget..Alimodian is a dead end town.and most of this surrounding towns have their own business to run and patronize.
This is a smaller version of globalization "Alimodian style"this idea is only applicable to a good trading partner and a booming economy.not a struggling municipality.
I don't think this will work in Alimodian.our aconomy in Alimodian is mostly local..and we don't need this huge loan to finance this very ambitious project.again I apologize of pre-judging this issue.please correct me if i'm wrong.
I share the views of something fishy behind this deal.I think this is a "SWEET DEAL" to some people, but! it's a bad deal to most of Alimodianon.
Base to Inday Lyn analysis of 7% fixed rate daw ma hapo-hapo dya sa bulsa ka taga Alimodian ang P17.5 million interest only a year.it's an uphill struggle to pay this loan.
doesn't matter if what formula we're using.budlay gid baydan dya ang interst pa lang.
"BASI MA PUTI LANG ANG UWAK INDI PA KITA KA BAYAD KANG ATON UTANG!"
I apologize of being negative.siguro indi man lang ako ang may amo ka dya nga concern.siyempre naga bayad man kami ka buwis kag arkabala sa banwa.
I know by fact that we have some sophisticated alimodianon in Alimodian who will figure this things out and share their wise advice to those who are behind this plan.kabay pa nga ma mati man sanda.
We also thank to our LOCAL MANININGAD for sharing his inside scoope and we're hoping to hear from him often.
05/16/08 @ 11:38kamusta sa mga kasimanwa didyan sa Alimodian kag sa abroad,daw wa-ay gid ako ti gana sa mga blog blog nga dya kay waay ti tiempo sa mga bagay nga daw indi ko man puslan sa panga buhi kay ti unahon ko gid anay ang pamilya ko imbis nga mag sagi sugid kon sin-o ang mayad.wa-ay man ako ti reklamo sa blog nga dya kay ti inyo tana ra desesyon kon may tyempo ka lang.pay ti gi-mensyonar ni Noah ang ngaran ko siguro amo ang primero kag katapusannga maka-komentar ka mga isyo nga gin mensyonar ko.Ang topico nga gin-hambalan namon ni Noah didto sa lamay(funeral home)ni Mr. Cirilo Caparanga in Boston. parti sa project nga gina proposal sang banwa nga new market sa taban worth 100 mil Pero indi man ako ka komentar kay gin mensyonar na lang ka nakon. Pero kon sa akon lang daw indi man mala-in nga ang banwa mismo mag invest sa aton banwa imbis nga ang mga tao sa sagwa(private),total ang kita(KWAR)mabalik man gihapon.parti 100mil bahala ron sanda kay mga professional kag educado man sanda.Basta favor ako sa project nga dya kay ti sin-o pa abi ang maumpisa ka magplano kundi sanda nga officiales ka banwa. Pasalamat lang kita kay at least may nakita kita nga projecto.salamat
05/16/08 @ 12:46'To Enggol,
Until recently you had been blogging in this Web site under an alias -- we know this for a fact. To make it appear that this is the first time you are posting a comment is disingenous.
This is a small matter, but when you make oblique snide comments like "daw wa-ay gid ako ti gana sa mga blog blog nga dya kay waay ti tiempo sa mga bagay nga daw indi ko man puslan sa pangabuhi kay ti unahon ko gid anay ang pamilya ko imbis nga mag sagi sugid kon sin-o ang mayad" (even if you are referring to yourself), am sorry, I have to call you on this.
Participation in this Blog is VOLUNTARY.
If you do not want to participate, don't; it is quite unnecessary to characterize one way or the other (may tiempo sa mga bagay nga daw indi mapuslan sa pangabuhi, magsagi sugid kung sino mayad, etc.) the other people who do.
Live and let live.
So you are saying that Noah misquoted you or mischaracterized your comments -- rather, your non-comments.
Ang imo gali "position" is -- Basta favor ako sa project nga dya kay ti sin-o pa abi ang maumpisa ka magplano kundi sanda nga officiales ka banwa. Pasalamat lang kita kay at least may nakita kita nga projecto.
OK. Thanks for the clarification.
Best wishes,
Nang Angiol
05/17/08 @ 00:23
I apologize to Manong Enggol for dragging his name in this issue with out asking his concent first.I shouldn't name names here since this is a very sensitive issue.
In the other hand i also believe that this is a good chance for us alimodianons to participate and voice our opinion about this project.we're non-partisan and not politicians i think we're okay! we're concern Alimodianons sa abroad.
I mean come on..! we all know that we can not stop them? But! at the end of the day mahambal kita nga i think.. i participated in the discussion and may be..may be..i'm right or wrong!it's okay.. after all taga Alimodian man ako and i have a right to voice my opinion.
It's an honest mistake..and I'm sorry.
05/19/08 @ 03:08
Republic of the Philippines
Province of Iloilo
MUNICIPALITY OF ALIMODIAN
Barangay Poblacion
OFFICE OF THE SANGGUNIANG BARANGAY
EXCERPT FROM THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE HONORABLE SANGGUNIANG BARANGAY, BARANGAY POBLACION, ALIMODIAN, ILOILO HELD AT THE BARANGAY HALL ON MAY 04, 2008 AT 9:00 O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
PRESENT:
Hon. Emmanuel A. Adricula Punong Barangay / Presiding Officer
Hon. John Darwin A. Almacen Barangay Kagawad
Hon. Alejandro A. Alipat - do -
Hon. Miguel A. Anas Jr. - do -
Hon. Jinn G. Anam - do -
Hon. Danilo A. Alonday - do -
Hon. Nestor T. Alimpuyo - do -
Hon. Charles T. Buenavides - do -
Hon. Raffy L. Mohammad S.K. Chairman
ABSENT: NONE
RESOLUTION NO. 020-S-2008
“RESOLUTION EXTENDING HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO MR. REMEGIO A. ANGELITUD, NOW RESIDING IN NEW YORK, U.S.A. FOR HIS DEEPEST CONCERN TO THE PEOPLE OF ALIMODIAN BY DONATING THREE (3) UNITS OF MAGLITE BRAND FLASHLIGHTS FOR THE USE OF BARANGAY TANODS OF BARANGAY POBLACION, ALIMODIAN, ILOILO.”
WHEREAS, the three (3) units of Maglite brand flashlights are really indispensable gadgets of the Barangay Tanods in the efficient performance of their nightly duties;
WHEREAS, such exemplary act of generosity by our respectable donor which will redound to the benefit of the inhabitants of this Barangay in terms of public safety and protection shall be given due recognition as it is worth emulating by any “Alimodiananon” living here and abroad.
NOW THEREFORE, on motion of Hon. Nestor T. Alimpuyo and duly seconded by Hon. Miguel A. Anas Jr.,
BE IT RESOLVED as it is hereby resolved by this Honorable Sangguniang Barangay to extend heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Remegio A. Angelitud for his proactive concern and benevolence to the people of Alimodian by donating three (3) Maglite flashlights to Barangay Poblacion, this Municipality for the use of Barangay Tanods in the performance of their nocturnal duties and responsibilities.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED to send copy of this resolution to Mr. Remegio A. Angelitud with postal address at 80-8th Avenue PASSAIC, N.J. 07055 U.S.A. , for his information and acceptance of this sincere recognition and gratitude by this august body in behalf of the residents of Barangay Poblacion, Alimodian, Iloilo.
ADOPTED unanimously during the regular session of this Honorable Sangguniang Barangay held on May 04, 2008 at the Barangay Hall of Barangay Poblacion Alimodian, Iloilo.
CERTIFIED CORRECT:
Sgd: LEO A. ALMENDRALEJO
Barangay Secretary
ATTESTED:
Sgd: HON. EMMANUEL A. ADRICULA
Presiding Officer
APPROVED: May 04, 2008
Sgd: HON. EMMANUEL A. ADRICULA
Punong Barangay
05/22/08 @ 09:54It's nice to see the participation of the officials in town.
Does this mean you're in-tune with all of us?
Keep blogging....
05/22/08 @ 16:08We commend the Honorable Emmanuel Adricula and his Honorable Barangay council for participating in our blog and recognizing Nong Rem Angelitud for his generous gift to our barangay Tanud.
We applaud Nong Rem for being so thoughful to the needs of our law enforcers who are lack of necessary equipments to do their job.
I would like to mention and take advantage this rare opportunity to lobby the Honorable Emmanuel Adricula and his council to take a second look the needs of our children in poblacion...and grab this opportunity CARE/DEAR services and material is offering.
Just in case you're not aware of CARE/DEAR..we're located at the plaza not far from the town hall. we call our place "KAMALIG"
We love to hear and see EMAN stepping up in the plate and hit a home run in the 9th enning tie game for the children of Alimodian.
Pareng EMAN please step-in in the plate and show your leadership.
THE WORLD IS WATCHING!
06/11/08 @ 22:57THE MATTER OF ERASER
One of the surprising tidbits we have learned about the resources in public schools in Alimodian is the shortage of eraser; you know, the device used to wipe the chalk off the blackboard.
Surprising in the sense that one could not remember the eraser being in short supply when one attended the elementary school a lifetime ago. Or could be just the memory running away from us, to paraphrase a song.
Anyway, as the overworked education givers also known as the public school teachers in Alimodian tell it, when they run out of eraser, they wet a fistful of crumpled paper with water (or saliva) and use it as a substitute; or they cut their slippers and turn them into rubber erasers.
And here we are talking about million-peso loans . . .
However, along with sad anecdotes like this are heartwarming ones as well.
At the Felix Amparado Memorial Elementary School in Brgy. Ubodan, we were told that someone will be providing soup noodles to the first-graders. This is nothing new, of course. Through the years, kind Alimodiananons have given assistance in various forms to the schools in Alimodian.
What about the soup noodles? Oftentimes some children arrive in school without eating breakfast. The teacher assumes the child is sleeping because he/she partied all night; yon pala, gutom.
Educating the children of Alimodian is not the sole responsibility of the public school system. It is the responsibility of ALL Alimodiananons.
If the LGU will not take the lead on this matter (who is the SB member in-charge of education?), then the rest of us should.
WE URGE ALIMODIANANONS EVERYWHERE TO PLEASE DONATE AN ERASER OR A BAG OF NOODLE SOUP PACKETS TO THE SCHOOL/CLASSROOM/SCHOOL TEACHER THEY KNOW IN ALIMODIAN.
Thank you.
06/19/08 @ 14:07Special Science Class (SSC) in Alimodian
I just found out that we have a program called SSC in Alimodian. Kids have the privilege of having advance education as their peers if the qualify. Part of the requirement is the IQ test. The fee for this test is P300 pesos and a monthly fee of P30 for supplies and equipment for projects. Some families cannot afford to pay this amount and their children were stripped off the privilege. Isn't this sad?
We are asking ALL ALIMODIANANONS to help out in any way possible. We can do this as a group or as individual citizen. Qualified kids need funding to join SSC. ACES needs supplies for science projects. They need decent bathrooms for the kids...the possibilities are endless.
Let's join hands and help out our kasimanwa.
See the faces of these children and open your purse to help out.
http://alimol.multiply.com/photos/album/25/CARE_Mentoring_Program_Distribution_of_School_Supplies
06/19/08 @ 22:23QUESTION:
If you have money to spend on helping improve the quality of education in the public school system of Alimodian -- like, improve the academic performance of Alimodian students in the National Achievement Test -- which of these needs/problems will you try to address?
Crumbling infrastructure (classrooms)
Lack of toilet facilities
Shortage of school supplies and study aids (from blackboard erasers to paper and pencil)
Shortage of books, science equipment, and computers
Nutritional needs of some disadvantaged children
Mentoring assistance for students who need it
ANSWER:
Gymnasium.
QUESTION:
WHY is "gymnasium" the correct answer?
06/20/08 @ 13:25ANSWER:
Because they can have the gymnasium named after themselves.
06/20/08 @ 13:27It's a showcase?
06/20/08 @ 16:41Yamat! daw Trump ka America ba? he want's to paste his mane in every building he built.
may be Donald trump is their role model.
06/21/08 @ 14:38BAGYO/BAHA
WE WILL APPRECIATE INFORMATION ON THE SITUATION IN ALIMODIAN AS A RESULT OF THE TYPHOON/FLOODING
___________
Visayas typhoon wrecks Iloilo dam; city, 5 towns inundated
06/21/2008 | 05:23 PM
MANILA, Philippines - A big dam in Dingle town in Iloilo province was damaged by typhoon "Frank" causing flashfloods that submerged the city and at least five towns in water.
Radio dzBB on Saturday said that based on the text messages it received from Dingle residents, the areas affected by the dam's wreckage were in "total catastrophe." The inundated areas were Iloilo City, and the towns of Dingle, Leganes, Pavia, Zarraga, and Oton.
Dingle is a fourth class municipality, which has a population of 38,311 people in 7,529 households, based on the 2000 Census. - GMANews.TV
06/21/08 @ 20:04I got this initial report from a friend in Texas who called me this afternoon that Alimodian had suffered a severe damage by typhoon frank.
one of many areas who has most damage is Dalid, purok sinikway and other areas.i heard from the conversation at the party today,that Nichol bridge has been damage too.
anybody who can share a detaild report please do.
thank you!
06/21/08 @ 21:17FLOOD REPORT
The biggest damage in Alimodian (so far) is the collapse of the Nichols Bridge. It broke in half; the half on the Nichols side has collapsed completely. For all intents and purposes, the bridge is kaput.
Some parts of the river bank (like in the old river control) have been swept away, along with a few homes built of light materials, and some livestock (pigs, chickens, etc.). There has been no report of fatalities (as of this writing).
Electrical power is out (but will probably be restored ahead of Iloilo City's and those in some neighboring towns).
The telephone (landline) is working. If you cannot reach a cell phone, most likely it is because it has run out of power because there is no source of electricity to charge the battery with.
There are no reports yet (at least as far we can gather) of the damage in outlying barangays.
The situation in Iloilo City and nearby areas is a different matter. They say it is the worst flooding in memory. For example, some houses in parts of the Alta Tierra village in Jaro that were spared of high waters in past floods, this time were submerged one story deep in water; some residents ended up climbing to the roofs of their houses to wait to be rescued.
06/21/08 @ 21:44THE WAY IT WAS
GMA opens P42.26 million Nichols Bridge in Iloilo
ALIMODIAN, Iloilo—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today inaugurated the newly constructed P42.263 million Nichols Bridge under the Tulay ng Pangulo sa Barangay that is expected to stir economic activities in this municipality and its neighboring towns.
According to the President, the Nichols Bridge would benefit the residents of 51 barangays, covering a total land area of 14,482 hectares, 60 percent of these classified as upland.
The new infrastructure project is a project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), with assistance from Mabey & Johnson, Limited of the United Kingdom.
Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas, Sr., Alimodian Mayor Juanito Alipao, Vice Mayor Jeffrey Alonsabi, Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Augusto Syjuco and DPWH Secretary Florante Soriquez assisted President Arroyo in the ceremonial unveiling of the Bridge’s marker.
The bridge also links the Province of Antique, via the municipalities of San Remigio, Leon, Alimodian, Cabatuan and Sta. Barbara to the proposed airport of international standards to be constructed in the towns of Cabatuan and Sta. Barbara.
Nichols Bridge now provides easy access to Agony Hill, a top tourist attraction of the province during Lenten Season.
"The completion of Nichols Bridge will contribute enormously to the continuing expansion of agricultural trade, and would play a major role in the growth and stability of the economy of the two municipalities of Alimodian and San Miguel," said Mayor Alipao.
06/22/08 @ 04:01Iloilo Flood Control Project Update. Posted May 23 2008.
http://www.thenewstoday.info/2008/05/23/construction.of.iloilo.flood.control.project.ahead.of.schedule.html
Unfortunately it did not prevent the water from rising when Frank came. Jaro was flodded that rose to a level that reached the roof of a 1 storey house. San Miguel and Dingle dams broke. What it did not prevent are the forest being denuded and quarrying to an all-time high. Thousands of people are affected, most of them lost their belongings if not their houses.
06/22/08 @ 07:04I spoke to my little brother last night, 4 houses in Dalid swept away,couple more houses is ready to go because it is tipping towards riverbank.dozens of residents houses in school as their temporary home, and some people also living in our house, and other houses around the Baryo.
The Baryo once again submerge,obviously because of it's close distance to the river and flat location.we don't want to politicized this disaster because this is not an isolated case it is a natural disaster.
I think partly we can blame ourselves and some irresponsible public official why these things happen.
we have some entry in our blog in the past that this situation might be happen and the severity of possible damage could be catastrophic,and irreversable and did happen.
hopefully our national government and some foreign aid group, will act as quick as they can to help our Kasimanwas and other people in the provence who lost their houses and livihood.
06/22/08 @ 08:07AFTER THE STORM . . . YET ANOTHER "WAKE-UP CALL"
And here we are again -- the inevitable hand-wringing post-mortem after another catastrophe.
We have heard all this before.
One is tempted to run this story (click on the above link) with the headline: THIS IS A RECORDING.
______________
But officials were stunned and overwhelmed by the magnitude and extent of the calamity. They were at a loss to explain why areas which have never experienced flooding before became pools of water overnight.
“This is a very sad day for Iloilo. We have never experienced flooding like this before,” said Iloilo Gov. Niel Tupas Sr. during a meeting of the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC).
“We are overwhelmed. Almost all of our barangays are underwater. We have never experienced this extent of flooding and it pains us to think that we cannot reach and help the victims,” said Mayor Arcadio Gorriceta of Pavia, one of the hardest hit towns.
Sta. Barbara Mayor Isabelo Maquino said that in previous storms, waters reached only ankle-high even if the province was placed under Storm Signal No. 3.
“Our people were not trained to handle this kind of calamity,” said Maquino.
Maquino said they were caught by surprise by how fast the water rose and because it came from in land. “We were monitoring the rise of our rivers and we did not expect that the water will come from the mountains.”
Local government units and agencies also did not have enough equipment and personnel to handle distress calls and were not prepared to handle the magnitude of the flooding.
Board Member Jett Rojas said the incident was a “wake up call” for all Ilonggos especially officials and agencies.
He blamed the continued deforestation as the cause of the flooding.
Rojas said a portion of the calamity fund should be allocated for reforestation projects and to develop disaster preparedness of local government units.
06/23/08 @ 22:30more about flooding:
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Typhoon-Fengshen-pounds-Philippines-Typhoon/ss/events/wl/062208typhoonfeng/im:/080623/481/c98dc463c8ef4ceeb9d35e9dece71cf4/
06/24/08 @ 21:45From the news story in the above link:
" . . . the Centennial Bridge in Alimodian totally collapsed alongside Gines-Malamhay Bridge. The river control in the Poblacion was also washed-out by raging floodwaters while the bridge linking the town to Maasin suffered a damaged approach."
06/25/08 @ 16:09BRIDGE OF THE RIVER (SIGH)
Devastating though it is, one is hard-pressed to find an Alimodiananon who is TOTALLY, COMPLETELY SURPRISED that the “Centennial’ bridge did not make it to the next century.
The common refrain is: What do you expect of a government project?
Granting the river current was unprecedented this time around, but shouldn’t we have built a bridge that anticipates the WORST-CASE SCENARIO?
We used to joke that the Department of Public Works and Highways validates its existence as a government agency by replacing its poorly designed and shoddily constructed roads and bridges that get washed out in the next typhoon with new poorly designed and shoddily constructed roads and bridges that get washed out in the typhoon after next that it will then replace yet again with newer poorly designed and shoddily constructed . . .
You get the drift. The government does not build infrastructures that last not necessarily a lifetime but certainly long enough for us to get used to and form memories of. Never mind that a first-year civil engineering student can spot immediately the design and construction flaws of a bridge, if it can be built on the cheap and the crony contractors get to build it, that’s good enough for the department’s bureaucrats – and politicians. The paramount consideration is to build something, anything that a politician can claim credit for.
Three and a half years ago the President of the Philippines came to Alimodian with the attendant pomp and circumstance to inaugurate and brag about her “Tulay ng Pangulo sa Barangay” program.
We should invite her back to Alimodian so she could see what happened to “her” bridge.
06/26/08 @ 02:26Life in Alimodian still going on despite the collapsed of Nichols Bridge.
There were several minor landslide in the mountainous area of Alimodian, The Taruc Hills cutting the seven cities out of reach by vehicles. In Manasa where it claimed one life. In Barangay Dao. In Barangay Ulay Hinablan. And Maybe in some other areas along the aganan riverbank.
We have atleast one confirmed dead and one still missing from Barangay Cagay.
There were a lot of sad stories to be told and also a lot of commedies.
At any rate, we still have a town to be called our own, Alimodian is still standing tall only the Nichols Bridge collapsed not our town.
There is still hope and we pray the recovery of our town from the disaster will come soonest.
06/26/08 @ 10:48Thanks, Wil.
_____________
Excerpts:
SCOFFIN AT HISTORY’S LESSONS by Juan L. Mercado
“Here we go again,” Edgar Labella said on hearing reports that 826 were missing after “Princess of the Stars” ferry turned belly up from pummeling by Typhoon “Frank.”
This groan stems from this Cebu City councilor’s trauma: he survived 38 hours in stormy seas when “MV Princess of the Orient” floundered in an October 1998 typhoon.
Labella’s personal advocacy now is to distill lessons from past tragedies. In 21 years, four Sulpicio ships sank : MV Dona Paz (4,000 deaths); MV Dona Maryln (250 deaths); MV Princess of the Orient (150 deaths) and now Princess of the Stars. The death toll is not final.
Force majeure? asked an Inquirer editorial. “Looks like force of habit to us. The real tragedy is: Each one was avoidable.”
Thus, Labella campaigns for refoms – from guidelines for sailing to better weather forecasting equipment. “Haven’t we learned from past tragedies?” he plaintively asks.
Apparently not. “That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all lessons that history has to teach,” Aldous Huxley once wrote.
You doubt Huxley’s point? Look beyond tragedies, in shipping, to festering issues throughout society: from government reforms, media and to ecosystems under increasing stress.
“The Senate probed at least seven sea tragedies in the last 20 years,” notes ABS/CBN Newsbreak. All it produced was an appeal to speed up victim compensation. This was archived.” Now, another congressional hearing is proposed. The mountain will again labor. Again, it will produce a mouse.
But “there does not seem to be a common perception as to what lessons were learned” from degradation of the past decades, notes the just published book: Forest Faces – Hopes and Regrets in Philippine Forestry. “Memories that do not feed vision are but a lost future.”
Indeed, some recall that forests once covered 94 percent of this country. We’ve ravaged that down to less than 18 percent. And that continues to shrink since illegal logging persists, as in Surigao or the Cordilleras.
Greed is one reason. With connivance of corrupt officials, loggers turned much of the country into sterile cogon land. But are we also a people of truncated memories?
Who recalls now the over 10,000 victims of floods from Ormoc’s denuded hills? Or the killer floods of Aurora and Quezon in December 2004? And rampaging rivers in Iloilo this month?
There are no regrets in life, only lessons, we’re told. So, were wrong lessons taught? Filipinos invented, in the 1960s, the squirting of cyanide into reefs to stun fish, UN Environement Programme notes. Marine poisoning spread to Asean countries, then leapfrogged to the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.
Today, only four percent of our reefs – “rainforests of the sea” – remain in pristine condition, “Inventory of Coral Resources” reveals. Degraded reefs in Panay Gulf and Bohol Sea yield only four to five metric tons of marine products per square kilometer yearly – compared to its original potential: 15 metric tons.
Our biologically dying rivers and thinning wild life reflect the axiom that “great evils brutally enforce ignored lessons.” Today, 56 of the country’s 530 bird species are threatened with extinction. In a shrinking North Negros forest reserve, a fifth of trees would not regenerate if seed-scattering birds continue to be hunted down, a University of British Columbia study estimates.
This is equally true of the most basic commodity for survival: water. Cebu City, for example, “borrows against tomorrow”. It pumps out twice what its narrow small aquifers can recharge. This “ecological overdraft” is aggravated by “policy black holes”: denial that a problem even exists.
So, are we a country that “acts as if life is a dress rehearsal? We sashay to noon time TV soap operas and indulge in partisan exercises. These sedate us from a history of repeated tragedies while we skid into the poorhouse.
“We spend more on a ‘fiesta culture’ (that makes it difficult) to grow beyond memories,” Peter Walpole of Environmental Science for Social Change at Ateneo writes. “Yet, we must generate new realities that can provoke responsibility.”
(E-mail: juan_mercado@prime.net.ph )
06/28/08 @ 22:55THERE’S A HUNDRED STORIES IN THE NAKED CITY
By now we have read hundreds of stories of the recent flooding in Iloilo; some were heartbreaking, some were prosaic but nonetheless touching.
Here is another. This story is luckier than some, it has a good ending, but the rhythm is compelling enough to share with those who are interested in stories of how some Alimodiananons coped with the catastrophe.
We thank the author for sharing her story.
_______
It has been exactly a week since Typhoon Frank ravaged the city, but for me it seemed just like yesterday.
On the early morning of June 21, 2008, there was a heavy rainfall, along with strong wind, as if a cyclone was coming. Little did I know that there was a typhoon in the offing, although people had been talking already about a low pressure area hitting the country.
At around 8:15 in the morning, I left for work to get there by the usual opening time of 9:00 am. I was in my “civilian” clothes, intending to change into my uniform at the store. As I walked the streets, I was battling the strong wind that almost carried me off. I waited for about 15 minutes for a jeepney. No one seemed to be traveling around, but as the saying goes, the mall should open in good or bad weather. Some streets in the city proper ware already flooded. I was thinking that in case I could not find a ride, I will walk along Delgado Street and could get to work without being late.
I stopped by the PNB, near the Atrium building, and I could see that the area was flooded already. Since it was too late to get on another jeepney, taxi, or tricycle, I decided to wade through the flood going into the direction of SM Delgado. And so I did. Naglubog guid ako sa baha. A few minutes later, luckily a tricycle passed by; I rode on it going to Robinson's Place. I arrived at the store around 9:00 in the morning. I hurriedly rubbed alcohol on my legs. It was not until 11:00 in the morning that my supervisor arrived; I told him we should just close up and go home.
Our office in Manila said that maybe "titila din ang ulan" in the afternoon. By this time the folks in Alimodian were giving me updates on the situation in Alimodian; I learned that the Nichols Bridge had collapsed. I checked on the lolas to find out if they were OK; I was glad they were safe. Finally the Manila office said it was OK to close shop.
All this time I had been texting my roommate in Bolilao to check on the water level in our area. She was telling me that everything was OK – she was unconcerned enough to while away her time reading a pocketbook. We left the store at around 3:00 in the afternoon, but it was not until 3:45 that we were able to get on a jeepney. We took another jeepney near Doctor's Hospital, going to SM City.
When I crossed the bridge near the PAG-IBIG building, I was in total shock at the immensity of the situation that I saw. The water was almost at the level of the bridge, mud water was gushing out of the canal, and the entire Diversion Highway was flooded. When I reached Caltex, I almost cried. The water current was very strong, people were going back and forth, not knowing where to go, and trucks and fire trucks were hauling stranded people to SM City.
The mall – SM City – was like the biblical NOAH'S Ark, surrounded by water. Some people had taken shelter in the mall; others sought refuge on the overpass near the area. I got near SM City where I met up with our SM cashier and branch clerk, and ran into some friends living near the mall. The area across the street of SM City was the only place that was dry. We watched people passing by in their wet clothes, shivering, carrying their belongings. Some were carrying a pig, a goat, or a dog, rushing to a higher ground. People were restless, helpless, and confused. There were no words to describe the catastrophe that I never thought I would experience.
Some of those who were marooned inside SM were not allowed to get out; they were given 2 pieces of pandesal. Those who went out of the mall were not allowed back inside; they were left shivering outside in the cold, without food or water.
I was really worried about my housemates, especially the children. I had no idea of their fate. I was relieved somewhat when I received a text message from my roommate (the one who was reading a pocketbook) telling me that they had taken refuge at the ceiling of the house; by that time the water level in Bolilao had risen to 6 feet, and the current was very strong.
I just prayed for the rain to stop.
We left for Bolilao at about 15 minutes before 5 Sunday morning. We were again wading in the water, knee deep high. This time it seemed that the raging water had passed by leaving nothing but chaos, submerging everything, and destroying homes. When I reached the gate of the house in Bolilao, I saw one car hanging in the fence. It was like watching the news of the aftermath. I called the people in the house and went through the gate of the neighbor’s. I climbed to the roof of the house and hoisted myself down the ceiling where they had taken shelter. Blessed were we that everyone was alive, dry, and well. They had gotten through the night with a candle for light. I could see in their faces the horrifying ordeal they had been through.
We went down through a hole in the ceiling to one of the rooms. The house was filled with mud and water. Some of our material possessions were saved; others were not. Wasting no time, we started cleaning the entire house. I got injured when a barbecue stick that was floating around stuck my ankle.
For many years I had experienced constant flooding in the city; however, the flooding was confined to the streets, water did not get into the house. So this was the first time that I had to clean a house filled with mud. I am still in disbelief until now. After the clean-up, I decided to check into a hotel, afraid there might be another flash flooding since the clouds were getting dark again. I was afraid that my wound would get worse; little though it was, I could hardly walk from the pain. Above all, I just though I needed to get a good night’s sleep, a nice shower, easen my bodily pain, and wake up the next morning ready to go to work. I cleaned the wound in my ankle and took something to relieve the pain.
The next day, Monday, my anxious parents arrived to check on me. My Mom said I did not need an anti-tetanus shot; I would be fine with an antibiotic for five days. They brought water and food. I bought more water from the supermarket; NAWASA and other refilling stations were destroyed and it would take a few weeks to restore their services.
I feel blessed and thankful that I am alive and my housemates are safe. It is painful and devastating to be in a situation that we are in now. On the other hand, our hearts go out to those in other places who have not been so fortunate, especially those who have lost their homes and loved ones.
06/29/08 @ 15:11Spent my childhood growing up by the banks of the Aganan River, the time before Trucks came to haul our sands and gravel and only carts and wheelborrows did for local constructions.
During monsoons and steady rainfalls we watched the river gradually rise and we waited to salvage the firewood drifting along with its current not too dangerous to even swim..the only damaged during those typhoons and storms were some diversions of the river paths only to return to its original paths and after a few years the vacated paths ready for crops again.
Then the massive, unregulated Quarrying came, factor in the shenanigans involved and I said to myself, we will be shooting ourselves maybe not fatally, but at least our feet. That was after we cleared the forest without replenishing the greeneries to hold the rainwater. The integrity of the River Banks are now gone, nothing to stop the water from overflowing with no directions to its paths..you don’t need an environment scientist to figure what we did to our town, to our province, to our country.
This latest Tragic Event “maybe” a wake up call, if we are not wide awake yet, but experience had shown so many wake up calls, yet we went back to sleep and sleep so soundly until another loud alarm wake us back only to Cry, and ask ourselves, if only we had done this and that, and only we had not overcome by our complacency, by our Greed. Then we go back to sleep again...
06/29/08 @ 15:25"THE QUARRY FACTOR"
Melvin Purzuelo, coordinator of the Green Forum-Western Visayas, said Panay's mountain slopes "have been denuded long ago."
While there is no current large-scale mining in Panay, Purzuelo said there are many "unregulated" quarrying and excavations that erode riverbanks.
Purzuelo said that environmental groups have warned years before that flash floods could be worse in Panay than the ones that hit Southern Luzon years ago because the Sierra Madre mountain range has a denser forest cover than the Panay mountain ranges.
"Environmental groups have been repeating this warning in various fora but local government officials and line agencies in the region totally ignored the conditions of the mountain ranges. There are no interventions to protect and enhance the natural forests that cover less than 7 percent of the island," said Purzuelo in a statement.
He also blamed "massive" quarrying of the river systems for roads and other construction projects, which have eroded riverbanks of Suage-Magapa and Tigum-Aganan rivers.
06/29/08 @ 17:55TWO QUESTIONS FOR THE LGU OF ALIMODIAN
ONE. A few years ago the LGU spent considerable time talking about and “planning” for a massive and immediate resforestration of the mountains of Alimodian given how “critical” the issue is – the Aganan river is an important watershed and the mountain areas are erosion-prone.
Then as now, the fact is: the floods are preventable if we do something.
WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THOSE TALK AND "PLANNING"?
TWO. Does Alimodian have a “disaster management” plan? Did it work in the recent flooding?
Is there a plan in place that get food, shelter, medicines quickly to those affected by a disaster?
DO ALIMODIANANONS HAVE THE INFORMATION THEY NEED SO THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF A DISASTER (what, when, where, how, why, etc.)?
07/02/08 @ 06:04Sa katapusan nga punto, amo pa lang nakamarasmas ang iban...
buhay ron nga pamangkutanon dya, todo man nga pugong ka iban dyan nga inbistigaran ang kurapsyon bangud kay ang ebidensya didto sa munisipyo kag pwede tabunan ka mga bentahoso nga mga SB Members kag kaalyado kang Mayor kag Administradura.
PAMANGKOT NA NAMAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by al:
TWO QUESTIONS FOR THE LGU OF ALIMODIAN
ONE. A few years ago the LGU spent considerable time talking about and “planning” for a massive and immediate resforestration of the mountains of Alimodian given how “critical” the issue is – the Aganan river is an important watershed and the mountain areas are erosion-prone.
Then as now, the fact is: the floods are preventable if we do something.
WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THOSE TALK AND "PLANNING"?
TWO. Does Alimodian have a “disaster management” plan? Did it work in the recent flooding?
Is there a plan in place that get food, shelter, medicines quickly to those affected by a disaster?
DO ALIMODIANANONS HAVE THE INFORMATION THEY NEED SO THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF A DISASTER (what, when, where, how, why, etc.)?
Sa kahigayunan nga dya kag sa paarabuton, ang pamangkot nga dya magapabilin nga pamangkot sa gihapon kay nahadlok kita nga maguba ang relasyon kang aton mga pamilya nga politiko, gani, tabunan ta lang dya nga tabunan (mga anomaliya) kaangay ka pagtabon kang lay-on kag mga rorok gikan sa baha kag pagkaguba kag mga pagkabutang, pagdura kang kabuhi kag kapirdihan kang sa mga kaumahan.
ang illeal quarrying sa suba ka alimodian naglawig sa halos trienta (30 years) ka tuig nga makalolooy ang mga inosente kag promenente nga Alimodiananon. MAY NANGISOG BALA NGA TAGA ALIMODIAN UKON NAGPANGUNA NGA MAG-IMBISTIGAR? UKON SA KARON GID LAMANG KAY MAY NATABO RON NGA TRAHEDYA?
hasta lang man kita sa hambal, kaangay kang opisyales kang banwa nga sa katapusan nga bahin, dayon pamangkot nga ang tagsa ka sabat aton matukib sa aton tagsa ka kaugalingon lamang.
07/02/08 @ 08:44You have to keep asking questions -- over and over again, and even if you know that you will not get answers -- because that is one of the ways that you get people into thinking about issues that (should) concern them.
It is part of the process called political struggle.
Change may not come in 30 days, or 30 years, but it won't come if you do not start somewhere.
And you start by educating everyone on the issues.
And education starts with questions -- why are things the way they are, why can't things be otherwise, what can we do to make things better, etc.
And it goes with out saying that education is doing things over and over again -- until you internalize the concept(s).
Of course change will come more quickly if we DO something.
But that does not mean you should stop asking questions.
Our political destiny, like our personal destiny, is one long quest for answers.
SOME of us are good at asking questions.
SOME of us are good at doing something in response to the questions.
If ALL of us work together, then we may accomplish something useful.
SO THE QUESTION IS: WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT THE QUESTION?
07/07/08 @ 20:43Click on the above link for 3 short video clips of the flooding and collapse of the President's Bridge in Alimodian.
Video footage courtesy of Andrea Algabre.
07/09/08 @ 14:40IRT Comment from: al [Visitor]
06/29/08 @ 17:55
TWO QUESTIONS FOR THE LGU OF ALIMODIAN
ONE. A few years ago the LGU spent considerable time talking about and “planning” for a massive and immediate resforestration of the mountains of Alimodian...
President Arroyo also promised whe would do something. See article from 2003 in above link.
07/09/08 @ 20:40DISASTER AS PHOTO OPPORTUNITY FOR POLITICIANS
I never cease to be amazed at the audacity of politicians in converting a disaster that they have a hand in bringing about by deliberate acts of commission or omission into one big PHOTO OP.
Instead of being made to answer for their inaction and neglect that contributed to the disaster, hanggod pa pasalamat ka nanda kang mga kaluluoy nga biktima kang bagyo/baha. Suddenly it's Christmas time, and politicians get to play Santa Clauses.
Of course they should respond to the disaster. It's part of their job. There is nothing heroic about it. For some it is one of the rare times when they ACTUALLY do something to earn their pay.
But let's wait and see what happens when the waters recede and the cameras stop rolling.
07/10/08 @ 21:08Actually ERAP looks very good in the Camera.it's just amazing to see him giving back a little portion of what he stole.at least may na tirawan pa kita!
what makes me wonder nga naka abot sa Alimodian di-a abi ko may RAYUMA di-a T.G! as what he claims when he was in jail.
what surprise me though there is no Cutie celebrity in his side.or..may be off camera because it's not in the script.
THE DRAMA NEVER ENDS!
07/14/08 @ 19:49HOW DO I LOVE THEE? LET ME COUNT THE WAYS . . .
This month, the members of the LGU of Alimodian complete the first year of their current term.
Daw kahapon lamang . . . (when they were lobbing personal attacks at one another during the election campaign).
It would be nice if the rest of us know what our political leaders have accomplished during the past year that have improved the lives of Alimodiananons.
And so much nicer if we could read their achievement reports in the Alimodian LGU website (click on the above link).
Here they are:
Mayor:
Alipao, Juanito
Vice Mayor:
Alonsabe, Geefre
SB Members (Councilors):
Salarda, Julie
Allones, Nicanor
Altubar, Larriette
Alonday, Nery
Almacen, Concepcion
Amba, Felicita
Anibigno, Wilfredo
Alejo, Julius
07/16/08 @ 06:55bakal man tkun sarakyan nga black bla...
07/16/08 @ 06:59huod para sundanay ta kda aga mg ofis... black parade ah. hehehehe
07/16/08 @ 07:03mr montenegrong padara kman bulig sa dalid? nag padara tkun did2 used clothings.... imu by?
07/16/08 @ 19:14Mr. postman,
I appreciate your generousity by sending used clothing to Dalid.I'm sure nga kinahanglan gid ka taga Dalid di-a.
I have some effort to help and we're been helping in so many ways even before this disaster struck just to let you know.
in the main time please give me your name and address. I'll send you a thank you card via Express mail no signature required in behalf of the of Dalid.
May God Bless You!
Best Regards,
Noah
07/16/08 @ 22:49After the flash flood a lot of relief goods flooded too in an affected areas. Then, victims' daily sustainance had been addressed. What about their sustainance after those relief operation ceased.
I have a chance visiting the areas from Pajo downstream to buhay and sad to say, a lot of arable land along the Aganan riverbank were rendered useless for agricultural purposes. I'd tried to ask some farmers whether they could plant again on their flooded field and most of them replied that they could no longer plant their usual crops in the near future and some of them estimated that even in ten years their field could not still be planted. In some area, a three feet of sand and silt deposited in the agricultural field, thereby renderring their field barren and arid. Short to speak, it become a desert.
Our main concern then is how to rehabilitate those deserted areas. Have you any ideas?
The loss of their arable land is a loss of their productivity and loss of their opportunity to earn a living.
Should'nt we just wait what would happen next and just talk?
07/17/08 @ 05:51Thanks for the info brother Wil,
At least ten years to heal the damage?
"three feet of sand and Slit deposited in the agricultural field"
This is a good opportunity to some QUARRY VOLTURE to dig this up and make some business at the same time helping the surviving farmers earn a living out of that sand.
Wil..please take a second look this possibility!
Noah
07/17/08 @ 19:00IF ONE WANTS THINGS TO STAY AS THEY ARE, THINGS WILL HAVE TO CHANGE*
It is a tragedy that the lands along the riverbank had been rendered untillable, but even in the years B.B. (BEFORE the BAHA), it was already apparent that rice farming as a source of livelihood for Alimodiananons was becoming an untenable proposition.
From old postings:
08/05/07 @ 10:25
FARMING IN ALIMODIAN
I've asked this before . . .
For several decades now, Alimodiananons who depend on rice farming for livelihood have hardly gotten by. A farmer can no longer count on tilling the land to provide his family a decent life (not that he ever did, I guess).
For example, for a lot of reasons, it is getting harder and harder to do second cropping.
So what is the LGU doing to provide alternative sources of livelihood for these Alimodiananons?
09/16/07 @ 00:28
If you want to help the farmers, the PROBLEM is simple enough:
How does the local government and the private sector help a stereotypical small farmer -- who has little education and does not own the land he farms -- earn a decent livelihood so that he can feed, clothe, and educate his family of five children?
Unfortunately, the SOLUTION is not.
It is apparent as well that intensive rice monoculture is unsustainable in the long-term.
So the obvious and simple question to ask is: what alternative or additional sources of income can be made available to the small farmers so they can earn enough to afford decent lives?
09/16/07 @ 01:00
P.S.
If I were paid 28,000 pesos a month, say, as an SB member, this is what I would be doing -- come up with initiatives big and small that create income for the small farmers. I would be writing and submitting proposals to foundations, foreign governments, business corporations, etc., for financing of projects that give livelihood to Alimodiananons. OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE DOING IT -- AND WITH GREAT SUCCESS -- SO WHY AREN'T WE?
___________________
*Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, "The Leopard"
07/21/08 @ 11:11bw grabe ba.. pati kabataan gina intrahan ka mayor ta... way nalang pabay-i ra hy... teh anu pulos ka ferderation tulad..?
07/21/08 @ 12:15tsak2 gid ra imu... ang sk federation law2..
07/22/08 @ 05:05Mas law2 kamo darwa eh.
07/22/08 @ 05:06Mas law2 kamo darwa eh.
07/23/08 @ 12:17In the department of "OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE DOING IT -- AND WITH GREAT SUCCESS -- SO WHY AREN'T WE?" . . .
I understand that SANTA BARBARA, ILOILO has stopped its quarry operations.
WIL(ANAS) -- do you have the lowdown on HOW they did it?
Anyone?
07/23/08 @ 22:29I'm not too familiar with the situation/condition of Santa Barbara. As far as I know, wala na baras kag Bato sa Santa Barbara. There's nothing to quarry there.
But I guess, their citizenry there has the political will to stop quarrying and that's the attribute we need in Alimodian.
07/24/08 @ 05:43I have no further comments about quarrying in Alimodian.
i'm one of the many advocates in the past we strongly oppose the quarrying for just a very simple reason...
and the reason is..look what happened last month.
The lesson of devastation in the past and the pain of present situation, the politics and business behind this,is good enough for us to think and ask ourselves what would happen next? and who's to blame.
I hope Alimodian will wake up soon..and feel the pain."this is too much! enough is enough!"
07/24/08 @ 19:41I'm not too familiar with the situation/condition of Santa Barbara. As far as I know, wala na baras kag Bato sa Santa Barbara. There's nothing to quarry there.
But I guess, their citizenry there has the political will to stop quarrying and that's the attribute we need in Alimodian.
07/24/08 @ 19:42Click on the above link for:
PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY TYPHOON FRANK IN THE SEVEN CITIES
Courtesy of REMY ANIB, a teacher at the Cabacanan High School.
Thanks to Remy for sharing the photos and to Michelle for posting them.
08/03/08 @ 22:34SA NATABO NGA TRAHEDYA SA ALIMODIAN,
MANGGAD KANG PODEROSO NADUGANGAN!!!!
Try to audit the following grocery items, sacks of rice, clothing, and other assistance given to the flood victims of Alimodian.
1.) sinako nga bugas ginatambak hasta sa karon sa bodega sa munisipyo kay ginapili pa kang couple administration ang anda nga taw-an (dampig sa politika)kag hasta sa karon waay pa gid matagtag ang iban nga grocery items kag mga imported nga canned goods sa bodega pa.
2.)iban nga bugas ginabaligya kang isa ka politiko sa tindahan ka Alimodian halin sa bodega sa munisipyo.
3.) gusto kang administradura kada panagtag kang ayuda sa kabarangayan kinahanglan may picture taking kag kamustahanay sa ibabaw ka entablado para mapakita nga SINSERO KUNO ang anda nga pagserbisyo.(rako man taga Dalid kag sa iban nga barangay ang nainto-an)
4.)ang kontra partido makalolo-oy nga waay makabaton ka ayuda hasta sa karon.
5.) mga tinapay nga ayuda halin sa mga bakery nagparan-os kag amo pagtagtag bangud sa sobra nga pagtago sa bodega.
6.) dapat mga canned goods i-account man kon pira ka delata ang nagkaradura sa bodega.
7.) waay ti plano ang mga opisyales ka banwa kon paano ang pagpaabot ti insakto nga tabang sa masarangan ka LGU.
8.) mga dampig partido bisan waay gid mahalitan ang anda panimalay nagabagtong ka ayuda halin sa bodega sa munisipyo.
9.) may mga pomoloyo sa banwa nga naghinulsol ayhan sa mga opisyales nga ginsarigan kag karon kon indi ni madam administrator diktahan hindi man maghulag.
Sa trahedya nga nahitabo sa banwa kang Alimodian kag sa bug-os nga iloilo plano ka mag-asawa nga Alipao nga mag tour sa China kag Thailand sa bulan nga dya. of course, imaw na mga SB Members kag ang gastos sa pamasahe ana ka banwa.
suggestion: daad hagan-haganon ka administrator ang ana nga trip! kanugon ka ginawaldas nga kwarta kang alimodian nga daad karon kinhanglan pa gid ang dugang nga bulig.
08/05/08 @ 10:56LGU OFFICIALS -- PARE-PAREHO ANG MGA YAN
Excerpts from a newspaper column, “Memo to Their Honors,” by Juan L. Mercado
Aloguinsan (is a)fifth class town 73 kilometers northwest of Cebu City.
The Commission on Audit lashed Aloguinsan officials for rigging contracts, pocketing cash from equipment sold sans bidding, etc. They peddled town assets “as if it were their private property”.
SO DO MANY LOCAL OFFICIALS. IF PROSECUTORS DID A TENTH OF THEIR JOBS, OUR JAILS COULDN'T HOLD ALL CONVICTED OFFICIALS.
Aloguinsan’s net income yearly is P7.48 million. Only 12 percent of residents have toilets linked to septic tanks. Yet, officials splurged P540,000 for “a live concert and a dance-breakout”. Worse, their Honors bilked a trust account for the poorest -- “the 20 Per Cent Development Fund.”
(The) “Local Government Code” of 1991, Section 287, provides : Local government units shall appropriate, in its annual budget, no less than 20 centavos out of every internal revenue allotment peso, for “development projects.”
The resources were to address basic human needs of the most marginalized: nutrition, health care, medicine, potable water and sanitation, education, etc.
But that’s been marred by politicians who manipulate this vital safety net into a mini-pork barrel.
San Carlos siphoned P110,000 from this Fund to pay for boy scouts from the city to join a jamboree in Angeles, Pampanga, COA found. Dapitan disbursed half a million pesos for its “executive band.” Northern Samar bought seven new cars for P3.8 million. Cebu City splurged on fire hydrants, cement for sidewalks, even “tourism promotion”, etc.
GI roofing for a market or filling road potholes can be photographed for voters. But you can’t tack, on election billboards, lower infant death rates, due to vaccine bought from the 20 Per Cent Development Fund.
Predictably, officials slurp at this trough. Sangguniang Panlawigan officials, in Davao Oriental, paid P669,892 “as financial assistance” – for themselves. Ifugao amortized loans. They “drunk the tears of children and turned deaf ears to the sighs of orphans.”
Few LGUs draw up adequate Annual Investment Plans. Many politicians prefer doles. Taking credit for handing out taxpayers money is easy. Others are incompetent. They can’t craft development projects.
08/05/08 @ 23:20amu lang ja akon madugang ah... kay kaduro dun nabasahan ko in writing, it sad... in a way its tragic because any thinking alimodianons perceived their beloved town alimodian this way(indi ko dun pag isa-isahon ah)... and so pose this loving challenge to all our public officials... siado kabugot ah... TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNANCE.... ayhan? ty
08/07/08 @ 08:46TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNANCE.... ayhan? ty
But man2..who wants to turn themselves in?
08/07/08 @ 19:44NEXT TIME, DO IT YOURSELF
Short of i-paBombo mo sanda -- or, mag nobena ka nga kabay pa makarma sanda -- sadly, there isn't much you can do about how the disaster relief goods are distributed (or not distributed).
As we had noted before, a natural disaster is literally heaven-sent to the politicians. It is one big photo opportunity for them. It gives them a chance to strut; they have the audacity to make it appear that the donated relief goods came from them, and the recipients should be thankful to THEM (and, by the way, do not forget them in the next election).
"iban nga bugas ginabaligya kang isa ka politiko sa tindahan ka Alimodian halin sa bodega sa munisipyo" -- if true, this is beyond the pale, and, SAGOKSOK SA MUNISIPYO, you have a moral obligation to identify this SOB for the information of all Alimodiananons.
There is nothing in the Philippine Constitution that says you must go through the LGU to help your kasimanwas.
So to those who want to help -- JUST DO IT.
Gather your family, relatives, and friends, pool your resources, and haul the bugas, tinapay, canned goods, used clothes, etc. to Dalid, Tarug, etc., and distribute them to those who need help.
The obsession with publicity is for the WEAK and the INSECURE.
You do not need it.
08/09/08 @ 09:50SAGOKSOK VS MANORUPSUP
Thank you SAGOKSOK. under your watchful eyes nakita mo nga may MANORUPSUP sa LGU kag gina supsup na ang BUGAS halin sa bodega ka munisipyo kag gina baligya sa Tenda.
Now!with your big mouth and long nose as SAGOKSOK please uncover MANORUPSUP identity para ma man-an ka banwa.
Akon special request lang dya kay daw tama ron gid ka rampant ang business/scandal nga dya. basi may ma tugda na takon kong ma identify ta ang official nga dya!
Salamat Gid!
08/11/08 @ 02:14I would like to add something and also a correction to the "ayuda sa trahedya issues". Those are true and correct according to Saguksok;
-Have you noticed some noodles and NFA Rice in the bodega that until now the LGU did not yet distributed to the particular beneficiaries?
-Have you seen the LGU vouchers on the released of almost P100, 000.00 of funds provided for TRAVEL SA BARANGAY EXPENSES by our LGU Officials during the calamity up to now?
-The NFA Rice were sold not in the market but in Inocensio St. (sa Sulod)?
Other corrections:
-The first couple tour or travel abroad has been approved by the Sangguniang Bayan nga “tando-tando diin bukid”. (makomentar timo sa konseho haw?) kag kon sin-o nga SB Members nga masunod tanda dia nag approved.
-And for public information on the Proposed Improvement of Alimodian Market, the following are my analysis...
Salaries for employees on duty at the marketplace
7 regular employees with monthly salary in a total of almost P 60,000.00 plus 5 casual employees with monthly salary in a total of almost P20,000.00 equals= P80,000.00 a monthly expenses for employees salaries only who are politically accommodated by the administration. Pira man lang gali ka gatos ang koleksyon ka banwa sa tinda di-a???????
ANOTHER PANAWAGAN FOR DILG DIRECTOR EVELYN TROMPETA NGA SA IMO PINALANGGA NGA BANWA WAAY IKAW TI MAHIMO, HOW ABOUT IN THE ENTIRE REGION OF WESTERN VISAYAS?
RESIGN KA NA LANG!!!!
WAAY KA MAN TI PULOS SA PWESTO MO AT LEAST A REMEBRANCE DURING YOUR TERM AS DIRECTOR, MISMO SA KAUGALINGON MO NGA MAGAMAY NGA BANWA, ANG CORRUPTION LIBRE!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OF COURSE BECAUSE OF YOUR PERSONAL KABARASLAN TO THE FIRST COUPLE NOW YOU ARE IN THE THRONE OF DILG AS DIRECTOR........POLITCALLY ACCOMODATED KA MAN DYAN GALI AMO RA NAGALIKAW IKAW MAG-AGI SA MUNISIPYO KON DYA KAW SA ALIMODIAN. MABUHAY!!!
08/13/08 @ 16:38I'm quite intrigue about this " first couple touring abroad is approved by SB"
Isn't it everybody deserve a VACATION? come on..!all work no play is no good!getting old faster.
If the president of the United States stay in his ranch for weeks..i think the first couple of Alimodian deserve a break and visit me and other Kasimanwa here in Connecticut and other areas in States for weeks.
That's an open invitation to them if they want to visit the east coast section of the United States in months to come.
Let's put politics aside and give OT-OT and NENENG a break.as long as they're spending they're own money and not the money of the people,there is nothing wrong with that.
Maniningad sa H.k basi ma ku-on ikaw I'm changing my tone gain..I'm not! I'm just trying to be civilized and fair.I'm a big critic of something wrong but..I'm also a big fan of something right.(sounds like Mr.independent Lou Dobbs? LOL") Just want to clear my self here.
Also this is our good chance to ask them if those allegation are true or not.it's a pleasure to ask and verify those issues, if i have a chance to sit and enjoy my dinner with them.
So come on over mr. mayor let's get together and have some fun.
i'm looking forward of seeing you both in months to come.
08/14/08 @ 18:09Quote:
"Let's put politics aside and give OT-OT and NENENG a break.as long as they're spending they're own money and not the money of the people,there is nothing wrong with that."
Comment:
If the first couple is spending their own money, then why does it require the approval of the LGU?
Unless of course it is a business travel, funded by the municipal budget.
08/15/08 @ 05:10uhmm..that scenario never cross in my mind Inday Lyn.it make sense thank you. why LGU approval is necessary if it is a personal finance vacation.
We gonna ask JUSTICE FOR ALIMODIAN if what kind of vacation/tour is this;
BUSINESS/PLEASURE or combination of both.
08/15/08 @ 17:38Click on the above link for the photo and answer this question: How will a trip to some foreign lands improve the lives of these people living in the mountains of Alimodian?
_____________________________
HAVE LGU APPROVAL, WILL TRAVEL
The usual explanation/rationalization for every “official travel” taken by government officials is this – to observe progressive governing practices in other places and exchange progressive ideas with fellow government officials.
These opportunities for thoughtful observations and spirited intellectual exchanges are supposed to help them find solutions to the economic and social problems of the people they govern, among them:
POVERTY (i.e., lack of opportunities to earn a decent LIVELIHOOD)
ACCESS TO AND DELIVERY OF HEALTH SERVICES
MALNUTRITION AMONG CHILDREN
POOR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SCHOOLCHILDREN
WATER SUPPLY and related issues
CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE (roads, school buildings, etc.)
HAPHAZARD LAND USE AND ZONING
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS related to water source, water quality, flooding, etc.
LOW MORALE AMONG ALIMODIANANONS because of the lack of developmental progress in their town and alleged corruption among public officials
Never mind that you can imbibe these progressive ideas sitting down and surfing the Internet. Or copying the initiatives undertaken by the more progressive LGUs in the province of Iloilo (and there are plenty).
Can anyone in Alimodian point to any progressive idea or program that was adopted by the Alimodian LGU after one of their official trips?
Maybe there was, and we just don’t know about it?
That is my problem with the Alimodian LGU. Its philosophy of governing can be summed up as -- DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL.
They manage the affairs of the town as if it were a family business, and spend the town’s money as if it were their private bank account.
They do not feel any shred of responsibility to INFORM or EXPLAIN their actions to their fellow Alimodiananons.
They take umbrage at what they perceive as "lies" in some of the postings in this Blog. What do they expect? In the absence of official announcements, people are free to extrapolate the little information that comes their way (including gossip). Waay naga pamangkot, ay. Peeleez. You cannot even get a simple acknowledgment to a simple letter.
I do not begrudge the LGU officials going on R&R at public expense. But peeleez, let us abandon the hypocrisy.
As an end-product of an official trip, I will settle for a travelogue – a breathless account of the breathtaking scenery they saw, the celebrities they met, the culinary delights they tasted, etc. Better yet, they should produce a DVD and have a public screening in the plaza or in the market – “Travels with Honey” (or some titillating title).
At least we Alimodiananons can salivate and enjoy vicariously the delights of their official trips.
08/16/08 @ 09:15For the sake of discussion:
US$500- 4 day tour package to Bangkok
US$500- 4 day tour package to China
Net the savings from a combination tour and the additional expenses from meals, mini-tours, etc. - Let's say it's going to cost US$1,000 per person for a week's tour to China and Thailand, all-inclusive (minimum).
US$1,000 = Php46,000 per person
Assume 4 are going = Php184,000 total
Question: Are there any "pressing" issues facing the town of Alimodian that could use Php184,000 right now?
08/18/08 @ 00:10ano? bakasyon naman ang mayor kag mayora ta? daw wala lang nabagyuhan ba....basi gusto naman nila islan ang pinta ka plaza kang color nga makita nanda sa iban nga pungsod. remember the time they travelled sa bukidnon? pagbalik nanda ang natun-an nanda amo ang nasari-sari nga color sa plaza kag i-apply man kanaton...
08/18/08 @ 01:51its peoples money!!! waay man nagagastos ang first couple kay anda manggad nagadugang lang kag waay ti buhin. ang travel nanda
unofficial trip pero banwa ang nagasto.
ginapunggan man ka taga abroad nga mag investigate sa mga irrigularities sa LGU ano pa sagad nyo ka post dya sa blog ka mag isyus?? for what? angay bala ka imported nga canned goods nga waay pa mapanagtag sa flood victims!!
dali kamo dya mga maalam nga Alimodiananon, gina invite ko man mga pastors, kaparian, media kag civil society leaders.....!
dali kamo sa munisipyo kag buroligan ta ka lukdo mga bugas kag canned goods kag akwaton ta kag panagtag kay bukon ti ana ka first couple dya!
rasyon para sa publiko ipaabot daad sa mga kubos.
total, waay man dya mga poderoso didto ron sa Thailand kag ang cash advance sa Municipal Treasurer P300,000.00...dali kamo burligan ka ka hakot mga ginaramagon nga pagkaon sa bodega ka banwa.
ano pa ginahulat ta isa ruman ka bagyo?????!!
Bisan libuton nanda bilog nga kalibutan kung anda daad gastos waay ti porblema dia.
SB Member Julie Salarda, Chairwoman ka Budget & Appropriation - pira imo gali ginansya ka dya kay ikaw man nag proposed sa konseho ka dya?
ginansya mo lang kay pati ikaw libre pamasahe man tabid-tabid sa mag-asawa? daw ikaw gali yaya nanda ka to!
08/18/08 @ 08:49Bati ko nag pa gwua raman banwa ti solicitation para sa souvenir program. Waay pa to gani ma saydi ang pira ka tuig, dya ra man.
Bilib man ko sa aton mga kasimanwa nga basta na lang sigi ang pang solicit kag gina solicit-an. sige lang, mayha ta...Picture ka pamilya mo na ka post man, ti bilib man sanda.
08/18/08 @ 12:02(1) FUNDS WASTED ON OFFICIAL TRAVEL AKA VACATION OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS
How about using the money to construct a couple of public CRs ("comfort rooms") -- and I mean, decent, comfortable toilet facilities?
They can paint the structures using the color perspective they learned during the trip to Bukidnon.
(2) FIESTA SOUVENIR PROGRAM AKA ADVERTISEMENTS OF MYSELF
Sometime ago we advocated the idea that, if the reason for taking out advertising space in the souvenir program is to HELP (KUNO), the donors could do better by helping their kasimanwas DIRECTLY instead of becoming COMPLICIT in what has become a morally untenable enterprise (to put it mildly). In effect, you are aiding and abetting . . . WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR AN ACCOUNTING OF FUNDS SOLICITED FROM PAST SOUVENIR PROGRAMS.
If advertising your name and the wonderful photos of your family REALLY, REALLY MEAN THAT MUCH TO YOU, send the photos to the Webmaster and he will post them in this Web site. Libre na, worldwide circulation pa.
08/18/08 @ 16:52Sure AL. They can send their pictures to pictures@alimodian.net.
08/20/08 @ 22:09I hope for the next election that the alimodiananons will think wisely who they will vote for...
08/21/08 @ 06:05I agree PANGAYAW.i don't think the Filipino voters is learning their lessson yet.vote wisely kag indi ibaligya ang voto. from Marcos to Estrada down to local level election we never learn our mistakes.true! economic status kaya na dara sa kuarta.are we better off today kay gin baligya ta voto ta? or getting worse.
Come on! how could we expect an honest servant kong gin bakal na ang voto mo? "we are not sitting a standard to them. they sitting a standard for themselves." then we complain nga gin lagaw-lagaw ka LGU ang kuarta ka banwa sa abroad,kag ang anda bank account is fatter than ever.
well..you gave LGU a passport to travel and a blank check to deposit to their personal account.
Alimodian will never be the same again! unless we have a courage to stand up and organize ourselves and defeat them in the next local election. and change rules and playbook the current LGU is playing.
THAT'S THE ONLY SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM! NOT THE REKLAMO NOT THE PANG-LIBAK KAG PANG-INSULTO.
08/21/08 @ 19:30THE LOVE WE TAKE IS EQUAL TO THE LOVE WE MAKE
The electoral process alone does not rid the political landscape of incompetent, lazy, and corrupt public officials.
In the Philippines, if the election brings change at all, most of the time it is simply to replace the OLD RASCALS with NEW RASCALS.
Sure, some people sell their votes – and it is both sad and despicable. We decry most of the reasons why they do so, but it is highly probable that one of the reasons they vote for the people who buy their votes is – the OTHER GUYS do not give them reasons to vote for them instead.
It is not enough that you give people a rationale for voting AGAINST those you describe as incompetent, lazy, and corrupt – you must give them a rationale to vote FOR you.
How do you do that when maulhot ka lang when the campaign season comes around and all you do is lob personal attacks against your incompetent, lazy, and corrupt opponents?
The fact is, most of us who profess alarm at what we view as the corrupt and bankrupt political leadership in Alimodian are not willing to put in the hard work required to organize ourselves into a potent force for good in our hometown.
We want change – without lifting a finger to make it happen.
I beg to differ with Noah in his view that the people who sold their votes are to blame when the politicians they voted for turned out to be raiders of the found ark.
However the politicians won the elections – by hook or by crook – the office they hold is not a license for them to do as they well damn please; their position is not a personal entitlement. If they think that the results of the election validate their personal worthiness to the office, we should do whatever is necessary to rid them of the delusion.
It is our civic responsibility to hold their feet to the ground, to call them on every transgression they make, to be vigilant on their every move. Politicians get away with their shenanigans because – we say nothing, at the very least.
To say, meresi kang mga taga-Alimodian ria kay gin boto nanda, is a cop-out.
If we put our hopes on the election as the only solution to our problems – sapwan lang kita.
08/21/08 @ 20:27‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’
And certainly it is a common quote. In fact it is possibly the commonest political quote you will find anywhere. It is used to warn of the encroachments of government, and to warn that governments do not do enough.
Time and again those who profess to be good seem to clearly outnumber those who are evil, yet those who are evil seem to prevail far too often. Seldom is it the numbers that determine the outcome, but whether those who claim to be good men are willing to stand up and fight for what they know to be right. There are numerous examples of this sad and awful scenario being played out over and over again.
08/21/08 @ 21:35If you regularly reading the blog I'm one of many who tried to show that I'm not happy of what's going on kag naga reclamo.
we're not even a politicians we're just CARE (Concern Alimodianon Resource on Election)ku-on ko basi may effect.peru wa-ay gali.
In the political invironment of BULAG,PEPE AT BINGI i don't think that's effective. daw naga sunlog pati ang aton mga LGU.our style of advocacy is too weternize,kag para sa mga elected officials nga may ethics,decency and standard of governance. indi sa dog eat dog nga style ka LGU.
I think the people of alimodian have to do more than of just complaining but show their discontent in the next election.
08/22/08 @ 02:33Basi waay ron ti barakal ka dapli amo ra nga kaon sanda ka ayam.
08/22/08 @ 11:06ano matyag mo ka opisyales ka banwa ta takaban???
nga pati sikag ginapangyadi-an pa??
meyor lang man daad authorized mag travel pay gusto gid ka meyora magsunod, ti ano labot nyo kay first lady takon?
darwa ka video camera ginbakal ka LGU para sa tour ka mga poderoso gali paadto sa Thailand!
ang anda gin video tourist spot sa abroad pero ng local tourism waay gid ma expose sa publiko kaangay kang 7-cities.
amo man ra uyon ka taga abroad kurakot ang administrasyon kay amo man ra ginakampanya nanda nga grupo pag eleksyon, sa tulad wangal man gali kamo!!!!
ang quarry project sa alimodian bisan sin-o pa nga illiterate nga meyor nag approved kon ikaw sa pwesto tulad man-an mo nga apektado pomuluyo mo MAY PODER IKAw NGA UNTATON! garing kay ang kwarta dyan sa quarry untaton mo pa???
I am with the challenge of Justice for Alimodian diin ron mga pari kag aktibista sa alimodian nga maisog haw BUROLIGAN TA KA LUKDO MGA BUGAS DYAN SA BODEGA KA BANWA KON MAY DYAN GID MAN KAG PANAGTAG TA SA MGA GINAGUTOM!
PARASUGID MAN TIMO SAGOKSOK, KON ISOG KAW BULIG KA MAN BI AKWAT KA BUGAS NGA NAGABARAHO SA MUNICIPIO, WAAY TA MAN GINTAKAW ANG BUGAS, ANG ATON LANG IMPORTANTE MATAGTAG sa NAGAKINAHANGLAN!!!!!!!!!!
08/24/08 @ 13:23NOAH said "I think the people of alimodian have to do more than of just complaining but show their discontent in the next election."
Bisan sa abroad kamo naga istar kon nagakabalaka kamo, bisan agsador ka kalupaan nyo dya sa alimodian waay nyo gani ma edukar kon paano magboto ti insakto!pariente nyo kag mga kakilala waay nyo ma edukar ti insakto, ti, ang una nga naghinulsol gali taga abroad man!!!
in fairness with DILG Diretor Evelyn Alinsao Trompeta, a pride of Alimodianon, tingala kamo nga hands off tana sa rampant nga graft & corruption sa kaugalingon na nga banwa ka Alimodian pati ang padayon nga illegal quarrying kag illegal logging sa bukid ka alimodian?????
REASON nO.1 - Her Sister SB Member Felicita Alinsao Amba ginpunggan na nga mangin oposisyon, even SB Member Amba is a wishtle blower of the anomalous & corrupt Alipao Administration.
REASON NO. 2 - May approved Quarry permit ang pamilya Alinsao sa Barangays of Dalid & Piandaan Sur rason nga nagaluhod sanda sa mag asawa nga alipao.
and dont you know? pag uli ka first couple dya sa alimodian maderetso sanda sa Cebu & Bohol for another trip....................
kon amo man lang ra nga lagaw man lang plano nyo, dretso na lang kamo sa South cotabato kag Zamboanga para maman-an nyo nagakaratabo didto kon may giyera!
WAAY TI SANGGUNIANG BAYAN ANG ALIMODIAN SA KARON, puro binaydan nga mabalik lamang ang gastos pag eleksyon para maghipos halin sa partida sa quarry resources.
08/24/08 @ 21:12DOWN MEMORY LANE . . .
News Item from Sun-Star Iloilo, Saturday, January 28, 2006
MAYORS TELL GOV'T EXEC AND WIFE: BE TRANSPARENT
MAYORS of the 2nd District of Iloilo wrote Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Secretary Augusto Syjuco and wife, Representative Judy Syjuco regarding allegations on ghost projects.
The letter was signed by Juanito Alipao of Alimodian, Arcadio Gorriceta of Pavia, Adolfo Jaen of Leganes, Gregorio Brazas of Zarraga, Romulo Cabana of Leon, June Mondejar of New Lucena, Isabelo Maquino of Sta. Barbara, and Gregorio Villarico of San Miguel.
"Let truth vindicate you," the municipal mayors said as they made it clear to the Syjuco couple that the allegations of ghost projects and pork barrel fund misuse raised by Iloilo provincial administrator Manuel "Boy" Mejorada could no longer be ignored.
The mayor urged Syjuco couple to present "hard evidence" to belie the accusations.
"Our constituents have been asking us whether there is truth to the issues, and we are having difficulty responding to the questions especially with regard to the alleged ghost projects," the mayors said.
A source said the letter dated December 3, 2005 was personally handed to the couple during the 63rd birthday of Secretary Syjuco at the Grand Hotel on December 11, 2005.
Mejorada accused the Syjuco couple of misappropriating nearly P100 million from their Countrywide Development Funds allegedly through diverting the money to Tawo kag Duta sa Kauswagan Foundation and Tagipusuon Foundation.
The money then just vanished into thin air, according to Mejorada.
Most of the money were coursed through the Municipality of Alimodian during the years 2001 to 2004, said Mejorada.
"At the time, the municipal mayor, vice mayor, and Municipal members were beholden to the Syjucos and allowed themselves to be used as tools for this plunder," he said.
In their letter, the mayors told the Syjucos "not (to) allow these accusations to linger in the minds of our constituents much longer."
"We feel that transparency would be your most effective weapon against these attacks," the mayors said.
Vindication
Mejorada said the letter of the municipal mayors is a vindication for him.
"When I exposed these anomalies, the Syjucos just dismissed it as an extortion attempt on my part," he said.
"The Syjucos could no longer ignore the issues because even the municipal mayors are telling him there is basis of my accusation," added Mejorada.
He expressed his gratitude to the municipal mayors for showing courage to take the Syjucos to task and demand for an accounting of the pork barrel funds.
Last month, Mejorada filed a graft case before the Ombudsman against Secretary Syjuco for allegedly siphoning several millions of pesos from the Kabir chicken project of the Tagipusuon Foundation.
Mejorada said he is preparing more cases, one involving the anomalous purchase of heavy equipment by the Department of Public Works and Highways 4th engineering district based in Sta. Barbara, and another on the overpricing of school uniforms and bags for students of the Municipality of Pavia.
"This is large-scale plunder of public funds," Mejorada said.
Sun.Star Iloilo tried to reach the Syjucos but to no avail. (With a report from Lory Ann B. Bilbao)
(January 28, 2006 issue)
08/24/08 @ 22:18Araw araw man timo. Dampig mo kun an mo nga illiterate.
08/25/08 @ 14:12The matter of disbursing government funds by LGU officials is under the control of the Sangguniang Bayan and regulated by the Rules and Regulations of the Commission on Audit (COA).If our Municipal Officials are able to appropriate municipal funds for their personal travels and other personal expenses without proper accounting or are able to go around these rules, they must be extremely good. Existing COA rules are quite stringent, not to mention recent Department of Local Government (DILG)and Civil Service Commission (CSC)rules on ethics, integrity, honesty and transparency in the conduct of governance of these officials. Also, all records in connection with the disbursements of these funds are public documents and any concerned citizen can have access to these records upon request. I would believe, therefore, that the proper course of action of anybody who profess to love his Alimodian and would like to take action against what he perceives are illegal acts committed by these officials with apparent impunity, is to go to the Office of the Mayor, Office of the Secretary of the Sangguniang Bayan, the Municipal Budget Office, the Office of the Treasurer and request for records relative to the transactions which he believes are tainted with graft or impropriety. This suggested course of action is tedious, time consuming and even hazardous to your health but in the long haul, this is more productive than dishing out rumors, speculations, innuendos, half-truths, mud-slings,character assassination and personal attacks and posting them on this blog.
08/26/08 @ 10:05Welcome back to this Blog, Dooy.
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THE NAME OF THE GAME IS SHOW AND TELL
In an ideal world – or in a less than ideal world (e.g., a totalitarian state) – blog sites like the Alimodian Online would not exist.
We do not live in either world. For all its imperfections, we should all be glad that a Blog site like AOL exists. (We cannot thank the Webmaster enough.)
The exercise of democracy is messy. This Blog showcases how messy it could be. Still, as someone once wrote, “Democracy is the only system that persists in asking the powers that be whether they are the powers that ought to be.”
PRIVATE CITIZENS do not deserve the innuendos and insults hurled at them in this Blog. I find the insults “sa mga taga-abroad” tiresome. But as a private citizen who has been attacked personally in this Blog and out, I understand that it is a small price to pay for having strong opinions and expressing them forcefully. So I try to roll with the punches.
POLITICIANS and PUBLIC OFFICIALS/EMPLOYEES, on the other hand, are fair game. They DESERVE to be criticized. They SHOULD be criticized.
They OUGHT to welcome criticisms. Criticisms are a small price to pay for the positions that give them a good living, among others.
The LEGALITY and PROPER ACCOUNTING of official transactions is not the issue.
To cite an extreme example, when Ferdinand Marcos imposed martial law, he had “legal basis” to do so. When Imelda Marcos went on a construction rampage, the money spent on her superfluous buildings passed the stringent accounting procedures of the Commission on Audit.
Just because something is "legal” or “passed audit” does not make it ETHICAL or MORAL.
Every official action should be viewed through the prism of what could possibly be defined as “the public good”:
Is it NECESSARY?
Is it PRIORITY?
Is it HONEST?
Is it SENSITIVE to the prevailing economic, social, and cultural undercurrents in Alimodian?
You cannot explain away your actions simply by saying, Ti, gin authorized man to kang Sangguniang Bayan.
The question to be debated should be: Insa gin authorized?
Surely, the citizens of Alimodian have the responsibility to ASK, find out the TRUTH about the gossip, rumor, etc. It is highly irresponsible to throw mud at other people – especially if you do not have the guts to identify yourself.
But as a practical matter, how easy is it for a private citizen to go to the municipal hall and ask the SB Secretary named Alipao for the paperwork relating to the official transactions of a Municipal Mayor named Alipao and the Municipal Administrator named Alipao?
Mayad kong taasan ka lang ng kilay and asked, ano ang authority mo? (The Alimodian LGU is big on “authority”.) As has been pointed out, nali indi ka covered under the Workmen's Compensation Act, meresi mo.
Yes, it is the responsibility of private citizens to ASK. But the public officials have a greater responsibility to TELL.
And as we have noted in this Blog over and over again, this is a responsibility that the Alimodian LGU fails miserably.
08/28/08 @ 14:12Dear al:
Thank you for welcoming me to this blog. That was quite a warm welcome.Sa totoo lang, while I was typing my comments,I had that strange, creeping feeling you will be the first to post a rejoinder.Daw indi ron ko daad mag liwan when I got burned when some wiseguy hiding under the cloak of annonimity claimed I was flaunting my wealth. Kung sa tagalog pa nakasakit ng damdamin. Everybody knows kung daw ano ka imol ang mga Casorla tapos kun-an kaw nga maggaranon kg gina pasilaw mo pa sa iba. It would have been ok if the guy had the balls to say that to my face. Anyway, that's all behind me now.Rest assured I'm back without any rancor in my heart.Balewala gani ang natirawan ko compara kanimo.Sorry if I sounded like I find comfort in the thought that you have been hurt more than I was. No malice, nor offense intended.
Spending my vacation here in Florida, I have now the time to sit in front of the computer especially now that my apos are in school.Plenty of time to read the comments on this blog.
When I read the comments on the issue of LGU officials in Alimodian allegedly misappropriating
municipal funds for their personal travels and expenses, I felt I had to say something about the issue.
Least I be misconstrued, I would like to make it clear That I am not rising in defense of any LGU official or any politician for that matter. I am not a political person and I refused to be drawn into a political whirlpool.
I fully understood that legality is not the issue here. I am fully aware that bureaucratic phrases like "in accordance with existing rules" or "passed in audit" are usually used by certain unscrupulous government officials as a license to go ahead and spend public funds as they please.More often than not, ethical and moral considerations are not inputed into the activity.
One particular issue which most Alimodiananons are aware of is the "Lakbay Aral" Program.I have been very vocal advocating the scrapping of the program. I personally believe it is a waste of scarce municipal resource,revealing the
sangguniang Bayan's skewed sense of priority. Kasi papaano mo masikmura o matiis man lang na gumastos ng mahigit 1 million sa pamamasyal ng mga Barangay Captain, buong Sangguniang Bayan members, All Department Heads and the Town Executive's family, samantalang ang karamihan sa mga kababayan mo ay naghihirap sa gitna ng kawalang pag-asa dahil sa walang makain, walang maayos na trabaho, malnutrition ng mga bata, di maka pagpaaral ng mga anak sira-sirang karsada, konting pruducto ng lupa at iba pang kahirapan.
Simply put, it reveals the LGU officials' insensitivity to the needs of their constituents.
Since its implementation and after several lakbay arals by the town's LGU officials, no administration can lay claim to any visibly significant accomplishment as a result of the exercise. Yet, despite the fact that all these officials are aware of this they still continue implementing the program.What more reason do you need to scrap the program?
Now,back to my basic suggestion.
What I was suggesting was the normal way or course of soliciting information from a government office, by presenting a duly signed letter-request and having the same officially received by the said office.If the letter is not acted upon within 30 days from receipt thereof, they will be compelled by the DILG or the CSC once these agencies are furnished a copy of the duly received letter-request,accompanied with a duly signed complaint.
I am aware this course of action is tedious, time-consuming,frustrating, discouraging even because the maze of bureaucratic red tape could led your inquiry into an empty shell or a blank wall. The idea, therefore, would look like a classic example of an exercise in futility. It would even look absurd to some.However, this is the usual way I know how to approach issues of this nature, maybe influenced by my working experience in the corporate world I used to work with for 25 years.
Based on the comments posted by so many bloggers, I could say that they have been, since the opening of this blog, shouting to the high heavens, barrage of questions, snide remarks, demands for explanations, personal insults and even downright libelous remarks, pointedly addressed to the LGU officials, yet all I can hear are the echoes of their voices. Yes, I agree that we have to keep on asking the questions and demand answers. Pero sa tagal naman nakakasawa na di ba? I believe, therefore, that it is not unreasonable to try a new tack.
In line with this, may I suggest (again) that all the bloggers who profess to love their town deeply and care so much for its welfare, form a group that will operate above ground and work towards this end? A kind of a municipal graftwatch or anti graft and corrupt practices group, duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) with a legal personality to be able to sue and be sued.
Hope I am able to arouse your interest to a plausible idea, however, I am ready, even will be glad, to hear your criticisms, constructive or otherwise.
Regards and GOD BLESS! - DO-OY CASORLA
08/29/08 @ 23:29"Daw indi ron ko daad mag liwan when I got burned . . . ."
Do-oy,
We are happy that you are back. We would have understood completely if you had decided, heck, I don't need the abuse. Afterall, many Alimodiananons feel that way and therefore are not inclined to post their opinions in this Blog (under their real names): here you are, a private citizen who does not earn a living from public funds, putting forth your two-cents worth of opinion because you think you may have something constructive to contribute to the communal dialogue -- and some son-of-a-bitch, kasimanwa mo mismo, launches a vicious personal attack at you.
Welcome to the hazardous zone of blogging. The way I see it -- we have reached an age when the gift of being able to express what we think and feel is well worth the price of an occasional bruised ego.
We appreciate and value very much your comments and suggestions. There's a lot to think about.
Do come back again and again.
08/30/08 @ 10:09From an old posting:
Comment from: al [Visitor]
12/15/07 @ 12:14
THE POLITICS OF DIVISION
Good politics, and by extension, effective governance, is the mathematics of addition. You should make as many allies as you can, make friends of your enemies, and try to find COMMON GROUND with them.
This philosophy seems to be lost among the politicians in Alimodian – both in the ruling party and in the opposition party.
You cannot govern effectively with a divided citizenry. And in Alimodian, the division runs very deep. Sobra gid ang dumtanay. And each camp wants you to take its “side”.
As I write this, I can hear screams in the background, “Ti, ano abi kay . . . . “, from both sides of the political spectrum, both blaming each other.
The problem with the “Ti, ano abi kay . . .” excuse is that it is like a spinning wheel: it does its work by staying in the same place.
What happens when the opposition party takes power? When it calls for COOPERATION among the citizens of Alimodian, who will heed its call? Not the people they have demonized, and surely not the incumbents they are replacing. And so the cycle starts all over again.
There is enough blame to spread around. Of course it is a failure of the town leadership. But it is also the failure of the rest of us who do not demand leadership from our leaders, and do not practice it ourselves.
Oh, sure, everyone talks about mag buligay to “serve the people,” but does it happen?
No.
Take the recent election of the President of the Liga ng mga Barangay sa Alimodian that was won by the Kapitan of Quinaspan, whom I understand was the manok kang mayor.
Some of us may not agree with the results of the election, but that’s the way it is in democracy, we don’t always get what we want.
You live to fight another day.
So we got this exhortation to “support” the four kapitans who did not vote for the winner.
How about giving ALL the kapitans a fair shake, supporting those who have projects that actually work and benefit the residents of their barangays, regardless of how they voted? Wouldn’t that be more productive? The citizens of the barangays did not vote; their kapitans did. They should not be deprived of our support simply because we do not like how their kapitans voted. In the same token, the residents of the other barangays should not be rewarded by projects that may not work simply because we approve that their kapitans did not vote for the winner.
It is easy to OPPOSE. Especially if you are doing it incognito. Anyone can do that.
It is far more difficult to BUILD.
In Alimodian, there is an oversupply of “opposers”. The town is in a permanent election campaign mode.
There is a shortage of builders engaged in projects that benefit ALL Alimodiananons, regardless of what their political affiliation is.
08/31/08 @ 09:48Good morning al. Its a beautiful morning here in Florida despite the threat of two hurricanes.
I'm addressing this comments to you for your perusal and favorable endorsement kon puede. I admit I'm no expert in this field and I don't claim this as the best solution. As you always say, this is my two cents worth.
The issue is the damage wrought by the recent flood on the farmlands along the banks of the Aganan river from Cabacanan proper to Bgy Buhay and what must be done to help the poor farmers rehabilitate their farms and make it productive again, as pointed out by Dodoy Wil.
Reading the comments on the issue, daw wala man gid man ti nag tao ka suggestion nga nag discuss ka issue except for one who suggested quarrying the farms. Puede man siguro maka ganansya ang farmer sa amo dya nga paagi but I doubt very much
its sustainability. Also, it will not rehabilitate the farmlands and the PENRO and other agencies regulating quarrying will surely not allow it.
Na notaran ko man nga ang mga commentary ka iba nga mga bloggers nagconcentrate sa issue ka relief goods/calamity funds. Some became preoccupied with offering suggestions on its distribution/division. I can't really comprehend why some people are so obsessed with personally distributing relief goods and have their picture taken doing it. Nakakabigay ba yan ng sense of fulfillment? Binibilang ba nila yan na heroic accomplishment? Susmaryosep naman! Alam naman ng mga tao na hindi naman sa bulsa mo nanggaling yan. Tiga abot ka lang. Ang masama pa nga, sa tingin ng iba ang pinamimigay mo, tira-tira na lang ng mga naitabi mo para sa sarili mo.
Think about it, ano gid abi ang mabulig sa mga biktima ka baha ka 5 ka kilos nga bugas, 3 ka lata nga sardinas kag lima ka pakete nga noodles? After this, what?
After reading Doy Wil's report on the damaged farmlands, I emailed to him my thoughts and some suggestions to help the farmers rehabilitate their lands. I believe he's too busy attending to the farmers' problems presented to him. The AKBC is engaged in rice and corn financing and this must be adversely affected by the damages on farmers crops.
With due respect to Wil's conclusion particularly on the extent of the damage to the farmlands along the previously mentioned barangays, I refuse to adhere to the assumption that the damaged farmlands will be unproductive for many years. Considering the modern agricultural practices and new technologies, there is no such thing as an unproductive land, only unproductive farmers.
I pointed out the Israel experience. When the first Jews came to Palestine before Israel became a nation, found out that the land they are supposed to farm are not arable, littered with rocks, stones and boulders bounded by swamps on one side and the Negev desert on the other. These Jews were not even farmers. Most were pawnshop owners, retail store operators, accountants, etc. Before thay can even plow the fields, they have to manually pick and remove the rocks, boulders and stones. They have to replace the sandy soil with fertile soil hauled from the mountains several kilometers away. They had to dig deepwels or haul water from mountain springs to water their plants.
Only a few years after their nationhood, Israel was self-sufficient in agricultural products such as fruits and vegetables with surplus enough to export to the Middle East and even Europe. Since about 30 years ago, Israel has been supplying the flower requirement of the entire Europe.
I believe our farmers should learn something from this experience.
Dodoy wil must be referring to the rice farms when he mentioned about the damage. So. let us discuss rice farming in Alimodian.
Again I would like to make it clear that I do not profess expertise in rice farming but in my four years stay in Binalud, I took pains reading as much literature I can lay my hands on about rice farming and actually did it hands on. I learned the hard and expensive way. Two successive rice crop failures but in the latest, the 2007 rice cropping, I was able to break even.
These experiences revealed to me the harsh reality that rice farming in Alimodian is a financially high-risk undertaking. Kung baga sa sugal, mas malamang ang talo kaysa panalo. The odds is stacked against the farmer. Except for a few hectares of irrigated ricelands in Dalid, Ginomoy and Piandaan (before the irrigation dike was destroyed by the flood) all ricefarms in Alimodian are rainfed farms, and therefore dependent on climatic condition.Also, for the past 50 years or so, the cultural practices of rice farmers changed radically making them totally dependent on commercial/chemical agricultural inputs which are cumulatively degrading the environment and slowly destroying the soil. This practices is slowly but surely depriving the soil of humus, organic materials and nutrients necessary for plant growth. Lately some rice farms has become acidic causing the refusal of the rice plants to absorb the nutrients from chemical fertilizers. Kung sa Tagalog pa, bugbog na bugbog na ang lupa.
Last year, even before the agricultural inputs increased by leaps and bounds, the cost of rice production per hectare was between P18,000.00 to P20,000,00 excluding the rental being paid by the farmer to the landowner, usually 15 to 20 cavans of rice produced.If the farmer is lucky enough, he will be able to produce 70 to 80 cavans (ex-thresher). One failed crop could wipe out a farmer and put him in neck-deep debt. Dahil puro utang lang naman ang pinuhunan sa pagtatanim ng palay,gina galing pa lang ka thresher ang paray na naga pila man sa tubang ka thresher ang mga manurokot nga may dara nga sako kag masigsalud lang ka anda parte. Igu mamarasmasan ang farmer, upa dlang kag girok nabilin ka na. This is not a joke this is the ugly, painful truth in rice farming.
Another whammer on rice farming: Due to the astronomical increase in oil prices,agricultural inputs such as chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides increased by as much as 120 percent, compared to the same period last year. This will effectively double the cost of rice production. Can our rice farmers afford this?
Pardon my optimism but instead of feeling depressed by the damage caused on the farmlands, particularly the silt and sand covering the rice paddies, I would tend to believe it is nature's way of rehabilitating itself. Nature's way of replenishing the lost soil nutrients. It could also be its way of reminding us to change the way we utilize nature's bounties. Go back to the ways of our ancestors.
Rehabilitation of the damaged farmlands is a daunting task.The farmers can't do it by themselves, by one person or even by one group. It will require the concerted effort of all concerned groups and individuals in the community, with the sincere desire and commitment to help the farmers. Everybody, irregardless of religious or political affiliation should pitch in, help and contribute to the overall effort. This is the time to set aside old political partisanship which has been dividing us and preventing us from doing the right thing. All these groups and individuals should join forces and find a common ground and work toward the common goal of helping the poor farmers rehabilitate their farms. A dream? Well, as Walt Disney said: If you believe, dreams do come true.
To all and sundry, kindly submit your list of participants whom you believe would be able to contribute to the overall effort. Please be serious and sincere.
al, please tell me what you think of the idea. Don't pull your punches. I can take it especially from you.
08/31/08 @ 11:04Bronze Medalist Philippine Team of Sepak Takraw from Alimodian with Team USA in the 23rd King's Cup Sepak Takraw World Championship in Bangkok, Thailand
08/31/08 @ 11:09Alimodiananons can. We're proud of you boys.
08/31/08 @ 18:33Hi Maan,
Kumusta ka na? Kuon ni Putot ma bakasyon kamo sa Alimod sa Disyembre. How wonderful.
Thanks for sharing the photos. If you know the names of the Alimodian Sepak Takraw team, please list them here.
Hi Do-oy,
Thanks for sharing your experience and insights into rice farming in Alimodian. I always say that one of the good things about this Blog is the opportunity it presents for Alimodiananons of good faith to learn from one another.
I would like very much to advance specific ideas, but, unfortunately, rice farming is not my expertise. Therefore I defer to you (and people like Wil Anas) to provide the leadership in whatever needs to be done to help the farmers in Alimodian, especially those working the lands damaged by the recent flooding. Just tell me what to do and I will do it.
Just the same, here are my modest thoughts on the subject.
LONG TERM -- Even before the recent flooding, I had come to the view that intensive rice monoculture, or, in fact, rice production itself, is unsustainable -- for reasons you have explained eloquently.
Recently Philippine Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap was quoted as saying: "We neglected agriculture. It was only recently that we started to fund irrigation, extension, seeds, post-harvest programs, etc.”
If one can believe the national government's newfound commitment, it will take years for the assistance programs to take hold, much less make its way to rural places like Alimodian.
Still, they would not be enough. One cannot begin to describe the magnitude of the solution to the problem of poverty among farmers -- it requires no less than a massive overhaul of social structures so poor farmers can acquire land, seeds, credit, etc., and share equitably in the harvest.
So for me, the long-term question that we should be thinking about is: How does a stereotypical
Alimodian farmer -- who has a limited education and skills -- earn a decent livelihood to support a family of, say, 6? The obvious answer for a very long time now is -- rice farming alone, especially on a land he does not own, will not cut it. He either has to diversify his produce or find additional/alternative sources of income -- or both. Much as rice farming is an emotional issue for most of us -- we've done it for generations -- the time has come for us to take a hard look at its viability and come up with alternative solutions to address the problem of poverty among Alimodian farmers.
Elsewhere in this Blog, every now and then, some bloggers suggest alternative industries -- eco-tourism, for example. Government programs like TESDA's, for instance, are intended to promote small livelihood projects, but we know very well that most of the time these programs are simply a waste of public funds. Hopefully the tourists who have just returned from Thailand came home with loads of progressive ideas.
For whatever they are worth, here are a few ideas that I know work elsewhere and could work in Alimodian:
1. The hard economic times notwithstanding, there are people out there with disposable income to spare. Meaning, there is money to be earned, regardless of the state of the economy.
2. People will buy if you are selling them a product that they can use, or, even if they cannot use (in a literal sense)-- if you create a "use" or a "need" for it. Not only a (physical) product but illusion, atmosphere, idea -- the physical, emotional, social, and psychological needs of a human being are limitless.
3. Tourism is a big-time industry. People will come -- and spend money -- if you offer something unique, interesting, or plain fun. For this reason, among others, it breaks my heart that in Alimodian, instead of preserving our traditions, we seem intent on doing away with them.
4. There are lots of foreign governments, nongovernmental organizations, philanthropic agencies, nonprofit corporations, etc. just waiting to be tapped for financing of worthwhile projects/initiatives. Most of the time all it takes is a well-written proposal. Really.
4. Things do not happen simply by wishing they would. Sometimes it does not take much -- a little publicity does wonders. But even a "little publicity" takes hard work and, most of all, leadership.
SHORT TERM -- Now, what do we do about the lands damaged by the recent flooding? As I said before, this is not my area of expertise, so no tengo la menor idea. I should do some research on the experience in other places (I note that you cited Israel). I urge those bloggers who know something about the subject to share with us their ideas. Am sure we will eventually come up with something.
And why should we do this?
I could not have said it better:
" This is the time to set aside old political partisanship which has been dividing us and preventing us from doing the right thing."
08/31/08 @ 20:29Hi al.
Thanks for the immediate response.
My idea or suggestion to rehabilitate the damaged farmlands was not meant to or geared towards a return to the usual rice farming. I was thinking of integrated farming, intensive multicropping or multi-storey cropping.
I know this is not your area of expertise and neither is it mine. At least, however, we are both agreed that intensive rice monoculture is untenable to Alimodian farmers and that they must diversify their farm products.
I would like to add also that the rampant use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and other harmful chemicals should be slowly phased out and encourage organic farming.
I have started practicing organic farming in Elvie's family farm and I believe it is starting to show good results.
Pag balik na lang namon sa Alimodian I'll confer with Dodoy Wil and other friends who I believe are concerned with the sad state of our farmers.
I hope we can start something that will prod others to pitch in and help in the undertaking.
I'm sure we will need your active participation.Ga dali man gani ko mauli pero daw gina kanugunan man ko ka bakasyon ko.
We'll contact you as soon as we are able to start the ball rolling.
09/02/08 @ 22:37Dear Do-oy,
I e-mailed a friend in the Philippines to solicit his advice on what to do with the damaged agricultural land along the riverbanks in Alimodian. Am not sure how feasible his suggestions are (he is NOT an expert), but here they are, anyway:
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Sabi ko sayo pag nag NGO, buong buhay na. I feel good, ngayon agriculturist ka na!
Initial thoughts on how to make these areas productive:
1. Plant mungo at pag near flowering stage na, plough the mungo plants under. This process will make the land productive, magkaroon na siya ng nutrients. Problema lang papatayin tayo ng mga farmers, kasi farmers nga di nila papatayin ang plants na mag bubunga na o nabuhay sa ganitong soil conditions. I know this is next to impossible to implement, mas marami kang magiging kaaway, but this is technically tenable.
2. Di ba damo bagasse sa mga sugar central sa Iloilo, which is considered waste. Scatter bagasse sa fields, plough under. If bagasse is already decomposed/rotten, pwede na taniman. Baka lang talagang damong bagasse iyan to neutralize the sands/siltation. Seek assistance of the municipal agriculturists on amounts of bagasse that should be applied.
3. For the long term, put organic matter/bagasse/manure, etc, in degradable bags/basket, bury filled-up bags sa mga silted areas at doon itanim ang mga crops; best ito sa mga fruit trees, etc. Baka one bag per tree.
Mag iisip pa ako kung ano pa mga low tech and cheap methods on how to make these lands productive.
09/04/08 @ 08:53MAYAD PA ANG IBAN NGA WAAY NAGA ISTAR KAG BUKON TI TAGA ALIMODIAN KAY NAGAPAMINSAR PA KON ANO ANG MAYAD SA ALIMODIAN, HOW ABOUT THE INITIATIVE OF OUR LOCAL LEADERS.. .?
Here in Alimodian, you are free to intimidate people who want to fight abusive LGU Officials and longing to avail government services.
You are free to torture and kill people through graft and corruption by abusive LGU authorities “kay sanda sa pwesto” just because they don’t share your political beliefs.
Pobre nga kapitanes ka Alimodian kag mas pobre pa gid ang anda sinakpan nga kasimaryo.
Suggested Actions/ Advises/ Recommendations by some clever bloggers:
-Hulaton ang 2010 Elections kag magdesisyon. (ang tinakaw gali to bay, SALAMAT LANG.)
-Request/inquire at the concerned LGU government bureaus/departments for “vouchers, public records/files” justifying that no graft & corruption happened or committed by local officials which was accounted and kept by the Alipao clan and Alipao cronies?
-Who will create the Anti-Graft Watch sa Alimodian kag sin-o ang manindugan kay tanan magkumparehay kag magkumarehay?
-Masig himakas na lang para mabuhi.
Or the influential Alimodiananon in abroad should take a lead forming a movement to open a public inquiry “kay naga-uruli man bala kamo dya kag mag showing sa mga public affairs (fiesta) and socialization with the local officials, kapin pa kon sa VIP table kamo tawagon nga magpungko.. .
09/07/08 @ 22:21P.S. ON WHAT TO DO WITH LANDS DAMAGED BY FLOOD
Here's an addendum to my friend's long-distance advice on: 3. For the long term, put organic matter/bagasse/manure, etc, in degradable bags/basket, bury filled-up bags sa mga silted areas at doon itanim ang mga crops; best ito sa mga fruit trees, etc. Baka one bag per tree.
"I was travelling by bus from Isabela yesterday and saw those palay/rice bags that they're using; pwede itong mga bags na ito, very cheap; I think a used palay plastic bag is about 5 pesos per piece, much much cheaper than the bayongs sold in wet markets.
"Pay a little extra, I guess, for sewing the middle portion of the sack, cut it and pronto, you have two sacks. Will come out a little cheaper, mga 2.50 pesos na lang per sack. A half sack will be sufficient to carry enough organic matter/decomposed farm wastes to enable your fruit tree seedling to get established."
_______
L-O-L! By the time this is over, if I do not learn anything about agriculture, I would at least be able to speak with authority on sack recycling.
09/10/08 @ 05:04ATTEMPTING RAPE WITH A CELL PHONE
(This story would be funny if it were not so scary. Since the details did not come from the official scripts of "Law and Order: Criminal Intent," I cannot vouch for the accuracy of the specifics, only the "atmospherics" of the case.)
A few months ago (June or July?), a woman in Alimodian was a victim of an attempted rape. It seemed that when the intruder did not find anything of value to steal from the house, he then attempted to rape the tagbalay. The victim put up a hell of a fight, sustaining a knife wound on her hand during the ensuing struggle.
The incident happened at about one o'clock in the morning. Except for an old(er) couple across the street, most of the victim's neighbors were unaware of the incident.
The guardia civil came to investigate at about 6 o'clock in the morning. Go figure why it took that long (5 hours) -- nali waay sanda ti cell phone.
Apparently the would-be rapist had a cell phone, and when he fled, can you believe this, left the phone at the scene of the crime.
(Calling the scriptwriters of "Law and Order.")
And that was how the cell phone-armed crime suspect was identified -- except that it took the guardia civil 6 days to make an ID. By that time the suspect (apparently a pangayaw in Alimodian), his wife, and 6 (!) kids had already left Alimodian.
09/11/08 @ 10:38WHY IS THE LGU NOT ALLOCATING MORE FUNDS FOR STREET LIGHTING?
I would think that lighting the streets at night is a GREATER PRIORITY than some of the frivolous projects they spend scarce municipal finances on; for example, the Lakbay Aral travel junket --was it to Bukidnon?-- the only PRACTICAL benefit of which seemed to have been that the travelers came back with an intense familiarity with the colors of the rainbow, and greater appreciation for the crayon box. (I will take back this criticism if someone can name one or more benefits that changed the lives of Alimodiananons arising from the travel.)
At night there are many areas in town that are pitch black. Even the streets around the plaza are twilight zones, only the plaza itself has decent lighting, not that I think the plaza area should have more lighting that other parts of the town, but I do understand the need for a "showcase".
Nothing much has changed since we were kids. Flourescent lamp pa rin ang nakakabit sa poste. When the lamp conks out, it takes ages to have it replaced (if ever), the private citizens themselves have taken to donating their replacements if they want to have light in their premises.
I wish we can say, oh how charming, how bucolic, how "Gaslight" , Alimodian is at night, with a mirage of light in the distance, etc. etc. Just like when we were growing up.
We are not in Kansas anymore. For better or worse, times have changed. For one, the demographics of the town have changed. There are more and more people now "na indi mo kilala," i.e., mga pangayaw who have settled in Alimodian. One no longer has the security of familiarity -- ah, si kuwan dia nga taga-Bancal -- that is gone.
Can anyone remember an attempted rape in Alimodian before the recent case? At least of a non-Alimodiananon as the would-be rapist, not that it makes a difference, attempted rape is attempted rape, period? Still . . .
The people of Alimodian DESERVE to live in a well-lit surrounding at night. (They also deserve good roads, adequate water supply, etc. -- but these are for another time.)
Light is a deterrent (small it may be) to burglary and other petty crimes (and there has been a rash of these in Alimodian in recent times), and who knows, big crimes, too?
Call it "false security" if you will, you sleep better at night if the areas around you are well-lit. It is a big deal. If this is all the government gives its citizens -- the feeling of security, the absence of fear -- at least it is doing something RIGHT.
If you think street lighting is not as, or more important than an official R&R in China and Thailand, you have a skewed sense of priorities.
09/11/08 @ 19:19waay pa ma account ang previous fiesta fund, solicit ruman kamo??????????
sa mga waay pa mabiktima, pa subscribe naman kita sa Fiesta Souvenir 2008! Bantog ja!!!
09/12/08 @ 08:20Thank you AL for making a voice regarding street lights.
Kamalig, a small CARE library facing the plaza and at the left side of the munisipyo could have been a site of burglary too. Part of a window was broken into. This burglar must be a bookworm!
Attention BURGLARS: All you need to borrow books at Kamalig is to apply for a library card and it's FREE!
09/12/08 @ 08:24SOLICITOR:
I believe all the Alimodiananons need is TRANSPARENCY where the funds are going.
ACES and LGU officials, this website is free. You can send financial report to the webmaster and we will post it.
09/17/08 @ 02:10FOR PERUSAL OF THE PAST AND PRESENT AUDITORS, ALIMODIAN FIESTA AFFAIRS MANAGEMENT.
THE FOLLOWING ARE BREAKDOWN OF EXPENDITURES DERIVE FROM FIESTA AFFAIRS FUND (bonggahanay ka mga muses, ferias & amusement, souvenirs, entrance fees and other source of fund raised during the fiesta affairs) DISBURSED BY SPENDTHRIFT & OPPORTUNIST ORGANIZERS;
P 20,000.00 taken and personal allowance of the administrator
P 30,000.00 taken and spend by the Mayor on his birthday and fiesta celebration at home
P 35,000.00 cash advance for Catering Expense accommodated for the guests/visitors
P 20,000.00 given by the first couple to the vice mayor & other SB Members in order to shut up
How about the P 30,000.00 taken from the Municipal Treasurer by the mayor for fiesta budget?
How much for the General Manager & Treasurer???
I think, concerned Alimodiananon who PROFESS TO LOVE THEIR TOWN DEEPLY AND CARE SO MUCH FOR ITS WELFARE would be happy enough on this situation.. .?
Another issue: Mayor waay nag approve sa Sangguniang Kabataan nga gamiton ang Alimodian Market Square Gym para sa Basketball Games - because of the strong opposition of the poblacion youth on graft & corruption of the administration.
09/17/08 @ 02:44Ano mga tao sa banwa mga mango nga mapati nimo.
09/17/08 @ 02:48Ti sin o mayad bay? Ikaw kag ang grupo mo?
09/19/08 @ 02:38HAPPY FIESTA ALIMODIAN!
09/19/08 @ 23:53A TOWN FIESTA IS A SPECIAL DAY WHEN:
We embrace “the better angels of our nature” as “true” Alimodiananons.
We appreciate the fact that there more things that are RIGHT, than WRONG, about Alimodian; that there are more things that UNITE, than DIVIDE, us.
We celebrate the Alimodiananons, in and outside of Alimodian, who transcend the culture of divisiveness and indifference, and everyday of their lives try to do right by their families, neighbors, and kasimanwas.
09/24/08 @ 18:47
Tomorrow’s bribe
By Juan Mercado
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:30:00 09/25/2008
Greasing palms will shift away from budget insertions, rice imports, fertilizer or even unmarked envelopes from politicians. In days ahead, graft will instead swirl around water.
“Growing populations will compete for shrinking water resources,” delegates from 160 nations at the World Water Week meeting in Stockholm agreed. “Corruption will likely become an increasingly serious problem.”
Four out of 10 people today live in basins turning arid from water shortfalls. Burmese and Malaysians have five times more water than Filipinos. And four of us now draw water from the same well where, in 1940, one did.
“You cannot wash filthy water,” the Arab proverb says. Over 58 percent of groundwater here is contaminated, notes Asian Development Bank. Only half of 457 lakes and rivers meet water standards.
Sleaze jacks up price tags for water services anywhere between 10 and 30 percent worldwide, estimates Water Integrity Network. It’d tack on $48 billion to the cost of achieving a Millennium Development Goal: to halve, by 2015, the number of those who lack clean water.
Graft varies in size. It also goes by many names. Filipinos call bribes “lagay.” Mexican cops suggest a “refresco” (a drink), and “Baksheesh” is the Middle Eastern handle. North Africans use “un petit cadeau” (a little gift). But there’s nothing piddling about the loot.
Transparency International’s list of the “World’s 10 Most Corrupt Officials” claims Joseph Estrada (a.k.a. Jose Velarde) stashed $78 million. Corruption chewed up 30 to 40 percent of all Indonesian tsunami relief, Aceh’s Anti-Corruption Movement claims.
Water corruption is starkly different. There’s no substitute for water. Shortages of irreplaceable commodities stoke political unrest faster than, say, a bribe for a judicial decision. Those who straddle water reservoirs can name their price.
When taps run dry, harvests fail. Water shortages and pollution cut a deadlier swath. Worldwide, the Philippines has the second-largest number of children who die from diarrhea, UNICEF notes. The first is China. The number of Filipino kids hit by diarrhea is almost double those of Vietnamese, Malaysians or Koreans.
In Tawi-Tawi province, 82 out of every 100 residents lack safe water. (Compare that with three in Bataan province and 39 in Capiz.) It is obscene “if people cannot drink water without courting disease or death,” author Sandra Postel writes.
Warning signs are up. Davao province grapples with competing hydropower and consumption demands on the Panigan-Tamugan River. People of Bulacan fume that piped water from Angono town bypass their homes en route to Metro Manila. The brand-new P1.2-billion irrigation network in San Miguel town in the province of Bohol, is water-short — and must be “rehabilitated.” Who got the “baksheesh”?
At an Asia-Pacific roundtable in Cebu, former President Fidel Ramos predicted: “In three years, Cebu will confront a big water problem.” Tap surface water from Bohol.
Was this not President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s December 2001 speech? “Your most urgent problem is water,” Ms Arroyo told people of Cebu City then. “You have several options. Decide in 30 days. Decide now.”
“Well, we have news for Mr. Ramos,” a Sun Star commentary said. “The problem is already here.”
Metro Cebu today pumps double what its aquifers recharge. Thus, one-third has been irreversibly damaged by salt intrusion. Wells are turning brackish. Water tables have slumped. All the city’s rivers are biologically dead. Cebu’s obsolete water agency has leaky taps in only four out of 10 households. It cannot provide 24-hour service.
So why does Cebu jut out? Migrants and new babies also double demands in other cities like Manila. Leakages drain supply. The well-drilling frenzy causes land subsidence too. Most major cities and eight of 19 key basins will be parched by 2025, Japan’s International Cooperation Agency forecast earlier.
“We have no water problem,” scoffs Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña. Amen, choruses his’ city council otherwise known as “a harem of eunuchs.” This is a leadership in denial. But delusion doesn’t alter reality.
Sales of lots remain sluggish in Mr. Osmeña’s prime project: the 296-hectare South Properties. Investors balk over uncertain titles, lack of roads, power — and water. Cebu does not have the “Saudi option”: to exchange oil for water. With oil prices blotting $16 in one day this week, energy-intensive desalination has become prohibitive.
The mayor’s friends run small water firms. They’d drill yet more wells into crumbling aquifers. That guarantees an earlier collapse of a resource that provides over 90 percent of Cebu’s water. The mayor blocked a proposal to tap Cebu’s surface water, which was developed by World Bank, Ayala and major firms. City Hall didn’t bother with conservation to get “more bang for the drop.” Cebu Daily News snapped: “We have water policy black holes.”
Forget the 26-kilometer Bohol pipeline Mr. Ramos dusted off. “There is Imperial Cebu to watch out for,” Bohol Chronicle cautioned. Boholanos buck exporting a valuable resource that Cebuanos wasted. Touché.
“We are not on a straight line path to the future,” State of the World 2008 notes. “Choices must be made in the ways water is wasted or conserved, polluted or protected…valued for all its uses or simply exploited for a few.”
Wise policies open the use of innovative conservation, pricing policies, investment decisions, etc. But policy paralysis guarantees that tomorrow’s kids will pay baksheesh for murky water — when available.
09/25/08 @ 21:28wala lang,nami lang mgbasa sang mga comentaryo nyo. basta bangon ALIMODIAN.
09/27/08 @ 00:55raku tana nagakalipay sa banwa ka alimodian bisan waay untat nga kurapsyon kang anda mayor.. . siguro raku man ang nakabenipisyo.
mga fiesta auditors and treasurers, naka contribute man tamon ka ads sa fiesta souvenir nyo, waay kamo mamayha nga gingasto personal lang ka mayor ang iban nga fiesta funds.. .?
BUGAL KA BANWA NYO DIA!!! tuloka nyo lang ah! kon amo man lang na ang kalipayan nyo......... .
10/07/08 @ 06:42DATELINE ALIMODIAN
(Newsbits shared by an observer of things Alimodian)
There's nothing much going on in our town.
I just saw a billboard with the mayor and the mayora wearing medals won by the Alimodian sepak takraw team. Another photo op.
The fiesta celebration was dampened by a downpour because of the typhoon.
And one of the most alarming news in our town is that the crime rate is getting higher. May gin labo naman... I didn't get the entire detail but i think it would be interesting to check on the crime rate of the town and what measures the police force is taking.
10/08/08 @ 19:54FOR CARMELO ‘‘Meloy” CANONERO
Sometime ago, in “Bantayan,” LCA and I listed the Alimodiananons whom we thought should have been given the Most Distinguished Alumni Award during the ACES Grand Homecoming and Reunion. It was done mostly in fun, of course, not the least because we shamelessly nominated each other and each other’s friends, Romans, and countrymen.
Which is not to say, however, that we were not serious about the rest of the names.
We did not get around to finishing the list. I remember this now because there is one name I had wanted to add – that of CARMELO “Meloy” CANONERO.
A lifetime ago, when I was working at U.P. in Diliman, Meloy sought me out for a brief meet-and-greet. At that time he was working in a government agency in Manila. I knew him, if not, of him, as a child because I knew his parents and his older siblings (Miriam was only a year (?) behind me in high school), but having left Alimodian at age 16, I did not watch him grow up, and met him, so to speak, when he was already an adult.
I don’t remember anything of the conversation we had that day in my office at U.P., but I distinctly remember how impressed I was of him, and thinking afterward: now, there’s one Alimodiananon who will do things. By “doing things” I do not mean earning fame or fortune. That’s pretty banal and ordinary. I mean having a sort of mind that is able to conceptualize an idea and the heart to act on that idea. I admire people who know how to do things.
Such is life, however, that one doesn’t always get to follow the course of someone else’s life –not even someone who had made an impression on you. The next thing I knew Meloy had gotten married to Nelia de la Cruz and was working in Alimodian. I got to chat with him during my occasional visits home, but we never had the chance to indulge in what could be deemed a serious conversation.
Which is sort of a pity – for me, that is – because I would have loved to learn about his work in Alimodian.
As usually happens, you learn of someone’s work in bits and pieces, over a long period of time, and one day it suddenly dawns on you, why, he has been advocating for these things years ago.
And so it is with Meloy Canonero.
Many years ago he was advocating for land use planning, waste disposal, water management, and all those environmental issues that have since become paramount in the lives of Alimodiananons. It is a measure of how unprogressive our local political leadership is that it paid no mind to the issues that Meloy was pushing forward early on. Alimodian would surely have been better off if it had.
Unfortunately, a few years ago, Meloy fell into ill health.
I am writing this because a young, thoughtful Alimodiananon has just reminded me:
“Meloy did a lot for the town. He had a vision of what this place ought to be.”
And so, Meloy, this one is for you.
10/09/08 @ 08:11P.S.
Carmelo "Meloy" Canonero was Municipal Planning and Development Officer for about 10 years.
10/17/08 @ 18:37ANO NATABO SA FIESTA FUND NGA GINGASTOS PERSONAL SANG MAYOR SA ALIMODIAN???
BOARD OF DIRECTORS, TREASURER & AUDITOR SANG FIESTA MANAGEMENT 2008 ANO KAMO GINPARTIDAHAN MAN? NGAA NAGKUMPORME KAMO???
10/17/08 @ 19:26Amo dya nga medyo wa-ay naga komentar ang taga abroad sa Balita parti sa fiesta kay ang taga Alimodian naga hipos lang.
Mayad pa ang taga San Miguel kay may breaking news. ano subject to be confirm pa dya? o to-ud dya?
Hot Panawagan sa aton LGU please explain this new allegations. the people of Alimodian wants to know.
10/19/08 @ 01:29Another story that Alimodian can emulate. With the help of course of a visionary leadership.
Agusan del Sur town goes organic
By Jeffrey M. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:31:00 10/19/2008
DAVAO CITY, Philippines—She is a witness to how the people of Trento, a second-class municipality (annual income: P27 million-P35 million) in Agusan del Sur whose economy is heavily dependent on agriculture and logging, grapples with poverty like a determined bruised fighter without the faintest sign of even securing a draw from a foe.
Agriculture, supposedly the main source of income of the people, was not delivering enough in the face of rapid deterioration of the town’s mountains due to logging and mining.
Mayor Irenea Hitgano recalls how an owner of a 15-hectare rice farm was buried in debt because the land was producing less than expected. The farmer borrowed huge amounts from lending institutions to purchase chemical inputs for his crops.
Many others experienced a similar problem, exacerbated by the skyrocketing prices of basic commodities, Hitgano said.
A farmer’s story
“Every farmer would confess that he is failure, a story that all of us had already heard in the past. It made me think whether there is still hope for our farmers or there is nothing anymore for them except being the sector who feeds the people but almost impossibly feed themselves,” she said.
The only remedy, Hitgano thought, was to alter the farming practices of the people.
“Agriculture is the problem. The remedy must also be agriculture … I saw how financially burdened the farmers were, and some of them already lost hope even over the thing that they love to do—farming. That was understandable because production and farm input became very costly to them,” Hitgano said.
The mayor, who is also a businesswoman, believes that she had to be a farmer first to be able to understand the complexity of the problem.
Alternative farming
After literally soiling her fingers, Hitgano realized that high prices of farm inputs—fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides—and labor cost would continue if the farmers cling into the “modern way” of agriculture where expensive chemicals are highly demanded.
“If the reason for the woes of the farmers is the costly chemicals, then let’s forget about these chemicals and farm without them,” she said. “There is better way of farming—the alternative one—where chemicals are not needed.”
“Because I felt the need to help the farmers, I equipped myself with the knowledge about organic farming,” said Hitgano who attended several training workshops and seminars on organic farming.
In 2005, Hitgano aggressively campaigned for organic farming among the local tillers, going around the villages and personally conducting training and education sessions on how their lives can improve through a shift to alternative agriculture.
“They were apprehensive. They were not listening to me. Some of those who aired their openness even challenged me to a deal—that if after adopting organic farming system and if they fail, I would pay for the losses. Right then and there, I said yes,” Hitgano said.
She was thankful that those who listened to her and dared to forget about the sweet promises of chemically dependent farming practices did not fail.
More followers
As years went by and stories about how the farmers have benefited from organic agriculture with much less investments for inputs, Hitgano’s followers grew to almost 150, all of them planting organic rice in 200 hectares of once conventional rice fields.
The “converted” farmers received financial assistance from the government to cover for the needed organic fertilizers.
They used indigenous resources to make pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides.
The mixtures of rice husks, chicken dung, fish products, molasses and fermented fruits or vegetables are manufactured by the members of the women’s organization Pinagbuklod na Lakas Kababaihan ng Trento (Plakat).
The group was provided assistance to start up an organic fertilizer business (each of its 20 chapters got P10,000). Its products are sold at P300 per bag compared to the commercial fertilizer that costs P1,900.
Hitgano, who applied the system to her one hectare farm, said she only spent about P10,000 for inputs during the latest farming season. The yield reached 97 bags worth about P70,000.
Changing lives
“Lives are changing because of organic farming. No more failure stories from the farmers. It’s laborious, yes, but the benefits will offset the process,” she said.
Because of this, Trento was recognized by the Department of Agriculture as the municipality with the best organic agriculture initiative during the 5th National Organic Agriculture Conference held on Oct. 15-16 in Davao City.
Receiving P100,000 cash and a plaque of recognition, Hitgano said “the award is not personally for me but for the people who painstakingly worked for sustainable and safe agriculture to thrive in Trento … for the farmers who believed and dared.”
10/19/08 @ 08:09There are countless stories like the above -- political leaders in many places in the Philippines -- sa Iloilo mismo -- who think outside the box to come up with ways to improve the lives of their citizens.
If others can do it, why can't our political leaders?
ALIMODIANANONS SHOULD DEMAND "VISIONARY LEADERSHIP" FROM:
Mayor: Juanito Alipao
Vice-Mayor: Geefre Alonsabe
SB Members:
Julius Alejo
Nicanor Allones
Concepcion Almacen
Nery Alonday
Larriette Altubar
Felicita Amba
Freddie Anibigno
Julie Salarda
10/19/08 @ 17:12After a big flood that devastate the coastal barangays,what is the VISION and PLAN of these leaders mentioned above to find a solution and repair the damage,ease the pain and suffering of their citizens,by visiting and asking what's life after the big flood.
Siguro kong election season dya i'm not be surprise kong may ma ngako nga politician nga mag pa tindog ka taytay halin sa Atabay pa adto sa Dalid. the fact nga wa-ay ti suba in between.
I never heard a news from our LGU since that disaster struck of how to help or advice the flood victims to get back in their feet again.
I think they're being neglected by their provincial and local leaders in favor of something that their local officials gain and took advantage during that disasterious day.
the excitement of Mr.Estrada's visit the grand daddy of all corrupt and cozy speeches by some attention seeker four more years politicians.
Now..! the BIG question is...
WHAT'S COOKING? AND WHOSE NEXT IN THE TABLE?
I think this is a smaller version of huricane Katrina /New Orleans/Alimodian style.
People are being neglected by,their so called local honorable elected officials.
10/22/08 @ 01:33Hay amo mangod pag liwan liwanon. Daw sa korek gid. Review anay ang grammar nmo.
10/22/08 @ 04:51Koreksiyoni lang kong pigado gid ang grammar kag spelling ko.ti anhon mo mo ra kay amo lang ra ang aton masarangan.
one thing i just want to clear that the blog is for everybody not just for people who are flawless ang english,spelling,grammar.
everybody can share their views and opinion. indi kamo ma huya,kay indi man dya pa nami-nami english kag Grammar Spelling contest.
Noe thanks for reminding me of my grammar. I'll double check that next time.
10/22/08 @ 17:55kame gale ang mga kabataan (18 below) nga concern gid sa pag bago kag pag panami kang aton banwa... ang amon malang punto sa pag-intra sa blog nga ja, kay may gusto lang kame nga ipaabot sa administrasyon kang alimodian... hay... abe ang para sa kabataan , para lang b sa kabataan.. daad ang mga mal-am nga ja indi rn mapasilabot.. kung baga ang para ky juan para lang kay juan.. kay bati bati namun bisan ang botohay kang sk fed last year,ginpasilabtan pa ka mayor kag asawa na.. t anu gwa ka sk fed 2lad? ang way pa ti naman-an kag nalung-ong ang presidente da... insa nga amu d a? Ka raku jan t may ikasarang kag may utok.. kag may igabato pa para indi matura-tura ni mayor.. daad sa pagsulat namun sa blog nga ja, mamanan man ka iban nga kabataan nga ang SK siyado gid ka importante.. Dapat ginataw-an man ra t importansya kag indi lang paglahug-lahugon ka iban...
10/23/08 @ 04:08abw to!!!20d kw!!!y mn tna huya nga administrasyon nga dia!!!y rn tna daad teh labut sanda dia muh!!!!ano na lng sa pira ka adlaw gwa-an ta kung pti mga mal-am ga intra sa mga kabata-an!!!!gna tawag gni dia nga sk hay pra sa kabata-an!!!!kg y tna teh labut ang mga mal-am!!y lang pag asenso ang alimodian hy ang mga nga pamuno y teh mga konsiderasyon ka ugalingon lng nanda ang anda gna pagustuhan!!!!
10/23/08 @ 05:021. SPELL COMMITMENT
I wish there were more NOAH MONTENEGROs posting comments in this Blog.
By advocating issues over and over again ad nauseum -- liwan liwanon until hell freezes over -- they help sear the issues into the consciousness of Alimodiananons who care about the future of Alimodian
Advocacy is a war of attrition.
Advocates like Noah understand this. I admire and applaud people like him.
2. TO BE YOUNG AND FULL OF IDEALISM
To the kabataan 18 below -- You do not need the Samahang Kabataan (SK) to do good in Alimodian. The SK is a political institution. It is an instrument of the political establishment, so, of course, pakialaman ria kang LGU leadership. That's the way kang mga mal-am, and if hallelujah this has not been apparent to you until now, it is time you wake up to this reality and deal with it.
To be young is to CHALLENGE the establishment and the prevailing orthodoxy.
At least this was how I felt when I was 18 below.
For me, to be young and part of the political establishment is an oxymoron. You should be part of SDK, not SK.
So sa mga kabataan 18 below -- if you are really serious nga mabulig para mag asenso ang Alimodian -- it is your future, after all -- you do NOT need the Samahang Kabataan.
JUST DO IT.
10/23/08 @ 07:33I love that word Nang A."TO BE YOUNG AND FULL OF IDEALISM" kag papel gid dya ka SK sa Alimodian.
I've been a youth leader in Alimodian.when Jun Altura is our president,and he's been a good leader.
Daw wa-ay takon ti nabati-an nga naga pahilabot ang mga Mal-an sa munisipyo.sadya tamon ka-una naga paliga tamon ka basket sa mga baryo.
Balik kita sa tinaga nga "TO BE YOUNG AND FULL OF IDEALISM" ang akon personal ko lang nga opinion dya.i don't care kong kompormi si Noe o indi kag kadlawan na ang grammar kag espelling ko.
Ang futuro kag direksyon ka Alimodian ay sa lima ka mga kabata-an ang mga Lederes ta tulad naga mal-an kag laban ka dya ka nanda na retero nga Milyonaryo.
Kag kamo nga mga kabata-an nga may ka-isog kag ikasarang nga islan ang indi ma-ayo nga panghimanwa.
kami nga nag adto sa Abroad malipay gid kami nga pag-uli namon dyan makita namon ang aton banwa nga gina pamu-nuan sang ma-ayo kag honest nga maga lederes.
Sa mga SK members do your job don't get intimidated by some folks who wants to exploite your young mind and being less experience.
Change in Alimodian?"TO BE YOUNG AND FULL OF IDEALISM YES! YOU CAN!"
Follow the footsteps of Michelle Loredo and some of our young Volunteers at CARE kamalig and i'm sure you're in the right track.
WE'RE COUNTING ON YOU!
10/24/08 @ 20:47Thank you for some comments sa gin post namun.. to manong Al, thank you gid sa pagsabat kang pagtao inspirasyon kanmun nga kabataan.. we are just concern with this Sangguniang Kabataan coz we are part of it and we know sa maabot gad nga tiniun nga kame duman magmal-am kag magpadlagan kang gobyerno kang alimodian.. ang concern lang namun is that the SK should be independent and indi gid dapat pagintrahan ka iban.. The best way to help the SK is to support them in what program they initiate and not nga tanan tanan manduan lang ka mga opisyales sa munisipyo kung anu dapat ubrahon especially those nga sa taas nga posisyon.. kag ang sakit gid sa tanan bisan freedom to vote kang kabataan ginpaikialaman pa.. so ang gwa na ja bata pa lang nabutang dun sa isip nanda ang maraw-ay nga pagpadlagan ka gobyerno...
To manong NOAH....
Thank you gid sa comment sa gin post namun... we will always remember the word TO BE YOUNG AND FULL OF IDEALISM...And we know we can do it...thank you
10/25/08 @ 08:12I like your attitude.
Your description of the Samahang Kabataan: "so ang gwa na ja bata pa lang nabutang dun sa isip nanda ang maraw-ay nga pagpadlagan ka gobyerno..."
Precisely.
The incumbent LGU officials will NOT keep their hands off the Samahang Kabataan; they will continue to meddle in the affairs of SK. For them, the youth group is yet another venue through which they spread the largesse of government to their favored supporters and yet another lever to push to perpetuate themselves in power.
You know that; we all know that.
So what do you do?
By all means you should continue to shed light on the Machiavellian machinations of the LGU officials -- LIWAN-LIWANON ang pag batikos until global warming freezes the Earth.
By all means you should work WITHIN the SK to the extent possible to maintain its autonomy and independence.
By all means you should support the SK programs that are worthwhile.
(By the way, I wish you can do something to steer the organization away from the basketball league mentality (Sorry, Noah). I don't have anything against sports -- they are good, let us have them -- but they should not be the cornerstone of a youth civic program. Otherwise you (continue to) encourage a mentality of self-gratification and entitlement -- what's in it for me? You should instead encourage your peers to think about OTHER people and issues BIGGER than themselves -- THE CIVIC LESSON that one is never too young to start learning.)
You should do all that -- but, more importantly, you should disabuse yourself of the idea that you can only do good in the context of existing political institutions.
As you must have learned by now, sapwan lang kita if we wait for the government to do things for us.
So encourage your friends in and out of SK to DO THINGS THAT MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIVES AND THOSE OF YOUR KASIMANWAS.
The list is endless -- small things like mentoring a child, reading to a group of kids in your neighborhood, teaching an illiterate adult to read and write, helping fix a barangay school, helping rehabilitate flood damaged lands, organizing study/discussion groups among yourselves, networking with Alimodiananons in and out of Alimodian, etc.
Many of my and Noah's generations were never young (and full of idealism) -- we got old before it was time to. Many of us became CYNICAL and/or INDIFFERENT early in life; many of us gave up on making a difference WITHOUT TRYING; and, saddest of all, some of us became the persons you and your peers cannot aspire to -- we grew up selfish and corrupt.
YOU AND YOUR GENERATION MUST DO BETTER.
10/25/08 @ 09:46RETIREMENT IS A STATE OF MIND
. . . which is not saying that the OLDER GENERATION does not have a role to play in the life of Alimodian.
Thus it is with much admiration and optimism that we note the recent assumption of ADOLFO "Dooy" CASORLA into the position of President of the ASSOCIATION OF SENIOR CITIZENS OF ALIMODIAN.
To us Dooy personifies the ideal of retirement as the beginning of a new and potentially exciting chapter in an individual's life -- instead of the beginning of THE END (to which many retirees succumb to).
His enthusiasm is infectious.
CARE is looking forward to supporting the seniors group projects.
Someone has decribed a stereotypical Alimodiananon retiree's lifestyle as a guaranteed hypochondria:
" . . . go to church and hear mass every morning; stay home and watch telenovelas up to early afternoon or yaya for the apos; play mahjongg or tong-its up to late at night or early evening; go home and watch other telenovelas and sleep late, to wake up ealy in the morning and repeat the cycle over again. For the lack of doing anything productive, the feeling of uselessness slowly creeps into the consciousness. Lagi na lang iniisip ang mga sakit at gamot na iniinom . . . ."
We hope -- especially because if we are lucky ALL of us will reach the retirement age -- that in-between this hypochondriac lifestyle, the Alimodiananon retirees will be able to fit in projects and activities that help them personally and at the same time help their kasimanwas.
We will owe Dooy an eternal debt of gratitude if slowly but surely he can help bring about a change (for the better) in the culture of retirement in Alimodian.
YOUNG OR OLD(er) -- ALIMODIAN DOES NOT HAVE A PERSON TO WASTE.
(God, I wish I were the official inspirational officer of Alimodian.)
10/26/08 @ 07:44SAPWAN LANG KITA!kag amo gid dia-a ang matabo in years to come.for some obvious reason ang situwasyon sa Alimodian ay la-in sa Situwasyon sa iba nga banwa.
Ang aton is political monopoly.nga-a na tabo ra? kay naga pa-gamit kita.
Personally, we the advocates have nothing against sa first couple or LGU.as what we always indicated in this blog.But you know what? PA BUSLA MAN ANG IBA? SIGURADO GID KAMI NGA MAY NAMI PA NGA LEDERATO NGA MASUNOD.
Kag ang gusto mag bulos? open your mouth and start talking to people about your plan of change and how to do it. address they're needs and visualized the situasion 4 years ahead of your term as a new mayor.not embracing the more of the same.you don'think you need a political strategist in alimodian? it's pretty much of self explainatory and logical.
All you need is courage,courage for change and courage to direct this little town to a new direction.and everything else will follow.
We're banking sa mga kasimanwa nga daw mahambal ta nga mga intellectuals,schoolars kag daw may pagka indipendent minded nga mag bukas ka baba na kag magreklamo hoy! Mr or Mrs LGU indi tama nag gina himo mo.
But! instead ang mga taho nga dya amo pa ang naga konsentar sa mga daw indi maayo nga pag padalagan sa Alimodian kay sanda mismo man ang may mga personal nga interest.
WELL..BEING YOUNG AND FULL OF IDEALISM, YES! YOU CAN!
REMEMBER THIS! THIS NOT THE FUTURE OF MY TWO GIRLS WHO IS GROWING UP HERE IN AMERICA.BUT! IT'S YOUR FUTURE WHO IS GROWING UP IN ALIMODIAN.
IT'S UP TO YOU! AS WHAT AL SAID! JUST DO IT!
10/27/08 @ 19:42My dear young people,
hanggud gid ang inyo mahimo sa pagbag-o ka banwa ta, suggest ko, try to look for Brad Nelson Tagabi of Barangay Balabago on his best initiative ever implemented in the town of Alimodian kag iban pa nga young liders sa banwa ta pero waay man ginasuporta ka munisipyo kag marako pa nga young leaders nga dapat tularan dya sa banwa, waay lang ginasapak kay indi man makwartahan ka mga lideres ta tulad.
Sa waay makakilala kay Brad Nelson ma-impress gid kamo ka mga programa na nga napondar kag padayon nga ginapondar sa banwa kag hasta sa karon bisan sa private corporation ron tana naga work.
Try to coordinate him, handa gid dia magbulig kaninyo.. basta one of the best Ilonggo Young Leaders, environmentalist and pro-development oriented leader tana dia.
Malawig ang ana masaysay sa ana mga experiences kag raku man connection na sa media, NGOs and even Government & Non-Government National Agencies. Of course, pride of Alimodiananon, a present national leader figure.
To, Brad Nelson, kon nakamonitor kaw, palihog post ka mga best initiatives mo dya sa blog para makamaan man ang kasimanwa mo dya sa Alimodian. Share mo man dya mga success stories mo please.
Mabuhay!
10/31/08 @ 08:55CARE HALLOWEEN PARTY
Click on the above link for photos of the CARE Halloween Party taken today.
Description: ". . . ang saya po. Nag enjoy po kaming lahat. Marami din po ang nakuha nilang mga candies sa kanilang pag-iikot."
Thanks to Michelle for sharing the photos.
ENJOY THE CHILDREN OF ALIMODIAN!
11/01/08 @ 10:30THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF ALIMODIAN
Sa diin ron nag-adto ang advocate(s) kang SAMAHANG KABATAAN?
I am reminded of the SK while looking at the photos in the Halloween photo album of XIAXIA ALGER, CADOY MEDINA, MAIMAI AMBUT, MICHELLE, and other CARE volunteers.
I know, I know, I am biased, but these young people do us proud -- and give us hope that the next generation of Alimodiananons will do "better" than us.
For over two years now, these young people have mentored a small group of children who participate in the DEAR program. There is no way to measure the impact of their work, but having been children once, we know only too well how important it is to have, outside of your family, an adult or a group of adults who treat you as "important".
Childhood is such a precarious phase in anyone's life, the children growing up in Alimodian could use the help of their older kasimanwas to navigate the precipices along the way to adulthood.
A child needs help to answer the What-is-it-all-about questions: how to engage his/her fellow children, how to act toward adults, how to behave in social situations, what are the things that ARE important in life, what are the things they should aspire to, etc.
Or, oftentimes, just answers to simple questions.
We remember this anecdote during the swimming excursion to Leon as "culminating activity" of the DEAR kids last year:
"It was good kasi yung iba ay hindi pa nakakalangoy sa swimming pool. At nagtanong pa kung lahat ba ng swimming pool ay naka-tiles. Sagot naman ng isang bata e siyempre alangan naman lupa at baka ito ay tawaging fishpond."
For most the above anecdote is simply an amusing kids-talk. For us, knowing something new -- what is a swimming pool? -- is an earthshaking moment.
What makes the work that Michelle, Xiaxia, Cadoy, Maimai, and the other volunteers SPECIAL is this -- they give their time, energy, and commitment. THEY GIVE OF THEMSELVES.
In the scheme of things called life, giving of yourselves to others is what matters the most.
(It beats going to mass everyday.)
("This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart, is our temple; the philosophy is kindness." -- the Dalai Lama.)
Some will sneer, well, it is only a small group of children.
EVERY CHILD IS IMPORTANT.
WE DO NOT HAVE A CHILD TO WASTE IN ALIMODIAN.
I don't have any idea what the SAMAHANG KABATAAN in Alimodian does.
I am NOT a fan of SK as a political institution, but I can separate the institution from the young people who are in it.
So whatever the members of the Samahang Kabataan do, I hope they, with the resources they have, be as good, if not better, than Xiaxia, Maimai, Michelle, Cadoy, et al.
OTHERWISE, THEY ARE WASTING AWAY ONE OF THE BEST TIMES OF THEIR LIVES.
11/02/08 @ 20:32Nelson Tagabi a youth model???
amo ra ka parabalong kag nag-intra man sa pangurakot ka administrasyon kabigon mo nga modelo? Hey!! Alimodian Concerned Youth, basi balong ka man?
11/04/08 @ 19:26I don't know Nelson Tagabi, personally or otherwise.
Unfortunately, the press release above did not tell me a single specific thing about him.
I am not interested on whether or not he is a "role model". The young people of Alimodian are intelligent enough to decide that for themselves.
If Nelson has something CONSTRUCTIVE to contribute, am ready to do what the press release above promises he will deliver -- "ma-impress gid kamo ka mga programa na nga napondar kag padayon nga ginapondar sa banwa kag hasta sa karon bisan sa private corporation ron tana naga work."
I am ready to be impressed.
Let's hear about those programs and initiatives.
Nali palang we can learn something.
In my book, anyone who has something to contribute to the discussion -- para-balong, para-madyong, para-pambabae man -- deserves a fair hearing.
This is what this Blog is all about -- finding a common ground.
11/05/08 @ 23:48justice for Alimodian??? ukon ginagamit mo lang ang word nga "JUSTICE" para sa interest mo?
indi ka man malayo sa DOJ Secretary Gonzalez, not a protector of the Government but a protector of the interest of the administration who placed him in the department.
Try to analyze JUSTICE FOR ALIMODIAN: kon hustisya gusto mo, indi kaw magpanago, the truth will set us free, paano ka mangin free kay nagapanago kaw kag mang-insulto lang???
11/13/08 @ 08:56WHITE ELEPHANTS IN ALIMODIAN
Judging from the number of abandoned, extinct, and/or useless infrastructures and projects, Alimodian might as well be a savanna in Namibia (without the charm). One too many elephants are roaming the plains.
The most visible, of course, is/was the 42.26M NICHOLS BRIDGE that was inaugurated only a few years ago with no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in attendance. The bridge was supposed “to stir economic activities in the municipality and its neighboring towns.”
Well, sometime this year the floods came, and in a flash the bridge was gone. Sure, the destruction was an act of nature, but we helped make it easy for nature to do its job by nearsighted engineering design and shoddy construction (for the usual obvious reasons).
Also gone, some years earlier, was the COMMUNITY-BASED REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR THE DISABLED PROGRAM (CBRSD), a project of the Department of Health, that also opened with a lot of fanfare and, if we remember right, won an award pa. Among the program’s objectives were to “make rehabilitation services available and accessible to disabled persons and reduce the prevalence of physical, mental and sensory disabilities by focusing on prevention and intervention to
such a degree that it would cease to be a health problem.”
So much for Great Expectations.
And how about these?
TRAMLINE/CABLE CAR SYSTEM -- Constructed for something like 6M, the system, which straddles the mountains of the Seven Cities, was supposed to make it possible to transport farm produce from the mountains to a barangay farther down where it would be loaded into waiting vehicles for transport to the poblacion market (or wherever). It was supposed to address the problem of transporting agricultural products during the rainy season when the roads from Taruc to Cabacanan proper are rendered impassable.
Again, the inauguration of the project in 2006 was one big PHOTO OP.
Can anyone cite a single instance when the cable car was used for its professed purpose? Pira ron ka kaing nga kamatis or saging ang na transport kang tram?
A concerned Alimodiananon has described the tramway as “a classic example of a white elephant . . . a fitting monument to the skewed priorities of officials in government, brought about by corruption and greed.”
It begs the question that is obvious to most Alimodiananons: WHY COULDN’T THE MONEY HAVE BEEN USED TO CONSTRUCT AN ALL-WEATHER ROAD FROM THE POBLACION TO CABACANAN PROPER (AT LEAST).
BRIDGE FROM BAGUMBAYAN TO SIWALO TO MAASIN – This is supposed to “connect” Alimodian to the town of Maasin – and fulfill expectations of economic stimulus through trade and commerce (not to speak of banishing forever Alimodian’s dead-end town mindset).
So far, as a concerned Alimodiananon has described it, “poste lang ng tulay ang naitayo at iniwan na. Ito ang project na kung tawagin nila ay ‘finish budget’. Ang mga poste ng tulay ay natampukan ron ka rorok kag gina gapangan ng cadena de amor.”
(I know the implication is NOT funny, but I can't help it, the description conjures visions of Monet’s garden at Giverny – I wish.)
IN A JUST WORLD, THE PUBLIC OFFICIALS RESPONSIBLE FOR BRINGING THESE WHITE ELEPHANTS TO ALIMODIAN, FROM THE TOP DOWN, SHOULD BE SUED FOR INCOMPETENCE, MISMANAGEMENT, AND NEGLECT.
At the very least.
11/16/08 @ 17:27insakto dia tanan Al! kag amo dia ang dapat taw-an ti hustisya ka taga alimodian: ang mga ghost project kang Alipao Family pero hasta lang sa billboard advertisements.
presently, ang LGU Alimodian thru administrator and her little mayor manginmatay gid nga mangutang ti 25million ruman instead of 100M to construct a double story public market for economic growth of the town! then, 10% nga kinurakot equals 2.5 million reserva para sa 2010 election. kag amo ra uyon ni vice meyor calay kag mga sb members.. banwa mabayad dya!
ti, mangita pa tinyo ka funding sa election??
sa municipio raku!!!
to the concerned youth, be cool...
mga youth organizations sa Alimodian basi waay pa ikaw kamaan nga ginagamit lang nga political organization? siguro sa sugod pa lang excited ka gid mag-intra, try nyo para maman-an nyo man!
11/17/08 @ 07:16i agree with the ghost project...dapat gid man tutukan ka pumuluyo dia....
kung kuarkot gd man ang administrasyon they've been in power for so many years how come nobody has done anything about it...puro lng kita sa hambal y man kita gahulag...
and justice for alimodian how sure are you that theyre getting 10% of that 25 million project...if you have solid proof...post it here.. maybe the people of alimodian could do something about it...
kag indi man tanan nga SB member kurakot or tuta ka administrasyon...d naton sanda pag i generalize ky may iban man jan nga sincero sa pag serbisyo....
11/17/08 @ 19:33Ano ang matabo kung waay ti solid proof?
11/19/08 @ 00:50SOLID PROOF???
ATHAG PA SA SIRAK KA ADLAW ANG PROOF:
amo dya ang proof hay..
WAAY TI SB MEMBER NGA NAGPANINDUGAN NGA MAGBALABAG UKON MAG QUESTION MAN LANG SA MAANOMALIYA NGA TRANSACTION KA LGU ALIMODIAN.
IKAW LOLO NOE KAG LOLO TAMBAY, MGA APO NYO ANG MAMAYAD KA DYA. MINUTES OF SANGGUANIANG BAYAN SESSION ANG IKARWA NGA SOLID PROOF PARA MAKILALA MO MGA SB MEMBERS NGA TANDO-TANDO DIIN BUKID.. .
ANO PA GID NGA PROOF PANGITAON TA???
KULBAAN SANDA KARAAN NI ADMINISTRADURA KUNDI PANGIKOG-IKOG LANG KAG KUHA KA BUNOS NANDA EH.. .
11/19/08 @ 14:25Relax lang migo ah. Paano mo naman-an nga ma anomaliya ang transakyon?
11/19/08 @ 18:08POLITICS AS PRACTICED BY POLITICIANS
1.(Most) Politicians are corrupt. If you disagree with this statement – where have you been?
2. OK, so you do not profit directly from kickbacks, lagay, tong, bribes, etc. But (1) sunod-sunoran ka lang; (2) you do not do or say anything to oppose useless legislation and corrupt practices. You do not fight for the interests of the majority of your kasimanwas. In other words, dereliction of duty. Simply because you do not want to jeopardize the public office you hold that has given you a good living for many years now. Tell you what -- you are AIDING AND ABETTING. That makes you corrupt, too.
3. A private citizen does not have a responsibility to prove that a politician IS corrupt.
4. The politician has a responsibility to prove that he/she IS NOT.
5. And how do you prove a negative?
Let me suggest a couple of strategies:
(a) You make TRANSPARENCY the guiding principle of your governance. People should be able to figure out quickly and simply where YOUR money came from. They are not stupid; they know simple mathematics. In a small town where everyone knows what you had for breakfast in the morning, they can put two and two together and decide HOW you are able to build a nice house, buy a new car, send your children to college, pay for a nice lifestyle, etc. If the ledger does not add up -- well, sa diin nag halin ang kwarta kung hindi sa public transactions? Please don’t tell them the money came from your sibling who is working in America. Is it fair to be accused of being corrupt? Who's talking about fairness if you are a politician? Pasalamat ka dada nga dada lang ang mabatian mo. What if you have to ACTUALLY WORK to deserve your salary?
(b) You inform, explain, defend, and account all your public actions. So the people may know. In case you don't realize it, communication is an important part of your job. The rest of the working world goes through a job performance evaluation year in and year out. Why don't you do the same? Your kasimanwas deserve to know how you are earning your salary. Hindi ria nga ang business kang banwa daw private transactions kang family corporation with the logo: don’t ask, don’t tell.
6. It is not enough to have good intentions and be “sincere” about “serving” the public good. You must ACT on your good intentions and sincerity. Otherwise, ano ang pulos mo? It’s like someone saying, sudo ka mayad nga tao dia, waay gid ti harambalanon, yuhom-yuhom lang tana ka ria. Hello! We are not paying someone with public funds para mag yuhom-yuhom lang sa consejo.
11/19/08 @ 22:58"hasta san-o mauntat pamuyayaw nyo dya sa blog???
puro man bala kamo edukado, daad tutok na lang sa inyo pangabuhi, durupan ka obra dyan sa abroad para madugangan pa manggad nyo... ."
haka-haka-haka-haka-haka-haka-haka-haka!!!!!!
kon mga maaram kamo daad akusar nyo! toltolan nyo man bala opisina ka ombudsman!
11/20/08 @ 06:41Janetress suggestion to akusar the LGU to the office of ombudsman is another way out in this situation.
I'm sure LGU defense team is waiting for this to happen.they're not dummy they're smart people.may be this scenario might be happening sooner or later.it's just a matter of time.
I'm sure some Alimodiananons out there is considering this option. who knows.
balik kita sa esturya nga haka-haka, para ka nakon ang tinaga nga haka-haka is kong ang gina hambal ka naga akusar is it doesn't make any sense at all.
Peru the way i notice ang gina pang hambal ni Angiol Loredo is, it makes a lot of sense,and backed by some solid evidence.
her reputation as a credible accomplish jounalist in a big time publishing firm in New York is at stake if she's not sure what she's talking about.( i'm not a big fan of Angiol but what she is talking here is, it makes a lot of sense to me)
Ako tamad ron takon da-ad sigi tugda ka dya kay may surrogate ron takon nga si (NOE) he or she will do the talking and writting for me.garing lang ang ana ni NOE ang gina pang hambal wa-ay ti PUNO kag wa-ay ti PUNTA.no offend to you my surrogate, we don't know where you stand.do us a big favor my frind. abi klaroha ang gina pang hambal mo.
Keep on blogging folks exercise your freedom of speech. you live in a open democratic society.
But! please don't abuse your right! use it in a positive and productive way!
This is a serious issues of you care about Alimodian.
11/20/08 @ 08:30Juskopo, are we still here?
I can't believe I need to say this again:
I am exercising my fundamental human right to express my opinion.
As a citizen, I believe it is my responsibility -- and a privilege -- to exercise this right.
So you do not like my opinion. That's perfectly OK.
However, it is more productive if you say why I got it wrong.
I do not spend time and energy in this Blog so you will agree with me. That does not interest me one bit.
Provoking you to engage in an honest discussion of issues -- now, that's interesting and stimulating.
Hopefully, when the smoke clears up, we would have learned something from each other.
That's one of the joys of life -- learning.
Besides, this Blog is FREE. Hindi mauubusan kang tinta dya. Or typewriter ribbon.
No one is going away. Deal with it.
11/21/08 @ 04:50hi hustisya....
my kopya kaw ka minutes kang sangguniang bayan session haw..i post ja myad ra kay maman an ka tanan...i am not pro or against the present administration...ang akon lng ang para sa karaydan ka banwa ta..but it seems that all we do is talk and were not doing anything about it...
waay man kita t kinalain sa mga SB member nga gnahambal mo nga tando2x kang administrasyon...
11/21/08 @ 08:44IF I HEAR THE WORD "OMBUDSMAN" ONE MORE TIME
ibunggo ko ang akon ulo sa pader, as an exasperated blogger once posted in this Blog.
Is there anyone on Planet Earth who believes, really believes, that the Ombudsman is a DETERRENT to corruption and abuse of power in Government? That the office is the answer to our prayers for competent and honest public officials?
Peeleez.
The Ombudsman is like the Abominable Snowman (or Yeti). Nobody has actually seen it; it’s there to stimulate the imagination of the little rascals.
To those who think that because nobody has filed a complaint with the Ombudsman against them then they must be doing just fine – Dream on.
There is a court higher than the Office of the Ombudsman.
It is cheap. No filing fees required.
It is quick. Justice is dispensed swiftly.
The rule of law is: YOU ARE GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT.
It is called the Court of Public Opinion.
And why does the Court of Public Opinion trumps the Office of the Ombudsman?
It does because when a public official is six feet under the ground (or 1 foot above, as the case may be), HOW his/her kasimanwas think of his/her performance in public office is a LAST JUDGMENT rendered on his/her life.
The public official is “good,” a “thief,” or a “do-nothing”.
That’s all. It is poetic justice.
So to those who think that SPEAKING OUT ON PUBLIC ISSUES is a waste of time – you are wrong.
Therefore it is in the interest of a public official to account for his/her performance day in and day out while he/she is in office.
Do not tell those who criticize your actions – ti, waay naga pamangkot, ay. Bring out the information without anyone asking for it.
You must explain, answer, and defend every project you undertake and every decision you make. Was there ever a time when the mayor called everyone to a public meeting and EXPLAIN the issues surrounding the quarry activities in Alimodian? Is it any wonder then that people come to their own conclusions about the issue? If some of their conclusions are based on misconceptions, who is to blame for that?
One of the axioms in politcs is: DEFINE YOURSELF BEFORE YOUR ENEMIES DEFINE YOU.
To shrug and say, “Basta malinis ang akon konsyensya” is a cop out. Everyone knows that we can “rationalize” just about everything that happens in our life.
You cannot complain about hakahaka when you do not do anything to discourage it.
11/29/08 @ 18:20a very simple "BUGAS" na assistance for Typhoon Frank Flood Victims sa opisina ka meyor kag gin transfer pa sa opisina ka Municipal Local Government Operations Officer in the person of Mrs. Cecilia Aloy sa municipio ka Alimodian daw amo dya ang Undersecretary of National Food Authority, Alimodian Chapter kay MLGOO or DILG agency, bilang fiscalizer daad ka local government amo pa ang nagpagamit sa meyor kag hasta sa karon ang mga bugas sa opisina man gihapon ni Mrs. Aloy ginatambak.
haka-haka bala dya??? basi si janetress busog man ka ayuda nga dya amo ra nga hasta karon "UNTOUCHABLE ANG BUGAS"
gamiton pa dya ang bugas sa election 2010.
12/01/08 @ 18:36THE POLITICS -- AND KARMA -- OF DISASTER AID
I hope someone will confirm or deny the above allegation.
By interviewing Mrs. Cecilia Aloy, for instance.
Joskopo, nali maubos pa kang tungaw (?)ang bugas bag-o mag eleksyon!
This allegation aside, I think any reasonable citizen will agree that disaster aid should be disributed to the intended recipients within forty-hours, or at the latest a week, after the disaster strikes. It is intended to be disposed of QUICKLY AND COMPLETELY, otherwise, para que pa?
That is why ginatawag nga "relief aid" -- and indi "lay-away plan," or "Vote coupon".
If ALL the relief aid is NOT distributed, those who made the decision to withhold it, along with those who went along, or kept their mouths shut, should be ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES.
They are also guilty of FRAUD or aiding and abetting fraud. Of course no one will sue them, but just so we won't forget . . .
It is also BAD KARMA. Deprive the disaster victims of something, if you will -- BUT NOT RICE (donated by other people). Rice is food, the sustenance for life, and when you deprive other people of sustenance, you commit a crime against life itself, in a manner of speaking. Waay ti mayad nga aabutan ka (or the generations after you).
12/02/08 @ 22:13kon matuod nga didto pa sa DILG Alimodian Ofice ang mga bugas.. . DILG Director Evelyn Alinsao Trumpeta is also liable of these graft and corruption cases happened in our beloved town, or basi pati si inday bongkay namayha man bay.
Inday Bongkay!!!! ang imo DILG Officer partner man sa kurapsyon sa municipio??????
12/03/08 @ 03:53Public opinion? Mismo ang nagahambal hindi Filipino citizen. Malasakit sa banwa?????????????
12/03/08 @ 20:59pagmalasakit sa banwa kon ginatapna mo ang irigularidad sa banwa mo kag indi kaw ma-ugtas kon ang kapartido mo nadawit sa anomaliya, kag ang matuod nga malasakit sa banwa: daad adtonan mo ang public official or officer concerned NGA DAMPIG MO kag itadlong ang kakulangan na.
DAPAT ANG RELIEF AID NASA DSWD, insa dyan dia sa DILG haw???? insakto bala dia amigo?
12/19/08 @ 17:40In Hoc Anno Domini
(This editorial of the Wall Street Journal, written by Vermont Royster, has been reprinted every year since it first appeared in the Christmas day issue of the Journal in 1949.)
When Saul of Tarsus set out on his journey to Damascus the whole of the known world lay in bondage. There was one state, and it was Rome. There was one master for it all, and he was Tiberius Caesar.
Everywhere there was civil order, for the arm of the Roman law was long. Everywhere there was stability, in government and in society, for the centurions saw that it was so.
But everywhere there was something else, too.
There was oppression – for those who were not the friends of Tiberius Caesar. There was the tax gatherer to take the grain from the fields and the flax from the spindle to feed the legions or to fill the hungry treasury from which divine Caesar gave largesse to the people. There was the impressor to find recruits for the circuses. There were executioners – to quiet those whom the Emperor proscribed.
What was man for but to serve Caesar?
There was the persecution of men who dared think differently, who heard strange voices or read strange manuscripts. There was enslavement of men whose tribes came not from Rome, disdain for those who did not have the familiar visage.
And most of all, there was everywhere a contempt for human life. What, to the strong, was one man more or less in a crowded world?
Then, all of a sudden, there was a light in the world, and a man from Galilee saying : “Render unto Caesar the things that are Ceasar’s and unto God the things that are God’s.”
And the voice from Galilee, which would defy Caesar, offered a new Kingdom in which each man could walk upright and bow to none but his God. “Inasmuch as you did it unto one of these, the least of my brothers, you did it unto Me.”
And he sent this gospel of the Kingdom of man into the uttermost ends of the earth.
So, the light came into the world and the men who lived in darkness were afraid. And they tried to lower a curtain so that man would still believe salvation lay with leaders.
But it came to pass for a while in diverse places that the truth did set man free, although the men of darkness were offended and they tried to put out the light.
The voice said, “Make haste. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness come and you know not where to walk."
Along the road to Damascus the light shone brightly. But afterwards Paul of Tarsus, too, was so afraid. He feared that other Caesars, other prophets, might one day persuade men that man was nothing save a servant unto them, that men might yield up their birthright from God for pottage and walk no more in freedom.
Then might it come to pass that darkness would settle again over the lands and there would be a burning of books and men would think only of what they should eat and what they should wear, and would give heed only to new Caesars and to false prophets.
Then might it come to pass that men would not look upwards to see even a winter’s star in the East. And once more, there would be no light at all in the darkness.
And so Paul, the apostle of the Son of Man, spoke to his brethren, the Galatians, the words he would have us remember afterwards in each of the years of his Lord:
“Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free. And be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
_______________
MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!
12/24/08 @ 08:52Merry Christmas to everyone!
We wish all of you happiness in celebrating the joy and blessings of the holidays and the best of everything life has to offer in the coming new year!!!
From: Rosalyn, Craig, Nanay Linda, and the Balolot Family
12/24/08 @ 10:45Wishing you all a Happy Christmas and Generous New Year!
from Connecticut to Cabacanan, happy holidays to all!
LINK
12/29/08 @ 11:24THE FACES OF ALIMODIAN
Sometimes, from across the miles, we speak of Alimodian as if it were an idea -- or an ideal, if you will. We rail against the incompetence, indifference, and corruption of the political leadership as a matter of principle and out of naive idealism.
The abstract discussion obscures the human dimension of what Alimodian is -- a small town where a few thousand Alimodiananons try to fulfill their God-given potentials, but with many of them barely able to keep body and soul together every day of their lives.
We find ourselves thinking about the human face of Alimodian as we read the subtitles in some of the photos in the above link. They are photos of Alimodiananons with real names, real needs, and real hopes.
For these Alimodiananons -- and for all of us -- we wish the blessings of the coming season.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!
12/30/08 @ 20:17Haayy. . ah. .budlay kong taga uma timo hay urihi kw sa balita.Gadirinumog ron tao sa banwa wy pa takon kamaan. .Nadugangan lingin ka ulo ko ka basa ka blogs nyo.Bag.o ko lang nasapwan ang Alimodian Net. haayy ah. . taga uma gid.tood . .Ti HAPPY NEW YEAR na lang sa tanan nga taga Alimodian all over the world. .Cg padayuna lang nyo ang paggusbatanay nyo ja sa Blogs ah..HAPPY *2OO9*. .
01/02/09 @ 13:24HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL. . . ilabi na guid sa mga taga abroad .Kabay pa nga taw an kamu ti mayad nga lawas para mapadayon nyo ang pagsuporta sa inyo mga pinalangga nga pamilya dya sa Alimodian..GOD BLESS US...
01/05/09 @ 18:54THE COLORS OF THE RAINBOW
Omigod, amo ron dya ang hitsura kang plaza? (Click on the above link.)
I cannot decide which one takes the desperately-seeking-design award -- this pink/yellow monument to JR or the out-of-proportion statues of the saints in the church facade.
OK, so you want to paint the plaza in the colors of the rainbow.
Fine. But can't you at least LEAVE ALONE the JR monument?
To paint an OLD and SENTIMENTAL statue (of the national hero, no less)in garish pink and yellow is a sacrilege -- not to speak an assault to the visual senses.
Whoever chose the paint colors deserves to be punished by making him/her recite the "Ultimo Adios" starting now until the Rizal Day celebration in December 30.
01/05/09 @ 19:29OLD MONUMENTS SHOULD LOOK OLD
Click on the above link for an old (very old) photo of the pedestal of the JR statue.
Wouldn't it be nice if it still looks like this to this day -- shabby and chic?
We should be PRESERVING or RESTORING the artifacts that speak to our PAST HISTORY -- and the WONDERFUL MEMORIES we associate with them -- rather than giving them a MAKE-OVER so they will look "modern".
In other towns (in the Philippines) they have a committee on cultural heritage preservation (or something that sounds like this) that oversees any work done on old historical public structures, the idea being to preserve their historical integrity.
The cultural heritage of Alimodian is too important to leave in the hands of politicians who do not have a clue on cultural preservation, much less an eye for (simply) good design.
01/08/09 @ 02:16uruli na lang kamo dya sa alimodian kag lantawa ang matuod nga color ka banwa ta!!
CHAIRMAN gani ka Committee on Tourism, Culture & History Council sa Sangguniang Bayan waay ti nabadwan ka ginahimo na kay napiritan lang ka meyor nga i-appoint, kundi kon ano favorite color ka administrator amo masunod.....!!! ano say mo Alimodian Heritage Foundation?
kag ano masay nyo kung imbis renovate kag islan atup ka public market nga nagalusbot ron, mautang banwa ta ka P 30million nga loan kag waay pa ma refer sa various sector sa alimodian, on the process of delibaration pa, may napili ron nga contractor ang mag-asawa! correction dya sa justice for alimodian nga 10million imo, out of 30million pira ruman dya malamon ka bakunawa?
its already year 2009, daad makamarasmas ron ang opisyales ka banwa ta.
01/08/09 @ 08:12ay, abi ko birthday cake!
01/11/09 @ 08:31"Birthday cake," indeed.
If we have to go the birthday-cake route -- or postmodern, if you will -- let us then paint JR in sky blue or golden yellow (a la Jeff Koons's Michael Jackson and Bubbles).
Come to think of it, if Cologne can have a pink "David," surely Alimodian can have a blue JR.
The point is -- if you have to do something "radical," go all the way, pull out all the stops. Indi ria nga hilaw-hilaw nga efforts.
If I feel strongly (to the point of obsession) about the issue of "vandalizing" the old structures in Alimodian, it is because like most Alimodiananons of a certain age, I feel a proprietary attachment to them. Having grown up in Alimodian, the (old) plaza and the (old) church were the most vivid structures I associate with my (happy) childhood memories.
ALL OF US ALIMODIANANONS -- regardless of age, economic status, religious affiliation, etc. -- OWN A PIECE OF THE PLAZA AND THE CHURCH.
The plaza and the church do not belong to the politicians or the parish priest. They are merely "custodians" of these historical structures. They cannot do with them as they please.
But if they cannot leave them alone, it is imperative that they do so with this caveat: PROCEED WITH CAUTION.
01/13/09 @ 15:28Baw ah. . interesado guid ko magbasa ka gnapangsulat nyo ja . .pay indi ko xadu ka ntiendi ka english..Pwde. . native language na lang kay hi words ron gani . ,gnahaumhaum ko nlang...xenxa na lang ky ti simple english lang ang naman an ko..Salamat. . GOD BLESS US. .
01/13/09 @ 18:35
Abi kadupdup is hulid ang Diksyonaryo kag himo-a nga lunan, para maka tu-on ikaw ka high words nga englis!
ako ma awot-awot man ang ulo ko pay halin nga gin unay ko ang diksyonaryo daw nasanagan gawa ako sa Englis.
indi lang ma mayha pre ah..anhon mo ra hay amo lang ra ang aton masarangan!
01/14/09 @ 16:47Pre MAKOL . .salamat guid sa advice mo.Waay guid ko mayha magmuno ja sa BLOGS..Amo dia koon nanda nga.. . ".bisan tiko liad. . bisan baog patad.." Mayad guid man kong educated kw hay fluent kg hi words kw mg english..naima guid ko ah..From now on...ihulid kag himoon ko nga ulunan ang diksyunaryo. . .take note Pre MAKOL. .Btw. .maan my galaswa pa 2lad ka kadupdop ky sa panahon nga ja d ron magkaon ka laswa ang mga urihing tubo...just asking..MORE POWER . .ALIMODIAN. . .
01/14/09 @ 18:29Pre..paborito ko gid ang kadupdup!pa pula-pulahon mo kag e-gisa nga kamatis kag itlog. tapos isamo mo sa kapog,daw indi ikaw yawan ka hamal.
mani man ang tino-um nga makol sa itlog ka bisaya nga manok.
abi pre..inqiure ka sa ANCHS basi may Englis second language (ESL) sanda.basi ma ba-id di-a ang english mo habol.
01/15/09 @ 01:17ED ALDAMAR
edaldamar@yahoo.com
Alimodian, Iloilo
MABUHAY ALIMODIAN!
INDI MAN KATARAKA MAGBASA KA BLOG DYA SA ALIMODIAN SITE.
... pero maraku ka man ti makomentar kon ginaintiende mo ang ginabasa mo.
isa ako ka concerned citizen kag medyo malain ang bout ko indi bangud kay ginabunal ang mga local officials naton, ang mas masubo kay taga-bukid takon, ang masubo pa gid amo ang pagtunto kang administrasyon sa mga inosente nga pomoloyo. Isa takon ka taga bukid apang naka eskweda kag indi nyo man pagsaramahon ang tanan kanamon nga daw waay ti dignidad pag-abot kang binaklanay boto. Nagakomporme man kami ka nagakaratabo tulad ilabi na gid ang pangurakot sa munisipyo.
apang, ang makomentar ko lang, kamo nga taga poblacion o taga banwa ang nagasuporta sa corrupt nga administrasyon, kamo nga mga maaram ang dapat basulon kag indi kami nga taga bukid, kumo kay taga bukid kami, waay kami ti tinun-an? madara kami sa inggat ka kwarta? mapahog kami? matunot kami?
INDI tanan!!!
ang dapat basulon dyan sa banwa amo ang mga maaram nga nagpagamit sa corrupt nga administrasyon kag nag-intra man sa tinakaway.
paano indi maralaway ang taga bukid ka pamati ka diskurso ka politiko kayman kamo nga mga maaram dyan Doktor, abogado, retired teachers, mga professioonals amo man ang nagatib-ong sa kurakot nga suportahan ka taga bukid.
insa sagad kamo ka tabid-tabid kag magtando-tando lamang sa indi insakto nga desisyon kag panggobyerno? kag insa kon matabo ang anomaliya, taga bukid ginahan-an nyo?
kamo nga taga banwa nga mga maaram ang nagtib-ong kananda dya, gani indi nyo kami pagbasula.
bilang isa man ka tagabukid masakit man panumdumon nga kami pa gali ang may kakulangan sa sala nga resulta kang aton pagdesisyon kang nagligad nga eleksyon.
KAMO NGA MGA MAARAM SA BANWA AMO SAGAD KA LUHOD DYAN SA MAG-ASAWA KAG KAMI NGA INOSENTE NAGAPATI MAN LANG KON ANO ISUNLOD NYO NGA IMPORMASYON KANAMON DYA SA BUKID.
UMPISA SA TINAPAY NGA PINAGTAG NYO PAGBAGYO FRANK, WAAY NYO GANI KAMI RON MABALIKAN, ABI NYO NALIPAY KAMI? ABI NYO MAHAYLO RON KAMI SA SARDINAS KAG TINAPAY?
ANG GUSTO NAMON PRESENSYA KAG PROYEKTO NYO NGA DAPAT MATUPA KAG KABAY PA NGA INDI RON PAGPAABUTA ANG 2010 ELECTIONS KAG INTO-ON RUMAN KAMI LIWAT.
KINAHANGLAN NAMON ANG LIDER DAAD NGA INDI PLASTIC PERO, KAY MGA DUNGGANON MAN NAGATABID-TABID KUNDI MARAKU MAIMPLUWENSYAHAN NA.
TI, SIN-O MANOL, SIN-O INOSENTE KANATON? SIN-O NAGPAGAMIT SA KURAKOT PARA SA PERSONAL INTERES?
SIN-O GID ANG TRAIDOR SA BANWA NATON?
01/15/09 @ 07:00YOU ARE THE MAN ED!
Siguro kilala mo gid ako.parehas taton nga taga bukid.i share your feeling and i understand the STEREOTYPING and DISCRIMITORY remarks ka mga mangin alamon naton sa banwa.nga kong mag agto sa baryo ay abi na first class citizen tana. with out thinking nga subra pa ka MANOL sa taga baryo.
That kind of stereotyping nga dapat islan. the world has change since where the baryo folks is just a mere Agsador. even here in America a lot of changes since the great depression.
I'm sure you are aware of who will be the next care taker of America. a Black man with a great vision who was voted by millions of white people who believes that change is necessary.
people are embracing him with open arms,open mind,and open heart. Alimdian should do the same.
If you look the geographic location of Alimodian and if you have a fair assessment and loads of intellect tanan kita sa Alimodian taga bukid.
we are not creating a CLASS WAR here kay parehas lang naman kita tanan nga taga alimodian who came from almost one root halos ang aton mga kamal-aman ay mag pariente if not friends going back to the early years of our beloved town.
Sa open market and democratic society wa-ay gid man ti equality when it comes to economic standing. siyempre sa Alimodian raku abroad kag ang iba may lupa-lupa ti.. may source ka income sa producto.kag ang wa-ay ti lupa kag edukasyon ti pigado gid man.Dalid is no difference to other baryo in Alimodian.pigado gid ang pangabuhi.
my point is kong ang gap nga dya na fill-upan ka aton LGU thru national Aid, Provincial aid and local BUWIS kag ARKABALA..kay amo gid man di-a da-ad ang anda papel, siguro indi gid man di-a da-ad ka pigado ang pangabuhi sa baryo kag sa poblacion.
by advocating and expressing my views and opinion i think i created a lot of enemies with out my knowledge.but! that's perfectly fine! that's part of it. you can not make everybody happy? when it comes to advocacy may MASAGASA-AN ka gid man.and hopefully that these guys are smart enough to understand that, there is nothing personal in it.
I AM NOT A POLITICIAN AND I HAVE NO INTENTION TO BECOMA A POLITICIAN. i might be wrong or right, but at least i did say what i want to say.and I'm responsible for it. amo di-a nga wa-ay takon naga panago sa Alias.
ED..WELCOME TO FAMILY OF BLOGGERS WHERE VIEWS AND OPINIONS IS VERY MUCH WELCOME!
01/17/09 @ 10:54TAGA-UMA
I suggest strongly that we banish the expression “taga-uma” from the Alimodian lexicon.
What’s wrong with “taga-Dalid” or “taga-Quinaspan”?
Alimodiananons use “taga-uma” in two ways.
One, as a code word for a class of people who have little or no education, hence, dimwitted, if not, slow in comprehension or (in political context) easily manipulated.
Two, as an insult masquerading as self-deprecation directed at their fellow kasimanwas whom they do not like because these kasimanwas are different from them – as in, “anhon mo ria kay amo lang dia masarangan ta; taga-uma takon.” The expression is usually used by people who are not really taga-uma; they are mga taga-banwa, in fact.
Both are PEJORATIVE.
The fact is – geography has nothing to do with the kind of person you are. If you are a jerk it is because you are a jerk, period; you can be taga-banwa or taga-uma.
The “olds” used to say that education by itself does not count for much if it does not teach you common courtesies toward your fellow human beings; better that you do not have much by way of formal education but “may pinanilagan ka.”
Again, as Noah says, if you think about it, we are all taga-uma. LCA and I once laughed about the fact that kung sa Alimodian ka, dumdum mo ali-ali ka gid, pag gwa mo sa Alimod you realize very quickly that you are a nobody. There are people who are more intelligent, smarter, prettier, richer, better, etc. than you are. If you are a quick learner, you internalize the humbling process, be the wiser for it, move on, and create the person you want to be. Otherwise you go through life na bilib-na-bilib-sa-sarili, which is a state of perpetual, self-hypnotic insecurity that you express via false modesty – “taga-uma lang takon.”
Moreover, you are giving the real taga-uma a bad, undeserved reputation.
01/17/09 @ 13:51Agree Nang A. "MAY PINANILAGAN" that's a key word. whether you're from the most remote Baryo of Alimodian,to millionaires section of Manhattan and affluent Connecticut Suburban or Malibu CA. coast line, PINANILAGAN always applies.
I don't know if how some of our Kasimanwas rate themselves when it come to outside world and how Pinanilagan applies in their daily lives. kong wa-ay ka man lang naka halin sa Alimodian kag sigi timo ka pang hikay kag pang-insulto sa iba nga taga uma..hey! better wake up! you are in a deep sleep. basi bangu-nguton ikaw.
Seriously.i my self learn this lesson long time ago kay taga uma man takon.i have to admit that some of my best friends ay taga banwa peru i'm no different sa parehas ko nga taga uma.kong sigi man lang timo ka pungko sa du-ok kag mag yuhom-yuhom kay taga uma timo ti husto lang gid timo ka iba sika-sika-on eh?
Bisan di-in man lang ikaw..bisan sa America nga may Human rights kay inti-discrimination law,discrimination is still exist.same theory that applies in Alimodian.
gamiton ka man lang kong ma pagamit ka.diskriminahon ka man lang kong ma pa discriminate ka.basic common sense and logic applies no YALE or HARVARD education needed.
Ang pamangkot do you have a courage to resist and show that you are something not just mere nothing. just a short summary of what Nang Lei ang Nang Angiol conversation nga abi mo Ali-Ali ka ron sa Alimodian but outside you are just a mere average Joe, nothing REALLY exceptional or sensational.
Buttom line.kong kontinto ka man lang ka SARDINAS kag sang ka GANTANG NGA BUGAS sa sunod nga election..ti wa-ay ka man ti basulon kong gin tawag ka nga MANOL kag BUKI nga taga uma!
ika nga ehh..sabi ni Bise Presidente Noli de Castro "MAGANDANG GABING BAYAN!" sa Alimodian..UMAGA NA BAYANG ALIMODIAN!
01/19/09 @ 11:49THANKS A LOT TO THOSE WHO CAREd IN 2008
We did not get the chance to post this before 2008 ended . . .
THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO:
*Those Alimodiananons and friends who either supported CARE's initiatives or did their own initiatives in support of the chidren and families in Alimodian.
* The hardworking CARE volunteers who continued to initiate and manage programs and projects to help raise the children of Alimodian.
* Those who wished us well.
* The Webmaster, CIRILO CAPARANGA, JR., for keeping the faith.
We owe you all a debt of gratitude.
01/21/09 @ 00:08Taga uma man o taga banwa . .parehos man guihapon kay ti ang uma sakop ka banwa..Ay nano man. .Pre Makol. . Speaking of taga uma. . Ako tumandok guid nga taga UMA..anhon mo dia tood hay sa uma taton natawo..Kar on kong didto kita tanan sa banwa ,ti waay ron ti taga uma.Sin o masupply kanaton ka turulan on,ka saging ,,ka mga rulunod ta sa tinula..Pasalamat kita hay may taga uma nga mapisan kag anad sa obrahanay...nga kong adlaw ka tienda may taga uma nga nagabakal ka asin kag ginamos nga tinda ka tao sa banwa. . amo dia koon nga . .'malut malut lang'. .Baklon nyo baraligya ka taga uma . .baklon ka taga uma baraligya ka taga banwa. . .Vice versa. . Pre MAKOL. .take note. .english ra... Pre..Thank you sa advice mo..GOD BLESS US..
01/25/09 @ 17:18Vice versa..LOL amo ra oyon ko ka nimo pre gina sunod mo advice ko! amo ra nga parehas taton nga naga panubo sa dalom ka puno ka saging. ano nag enroll ka sa english second language (ESL) or gin hulid mo ang diksiyonaryo? daw naka purot ka piram bilog nga english haw!
kompormi ako sa Malut malut lang theoria! peru sa tiempo ka election ku-on nanda ang taga uma lang permi ang gina bakal ka taga banwa?
Abi pre e confirm dya! daw indi vice versa dya haw!
01/26/09 @ 18:44ALIMODIANANONS SHOULD DEMAND A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 30-MILLION PUBLIC MARKET LOAN
All these years the political leadership of Alimodian has gotten away with a "don't ask, don't tell" policy of governance.
It does not inform or explain to the citizens of Alimodian the decisions it makes on their behalf.
It does not encourage, much less tolerate, questions from the citizens of Alimodian about their actions and decisions.
Its governing mantra is: WE KNOW BEST. WAAY KAMO TI PAKIALAM.
And, mind you, we live in a Democracy.
This time the plan that the powers-that-be are trying to railroad into approval by the Sangguniang Bayan happens to cost 30 million pesos -- for the construction of a new public market.
Think about this:
Here is some of Alimodian's pressing problems: POVERTY (from which a multitude of other problems arise);LACK OF OR INADEQUATE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE; POOR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF ITS SCHOOLCHILDREN.
Which of these problems will the construction of a new public market address?
A new building will stimulate economic activity in Alimodian to the degree that Alimodiananons who are now living below poverty level will finally have opportunities to earn a decent livelihood that will afford them to feed, clothe, and give their children education?
You're kidding, right?
Sure, it would be nice to have a new public market. And so is having a Disney World.
Think about this:
1. The children of Alimodian (and possibly their children, too) will bear the burden of paying off the loan.
2. Because the loan has to be paid, may mabilin pa ayhan sa public funds to pay for initiatives needed to address the problems of poverty, health care, and education, etc. -- REAL PROBLEMS, that is.
So you ask:
WHY THE HELL IS THIS PROJECT A PRIORITY FOR THE CURRENT POLITICAL LEADERSHIP?
Financial kickback? Nah.
Edifice complex? That went out with Imeldific.
Because the answer is not apparent to most of us, it is imperative therefore that every Alimodiananon should demand a PULIC HEARING on this issue.
LET MAYOR ALIPAO EXPLAIN TO THE PEOPLE OF ALIMODIAN WHY IT IS IN THEIR BEST INTEREST TO GET IN DEBT FOR 30 MILLION PESOS.
The people of Alimodian deserve to ask questions. The political leadership needs to answer their questions.
MAYOR ALIPAO OWE THE PEOPLE OF ALIMODIAN A HEARING.
So write, call, send smoke signals, etc., and demand a public hearing.
01/27/09 @ 21:42That's a 30 million pesos qeustion! where the hell is public hearing. ano dya hukos-pukos lang?
There are some member of towm council who are claiming, that.. they are not up for this controversial project. abi kamo demand ka public hearing kay kamo didyan sa banwa. kag kong tu-od nga against kamo sa project nga dya, palihog lang ako explikar ka inyo stand sa amo dya nga topico.
that would be nice kong pa publish man didya sa blog and inyo opinion. it's about time to find your voice. please show to the people of Alimodian that you are worth their vote. and deserve a second chance for next year election.
This is for the best interest of our town not just for the interest of the few.
you should be a authentic concern citizen or public servant. kong indi si mayor mag public hearing, di ang mga opposition ( kong may opposition gid man sa Alimodian)ang mag public hearing.
come on!we and the people of Alimodian will love to hear from you guys.
01/28/09 @ 15:41re: P30M
I'm all for the public hearing and discussions. But think about the positives this 30M would bring. Maybe this is Alimodian's answer to the GFC (Global Financial Crises). This will pump up Alimodian's economy. Invite the people to the hearing. To ensure that attendance will be huge, every attendee will receive a brown paper envelope that contains you-know-what. 30M will go a long way. Never mind that the people of Alimodian will pay more than twice as much until you know when. But people with the handout from brown paper bag, will be able to afford LCD televisions. Who cares about education, or good health as long as you can watch Grey's Anatomy or Wowowee on a high definition LCD TV. You can even forget the lunch.
01/28/09 @ 21:06Pre MAKOL..Your right. were are the same species. .living under the tree. ja Pre nabasahan ko lang sa putos ka uga..Parti sa eleksyon siguro indi malipod sa tanan ang isyo ka pagbinaklanay ka boto oras eleksyon.Taga uma , banwa o,taga cuidad. .oras gani ka eleksyon xadu ka hamot ang mga kandidato. hamot pa sa ginisa nga ahos.. Amo dia koon nga.. ." Batona ang kuarta , isulat ang masarigan sa balota ." oks. Pre MAKOL ? . . Speaking of TRENTA MILYONES.. mas mayad guid man daad kong may public hearing para maman an ka pumuluyo,kon ano ang mga plano ka aton banwa..o kong ano nga proyekto ang gamitan ka kuarta or maskin himo lang daad bala ti report nga ang kuarta nga utangon ka banwa ta amo ja gamitan. . Pwde man ra guro maskin padukot ang notice jan sa dingding ka tinda para FAIR sa mga pumuluyo ka banwa.Amo lang ra matugda ko. .GOD BLESS US..
01/28/09 @ 22:35Kita nyo? bisan makol kag Kadupdup may idea pa kong ano ang dapat nga fair sa mga pumoluyo. ang mga konsehal nga gina suelduhan ka kuarta ka taho, husto lang mag pa cute-cute sa tienda kag daw celebrity sa baryo kong fiesta.
nga kong maka lab-ok lab-ok ka cerveza dayon pamolung-pulong nga wa-ay ti puno kag punta!
Abi pre kadupdop sawaya ang mga tunto nga dya kong makita mo nga balong kag sigi ka tikal sa baryo kag tienda. ti ano aton love affair dya? sigi-sigihon ta dya? daw saho taton haw!
ti musta english mo? sigi-sigiha lang practice. ku-on nanda sa english "PRACTICE MAKE THINGS PERFECT"
01/29/09 @ 12:55OPPOSITION PARTY IN ALIMODIAN -- AWOL AS USUAL?
From Noah:
"kong indi si mayor mag public hearing, di ang mga opposition ( kong may opposition gid man sa Alimodian)ang mag public hearing.
"come on!we and the people of Alimodian will love to hear from you guys."
Yes, we would love to hear from the leaders of the opposition party in Alimodian.
WHEN ELSE WILL YOU STAND UP AND BE COUNTED?
Kung indi tlad, san-o pa?
If you pass up this chance to voice your sentiments on an important issue, in the next election campaign, maski ano pa ang buyayaw ninyo against the contrapartido, your CREDIBILITY will be zero.
Hasta lang sa buyayawanay.
You might as well forget the next election.
As for the incumbent politicians, the FOR THE 30-MILLION DEBT and AGAINST THE 30-MILLION DEBT column has been posted for the following:
Mayor: Juanito Alipao
Vice-Mayor: Geefre Alonsabe
SB Members:
Julius Alejo
Nicanor Allones
Concepcion Almacen
Nery Alonday
Larriette Altubar
Felicita Amba
Freddie Anibigno
Julie Salarda
Stay tuned for the countdown.
01/29/09 @ 15:02Well..Nang A. accourding to my reliable source..and(he spoke on condition of anonymity),kay daw plano pa lang dya.kag basi pa kuno mag bag-o ang isip nanda kay indi dya popular nga prohecto kag na basa ron kuno ka mga taho ang anda play book.
There are two town council member nga accourding to them naga-pamatok gid sanda sa controversial nga project nga dya kay asta apo nanda sa tuhod ma bayad ka utang ka banwa.it makes sense at least may naka figure out ka dya.Inday lynn Balolot did a Math for us lust recently and the numbers are so scary.
Now! ang pamangkot pera ka taho sa Alimodian ang naka ma-an nga sanda naga pamatok.my wildess quess is siguro puede mo lang ma-isip.kong ako sa darwa nga dya kong gusto nanda nga e-renew ka bumuroto ang anda kontrata kag titolo nga member of town council, they better open their mouth publicly and argue their case.
In respect to Ot-ot Alipao our Mayor,the first lady Neneng/administrator and to our LGU, i think public hearing is a legitimate request/demand kay ti taho man ra ma bayad ka loan plus interest.we can not claim that our system of government is democratic kong wa-ay to voses ang taho kag wa-ay dya gin approbahan ka majority ka populasyon.
most likely siguro ma approvahan man dya kay out of eight member darwa man lang kuno ang indi.ti basi ang anum nga dya e-donate nanda ang anda suweldo para lang ibayad sa interest amo ra siguro nga nag sugot sanda.
i think the majority party is skilled enough to hold their own to pass this 30 million pesos project and be approve.legally majority rules. but then at least na notify ang mga taho. i think that's fair enough? what do you think Mr. Mayor? Alimodian wants your answer.
01/30/09 @ 01:11Korek ka jan. .Pre Makol. . Sa tulad gapadulong piesta sa mga kaumhan, staring roman ang aton mga super..stunning nga mga alagad ka banwa..Bay.e lang Pre ,kay kon tabuan ka lab.ok ko ka bahal kag magsagad sanda ka tikal. . ti mamay guid nanda kay kadupdop...To NOAH. . .maskin gatuwad sa kabaralngon ang 6 ka members matyag ko indi guid nanda pag,e donate sweldo nanda para ibayad sa interes. .koon ka kabataan nga gataksi sa kilid balay. . "Ano kaw Doy hilo" ??. Ang problema sa aton nga pumuloyo mayad lang kita sa kumod2 . jan ron gani sa tubang ka opisyales waay ron ta ti limog. .Ano bay taas anda dungan ? .Makoon kita nga . .Sigi lang ah ..sunod lang kta sa nagadumara..man.an ta man ra nga indi eksakto insa waay kta ti limog?.Oposisyon. . .oposisyon. . to hay gakumod sa puno saging isranhon. .mamalabag man daad py ti tana lang isa,hay kong sagad ka man ka walay ,kon.an kaw ka tao nga ,balong ra,cg pa guid gani. .ah naglain ulo na karia. . Imagine that ? . Hay ah kag delikado man kay kong sagad ka guid gani ka walay ,paum,uman na lang timo ti de,dose. .Ay sus..pwera lang ky I'm just learning my english. . Pre Makol. . .As long as were on the air. . Thankz and GOD BLESS.
01/30/09 @ 07:28Kadupdop,tama ikaw indi nanda di-a pag e donate para di-a sa kapital sa majong kag personal expenses,siyempre may naga agi man sa balay nanda kag naga pangayo paranindahan kag kong may emergency ga ta-o man sanda bulig sa taho. that's a good side man ka aton mga opisyales sa banwa and a good tradition in Alimodian.kong sin-o ma alang-alangan gina pahuram.we can not deny that. i know that by fact kay kami pigado man.sang isa kuno negative pa gani ang anda sueldo kay husto lang pamulig sa naga kinahanglan.
Ang arguement ro man ka iba "ti? sinsilyo man lang kuno ang gin ta-o nanda ang Bilog kuno naka time deposit ron kuno sa PNB".ang akon pag turok ka dya is "he said she said" daw siwasyon ka mag asawa nga ku-on ka asawa may kabit kuno ang bana kay gabi-i ron ga uli. ku-on ro man ka bana may kabit man ikaw kay na-agahan ikaw sa majongngan. it's a kind of Madonna Alex Rodrigues kind of thing.
wa-ay man ti pama tu-od, kay suno ka nimo paum,uman na lang timo ti de dose nga pugakhang nga paltik.it's a big suprise ka nakon kong to-ud dia kay the way i look ang aton banwa is considered as affleunt kay tama nami nga mga balay kay may mga abroad,kag mag dung-ganon nga Heneral,Obispo,Kapari-an,Doktores,Journalista kag iba pa. and it should be manage by some respectable,civilized public servant indi nga paum,uman na timo ti pugakhang.it's a kind of exaggeration in my own view.i'm sorry to disagree to you pareng kadupdup.I live in the United States for almost 20 years and i don't know the actual fact. basi siguro tama man ikaw.
New year and the guiness book of world record is looking for some new world record this year sa Barotac Neuvo the longest soccer game ever played in record? na agahan kuno sanda ka sipa ka bola. please correct me if i'm wrong.
My opinion is.. kong e donate ka aton opisyales ang anda sueldo sa banwa.. with out a doubt this is first of it's kind nga matabo sa pilipinas and i am very sure they will be re-elected over and over again."JOB SECURITY " so do we say.kag who knows basi ma lista man ang aton banwa sa guiness book of world record.then we have something good to talk about.
Category:"MOST HONEST MOST GENEROUS PUBLIC SERVANTS IN THE WOLRD"
WHAT DO YOU THINK FOLKS?? THIS BLOG IS OPEN FOR YOUR SUGGESTIONS!!
01/30/09 @ 09:00ALIMODIAN CAN DO WITHOUT THE PUBLIC “SERVANTS”
It is, of course, admirable that as part of their “job,” the SB members ay naga pang wisik-wisik kang bulig sa anda kasimanwa; e.g., tao ti amot sa namatyan, sa may kinahanglan
kang bulong, even sa waay ti paranindahan. Not to speak na ma maninoy or maninay sa kasal.
However, we should not confuse this for their REAL job.
Band aid lang dya, and personal at that. And am sorry to be cynical, most of the time ginabawi man ang ginastos some other ways – many times over pa. It is not as if they have to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on account of their selfless generosity.
Their REAL job is to find LONG-TERM SOLUTION to the problems of poverty, lack of or inadequate access to health care, etc. para indi ron sanda pangayuan kang mga pigado nga kasimanwa nanda.
Therefore I have no sympathy whatsoever for the SB members nga naga pang -- what is the word, Noah, harakhoy? -- about how they are besieged with requests for assistance by their fellow Alimodiananons and thus we should applaud them.
If being a public “servant” is such a drag (on one’s finances), would it not make sense to give up the thankless position?
Why is it that most of them stay in the job forever and ever?
01/31/09 @ 20:29Parte sa football sa Barotac Nuevo . I suggest to Noah. .nga go to. .Www.Barotac Nuevo.Com . .result # 3O jan mo mabasa ang parte sa entry for Guinness book..Abi nu mabudlay man siguro sa aton mga opisyales ang anda ginakaptan nga posisyon.Indi man guro tanan nalipay magbaton ka sobre. pay ti. ".No Choice." ginatao batunon.Amo ra guro nga ang senselyo gna amot sa himatayan o kasalan.suno ky Noah. Waay ta kasiguro ky ti personal kg confidential ang account sa bangko..kong tood nga may mga time deposit ang mga "long hand " opisyals ( kay ti mahilig mag amot ) mook man ayhan turog nanda ?? pwera bangungot . .San o pa ayhan makasalapo ang banwa ka tao nga maisog kag magtadlong ka mga tiko nga pagdumarahan sa banwa ka Alimodian ??. .Paging . .Pre Makol. . .over. .GOD BLESS.
02/01/09 @ 16:58I am not familiar with the local government code, so I would like to ask this question, to see if it exists:
In a corporate setting, there are approval thresholds set up when it relates to the authority to bind an organization into debt.
For example, if the amount is less than let's say $5,000 then it requires two signatures one of them will be a department manager. If it's more than $5,000 but less than $25,000 then it requires the signature of a VP. If it's more than $25,000 but less than $100,000 then it requires the signature of an executive. In all cases, if the term of debt is more than 1 year, it requires the approval of the President. And in all cases, if the term of the debt is more than 5 years, it requires the approval of the Board of Deirectors... so on, and so forth.
What I want to ask is: Is there something similar to this present in the mandate of our local government when it comes to acquiring new debt?
It is fair for the approval to solely lie in the hands of the LGU if the term of the debt is equal or shorter than their remaining term in office.
But what happens if it goes way beyond their term? Wouldn't it be fair to present it to the taxapayers/voting public and get a consensus?
If I remember correctly, the initial plan for this 30M project also involves the choice of contractor by the lender and Mayor. It won't even be going to a bidding process. In other words, it can be translated as: Pahuramon ta kaw kwarta pay ako ma desisyon kon paano gastohon.
Not to mention the opportunity for graft...
Is our LGU this powerful? If this happens, it's setting a precedent. What will prevent the next administration to do the same thing?
It would be helpful if any Cost-Benefit studies or ROI analysis performed (if there is one) is shared to the public.
30million pesos for a town like Alimodian is not a small matter. Nobody has the right to play God at the expense of the public who can barely send their children to school.
02/04/09 @ 20:53ang mga oposisyon sa market project ka dya nagahulag man pero ginalangawan sa konseho kay dayon devide the house ka vice mayor, ti, maano timo? mga market vendors ginapahog man nga di pag-aprobahan anda license for re-application kon sagad sanda wangal...!!!
maano na lang mga pobre dya sa tindahan man? kay pati sa consultative meeting si administradura man lang laban sa wakal, indi ron gani maka kapot bana na nga meyor ka microphone market vendors pa???
Out of 30million, almost 3million gid dya maadto sa bulsa ka proponents kag amo dya paghuray-hurayon nanda hay;
Mayor/Administrator Alipao= 2million
Vice Mayor Alonsabe= 300thousand
SB Member Salarda= 100thousand
SB Member Allones= 100thousand
SB Member Anibigno = 100thousand
SB Member Altubar = 100thousand
Former SB Member Mondero(middleman)=100thousand
Municipal Treasurer/Accountant/Engineer=200thou
tapos mga NFA Rice gina-amat-amat tana ron ni juaning ka panagtag (amot) kon may namatyan sa kaumahan, maan katiraw man si Ed ka dya?
ang dapat himuon deritsohon na lang kag toltolon ang address ka contractor nga gin-award ka bidding ka mag-asawa sa project nga dya kag paturasok sa media..
ti, amo dya ang sabat sa global crisis???
sabat dya sa gutom? trabaho para sa alimodiananon? PATINDOG KA BAG-O NGA MARKET.
its now time that the religious sector will go on stage! kag protektahan ang dignidad kang katawhan.
02/07/09 @ 01:19THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT A POLITICAL STRUGGLE
QUESTION:
"San o pa ayhan makasalapo ang banwa ka tao nga maisog kag magtadlong ka mga tiko nga pagdumarahan sa banwa ka Alimodian?"
ANSWER:
If we believe there is such a Person, then there is something wrong with us. No knight in a shining armor will come galloping in a white horse from the Seven Cities, slay our political demons, and make things right so we can all live happily ever after.
We are in a rut because, by complicity or indifference, we have allowed our political leaders to run roughshod over us. Our problems are not being addressed because of, yes, the incompetence and laziness of our political leaders, but also becase we the private citizens do not do enough to help our kasimanwas.
We will get out of the rut by taking our political fate into our own hands.
Personal mudslinging and innuendos will not do it. How many times do we need to learn this lesson?
We can start taking charge of our destiny NOW.
Make your voice count.
And it will count when you sign your name when you express your opinion.
Who gives a damn about the opinion of an anonymous "Wayawaya"?
Write, call, send smoke signals, etc. and demand that Mayor Alipao call a public hearing to explain to the people of Alimodian why it is in their best interest to get into debt to build a new public market.
If the Mayor is smart, he will convene a public hearing. If he does not, that's too bad, but we live to fight on another issue, another day. And still another. Until hell freezes over.
Change does not come easy.
Most importantly, it does not happen if you do not make it happen.
02/07/09 @ 07:48Come to think of it - the new public market is an investment. An investment financed by borrowed funds.
For the town of Alimodian not to be "buried" in this mountain of debt, not only does it need to have sufficient cash flow to pay the interest, but it should be able to afford paying the principal amount as well. If not, interest will continue to accrue at a higher amount due to the default, and not gradually decline as it's supposed to be.
Question 1 - is there a Cash Flow analysis prepared somewhere, identifying the amount of "cash" required to meet the terms of the loan?
Let's give the Municipal Accountant the benefit of the doubt and say - Yes, there is.
Question 2 - now that the amount is identified, is there another analysis identifying the SOURCE of this cash?
Well, the most obvious answer is the tenants of the new public market.
Question 3 - will these tenants have sufficient business to AFFORD the elevated rent payments?
We know based on the volume of existing business, catered mostly to local folks (Alimodian being the end of the road, and not a pass-through town), these market vendors barely earn a profit. Why do you think the "Bombay" lending business is thriving?
So... the only way for the tenants to at least afford their rent somehow is - RAISE PRICES.
NOW - somebody answer my last question: How does this help the people of Alimodian?
02/07/09 @ 07:59Personally, I am not the type of person who will jump on a moving wagon. I don't take sides.
Having said that, I will challenge an idea until I obtain enough information to form a judgment.
In this case, we are not provided with any financial information, so based on whatever is available, I challenge the feasibility of this investment.
However, I also respect that there is an accounting brain behind this project.
Is there a possibility for financial information to be shared - feasibility, ROI, etc? Because if it is available (and it should be), I would like to look at it. If I find that this project turns out to be a feasible investment and will drive the improvement to the town's economy, I will stand behind it 100%. I will also patiently explain why to anybody who would care to ask.
We are not out here to oppose every decision made by the LGU. We are also here to support those decisions that benefit the people of Alimodian.
02/07/09 @ 20:07As we always said Inday Lynn we are not politicians.nor playing a partisan blame game and engaging in smearing our leaders credibility. we are concern Alimodianons. and what you're talking above is.. it makes a lot of sense.
i'm not an accountant but! i think you don't need a master degree in accounting to figure this things out.
I will join you and the rest of our Kasimanwa's to support the LGU if this project can bring extra revenue and employment in Alimodian, and serve the purpose and necessity of the town folks.
02/08/09 @ 19:34SOME OF ALIMODIAN'S GREAT RESOURCES ARE THE ALIMODIANANONS THEMSELVES. SO WHY IS IT THAT THE LGU DOES NOT ENCOURAGE THEM TO HELP THEIR HOMETOWN?
Just think about this.
ROSALYN and NOAH are only two of the numerous Alimodiananons living in Alimodian, Iloilo City, Manila, Mindanao, Canada, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Australia, The Netherlands -- and wherever else in the world, you name it -- who have the intelligence, competence, experience, energy, and motivation to help find solutions to Alimodian's many problems.
A few of them (for example, Dr. RIZALITO AMARILLO, of Maryland) are practically begging --PLEASE USE US.
If experience is any gauge, Rosalyn haa a better chance of hearing from the mayor of the City of Ontario than receiving a note, Yes, Inday Lyn, please, from the mayor of Alimodian.
Noah has received an award from a big employee association in the state of Connecticut in recognition of his civic work, but would someone in the Alimodian political hierarchy give him the time of day?
Not that either Rosalyn or Noah seeks out public recognition; they just want to give back to their hometown.
And the same goes for an Alimodiananon in the Department of Natural Resources in Manila, the Alimodiananons in Quincy, Massachusetts, an Alimodiananon in Qatar, an Alimodiananon in Australia, an Alimodiananon in The Netherlands, and so on and so forth.
However, the sad fact is -- not only does the LGU not have an outreach program, most of the time it goes out of its way to REBUFF the well-intentioned offer of assistance from its own citizens.
Go figure.
What a waste of invaluable human resource.
02/09/09 @ 19:42Tita Angiol - finally, I get to correct you! Ontario is a province, so I woud be hearing from the Premier. LOL! Gotcha!
I bet you a number of people may think that daw si hambog takun asking to see the financial information behind this 30 million loan.
But it's not about that. All of my family members live in Alimodian. Of course I care for their futures as well.
But really, what happened to simple and straightforward CONSCIENTIOUSNESS?
If the LGU did perform the exercise of evaluating the feasibility of this project, whether or not it was done correctly, then kudos to them. However, they should also be open to being challenged, these feasibility studies should have another set of eyes, independent eyes. I'm offering mine, free of charge, and I have 20/20 vision. Also, if anybody needs any help, we are all here just eager to share our knowledge and expertise.
What are the odds that there was no financial analysis done? Can you even fathom... "irresponsible" is not even close to describe this.
Only one more question needs to be asked:
How could you?
02/09/09 @ 22:29Hello!
The supposed 30 million loan for the renovation kang market still hangs. The SB did gave the Local Chief Executive an authority to explore and negotiate for a possible loan sourcing from either the DBP or LBP. The loan package and its details if ever submitted by the financing institution will be evaluated by the Local Finance Committee and make its recommendations to the SB for approval. So far no financing package were submitted.
The detailed engineering designs and works are part of the package. Interest and other financing charges, collaterals and other details are still subject to negotiation. A feasibility study will be made by the LGU as soon as these details are available to them. And I am sure they will inform the public through the municipal development council and the sangguniang bayan.
If ever the final loan contract will be submitted to the sangguniang bayan, the SB should conduct a public hearing and consultation to all stakeholders especially the market vendors.
02/09/09 @ 23:39Knight in a shining armor. . .Where are you. . ? People of Alimodian needs you. . . Thanks for a brief explanation. .KILANAS. . at least medyo may kasanagan ang mga paramangkotanon parte sa Milyones. . MARKET. . ano to kwenta mo Talent Fee ka mga opisyales ta ? . Baw ah . .daw mga artista sa pelikula bah. . .Hot Panawagan kay Pre MAKOL. .. Pre. .I owe my english to you. . . also. THANKS TO THE VOICE OF AMERICA. . GOD BLESS...
02/10/09 @ 13:40Will,
Thanks.
We will appreciate your take on this, i.e., an answer to a very simple question:
IS THE LOAN IN THE BEST ECONOMIC INTEREST OF ALIMODIAN?
By "economic interest" I mean the economic interest of IMPOVERISHED Alimodiananons -- as opposed to, say, the "stockholders".
We are not speaking here of a camouflaged SUBSIDY to a small special interest group in Alimodian, are we?
Far from it, that in fact a new public market will stimulate economic activity to such a degree that a poor family in Cabacanan can now earn a decent livelihood, correct?
As in the very same thing they argued for the tramline/cable car project in the Seven Cities?
Here they are fond of saying, "How will this play in Main Street?"
In Alimodian the question that any "feasibility study" should answer is simple: How will this play in Cabacanan?
______
Inday Lynn, you are hired as "factchecker". Dies centimos per error -- direct deposit to your friendly banking facility.
02/10/09 @ 18:18Pre Kadupdop dya pa ako gina panilagan ko kulang hulag mo. o.k gid english mo naga aso-aso gid. pang export quality ron. sigi sigiha lang bisan naga pang espeho ikaw or naga shower estoryaha lang ang lawas mo kay ma ba-id gid di-a. or kong ma ninda ikaw englishi ang manog kamatis kag manog isda.basic lang anay how are you doing..what's going on.. what's up..good day and good night.and then.
kong ma master mo ron dya tudlu-an ko ron ikaw mamuyayaw like what the F you're talking about and many more.
take it easy pareng kadupdop mag hot panawagan ka lang kong kinahanglan mo advice.
02/10/09 @ 23:11Maayong adlaw sa tanan!
Marako gid ta matun-an dya sa blog. Akon ma share lang the another anomalous project ka ACES Alumni nga ginpaguba ni Marilou Alipao ang mga nagatindog ron nga poste ka proposed covered gym kag ilisan ka ana plano. Ano first lady ka banwa tana Engineer?
waay gid gakomentar ang ACES Alumni Board of Directors ka dya? ang resulta doble gastos kay ang original nga plano waay masunod, ang plano ka first lady amo natuman!!! ano dya nga project si marilou lang gid utok naga-andar ka dya?
mga manugkodak sa banwa abi take picture sa mga poste nga ginpatumba ni marilou dyan kag daad Engineer nga waay ti koneksyon sa LGU amo nag kontrata ka dya!
02/11/09 @ 17:02PLEASE TELL ME THIS AIN'T TRUE.
02/11/09 @ 21:35How about we have some kind of debate here on the issue of renovating our public market at the cost of 30 million pesos of borrowed money?
What are the advantages to the people of Alimodian, likewise its disadvantages?
Lets put aside our personal or political affiliation. Lets try to discuss the issue on its merits and dimerits.
Sige na ako na lang moderator.
02/12/09 @ 04:23You can send email and comments to the Alimodian LGU through this site.
http://www.alimodian.gov.ph/
02/12/09 @ 06:49And someone will at least acknowledge your e-mail?
They don't acknowledge LETTERS -- signed, enclosed in perfumed envelopes, and hand-delivered -- but they will acknowledge e-mail?
Anyway, please do us a favor. Paki test-drive. Send an e-mail to the LGU and let us know what happens.
Thanks.
NOAH or Inday LYN -- would you like to take up Will's offer and get the ball rolling?
02/12/09 @ 16:28I'm itchy for an honest discussion long time ago. i think this is a good opportunity to all alimodianons to participate. the ball is in LGU hand.all they have to do is toss the ball up then let the game begin.
rules of engagement no hiding behind the alias. hitting below the belt is acceptable as long as it's not too low.no personnal attack and insults those things are counter productive
i don't want to use the word debate because I'm not a politician and i'm not running for office."DICUSSION" is appropriate word for me.
We need somebody who is authorize speak for LGU, possibly by the person of committee chairman for market renovation?
we love take on the mayor and the first lady if they are available.
I guess Wil is a good moderator but then who is in the other side. i want to know. brother Wil please find out who's that lucky person is.
02/12/09 @ 18:29I think debate is not the right word. It sound too formal and I really don't know the rules.
I think what Nong Wil is suggesting is an open exchange of ideas, which I think we have already started, only we don't get any response.
Nong Wil, since you are "over there", instead of being moderator, in the absence of "the other side", why don't you play devil's advocate and be "the other side" and challenge our positions.
The issue we are facing is that all of our comments are based on personal interpretation of what little information we have. We can start with that, and hopefully through an exchange of ideas we can get closer to what it really is.
Nong Noah, like Tita Angiol said, I have more luck getting a response from either Dalton McGuinty or David Miller than the LGU, or an authorized representative.
We can start something, and who knows? In my unassuming mind some project committee members may be silently follow our discussions and recognize points of interest that may have a positive influence on the actual project itself.
02/12/09 @ 19:05Inday Lyn i always thought that you got some brilliant ideas of all. I do apologized second only to Nang Angiol.
True! you have more luck of hearing from Mr. McGuinty or Mr. Miller than LGU.
balita ko naga ugtas kuno sanda sa taga abroad. bu-ot hambalon nagabasa sanda ka blog. now my question is..kong sala kita sa aton opinion,kag kong may counter ideas sanda,then koreksiyonan nanda kita eh..basi siguro guilty party sanda kag more of the same ang play book nanda,amo di-a nga naga hipos lang.
come on! ana ka iba nga leaderes sanda naga pangita ka input sa pumuloyo ang aton LGU sanda naga likaw ka input. this is cool! "ONLY IN ALIMODIAN!"
02/24/09 @ 17:01Kadupdop kumusta ang ESL ta? pa Bombo mo lang si makol kong gusto tutoring. ti? ano kuno to ang posti ka proposed covered gym nga gusto islan ka first lady? ano na dayon to? please confirm.
02/25/09 @ 04:24I was informed by a reliable source that there was no change in the building plan, waay man ti poste nga gintumba sa ACES Alumni building.
"Comment from: mcarthur.alimodian@yahoo.com.ph [Visitor]
02/10/09 @ 23:11
Maayong adlaw sa tanan!
Marako gid ta matun-an dya sa blog. Akon ma share lang the another anomalous project ka ACES Alumni nga ginpaguba ni Marilou Alipao ang mga nagatindog ron nga poste ka proposed covered gym kag ilisan ka ana plano. Ano first lady ka banwa tana Engineer?
waay gid gakomentar ang ACES Alumni Board of Directors ka dya? ang resulta doble gastos kay ang original nga plano waay masunod, ang plano ka first lady amo natuman!!! ano dya nga project si marilou lang gid utok naga-andar ka dya?
mga manugkodak sa banwa abi take picture sa mga poste nga ginpatumba ni marilou dyan kag daad Engineer nga waay ti koneksyon sa LGU amo nag kontrata ka dya!"
Abi Mcarthur "I shall return" ka abi kag kodakan para ma clarohan ang bloggers. Thank you.
02/25/09 @ 17:41Nang Lei, basi wa-ay pa ka landing sa Leyte si Mc arthur on the way pa lang halin sa Australia. Mc Arthur daw hit and run lang dya imo haw. daw wa-ay man dya mapamatud-i. abi ka tanan Breaking News dya! basi false alarm to? please double check.
salamat gid!
02/25/09 @ 21:43Inday Lyn;
On the issue of proposed renovation of our public market at the cost of 30 million please take note that I have not seen the lgu plans including the financial viability of the project, so I cannot speak as a learned man.
We, here in Alimodian, as far as our municipal economy is concern, we does not need the project right now. Maybe after we could increase our agricultural productivity and create a surpluses of our agricultural products.
Increasing the profitability of our farmers is a way of creating new demands of goods and services, thereby, the renovation of our public market will be necessary by then.
However, discussing the benefits to our local payroll, this project could be of big help by now. This project is worth 10 million in payroll benefiting more or less 200 person earning 50,000 each.
02/26/09 @ 16:35ALIMODIAN DESERVES A BREAK
Or, Alimodian desperately needs NEW blood, NEW faces, NEW ideas.
So how about a statute of limitation on the usefulness of Alimodian’s politicians?
Politicians who have been in office for more than 10 years (including the combined tenure of husbands and wives) should exercise the ultimate act of public service – QUIT.
Most Alimodiananons have a simple rationale for this idea -- tapos raman eskwela kang kabataan, sudo ron kanami ang anda balay, financially and otherwise they can now afford to give up their positions.
It has been obvious for the past few decades that most of Alimodian’s political leadership have ran out of gas. In other words, waay ron gid ti ibubuga.
Alimodiananons need political leaders who will UNITE, not divide, them.
Alimodiananons need political leaders who will INSPIRE, not marginalize, them.
Alimodiananons need political leaders who have, if not a VISION of where and how to take them, at least some NEW IDEAS on how to solve old problems.
So, to all politicians in Alimodian who have been in power since Michael Jordan announced his retirement from the Chicago Bulls (for the second and final? time), I beseech you:
PABUSLA MAN ANG IBA.
02/26/09 @ 19:53Korek gid Nang A. Kinahanglan ang spring cleaning sa alimodian kag ang old ideas kag more of the same play book indi ron pag recycle kinahanglan kundi ihaboy sa dump or sunugon sa incinerator.
Kong clever politicians ang mga opisyalis tulad nga naga pungko they rather exit voluntarily before they got too stinky.
PABUSLA MAN ANG IBA! basi ang iba dyan nga taga baryo o banwa nga indi man Abogado or Doctora may idea man kag vision nga nami sa banwa peru wa-ay lang ma taw-i ka break,please give them a break.
Rason siguro ka naga pungko ti may Election man? kag gin buto man ako ka banwa. well.. that's true!and sounds legitimate and democratic. but then..kinarton man ang gin-panagtag nga Ninoy Aquino,Manuel L.quezon, Osmenia,Jose Rizal kag Magsaysay kong election.NOT TO MENTION ANG MGA BUGAS KAG SARDINAS nga pang FINAL PUSH kong indi ma dara ka kwar-kwar.
Ti ano kuno kong wa-ay timo ti inog-tagtag ma pan-os lang ang imo opportunidad nga mag servisyo sa banwa.
Please make Alimodian politics as an EQUAL OPPORTUNITY JOB!regardless of who you are taga UMA o taga BANWA,YOUNG OR OLD!
02/26/09 @ 23:04Ang problema man garing sa banwa ta kay ang mga oposisyon naga gwa lang kung oras ron kang eleksyon. I agree with AL nga pabuslon man ang iba. Pay ti sin-o ang iba nga dya? How can we be sure that they're better than the current. Who's who in the oposition now?
02/27/09 @ 17:22Nong Wil,
Regarding what you said:
"However, discussing the benefits to our local payroll, this project could be of big help by now. This project is worth 10 million in payroll benefiting more or less 200 person earning 50,000 each."
I respect the benefit of a major project to local workers - it creates jobs. No argument there.
However, this is borrowed money - and it needs to be paid back. How will this be paid back? 50,000 pesos to a local worker is not even going to last 6 months. Is it worth going into a huge debt with a term of decades without a clear understanding if the project can sustain itself when it comes to interest and principal payments?
03/01/09 @ 21:36At the other end of the spectrum, I am 100% yes! to Wil expertise and careful analysis when he said "we does not need the project right now.may be we could increase productivity and create surpluses of our agaricultural products" it's a practical way of saying "INDI TA DI-A KINAHANGLAN TULAD" that's purely cosmetics.life goes on with out new market.not to mention nga kong bag-o gani ang tindahan ta-as man ang renta kag arkabala.
At this down economic time,digging deep and burried ourselves in debt, is a grave mistake. the 10 million pesos pay roll sounds fair economic relief to some families,who might get involve in the project. but then Inday Lyn explaination makes a lot of sense.it's along term plan not a short term plan.
It's fiscal irresponsible in our LGU side to push this project.i applaud Wil for sharing his expertise at the same time offering his opinion. not that i agree with him all the way, but then it makes a lot of sense to us that a new market is not necessary at this point of time.
Probably our LGU can re-focus their attention to agricultural productivity,justlike Wil is suggesting.minimize the spending,promoting productive livelihood that can create income,or may the Mayor can dip his hands by scooping the fork barrel alloted for some municipalities like Alimodian.
Or..and this is very important. supporting community base project like CARE/DEAR a good long term investment for the children and adult in Alimodian. it's a great project,it's FREE, may pamahaw kay field trip pa! plus world class pa ang mag volunteers.LGU what are you waiting for COME ON DOWN! our children needs you.
I'm sure somewhere out there may kuarta ang national government,kag may budget si Congressman or senator sa mga Sip-Sip nga mga mayor.that's politics is all about. medyo Sip-Sip kaw at the same time reasonable,to get what you want.in other words "HAMOT IKAW KAY CONGRESSMAN"
if you need to SUCK UP kay congressman for the good of the people of Alimodian why not!not to SIP-SIP kay congressman for your own re-election ambition.then that's another sad yet greasy story.
I'm not be surprise if Wil Anas will offer his services to the people of Alimodian as an alternate choice to our current care taker of the town. IT'S ABOUT TIME,for somebody to step in and offer some fresh ideas,and new direction.
Whoever that person is..GOOD LUCK!
03/02/09 @ 12:28WE DEMAND LEADERSHIP FROM OUR POLITICIANS; HOW ABOUT LEADERSHIP FROM US, THE PRIVATE CITIZENS?
Like, we are fond of saying we have X number of priests, X number of professionals in this field, X number of professionals in that field, the firsts in this and that, yadayada.
Well and good. We should be proud of one another's personal and professional accomplishments.
On the other hand -- so what? Personal statistics become meaningful in our communal life only if they help all, if not a majority, of our citizens achieve decent lives.
So perhaps it is time that we REDEFINE our ideas of giving back to our hometown in more productive and meaningful ways?
Impressive as the sight of half a dozen priests in our midst presiding over a high mass when a VIP in Alimodian dies, maybe collectively they could do more and beyond the role(s) they have assigned themselves thus far?
We suggest that everyone -- the religious among us more than others -- has a moral responsibility to help a fellow human being live a life of dignity in this life, on this earth.
The unending beautification of the Alimodian Catholic Church -- enough already. Except for its hideous facade (sorry, I have to keep repeating this until they do something to "correct" this design anomaly), the church interior puts to shame some of the churches in Italy. So, finis na. The church should EXPAND its outreach programs of feeding the hungry, helping the poor, guiding the children into a righteous path, etc. -- all those things eternal that it preaches on the pulpit Sunday after Sunday.
Perhaps those Alimodiananons who have donated impressive amounts of money into making a church that all Alimodiananons can be proud of should now start funding projects that help specific people with real problems of poverty, education, health care, and the like?
You do not need to go to church to live a life anchored on one of the church's greatest teachings: LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF.
A gymnasium, no matter how handsome, does not educate children. We educate the children of Alimodian with good teachers, dedicated mentoring, healthy children, availability of books, school supplies, and educational materials, etc.
Perhaps the many Alimodiananons in the medical and nursing professions can include Alimodian in their "medical missions"? Many of our kasimanwas could use some help in meeting their health care needs.
The fact is, there is no shortage of acts big or small. Every little thing makes a difference.
We applaud the Alimodiananons who are doing something to make a difference.
We need more Alimodiananons to step up to the plate and advocate for something -- good government, more assistance to schools, mentoring children, adequate health care, poverty alleviation, the list is endless.
Or, how about, MAKING YOUR VOICE HEARD?
How many are there, in this Web site or in other venues, who are sharing their thoughts on Alimodian -- its past, present, and, especially, its future?
Do we hear from the so-called Opposition Party in Alimodian in times other than the few weeks prior to the election?
How can we achieve a desirable common future if we do not share our opinons on how to get there?
What we have done so far is cede that responsibility to the politicians -- who don't give a damn about what we think.
We believe there is a lot of Alimodiananons who truly care about the future of Alimodian -- Alimodiananons whose tombstones will read anything but: here lies an Alimodiananon who, while alive, expressed no opinion of consequence.
These are the Alimodiananons we encourage to express their opinions on issues affecting their hometown.
While alive.
NOW.
03/02/09 @ 23:55I think this would be helpful in in the forthcoming election...
sana ung administration alam ungn ginagawa as a politician
HOW TO BE A GOOD POLITICIAN
CONNECT WITH THE PEOPLE YOU REPRESENT
Some politicians are only seen by voters when an election is near. A good politician would spend time in his constituency to understand what is really going on. He meets with individuals and groups to find out ways that his county or state can be made better.
Step2
AVOID BAD COMPANY
All corrupt politicians were corrupted by someone else. Corruption and conviction don't mix. You do not have to acquiesce to the bribes and kickbacks of lobbyists and contractors. You came to politics to work for your constituents, not to work against them.
Step3
DETERMINE TO LEAVE A LEGACY
A scholarship fund. A university. An industrial area. A set of social reforms. These are various things you can leave behind as a politician. Make it a mandatory goal of your career to leave your constituency better than what it is now.
Step4
UNDER-PROMISE AND OVER-DELIVER
Some politicians are known for empty promises. This image is true worldwide. The best politicians work more than they speak. Develop your constituency the best way you can.
Step5
LET YOUR CONSTITUENTS KNOW WHAT YOU DO
Voters have no idea about what their politicians do. Make it a point to have a website or a newsletter that tells your constituents what you have done since you took office. Keeping short accounts with the electorate helps you to win in the elections. This assists you to clear any erroneous information about you.
Step6
YOU ARE AT THE BECK AND CALL OF THE PEOPLE, NOT THE PARTY
Your primary allegiance is to the voter. You have to be prepared to break with party tradition if what is being considered is unfavorable to your constituents. Have principles and stick to them.
Step7
DETERMINE TO BE DIFFERENT
Your popularity gives you the unique opportunity to bring people together. Use politics to unite, not to divide. Be a politician who puts his principles first over his pockets.
Step8
CHANGE THINGS, DON'T LET THINGS CHANGE YOU
You have to take initiatives on things that are wrong. Stop or change them. If you don't, they will come back to haunt you. Be a part of the movement to change anything wrong with politics
03/03/09 @ 21:22Alimodian is an agricultural community whereby more than 60 percent of its household rely on farming and farmhand as a means of living. Farming as we practiced is seasonal. So as the income but we live 365 days a year. Most farmers and farmhands during off-season works as part time carpenter and whatever. A carpenter working in the City of Iloilo earns roughly 4 to 5 US dollars a day depending on his specialized skill, he will be spending almost 1.5 dollars in fares, 1 dollar on his lunch and 1.5 to 2.5 dollars as his daily net pay. His net pay will be shared by his family of 3 siblings and his wife, each will be surving for a daily sustainance of not even a dollar. Could we expect him to decently clothed his children? much more to send them to college?
In the case of a public school teachers, most of them had a net monthly take home pay of 200 US dollars. With this monthly pay, could she decently educate our children? or her children? Thanks if she is still single, she could decently feed herself minus her personal care needs.
In short, what we really need is how the government should address the problem on low farm income.
In US and other advanced economies, the government is highly subsidizing their farmers, not in the Philippines. Take the case of jocjoc, the funds intended to the farmers were used for the political advancement of his big boss. That's one clear example of exploiting the lowly farmers in the Philippines.
In fact, and in the case of Alimodian farmers, they planted less hectarage of rice and other cash crop during the October 2008 planting season. This is due to their fear that the cost of petrol based fertilizers would eat up their profit. Last June it only cost at arround 900 pesos and it shoot up to 2,000 pesos by September. The end results is that we have less farmhands income this season until the next planting season in June 2009. Diin sanda makuha ka irigmaon na, other naga trisikad na lang dya sa banwa earning just as many as 2 to 3 dollars a day.
Inday Lyn,
So favor guid ko ka may big construction project didya sa Alimodian para ma employ man dya nga mga waay di obra due to off-season sa farming. A stop gap measure so as other have a chance to live a wholesome life even in just six months. Ang utang will be taken cared by whoever in power and God will surely guide him on how to repay kang utang.
P.S. Indi ako opposition o administration kag manugkandidato sa election sa 2010.
03/04/09 @ 09:52Wil,
Thank you very,very much for responding and assessing the real situation in the ground. your dire assessment of what's life in Alimodian is not new to us. and most of us understand the needs,and what to do to help directly or indirectly to our kasimanwas and to our families.
i think every Alimodianon has the responsibility to share one way or another for a common good of his/her community and family.
we all believe that our public officials are accountable,of public funds,transparency,to every move they had and make sure that the public is aware of which and where the money was spent.
in others words people in Alimodian doesn't want another jocjoc Bolanti in their community.
Assumming that this project will go through..i don't really have an objection if that is the will of the people.and if you think and i think and majority of our kasimanwa think that a 10 million pesos payroll would ease the hardship, well.. then let's go for it.
i wish i'm there to help our LGU and our kasimanwa to make this project as smooth and easy as possible by creating an independent commission to oversee this project and report to the public penny for penny, what our LGU has spent and be posted all over the town and every Kapitan will get a progress report and how the money has spent.
But..then, that's quite impossible in my part.
Since you are not an opposition o administration or candidate for next years election, could you please do a big favor to your kasimanwa and create these group of honest riable Alimodianon as an independent group to oversee this project and report to our kasimanwa blow by blow.
i don't know if this a big burden in your side,but i guess if necessary for us to bend backward to help, i believe it's worth doing it.
please let us know if you are available.
03/04/09 @ 10:58Will,
Please tell me you don't really MEAN this:
"Ang utang will be taken cared by whoever in power and God will surely guide him on how to repay kang utang."
Paying the utang is a REAL issue that we cannot simply leave to the divine powers.
God will surely chastise us if we borrow a large sum of money without the foggiest idea of how we will pay for it. He will call us IRRESPONSIBLE.
When you have a loan to pay and you have limited resources to pay for it, it means that you will PRIORITIZE your expenses. Let me correct that --you may not even get the chance to prioritize kay
tanan nga resources mo maadto sa loan payment. There will be no funds for EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES, ETC.
Stop-gap measures are simply that -- band-aid.
We need LONG-TERM solutions to our endemic problems.
If the loan is a subsidy to a part of our population, I don't have any objection to that, but let us call it what it is then.
Let the LGU present it as such to the people of Alimodian -- a construction project that will employ X number of Alimodiananons so they can live a decent life for at least 6 months.
It should not delude Alimodiananons with crap about stimulating economic activity, promoting growth in the agricultural sector, and all that.
And let the LGU explain to the people of Alimodian the PRICE they have to pay for this construction project.
What does it mean?
Say, right now the LGU cannot even afford to provide adequate lighting for the streets of Alimodian. Wit a loan to pay, does it mean, forget it, go out of your house only on moonlit nights?
03/04/09 @ 19:27Nong Wil,
I echo what Tita Angiol said.
No offence, but that comment was yes, irresponsible AND opportunistic.
I fully know how hard life is in Alimodian. My family is there, and I know how expensive it is to send a child to college. My niece is graduating nursing next month.
However I disagree with the idea that the townspeople of Alimodian will be burdened for tens of millions of pesos for tens of years - to benefit 200 families for 6 months.
If the main economic activity of Alimodian is agriculture, why not borrow money to invest purely in this area? What good is a fancy public market if there is nothing to sell? Worse, nobody can afford to sell there because of high rent and fees?
A big fancy market is just an empty space if nobody can afford to sell their products there. And if nobody sells, nobody buys. Then where will the LGU get the funds to pay back the loan, plus interest?
03/04/09 @ 22:36The Land Bank of the Philippines is offering to finance the renovation of the public market on the following terms; 8% interest annually computed on its diminishing balances, 2% service fee, payable quaterly for 15 years. The LGU will start paying on the begining of its second year and the basis of computation of charges will be the amount of releases. That,s the info given to me by someone knowledgeable on the propose project.
The Renovation project is already approved by the Municipal Development Council. A memorandum of agreement between the LBP and LGU has to be submitted to the Sangguniang Bayan for their approval. Then, if approved, construction will commence.
I have no info on the ROI of this project, so we cannot judiciously say its a bad or good investment.
Could any body count the number of existing stall in our public market and approximate the vending area for papag. by there, we could approximate the current income from rentals.
Assuming that the renovation would double the number of stalls, we could deduce from there, how much the rentals should be to pay the loan and its charges. After computation, could it be that the new rental charges is affordable to the existing and would be tenant of the renovated public market. Tenants would simply pass on the new rental rate to their customers or clients. Prices of goods and services of those tenants would still be competitive as against the nearby municipalities and even in the city of Iloilo?
Basi indi, sa Iloilo City na lang kita mabakal bugas makapalamilamig pa kita sa mall.
I agree with your observation on the irresponsibility of my statements. Pardon me, but does anybody cares?
Apathy is the name of the game here.
03/05/09 @ 10:55So what happens if the terms of payment are not met?
The Land Bank takes over the new public market?
A bank, being a business, needs to have security over this loan. Did anybody even think of the possibility of default?
So let's assume the Land Bank takes over possession of the public market and sells it to some millionaire... doesn't anybody care?
03/05/09 @ 16:44I don't know bisan anhon ko pa ka barabaliskad,palibuton,patakidlon,or buli-on,i don't see any good angle that is beneficial for the town folks and tax payers about this jumbo loan to renovate the market.
Expansion yah..i agree. it could increase the number of stalls and can create business to potential a new tenants.but renovation? i think is purely cosmetics.
it's like a buying a very expensive French makeup to apply to your dry aging face, the fact that Eskenol is good enough to address the problem.
my point is..kong ma renovate ta man lang ang tienda sa amat-amat with out barrowing 30 million pesos plus the interest why not.
my suggestion: why we don't let the tenants renovate their own Puesto or papag little by little let's say with in a period of five years.total his/her expenses and credit her/him out of his/her rent asta mag break even. plus give him an incentive like tax break.
Let's say ang atop kag posti ka tienda kay indi covered di-a ka tenants sa anda renovation.ti..bul-on sa pundo ka banwa nga halin sa arkabala kag buwis.kong kulang ti.. e freeze and sueldo ka LGU kag e declare IOU just like governor A..NOLD of California the termanator did.
It's fiscal conservative and smart.even the caveman can do it.what do you think folks?
This is a serious issue everybody should get involve and share their ideas basi may ma bulig man kag masanagan ang aton LGU before they sign our life up to Land Bank.
03/05/09 @ 21:38HERE'S WHY
A construction project is always an attractive proposition for politicians because:
(1) It provides a rich opportunity for financial kickback from contractors, suppliers, etc.
(2) It provides employment for family, relatives, and friends.
(3) It benefits family, relatives, and friends who are already invested in the status quo and more family, relatives, and friends who will be accommodated into the new infrastructure.
(4) It is an easy thing to do – you apply for a loan, the loan gets approved, the money arrives, suddenly it's Christmas. You get to build an IMAX-size billboard that proclaims the project as an “accomplishment” of your administration. And as a crowning glory, a few years hence they will name the structure after you.
03/06/09 @ 08:45Whereas it requires the politicians to exercise a little their imagination, do some thinking, and put in actual work to come up with long-term solutions to our problems.
So naima kita sa neighboring municipalities like Guimbal, Miagao, and Tigbauan that have flourishing markets. Those municipalities, aside from their other strengths, are drive-through towns; they do business from both sides of their town limits. In comparison, Alimodian is a dead-end town; we do commerce only among ourselves. OK, Leon is sort of a dead-end town, too, but it has a market tradition that dates back to decades in its history (that Alimodian does not have).
03/06/09 @ 09:55Agree Nang A. I remember back then when i was little a boy. tatay and i traveled by cow or Karbao from Dalid to Leon crossing Kuyad,Qiuenaspan,Buga to market out live stock.
We also supply some Baka to late Lolo Felimon Alfeche i always call him( Ninoy Mal-an kay permi ako mat salapi everytime he see me) my real maninoy is Ninoy Erning older brother of our first lady.sometimes tatay do some errand for them to purchase some cows sa Leon para irihawon kong martes kag bernes.we have a very long good relationship to this family. even until now.
may paradahan sanda ka karbaw kag baka sa Leon kag Maasin.
Good thing you mention this Nang A. the first lady should advocate this Paradahan sa Alimodian for extra revenue kag indi ron mang lakbay ang taga Alimodian sa Leon kag Masin.after all this is their line of business even back then.
i hope the mayor and the first lady will consider this possibility.
03/06/09 @ 19:37You got it.
03/09/09 @ 20:40If the public market construction pushes through this will be first public structure that the town really "own". This will be the "first" for me to hear of such project because in my whole life in Alimodian all public buildings, schools, roads and bridges have always been funded by the provincial or national government. Times have changed? This also means we could put this up as collateral if we want to loan!
According to the radyo-puwak there are the towns of Sta. Barbara and Leganes who engaged in the same endeavors. Sta. Barbara is doing it in phases(10 million first phase) and the same results(maybe biased) are observed; that there are more vacant stalls because they have not become affordable to the previous owners.(needs confirmation)
Radyo-puwak's info says that the loan for the construction of the new public market will be 30M pesos to start payment on the third or after the third year. The payment amount is about 5M pesos a year for 15 years. (Please do the math.) The interest alone is about 700,000 pesos/year. The primary source of funds to be used for payment will be taken from the LGU share from the national government, the name of which escapes me right now (it sounds like IRA funds). The LGU fund is around 49M /year and 25% goes to the salaries and bonuses of the employees. The rest are allocated to certain projects.
Do you think Land Bank would be so foolish to lend money if they are not guaranteed they can get their money back? In case of default, Land Bank knows exactly where to go.
The present stall owners pay around 1,000 pesos a month. The proposed plan is to increase the monthly fee to 3,000. On top of the increased fee the stall owners will be required to put up a deposit of 50,000 pesos in order to guarantee a stall. I wonder how many of the present stall owners have 50,000 pesos set aside at their calling? (They hope the overseas workers/dollar earners will pick up the slack.)
Regarding the ROI, the net collection from the rent and arkabala is around 600,000 pesos. Maybe there is room for improvement here. Kon kas-ra lang gisi-an ang ticket kang arkabala or waay ron ti extra nga imprinta ka ticket ka arkabala. Maan kung na improve ron ang aton nga kolleksyon ka arkabala? The 600,000 net income could barely cover the interest that needs to be met. The positive thing is we will have a beautiful, new 2-level public market. Can anybody beat that?
I remember very well when Imelda Marcos started to have beautification projects all over the country even spraying green paint to dead trees to make them appear nice in pictures for the Green Revolution. Our Jose Rizal in the plaza is in a pink environment. Are we heading in the same direction?
03/09/09 @ 21:20Please disregard the last paragraph. No pun intended.
The LGU had approved the resolution giving the authority to the mayor to negotiate. Two SB members opposed namely, SB Bingbing Amba and SB Julius Alejo. Those opposed are trying to make as much noise about the project even inviting radio coverage to no avail. The market vendors and stall owners want to have a public hearing but so far, they have been talking to deaf ears.
According to radyo-puwak public hearing is not required by law in this situation.
03/10/09 @ 18:04Whether or not it is required by law, the LGU has a responsibility to conduct a public hearing on the issue.
After all, it is the PEOPLE'S MONEY.
They will pay for the loan, so they deserve to know WHY they are getting into debt and HOW they are expected to pay for the loan.
03/10/09 @ 18:37The renovation will mean:
More debt for the people, not the LGU, of Alimodian.
Increased rent for stall owners.
Some questions...
Would it bring more business so stall owners can afford the higher rent?
Would more available stalls with higher rental rates attract more businesses? Rather remote chance:(
If it brings in more business and more stall occupants, would that be enough to pay for the loan?
Who would be willing to give their first-borns to the Land Bank should the loan default?
03/11/09 @ 18:55This again, begs an answer to a previous question:
What happens if the terms of the loan are not met? (Which very likely will happen)
What recourse does the Land Bank have exactly?
03/11/09 @ 21:10answer to Inday Lyn question;
if the loan is under water, the Land bank will reposses the property and sell it to the highest bidder.
What that means?
answer;
Take over of new ownership.meaning at that point, partly the Land Bank owns Alimodian or partly own by a private individual or company who is a successful bidder.
what gonna happen next?
answer;
The new ownership will dictate the operation, regulation and direction of the new market,(the town council or town folks have not much to say about it because the market has new owner) most likely for huge profit to recover the cost of new ownership and other expenses.
In other words ALIMODIAN PUBLIC MARKET is now called ALIMODIAN PRIVATE MARKET.or let's say..LUCIO TAN FAMILY MARKET assuming that MR TAN, want's to engrave his name into his new property.
Whos to blame?
Member of town council including Nong Julius and Nang Bing-Bing and other moderate council member because they didn't put up enough fight to stop the majority for a disaster,by not conducting a public hearing to hear the will and sentiments of the people.
whos the real winner?
1. Land bank
2.possible new owner after the take over
3.member of the town council who support this project,the architech and brain behind this project and..
4.The possible no bid contractor,political connections family and friends who will share a ten million payroll.
whos the real lossers?
Tax payers and the existing tenants(vendors) who can not afford to renew their new contract under the new market high rent rate.and the poor working class family who aspire to rent the place for living but then they became a real long shot renter.
The rest of the answers,questions,suggestions etc.?
i save a blank space below.
This is my last comment regarding this issue.
good luck Alimodian!
04/07/09 @ 12:24Mamalandong ta anay.
Will get back to this and other issues pagkabanhaw.
Happy Easter!
04/07/09 @ 22:45Spoke too soon. Mierkoles Santo pa lang gali.
________________
LET US HAVE MORE ALIMODIANANONS WITH “HIDDEN AGENDAS”
Every time someone gets involved in a civic organization or initiate a project in Alimodian, i-tsismisin dayon tana nga may ambisyon nga magkandidato for a public office. In other words, he has a “hidden agenda”. And it is almost tantamount to an intent to commit a crime.
And the harshest critics – some of whose posting you’ve read in this Blog – are those nga waay man ti gina contribute sa kaaydan kang anda mga kasimanwas.
Amo ria nga ang iba nga would-be do-gooders who do not have a thick skin and a strong stomach, indi na lang ga participate sa what otherwise would have been worthwhile endeavors. Tamad na lang ka tsismis.
The naysayers win. What a waste.
Granted a person does good because he wants to run for public office. Pray, tell, what, in heaven’s name, is wrong with that? Some sectors of our community could benefit from his “hidden agenda”.
I wish there are more Alimodiananons out there who have “hidden agendas” and act on them.
One of the reasons why most of our politicians are incompetent is – they have never pursued a “hidden agenda” before they ran for public office. They have never taken a project from point A to point E. They are clueless when it comes to drafting a project proposal, looking for funding sources, and managing people and resources.
04/09/09 @ 19:57SWIMMING AGAINST THE TIDE
Yesterday they held a blessing of a SWIMMING POOL in Alimodian.
Does anyone know who owns this swimming pool?
Is it a public property of the municipality? Or personal property of the Mayor and family?
Or is public and personal one and the same in Alimodian?
04/09/09 @ 20:41P.S.
If the swimming pool is public property, its construction would be described as MISPLACED PRIORITY in a town where there are more pressing problems of livelihood, education, nutrition, water supply, health care, etc.
If the swimming pool is personal property of a public official, its construction would be described as CONSPICUOUS CONSUMPTION in a town where over half of the population lives in GRINDING POVERTY.
If the swimming pool is public property that is a personal property of a public official, I do not have the words to describe the swimming pool or the public official.
04/10/09 @ 18:57I believe the swimming pool is part of an "inland resort" sa Lawod. Land ownership is in the Alipao family.
04/11/09 @ 16:28wait a minute let's be clear here. swimming pool was constructed in lawod as part of "inland resort". and the property is own by Alipao family.
in other words the resort is own by the family right? i'm assuming that the funding is from their own personal account. not funded by tax payers money,or loan money that to be paid by tax payers.
seems like we have a little confusion here. anybody in alimodian can clarify this? it's none of our business if they own this resort,but if public funding is involved? i guess we have something to talk about.
04/11/09 @ 21:11OK, kung ang firetruck kang Municipality kang Leon ang mahakot kang tubig para sa "private" swimming pool, how will you describe this?
Try: in Alimodian, PERSONAL AND PUBLIC ARE ONE AND THE SAME.
Even as we speak, today in Alimodian (Sunday morning), sige ang hakot sa suba kang quarry operations kang HINABLOS KANG MAYOR -- while the rest of the quarry operators are not doing business in compliance with the LGU resolution/request to do business only from Monday to Friday (and not on weekends and holidays).
Nowadays in Alimodian, two sets of rules apply --one for the FAVORED FEW, the other for the REST OF ALIMODIANANONS.
Hindi lang dya INSENSITIVITY; this is simple ARROGANCE.
04/12/09 @ 12:28Re:
"NOTICE -- Any person with diarrhea is prohibited from swimming at this time."
If I were the copywriter, this warning can be written in more graphic and effective fashion if it reads:
BAWAL ANG MAGLUPOT WHILE SWIMMING
Thanks to the Webmaster for the comic relief.
04/15/09 @ 19:55Ako'y isang ibong bubuwit at gala
Sa himpapawid sumasagap ng mga haka-haka
Maganda man o ito'y masama
Sa inyo po'y aking ibabalita.
Noong Hunyo ng nakarang taon
Ang bagyong Frank ay nanalasa
Dulo't noon ay malalin na baha
at ang bukirin ay kanyang sinira.
Pati bundok ay kanyang ginuho dahil sa kanyang hangin at baha.
Mga sangdaan taon puno ay kanyang binunot sa lupa
at inimbak sa kapatagan sa ibaba.
Pagkatapos ng unos and ang baha humupa
Sa utos ng uwak na si Juan ang nagpataba
Lahat na inanod na puno kanyang pinakuha
at sa garahe ni Juan doon ibinodega,
Doon nilagari at ginagawang tabla.
Sa akala ni Juan ang mga tabla para sa kanya
Ngunit lingid sa kaalaman niya
tuwing hating gabi ito'y sa kanyang sasakyan ikinakarga
at doon sa burol idinadala at idiniskarga
na pag aari ng mga uwak na malapad ang mga mata.
Doon pala'y may ginagawang pahingaan kubo at paliguang lawa.
Bagkos tutol man si pugo siya'y walang magagawa.
Kawawang Juan di niya'y alam na siya'y nagbabayad ng pang gasolina;
Kawawang Juan at di niya'y alam siya rin ang nagbabayad sa mga manggagawa;
Kawawang Juan at siya'y nawalan ng mga kahoy at tabla.
04/19/09 @ 21:56Ako'y isang ibong bubuwit at gala
Sa himpapawid sumasagap ng mga haka-haka
Maganda man o ito'y masama
Sa inyo po'y aking ibabalita.
Sa aking pag gala, ako'y may nakasalamuha
Isang mayang pula na may maraming ibinalita
Ayon sa kanya, matalino si enhinyerong pugo talaga
Sa paggawa ng plano ng proyekto ng banwa
ang mga gamit ay palaging first class at magaganda
At kung ang mga proyekto ay tapos na
ang mga gamit ay palaging sobra.
At ito'y ikinatutuwa ng uwak na may malaking mata
at sa kanilang burol puedeng puede magamit pa
sayang naman daw at ito'y panay magaganda
at kung ito'y iambak lang ay masisira sa bodega.
Sa aking patuloy na pag gala-gala
ako'y napagawi sa pampang ng suba
at doon ang sasakyan ni Juan ay aking nakita
kinagargahan ng buhangin at graba.
Sa aking malaking pagtataka
na sa hitinggabi ko ito'y nakikita
Ito'y sinundan ko at doon pala sa burol idiniskarga.
Masarap at himbing ng tilog ni Juan
Kahit maliwanag ang buwan
Kawawa ka aking bayan
Dahil walang pakialam si Juan
Sa mga nangyayari sa mahal na bayan
Gumising ka na Juan
At makialam at magmatyag sa bayan
At kung hindi, ikaw ay mawawalan.
04/20/09 @ 05:42WELL DONE!TALOMPATI NANG BAYAN!
..AT KONG IKAW AY KUKURAKOT BALANG ARAW IKAW RIN MAPAPARUSAHAN,DAHIL IKAW MALIIT NA MAMAMAYAN.
AT KONG SI ERAP NA PARA SA MAHIRAP AT NAKAKALABAS,PASOK SA KULUNGAN,DAHIL SI MADAM GLORIA AY WALANG PANININDIGAN.
SI PING LACSON NA SAKSAKAN NANG GULANG,NILILITO ANG BAYAN.SA KASO NI DACER SIGURADO SIYAY HINDI MAPAPARUSAHAN.
GISING NA! SOBRA NA! BANSANG PILIPINAS!BAGO TAYONG LAHAT MATUTULOYAN SA BANGIN!
04/24/09 @ 11:32A FRIENDLY ADVICE TO THE BARANGAYS
There are many initiatives that the barangays can undertake on their own.
As we have noted time and again, sapwan lang kita kung hulaton ta ang LGU to come up with initiatives to improve the lives of Alimodiananons.
Having said that, here is a sincere friendly advice to the barangays: SET YOUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT
Funds are hard to come by, so it is imperative that the scarce resources be spent on PRIORITY NEEDS OF ALIMODIANANONS.
And the priority needs are, among others: POVERTY/LIVELIHOOD, HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION.
Thus, it begs the question: WHAT IS SO URGENT WITH THE STREET CANALS THAT THE BARANGAY IS SPENDING MONEY PARA IPASEMENTO ANG MGA KANAL?
Ang answer kuno is: people are clamoring to have the canals cemented "para malinis".
Right.
I am clamoring to have art noveau street lights because they are nice.
In the first place, why are the canals dirty? Couldn't the barangay simply do a KEEP THE KANAL CLEAN campaign? It would not cost much to print one-page flyers, get them distributed, and monitor compliance.
It seems that we always opt to do the EASY part. We do not want to put in the time and energy to tackle the HARD part.
Papano tayo uunlad niyan?
04/25/09 @ 06:53WE MUST INVEST IN PEOPLE, NOT IN WHITE ELEPHANTS
An Alimodiananon has reminded me once again about our predilection for investing only in things that we can see -- never mind if in reality these things do not have any practical value in our lives.
If Alimodian were a private corporation, the stockholders would have fired the CEO Mayor a long time ago for wasting government funds on infrastructures that turned out to be white elephants.
We spend scarce resources on unnecessary infrastuctures -- hard, cold, inanimate objects -- simply because we can put our names on them (donated by; built under the administration of) and point to them as our "accomplishments".
We build a gymnasium -- and confuse it for "educating" our children.
We beautify and beautify the church until there is no crack left to beautify -- and think we are being good Christians, i.e., that is how God wants us to live our lives -- build him a beautiful church.
We destroy the old structures and old traditions that form our collective memories and speak to our cultural history and heritage -- because they are not "modern".
"THE ESSENTIAL IS INVISIBLE TO THE EYE."
We are squandering our limited resources on these visible-to-the-eye projects when we should instead be investing in PEOPLE, aka living, breathing, thinking, Alimodiananons.
We should be investing in initiatives that allow Alimmodiananons to meet their BASIC NEEDS, among them:
Means of livelihood to put food on the table and clothing on their backs
Access to affordable health care
Safe water supply
Quality education for their children
GYMNASIUM, NEW PUBLIC MARKET, ANG PAGSEMENTO KANG KANAL -- ALL THESE ARE NON-PRIORITIES. THEY CAN WAIT.
04/26/09 @ 07:14My opinion in this kind situation is.,again this only my personal opinion.this is not a political statement or criticism to our current municipal care taker.
These things Nang Angiol mentioned is pretty much a reminder to our LGU a WAKE UP CALL.
These are BASIC STEPS that doesn't really matter whether if you are a U.P graduate or elementary graduate. you can figure these things out as part of your agenda if you are a leader in this type of situation in Alimodian.
Thinking outside the box,and just do it!
My point is, barangay government and purok leaders is too FOCUS to central government which is Municipyo/command center.
A BASIC SIMPLE initiative can make a difference in the world."HOME REMEDY" okon sa aton tinaga; "ma dara ida ka OTOT kong maka inum ikaw ka TAHO!or hampoli ka LAMPONAYA"
That's why most of world great leaders even back then in early years, doesn't have an impressive quality of Harvard,Yale,UP or Oxford eduacation but most of them and often time have a good COMMON SENSE,BASIC INSTICT and FAIR JUDGEMENT.
Forgive me and i apologize if i hurt somebody's feeling on my view.our LGU is like a prison camp where the prisoners getting instructions from a prison guard standing over a prison tower holding a loaded shotgun,and ready to shot if somebody refuse his/her orders.
it sounds like exaggeration but that's a big picture most of us outside Alimodian seeing right now.
Again this is only my opinion.nothing personal!
04/27/09 @ 22:17Elementary and secondary education in Pinas is free as mandated by the Philippine Constitution.
Cong. Syjoco has an Education for All Program giving free uniforms, bags and school supplies.
What else could you ask for?
College education? there are a lot of state colleges and universities in Iloilo, enroll there for a lower tuition fee.
Health Care? cementing a canal is part and parcel of health care. Water stagnate in uncemented canal and all water borne deseases enamates there. Take out the cause and there will be no more health problems.
Though, Alimodian Baranggays are as not as rich as the Makati's Baranggay, they are trying their best to address basic baranggay's problem. They cannot do all things at once for the satisfaction of all its constituents. Patches of remedies are most they can do under their financial circumstances.
We are enviting you to witness flash floods in Poblacion of Alimodian for lack of effecient and effective drainage system and Baranggay Poblacion is making steps to lessen this problem during rainy days.
See you here in the months of June to September.
04/28/09 @ 05:26So of ALL the pressing problems in Alimodian, cementing the canal is TOP PRIORITY?
Since when did the canal become THE source of ALL of Alimodian's health problem? Are there statistics to support that more people in Alimodian die from water-borne diseases than heart disease, diabetes -- or all others that stem from lack of access to health care because of chronic POVERTY?
Flash floods during the rainy season -- are they life-threatening? May nalunod na sa Alimodian because the canals were not cemented?
Yes, it would be nice to have cemented canals. It would also be nice to have enough street lights, public toilets, adequate water supply, etc.
We are talking PRIORITIES here.
When you have limited resources, you spend them to address REAL needs.
Alimodian has uncemented canals since forever. I have not heard anyone suggest that he/she survived Alimodian despite its uncemented canals.
04/29/09 @ 19:18Sa Makati, libre and education mula elementarya hanggang koleheyo. Sa Makati libre ang magpa ospital, at sa Makati ang benipisyo ng senior citizen ay todo-todo. That's the ad aired by Mayor Binay of Makati on television stations. Seemingly the Makati local government sounds like a welfare or socialist government but it could do it given by its financial conditions.
Sa America, the government spend billions of dollar to stimulate its economy, tax rebates and tax relief, financial rescue packages on various financial corporations and other giants corporation. The US could do it. Yet, consumption is declining that leads to the decline in industrial output resulting to losses in jobs. Corporate America is suffering and its government is spending much to mitigate that sufferings. Given by its financial capability it cannot still eradicate proverty, it cannot eliminate street crimes or even in school campuses. US government spend billions of dollars in modern armament and military intellegence, yet, it failed to detect and stop the 911 to happenned. In Iraq and in Afganisthan, US military suffer a lot of casualties inspite of its modern and advanced weaponry and tactics.
So be it!
My parents told me that when they are studying at ANCHS way back in the 1960's Alibango Street where they pass going to school is always full of mud during rainy days until the canal were cemented. Its good then during their time that they're only using slippers and the artesian well between Alibango Elem Sch. and the ANCHS is functioning they wash their feet and slippers there. Thanks for cementing the canal along Alibango Street and a concrete barrier to control soil erosion we missed that experience during our high school days.
05/01/09 @ 20:32The above comments is quite articulate and Mr.Kanal is very knowledgable i salute you.
I agree 101% about the U.S current situation. it's scary but manageable.even a government employee like me is gettting nervous about job security.
if you look back the history of u.s economy,
consumers spending is the blood line of it's ecomomy.with out consumer spending,and manufacturing is shutting down their factories,U.S is dead that's guaranteed.
no job,no money,no spending,no taxes,government no money,no power. that's a liberal America way of running the business.tax and spend and a big government.
You mentioned the situation in Makati, Philippine financial district and it's financial situation, that's true too. again i agree 101 %.
The richer the area the more benefits you got,because somebody is billing you out.Makati is America in the center of philippine archipelago.
Other issues like 911,Iraq,Afghanistan, is part of U.S government beurocracy,hypocracy and the previous president stubborness, that's why they squandered the situation,with the tax payers expence. again i agree 101%
In short this is all miscalcuted tactics.but they are aware of the consequencies of losing a lot of life,tons of dollars to spend and a battred image world wide.this is part of an expensive life style of our previous president believe it or not.
Military is losing in Iraq and afganistan? my comment is their is no such modern and advance weaponry that can replace to more traditional and effective tactics like suicide bomber and roadside bombing.i think this is a very complicated issue.and i think the traditionals are winning.again your comment is somewhat right or wrong.
POVERTY and CRIME in America in my own view is more like a personal preference and choosen distiny than government fault. for example; how come that a guy from China or let's say Vietman refugee NO SPEAK ENGLISH,NOT NETWORK or CONNECTION.law obiding hard worker,family man.
No go to church all work every sunday. 10 years later living in a decent house,children go to private school with BMW in his drive way.American dream in on the bag.as compared to most of hungry and poor and sitting in the jail was born and raise in this country. please go figure.
Puddling back to Alimodian back in the 60's where most if not all of Alimodian streets and Canal is not cemented,as compared to your time where no more washing your slippers before going to your class room.sorry you missed the fun. i had that experienced when we walked down the muddy Aganan river from Dalid to high school in the 80's.
I think during your parents time,those we're the days where the local government priority is to put a concrete barriers to prevent further erosion and damage.
back then Alimodian was more in infrastructure project than basic necessities which i believe,Angiol believe and perhaps most of Alimodianon believe that's what we need right now.
That was forty something years ago, and that was a necessity then, but it's not a necessity now.
I believe and i agree with Angiol Loredo that modern day Alimodian and it's priorities is a lot different compare to forty something years ago.
all she mentioned above is what we need now,and i'm 101% sure that i'm not the only one who agree with her.
Agree or Disagree. our local government should do something about it.legacy or not i think this is a very good accomplishment for our LGU before they leave office next year.
TACKLING DOWN THE BASIC NECESSITIES.
05/03/09 @ 20:24TACKLING DOWN BASIC NECESSITIES.
Alimodian has more or less have 36 thousand population spread accross more than 14 thousand hectares of territorial land. Alimodian gross annual revenues derived from local taxes and aid from the National Government is amounting to more or less 36 million Phillipine Peso, 55% of that goes to personnel services as prescribed by the Local Government Code of the Philippines. 20% is allocated to various priority projects of the LGU. Another 19% goes to Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses. 5% is allocated for Calamity Fund and the remaining 1% goes to Discretionary Fund of the Local Chief Executive. These budget allocation percentage also holds true in Baranggays.
Let' do the mathematics, for each and every person in Alimodian, the lgu could only spend more or less 1 thousand pesos on basic services for the whole year or roughly 3 Peso per day. This is good only for an aspirin. The rich and the poor has an equal rights, so, if we give aspirin to the poor we will also give aspirin to the rich, otherwise, it's a discremination.
The 20% development fund amounting to more or less 7.2 million pesos is being appropriated to various development projects that include livelihood projects, if we assumed that all this 20% will be allocated as a livelihood fund and assuming further that 45% of the household lives in poverty with more or less 2,700 household, each houshold could only share about 2,700 peso capital for their livelhood project. How far can this capital go?
This is quite a tricky situation for our technocrats in the lgu. A lot of project proposal were submitted to various national government agencies and other ngo and aid granting institutions, yet, its lucky if the lgu could have one approved. For sure, our technocrats does not sleep on their jobs.
In most cases, lgu projects were determined based on grandstanding rather than the basic nessecities of the community and or of its populace. I agree with you guys there, however, budgeting and determination of priorities depends largely on the state of mind of those who are on the top of the ladder.
However, I disagree with you guys too. Poverty is a sickness were there is no cure in the economy and government like the Philippines. I presumed that my immediate statement though too abstract yet understandable. I wish to echo the words of President Quezon, "I prefer to see the Philippines run like hell by Filipinos...", so this is it. (Siguro by Filipino politician lang)
05/03/09 @ 21:18"I GUESE PRESIDENT QUEZON FINALLY GOT HE WISHED FOR"
Seems like your calculation is pretty reasonable and understandable? we don't criticize for nothing or playing politics for our own personal potical ambition.that's out of our horizon.
That's why we have CARE/DEAR project and now FEEDING PROGRAM in Barangay Binalud to supliment the missing gap. this is a kind of program LGU should embrace to ease the pain and suffering.
Pareng/Mareng Kanal we still need volunteers if you're available.
I am scrolling up and down the figures and percentage in your posting but i haven't seen any figure and percentage that indicate if how much out of that fund went to kick back,commission,and some under the table and shady deals plus the greese money to buy votes.
In fairness to everybody i apologize for the kick back statement i know it's unconfirmed but it's obvious and undenyable.
We know that,that's a top secreat but if you probably can find that for us, that would be very helpful to clarify things in our next conversation.it's a hard task but please try your best.
Laying down all the cards in the table before we go further would result a fair game. please do.
Appreciate your help.
05/04/09 @ 19:12TACKLING DOWN BASIC NECESSITIES
I hope we had made things clear here, addressing basic community problems need a lot of critical thinking on the roots of the problem and should not be based on our own perception of the problem without going to the facts and figures. As what Karl Max have said, history could be best understood when reduced to mathematical values.
So, let's judge our local leaders based on how they implement their solutions to the problems as they understood and not what we perceived. Citing a concrete project our lgu have implemented is the rechanneling of Aganan River.
Let's rate from 1 to 10, 10 being the highest rating on how they implemented the project. To further understand the project, let me amplify it first.
This project is intended to straigthen the course of Aganan river starting from the banks in Bulod to Nichols Bridge. Widening the river bed and constructing a levee on both banks to avoid overflowing of Aganan River. This project was financed by Cong. Syjuco CDF at the tune of 10 million as I heard. (I'm not sure of the figure.) The project implementation was done by Gurrea Construction and completed way back in 2006.
Does this particular project serves the purpose it was intended for?
As to the percentage Noah is saying, sorry, I have no figures on that, but surely, if it is true, then, the aspirin the lgu is giving will be the generic aspirin and not the branded one.
05/04/09 @ 21:07Well..well. i think i'm dealing a different kind of Alimodianon here. suphisticated,articulate and a quality guy.
I'm flattered! and i mean it.
The information you share is very helpful to us, understand and probably share our opinion about our LGU's latest activities.
It's good to know that our LGU is doing something to straighten the course of Aganan river to aviod inflect further damage.we learned our lesson well after that big flood.
Is their any chance you heard a conversation, about doing the same project in Dalid down to Pianda-an?
The livelihood and safety of those who live in that area is in danger,next time the big flood hits again.
please do me a favor. please open your eyes and ears for me if their is any plan about it. if their is one let me know. I will do a lobbying my self.
I love to hear more from you again.
it's a pleasure chatting with you.
05/16/09 @ 10:13ALIMODIANANONS WHO NEED TO TAKE A COURSE IN ACCOUNTING 101
Yesterday I talked by phone with an Alimodiananon in California whom I have not heard from for many years.
In the course of a long and animated como-esta- and-si-kuwan-napatay-ron conversation, he asked: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE FUNDS RAISED DURING THE GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATION OF THE (FORMER) ALIMODIAN HIGH SCHOOL A FEW YEARS AGO?
How would I know? Does anyone know?
How about the funds raised during the centennial celebration of the Alimodian Central Elementary School? Have they been accounted for?
Or the funds raised during last year's town fiesta?
Or . . . ?
If Alimodiananons keep on contributing to fund-raising activities that are NOT being accounted for, then it must be OK with them.
Either that or nangingibaw gid ang vanity aspect of the fund-raising scams, as in paying for a whole-page in a souvenir program so you can publish your handsome family picture. The souvenir program exploits these Alimodiananons' gullibility to self-advertisement. Does anyone care WHERE the money goes? Basta mapublish lang ang impressive family picture, it does not matter. Or so it seems.
Does anyone doubt that those who spend money to have a daughter in the family become a town fiesta queen is motivated PRIMARILY in helping their kasimanwas? Hell, no.
Do we begrudge the Alimodiananons' penchant for self-promotion? No, we don't -- it's human nature, after all, to let your kasimanwas see how far you have come along in life. But maybe next time they will think for a moment -- am I aiding and abetting a fund-raising scam here?
This is the advice I gave to my long-time-no-hear friend in California -- if you want to help you kasimanwas, DO IT YOURSELF AND GIVE THE HELP DIRECTLY TO THOSE WHO NEED IT. Or support programs that you can see the results of or whose resources are accounted for. In other words, programs that are managed by people who are at least familiar with the basic rudiments of Accounting 101.
05/16/09 @ 18:21I suggest Inday Lyn Balolot Coward should initiate the on line tutoring for accounting 101.
although my accounting is not that bad and i'm not interested to enrol,but! if Nang A. will initiate the online spelling 101 tutoring i'm the first one to enroll LOL!
Agree Nang it should have a proper accounting and trasparency when it comes to public or private funds.
doesn't matter big or small.
05/16/09 @ 19:59Nang Leila already initiated this idea a while back - nobody interested.
And I will be the last person to initiate something as if I'm the know-all and be-all of Accounting. Not true.
But I am willing to help in anyway. Anybody can e-mail the webmaster and it will be taken cared of offline.
05/17/09 @ 11:03DEJA VIEW
We are recycling this old posting (April 2007) in the hope that things have changed for the better in the last two years.
If TAYOY ANZURES had since retired from her job as Municipal Librarian, we offer our belated salute and best wishes.
SIN-O ANG SB MEMBER WHO IS IN-CHARGE OF EDUCATION?
04/27/07 @ 14:43
THE ALIMODIAN MUNICIPAL LIBRARY – AGAIN
One late afternoon I dropped by the Alimodian Municipal Library.
The municipal librarian, TERESITA “Tayoy” ANZURES, was outside, ready to leave for home.
She graciously went back in and spent a few minutes showing me around.
Except for a number of additional encyclopedias -- for which she had to go to Manila to take possession of – everything looked pretty much the same as shown in the photos taken over a year ago (posted in one of RAD’s albums in the Photo Gallery) and as described by Dr. RIZALITO AMARILLO after a trip home in 2005.
Even the anay infestation on the wall – that bloggers had a field day making fun of – was
still in view.
Tayoy agreed that it does not take much to give the place a makeover of sorts – a can of paint, 4 pieces of plywood, etc. – isa ka “surol-ogan” man lang daad, as we have pointed time and again.
The municipal librarian is doing the best she could with what she has got.
Susmaryosep, way gid ti ga sapak kang aton municipal library. Daw gin pabayaan lang.
As we had noted somewhere in this Blog, last year Dr. Amarillo had offered to help fundraise for a new library building if the LGU can find a site to build it on.
Guess what? Ni ha, ni ho from the LGU.
Recently they held a fundraising to build a multimillion school gym in the ACES.
Hello!
A BUILDING, no matter how handsome, DOES NOT EDUCATE CHILDREN. You educate children by working with one child at a time, by supporting the teachers and schools by providing them resources (books, school supplies, etc.) to teach reading, science, mathematics, etc. You educate children by providing them with a decent library where they can supplement the lessons learned in school, and where they can let their imagination roam and take them to places they have not been to.
A municipal librarian since 1978, TERESITA “Tayoy” ANZURES needs and deserves the support of the LGU.
Sin-o ang Alimodian SB member in-charge of “Education”?
05/20/09 @ 04:27Casino 1241814695
Casino 1241814695
05/20/09 @ 06:29SYJUCO CHARGED WITH GRAFT
The Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) has filed administrative charges against TESDA director general Augusto "Boboy" Syjuco and five other top-ranking officials for allegedly allowing a highly-anomalous printing transaction to proceed and blatantly disregarding accounting rules and regulations.
Charged along with Syjuco were deputy director general Santiago M. Yabut Jr., Atty. Marjorie Docdocil, Ma. Lourdes Villanueva, Clifford Paragua and Brenda Furugganan, in their capacities as chairman and members of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
The case was docketed as PAGC-06-0158-ADM, with the Investigation Office of the PAGC as the nominal complainant.
PAGC chairman Dr. Constancia P. de Guzman ordered Syjuco and the other respondents to file their counter-affidavits to the allegations made by the PAGC Investigation Office within 10 days from their receipt of the charge sheet.
In her four-page complaint, PAGC director for investigation Atty. Mylen H. Gonzales said that Syjuco and his co-respondents failed to exercise their duty to stop an apparently anomalous transaction for the printing of 250,000 copies of the "Salabat for the Filipino Soul II" for P9.2 million.
Gonzales faulted the BAC headed by Yabut for recommending the award of the contract of services to Grand C Graphics after it supposedly conducted a limited source bidding.
That's because the conditions required for that mode of procurement do not exist, she said.
Moreover, the supposed winning bidder failed to post the required performance security in violation of R.A. 9184, she said.
Despite these glaring irregularities, Syjuco, as head of the procuring entity, even went on to sign the contract of services, although it was well within his authority to declare a "failure of bidding" or not to award the contract.
Gonzales said that Syjuco also "exhibited a blatant disregard for the required accounting rules and regulations.
No less than Syjuco, she said, who facilitated the issuance of the Obligation Slip and approved the document even it lacked the certification of the Budget Chief that would have indicated the availability of appropriation and funds for the purpose.
Syjuco also abused his authority when he facilitated the issuance of the corresponding Disbursement Voucher by signing this document without the required signature of the agency's accountant, Gonzales said.
These acts of Syjuco "constitute grave misconduct," she said.
The controversy over the "Salabat" book deal broke out late last year after TESDA employees union SAMAKA-TESDA president Annie Geron exposed the apparent irregularities in the transaction.
In particular, Geron questioned the manner by which the transaction was carried out, especially after it came out in a Commission on Audit (COA) report that all the documents, including the release of the check, were completed in just one day.
Geron has since become the target of harassment by Syjuco, who tried to place her under a 90-day preventive suspension and transferred union officers to other regions as a form of vengeance against those who joined the protest actions.
Geron said the filing of this complaint by the PAGC vindicates her and the union officials.
"We won round one of this fight," Geron said. "We expect more victories as the PAGC and Ombudsman validates our allegations of corruption against Syjuco."
05/20/09 @ 06:34ARROYO DARED TO PROSECUTE TESDA CHIEF FOR CORRUPTION
By Gil C. Cabacungan Jr., Margaux Ortiz, David Israel Sinay
Visayas Bureau
First Posted 02:45:00 01/10/2008
Filed Under: Graft & Corruption
MANILA, Philippines -- Opposition senators Wednesday challenged President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to prove that her anticorruption stance was not just “for show” by prosecuting Director General Augusto Syjuco of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
Syjuco, a former congressman and loyal Arroyo ally, is the first Cabinet member to be charged with grave misconduct by the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) for using P9.2 million in TESDA funds to print 250,000 copies of his book, “Salabat for the Soul.”
“PAGC is only for show if (Ms Arroyo) will continue to ignore its recommendations. That is the general view of the public on the government’s anticorruption efforts because it is never implemented against her officials,” Sen. Francis Escudero said in a text message.
Straight to Sandigan
In an interview, Sen. Benigno Aquino III said he saw no point why the PAGC recommendation should go to the Malacañang Committee of Peers instead of straight to the Sandiganbayan.
Aquino said that a reversal of the PAGC findings would deal a big blow to the fight against corruption because the public would see the anti-graft body as useless against Ms Arroyo’s men.
The case was filed against Syjuco and TESDA’s bid and awards committee (BAC) by the TESDA employees’ union which saw the PAGC ruling as a vindication of its efforts to expose Syjuco’s shenanigans and an acid test for the Arroyo administration’s campaign against corruption.
The book’s delivery, contract signing, payment, inspection, and acceptance of the book were all processed in one day two years ago without a public bidding.
The PAGC in a resolution last month found the five BAC members guilty of grave misconduct but because Syjuco, also a respondent in the case, was a Cabinet member it decided to refer his case to the Palace committee.
Syjuco: No corruption
In a phone interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer Wednesday, Syjuco pointed out that in the PAGC resolution there was no allegation of conspiracy and the ruling found no element of corruption involved in the publication of 250,000 copies of his book.
He stressed that the resolution also said that the charge of causing undue injury to the government should be “dismissed for lack of merit since no undue injury has been caused to the government.”
“However, we are in the process of appealing the PAGC’s resolution referring the case to the Committee of Peers. With its ruling on the absence of corruption and other irregularities, we believe that there is no case to decide on anymore,” Syjuco said.
He said that the four books he had written and published for the government agency were aimed at assisting the country’s 1.4 million students who graduate from high school annually.
Syjuco said that of the number only 300,000 were able to graduate from college. “How can the rest have careers or professions without the necessary skills?”
These skills, he explained, are discussed in detail in his books.
“Writing these books is the only good way I could communicate with our young graduates,” Syjuco said.
Retaliation
Syjuco said that the case against him was filed by Annie Geron, president of the Samahang Malaya at Nagkakaisang Kawani ng TESDA, in retaliation for her dismissal from the agency two years ago for absenteeism.
He also said that Geron’s union was not accredited to the Department of Labor and Employment which reportedly dismissed its petition for certification after it failed to prove it had the support of 20 percent of TESDA employees.
Geron Wednesday questioned the PAGC decision to bring the Syjuco case before the Malacañang committee.
“What is this Committee of Peers? Who comprise this?” asked Geron in a phone interview with the Inquirer newspaper, parent company of INQUIRER.net.
More evidence
Geron urged Ms Arroyo to act immediately on Syjuco, saying the TESDA union was collating evidence against the TESDA chief to be submitted to Malacañang.
Geron also said the union would file a criminal case in relation to the questioned transaction against Syjuco before the Ombudsman. “This is only the administrative aspect of the case,” she said.
Syjuco’s counsel, Cornelio Panes, said in Iloilo City he was preparing to file libel charges against Geron.
“We are preparing to assess and determine what cause of action to make. We are tying to retrieve all the materials,” Panes told the Inquirer.
05/20/09 @ 06:37Cebu Daily News
First Posted 12:38:00 01/11/2008
Filed Under: Graft & Corruption, Education
ILOILO CITY — The employees' union of the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (Tesda) has urged Malacañang to act on the corruption case against Director General Augusto Syjuco, instead of referring it to his peers in the Cabinet.
The Samahang Malaya at Nagkakaisang Kawani ng Tesda (Samaka-Tesda) would ask the Palace to reconsider its decision endorsing Syjuco's case to the Cabinet's Committee of Peers, said union president Annie Geron on Wednesday.
"What is this Committee of Peers? Who comprise this?" asked Geron.
The Presidential Anti-Graft Commission rendered a guilty verdict against five other Tesda officials who were named Syjuco's co-respondents in the case filed by Samaka-Tesda.
The union alleged that Syjuco and other respondents used P9.2 million in Tesda funds to publish Syjuco's book, "Salabat (Ginger Ale) for the Filipino Soul," without public bidding two years ago.
The PAGC ruling, contained in a 20-page decision issued on December 14, recommended the dismissal of Santiago Yabut, Clifford Paragua, Brenda Furugganan, Ma. Lourdes Villanueva and Marjorie Docdocil, the members of Tesda's bids and awards committee that awarded the P9.2 million printing contract to Grand C Graphics Inc.
However, the PAGC recommended that Syjuco's case be elevated to the Committee of Peers, composed of fellow Cabinet members, which decides on graft cases against Cabinet-rank officials. /Inquirer
05/20/09 @ 06:51How politicking mars an agency's operation
GOTCHA By Jarius Bondoc Updated April 15, 2009
The good news is that the Technical Education & Skills Development Authority is launching an on-the-spot-hiring fair for laid-off workers and new grads. TESDA will screen participants if qualified for training — and daily allowance of P60 for tyros and P150 for experienced.
The bad news is ... well, TESDA has lots. Starting with its purchase of seven school buses — emblazoned on each side with giant-size pictures of director general Augusto Syjuco, his wife Iloilo congresswoman Judy and President Arroyo, and the caption “Serbisyo Syjuco” — smacks of wasteful electioneering. Syjuco reportedly is running for senator in May 2010, so the name-face recall gimmick is crass exploitation of loopholes in laws that allow campaigning only 90 days before Election Day. The question thus begs answering: are the taxpayer-financed buses really needed, or are they as useless as Metro Manila chair Bayani Fernando’s presidentially aspiring photos all over trees and billboards outside his jurisdiction? And if Syjuco drumbeaters insist, as they surely will, that the buses are necessary, another question arises: how much would TESDA have saved had it just painted the buses plain?
The bus publicity trick raises suspicion if the TESDA job fairs starting on Friday too are in aid not of employment but election. And it’s only one of many careless agency activities. The 2007 Commission on Audit report listed more. There was the low graduation rate of 28 percent and hiring rate of 35 percent, from the targeted 90 percent in a P811-million vocational program for 350,000 trainees. Too, the disadvantageous revenue sharing with three private training firms, from which TESDA got only P985,000 or in return for free use of P724 million worth of its facilities and equipment. And there was the failure for two long years to use P23-million worth of training gear, because of defective parts, missing English user manuals, and incompatible voltage. Plus, the overpriced purchase of P26 million worth of food for the TESDA main office canteen in Taguig City, from unqualified suppliers.
The agency mismanagement even looked absurd. There was no effort to make the dormitory manager officially receipt and account for collected fees. Nor was the dormitory staff required to check if departing guests had already paid. A five-star Manila hotel was paid P2 million for snacks with 1,501 town mayors, although only 291 actually showed up. A full payment of P29 million was made for Internet pre-paid cards, even though the provider failed to deliver most of the contracted services. Another P18.4 million was misspent printing unnecessary “song-hits”, posters, calendars, brochures and booklets. The central and some regional offices overpaid P850,000 in allowances and bonuses. Other units had unliquidated cash advances. Officers charged P4 million in meals against operating instead of representation budgets. Personal long-distance phone calls totaling P200,000 were not collected from them.
Other acts were downright criminal. TESDA bought P1.21 million worth of computer tables without competitive bidding. Another eight units were purchased separately instead of bulk, as the Procurement Reform Act requires. About P10.6 million in central and regional disbursements went unexplained. And P8.4 million unbudgeted goods and services were bought.
TESDA managers are not all crooked. Some of them do denounce the misrule. For doing so, they get thrown to the hinterlands or are fired
05/20/09 @ 06:55FROM THE SIDELINES
By Alfredo G. Rosario
Keep Tesda in DOLE
AS if in exasperation over allegations of corruption in the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), Sen. Jinggoy Estrada has proposed the abolition of the agency and the transfer of its functions and budget to the Department of Trade and Industry.
In Senate Bill No. 585, of which he is the author, the senator claims that the agency has failed to meet its mandate of promoting technical education and skills development by focusing on the “wrong priorities.”
His move came on the heels of the reported filing of an administrative case against the Tesda chief, Secretary Augusto Syjuco, for the use of P9.2 million in Tesda funds allegedly without going through the proper bidding process for the printing of his book, Salabat for the Soul.
A grave misconduct case has been filed against Syjuco with the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PACG) which, in turn, elevated the case to the Committee of Peers, the body with jurisdiction over officials of cabinet rank facing graft charges.
Syjuco claims that he did not personally benefit from the project.
If the premise of Estrada in seeking to abolish Tesda is the allegation of irregularities in the agency, he is in error. He should go after the grafters, not the institution. You don’t burn down a house to get rid of rats that have overrun it.
Tesda is one of the four pillars of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) that the late statesman Blas F. Ople had put together during his 18-year term as labor secretary. The others are the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC).
Each agency has a role to play to carry out the labor department’s four basic functions of creating jobs, protecting workers, establishing industrial peace and developing manpower through skills training.
The POEA is tasked with regulating and enhancing overseas employment, while OWWA looks after the well-being of OFWs. The NLRC, in coordination with the Conciliation and Mediation Board, is charged with promoting industrial peace conducive to national productivity.
Tesda’s role is to intensify human resources development through technical education, skills training, testing and assessment.
Tesda evolved from the National Manpower and Youth Council (NMYC), which was established by Ople to train Filipinos to become world-class workers. Several manpower training centers have been set up in key regions, with emphasis on the training of out-of-school youths to give them a brighter future through employment.
The NMYC was later merged with the Bureau of Vocational Education of the Department of Education to form what is now Tesda.
To wean Tesda from the labor department and transfer it to DTI is to deprive DOLE of its training arm in the production of skilled workers. The mandate of DTI is to promote trade, watch out for fake products and stabilize prices.
We must professionalize Tesda by appointing its top officials from the ranks who are familiar with the nuts and bolts of manpower development. We should not politicize it by not appointing politicians to head the agency.
05/20/09 @ 07:05P3 million cellphone scam and P6-7 million heavy equipment anomaly
Posted on January 14th, 2009
Author: Pet Melliza, The Beekeeper, ☼ IloiloViews
VIRGINIA Palanca-Santiago, regional director of the Office of the Ombudsman (Visayas), has a lot of explaining to do why she continues to sit on cases of big time thievery lodged on her office since 2002 yet.
She has also to explain why, in contrast, she readily throws the monkey wrench on petty infractions.
I am referring, as examples, to the P135 million housing scandal involving high officials of the Iloilo City government led by Mayor Jerry Trenas, the P3 million cellphone scam involving TESDA director-general Augusto Syjuco and his wife Rep. Judy Syjuco (2nd district, Iloilo) and P6-7 million irregularity in the procurement of heavy equipment involving the male Syjuco.
Separate cases were filed in 2003 and 2004, before the May 2004 elections against Trenas et al in the housing scandal, one by Atty. Romeo Gerochi and the other by Atty. Antonio Pesina.
Iloilo provincial administrator Manuel Mejorada sued the Syjucos in 2002 and 2003.
Incidentally, a pack of private individuals, charlatans actually, congregating under the wings of Santiago as “graftbusters” led by a perpetual bar flunker and a cleric who is a walking proof of the evolution, shied away from the above-said big time thievery.
Like Santiago, they ganged up on Igbaras Mayor Jaime Esmeralda and his two subordinates. They sued the trio in February 2005 for pocketing P1 million in the alleged “ghost” road repair.
Circumstances surrounding the charges against Esmeralda et al show that Santiago and her gang maliciously rigged the investigation from the start.
Her resolution ordered the filing of graft charges against the trio with the Sandiganbayan and dismissed two of them, the treasurer and private secretary to the mayor.
Her office delayed the mailing of the resolution which the respondents got only last January 5. They were only shocked to learn that their arrest warrants were already issued by the anti-graft court as early as December 23, 2008.
Before that, even while Esmeralda’s reply was in transit to the Deputy Ombudsman in April 2005, Santiago’s officel already handed them a six-month preventive suspension.
At the time the pack of charlatans hailed Esmeralda et al to Ombudsman (Visayas). the deputy ombudsman then was Primo Miro.
I had interviewed Miro once and after hearing him speak in halting English stilted with thick Cebuano accent and grammatical errors, it is unlikely that he personally wrote his orders. Unfolding events tend to show that this zarzuela is scripted and directed by Santiago in cahoots with the pack of charlatans.
Her office quickly furnished copy of its resolution to the anti-graft court but in contrast, delayed serving them to the respondents, obviously, to clinch warrants of arrest and render useless the respondents’ motion for reconsideration.
Her decision itself is a sham because she ignored the respondents’ counter-affidavits signed by villagers attesting to the delivery of sand and gravel, the delivery receipts of dump trucks signed by barangay officials, and the COA report proving implementation of the project.
Instead, she gave much weight to the affidavit of municipal engineer Escobido in 2005 where he denied knowledge of the road repair project.
The government audit which Santiago disregarded was signed by COA regional director Inocencio Cabahug in 2004 yet and bearing the name and signature of the same municipal engineer.
Escobido, in this report, attests that has seen the project and also led COA people to the sites, therefore, contradicting himself.
Santiago could be held liable for sitting on cases of big time thievery mentioned above because she was next in command to Primo Miro in the early 2000s when they were filed. She became acting deputy Ombudsman in late 2006, when Miro cut short his tour of duty due to illness blamed on his alcohol habit.
Santiago served as acting deputy Ombudsman until mid this year, when Pelagio Apostol, son of Bugasong, Antique, was appointed to the position.
Santiago’s subsequent acts shows herself a faithful convert to the catechism of the pack of charlatans who regard Esmeralda a political enemy and so act accordingly.
I say that because her office is fanatically desperate in enforcing her order of dismissal. It continues to pester the DILG and the Department of Finance to enforce it, albeit the latter rightly refuse to comply for good reasons.
Santiago could be held liable for conduct unbecoming and gross ignorance of the law for defying the Supreme Court which on September 11, 2008, in “Ombudsman versus Samaniego”, reversed the doctrine in “Buencamino versus CA, Ombudsman, et al.
In “Samaniego”, the High Court holds that orders of dismissal or suspension for more than one month by the Ombudsman are stayed by a timely motion for reconsideration or appeal.
05/20/09 @ 07:17Philippines trade union wins case against corrupt officials
Over the last two years, Public Services International (PSI) has supported Annie Geron, General Secretary of Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK) and other unionists, in a long-standing case involving embezzlement of public funds at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
Manila (16 Jan. 2008) - The office of Philippines President Gloria Arroyo has upheld the country's Anti-Graft Commission in its findings in a long-standing case involving embezzlement of public funds at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Five persons accused have been found guilty of grave misconduct.
Over the last two years, Public Services International (PSI) has supported Annie Geron, General Secretary of Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK) and other unionists, who lodged the case.
The group collectively denounced the practices carried out under Augusto Syjuco, director general of the TESDA. As a consequence, Geron and other unionists have been threatened, intimidated and dismissed. This anti-union intimidation is the subject of a complaint to the International Labour Organization (ILO) committee on freedom of association.
In a 20-page ruling, TESDA officials have been found guilty of embezzling 9.2 million Philippine pesos ($185,000 US) in funds earmarked for much-needed vocational training programmes for young people.
Because Syjuco is a cabinet minister, a committee of peers consisting of other cabinet ministers will hear the case to determine whether he will be prosecuted. PSI has therefore written the president and the Philippines Ombudsman calling for penal prosecution procedures.
“My accusations against Syjuco are based on facts and public documents of the commission," says Geron.
Nora Wintour, PSI deputy-general secretary calls the case a crucial test. "It will be a clear signal that the Philippine Government is serious about its commitment to eradicate corruption and graft."
05/20/09 @ 07:28MAYOR ARCADIO GORRICETA AND THE CONCERNED PEOPLE OF PAVIA FIGHTS THE EVIL SYJUCO
Be honest. Do not lie. Stop graft and corruption.
These statements are emblazoned in big, bold letters in several billboards in the town of Pavia, which gained prominence in June 2008 after a killer flood caused by Typhoon Frank inundated the whole municipality and drowned several residents.
We will give life to the message by exposing the dishonesty, corruption and lies committed by the individual who put these billboards up — Mayor Arcadio Gorriceta.
Like the individual that Gorriceta denounces — TESDA director general Augusto Boboy Syjuco — he, too, has become an expert in propaganda and marketing to deodorize his acts of dishonesty and corruption and project an image of a knight in shining armor.
The truth is that Gorriceta has committed acts of despicable corruption when he illegally cornered nearly P20 million worth of excavated earth from the Iloilo Flood Control project and forced the contractor, Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Co., Ltd. to pour the material into two prime properties he and his family owns in Pavia.(dakal-dakal sa pavia isyu)
In the process, he violated environmental laws and a provincial ordinance regulating the “taking and disposal” of any excavated earth material by arrogating upon himself virtual dictatorial powers to monopolize its utilization. Under a provincial ordinance, only the Governor of the Province is authorized to issue permits on the “taking and disposal” of such earth material. The DENR is also empowered to regulate the volume to be dumped as backfilling material on any property.
All these Gorriceta knowingly ignored and broke. This enabled him to reap a huge financial bonanza comparable to discovering a goldmine in the diggings of the flood control project.
Now that thousands of tons of excavated soil have been poured into the two Gorriceta properties (one in Barangay Balabag and another near the Pavia National High School), one can only speculate on the escalation of the market price that is an undeserved windfall for the municipal mayor to the great disadvantage of neighboring properties. At a conservative P80 per cubic meter, the backfilling materials estimated to have reached 250,000 cubic meters for both properties is already worth P20 million! That’s P20 million for free! Add to that the increase in property value. Easily, Gorriceta became richer by P100 million, thanks to the goldmine called the Iloilo Flood Control project.
How did this happen? Simple. A combination of political muscle flexing, open disregard for the law, and total lack of delicadeza to capture an opportunity of a lifetime. It helped that Gorriceta is an adherent of the arrogant “what are we in power for?” philosophy of former senator Jose Avelino. He didn’t care what his constituents felt about this glaring abuse of power. His mind was focused on making the most out of his mayorship, and he was determined he would retire ultra rich.
It would not have been too bad if only Gorriceta’s greed was moderated, as what Romulo Neri had suggested in the ZTE-NBN deal. The DENR Environmental Bureau had approved a volume of 50,000 cubic meters for the Balabag property, and 15,000 for the other. The purpose for authorizing only a certain volume is to make sure that the backfilling does not adversely affect adjoining properties. Every property owner knows that backfilling must be regulated or controlled. The backfilling of a property, as much as possible, should only bring it to the level of the road. Otherwise, the neighboring properties would suffer from flooding when the rains come.
But Gorriceta couldn’t get himself to “moderate” his greed. Even after the authorized volumes for his properties have been met, he continued to pressure Hanjin to just continue pouring excavated soil there. To make sure Hanjin could not haul the soil to any other area, Gorriceta directed the Pavia police to apprehend truckers headed to other sites. In effect, he usurped the authority to determine how much soil should be disposed where. The Hanjin truckers really had no choice but to bring the soil to the Gorriceta properties and nowhere else.
This constitutes graft and corruption. Gorriceta used his position as municipal mayor to give undue advantage or favor to himself and his family. He also used his power to cause harm or injury to neighboring property owners. He also ignored requests from other residents in Pavia who desired to backfill their own low-lying properties and protect their homes from floods. He violated environmental and provincial laws to turn his properties into prime real estate. Greed blinded him from obeying the very precepts he wrote on the billboards: Be honest. Do not lie. Stop graft and corruption.
05/20/09 @ 07:36PAVIA MIRACLE, BAGYO SYJUCO
On Saturday, I went to Iloilo, first to see the so-called Pavia miracle. But I also satubled into what many now call as “Bagyo Syjuco” that could nullify part of the miracle and revert Pavia back to the barangay “dirt road.”
The issue transcends to the local. It even challenges the interest of the many from the ongoing controversy over the BIR taxing sugar cooperatives. Because it also reportedly involves the “hijacking” of an approved government project that also suspiciously transforms a concreting project into a dirt road here.
As previously reported, Pavia Mayor Arcadio Gorriceta, the “Super Mayor” dubbed by Panay News, managed to resurrect the devastated town in the span of only 45 days with the donation by the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Inc. of three-classroom school buildings. I had earlier called them reconstructed. Actually it turns out these were brand-new school houses – Pavia National High School, Pavia Pilot Elementary School and Agana-Ungkay Elementary School.
Gorriceta also received brand new “Interceleron” computers from the Iloilo Economic Development Foundation which bought from NIG Marketing these units at a cost of P16,665.67 per set. Other private organizations and civic clubs pitched in to pay for the computers.
But I was surprised to learn from Gorriceta that the P28-million road repair project for the Pagsangan-Tigum-Cabugao Norte Road in Pavia had been released to the Department of Public Works and Highways. But it has become the main subject of media when it was learned that it had been alleged “hijacked” and by Rep. Judy Syjuco, wife of TESDA chief Augusto Syjuco.
The first trance of P10.5 million was released to the DPWH 4th Engineering District in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo. And purportedly on request of Rep. Syjuco to Gorriceta by Assistant Regional director Joby Gordon.
But District Engineer George Suy informed Gorriceta that his office had already awarded implementation of the project to “Patrila Construction Co. through negotiated contract. He also informed Mayor Gorriceta that work had already started with delivery of boulders and grading of the road.
But what promoted a blowup by Gorriceta was the report by Engr. Suy that the scope of the work was for the repair and restoration (re-gravelling) by filling up the road with “dakal dakal” and grading only. In short, they will just restore the road to its original form and not asphalting and neither concreting it.
That blew up into a major controversy in Iloilo. Imagine a 3.4 km. gravel road estimated to cost P28.5 million for concreting and suddenly to be constructed as regravelling at the same cost.
Later, President Arroyo stepped into the controversy and directed the DPWH to concrete the road instead of just restoring it. Even Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, chair of the Task Force Bagong Panay, said he had reported to the President on the controversy regarding the road.
Presidential assistant for Western Visayas Raul Banias talked with Secretary Syjuco and told him about the presidential directive issued by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and relayed to the DPWH and to have it cemented as per computation by Gorriceta.
Gorriceta told me yesterday that he offered to concrete the road measuring 6.10 meters wide and nine inches thick instead of regravelling and asphalting it.
But there’s a sequel, Engineer Suy reportedly said they could complete the concreting of only two of the 3.4 kilometers with the funds available. But Gorriceta stressed that the municipality could do the entire 3.4 km. with the same amount. Therein lies a major difference in cost estimates.
05/20/09 @ 08:01‘SYJUCO WASTED P1.7B AT TESDA’
October 17, 2008 in Iloilo neWS
By Francis Allan L. Angelo
Labor leader seeks Ombudsman probe
A LABOR leader has asked the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate the more than P1.7 billion allegedly wasted by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) under director-general Augusto “Boboy” Syjuco.
In a letter to Tanodbayan Merceditas Gutierrez dated October 14, 2008, Annie Enriquez Geron, president of SAMAKA-TESDA, asked the anti-graft body to further investigate the 2007 findings of the Commission on Audit (COA) on Tesda transactions.
The issues Geron raised against Syjuco are:
- P101,012,925.71 in excessive, unnecessary expenses for paid media advertisements, printing of promotion materials, unauthorized/excessive payment of Representation and Transportation Allowances (RATA), Extra Miscellaneous Expenses (EME) and Exemplary Performance Reward (EPR) of Officials and Employees;
- P61.38 million representing cash advances and outstanding inventory account for more than two years;
- P15.89-million disbursement without sufficient basis for officials and employees incentives;
- P447.71 million unrecorded, underrecorded, overrecorded and unverifiable property, plant and equipment account;
- P198,839.89 unpaid personal telephone calls;
- P46.22 million unremitted fund to the National Treasury.
In sum, Geron claimed that P1,731,970,000 was wasted “due to irregular procurement, grossly disadvantageous contracts, procurement of equipment and facilities that remained dormant due to missing accessories, systems mismatch, lack of operational manuals and the poor PGMA scholarship program implementation and monitoring.”
Geron’s letter, which was based on the COA audit report, also pointed out questionable transactions by Tesda regional office 6, particularly the P3.42 million for various paid media advertisements from years 2005-2007.
Geron said the paid media ads violated Administrative Order No. 103 implemented by Tesda Circular No. 17.
“These advertising expenses were deemed unnecessary as contemplated under COA Circular No. 85-55A, as these are not essential in the operation of the agency. Moreover, contract amounting to P947,000 in TESDA-RO6 were awarded without the benefit of public bidding contrary to Sec. 54.1 of Republic Act 9184 (Government Procurement Act),” she said.
Tesda-6 employees and officials also partook of the P4.34-million Exemplary Performance Reward which is “in excess of the authorized amount under Budget Circular No. 2007-004,” Geron said.
The Tesda regional office in Western Visayas also failed to submit for current audit disbursement vouchers and supporting documents for financial transactions worth P5.15 million.
It was also found out that P148.45 million worth of equipment intended for TESDA Regional Training Center in Tagoloan in Region 10 was diverted to TESDA-accredited New Lucena Polytechnic College (NLPC) in Region 6 “contrary to the criteria for project sites selection to the detriment of the overall objective of the Project.”
The alleged diverted equipment are part of the P738-million equipment under the foreign loan-funded project of upgrading a network of seven TESDA regional training centers into Centers of Excellence in Modern Manufacturing Technology (CEMMT).
Geron had also filed graft cases against Syjuco in 2006 and 2007 which resulted in her transfer outside Luzon.
In previous interviews, Syjuco labeled Geron as a troublemaker who wanted to undermine his programs in Tesda.
Syjuco said not one of the graft cases filed against him was proven by concerned agencies.
In December 2007, the Presidential Anti Graft Commission (PAGC) found Syjuco and members of the Tesda Bids and Awards Committee guilty of grave misconduct and gross negligence in connection with the railroaded P9.2-million publication of a book without public bidding.
The PAGC recommended dismissal against the Tesda officials along with accessory penalties.
But Malacañang’s committee of peers later reversed the PAGC recommendation against Syjuco.
05/20/09 @ 08:06STA. BARBARA: DISAPPEARANCE OF P6.2 MILLION NOKIA MOBILE PHONES
Judy’s 1,582 cell phones
jULY 11, 2006
Rep. Judy Jalbuena Syjuco is being accused of “ghost delivery” and “forgery” in the supposed purchase of 1,582 Nokia 1100 cellular phones by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) in December 2004.
Documents released by the Commission on Audit (COA) show that the DOTC paid a total of P6,248,900 to a softdrinks distributor to supply these cellular phones “for use of Rep. Judy J. Syjuco”.
The transaction was exposed as “anomalous” after Sta. Barbara, Iloilo municipal mayor Isabelo Maquino complained that his signature was forged in the receipt for property and that he never received these articles.
The document purported to show that the cellular phone units were delivered to Sta. Barbara, Iloilo and received by Mayor Maquino.
Where are the cellular phones? That’s the question now being asked by the local media.
A little known distributor of Jaz Cola products, West Island Beverage Distributors, was the handpicked supplier of Rep. Syjuco.
A top official of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said it was TESDA secretary Augusto Boboy Syjuco who hand-carried the documents for the procurement of 1,582 units of Nokia 1100 cellular phones at a cost of P6.2 million in February 2005 and presented the signature of “Mayor Isabelo Maquino” so that the supplier could be paid.
“Who am I to question the veracity of the documents and the signature of Mayor Maquino as it was (former congressman) Syjuco who brought them to my desk for the release of the payment,” said Venancio Santidad III, Director, Procurement, Supplies and Property Management Service (PSPMS) of the DOTC, told two Iloilo radio stations.
Santidad said if there is anybody who should explain where the cellular phones went, it should be the project proponent, Rep. Judy Jalbuena Syjuco or her husband, TESDA chief Boboy Syjuco.
Despite the storm the controversy has generated, the Syjuco couple have been very silent about the issue, preferring to have their spokesperson, Alex Espino, to do the talking. However, local media shunned talking with Espino as he admitted he had no personal knowledge about the transaction.
The supplier of the cellular phones, Jonathan Ng, has also been avoiding the local media.
05/20/09 @ 08:10LEON, ILOILO: Cabana to Syjuco: 'Don't push me'
By Ronilo Ladrido Pamonag
BOARD Member Romulo Cabana is not giving in to Iloilo 2nd District Rep. Augusto Syjuco's challenge that charges be filed immediately against him.
"Don't he push me" Cabana said, "we will come to that." Cabana was reacting to Syjuco's challenge to file his case in connection with the P28 million road project in Leon, Cabana said was highly anomalous.
Cabana, meantime, would rather sit tight as he awaits the results of the investigation ordered by Vice Gov. Roberto Armada on this project and other road projects in Leon, Iloilo.
The P28 million road project is a 1.003-kilometer portion of the DPWH-supervised Jct. Bancal-Camandag Road (Maliao section).
Cabana said he will not hesitate to do what Syjuco dared him to do at the proper time.
"If the committee finds prima facie evidence, I will not hesitate to file a case," Cabana said.
Last Sunday, Syjuco dared Cabana to "put your balls where your mouth is" during a press conference he called to let the Department of Public Works and Highways explain as to why a 1.003 km. road costs P28 million.
The solon urged Cabana to stop talking and, instead, file his case with the Ombudsman.
Cabana described the solon's challenge as "overkill."
Why a presscon?
He expressed surprise why Syjuco called for a press conference.
"I was surprised that people I did not mention came out and muddled the issue," Cabana said in reaction.
Cabana even pointed out that he never mentioned the name of Syjuco in any of his privilege speeches or in any interview.
Investigation
The Provincial Board has composed itself into a Committee of the Whole to investigate the road projects in Leon, especially those mentioned by Cabana in his privilege speeches.
This June 27, the committee, under Vice Governor Roberto Armada, will conduct an ocular inspection of these DPWH-supervised projects.
Among these projects the committee would look into are Leon-Bucari Road encompassing Brgys. Maliao, Bucari, Cagay, Ingay, Danao, Cabungan, Bacolod, Bulwang, Camandag and Bobon; Lacadon-Camandag Road, Cumpan-Bucari Road, Ingay-Cagay-Bucari Road, Ligtos-Gines Road, Avanzaa-Pepe-Ayubo-Baje Road.y a 1.003 km. road costs P28 million.
05/20/09 @ 08:13SYJUCO CONTRACTOR:
Court orders arrest of Ilongga contractor
By Florence F. Hibionada
A Warrant of Arrest is out on Ilongga contractor Maria Elena Malaga for grave coercion issued by Judge Rene Gonzales of Branch 7, Municipal Trial Court in Cities of the 6th Judicial Region.
Such after the Court found existence of probable cause in allegations raised in Criminal Case No. 258-08.
The case stemmed from an initial Theft complaint filed by a top official of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Office 6.
Documents obtained by The News Today (TNT) identified the complainant as Accountant III Conrado Sorongon with the crime as charged brought by seven 'stolen' DPWH disbursement vouchers.
Malaga as per findings of the City Prosecutors Office should be held liable thus the indictment.
"Indeed, probable cause exists to indict respondent for the foregoing felony. In fine, the proper crime to charge respondent is not theft but rather grave coercion under Article 286 of the Penal Code. Consequently, an information charging respondent for said crime is in order," excerpts of the Resolution as approved by City Prosecutor Peter Baliao went.
Preliminary Investigation was conducted by 4th Assistant City Prosecutor Raymond Joseph Javier.
"I hereby certify that a preliminary investigation has been conducted in this case the witnesses having been examined under oath; there is a reasonable ground to believe that the offense charged has been committed and that the accused is probably guilty thereof," Prosecutor Javier averred.
Bailbond of P12,000 has been set for the temporary liberty of Malaga.
To note, Malaga has since become a controversial figure though in various local government infrastructure works.
In fact, she has recently been subject of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) inter-office memorandum that questioned her inclusion on latest DPWH projects.
DPWH documents obtained by TNT disclosed of a 48-hour deadline then given on the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Chairman of the DPWH engineering district covering infrastructure works in Iloilo's Second District.
The chairman was ordered by District Engineer George Suy to answer and explain why Malaga's B.E. Construction bid was opened "in spite of the awareness that B.E. Construction had "Fair" and "Poor" ratings" on a DPWH evaluation.
Previous to said office order were series of written exchanges that likewise disclosed the department's "quandary" on handling the Malaga issue.
Foremost here was the supposed ineligibility of the Ilongga contractor to participate in projects such as completion of Consolacion Bridge in San Miguel, Iloilo, the construction of the New Lucena Multi-Purpose Building, replacement of deteriorated asphalt pavement to concrete pavement and construction and improvement of the Leon-San Remegio Road.
For years now Malaga has had her bouts with top government officials whom she had similarly accused of graft and corruption. Of late though tables have been turned with complaints against Malaga on purportedly unfinished and substandard works.
Among those subject of Malaga's ire were former Guimaras Congressman Edgar Espinosa, former Iloilo City Lone District now Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales, Iloilo Vice Governor Rolex Suplico and Secretary Augusto Boboy Syjuco.
Sources also told TNT that the rest of the First, Third, Fourth and Fifth Districts of Iloilo government works would not want anything to do with Malaga and her construction company
05/20/09 @ 08:194.3 MILLION KABIR CHICKEN
TESDA head Syjuco charged with graft
By Ronilo L. Pamonag
Iloilo -- Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) Director General and former Iloilo 2nd District Representative Augusto Syjuco has been charged with graft before the Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas.
Iloilo Provincial Administrator Manuel Mejorada, who was Syjuco's former aide at the congressional office, filed yesterday his complaint-affidavit against his former boss for violating Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code (Malversation of Public Funds), section 3 of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and RA 6713, or the Code of Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
The charges stemmed from a Kabir chicken dispersal project of the former lawmaker in 2000.
Mejorada alleged that Syjuco used a P4.3 million grant from the Department of Agriculture to finance what later turned into a personal business venture.
Syjuco, Mejorada said in his affidavit dated December 7, 2005, first bought 2,200 male and female parent stock Kabir chicks for P2.07 million in January 2000, then persuaded the DA to give a grant of P4.3 million to the Tagipusuon Foundation Inc., of which the Tesda chair has controlling interest, for a poultry-breeding and food production program in the second district of the province.
'Through an elaborate scheme, Mr. Syjuco succeeded in merging the operations of the Kabir project of the Tagipususon Foundation Inc. that was a recipient of public funds, and his business venture, Ilonggo Chickboy Corp.,' Mejorada alleged in his affidavit. 'Mr. Syjuco, in effect, used public funds as capital for a business venture from which he derived no less than P8,000,000 over a four-year period of operations of the Ilonggo Chickboy Corp... As a result of this illegal and criminal act, Mr. Syjuco stole no less that P8,000,000 over a four-year period, money that should have accrued to the account of the Tagipusuon Foundation for the benefit of its members.
05/20/09 @ 08:27THE CRY OF 2ND DISTRICT OF ILOILO COMMUNITY
(WHERE ARE YOU ALIMODIAN?)
“TESDA director general Augusto “Boboy” Syjuco should be ashamed of himself in claiming that he is the best person to head this agency (“Bid to scrap Tesda gains”, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Jan. 16, 2008).
“The records would show that TESDA’s image has been tarnished almost irreparably as a result of many questionable transactions under his watch. Also, he should account for millions of pesos in public funds that he funneled to his private foundations, with no visible benefits to the public (See http://www.coa.gov.ph/audit/AAR/htm and go to TESDA under Department of Labor and Employment for CY 2006).
“During his incumbency, funds for training in vocational skills were diverted to the TESDA Iloilo office and used for political purposes. As a result, thousands of Filipino youth were deprived of the skills training that would have landed them jobs. He has also harassed union leaders who dared expose his illegal transactions.
“The PAGC case involving the P9.2 million anomalous transaction for the printing of the “Salabat for the Filipino Soul” is just the tip of the iceberg. Mr. Syjuco faces may corruption charges before the Ombudsman. I have filed four cases against him, and the only problem is that the Ombudsman seems to have slept on these cases.
“In one case, he engineered a “ghost purchase” of 1,582 mobile phones utilizing P6.2 million from the Department of Transportation and Communications. In another, he was charged for rigging a public bidding in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) district office where he used to be congressman and got the agency to buy road-building heavy equipment and trucks owned by his own foundation at an overprice.
“Mr. Syjuco is a skillful marketing man, and he has been engaging in delightful publicity stunts to impress President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and divert attention from his corrupt activities. If the President is serious about eradicating corruption, then she should drop the axe on Syjuco and show the nation that there are no sacred cows.
“WE also call upon the Ombudsman to act expeditiously on these cases which have been awaiting resolution for as long as two years now.
Very truly yours,
STA. BARBARA, LEON, NEW LUCENA, ZARRAGA, LEGANES, PAVIA, SAN MIGUEL
05/20/09 @ 08:42SANGGUNIANG BAYAN OF PAVIA QUESTIONED THE OVERPRICING OF SYJUCO EDUCATION FOR ALL PROGRAM
By Lory Ann B. Bilbao
FORMER Second District Congressman Augusto Syjuco will face the charges hurled against him, said his spokesperson lawyer Alex Espino.
Congratulations to the graduates of 2006! Post your graduation experiences and greetings here.
Syjuco is also concurrent head of the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (Tesda).
Espino, over Aksyon Radyo, said Syjuco "respects the right of the SB to hold hearings of this nature in aid of legislation."
He added that the Secretary sent him as his behalf in the committee hearing on the alleged overpriced bags and uniforms provided as projects of Syjuco, of the Municipal Council of Pavia.
He said that Councilor Otoniel Gonzaga sent the Secretary a personal invitation to attend the hearing on the same but said that he was not available thus, he sent him.
Espino said the issues thrown against Syjuco remain as pure allegations until after it can be proved.
"We will face that (allegations) in the proper forum."
Meanwhile, Provincial Administrator Manuel Mejorada said his allegations are supported by evidence.
The uniforms and bags, which were distributed through the Tagipusuon Foundation, reportedly owned by Syjuco, were overpriced.
He said he found it out when he obtained a copy of the foundation's liquidation report on the purchase of bags and uniforms.
The bags colored orange, values P25 but in the same report, it has been raised to P125 while the white cloth (tetoron) used for upper uniforms actually cost P150 but its has been increased to P250.
He added that the bags and uniforms were not actually bought by the specific fund the foundation cited but was stocked earlier. It was just distributed and released when the fund is ready for release.
05/20/09 @ 09:29PAVIA 28 MILLION ANOMALOUIS ROAD PROJECT
PAVIA,ILOILO
By Nestor P. Burgos Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:29:00 09/14/2008
ILOILO CITY, Philippines—President Macapagal-Arroyo has stepped in on the controversy between Pavia town Mayor Arcadio Gorriceta and Iloilo Rep. Judy Syjuco over a P28-million road repair project.
The President has directed the Department of Public Works and Highways to repair and cement the 3.4-kilometer Pagsanga-an-Tigum-Cabugao Norte Road in Pavia instead of just restoring or asphalting the road network.
Presidential Assistant for Western Visayas Raul Banias, quoting a telephone conversation with Augusto Syjuco, the director general of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) and the congresswoman’s husband, said the President issued the directive to Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita who, in turn, relayed it to DPWH and to Mr. Syjuco.
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, chair of the Task Force Bangon Panay, the multi-agency body that supervises rehabilitation programs for typhoon-ravaged areas on the island, said he was also aware that the DWPH has been directed to cement the road.
Gonzalez said he had reported to the President the problem surrounding the road project.
Gravel and cement
“I told her that it would not be good that the Pavia portion would be restored as gravel road while the connecting portion of the road in Iloilo City would be cemented,” Gonzalez told the Inquirer in a telephone interview.
The road, which was destroyed by floodwaters triggered by Typhoon “Frank” last June 21, connects Pavia with the neighboring town of Leganes and Jaro District of Iloilo City. Residents have appealed for decades for the road to be cemented.
Gorriceta earlier accused Representative Syjuco of “hijacking” and attempting to implement an overpriced road repair project.
He said Judy Syjuco asked the DPWH to channel the funds to the DPWH office in her district after his request for funds for the repair of the road was approved and after an initial P10.5 million was released by the DPWH.
The mayor also alleged that Augusto Syjuco [not the congresswoman as earlier reported], who was also congressman in the district before his wife took over in 2004, took no interest in the repair of the road network.
Negotiated contract
Gorriceta had also claimed that engineer George Suy, of the DPWH-Iloilo 4th Engineering District, had informed him that the project had already been awarded to a contractor through a negotiated contract.
Suy denied the allegation saying he was “misinterpreted” by Gorriceta.
The mayor had said that he requested the DPWH that the implementation of the project be done by the local government of Pavia through a Memorandum of Agreement between the LGU and DPWH.
He also offered to build a concrete road measuring 6.10 meters wide and 9 inches thick with the same budget instead of simply restoring the road to its gravel form or asphalting it as earlier requested.
He earlier said that P28 million was “too much” for restoring the gravel road because the budget was intended for at least an asphalt road.
Representative Syjuco has not responded to requests for her side on the issue. But in a letter to Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. dated Sept. 9, the congresswoman said she supports the concreting of the road project instead of the repair and rehabilitation as earlier planned.
Not town’s business
In the same letter, she asked the DPWH to submit a new program of work for a corresponding increase in the budget of the project.
But Syjuco objected to Gorriceta’s request that the project be administered by the municipality.
“Simply just like the rest of us, the town should limit its affairs to local governance and should not be in the construction business of national government projects,” she said in her letter.
Tesda chief Syjuco said Gorriceta should not claim that he was the only one who asked for funds for repair of the damage road.
“It is foolish for him to say that he was the only one who made the request. We also requested for repair of all damaged roads. But it’s not a problem if he wants to take credit for the road repair project,” he said in a telephone interview on Saturday.
He said it would be now up to the DPWH to come up with a new budget and how to implement the project.
05/20/09 @ 09:57ILONGGO SENATOR TELLS CONGRESSMEN TO LAY OFF TESDA FUNDS
Manila Times
27 September 2006 | 11:00 PM
By Ronnie E. Calumpita, Reporter
SEN. Franklin Drilon, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, wants to stop the practice of making Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) a source of pork barrel of congressmen.
Drilon, whose committee, was hearing of Tesdas P2.682- billion budget for 2007, on Wednesday noted that the agency had released funds to congressmen for their scholarship programs.
From the testimony of [Tesda] Director General Augusto Syjuco, it would appear that these scholarships are allocated to each congressional district, he said at a briefing. The scholars are nominees of the congressman of a particular district.
For 2007, Drilon said, Tesda proposes to allocate P400 million for its Private Education Student Financial Assistance and the PGMA Training for Work Scholarship Project. He said the previous budgets were only P200 million.
There is no rhyme or reason here for this system, except that it is part of political patronage, he commented. We intend to examine this very closely as apparently it is part of the pork barrel funds that is inserted in the budget.
The P400-million budget for the two scholarship programs of Tesda to be implemented with the help of congressmen for 2007 will involve some 34,000 scholars, all nominated by congressmen.
Drilon urged Tesda, which is under the Department of Labor and Employment, to stop allocating portion of its budget to congressmen and instead implement its scholarship programs.
Drilo, however, has no idea whether opposition congressmen also benefit from the supposed pork-barrel fund of Tesda for members of the House of Representatives.
05/20/09 @ 10:26AUGUSTO SYJUCO on LEGACY GROUP CONTROVERSY
2/24/2009 Bombo Radyo Philippines
Dismayado ang ilang mga kongresista sa kabagalan ng Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas na magsampa ng kaso laban sa may ari ng Legacy Group na si Celso delos Angeles kahit na matagal na itong iniimbestigahan.
Sa ginanap na pagdinig ng Kamara kaugnay sa isyu ng Legacy Group, pinuna ng ilang miyembro ng komite lalo na nina Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman at Teddy Boy Locsin ang kabagalan ng BSP na sampahan ng kaso kahit ilang beses na silang nangako sa Kamara na sasampahan na ng kaso si Delos Angeles.
Una rito ay aminado si BSP Deputy Gov. Nestor Espenilla na hanggang sa ngayon ay patuloy pa rin silang nagtitipon ng mga ebidensya laban kay Delos Angeles at inaasahan na isasampa na nila ang kaso ngayong linggo.
Kasabay niyan ay nadiskubre rin sa nasabing pagdinig ng Kamara na karamihan sa mga bangko ni Delos Angeles na binili ay hindi pa rin binago ang mga dokumento ng pangalan ng mga may-ari.
Ito'y makaraang ibinunyag ni Paul Stephen Montenegro, ang manager ng Bank of Bais na matagal ng ibinenta ng kanyang ama kay Delos Angeles ang kanilang bangko, subalit pinakiusapan umano siya na huwag palitan ang mga dokumento ng mga may-ari ng bangko.
Maging ang pangalan ni dating kongresista at TESDA Dir. General Augusto Syjuco ay nadawit rin sa nasabing kontrobersya makaraang ang isang bangko ni Delos Angeles na Nation Rural Bank ay lumabas sa dokumento na 100 percent na pagmamay-ari ng Flame Property kung saan ang presidente ay si Syjuco.
05/20/09 @ 10:53SYJUCO COUPLE TOUR AROUND THE WORLD SPENDING PEOPLE'S MONEY
THE MOST "PARA-ABSENT" NGA CONGRESSMAN IN THE PHILIPPINES
REPRESENTATIVE Judy Jalbuena Syjuco spent more than two months traipsing in Hong Kong and other foreign capitals -- 78 days to be exact -- in 2005, more time than she did in her home district for the entire year, and it is not even certain the P5.4 million in travel expenses she charged to the public purse were work-related.
"It seems Judy Syjuco has forgotten her constituents live in the eight municipalities of the 2nd district and chose to spend extended periods in Hong Kong," charged Iloilo Provincial Administrator Manuel "Boy" Mejorada as he presented to media details of Syjuco's travel records.
Sun.Star Network Online's 12th Asean Summit Watch
"No wonder her constituents have constantly complained that she is almost never here in the 2nd district," Mejorada said as he showed a certified list of Syjuco's comings and goings provided by the Bureau of Immigration.
For the year 2005, Syjuco has been reported to charge a total of P5.4 million in traveling expenses to the House of Representatives, and Mejorada believes these trips were more for pleasure than work.
"We all know she has been a non-performing congresswoman," he said. "What did she do in Hong Kong all those times?"
In the nine trips she made abroad in 2005, six were to the former British colony, each for a period of eight to 10 days, Mejorada said.
He added that for the year, Syjuco was in Iloilo only five times to attend special occasions and fiestas lasting only two to three days at a time.
"This is a moral and ethical issue that Judy Syjuco should explain to the people," he said.
"Did she waste people's money on junkets or shopping sprees?" he asked.
Among Syjuco's foreign trips, Mejorada said, the only one that would qualify as a working trip was a visit to Sydney, Australia with her husband, Tesda Director General Augusto Boboy Syjuco.
The expose on her foreign trips is just the latest of issues hounding Syjuco, and her husband.
Among the controversies involving Syjuco is the P6.2 million cell phone anomaly that rocked the 2nd district in July this year.
This involves the alleged disappearance of 1,582 units of Nokia 1100 mobile phones that the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) had purchased for her district.
Her husband is also facing three other anti-graft cases before the Ombudsman: P12-million heavy equipment "sweetheart" deal between the Tawo kag Duta sa Kauswagan Foundation which Syjuco heads and the DPWH;
P3.250-million disappearance of the fertilizer funds that Syjuco siphoned into the Tawo kag Duta Cooperative, a non-operating entity as certified by the Cooperative Development Authority; and P4.2 million Kabir chicken development funds that Syjuco diverted into a private business enterprise.
05/20/09 @ 11:08Syjuco is the worst TESDA chief.
by: Concerned Filipino Youth
The man has no conscience. He stole money intended for vocational training of Filipino youth by funneling the funds to his personal foundations and cooperatives. He used TESDA funds to bankroll his political activities. If the President is serious about fighting corruption, she can send a strong message by kicking out Syjuco as TESDA chief.
It would not be fair to scuttle the ship just because of the wrongdoings of the captain. The best way to save TESDA is to throw the captain overboard and feed him to the sharks
05/20/09 @ 11:24
To: Philippine Congress
From: Youth of the Republic of the Philippines
We are pleased over the positive developments during the past weeks concerning the corruption case against Syjuco and the five members of the TESDA Bids and Awards Committee (TESDA-BAC). The corruption scandal is nearly over as all the aforesaid officials have been found guilty of grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty by the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) for their participation in a P 9.2 Million anomalous transaction involving the printing of a book entitled Salabat for the Filipino Soul. Malacañang has upheld the PAGC ruling and ordered the dismissal from government service of the five TESDA-BAC members. On the other hand, Syjuco’s case has been forwarded to the Committee of Peers due to his cabinet rank.
While we are eagerly hoping for the Committee of Peers to finally bring the case to its just conclusion, we are deeply saddened by the emerging bid among some of our legislators to abolish TESDA and to transfer its functions to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
As you may know, TESDA was established through the enactment of Republic Act No. 7796 otherwise known as the "Technical Education and Skills Development Act of 1994.” Signed into law by President Fidel V. Ramos, the need for it arose from the key recommendations of the 1991 Report of the Congressional Commission on Education. These recommendations came about as a result of a national assessment of the state of education and manpower development in the Philippines. Three offices – the National Manpower and Youth Council (NMYC) of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Bureau of Technical and Vocational Education (BTVE) of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), and the Apprenticeship Program of the Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) of the DOLE – were merged into one in order to “reduce overlapping in skills development activities initiated by various public and private sector agencies, and to provide national directions for the country's technical-vocational education and training (TVET) system.”
In general, TESDA is mandated to:
1. Integrate, coordinate and monitor skills development programs;
2. Restructure efforts to promote and develop middle-level manpower;
3. Approve skills standards and tests;
4. Develop an accreditation system for institutions involved in middle-level manpower development;
5. Fund programs and projects for technical education and skills development; and
6. Assist trainers training programs.
TESDA has gone a long way since its inception. In an assessment of TESDA’s performance during the period from 1995-2000, the said agency earned an average rating of 2.71 or Fair by various stakeholders and an Independent Review Panel. Moreover, the report concluded that there is still a lot of room for improvement. This indicates that even after just a few years since it was established, TESDA already showed potential to serve as “a conductor, a referee, a policeman, a helper, a strategist, a planner, a visionary for the TVET sub-sector.” Combining three agencies into one is no easy task and yet, TESDA in its early years has managed to come up with “notable initiatives.”
The assessment report made various recommendations to strengthen TESDA and what surfaced as the most urgent need to further strengthen the TVET sub-sector was to push for adequate funding for TESDA. More recommendations were made and every one of them pointed to strengthening TESDA, focusing its mandate and instituting reforms within the agency. Not one suggested that TESDA be abolished or be placed under another jurisdiction.
Now more than ever, the country needs to address the issues concerning our manpower development. With the degrading state of our education system and the job-skills mismatch that has been pointed out as the major cause of the unemployment among our youth and labor force, we must reform TESDA in order for the institution to become more responsive. Placing it under the management of DTI will only defeat our purpose of developing our manpower as the two agencies cover different mandates and have different expertise. In addition, doing so will only result to a multi-layered bureaucracy that would not have the sufficient focus and resources to address the needs of our middle-level manpower.
We call on our legislators not to be swayed into abolishing TESDA just because of the Syjuco corruption scandal that has negatively its performance. Ever since he became Director-General, Syjuco has only brought shame to TESDA. This is because he has merely used the agency as a tool to further his political and vested interests. This is evident on how the budget of TESDA is concentrated in District 2 of Iloilo where he served as former Congressman and how he spends excessively on programs that have nothing to do with improving the plight of the TVET sub-sector and publicity stints meant to raise his profile and please GMA.
Our legislators should banish Syjuco, not TESDA. The whole agency does not deserve to bear one man’s failings.
SAVE TESDA! SACK SYJUCO!
Sincerely
VICTIMS OF TITO BOBOY
05/20/09 @ 12:00RADIO PUWAK MORE EPISODE:
SYJUCO AND ALIPAO JOINT BUSINESS
ALIMODIANANON DIGNITY SOLD BY ALIPAO TO SYJUCO
PARTNER IN CORRUPTION: ALIPAO - SYJUCO
EIGHT (8) MAYORS OF THE 2ND DISTRICT OF ILOILO PETITIONED SYJUCO, EXCEPT ALIMODIAN MAYOR
ALIPAO RESORT COSTS P1.5 MILLION: PEOPLE'S MONEY
PRO-CORRUPTION SB OF ALIMODIAN RECIEVES P20,000.00 ADDITIONAL HONORARIUM PER MONTH STARTING APRIL 2009
"MA-OPOSISYON KAMO????" MAUBOS NYO AYHAN SINAMO NYO?" ( A HARASSMENT OF BARANGAY LEADERS IN ALIMODIAN BY MAYOR ALIPAO INCLUDING SK OFFICIALS)
SYJUCO ANOMALOUS PROJECT UNDERTAKEN BY ONLY MAYOR OF ALIMODIAN
ALIMODIAN SANGGUNIANG BARANGAY (Captain & Council Members) WHO CAN DELIVER UP 70% OF VOTES TO ALIPAO PARTY this 2010 POLLS WILL BE REWARDED AN AMOUNT OF P 100,000. PER BARANGAY.
UNKNOWN TO THE "INOSENTES" ON SEVEN CITIES GHOST PROJECT WORTH P 8.5 MILLION
ALIPAO: FUNDRAISING FOR MY DOWNFALL? an imagination of Julius Alejo
VICE MAYOR ALONSABE, JEFFREY WILL BE THE SUCCESSOR OF THE THRONE IN MAYOR'S PALACE ON 2013 POLLS ONLY: A PROMISE THAT ALONSABE WILL DO CAMPAIGN AGAIN AND SHOUT TO DEPEND ALIPAO'S INTEREST (JUANITO, MARYLOU WILL REST AND NOT TO JOIN IN POLITICS ANYMORE.) CALAY IS EXCITED!!!
SB MEMBERS FREDDIE ANIBIGNO, NERY ALINDAY, JULIE SALARDA, CONCEP ALMACEN, LARRIETE ALTUBAR, NICK ALLONES ARE AGAINST GRAFT & CORRUPTION......
.... BUT FULL SUPPORT AND MEMBER OF THE ALIPAO COMMISSION?
05/20/09 @ 18:16DEJA BOO
So what else is new?
I do not think TESDA is worth saving.
TESDA is yet another reincarnation of a government manpower development program that had not worked in the past and will not work now or ever for all the usual reasons (graft and corruption being only one of them).
Take TESDA's experience in Alimodian. It gave the politicians yet another opportunity to skim off government funds -- they staffed the employee plantilla with non-existent and/or non-essential positions from photocopier to fly swatter. I bet more money was spent on "administrative costs" than for actual training.
Training people on new skills is useless -- if afterward you do not follow up with assistance/financing to enable them to make use of their new skills.
From an old posting:
Comment from: al [Member]
11/03/06 @ 19:16
Last year the LGU and TESDA (Technical Education, Skills and Development Authority) conducted several livelihood training projects for Alimodiananons. Things like pottery-making, small-engine repair, buko processing, even reflexology and shiatsu. The idea was to train unemployed and underemployed Alimodiananons on new skills to enable them to earn a living or expand their income.
Of course since it was a government project, there was the quieme-quime about "utilizing the raw materials found locally" (like bamboo, peanut, buko, etc.).
Brilliant idea, right?
It does not take a brilliant mind to make the simple connection that for one to be able to benefit from some of the skills taught, one would need a little capital (microcredit), preferably NOT from the Bombay, and if you and the other trainees expect to expand your little business enterprises, you need a little help in marketing your goods and services.
Right?
Do you think TESDA and the LGU had figured this out before they spent government money to teach some Alimodiananons to make peanut brittle?
06/05/09 @ 23:39WHAT A BREAKING NEWS! TSISMIS! INTRIGA!
KAMO BALA BULOS SA PWESTO KAY MAS MAARAM MAN GALI KAMO..... MAARAM MAG IMBENTO ISTORYA!
06/06/09 @ 07:03PECULIAR JUSTIFICATION FOR INCOMPETENCE AND CORRUPTION
ISSUE 1:
Ordinarily I would let an anonymous comment like the above pass, but I've heard this from Alimodiananons all my life and I HAVE NEVER HEARD IT SAID ANYWHERE ELSE so it is time to ask the question:
IS THIS KIND OF "JUSTIFICATION" PECULIAR TO ALIMODIANANONS?
"Kamo bala bulos sa pwesto kay mas maaram man kamo."
Can you imagine Gloria Arroyo shutting up her critics with: Mas marunong pa kayo kesa akin, bakit hindi ninyo ako palitan?
(In a heartbeat, Ma'am, as soon as you resign!)
Or Barack Obama staring down his critics with: OK guys, if you are smarter than me, why don't you have my job?
(Sure, Barack, Hillary will in a heartbeat. New York Times editorial screams: Barack, lead or leave!)
ISSUE 2:
"Maaram mag imbento istorya."
How do you "fight back" against those who "invent stories"?
You inform and explain. You tell the inventors that their inventions do not pass the truth test. YOU DO NOT DISMISS THEM.
As we have said time and again, the political leadership in Alimodian has governed with this mantra: DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL, DON'T COMPLAIN.
So, Justification, I ask you: Who do these "servants of the people" think they are?
They make a good living off public funds and all they can come up with is: Kamo bala bulos sa pwesto kay mas maaram man gali kamo?
Shame on them and shame on you.
06/11/09 @ 02:24kamusta na kasimanwa!
si ed ni liwat dya ah.
daw karaku ka karadlawan nga nagakatabo sa banwa kon abi nyo inosente lang taga bukid kag dali kami nga magpati. Sang una ti, siguro dali kami nga mapati kay ang naga eksplikar kanamon lider man ka banwa. may dapat lang ako klarohon kon matuod dya tanan.....
ang 1.5 milyon nga kantidad ka resort ni mayor kuno bili ka binaligya na nga resort sa Guimaras, way back last year 2000 nga ang resort kuno bukon ti mag-asawa ang tag-iya. Karon, gin-ako naman nga anda kuno ang resort kag ginbaligya kag amo dia gingastos sa pagpaobra swimming pool kag develop ka resort na sa alimodian.
makadlaw kami sa 7-Cities kay ang resort na sa Guimaras waay pa man gali mabakal to hasta sa tulad!!!! hehehehe..... .
sunod pa gid, kay radyo puwak interesado kami nga maman-an ang ghost project dya sa 7-cities, kon matudlo mo kon ano nga project waay kami mahadlok nga sukton ang mayor kay suno sa amon analysis, kon waay lang ti hanggud gid nga kurakot sa banwa ta nagapati kami nga sementado rugid ang dalan paabot sa Umingan.
sa tulad, ang ginapadayaw nyo nga cagay to seven cities road, puro lang tinikal! halos biente ron ka tuig nga promisa dia hasta lang sa promisa. Waay man kami ti kongressman nga nakadumdum ron kanamon, waay man ti opisyales ka banwa ang nagakonsulta sa karon, pero sa masunod nga binulan siguo ginasiguro namon nga nagalagsanay ruman sanda dia ka lagaw-lagaw dya sa bukid dali ruman eleksyon!
Gani, nagapamati lang gid kami ka balita kag amon gid dya ginatun-an tanan. bukon man ti tanan dya makahangup, pero kon may kamatuoran, buruligi nyo kami nga mahangpan tanan dya ti insakto. Salamat gid.
06/13/09 @ 19:36MA-AN KANINYO AYY????!!! KAMO MAN LANG TAGA BUKID NAGBALIGYA KA DUNGOG NYO KADA ELEKSYON KAG KARON KAMO MAN GALI SAGAD REKLAMO?
KARON, HANUTON TA!!!!!
06/15/09 @ 12:46FEED THE KIDS PROGRAM
Click on the above link for photos taken during the launching of the "Feed the Kids" Program, a joint undertaking of CARE; the Alli Research Development Corporation (ARDC); the teaching staff of the Gelacio Allones Memorial Elementary School (GAMES), situated between Binalud and Balabago; and the Parents-Teachers Association of GAMES.
The beneficiaries of the program are the children enroled in the Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 2 classes.
Feeding is done every school day during the morning snack recess at 9:30 A.M., for the entire schoolyear.
We thank everyone who worked hard to conceptualize and implement the program, and who will be managing it throughout the schoolyear -- and, hopefully, beyond.
06/16/09 @ 20:44Hasta lang gid man dya sa tsismis kay sagad kamo ka wakal dya sa blog waay man ti nagasabat kaninyo! kamo lang nagahimo ka istorya, kamo man nagabinaisay, kamo man nagasabat ka suspetsa nyo kundi daw angay lang nga ginatapak-tapakan nyo ang banwang Alimodian.
Ang indi matuod indi daad pagpahanggodon pa gid ang isyu. Kon indi dya tanan matuod kundi mahuy-an kita tanan nga taga Alimodian?
Bisan sa blog man matuod pero masakit batyagon nga ang ginamulay ta kaugalingon ta nga lugar. Pahambog lang ang iban kay maaram mag English kundi sikat ka!!!! pero ang banwa mo nadugmok na sa mga isyu nga waay ti pulos.
Hasta san-o nyo tapuson dya nga intriga?
Hasta san-o kamo ma satisfied ka ginahimo nyo?
Siguro kay dya kamo malipay kundi padayuna nyo lang pero daad konsensyahon man kamo ka mga ginawangal nyo nga indi matuod pwera lang kon matuod kay basi suportahan pa kita.
Puro dya tanan tsismis kag intriga!
06/16/09 @ 21:27WELCOME TO:
ALIMODIAN ONLINE
"A place where Alimodiananons express their views and opinions."
From an old posting:
01/26/08 @ 22:45
"Someone described the recent back and forth discussion among Alimodiananons in this Blog as makahuruya.
"Makahuruya for whom?
"For people outside of Alimodian because they would think badly of Alimodian and Alimodiananons? Should we care about how we look from the outside?
"Of course we should. But that is not as important as how we look at ourselves. Why should we put on a kumbaya face when in reality we are deeply divided as a community and we do not even try to bridge the chasm?
"We should ask ourselves why things are the way they are, and turn to our better angels to make them better.
"It is also a reality that every day there are Alimodiananons in and outside of Alimodian who do their hometown proud. They are Alimodiananons who transcend the culture of politics and indifference and try to do right by the town of their birth.
"We should celebrate these Alimodiananons."
06/17/09 @ 09:07TSISMIS KAG INTRIGA – DEAL WITH IT!
There was a time when Alimodiananons who had complaints about their public officals were consigned to magkumod-kumod sa duok.
Not anymore. That time is gone. As in . . . Kaput. Forever.
Welcome to a brave, new world, where technology has empowered everyone who has access to the new information highway. Anyone – intrigira, tsismosa, pasikat, malisyoso, do-gooder, whiner, you name it – who has something, anything to say, gets a chance to say it, and his/her opinion – useless, useful, malicious, whatever – gets transmitted instantaneously to almost all corners of planet Earth.
Is this good or bad? The question is irrelevant. You cannot put the genie back into the bottle.
For better or worse, this Blog is NOT going away. The intrigira and tsismosa among us are NOT going away.
So, a friendly advise to the defenders of the status quo in Alimodian: DEAL WITH IT!
How about coming up with a “strategy” to deal with the intriga and tsismis in the new world of technology?
Like:
Adopting “transparency” as the guiding principle of governance?
Informing and explaining to the Alimodiananons every public action/decision they make through regular information dissemination via public notices, LGU website, flyers, public hearings, town hall meetings – and, I dare say, BLOGGING IN THIS WEB SITE? (You ignore this Web site at your peril. LOL!)
Accounting for money raised and spent in public fundraising activities like the town fiesta, and even private activities where public officials are involved?
Acknowledging letters sent to you by private citizens of Alimodian?
To name a few.
Whining and complaining about intriga and tsismis will do you no good. Hurling insulto personal to those who criticize the actions of the public officials will not get very far.
The rest of us has adjusted (or is trying to adjust) to the realities of a world that is no longer the world as we knew it 10 or 20 years ago.
The public officials of Alimodian should do no less. Otherwise, the 21st century will pass them by in a way that consigns them to kumod-kumod sa duok.
06/17/09 @ 20:43I have my heart to those who complain about somebody being reclamador,tsismosa,insultador etc.
my symphaty is in terms of hey! i'm with you because your heart is bleeding,and you might be lossing a lot of sleep.and remember lack of sleep could be dangerous to your health.
At the same i have to blame you, because you're too sensitive and too weak to tackle and admit that, the roots of all this tsismis kag manga reclamo is the greedyness of these people whom you think gin-tapakan or gin insulto.at least in your own opinion,not the opinion of many.
I have to admit that Angiol Loredo is a hard hitting New York trained heavy weight journalist.
I'm not defending Angiol,nor she needs me to defend her.this my honest opinion.
way i look she is giving us a favor by gradually transforming us to a more aware and more open minded community.which i think is healthy to our future political leaders.
the changing of the guard is within our door step.21st century is here.the old era is leaving and this is a new beginning.
I can compare her to Manny Pacqiao,best pound for pound undefeated journalist in her class.
she is a clean fighter believe me or not.and she can always hold her own. Alimodian is Lucky to have Nang Angiol.
06/20/09 @ 08:02FEED THE KIDS PROGRAM
Because of limited resources, the FEED THE KIDS PROGRAM at the Gelacio Allones Memorial Elementary School could cover only a limited number of students (Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 2). It breaks our heart that students from Grade 3 to Grade 6 are left out of the program. Moreover, there are components, such as a decent kitchen facility, cutlery items like cups, saucers, spoons, and cooking utensils, that must be built and/or bought.
In other words, the FEED THE KIDS PROGRAM could use additional help in cash or in kind from friends in and out of Alimodian.
If you are interested in helping, you may contact any of the following:
ADOLFO C. CASORLA, of ARDC
MICHELLE ANN T. LOREDO, of CARE
ALLEN ALITRE, of GAMES
ELSA STA. CRUZ, of GAMES PTA
RACHEL EMBATE, Kindergarten Teacher
MYRAVIC ALIPAT,Grade I Teacher
RUBY AMBOT, Grade II Teacher
EVELINA ALGARJA, H.E. Teacher, In-Charge, Kitchen Team
ELVIRA A. CASORLA, of ARDC
Thank you.
06/26/09 @ 04:54GREAT!
"Angiol Loredo is a hard hitting New York trained heavy weight journalist.
I'm not defending Angiol,nor she needs me to defend her.this my honest opinion.
way i look she is giving us a favor by gradually transforming us to a more aware and more open minded community.which i think is healthy to our future political leaders.
the changing of the guard is within our door step.21st century is here.the old era is leaving and this is a new beginning.
I can compare her to Manny Pacqiao,best pound for pound undefeated journalist in her class.
she is a clean fighter believe me or not.and she can always hold her own. Alimodian is Lucky to have Nang Angiol."
IF YOU ARE A GREAT AND CONCERNED ALIMODIANANON WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT THE IRRESPONSIBLE SAND AND GRAVEL QUARRY CONCESSIONAIRES IN ALIMODIAN INVOLVING YOUR RELATIVES? INVOLVING THE FAMILY OF THE RICH AND FAMOUS ALIMODIANANONS HERE AND ABROAD? QUARRY CONCESSIONAIRES WHO CONTINUALLY FEED (BRIBE) POLITICIANS AT THE MUNICIPAL HALL OF ALIMODIAN?
06/26/09 @ 13:55FRANKLY, MY DEAR . . . (Rhett Butler, in Gone with the Wind)
Noah,
Ti, mirisi mo.
But thanks, anyway.
________
I do not need defending. Moreover, there is nothing I need or want to defend in my life.
Therefore, KARMA, don't waste your time on me.
06/26/09 @ 20:55indi tanan taga bukid baraklon ti sengkwenta ukon isa ka gatos kag baylo na dungog na kag masugot tapak-tapakon ka politiko tapos eleksyon kay nabakal na!!!!
ang punto ko nga insa amo ron dia ka garapal ang panakaway sa banwa ta daw puro mga hangag tawo sa banwa nga waay ti isa nga nag akusar kay juaning alipao?
yes, nakita ko man ang resort kay nakasulod man ako kag huring-huring man lang nga mga laborer sa munisipyo amo mga panday kag darwa ka utility worker sa mayor's office ang mga sweldo nand kundi sa munisipyo dia? pero tanan siguro recorded man di-a eh.
pamangkot, pamangkot, pamangkot, pamangkot, pamangkot!!!!!!!!! sin-o ma umpisa ka inbistigar dya bay si Manong Blog?
kon hadlok kamo nga taga banwa, mas manol pa gid tamon nga taga bukid eh, pero da-ad klarohay lang kay insakto man si justification insa dya sa blog puro isug sa hambal pero kon matured kita nga Alimodiananons umpisahan ta ron tulad eh kay indi kami magpati nga taga bukid kon oras ron ka kampanya magbuyayaway sa entablado nga daw waay ti mga tinun-an.
ano ron balita sa ghost projet sa seven cities? kay waay man masugpunan ang mga sabat nyo kundi dudahan na lang nga tsismis. ang ebidensya kinahanglan ta!!!!!
06/29/09 @ 06:13Well..again akon personal opinion ko lang dya. wa-ay takon ti kontra kay indi man takon pilitico. sa liwan basi may na offend ako sa akon views and opinion but hten again we're free to express our opinion especially when it comes to our public servants where their salary is being paid by the people.
Now! my point is..kay nanotisyahan ko nga si Ed Aldamar naga dugo gid ang kasing-kasing sa issue nga taga bukid, ti mag hulag kamo eh.. ipakita kay OT-OT MAYOR ALIPAO kag sa FIRST LADY nga kamo indi ma bakal kag ipakita sa taga banwa nga nag sala sanda sa anda pag pati.
again my personal opinion, i don't think their is any difference if you are from bukid or banwa at all.i don't want to draw a line between banwa and baryo we're all the same. TUMANDOK NGA TAGA ALIMODIAN.
indi dya madara sa dugsan-dugsan sakit ka bo-ut okon basulay. you need to take action. politics is a game mind and action.a lot of efford and creativity to win the game. ang akon gamay lang nga advice dya unsolisited advice actually.
kong gusto ninyo change do something about it. i think the Alipao's will gracefully accept their defeat if that's the will of the people. they we're civilized people and they understand how the philippine politics works, and they know how to take advanthage of it.they're not alone it's up to the people to decide.FOUR more years or GO FOR RETIREMENT.
THAT'S WHY THEIR AN ELECTION. AND ELECTION MEANS CHANGE.AND CHANGE YES! YOU CAN!
07/14/09 @ 05:56comments, comments and comments!!!!
kag ang ma comment ko lang kay ed aldamar basi uruhi ron timo sa balita ukon waay pa ikaw kamaan ka mga balita, about ghost project, kon dyan kamo sa abroad makita nyo dia sa SERBISYO GARANTISADO battle cry ka mag-asawa - underlined - MAG-ASAWA propaganda dya, waay ti namas-angan mga SB na dya kag vice mayor. mayad bala dia nga karwa ka beses gid si Fr. Palmos kag Assistant Parish Priest mag blessing ka road network project kuno. Try to see the tugaslon road kag cagay to tabug road nga blessing kag intersecsion ka tarug kag malamhay??? karwa gid mag blessing kag kakatlo turn-over ceremony na kon dali na lang eleksyon.
take a look at the Alimodian Town Fiesta Souvenir Book, daw mga otis man taga kasimanwa ta sa abroad kuno mag subscribe ka libro pero waay sanda kamaan nga ginatiplang ron sanda. Buot hambalon, karwa mag blessing on ONE AND THE SAME ROAD NETWORK PROJECT. Lantawa ang 2007, 2008, kag 2009 souvenir book kay amo man gihapon nga pictures, write ups lang nagla-in, so, natontohan gani kag nagapati tawo sa abroad nga labing mga maalam, ikaw pa ayhan Ed nga taga bukid???
amo ra, patawag gani meyor ka blessing ceremony, ihaw kamo baboy kag manok durupan nyo kaon kay kada barangay nga may blessing kag turn-over ceremony P 15,000.00 budget ka mag-asawa dia. kundi nagtanga lang tinyo kag nagpalakpak sa mensahe ka meyor. Gali, ang mga karsadahon sa bukid, tiempo pa kanday SB Ponsoy Almira kag Greg Amarra nga project, nga amo mangud ginapa blessing. Ginkapol-kapolan lang dia ka ispalto. AMO DIA ANG ISA KA MGA GHOST PROJECT NGA DAPAT NYO TUKIBON SA BUKID. ano abi kay tawag nga opisyales ka banwa bisita nyo, daw mga buk-an kamo nga dayon saludo kag magwaras ka amoma kananda kundi nalikupan mata nyo ka ghost project waay kamo kamaan.....???
dali na lang 2010 election busy naman blessing ni padre kag cash advance of P 15,000 per event, ta!!! attend kamo to kag mamangkot kon diin ang ghost project....!
07/30/09 @ 03:32REPORMA KAG PAGBAG-O!! duha dia ka ordinaryo nga maga tinaga apang tama kabudlay kag mabug-at patigayunon kon naga-isahanon kag dili pag-ugyonan sang tanan.
sa aton tulad mapin-ot kag malisod nga pangabuhi, ang dyang REPORMA KAG PAGBAG-O sa halos tanan nga aspeto kang aton kabuhi, bilang indibidwal man ukon katilingban, amo lamang ang yabi nga makabukas sang ganhaan para kita makagwa sa madulom nga karsel nga aton napahamtangan tulad.
apang mahimo lamang dia kon ang kada isa ka naton maghimo kang ana bahin kang PAGREPORMA KAG PAGPANIBAG-O sugod sa anang kaugalingon.
dapat mahangpan gid naton nga ang tanan nga nagakatabo sa kabuhi kang tawo, maayo man ukon malain, nagasugod dia sa kon ano ana "handum" kag "luyag," sa ana "damgo" kag "plano." amo dia ang pinakasadsaran kang mahimo mangin panglantaw kang sara sa katawo sa "kabuhi" kag "pangabuhi." amo man dia ang magahatag direksyon kana sa ordinaryo nga pagkabuhi kang ana pangabuhi. amo dia kon ngaa makasiling kita nga ang sahi kang kabuhi nga ginakabuhi kang sara ka tawo maathag nga nagapakita kang ana panglantaw kang "kabuhi" kag "pangabuhi."
sa diang mga nagakatabo karon sa aton kabuhi, dapat mangin mahinangpanon kita nga isa dia ka kahimtangan nga nagakinahanglan kang personal kag pangkatilingbanon na sabat. matuod, ang pagbag-o kag reporma nagasugod sa kaugalingon, apang indi dia mabatyagan kon sara lang ka tawo ang nagahimo ka dia. kinahanglan ang kada isa maghimo kang ana bahin apang ulolupod nga nagatamod sa isa lamang ka padulongan- REPORMA KAG PAGBAG-O.
kon mangin mapinamalandongon kita, mahangpan naton nga ang aton panahon karon nagatulod kanaton sa paghugpong kag sa pag-isa kang aton aton handum kag kaisipan. indi dia ang panahon kang pagsipak kag pagka maiya-iyahon. kon malyag kita nga may REPORMA KAG PAGBAG-O nga matabo sa aton kabuhi kag banwa, dapat naton pabaskugon ang talikala nga nagaangot kanaton sa sara kag sara, magtuon kita magpasilabot sa mga nagakatabu sa aton palibot, magbuylog sa mga grupo nga may kridibilidad nga nagapatigayon kang amat-amat nga pagbag-o kag nagapukaw kang aton panimuot nga mangin responsabli nga mga tawo kag pumuloyu kang aton banwa.
kinahanglanon gid dia kon malyag kita nga may matabo nga REPORMA KAG PAGBAG-O sa aton katilingban. kon indi kita maghugpong magapabilin kita nga maluya kag madali malutos kag padayon kita nga himoslan kag abusohon kang mga yara sa poder nga nagapamintaha... ang tingog magapabilin... MaGaMaY nGa TiNgOg..
07/30/09 @ 06:43"REFORMA KAG PAGBAG-O"
This, is a well founded call, I agree 101%
But to whom I should coordinate?
Where I could find him, them?
What shall I do or could do?
And so on?
07/30/09 @ 16:55If you often read this bolg, Angiol Loredo once give her smart advice and opinion about and how to tackle the political situation in Alimodian.
Once or twice i appeal to our opposition leaders or i should say "Kasimanwa's who also wants to render their service to alimodian,"thru HOT PANAWAGAN kag PA-TAGRING to organize themselves and give mayor ALIPAO "A RUN FOR HIS MONEY" this coming election.
The way i observe this gentleman has never been seriously challenge in the past race, for some obvious reason he don't have a strong,if not so organized opponents.
Daw wa-ay man epek kag daw naga pa ningkoy man ang gina ku-on nanda nga mga oppositon.ti ano dya bay? asta lang kamo reclamo sa do-ok? abotan lang dya roman kita ka tag mara-is.
I'm sure OT-OT Alipao would love to serve his final four years,and he might finally said "I DID MY SHARE AND GOT MY GOOD CHUNCK OF SHARE."
if Alimodian allow him again. why not!
It's a priviledge and it's a good business opportunity! Gosh san-o pa kamo mag hulag.kong patay ron ang kabayo?
08/10/09 @ 04:20mga taga-abroad, waay man kamo makatongtong sa abroad kon indi bangud sa quarry sa banwa ta kay amo ra capital nyo maka skwela kag makalakat dyan sa abroad, kag karon kamo pa magahud!
balikda man ginhalinan nyo antis kamo magpakamaalam.
08/13/09 @ 03:30MAG-UGYON KAG MAGPASILABOT!!
sa mga nag-uyang kang tyempo kag nagtingoha nga hangpon ang dyang akon kubos nga panan-awan, salamat gid!!
REPORMA KAG PAGBAG-O!! indi di-a matigayon kon ang mga tawo nga natungdan ukon mga pumoluyu indi MAG-UGYON KAG MAGPASILABOT! kon indi ang mga tawo magbaton sa kaugalingon sang kamatuoran nga sila ang mayor nga manugpatigayon kang anda handom.
paano bala kita MAG-UGYON KAG MAGPASILABOT? isa sa epiktibo nga paagi nga nakita ko, amo di-a ang ginahimo karon kang aton simbahan nga pagporma kang Gagmay nga Kristiyanong Katilingban ukon BEC sa mga kabaranggayan kag distrito. paagi kadyang BEC gina-edukar kag ginahugpong ang mga tawo paagi sa pagpamuklat kang anda mga mata sa matuod ka kahimtangan kang aton pangabuhi kag sosyodad, kag kon ano ang aton dapat himuon. nagapasalamat gid takon kay bro. mark nga sa ana paglibot kag pagsapol sa mga kabaranggayan sa mga distrito sa pagpahangop kag pagpaathag kang pagka-importante kang bahin kang BEC sa aton handum nga REPORMA KAG PAGBAG-O, daw nabuhi ya akon paglaum nga makatibawas pa kita sa kadyang mapi-ot naton nga kahimtangan kon mag-ugyon lang ang tanan.
nagapati gid takon, nga sa katapusan ginpamati-an gid man kang Mahal nga Diyos ang buhay ron nga ugayong kag panalambiton kang ana mga anak dia sa alimodian nga nagapangayu kang REPORMA KAG PAGBAG-O. salamat man kay paagi sa dia nga inisyatibo kang mga tawo nga yara sa simbahan nga nagakabalaka bukon lamang sang mga kalag apang subong man sa aton kahimtangan, ang mga tawo, ilabe nagid ang mga tawo sa bukid nga ginapamintaha-an sang mga bintahuso bangod kang anda kakulang kang ihibalo kag kapigadohon, sa amat-amat na edukar kang anda bahin kag kinamatarong bilang mga Kristiyano kag banwahanon.
para kanakon, amo ron dia siguro ang ginahulat naton nga tion nga patigayunon naton ang REPORMA KAG PAGBAG-O sa aton kabuhi bilang mga taga-alimodian. apang indi bilang indibidwal kag naga-sarahanon, kundi bilang mga tawo nga nagahugpong sa pihak kang aton pagkalain-lain padulong sa sara lamang ka tuyo... REPORMAHON KAG BAG-OHON ang aton sitwasyon.
sa kadyang panahon nga lapit dulang eleksyon, naga amat-amat ruman gwa ang mga man-og sa anda buho agud limbongan naman ang mga tawo, gani panahon ruman siguro agud pabakuron naton ang aton talikala kang paghugpong agud pamatukan ang mga pagpatalang nga mga taktika.
kon ang barangay nagahugpong kag nagabinuligay sa tunga kang anda mapi-ot nga kahimtangan kag kapigaduhon, nagapati takon nga indi ron ma-intu ka mga politiko ang mga kubos paagi sa kon ano man nga mga pasarig kag taw-taw, bangud mata-o man sanda kag indi sa panahon kang eleksyon wara dia bili sa tawo kay sa anda lang nagabinuligay ron sanda. mag amo dia ang sitwasyon, madula-an ron gid man ngipon ang mga bintahuso nga nagakalit kang sitwasyon kang aton mga kasimanwa.
nagapangabay gid ako sa mga kasimanwa ta sa alimodian, ugyonan naton ang ginahimo kang simbahan kag ni bro. mark nga pag-edukar kag paghugpong kang aton mga barangay, distrito kag banwa.. nagapati ako amo ron dia ang panugod kang aton ginadamgo nga REPORMA KAG PAGPANIBAG-O.
sa mga wara ka kilala kay bro. mark, puropamangkot lang sa mga tawo sa simbahan, BAC kag barangay officials sang mga distrito 2,5,6,7 kag 8 nga nakatapos ron kang anda BEC orientation, agud mahangpan nyo kon ano ang anda pagsakripisyo ma-edukar kag mahugpong lang kita nga mga alimodiananon.
08/13/09 @ 06:06Sounds like their is a ground works in the making?. you're trying to revive the dry and battered abused grass roots,fertilized them and watered them.this is the way it should be long time ago.
That is a very encouraging sign. MABUHAY!
we're hoping that you guys will cover the whole 9 yards and will make the grounds even,so that everybody can enjoy a fair game,by giving any body a fair shot to serve and make some changes in Alimodian.FRESH MIND,FRESH BODY,FRESH IDEA.
we know their are some high caliver personality out there? "ALIMODIAN IS VERY RICH IN TALENT" all they need is the oppotunity to deliver.
GOOD LUCK! PLEASE KEEP US POSTED!
08/13/09 @ 18:48REFORM and CHANGE
Except for the few who make a good living off and have a vested interest in the status quo, most of us do not need to be convinced of the need for REFORM and CHANGE.
It's like Motherhood, Nationalism, the Flag, and Apple Pie -- everybody is for it.
What we should be doing instead is listing down the SPECIFIC WAYS in which we can bring about change and reform -- and, more importantly, DOING THEM.
The problem is, most of the time, when we say REFORM and CHANGE, all we could think of is POLITICAL reform and change -- as in, THROW THE OLD RASCALS OUT, BRING THE NEW RASCALS IN.
As we say time and again, sapwan lang kita kung hulaton ta ang gobyerno to make things right for us.
Of course having a progresive and enlightened leadership at the helm of the LGU makes a big difference.
But if you don't have it, it does not mean the leadership for change and reform could not come from the private citizens themselves.
The sad fact, however, is that when it comes to addressing the many economic and social problems of Alimodian, poverty and education, to name two, indi lang nga waay ti mga "leaders," waay man ti mga "followers".
Think, for instance, of the still-young retired professionals in Alimodian and the contribution they could (still) make to the progress of the town. The means by which they could make a difference in the lives of their kasimanwas, especially the children, are countless.
Yet, some of them spend valuable time, energy, and money sa madyongan. Day in and day out.
How do you achieve reform and change in a mahjong table?
08/14/09 @ 04:29PAGKAPATAY SA KAUGALINGON
wala kang REPORMA KAG PAGBAG-O nga matabo kon ang kada isa indi anay magtingoha nga mapatay sa ana kaugalingon: bugal, kadalok, pagkamaanaanahon, pagkawaray pasilabot, kag iban pa nga mga nigatibo nga kinaugali nga amo ang nagaupang kang aton handum kag malyag lab-uton.
tama gid ra ka ayad-ayad nga raku ang nagahandum kang PAGBAG-O KAG REPORMA, nga raku ang nagapaabot nga makatibawas sa aton mapi-ot nga kahimtangan. apang wala dia ti madangan kung magpabilin lamang kita nga nagapaabot kag nagahandum pero wara man kita naga-ugyon kag nagapasilabot.
admitiron naton nga kon kaisa daw indi gid naton malikawan nga indi makakomentar sa mga nagakaratabo sa aton pangabuhi kag sosyodad, apang panahon ruman siguro nga dapat naton kumbinsihon ang aton kaugalingon nga wara dia ti bungahon kon magpabilin lamang kita sa level nga komentarista kag indi taton magpasilabot kag mag-ugyon sa mga nagatinguha nga maghupong kag mag-isa kang aton mga kasimanwa.
kang una nagalibog aton ulo bangud raku ang nagakomentaryo apang wara man ti naga-una tindog, kar-on dia dun, knahanglan ta dulang mag-upod kag maghimo ti panindugan upod sa iban.
08/14/09 @ 09:24YOU ARE OBSOLUTELY RIGHT GaMay nGa tiNgOg.
just for example few years back when we created a CARE/DEAR project design of easing up the burden to our parents and board of Ed when it comes to reading materials and text books for their school Kids and adults as well.
We haven't get any positive response the fact that,this is for for them, not for us. now the books and reading materials are getting dusty and ineffecient.
awareness and getting involve in any community activities is a good thing. it makes you a good citizen and a productive human being.
that's my personnal opinion based to my personal experienced here in States.anybody could dispute that, and that's fine.
just don't put any malice of what you're or something you feel like you're looking cute,and you want a vote in return, but just do what you suppose to do. helping and getting involve.
NOW! i just wan't you to make aware that our CARE/DEAR project is still "ALIVE AND KICKING" and we need people like you to help us, push this through for a common good.
JUST TALK TO MICHELLE ANN LOREDO SHE'LL BRIEF YOU THE DYNAMICS OF HOW THESE PROJECT WORKS.
SALAMAT GID.
08/15/09 @ 11:10SAME TIME, EVERY FIVE YEARS?
Dear President Arroyo,
My, my, we are beginning to believe that you have a special place in your heart for Alimodian, and that you really, really love us Alimodiananons.
No one, not your handlers, and certainly not the LGU officials who are no doubt relishing another photo op, will call your attention to the fact that, in a manner of speaking, you are returning to the SCENE OF THE CRIME.
Am sure you remember, Ma’am, your first visit to our beloved town almost five years ago, when, with the attendant pomp and circumstance, you inaugurated the PhP42 million Nichols Bridge.
What a wonderful day it was.
Among others, the bridge, to quote the Mayor, “will contribute enormously to the continuing expansion of agricultural trade, and play a major role in the growth and stability of the economy of the municipalities of Alimodian and San Miguel.”
Of course three and a half years later the bridge was gone.
Three and a half years! That's less than one dog year.
It did not exactly came as a surprise to most of us. Because we had seen it happen again and again, the predictable refrain when the calamity happened was:
What do you expect of a government project?
Granting the river current was unprecedented during Tyhoon “Frank,” shouldn’t we have built a bridge that anticipated the worst-case scenario?
If something like this happened in, say, Japan or Korea, someone associated with the construction of the project would have jumped off the bridge in shame.
So here we are again. Déjà vu all over again.
We welcome the reconstruction of the Nichols Bridge -- with a fervent prayer that this time around it will last more than three and a half years. Better yet, that it will OUTLIVE you, Ma’am, and everyone present in the latest photo op.
Sincerely,
A CONCERNED ALIMODIANANON
08/16/09 @ 03:09Sorry, but were used to it, and we thank her for the visit, at least a day had passed and we have a nice ride from Alimodian to Iloilo City and vice versa. We wish she will visit Alimodian every day LOL>
08/16/09 @ 07:43I'm sure madam president had good time in Alimodian.
Afer that controversial dinner at trendy French restaurant here in New York,and a lost of 23 servicemen in fighting against muslim exstremist in Basilan and Jolo islands,she deserve a WARM SINAKOL AND A HOT NATIVE CHOCOLATE from us.
We applaude the LGU especially the MAYOR for pushing the Nichols bridge recontruction project through.our kasimanwas deserve that kind of effeciency from their local public servants.
i don't know if this effeciency is driven by political manouvering in Alimodian because of the timing.election is just around the corner.
well..as what some folks said.,"timing is everything" looks like the LGU is hitting the nail right in the head.
as a private citizen of Alimodian i give Mayor Alipao and the LGU A+ for their unpresedented effort for making this reconstruction possible.
keep up a good job ladies and gentlemen.
08/16/09 @ 21:07I'm sure GMA arrived in Alimodian by helicopter. How best can you show the potholes created by these big quarry trucks? This is one project that should not have been re-done if it was done right the first time. How many more of these "inaugurations" will happen for this same bridge? The question is, as asked again and again, who will benefit more? It's like a game where you are happily distributing something and it goes, "one for you, two for me"
08/17/09 @ 01:59LAIKO SA POLITIKA...
“Yadtong may mga talento para sa mabudlay kag halangdon nga patag sang pamolitika … dapat mag-aman sang ila kaugalingon para diri, kag sang may pagkalimot sa ila mismo konbinyente kag mga materyal nga interises, dapat sila magpakigbahin sa hilikuton politika” (Gaudium Spes 75).
“Ang direkta nga pagpakigbahin sa patag sang pagsulondan-politika isa ka pinasahi nga responsibilidad sang mga laiko sa Simbahan …. ila ini pinasahi nga hilikuton sa pagpanibag-o sang kalibutanon nga pagsulondan suno sa mga prinsipyo kag values sang Ebanghelyo” (CBCP, “Pastoral Exhortation on Philippine Politics,” 1997).
pila lamang dia sa mga dokumento nga ginapahayag sa ka dia lang mga sulat kang mga obispo nga akon nakita sa CBCP web.
tulad ko lang gid nahangpan ang katahum kang mga ginatudlo kang simbahan bisan pa sa linya kang politika nga kon sundon lang kang tanan nga mga Kristiano nga mga politiko hanggod gid ang mahimo sa aton handum nga PAGBAG-O.
sa dia man kadia nga naka-isip ako, NGAA INDI NATON PAGTULOD KAG SUPPORTAHAN ang mga laikong pangulo nga nagaalagad sa aton simbahan NGA MANGIN KANDIDATO sa election... ang sulat kang CBCP nagahambal: "1. Nagapanawagan kami sa mga yadtong may igkasarang, mga tawo nga may integridad kag komitedo sa pagpanibag-o, sa pag-intra direktamenti sa prinsipyado nga partisan politics kag mangin kandidato para sa eleksyon-politikal; mahinangpanon nga ang kaayohan kummon labaw sang sa vested interests; kag 2. Ginapahanumdom namon ang mga laiko nga yara sa ila kinamatarong, kag subong man ila katungdanan ang pagkampanya para sa mga kandidato nga ila ginapatihan nga makasarang, tampad, kag may panimuot sang public-service agud mariporma ang aton pungsod."
para kanakon, panahon ron gid man siguro nga magpangita kita kang mga laikong alagad nga pwede naton matulod nga mangin kandidato sa eleksyon... ang mga laiko nga nababad sa sitwasyon kang aton mga tawo sa kabaranggayan kag sigurado nga makapanindogan sa sitwasyon kang aton mga tawo sa barangay... ang mga laiko nga may mapag-on nga diterminasyon para sa kaaraydan kang mga tawo....
08/17/09 @ 21:37Agree takon kanimo "gamay nga tingog"!!
Si Bro. Mark bala.. ngaa indi naton pagkombensihon? Ambot kon pwede tana kara maka intra sa politika kag maka kandidato?
Kon pwede, ngaa indi naton tana pagkombensihon kag suportahan...?
Haros tanan nga mga barangay kag BAC officials sa mga barangay, labi na ang sa uma kag bukid nga nakatapos dun kang anda BEC orientation, nakamaan gid kon daw ano ang mga sakripisyo ni Bro. Mark nga ma-edukar sanda kag mahugpong.
Sa mga malyag makilala si Bro. Mark kag ang ana mga ginapanghimo sa aton banwa, husto ang imbetasyon ni "gamay nga tingog," buylog kita sa anda ginapanghimo sa simbahan nga BEC building for people empowerment through education and formation towards realistic, sustainable and lasting development.
Kabay pa may makakombensi kay Bro. Mark nga mag-intra sa politika kag gamiton ang ana naman-an sa BEC sa patag kang panghimanwa. KABAY PA!!
08/18/09 @ 04:55thanks tabing ilog...
ambot lang kon ma-entra ra si bro. mark sa politika kay daw ga obra man ra tana sa san agustin...
kon may among ed sa pampangga, may bro. mark man taton dya sa alimodian...
pero dapat raku kita nga magkombensi kana kon malyag gid man kita kag dapat suportahan gid naton tana.
08/25/09 @ 05:05The Luisa Bridge?
This bridge is located along the Freedom Highway just a few meters away from the Municipal Hall of Alimodian going to Balabago. This bridge was named after the grand grand mother of the Caparangas' and the Sta. Cruzes according to my lolo because this bridge is just adjacent to her house lot. It was built during the Spanish era but no one could tell the exact date.
Recently, a passenger jeepney fall in the vicinity of Luisa Bridge losing four lives. A week later a portion of that bridge eroded and the LGU closed the same for traffic. When President Arroyo scheduled a visit in Alimodian, DPWH personnel constructed a bailey bridge on top of Luisa Bridge and completed the construction in 24 hours, just enough for the President pass along it going to Iloilo City from Alimodian.
During the President visit, our local chief executive handed to the President a Resolution requesting the Office of the President to immediately replace and construct a new bridge in its lieu. This resolution was passed by the Sangguniang Bayan by a majority vote of 7 against 3. These 3 local legislator are Hon. Alejo, Hon. Amba and Hon. Alonday. At the same time the Alimodian Heritage Society, Inc., handed to the President their resolution requesting the President to declare Luisa Bridge as a heritage and cultural edifice and requesting for its immediate restoration.
The LGU argued that immediate replacement should be made for this bridge is a vital link to the City of Iloilo from Alimodian. Farm product is being transported from Alimodian to other communities in Iloilo and goods from other places to Alimodian via Luisa Bridge.
The Alimodian Heritage Society on the other hand argue that Luisa Bridge being a Spanish built bridge becomes a cultural and heritage site of Alimodian that should be preserved, conserved and protected by Alimodiananon. According to them, it should not be replaced instead it should be restored.
As of this date there was no detailed civil engineering study on how to do the replacement nor the restoration of the historical bridge.
At any rate, what the majority of Alimodiananon think about this. A replacement or a restoration?
08/25/09 @ 22:50To kanal:
Looks like this is putting the cart before the horse. It your report is true that there is no detailed study done, how can the SB pass a resolution to "REPLACE", without knowing what the costs are, how it is going to be done, what the alternatives are, etc. With election coming up, someone may have thought this is a good opportunity to be "seen" and at the same time earning some "extra" pocket money. This bridge has withstood time, and even the brutality of the big quarry trucks passing everyday. In the first place, the SB should have these maintained and these accidents could have been avoided. I will always go for restoration if possible as things like these which are part of history ca never be replaced.
08/26/09 @ 02:08PANGHANGKAT KANG PANAHON...
kang domingo naka attend ako kang BEC orientation nga ginhimo kang simbahan para sa mga barangay officials, purok leaders kag BAC officers kang poblacion.
si bro. mark ang nagta-o kang orientation bilang volunteer pastoral coordinator kang parokya kag sa ana pagpatpat kang aton kahimtangan kar-on kag kang tuyo kang BEC nga ginahimo sa aton parokya, haros tanan nga tumalambong naghirisugot sa matahom nga tuyo kag mahimo bungahon kang dya nga ginahimo kang simbahan.
tuya man nga nakamaan takon nga suno sa data nga ginpagwa kang commission on the laity kang CBCP, syado gali ka bahol kang porkbarel kang mga kongresman kag senador kada tuig: P70m/kongresman kag P200m/senador = P22.5 billion kada tuig ang ginapagwa nga pondo kang DBM. apang sa likod ka dia, 89.7M nga populasyon kang Pilipinas, 2.8M ka pamilya ang ginagutom, 18M ka mga pamatan-on nga naga edad 15-24 wara ti obra.
haros tanan kami nga nagtambong kang orientation daw nakakita kang paglaom sa kadyang ginahimo kang simbahan, paagi sa aton mga lideres nga laiko, nga maedukar kita nga mga pumuluyo kon paano kita makapasilabot sa pagpalakat kang aton gobyerno. nalipay man takon sa ginkuon ni bro. mark nga sa ana paglibot sa mga distrito sa pag-orient sa mga lideres kang barangay kag BAC raku ang nakabugtaw kag nakahangop nga ang pagka-kristiyano gali bukon ti liwan sa pagka Pilipino, kag raku ang nagapati nga husto di-a ang ginahimo kang simbahan nga pagpaintendi sa ana mga kaanakan nga ginaabusohan ka mga bintahuso bangod wara sanda ti may na masngaan kon ano nagakatabo sa anda gobyerno.
nalipay gid takon nga sa paglibot kang mga tagasimbahan sa mga distrito nangin positibo ang sabat kang mga tawo kag nagadali man sanda nga matukod ang BEC sa anda barangay, labi na sa mga tagabukid nga sa masami amo ang ginapamintahaan kang mga bintahuso bangud kang anda sitwasyon kag kakulang kang madalom nga paghangop kang mga nagakatabo sa aton sosyodad. nagapati takon nga sa dili madugay makabugtaw ron gid man ang aton mga kasimanwa kag makapanindogan nga wara nagasarig sa pahamham kang mga bintahuso. imagina lang kon ang mga taga barangay nagabuligay ron kag nagahurogpong sa anda kaugalingon, laban-laban, indi ron sanda mapahog kang mga politiko nga kon indi magboto wara 500 o proyekto, bangod may ita-o man tana kag wara ang mga politiko sanda mismo nagabuligay ron. kon amo di-a daw raku gid mawad-an ti papay kay bukon ron ma intu ang tawo kag mapapintahaan.
sa dya nga pagpangabudlay kang mga lideres kang simbahan, salamat gid nga madamo!! kay bro. mark nga bisan bukon gid tumandok kang alimodian, salamat gid sa ana pag-ulikid kag mga pagsakripisyo para sa kaaraydan kang banwa kag simbahan naton dya. nalipay man takon maman-an nga bangod kang ana pagpalangga sa banwa kag aton parokya, nagdesider tana mag-istar dya sa alimodian kag magparehistro para lang makabulig kanaton. apang may naka-istorya kanakon nga daw ginaplanohan tana gani nga pahalinon sa ana gina-istaran bangod kang ana ginahimo nga pag-edukar sa mga tawo. daw may nagaplano pa gani kuno nga mag-adto kay fr. palmos para pa untaton si bro. mark bilang lay minister kang banwa kag pahalinon tana sa parokya.
kon matuod di-a, nagapanawagan takon sa tanan ko nga kasimanwa nga dampigan naton kag buligan si bro. mark kag pabatyag ta sa mga nagaguba kana nga dya kita nga handa magbulig kay bro. mark kag sa ana maayo nga ginahimo sa aton banwa kag parokya.
08/26/09 @ 05:48To lw32:
I'm very sorry I misspelled the name of the bridge correctly, it is Eloisa Bridge not Luisa, please bear my mistake folks.
To tell the long story of maneuvering, the accident happened the 31st of July 2009. During that accident, a portion of adobe brick of almost 2 to 3 tons in weight and measuring about 3 feet in thickness, 3 feet wide and 6 feet long dropped from its lofty base and I believe it is a part of the bridge railings on the right side of the bridge going to Balabago. That adobe maybe had been bumped by the jeep and fall to the creek below hitting the front cowl of the jeep that had fallen first. I have a lot of times passing the bridge and that adobe brick had gone, I don't know how. Some people here estimates that this bridge is as old as our church of at least 250 years old.
On August 3, 2009, the LGU had written the DPWH National Office that the Eloisa Bridge was destroyed totally and that it needs an immediate replacement that had cause a vehicular accident that lost 4 lives.
On same date, the Regional Office of the DPWH reported to their National Office that the Eloisa Bridge collapsed to a total wreck and request for an immediate replacement under the Presidential Bridge Program of the National Government.
As far as I know, it was also on August 3 that the Eloisa Bridge was closed to traffic. The portion of the bridge that was eroded was on the left side going to Balabado and it did not even eroded up to the concrete pavement of the road. Just a small portion had eroded.
On August 5, the SB passed a resolution requesting Pres. Arroyo for an immediate replacement of Eloisa Bridge which was handed to the President last August 13.
On August 9, 2009 the board of directors of Alimodian Heritage Society passed a resolution requesting the President for the restoration of said bridge which was handed to the Presidential Adviser for Region VI during the President visit, however, it was refused to be received on reason that it contradict to the SB resolution which was first submitted to them. At any rate, the AHS resolution reached the DPWH National Office.
On August 19 the DPWH regional office sent a communication to the LGU requesting that whether or not the Alimodian Heritage Society is an accredited NGO and a member of the Municipal Development Council.
Then the LGU requested a copy of AHS resolution from the DPWH and they have secured a fax copy. After receiving the copy, the LGU then phoned the member of the board of directors and their secretary inquiring whether or not the AHS had convened indeed and passed the questioned resolution. After receiving feedback that there was no meeting held on August 9, the LGU initiated a fact finding body and inviting the members of the board for a conference on August 25, 2009 at the Session Hall of the SB.
During that conference as the tenor of the LGU invitation letter, it turned out that this is an investigation. Then a heated arguments ensued among the members of the board of AHS and the LGU fact finding body. They adjourned the conference without a concrete agreement among them.
Any way, Hon. Julius K. Alejo is the Chairman of Alimodian Heritage Society and among the Board are Hon. Emmanuel Adricula, Hon. Miguel Anas jr., Mr. Roberto Visto and etc.
On the basis of these chronological order of events/maneuvering, could there was enough time to have an in-depth study of the present condition of the Eloisa Bridge? Why we are seem to be in a hurry?
Please take note that President Arroyo pass that bridge during her visit last August 13, 2009 when the DPWH reported that it had collapsed to a total wreck on August 3, 2009.
08/26/09 @ 10:45This is a hot issue. i think both LGU and AHS will get a feedback and consensus of what the townfolks wants to do in this bridge.
the weay i look their is a TUG OF WAR and intensive maneuvering in which i think..that is not should be. daw MATIRA ang MATIBAY situation dya.
let the townfolks decide..i should say the honorable Alejo should initiate a townhall kind of consultation and get a signatures to boast his case,and force the LGU to agree to restore instead of getting rid of this historic bridge.
set a side politics in the main time.
my personal opinion? I'm for restoration than demolation.
08/26/09 @ 18:14BRIDGING THE GAPS
Nothing beats an infrastructure project –- be it a road, a bridge, or a public building -- to send the adrenaline level of the politicians into hi-octane overdrive.
It is like a 13th month bonus in June –- and an opportunity to play a Santa Claus who will dole out business contracts and employment to family, relatives, friends, and supporters. Also in June.
If there is anyone alive who thinks that our politicians will pass up on the opportunity to make money from a public works project -– where have you been?
Well, what about the preservation of our cultural heritage? If this sensibility exists among our politicians, the charming town plaza that those of us remember with affection would still be around for us to enjoy; the Rizal monument would look dignified with the patina of age -– and not like a hideous wedding cake.
If they haven’t already, one day soon they will put up a billboard as huge as an IMAX screen to announce the reconstruction of the Nichols Bridge. Rather, the billboard will list down the names of those who get the pleasure to spend public money (yet again). And expect us to be grateful -- and vote for them (yet again).
How about a billboard beside it to APOLOGIZE for building a bridge that lasted for only three years? Most likely the people who ought to apologize for botching up the original bridge are the same ones who are now crowing about the reconstruction in the new billboard.
Pwes, would someone take a photo of the new billboard so that when the bridge collapses (yet again) we will have all the names available when we sue for negligence, incompetence, and fraud?
08/26/09 @ 18:40Thanks kanal for a very good insight.
08/26/09 @ 20:34MGA BROTHERS interesado na sa politika?
daw indi ron masarigan ang mga opisyales sa banwa tulad, not all of them, may dyan nga may konsensya pa. amo ra cguro nga ang laiko o taga simbahan nag interes ron mag intra sa politika kag mag-away sa mga irigularidad nga nagakatabo.
presently, Bro. Mark is the best material for change because of his advocacy. Also, not known to many Bro. Nelson of Balabago is also doing his part institutionalizing a municipalwide advocacy for Alimodian's welfare.
sa karon, duha na ka Brothers ang nakita ta nga nagahulag para awayon ang irrigularities and corruption in the local government of Alimodian. I've learned that Bro. Nelson is a contributor of News Analysis in Radio Bombo fighting graft and corruption also.
Bro. Nelson and Bro. Mark: Do they have the same vision???? kon amo, mga Brothers lakat kamo kag ideklarar ang away kontra kurapsyon sa Alimodian kag sa bilog nga Iloilo.
sin-o gid si Bro. Mark? Sin-o gid si Bro. Nelson? ano ang anda nga mga intereses?
08/26/09 @ 21:40NO TENGO LA MENOR IDEA
Indi pa namon nakilala si "Bro. Mark," may bag-o raman nga contestant, si "Bro. Nelson"!
WHO ARE THESE PERSONALITIES AND WHY SHOULD WE CONVINCE THEM TO RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE?
For those of us who are not familiar with this band of brothers, please introduce them and list the reasons for supporting their candidacies for public office.
Be SPECIFIC.
Without the corresponding context, words like "advocacy" and "fighting graft and corruption" are meaningless. What "causes" did Bro. Mark and Bro. Nelson advocate, what tangible accomplishments have they accomplished in their advocacy, what difference have they made in the lives of their kasimanwas, how did they "fight" graft and corruption, yadayada.
If you do that, those of us who are up to this point clueless, will finally have a eureka understanding of what we have been reading.
Thank you.
08/27/09 @ 00:12SA WARA KA KILALA KAY BRO. MARK
Suno sa akon pagpuropanilag kag bunga kang akon pagpuropamangkot, si Bro. Mark Admin. employee ra kang San Agustin nga na assign dya kang una sa apat ka barangay kang dalid, ginomoy, piand-an norte kag sur bilang community organizer kang community service center kang university. kang dya pa tana na assign nagbulig man tana sa mga pastoral activities kang parokya kag tana ang responsible nga nagpatigayon nga ma organize mayad ang mga lay minister kang bilog nga banwa.
suno sa mga naka-istorya ko sa simbahan, kay bro. mark man brain-child nga naggwa si Sto. Tomas sa simbahan kag kon ngaa may pilgrimage nga ginahimo tulad sa mga baryo. sa ana man di-a pagpanguna nga mabuhi liwan ang BEC sa mga barangay paagi sa pagtukod kang BAC ukon Barangay Apostolic Council bilang counterpart kang barangay council sa mga barangay.
suno sa akon mga naka-istorya nga mga kilala ni Bro. Mark dya sa alimodian, sa sulod kang apat ron ka tuig indi ron matakos ang ana pagsakripisyo sa pagbulig sa aton parokya sa pag-organizar kang mga religious activites; sa sulod ron ka apat ka tuig nagabalik-balik kag nagalibot tana sa mga kabaranggayan dangat seven cities sa pagsapol sa mga lideres kang simbahan sa mga barangay kag sa pag-edukar kag sa pag-organizar kang mga tawo sa paghugpong kag sa pagbuligay agod makabangon kita sa aton mapi-ot kag mabudlay nga sitwasyong kang pangabuhi. dya tanan ana ginahimo sa ana lang kaugalingon nga disbentaha: wara tana sweldo, honoraria, allowances ukon travelling. imagena monday to friday naga-opisina tana kag sabado domingo dya tana sa alimodian nagabulig sa parokya kag nagalibot sa mga kabaranggayan.
sa akon mga nasugilanon nga naka attend kang BEC orientation nga ginata-o ni Bro. Mark sa mga barangay officials kag BAC officers sa mga distrito, tama ka positibo kang anda panglantaw kang programa ka simbahan nga ana ginapatigayon. una, ginpukaw ang mga taga barangay sa anda katungdanan indi lang bilang Kristiyanos kundi bilang mga pumuluyo man gani nagpili sanda kang BAC officers sa tagsa ka barangay, kar-on nagasapol ron ang mga BAC kag barangay officials kang distrito para sa pagpili kang mga District Apostolic Council officers kon sa diin ang mga kapitanes kang mga barangay sa tagsa distrito mangin ex-officio members kag magasapol dya sanda once every two months sa lain-lain nga venue kang distrito para sapolan indi lang programa kang simbahan kundi subong man ang mga problema kang mga barangay sa distrito kag kon paano sanda makabuligay bilang mga magkaingod nga barangay.
para kanakon tama dya katahum mga paagi kon malyag kita mahugpong ang bilog nga banwa. amo dya daad ang paagi nga dapat himoon kang mga opisyal kang banwa kon malyag sanda nga may direksyon ang anda nga programa kag proyekto nga ginagamitan kang kwarta kang tawo, pero wara dya ginahimo kang banwa kag mga opisyales, salamat sa simbahan kay sa ka dya nga pagsinapol sa distrito nga dyan ang mga kapitan, mabati-an ron gid man ang matuod nga tingog kang mga tawo kag kon ano ang matuod nanda nga sitwasyon sa mga barangay. ti kay sin-o dya tanan idea... ana ni Bro. Mark nga ginsuportahan kang aton simbahan.
sa dya ka dya indi gid naton maduha-duhaan ang motibasyon na, kay sa sulod kang apat ka tuig ginahimo na di-a nga hipos lang kag wara personal nga interes. apang nakita ko nga kon ang dya nga mga approach gamiton sa panghimanwa, tama dya ka mapuslanon para kanaton tanan.
gamay lang nga background na, daw philosophy graduate ra sa san agustin, ex-seminarian man ra sa st. vincent kag kontemporary ni fr. salabe, BEC animator man tana kang Jaro Katedral kag member kang pastoral secretariate kang una, member kang PPCRV kang archdiocese, nagabulig sa corruption prevention unit sang archdiocese sa idalom sang ombudsman, member sang commission on the laity sang archdiocese, assitant to the campus Minister kag in-charge sang pastoral program kag formative plans sang university of san agustin. pila lang di-a sa mga nasagap ko nga info about kana. kon may naman-an kamo kag basi may sala sa info ko please just correct me.
so far, kon itulod ta si Bro. Mark magkandidato sa banwa kag buligan lang tana, daw tana gid ka positibo ang nakita ko kay ang mga tawo nga nakakilala kana, ja man sa banwa dangat seven cities, bahol katama ang respito kag paglaom nanda sa ginahimo nga pag-organizar ni Bro. Mark para mahugpong ang mga pumuluyo.
08/27/09 @ 11:02Thanks for the info.
Does "Bro. Mark" have a LAST NAME?
"kon itulod ta si Bro. Mark magkandidato" -- WHY do we have to do this?
08/27/09 @ 18:13We don't even know the real purpose of Bro.Mark basi sigi taton ka tulod dya wa-ay man tana plano nga ma-molitiko,kay ang ana obra nga dya ay church related community organizer.
manog pukaw lang tana sa maga nagakaturog kag naga paranamgo.
akon personal nga pasalamat kay Utod Mark kay didto gali dya nag umpisa sa central Barangay nga kon sa di-in ako nag hanggod kag kong sa di-in ang akon mga kaparientihan naga eristar.
pada-yuna lang ang imo maayo nga tinutoyo Utod Mark, kag indi gid ikaw mag padara sa pagsulay ka nga veterano nga mga politico sa Alimodian,nga kong sa di-in maka higko kang imo matinlo kag naga hining-hining nga reputasyon.
ang imo ginahimo dung-ganon halin sa imo platinum nga tagipusu-on.
Akon gid ipangamuyo nga ang imo maayo nga tinutuyo ay maging madinalag-on, para ikaw amon dumdumon bilang isa ka taho nga mabinuligon kag may pinasahi nga kusog kag ka-isog.
halin sa imo senciro nga sumulunod,
Bro.Noah
08/27/09 @ 23:01Tesda to provide Tilapia culture in Alimodian
It has been almost a year now. Wonder if this actually happened. Or is this one of the "ghosts".Can anyone give an update?
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/local-news/tesda-provide-tilapia-culture-alimodian
08/28/09 @ 00:34THE BRIDGES OF ALIMODIAN COUNTY
I didn’t know the bridges of Alimodian have names.
I wonder if the little bridge on the street where I lived has a name, too (other than “Taytay” that is). Not that it matters. Whomever they have named the bridge after, I bet – with all due respect and apologies – that the bridge means more to me than it did for her/him, and that’s enough as far as I am concerned.
Many years ago, some of the bridges and the fence surrounding the churchyard were vandalized for their tiles and bricks. The story was, one of our enterprising kasimanwas was buying them from the “vandals” to sell to a rich family that was building a house in Bacolod.
If you can appreciate a metaphor, it was the equivalent of ripping off some of the pages in Alimodian’s history book.
Then they bulldozed the old plaza square into smithereens.
That broke my heart.
I remember as if it was yesterday how excited we were -- the neighborhood kids and I – when the sun started to settle down and the afternoons became a little cooler, because then we could go to the plaza and gambol in the little garden in front of the town hall.
The highlight of our playtime was wrapping our arms around or sitting on the laps of the statues of little kids – “Inko” “Inka” we call them.
After all these years, the thought that those beloved statues were simply crushed down by a bulldozer is still too much to bear.
Sometimes I wonder if maybe someone who loved "Inko" and "Inka" as much as I did had managed to save them and they have survived all this time in some garden somewhere. I find the thought very comforting.
I also find that I am bereft of opinions on the current issue of what to do with one of the bridges in Alimodian.
It is too much to bear.
08/29/09 @ 18:29A community of liars!
The Lgu lied when it reported on August 3, 2009 that the Eloisa Bridge collapsed.
The Regional office of the DPWH lied when it also reported that the same bridge collapsed to a total wreck.
The Lgu lied that the accident on July 31, 2009 is attributed to the deteriorating condition of Eloisa Bridge, Police Report says it was due to mechanical failure of the jeep.
The Lgu lied when they sent out letter of invitation for a conference to the AHS board of directors. Truth, they will investigate, coerce and intimidate the AHS board according to his and her will.
The Mayor lied when he issued an executive order, the truth is, he is the one and his cohorts that accused AHS for opposing their plan of replacing Eloisa Bridge and he and his cohorts will likewise be the judge. Could we have a real justice here?
The Mayor lied when he designated all department heads of the LGU and 7 members of the SB as an investigating panel, the truth is, like herod, he is washing his hands.
The Mayor lied when he requested for the demolition and replacement of Eloisa Bridge and asked for a 10 million budget, truth is, he is after the SOP.
During the investigation, the Mayor admonished Leo Almendralejo, the AHS Board Secretary and accusing him of falsifying the minutes of meeting of the AHS board. He threatened Leo to be charged administratively. He also told the AHS board that he will also file a case against Hon. Alejo before the Ombudsman.
Last session day of the SB, Hon. Salarda filed a resolution to declare that AHS is not an accredited NGO of the Municipality of Alimodian which the SB thru a majority vote did approved. I'm saddened by the SB action, they do not know what they are doing. A mere certification by the SB Secretary is enough and the proper procedure. They are supposed to be the wisest of men in Alimodian, why they faltered. According to the Philippine Constitution and the Local Government Code, the government is mandated to promote and encourage the proliferation of peoples organization in their respective community, why the SB of Alimodian seems to ignore this mandate, because the AHS is opposing their wish of pocketing an SOP in the guise of constructing a new bridge?
Does Hon. Salarda knows the implication of her resolution? It will kill an NGO and for that matter, the AHS. She is the Chairman of the Committee on Cooperative and NGO of the SB. Her job should work for the strengthening of NGO in the community rather than curtailing the proliferation of NGO. She should have supported its existence rather than killing the AHS.
I have talked to a friend who is a civil engineer and familiar with Spanish Architecture and have experiences doing restoration projects. According to him, the cost of restoration is between 2 to 3 million only.
The Lgu lies to the people of Alimodian, they called all Barangay Captains and told them that Hon. Alejo and his party is opposing the progress of Alimodian, the truth is Hon. Alejo is only trying his best to protect and conserve the history and culture of Alimodian. But definitely Hon. Alejo is opposing the SOP.
There are now billboards posted in Alimodian calling for the restoration, conservation and protection of Eloisa Bridge as posted by the AHS, the fight will continue.
08/31/09 @ 19:39TRYING HARD TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY
So what else is new?
In this Blog we have referred a few times to the “intimidation” tactics of our politicians that, when you think about it, are more hilarious than menacing.
Watching the seemingly unbounded joy with which they throw around “legalese” like “accreditation,” "administrative charges," "executive order," yadayada, makes you imagine that before they turn in at night, instead of reading their novenario, they reach for their copy of the Local Government Code from the bedside table and check what “big words” they used during the day.
A few years ago we requested the use of the social work office (or some office, I can’t remember now which) for a small ceremony to launch CARE. Any reasonable public official will be more than happy to accommodate a simple request from a small group of kasimanwa who are trying to do something constructive, right?
Wrong.
Judging from the response, we might as well have requested a space to open a cocaine distribution center!
Dapat kuno, hold your breath, and I have to type this in all caps, may MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT!
The response can only be described as a jaw-dropping moment. Mapapanganga ka na lang.
We relearned yet again, I don’t know why hope still springs eternal, what we have always known about the politicians of Alimodian:
They will oppose any initiative that (1) they did not think of first, (2) will not benefit them politically, i.e., indi magamit to attract voters, and/or (3) might be used by other people to advance their own political interests, and therefore, by their paranoid logic, jeopardize their grip on political power.
So instead of sitting down and discussing the heart of the issue, they throw one legalese monkey wrench after another.
As if the hapless citizens of Alimodian who are at the receiving end of this legalese charade will quake at their boots or break out with malaria.
Frankly, this is insulting to some of us who, like them, also know a few big words in our lifetime.
One of these days I will submit a request to the LGU that the person who has been handling the finances of the town fiesta be made to account fully all the money transactions during the years that she has handled the finances.
I already know what they will say to me:
CAN I SEE YOUR ID?
That is, before they read me their version of Section 4 of Article III, Bill of Rights, the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines.
Yadayada.
08/31/09 @ 21:58Panamyaw sa tanan nga mga KASIMANWA!!
Sa akon pagbasa kang mga na post sa blog ka dya lang, darwa ka balatyagon ang nagapangibabaw kanakon- KALIPAY KAG KALISOD!!
KALIPAY kay bisan pano may mga tawo pa nga nagatinguha nga magpabalo kanaton kang mga nagakaratabo sa aton banwa, kag KALISOD sa pag-isip nga amo dulang bala kita ka dya hasta san-o.....
Para kanakon, ang dya nga mga nagakaratabo dapat magpabugtaw kanaton sa kamatuoran nga panahon ron gid man siguro nga magpanindogan kita nga TAMA RON para sa mga dyang nagakatabo kanaton kag sa aton banwa... TAMA RON para sa mga bintahuso kag mga nagapatarang... TAMA RON para sa mga tawo nga nagpamintaha kanaton bangod kang aton mga kaluyahon...
Sa modya nga mga nagakatabo kanaton, kon silawon naton sa hapaw lang makakuon kita nga ang magtimbang nga bahin daw husto man, apang ano gid bala ang matuod sa likod ka dya???? Sin-o gid bala ang nagapatigayon kang kamatuoran para sa kaaraydan kang banwa???? Kon matuod nga para sa kaaraydan kang tawo ang ginahimo kang LGU kag AHS ngaa dapat gid mag-away kag maggub-anay ang isra kag isra???? Indi bala daad dapat sila gani magbuligay kay isra malang ka kaaraydan ang anda ginatulod- ang ana kang banwa kag mga tawo????
Sa di-a nga nagakaratabo sa aton banwa, makakuon ako nga dapat ron gid man kita mangita kang mga tawo nga dapat kag angay ibutang sa palangaku-an kang panghimanwa... ang mga tawo mga may igkasarang magpabangon kang moral kag integridad kang panghimanwa kag mga pumuluyo nga daw maduraan ron ti paglaum... sa kadya nadumdoman ko ang ginkuon ni Bro. Mark sa seminar- "ang mga laiko dapat magpakigbahin subong bilang mga manugpatigayon sang pagbag-o sosyal sumugod sa pagkatampad (honesty) kag intigridad (integrity) padulong sa husto ukon maayo nga pagdumalahan ukon good governance."
Sa dya ka dya nga nagapangamuyo gid takon nga tani ma kombensi lang si Bro. Mark nga mag-intra sa politika kay gapati gid takon nga bahol ang mahimo na sa buhay ron naton nga ginapangayo nga pagbag-o sa panghimanwa... sang sa bisan sin-o lang butohon ta sa eleksyon- nga kon wara gani eleksyon indi ta man makita sa barangay, para kanakon mas maayo pa nga iboto ta nalang sa mga tawo nga may eleksyon man kag wara makita mo nga nagalibot sa barangay, nagasapol kag nagapatigayon kang kaayohan kang mga tawo nga wara ti liwan nga intensyon kundi ang magbulig sa mga tawo.
Kaangay ni Cory, wara man tana katu naghandum nga mag presidente kay simple malang tana nga asawa, apang makasiling kita nga sa tanan nga nangin presidente halin kay Marcos hasta tulad, tana lang ang wara iskandalo nga nangawat sa kaban kang banwa. Para kanakon, mas maayo di-a nga ang tawo ang nagatulod sa kandidato nga mag-alagad bangud may mga balasisan sanda, sang sa ang kandidato ang nagasulsol kang ana kaugalingon nga amo ang ibutang sa pwesto sa bagay nga tanan nga pang-intu kag pagbinutig ginahimo na labot pa pangguba sa kabuhi kang ana kontra para lang tana botohon kang tawo.
Sa kanakon lang personal, bahol ang potensyal nga nakita ko nga mahimo ni Bro. Mark kanaton kag sa aton banwa kon kumbinsihon ta tana nga mga pumuluyo kag hatagan tsansa nga magamit na sa panghimanwa ang ana aram kag mga nabal-an... kuon na nagi sa seminar karang nagligad sa aleosan- ano ang kinalain kang pag-alagad nga ginahimo kang mga politiko kag mga lay leaders sa simbahan? Wara! Kay sara man lang ka tawo ang anda ginaalagaran. Kay ang tagsa ka Kristiyano Pilipino man, kag ang tagsa ka Pilipino nga nabunyagan sa simbahan Kristiyano man. Kon may kinalain man gid, siguro amo dya- ang mga alagad sa simbahan naga-alagad nga may konsensya samtang nagadumdom nga kon ano matabo sa anda pagpangalagad may sarabton sanda sa Dios kag may Dios nga magapanukot sa urihi; ang mga politiko tana, indi man tanan pero daw kalabanan gid, nagaalagad nga daw mga wara ti konsensya kag wara nagadumdom nga may Dios nga magahusga kang anda hinimo-an sa urihi amo ra nga raku ti iskandalo sa aton mga opisyales sa gobyerno.
Pasensya lang kon daw medyo agresibo gid takon nga itulod naton si Bro. Mark nga mag-intra sa politika, kay siguro kana ko nakita ang paglaum, kridebilidad, pagkasensiro, kag katampad nga sa buhay ron ginsarig ko sa iba apang napaslawan takon kay kang makapwesto na nagbag-o ang mga binuyog... lain ron sanda nga tawo kay nakapwesto ron sang kauna nga nagapangampanya palang...
Gani sa mga may kabalaka kag nagaulikid sa kaaraydan kang banwa ta kag nagahandum nga mabag-o ang madulom naton nga sitwasyon, hugpong kita sa pagpangamuyo kag pagkombinse kay Bro. Mark nga mag intra sa politika para ma iwagan man ang aton munisipyo. Kag para kanakon, tana lang ang mas may kridibilidad nga isumpong naton sa mga plastik kag kapal mukha nga mga politiko, bangud sa ana ginahimo nga pag-organizar kang 51 ka mga barangay kang banwa ginakilala tana, ginarespito kag ginataha kang mga tawo halin sa Buhay dangat Uminggan.
09/01/09 @ 06:10The Senior Citizens Associations' Federation of Alimodian in coordination with Alimodian Heritage Society and the Regional Office of the Department of Tourism, Region VI, requested Hon. C. Almacen the current Fiesta Affairs 2009 General Manager that they will host a night this forthcoming fiesta nights. Hon. Almacen outright denied their request.
The proposed plan is to have a live show of Philipines cultural dances to be performed by internationally acclaimed dance troupe. Admission for this show is free. The Department of Tourism will pay for the expenses of inviting the dance troupe including their talent fee. The senior citizen and AHS will shoulder expenses for the putting up of the stage, lightning effects, sound system and other incidental expenses.
According to Hon. Almacen, all the nights were already taken by other sponsoring entities.
Could we cannot add a one night for the Senior Citizen if we cannot cancel the reservation made by other entity just to give way for this one in a lifetime experience for most of our kasimawas?
Requesting Hon. Almacen for an explanation?
Thank you Hon. Almacen.
09/02/09 @ 22:08kmusta mga kasimanwa?
QUO VADIS? DIIN KITA PADULONG?
sa tunga kang mga pagpatalang, pakitakita kag iban pa nga mga taktika nga makalimbong sa pobre nga mga tawo kang banwa nga ginahimo kang mga bintahuso kag oportunista nga mga politiko, liwan roman kita nga ginapahanumdom nga mag-andam kag maghalong kay basi matontohan roman kita kag mabotohan ta roman sanda kag mangalbaryo roman kang 3 ka tuig.
naga agree gid takon kay tabing ilog sa ana analysis nga "sang sa bisan sin-o lang butohon ta sa eleksyon- nga kon wara gani eleksyon indi ta man makita sa barangay, para kanakon mas maayo pa nga iboto ta nalang sa mga tawo nga may eleksyon man kag wara makita mo nga nagalibot sa barangay, nagasapol kag nagapatigayon kang kaayohan kang mga tawo nga wara ti liwan nga intensyon kundi ang magbulig sa isigkatawo."
ngaa itulod naton si Bro. Mark nga mag-intra sa politika?
una, bangod kang ana silent and selfless sacrifices nga ginahimo para mahugpong ang aton mga kasimanwa; ikarwa, bangod kang ana matahum nga idealismo kang people empowerment through education and formation towards sustainable, realistic and lasting development; ikatlo, bangod kang ana madalom nga kabalaka sa kahimtangan kang aton mga kasimanwa ilabe nagid ang mga yara sa uma kag bukid nga sa masami amo ang gina-intu kang mga bintahuso, opportunista kag butigon nga mga politiko; ikap-at, bangod kang ana matinlo nga reputasyon, kridebilidad, katampad, wara duda nga motibasyon kang pag-alagad sa mga tawo, sa simbahan kag mga kabaranggayan; ikalima, bangod kang maayo nga feedback kag pag-ugyon kang mga taga-barangay kag mga barangay officials sa mga programa nga ana ginapatigayon sa mga kabaranggayan kang banwa. sa tulad, daw lima ron ka distrito (2,5,6,7 kag 8)pati poblacion ang ana na meeting upod sa mga BEC leaders kag mga baranggay officials kag halos tanan nagapati kag nagabulig tulod nga matigayon ang ana mga programa para sa kaaraydan kang mga tawo.
sa di-ang ana ginahimo, naman-an ko nga indi di-a nangin mahapos para kana... may naka-istorya kanakon nga bangod kang ana pagbulig sa mga tawo sa baranggay nga masanagan kon diin nagaadto ang pondo kang baranggay, ginpitisyonan tana kang mga barangay officials nga pahalinon sa baranggay nga ana na istaran kang apat ron ka tuig kay nagapagamo tana kuno kang baranggay kay usisador tana. nagparapit man tana sa isra ka opisyal kang banwa para buligan tana kag sawayon nga indi husto ang ginhimo kang mga baranggay officials, pero lain ang natabo kang nag-adto ang opisyal sa baranggay kag nag meeting kananda kay suno sa opisyal, kag suno man sa advice kang legal officer kang munisipyo, wara ti kinamatarong ang ordinaryo nga pumuluyo nga magpangita kang records kang IRA kag kon paano dya gingasto kay ordinaryo lang sanda nga pumuluyo. pagusto man kuno ang kapitan kon diin na gastuhon ang kwarta basta ma plastar na lang maayo ang records kon mag audit ang COA. dugang pa, naghambal man kuno ang opisyal nga kon magkiyahay, pwede kuno gamiton kang kapitan ang pondo kang baranggay sa ana kaso kay ara ra sa laye... (AMBOT KON HUSTO MAN RA???) bangod kang dya nga ginhimo kang opisyal, nagsakit rugid ang ulo kang mga tawo kay nag-abuso rugid ang kapitan bangod kang mga ginhambal kang opisyal. kang ginpamangkot kon husto ang ginhimo nga resolution nga pahalinon tana sa baranggay bilang residente kay nakaboto ron tana naglingad nga baranggay eleksyon, naghambal ang opisyal nga pwede na mahimo kang konseho kag ang ana rehistro sa COMELEC indi balasihan nga bonafide resident tana sa baranggay bisan pa may balay tana dyan kag kada week-end dyan tana ga uli... kag daw kulang pa dya, santu sa akon na istorya, ga plano pagid ang mga baranggay opisyals nga iban nga maadto kay fr. palmos para pa untaton si bro. mark sa ana ginahimo sa parokya kag pahalinon tanan nga lay minister kang simbahan.
kabay nga sa ka dya, mahangpan naton kon daw ano ang ginabatas ni bro. mark sa ana handum nga mabuligan kita nga mga taga-alimodian.
sa ka dya man, kabay nga magtingob kita nga magpanindogan kag apinan si bro. mark kontra sa mga tawo nga buot mag-intemidar kana bangod kang ana ginahimo.
tyempo roman siguro nga balosan ta ang kaayo kag mga sakripisyo nga ginhimo ni bro. mark para kanaton.
kamaan ako nga wara dya sa plano ni bro. mark nga mag-intra sa politika, pero nagapati takon nga daku ana mahimo sa aton handom nga pagbag-o kon kumbinsihon ta tana kag tugutan nga mag-alagad sa panghimanwa.
BRO. MARK, PADAYUNA ANG GINAHIMO MO PARA KANAMON, WARA KA GA ISAHANON KAY DYA KAMI NGA AMO ANG NAGA KAG MAGA BINIPISYO KANG MGA BUNGA KANG SAKRIPISYO NGA GINAHIMO MO.
SALAMAT SA PAGPANINDOGAN PARA KANAMON!! TANI MAKABUGTAW MAN ANG IBAN KAG MAG-UPOD KANATON!!
09/03/09 @ 20:42Maayad-ayad nga adlaw sa tanan!
Kmusta mga kasimanwa?
Thanks for the info gamay nga tingog..
Kalooy man si bro. mark kon amo ra gakatabo kana bangod kang ana pagbulig kanaton.
Sara di-a ka masubo nga reyalidad nga mahimo matabo kon ang kalabanan kanaton pagpabilin nga wara ga pasilabot kag wara ti pag-ugyon sa mga tawo nga nagatingoha magbulig kanaton nga mabuligan kita nga mareporma kag matigayon ang pagbag-o nga pirme lang ginangasal kang tanan pero wara man gahulag kag nagabulig kon paano dya patabu-on.
Kon wara ti pag ugyon ang mga tawo, pobre man ang mga nagatinguha kag nagapangabudlay para patigayunon ang aton kaaraydan kay sanda lang ang makulo kang konsekwensya kag sakit pero kita tanan ang madugos kag makaon kang anda pinangabudlayan, kag and eksperyensiya ni bro. mark isa ka konkreto nga ehemplo.
Sa akon mga kasimanwa nga kuon nagakabalaka sa kaaraydan kang banwa pero wara man may ginahimo ukon kulbaan magresgo sang anda kaugalingon, dya may sara ukon pila ka tawo nga nagatinguha magresgo para kanaton, ti pabay-an ta dulang sanda nga magpas-an ka dya kag gub-on kang iba sa anda sakripisyo para kanaton...????? Kon tuod ra nga may mga pagpangharas ron kay bro. mark kay nagatinguha tana nga buligan ang mga tawo kag tadlongon ang indi husto nga mga nagakatabo sa ana barangay nga ginatiniran, ti pabay-an ta dulang tana??? pila pa ka bro. mark ang dapat palayason sa barangay kag sa banwa (bangod kang anda pagtinguha nga matadlong ang sala kag kagarokan) para makabugtaw kita...??? Ano dulang ang matabo kanaton kon ang tanan nga mga matarong nga nagatingoha magbulig kanaton napalayas ron sa aton banwa kay wara ta man sanda ginabuligan kag ginasuporta sa anda ginahimo....?
Sa kadya nga nagakatabo kay bro. mark, panahon ron gid man siguro nga maghimo kita kang panindugan kag magtindog upod kana para ipabatyag sa mga nagaabuso kang poder nga ginpahuram ta lang kananda nga wara kita nagapabaya kag nagabantay kita... nga ang gahom kag poder sara ka umalagi nga kahigayonan nga ginpahuram ta lang kananda dara ang aton pagsarig nga alagaran nila kita kang husto.
09/03/09 @ 21:22daw indi rogid mayad ang nagakatabo kanaton ah...
paano naton ra mabuligan si bro. mark bi??? what a loss for all of us pagnawala sya sa atin...
frankly, wara ko pa gid man ra makita si bro. mark pero raku roman ako nabati-an parti kana. so far, basi sa mga nabasa ko dya kag sa mga istorya, para kanakon he is one good potential leader if given a break in the LGU.
sin-o malapit kay fr. palmos kag fr. rex? ask kita favor kananda kon paano ta ma convince si bro. mark nga mag-intra sa madulom kag garok nga politika kang alimodian para masanagan kag ma amat-amat balik ang sarig kang mga tawo sa mga lideres kang banwa.
kon nagrisgo gani kita boto sa iba kang nagligad pero wara man ti hinimo-an, dya may isa ka tawo nga sa hipos lang may ginahimo para kanaton kag sa aton kaaraydan bisan wara tana posisyon sa banwa, with what he accomplished so far in the grassroots of our town, his credibility for service for the common good can leave no room for doubt.
go for bro. mark for 2010!!!!!!
09/05/09 @ 10:42TURN TO THE NEXT PAGE
Excuse me, this is beginning to sound like a very long script of "Phantom of the Opera."
Until now we do not have an anwer to the "What is the last name of Bro. Mark?" question, so there seems to be no point in belaboring the nominating process on his behalf.
I think we have more than enough material to do our own research on this candidate/noncandidate.
It's been an interesting long ride, but this Bro. Mark topic has worn out its welcome.
We are most certainly interested in your views on what's going on sa aton pinalangga nga Motherland, so we would like you to continue posting:
BUT ANOTHER TOPIC, PLEASE.
Thank you.
09/05/09 @ 12:47NOW HIRING! REFORMIST,HONEST. JOB IS AVAILABLE!
Agree Al. i love to read and admire Bro. Mark achievements "IF" Bro. Mark really exist.
why we don't build up our own native sons or daughters for example like ARCHIE CABALUNA, and other YOUNG GUNS in Alimodian, instead of importing people to lead our hometown.i mean..
THAT'S A SLAP TO EVERYBODY'S FACE.
I'm not saying that foreign born future leaders can not run the business of Alimodian. but, i think patronazing our own product is a sign of patriotism,and loyalty to your own native town.
there are some brilliant mind around the area courageous,dignified and honest. let's build them up.let's give them a break!
So please. let's not bother Bro.Mark. leave him alone to do his own mission in life.because i belived he want's to make a difference in a different way. not in terms politics.
instead let's post a job search and start interviewing some potential leaders like ARCHIE CABALUNA, and other potential young leaders to run the business of Alimodian for all Alimodianon.
TIME FOR CHANGE LET'S DO IT!
09/06/09 @ 08:31OLD POSTING
11/19/08 @ 18:08
POLITICS AS PRACTICED BY POLITICIANS
1.(Most) Politicians are corrupt. If you disagree with this statement – where have you been?
2. OK, so you do not profit directly from kickbacks, lagay, tong, bribes, etc. But (1) sunod-sunoran ka lang; (2) you do not do or say anything to oppose useless legislation and corrupt practices. You do not fight for the interests of the majority of your kasimanwas. In other words, dereliction of duty. Simply because you do not want to jeopardize the public office you hold that has given you a good living for many years now. Tell you what -- you are AIDING AND ABETTING. That makes you corrupt, too.
3. A private citizen does not have a responsibility to prove that a politician IS corrupt.
4. The politician has a responsibility to prove that he/she IS NOT.
5. And how do you prove a negative?
Let me suggest a couple of strategies:
(a) You make TRANSPARENCY the guiding principle of your governance. People should be able to figure out quickly and simply where YOUR money came from. They are not stupid; they know simple mathematics. In a small town where everyone knows what you had for breakfast in the morning, they can put two and two together and decide HOW you are able to build a nice house, buy a new car, send your children to college, pay for a nice lifestyle, etc. If the ledger does not add up -- well, sa diin nag halin ang kwarta kung hindi sa public transactions? Please don’t tell them the money came from your sibling who is working in America. Is it fair to be accused of being corrupt? Who's talking about fairness if you are a politician? Pasalamat ka dada nga dada lang ang mabatian mo. What if you have to ACTUALLY WORK to deserve your salary?
(b) You inform, explain, defend, and account all your public actions. So the people may know. In case you don't realize it, communication is an important part of your job. The rest of the working world goes through a job performance evaluation year in and year out. Why don't you do the same? Your kasimanwas deserve to know how you are earning your salary. Hindi ria nga ang business kang banwa daw private transactions kang family corporation with the logo: don’t ask, don’t tell.
6. It is not enough to have good intentions and be “sincere” about “serving” the public good. You must ACT on your good intentions and sincerity. Otherwise, ano ang pulos mo? It’s like someone saying, sudo ka mayad nga tao dia, waay gid ti harambalanon, yuhom-yuhom lang tana ka ria. Hello! We are not paying someone with public funds para mag yuhom-yuhom lang sa consejo.
09/06/09 @ 12:06Re:
Comment from: kanal [Visitor]
09/01/09 @ 06:10
"The Senior Citizens Associations' Federation of Alimodian in coordination with Alimodian Heritage Society and the Regional Office of the Department of Tourism, Region VI, requested Hon. C. Almacen the current Fiesta Affairs 2009 General Manager that they will host a night this forthcoming fiesta nights. Hon. Almacen outright denied their request.
"Could we cannot add a one night for the Senior Citizen if we cannot cancel the reservation made by other entity just to give way for this one in a lifetime experience for most of our kasimawas?
"Requesting Hon. Almacen for an explanation?"
_______________
EXPLANATION FROM HON. AL
OLD POSTING:
THE POLITICS OF PARANOIA – OR, THE PARANOIA OF POLITICS – IN ALIMODIAN
The LGU of Alimodian is probably one of the few LGUs in the Philippines that do not encourage, much less care about, the participation of its citizens in the civic affairs of the town.
Wait, let me correct that –
The LGU of Alimodian is probably one of the few LGUs in the Philippines that encourage, or care about, the participation of its citizens in the civic affairs of the town ONLY – and ONLY -- IF the participation meets the following criteria:
The idea and form of the project comes from the LGU itself or its individual members. If it comes from somebody else, forget it, UNLESS:
*Money is involved and the LGU or an SB member control the disposition of the money (think proceeds of the fiesta souvenir program and other related events)
*The LGU or an SB member can claim credit for the project. The question asked is not “How can this project help the ALIMODIANANONS?” but, rather, “How can this project help ME (get reelected?”
This criteria derives from what can only be described as a deep-seated PARANOIA that the person proposing or carrying out the project has political ambitions, and, heaven forbid, may run against them in the future. He/she is perceived as a THREAT to the political security of the incumbents, and, therefore, must not be given a political platform on which to mount a challenge. In a town where the LGU defines the residents as either FOR or AGAINST them, this perception comes naturally to its political leaders.
It goes without saying that well-meaning citizens of Alimodian who want to help their fellow Alimodiananons (for the simple sake of helping) cannot expect a helping hand, don't even think about a pat on the back, from the LGU.
Why, you won’t even get the simple courtesy of an acknowledgment to your letter.
09/07/09 @ 08:17POSTING COMMENTS ON THIS BLOG IS NOT A PERSONAL ENTITLEMENT.
This Web site is NOT maintained by public funds. It is NOT a commercial enterprise that is dutybound to observe the dictum "The customer is always right."
It welcomes everyone who has something to contribute to the PUBLIC discourse of political and civic affairs in the world, but specifically in Alimodian.
With this caveat (see top of the page):
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If you cannot abide by these rules of engagement,
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09/07/09 @ 17:08may mahulog duman nga jip sa taytay kag sige man hulog ka mga tabla tungod mahina ra guid ang kubot kay buhay duman nga taytay. ti i preserve ta pa guid di a? diin ang mas priority,,,i preserve ukon ilisan para sa seguridad kang umalagi? Ako kamaan guid ko nga ang punto nga kno dapat i preserve ang Eloisa bridge hambal ka alimodian heritage is not the point of the board of directors ka heritage kundi ana lang ka presidente nanda. waay gani kamaan ang mga myembro kag ang board of directors nga may resolution tana ginhimo si nonoy president. ti makabig bla di a nga LEADER????? so kamo magbinag-binag kong sino patihan ninyo. kag daad mkonsensya man tana. salamat guid kong akon punto mpabilin ninyo para mpamaan man sa iban. tnx and God bless
09/07/09 @ 17:11Koreksyon; may NAHULOG duman nga jip sa taytay tulad lang nga aga. tnx
09/07/09 @ 17:47para man ninyo ma man-an nga may budget dun para sa Eloisa Bridge under sa presidential bridge program, ang problema kay naghimo tana ang heritage president ka resolution opposing nga indi kno pag kid anon ang taytay kay i preserve lang kno,ang problema kay waay tana kamaan ang mga myembro kag ang board of directors nga may resolution tana si MR PRESIDENT nga gn mail to madam president,republic of the philippines. ano man bi tana labot ka munisipyo kay nagwa sa assessmaent ka DPWH engr nga indi pwede nga i repair lang kay mas dlikado,kinahanglan guid nga i ilisan for the sake of the alimodiananons safety. Mga abyan,ang masubo kay one of the SB nga presidente,amo guid ang naga OPPOSED.membro man gani ka heritage ang bugto ka nanay ka sawa ko. maybe nagbugtaw dun tana sa kamatuoran
09/07/09 @ 19:56What we failed to secure in this blog is a factual justification supported by evidences and facts of the real story and social issues in Alimodian our beloved town. Being one of the witnesses of looking into a deeper part of the anxiety to the current issues of the government of Alimodian, let me share the following in kinaray-a for us to make our mind up on the contrary.
1.)sa pagpatawag ka meeting ka Alimodian Heritage Conservation Society in quorum, absent siguro ang bugto ka nanay ka asawa mo LOL amo ra waay tana kamaan, pagpatawag pa gid ka ikaduha nga meeting absent ruman tana, kundi waay tana makamaan ka nagakaratabo.
2.)Ang ginhambal mo nga may nadisgrasya ruman nga jeep kahapon bangud kang taytay nagsala kaw kay ruweda tana ka jeep to nagbalang-balang kag indi pagpasilabtan ang taytay, last time kapabayaan tana to ka driver kag engine trouble amo ra nga nagdisgrasya.
3.)Ang DPWH Regional Director tulad napasakaan ron ka kaso bangud kang sala nga recommendation kag findings sa Eloisa Bridge. Gusto ka Alimodian Heritage Conservation Society nga tun-an ka LGU nga i-repair ang taytay kag indi gid paggub-on ang istraktura ka yang sad alum nga portion mapag-on pa.
4.)Deleted.
5.)Deleted.
6.)Deleted.
7.)Sin-o sa mga SB Members ang nagasaligbat kon may irigularidad nga nagakatabo haw? Pasalamatan ta ang opposition SB Alejo kag Amba kay bisan paano nanindugan sanda nga dampigan ang kawsa kang mga intelehente nga pomuluyo/botante nga nakaintiende ka sitwasyon.(Edited).
8.)Deleted.
09/07/09 @ 20:04correction! waay ti jeep nga nahulog liwat sa taytay ah, nagapatalang lang timo ka istorya!
nagtarangso tie rod end na amo ra nga nagbalang-balang ruweda na.
09/10/09 @ 18:35We are closing this Blog and moving on to Blog2, which we hope will be a better, improved forum for Alimodian Online.
The “anybody-can-post, free-for-all” format of this old Blog had ran its course. The privilege of anonymity, which was intended as a constructive cover, had been misused and abused with impunity by some bloggers. Alimodian Online had decided that the sharp turn to uncivility and hostility, as manifested in the recent postings (that were subsequently deleted), should not hold; it did not make us proud as Alimodiananons.
In Blog 2, those who wish to post comments will be asked to REGISTER. They do not have to use their given names for posting purposes, but they must register first. It goes without saying that usernames and passwords are privilege information; ONLY the Webmaster has access to the information.
Alimodian Online thinks that the registration requirement is a minor inconvenience for those who feel very strongly about the public and civic affairs in Alimodian, and are serious about making constructive contributions to the public dialogue on how to make better the lives of all Alimodiananons.
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