Monday, April 21, 2014

Renewed energy after Lenten season to face Marinduque challenges - Konsehal Myke Magalang

Marinduque flagellants. Photo: Myke Magalang

ABRIL 20, 2014. MALIGAYANG PASKO NG PAGKABUHAY PO SA INYONG LAHAT. 

Mula sa mga sakit, dugo, at kamatayan na nilukuban ng kadiliman itinawid tayo sa bagong pag-asa ng Liwanag at mga bagong hamon ng muling pagsasabuhay ng katatagan. Nawa, ang mga biyayang ipinangako ng mga Mahal na Araw at ng Muling Pagkabuhay ay magsilbing panibagong lakas upang muli nating harapin ang malalaking pagsubok ng Lipunang Boakenyo at Marindukenyo at huwag limuting patuloy tayong nasa maselang yugto ng paghahanap ng dalisay na solusyon sa kinakaharap nating kaso laban sa Barrick Gold Corporation at Placer Dome Incorporated. 

Balikan natin ang reyalidad ng buhay at hamunin natin ang mga pinuno ng pamahalaan na buong pagkakaisang pakinggan ang tinig ng mamamayan at huwag maging bingi sa mga sigaw ng bayan.
 

Environmental groups call for passage of Alternative Minerals Management Bill in response to Aquino's Easter message; Marinduque disaster recalled

Bagong batas sa pagmimina, ipinanawagan sa Pasko ng Pagkabuhay    

April 20, 2014 5:32pm

Nitong Pasko ng Pagkabuhay, ipinanawagan nga mga grupong makakalikasan kay Pangulong Benigno Aquino III na patotohanan ang panawagan nitong "magmalasakit sa kapwa" at ipag-utos ang pagsara sa mga dambuhalang operasyon ng pagmimina sa bansa at himukin ang Kongreso na ipasa na ang Alternative Minerals Management Bill.
Marcopper Mines in Sta. Cruz, Marinduque


Ayon kay Jaybee Garganera, national coordinator ng Alyansa Tigil Mina, lubha nang apektado ang mga komunidad sa paligi ng mga malalaking minahan dahil sa mga sakuna at problemang dulot ng pagminina, kung kaya dapat umanong pagnilayan, sa diwa ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay, ang pagbabago sa anyo at kalakaran sa pangmimina sa bansa.

Ito ay reaksyon umano ng mga environmental at church groups sa Easter message ni Aquino, ayon sa kanya.

 "Easter Sunday is a good occasion to remember the mining disasters that have affected the lives of mining communities that are continuously ignored and  whose  rights are violated with impunity," dagdag niya.

"Together with the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), the ATM, an alliance of mining-affected communities and their supporters, also calls for a moratorium on the issuance of new mining permits," aniya.

Sa kanyang Easter message, sinabi ni Aquino na dapat lahat ng mga Pilipino ay magpakita ng malasakit sa kapwa.

"Lubusin natin ang mga pagkakataong ito... Nasa kamay po natin ang susi ng ganap na pag-asenso. Tiyak pong sa ating malasakit sa isa't isa at sa patnubay ng Panginoon, mararating natin ang katuparan ng ating mga panalangin at mithiin," ayon sa Pangulo.

Ngunit, ayon kay  Garganera, "protecting the environment, especially from destructive mining operations, is an expression of self-sacrifice for our poor brethren in mining-affected communities."


Dagdag pa niya, "there is no end in sight to mining disasters with the current policy in the mining industry under the Mining Act of 1995."


Napatunayan na umano sa mga trahedya sa minahan sa Marinduque at sa Compostela Valley, sampu ng iba pang sakuna mula s pagmimina, na walang naidudulot  na kabutihan sa bansa at mga komunidad ang large-scale mining, bagkus kapahamakan at paghihirap lamang ang naaani ng sambayanan, aniya. — LBG, GMA News

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Allan Macapugay, now 'Pinoy clerk in UAE' wins singing contests


OMG! That's Allan Macapugay! He joined our Viva Marinduque project, sang the solo part of my original composition, Marinduque Akin Ka, with the Capitol Choir for performances with Teatro Balangaw in the 6 municipalities. Then we did not hear from him after a couple of years. and now, this! God works in strange ways di baga ngani talaga laang? Congrats Allan!



"Pinoy clerk in UAE overcomes poverty and insecurities to win in singing contests" 
- By LUCKY MAE F. QUILAO April 18, 2014 (GMA NEWS)


Allan Macapugay didn't let poverty and lack of new polo shirts get in the way of his singing career.

AL AIN, United Arab Emirates – “I don’t have the looks. I am not that confident with the quality of my voice. I also cannot afford to buy good costumes.”

These are not the words one would expect from someone who had already won two singing competitions outside of his home country, but for Allan Macapugay, these show the long hard road he has traveled as an overseas worker and singer more than his confidence issues.

But there is no easy way to success. Aside from insecurities, poverty also hounds Macapugay, 36, a clerk at the Al Falahi Maintenance and Services, in his singing career.

“I also cannot afford the taxi fares back and forth. Aside from that, I also do not have a costume to wear. It’s either I wear the same polo in two or three contests or I will borrow from a friend,” he shared via email.

This is true not only here, but even in his home province of Oriental Mindoro in the Philippines where, as the eighth child in a brood of 10, he had to put his singing aside to help his family tend their supermarket stall.

“Dala ng kahirapan sa buhay, hindi ko na pinagtuunan ng pansin ang pagkanta. Bagkus ay tumutulong na lang ako sa nanay ko sa palengke na magtinda ng suman at palamig,” he said.

What inspired Macapugay to keep on keeping on, he said, was his college professor, who urged him to take singing seriously.

“Mula pa pagkabata, alam ko sa sarili ko na marunong akong kumanta pero wala akong kalakas-lakas ng loob na ipakita ito,” he said.

“It was my college professor who had encouraged me to join in an inter-college singing contest,” Macapugay added. “I did not win there but from then on, I began joining in other barangay amateur singing contests.”

His self-esteem received its biggest boost when he defeated a relative whom he used to idolize in a singing competition.

“Meron kaming singer na kapitbahay nun sa Oriental Mindoro na malayong kamag-anak. Tuwing maririnig ko siya na nagpapraktis kumanta ay kakaripas na ako sa kanilang bahay para makinig at panoorin ang kanyang pagkanta,” Macapugay said.

Macapugay singing the nationalistic song "Dakilang Lahi",
Marinduque provincial capitol, July 2007


“Then sometime in 1998, I joined again a singing contest in Marinduque. I saw again our neighbor and was confused on whether I should continue to compete with a veteran singer. Surprisingly, I was able to,” he added.

Macapugay’s singing career, however, was relegated to the back seat again when, forced by poverty, he decided to leave the country and work as a receptionist in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, in June 2008.

But good things come to those who wait: When he joined singing contests again, he emerged victorious, being judged grand champion in the "EMAX Sing like a Star" held at the Oasis Center Dubai in October 2010, and in the “Kusina Restaurant Videoke Challenge” held at the Kusina Restaurant Abu Dhabi in January 2011.

Last year, Macapugay was a grand finalist in two more competitions – in the Global Pinoy Singing Idol and in the Battle of the Best by the Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mananayaw at Mangaawit sa Abu Dhabi.

“I thought that I will never have a chance to use and share this God-given talent,” Macapugay said. “But it’s true that when you commend everything to God, His plan for you will happen accordingly.” – KBK, GMA 
News

Allan Macapugay with the Marinduque Provincial Capitol Choir in
Viva Marinduque-Ani ng Sining project 2008, singing "Marinduque Akin Ka"
and "Awit sa Pulang Lupa" composed by this blogger.

Friday, April 18, 2014

Good Friday Throwback: My 'Kristos'

"ANG KRISTO: PASYON-DULA", Buenavista, Marinduque (2006), Gasan, Marinduque (2008), Buenavista & Boac (2010)


MGA TALA NG MANUNULAT AT DIREKTOR ELI J. OBLIGACION TUNGKOL SA DULA:
(Bahagi ng teksto ng lumang Programa para sa Pagtatanghal ng TEATRO BALANGAW)

Tubong Buenavista si JANMART LACDAO, gumanap bilang Kristo
sa mga pagtatanghal ng "Ang Kristo:Pasyondula" sa bayan ng
Buenavista (2006) at Boac (2010). Aktibo pa rin si Janmart
hanggang sa kasalukuyan sa pag-ganap sa ibat-ibang dula sa
telebisyon at entablado bilang character actor.

‘SINAKULO’

“Sinakulo” ang tawag sa alin mang pang-Mahal na Araw na dula tungkol sa kalbaryo ng Panginoong HesuKristo. Karaniwang sinisimulan ito sa Banal na Hapunan (“senaculo” ang turing sa silid na pinagdausan ng ‘Huling Hapunan’ ni HesuKristo at mga apostoles ayon sa ‘Pasyong Mahal’) at natatapos sa ‘Pagkabuhay Muli’.

Tila laging bantulot naman ang mga kritiko ng sining na ihanay sa tinataguriang lehitimong teatro ang ‘Sinakulo’ tulad ng noo’y ‘Zarzuela’ at ‘Moro-moro’ at modernong teatro ngayon dahil diumano sa ‘kapayakan’ ng mga ito. 

Ibang pamamaraan at pamantayang estetiko raw ang ginagamit sa mga ito na higit na umaasa sa mga ‘payak’ na personal o pinaghalong interpretasyon ng mga gumaganap bilang tauhan at mga namamahala ng ‘Sinakulo’.

Naroong makita natin, halimbawa, na para makilala ng mga manonood si San Pedro ay kailangang may dala itong panabong dahil itinatwa nito si Hesus ng tatlong beses bago tumilaok ang manok, sa iba naman ay kailangang may hawak na susi ng langit ang mahabaging Pedro. Naroong makita natin na upang pahalagahan ang mga apostoles ay kailangang lagyan sila ng mga sinag (‘halo’) sa ulo tulad ng pamosong larawan.

Bagama’t ang lihim na pag-iibigan nina Claudia at Longhino tulad ng sa ilang lugar ay hindi maaring sabihing ‘payak’ kung ang basehan ay kaisipan ng sumulat nito na inimport pa nga naman. At lalong hindi masasabing ‘payak’ kung libo-libong piso (o milyon-milyong piso kaya), ang ginagasta para sa pagpapatayo ng palasyo ni Pontio Pilato na ang disenyo ay tipong Disneyland o ‘Camelot’. 

Subalit ‘Sinakulo’ pa rin ang mapuwersang turing ng lahat sa mga ito. At ‘senakulistas’ naman ang tawag ng mga gumaganap sa kanilang sarili, gayundin ang tawag ng mga manonood..

“ANG KRISTO: PASYON-DULA”

Ano’t ano man iyon, nagkaroon ng pagkakataong mabuo ang “ANG KRISTO: PASYON-DULA” sa bayan ng Buenavista, Marinduque ngayong taong 2006. Sa mga kadahilanang nabanggit na, hindi nga ito ‘Sinakulo’. ‘Passion Plays’ ang tawag sa Ingles sa mga dulang naglalarawan sa buhay at pasakit ni HesuKristo, mula sa Oberammergau (Alemanya), hanggang sa Estados Unidos na kung saan ito itinatanghal at dinarayo upang panoorin. 

Kaya’t bago ito tawaging ‘Sinakulo’ ay maiging idikit na ng maaga ang salitang “Pasyon-Dula” sa titulo ng “ANG KRISTO”. Nang may kasimplehan o ‘kapayakan’. Ang tawag sa kabuuhan ng gawain mula pag-iisip, pananaliksik, pag-eensayo, hanggang sa pagtatanghal ay simple rin: Pasyon-Dulaan.

Ang kaibahan nga lamang, upang higit na maunawaan ng mga manonood ng pasyon-dulang ito kung saan nagmula ang mga pangyayaring naging kadahilanan sa pagpako sa Krus at pagkamatay ng Panginoong HesuKristo, na hindi maaaring makita kung ang dula ay sisimulan sa Huling Hapunan, kinailangang simulan ang kuwento mula sa pagbautismo kay Hesus ni Juan Bautista at ipakita ang mga mahahalagang pangyayari ayon sa kuwento ng buhay Niya mula ng panahong iyon. Ang mga mahahalagang pangyayaring ito ang binigyang buhay sa unang bahagi ng dula. Kaya’t ang ikalawang bahagi ay magsisimula naman sa pagsalubong sa Kanya sa Herusalem.
Si JE SISON bilang Kristo sa pagtatanghal sa Buenavista


Kinailangan ang masusing pananaliksik. Ginamit ang ‘Magandang Balita Biblia’, King James Version ng Biblia, ‘Kasaysayan ni Longhino’ (Eli Obligacion, dulang itinanghal sa Gasan, Marinduque 1997),’Gospel of Luke’ (Catholic Pastoral Edition), ‘The Lost Teachings of Jesus’ (Summit Univ. Press),’The Story of Redemption’(Ellen White), ’Pasion ni Hesukristo’ (Mariano Pilapil), ‘The Life of St. Longinus’ (Caxton’s English Text), ‘Detached Account of Longinus (Emmerich), ‘Detached Account of Abenadar’ (Emmerich), Internet search finds tungkol kay Claudia Procula, Longinus, Pontius Pilate.

Pinanggalingan din ng ilang materyal ang mga pelikulang “The Passion of the Christ”, “Jesus Christ Superstar”, ”Jesus of Nazareth”, “Jesus”. Ang mga teksto sa iskrip na may kaukulang marka ay direkta o halos direktang hinango sa ‘Magandang Balita Biblia’.


PAGBUBUO AT DIWA NG BOLUNTERISMO

Natapos ang unang balangkas ng iskrip noong Pebrero 24, 2006. Nagsimulang mamili ng mga magsisiganap sa dula noong Marso 4, 2006, at sinimulan kaagad ang pag-eensayo bagama’t wala pang kaliwanagan kung paano magkakalap o saan manggagaling ang pondong gagastusin sa ganito kalaking produksiyon. (Higit sa 60 ang kailangang magsisiganap at nadagdagan pa ito). Subali’t tulad ng paulit-ulit naming sinasabi sa mga artistang tumugon sa panawagan, ang ano mang mabuting bagay o magandang panaginip ay hindi mawawalan ng tagasuporta at lahat ay matutugunan – kung may pananampalataya sila sa buti ng kanilang ginagawa.

Sumaklolo na nga ang Pamahalaang Bayan ng Buenavista sa pangunguna ni Mayor Madrigal at kanyang mabubuting mga kaibigan. Gayundin ang mga kaibigan ng Balangaw. Sumuporta ang mga magulang ng mga kabataang kasali (mga mag-aaral at mga out-of-school youths), na nakaunawa na maaaring gabihin sa pag-uwi ang kanilang mga anak sa pag-eensayo. Nagbigay ng suportang moral ang DepEd sa pagsali ng ilang mga guro.
Ang batikang aktor na si JOHN ARCILLA, gumanap bilang Kristo sa
pagtatanghal sa bayan ng Gasan, 2008

Ang lahat ng may kinalaman sa pagbuo ng dula ay maagang tinanggap sa kanilang sarili na ang pangyayaring ito ay sinasalihan ng bawa’t isa sa Diwa ng Bolunterismo at hangad na maging bahagi ng pagpapayabong ng sining at kultura (o pag-unlad ng turismo man), sa magandang Buenavista. At sa pagsasagawa nito ay maging bahagi ng paghugis ng modernong pangkulturang kasaysayan ng kanilang sariling bayan at komunidad. Iyon lamang!



TAMPOK NA MGA TAGPO

Bangungot ng isang mandudula na sumulat ng isang drama na di naman maiisagawa sa ibat-ibang kadahilanan, mga limitasyon. Subalit depende na nga iyon sa pagkamalikhain ninuman. Sa kaso ng “Ang Kristo”, base sa ipinamalas na kakayahan ng mga artistang gumaganap ay nadagdagan pa ang unang balangkas nito at sa huli ay naisakatuparan ang mga sumusunod na eksena sa loob ng limang linggong pag-eensayo: Read more here

Isa sa pinakamalaking sorpresa ay ang pagsali ng isang kilalang aktor ng pelikula at telebisyon, si JE Sison (ng TV Idol), na gumanap bilang Kristo sa ikalawang pagtatanghal ng dula. Sipi mula sa isang lumang blog:

Si JE Sison

JE Sison, then, upon the bidding of the play's director, addressed the Teatro Balangaw ensemble of 70 strong and gave a stirring speech about the wonders of theater and acting stressing that the "one you saw acting there was not me!" "I just prayed, and it seemed to me that something... a force, whatever, seemed to have taken over me when the curtain rose and I just followed it!", he said
"So now I know the purpose why I decided to grow my hair long!" The actor had no inkling that he would be invited on short notice (three weeks), to act as "Kristo", in a play that deliberately shunned ideas to call it a "sinakulo", for it was not.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Welcome to Sta. Cruz, Marinduque!

This video proudly shows just some of Sta. Cruz, Marinduque's cultural and natural treasures and the local people's resolve to attract visitors with recently launched resort addresses.


The Sta. Cruz Church is the oldest in the province, constructed in 1760, with intricately-carved retablos and pulpit still intact today. Even with renovations done in recent years, most of this historic church's interiors and furnishings are well-preserved.

Bagumbungan Cave, also known as San Isidro Cave, has lied hidden for ages and purposely avoided by residents nearby because of phantom stories associated with it. In 2009 a team led by then tourism chair Lord Allan Velasco revisited this pristine cave to find an unexplored kilometers-long underground river. The cave system is now one of the most popular adventure destinations in Marinduque with trained tour guides provided by barangay San Isidro. Community involvement is considered crucial for the preservation of the cave's natural state. 

Busay Falls in Brgy. Pag asa and Kawa-kawa Falls in Brgy. Bangcuangan are popular swimming grounds for beating the summer heat.

The potential for development of the three islands of Mongpong, Maniwaya and Polo with white sand beaches because of their accessibility being just south of Luzon has attracted investors also in recent years. Small resorts have been constructed in these islands (Residencia de Palo Maria that offers amenities, Palo Maria Beach Sanctuary among others in Maniwaya and Casa Marino in Mongpong). The charm of the circular Palad sand bar in the middle of the sea is a must-place for Maniwaya visitors, as well as the Ungab natural arch in Mompong. 

Aware of so many amazing tourist attractions in their locality people have become even more tourist-friendly and want to keep it that way for a long time to come.



"Welcome to Sta. Cruz, Marinduque"

Directed by: Teresa P. Rogelio

Assistant Directors: Frithy Preclaro, Randave Regalia, Patrick Regalia
Director of Photography: Jay Rejano, assisted by John Mendoza
Photographers: Rene Dela Rosa, Ricci Vertucio, Jep Portela, Cielo Rivamonte, Marco Malilang, Junmuel Regio, Jong Preclaro, Randy Rogelio
Junior Photographer: Halle Rogelio
Edited by: Kel Serrano
Models: Kalvin Rodas, Michelle Andrade, Dexter Augustine, Hannah Rogelio
In cooperation with: JCI Marinduque Luzon Datum; Morion Mountaineers

Acknowledgment: Office of the Mayor, Susan Arellano, Tourism Office of the Municipality of Sta. Cruz, Venilyn Ricahuerta, Randolph Ramos, EOS Photo Imaging Club, JCI Marinduque Morion

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Unanimous decision for Manny Pacquiao


Filipino fight icon Manny Pacquiao regained the WBO world welterweight title after fashioning out a masterful unanimous decision victory on Sunday against Timothy Bradley.

Pacquiao won the fight, 116-112, 116-112, and 118-110. It was Pacquiao’s 56th career victory against five losses and two draws.

Bradley suffered his first loss in 32 career fights.

The win came as redemption for Pacquiao, who got back the title he lost to the previously-unbeaten American two years ago in a controversial decision.

Pacquiao left little doubt this time, consistently outgunning Bradley for most of the fight.

Bradley, known for his technical counterpunching, was left desperately trying to land a knockout shot — an overhand right hook — that never came.

Pacquiao, in contrast, showcased his full boxing arsenal, peppering Bradley’s defenses with five-, six-punch flurries. InterAksyon

Pacific Ring-of-Fire earthquakes today

On this USGS map: Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and Philippine earthquakes.

7.6 earthquake hits near Solomon Islands

Map locator


13 April 2014
An earthquake of magnitude 7.6 has hit near the Solomon Islands, but there have been no reports of major damage or casualties.
The undersea quake was registered at a depth of 29km (18 miles), 100km (60 miles) south-east of Kira Kira.
tsunami warning issued for the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia was later cancelled.
The Solomon islands suffered severe flash floods just over a week ago in which at least 16 people died.
Strong waves were reported after the earthquake struck at 07:14 on Sunday (20:14 GMT Saturday).
Dorothy Wickham, who lives in the capital Honiara, told the Agence France-Presse news agency that people had been warned to stay away from low-lying areas, as high seas battered the coast. BBC News

Nicaragua shaken by second 6.6 earthquake

12/04 07:12 CET
Just as residents of Managua were clearing up the damage from an earthquake on Thursday, a second earthquake struck Nicaragua on Friday.
Measuring 6.6 on the richter scale it could be felt as far away in San Jose in Costa Rica.
The epicentre was 24 km south of Granada near the Pacific coast, the depth of it suggested that a tsunami was unlikely.
The government had evacuated buildings and schools were closed on Friday as thousands of aftershocks continued to rattle the country, which helped avoid many injuries when the second quake struck.
The government raised the number of those injured in Thursday’s quake from 23 to 200 and one person was reported to have died. Euronews
Other Ring-of-Fire earthquakes
Magnitudemb 4.9
RegionMINDANAO, PHILIPPINES
Date time2014-04-12 21:50:51.0 UTC
Location9.67 N ; 125.37 E
Depth40 km
Distances288 km N of Davao, Philippines / pop: 1,212,504 / local time: 05:50:51.0 2014-04-13
177 km SE of Cebu City, Philippines / pop: 798,634 / local time: 05:50:51.0 2014-04-13
13 km SW of Mat-i, Philippines / pop: 3,795 / local time: 05:50:51.0 2014-04-13 


MagnitudeM 4.8
RegionSUMBAWA REGION, INDONESIA
Date time2014-04-12 12:32:53.5 UTC
Location9.69 S ; 118.01 E
Depth10 km
 
Magnitudemb 5.0
RegionBOUGAINVILLE REGION, P.N.G.
Date time2014-04-12 15:46:27.0 UTC
Location7.16 S ; 154.96 E
Depth15 km

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Marinduque's Nevada Case: What's cookin' in the brew pot?; Istasyon ng Krus



Isabel P. Ball: So assumed that the entire province of Marinduque is solidly against the settlement, and it was a verdict that they have made, but i hate the quietude that comes after it! What, how, where, when, who are we now on this? There ought to be a spokesperson with duty to update the public on every episodes. What's cookin" in the brew pot?



DULAANG BAYAN: 
(Kontribusyon* ng isang mambabasa sa diwa ng Semana Santa sa Marinduque)


ISTASYON KUNG PAANONG NILAMON NG "SNOW FROM CANADA" ANG ILOG BOAC AT KABIHASNAN
(mula sa mga nagmamalasakit na mamamayan ng Marinduque)

Sinasamba Ka namin at pinasasalamatan Panginoong Hesukristo sapagkat sa pamamagitan ng iyong Mahal na Krus at Muling Pagkabuhay, iniligtas mo ang sandaigdigan.

Tanda ng Krus.

O Hesus, tulungan mo kaming alalahanin ang mga misteryo nang hinagpis at trahedya ng mina. Pagkalooban mo kami ng biyaya na kasuklaman ang kasalanan nang mga gumawa nito, at gugulin ang aming buhay para sa katarungan ng biktima noon at magpakailanpaman. Sa gayon, kami ay nakikibahagi sa kanilang paghihirap at pagpapakasakit, lalo’t higit ay hindi papayag sa kabulastugan ng nais ipagbili ang aming bayan!

(Sinimulan sa ibaba ang unang istasyon. Sa mga makakabasa nito, bukas ang mga pahina upang inyong punan ang ikalawa hanggang ika-14 na istasyon. Hinihimok, lalo na ang mga may kagyat na karanasan sa mina ng Marcopper, na makiisa sa panata na ito ngayong Semana Santa 2014.)


Unang Istasyon - Ang Huling Hapunan / Ang Pagkakanulo

Sino silang mga Judas ng bayan? Sino silang “take it” ang sagot sa tanong nang dyablong Placer-Dome-Barrick Gold? Mulang 1975 pikit-bulag po nilang sinirit ang lason sa mababaw na look ng Calancan, kainaman silang nagtampisaw sa tanso habang sa paparating na mga taon, lulunurin nila ang ating kabihasnan!




O Hesus, tulungan mo kaming alalahanin ang mga misteryo nang hinagpis at trahedya ng mina. Pagkalooban mo kami ng biyaya na kasuklaman ang kasalanan nang mga gumawa nito, at gugulin ang aming buhay para sa katarungan ng biktima noon at magpakailanpaman. Sa gayon, kami ay nakikibahagi sa kanilang paghihirap at pagpapakasakit, lalo’t higit ay hindi papayag sa kabulastugan ng nais ipagbili ang aming bayan! Read more on ISTASYON


Double standard of justice in same fertilizer scam case?

Fertilizer scam trials, arrests, disparities; People of the Philippines vs Carmencita O. Reyes et al, Abdullah Dimaporo et al


Sandiganbayan.
The provisions of the law of the Philippines on Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices are quite explicit. For incumbent public officials against whom criminal charges have been filed for violation of the Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act it is mandatory that they be suspended.

RA 3019 Section 13 reads:

"Suspension and loss of benefits. — Any incumbent public officer 
against whom any criminal prosecution under a valid information under this Act or under Title Seven Book II of the Revised Penal Code or for any offense involving fraud upon government or public funds or property whether as a simple or as complex offense and in whatever stage of execution and mode of participation, is pending in court shall be suspended from office. Should he be convinced by final judgement, he shall lose all retirement or gratuity benefits under any law, but if he is acquitted, he shall be entitled to reinstatement and to the salaries and benefits which he failed to receive during suspension, unless in the meantime administrative proceedings have been filed against him." 

Under normal circumstances the power of suspension lies in the court in which criminal charge is filed. According to the said Act any public officer may be suspended if the charge involves 'dishonesty, oppression or grave misconduct or gross neglect in the performance of duty', among other considerations. The reason is that continued stay in office may prejudice the case filed against him or her. 

The provision is supposed to be unequivocal and mandatory if it should be followed.

If it should be followed? But do we really care about these things still? Like, whether or not our anti-corruption laws are really being followed? 

We don't have an all-seeing eye, of course, and rely only on what media feeds us, media that has access to information not immediately available to us, media that plays a part in shaping our thinking in a positive way, or in many cases, in a negative way like dumbing us down without our even knowing it. 

And we pay special attention to intrigues and scandals or scams.

Like the internationally renowned Philippine Fertilizer Scam of 2004, Pnoy's biggest issue during his election thus he decidedly made anti-corruption his administration's centerpiece. The pork barrel scandal occurred in 2013, during his time, but he insists that's nothing compared to the fertilizer scam: 


President Benigno Aquino III

"... he (PNoy) said the PDAF controversy is nothing compared to the P728-million fertilizer fund scam during the time of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

"Compare mo sa fertilizer scam, gaano kalaki ang diperensiya? And yung fertilizer scam is the tip of the iceberg, marami pang iba," he said."



"With the appointment of former Supreme Court Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales as Ombudsman in 2011, President Benigno Aquino III said the country would have an “honest-to-goodness anti-corruption office.”

“Not one that condones the corruption and abuses in government,” Aquino said of Morales during his state of the nation address (SONA) in July of that year...

“I expect that this year, we will have filed our first major case against the corrupt and their accomplices. And these will be real cases, with strong evidence and clear testimonies, which will lead to the punishment of the guilty,” said Aquino, whose presidential campaign in 2010 was anchored on his fight against corruption."

Palakpakan naman. We cheer! Only to realize, when things have subsided that those statements are directed pala, as it is manifesting before our very own eyes now,  to those who are not his allies in government. Sample:

Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo


"The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division has ordered the arrest of Lanao del Norte Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo and five other persons for malversation of P5 million in public funds, in one of the hundreds of dubious transactions made in the P728-million fertilizer fund scam..."

This story came out shortly after charges were filed against Dimaporo before Sandiganbayan, that tries cases involving public officials for their misdeeds. The article goes on to state that: "Dimaporo is the fifth lawmaker to be implicated... after Representatives Oscar Gozos of Batangas province, Federico Sandoval of Navotas City, Nanette Castelo-Daza of Quezon City, and Carmencita Reyes of Marinduque province."

Again, the fifth to be implicated, after Carmencita Reyes of Marinduque and former representatives Gozos, Sandoval and Castelo-Daza.

Further to the story:  "(O)n the recommendation of the Ombudsman, Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Roland B.Jurado has denied bail to Dimaporo in the malversation charge."

Dimaporo is a member of the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC). 

"Last week, Dimaporo was charged by the Ombudsman with malversation of public funds and graft for the purchase and delivery of 10,000 bags of Saka organic fertilizers worth P5 million..." . 

Poor guy. Immediately, Dimaporo's colleagues in Congress tried to come to the rescue by issuing a Resolution that he be allowed to post bail for the unbailable charge of malversation of public funds. But he is not a member of the ruling party, so sorry. Then what happened?

"As this developed, House Speaker and Quezon City Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said that the House of Representatives could not prevent the Sandiganbayan from arresting Dimaporo because the Lanao congressman’s case is a non-bailable offense.

I don’t think we can do anything,” Belmonte said. He added that Dimaporo’s case is similar to the plunder case of former president and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, which is also a non-bailable offense."

Ganun naman pala. Then we read just a couple of days ago about the same fertilizer scam case involving the incumbent Marinduque governor:


Gov. Carmencita O. Reyes
Item: "Almost 3 years after being charged, Marinduque provincial governor Carmencita Reyes and agriculture officials will finally stand trial for graft and illegal use of public funds related to the P728 million fertilizer fund scam.

"Ombudsman prosecutors filed their pre-trial brief on Tuesday, January 8, before the graft court’s Second Division. Reyes’ arraignment has been set for January 14 at 1:30 pm."

So, same scam case, exactly the same amount involved (Php 5M), exactly the same process undergone. If the media report is correct, then in fact, the Reyes case was the first to be filed, and, going by the presidential assurance - "these will be real cases, with strong evidence and clear testimonies, which will lead to the punishment of the guilty."

Same graft and malversation cases were filed against Reyes in 2011. But Carmencita O. Reyes was never meted with suspension from the time the Office of the Ombudsman' Field Investigation Office filed the complaint, after years of investigation, in July 2008.

The Office of the Ombudsman moved for institution of criminal and formal inquiries against Reyes along with others involved in the conspiracy, their names already mentioned above. Overall Deputy Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro signed the approval for the filing of charges on April 14, 2011, or three years later. That long. And now 2014, she will stand trial for graft and technical malversation.

If a Philstar report is correct, Reyes was allowed to post bail not only for the graft case (RA 3019 Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) but also for the malversation charges (Act No. 3815 Revised Penal Code of the Philippines) for a total of Php 60,000 for the two cases.
  
Reyes is a member of the ruling Liberal party (LP). Poor, incumbent representative Dimaporo of the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), under hospital arrest after a warrant was issued.

Spot the difference? Then shall we just sit back and idly watch another reality show go by? Think about it.


"Equality before the law in a true democracy is a matter of right. It cannot be a matter of charity or of favor or of grace or of discretion."  


- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Wiley Rutledge