LOOK: Duterte meets with House Speaker bets in Japan

President Rodrigo Duterte met with some of the candidates for the House Speakership race during his four-day trip to Japan.

In photos posted by Senator-elect Christopher "Bong" Go on his Facebook page, the President was spotted with Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, returning Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, and incoming Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano.

Aside from the three candidates, reelected Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, 3rd District Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales, incoming Antique Rep. Loren Legarda are also eyeing the post. Meanwhile, the President’s son, incoming Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte, has quashed rumors that he will run for Speaker. The President also threatened to resign if he gunned for the speakership.

Duterte previously said he will not endorse any candidate vying for the speakership — a key position leading up to the 2022 presidential elections.

"Sa speakership, wala akong kinakampihan," he said in a speech on May 27.

Malacañang said that it is all up to the House to pick its next leader.

Source: CNN Philippines

Surprise Reyna Elena in Brgy. Balaring wows three barangays: Boac Mayor-Elect Armi Carrion

Reyna Elena Armi Carrion and her Constantine

The role is often reserved for the most beautiful or most important maiden in the community. That of Reyna Elena in the traditional Santacruzan, held in many Philippine Christian towns and barangays on the last day of Flores de Mayo.

Reyna Elena is the personification of St. Helena, a Roman empress who was reputed to have discovered Christ’s cross. Many subsequent legends developed, and the story of the finding of the cross, enhanced by romances became a favorite throughout Christendom, especially in the Philippines where it is commemorated through the Santacruzan. Others call it sagalahan.

From Brgy. Balaring in Boac, an unexpected call came from the barangay Captain to the new Mayor-Elect of Boac, Armi de la Cruz Carrion. She’s the wife of the late Marinduque governor Bong Carrion and she has just won the recent election over five other candidates - by an astounding landslide. 

Armi Carrion's recent proclamation as Mayor-Elect of Boac

Her five opponents' votes added together couldn't even exceed her total number of votes.

The barangay leader conveyed his urgent request: “Ma'm, our barangay is making a collective request – you are our choice as Reyna Elena this time because this is the very first time that a Carrion has won an election in our barangay after so many years...”

The startled Madame who was in Manila for a much needed rest could not say ‘no’ and accepted the Kapitan’s demand for her extraordinary presence in the Santacruzan to be held in just a couple of days.

And so it came to pass, the Reyna Elena’s identity was revealed to others. The news apparently spread that in no time residents of the nearby barangays of Ihatub and Caganhao demanded that the Santacruzan procession should pass through their barangays also.

After a rush decision on which gown and what shoes to wear, Mayor-Elect Armi DC Carrion joined the procession that passed through three barangays - all of 6 kilometers back and forth. 

She reportedly wore 3-inch shoes for the unexpected 6-km walk

They only told her the last minute of the extended route. And she gamely agreed having no choice but to accede to the people who have lined up the main seaside road. The aching feet as result could be soothed later, anyway.

She was escorted by a smart-looking young Constantino who carried a cross.

Many from the Boac town proper who’ve heard of the news also trooped to the seaside road to watch and cheer their Reyna Elena 2019, Mayora Armi.

Reyna Elena Mayora Armi

Velasco vows equal treatment for party-list solons if elected Speaker

Rep. Velasco (standing 6th from left) with Partylist representatives

Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco vowed that partylist solons won’t be treated as “second-class” citizens if he will be elected as the country’s next Speaker this coming July. 

“[I told them that] if I get the Speakership you stand as a bloc. I will give you your 20 percent allocation—that means they get the allocation for the chairmanships their vice chairmanships with their members,” said Velasco in an interview with the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) on Tuesday.

Last week, Velasco attended the private caucus hosted by the Partylist Coalition under the leadership of the 1-PACMAN Partylist Rep. Mikee Romero.

The administration solon recognized the capability of the 54-man bloc under Romero’s leadership, adding that they are a “force to be reckoned with” and will play as a power-broker in the highly contested Speakership race which is currently considered a four-way fight between him, former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Taguig-Pateros Representative-elect Alan Peter Cayetano and Leyte Representative-elect Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

“I’m just promising them or I’m just telling them because usually before there’s a connotation when you’re a partylist member the second class citizen that was in Congress. But now I was telling them you know you guys stand as a bloc,” said Velasco.

Earlier, House Deputy Minority Leader Alfredo Garbin (Ako Bicol Partylist) said it was Velasco who earned the loudest applause among the perennial candidates who were vying for the Speakership during the group’s annual general assembly last Thursday which was held at the Marco Polo Ortigas in Pasig City.

“Well applaud siya. Cong. Velasco, the most applauded of the three contenders na dumalo sa aming caucus,” said Garbin.

Source: politics.com.ph

Patok! Velasco, pinaka-pinalakpakan ng mga party-list solon

 MANILA – Pinaka-patok umano sa mga partylist solon si Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, sa mga mambabatas na naghahangad sungkitin ang liderato ng Kamara sa papalapit na 18th Congress.

 Ayon kay Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Alfredo Garbin, si Velasco ang pinaka pinalakpakan ng 54-man Partylist Coalition nitong katatapos lamang nilang annual general assembly sa Lungsod ng Pasig noong nakaraang Huwebes.

  

“Cong. Velasco, the most applaud of the three contenders na dumalo sa aming caucus,” paliwanag ni Garbin sa isang panayam sa Kamara.

Maganda umano ang mood ng mga kongresista sa nasabing grupo na pinamumunuan ni 1-Pacman Rep. Mikee Romero dahil dama nila umano ang pagpapahalaga ni Velasco sa party-list bloc.

Si Velasco at dalawa pang kongresista na nais sungkutin ang liderato ng Mababang Kapulungan ng Kongreso sa darating na Hulyo ay inimbitahan ng grupo nila Romero upang bigyan ng pagkakataon na ilatag ang kani-kanilang mga legislative agenda at iba pang mga plataporma kung sakaling pamunuan ang Kamara sa Hulyo.

Kabilang sa mga imbitadong nag-presinta ng kanilang mga balak para sa Mababang Kapulungan ay sila Congressmen-elect Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (Leyte) at Alan Peter Cayetano (Taguig-Pateros).

Kung masasayang hiwayan at masigabong palakpakan ang ibinigay ng grupo kay Velasco ay nagmistulang Biyernes Santo naman bigla ang mood ng mga miyembro ng Partylist Coalition noong si Cayetano na ang nag-sasalita.

Ayon sa mga mapagkaka-tiwalaang source Abante Tonite, imbes na panliligaw ay pagyayabang at kamalaunan ay pananakot ang mga pinagsasabi ni Cayetano laban sa grupo kung sakaling magpasya silang hindi suportahan ang kanyang balak na pamunuan ang Kamara.

Paliwanag ng mga naka saksi subalit ayaw magpakilala, tila ba nagbanta si Cayetano ng sabihin na magiging masamang kaaway siya ng mga kongresistang hindi susuporta sa kanyang balak.

Iginiit din umano ng dating kalihim ng Kagawaran ng Ugnayang Panlabas na mayroon na umano siyang mandato ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte upang pamunuan ang Kamara. - John Carlo Cahinhinan/Abante

Source: Abante TNT

Arroyo refuses to talk about House speakership; Solons list next speaker qualities

What's the latest buzz now with the House speakership?

GMA with members of Congress including Lord Allan Velasco. File photo

MANILA, Philippines — Outgoing Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo shot down Monday questions on who should be the next leader of the House of Representatives in the coming 18th Congress.

“I’m not talking about the speakership,” was all that she said when asked about the race for Speaker.

Former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, presidential son and Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, outgoing Senator and now Antique Rep. Loren Legarda, former Foreign Affairs Secretary and now Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, Marinduque Rep. Lord Velasco, Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, and Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. have been floated as among contenders for the speakership.

So far, Alvarez, Velasco, Cayetano, and Romualdez have confirmed their intentions to become Speaker. Legarda, on the other hand, said vying for the speakership is not in her “radar.” -  Inquirer.net

Solons list next speaker qualities

MANILA, Philippines — Which qualities should incoming lawmakers look for in the next Speaker of the House?

As the speakership race heats up, lawmakers are weighing in on the looming congressional showdown by listing down some basic criteria that they believe the top contenders should satisfy to earn the approval of their peers.

“Primus inter pares. The first among equals. That’s what the Speaker of the House is,” Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon said in a post on Twitter.

According to Davao Oriental Rep. Joel Mayo Almario, the next Speaker should be: first, a trusted ally of President Rodrigo Duterte; second, a member of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban); third, a senior House member with no pending legal cases; fourth, has a good track record in legislation; and fifth, has no conflict of interests.

The lawmaker said it would also be preferable if the next Speaker again originated from Mindanao — a requirement that would qualify only one or two candidates, including Almario himself.

“It would also be preferable if the next Speaker has experience as an official in a local government unit for wider appreciation of the effects of national laws in the local communities, with a clear stand on being pro-environment, and a Mindanaoan like the President,” he said.

With only three years remaining in the Duterte administration, the next House leadership will be crucial in pushing the President’s legislative agenda.

4 contenders

So far, four contenders for Speaker have declared their ambitions to take over the post to be vacated by

outgoing Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo: Rep. Lord Allan Velasco of Marinduque; former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez of Davao del Norte; Martin Romualdez of Leyte; and former Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano of Taguig. - Inquirer.net

Sara Duterte ‘kingmaker’ with mean right hook in search for next House Speaker

Sara and Lord Allan during the senatorial campaign trail. LAV Facebook

President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter, credited for orchestrating last year’s House coup that toppled its leader, has emerged as a major power broker in the search for the next speaker.

Congressmen backing the leadership bid of incoming Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez will “have to go back to the drawing board” if Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio endorses another candidate, said Minority Leader Danilo Suarez.

"Anak s'ya ng presidente, maganda ang reputation saka maverick with a terrific right hook,” he said in jest, recalling the time when the daughter punched a court sheriff in Davao.

(She's the President's daughter, with a good reputation, maverick with a terrific right hook.)

Duterte-Carpio earlier denied supporting Romualdez for speaker, saying she had raised his hand during a Tacloban campaign only because he was supportive of her father.

Duterte-Carpio said she did the same during the campaign for Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, another major contender for speaker.

“Wala syang ine-endorse officially pero 'di mo maialis sa amin na magsuspetsa na baka ito ang tulungan,” Suarez told ABS-CBN News, describing the daughter as a “kingmaker.”

(She has not endorsed anyone officially but we can't help but suspect that she's supporting someone.)

MACHIAVELLIAN

In July last year, Duterte-Carpio worked behind the scenes with congressmen to oust then Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez in a dramatic twist to her father’s scheduled State of the Nation Address.

Alvarez is again among the contenders for the next speaker, having won a second term in Davao del Norte’s first district under the ruling PDP-Laban party.

But last week, Duterte-Carpio rejected Alvarez’s supposed reconciliation offer, describing him as “a very dangerous, Machiavellian individual who does not deserve peace.”

Suarez said the statement could make it difficult for Alvarez to regain the speakership, citing Duterte-Carpio’s strong following in the lower house.

“Medyo mabigat 'yun, mabigat 'yun,” the outgoing minority leader said.

(That's quite a big deal. That's big.)

Full story on ABS-CBN News

Party-list groups can help push PRRD's agenda - Velasco

Reelected Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco today congratulated the winning 51 party list groups that were officially proclaimed by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) yesterday at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

The party list groups, according to the Comelec, will be entitled to 61 seats at the House of Representatives.

Rep. Velasco noted that several groups that made it to the winner circle are allied with and endorsed by President Duterte.

“The entry to the 18th Congress of party list groups that are closely identified with President Duterte would hopefully translate to the speedy passage of measures in the administration’s legislative agenda,” Velasco said.

He also expressed hope that nominees of the winning party list groups will be true to the sectors that they are representing in the House of Representatives.

“They were voted because of the sectors they are representing and the advocacies they are championing,” Velasco pointed out.

“Personally, I am excited to be working with our newly elected legislators, not just those from party list groups, so we can expedite the process and ensure that PRRD’s legislative agenda will be prioritized,” he added.

After all, Velasco said, the legislators, regardless of political colors, are committed to uplift the lives of the Filipino people through the passage of meaningful legislations that will alleviate poverty, strengthen peace and stability, and boost the economy.

Tapos na ang laban! Velasco is Duterte’s choice to be next House Speaker – sources

MANILA – The highly anticipated battle for Speakership could be reduced to a mere formality for reelected Rep. Lord Allan Velasco as the Marinduque solon is reportedly President Rodrigo Duterte’s personal choice to lead the 303-man House of Representatives this coming 18th Congress.

Multiple sources told PolitikoPH that Velasco together with his wife, Wen had a private meeting with Duterte inside the President’s residence in Bahay Pagbabago last May 17.

One of the Palace insiders said that Velasco has secured the blessing of the chief executive in the highly-anticipated Speakership race this coming July during the meeting. The Marinduque solon also brought and introduced to Duterte the newest addition in his growing family—two-month old daughter Sara Kristina.

The meeting with the President was even posted in Velasco’s Instagram account.

Velasco was already introduced as the next leader of the Lower House by both the President and her daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte in three different occasions.

The lawmaker who currently chairs the Energy Committee in the Lower House served as the Presidential daughter’s assistant campaign manager during the nationwide caravan for the senatorial candidates backed by the latter’s influential political entity Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP).

The name of Velasco was included in the long list of names floated by the ruling PDP-Laban party last March as potential bet for the Speakership although other personalities also openly expressed their desire to seek the country’s fourth highest seat.

Other politikos reportedly vying for the top House post include former House Speaker and reelected Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez; former Foreign Affairs secretary and Taguig-Pateros Representative-elect Alan Peter Cayetano; and Leyte Representative-elect Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

A separate source disclosed that some of the above-mentioned contender already knew that Velasco is Duterte’s top choice and are just using the Speakership race “for leverage” to secure other “juicy” positions in the House leadership.

PDP Laban won at least 83 seats during last week’s midterm polls, followed by Nacionalista Party with 43, National People’s Coalition (NPC) with 36; National Unity Party (NUP) with 27; Liberal Party (LP) with 18; Lakas-CMD with 18; and the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) with two seats.

The 61 seats allotted for partylist groups will also play a big role to determine the country’s next House leader although the polls body has yet to officially determine its winners last elections.

Velasco needs at least 153 votes to secure the Speakership.

Source: Politics.com.ph by John Carlo M. Cahinhinan

Mayor Sara backs Velasco for speaker

Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco may have gained the inside track in the race for the top post in the House of Representatives, if getting presidential daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte’s support is the gauge.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. (FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN)

During the meeting of the Nationalist People’s Coalition on Tuesday, Mayor Sara, who chairs Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), reportedly made clear her choice for speaker to party officials.

But as the Davao City mayor declared the HNP’s bet for the top House post, former speaker and re-elected Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez is not losing hope of trying to win over President Duterte’s daughter to his side.

By now, Alvarez is apparently aware of the potent political clout Mayor Sara holds in the Lower House.

Sara with Cong. Lord Allan Velasco. Facebook LAV

The lady mayor has been widely suspected of being the architect of Alvarez’s ouster as House speaker during a coup staged at last year’s opening of regular session.

Mayor Sara reportedly campaigned profusely for the election of former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who eventually replaced Alvarez as speaker.

Arroyo, on the other hand, is believed to be pushing for candidacy of Martin Romualdez, who will return as Leyte congressman in the 18th Congress.

But Romualdez, chairman of the Arroyo-founded Lakas-CMD party, will have to recruit backers from other political parties as his party was only able to win 10 seats for the incoming Congress.

On the other hand, Velasco and Alvarez belong to the PDP-Laban, which won at least 85 seats in the Lower House.

Re-elected Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro is also reportedly eyeing the top House post. He is the president of the National Unity Party that will be represented by 28 congressmen in the next Congress.

Returning Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano has also been mentioned as a strong candidate for speaker. He will be counting on the support of 43 elected Nacionalista Party congressmen.

Source: Manila Bulletin/Ben Rosario

Cong, Lord Velasco's Judges-at-Large bill gets Senate nod

 Yesterday, May 20, 2019, Senate Bill No. 2065 or the “Judges-At-Large Act of 2018” was finally approved on third reading by Senate. This measure will pave the way for the creation of new positions in the Judiciary directed at meeting the goal of unclogging court dockets and speeding up the wheels of justice here in the country.

Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, one of the contenders for House Speakership, is the original author of House Bill No. 2308, the bill which launched the proposal for the establishment of “Judges-At-Large” positions in the judicial system. 

Trust and confidence in the judiciary have been decreasing throughout the years due to alleged slow disposition of cases. Under the bill, “Judges-At-Large” or judges with no permanent salas and who can be assigned to courts with low volume of case disposition will be institutionalized. Hence, this bill would ultimately redound for the benefit of ailing litigants and victims who have been sidelined in their quest for judicial redemption.

Cong. Velasco would like to thank and congratulate all his counterpart legislators in the Senate who pushed and supported his idea for judicial innovation. With its passage in both the Lower and Upper Chambers of Congress, the bill will just need to hurdle the Bicameral Conference Committee before it is sent to the President for signature.

Mga katutubong kuhol o suso sa Marinduque ilang klase lahat?

Alam mo baga na niranggo ng DENR (2012), ang Marinduque bilang ikatlo sa most denuded forest cover sa Pilipinas?

Ganunpaman, mayaman pa rin sa terrestrial snail species ang ating lalawigan. Ang dating mga tala tungkol sa terrestrial snail species diversity sa Pilipinas ay kakaunti. Dati ay naisulat na 13 lamang ang uri ng snail species sa Marinduque. 

Para malaman kung ilan, nagsagawa ng bagong pag-aaral ang ilang siyentipiko sa ilang lugar sa Marinduque (hindi buong Marinduque), at lumitaw na may 24 na uri ng terrestrial snail species na hindi pa naitala. Kung isasama ang dalawang dati nang naitala pero di nila nakita ay magiging 26 na.

Pero tiyak na marami pang hindi sila naisama dahil hindi naman lahat ng lugar sa Marinduque ay napuntahan para sa pag-aaral na ito. Ni hindi rin kasamang inembistigahan para sa pag-aaral ang mossy forest ng pinakamataas na lugar sa Mt. Malindig.

Ganunpaman, magandang tingnan at maaliw man lamang sa mga hitsura ng mga snails na natagpuan sa islang-lalawigan natin. 

Maaalala mo tuloy na nung una ay mga sigay na matatagpuan sa Marinduque ang pinagka-abalahan ng mga mag-aaral at collectors ng ganitong mga bagay na may kinalaman sa biodiversity ng Marinduque. 

Paglipas ng panahon pinag-ukulan ng pansin ay mga bilabila naman, pagkatapos, salaginto't salagubang. Ngayo'y mga kuhol naman.

Mga napiling barangay kung saan nagsagawa ng pag-aaral sa bagay na ito. Hindi lahat ay naisama kayat kailangan pa rin ang patuloy na paghahanap.

Reference: An Updated Survey and Biodiversity Assessment of the Terrestrial Snail (Mollusca: Gastropoda) Species in Marinduque, Philippines nina Sosa, Batomalaque, Fontanilla (Phil. Journal of Science) 

The Majesty of Marinduque: Exploring the Unexplored

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Rediscovery: Pagturing na sa sagradong pulo bilang 'Gaspar Heritage Island', Gasan

Isang piraso ng basag na banga mula sa May Bungo cave ng Gaspar Island.
Larawan ni Eli J Obligacion

 Seryoso, panahon na para ituring nating ‘Gaspar Heritage Island’ ang sagradong pulong ito sa Gasan.

Isa ang pulo ng Gaspar, sakop ng Brgy. Pinggan, na pinakamalaki sa mga Tres Reyes Islands kung saan unang naihayag sa labas ng Pilipinas noong 19th century na ang ilang mga kweba rito ay ginawang huling hantungan ng mga sinaunang mga taong nanirahan sa isla ng Marinduque.

Sa ilan pang mga kweba sa mainland Marinduque naman ay natagpuan ang mga ataol na gawa sa kahoy at may disenyong kinakitaan ng mga imahe ng buwaya bilang isang simbulo na may kinalaman sa kabilang buhay. Ang mga ito ay napag-aralang kapareho ng mga ataol na natagpuan din ng mga panahong iyon sa isla ng Nosy Loapasana sa Madagascar sa Indian Ocean malapit sa southeastern coast ng Africa.

Kahangahanga ang tila hinubog sa kamay na pasukan ng isang kweba sa Gaspar.
Larawan ni Eli J Obligacion

Sa Gaspar Island ay maraming natagpuang mga bungo at mga kalansay ng tao. Ilan sa mga bungo ay tinawag ng mga archaelogists ng panahong iyon na “artificially deformed skulls” na dito lamang sa Marinduque nila natagpuan. Mga bungo ng tao na pahaba ang hugis.

Naikumpara naman ang mga ito sa ganun ding mga bungo na natagpuan sa South Pacific islands ng Chatham at Sandwich Islands na dating tinirahan ng mga proto-Malays.

Sa bandang entrada ng kweba ay makikitang pinagsama-sama na lamang ang ilan sa mga buto, ngipin at piraso ng mga basag na banga. Larawan: Eli J Obligacion

Paglipas ng panahon ay may ganoon ding mga bungo na natagpuan sa Peru at Bolivia, hanggang di na makatiyak ang mga scientist kung ‘artificially deformed’ nga talaga ang mga ito o natural na hugis ng bungo pagka-panganak.

Lalo itong nabigyan ng pansin sa pagkadiskubre sa panahong kasalukuyan ng mga fetus sa Peru-Bolivia na ganoon din ang hugis. Tuluyang napalitan na ngayon ang turing sa mga ito bilang ‘elongated skulls’ na.

Mula sa isang Marinduque cave, Larawan: Quai Branly Museum, France

Mga artifacts ng Gaspar naglaho na sa ngayon

Para sa mga matagal nang nanirahan sa pulo ng Gaspar, marami sa kanila ang nakasaksi sa mga bungo na natagpuan sa mga kweba doon at mga “mahahabang buto” ng mga sinaunang tao. Pero sa kasalukuyan, ayon din sa kanila ay wala ka nang matatagpuan, maliban sa mas maliliit na kalansay na tila labi na lamang ng mga sinaunang bata ang natira.

Ang ilang natagpuan ng mga siyentipiko noon sa mga kweba ng Marinduque ay mga banga na naglalaman ng mga bungo at kalansay. Ang ilan sa mga bangang ito ay may mga disenyo. Paniniwala ng mga siyentipiko na maingat na itinatago sa mga banga ang mga ito bilang pangalawang paglibing at ang huling hantungan nila ay sa mga kweba.

May isang nakaangat na bahagi ng kweba, animo'y isang altar kung saan pinagsama-sama na lamang ang natitira pang mga buto ng tao sa kanilang huling hantungan. Larawan: Eli J Obligacion

Sa ilang mga yungib sa Gaspar makikita ang nagkalat na mga pirapirasong bahagi ng mga banga na pinaglibingan sa kanila (second burial). Wala nang natitirang buo. Kung mayroon man ay nasa mga museo na sa ibang bansa tulad ng France.

Patuloy naman ang mga pag-aaral sa ibat-ibang aspeto ng mga bagay na may kinalaman dito, bagamat sa di malamang kadahilanan ay hindi naman basta-basta ibinabahagi ang mga ito sa publiko.

Sa isa pang kweba ay kailangan pang gumapang muna bago makapasok. Maluwang naman sa loob na may kahabaan din. Sa isang kwebang ito ay wala nang makikitang mga labi. Larawan: Eli J Obligacion

Pamana ng lahi ang Gaspar; pagpapalaganap ng Eco-tourism

Bago tuluyang maglaho sa ating gunita, o tuluyang mawasak ang mga sagradong lugar ay panahon na ngayon upang mapangalagaan, mabantayan sa isang sistematikong pamamaraan ang mga mahahalagang lugar na ito sa pulo ng Gaspar. Patuloy din na lumalaki na ang populasyon ng isla.

Di hamak na ang pagpapalaganap ng kaalaman tungkol sa matatawag na ‘Gaspar Heritage Island’ ay napakalaki rin ng maitutulong sa promotion ng eco-tourism. Makakatulong ng malaki sa pamumuhay ng mga residente hindi lamang sa Gaspar kundi sa sumasakop na barangay dito - ang makasaysayang Brgy. Pinggan.

Maayos na pasukan ng isang kweba sa Gaspar, mga 50 metro ang taas mula sa sea level. Eli J Obligacion

Mga sinaunang mga banga, pinggan at iba pa (mula Ming dynasty), ang nagkalat noon sa baybayin ng lugar na ito (at iba pang lugar basta sa western coast), kung saan isinagawa naman ng National Museum ang kauna-unahang underwater archaeological excavation sa Pilipinas, may kinalaman naman sa isang shipwrecked Chinese junk.

Maaring mabilis na mabuksan na ngayon ang pintuan sa tulong ng National Museum at LGU's para sa paghahanap, pag-retrieve na rin sa iba pang mahahalagang artifacts na nanggaling mismo sa lugar na ito. 

Marami pang mga yungib na halos kapantay ng dagat sa paligid ng Gaspar Island. Eli J Obligacion

Di na tuloy tayo mabalik sa panahon nuon na ang mga pagkalalaking antique plates ay ginagamit lamang ng mga naninirahan sa Brgy Pinggan sa pagbahog ng mga baboy. Di na rin tuluyang mawawala sa gunita ang kahalagahan at pagiging sagrado ng Gaspar (na kahit pa sa ngayon ay ilan lamang ang nakababatid).

Iyon ay kung may totoong pagpapahalaga pa tayo sa ganitong mga bagay.

Makikita ang Mt. Malindig mula sa Gaspar Island na paboritong pasyalan. Eli J Obligacion

Marinduque Halalan 2019: Silang mga wagi sa lalawigan (with 1st at 2nd District), 6 na bayan, ranggo at nakuhang boto

Habang sinusulat ito ay naiproklama nang lahat ang mga nanalong kandidato mula sa provincial hanggang municipal level sa Marinduque. 

Naging maayos at matahimik sa kabuuhan ang naganap na Halalan 2016 dito ayon sa naging pahayag ng PNP Marinduque na "fair and peaceful ang conduct ng 2019 Midterm Elections in Marinduque".

Congratulations po sa lahat ng mga nakibahagi sa halalan. Mula sa mga kandidato nanalo man o hindi, mga botante, mga nagbantay at nagpuyat, mga guro, lahat ng canvassers at lahat ng mga nangalaga sa kaayusan at kapayapaan sa mahal nating islang lalawigan.

Mula sa website, Halalan 2019 ng ABS-CBN na binase sa 100% Election Returns transmitted as of May 16, 2019 at 2:04 pm ay ito ang kinalabasan:

Ang bagong halal na Gobernador JUSTICE PRESBY VELASCO (ikalawa mula kaliwa) kasama ang COMELEC Board of Canvassers.  Siya ang kikilalaning mabuting AMA NG LALAWIGAN

Ang Inihalal-muli na Congressman LORD ALLAN Q. VELASCO

BOAC

Boac Mayor-Elect Armi Carrion

GASAN

BUENAVISTA

TORRIJOS

STA. CRUZ

MOGPOG