Statement of Rep. Lord Allan Velasco on term-sharing

Rep. Velasco (middle) with from left, Pres. Duterte, Rep. Cayetano, former Speaker Macapagal Arroyo and Rep. Romualdez during recent Hugpong ng Pagbabago thanksgiving dinner. Photo: Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

"President Duterte already made clear his position that he would leave the choice for Speakership to the capable hands of the members of Congress and will not endorse a particular individual for the position. This declaration never mentioned a term sharing for the position of Speaker.

"There is a strong consensus among majority members of the House of Representatives during my series of consultation with them that term-sharing is divisive and will only impede the passage of important pieces of legislation that this administration needs to fulfill its mandate and promise to the people.

"I thank my party PDP Laban for the honor of selecting me as their candidate for Speaker. I am ready to take on the task as I have been ready since the SONA day of 2018. I commit to promote unity in the House, push for the agenda of the Duterte administration and serve our country to the best of my abilities." 

- Rep, Lord Allan Velasco, Lone District of Marinduque

PDP-Laban endorses Velasco as 18th Congress House Speaker

Ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) has officially endorsed Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco for the House speakership in the incoming 18th Congress.

Senator Manny Pacquiao announced this on Wednesday morning through a video conference from Los Angeles.

“With the whole blessing of the ruling PDP-Laban party and for the welfare of the whole Filipino people, I am therefore announcing the endorsement and support of PDP-Laban for Congressman Lord Allan Velasco as Speaker of the House of Representatives in the full term of the 18th Congress,” Pacquiao said.

The senator said the PDP-Laban chose to support Velasco as the next Speaker because of the support he has garnered, adding that it will also be good if the next Speaker is young and can be counted on for the welfare of the people.

“Sa tingin ko, maganda ‘yung bata ‘yung Speaker natin at maaasahan din for the welfare of the Filipino people,” he said.

Other contenders for the post from PDP-Laban are Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales, who has already expressed support for Velasco, and Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, who is a former Speaker.

Velasco will go against returning Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) and Taguig Representative-elect Alan Peter Cayetano who are also seeking the Speakership.

President Rodrigo Duterte, chairman of PDP-Laban earlier refused to name a candidate for the speakership, asking outgoing Speaker Gloria Macapagal to spare him from choosing her successor.

Despite this, Pacquaio noted that majority of PDP-Laban, signed a manifesto of support for Velasco as Speaker.

Gonzales, PDP-Laban’s executive vice president, clarified that around 60 members of the party signed the manifesto. Others who have yet to sign have already expressed their support, he added.

Multi-party manifesto of support

Other House members have also signed a multi-party manifesto that expressed support to Velasco as Speaker during a meeting in Malacañang on Tuesday, Gonzales revealed.

Among those who signed the multi-party manifesto were Party-list Coalition president 1-PACMAN party-list representative Mikey Romero, Rizal Representative Michael John Duavit and Valenzuela Representative Weslie Gatchalian for National People’s Coalition (NPC), and incoming Ilocos Sur Rep. Kristine  Singson-Meehan for the Northern Luzon Alliance.

Gonzales added that 39 members of NPC have expressed support for Velasco; 45 to 50 from the party-list coalition; 20 to 25 from the North Luzon Alliance; 25 independent House members; 15 from Nacionalista Party; and 12 from the Liberal Party.

In total, about 200 House members so far are expected to vote for Velasco for his Speakership bid, Gonzales said.

The House of Representatives has 304 members.

“Sa aming estimate sa meeting kahapon with other parties, more or less 200 members na ang pipirma at susuporta kay Congressman Velasco,” Gonzales said in the press conference.

Sanctions for not ‘toeing the party line’

The PDP-Laban said it will impose sanctions on members who will not “toe the party line” in voting for the next House Speaker.

“Just like what party president Senator Koko Pimentel said, the party will be very strict sa party mates so we encourage all of our party mates to toe the party line. So definitely mayroong mga sanctions,” PDP-Laban spokesperson Ron Munsayac told reporters when asked if there will be sanctions on party members who will not toe the line.

He added that the party will still be determining the kind of sanctions that will be imposed on the party members. 

  

“Pag-uusapan pa po ng leadership yan kasi truth be told, we are expecting 100 percent na suporta ng party-mates so hindi pa talaga namin napapag-isipan yan,” Munsayac said.  (Source: Inquirer/Editor: Mike U. Frialde)

Many solons reject proposed term sharing for next Speaker —Velasco; At least 40 PDP-Laban lawmakers back Velasco for Speaker

Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco

Majority of the lawmakers from the House of Representatives turn down the proposed term sharing between Speaker aspirants Taguig City Representative-elect Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco.

"After a series of consultations with members of the House of Representatives, majority of them have expressed strong objection to the term-sharing proposal floated by some quarters," Velasco said in a statement.

"I share the sentiments of my colleagues in Congress and I am inclined to take their advice," he added.

According to Velasco, the lawmakers rejected the proposed term sharing as they feel this would weaken the speakership, disrupt the flow of legislative work, derail key measures they are supposed to work on.

Cayetano, told reporters last week that he is amenable to sharing the speakership post with Velasco —a setup which he said President Rodrigo Duterte gave a blessing to.

"Being hand of reconciliation, hand of unity at saka we can work right away, nasabi ko sa ating Pangulo na payag na ako, kahit I was expecting three years, na hati kami ni Allan Velasco," Cayetano said.

While Velasco is not keen on the idea, he was actually the one who proposed it, Cayetano said.

Velasco's camp, however, clarified that the proposal did not originate from him.

Cayetano and Velasco are expected to go head to head against other Speaker aspirants —Leyte Representative-elect Martin Romualdez, Davao Del Norte Representative Pantaleon Alvarez, and Pampanga Representative Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales.

President Rodrigo Duterte reportedly said that he would announce his choice for the next House Speaker by June 28. — Source: Erwin Colcol/LBG, GMA News

At least 40 PDP-Laban lawmakers back Velasco for Speaker

Aurelio Gonzales Jr, another PDP-Laban speakership bet, also throws in the towel and supports Lord Allan Velasco's bid for the highest post in the House of Representatives

Rep. Velasco, President Duterte and Rep. Paolo Duterte
at a recent dinner reception in Malacanang for neophyte solons

Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco’s bid for the speakership gets a boost after 40 of his party mates signed a manifesto naming him as their choice to lead the House of Representatives.

This was confirmed to Rappler by 3 Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) lawmakers – Pampanga 4th District Representative Juan Pablo Bondoc, Surigao del Sur 2nd District Representative Johnny Pimentel, and Oriental Mindoro 1st District Representative Salvador Leachon – on Monday, June 24.

The manifesto was signed during a meeting of PDP-Laban lawmakers held in an events place in San Juan City on Sunday night, June 23. Bondoc, Pimentel, and Leachon all attended this meeting. 

“Yes. All the congressmen who attended signed a manifesto of support for Congressman Lord Velasco. So far, 40 have already signed and we expect more to sign,” Pimentel said in a text message.

“PDP-Laban is the biggest bloc in the coming 18th Congress and we have the biggest chance to elect a Speaker, so the message last night is that we should solidify, strengthen, unite the PDP-Laban party and come up with an endorsement of our candidate for PDP-Laban. And at the moment, the most viable candidate is Velasco,” he added.

Among those who signed was Pampanga 3rd District Representative Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales Jr, who is among the 3 PDP-Laban lawmakers vying for the speakership along with Velasco and Davao del Norte 1st District Representative Pantaleon Alvarez, who was ousted as Speaker in 2018.

“Congressman Dong was there and he signed after I did,” said Bondoc in a phone interview. Gonzales is the party's interim national executive vice preisdent.

Alvarez, PDP-Laban secretary-general, was not present on Sunday.

PDP-Laban remains the biggest bloc in the House with around 90 members elected for the next 18th Congress.

Velasco and his wife Wen are close friends of no less than President Rodrigo Duterte, who is expected to name his chosen candidate for Speaker by Friday, June 28.

Velasco’s bid for the speakership was previously promoted on the campaign trail by presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, who later clarified she is not publicly endorsing anyone but admitted she does have a personal choice for the House post.

Other promiment speakership candidates are Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez, whose bid is reportedly being backed by around 153 lawmakers, and Taguig City-Pateros Representative Alan Peter Cayetano, Duterte's running mate in the 2016 elections.

Velasco ‘captured the heart’ of party members

With the ongoing signing of the PDP-Laban lawmakers’ manifesto, Velasco has strengthened his bid for Speaker.

Velasco “spoke very well” during the meeting, according to his party mate Bondoc.

“Maayos siyang kausap, madali siyang kausap. Gusto ng congressman ‘yon eh, imbes na uutusan ka lang (He’s easy to talk to. Congressmen like that, instead of just being given orders.) He really captured the heart and the sentiments of most of the party members by being open,” said Bondoc of Velasco.

“For one thing, he’s very approachable. He wants to work with us, recognizing that we are all fellow congressmen. He promises to be open to the needs of our constituents in every district. He is easy to approach and willing to work for the benefit of each individual congressmen and his district,” he added.

The PDP-Laban lawmakers once again agreed the Speaker of the 18th Congress should come from Duterte's party. They are also against any term-sharing proposals being floated among the speakership candidates.

“The group's sense is we want to work. Very traumatic ang nangyari sa amin no’ng nakaraang change in the speakership, politicking, the budge delay (What happened to us in the past, including the change in the speakership, politicking, the budget delay, was very traumatic.) We don’t want term-sharing anymore. We want continuity. We want to work hard,” said Bondoc.

Still, both Bondoc and Pimentel said their PDP-Laban bloc will abide by the President’s final choice for Speaker – even if the lawmakers are personally backing Velasco already. – Rappler.com

Once upon a time in Marinduque there was a very rich man

Once upon a time in Marinduque, there was a very rich man named Don Leon Lardizabal. Here's his story written by Dr. Jaime C. Laya, former Central Bank governor, education minister, UP dean, culture administrator (Intramuros Administration, NCCA, CCP), art collector, author and columnist; others refer to him as a 'renaissance man'. 

Dr. Laya was married to one of many descendants of Don Leon. In a story first published in his column 'Wala Lang' (Manila Bulletin) in 2014, and reposted below, Laya wrote among others, thus: 

"Generations later, my five grandchildren can each look to 888.9 square meters of Marinduque hillside with maybe 40 coconut trees from their great-great-great-great grandfather."

 Note: Among Don León’s descendants are Marinduque Governors Don Martín Lardizabal (1898-1901) and Vicente Triviño (1919-1922); educator Pilar Hidalgo Lim; Bayanihan’s José Lardizabal; Supreme Court Justice Edgardo Parás; radio and TV personality Johnny Midnight; AIM Dean Ricky Lim; media figure CheChe Lázaro; and Landco Pacific’s Alfred Xérèz-Burgos, Jr. - JCL

TILL DEATH DO US PART

By Jaime C. Laya

A FAMILY LEGACY Don Leon Lardizabal’s granddaughter Eulalia and her husband Luis Hidalgo with their family, taken at their Magdalena St. (now Masangkay), Trozo home, ca. 1910. Standing are Augusto, Ursula, Rafael and wife Rufina Zamora, Pilar, and Clemente. Between his parents is Nicanor and seated on the ground are Concepcion and Nieves.

Don León Lardizabal was dying. By his side were his tearful wife, Doña Maria Luz del Rosario, and their nine children—Pedro, Agueda, Martín, Petronilo, Fermina, Eusebia, Estefana, Juanita, and Concepción.

He gave instructions on funeral arrangements. A hundred Holy Masses were to be offered for the repose of his soul and P25 were to be given as alms to the poor. That was princely—it was 1870 and town property settled on Andrés Cantones and Cabesang Romualdo were each valued at P30.

Don León announced that half his worldly goods were properly Doña Maria’s, but that they had already decided on who gets what to avoid future discord (“at huag naman niong pagbasagan ng olo bucas macalaua”).

There was indeed a lot to squabble over. The couple owned irrigated riceland, abaca, and coconut plantations; ranchland with herds of carabaos and cows. They were in trading and shipping (goleta “Santísima Trinidad” and pangco “San Gabriel”) and in money lending. Then there were the family home, jewels galore, and plenty more.

Don León’s Testamento (written in Tagalog) dated 7 Marzo 1870 enumerated what each child was to receive except for the already wed Don Pedro and Doña Agueda who had received their portions upon marriage.

Riceland was measured by the quantity of seed needed for planting and Don Martin, for example, received tubigan (irrigated riceland) at Agot, Botón, Balimbíng, Paua, and Bantáy needing seed of 26 caván (sack) and nine salóp (ganta) plus niogan (coconut plantation) in three villages. Other heirs were given equivalent property in Boác, Santa Cruz, and Gasan (including the fields where the airport now is).

The house and its contents (valued at P3,500) were to be for any single children, identifying chandelier (araña walong tubo, P180), table (probably marble-topped, P21), and two virina with images of the Virgin (P100). It is unclear, however, if Don León’s home is the still-standing Lardizabal house, the town’s largest, that occupies an entire block at Boác CBD.

Shares were equalized with jewelry. In addition to land for example, Don Martín got a diamond button set, a watch and a seguro de oro (religious gold pin) worth P363 total. A chest contained a fortune, 14,000 silver peso coins, to be equally divided among the seven unmarried children. Assuming these were 1870 Mexican pesos, current numismatic value would be about P21 million or P3 million each.

Don León concluded with the admonition that the siblings live together in harmony and follow their mother’s wishes.

It’s tough estimating Don León’s net worth, but my late mother-in-law, a great-grandchild, owned sizeable niogan that was originally Don León’s. Since her own mother Doña Eulalia Lardizabal de Hidalgo was one of seven children and her grandfather (Don Pedro) one of nine, the old man could have owned several thousand hectares of coconut land alone had niogan been consistently divided equally among heirs.

Generations later, my five grandchildren can each look to 888.9 square meters of Marinduque hillside with maybe 40 coconut trees from their great-great-great-great grandfather.

Duterte steps into contest for House speakership

At Malacanan dinner. Rep. Velasco, President Duterte and dinner host, incoming Davao City Rep. Paolo "Pulong" Duterte. Photo: Pulong Duterte/Facebook

Choice known next week

MANILA, Philippines — After saying he would stay out of the issue, President Duterte has decided after all to endorse someone for speaker of the House of Representatives.

Duterte, titular head of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) party, will announce his choice next week.

He made the commitment during a dinner on Tuesday night at Malacañang hosted by his son, incoming Davao City Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, for more than 130 House members belonging to the PDP-Laban, Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) and the 54-member Party-list Coalition (PLC) led by Rep. Mikee Romero of 1-Pacman.

Photo: CNN PH

The President chatted with his lawmaker-allies up to 3:30 a.m. yesterday and sang his favorites “Ikaw” and “To All the Girls I Loved Before” to the delight of his son’s guests, many of them neophytes like Paolo.

Reelected Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, one of three speaker aspirants from PDP-Laban, attended the dinner. He and his wife are reportedly close friends of Paolo and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

Photo: GMA News

Another aspirant from the ruling party, Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga, was also present.

A member of the House who was present at the Palace dinner told The STAR that the President asked to be given until Friday next week to announce his candidate for speaker.

“But since there are many of you who are here, I already know who is my candidate. I just have to talk to the losers who are also my friends,” he quoted Duterte as telling them, although the President did not name names.

PDP-Laban leaders have been trying to convince Duterte to endorse a speaker aspirant from their ranks, arguing that a House leader from another political party could go against him during his remaining three years in office.

Boxing champion Sen. Manny Pacquiao met with him Thursday last week in General Santos City to get a sense of his preference.

Gonzales or Velasco?

Several attendees at the Palace dinner said Paolo limited his invitations to members of PDP-Laban, NPC and the Romero’s PLC. Aside from Velasco and Gonzales, no other speaker aspirant was invited, they said.

“By their body language, Pulong and the President seem to be rooting for Lord,” another lawmaker said, referring to Velasco.

The administration party, NPC and PLC are forging an alliance to capture the House leadership. They have a combined membership of 165 to 170, more than the majority needed to elect the next speaker and officers of the chamber.

A PDP-Laban member said the ruling party is offering concessions to its prospective allies, including the position of majority leader to the PLC.

He said NPC is a natural ally of Velasco “because Lord and his wife are close friends of RSA,” referring to billionaire businessman Ramon Ang, president and chief executive officer of food and beverage giant San Miguel Corp., whose chairman Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. founded NPC in 1992 and remains as its chairman emeritus.

Sources said Velasco is trying to woo other political parties, including the National Unity Party, which groups former Lakas members who have endorsed incoming Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano for speaker.

Velasco told his supporters during Tuesday night’s dinner that he would not agree to share his three-year term if he is elected speaker.

According to Cayetano, he has discussed term sharing with his colleague from Marinduque.

Velasco’s allies are also against term sharing.

“Lord and I will not agree to it. It will just disrupt the legislative process. Changing the speaker midstream will also mean replacing committee chairmen and other officers,” Gonzales said.

Rep. Lito Atienza of party-list group Buhay said splitting the speaker’s tenure “is not practical and not effective.”

“It will bloat the egos of the aspirants at the cost of the nation’s welfare,” he said.

Velasco’s rivals, including come-backing Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, are hoping the President would remain neutral in the speakership race.

At least 126 incumbent and incoming House members have signed a manifesto of support for Romualdez, who is president of Lakas, the ruling party during the administration of former president and Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Romualdez’s supporters claim he would handily win in a free-for-all.

Meanwhile, Paolo said he was thankful to the Presidential Management Staff for helping him organize the dinner.

Paolo also said Velasco helped him in the preparations and inviting newly elected House members, including a number of party-list representatives.

He told those at the Palace dinner that only two House members are considered serious contenders for speaker. – Source: Philstar/Jess Diaz with Edith Regalado

Reception for neophyte solons at Malacanan; Statement of Rep. Lord Allan Velasco on Palace dinner

Politics.com reports:
Reelected Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco only needs at least three more votes to secure the House leadership if the basis will the number lawmakers who attended Tuesday’s Palace dinner which he co-hosted with Davao City Congressman-elect Paolo Duterte...

...Most of the attendees came from ruling administration party, PDP Laban, as well as members of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), and the Party-list Coalition Foundation Inc. (PCFI).

Statement of Rep. Lord Allan Velasco on Palace dinner

I would like to thank President Rodrigo Duterte for joining us in the dinner reception to welcome more than 125 neophytes on June 18, 2019 at the Malago Lounge in Malacañan Park. It was a good opportunity for them to meet the President up close and personal.

I am deeply honored to be part of this welcome dinner and to speak on behalf of presidential son and Davao City Representative-elect Paolo Duterte, who organized the event for the newly elected lawmakers.

It was an evening of fellowship to welcome the neophytes and get everybody acquainted before we buckle down to work in the 18th  Congress starting next month. We want to foster camaraderie among the incoming members of the 18th Congress so we can work harmoniously and forward our legislative agenda, as well as the administration’s priority for the next three years, in order to uplift the lives of the Filipino people and sustain the country’s economic growth.

Gaspar 'Heritage Island': Kalanay Pottery Complex ang tawag sa mga sinaunang banga (bago pa maipanganak si Kristo)

Pag-usbong ng ideya ng Kalanay Pottery Complex

Ano kaya ang tawag sa mga sinaunang banga at mga palayok na natagpuan sa mga kuweba ng Gaspar Island sa Marinduque? Gaano katanda na kaya ang mga ito?

Kalanay pottery complex ang ideya na ipinangalan ni Wilhelm G. Solheim II* matapos niyang suriin ang mga pottery at earthenware sa Guthe Collection sa University of Michigan noong 1957. Nakolekta naman ang mga ito ni Dr. Carl Guthe sa Pilipinas sa pagitan ng 1922 at 1925.

Iminungkahi noon ni Beyer na ang mga koleksiyon mula sa Marinduque na nahukay ni Alfred Marche noong 1881 ay makikitang taglay ang mga katangian ng Kalanay complex pottery na natagpuan sa iba pang bahagi ng Pilipinas.

(Image) Kalanay pottery complex vessels from Gaspar, Tres Reyes, Marinduque

Naisulat din ni Beyer tungkol sa mga natagpuan sa Marinduque noong 1957, na ‘some specimens from which still remain in the Trocadero Museum in Paris, or in other French or Spanish museums’.

Discoveries mula noong 1956

Marami pang Kalanay complex pottery ang natagpuan sa tatlo pang lugar mula 1956: sa timog-silangan baybayin ng Luzon, sa Marinduque, at malapit sa Taal, Batangas sa timog-kanluran na nakaharap sa baybayin ng Luzon.

Ang mga paunang ulat tungkol dito sa mga unang lugar ay naisulat naman nina Fox at Evangelista, 1958.

Noong 1959 naman, si Arsenio Manuel, Pinuno ng Kagawaran ng Anthropology, University of the Philippines, ay naghukay sa maraming mga site sa Marinduque, na ang pinakamahalaga ayon sa panulat ni Solheim ay ang mga natagpuan sa Tres Reyes (Gaspar Island).

Aniya, “from partial stratigraphy and typology the contents of the Tres Reyes site have been divided into three groups. The middle strata (not well defined), nearly one and a half meters thick, contains a great variety of Kalanay complex pottery (Solheim 1959b: 103). Unfortunately, no report on this material has yet appeared. Part of the material is with Manuel, part with Beyer, and some pieces on display at the National Museum…”

Siyempre, sa kasalukuyan may kaunti pang maliliit na pirasong natitirang matatagpuan sa mga kuweba mismo.

“Decoration and form of the Tres Reyes pottery fits the Kalanay complex style very neatly. Several of the diagnostic designs are present plus several variations on these designs, and one previously unencountered element”. (Solheim)

(Image) Earthenware and rooster head from Tres Reyes, Marinduque

Naisulat din ni Solheim. At dito ay may nadagdag na isang interesanteng bagay – may ukit na ulo ng tandang na makikita sa larawan:

“Two less common uses of earthenware in the Kalanay pottery complex are also present at Tres Reyes. Found at only two or three other Kalanay complex sites, including the Kalanay Cave site (Solheim 1957: fig 3), are shallow bowls with cutouts in the ring foot. The pictured bowl from Tres Reyes (PI. IV e) is part of a twin vessel joined by the bridge, to the left in the picture.

“The other rare form is a rooster head (PI. V a) which was broken off some larger earthenware object. The idea is similar to that of the head from Kalanay Cave (Solheim 1957: pl. I A). Both heads have the beginning of an incised pattern at the base of the neck which extended onto the missing portion of the object.”

Gaano katanda ang mga ito? Late Neolithic period daw. Bago pa raw mag 500 B.C.!

Nanatiling ganito raw, ayon sa mga siyentipiko, ang mga banga at palayok sa mga lugar na kinakitaan hanggang nagsimulang dumating ang mga Chinese porcelain sa panahon ng T’ang o early Sung dynasty.

Part of the material is with Manuel, part with Beyer, some pieces on display at the National Museum. Some still lay scattered in the caves.

Ang buod ng panulat ni Solheim sa “Further Notes on the Kalanay Pottery Complex in the P.I.” kung saan hinango ang istoryang ito ay ganito ang nakasaad:

Summary:

Archaeological sites containing Kalanay complex pottery are found scattered throughout the Visayan Islands (Solheim n.d. b), in southern Luzon, and the southwest-facing coast of Luzon.

The pottery of this complex has great variety in form and several distinctive patterns of decoration. Incised designs are curvilinear scrolls, rectangular meandera, and many varieties of triangles. A scallop design on angles, flanges and rims, is made by cutting or modelling. Fine, wavy, impressed designs are made with the edge of an Arca shell. In rare cases, painting in red or black emphasizes an incised pattern.

The pottery is well made, probably on a slow wheel. Red slip is common. The vessels are well smoothed and sometimes polished.

Three C-14 dates are associated with Kalanay complex pottery. In all three of these sites the pottery is associated with stone tools of Late Neolithic type and no metal is present.

These dates are 754 + 100 B.C. for Cave Number 2 at Batungan Mountain and 91 B.C. and A.D. 179 for two of the Bato Cave sites. The great majority of the sites have associated iron and/or bronze, and some contain Chinese porcelain. The sites with porcelain do not contain the distinctive Kalanay pottery varieties of form and decoration whereas the sites with metal but no porcelain do (Solheim n.d.  b).

Therefore it can be said that the Kalanay pottery complex entered the Philippines during Late Neolithic times, probably previous to 500 B.C. and remained as a distinctive pottery complex until Chinese porcelain of late T’ang or early Sung started coming in.

Recent visit, this blogger crawling in one of the Gaspar caves with a small opening.

*Wilhelm G. Solheim II (1924—2014) was an American anthropologist recognized as the most senior practitioner of archaeology in Southeast Asia, and as a pioneer in the study of Philippine and Southeast Asian prehistoric archaeology.

Also read:

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

Dagdag na kaalaman tungkol sa Gaspar ‘Heritage Island’ sa Gasan

More on Marinduque's common ancestry with lost civilizations

Diving at Gaspar Is.

Ano ang mga laman ng ilang kuweba sa Marinduque at nakatago pa kaya?

Kagulat-gulat! Marinduque noong wala pang nakatalang kasaysayan o prehistory

Speakership race: Duterte may choose to remain neutral - Nograles

Secretary to the Cabinet Karlo Nograles said Duterte may choose to remain neutral on the speakership race because his preference could “tilt the balance” and influence other parties.

President Duterte may choose not to endorse a contender of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) for the race for House speaker, a Cabinet official said yesterday.

Secretary to the Cabinet Karlo Nograles said Duterte may choose to remain neutral on the speakership race because his preference could “tilt the balance” and influence other parties.

“It is also not farfetched that the President would not endorse anyone because most of his pronouncements, even presidential spokesperson Secretary Sal (Panelo) is saying that the President would not interfere,” Nograles said in an interview with radio station dzBB.

“The President’s word wields a lot of influence,” he added.

Last Thursday, Sen. Manny Pacquiao consulted Duterte on who PDP-Laban’s bet for the speakership would be. Among the PDP-Laban members who are eyeing the post are former House speaker and Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.

Nograles said Duterte has yet to decide on whether to support anyone in the fight for House leadership.

“If he speaks, it might be an indication also for all parties. He is not a member of Nacionalista, or NUP (National Unity Party) NPC (Nationalist People’s Coalition) or party-list; of course, the President avoids issuing a statement. If he does, that will tilt the balance, so to speak,” he added.

Contenders for House speaker would have to seek the support of their colleagues in the chamber if the Chief Executive remains neutral, according to Nograles.

“They are trying to get as much support from Congress persons as possible,” he said.

“The top contending ones are just preparing for the eventuality that the President will stay neutral up to the very end, then, paramihan na lang ng boto ang mangyayari (it would be a numbers game),” he added.

‘Unify, not divide’

No more “divisive” speakers this time around.

Officials of the House of Representatives have had enough of a speaker who bullied them, which is why administration lawmakers have expressed their desire to vote for an aspirant who will unify the various interests of legislators.

“Lessons from the recent change of House leadership are material – that House members are inclined to support a leader who knows well his members as well as their needs and sentiments,” Oriental Mindoro Rep. Doy Leachon said over the weekend.

“Someone whom they can always confide in – without political considerations. Acceptability is very important. After all, the candidate will be judged based on his personality and the motivation for his running,” the House justice committee chief added.

House Deputy Speaker Munir Arbison sees no problem whoever emerges as speaker by July 22 primarily because all of the aspirants are allies of Duterte who can help him push his legislative agenda in the 18th Congress, which will run until July 2022. 

Source: Philstar

Velasco holds private meeting with Pulong in Davao City

Reelected Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco has visited a future colleague in the House of Representatives in the person of Davao City Congressman-elect Paolo Duterte.

Politiko learned that Velasco and his wife Wen went to the residence of the President’s son in Davao City early morning of Thursday wherein a private meeting took place between the couple and incoming lawmaker who just came from his European vacation.

The source refused to disclosed the topics which was discussed during the meeting gave Politiko a picture of the supposed meeting between the Velascos and the President’s eldest kin.

Velasco, one of the perennial contenders for the House leadership and his main rival for the post, incoming Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez joined President Rodrigo Duterte when the chief executive administered the oath to newly elected government officials of Cagayan de Oro City during a ceremony at the Xavier Sports and Country Club on Wednesday evening.

It was earlier reported that the President’s first-born son just like her sister, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte was supporting the Speakership bid of Marinduqe solon this coming July.

Many observers are monitoring the entry of the Presidential son in the Lower House since he can play a power-broker/kingmaker role in the chamber.

The former Davao City vice mayor earlier dismissed rumors that he himself is eyeing the Speakership after former House Speaker and reelected Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez said that he was willing to give way to the incoming solon if he shows interest in the top post.

President Duterte earlier vowed to resign if his eldest decides to seek the leadership of the Lower House in July.

The incoming lawmaker believed that someone has fed wrong information about the matter to his father.

Source: Politiko/John Carlo M. Cahinhinan

Marinduque bilang lugar na pinag-ugatan ng Wikang Tagalog; Linguistic Atlas ng Pilipinas

Para sa mga nagtatanong at gustong malaman kung ano ang turing sa ibat-ibang bersiyon ng wikang TAGALOG na sinasalita sa MARINDUQUE, narito ang kopya ng Linguistic Atlas ng Pilipinas (mula sa NCCA), kung saan nakatala ang lahat ng mga wika sa ibat-ibang panig ng Pilipinas. 

Ang sinasabi ayon sa pag-aaral ng sinaunang Tagalog na siyang maririnig sa Marinduque, ang mga orihinal na salita dito ang maingat na pinag-aralan at napagpasyahan, ayon sa nabanggit na pag-aaral, bilang katangi-tanging wikang pinag-ugatan ng modernong pambansang anyo ng ating wika. Sinaunang Tagalog na nagpakayabong na ngayon bilang wikang Filipino. 

Taong 1914 pa pinag-aralan ni Cecilio Lopez, tinaguriang Father of Philippine Linguistics ang natuklasang ito. Pag-aaral na muling inilimbag ng Institute of Philippine Linguistics noong 1973, at wala pang sinumang humamon sa pag-aaral na ito at pinatunayang mali ang pag-aaral ni Lopez hanggang sa kasalukuyang panahon.

Source ng Linguistic Atlas ng Pilipinas: National Commission for Culture & the Arts (NCCA).

Also read:

Marinduque Tagalog as 'purest' of all Tagalog dialects

Ang BAYBAYIN at TAGALOG sa MARINDUQUE at pagrebisa na naman sa kasaysayan

Closer look at Biggel's Tagalog

Origin of 'Marinduque' and the Tagalog we speak on this island

'Marinduque' origin and Marinduque Tagalog

Luma at bagong mga tala pa tungkol sa Marinduque Tagalog, ang 'ugat'

Pacquiao to announce PDP-Laban bet for speakership – Pimentel

Sen. Manny Pacquiao and Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. in a dinner meeting on Tuesday, June 11, 2019, with (left of Pacquiao) 1-Pacman Rep. Enrico Pineda, Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, (right of Pimentel) Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, and Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. (Photo from RON MUNSAYAC / PDP-Laban public information committee chair)

MANILA, Philippines — The leaders of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) have given Sen. Manny Pacquiao the task of announcing the ruling party’s official contender for the speakership race in the House after an agreed-upon process.

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, the PDP-Laban president, bared this after their Tuesday dinner-meeting with reelected Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, who was a former Speaker of the lower congress; Marinduque Rep. Lord Alan Velasco, and Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. — who are all vying for the position.

“I have designated Sen Manny Pacquiao to be the authorized person to announce the PDP LABAN nominee for House Speaker. He will do so after following an agreed-upon process. Beginning tonight, Sen Pacquiao is now the person in charge of announcing the party’s choice,” Pimentel told INQUIRER.net in a text message.

He said the meeting at Pacquiao’s Makati residence was “nice,” and “very friendly with great camaraderie.”

Also at the meeting was 1-Pacman Rep. Enrico Pineda.

INQUIRER.net tried to get in touch with Pacquiao for further details, but he has yet to reply as of posting time.

Two other lawmakers will join the speakership battle — Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats and Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano of the Nacionalista Party. 

SOURCE - Inquirer.net

(Editor: Alexander T. Magno)