Ang bayaning Marindukenyo na nag-iwan ng malalim na marka sa puso ni Andres Bonifacio

 

Bahagi naman ng panghuling kasagutan ni Gat Andres Bonifacio sa magkakambal na tula nina Flores-Del Pilar ang "Katapusang Hibik ng Pilipinas sa Inang Espanya"

 Dahil noong 1896, ang nagtatag ng Katipunan, si GAT ANDRES BONIFACIO ay sumulat din ng kanyang kasagutan sa magkasamang tula nina FLORES at DEL PILAR!

Boac, Marinduque - Ito ang “Katapusang Hibik nang Pilipinas sa Ynang Espana” na tinawag na “the climactic moment to the history of Tagalog poetry during the 19th century”. Sa tula ni Bonifacio ang terms of endearment na ginamit sa mga tula nina Flores at Del Pilar ay hindi na ginamit. Ang Espanya ay tinurang “Inang pabaya’t sukaban” at “Inang walang habag”.

(Boac, Marinduque) - Si Hermenegildo Flores na pinaslang sa Casa Real ng Boac, siya na namuno sa Rebolusyonaryong Puwersa sa Marinduque laban sa Espanya, ay sadyang hindi binigyan ng pang-Kristiyanong libing. Sinunog ang kanyang malamig na bangkay sa Ilog Boac kasama ng bangkay din ni Remigio Medina ng Torrijos.

Higit sa isang-daang taon pa ang lumipas bago naging maliwanag kung sino talaga si Hermenegildo Flores. Masasabi ko po sa mga mambabasa na ang inyong abang lingkod lamang, sa pamamagitan ng mahaba at masusing pananaliksik, ang nakapagtagni-tagni ng ilang mga mahahalagang datos. Naging maliwanag sa pag-aaral ko na si Hermenigildo Flores, ang kinilalang makata, ang siya ring 'Hermenegildo Flores' na namuno ng Himagsikan sa isla ng Marinduque.

Si Flores, mula siya sa Bulacan, ay kaibigan ni Hen. Emilio Aguinaldo. Taliwas sa paniniwalang mababasa sa ilang nailimbag na tala na hindi raw nakipaghamok si Flores, maliwanag na iniwan niya ang kanyang pagsusulat para direktang makibaka at sa isla ng Marinduque siya napadpad. 

Nagtungo si Flores, una sa Mindoro at nagtungo sa Marinduque (na bahagi noon ng Mindoro), sa huling bahagi ng 1896, para hikayatin ang mga makabayan sa dalawang lugar na ito na manindigan para sa Kalayaan. Sa Sta. Cruz, Marinduque niya itinayo ang kanyang kuta. (The Philippine Revolution, Gregorio F. Zaide, footnote on page 145).

Pinangunahan ni Flores ang paglusob sa Casa Real ng Sta. Cruz noong Marso 4, 1897. Noong Marso 23, 1897, (petsa ng panunumpa ni Aguinaldo bilang Pangulo ng revolutionary government), tinipon ni Flores sa Sta. Cruz ang mga makabayan ng Mindoro at Marinduque. Ang tawag sa kanya ng mga taga-rito ay si 'Kang Bindoy'. Si Flores ang namatnugot sa pulong kung saan ay si Mariano Ricaplaza (ng Sta. Cruz), naman ang naging Kalihim. Sa pagpupulong na iyon, matapos ang mahabang pag-uusap ay nanumpa ang mga sumapi ng kanilang katapatan at pag-anib sa Rebolusyon. Sa pagkakataong iyon ay nahirang na Gobernador ng Mindoro at Marinduque si Flores (provisional revolutionary government).

FLORES-DEL PILAR-BONIFACIO 

Si Flores ay kaliga nina Marcelo H. del Pilar at Andres Bonifacio bilang mga makata na sukdulan ang pagmamahal sa bayan. Silang tatlo ay nagkaroon ng katangi-tanging ugnayan sa pamamagitan ng trilohiya (trilogy) ng mga tula na nagpapahayag ng mga sentimyento mula sa konsepto ng repormismo hanggang sa paghihiwalay ng Pilipinas sa Espanya. Lumitaw ang trilogy na ito sa huling dekada ng ika-19 na siglo. 

Si Flores ang sumulat ng una sa trilohiyang ito sa TAGALOG NOONG 1888. Ito ang “’HIBIK NG FILIPINAS SA INANG ESPANYA”. Sa panahong ito ay nasa London si Dr. Jose Rizal at nagsasagawa ng pananaliksik para sa kanyang anotasyon sa isinulat ni Morga tungkol sa Pilipinas. 

Ang “Hibik” ay binubuo ng 66 quatrains (mga saknong), kung saan ang makata na nagsasalita bilang isang pinahihirapan na anak na babae ay nagbubuhos ng kanyang pangunahing karaingan sa Inang Espanya – tulad ng mga pang-aabuso ng mga prayle, ng mga pari! 

(Ang anak na babae ay ganito ang reklamo):

"Sa bawat kapaki-pakinabang mo, ayaw ng prayleng ako'y makinabang, sa mga anak ko ay ibig lang isip ay bulagin, ang butas ay takpan ".

(At tinutukoy niya):

"Sa pag-unlad ng kanilang yaman bendita't bendisyon lamang ang puhunan, induluhensiya't iba't ibang bahay ng mga sagrado naman ang kalakal ".

Kaya’t si Flores ay isang propagandista na may ginampanang papel din sa buhay ni Marcelo H. del Pilar, ang nangunguna sa mga propagandistang Pilipino noong panahong iyon. 

Tinagurian sa panulat ni Bienvenido Lumbera (National Artist) na si Flores ay "dating guro at kapwa propagandista" (former teacher and fellow propagandist), ni Del Pilar. (Tagalog Poetry, 1870-1898: Tradisyon at mga Impluwensya sa Pag-unlad nito, ni Bienvenido Lumbera).

Bahagi ng 66 na quatrains ng Rebolusyonaryong Tula ni Flores

 Isang makasaysayan pang yugto ang magaganap pitong taon mula ng maisulat ni del Pilar (1889), ang kanyang sagot sa tula ni Flores,  “Sagot ng Espana sa Hibik ng Pilipinas” (1889). Mas mahaba with 82 quatrains.

(Itaas) Bahagi naman ng kasagutan ni Marcelo H. Del Pilar sa Rebolusyonaryong Tula ni Hermenegildo Flores. Ang tula ni Del Pilar ay may 82 quatrains.

Dalangin ng marami kasama na ako na sa susunod na mga aklat ng kasaysayan ay mabigyan lamang ng kaukulang mga pahina ang naging buhay, pakikipaglaban at pagkamatay ng dahil sa bayan ng bayaning si Hermenegildo Flores ng Bulacan at Marinduque.

Statement of Speaker Lord Allan Velasco on Senate passage of 2021 Budget Bill

The House of Representatives welcomes the timely passage by the Senate of the proposed P4.506-trillion national budget for 2021.

We now look forward to sitting with our Senate counterparts in conference possibly starting next week to come up with a common version of the budget.

We have already formed a contingent composed of 21 members from various political parties to represent the House during the bicameral conference on the 2021 budget bill.

These representatives will make sure there will be enough funds for the government’s COVID-19 response, especially the procurement of vaccines for an initial 20 million poor Filipinos and eventually for at least 60 million of our population.

We also want to ensure sufficient funding for the rehabilitation and recovery of communities devastated by recent typhoons, including Rolly and Ulysses. We should help our people rebuild their lives.

Let us also not forget President Duterte’s other priority programs like Build, Build, Build and his anti-poverty projects. We must appropriate the funds needed to sustain them.

Our goal is to get the 2021 General Appropriations Bill on the President’s desk for his signature before the year ends, so we can prevent a reenacted budget that will not bode well for the economy and the entire nation.

Toxic substances found in Marinduque mine site

 MGB says 100 barrels marked ‘Cesium 137,’ ‘Radium 226’ left in abandoned Marcopper property

By: Maricar Cinco, Philippine Daily Inquirer

MINED OUT This photo taken in 2010 shows Mt. Tapian and Marcopper Mining Corp.’s open pit in Marinduque province. Access to the old Marcopper mine site has been restricted after it was abandoned following the mine tailings disaster in 1996. —INQUIRER PHOTO

 A government team discovered about 100 barrels containing what it described as “radioactive substances” in an old storage facility of the Marcopper Mining Corp. while inspecting the integrity of dams and abandoned structures in the former mining site in Marinduque province. 

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) disclosed its discovery to a provincial board committee hearing this week that tackled the state of Marcopper’s facility, after Marinduqe was hit hard by Typhoon “Quinta” (international name: Molave) in late October.

Marcopper has been closed since the mine disaster in March 1996, when a leak in one of its mine tailings tunnels spilled more than 1.6 million cubic meters of toxic waste into the Boac River and flooded surrounding villages. 

In a telephone interview on Wednesday, Roland de Jesus, the MGB regional director in Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), said the agency’s inspection teams found the substance during their “first and second quarter” monitoring this year. 

De Jesus said they notified, through a letter on Oct. 27, the local holding company of Marcopper “for immediate [and] proper disposal of the toxic substances.” 

The MGB also furnished Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) director, Carlo Arcilla, a copy of the letter, calling the agency’s attention to their discovery, he said. 

‘Possibly leaked’

The PNRI, a government agency handling nuclear energy research and development, on Wednesday said it was looking into the matter although it had yet to issue an official statement. 

De Jesus said the MGB teams “stumbled upon” about 100 blue plastic barrels, with each holding 55 gallons, labeled with “Cesium 137” and “Radium 226” near the company’s Balogo seaport in Sta. Cruz town. 

De Jesus said the barrels were “sealed” yet the MGB team was certain these were not empty, as it had also “possibly leaked because of the foul smell in the place.” 

Marcopper was a licensed facility, but its PNRI-issued license to possess these substances had already expired on June 30, 2013, according to the MGB. 

De Jesus said the storage facility used to be off-limits until recently when government inspectors were allowed access through the private seaport.

While Marcopper had ceased operation after the 1996 mine tailings spill, its facilities remained private property, preventing government inspection. 

Among known industry uses of Cesium 137 is to detect liquid flow in pipes (in the case of mining, the flow of tailings) while Radium 226 is added to jewelry for luster, De Jesus said. 

“[But] I think it’s not [anymore] common nowadays in copper mines, especially [with the] strict regulation in the possession and handling of radioactive substances. It’s also the first time I’ve heard of a [mining] company using the said substances,” he said. 

The discovery of the radioactive substances could add to the string of class suits and claims for environmental damage against Marcopper, local officials said. 

Rommel Fernandez, Marinduque provincial legal officer, declined to comment on the discovery of the radioactive substances in the former mine site. 

But he said the provincial government filed on Nov. 3 an intervention in the Supreme Court in relation to the 2011 writ of kalikasan that the high tribunal issued in favor of private petitioners. 

According to Fernandez, the filing of the motion to intervene means the provincial government is willing to participate in the ongoing trial and the presentation of evidence, while it also prays for the issuance of a temporary environmental protection order against the mining company. 

Marcopper has been seeking to resume its operation on the island. Its appeal is pending before the Office of the President.

Marinduque governor pitches research-based development projects

 

As lawmakers are citing research-based policy development, the Department of Science and Technology – National Research Council of the Philippines underscored the need for more researchers.

“Decision-making should be based on evidence,” said Presbitero J. Velasco, Governor of Marinduque province. 

He said this during the Basic Research Caravan 2020, wherein he presented “Evidenced-based policy making in the province of Marinduque,” a webinar attended by over 120 participants and jointly organized by the DOST-NRCP and DOST Region IV-B (DOST IV-B). 

Marieta B. Sumagaysay, Director of the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) of the DOST (DOST WEBSITE / MANILA BULLETIN)

Velasco discussed their proposed project in Marinduque to entice tourists during the Moriones celebration, supposedly this year. However, it will instead be implemented in 2021, when people’s movement is no longer constrained by the pandemic. 

Based on previous tourism data on the influx of visitors during Moriones celebration, Velasco’s team estimated a hundred thousand visitors and a revenue of P250 million for one week’s celebration. As a former part of the judiciary, review of evidence has always been a part of Velasco’s job. 

Marieta B. Sumagaysay, Director of DOST-NRCP said that more researchers are needed, especially now that the law makers are requesting for research studies as basis for their policy development. 

DOST-NRCP said that some of the ongoing basic research requested by the lawmakers have to do with the following: Biodiversity inventory, assessment, and conservation for ecotourism development; Study on the Utilization of Marang fruit, and assessment of fruit production in Mindanao; Looming water crisis in the Philippines; and Socioeconomic and political study to support public policy towards transforming the municipality of Ubay, Bohol into a science city. 

The DOST-NRCP has 4,840 research members scattered nationwide. However, only a very small portion, 31 research members or 0.6 percent of these researchers are from MIMAROPA. 

Region IV-A, however, has 15.6 percent research members registered with DOST-NRCP. Region XII and BARMM, like Region IV-B also have low number of research membership that is why the Council strongly encourage researchers from these areas to become members. 

Velasco is aware of the environmental situation in the Marcopper area in Marinduque and while there is a great tourism potential for areas surrounding it, he emphasized that the safety of the people in the area is their top priority. The government of Marinduque is currently looking for solutions to their electrical and water situation, since those are the basic things needed for their tourism industry to flourish. 

Velasco requested DOST-NRCP to guide them in the development not only of the Marcopper area but other areas as well. Sumagaysay and Ma.Josefina P. Abilay, Director of DOST-MIMAROPA, assured the governor that they can count on their support when it comes to R&D of the province. 

“NRCP’s Research membership is free. We don’t collect fees and all they have to do is visit our website, check out the requirements and submit for evaluation,” Sumagaysay said. 

The DOST-NRCP’s Basic Research caravan is a part of the DOST’s 2020 National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) celebration. The public is invited to the NSTW which will run on a virtual platform from November 23 to 27, 2020.

- Dhel Nazario, this article first appeared in Manila Bulletin

Speaker Velasco sworn in as Lt. Col. in Army Reserve Corps

 

House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco is now a Lieutenant Colonel in the Reserve Force of the Philippine Army (PA).

Velasco took his oath and received his rank from PA chief Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana during a ceremony held at the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio on Wednesday.

“This ceremony is a clear recognition of both personal achievement and commitment to duty. This ceremony rings of honor, and I am all the more humbled, given the present circumstances,” Velasco said in a speech after his oath-taking and donning of rank on him by Sobejana.

The House leader was all praise for the PA for its great contributions to the society, especially in the wake of recent strong typhoons and the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

He hailed the PA as the country’s last line of defense in the conduct of support to “win the peace” and help the nation create an environment conducive for sustainable development, as well as just and lasting peace.

“The Army has done its best even when equipped with limited resources and are often faced with situations that are seemingly impossible to overcome,” Velasco said.

He added: “The capacity to do great things and perform acts of valor, I believe, exists throughout your organization.  May your heroism and courage inspire many others to choose a life of service to one’s country and fellow men.”

Velasco also conveyed Congress’ “deep respect and admiration” to the PA.

“Know that you will always have our full support in any endeavor and in any effort that will enhance and support our Philippine Army,” Velasco told the PA.

“If there is one thing that we truly hold in common – it is our desire for genuine peace in our country to prevail.  Together, let us continue to help preserve that peace for all Filipinos.” - House of Representatives

Speaker Velasco wants House probe to produce long-term solutions to flooding

After typhoons QuintaPH and RollyPH crossed and hit hard Marinduque and brought flooding, UlyssesPH also affected Marinduque but not as devastating as Cagayan and Isabela

As the House of Representatives begins its probe on the deadly “Ulysses” floods Tuesday, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco wants the investigation to focus more on coming up with long-term solutions to prevent devastating death tolls and economic costs of future typhoons.

Velasco said the purpose of the House probe is to establish facts that could lead to corrective actions, and not to find fault.

“We hope to hear everyone’s side and get a clearer picture of the events that transpired when Typhoon Ulysses struck and caused widespread flooding in Luzon,” Velasco said.

“The aim here is to come up with solutions and legislation, if needed, to prevent the unnecessary loss of lives and properties during typhoons,” he added.

The country was hit by three successive typhoons—Quinta, Rolly and Ulysses—from late October to early November this year.

Typhoon Ulysses brought with it extreme rainfall, causing dam operators to release waters that flooded nearby areas.

The deadliest of this was the flooding in Cagayan province where officials released water from Magat Dam as levels reached critical levels.

Last week, Velasco—together with Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Minority Leader Joseph Stephen Paduano—filed House Resolution No. 1348 calling for an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the cause of massive flooding that submerged the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela during the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses.

The resolution was referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Food, chaired by Quezon Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga.

The panel will begin its investigation on Tuesday as it invited officials of the National Irrigation Administration and the local governments of Cagayan and Isabela.

Velasco said the congressional hearing will focus on how to better address proper protocols and preparedness even before a natural disaster strikes.

“There will be more typhoons that will come our way, and we have to become better at preparations and in handling situations that call for sound judgement to prevent deaths and loss of properties from happening,” Velasco said.

Typhoon Ulysses claimed 73 lives and caused damage and losses to infrastructure and agriculture in Luzon worth around P10 billion, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.  - House of Representatives of the Philippines

#RollyPH's trail of destruction in Marinduque; Inday Sara, Imee, others visit the province

 

Super Typhoon/Typhoon RollyPH (#Goni), made its exit outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) at 8 pm on Tuesday, November 3.

It was described as the world’s strongest tropical cyclone to hit so far in 2020. First barreling through the Bicol region as a super typhoon last Sunday, November 1, first made landfall in the vicinity of Bato, Catanduanes, then Tiwi, Albay, and the third landfall in San Narciso, Quezon.

It was earlier expected to make landfall over Marinduque based on PAGASA announcements but Rolly changed his course after decreasing strength as no longer a super typhoon after the San Narciso landfall.

Gov. Presby Velasco leads inspection of a damaged site.

Marinduquenos had earlier prepared for the worst after typhoon Quinta that preceded typhoon Rolly made landfall in Torrijos, Marinduque just days earlier on October 26 at 1:20 am leaving behind a trail of destruction.

Super typhoon Rolly was originally forecast to take a direct hit on Marinduque based on weather forecasts.

But later weather forecasters showed that Rolly was expected to continuously move west until it took a west southwestern dive which would put it a few hundred kilometers away from the Bicol Region. It was to make another turn pointing west northwest near the vicinity of Aurora, Northern Quezon or Central Luzon, to make landfall in any of those areas.

But the typhoon changed its path again and after battering Bicol Region, specifically Catanduanes and Albay and weakened after making landfall in San Narciso in southern Quezon.  Instead of making a landfall over Marinduque, by 2:00 pm it was seen over Mompong Pass north of the island-province then moved on to Tayabas Bay. It made its fourth landfall over Lobo, southwest of Batangas late Sunday afternoon, November 1.

Rolly’s wide diameter was estimated at 500 kilometers. This meant that areas not directly hit by the typhoon’s eye such as Marinduque would also experience similar conditions due to this wide reach.

On social media photos soon emerged of the devastation. The non-stop moderate or heavy rains over the already saturated mountains and lands around the island left more roads and bridges destroyed, more houses spared by Quinta are now destroyed or partially destroyed by Rolly. Clearly, flashfloods affecting rows of houses and buildings and landslides, damaged dikes are the most familiar sight.

Some initial reports on Typhoon Rolly in the province of Marinduque are the following:

32,620 individuals from 9,407 families were temporarily housed in evacuation centers.

There was a total of 709 partially destroyed houses and 93 were totally destroyed.

Damage to agricultural crops in the affected area of 3,142 has. is Php 41-million.

Damage to roads and bridges in all of the six towns and interior barangays is a common sight. Some schools and covered courts were not spared.

Inday Sara here

Meanwhile, presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte revisited Marinduque today to provide relief goods for typhoon victims. She was in the company of Senator Imee Marcos, Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero and 1Pacman Party-list Rep. Wes Gatchalian, Rep. John Ray Tiangco. 

They were welcomed by Governor Presbitero Velasco, Jr. provincial administrator Mike Q. Velasco and House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and wife Mme. Wen Velasco at the provincial capitol.

Photos not mine. Credit to the owners.

Tanda mo pa? Exactly 2 years ago, nasa Marinduque sina Tatay Digong, Inday Sara at mga kasamahan para makiisa sa birthday nina then Cong now Speaker at Mam Wen

Nov. 4, 2020: Davao City Mayor Inday Sara revisits Marinduque 

Nov. 3, 2018: Tatay Digong, Inday Sara in Marinduque for Cong. Lord Allan Velasco and wife Wen's birthday celebration

A quite relaxed Tatay Digong speaks to the people of Marinduque 'from the heart'.

So it was no less than the President of the Philippines who came to be one with the people of this island-province to grace the double birthday celebration of Cong. Lord Allan Velasco and his lovely wife, Wen.

Duterte was accompanied by Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Bong Go. No one knew if it's certain these two VIP's would come for it was already past six in the evening.

The program held at Marinduque State College (MSC) that police estimated to have swelled to about 8,000 started at 2:00 pm. By that time the president's popular daughter, Mayor Inday Sara Duterte was on stage with the birthday celebrators flanked by retired Justice Presby Velasco, Jr. and guests Secretary Francis Tolentino,  Senator JV Ejercito, Cong. Dong Mangudadatu.

Cong. Lord Allan Velasco, Davao CIty Mayor Inday Sara Duterte. Behind them: Retired Justice Presby Velasco Jr., Sec. Francis Tolentino, Madam Wen Velasco, Sen. JV Ejercito, 

It's Sara's second time in Marinduque she said, the first one was when she visited Bellarocca Resort Island during it's popularity years ago. It's her wish, she said for Marinduque to take care of its 'garbo ng Marinduque' stressing garbo is a word in Bisaya meaning 'pride'. 'Pride of Marinduque', she said referring to the Marinduque congressman celebrating his birthday. 

Sara also talked about her regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HnP) and was elated to open its doors for the forming of an alliance with the local party Kapatirang Marinduqueno, chaired by Velasco. This is in the same manner that her party has formed an alliance for change with many national, regional and provincial alliances. 'Together we share the same beliefs, trust and vision". she said.

Sec. Francis Tolentino

Presidential political adviser Francis Tolentino reminisced his days as Tagaytay mayor when he became a close friend of Justice Velasco, then a Court Administrator and came to know the latter well. 'Marinduque is in good hands and could also become the next Tagaytay', said Tolentino.

The girl group, 4th Impact

4th Impact, a girl group that rose to popularity when they competed in the television show X Factor UK then rendered two songs to the delight of the crowd, "one of the best audiences we have ever encountered, pinaninindigan po kami ng balahibo", announced one of them. The audience clamored for more, that they had to ask the birthday celebrant if they could sing another song knowing 'we are under time pressure because of our panauhing pandangal'. The group then shared their X-Factor audition piece.

Homegrown talent Angel Penaflor

After 4th Impact was the turn of homegrown talent Angel Penaflor to wow the crowd with her singing prowess. Exuding great confidence, she spoke in her native dialect, no puntong Maynila, the girl coming from Matuyatuya, Torrijos. The proud audience went wild.

By 6:00 pm the show had to be cut short after performances from other guest talents. A podium with presidential seal was put in place on the left side of the stage. Technical people and the soldiers were in a hurry to keep things in order.

It was already dark, but a chopper hovered above the MSC event venue, decreased power and landed on the ground. It was 6:18 pm on my watch. The crowd cheered, they knew who were in that chopper. "Welcome President Rodrigo Roa Duterte" was projected on screen.

The rest is history.

Photo credit: Marinduque News

It was really like giving a first-hand report to the people of Marinduque on what had transpired since he was here during his presidential campaign. 

Part of the MSC ground to be used at that time for the purpose was decorated with red, white and blue colors, but less than a day before his arrival came the news: presidential candidate Duterte would not be allowed the use of MSC ground at all cost for his Marinduque campaign. The municipality of Gasan then welcomed candidate Digong with open arms. 

And the rest was simply just history. 

But now on this occasion today that materialized without any hitch, these pictures are enough to paint a thousand words.

Part of the historic mammoth crowd

Tatay Digong raises arm of Cong. Velasco and Justice 'Governor' Presby Velasco

Angel Penaflor coaches the President in singing "IKAW" which he changed at times with "Kayo"

LAV dancers with the Mobsters

That's LAV singing and dancing

Tatay Digong led the singing of Happy Birthday then went on to sing "Ikaw" for the people of Marinduque. What more could you ask?

Photos courtesy of John Mendoza, CTTO