P 8.00
VOLUME 5
NUMBER 94
THU - SUN
DECEMBER 22 - 25, 2011
Luisita farmers hit back
on Hacienda burning
BY DING CERVANTES
Ona desididong
baguhin ang
pagdiriwang ng
Bagong Taon Sta. Rita town features ‘biggest suman’
A
NGELES CITY – Three groups of farmers based in
Hacienda Luisita have denied accusations they had
burned last Dec. 16 some 300 hectares of sugar cane
plantations in the property owned by Pres. Aquino’s family.
The Supreme Court recently awarded the said property to
farmers.
PAGE 14 PLEASE
NI DINO BALABO
LUNGSOD NG MALOLOS – Desidido
si Health Secretary Enrique Ona na baguhin ang paraan ng pagdiriwang ng
Bagong Taon sa bansa sa pamamagitan ng panukalang pagsasagawa ng
mga fireworks display.
Si Ona ay nasa lungsod na ito noong
Huwebes bilang panauhing pandangal
sa pagbubukas ng ilaw ng higanteng
Christmas tree sa harap ng kapitolyo na
tinampukan ng 10-minutong pailaw na
gawa sa Bulacan.
“I wish this will serve as the beginning on how we will change the way Filipinos celebrate New Year,” ani Ona
patungkol sa 10-minutong fireworks display.
Binigyang diin niya na ito ay isang
magandang halimbawa upang ipakita
PAGE 14 PLEASE
BY JOEY PAVIA
STA. Rita, Pampanga – “It’s all about
promoting hard work and patience.”
Thus said Mayor Yolanda Pineda
as she led the recent Suman Festival
here.
Pineda and municipal officials showcased the “biggest suman” measuring
8.25 feet long and 14 inches in diameter in front of the Sta. Rita Church after
the traditional early morning Mass last
week.
Pineda said the festival is on its third
year and a continuation of the “Duman
Festival” held last December 3.
“The making of suman reminds us
of the importance of being patient and
at same time thanking God for the yearly bountiful harvest,” said Pineda.
Suman is rolled rice usually wrapped
in banana leaves. Duman is also included as an ingredient in many recipes of
suman, including the huge one eaten
by Mayor Pineda with residents and
Monsignor Eugene Reyes, parish priest
of Sta. Rita.
Pineda, daughter-in-law of Gov. Lilia
Pineda, said her people in 10 villages
PAGE 14 PLEASE
Sta. Rita, Pampanga residents
experience fun while eating the
biggest suman. PHOTO BY RIC GONZALES
‘Morbid’ coffin business now thriving in Sto. Tomas
BY JOEY PAVIA
SANTO TOMAS, Pampanga –
About 40 percent of the total
37,886 population of this town
largely depends on the coffinmaking industry once considered morbid and unaccepted by
its own residents, Mayor Joselito Naguit disclosed on Wednesday.
The casket-making industry
started at the height of World
World II in the 1940’s when the
country was invaded by Japanese soldiers and later freed by
the American forces, said Naguit.
But since the 1970’s, he added, the industry has been accepted by the locals and visitors
and allowed many of its some
63,000 households to become
economically productive.
“Before, we hid when we
made coffins. Now, we openly do
them as they mean hard earned
money for our people. Besides,
someone has to do the caskets
and Santo Tomas did it,” said the
two-term mayor in the dialect.
He added that then Santo Tomas
residents led by the late Aquino
“Apung Quili” Tayag had seen the
opportunity to earn from making
coffins for the victims of war.
“And there were several
woods then in Pampanga not
being used other than for cooking,” said Naguit, who himself
donated three drums of formalin
that could be used for 1,000 dead
bodies in Mindanao.
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • DECEMBER 22 - 25, 2011 • THURSDAY - SUNDAY
PAINFUL BUT NEEDED
This 4th class municipality
hugged the media limelight when
Gov. Lilia Pineda and the Pam-
2
panga Mayor’s League (PML) led
by Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo
decided to donate 500 coffins for
the more than 1,000 victims of
typhoon Sendong in Cagayan De
Oro and Iligan Cities.
“It’s painful to donate coffins
but we have no choice but to give
respect to our dearly departed
brothers and sisters. I hope it will
ease the pain experienced by
their families,” said Pineda in the
dialect.
The provincial government’s
donation was about P1.4 million,
contributing to the income of this
town which produces about
24,000 coffins monthly.
CASKET CAPITAL
Naguit said they supply
about 70 percent of the total
coffin production of the country.
As a result, he added, the Department of Trade and Industry
(DTI) recognized the town some
60 kilometers north of Metro
Manila as “Casket Capital of the
Philippines.”
Public Employment Service
Office (PESO) chief Mia Marquez said the coffin manufacturers
received the order to produce 500
coffins at about 2:00 p.m. on
Monday. She added that they
had to be finished all the orders
within 12 hours so that the Philippine Navy could deliver them in
hard-hit areas in Northern Mindanao early morning on Tuesday.
UNDER THEIR HOUSES
Punto Central Luzon on
Wednesday afternoon visited
barangay San Vicente, the top
producer of coffins among the
town’ seven villages.
Municipal official Mia Marqu-
COFFINS, ANYONE? Municipal officials Tina Torres and Mia Marquez check on the new
caskets meticulously made by a Kapampangan craftsman (inset) at the Germel factory
in San Vicente, Santo Tomas. PHOTOS BY RIC GONZALES
ez said there are 62 coffin makers tagged as wood and metal
crafts registered in their record.
Marquez quickly added that
“more are the so-called backyard
makers.”
In an interview with residents
of San Vicente, they said “it’s
normal to see houses which
have small coffin factories under
their houses.”
“That’s why some of our new
visitors give a strange look when
they see coffins brought out on
the streets for curing under the
sun,” they said.
The backyard and unregistered casket makers, they added, supply the demands of the
prominent coffin producers in the
town, including Germel Metal
and Wood Crafts in San Vicente.
Acting Tourism Office chief
Tina Torres said Germel’s stock
of coffins of more than 10 were
the first batches to be delivered
in Mindanao on Tuesday.
Germel owned by Rogelio De
Los Reyes had to complete the
49 coffins overnight as part of the
500 ordered by the PML and
Pineda.
De Los Reyes had to hire
more workers on top of his 10
regular staff to finish the order
on time.
At Germel, some of their
workers earn P300 to P350 per
day considering the lowest allowed by law in the 4th class
town is about P285.
PRICE TAG
Torres said “flat tops” and
“OMB” styles of coffins had been
manufactured for the flash-floods
PAGE 12 PLEASE
BY JOEY PAVIA
MARIVELES, Bataan – An
investor involved in making
bags for computers and cameras recently invested P86
million at the Freeport Area
of Bataan (FAB) here.
The Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB)
announced on Monday that
DeskTop Bags Philippines,
Inc – a partner of the Luenthai International Group
Ltd. (Luen Thai) – signed a
Memorandum of Agreement
(MOA), Registration Agreement and Contract of Lease
with AFAB to manufacture
computer bags, trolleys, CD
bags, camera bags and other accessories.
“For its initial operations,
DeskTop will generate
around 600 job opportunities.
At full capacity, DeskTop will
employ around 2,000 workers,” said AFAB Chairman
and Administrator Deogracias G.P. Custodio in a statement.
“We are glad about DeskTop’s decision to join the
FAB family. DeskTop is a
welcome addition to the
growing number of AFAB
partners that will help the
AFAB to establish the FAB
as the Future’s Answer to
Business and to generate
the much needed job opportunities for the residents of
Bataan,” he added.
DeskTop is the first computer bag manufacturer to invest in the area. Custodio
said aside from DeskTop, other manufacturers are set to
locate in the FAB under the
existing partnership between
the AFAB and Luen Thai.
Under the MOA with Luen
Thai signed last August 2011,
the latter also plans to locate
some of its production/manufacturing businesses including a textile mill operation at the FAB.
While there are clamors
for Luen Thai to branch into
other business ventures at
the FAB – like the establishment of a hotel and restaurant facility – it has maintained its focus on expanding its core businesses related to the production of
high quality luxury items.
Second District Rep. Abet
Garcia said he had worked for
the creation of the law creating AFAB in 2009 “to push
progress not just in the FAB
but in the entire province.”
Under the law, the investors will get to enjoy the incentives that FAB offers such
as Income Tax Holiday (ITH)
from four years to eight
years; 5 percent tax in lieu
of local and national taxes
after ITH period; duty free
importation of capital equipment, raw materials, consumer goods and personal
items; exemption from wharfage dues, export taxes, imposts and fees; domestic
sales allowance of up to 30
percent of total sales; and
special visas for investors.
TMC handa sa pagdami ng
sasakyan sa NLEX, SCTEX
‰ Motorista pinaaalalahanang mag-ingat
NI DINO BALABO
LUNGSOD NG MALOLOS –
Handang-handa na ang Tollways
Management Corporation (TMC)
sa inaasahang paglobo ng bilang
ng sasakayan sa North Luzon
Expressway (NLEX) at SubicClark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) habang nalalapit ang Pasko at Bagong Taon.
Bilang tagapamahala sa dalawang expressway, sinabi ng
TMC na umaasa sila na aabot
sa 20 porsyento ang itataas ng
bilang ng sasakyan na dadaan
sa expressway partikular na sa
Disyembre 23 o dalawang araw
bago ang Pasko at sa Enero 1
at 2 kung kailan ay magbabalikan sa kalakhang Maynila ang
mga nagsipagdiwang sa mga
lalawigan sa hilaga.
Patungkol naman sa inaasa-
hang pagsisikip ng daloy ng
trapiko sa Bocaue Toll Plaza,
sinabi ni Benigno Valles, ang
senior manager for corporate
communications ng TMC na
nagdagdag na sila ng mga tauhan mula pa noong Disyembre
16.
“We expect additional 30,000
to 35,000 vehicles using the
NLEX on December 23,” ani Valles patungkol sa mga taong
magsisiuwi sa mga lalawigan sa
hilaga upang magdiwang ng
Pasko at Bagong Taon kasama
ang kanilang pamilya.
Ang nasabing bilang ay
karagdagan sa 156,000 average
daily traffic volume sa 84 na kilometrong NLEX mula Balintawak sa Lungsod ng Quezon
hanggang Sta. Ines sa Mabalacat, Pampanga.
Ayon kay Valles, naramda-
man na nila ang limang porsyentong dagdag na bilang ng
sasakyang dumadaan sa NLEX
apat na linggo na ang nakakaraan.
“Four weeks ago, tumataas
ng five percent ang volume ng
sasakayan every week, kaya
naghahanda ka,” aniya.
Iginiit ni Valles, na kaya ng
NLEX at SCTEX ang mataas na
bilang ng sasakyan, ngunit ipinaalala niya sa mga motorista
ang dagdag na pag-iingat upang
makaiwas sa abala at disgrasya.
Bilang paghahanda sa mga
aksidente, dinagdagan na ng
TMC ang bilang mga tauhan
maging mga ambulansiya at
kagamitan para sa pagsaklolo
sa mga maaaksidente.
Bukod sa mga ito,
magdagdag din sila ng mga
ambulant tellers sa mga pangunahing toll plaza tulad ng
Balintawak, Mindanao Avenue,
at Dau.
Ayon kay Kiko Dagohoy, ang
media relations specialist ng
TMC, magdadagdag sila ng mga
spare lanes sa Balintawak sa
Disyembre 23 upang hindi humaba ang pila. Ito ay bilang pagtugon sa inaasahang pagtaas ng
bilang ng mga sasakyan.
Sa Enero 1 naman,
madadagdagan ang TMC ng
ambulant teller sa Bocaue southbound bilang pagtugon sa inaasahang pagtaas ng bilang ng
sasakyang pabalik ng kalakhang Maynila.
Ang mga katulad na na plano ay isasagawa rin nila sa
SCTEX partikular na sa mga
sumusunod na toll plaza: Mabalacat, Tarlac, San Miguel at Tipo
sa Zambales.
Bukod sa mga ambulant tellPAGE 12 PLEASE
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • DECEMBER 22 - 25, 2011 • THURSDAY - SUNDAY
Bataan
freeport
to create
computer,
camera bags
3
PhilRice urges
farmers to plant
new rice varieties
BY ARMAND M. GALANG
SCIENCE CITY OF MUNOZ, Nueva Ecija – Pests
exposed to the same variety of rice over the years
“evolved” into more powerful types that would overcome the resistance of the
varieties, thus warn an
expert from the country’s
premier rice research
agency.
Thelma Padolina, chief
of the plant breeding and
biotechnology division of
the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice),
urged farmers to practice
variation of rice seeds to
keep higher yields and do
away with certain kinds of
pests.
She said that resistance of rice plants to
pests decreases for two
main reasons: intensive
cropping and the use of the
same variety every season.
Not all outstanding
traits such as high yield,
pest resistance, excellent
grains and eating quality,
are present in one variety
which pushes PhilRice to
conduct more extensive
studies.
Padolina said the agency keeps on improving varieties to help the farmers
fight evolving pests and
diseases, changing climatic conditions resulting
to various stresses such
as low and high temperature, submergence, salinity that reduces yield, and
changing preferences of
farmers, millers and consumers.
She said PhilRice is
actively pursuing breeding
“to provide the farmer more
choices and allow him to
cope with rapid changes in
the environment.”
Padolina also said quality of modern varieties absorb nutrients faster and
are more effective in photosynthetic activities, owing to plant physical traits
such as short upright
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • DECEMBER 22 - 25, 2011 • THURSDAY - SUNDAY
THINK
GREEN
4
leaves and more tillers
make them superior over
traditional varieties in
terms of yield.
She added that many
modern varieties are resistant to “biotic” and “abiotic” stresses. Biotic stress
refers to occurrence of
pests and diseases while
abiotic stress includes
drought, salinity, high and
low temperatures, and other environmental conditions that cause harm to
the plant and reduces its
yield.
Padolina said while
there are rice varieties that
have evolved by natural
and farmer selection, rice
varietal development remains a priority in a country with a fast-growing population and with a rice selfsufficiency goal.
She also added an intensive cropping using traditional variety is not possible in the terraces or in
the highland farms because of the varieties’ long
maturity.
Traditional varieties
that mature within 150-180
days, however, are good
sources of resistance and
grain quality traits which
are being replicated in the
development of new and
modern rice varieties, the
PhilRice reported.
Maliban sa paputok, pagkain dapat din pag-ingatan
NI DINO BALABO
LUNGSOD NG MALOLOS –
Hindi lang paputok ang dapat
pag-ingatan sa panahon ng
pagdiriwang ng Pasko at
Bagong taon.
Dapat ding mag-ingat sa
pagkain, kaya naman maging
mga gamot at gamit sa mga
tataas ang presyon ng dugo at
iba pang sakit ay ipinahanda
na ng direktor ng Bulacan Medical Center (BMC) sa lungsod
na ito.
Ayon kay Dr. Protacio Badjao, direktor ng BMC, karani-
wang nakapagtatala sila ng
mataas na bilang ng biktima ng
paputok tuwing unang araw ng
taon at karaniwan sa mga biktima ay mga bata.
Ito ay dahil sa ang mga bata
ang karaniwang namumulot ng
mga paputok na nagmintis.
“Nakahanda ang trauma
center ng BMC at maging ang
bawat district hospitals natin
para sa mga naputukan,” ani
Badjao patungkol sa mga district hospitals na matatagpuan
sa bayan ng Hagonoy, Bulakan, Calumpit, Baliuag, San
Miguel at Sta. Maria.
Ipinagmalaki niya na ang
mga duktor sa mga nasabing
pagamutan ay mataas ang
kasanayan at kakayahan sa
paggamot sa mga nasugatan;
bukod pa sa nakahanda ang
mga pasilidad at mga gamot.
Maging ang mga nababril at
mga naaksidente sa sasakyan sa panahon ng dalawang
sunod na pagdiriwang ay pinaghandaan na rin ng mga pagamutan.
Bukod sa mga ito, sinabi ni
Badjao na dapat ding mag-ingat sa pagkain ang bawat isa.
“Kapag ganitong mga sele-
brasyon karaniwang nakakalimot tayo sa pagkain, napaparami
ang kain natin,” ani Badjao.
Ipinaliwanag niya na ang
pagkain ng marami, partikular
na ng maaalat, matatamis at
mamantikang pagkain ay delikado sa mga may sakit sa
puso, mag may alta-presyon at
maging sa mga may sakit na
diabetes.
“Ingat lang po sa pagkain,
hinay-hinay lang tayo,” paalala pa ni Badjao.
Para naman sa mga may
hika at asthma, sinabi ng duktor na ang mga ito karaniwang
inaatake kapag nakalanghap ng
usok.
Ipinayo niya na umiwas
ang mga taong may sakit na
hika sa mga lugar na marmi
ang nagpapaputok dahil ang
usok ng paputok ay maaring
maging sanhi ng hika.
Upang makaiwas naman sa
peligro, ipinayo niya na agad
na kumonsulta sa mga duktor
sa pagamutan.
Para naman sa mga naputukan, ipinayo rin niya na dapat ay hugasang mabuti ang
sugat kung hindi rin lang
makakapunta agad sa ospital.
P250-M Galeria
Victoria opens
in Balanga City
BALANGA CITY, Bataan – The
four-storey Galeria Victoria,
now the biggest present landmark here with Robinsons
Group as its core tenant,
opened Thursday.
City Mayor Jose Enrique
Garcia III said that it was a
public-private partnership with
the city government providing
the 4,500-square meter lot
while the New San Jose Builders owned by Gerry Acuzar
constructed the building for
P250 million.
The city government expects to receive P364 million
in lease rental for 25 years
while Acuzar not only built the
building but at the same time
manages and controls the
commercial center.
The mayor said there are
more than 100 business establishments to set shop in
the commercial center but
Robinsons Group is considered as its major tenant occupying the biggest space for
its department store, supermarket and appliance center.
The opening of the commercial center also marked the first
day of opening of Robinsons
attended hundreds of mallgoers. A drum and Lyre Group
composed of elementary
school pupils and dragon dancers provided entertainment.
Businessman
Gerry
Acuzar and wife, officials of
Robinsons, provincial officials
led by Gov. Enrique Garcia and
Rep. Albert Garcia joined the
city mayor in welcoming visitors and other government officials.
“Medyo class na at lalong
gumanda ang Balanga sa pagbubukasng Robinsons at ng
Galeria Victoria,” a woman
said.
The biggest commercial
center so far in Balanga sits
in the commercial district adjacent to the Plaza Mayor de
Balanga, city hall and the St.
Joseph Cathedral.
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • DECEMBER 22 - 25, 2011 • THURSDAY - SUNDAY
BY ERNIE B. ESCONDE
5
Editorial
The reason
for the season
SANTA CLAUS and his sleigh. Plus, let
us see now, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer,
Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen,
and the red-nosed one, Rudolf.
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire.
Mistletoe, under which to kiss.
Frosty, the snowman.
Trees, with all the tinsels and
trimmings.
Lanterns in dizzying kaleidoscope of
lights and colors, commercialized, aye,
even politicized.
Ham, wine and cheese.
So where’s the very reason for the
season?
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • DECEMBER 22 - 25, 2011 • THURSDAY - SUNDAY
For unto you is born this day
in the city of David a Saviour,
which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto
you; Ye shall find the babe
wrapped in swaddling clothes,
lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with
the angel a multitude of the
heavenly host praising God,
and saying,
Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, good will
toward men. (Luke 2:11-14)
6
Oh, that we Christians bring Christ
back to our Christmas...
Blessed poverty
(The Christmas sermon of the frustrated reverend, thus turned
irreverent, A. Caesar Z. Lacson, printed, updated and reprinted for
the nth time)
acaesar.blogspot.com
Zona Libre
Bong Z. Lacson
AT NO other season of the year is unchristian charity more practised
than at Christmastime.
Hordes of do-gooders – politicians, notably – make perfunctory
swoops through resettlement sites and evacuation centers,
shantytowns and squatter areas bearing an assortment of stomach
fillers packaged in Christmas tinsel stamped with their names in
big bold letters. As though the gifts came from their pockets and
not from the public coffers they pillaged and plundered or from
some contractors they bled dry.
And what gift-giving will be complete, nay, will ever be, without
the media pressed to cover the event?
So we’ve been dogmatized from our pre-first communion
catechism class that gift-giving took off from the first Christmas
example of the three magi whose anonymity – the Good Book did
not identify them, remember? – spoke a lot about genuine charity
and a lot more about true humility.
Though tradition named them, it did not tell of
a gift of gold from Gaspar, myrrh from Melchior, or
frankincense from Balthazar. Tradition travestied
now in every gift gilded or etched with titled names,
as in smoked ham from the honorable governor,
pungent edam from the honorable congressman,
crispy Ninoy from the honorable mayor. Honorable
oxymorons all, given the dishonorable conduct of
Philippine politics and the way they run their
dominions.
Rob the country blind the whole year. Give
something for the noche buena table of the poor.
And all is well with the Lord. Christian living,
indeed!
At no other season of the year is poverty more
pronounced than at Christmastime. You just can’t
escape it. Not in this season of giving when, most
naturally, beggars – in all shapes and sizes – go
forth and multiply.
There’s the outstretched palm shoved at your
face, nearly knocking your caramel macchiato
mug as you watch the girls pass by Starbucks at
SM City Clark.
There’s the unshod kid tugging at your Lacoste
shirt as you line up for baby-back ribs at Rack’s
in SM City Pampanga.
Stalled in traffic going to Marquee Mall, there’s
the tap at your car window from a tabo-tapping
tyke wishing you Merry Christmas.
There’s the unending stream of carolers of all
ages in two’s, three’s, singly or in gangs singing
thanks for your ten-peso kindness.
There too are the indigenous Aetas descended
from Porac’s mountains and the Badjaos way
removed from their native Sulu Sea habitat finding
their way to your very doorstep, demanding food,
clothes, money as though you were the very cause
of their deprivation.
A recurring racket I first noted four seasons
back: “SEC-registered” religious and civic
organizations from Kamuning, Quezon City and
Tanay, Rizal going house-to-house in St. Jude
Village in the City of San Fernando with letters
of solicitation for their “projects for the poor.”
They could have simply saved on their bus,
jeepney and tricycle fares and gave them to their
poor.
With Ondoy devastating Metro Manila areas
two years back, an increase was noted in these
metropolis-based “SEC-registered” racketeers
knocking on Pampanga doors.
With Sendong demolishing Cagayan de Oro
and Iligan but a week ago, expect more of these
racketeers hitting Angeles and San Fernando.
The poor do indeed constitute an object lesson
for Christmas. But not from the perspective of
patronage politics where the poor are shamelessly
dehumanized, reduced to utilitarian tools for the
politicians’ self-projection for the coming elections.
Neither from the pharisaic (dis)compassion of
wannabe Samaritans where mendicancy, rather
than liberation from poverty, is instituted.
The poor do really make the leitmotif of the
season. Or have we forgotten how the Christ was
born? Engrossed as we are in the
commercialization of Christmas, we find its reason
in the malls rather than in church; we summon
its spirit from our pockets rather than from our
hearts.
Only yesterday, a beggar knocked at my gate
and asked, in a guttural – read: non-Kapampangan
– voice, for a little share of the blessings God
gave me this year. His jaw dropped when I told
him that in his poverty he was more blessed than
me.
No, I did not mean that he is spared the trouble
of a house and cars to maintain, mortgages to
pay, kids to send to school, job pressure, societal
demands, etc.
I meant a different kind of blessedness that is
inherent in poverty. That is the truly spiritual kind.
Is it just me, or is it still a verity in Christian
teaching that poverty liberates? That the poor,
unfettered by material – worldly – possession,
have so much spiritual wealth that in the end
theirs is the kingdom of heaven?
A materially impoverished, and therefore,
blessed Christmas to us all.
Chance is always powerful. Let your hook be
always cast; in the pool where you least expect it,
there will be a fish. –Ovid (43 BC - 17 AD)
EDGAR V. MOVIDO
Founder
LLL Trimedia Coordinators
Publisher
General Manager Atty. Gener C. Endona
Editor Joey R. Aguilar
Editorial Consultant Caesar “Bong” Lacson
Marketing Manager Joanna Niña V. Cordero
Advertising Officer Karl Jason S. Manaloto
Layout Dondie B. Ventura
Circulation Gilbert Mendoza/Alvin Dizon
Business & Editorial office at Unit B Essel Commercial Center,
McArthur Highway, Telabastagan, City of San Fernando
Tel. No. (45) 636•6327 Cel. No. 0917•481•1416
e-mail address: [email protected]
pdf file at http://www.punto.com.ph
Punto! Central Luzon is a proud member of
The Philippine Press Institute
Maging
Maalam,
Maging
Malaya
Ni Erin Tañada
MGA KABALEN, bago ko simulan ang artikulong ito, sama-sama
nating ipanalangin ang mga namatay, namatayan, nawalan ng
bahay at kabuhayan nating mga kapatid sa Mindanao at Visayas.
Magpaabot po tayo ng kahit kaunting tulong upang maibsan ang
kanilang hinagpis lalo na’t parating na ang Kapaskuhan.
Taon-taon, ang pagsapit ng Pasko ay naging bahagi na ng
ating buhay bilang mga Kristiyano, at ng buong sambayanang
Pilipino.
Bilang mga Kristiyano, tayo’y nagdaraos ng mga nakagawian
na tulad ng Simbang Gabi, at iba pang paghahanda ng ating mga
sarili sa ikagagalak ng Lumikha at sa pagdakila sa kaarawan ni
Hesus.
Kabahagi ang buong sambayanan, anuman ang relihiyon, sa
taunang pagdiriwang, bunsod na rin ng nakahahawang sigla at
galaw na mababakas sa kapwa, dulot ng mga biyayang bitbit ng
tradisyon ng pagbibigayan tuwing Pasko.
Anumang krisis ang kasalukuyang hinaharap, ang kalungkutan
ay napapawi ng kakaibang sigla na dulot ng kapaskuhan na wala
ring kupas sa pagbibigay buhay sa mga pamilihan, at ang lahat ay
nakikinabang.
Isang awit pamasko ang sa atin ay nagsisilbing gabay, “Ang
Pasko’y Sumapit,” na may isang linyang nagsasabing, “Sana’y
lahat ng araw ay Pasko.”
Ang awit na ito’y kuwento ng Pasko: Ang
pagsilang ni Hesus sa Bethlehem, at ang
pagbibigay handog ng Tatlong Haring Mago na
nagpang-abot – sa tulong na bituing gabay — sa
abang sabsaban kung saan naisilang ang sanggol
na si Hesus.
Pinaniniwalaang sa paghahandog ng regalo ng
Tatlong Haring Mago nabuo ang tradisyon ng
bigayan tuwing Pasko.
Ang nakagawiang bigayan ng regalo, aginaldo,
at pag-ukol ng panahon para sa mga pagtitipon
ng pamilya, ay bunsod na rin ng kakaibang gaan
ng pakiramdam na dala-dala ng diwa ng
kapaskuhan.
Nakapagtataka ngunit nangyayari sa ating
lahat ang maghangad na makapagbigay sa mga
mahal sa buhay tuwing sasapit ang Pasko.
Masaya tayo kapag nakapagbigay ng regalo, at
malungkot naman kung sa dahilang kinapos sa
pera ay hindi makapagbigay sa mga mahal sa
buhay.
“Tayo ay magmahalan, ating sundin ang
Gintong Aral. At magbuhat ngayon, kahit hindi
Pasko ay magbigayan.”
Napaganda po ng mensahe, di ba mga
kabalen?
Sinasabi sa atin na ang pinaka-mainam galaw
sa mundo ng bawat nilalang ay yaong batay sa
diwa ng kapaskuhan – ang pagmamahalan,
pagbibigayan, at pagsunod sa Gintong Aral, na
turo ni Hesus.
“Gawin sa iba yaong nais mong gawin ng iba
sa inyo (Do unto others what you want others to
do unto you.)”
Bukod sa pagbibigayan, ang Pasko’y panahon
din ng pagbabagong buhay.
“Bagong Taon ay magbagong buhay, nang
lumigaya ang ating bayan …”
Makaraang pinalambot ng diwa ng Pasko ang
ating mga puso’t isipan, tayo ngayon ay tila handa
na ring harapin ang mga pagbabago sa ating
buhay.
Pagkatapos ng Pasko, sasapit naman ang
Bagong Taon.
Sa pagsapit ng Bagong Taon ay tila may
paanyaya tungo sa pagbabagong buhay, na isa
rin sa mga biyaya ng kapaskuhan. Ang
pagtatapos ng taon ay panahon din ng pagwawaksi
ng mga kamalian at pagsasagawa ng mga
pagbabago na muling magtutuwid sa landas ng
ating buhay.
Makaraan ang sarili, ang bansa naman.
Ang linya namang, “Tayo’y magsikap upang
makamtan natin ang kasaganaan…,” ay ukol
naman sa bansa.
Ang masayang awiting ito ay hindi lamang
nagbibigay saya sa tema ng Pasko — ito rin
ang nagsisilbing gabay sa paghahanda sa
taunang okasyon ng bigayan at pagbabago sa
sariling buhay, at maging sa sa mga pananaw
sa pagsasa-ayos at pagpapabuti ng ating
bansa.
Sa isang sang simpleng awit, “Ang Pasko’y
Sumapit,” matutunghayan ang halaga at diwa ng
Pasko, na ang tunay na regalo nito ay ang biyaya
ng pagbabago.
TODAY IN HISTORY
Bing Crosby introduces ‘White Christmas’
"White Christmas," written by
the formidable composer and
lyricist Irving Berlin receives its
world premiere on December
25, 1941 on Bing Crosby's
weekly NBC radio program, The
Kraft Music Hall. It went on to
become one of the most commercially successful singles of
all time, and the top-selling single ever until being surpassed
by Elton John's "Candle in the
Wind 1997."
"White Christmas" took its
first steps toward becoming a
bedrock standard in the American songbook when Crosby
first performed it publicly on
Christmas Day, 1941. The
song's success couldn't have
surprised Berlin, who despite
having already written such
songs as "Alexander's Ragtime
Band," "Cheek To Cheek" and
"God Bless America," had
raced into his Manhattan office
in January 1940 and asked his
musical secretary to transcribe
"The best song I ever wrote...the
best song anybody ever wrote."
It was nearly two years later,
however, that Crosby finally premiered the song on live radio,
and a year after that Crosby's
recording of "White Christmas"
became a smash pop hit.
Crosby's October 1942 recording of "White Christmas"
received heavy airplay on Armed
Forces Radio as well as on
commercial radio during its first
Christmas season, becoming
an instant #1 pop hit. It also returned to the Hit Parade pop
chart in every subsequent
Christmas season for the next
20 years. Unlike other perennial holiday hits, however, "White
Christmas" strikes a mood that
isn't necessarily jolly. As Jody
Rosen, author of the 2002 book
White Christmas: The Story of
an American Song, told National Public Radio, "It's very
melancholy....And I think this
really makes it stand out
amongst kind of chirpy seasonal standards [like] 'Rudolph the
Red-Nosed Reindeer' or 'Let It
Snow.'....I think that's one of the
reasons why people keep responding to it, because our feelings over the holiday season are
ambivalent."
This was certainly true of the
immigrant Russian Jewish
songwriter Irving Berlin. Though
he did not celebrate Christmas,
it was a day that held special
meaning to Berlin, who had
spent each Christmas Day visiting the grave of his late son,
Irving Berlin, Jr., who died at
just 3 weeks old on December
25, 1928. As Jody Rosen has
suggested about a beloved
song of great emotional complexity, "The kind of deep secret of ["White Christmas"]
may be that it was Berlin responding in some way to his
melancholy about the death of
his son."
Source: www.history.com
Ni Felix M. Garcia
‘Kapit Bisig ng
Mag-aaral’ nina
Alex Cauguiran
binigyang
parangal
TATLONG DEKADA na ang nakakaraan
Noong ang Kapit Bisig ng Mag-aaral
Sa Holy Angel ay magpasyang tugunan
Ang hamon ng panahon at kasaysayan
Nang tayo ay suklob ng batas militar
At diktadura ang naghaharing tunay
Sa lahat ng dako nitong kapuluan,
Maging sa lungsod at mga kanayunan.
Marami sa atin ang mga nangahas
Makibaka upang itaas ang antas
Ng pagtutol natin sa naturang batas,
Pero nagbuwis lang ng buhay ng di oras.
Sa pakikibaka ang kagaya nina
Pedrito Pineda at ng maram pa,
Maibalik lang ang laya’t demokrasya
Na inagaw ng gobyernong diktadura.
Kung saan kasama sa mga lumahok
Sa armadong kilusan laban kay Marcos
Itong mag-aaral na nagsipagboycot
Ng kanilang klase’t ayaw ng pumasok.
Isa sa grupo ng mga istudyante
Ng tanging Holy Angel University
Ang nagkapit-bisig nu’ng dekada 80
‘For the restoration of our democracy’
Ay ang Kapit Bisig nitong Mag-aaral
Sa pangunguna ni Alex Cauguiran,
Na mailathala muli ang kanilang
‘ANGELITE’ na noon ay ipinagbawal
At naipasara pati ang iba pang
Student councils at ilang pahayagan,
Na nagresulta sa wala ng halalan
Sa mga campuses upang mapigilan
Ang pagpapakalat ng ‘reading material’
Na mag-uudyok sa mga kababayan
Upang makilahok yan sa ‘armed struggle’
Para magpabagsak ang pamahalaan
Ng isang Diktador noong kasagsagan
Ng batas militar sa ‘ting Inang Bayan,
At kung saan kasama si Cauguiran
Sa nakatikim ng parusang pisikal.
Nang makulong dahil sa pakikibaka
At pagtuligsa sa bulok na systema,
Kasama ang ibang mga raliyista
Noong si Alex ay ‘student leader’ pa
At kung saan marami ang kabataang
Sa likod ng dilim ay nangatimbuwang,
Dahil sa marubdob nilang pagnanasang
Makalag sa gapos ng batas militar.
(Na kinasangkapan ng isang rehimeng
Bukod sa ganid ay lubhang nalasing din
Sa kapangyarihan at mga naisin
Kung kaya ayaw nang sa puesto bumitiw!)
Na kung saan sina Alex Cauguiran
At iba pang kasamahang mag-aaral
Ay nakulong dahil sa harap-harapan
Nilang pagtuligsa sa pamahalaan.
(May karugtong)
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • DECEMBER 22 - 25, 2011 • THURSDAY - SUNDAY
Pamaskong awit,
gabay ng tao at bayan
Napaguusapan
lang
7
8
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • DECEMBER 22 - 25, 2011 • THURSDAY - SUNDAY
9
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • DECEMBER 22 - 25, 2011 • THURSDAY - SUNDAY
‘Iwasan ang malalaki at smuggled na paputok’
NI DINO BALABO
MALOLOS—Huwag bumili at
gumamit ng malalaki, mumurahin at smuggled o ilegal na
paputok.
Ito ang paalala ng Philippine
Pyrotechnics Manufacturers
and Dealers Association Inc.,
(PPMDAI) sa mga nais magpaputok sa nalalapit na Pasko
at Bagong Taon. Hinikayat din
nila ang gobyerno partikular na
ang pulisya na kumpiskahin
ang mga smuggled pyrotechnics o mga paputok na ipinuslit mula sa Bureau of Customs
(BoC) na ngayon ay nasa mga
pamilihan na.
Para sa PMMDAI ang mga
oversized o naglalakihang paputok ay ilegal.
Bukod sa naglalakihang
paputok, ilegal din ang mga
paputok na walang label, at
maging ang mga ipinuslit sa
BoC dahil ang mga iyon ay hindi gawa sa bansa.
Ilan sa mga halimbawa ng
mga naglalakihang paputok ay
ang Og, uper bawang, Lolo
Thunder, GoodBye Philippines,
Bin Laden at iba pa. Kabilang
naman sa mga ipinagbabawal
ang mga maliliit tulad ng watusi.
Iginiit ng PPMDAI na ang
mga ilegal na paputok ay karaniwang nagiging sanhi ng disgrasya o pagkasugat sa panahon ng pagsalubong sa Bagong
Taon.
Ayon kay Vimmie Erese,
pangulo ng PPMDAI, halos
buong taon ang isinagawa nilang kampanya para sa ligtas
na pagsalubong sa Bagong
Taon, gamit ang paputok.
Ang kampanyang ito ay kanilang isinagawa sa pamamagitan ng mga pagsasanay at
mga seminar partikular na sa
mga gumagawa at nagtitinda
ng paputok.
Sa nasabing pagsasanay
ay kanilang ipinaliwanag ang
nilalaman ng Republic Act
7183 o Act Regulating Manufacture, Sale, Distribution and
Use of Pyrotechnics Device.
“Kung susundin ang sukat
ng kemikal na ilalagay sa paputok, abutan ka man sa kamay
ay hindi ka masyadong
masasaktan, dahil maliliit
lang,” ani Erese sa isang
panayam sa telepono noong
Disyembre 5 bilang pagbibigay diin sa panganib ng naglalakihang paputok.
Dahil dito, nanawagan siya
sa pulisya na paigtingin ang
kampanya laban sa mga ilegal
na paputok, partikular sa mga
gawa sa ibayong dagat na ipinuslit sa BoC.
Hinggil naman sa kanilang
produksyon sa taong ito, sinabi ni Erese na bumaba ang bilang ng mga rehistradong
pabrika sa taong ito.
“This is our worst year mula
noong 1990s, mas lumiit ang
bilang ng registered manufacturers this year dahil sa napakataas ng presyo ng chemicals,” aniya patungkol sa mga
kemikal na potassium nitrate,
potassium chloride, barium nitrate at aluminum nitrate.
Sa kabila naman ng pagliit
ng bilang ng rehistradong
pabrika ng paputok sa bansa,
sinabi niya na bumabaha pa rin
ng paputok sa pamilihan dahil
sa pagsasamantala ng ilang
negosyante na nagbebenta ng
mga smuggled products.
“We hope that the police will
intensify the campaign, it is our
low year as far as production
is concern, and that means
that more illegally manufactured or sourced products will
be in the market,” ani Erese.
Ipinaliwanag naman ni Celso Cruz, ang president emeritus ng PPMDAI na ayon sa RA
7183, hindi maaaring ibenta sa
bansa ang mga produktong
ready to sell at ready to use.
“Malinaw ang batas, kailangan at dito sa bansa ang pagbuo at paggawa,” ani Cruz.
6 missing in
heavy monsoon
rains in Aurora
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • DECEMBER 22 - 25, 2011 • THURSDAY - SUNDAY
BY DING CERVANTES
10
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO –
Six persons were reported
missing when unusually
heavy northeast monsoon
rains hit in Aurora province for
three days up to last Tuesday.
In a report, the Aurora Provincial Risk Reduction and
Management
Council
(PRRMC) said the missing
persons were from Baler and
Dilasag towns.
They were identified as Cesar Vargas, Santi Reynon, and
Alex Tacla,all residents ofBarangay Sabang in Baler, and
Eduardo Donato, 38, Samuel
Donato Jr. , 15, at Samuel Donato Sr., 31, all from Barangay Masagana in Dilasag.
They were reported to have
been swept away by strong
water currents that flooded
the barangays.
The PDDRMC said the unusually heavy rains affected in
various ways 3,929 families
with 19,188 members in Aurora. Of these, 101 families
with 297 members moved to
four evacuation centers in
Casiguran and Dilasag.
PDRRMC officials in Aurora said the heavy rains started last Sunday and ceased
only last Tuesday.
As of yesterday, the impassable routes in the province included the BalerCasiguran Road whose portions were affected by
landslides,in Barangay Dianned, Dipaculao and the
Casiguran- Dilasag Road.
A good
conscience is
a continual
Christmas.
Benjamin
Franklin
11
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • DECEMBER 22 - 25, 2011 • THURSDAY - SUNDAY
‘Morbid’ coffin business now thriving...
FROM PAGE 2
victims in Mindanao.
Flat tops cost between
P3,000 to P4,000 each
straight from the factory,
said Torres. She added
that they are the cheapest
among coffins created by
Santo Tomas craftsmen.
“Our makers do not really make Flat tops now.
Their design, however, is
easy to do considering we
have to finish fast our orders,” said Torres in the di-
alect.
For his part, Naguit
said “we also have to maximize the funds of the governor.”
Torres said the OMB
caskets costs about
P4,000 to P6,000 each
from the factory.
Iligan and Cagayan De
Oro folks were reportedly
awed by the design of the
coffins considering they are
“donations,” said Torres.
But honestly, she added, OMB coffins are “one
of the simple designs we
do.”
Torres said coffins
made out of metals are the
in-demand orders of late.
It’s factory price start at
about P20,000 per piece.
Torres and Naguit were
two of the officials tasked
by Naquit to ensure the
completion of the orders
on time.
“Sadly, we can not ask
our visitors to take home
our major products for souvenirs such the case in
other towns,” said Torres
in a jest. “Our makers
could not also offer ‘buy
one-take one’ promos.”
Toress said that she
and Ma. Lourdes Carmella Jade “Chingkit” Pangilinan, tourism officer of the
City of San Fernando, met
earlier for the planned “Kabaong (coffin) Festival” in
Santo Tomas.
They decided to forgo
the plan as “society may
not accept it yet,” Torres
said.
TMC handa sa pagdami ng sasakyan...
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • DECEMBER 22 - 25, 2011 • THURSDAY - SUNDAY
FROM PAGE 3
12
ers sa mga toll plaza,
dadagdagan din ng TMC
ang mga bilang ng patrol
sa kahabaan ng dalawang
expressway upang alalayan ang mga motoristang
magkakaproblema.
Maging mga ambulansiya ay ikakalat nila sa
mga sitratehikong lugar
para sa mas mabilisang
pagsaklolo.
Maglalagay din ng
mga portable toilets ang
TMC bago pumasok sa
Mabalacat Toll Plaza, at
paglabas ng Tarlac Toll
Plaza , bukod pa sa mga
bahagi ng Subic Bay Freeport.
Ipinayo din ni Dagohoy
sa mga motorista na tumawag sa mga sumusunod na hotline para sa mabilis, ligtas at kumportableng paglalakbay: Para
sa NLEX maaring tumawag sa (02) 580-8910
at 3-5000; samantalang
para sa SCTEX, maaring
tawagan ang numerong
(0920) 96-SCTEX (72839).
Ang mga nasabing linya ay bukas sa loob ng
24-na oras, bukod pa sa
maaaring kumuha ng update sa Facebook account ng SCTEX na
tinawag na “Travel on
Great Roads.”
Ayon kay Dagohoy
makakakuha ng mga traf-
fic updates sa nasabing
Facebook account bawat
oras lalo na sa mga peak
periods.
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
REGIONAL TRIAL COURT
THIRD JUDICIAL REGION
City of San Fernando (P)
TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 390230
A parcel of land (Lot 9 Block 1 of the consolidation
subdivision plan (LRC) Pcs-5389, being a portion of the
consolidation of lots 2581 & 2582 Tarlac cadastre LRC (GLRO)
Rec. No. 11697), situated in the Bo. of Sepung Calzada, Aguso
& Tariji, Mun. of Tarlac, Province of Tarlac, Island of Luzon.
Bounded on the NE., points 3-4 by lot 10 Blk. 1 of the consolidation
and subdivision plan, xxxxxxxxxx containing an area of
THREE HUNDRED SEVENTY FIVE (375) SQUARE METERS.
TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 390231
Notarial
Application No. 12-18
Prospective bidders/buyers are hereby enjoined to investigate for
themselves the title/s and its encumbrances thereon, if any there be.
Tarlac, Tarlac, November 21, 2011.
Petitioner.
x———————————————————x
Petitioner.
x———————————————————x
NOTICE OF HEARING
NOTICE is hereby given that a summary hearing on the petitions
for notarial commissions of the above-named petitioners shall be held
on December 29, 2011 at 10:00 o’clock in the morning. Any person who
has any cause or reason to object to the grant of the petitions may file a
verified written opposition thereto, before the date of the summary hearing.
City of San Fernando (P), December 20, 2011.
EDGAR Y. CHUA
Executive Judge
PUNTO! Central Luzon: December 23, 2011
NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE
Upon extra-judicial petition for sale under Act 3135/1508, as amended,
filed by GM BANK OF LUZON, INC., (formerly GM Bank, Inc.,)- with
head office at Brgy. Dimasalang, Maharlika Highway, Cabanatuan City,
Nueva Ecija,against SPS. RAMON L. AGUAS & ANA ROSE P. AGUAS
resident of Binauganan San Sebastian Village, Tarlac City, to satisfy the
mortgage indebtedness which as of September 30, 2011 amount/s to
TWO MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED FORTY SIX THOUSAND SIX
HUNDRED SEVENTY ONE PESOS & 56/100 (P2,746,671.56) PESOS,
Philippine Currency, excluding interests, attorney’s fees and other
expenses such as expenses of foreclosure, the undersigned or his duly
authorized Deputy will SELL at public auction on January 10, 2012 at
10:00 o’clock in the morning, or soon thereafter, at the main entrance
of the Tarlac Court Building, Regional Trial Court, Tarlac, Tarlac, to the
highest bidder, for CASH, Philippine Currency, the following described
property/ies, together with all the its existing improvements, to wit:
Notarial
Application No. 12-17
IN RE: PETITION FOR RE-APPOINTMENT
AS NOTARY PUBLIC FOR AND IN THE
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO (P)
ATTY. VICTOR B. ROQUE
FILE NO. 2384
A parcel of land (Lot 19 Block 7 of the consolidation
subdivision plan (LRC) Pcs-5389, being a portion of the
consolidation of lots 2581 & 2582 Tarlac cadastre LRC (GLRO)
Rec. No. 11697), situated in the Bo. of Sepung Calzada, Aguso
& Tariji, Mun. of Tarlac, Province of Tarlac, Bounded on the
NE., points 3-4 by lot 20 Blk. 7 xxxxxxxxxx containing an
area of THREE HUNDRED SEVENTY FIVE (375) SQUARE
METERS.
OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE JUDGE
ATTY. CARMELINO M. ROQUE,
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
REGIONAL TRIAL COURT
THIRD JUDICIAL REGION
OFFICE OF THE PROVINCIAL SHERIFF
TARLAC, TARLAC
ATTY. SHALANE T. GO-PALOMAR
PROVINCIAL SHERIFF
ANTONIO V. LEANO JR.
SHERIFF IV
COPY FURNISHED:
ATTY. RYAN T. TADEO
Counsel for GM BANK OF LUZON, INC.,
2nd Floor office of the General Counsel
GM Bank of Luzon, Inc., Corporate Office Building
Brgy. Dimasalang, Maharlika Highway, Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija
SPS. RAMON L. AGUAS & ANA ROSE P. AGUAS
Binauganan San Sebastian Village, Tarlac City
PUNTO! Central Luzon: December 16, 23 & 30, 2011
May the Christmas season
fill your home with joy,
your heart with love and
your life with laughter.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • DECEMBER 22 - 25, 2011 • THURSDAY - SUNDAY
DOT Region III
13
Luisita farmers hit back...
FROM PAGE 1
In a statement, the
Unyon ng Manggagawa sa
Agrikultura (UMA), the Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (Ambala) and
the United Luisita Workers
Union (ULWU) instead accused the management of
the Hacienda Luisita Inc.
(HLI) for what they described as “arson of three
parcels of land planted
with sugar cane.”
“So the family of the
President (Aquino) and the
HLI management could put
the blame on farm workers and legitimize the filing of criminal cases
against leaders and other
farm worker beneficiaries,”
the statement said.
UMA secretary general Rodel Mesa accused
the family of the President
and officials of the HLI of
being “definitely behind
this well-staged political
drama to justify the reversal of the 14- 0 decision of
Supreme Court on Hacienda Luisita and the filing of
trumped up charges
against leaders and members of Ambala.”
Police probers said local farmers allegedly set
fire to a portion of the sugarcane field at Hacienda
Luisita that is owned by
the family of Pres. Aquino
in Barangay Balete, Tarlac
City where P1-million
worth of crops were destroyed last Friday morning. The police are also
investigating the alleged
participation of some
members of local farmers’
associations.
But the farmers’ groups
debunked this. “Why will
we do that (burn sugarcane plantations)? In fact,
we are harvesting the sugarcane to earn some money for Christmas. We will
have nothing to gain if we
set on fire these parcels
of land planted with sugarcane,” they stressed.
Police named the suspects as Barangay Balete
councilmen Pual Mallari
and Hilario Hipolito, Leonila Halili, Dominador
Salian, all of Barangay
Balete and Felix Nacpil of
Barangay Mabilog, Concepcion, Tarlac. The suspects reportedly led at
least 30 farmers that started the blaze.
Hacienda Luisita Independent Planters Association, Azucal Inc. and other farmers from Sugarcane Farming Agricultural Corp. are currently
renting the sugar plantation from HLI.
The farmers, however,
had their version of what
allegedly happened. “On
December 16, at around 9:
30 am, while farm workers
were busy harvesting sugar cane in Barangay
Balete, members of Tarlac
police and private security personnel of HLI came
and told farm workers to
stop. While engaging the
local police force and Luisita personnel in verbal
debate, suddenly the
farmworkers noticed that
three parcels of land planted with sugar cane were
set on fire by unidentified
men,” they said in their
statement.
They cited reports that
“Ambala chairman, Felix
Nakpil Jr. and other officers and members of the
farm worker group will be
charged with arson and
other criminal offenses in
connection with the arson
of three parcels of land
planted with sugar cane,
according to reports
reaching UMA national
headquarters in Quezon
City.”
“As legitimate owners
of Hacienda Luisita land
based on the 14- 0 decision of the high court, what
we will do is to harvest
these sugarcanes and later replace with staple
NOTICE OF LOSS
crops and vegetables in
the name of our
‘bungkalan’ or cultivation
campaign for food self-sufficiency and livelihood,”
said UMA secretary general Rodel Mesa.
De Mesa also accused the HLI management of “sowing terror
among farm worker beneficiaries to compel them to
let go their land claims on
the 4,916 hectares and to
the P 1. 33 billion shares
from the sale of Luisita
lands.
“Whether the HLI denies it or not, its motive
and role in the burning incident last Dec.16 is undeniable,” added Mesa.
UMA said the stagemanaged burning of three
parcels of land planted
with sugar cane was also
done to justify the fullblown militarization of the
6,453 hectare sugar estate.
Last month, the Supreme Court, voting 14-0,
ordered the distribution of
almost 4,916 hectares of
land to some 6,000 farmer beneficiaries of HLI.
In a 56- page decision,
the 14 magistrates “recalled and set aside” the
option given to the farmer
beneficiaries to remain as
stockholders of HLI.
Ona desididong baguhin...
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • DECEMBER 22 - 25, 2011 • THURSDAY - SUNDAY
FROM PAGE 1
14
ang alternatibo ngunit ligtas na paraan sa pagsalubong sa Bagong Taon.
Batay sa tala ng Department of Health (DOH),
mahigit sa 1,000 katao,
karaniwan mga bata ang
nasugatan noong 2010
dahil sa paputok.
Ayon kay Ona, ang
pagdiriwang ng Pasko at
pagsalubong sa Bagong
Taon ay dapat puno ng
kasiyahan.
Ngunit para sa ilang
Pilipino na mahilig gumamit ng paputok sa mga
nasabing pagdiriwang, ang
kasiyahan ay napapalitan
ng kalungkutan.
Ayon kay Ona, bukod
sa pagpapaputok ng mga
rebentador na nagiging
sanhi ng pagkasugat at
dalamhati, may iba pang
paraan upang maipagdi-
wang ang Pasko at
Bagong taon.
Ito ay sa pamamagitan
ng pagsasagawa ng mga
fireworks display kung
saan ay mga taong may
kasanayan ang magsasagawa at magsisindi ng
mga mitsa.
Sa kasalukuyan, sinabi ni Ona na 10 lungsod
na sa kalakhang Maynila
ang nagpahayag ng interes para sa pagsasagawa
ng fireworks display upang matiyak ang kaligtasan ng kanilang nasasakupan sa mga aksidente ng pagkasugat.
Iginiit pa niya na ang
pagsasagawa ng fireworks
display ay bahagi ng kanilang bagong kampanyang tinaguriang APIR o
“Aksyon: Paputok Injury
Reduction”.
Ayon pa Kay Ona, ang
APIR ay isa ring palatan-
daan ng pagsuporta ni
Pangulong Benigno Aquino III sa lokal na industriya
ng paputok.
Matatandaan na sa
mga nagdaang taon, ang
DOH ang nanguna sa pagsasagawa ng kampanyang
“Iwas Paputok” na ayon sa
Philippine Pyrotechnics
Manufacturers and Dealers
Association Inc., (PPMDAI) ay isang dagok sa
kanilang industriya.
Ayon kay Ona, ang
APIR ay isang pagtalikod
ng DOH sa kampanyang
Iwas Paputok; at isang
pagsang-ayon sa kampanya ng PPMDAI na “Ingat Papautok.”
Ikinagalak naman ng
PPMDAI ang panibagong
kampanya ng DOH dahil
higit na nilang matututukan ngayon ang kampanya laban sa mga smuggled pyrotechnics prod-
ucts.
Ayon kay Celso Cruz,
ang president emeritus ng
PPMDAI, patuloy ang
pagdami sa merkado ng
smuggled pyrotechnics
products
dahil
sa
pagkukulang sa pagbabantay ng Bureau of Customs.
Inayunan naman ito ni
Gob. Wilhelmino Alvarado
na nagsabing ang pinahihirapan ng mga smuggled
products ay ang mga
produktong gawa sa Bulacan.
“How can our local
manufacturers compete
with smuggled products
when they are sold at very
low price,” ani Alvarado at
sinabing ang mga smuggled products ay nagkakahalaga lamang ng P400
samantalang ang gawa sa
Bulacan ay umaabot sa
P800 ang puhunan.
Sta. Rita town features ‘biggest suman’
Punto! Central Luzon: December 16, 23 & 30, 2011
Republic of the Philippines
REGIONAL TRIAL COURT
THIRD JUDICIAL REGION
BRANCH 45
City of San Fernando (P)
IN THE MATTER OF THE ADOPTION OF THE
MINOR CHILD SHIKINA GAYLE SALAS WHO
SHALL BE KNOWN AS SHIKINA GAYLE HYMAN.
SPOUSES TODD M. HYMAN
FC SP. PROC CASE NO. 412
& RIZALINA AYALA-HYMAN.
FOR ADOPTION
Petitioners.
x————————————————————————————x
ORDER
Finding the Second Amended Petition filed by petitioner-spouses
Todd M. Hyman & Rizalina Ayala-Hyman to be sufficient in form and
substance, same is hereby set for hearing on January 11, 2012 at 8:30
in the morning inviting all interested persons to appear and show
cause why this petition should not be granted.
No pronouncement as to trial custody as of this time but Court Social
Worker Leonides Tubog is hereby ordered to conduct the required Child
and Home Studies. Her reports relative thereto shall be submitted before
the initial hearing of this case.
Let a copy of this order be published once a week for three (3)
consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation within the
province of Pampanga.
Furnish the Office of the Solictor General, the Provincial Prosecutor
of Pampanga, Court Social Worker Leonides Tubog, the RTC Clerk of
Court, City of San Fernando Pampanga and the petitioners with copies
hereof.
SO ORDERED
City of San Fernando Pampanga, December 2, 2011.
ADELAIDA ALA-MEDINA
Judge
PUNTO! Central Luzon: December 23, 30 2011 & January 6, 2012
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
REGIONAL TRIAL COURT
THIRD JUDICIAL REGION
OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT
& EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF
GUAGUA, PAMPANGA
BALIKATAN PROPERTY HOLDINGS, INC.,
Mortgagee,
-versusFREM Case No. G-11-2012
SPS. PASTOR S. PANGILINAN
AND PERLITA S. PANGILINAN,
Mortgagors,
x———————————————————————x
NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE
WHEREAS, upon extra-judicial petition for sale under Act 3135 as
amended by Act 4118 filed by BALIKATAN PROPERTY HOLDINGS,
INC., mortgagee, with principal office address at 24th Floor, BPI Buendia
Center, Sen. Gil J. Puyat Ave., Makati City, against mortgagors SPS.
PASTOR S. PANGILINAN AND PERLITA S. PANGILINAN, with known
address at San Agustin, San Luis, Pampanga and Lot 10, Blk. 11, Road
lot 10, Florida Heights Subd., San Jose, Floridablanca, Pampanga to
satisfy the mortgage indebtedness mentioned which as of February 7,
2011 amounts to FOUR HUNDRED TWENTY TWO THOUSAND PESOS
(Php422,000.00) Philippine currency, including interest, charges and
expenses incidental thereto, plus the expenses of foreclosure, the Clerk
of Court & Ex-Officio Sheriff of the Regional Trial Court, Guagua, Pampanga
thru Sheriff RODELITO B. MERCADO will sell at public auction on 13 th
day of January 2012 at 10:00 o’clock in the morning or soon thereafter at
the entrance of the Municipal Trial Court of Floridablanca, Pampanga, to
the highest bidder in cash and in Philippine currency the here-in-below
described real property with all the existing improvements, to wit:
TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 291447-R
A parcel of land (Lot10, Block 11 of the subd. plan (LRC)
Psd-192488, being a portion of Lot 307-B-2-C, (LRC) Psd185277, LRC Rec. No. 4435 situated in the Bo. of San Jose,
Mun. of Floridablanca, Prov. of Pamp., Island of Luzon. Bounded
on the NE., pts 4 to 1 by lot 9; on the SE., pts 1-2 by lot 12, both
of Blk. 11; on the SW., pts. 2-3 by Road lot 10; and on the NW.,
pts 3-4 by lot 6, Blk. 11, all of the subd. plan. x x x x x x
Containing an area of One Hundred Eighty (180) Square Meters.
The Notice of Extra-Judicial Sale will be published in a newspaper
of general circulation in the Province of Pampanga and Angeles City for
three (3) consecutive weeks once a week and will be posted in three (3)
conspicuous public places prior to the date of sale for the information of
the public in general and of the interested parties in particular.
Prospective bidders are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves
the title of the above-described property and the encumbrances existing
thereon if any there be.
All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the abovestated time and date.
In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date,
it shall be held on January 20, 2012, also at 10:00 o’clock in the morning
and at the same place mentioned above without further notice.
Guagua, Pampanga, November 9, 2011.
FROM PAGE 1
“are farmers and the two
festivals are significant for
them.” She said farm production is abundant in
nine barangays.
The two-term mayor
said “there are many ways
of making suman.” She
added that the secret of
cooking it properly is to be
patient. Mayor Pineda
grew up in this town seeing her grandparents
cooked suman and duman.
She said they had spotted more foreign tourists in
the festival compared last
year.
“It only means we are
enjoying more following on
its third year,” said Pineda.
Notice is hereby given that CHANGSEONG HEO, of legal age, Korean
Citizen and a resident of 30-18 Balikbayan St., Carmenville Subd., Angeles
City executed an Affidavit of Loss of his ACR I-CARD issued by the
Department of Foreign Affairs, Manila which he lost/misplaced sometime in
October 2011.
NORMITA R. MERCADO
OIC- Clerk of Court & Ex-Officio Sheriff
RODELITO B. MERCADO
Sheriff IV
Copy furnished:
Balikatan Property Holdings, Inc.
24th Floor BPI Buendia Center,
Sen. Gil J. Puyat Ave. , Makati City
Mayor Yolly Pineda (center) shares a portion of Sta. Rita’s biggest Suman
with Fr. Eugene Reyes (left). PHOTO BY RIC GONZALES
Sps. Pastor S. Pangilinan and Perlita S. Pangilinan
San Agustin San Luis, Pampanga and
Lot 10, Blk. 11, Road Lot 10, Florida Heights Subd.,
San Jose, Floridablanca, Pampanga
PUNTO! Central Luzon: December 23, 30 2011 & January 6, 2012
Kris Aquino matinong nanay
pero walang kuwentang asawa?
BILIB DAW si Joyce Bernal sa pagiging hands on mom ni Kris Aquino.
“Sabi niya, ‘ang tiyaga mo. Ako, napapagod na mag-converse
sa anak ko.’ Kasi nga, never-ending ang tanong nu’ng mga anak
ko. Sabi niya, ‘Ikaw, walang kapaguran at lahat sinasagot mo.
Tapos umaarte ka pa.’
“Sabi niya, ‘Kitang-kita na mabait kang nanay talaga. Siguro
’yung sa asawa, nag-suffer, ‘no?’ Sabi ko kay Direk Joyce,
‘Siguro nga,’” kuwento ni Kris sa usapan nila ni Direk Joyce.
Aminado si Kris na siguro nga, she knows how to be a
mom pero hindi siya marunong maging asawa. Kaya raw siguro
hindi nag-succeed ang marriage nila ng asawang si James
Yap.
“Sinabi ko, ‘I saw my mom, eh. I saw what a mom was.
But I had so few years to see what a wife was,” sabi ni
Kris.
Public knowledge ang history ng Aquino family na
maagang kinuha sa kanila ang tatay ni Kris na si former
by Cesar Pambid
Sen. Ninoy Aquino at kahit noong nabubuhay ay sandal
lang din nila nakasama dahil nakulong ito ng mahabang
panahon. And that time ay bata pa si Tetay.
“So, siguro yun, e. That’s why yung formation sa akin is that, eto, I know how to be a
mom, but I guess I don’t know how to be a partner. Pero siguro, okey na rin yun, kasi my
sons naman adore me,” say pa ng aktres/TV host.
The
Gossipmiller
Kris Aquino
Party… party… with Vice Ganda at Fontana!
GANDA ng buena mano ng Fontana sa taong 2012.
Magkakaroon ng isang malaking piging sa Fontana Hot Spring Leisure Parks sa Clark
Field Freeport Zone sa Enero 7, 2012.
Dubbed “Party… Party… with Vice Ganda at Fontana!” the event is a whole day activity
featuring more than just laughter and comic relief for the entire family.
Dahil napapanahon at sikat na sikat si Vice Ganda, inaakalang magdudulot talaga’ng
presence niya ng malaking kasiyahan para sa publiko.
Bukod sa nakatutuwang palabas sa pangunguna ni Vice, magkakaroon din ng food festival.
Be treated to a wide array of local and international cuisine at the Food Fair to be staged at
the Fontana Casino Parking Area starting at 12:00 noon to 10:00 p.m.
Guests can roam freely at the concert grounds to experience first-hand the wide array of
dishes lined up for complete gastronomic delight.
Bigat, ‘di po ba?
At dahil nga may Vice Ganda, siya po ang main attraction ng event, sa isang show that would
start at 8 pm at the concert grounds.
Vice Ganda has successfully ventured into mainstream showbiz, and even the concert stage
as proven by the success of his Araneta Coliseum concerts: May Nag-text Yung Totoo: Vice
Ganda sa Araneta (May 15, 2010); and Eto Na Vice Ganda: Todong Sample sa Araneta (July
1, 2011).
The fun extends until the wee hours of the morning,
this time at the poolside, with renowned local DJ’s
providing party music accentuated by state-of-theart lighting and visual effects. Aside from the music,
live dancers will be performing everywhere — from
the dance floor, stage, cages, poles—a dazzling
visual and aural pleasure for everyone to see and
experience.
Vice Ganda
Experience complete fun at the Fontana Hot
Spring Leisure Parks on January 7, 2012, and be
treated to a different kind of entertainment.
Fontana Hot Spring Leisure Parks is
located at CM Recto Highway, Clark
Freeport Zone, in Pampanga.
ILANG BESES pinalakpakan ng press at ng ibang nanood sa press screening ang Panday 2 at
lahat ay nagandahan at nag-enjoy sa entry ng Imus Productions at GMA Films sa 2011 Metro
Manila Film Festival.
Kita sa movie kung saan napunta ang P80 million na budget at kitang hindi tinipid ang budget
ng movie.
Ipinagmalaki ni Sen. Bong Revilla na maliban sa 7.1 Dolby sound na ginawa sa Bangkok,
lahat ng may aspetong teknikal ay dito na sa atin ginawa. Ang ganda ng animation, sound at
kabuuan ng movie.
May part 3 ang Panday based sa mga huling eksena sa Panday 2, pero sa 2013 pa para
mapaghandaan nang husto.
Si Lorna Tolentino, bilang si Buruka, ang makakalaban ni Bong, pero sabi ni Phillip Salvador,
kasama pa rin ang karakter niyang si Lizardo.
Inaangkin ni Phillip na si Lizardo ang nakabuntis kay Maria Makiling (Iza Calzado) na kahit
patay na ay lumaki pa rin ang tiyan, bagay na kinontra ni Bong.
Malalaman na lang kung sino
ang ama ng ipinagbubuntis ni Maria sa ugali ng bata paglaki.
Tama ang sabi ni Bong na hindi lang pambata ang Panday 2, pang-all ages.
Boy Abunda King of Talk ng Asya!
MAITUTURING nang ‘Asia’s King of Talk’ ang batikang TV host na si Boy Abunda sa pagkilala kamakailan sa kanyang latenight program na The Bottomline with Boy Abunda bilang Best Talk Show for 2011 ng 16th Asian TV Awards.
Tinalo ng Bottomline ang anim pang kalahok mula sa iba’t ibang bansa sa Asya, kabilang ang Talk Asia ng CNN Hong
Kong at The Euthanasia Debate ng New Delhi Television sa India.
“Lampas pa sa kasiyahan ang naramdaman ko sa pagkapanalong ito. Akala ko nasanay na ako sa pagtanggap ng awards,
pero ito pala ang magpapakaba sa akin. Sa pagkatuliro ko noong awards night, ang tanging naaalala ko na lang na sinabi ko
sa acceptance speech ay inaalay ko ang tropeo sa aking pinakamamahal na bansang Pilipinas.”
Binigyang pugay din ng TV host ang kanyang staff sa show na aniya’y buong pusong pinagsisikapan ang bawat episode na
ipinalalabas. Aniya, “Sa sobrang pinagpaguran, ‘maamoy’ mo ‘yung passion sa ginagawa naming at pagmamahal sa show.”
Ikinuwento pa ni Boy na muntik na siyang hindi dumalo sa awards night dahil bukod sa kawalang kasiguruhang mananalo
laban sa mga bigating pangalan tulad ng CNN, nagdalawang-isip din siyang iwan ang kanyang Nanay Lesing na personal
niyang inaalagan mula nang magkasakit ito ng dementia. “Natatakot akong iwan ang Nanay. Pero nang humingi ako ng permiso
sa kanya at nalaman niya kung saan ako pupunta, hindi niya ako pinigilan,” pagbabahagi ni Boy.
Ang episode na kinatampukan ni Maguindanao Governor Esmael “Toto” Mangundadatu ang ipinadalang entry ng Bottomline
sa Asian TV Awards, na ayon kay Boy ay marahil pinili ng mga hurado dahil sa ‘international appeal’ ng diskusyon na tumalakay
sa isyu ng Maguindanao massacre. Komento ni Boy, “Bago kasi ang atake ng episode, matapang, at mapangahas.”
Ang Asian TV Awards ay taunang parangal na kumikilala sa husay ng mga television show sa Asya.
Huwag palampasin ang Asian TV Awards’ Best Talk Show for 2011, The Bottomline with Boy Abunda, sa Sabado, 11:30 p.m.,
pagkatapos ng Banana Split sa ABS-CBN. Para sa karagdagang updates, mag-log on lamang sa www.abs-cbn.com o sundan
and abscbndotcom sa Twitter.
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • DECEMBER 22 - 25, 2011 • THURSDAY - SUNDAY
Senator Bong Revilla pinalakpakan sa Panday 2
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PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • DECEMBER 22 - 25, 2011 • THURSDAY - SUNDAY