Health secretary warned bird-watchers to beware of bird-flu

CABIAO, Nueva Ecija, September 3, 2011-Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Enrique Ona yesterday warned bird-watchers at the Candaba Swamp to take extra precautions of the bird-flu virus.

Ona, represented executive secretary Pacquito Ochoa Jr. was here as guest speaker during the 115^th anniversary celebration of the “Unang Sigaw ng Nueva Ecija” at the municipal compound said that he was not telling bird-watchers to shy away from the Candaba Swamp but to be extra careful.

He clarified that the quarantine procedure was not an exemption for President Aquino and his entourage. He said there was no such quarantine procedure. “Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit lumabas ‘yon (I don’t know why it came out in the papers)?” he said, referring to newspaper reports that the Chief Executive does not have to be placed in quarantine when he returns from his state visit to China.

Prior to this, the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Ogranization (FAO) warned the people that a mutant strain of bird flu was found in some poultry farms in northern and central Vietnam. Even the FAO also urged heightened readiness and surveillance against a possible major resurgence of the H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza. (Jason de Asis)

Palace calls to rectify historical flaws on ‘Unang Sigaw ng Nueva Ecija’

CABIAO, Nueva Ecija, September 3, 2011-To set the heroism of General Mariano Llanera and other revolutionaries in its proper perspective,  Malacanang yesterday bats the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) to look into several “historical errors” about events involving the “Unang Sigaw ng Nueva Ecija”.

“The NHCP led by its executive director Ludovico Badoy should conduct a thorough research on the historic event and make facts and figures “accurate” and “realistic” to give justice to its heroes,” said Secretary Herminio Coloma of the Presidential Communications and Operations Office (PCOO).

At the sidelines of the 115th anniversary of the revolution at the municipal compound here yesterday noon, Coloma said that there is a pressing need to rectify historical errors because facts and figures are significant in such a historic event as the Unang Sigaw ng Nueva Ecija.

Coloma together with PCOO Undersecretary Jose Mari Oquinena, Philippine Coast Guard commandant, Admiral Ramon Liwag and Director Maria Montelibano among others were welcomed here by Congco, Vice Mayor Ernesto Talens Jr. and 88-year-old Aurora Llanera-Adriano, daughter of the late general.

Coloma reacted to the remarks made by local historians that historical documents and accounts of the “Unang Sigaw ng Nueva Ecija” were full of glaring errors and inaccuracies.

“One of these errors included the accounts that up to 3,000 revolutionaries from this town marched towards San Isidro with the use of a “musikang bumbong” where they assaulted the Spanish garrison in the afternoon of September 2, 1896,” local historian Jose Hipolito said.

He said that it is fatally wrong. The fact is only 753 revolutionaries laid siege in San Isidro and they marched there accompanied not by “musikang bumbong” but by a brass band.

“The 3,000 supposed revolutionaries were too bloated a number and would clearly constitute an overkill on the part of Llanera’s group since they were up against only 100 Spanish soldiers,” Hipolito said.

Hipolito revealed that he knew of no one who conducted a realistic and in-depth research about the revolution and its heroes. “I was the only one who went to the National Archives to conduct my own research,” he said.

Aside from the glaring historical inaccuracies, Mayor Gloria Crespo-Congco also questioned that the center of celebrations for the annual event is often held in the provincial capital Palayan City and not in this town. She said she had nothing against holding festivities in other towns to commemorate the event for Novo Ecijanos to appreciate history but said Cabiao’s role should be given utmost importance.     

The 69-year-old head of the marching band that stormed the Spanish garrison in San Isidro also said Cabiao should be given recognition as the rightful venue for anniversary rites.

Raul Nogoy, Banda, ’96 leader said San Isidro (then known as Factoria) cannot be considered as the center of the celebrations neither because this was where the Spaniards held Fort.

Yesterday, Governor Aurelio Umali and Vice Governor Jose Gay Padiernos led similar anniversary rites at the Nueva Ecija Convention Center in the provincial capital.

Vice Gov. Gay Padiernos in an interview during the
celebration of "Unang Sigaw sa Nueva Ecija".

Congco said it is only fitting that organizers consider Cabiao as the center of celebrations because General Llanera was from here, adding that the great revolutionary leader hailed from Barangay San Roque.

The event marked the day when Llanera and General Pantaleon Valmonte led home-grown revolutionaries, armed only with 100 guns, bolos and pointed sticks in assaulting the Spanish garrison in San Isidro on September 2, 1896, two days after the “Unang Sigaw ng Balintawak.”

Waving black and red flag, the revolutionaries caught the Spanish guardia civil by surprise.

The province earned its place in the Philippine flag as one of the eight (8) rays of the sun, each ray representing the province that revolted against the Spaniards as its role in the revolution. (Jason de Asis)

“Unang Sigaw ng Nueva Ecija” rites should rightfully be held in Cabiao

CABIAO, Nueva Ecija, September 2, 2011-Local officials have insisted that the center of celebrations for the annual “Unang Sigaw ng Nueva Ecija” (First Cry of Nueva Ecija) should be in this town and not in Palayan City.

Instead of Palayan, Mayor Gloria Crespo-Congco told newsmen that organizers should give justice to the heroism of General Mariano Llanera by considering Cabiao as the center of celebrations.

“Cabiao should really be the center of the celebrations because General Llanera was from here,” Congco said, adding that the great revolutionary leader hailed from Barangay San Roque.

Congco came out with her remarks even as local officials will observe the 115^th anniversary of the revolution at the Nueva Ecija Convention Center in Palayan City today.

The event marked the day when Llanera led home-grown revolutionaries in assaulting the Spanish garrison in San Isidro and freed hundreds of Katipuneros on September 2, 1896. For its role in the revolution, the province earned its place in the Philippine flag as one of the eight rays of the sun, each ray representing the provinces that revolted against the Spaniards.

Congco said that she had nothing against holding festivities in other towns to commemorate the event for Novo Ecijanos to appreciate history but said Cabiao’s role should be given utmost importance.     

The 66-year-old head of the marching band that stormed the Spanish garrison in nearby San Isidro town also said Cabiao should be given recognition as the rightful venue for anniversary rites.

Raul Nogoy, Banda, ’96 leader said the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) should set the record straight on the revolution. He said San Isidro (then known as Factoria) can not be considered as the center of the celebrations neither because this was where the Spaniards held fort.

“Don nagkuta ang mga kaaway so bakit doon (It was there where the enemy sought refuge so why hold it there),” he said.

The holding of the celebrations in Palayan has also come under fire from historians who said Novo Ecijanos seem to have lost their sense of history.

Noted historian Jose Hipolito Jr., the municipal planning and development coordinator, said Llanera and his fellow “coup plotters” met in the house of the Romeros here where they plotted the revolt. He said the Romeros were the ancestors of Nueva Ecija Governor Aurelio Umali.

Former municipal engineer Dante dela Cruz said since he was a kid, Cabiao has been commemorating the event yearly, unlike San Isidro which started observing the event only recently. He said Cabiao always plays a significant role in revolutions, citing the Hukbalahaps (Hukbo ng Bayan laban sa Hapon), one of whose leaders, Jesus Lava, was from Barangay Sinipit.

Local historical accounts said that when the Spaniards first laid siege in Manila, remnants of the forces of Rajah Sulayman sought refuge in this town. (Jason de Asis)

Mati’s media practitioners given media formation sessions

MATI, Davao Oriental, Sept. 2, 2011―Mati’s diocesan radio stations DXHM-AM and DXDV-97.5 Spirit FM have recently organized media formation sessions for its personnel, following the vision of its founder-director, Most Rev. Bishop Patricio H. Alo, D.D.

DXHM-AM, Heart of Mary station, now known as Radyo Totoo of the Catholic Media Network, has been giving media formation sessions to its workforce as its policy since its beginning 20 years ago.

The stations have expanded its vision of media formation this year by inviting outside media practitioners in order to deepen and strengthen their commitment to truth and human/Christian values amidst a divided, materialistic and violent world.

The media formation also aimed to improve one’s personal talents and technical know-how in the field of media, as well as to learn from one another’s experience and sharing as media practitioner.

Forty media practitioners composed of radio programmers, newscasters, reporters, block timers of both religious and secular programs, television servicemen, multi-media/internet specialists & technicians, office personnel, and interested students from the secondary and collegiate levels attended the media formation.

The diverse composition furthered the sense of unity, of “serving together as co-journeyers motivated to pray, act, and share our giftedness so that the media of social communications may bring the Gospel to all nations…as instruments of telling the truth and not in any way to injure others through word or deed,” so expressed the prayer purposely composed for Mass Media workers by the Program Dept. personnel.

Each participant was given opportunity to talk about his/her program during the session.

Professor Lillibeth Galvez, resource speaker from the Devcom Dept. of the Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology gave tips for professional performance improvement while station Program Directress Sr. Marietta Alo, OND facilitated spontaneous reactions and suggestions towards mutual acquaintance, support, and promotion, bringing out the best of each program.

Fr. Roland Sayman shed light on the Vatican II document on social communications, Inter Mirifica, as well as underlining the use of digital technologies in the Service of the Word, as written in various World Communications Day messages of our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI. .

In his inspirational message, Bishop Alo stressed the goal of evangelization, saying, “our prime interest has been to proclaim the truth in all sincerity and fidelity since that was the last instruction of Jesus which we read in St. Mark’s gospel chapter 16 verse 16: ‘Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; he who does not believe will be condemned.’”

The bishop further explained that for success in the media apostolate—radio, TV and print—“it is important that deep in the heart we want only to communicate that which is true, good and beneficial to humanity without the vested interests or hidden agenda…to let the saving truths of Jesus reach as many as possible, living by truth and in love as St. Paul says in his letter to the Ephesians 4:15.” (Sr. Marietta Alo, OND)