Malacañang urged to clarify policy on blood money

ANTIPOLO City, Sept. 10, 2011—Migrante-Middle East urged Malacañang to disclose its policy on blood money (diyya) as part of the efforts of saving the lives of Filipino workers in death row.

Migrante-ME regional coordinator John Monterona said, it has been two months since the Palace had created a technical working group to study the policy about giving out diyya but until now, there are no reports being publicized.

Monterona recalls that it was on July 20th when the President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III had had a meeting with the officials of the departments of Foreign Affairs, Justice, Budget and Management, and the Office of Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs to discuss the matter of giving diyya in order for the family of the offended person to withdraw the case against the offending OFW.

“It was Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, on July 21st, who had announced the formation of the said technical working group. We believe it is time to hear from the Malacañang-formed TWG about the policy proposals in regards to finding sources for the blood money of OFWs on death row,” Monterona said.

It was Dondon Lanuza who had been consistently appealing to raise blood money for his release. Lanuza, who accidentally killed a Saudi national out of self-defense, was in Dammam Central Jail since year 2000.

The family of the offended party, based on reports gathered by Migrante, is willing to issue an affidavit of desistance if Lanuza can give a diyya worth some thousands of US dollars.

“Mrs. Rowena Lanuza, Dondon’s mother, sought our assistance to help her arrange a meeting with Vice President Jejomar Binay, also presidential adviser on OFWs concerns,” Monterona said.

“She is to arrive mid-September from the United States to personally appeal to Vice President Binay and to the officials of agencies concerned about the diyya,” the migrant leader added. (Noel Sales Barcelona/CBCPNews)

Legarda outrages the abduction of Agta-Dumagat in Quezon province

MANILA, September 9, 2011-In the recent abduction of a member of Agta-Dumagat community in Burdeos, Quezon, Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities said that there is a pressing need to strengthen the protection of indigenous cultural communities in the country, outraging the incident that should not happen.

Last August 23, Rogemer Morada was reported abducted from his house by armed men and his relatives sought the help of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).

“As shown in this incident, protection and security are among the concerns of our indigenous brothers and sisters. The government must address this concern along with the other needs of our indigenous people such as access to basic services and the preservation of their culture and tradition,” she said.

The Senator said that these issues will be discussed at the Luzon Indigenous Peoples’ Assembly that will be held today until tomorrow, September 10, 2011, in Baguio City.

Legarda stressed that there is a pressing need to strengthen the voices of our IP leaders so that they may raise the concerns of their communities. This regional assembly and the first National Indigenous Cultural Summit will serve as venues for dialogue between our ICCs and the country’s policy-makers.

Legarda said that their unique situation and needs should be important parts of public discourse and through this regional assembly, there is a need to ensure that our IPs will be given appropriate attention by the government through policies and programs responsive to their needs.

Luzon IP groups to participate in the assembly today are the Isneg, Bago, Tingguian, Kankanaey, Iwak, Ibatan, Agta, Itawes, Tuwali, Gaddang, Bugkalot, Ayangan, Tiblac, Ivatan and the Dumagat. (Jason de Asis)

P15-M for Nueva Ecija disaster mitigation release by Spanish government

Nueva Ecija DILG provincial director Abraham Pascua.

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, September 9, 2011-Dr. Abraham Pascua, provincial director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and co-chairman of the Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) said that the Spanish government has released P15 million for disaster mitigation programs in a city and four (4) other municipalities in this province which has been hailed as a model of effective disaster risk reduction and management.

Pascua said that the amount was extended to the local government units (LGU) of San Jose City and the towns of Carranglan, Llanera, Rizal and Pantabangan.

Carranglan is a known landslide-prone area while nine of Pantabangan’s barangays have been identified as flood-prone. Roughly one-third of the barangays in San Jose are also identified as high-risk areas for floods.

Pascua said that the assistance forms part of the 3.4 million euros (P203.2 million) worth of grant pledged by the Spanish Cooperation Agency for Development (AECID) to the provincial government to further strengthen its capability to respond to disaster and calamity situations and implement rehabilitation programs. 

The grant, the first of its kind involving disaster risk reduction, was negotiated by Governor Aurelio Umali from the AECID to help rehabilitate and rebuild communities affected by supertyphoon “Pepeng” in 2009.

AECID has entered into a project partnership agreement with the Local Government Academy an attached agency of the DILG to strengthen local governments' disaster preparedness and response. The grant will be used to fund the training component, infrastructure and livelihood components of the program in the five (5) LGUs to make them responsive to disasters.

“The grant aid is a fitting recognition of the emergence of the province as a role model in disaster management and risk reduction with its participatory approach and systematic handling of irrigation systems,” Pascua said.

Umali, who also sits as PDRRMC chairman, cited that during typhoon “Ondoy,” the province suffered zero casualty because the National Irrigation Administration’s Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems (NIA-UPRIIS) released water from Pantabangan Dam several days before the typhoon came.

The PDRRMC also formulated a comprehensive disaster risk reduction contingency plan involving the pre-positioning of evacuation centers and relief goods in disaster-hit areas.

PDRRMC has five (5) strategically located command posts and four (4) advanced command posts where personnel, heavy equipment, medicines and goods are deployed and stockpiled in advance in anticipation of a forthcoming typhoon. (Jason de Asis)

NIA execs welcome house probe on alleged P6.2B ghost irrigation projects

MANILA, September 8, 2011-National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Administrator Antonio Nangel yesterday categorically denied accusations of alleged “ghost” irrigation projects in the country and said they are open to a congressional inquiry to shed light on the said issues.

“Critics’ accusations of alleged non-existent irrigation projects are at best unfounded as I welcomed an investigation into the supposed anomalous projects, particularly those in Mindanao,” Nangel said.

“With all due respect to our critics, we in NIA are transparent and we are open to any investigation. Our projects are aboveboard and can be considered as tuwid na proyektong patubig (straight irrigation projects) in line with the tuwid na daan (straight path) development agenda of President Aquino,” Nangel added.

Nangel was reacting to earlier published reports that irregularities were committed in certain irrigation projects, more specifically the Malitubog-Maridagao (Mal-Mar) Irrigation Project in Northern Cotabato and Maguindanao.

The whole project which started in 1989 after several delays is designed to irrigate 19,601 hectares of agricultural lands in the five (5) towns in Central Mindanao covering the provinces of North Cotabato, Region 12, Maguindanao and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. It is also intended to increase rice production and household income and the living conditions in strife-torn areas in the island and benefit 6,312 farmers in 56 barangays.

Phase 2, which will be completed in five years, will be funded at a cost of P6.148 billion of which P4.656 billion will be sourced from loans from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the rest through government counterpart funding.

NIA has been asking for state funding for Phase 2 when it allegedly could not adequately explain how it spent the P405 million for Phase 1 according to news report.

The alleged anomalies prompted Party-list Representative Raymund Mendoza of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), Angelo Palmones of Agham and North Cotabato Reps. Jesus Sacdalan and Nancy Catamco to file House Resolution 1641 calling the House committee in agriculture to conduct an investigation into the project.

Palmones said that with the P6.2 billion for Phase 2 covering 6,117 hectares, this would cost taxpayers a whopping P1 million per hectare to irrigate.

Nangel said allegations of corruption in the project have no factual or legal basis, saying an advisory group which serves as oversight committee has been strictly monitoring it. The group is chaired by North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Talino-Mendoza and Maguindanao Governor Ismael Mangudadatu.

Nangel said claims of “ghost projects” for Phase 2 in the lower Malitubog area have no leg to stand on since several small projects covering this particular phase are now on-going among them construction of the intake, canal lining and road at the Nalapaan main canal, rehabilitation and construction of intake structure at the Chrislan Dam and construction of main diversion canal.

“There are no ghost projects to speak of because in the first place, we have on-going projects which are also being strictly monitored by our advisory group, project manager and fieldmen,” Nangel said.

Nangel said he himself could vouch for the project’s integrity because he has been conducting ocular inspections, the latest of which was only late last month. “For this reason, I would like to invite congressmen to the project site for an ocular inspection,” he said.

He said while waiting for the release of the foreign loans, NIA utilized the initial P200 million in available government funding to jump-start Phase 2 which has already been approved by the Board of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA).   

Nangel said that even sans foreign funding, they were already able to generate new areas, including 7,173 for Phase 1 while for Phase 2, they expect to irrigate 1,060 hectares within the year.

“We in NIA are pro-active. We don’t wait for foreign funding to arrive before we act. While waiting for the foreign funds to come in, we do our end of the bargain,” he said.     

Engineer Noldin Oyod, Mal-Mar project manager said that with regards to the P100 million earmarked for Phase 1 of the project, this is now being utilized for civil works such as construction of canal lining and drainage facilities and access road to the project site. This particular portion, located in the Upper Malitubog area covers 1,611 hectares.   

He said the remaining P305 million - which will be spent for improvement and rehabilitation of existing structures - has just been released to the NIA regional irrigation office in the Maridagao area under irrigation manager Cesar Solaic.

Noyod said the cost of irrigation for Phase 2 would not reach P1 million per hectare contrary to the claims of Palmones since the P6.2 billion has a social component and will also cover institutional development, farmers’ training, land acquisition among others.

“The allegations of corruption regarding the project are nothing new and were actually a rehash of old charges. I recalled that back in 2003, the House of Representatives conducted an investigation into “certain anomalies” in the project but nothing has been established,” Noyod said. 

He said that these corruption allegations even reached the Office of the Ombudsman but they were subsequently dismissed. (Jason de Asis)

CMN News Online Erratum

September 8, 2011

ERRATUM

Relative to the blog posted by the Catholic Media Network News Online Administration dated August 29, 2011 regarding http://jasondeasis.blogspot.com/2011/08/anti-crime-watchdog-in-aurora-founded.html in connection to the existence of the BANTAHAYAN, corrections are hereby rectified as follows:

1. The BANTAHAYAN is not organized to address criminal rampage nor the front runner in combating criminality in Aurora; but rather a mere organization whose main interest of every member is to safeguard and provide security to their own families;

2. The posting of the picture of Attorney Sharon Teh Yllanan and her son is irrelevant to the organization’s purpose; hence, the said picture and all other accompanying pictures were deleted.

In view thereof, apology is due to all the personnel concern who were unwillingly maligned by the article. (Jason de Asis)

Incinerators needed to address garbage problem-Trillanes

MANILA, September 7, 2011-In order to address the worsening problem of waste disposal in the country, Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV pushes for the amendment of the Clean Air Act to allow the use of incinerators.

In light of the “trashslide” set off by heavy rains in Baguio City that killed six (6) people and buried homes below the mountain of garbage in Irisan dumpsite last month, Trillanes filed Senate Bill No. 225 to revise the law signed in 1999 where he said that waste management has become an issue and has posed serious problems in the country.

“This means that waste must be properly disposed in manner that it will not become a significant environmental burden,” Trillanes said, saying that one way of dealing with the perennial trash woes is to allow the operation of incinerators in the country as he noted that existing technology has made it safer while at the same time produce the much needed electric power.

Trillanes admitted that although there are serious environmental concerns about incineration, advances in emission control designs, along with strict standards and monitoring system have caused large reduction of pollution in the atmosphere.

The young legislator cited Japan where experts have made headway in emission control designs, and coupled with very stringent governmental regulations have substantially cut down the amount of dioxins and furans emissions using the technology.

“This is suitable for use in the country since it is difficult to secure final disposal sites due to our becoming limited land space. It is estimated that when incinerated, waste shall be reduced to approximately one-tenth of its weight and one-twentieth of its volume,” he pointed out.

He said that this is an opportune time to repeal Section 20 of the Clean Air Act (Republic Act 8749) and tap incinerators as a viable waste disposal method and promote it to generate power under the waste-to-energy (WTE) technology, adding that the technology provides for the safe disposal of waste without harmful emissions to the atmosphere, and at the same time, offers maximum benefits from the recovery of the valuable contents of the wastes from the cities. (Jason de Asis)

Aurora uphold as Central Luzon’s most peaceful province

BALER, Aurora, September 7, 2011-This province has retained its status as the most peaceful province with the lowest crime incidence in Central Luzon in 2011 despite the crime waves in thefts and robberies in the provincial capital town.

Aurora province registered 991 crimes from January to July based in the crime statistics from the Philippine National Police Regional Office 3 based in Camp Olivas, Pampanga.

Over the period, crime volume represents only four percent of the 24,401 crime incidents recorded in the entire region.

Stats showed that the province of Bulacan has the highest crime incidence with 9,647 followed by Pampanga with 3,305, Nueva Ecija (2,498), Bataan (2,185), Zambales (1,566) and Tarlac (1,131).

Senior Superintendent Oscar Albayalde, regional intelligence chief said that the 24,401 crimes are lower by 25.77 percent compared to the 32,870 crimes listed over the same period last year.

Albayalde said of these crimes, 13,674 or 56.04 percent index crimes such as theft, physical injuries, robbery, carnapping, rape, murder and homicide while the remaining 10,727 (43.96 percent) are non-index crimes.

He said that 3,395 or 13.91 percent of these crimes are considered “solved” where the suspects have been arrested and charged in court while 5,207 or 21.37 percent are considered “cleared” where cases have been filed but the suspects are at large. 

Albayade attributed the dip in regional crime incidence to intensified police visibility in the streets and the conduct of massive simultaneous checkpoint operations targeting motorcycle-riding criminals.

Albayade said that the regional PNP, led by Chief Superintendent Edgardo Ladao also launched “I-Text Mo, Aksyonan Ko (Text and I will Act)” giving citizens a chance to report crime incidents in their locality through text messaging and the “Wanted Ka, Huli Ka! (You’re Wanted, You’re Caught)” website providing information on most wanted criminals in the region.

Governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo lauded the PNP crime report. She said that we should be proud of the report, adding that the province was adjudged as the best performing local government unit (LGU) in the region and the 48^th Infantry “Guardians” Battalion was adjudged best battalion by the 7^th Infantry “Kaugnay” Division recently. (Jason de Asis)

Senators pass foster care act of 2010

MANILA, September 6, 2011-The Senators’ unanimously approved on third and final reading Senate Bill No. 2486 otherwise known as the “Foster Care Act of 2010,” which aims to establish a system that will promote foster care for homeless children by giving foster parents and donor agencies tax incentives.

The authors of the bill were Senate Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada and Senator Pia Cayetano. The bill that seeks to institutionalizes foster care as a primary child care program for abused, abandoned and neglected children in the country.

            

Senators Manuel Villar, Fancis Pangilinan, Ralph Recto,Franklin Drilon, Chiz Escudero, Manuel Lapid, Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. and Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III were the co-authors of the bill.

The bill defines “foster care” as the provision of planned temporary substitute parental care to a child. A person must be of legal age and must meet a set of qualifications to prove that he/she is of good moral character and capable of providing for the needs of the foster child to qualify as a foster parent.

Cayetano advised that the government should give attention and consideration to foster care as a preferred way of caring for homeless children as opposed to the current practice of placing them in institutions, such as orphanages and youth centers. 

She said that there are not enough institutions to attend to the needs of abandoned and neglected Filipino children, not to mention the fact that these institutions cannot give the warmth and affection that a family could provide.

“Studies show that foster care creates a better living environment and develops better individuals as opposed to institutional care. Through foster care, children are given more attention and care in a home setting, thus providing them with more opportunities for normal, mental, spiritual, emotional and physical growth,” Cayetano said.

Estrada said that once the bill is enacted into law the government will provide assistance and tax incentives to foster parents, child caring agencies and donor institutions. Under the bill, foster parents will be provided with medical insurance through the Philippine Health Insurance (PhilHealth) if they are non-members at the time of foster care. They will also be provided with counseling, training on child care and development, skills training and livelihood assistance.

Estrada said that the bill provides that foster parents will be entitled to personal tax exemption and additional exemptions for dependents. The Department of Welfare and Development (DWSD) will also provide the foster child with a monthly support subsidy.

Under the provision of Section 30 of the Tax Code of the Philippines, article VI, Section 19 of the bill exempts non-government organizations accredited by the DWSD from paying income tax on the income derived by it as an organization

Likewise, donors will be exempted from donor’s tax under Article VI, Section 20 of the bill, provided that not more than 30 % of the amount of donations will be spent for administrative expenses.

The bill provides that while the local government units will primarily be responsible for foster care programs under the Local Government Code, the national government will provide financial support for the foster care programs. It will allocate P25 million for the first year of its operation, giving priority to third, fourth and fifth class municipalities.

To protect children from being exploited from their foster parent or parents, the measure also seeks to impose stiff penalties to violators. Article VII of Section 21 of the bill provides that any foster parent found to have committed any act of neglect, abuse, cruelty or exploitation and other similar acts shall be penalized in accordance with Republic Act No. 7610, otherwise known as “An Act Providing for Stronger Deterrence and Special Protection Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination.”  The violator can also be charged under the other laws applicable to child abuse.

The same provision penalizes violating agencies with a P25,000 fine but not exceeding P50,000 for the first offense;  a not less than P50,000 fine but not exceeding P100,000 and cancellation of their license to operate for subsequent violations and/or imprisonment of one to six months.

The DSWD said that about 10,815 children were placed in institutional care in 42 of its facilities last 2009 annual report. The number represents children who were abandoned, neglected, abused or survivors of conflicts. The DSWD reported helping 42,672 cases of children who are in need of special protection in the same year. (Jason de Asis)

CBCP Youth Commission launches national tree planting day

MANILA, September 5, 2011―The Episcopal Commission on Youth of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines will launch the National Tree Planting day—a project for the celebration of the CBCP Year of the Youth—on September 8.

A total of 49,920 seedlings will be planted simultaneously throughout the country by representatives from various dioceses, religious organizations and government agency.

Participating in the national tree-planting campaign are the Archdioceses of Jaro and Cagayan de Oro; Dioceses of Balanga, San Jose, Nueva Ecija, Bangued, Borongan, Laoag, Iligan, Urdaneta, Surigao, Malaybalay and Cabanatuan; Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, a parish in Danao City, Cebu, and the organizations CFC-Singles for Christ (SFC) and the National Youth Commission (NYC)

Fr. Alfredo Albor, Director of Care Foundation, stressed that this kind of activity helps our Mother Earth rebuild what is lost from her.

“Naniniwala tayo sa yugto ng seryosong pagkalinga sa buhay ng likha, being threaten by destructive humans such as mining, logging and global environmental crisis. [Perhaps] 200 years from now, wala nang tao na naglalakad sa mundong ito kasi wala na tayong napagkukunan ng shade, wala nang mga puno,” Albor said.

Albor added that the challenge of the church as the bearers of the faith, which is mandated for creation, is also to care for the flock of Jesus Christ.

“Jesus said to Peter, Peter, do you care for me? Peter answered, ‘Yes Jesus.’ ‘Care for my flock,’ Jesus said. What Jesus wanted to tell Peter was to care not just [for] human life but also for the environment because if you will destroy the environment, you will also destroy human life,” Albor further said.

He challenged the youth to expand their concerns, not just the issue of RH bill, but also to care for life of the environment.

“We must continue to nurture the seedlings that we planted, the protection of life that God created,” Albor said.

Care Foundation is ECY’s partner for the tree-planting activity.

Meanwhile, the Commission on Youth has tapped the collaboration of the Department of Education (DepEd) together with the office of the President for the declaration of Sept. 8 as a National Tree Planting day but due to some reasons, both agencies remained silent on the matter.

Though supportive of the Commission’s tree-planting activity, DepEd said it cannot declared the event as such for they have a continuous tie-up project with the DENR that also serves the purpose of what the commission on youth is aiming.

But in its letter to ECY, DepEd stated that if CBCP will declare Sept. 8 as NTPD, they will mobilize grades 5 and 6 pupils and secondary students to plant trees on the said date.

ECY executive secretary Fr. Conegundo Garganta however, said the CBCP has already discussed the activity in its latest Pastoral Letter.

He said the government agencies will only have to quote the said activity and make a circular statement because it is already recognized by CBCP.

The tree planting activities in the diocesan, parishes, organizations and catholic school levels has been operational since January.

The 1 million trees project of the commission will be a whole year round activity and will end on January 2012. But the planted trees will be continuously taken care of by the people who have planted it. (Jandel Posion)

Trillanes bats reform in AFP promotion system

MANILA, September 5, 2011-To avoid politicking in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) appointment or promotion, Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV bats to strengthen the promotion system within the AFP by exempting lower-ranking officers from confirmation by the Commission on Appointments (COA) in concurrent resolution No. 9 which he filed at the senate.

Trillanes wants to amend Section 16, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution to allow the AFP and the Department of National Defense (DND) to have supervision and discretion over the appointment or promotion of military officers from colonel or naval captain and up except those of the service chiefs of the Army, Air Force and the Navy and the Chief of Staff of the AFP.

The President shall nominate, and with the consent of the Commission on Appointments, shall appoint the heads of the executive departments, ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, or officers of the armed forces from the rank of captain or naval captain, and other officers whose appointments are vested in him in the Constitution under the 1987 Charter.

“The AFP and the DND can more than adequately screen the fitness and qualifications of lower ranking officers for such appointment or promotion,” Trillanes said.

The former Navy officer explained that the practice of confirmation by the COA from the rank of colonel or naval captain has unfortunately led to the political polarization of the AFP. Military officers up for appointment or promotion are being forced to play politics and kowtow to the desires and wishes of politicians in order to ensure that their appointments or promotions shall not be unduly blocked, regardless of the merits of such appointments or promotions, adding that this requirement is adversely affecting the promotion system in the AFP, which is supposed to be based principally on merit, fitness and qualifications instead of political connections.

The confirmation of the service chief’s of the Army, Air Force and Navy and the position of chief of staff of the AFP shall remain under the CA under the bill.

He added that needless to state, the Office of the President and the promotions board of the AFP and the DND are more than qualified and equipped to screen, vet and decide who among the officers of the AFP are qualified for appointment or promotion; thus, the requirement of compelling all officers of the AFP from the rank of colonel or naval captain to undergo the confirmation process is clearly superfluous.

Trillanes said that he pursue reforms for the welfare of men and women in uniform of the AFP. (Jason de Asis)

Forum to address dangers of internet on children

MANILA, Sept. 4, 2011—The Pro-life Philippines Foundation will hold a forum to address the dangers of unregulated exposure to the internet on children.

The forum seeks to educate the public on the upshots of a developing tech savvy culture in the country.

With their easy access to the internet, children become exposed to questionable values peddled online and child predators lurking in cyberspace.

Titled “Crimes against Children and Online Safety”, the forum will have Mr. Daniel Wartenweiler, Director of Onesimo Bulilit Foundation, Inc. as resource speaker. His talk will dwell mainly on how to keep children safe on the internet.

The seminar targets to reach parents, guardians, teachers, catechists, Church and lay leaders, social workers, counsellors/life coaches, youth group advisers and others who have direct contact with children and youth in their line of work.

Slated on September 24, the forum will be from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon at the St. Joseph Retreat House in Bustillos, Sampaloc.

A registration of P300 will be asked from participants. The fee will cover one seminar kit, one snack and a certificate of participation signed by organizers.

Anyone interested may call up for additional information 733-7027; 734-9425, text through mobile# 0919-2337783; or email life@prolife.org.ph. (CBCPNews)

Vigan celebrates election of Benedictine Nuns’ 5th Abbess

VIGAN City, Sept. 4, 2011—The Benedictine Nuns of the Eucharistic King (BNEK), together with the faithful of Vigan, celebrated the abbatial blessing of Very. Rev. Mo. Abbess Maria Cielo Cortez, OSB at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Abbey, on August 30.

Adorned with simplicity, the rare occasion of abbatial blessing was headed by Nueva Segovia Archbishop Ernesto A. Salgado, who is known to be an oblate of said monastery, with newly ordained Bishop David William V. Antonio and Lingayen-Dagupan Auxiliary Bishop Renato P. Mayugba, in the presence of San Beda Abbot Tarcisius Narciso, OSB. A number of priests close to the nuns concelebrated the Eucharistic celebration.

The Gospel reading of the blessing centered with the passage of the Good Shepherd. Archbishop Salgado reminded the community and especially Mother Abbess that, “Jesus the Good Shepherd leads His flock to green pastures. Jesus care for them. The Abbess of the community provides for the needs of her sisters especially in their spiritual food by her caring words and examples.”

Archbishop Salgado stressed to Mother Cielo that being an Abbess places her in the authority of her community and that this authority means serving her sisters.

Mother Cielo then received the Rule of Saint Benedict as her guide in her monastic duty, the ring which serves as a bond to her commitment, and the shepherd’s staff which symbolizes her pastoral duties to her community.

Mother Cielo hails from the Diocese of Legazpi and was born on July 23, 1954 at Guinobatan, Albay. She was christened with the name Elizabeth by her late parents, Thomas Cortez and Elizabeth Averilla.

Before entering the monastery, she studied Psychology and worked in different well-known companies in Metro Manila. On May 23, 1993 after a period of intense discernment, she entered the Immaculate Heart of Mary Abbey (IHMA) in Vigan, to become a member of the BNEK.

She professed her final religious vows on May 4, 2002 and was assigned to Rosa Mystica Cella house in Nalseb, Tublay, Benguet, which serves as the nearest chapel for the people of that mountainous terrain. She was later sent to Rome to take monastic formators studies.

On July 23, 2011, at her 57th birthday and her 18th year as a nun, she was elected by her own community as the 5th BNEK Abbess succeeding Rev. Mo. Celeste Nidea, OSB, who retired from her 12 years of service as abbess of the community.

The Benedictine of the Eucharistic King (BEK), composed of nuns and active sisters, was founded on April 2, 1929, by the late Rev. Mo. Edeltraud Danner, OSB, the first abbess who was originally a Benedictine Missionary Sister of Tutzing, with the acceptance of then Nueva Segovia Bishop Santiago Sancho in his own diocese.

It was in Baguio where the foundation was made public and stayed there until 1933 when Mountain Province and Baguio was separated from Nueva Segovia. The whole community was transferred to Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur in 1944 until once more on May 30, 1947 it was transferred to its present location in Vigan because of the growing community.

On May 18, 1986, the BEK was finally divided into two BNEK for the nuns and the Benedictine Sisters of the Eucharistic King (BSEK) for the active sisters having been granted autonomy by the Holy See to form their own congregation.

There are now four BNEK monasteries in the world – IHMA in Vigan; Abtei Maria Frieden in Kirchschletten, Germany; Our Lady of Peace Monastery in Digos, Davao del Sur; and Our Lady of Divine Providence Monastery in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro. The IHMA serves as the mother house of the congregation where the three others were founded.

The predecessors of Mo. Cielo are late Rev. Mo. Edeltraud Danner, OSB (1950-1973); late Mo. Rosemarie Enriquez, OSB, the first Filipina abbess (1973-1993); Mo. Ehrentrudis Fernandez, who is now in Calapan (1993-1999); and Mo. Celeste Nidea, who stays in Vigan (1999-2011). (Mark Vertido)

The untold story of ‘Unang Sigaw ng Nueva Ecija’

CABIAO, Nueva Ecija, September 4, 2011-A local historian here Friday revealed that Novo Ecijano revolutionaries led by General Mariano Llanera conspired with the parish priest of this town in launching the historic “Unang Sigaw ng Nueva Ecija” 115 years ago which led to the conquest of the Spanish garrison in nearby San Isidro town.

Historian Jose Hipolito Jr. said that unknown to many, Llanera met secretly with revolutionary leaders from Arayat and Bacoor, Pampanga in the compound of Don Andres Romero and plotted the revolt in the eve of September 1, 1896.

Among those present in the meeting called by Llanera were Don Mariano Alejandrino of Arayat, former kapitan municipal Alipio Tecson, Silvino Sagcal, kapitan municipal Pantaleon Valmonte and Romero.

Hipolito said that the planned revolt had the blessings of parish priest Monsignor Saturnino Parungao.

“Before Llanera’s group marched to San Isidro, they even went to the St. John Nepomucene Church in Cabiao to hear Mass,” he said.

He said Llanera’s group proceeded to San Isidro at around 3 in the morning of September 2 and upon reaching the boundary of the two towns, started playing the musical instruments signaling the assault.

Hipolito narrated the “conspiracy” during the commemorative rites presided by local officials led by Mayor Gloria Congco at the municipal compound here Friday.

Hipolito earlier pointed out certain “historical errors” about the revolution, prompting Malacanang to call the attention of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) to look into them to put the “Unang Sigaw” in its proper perspective.

Secretary Herminio Coloma of the Presidential Communications and Operations Office (PCOO) said 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.

Hipolito said one of these errors include accounts that up to 3,000 revolutionaries from this town marched towards San Isidro with the use of a “musikang bumbong,” saying only 753 revolutionaries laid siege in San Isidro and they marched there accompanied not by “musikang bumbong” but by a brass band.

Aside from the glaring historical inaccuracies, Congco also questioned why 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 event marked the day when Llanera and 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.

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 province that revolted against the Spaniards.

“This revolutionary conspiracy was the untold story in this town,” Hipolito said. (Jason de Asis)

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)