US-based Filipino clergy to hold musical concert

NEW YORK, August 22, 2011―The Filipino clergy of Staten Island in New York will hold a concert to promote the forthcoming assembly of Filipino clergy in Los Angeles, California on November 8-11, 2011.

The benefit concert will feature well-known Filipino soprano, Lani Misenas, an operatic Filipino tenor, Jun Penaverde, and the popular San Lorenzo Choir of New York City.

The “Singing Filipino Priests of Staten Island” with some laity friends will also participate with some choral numbers.

Titled “Cantate”, the concert will be held on October 1st at 7:30 pm, at St. Joseph-St. Thomas Parish Auditorium, 6097 Amboy Rd., Staten Island, New York.

Coordinated by Father Erno Diaz, administrator of St. Margaret Mary’s Parish in Staten Island, the benefit concert is being organized as a response to the appeal of Bishop Oscar Solis, a Filipino Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, to help support the First National Assembly for Filipino Priests.

The gathering aims “to organize all Filipino priests serving in the USA and form a National Association… and to provide a national venue for Filipino priests to come together in a spirit of fraternity and unity, foster solidarity, and provide support for each other in our pastoral ministry in this country.”

Some 800 Filipino priests serving in various dioceses all over the United States have been invited to the event.

The general admission ticket is $25. For more information and for tickets, call: Fr. Erno (917-829-0742, Fr. Frank (718-344-3041), Fr. Gil (917-842-5169) , Fr. Vic (646-750-9463), Fr. Leeboy (718-689-0238), Fr. Anthony (646-469-8922), Fr. Deo (917-609-4830), Deacon Gary (718-727-7350). (CBCPNews)

12,500 nurses needed this year says Drilon

MANILA, August 22, 2011-Senator Franklin Drilon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee announced Sunday that about 12,500 nurses for new nursing position this year are needed by the government where the committee Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad bared to grant Health Secretary Enrique Ona an authorization to hire an additional 10,000-12,500 nursing professionals in the government workforce.

Drilon said that it aims to cut the surplus of nursing graduates in the Philippines, revealing that they agreed that between now and the end of the year, the Department of Health (DOH) should be given an authorization to hire 10,000-12,500 nurses.

During the agency’s budget hearing, there are currently 287,000 nursing graduates who are either unemployed or underemployed. Over the weekend, it was announced that another 37,513 examinees passed the Nurse Licensure Examination administered last July.

It was discovered that the Budget department disallowed the hiring of an additional 4,000 in the DOH workforce due to a ban on hiring of administrative positions, apparently due to the discrepancy with the way the Department of Budget and Management interpreted administrative posts during the finance committee hearing.

“There is glaring deficiency of nursing staff in state hospitals, compounded by the fact that the allowed staffing pattern is not actually filled up particularly in regional government hospitals, adding that our health system will be given a temporary relief due to the hiring of additional nurses,” Drilon said.

The Finance committee will determine now how many new nursing positions are needed for the next proposed budget year. (Jason de Asis)

Zambales govt passes resolution vs. Subic coal plant

MANILA, August 21, 2011—Campaign against coal-fired power plants in Subic, Zambales continues as the Provincial Board voted unanimously and approved a resolution upholding the ban of erecting a coal-fired power plant in any parts of the province.

In a statement dated 17 August 2011, Vice Governor Ramon Lacbain II said that former General and Department of Works and Highways (DPWH) chief, and now the Governor of Zambales Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., had signed Board Resolution No. 2011-149 that strongly opposes the erection of the coal-fired thermal plant in Sitio Cawag, in Subic.

“When I accidentally came to know about this project during the presentation of the SBMA [Subic Base Metropolitan Authority] Ecology Center together with Taiwan Cogen before the municipal council of Subic, Zambales sometime in 2007, I immediately relayed it to SUBRA [Subic Bay Resorts Association] which afterwards requested from the SBMA Ecology Center a presentation about the proposed coal plant in Subic Bay,” the vice-governor said in a statement.

SUBRA, together with People's Task Force on Hanjin & Subic Bay Inc. and the Greater Subic Bay Tourism Bureau (GSBTB), were the first organization that opposed the proposal.

The provincial vice chief also said that other cause-oriented groups as well as the local government of Olongapo City opposed the project. He also said that he was present during the deliberation and approval of early local government resolution that strongly opposed the erection of the plant.

Lacbain also said that he cannot recall any consultation made in connection with the proposed power plant, neither there is a strong approval for the erection of the electric-generation facility in Subic.

“I don't remember any meeting or public consultations I have attended regarding the proposed coal plant in Subic Bay where the participants accepted or endorsed the project. I was out of the provincial board from 2007-2010 but I can't recall any instance when the proponents made a presentation before the provincial board.

“I [have even] asked the board members during those period and they confirmed that no presentation was made before them during their session. Until, I was re-elected as vice governor last 2010 and had the chance to attend another presentation, this time by Aboitiz Power, before the municipal council of Subic, Zambales on the proposed project. But what surprised me is when I saw the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) issued by former DENR secretary Lito Atienza. [I am] surprised because how come the ECC was issued when I can't remember any public consultations regarding the project where it was accepted or endorsed?” he said.

The Aboitiz Group (also known as the Aboitiz & Company, Inc.) is known as one of the oldest shipping magnate in the Philippines, which traces its roots with the hemp trading in Ormoc, Leyte during the 1800s.

Aside from shipping and trade, in 1930, the Aboitiz clan had also ventured in power industry development (generation and distribution). Today the Aboitiz Group is known as the biggest companies in the Philippines and having its share in real estate development, agriculture, ship-building, and tourism, being the owner of the elite resort, Amanpulo in the Palawan Island.

Nevertheless, Lacbain and other groups continue to question the issuance of the ECC for the construction and later, operation of the plant, which the world environmentalists and scientists had identified as “the number one carbon dioxide (CO2) emitter in the atmosphere”. CO2 is considered the agent of global warming and climate change.

Coal plant in Subic: socially unacceptable

As it would pollute the air and waters of the scenic Subic in Zambales, the vice governor and the opponents of the coal plant in Sitio Cawag see the project as socially unacceptable.

“The social acceptability of the project is questionable and considering that this is the most important requirement for the issuance of the ECC. Several months after Aboitiz Power and the SBMA Ecology Center made a presentation before the provincial board regarding the project, the individuals and organizations that allegedly had accepted or endorsed the project had never submitted any documents to justify the legality of the issuance of the ECC,” the Zambales second chief disclosed.

“In fact, new SBMA Director Philip Camara was even asking for an investigation of SBMA Ecology Center Manager Ameth Dela Llana for failure to submit the list of individuals and organizations that accepted or endorsed the project, as requested by Zambales provincial board,” he added.

Fight for coal plant-free Subic to continue

Despite the fact that the prospective investors might be shooed away because of the vehement opposition to the coal-fired power plant, the provincial government even encouraged the people of Zambales to continuously oppose the proposed project by the Aboitiz.

“The people of Zambales and Olongapo must not retreat but must continue, with even more active and strong determination, to oppose this project which is being continued despite the opposition from all sectors. This project will definitely have adverse effects on our environment, health and our tourism industry in Subic Bay but in return for all these sacrifices no direct benefit will go to the people: no real property taxes, no assurance of employment, no assurance of lower power rates, no assurance of environmental guarantee fund, no specific material or financial assistance to affected neighboring communities,” Lacbain said.

The vice governor had also stressed that there are cleaner energy sources that the government can tap and there is no excuse for pushing the coal-fired power plant erection in Subic Bay.

"Why insist on this coal-plant project, most especially in Subic Bay that must be preserved for tourism and fishery industries? For the sake of our environment, our health, our tourism and fishery and most especially our children's future—let's continue to oppose this project and finally get the cancellation of the ECC,” the vice governor said. (Noel Sales Barcelona)

Governor Angara-Castillo bats for peaceful and progressive Aurora

Gov. Bellaflor Angara Castillo and party in a souvenir
photo with the Japanese visitors.

BALER, Aurora, August 21, 2011-In the recent twin separate encounters between the army and rebels, Governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo calls for peaceful and progressive province, urging the Domingo Erlano Command (DEC) rebels to return to the mainstream society.

Angara-Castillo told newsmen that the provincial government is exerting fullest efforts for the continuous spur of development and maintaining its good image for having the lowest crime rate in Central Luzon.

“I expect all rebels in the province to return to the fold of the law. I want to change their status to know that the government is sincere in the peace process. We are providing now a housing project for rebel returnees,” she said, referring to the establishment of a rebel returnees’ housing community at a two (2) hectare land in the municipality of Maria Aurora where an initial forty (40) houses will be built exclusively for former New People’s Army (NPA) and their dependents.

Angara-Castillo said that the rebels should be given the chance to know that there is a good future waiting for them if they will return to the government.

“I want to help them and ready to give what they need just like the other rebels who are now enjoying their lives,” Angara-Castillo said, explaining that she is offering rebel returnees community houses, jobs, scholarships, livelihood projects among others.

“I want a former rebel community complete with free house, facilities, schools, day care centers, chapels, health centers etc…,” she said.

Angara-Castillo said that she wanted to uplift the lives of the former rebels to feel what a family life should be living in a peaceful society; thus, I urged rebels to turn their back in the armed revolution.

It could be remembered that 21 rebels were awarded each of P50,000 worth livelihood assistance cash money totalled to P1,050,000 through the Social Integration Program (SIP) of the government. (Jason de Asis)

Aurora to be the richest province in the country

BALER, Aurora, August 20, 2011-Senator Edgardo J. Angara revealed that Aurora can be the richest province in the country, saying that the Philippines may be able to achieve energy self-sufficiency because of Benham Rise, a submereged volcanic ridge near the province which is very rich in natural resources here in Central Luzon.

“After its claim to own an undersea land almost the size of Luzon is getting fruitful, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon Paje, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS) is currently deliberating the handover to the country of the Benham Rise,” Angara said.

The country will not only gain 13 million hectares in additional territory, nearly the size of Luzon, should UNCLOS approve the claim, but also a potentially oil-rich region.

“The Benham Rise can provide our country its own energy, and also set off the opportunity to export gas, copper and other minerals,” Angara said.

The veteran Senator said that the country can provide us for its own energy, revealing that DENR studies for the past five years in the Benham Rise showed huge methane deposits that poses the province as a possible natural gas exporter.

“Kaya nitong lunurin ang buong mundo sa dami ng mineral deposit. We are the only claimant of Benham Rise which bolsters the country’s bid to own it unlike the disputed Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal in the west side,” Angara said.

“Once UNCLOS decides the submerged mass is sitting in Philippine territory, exploration operations could start to determine the size of resources in the plateau,” he furthered, explaining that the submerged volcanic ridge was within the country's 370-km exclusive economic zone.

He recalled that the government submitted the claim to the United Nations last 2009 for the rights over the plateau which was known as a massive formation of basalt, a common volcanic rock, and is described in a study as a thickened portion of the Philippine sea plate’s oceanic crust.

It is bounded by the West Philippine Basin to the north and east, off the coast of Aurora and Isabela provinces.

“I reiterated that the province will be still the laboratory for development. This coming September the Benham Rise will be ours. The certificate of title will come out stating that the Philippines (our province) is the owner of it. (Jason de Asis) 

SC opinion on Hacienda Luisita assailed

MANILA, August 20, 2011—The Central Luzon farmers’ group, Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luson (AMGL) has criticized the recent clarification made by the Supreme Court on its July 5 decision regarding the dispute in Hacienda Luisita.

The Supreme Court has said that it would not require a majority vote, in a referendum, in order to decide if stock distribution option or the free distribution of land would be good in resolving the five-decade struggle for land by the farmers and farm-workers in the Cojuangco estate.

Joseph Canlas, AMGL chairperson said in a statement, the recent opinion made by the high tribunal would only sow confusion, if not disunity, among the farmer-beneficiaries of the disputed land owned by the family of President Benigno C. Aquino III.

“The Hacienda Luisita issue is transforming the Supreme Court, supposed to be the highest deciding body of legal issues in the country, into a hesitant body of legal luminaries upholding the interest of the landlord class. We are now hearing a high court that is pushing the farm workers to fight their co-workers and tillers, instead of issuing a decision that would finally resolve the matter,” he said.

Canlas also said that the SC had made the spirit of landlord class in the country, “high and strong”, by its decision and even evaded the “rationality of implementing free land distribution” as the opinion will only precede a more feudal relationship among land tillers and the owners of lands in the countryside.

AMGL also observed that, while the High Court did not favor the stock distribution plan by the Hacienda Luisita, Inc., it did not junk the stock distribution option itself.

“The high court junked the stock distribution plan (SDP) not the SDO, thus, farm-workers who would choose ‘stocks’ would be compelled to work for it as SDO only granted the farm-workers, the ‘right to purchase’ the stocks of HLI,” Canlas said.

Meanwhile, the farmers’ alliance also criticized the continued implementation of what they call “failure”, the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Extension with Reforms (CARPER), which the Aquino ally, Akbayan Partylist and the Roman Catholic Church had pushed, years ago.

“The choice of land distribution of the SC decision would legally be through CARPER for this would compel the farm-workers to acquire an “attestation” from the Cojuangcos that they are actual “tenants.” CARPER, too, has provision that landowners have the right to set the price of land the farmer-beneficiaries would pay through amortization,” Canlas explained.

“The SC decision is firmly [giving] a win-win [solution] for the Cojuangco-Aquinos, as neither stocks nor CARPER would actually give the lands to the farm-workers. Thus, Hacienda Luisita farm-workers have only their united strength to rely on to actually till the lands such as what they are carrying on Brgy. Balete,” he furthered.

Nevertheless, Canlas said that the SC has only one option: to junk the SDO in Hacienda Luisita and immediately distribute the lands to the farm-workers.

“Unless this is realized, they should prepare for the intensifying rage of farmers and sectors who are struggling for genuine and fundamental reforms in the country,” Canlas said. (Noel Sales Barcelona)

‘Grill’ the Angaras on Apeco, lawmakers told

MANILA, August 20, 2011—A group of fishefolks has asked lawmakers to probe Senator Edgardo “Edong” Angara and his son, Aurora Rep. Sonny Angara and the family’s involvement in pushing for the approval of the multi-million Apeco project in Aurora.

The fishers’ group, Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) told lawmakers to “grill” the Angaras about the issue of Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Free Ports Authority (Apeco) as the P332.5 million (US$7,804,270.10) proposed funding for the project is being heard at the Philippine Congress.

Budget deliberation for Apeco is set on August 22.

Pamalakaya vice chair Salvador France said in a statement that the project, being anti-people and environmentally degrading, should be shelved by the lawmakers.

France said, Pamalakaya and the umbrella organization Resist Apeco! Defend Aurora Movement will extensively and intensively lobby for the scrapping of the project and will push for a probe regarding what they call “Angara clan scheme”.

“Let the Angaras explain to the people why they are pursuing the project despite the wholesale rejection of Apeco [by some groups and lawmakers] during the committee hearing. However, they should not be allowed to speak and cast their vote once Congress in plenary puts this controversial issue to vote and approval,” France said.

Earlier, the aforementioned groups sent a letter to House Committee for Appropriations chair Cavite (1st District) Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya and the other members of the Committee, humbly asking the solon to reconsider the disapproval of the Apeco budget in the spirit of “objectivity, fairness and justice.”

The groups opined that the approval of the P332.5 million funds for the creation of Apeco will only legitimize land-grabbing and the abuse of marine resources in the Aurora province, thus endangering the livelihood, food and housing security, and the environment of the people in Aurora and the other affected areas.

It will also undermine the security and safety of the people, as the Panlalawigang Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Aurora (PAMANA) had already reported harassments, allegedly perpetrated by the elements of the Bravo Coy of the 48th Infantry Battalion as some residents refuse to give up their lands for the project.

In case of land-grabbing in the area, some of the farmers and fisherfolks that would be affected by the reclamation are beneficiaries of the Commonwealth Government’s land reform program.

According to some reports that reached this reporter, as the project pushes through, there would be a massive cancellation of Certificate of Land Ownership Awards (CLOA) and Integrated Social Forestry Certificates, issued by the past regimes.

Aside from Pamalakaya and the Resist Apeco! Defend Aurora Movement other lobbyists against Apeco are the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), the Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon (AMGL), the faith-based group Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR), the Government Employees for Genuine Land Reform, Katribu Party list and the PAMANA.

Meanwhile, the Angaras had defended the project saying that it would benefit their constituents in Aurora as it would provide more job opportunities for them. The Apeco,http://www.aurorapacific.com.ph/ said that the project proponents envision “a globally competitive, technologically advanced economic zone in the Pacific Northeast Sea Board working towards a renowned business community characterized by unified perspectives on green revolution and world-class innovation” and take as its mission to “foster national socio-economic growth and foreign business relations through the advancement of an innovative, eco-friendly and cost-efficient economic zone capable of withstanding the demands of today’s global market.”

Earlier this year, President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III had already appointed former Labor chief Bienvenido Laguesma as board director of the controversial Apeco. Another appointee for the grandiose development project is Roberto Mathay, a businessman. (Noel Sales Barcelona)

PCSO 2004 and 2007 intelligence funds still unliquidated

MANILA, August 19, 2011-Senator Franklin Drilon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee revealed that the intelligence funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) last 2004 and 2007 remained unliquidated.

Drilon who is deliberating the proposed P1.816 trillion national budget for 2012 said that the documents pertaining to the use of the intelligence funds could have been concealed by the previous PCSO board, with the Commission on Audit (COA) admitting they have yet to liquidate a still undetermined amount due to lack of records.

“We suspect that the intelligence funds were used by the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the 2004 and 2007 elections,” Drilon said.

COA chairperson Maria Gracia Pulido-Tan told the Finance committee yesterday that the former PCSO board has not submitted a liquidation of the state-run charity agency’s intelligence funds, even a certification which is the current practice of government agencies in liquidating confidential and intelligence funds.

“There are no records on file for 2004 and 2007. Interestingly, these were election years. They did not submit reports for 2004 and 2007,” said Pulido-Tan, referring to the previous PCSO board headed by ex-general Manager Rosario Uriarte, who was figured prominently in the illegal disbursement of PCSO intelligence funds.

“After a Senate hearing, it was uncovered that P150 million has been released by the former PCSO board to the former President a few months before the 2010 presidential elections,” Drilon said.

It was bared during a previous Senate inquiry on the PCSO’s intelligence funds that a total of P325 million, excluding the P150 million released during the 2010 elections, has been released by the former PCSO board from 2008-2010.

Uriarte, who served PCSO from 2003-2010, was given the sole authority to disburse intelligence funds which came from PCSO’s public relations funds. She eventually admitted that she issued and encashed the checks with respect to intelligence funds.  

Drilon said that they do not even know how much was appropriated for 2004 and 2007 because that has to be checked with PCSO; thus, there is a need for COA to submit the corporate operating budget of the PCSO for the years involved for the purpose of identifying how much has been allocated by the state firm as intelligence funds. (Jason de Asis)

40 feet landmark unveiled in Baler in its 402nd township occasion

The 40 feet tall skyline monument at Baler, Aurora.

BALER, Aurora, August 19, 2011-A 40-feet-tall monument that towers over this capital town’s skyline will be unveiled today symbolic of its emergence from a once-sleepy municipality into a bustling and flourishing model for rural development.

The unveiling of the landmark at the municipal plaza near the historic Baler Church was the main highlight on the occasion of this town’s 402^nd anniversary coinciding with the 133^rd birth anniversary of the late Commonwealth President Manuel Luis Quezon.

Senator Edgardo J. Angara, along with Representative Juan Edgardo J. Angara, Governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo and Baler Mayor Arthur J. Angara will lead the inauguration of the elegant, upward-facing structure called “Baler 400” marking the celebration of the town’s quadricentennial two (2) years ago.

Constructed last year and which was finished last June, the monument was designed by internationally acclaimed artist Luis Lee Jr., more popularly known as Junyee.

Lee also designed the seven-meter high monument, known as  “Open Doors,” at the 65-hectare Holocaust Memorial Park in Rishon, LeZion, the fourth largest city of Israel south of Tel Aviv. It is one of only two monuments in Israel, the other was designed by an Israeli sculptor.

The “Open Doors” monument was inaugurated on June 21, 1999,  70 years after Quezon allotted in 1939 some 10,000 visas and safe haven to Jews fleeing Nazi Europe. Some 1,200 Jews made it to Manila for which Quezon and the Filipino nation were honored for their “open door policy.”

International artist Luis "Junyee" Lee Jr. posing at
Cafe de Rosa, Baler, Aurora.

Lee explained that the Baler structure consists of four symbolic pillars, each representing 100 years of the town, which – from the base to the tip – are interconnected by 100 stainless horizontal bars. The four pillars represent the continuous rise of the town from its humble beginnings into one rich in history and culture and an emerging model for rural development.

Lee said that the bars, which glow and glitter during daytime, are like candles to the town’s quadricentennial cake. The platform of the monument is made of Vigan tiles symbolizing the town’s kayumanggi race enriched by its Spanish heritage.

Angara-Castillo said that in its entirety, the monument is a symbol of the town’s inner strength and bright future.   

Retired police general Francisco Zubia Jr., chairman of the Baler Festejos 2011, said this year’s anniversary rites, which carry the theme : “Bukang Liwayway ng Kaunlaran at Pag-asa dahil sa Mamamayang Nagkakaisa (Sunrise of Progress and Hope because of a United Citizenry),”  kicked off last August 14 with a series of activities such as skateboarding, streetdancing and soccer competitions; tourism and trade fair, bikathon, cultural presentation, variety show, farmers’ day, historical and painting contests, fireworks display, the “Komedya de Baler” and “Baler got Talent.”


Located 232 kilometers north of Manila on the shore of a horseshoe-shaped coastal valley overlooking the Pacific Ocean, this town is a treasure trove of cultural heritage not only as Quezon’s birthplace but also for being the last bastion of Spanish forces during the Spanish Revolution. It is  the center of festivities for the Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day which is celebrated every 30^th of June.

The old Kinagunasan (township) was wiped out when a “tsunami” struck on December 27, 1735, killing 500 families.

Several stories accounted for the origin of the name Baler, the most popular of which was believed to have come from the word “Balod,” a large Paloma Montes (mountain dove) that abounded in the place.

Baler, to historians, was a place where pigeons came home to roost or a place to come home to. And that no matter where Balerianos go in their search for glory and fortune, they would always hope of coming back.

Baler has emerged into a progressive municipality housing a public market, a fish port, sports complex, people’s center, a P130-million integrated rice processing complex, a polytechnic college, and other institutions of higher learning from a depressed town. (Jason de Asis) 

Aurora NPA says four soldiers slain in a clash

DITEKI, San Luis, Aurora, August 19, 2011-Amid increased sightings of armed rebels some 17 months since this province was declared insurgency-free by local officials, police and the army, Ka Rowena Servante, spokesperson of Domingo Erlano Command (DEC) of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Aurora claimed that four (4) soldiers including the intelligence officer of the 48^th Infantry “Guardians” Battalion, Philippine Army were killed in two separate battles which the military denied.

“The soldiers were waylaid down in two consecutive encounters last August 12 and 13 in Barangay Diteki, San Luis town,” the statement said, saying that the first encounter took place at around 11:15 pm when the NPA band, led by a certain Gregorio Torres Alias Ka Lenny/Jake figured in a firefight with 20 soldiers who occupied the Diteki barangay hall.

Servante said it has ambushed a truckload of soldiers who were trying to reinforce their fellow troops in Diteki last August 13 at around 9:10 am. It was reported that one of those killed was Army 1^st Lieutenant Dennis Moreno, 48^th IB intelligence officer when a bomb was hurled by the rebels.

The skirmish caused the truck to lose control while a V-150 armored personnel carrier which Ltc Kurt Decapia, 48^th IB commanding officer was on board retreated to Diteki.

Servante said as an offshoot of the twin incidents, the military arrested five (5) civilians, identified as Arman Arevalo, Arthur Friginal, Ulot Mariano and a couple Nene Genes and Udit Wegan. They said that they were forced to admit that they knew the operations and were released in the afternoon.

The DEC said that these latest incidents were the third and fourth NPA-initiated clash with government troops in the province since last month which belied the latter’s claims that it crushed the backbone of the insurgency in the province. On the other hand, it only showed that the NPAs are very much alive and going strong in Aurora.

The DEC also vowed to launch more armed offensives against the military in the province.

Decapia said that the rebel groups’ claims of army fatalities were a brazen lie. Obviously, it was a black propaganda to make it appear that they are recovering lost ground.

He added that the August 13 incident lasted for only a fleeting five seconds and no one was hurt nor killed, saying what exploded were only blasting caps.

Decapia presented Moreno to the media to belie claims he was shot dead by the rebels, who he estimated to be around seven (7) to ten (10) armed guerillas. The twin incidents only demonstrated the rebels’ desire to recover its base in the province, which used to be its training camp. “It was an act of desperation. They want to show they are still here when in fact and in truth, their presence here is negligible,” he said.

He also denied the NPA’s claim that they arrested the five civilians, explaining they – who were rebel returnees - were merely invited to the camp to shed light in the incident. “We have invited them because we have reports that the NPAs are communicating and trying to win them back even if they don’t want to rejoin them,” Decapia said. (Jason de Asis)

Church gears protest over RH bill inclusion as priority measure

MANILA, August 18, 2011— Catholics are planning to hold a series of protest rallies in Bataan province after the Aquino administration included the reproductive health (RH) among its 13 priority measures.

Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos they will also hold series of forums and seminars in different barangays about the negative effects of the proposed birth control measure.

He said they will likewise hold a dialogue with all local officials of Bataan to gather support in their fight against the RH bill.

“With this bill included in the 13 priority bills of President Aquino, we will have a diocesan-wide campaign against RH bill even if we have to go to Malacañang,” Santos told Church-run Radyo Veritas.

“We will definitely hold conferences, seminars and marches against the RH bill,” he said, adding that their goal is to protect the sanctity of human life and the family.

Bataan 1st District Rep. Herminia Roman and Bataan 2nd District Rep. Albert Garcia said they will support the planned protests in Bataan against the bill.

An official of Manila’s Roman Catholic Church is also dismayed over the Aquino’s decision to prioritize the passage of the RH bill.

Fr. Joel Jason, head of Family and Life Ministry of the Archdiocese of Manila, said the Aquino government should learn from other countries who are now suffering the negative impact of said legislation.

Jason cited, for instance, Canada’s aging population and now posing a problem, as is the case for almost every other developed nation in the world that adopted population control measure.

One problem, he said, is that more people leaving the work force than entering it, a factor which poses major challenges for employers.

That is likely to happen also in the Philippines, he said, if a “contraceptive mentality” would develop in the country.

Jason said the Archdiocese of Manila will further strengthen its education campaign why lay faithful should oppose the RH bill. [CBCPNews]

CCP ‘Kulo’: Upholds artistic freedom and respects religious belief

Sitting (left) Senator Edgardo J.Angara. 

MANILA, August 18, 2011-In the midst of the controversial “Kulo” exhibit, Senator Edgardo J. Angara recommended that there is no need for a second public hearing as the dialogue adequately heard all stakeholders, advising those involve to uphold the artistic freedom and at the same time respect religious belief.

“We are now evaluating the testimonies and position papers of all resource persons regarding two aspects: The role of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) as a public institution, and the freedom of artistic expression and respect of religious icons.

The Senate committee on education, arts and culture committee on public information chaired by Angara and Senator Gregorio “Gringo Honasan II concluded that there is no need for a second public hearing in the senate.

“The recent hearing was meant a venue for sober and respectful discourse, and not for prosecution. It already shed light on this controversy and informed the public about the different stories behind the issue. No matter how controversial the issues, the dialogues were conducted in an atmosphere of respect, wit and insight,” Angara said.

“The committee believed that we have already pursued all lines of inquiry – legal, moral, artistic and administrative processes – even if the artist, Mideo Cruz, was not present himself, because it is not really the artist who is the subject of the inquiry,” Angara added.

The inquiry was in relation to a group exhibition held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) that included the installation “Politeisimo” by artist Mideo Cruz which allegedly juxtaposed certain religious images in a sacrilegious way.

CCP Chair Emily A. Abrera and President Raul M. Sunico attended the hearing along with Board of Trustees Flor Rosario-Braid, Arsenio Lizaso, Isabel CaroWilson, Zenaida Tantoco, Cristina Turalba, Antonio Yap and Carolyn Espiritu.

Other stakeholders present were National Commission for Culture and the Arts chair Prof. Felipe M. de Leon; Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, vice president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines; Vice Rector Pablo T. Tiong of the University of Sto. Tomas; former UP College of Law Dean Raul Pangalangan; Constitutional professor Atty. Florin Hilbay; National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose; National Artist for Visual Arts Abdulmari Imao; Prof. Cecilia dela Paz, chair of the UP Department of Art Studies; and Manolo Dayrit, chair of the Ang Kapatiran Party which have filed a complaint with the Ombudsman against CCP officials.

Angara said new legislation may not be necessary, but he urged the CCP to review, to rethink its administrative policies on selecting artworks and performances for public exhibition. F. Sionil Jose contended that Cruz’s work was not the best example of good art.

“As the best known public exhibition hall of the country, the public expects nothing less than the highest standards,” said Angara.

He also called for calm amid the growing tension, saying: “I would rather let the power of public opinion be the judge and measure of the performance of artists. I do not believe we have to impose sanctions and criminalize bad judgment of cultural administrators and artists.

“It is not fair to bring down an entire institution just because one artist's work appears offensive. The CCP’s purpose is larger than that, in the same way the freedom of expression transcends this single incident,” Angara added.

Prior to this, the senate inquiry was triggered by Senator  Jinggoy Estrada in his privilege speech denouncing the Kulo exhibit and asking CCP board members who approved the exhibit to resign for having allowed a publicly-funded institution to offend the sensibilities of the majority Catholics.

The senate committee issued subpoena to Mideo Cruz, whose installation art on religious images “Poleteismo” had sparked protests. (Jason de Asis)