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REGIONAL EXPONENT FOR PROGRESS
VOL. XXI, NO. 47 BICOL, THE PHILIPPINES JULY 27-AUG. 2, 2014 P5.00
473-8888
(Turn to page 6)
Malacanang issues
2015 Holiday list
President Benigno S. Aquino III has is-
sued a Proclamation No. 831 declaring all
national holidays to be observed for the
year 2015.
The proclamation listed 18 holidays,
with eight long weekends to be expected
next year.
Regular Holidays: New Years Day -
January 1 (Thursday); Maundy Thursday
April 2; Good Friday April 3; Araw
ng Kagitingan April 9 (Thursday); Labor
science.ph/dilg.gov.ph
In Bicol
PCA allays 'cocolisap' fears
By DANNY O. CALLEJA
LEGAZPI CITY When a news
that the dreaded coconut scale insects
(CSI), which the Philippine Coconut
Authority (PCA) calls cocolisap
had already reached the island- prov-
ince of Catanduanes broke out, the
agencys regional offce for Bicol
based here was quick to declare it as
a false alarm.
(Turn to page 7)
BIKOL REPORTER 2
JULY 27 - AUG. 2, 2014 OPINION
OPINIONS
UNLIMITED
Atty. TONY (APA) ACYATAN
locations) deadline for casualty loss
reports is on August 29-30.
very nose of government men.
As we write this column prices of
commercial rice have risen again. The
general levels of rice prices are being
maintained only because cheaper NFA
rice are being released to the public
markets. If new costlier importations are
factored in the overall consumer price
index will surely go up. Government
should try its best to rein in infation
but at the same time, there should be no
sugar-coating of statistics.
POPULARITY: We pity the situation
in Malacanang what with the many
guffaws being committed by government
apologists and by the president himself.
Since the day for the airing to the country
of the presidential report (SONA) is
almost at hand the president and his
spokesmen should just hold their
punches and bit their tongues instead
of unnecessarily showing their dirty
hands well in advance of the real
show.
Pres. P-Noy should not take for
granted his popularity plunge. His
credibility downtrend means a lot to his
government. This time, many are already
saying since he is no longer eligible to run
for election after his 6-year term is over,
whoever he recommends to succeed him
may suffer defeat. This is the prediction
even if his party will be fnancially loaded
It had all the ingredients of showbiz, President
PNoys SONA that is. Celebrities, confict,
confrontation, drama, humor, fashion. In fact,
the event was shown on national TV with all the
elements of a well-planned spectacle, much
like an Oscar award ceremony in Hollywood.
Politicians walked on red carpet along with their
wives, whose gowns were made the subject
of a poll by the TV networks. This made it even
much like a fashion show than an occasion for
an executive report card making. Reporters were
also after the good copy, Aling Dionesia, for one;
or the Makabayan legislators in pink to show their
protest. Elsewhere, protesters were battling it out
with police barricades and water cannons the
usual. Have we gone bankrupt in creativity in the
way we protest, for instance?
As it turned out, the Presidents SONA was,
hohum. Generalizations, here. Specifcs there.
Statistics here, and a serving of sentimentalism
there. It was a well-planned speech so written
to appeal to the emotions of the forgetful and
forgiving Pinoys. No wonder, post-SONA reactions
and reports said it was an emotional, SONA.
Of course, melodrama always works, that is why
Korean telenovela appeals to Pinoy housewives.
That is why, Lyka won over the technically-better
Darren.
Yet, we should go beyond emotionalism as a
nation. At this point in our history, when traditional
institutions of our democratic way of life, like
Congress or the Presidency are slowly pushing
us towards a failed State, we need more than a
lachrymal catharsis.
Our people need to be liberated from the age-
old poverty which negates whatever claim of
economic growth the President says. That poverty
is still the most pressing issue is confrmed by the
downgrading of the growth projection by the IMF
for the country to only less that 6.5% next year.
We do not see how the Pinoy administrations
development programs can really fow down to
the people themselves. While the President was
less combative in his SONA, his administrations
stubborn reaction to the Supreme Court ruling
on the DAP, can also set a dangerous precedent
if we get to have another leader who thinks the
law can be messed around. Neither was there a
mention of the Freedom of Information bill, which
the President promised to support during his
campaign, when it could help curb government
bureaucratic corruption. These are only two
substantial matters we thought the Presidents
SONA addressed.
As it turned out, a recollection of the Presidents
deceased parents was all that was needed to
drown and hush the cries of protesters outside the
Batasan Hall. Call that spectacular.
The guidelines for reporting are
contained in Revenue Memorandum
Order No. 32-2009 dated October 16,
2009 (Policies and Guidelines for the
Reporting of Casualty Losses). The
report is needed to justify any claimed
losses. The losses must have been
suffered by items and incidents related
to the registered business. The kinds
and types of losses suffered by the
business must be clearly specifed so
that the BIR will consider them eligible
as a deduction.
WISDOM: Love does not consist
of gazing at each other, but looking
outward together in same direction.
in 2016. Remember the qualifed
candidate Gibo who lost miserably
because he was endorsed by GMA?
DAP ISSUE: Theres so much
wrangling over the DAP and the
Supreme Court ruling declaring it
as illegal disbursements contrary
to constitutional requirements. Pro-
government allies say that with the
good economic results brought about
by the accelerated disbursements,
Filipinos may reason out: the end
justifed the means. But of course,
others may again counter if there are
economic advancements why are our
people poorer than before?
The bigger issue on the DAP is legal
authority of the Executive Department
to unilaterally revise the budget duly
approved by Congress. The power
of te Legislature to pass the budget
is enshrined in our Constitution,
and no presidential prerogative can
change that. From what we see it
is improbable for the highest court of
the land to reverse its earlier decision.
This is despite P-Noys veiled threats
of potential war among the branches
of government. Ang pikon, talo!
PROVERB: A man who remains stiff-
necked after rebukes may suddenly be
destroyed, without remedy.
(Atty. APA chairs Acyatan & Co.,
CPAs-DFK International is past chair
of ASEAN Federation of CPAs, PICPA
past president and Hall-of-Famer,
and ACPAPP Lifetime Achievement
Awardee).
DEDUCTIBILITY: Business losses
are deductible from income for purposes
of net income tax. These include casualty
losses like those suffered by enterprises
from natural disasters like the recent
Typhoon Glenda. There are requisites
for said casualty losses to be eligible
as deduction for the annual net income
tax return. Since the losses occurred
last June 15-June 16 (depending on
POWER CRISIS: Our countrys
energy situation is similar to a cellphone
suffering from low-power, or low-batt! To
regain our economic trends the crisis
must be solved right away. This is the
reason given by Pres. P-Noy why he is
asking Congress to grant him emergency
powers. The Energy Secretary wants
additional budgets attached to such grant
of emergency powers. We anticipate
heavy opposition from the militant
lawmakers.
The credibility of Malacanang and the
cabinet in handling public funds is now
suspect, what with the PDAF and DAP
controversies a-burning. The energy crisis
is real and must be solved soon, but it
is certain that Congress will deliberate on
the situation longer than usual. Moreover,
the required funds will call for additions to
the existing budget. Here, the opposition
will surely have a heyday objecting!
INFLATION: The government is
declaring that despite the crop devastation
of Glenda - consumer prices will still
be manageable and within the target
infation rate. The Central Bank has a
3-5% target rate this year, and 2-4%
for next year. Analysts positively say
they are both attainable, still. Opinions
Unlimited predicts otherwise what
with the unabated hoardings of staple
commodities being perpetrated under the
Report Casualty Losses
Emergency Powers for Energy
would need only one minute to do his. It is
also a readily accepted fact that women
are more passionately concerned about
the availability and cleanliness of toilets
than men.
So it was understandable that during
the seven-hour friendly fre that greeted
DAP/Budget Secretary Butch Abad at a
Senate hearing last Thursday, it was a
lady senator, Nancy Binay, who asked
DoTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya
why P549 million budgeted for the
repair of airport toilets had gone instead
to DAP. The secretary replied that
the withdrawal of the fund happened
when he was still a congressman, but
he also said that the toilets in the Manila
airport could not be repaired while the
rehabilitation of Terminal-1 was going
on. (If lavatories cannot be fxed while
the building is being fxed, when will they
be fxed?)
The logic is peculiar, but not as
peculiar as the system described of
DoTCs procurement of construction
materials. Going by Mr. Abayas
explanation, airport toilets cannot be
fxed piecemeal, that is, one airport at
a time, because the system calls for
the purchase of materials for a batch of
so many airports at one and the same
time, together, wholesale. In other
words, lets schedule a bulk discount
before we repair them all in one go?
In his own defense NAIA general
manager Jose Angel Honrado told
journalists at another forum that the
toilet problem was solved by enforcing
gender equality among the janitors.
He said lady janitors assigned to the
ladies rooms could not clean the
mens rooms even when these urgently
needed to be cleaned, in the same way
that male janitors could not help clean
the ladies rooms. So the GM brought
in more janitors of both genders.
From a passengers perspective,
the solution is not the right one because
the gender of the janitors is not the
problem. With or without janitors, the
toilets are hopelessly old and ugly, and
they look old and ugly, totally lacking
in comfort and aesthetics, they belong
to a third-class municipality, not the
capital of Fun Philippines. If this be
an erroneous conclusion, just fush it
down the drain."
First, I wish to correct sentences
erroneously printed in my last weeks
column: What I wrote are the following:
Like the PDAF, the DAP scam should
also be investigated. The same standard
of accountability should be demanded to
those involved in the DAP scam and not
should be demand and those involved in
the DAP scam. The other sentence is He
(P-Noy) said DAP is good not he and
DAP is good. The other sentence is: The
real issue in this DAP controversy is the
separation of powers of those co-equal
branches of the government not the real
issue is the DAP controversy. The other
sentence should be: Article IV of the
Constitution provides for accountability
of public offcers not provided.
* * * * *
Many of our Balikbayans and OFWs
who return to our country often say that
our airport is very inferior (menos na
marhay in Bikol) when compared to
airports in other countries. I recall it was
rated as one of the ten worst airports
in the world. I believe our government
can change this but why is this so? The
following column of Julie Yap Daza in
the Tempo dated July 26, 2014 entitled
Those Airport Toilets is informative: It is
only one aspect of the other problems but
can be changed for the better.
"According to research, surveys, and
simple observation, a woman needs
three minutes to do her thing in a public
restroom while her husband, son or father
Those Airport Toilets and Why Things Cannot be repaired
NENITA FUENTEBELLA-PEONES
FROM
MY
WINDOW
VISIT OUR WEBSITE:
www.bikolreport.blogspot.com
EDITORIAL
Spectacle of the
Nation Address
BIKOL REPORTER 3
JULY 27 - AUG. 2, 2014
(Turn to page 6)
RP hits 100M population
P-Noy highlights his accomplishments
Legazpi mayor thanks P-Noy
for helping boost city's economy
President Benigno S. Aquino III receives a standing
ovation after delivering his 5th State of the Nation
Address (SONA) during the Joint Session of the 16th
TRADE MISSION
DOT Regional Director Maria Nini Ravanilla and Daet Mayor Tito Sarion headed the 2014
Bicol Tourism and Trade Mission delegation where they also joined Bicolanos gathering
for this years BNAA Convention hosted by the Mid West Bicolano Organizations.
Congress at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City
on Monday (July 28). (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacanang
Photo Bureau)
P-Noy: The Filipino is worth fghting for
The Filipino is worth
fghting for!
President Benigno S.
Aquino III added this line to
the slogan of his father, the
late Senator Benigno Ninoy
Aquino, Jr., when he deliv-
ered his ffth State of the Na-
tion Address (SONA) at the
Batasang Pambansa in Que-
zon City on Monday.
The President made the
remark towards the end of his
speech when he was thanking
the Filipino people for giving
him the chance to lead them.
Ang transpormasyong
tinatamasa natin ngayon, ay
magagawa nating permanen-
te sa gabay ng Panginoon.
Hangga't buo ang ating pa-
nanalig at tiwala, at hangga't
nagsisilbi tayong lakas ng
isat isa, patuloy nating ma-
papatunayan na the Filipino
is worth dying for, the Fili-
pino is worth living for, at
idadagdag ko naman po: The
Filipino is defnitely worth
fghting for, he said.
Ninoy Aquino uttered
his famous last words, The
Filipino is worth dying for,
before he was gunned down
in 1983 during the regime of
former president Ferdinand
Marcos.
President Aquino said that
now, he knows the reason
why he survived the ambush
during the presidency of his
mother, the late Corazon C.
Aquino.
Alam po ni Vice President
na noong 1987, nagkasama
kami, may kudeta, na-ambush
po tayo doon, at tapos noon
ay pangalawang buhay ko na
po ito Kuntento na po ako
dahil panatag ang kalooban ko
na kung ako poy mawala na
dito, marami po ang magpap-
atuloy ng ating tinahak; baka
iyon lang po talaga ang papel
ko, na umpisahan ito, said
President Aquino.
He then expressed his
gratitude to the members of
his Cabinet and religious
leaders.
In an interview after the
SONA, Presidential Commu-
nications Operations Offce
Secretary Herminio Coloma,
Jr. confrmed that during the
last part of the address, the
President spoke impromptu.
He was talking to me, he
was talking to every Filipino,
said Coloma. - PND
President Benigno S.
Aquino III delivered his ffth
State of the Nation Address
on Monday, underscoring
his administrations accom-
plishments in recent years,
particularly in social services,
infrastructure, economy, and
public-private partnership.
President Aquino began his
speech by recalling the prob-
By AIDA A. NAZ
LEGAZPI CITY The 100
millionth Filipino will be born
in the early morning of Sun-
day, July 27, 2014 at exactly
12:06 a.m.
The Commission on Popu-
lation (POPCOM) in Bicol is
launching the search for not just
one baby but seven babies who
will be born exactly or closest
to the designated time one each
from the six Bicol provinces
plus one coming from a chosen
city in the region.
Based on estimates derived
from the 2010 population pro-
jections of the Philippine Statis-
tics Authority (PSA), the Phil-
ippines will reach 100 million
population on the said date and
time, POPCOM Bicol Regional
Director Magdalena Abellera
stated in a press release.
Abellera said that the 100
millionth baby is both a symbol
of hope and challenge marking a
celebration of life and a prospect
for another productive citizen if
proper care for his or her growth
will be provided sustainably.
POPCOM Bicol Planning
Offcer Josephine Chua told the
Philippine Information Agency
(PIA) that the lucky babies will
be given each a starter kit worth
P5,000.00 provided that they are
born in a government licensed
facility or hospital through nor-
mal or spontaneous delivery.
We will distribute offcial
nomination forms to the hospi-
tals that need to be certifed by
the attending doctor based on
the Philippine Standard Time
(PST), Chua said.
POPCOM will offcially
launch the search through a press
conference tomorrow in this city.
Prior to its launching, PIA Bi-
col in its capacity as chair of the
Regional Population Executive
Board will facilitate the meeting
of the technical working group
(TWG) composed of represen-
tatives from the Department of
Health (DOH), National Nutri-
tion Council (NNC), Philippine
Health Insurance Corporation
(PHILHEALTH) and POP-
COM.
According to PSA, the total
population of the Philippines as
of May 1, 2010 is 92,337,852
based on the 2010 Census of
Population and Housing. The
census counts up to the barangay
level were made offcial with the
signing by President Benigno S.
Aquino III of Proclamation No.
362 on March 30, 2012.
The 2010 population is high-
er by 15.83 million compared
to the 2000 population of 76.51
million. In 1990, the total popu-
lation was 60.70 million, PSA
further revealed.
This means the Philippine
population is increasing at the
rate of 1.90 percent annually,
on the average, during the pe-
riod 2000-2010. This means that
there were two persons added
per year for every 100 persons
in the population, the PSA said.
The same census also re-
vealed that among the 17 re-
gions, CALABARZON (Region
IVA) had the largest population
with 12.61 million, followed
by the National Capital Region
(NCR) with 11.86 million and
Central Luzon (Region III) with
10.14 million. The population
of these three regions together
comprised more than one-third
(37.47 percent) of the Philippine
population.
PSA National Statistical
Coordination Board Bicol re-
ported that there are 5,711,500
Bicolanos in 2010 and the popu-
lation will rise to 6,278,000 by
2015.
Camarines Sur is the most
populated province in Bicol with
1,904,200 population in 2010
and will reach 2,102,200 next
year. Albay comes in second
with 1,313,900 people in 2010
and will reach 1,433,500 by next
year. Meanwhile, Masbate lands
LEGAZPI CITY -- Al-
bayanos felt proud while
watching President Benigno
Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino
III deliver his State of the
Nation Address (SONA) on
Monday afternoon.
Mayor Noel E. Rosal said
President Aquino showed his
sincerity to his job in pro-
moting good governance and
progress in the country.
We are very grateful to
the President because he real-
ly cares for and loves Legazpi
City because for four years,
he has infused multi-billion-
peso funding for infrastruc-
ture projects in the city.
These initiatives are making
Legazpi the fast-rising eco-
nomic and tourism hub in the
country today, Rosal said.
Architect Kristine Lag-
man, a member of the United
Architects of the Philippines
and a Bicol University pro-
fessor, said one thing she
expected and hoped in Mr.
Aquino's SONA was that ev-
erything would materialize.
Education is everything.
The President must give
more funds to education,
Lagman stressed, adding It
is right to reveal to the pub-
lic the present condition of
our national budget as well
as the economy of the Phil-
ippines."
The salary of rank and fle
employees in the government
should also be given prior-
ity by the administration not
only those in the private sec-
tor, she said.
Market vendor Maria
Vibar smiled and clapped
her hands as she watched the
President on television.
Vibar said Mr. Aquino's
SONA made her proud as
an Albayana as the President
mentioned Albay for the re-
cent zero-casualty experi-
enced by the province from
Typhoon Glenda.
"As an Albayana, I was
happy and felt special when
the President gave recogni-
tion to our beloved province,"
she added.
For his part, barangay tan-
od (village watchman) Chris-
topher Abellano expressing
hope that President Aquino
will see the plight of village
volunteer security men like
him. - PNA
lems he had inherited from the
past administration and how
such challenges are being ad-
dressed at present.
He stressed how the Dis-
bursement Acceleration Pro-
gram (DAP) helped scholars
of the Technical Education and
Skills Development Authority
(TESDA) under its training-
for work scholarship program
by augmenting its budget with
P1.6 billion.
He showed an audio-visual
presentation of two TESDA
scholars whose lives were
changed by the program. For-
mer jeepney barker, Marc Es-
cora, related how the program
helped him land a job in the
BPO industry. Jonalyn Na-
varosa also recalled how the
program aided her to become
successful in the feld of auto-
motive service.
President Aquino said the
program produced 223,615
graduates, 66 percent or
146,731 of whom have already
found jobs. TESDA is helping
the rest fnd employment.
This is good governance:
the right intentions, practices
and results. Everyone wins, he
said.
The President further tack-
led social services, citing the
Expanded Conditional Cash
Transfer program, which started
last June with a P12.3-billion
fund.
He noted the record drop in
the country's poverty incidence
from 27.9 percent in the frst se-
mester of 2012 to 24.9 percent
in same period of 2013, which
translates to 2.5 million Filipi-
nos currently above the poverty
line.
He then mentioned the coun-
trys economic gains through
intensifed tax collection efforts,
with tax collections increasing
from P1.094 trillion in 2010 to
P1.536 trillion in 2013.
Under a fair system, the
resurgence of our economy be-
gan. We were able to save be-
cause of prudent fscal manage-
ment, he said.
With prudent fscal manage-
ment, he said the government
was able to pay P40 billion in
debt.
We worked hard to accu-
mulate the funds the govern-
ment has today, which is why
we will not tolerate wasting it,
he further said.
He also noted the invest-
ment grade status the country
obtained from Moodys, Fitch
Group and Standard & Poor's.
Wearing a white barong with
a yellow ribbon pin, President
Aquino arrived at the Batasan
Complex at about 3:25 p.m. He
was welcomed by Senate Presi-
dent Franklin Drilon and House
of Representatives Speaker Fe-
liciano Belmonte.
The Presidents sisters, Ball-
sy Aquino-Cruz, Pinky Aquino-
Abellada, Viel Aquino-Dee
and Kris Aquino, were present,
wearing gowns with yellow
embellishments, showing their
support for their brother.
Several members of the
Aquino Cabinet arrived togeth-
er namely Executive Secretary
Paquito Ochoa, Secretary to
the Cabinet Rene Almendras,
Finance Secretary Cesar Puri-
sima, Justice Secretary Leila
(Turn to page 6)
BIKOL REPORTER 4
JULY 27 - AUG. 2, 2014
ETCETERA
INNER CHESS
BY J. HENRY DANICAN
Innovation in
Teaching: A Must
By VANESSA P. CLEOFE
Minalabac Central School
In our modern world as a teacher we need to think of a
unique kind of project and innovation so that we continue
to give a quality learning to our pupils and one of the best
we can do is to provide an innovation where we can use to
be able to make our students creative and thus, their skills
be increase
Our job is to make our students to come out on their
boxes, so that they will experience a lot of things that would
make them a creative and full of knowledge person.
Educators should realizes that students need to go out-
side the classroom and avail of the facilities of Information
Technology and be on their own in their guest for informa-
tion and acquire knowledge.
As teachers we must understand and possess a will-
ingness to work hard, and to work hard is also important
to work smart and that is to have some innovation in our
teaching. This means learning the most effcient way to
complete tasks and fnding ways to save time while com-
pleting our daily work meaningful.
There is so much to be learned about ourselves, neigh-
bours, our environment, our world, our history using the
modern technology to achieve this goal is part of the inte-
gration of information technology to the educational sys-
tem.
Note:
This article was submitted before typhoon Glenda, but
due to typhoon destructions, printing of the newspaper was
delayed.
Ayala Museum and Bicol
Bicol U mourns
Centennial tree
By NATHAN A. SERGIO
Councilor, Naga City
On a vacation for a health
reason, I decided to visit Ayala
Museum in Makati Avenue out
of intrinsic curiosity. Besides,
my eldest daughter Ouiea
asked me to accompany her
there.
No ent r ance f ee l ast
Saturday, July 19. Many people
trooped there; mostly, teenagers
and students whom I believe
were compelled by their social
studies or history teachers.
Another plausible reason an
attraction could be the bands
that were scheduled to perform
for free. I got to see and hear a
brass band composed of fve
members, just outside one of
museum galleries. There was
a popular Filipino rock band
called Up Dharma Down, which
performed on the main lobby in
the ground foor; thats where
the young people converged.
The brass band members, I was
told, were part of the famous
Manila Symphony Orchestra,
which will have a full band
concert on Friday, July 25
th
.
What was the occasion? This,
I failed to get. But what interests
me most is what Ayala Museum
could show or offer to a curious
promdi from Naga and Bicol.
Thus, we were there as early as
ten oclock in the morning. There
was no long line of people yet,
as the line started only at about
twelve noon until four oclock
in the afternoon, snaking and
reaching to most 300 meters in
length. The museum maintains
a desired number of people, and
it closes at six in the evening.
First off, I got a museum
brochure containing the building
plan and the contents per foor.
My reason was simple: to get
acquainted with the building.
Equally important as seeing
the exhibitions and collections,
a PWD like me should know
where the escape routes are (the
stairs, the exits and elevators),
and most of all, the comfort
rooms. Given the sheer number
of people trooping the museum,
plus anything could happen,
safety and comfort is a priority
concern.
The Ground Floor Gallery
features the abstract paintings of
Jana Benitez titled Life Force.
The paintings were all beautiful,
and I got excited. I asked the
guard if I could meet the artist;
she was not around, I was told.
Finally, I got to know her, as I
write this article, from the June
23 Philippine Daily Inquirer issue,
particularly in its Lifestyle Section.
PDI reported that Life Force was
Janas 17
th
solo exhibit and that
she is a US-based Filipino artist,
living in Manhattan; furthermore,
she graduated Magna Cum
Laude in Visual Arts in Brown
University and went to Chile to
pursue a history course at the
Universidad de Chile and Fine
Arts at Universidad de Catolica.
Her painting skills were further
honed in Ecole des Beaux-Arts
in Paris.
The Second Floor Gallery
showcases The Di orama
Exper i ence. Si xt y ( 60)
handcrafted dioramas form
the core of Ayala Museums
hi st ori cal col l ect i ons and
chronicle the rich tapestry of
Philippine history. The exhibition
highlights major events and
themes from prehistoric times
to the recognition of Philippine
Independence by the United
States in 1946. Interestingly,
Diorama numbers 4 and 6
focused on Bi col , namel y:
Pottery Making in Bicol circa
6000 BC, and Metal Forging in
Masbate circa 3190 BC.
Part of t he exhi bi t s i n
this gallery are the Maritime
Vessel s, a one-of -a-ki nd
gallery showcasing miniatures
of the different watercrafts that
plied the Philippine seas and
contributed to the development
of Philippine maritime trade and
colonial economy. Featured
were pre-hispanic sailboat,
Chinese junk, Arabian baghla,
lorcha, galleon also referred to
as the strong castle of the sea,
and caravel, the kind similarly
used by Ferdinand Magellan in
journeying across the Pacifc.
The Third Floor Gallery are
dedicated to changing displays
under the museums exhibition
programs showing Pioneers of
Philippine Art, Images of Nation,
New Frontiers, and Collectors
Series spanning the breadth
of Philippine art from the 18
th

century to the contemporary.
On display were paintings of
Fernando Zobel (of course!).
But I missed those of Juan
Luna, Fernando Amorsolo, and
the other masters, as I was in a
hurry and excited to proceed to
the fourth foor. Why the hurry
and the excitement?
The Fourth Floor Gallery
showcases our treasures.
The exhibition, titled Gold
of Ancestors: Pre-colonial
Treasures in the Philippine,
displays more than one thousand
gold objects that celebrate
the sophi sti cated cul tures
that existed in the Philippines
before the colonization in the
16
th
century. Adornments of
elite individuals and their deities
include a spectacular array of
golden sashes, necklaces,
earrings and finger rings,
bracel et s, and ankl et s.
Hello, girls, also displayed and
highlighted was a chastity
cover in all its golden glory!
Wh e n t h e S p a n i s h
conquistadores arrived in the
Philippines in the 16
th
century,
they encountered cultures with
a highly developed knowledge
of gold. Colonial accounts
describe how even children
could accurately determine the
purity of gold alloys. The early
Filipinos even have terms for
gold, depending on its purity,
like: dalisay, for 24 karats;
ginugulan, 22 karats; hilapo,
20 karats; panangbo, less than
20 karats; panika, 18 karats;
linggingin, 14 karats, and
bislig, 12 karats. Accordingly,
adulterated gold below 12 karats
was not considered as gold, and
simply called tumbaga, from the
Malay word for copper. What
could have been the old terms
for gold being used in Bicol,
other than bulawan, particularly
in the gold-producing towns of
Paracale and Mambulao (now
Jose Panganiban) in Camarines
Norte and in the town of Aroroy,
Masbate? Or, in Caramoan,
Camarines Sur?
Well, part of the treasures
LEGAZPI CITY The
centennial tree measures the
length of your legacy if you
plant a tree, stressed Bicol
University (BU) President
Dr. Fay Lea Patria Lauraya
in an interview when all had
calmed down after the fury
of superhowler typhoon
"Glenda" that struck the Bi-
col region on July 15.
Lauraya could not help
shedding tears when asked
about the 107-year-old acacia
tree, popularly known as the
Centennial Tree or CenTree,
which was uprooted when
Glenda unleashed its wrath
on standing structures along
its path on July 15, leaving a
swath of destruction region-
wide.
"It was already 107 years
old. It was a tree that connect-
ed the inter-generation of all
alumni. Bicol University is just
45 years old, so it means that
all the graduates of BU had
seen it. It was a tree that had
seen many wars, even the Japa-
nese Occupation. It was a tree
that connected all the stories of
alumni and so it is indeed very
sad, very painfu!" said Lau-
raya, as she gently wiped the
tears slowly rolling down her
lightly made up cheeks -- pre-
venting them from falling on
her plain pink dress.
The BU president said she
started her school days at the
BU Laboratory School.
Grief was also very evident
on Dr. Shirley Maloles, Speech
and Theater Arts Department
chair of the BU College of Arts
CENTURY-OLD TREE
MB PHOTO
Glenda spared nothing including this 105-year-old acacia tree
inside the Bicol University compound.
and Letters, when interviewed
by the PNA after the CenTee
succumbed to the blend of
Glenda's pounding winds and
piercing rain.
"I am so sad because that
tree was such a memorable
thing to me, especially in my
high school years when we
were in our CAT way back in
1981. We used to eat in a can-
teen under that tree wherein a
lot of students also took rest
and relaxed. Like a human be-
ing, I think it was time for the
CenTree to take a rest, eternal
rest," the soft-spoken Maloles
said in slow, emphatic man-
ner as she tried to bring back
the memories she had with the
CenTree.
Students of the biggest state
university in the Bicol Region
also mourned upon learning of
the sad fate that befell the tree.
They say that you are not a
true graduate of the Bicol Uni-
versity if you do not know the
CenTree.
John Orbeta, a 5th year
Chemical Engineering student
of the BU College of Engineer-
ing, visited the slumped Cen-
Tree right after the typhoon.
"How sad because we con-
sider it as an iconic view as
it witnessed the start of Bicol
University. It was such an ico-
nography of our school!" Or-
beta uttered as she shook his
head.
The centennial tree had
withstood the heavy punches
of all the strongest typhoons
that had hit the region -- and
(To be continued next issue)
(Turn to page 6)
BIKOL REPORTER 5
JULY 27 - AUG. 2, 2014
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
REGIONAL FIELD OFFICE NO. 5
FINAL DAMAGE REPORT due to Typhoon "GLENDA"
as of July 25, 2014
BICOL
Notes:
* Typhoon Glenda entered the region via the provinces of Sorsogon Albay and Masbate and changed direction from west-
ward to north westward, thus, traversed the whole provinces of Albay and Camarines Sur with maximum sustained winds of
150-185 kph.
* The eye of the typhoon passed several towns/cities in the provinces of Sorsogon (Gubat, Sorsogon City), Albay (Rapu-
rapu, Tabaco City) and and most of the muncipalities in the province of Camarines Sur (as if riding a bus via south road)
leaving behind a trail of destruction (both for agriculture and infrastructure).


Prepared by: Submitted by: Approved by:


EDUARDO L. LOMERIO ELENA B. DELOS SANTOS, Ph.D. ABELARDO R. BRAGAS, RPAE
OIC, Field Operations Division RTD for Operations and Extension OIC, Regional Executive Director
Civil defense offcial cites proactivism
LEGAZPI CITY Offce
of the Civil Defense Bicol
regional director Bernardo
Alejandro IV has cited the
efforts of the different na-
tional and local government
units, private sector and the
residents which he termed
proactivism as the key to
the low turn-out of damage
of typhoon Glenda in the re-
gion.
The proactivism shown
by the different government
units, private sector and the
residents can be credited for
the lesser impacts of typhoon
Glenda to the communities
due to the co-operation and
support to achieve zero ca-
sualty and mitigate ill effects
to properties. These damages
estimated costs would have
been higher without the 'baya-
nihan" spirit among all of us,
sadi Alejandro who also chair
of the Bicol Regional Disaster
Risk Reduction and Manage-
ment Council (RDRRMC),
The Bicol Regional Disater
Risk Reduction Management
Council (BRDRRMC) re-
ported damages to agriculture
and infrastructures in Albay
brought by typhoon Glenda
surged to P2.8 billion.
Albay recorded the
highest agricultural loss
at P1,711,647,869.29 fol-
lowed by Camarines Sur with
P893,110,191.29; Masbate
P120,952,176.41; Camarines
Norte P 88,394,266.16 and
Sorsogon P88,152,899.41.
Catanduanes recorded the
lowest damage on agriculture
at P52,096,622.00.
During the Bicol
RDRRMC meeting, the De-
partment of Agriculture (DA)
Bicol reported that rehabilita-
tion plan for agriculture sec-
tor in the region is now being
implemented.
The rehab plan includes
provision of quality seeds and
planting materials, fertilizer
and pesticides and biologics
for livestock and poultry rais-
ers. 4WD tractors and hand
tractors are also deployed for
land preparation along with
repairs conducted in DA sta-
tion facilities, plant nurseries
and other agri-infras.
Damages in roads, bridges
and other structures in the
province have amounted to
P1,210,017,000.00.
Camarines Sur has re-
corded P139, 245,000.00
while Camarines Norte has
P106, 600,000.00; Sorsogon P
39,400,000.00; Masbate P13,
500,000.00 and Catanduanes
P 1,500,250.00.
Total infra damage in the
region have summed up to P
1,510,262,250.00.
Department of Pub-
lic Works and Highways
(DPWH) said almost all na-
tional roads in the region are
passable except for Tawad-
Balud Road due to damages
Narangasan Bridge.
In Camarines Norte, Gov-
ernor Edgardo Tallado report-
ed that the province had a zero
casualty yet left a destruction
worth some P173.6 million to
infrastructure and agriculture/
fshery sector based on the
initial assessment of the Pro-
vincial Disaster Risk Reduc-
tion Management Offce.
Tallado, who also head
the Provincial Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management
Council, bared a P116.8M-
worth of damages to infra-
structures said the province
incurred a P116.8M-worth of
damages to infrastructures in
both private and public sector
and more than P56.7 M in the
agriculture and fshery sectors.
Meanwhile, the Bureau
of Fisheries and Aquatic Re-
sources (BFAR) in Bicol has
reported an initial damage
on infrastructure and produc-
tion loss to the fshery sector
amounting to P40 million.
The amount is expected to
increase once data from other
areas reached the regional of-
fce.
Based on its initial assess-
ment, Masbate reported an
initial damage of P18M; Ca-
marines Sur with an estimated
damage of P10M; Catand-
uanes, P5.5M; Albay, P3M;
Sorsogon, P3M; and Cama-
rines Norte, P1M.
The Offce of Civil
Defense(OCD) on the other
hand reported that four people
died and 176 were injured as a
result of typhoon Glenda.
OCD Regional Director
Raffy Alejandro said the 176
injured were residents of Sor-
sogon, Camarines Sur, Albay,
Camarines Norte and Masbate,
based on the report from the
Department of Health (DOH)
submitted by the different
hospitals and other medical
facilities in the region.
A total of 39,570 houses
were totally destroyed while
155,211 were partially dam-
aged, based on the reports
coming from the local gov-
ernment units.
Most parts in the region
still experience lack of pow-
er due to damaged electric
posts, with a total 1,469,719
individuals affected while
water supply is also affect-
ed due to damages in water
lines and absence of elec-
tricity.
Classes have resumed
in both public and private
schools, while main roads are
now passable although the
Department of Public Works
and Highways have been
continuously on clearing ope-
rations.
Albay power to normalize
in 2-3 months: Supplier
By APRIL M. MIER
LEGAZPI CITY -- The
whole province of Albay
would have to wait for at
least two to three months
for the full restoration of
the power supply after Ty-
phoon "Glenda."
"Based on our assessment,
the restoration of backbone
lines would take until the end
of July but it would be two to
three months for the whole
system to fully function,"
said Engr. Russell James Ser-
rano, chief of the Technical
Operations and Maintenance
Division of the Albay Power
and Energy Corp. (APEC).
Backbone lines are poles
or posts which are connected
within the main road wherein
hospitals, schools, central
business districts and institu-
tions are located.
An initial report after the
clearing operations showed
a total of 321 poles from
Branch 1 in Tabaco City,
Branch 2 in Legazpi City and
Branch 3 in Ligao City have
been damaged.
"We have deployed 12
teams in the whole province
to restore the supply as fast as
we could," Serrano added.
According to Jane Ro-
gando, head of the APEC
Customer Service, as of now
they are still coordinating
with the barangays in the
whole province to assess all
the damages.
"The restoration would
take long for lateral lines in
every barangay until we fn-
ish the assessment," Rogando
stressed.
Most of the rural areas in
Albay do not have electricity
yet due to damaged transmis-
sion lines and power facili-
ties. -- PNA
BIKOL REPORTER 6
JULY 27 - AUG. 2, 2014
NAME OF DECEASED DATE OF INTERMENT
PACITA A. TUSI July 4, 2014 1.
ERLINDA G. CORRAL July 5, 2014 2.
GOYENA V. GRAGEDA July 5, 2014 3.
FELIX B. BARJA JR. July 6, 2014 4.
ROMEO A. DE LA VEGA SR. July 8, 2014 5.
LEOPOLDO V. VERDADERO SR. July 12, 2014 6.
AGAPITO C. CANTRE July 12, 2014 7.
ALCANA, NONITO C. July 19, 2014 8.
ANTIOQUIA, LEONORA G. July 19, 2014 9.
TINDUGAN, MARCELA C. July 21, 2014 10.
BORRE, MIGUEL C. July 24, 2014 11.
BORBOR, MARIA S. July 24, 2014 12.
BOLANTE, BENITA R. July 25, 2014 13.
ANGELES, JAIME S. July 26, 2014 14.
LOPEZ, VIRGINIA Y. July 26, 2014 15.
FURISCAL, JR., ANACLETO. July 28, 2014 16.
For JULY
Balatas Road, Brgy. Balatas, Naga City
Ang leksiyon ng hataw
By IMELDA B. ANTONIO
Teacher III, Sipocot South Central School
Makulay na bahagi na ng kultura natin ang masasayat
masisiglang pagdiriwang ng mga espesyal na araw ng isang
pamayanan. Lalo pang tumitingkad ang selebrasyon dahil sa
ibat-ibang pagtatanghal at paligsahan na sinasalihan naman
ng halos lahat ng sektor ng komunidad. Dito sa amin sa Sipo-
cot, naging masaya ang pagdiriwang ng Foundation Day ng
bayan noong ika-3 ng Hulyo, at higit pa itong pinarikit ng mga
cultural presentations, parada, at iba pang okasyon kung saan
lalong naipamalas ang pagkamalikhain ng mga estudyante at
kaguruan.
Naging abala ang mga kabataan sa majorettes and drum
and lyre competition samantalang ang kanilang mga guro
namay bigay-todo sa Hataw Dance Exercise na nilahukan na-
man ng ibat-ibang paaralan at mga tanggapan ng gobyerno sa
bayan ng Sipocot. Sa Hataw, pursigido ang lahat na manalo
o di kayay makapasok sa top 3, kayat naging puspusan ang
pagsasanaydapat maging maayos at maganda ang galaw
ng bawat isa.
Sa lahat ng ito, ang mga guro ng Sipocot South Central
School (SSCS) ay may espesyal na mithiin: ang mapana-
tili ang pagiging kampeon sa Hataw, dahil kami ang nanalo
nang nakaraang taon. Sa bawat isa sa amin, ito ay mabigat na
hamon. Ngunit ang pinakamalaking tungkulin para sa akin ay
ang gampanan ang pagiging kalahok habang nakatinging nag-
mamasid ang aming mga mag-aaral. Batid kong bawat isa sa
kanila ay umaasat naniniwala na ang mga iginagalang nilang
guromga titser nila sa loob ng klasrumay mag-uuwing muli
sa kanila ng karangalang inaasam.
July 2 nang naganap ang pinakahihintay naming patim-
palak sa sayaw. Tiyak ko na bawat kalahok ay nagpamalas
ng kagalingan sa pag-indak na naaayon sa batayan ng mga
hurado. Alas nuwebe noon ng umaga sa loob ng Mariano Vil-
lafuerte Coliseum, pinag-igihan namin ang pagpapamalas ng
kakayahan at tibay sa Hataw Dance Exercise.
Natapos ang lahat ng pagtatanghal. Magagaling ang lahat
ng mga kalahok. Para sa akin, walang itulak-kabigin. Lahat
maaaring manalo, kung kaya naman gayon na lamang ang
kaba sa aming mga dibdib, halos hindi humihinga sa panan-
abik na malaman kung sino ang nagwagi. Bumalik sa alaala
ang mga araw ng ensayo, ang makukulit na biruan sa gitna
ng pagod sa praktis, at muli ring nakita ang mga mag-aaral na
umaasa.
Nakamit namin ang ikatlong gantimpala. Naagaw sa amin
ang pagiging champion. Malungkot sa una.
Ngunit kung iisipin, hingi naman talaga iyon isang kabiguan.
May isang leksiyon na dala ang naganap na pagtatanghal, ang
simpleng pagsayaw sa Hataw Dance Exercise. Panalo man o
hindi, ang pagpapamalas ng kakayahan ng mga guro sa ka-
nilang mga estudyante ay isang hindi-matatawarang paraan
ng pagbabahagi ng kaalaman. Hindi lang naman sa loob ng
klasrum nangyayari ang pagtuturo, di ba? Tulad ng mga aral
na laman ng araw-araw nating leksiyon sa harap ng klase, ang
wika, numero, kasaysayan, agham, sining, at iba pang asig-
natura ay nabibigyang buhay sa pamamagitan ng pa-tanghal
na pagpapasaksi o performative demonstration. May higit na
mabisang pagtuturo pa nga ba kaysa pagiging buhay na hal-
imbawa?
Hindi nakamit ng SSCS ang unang puwesto sa Hataw
Dance Exercise, ngunit hindi doon nagtapos ang pagnanais
naming magtagumpay. Dahil sa pangyayari, lalong naging
matatag at buo ang loob ng aming mga estudyante sa ginanap
na Majorettes and Drum and Lyre Competition nang sumunod
na araw, July 3. Naging inspirasyon ng mga kabataan ang pag-
pupunyagi ng kanilang mga guro at lalo nilang pinagbutihan
ang pagtatanghal.
Sa kabila ng init, pagod, at hirap ng pinagdaanang mga
pagsasanay, dahil sa determinasyon, naging ma-sining ang
kanilang galaw, naging masaya ang kanilang musika, at may
disiplina ang ritmo ng bawat nilang pagtambol.
Nakamit ng mga mag-aaral ng Sipocot South Central School
ang unang gantimpala sa paligsahang iyon.
Sa lahat ng ito, bilang isang gurong tumugon sa tawag na
maglinang ng kabataan, nakita ko ang isang bagong halaga
ng salitang pagpapamalas. Hindi madaling gampanan ang
hamon na maging isang halimbawa para sa mga kabataan.
Ang pagsayaw o paghataw ay isang simpleng ehemplo la-
mang, marami pang mas mahihirap na paraan. Ngunit ang
maging tagapagbigay-buhay ditokung saan buo at kong-
kreto ang aralay hindi mahihigitan. Hindi lamang ako nag-
babahagi ng kaalaman sa kabataan, kundi nagbabahagi ako
ng aking buhay.
UNEP prexy congratulates 2014 Student Gov't Offcers
With the new set of dy-
namic and self-motivated
students now leading the Uni-
versity of Northeastern Phil-
ippines (UNEP) University
Student Government (USG),
the management believes
that UNEPians will continue
to take on the responsibility
of being a responsible parcel
of their community, promot-
ing a well-balanced environ-
ment while ensuring that the
universitys mission and goal
is achieved.
Elected USG President this
year is John Khevin Gambal
who believes that the voice
of the youth is one enor-
mous power enough to create
change. Gambal, also a univer-
sity achiever envisions an em-
powered studentry who is not
afraid to take on the challenges
of improving the lives of his
co-students.
With Gambal is Clinton Es-
pallardo who was elected Vice
President. Other USG offcers
include: Froilan Celetaria
Secretary; Lovely Shena Ab-
alla Treasurer; and Romar
Belen- Auditor.
Espallardo, Celetaria and
Belen formerly served as last
years USG Senators and have
now inched their way to fulfll
a bigger role in promoting the
vision of the school. UNEP
envisions a well-rounded in-
dividual, able to pursue sound
decisions and is spiritually and
morally-enriched.
Aside from the top USG Of-
fcers, eight (8) Senators were
also selected to help the USG
formulate development pro-
grams for their organization.
They are Jennifer Dura, John
Rey Buena, Jinky Quiquino,
John Michael Manaog, Kath-
erine Princess Vista, Jessica
Tampuco, Aggie Zephaniah
Gonowon and Carla Praxides.
Also elected representa-
tives were Laurence Carel (Ed-
ucation), Karl Mark Bacsain
(CBED), Danielle Penelope
Jebulan (CAS) , Bernadette Ibo
(Maritime Education), Gina
Gigante (CEA), Jane Lagdaan
( TTHM), Ian Carl Angallon (
Nursing) and Larize Zamudio (
Criminology).
Gambal, together with the
other USG Offcers pledged to
uphold the students active par-
ticipation, particularly in the
successful implementation of
the programs being initiated by
the university. As offcers, he
said, they have the primary ob-
ligation to ensure that the stu-
dents concerns will be heard
and acted on.
UNEP President Atty.
Remelisa Alfelor-Moraleda
congratulated the new set of
offcers and expressed her
confdence that they will be
able to affect positive change
in the lives of the student and
the entire UNEP community
as well.
Should the resolutions be ap-
proved, SSS and GSIS member
borrowers can be granted a one
year loan installment deferral
while SSS pensioners can have
three months advance payment
of their pensions.
Eligible members of HDMF
can also be granted an incremen-
tal cash fow of P150, 000.00 for
automatic approval as home im-
provement loan.
It also appeals to the Al-
bay Power Energy Corporation
(APEC) and telecommunication
companies operating in the prov-
ince to expedite the rehabilitation
and restoration of their services
in the entire province within two
weeks after the typhoon struck
last July 15.
APEC in particular is re-
quested to increase its restora-
tion team from existing 12 to 20
ALBAY PUSHES FOR RECOVERY . . .
teams through outsourcing.
Other sectors represented
by PAGERR cluster members
are agriculture/agrifacilities and
food security, health and health
facilities, housing,settlements
and livelihood; public infrastruc-
ture, education, DRR agencies,
hazard review and update and
environmental protection.
Cluster representatives tasked
to assess need, identify benefcia-
ries and implement projects for
recovery and rehabilitation of
their resuspends seven.
Day May 1 (Friday); Indepen-
dence Day June 12 (Friday);
National Heroes Day -- August
31 (last Monday of August);
Bonifacio Day November 30
(Monday); Christmas Day De-
cember 25 (Friday); and Rizal
Day December 30 (Wednes-
day).
Special (Non-Working)
Days: Chinese New Year Feb-
ruary 19 (Thursday); Black Sat-
urday April 4; Ninoy Aquino
Day August 21 (Friday); and
All Saints Day November 1
(Sunday)
Additional Special Non-
Working Days: January 2 (Fri-
MALACANANG ISSUES . . .
day); December 24 (Thursday);
and December 31 (Thursday)
Special Holiday (for all
schools): EDSA Revolution
Anniversary February 25
(Wednesday)
The proclamations declaring
national holidays for the obser-
vance of Eidl Fitr and Eidul
Adha shall be issued, however,
after the dates have been deter-
mined in accordance with the
Islamic calendar.
The National Commission on
Muslim Filipinos is tasked to in-
form the Offce of the President
on which days the two holidays
will fall. -- PND
de Lima, Presidential Com-
munications Operations Offce
Secretary Herminio Coloma,
Jr., Tourism Secretary Ramon
Jimenez, Presidential Adviser
on the Peace Process Teresita
Deles, National Economic De-
velopment Authority Chief Ar-
senio Balisacan, Social Welfare
Secretary Dinky Soliman, and
Environment and Natural Re-
sources Secretary Ramon Paje,
Also present were Budget
Secretary Florencio Abad, TES-
DA Director General Joel Vil-
lanueva, Agriculture Secretary
Virgilio Delos Reyes, Labor and
P-NOY HIGHLIGHTS . . .
Employment Secretary Rosal-
inda Baldoz, Defense Secretary
Voltaire Gazmin, DOST Sec-
retary Mario Montejo, CHED
Secretary Patricia Licuanan,
DOTC Secretary Emilio Abaya,
Education Secretary Br. Armin
Luistro, DILG Secretary Manu-
el Roxas, DFA Secretary Albert
Del Rosario Rehabilitation and
Recovery Secretary Ping Lac-
son, Chairman of the Commit-
tees on Agriculture and Social
Justice in the Senate Francis
Pangilinan, Presidential Man-
agement Staff Chief Julia Abad
and Presidential Spokesperson
at third with 870,200 population
in 2010 which will have 960,600
population in 2015.
Sorsogon registered 803,400
population four years ago
which is expected to increase to
889,900 next year. Camarines
Nortes totaled 564,000 in 2010
and will rise to 614,300 next
year. Catanduanes remains as
the less populated province in
Bicol with only 255,800 popula-
tion in 2010 and expects to have
an increase of 277,500 in 2015.
The 2010 Census of Popula-
tion and Housing (2010 CPH)
was undertaken by the National
Statistics Offce in May-June
2010 pursuant to Batas Pamban-
sa Blg. 72 and Commonwealth
Act 591. About 82,000 feld-
RP HITS 100M POPULATION . . .
workers, majority of who were
DepEd public school teachers,
were deployed during the nation-
wide census taking in 2010. The
2010 CPH was designed to take
an inventory of the population
and housing units in the Philip-
pines nationwide and to collect
information about their char-
acteristics. Information on the
count of the population and liv-
ing quarters were collected with
12:01 a.m. of May 1, 2010 as the
census reference time and date.
For the meantime, the coun-
try awaits to hear the frst cry
of the 100 millionth baby as
Abellera referred to as a happy
as well as challenging demo-
graphic moment in the lives of
Filipinos.
only Glenda knocked it down.
Lauraya is now calling
on the university alumni
to share ideas on how to
preserve what is left of the
fallen tree.
"We will not cut it and we are
thinking of how to still make it
meaningful and memorable.
We are thinking of putting a
portion or panel of the tree in
every offce in the school," the
BU president added.
Based on her plans, every
panel of the tree to be dis-
played in an offce will be la-
Edwin Lacierda.
All Cabinet members were
wearing yellow ribbons, show-
ing solidarity amid criticisms
against the administration in-
volving the DAP, which the Su-
preme Court declared partially
unconstitutional.
Vice President Jejomar Bi-
nay was also present as well as
former President Fidel V. Ra-
mos.
The Presidents ffth State
of the Nation Address was at-
tended by about 2,000 guests,
composed of members of the
16th Congress, Supreme
Court justices, members of
the Diplomatic Corps, Cabi-
net secretaries, other national
government officials, and in-
vited guests.
The Presidents address
lasted 1 hour and 31 minutes,
drawing applause 86 times. --
PND
BICOL U MOURNS CENTENNIAL . . .
beled with "1907-2014, this is
the length of your legacy if you
plant a tree."
The iconic tree fell on the
road side near the BU-College
of Nursing.
Aside from the centennial
tree, lots of big trees inside the
campus have also been dam-
aged.
Until now school authori-
ties are consolidating reports to
assess the extent of damages of
Glenda on the school -- aside
from the death of a legacy. -
April M. Mier
BIKOL REPORTER 7
JULY 27 - AUG. 2, 2014
Eurotel celebrates 8th anniversary
When we talk of a fast
growing company in the hotel
industry, it is indeed EURO-
TEL! EUROTEL is the fast-
est growing businessmans
hotel in the Philippines hav-
ing 9 Eurotel Hotel branches,
2 acquired Hotels (ATRIUM
and APO VIEW) and 2 other
Hotel Brands (ICON HO-
TEL and DREAM HOTEL)
in just eight (8) years. There
are more branches to open for
2014, targeting 10 more by the
year end.
EUROTEL HOTELS are
strategically located. 1 in
Araneta Cubao, 2nd in Front
of Southmall Las Pinas, 3rd in
Pedro Gil (Beside Robinsons
Mall), 4th in Makati (Near
Waltermart), 5th is Across SM
North Edsa, 6th in Baguio City
(Near City Hall), 7th in Ange-
les City (Across SM Clark),
8th in Boracay (Station2) and
9th our very own in Naga City
(Naga-Centro, Peoples Mar-
ket)
Eurotels eighth (8
th
) year
anniversary themed as Euro-
tel Xenian Awards was held
last June 26
,
2014 at the LE
PARC PARTY VENUE in
Pasay City (near MOA), hosted
by none other than the debo-
nair, MR. JOHNNY LITTON.
It was indeed an EVENT NOT
TO MISS that featured EURO-
TELs AVP presentation and
live production number headed
by our Managing Director Mr.
William M. Go with Sector
Heads Mr. Cesar C. Canabal
and Mr. Miguel E. Lalim along
with Eurotel, Dream and Icon
Managers entitled OUR 8
th

YEAR MILESTONES AS
WE GO THE DISTANCE,
arranged and directed by Ms.
Ruby Bactad (Eurotel Hotel
Manager) and Charlie. The
International Youth Fellow-
ship (IYF) Korean Dance and
the Foxtrot by Ms. Neng Mar-
tinez (Eurotel Sales Directress)
graced the show. Songs from
Little Lhiam (the sweet daugh-
ter of Eurotel Asst. Sales Man-
ager Ms Kristen Bitanga) who
won the heart of Mr. Litton for
her magical voice, CHARLIE,
and MS. RADA put more fre
in the celebration.
Everyone wore black and
white joined by our invited
stake holders and partners, in-
cluding suppliers, contractors,
Ms. Cory Quirino and our very
own GNN TV Naga. There
were about 22 LOYALTEE
AWARDEES for 5 and 10 years
stay with corresponding gifts
and cash rewards. The MAIN
EVENT of the night was the
awarding of the EMPLOYEE
OF THE YEAR 2013, OF-
FICER OF THE YEAR 2013
and MANAGER OF THE
YEAR 2013 with take home
appliances, gift packs, gift cer-
tifcates and cash prizes that
ranged between 20,000.00 to
50,000.00 in giant East West
Bank Checks.
This is one among other
events of Eurotel that touches
the hearts of our employees
and their families. The top
3 nominees were allowed to
bring their immediate families
to witness the nomination and
awarding. With this event, we
aim to have the help of their
families to further support and
encourage their sons/ daughters
or wife/ husband to do well in
their chosen feld of expertise,
being hoteliers.
The night was concluded
with congratulatory remarks to
all winners, photo op at the Eu-
rotel Xenian Wall, dancing and
more cocktail drinks.
Stay updated with Eurotels
upcoming events and featured
promo. Log in to www.eurotel-
hotel.com. Like us on FB and
Follow us on Twitter!
Visit sites. http://eurotel-
hotel.blogspot.com/2013/10/
eurotel-hotels-our-branches-
our.html, http://www.eurotel-
hotel.com/, https://twitter.com/
myeurotel?fref=ts
Not any coconut plantation
in Bicol, which includes Cat-
anduanes, has been detected by
now to be affected by the pest
that has been creating troubles
in Southern Tagalog provinces,
PCA Regional Director Mateo
Zipagan on Friday said.
And while it is not impossi-
ble for cocolisap to reach Bicol
when dispersed by the wind,
Zipagan said his offce and lo-
cal government authorities have
been keeping defenses fortifed
and making sure that it does not
stage a surprise attack.
Also known as aspidiotus
destructor signoret (Hemiptera:
Diaspididae), CSI are small in-
sects which are plant parasites
that usually cause problems not
only in coconut nurseries and
young palms but also among
those that are already bearing
nuts.
Its enigmatic nature, which
is very small and remains unde-
tected for long periods dur-
ing which it rapidly multiplies
before infested leaves show
signs of yellowing, is a big
problem being encountered by
PCA in dealing with this pest,
according to Zipagan.
On infested coconut plants,
these insects reside underneath
the leaves of young palms while
in affected bearing palms, they
are found not only at the un-
derside of the leaves but also
on the surface of the fruits and
petioles.
These insect pests cause
yellowing or chlorosis, wilting,
premature nutfall and low yield
because they continuously si-
phon off the plant sap with their
PCA ALLAYS 'COCOLISAP' FEARS . . .
specialized mouth parts.
Thick sooty molds grow
on the honeydew excreted by
these insects, preventing pho-
tosynthesis.
In the process, coconut trees
die because CSIs block leaf
pores, preventing leaves from
producing nutrients for the
tree.
So far, according to the
PCA regional chief, coconut
plants in Bicol, particularly in
Camarines Norte -- the regions
province closest to Southern
Tagalog, remain free of the pest
and the news that broke out in
Catanduanes about its alleged
infestation in some plantations
in the island was false.
What actually affects coco-
nut plants in Catanduanes as
well as in some parts of Bicol
that the PCA is now actually
attending to is brontispa (coco-
nut leaf beetle), another plant-
devastating insect that feasts on
young coconut leaves, Zipagan
said.
Some 18,000 hectares of co-
conut lands representing about
15 percent of the provinces
plantations are affected by this
pest, he noted.
It will not be easy for CSI
to be carried by the wind and
cross Maqueda Bay to reach
Catanduanes but still, coconut
trees in the island can be af-
fected through birds that feed
on the insects and fy to the is-
land, he said.
To make sure that cocolisap
does not stage a surprise at-
tack on Bicols coconuts, Zi-
pagan said, an awareness cam-
paign has been put in place by
his offce in partnership with
local government units (LGUs),
initially in Camarines Norte.
The local media have also
been tapped to help in the infor-
mation dissemination drive to
make the farmers more aware
on how to combat the possible
infestation, Zipagan said.
And to arm Bicol with ef-
fective anti-cocolisap fghting
tools, the PCA regional chief
said, mass breeding of preda-
tory coccinellids (Cryptolemus
and Telsimia) beetles that eat
scale insects in the affected ar-
eas is also ongoing.
We will release these pred-
ators once the CSI is detected
in any part of Bicol, he said.
On the other hand, the Al-
bay Research Center (ARC),
the study arm of PCA based in
Guinobatan, Albay, is looking
for sustainable long-term solu-
tions -- one of which is biologi-
cal control.
This initiative is being col-
laborated by ARC with the
Bureau of Plant Industrys
Plant Quarantine Service and
National Crop Protection Cen-
ter, both of the Department of
Agriculture.
CSI infestation started in
some parts of Southern Taga-
log Region in 2012 with a 3.62-
percent infestation.
Last year, the pest was de-
tected in Quezon Province and
latest PCA reports said that
as much as 10 percent of co-
conut plantations in the area
has been so far damaged, with
the amount of industry losses
placed at around Php 170 mil-
lion.
The same reports said the
infestation is now nearing the
doorsteps of Bicol as few areas
are already affected in Tagk-
awayan, a town that borders
Camarines Norte.
As another counter-mea-
sure, Zipagan said his offce
has set up a quarantine area
at Barangay Tabugon, Sta.
Elena, Camarines Norte, to
monitor the entry of coconut
products.
A one-kilometer-wide buf-
fer zone straddling the Que-
zon-Bicol border has also been
set up and monitored daily by
technicians while more than
24,000 of the yellow-black
beetles have been released into
the feld to help control the in-
festation in some areas.
Presidential Assistant on
Food Security and Agricultural
Modernization Francis Pan-
gilinan has already created a
national task force to look into
and implement necessary
measures to address infesta-
tion, with Malacaang au-
thorizing the use of Php 700
million from the coco levy
fund in the fight. -- PNA
RUSH SALE
HOUSE and LOT
* Lot Area: 1,189 square meters
* Floor Area : 800 square meters
* 2 master bedrooms with jakuzi
* 3 guest rooms w/ CR & bathroom
* 1 driver bedroom w/ CR & bathroom
* With swimming pool
Along Panganiban Avenue, Naga City
Please contact: 0919-2822-901, 0921-318-3720
BIKOL REPORTER 8
JULY 27 - AUG. 2, 2014
BIKOL REPORTER
REGIONAL EXPONENT FOR PROGRESS
OUTSTANDING LOCAL NEWSPAPER
For Five Consecutive Years by the St. Peter
Baptist Catholic Mass Media Awards
8 JULY 27-AUG. 2, 2014
Loans for SSS, Pag-IBIG,
GSIS members still on
Albay pushes for recovery
BACK TO BASICS
JMTS/ARCILLA/REYES
Architect Andre K. Lim, known as the Father of Natural Farming, travelled from Davao City to
Camarines Sur to promoted the adoption of Natural Farming System and Technology here in
the province.
Over a thousand students came for the simultaneous Special
Screening of Dukit flm at SM Cinema last Friday July 25, 2014.
The schools who participated in the activity are Ateneo De
Naga University, Universidad De Sta. Isabel and Central Bicol
State University for Agriculture. The Dukit flm, an inspiring
true story of a wood carver has garnered many awards from
last year's Metro Manila Film Fest which include Best New
Wave Film, New Wave Best Picture, Best New Wave Film
Director and New Wave Best Actor.
SM City Naga's assistant mall manager Jeannette De Vera,
award winning Indie flm Director Brillante Mendoza and
Senior Vice President for Marketing Communications Millie
Dizon during the Launching of Dukit at SM City Naga last
Thursday July 24, 2014. Dukit is a flm produced by Mendoza
and directed by Director Bing Lao his mentor.
CARD reports Typhoon Glenda efforts
DOLE Bicol to hire
7,700 workers
When typhoon Glenda
hit Luzon and Visayas, in-
cluding the head offce of
CARD MRI in San Pablo,
Laguna, it left the areas
in clutter, with power and
communication down,
and CARD members in
distress.
However, the Disaster
Response team of CARD
MRI immediately set up
repacking stations in San
Pablo City to respond ur-
gently to the relief goods
needs of its clients in Ma-
nila, Cavite, Laguna, Ba-
tangas and nearby Quezon
towns.
Other relief operation
centers were also organized
in Lucena and other parts
of Quezon, Samar, Central
Luzon and Marinduque
through the LCC Mall,
which is CARDs source of
pre-packed goods for distri-
bution points in Sorsogon,
Legaspi, Pili, Naga, Labo
and Masbate.
CARD MBA, Inc. and
CaMIA, the insurance
arms of CARD MRI, to-
gether with the operations
staff of the CARD finan-
cial institutions in the af-
fected areas will also con-
duct validation or PAID
plan and re-house for im-
mediate payment of claims
from its members.
LEGAZPI CITY-
DOLE-Bicol targets to
hire a total of 7,700 dis-
placed workers or at least
10% of the total number
of families evacuated in
the entire Region most of
whom come from Albay.
The workers will be
paid by DOLE-Bicol under
its Tulong Alalay sa Ating
Disadvantage Workers
(TUPAD) program which
has a P25M budget alloca-
tion.
DOLE Bicol regional di-
rector Nathaniel V. Lacam-
bra said the program will
focus on Albay since it is
the hardest hit area here in
Bicol.
He said that the workers
to be hired will come from
the list of evacuees from the
most devastated or those la-
beled priority as identifed
by the RDRRMC and the
Albay Provincial Safety and
Emergency Management
Offce (APSEMO) headed
by Albay governor Joey
Sarte Salceda.
Based on the RDRRMC
records, in Albay alone,
there were 62,951 families
evacuated with 308,046 per-
sons from 160 Barangays. In
the initital meeting between
DOLE-Bicol and APSEMO
on July 17, it was agreed that
the APSEMO will be the one
to identify the areas and the
benefciaries needing the
most assistance.
Members of three govern-
ment owned and controlled
corporations (GOCC) can
still avail of the emergency
and calamity loans offered
by these agencies.
Pag-IBIG members can
avail of as much as 80 per-
cent of their individual total
contributions which will be
payable within 2 years with
an interest rate of 5.95% per
annum.
The Pag-IBIG branch
office on Roxas Avenue
(Diversion Road), here,
which is housed at the 2nd
floor of Puregold, caters to
member-beneficiaries in
this city and the provinces
of Camarines Sur and Ca-
marines Norte.
On the other hand, GSIS
members can avail of an emer-
gency loan of P20,000, pay-
able in 3 years on a monthly
installments at 6 percent per
annum computed in advance.
Initial payment for the
loan shall start three months
after the drawdown of the
loan, thus the frst monthly
amortization shall be due on
or before the 10th day of the
third month after the draw-
down of the loan and every
month thereafter until the
loan is paid.
For its part, the SSS is of-
fering a Salary Loan Early
Renewal (SLER) for its mem-
bers who are self-employed
or working with private com-
panies.
SLER allows eligible
members to apply for a loan
amounting to or equivalent
to the amount of money they
paid for their existing sal-
ary loan. Thus, members
who are paying their loan
for 36 months can renew a
one-month salary loan, while
those paying for 72 months,
can avail a two-month salary
loan.
By SALLY ATENTO-ALTEA
LEGAZPI CITY The
province of Albay is push-
ing for speedy economic re-
covery and reconstruction
despite the severe damage
brought by typhoon Glenda
which stayed almost sta-
tionary over the province
for about seven hours with
wind of 140-180 kph last
July 14-15.
Right after declaring the
province under state of ca-
lamity, Albay governor Joey
Salceda ordered an execu-
tive order creating the Plan
for Albay Glenda Early Re-
covery and Reconstruction
(PAGERR) as the priority
program of the province for
immediate socio-economic
recovery and reconstruction.
The PAGERR is orga-
nized as the recovery and re-
habilitation committee com-
posed of several sectors to
address speedy recovery and
reconstruction and to meet
the basic economic and sub-
sistence need of the people
affected by the typhoon,
Salceda said.
The governor included
the economic cluster as one
of the groups comprising the
committee.
The group is chaired by
Department of Trade and In-
dustry (DTI) director Digs
Aguilar and co-chaired by
Provincial Planning and De-
velopment offcer Macario
Pavia.
The economic sectors
group is tasked to ensure im-
mediate restoration of lifeline
facilities and critical resourc-
es on telecommunication
damaged by typhoon Glenda
and ensure livelihood oppur-
tunities to affected populace,
Salceda cited in the resolu-
tion.
Carrying out this task, the
group adopted and endorsed
resolutions to the Sangguni-
ang Panlalwigan to facilitate
the immediate recovery of
the economic sector and meet
the basic economic and sub-
sistence need of affected Al-
bayanos.
The resolutions seek the
assistance of the Social Se-
curity System (SSS), Gov-
ernment Service Insurance
System (GSIS) and Home
Development Mutual Fund
(HDMF) as government f-
nancing institutions to in-
fuse more money in circula-
tion to pump prime the local
economy and bring back the
economic momentum Albay
has gained prior to the ty-
phoon.
Should the resolution be
approved, eligible members
of HDMF can be granted
an incremental cash fow of
P150, 000.00 for automatic
approval as home improve-
ment loan.
(Turn to page 6)