Forgive my ignorance

By Susan Palmes / September 12, 2006

WHAT happened during the Saturday meeting of the Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC) board was, for me, an experience worth talking about.

Since this year, the COPC board regularly meets in different places of the city. Last Saturday, the venue was Hotel Koresco at the Pueblo de Oro Golf Estates. I must admit that the hotel’s facilities are something new to me. The facilities are designed for comfort––that is, if one knows how they function.

Maricel Casino-Rivera and I went to the restroom. What we saw inside was fit for kings and queens, not ordinary mortals like me. I pushed one of the buttons at the side of a bowl and immediately, water gushed forth like the fountain at the park near the provincial capitol. I panicked and I was worried. I was worried because of my ignorance. The spot where I was was wet, too, and I had thought I would be billed for my ignorance. I asked Maricel to help me because the water kept on flowing. Later, an attendant arrived and stopped the water and mopped the mess.

I was wet and cold when the sumptuous lunch was served. Of course, the hi-tech restroom became the topic. It was later explained by the manager, Mely Olarte, that toilet user was supposed to stay seated and that if he or she pushes any of the buttons and immediately stand up, chances are, he or she would find himself or herself soaked. The group was informed that this was a first in the city.

So if you have a transaction at Koresco and decide to go to the toilet, just sit and enjoy because its bowls are programmed to clean you, according to director Ruffy Magbanua of Transco.

Olarte says it was because of the connections and tireless effort of Mayor Vicente Emano that the hotel was built. She says Emano did a great job in persuading Koreans, with the help of President Arroyo, into constructing Koresco here.

‘‘We make people special" is the hotel’s motto, and I find it appropriate given that its chairman, Ko Suk Koo, has established hotels and resorts worldwide.

It is nice to know that the hotel employs 70 Cagayanons, all of whom are enjoying privileges from the company.

The hotel’s occupancy rate during lean months is 60 percent and that is not bad. I believe it has captured the Korean market in the city.

Too bad, the hotel reserved a room for President Arroyo during her recent visit here but the country’s leader did not stay overnight.

The rich aroma of something Korean fills the rooms. Add to this is the panoramic view of the golf course, which to me, is the best feature of the hotel.

Lucky, Mike Banos, a director of the press club who went home with a prize equivalent to some P5 thousand courtesy of Koresco.

The fisherfolk are worried

By Susan Palmes / September 7, 2006

LAST week, members of Kahugpungan sa Mananagat sa Macajalar Bay (Kasamma Bay) held a forum here and expressed apprehensions over the rationalization plan that, if implemented, would reduce the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ functions to information and education work instead of continuing its mandate of increasing food production. I say that people have reasons to be worried.

This rationalization plan is another form of politicking. I disagree because BFAR should not be reduced to a mere staff bureau. Tell that to the politicos.

Republic Act 8550 transformed the BFAR in 1998 into a line bureau of the Department of Agriculture tasked to focus on the sustainable management of fisheries and on people empowerment. We have seen the results of this.

Now, Manila is joking! Imperial Manila’s people think their plan is best for the provinces. What a shame because I really doubt if the group of Secretary Panganiban has consulted people in the provinces about what they really want.

In the same forum, Lolong Condeza of Gingoog City said people like him are against the plan because a move like that would adversely affect the fisherfolk. I have no reason not to believe him because he is in the best position to say this being a direct stakeholder. He is a fisherman and Secretary Panganiban is not.

So there is really a need for the fishermen to rally and lobby against this plan. The local governments also need to act and support the fishermen’s cause.

Based on the so-called rationalization plan, BFAR will be reverted back from a line bureau to a staff bureau to be supervised by the DA. Under the setup, the bureau would no longer be autonomous. BFAR would lose its regulatory functions that would be carried out by a new office.

BFAR director Arlene Pantonosas was teary eyed during the forum as she explained that production and preservation are two different things. In my simple understanding, the two should go hand in hand.

Pantanosas knows what she was talking about. She grew near a river in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, and had fishermen as neighbors. Which is why she knows full well that there is a need to strengthen and protect this sector. Instead of turning BFAR into a mere staff office, the government should turn it into a Department of Fisheries.

•

I was touched during the ‘‘Community Leaders’ Conference: Sharing Lessons and Inspiration (A Contribution to Peace and Development in Mindanao)’’ at Searsolin last Aug. 29. There, the participants thanked Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from Korea because of the help extended to their communities as well as to local partners from Xavier University and non-government organizations.

Present during the conference were Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, XU president Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin and the Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, 2002 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Peace and International Understanding.

Pomnyun Sunim founded the Join Together Society which is dedicated in fighting famine, diseases and illiteracy. It is involved in relief and rehabilitation work based on the principles of JungTo (Blessed Land). He was a 2002 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee. It was Bishop Tony Ledesma who invited him to Mindanao. Together, they built schools and extended other services to the public. Local governments also helped, proving that team effort can really build communities. Congratulations.

Compliment in disguise

By Susan Palmes / August 10, 2006

BETTER late than never.

Since July 24 was an important day for me, I had to reschedule appointments. It behooved upon any citizen, including myself, to listen to President GMA not only because of my editor’s instruction for me to gather reactions but because I am a concerned citizen of this country. I told myself: I have listened to her past ‘‘Sonas’’ and I will do it again today––what would she be saying again today? This time might be different so the hell with my appointments!

I was in a hurry to look for a place where I can comfortably watch and write about the Sona. I ‘‘intentionally forgot’’ that my good friend, Dr. Jovencito Roa of the Northern Mindanao Medical Center, was waiting for me. My choice was between the Press Club and the office of Maricel Casino-Rivera. I decided to join Maricel because of the proximity and knowing that there was no coffee there. Too much coffee is bad for me anyway.

Maricel was not around and to my frustration, the best chair fronting the TV was already taken by Rudy Ladao. So I watched with Maricel’s staff Arnold, Lalal and Jomar Figuracion, a COC Broadcasting remnant who is still alive. (By ‘‘alive,’’ I mean visible unlike the others who are now hidden from the camera and whose microphones are no longer being used because they went to Timbukto.)

It was a long wait.

I don’t mind if I will write about what I think about the Sona quite late. But the 2006 Sona is something we should be talking about until the next Sona.

Was Arroyo that excited that she fell victim to a miscue? The technology used was excellent. The personalized citation of her supporters was something new but the question on the availability of funds was the main course in the menu.

I was fixated to the screen and suddenly she said, "Progress demands good governance. I congratulate Dongkoy Emano for reports that corruption in public contracts in Cagayan de Oro dropped from 65% last year to 38 percent this year!"

I almost fell from my seat. What was that? Please play the tape back? I must have told Jomar. Play it back. It was as if I was given a shot of adrenaline. I must heard somebody saying "sikata Dongkoy, oy. Close gyud GMA.’’ And President Gloria added: "Dongkoy text me this morning to wish me luck." Wow, close gyud.

She continued but I was not listening anymore because I was engrossed on the ‘‘drop in the reports on corruption.’’

So it’s true then––where is the money now? Whose pocket? I have heard allegations on corruption before from Bob Ocio, Roy Raagas and Zaldy Ocon. Now, no less than the President of this country is saying it. The 38 percent is so big even if it has been reduced, according to the President.

Then it dawned on me that it was a compliment in disguise. Others say it was bad for Cagayan de Oro’s image.

Hizzoner could do nothing but admit it on air after that Sona. "Admitado man ako nga na-a pay corruption diha sa city hall."

I have read that SWS survey––the basis for Arroyo’s claim––before. In fact, Dr. Mahar Mangahas talked about this when he guested in my Barangay S program last year. At that time, somebody sent me a text message that reads: "Gapamolitica ka lang, San."

There were questions about that survey. The number of respondents was only 75 and it could not be determined how many of the 75 actually gave their perceptions about Cagayan de Oro. At that time, city officials did not care; they did not protest when a copy of the SWS survey was given to them.

It is only now that you hear them whimpering about the survey, saying that the survey covered Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, including offices of national government departments and agencies.

This early, I see spin doctors in the next elections having a hard time dealing with this collateral damage for whoever the Great Dongkoy anoints.

Rolling signs and broken dreams

By Susan Palmes / July 14, 2006

THE traffic situation in Cagayan de Oro City is getting worse. Ask any passenger and you’ll be told that he/she is disgusted. This is due to confluence of factors and one of these is lack of an education program for all traffic enforcers and that includes knowing traffic ordinances.

There are complaints that drivers are being cited for violations based on unknown ordinances. The Local Government Code authorizes local governments, through the councils, to regulate traffic and set road rules. So with that, neither the City Mayor nor the Roads and Traffic Administration has the power to set the rules on the basis of executive orders or similar directives. They are not given that power under the local code.

Enforcers are responsible for enforcement of duly enacted and council-approved ordinances. But in Cagayan de Oro, it seems that these boys in green uniform are enforcing their own ‘‘legislated ordinances,’’ not the ones passed by the city council.

Awat-awat man mo sa inyong ’galon. These fellows are also responsible for our mobile traffic signs, especially the "No Parking" signs. Parking ka karon, wala pa, pag-balik nimo, violation na. Gihimo lang sa mga RTA nga kolokoy ang ilang kaugalingon.

•

I am not a dancer and dancing to me was more of a requirement to pass the Physical Education class. I never honed this ‘‘talent.’’

Last Saturday at Capitol University, I was so impressed to see dancers whose bodies seem to be elastic. I also enjoyed the lines in the play; it was artistically written to stimulate the minds of those who watched. It was about the ill-effects of war and conflicts and it touched the hearts of many.

Broken Dreams Dance and Drama presentation of Sining Kambayoka, the official theater ensemble of the Mindanao State University, was in the city last Saturday at the CU and I was there because I was invited by Dr. Fe Juares, the academic vice president of CU.

It was more than a dance and drama, it was larger than life in fact. The message struck the viewers in the jampacked CU gym.

Tickets were so affordable and I believe Capitol University subsidized the costs for the sake of art and their advocacy for peace. (Now I remember, CU set aside an amount for peace with Dr. Liz Alindogan as project chair. The brains behind the project is Atty. Casimiro Juares Jr. The CU project trains youth and students in regard to the peace process.)

The Sining Kambayoka Ensemble is bound abroad to compete in three international theater festivals in Manchester, Liverpool and Aberdeen, Scotland, and to advocate the call for peace.

Broken Dreams stimulated my desire to be a peace advocate as well. Thank you Capitol University.

Relax lang, Ding

By Susan Palmes / July 7, 2006

BOW! (Background music: Eye of the Tiger by Survivor)

Kagawad Nanding: "Sumbagon ko hinuon na nga reporter."

Kagawad Twet twet: "Relax lang ‘Ding, pasagdi nalang na nga reporter, mo-dako na hinuon na."

Kagawad Playboy: "Bitaw!"

Bow! Ahem! Ahem! Karhat man akong tutunlan, dah! Sugod ta.

The ‘‘Honorable’’ Reynaldo Advincula is getting a lot of publicity because of the Cogon market issue. This paper has come out with a series of stories about his business interests in the past weeks.

If we are to believe those who have been getting his comments, Kagawad Nanding loves the publicity. Barangay S can be an additive but a city council insider said Kagawad Nanding was overheard as saying: "Sumbagon kon na nga reporter’’ and a Kagawad Twet told him: "Relax lang ’Ding, pasagdi na lang na, mo-dako na hinuon na." This supposedly happened during the last ‘‘Execom’’ they had.

I have no reason to doubt my source, she can be depended on.

I say Nanding is really afraid that people might believe this. Deep inside, he could be praying: Lord please don’t, I am running for the vice mayor.

Is there a case against Nanding?

This paper reported that it was Advincula who pushed for an ordinance that wrote off the debts of market stallholders from the records of the city hall. In fact, Councilor Juan Sia, based on a document, asked for a list of the names but to no avail. Yes, no name was shown and the exact amount of the collectibles written off is unknown.

Oh my goodness! I have no reason to doubt the veracity of the minutes of the meeting. What is happening here?

Bisag dili na mag-trial, bang! Igo gyud.

Kagawad Advincula is indeed a market boy. He has been doing business in the markets since who knows when. He was selling tomatoes many years back and was picked by the then mayor Pablo Magtajas to represent the vendors in the city council.

Lucky Nanding, his life suddenly changed.

Now, he has worked for an ordinance that would wipe off the vendors’ accumulated debts to city hall. In the process, he and/or members of his family also benefited.

I call this bad manners and wrong conduct if you are a student, and lack of delicadeza if you are a politician.

Even if Kagawad Nanding says now that he has no payables, people will not believe.

•

Provincial board member Santi Sabal recently proposed a measure that would penalize kagawads who who do not attend meetings of their committees. He wants them to be slapped with P1 thousand fines.

The Sabal proposal was referred to a committee, and there was a suggestion to lessen the fine to P500. This only means there are provincial board members who prefer to pay P500 than attend committee meetings.

This is bad given that there are many important matters and proposed legislative measures that have not been discussed due to absences.

On Pagibig contributions

By Susan Palmes / June 27, 2006

I WAS at the office of Susan Tan of Pagibig to inquire about what to do with my Pagibig membership now that I am in between jobs and she told me to continue my membership. I was also there to know the status of my remittances, etc..

There, I learned that the employees’ contribution to Pagibig is based on the two percent cost of living allowance (Cola) and basic salary and the employers’ counterpart is P100.

Congratulations to establishments––government or private––that religiously remit the employees’ contributions and that give their counterparts. The municipality of Salay, Misamis Oriental and the province of Camiguin deserve special mention. According to Ms. Tan, they passed ordinance that made it compulsory on the part of the local governments to equal the contribution of their personnel. And I must say, pila lang intawon kini sila nga lapad-lapad ug pag-bati para sa ilang trabahante.

I also asked for status of the contributions of city hall’s employees because there was a complaint that many of them could not avail of loans. Ms. Tan explained that if the contributions of an employee is not updated, then the employee cannot avail of Pagibig loans. A penalty of P.003 daily is imposed on the cashier or disbursing officer if payment is not remitted.

The penalties are really being implemented. Remittances should be made monthly.

But Cagayan de Oro City made its last payment last April. The month of June is almost over, where are the contributions for the month of May?

Pagibig asked me for the name of the complaining city hall employees but I opted not to because I don’t want to betray my sources’ trust. Next time, maybe I’ll name them.

I also learned that in the past years, the province of Misamis Oriental also had a similar problem. But according to Tan, the capitol had recovered; Gov. Oscar Moreno solved this problem. Well, that’s good news.

I hope that the reason why there is a delay in city hall’s remittances is because of encoding problems and not because Cagayan de Oro doesn’t have the money.

•

Best regards to Dr. Fe R. Juares, academic vice president of Capitol University. I visited her recently and I was told about the continuing project for the environment of CU president Atty. Casimiro Juarez Jr.

With the help of an auxiliary corps, Capitol University Marine students planted and continue planting mangroves in El Salvador, Misamis Oriental.

I remember having interviewed the CU president, a day before his investiture as the university president. He was so excited telling me about the mangroves.

Truly, I find this project so much attuned to what is needed today.

'Pamolitika kana'

By Susan Palmes / June 8, 2006

I OWE the media audience an explanation on why Barangay S has transferred to Gold Star Daily. Yes, Barangay S is ‘‘signing on’’ in this paper.

I know many are wondering why? Well, it’s all about survival.

I love the people from the other paper––Stephen Capillas, Liza Amarga, Jennifer Bizere (whose invitation came a day late) and, of course, my dearest Joey Nacalaban, and manager Liezel Deloso, too. Thank you very much, Sunstar people.

The world is round indeed.

I am thanking Gold Star Daily for this opportunity. And so Barangay S will have a new home at Gold Star, at least twice a week, and the rest of the week I will be a full-time correspondent for this paper.

There are so many things to report about and not everything can be written in straight news. So my observations in the course of my coverage of stories will be read in my Barangay S column.

•

The use of modern communication technology in classroom instruction is interesting to students and really holds attention, but not all schools have this and not all teachers can use it because there are limitations.

An example is the Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School (Mogchs) where there is only one television set (in the DOST Building). Now consider this: the school has 42 science teachers with an average of 65 students per class!

At Mogchs, where a great number of students are from Cagayan de Oro, teachers had this in-house training last June 1, according to Aida Naelga-Pacana. Mogchs science department head Olga Alonsabe was one of the speakers during the training and the participants included teachers Balve Granido, Charry Cruz, Coco Gala, Urvie Salaguste, Rose Tayanes and Leni Sabulbero. They shared their experiences and came out with strategies that, despite the limitations, are aimed to improve teaching with the use of whatever technological resources they have.

Congrats! This is why this country needs teachers like them.

Speaking of teachers, I was able to visit the Department of Education Region 10 office last week in order to check on the enrolment and see if there were concerns for this week’s opening of classes. I was surprised to see a priest, The Rev. Father Harren Salon, who officiated the first Friday mass there. I joined the group of teachers in the mass and it was good to see planners in the education department praying to their God.

I learned later that other similar activities are being done there by people with other religious beliefs.

What is an hour of prayer and worship during office time compared to a lifetime of values to be shared with students?

I commend these people for this kind of program.

•

Congratulations, too, to Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. for the launch of his book, Martial Law in the Philippines: My Story, at the Manila Hotel this afternoon!

According to the good senator who was the guest speaker during the culmination of the Cagayan de Oro Press Freedom Week, he wrote the book for nearly two years. That explains his noticeable absence in the local scene.

The book shows parallelism between the past and the present.

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The explanation given by Allan Nederost of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) in regard to the effects of the delayed remittance of the city hall employees’ contributions was a revelation.

We have been hearing about this complaint through the years, and it seems every time classes would open when the need for money is urgent, the problem resurfaces.

If you ask people at the city hall, they would say: We have already remitted. They would then show their ORs (official receipts), but whenever the media looks the other way, twing, kaguliyang na pud.

The underremittance, as revealed by Nederost, is apparently being resorted to by Mr. Lino Daral so city hall could stop media from asking too many questions. It is a remittance to GSIS, but not all employees are covered.

I believe that they’re resorting to this in order to cover up city hall’s failure in regard to its duties to its own workers. They decide on which obligation to prioritize.

What a pity. If you ask them, they’d just reply: "Pamolitika kana."

And it is not only GSIS. They’re doing the same thing hen it comes to remittances and payments to the Pag-ibig Fund and the Pabahay Program.

Employees of city hall who were able to avail of this would likely be evicted soon because city hall did not remit.

My sources say GSIS is going to file a case. Check on that fellas.

It’s such a pity. May we hear from Dongkoy the Great or from Mr. Lino Daral?