a. Aquaculture
b. Tour Guiding Services
c. Massage Therapy
d. Bartending
e. Commercial Cooking
f. Housekeeping
g. Food and Beverage Services
h. Shielded Metal Arc Welding
i. Front Office Services
j. Baking/Pastry Production
k. Automotive Servicing
l. Food Processing
m. Consumer Electronics
n. Dressmaking
o. Tailoring
p. Horticulture
q. Crop Production
r. Carpentry
s. Masonry
t. Tile Setting
u. Animation
v. Computer Hardware Services
w. Health Care Services
x. Building Wiring Installation
y. Deck Seafaring
z. Engine Seafaring
aa. Driving
bb. Security Services
cc. Slaughtering Operations
Interested parties may apply at TESDA Ilocos Norte Provincial Office,
P. Gomez St., Brgy. 2, Laoag City
Tel. # (077) 773-2198
E-mail: tesda1_in@yahoo.com
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Delivering and Shaking
Delivering farm equipment and shaking hands of graduates that is.
This is what's been keeping me busy these past few weeks.
Here I am handing over jetmatic water pumps and knapsack sprayers to farmer-beneficiaries in the towns of Bangui and Pagudpud. The source of funding is President GMA's Social Fund through the Department of Agriculture.
And then here I am shaking the hands of the graduates of Binsang Elementary School in Pasuquin town this morning. I've gone to similar ceremonies in Vintar, Piddig, Laoag City and Bacarra, as well.
It's been a tiring March. And April's pretty much gonna be the same.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
9 MAY 2010
10:35 a.m.
Guy 1 : Manang, eleksyon na bukas ah. Mukhang malakas si xxx ah? Mukhang panalo na
siya.
Woman: Ay, oo, ading! Panalong panalo yun!
Guy 1 : Sige, manang, salamat. Alis na ako.
9:23 p.m.
Guy 2 : Manang, magandang gabi. O eto, kunin mo na 'to. (hands some money to her) 'wag
na lang po kayo bumoto bukas. Total, mananalo naman si xxx. 'di na kelangan ng boto niyo. Sige na, manang.
Woman: Okay, barok. (takes money)
9:25 p.m.
Guy 3 : Manang, nakita ko tinanggap mo yung pera ha. (brandishes his gun tucked under his
his shirt) 'di namin kayo makikita bukas sa presinto ha.
Woman: Huh? Ah, oo, sige.
This is a scenario that could definitely happen in next year's local elections (because they started doing this last 2007).
Groups paying off voters NOT to vote... and threatening them if they do.
Tsk... What to do to counter this?
Friday, March 20, 2009
Jitters in first court appearance after almost two years
I do not litigate. I haven't appeared in court in almost two years. Today that streak ended as I went to the Regional Trial Court here in Laoag to appear as collaborating counsel in a Petition for Certiorari against us Board Members.
Note, collaborating counsel. Meaning, Atty. Lazo (My co-Board Member and a seasoned litigator) was supposed to be the lead counsel--the one to do all the lawyering, and I'll just be decoration.
Last night, Atty. Lazo had to rush to Manila to attend to his son who got into a car accident. I learned about it just before I walked in the judge's sala.
Oh, crap.
Now, Im the leading counsel?! Are you kidding me?! Where's the Vice-Governor (who's also a lawyer)? Where's the Provincial Legal Officer? Where are his assistants?
What the hell?!
Panic-panic-panic!
I haven't opened my Rules of Court since 2007!
What do I do?! What do I say?!
You know, I feel so at home in the SP Session Hall, I never get nervous when I speak. Perhaps because I feel so confident with my knowledge in parliamentary procedure and legislation that it's so easy for me.
Pero sa court? Pag litigation? Ewan ko bakit kinakabahan ako. And kinabahan nga ako kanina. It's a Petition for Certiorari with Motion to Issue a Preliminary Injunction. Ano daw?
I called Atty. Lazo to ask if I should argue the case or what. He told me to just ask for a postponement since he also wanted to appear.
Okay, I can do that.
I talked to the opposing counsel, who didn't object to the proposal.
So when the case was called that's what I said. "Move to postpone, your Honor, as lead counsel had to rush to Manila to attend to his injured son."
And the judge reset the hearing to this coming Monday.
phew!
Yes, na-survive ko din. Akala ko wala ng Wow, Mali.
But before I left I said, "Thank you, Mr. Chairman.... uhhh... I mean, Your Honor!" 
Oh, brother... That just HAD to happen.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
It's all about the kids
My previous entries were all gloomy so let's brighten it up a bit.
Early today I handed over an airplane teeter-totter (see-saw) to the children of the Brgy. San Miguel (Laoag City) Day Care Center.
The teachers requested last August for an outdoor recreational toy for the kids to complement their swing set. Due to budget constraints (and very makulit barangay captains asking for cement and steelbars) I couldn't give them what they want.
Until today.
I bought this airplane teeter-totter at S&R in Manila at a cost of P12,000.00. I originally wanted to have a slide fabricated here in Laoag but I was afraid of child-safety issues. Baka mamaya hindi pulido yung pag-weld sa slide at may maaksidenteng bata.
So I went with this Big Stuff Ace Flyer Teeter Totter Airplane from S&R. Atleast child-tested na siya. And I googled the product sa internet at maganda naman ang mga reviews.
When I turned over the play set to the children, hala, dinagsa yung eroplano. The box says it can accommodate 7 kids at one time pero more than 15 ata yung dumumog sa laruan!
And then the parents from the neighboring barangays who saw the contraption requested if I could also give the same thing to their day care centers.
Hehehe, ang mga obligasyon ng isang pulitiko, never ending. 
I should be depressed with all these requests, but it was just so nice and heartwarming to see the smiles on the children's faces playing the thing. Ang saya saya nila.
This is why I'm in government service. 
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Public Bidding is a joke
I knew this all along, of course. With the World Bank report and other DPWH exposes, who would think otherwise? Public Bidding in this country is a sham. It's a joke. It's all pretend.
Pero iba pa rin ang feeling if it hits close to home. Mas nakakalungkot. Mas nakakadepress.
Public Bidding is supposed to be the process to get the best deal at the lowest price. If there was no bidding, then it's possible for the Governor, Mayor, Congressman or Agency Head to get a not-so-good kind of deal, worse, baka sobrang mahal naman. And since we're talking about hard earned money of the people, dapat sulit.
At para maging sulit, a.k.a., "The Best Deal," our policymakers came out with this Public Bidding nga.
Paglabanin mo mga suppliers at contractors. Let them bid for the projects. Kung sino ang makabigay ng lowest bid, siya ang mananalo. Bale, matira ang matibay.
That way, we get to SAVE money. The money saved can now be used for another project. Ganun dapat, di ba?
But we all know that doesn't happen. We don't get the best deals. More often than not, we get the worst deals.
You know why? Because public bidding is a sham. It's a role playing game. You think they really place their bids? No, they don't. Nag-usap na mga yan. One contractor will cut a deal with the implementing agency and the other contractors na sa kanya na yung isang project. Then they will just simulate that a bidding was done. The other contractors will submit a 'higher' bid so they'll lose.
And then sa ibang project naman, yung other contractor naman ang magiging winning bidder. Ganyan. Nagbibigayan sila. Hati-hati sila sa mga project.
But you know, contractors are human. They are susceptible to greed. Pagnakatikim na yan, gusto na niya lahat ng projects sa kanya. Dun nagkaka-poblema. When one contractor eases out the other contractors by getting closer to the Implementing Agency or the Mayor or the Governor or the Congressman or the Dept. Head. Palakasan na. Tapos awayan na.
And what about the price? Wala na. Imbes na 1.5 Million, magiging 2 Million na.
So do we save money with this public bidding? No. In fact, we lose more money.
And It's just so sad dahil naglolokohan lang tayo.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
I don't care where you're from, having sex with a kid, videotaping the act and circulating the video via cellphone is wrong
Yesterday, the Provincial Board of Ilocos Norte came out with a decision suspending an SK Federated President of a town here for having sex with a 14 year old girl, videotaping their act and circulating the video around the community.
Before the release of the decision, a couple of people had approached me (as a member of the Committee on Laws) to lower the penalty or to not punish the guy at all (apparently, word leaked out that we were going to suspend him).
According to these concerned people, kawawa naman daw si SK President. Siya lang daw ang breadwinner ng family and if he gets suspended mawawalan ng income yung family niya. Also, there's a criminal case filed against him for the same offense and he had to borrow 200k to post bail.
Another argument they raised was that the sex was consensual and it was the girl who initiated the act and who videotaped the whole thing. They even said that the girl is a 'whore' and is a nymphomaniac and pineperahan lang daw si SK President.
I don't care what you say, having sex with a kid, even if she consented, videotaping the act and circulating the video around the town is WRONG. 
Kung ako lang masusunod, I'd rather not involve myself with this case. Let the courts decide this matter. Let the SK Provincial Federation deal with this. Kasi kung anong mapagdesisyonan mo meron at meron talagang magagalit sa yo.
But the complaint was filed in our office. We have to do our duty. We cannot be politicians and dilly-dally. We have to hear both parties, study the law and make a decision.
And we did. SUSPENSION. Bahala na ang election. I'm pretty sure nawalan kami ng boto sa lugar na yon.
Sabi ko, mabuti na mawalan ng boto pero maparusahan ang nagkamali kesa naman wala kaming ginawa at maulit muli yung nangyari sa ibang babae.
I don't care what you say or where you're from, having sex with a kid, even if she consented, videotaping the act and circulating the video around the town is WRONG.
Let this be a lesson to all.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Congratulations, MC Entrep Batch 2009!
Yesterday I submitted the final grades of my taxation class in Miriam College. All 25 students passed naman. And if its any indication, I think all of them will graduate this coming March 28 (except you, Diane )The picture on the left was taken on the last class day of their senior year (February 21), which also happened to be my last class in Miriam (I will be transferring all of my teaching load to Ilocos next sem).
I started teaching in Miriam in 2006. My law classmate, Joey Tapia, had to leave for the States and was looking for someone to substitute for her in September. She actually offered it to Kai Jiz, but I think the latter was busy. I was getting bored in the firm I worked for so I grabbed the opportunity. I remember after my holding my first class I felt so accomplished. Like what I did actually meant something. You see, I got depressed working in a law firm. There, it's like things take forever to finish. Everyday na lang it's the same old case. And if ever that ends, there's another case. It was a vicious cycle of never-ending cases that I felt useless. Teaching made me share my knowledge to other people. And when I saw the faces of my students, especially their eyes, conveying that they understood what I was saying and that they were learning, I felt good. Honest to God, I felt good.
Joey didn't return to Miriam the next semester so I took her place permanently. I taught for 3 school years. I enjoyed my stay in MC. My dept. chairperson, Mona Serrano, has always been very nice to me. Our dean, Dr. Lupisan, always greets me by my first name even if we barely know each other. The staff at CBEA, Lessie, Airene and Mel, don't forget to remind me of all the meetings and activities. And of course, my students. I was lucky enough to always have a good set of students every semester. Bright, well-behaved, inquisitive and cheerful. Maswerte ako at never ako nagkaroon na bulakbol na student sa MC. I don't know if all MC students are like that o sa mga naging class ko lang. This last batch was no exception.
Jen was a quiet one who sat at the back of the room. I didn't know she was a good dancer until nakasama ko siya sa Teacher's Day program dancing the macarena. Game pala tong batang to.
Alou was the class beadle/president/utusan. She was always dependable. I would communicate to her all of my needs (Projector, air-con room, i'll be late, etc.) and you'd think she's in class na. Pagdating ko, wala pa pala siya, so all that time she was coordinating those things to her other classmates. Very responsible.
Mary Grace was the foreign student of the class. Foreign meaning she belongs to another year and course. I didn't get to establish a rapport with this girl just because she was very quiet, was absent a few times, and sat at the back.
Geols, who also sat at the back, was another quiet student. In front of her, Cla, on the other hand, was the opposite. I believe she was the source of all the tsismisan at the back. I think their attention span there at the back was around 15 minutes (the worldwide average) 'coz after 15 minutes, Jackie and Danica would turn their heads to Cla and they would start their own showbiz talkshow at the back.
Kaye, the daughter of a party-list colleague of my dad, was the reluctant 'guest host' of the 4. I notice she would try to pay attention in class, pero sometimes, siguro juicy yung tsismis sa likod, she'd also turn her head toward Cla and join the conversation.
Across Kaye was Em-em. She was quiet and attentive. Next to her was Epie. This girl also belonged to another tsismis group. Epie was with Madam, Jamie, Anik, Jaja and Jia. Madam was called madam because allegedly her family owns 1/3 of Antipolo. Jamie's family apparently owns D'Mall in Boracay. Anik is an ilocana townmate who is also a part-time dance instructor. Jaja is also from Ilocos and Jia I don't know where she's from but I do know that her boyfriend is a basketball player. This group I call the laptop bag group because they sold laptop bags.
Then there's Des. She's the rocker of the class. She plays guitar (Kaye plays the drums naman). She's quiet, but she's smart. Rina M., I guess, owns the other 2/3 of Antipolo because her family owns 3 (?) resorts there. Beside her is the dynamic duo of Genine and Bea. These two are very smart. They always get high in my quizzes and exams. I have no problems with these two.
Now the front row. Rina L. is my returning student. She was in my business law class last school year. She is deaf and she has an interpreter during class, but she speaks very well for a deaf person. Very audible. And I don't think she needs the interpreter because I think she understands what I say. Either that or I talk really loud.
Alexa is the loud one. She's very noisy. She's the most absent. And if she comes, she's always late. But I love her because she reminds me of my niece Rosanne.
Tere is another smart student. She aces all of my exams. Of all my students she's the most participative. When I ask the class a question, 99% of the time, it's Tere who'll answer. But sometimes I feel she's bordering on sipsip na. But other than that, she's a model student.
Diane is another good student. She asks a lot of questions. Karen, for a student who sits in the front row, is very quiet. Last is Muymuy, who like Karen is very quiet and demure. She looks 15, small and frail. But my God, when i saw pictures of her in a multiply site of one my students, press release lang pala niya yun kasi nagsusuot pala yan ng baby-t na nakikita na yung puson. My gosh. scandal.
Well, those were my students this sem. My last one in Miriam. Congratulations to all of you! I hope and pray that all of you become successful in all your endeavors. Disappointment will come your way, but do not falter. Hold on! Opportunity will come knocking.
Thank you, Miriam College, for taking me in to teach business and taxation law. It might have just been 3 hours a week. But it made a lot of difference to me as a person.
Til we meet again.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Youth Vote Ilocos Norte
YVote Philippines is a non-government organization committed in making the youth vote count in the May 2010 elections. One of its flagship projects is holding voters registration inside campuses of colleges and universities. They've done it in Manila, Cebu and Davao.I thought to myself, why not here in Ilocos Norte. So, I contacted them and told them if I could organize a similar activity here up north. They allowed me as long as I tie up with a TAYO organization here. Unfortunately, that org never contacted me. This did not deter me from pushing through with this project.
My first choice of holding student voters registration was here in Laoag. Either sa Northwestern University or sa MMSU-CTE. Kaya lang, hindi daw available yung Laoag Comelec Office.
So I turned to MMSU-Batac. I tied up with its Central Student Council, headed by Ace, the Batac Comelec Office, headed by Mrs. Josie Balbas, and Student Affairs Director Henedine Aguinaldo. They were all very accomodating.
And so, YVote Ilocos Norte inaugurated its first student voters registration in Mariano Marcos State University in Batac City on February 24.
Maganda naman yung registration turn-out. From 10am to 5pm, Provincial and Batac Comelec held voters registration and validation at the Teatro Ilocandia Basement. In the end, 126 students from Batac were able to register!
Not bad, considering Batac Comelec lang yung nag-participate. (We also invited San Nicolas, Paoay, Badoc and Currimao, but apparently, there is a Comelec circular prohibiting local offices from conducting off-site registration outside their jurisdiction) We will try, though, to convince Comelec National Office to revoke that circular so that other students of MMSU can register as well.
I could say the activity was successful. I'd like to thank all those who helped out:
The Central Student Council (Ace and Khristian) for pushing the activity with the MMSU admin;
The MMSU admin. for allowing such activity and scheduling it the same day their were a lot of students in the venue;
Batac Comelec for spending an entire day doing voters registration in MMSU;
Ilocos Norte Comelec for assisting in the registration;
Ms Tanya Hamada of YVote Philippines for coming over to supervise the activity; and
All the students who registered! (This is the first step in your involvement in government)
'til the next voters registration in your school!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
ISM high schoolers vs. Ateneo alumni
Last Sunday, my Ateneo teammates in the Alumni Slo-Pitch Softball League (ASSL) played against a team from the International School-Manila.We were laughing before the game because I told them these kids were half my age (I'm 31 and I think may mga 16 year olds dun).
Anyway, the sad thing about it was that I was already one of the YOUNGEST in OUR team. The Ateneo Alumni team kasi is comprised of former baseball players sa college and high school. Our age range is 26 to 50+. So ang tanda talaga kami compared to the ISM team. (Ang tanda ko na talaga
)
)So what happens when you pit a young, physically fit, well-exercised and properly trained team against a bunch of old, out-of-shape and no practice guys?
A MASSACRE!
Nung first 3 innings sumasabay pa kami. 2-1 lang yung score. Tapos nung 4th inning na, hala, tinambakan na kami. They scored 17 runs in a 1/2 inning! Tama lang sila ng tama ng softball sa mga butas sa outfield namin. Hingal na hingal kami sa kakahabol ng mga bola. Umitim na mga braso ko sa tagal ng pagbilad namin sa outfield. Lumamig na nga yung hamburger na inorder ko sa food stand.
The umpire had to call of the game due to 'TAMBAK.'
Oh, my gulay. These kids were just faster, more aggressive, and had the stamina to outlast us. I don't know why the league allowed them to play with us. It was embarrassing.
But being true Ateneans, we all brushed all that negativity off and just enjoyed the game.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Movie Matinee
When I told my students this morning that me and the wife were catching a movie right after class they mocked me (paging tere, diane and anik). Bakit daw ang aga ko manuod ng sine.
It never occurred to me that watching the first showing of the day was odd or unusual. Apparently, to my 20 year old students, it is.
Ever since I was a kid I had always watched the matinee showing. I guess it started when I watched movies in the U.S. My sister would take me to the matinee showing (between 11:00am to 5:00pm) because the tickets were cheaper, there were fewer people and it gave us a chance to watch another movie right after. Nakasanayan ko na.
This doesn't mean I don't watch at night, I do. I watch the 8pm or 9pm showing with my Xavier friends, Barnett and Jamieson.
But when I do have the choice, I still try to catch the matinee showing.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Ilocos Norte government saves old schoolhouse from demolition
Old schoolhouse saved from demolition
READER response has been high regarding the proposed conversion of the American-colonial structure Laoag Central Elementary School into a shopping mall, and the planned demolition of the Spanish-colonial church façade in Dingras, Ilocos Norte.
Ilocos Norte board member Kristian Ablan says a public hearing was conducted on the proposed Provincial Ordinance No. 2009-02-083, “An Ordinance Imposing a Moratorium on the Conversion, Use and Demolition of Buildings, Edifices, Relics, and Other Structures Deemed as Part of the Cultural and Historical Heritage Found and Situated within Ilocos Norte.” It was conducted with the provincial board’s committees on laws and tourism on Feb. 6.
Ivan Henares of the Heritage Conservation Society and Icomos Philippines wrote to Ablan: “Congratulations on a very successful public hearing! I was elated by the news that the attendance was astounding—the session hall was packed to the brim and could not accommodate all those who came, so another room had to be opened to allow people to listen. It’s heartwarming to learn this issue has generated so much interest among the local community of Laoag. Heritage is, indeed, in the mainstream!”
It was argued the building was not a heritage building because it did not appear in the DepEd’s roster of Gabaldon-type schools dating from the American colonial period.
But architect Reynaldo Inovero of the National Historical Institute debunked the argument, stating the structure was clearly of the Gabaldon type and definitely a heritage structure built during the American colonial period.
Moreover, generations of graduates, numbering in the thousands, share the school’s heritage, adding a wealth of intangible value to the structure and its surroundings.
It was also argued that since the school stood on church property, due to church-state separation, its future use was immune from civil and citizen intervention, a view overturned by the voice of the citizens who demanded that their school remain.
The National Historical Institute’s certification that the historic value of the school merited conservation gave strong substantiation to the preservation demands of local citizens.
Gov. Michael Keon held a press conference later and announced the passage of “the ordinance that will precipitate the NHI [National Historical Institute] and National Museum in declaring the Laoag Central Elementary School a historical landmark which will block the demolition of the school and block the mall.”
Now passed and enacted, Ordinance 2009-02-083, which recognizes the value of heritage within the province, defining what structures are considered heritage structures despite their status of being publicly or privately (or Church-) owned, and providing for the preservation of these structures to the benefit of future generations, is a landmark heritage legislation in the Philippines.
That citizens supported the ordinance by attending the public hearings showed public concern for heritage. Thank you to the people of Ilocos Norte and all the provincial officials of Ilocos Norte.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Inquirer article on our Moratorium Ordinance re: LCES
Heritage school demolition blocked
LAOAG CITY – The proposed demolition of a heritage building has continued to fuel debates among local leaders who support the conversion of an elementary school compound into a shopping mall and those who want to preserve the structure.
The proposed mall project has also pitted city officials against provincial leaders who are opposed to the city’s plan to demolish the Laoag Central Elementary School (LCES) housing a two-story Gabaldon-type building, a structure used by the country’s public schools in the early 1900s.
On Monday, the provincial board passed an ordinance calling for a one-year moratorium on the demolition and conversion of heritage structures in the province. The prohibition covers the LCES.
During a public hearing before its passage, city officials, led by Mayor Michael Fariñas, questioned the board for including the LCES and other structures in the resolution without consulting them.
Fariñas also questioned the board for its supposed “insidious” action of deliberating and passing a measure at a time when the city government has a plan to demolish the school building.
“Why only now that the province is moving to declare [the school] a historical landmark?” Fariñas asked the board.
But Board Member Kristian Ablan, son of Ilocos Norte Rep. Roque Ablan Jr., said it has been a provincial government policy to protect heritage sites.
“The ordinance was filed because of the threat [over the school’s demolition]. As provincial dads, we have to take up the cudgels and move to protect it,” he said.
“Will the city officials wake up and come to their senses that the edifice is of historical import to the province?” he asked.
Fariñas, however, said he has records to show that the LCES is not a Gabaldon-type building and it does not need preservation.
“It is unfortunate and painful that despite our explanations [on the status of the LCES], the board went on to pass the ordinance,” he said.
Fariñas, however, said the school’s demolition would take off even if it takes a longer process.
Architect Reynaldo Inovero of the National Historical Institute said the LCES is consistent with the character of a Gabaldon schoolhouse.
“The LCES is a rare two-story Gabaldon building that was designed for tropical countries ... it has wooden sidings, swing-out windows with capiz panels and an elevated ground floor for additional ventilation,” he said.
Inovero, who attended the hearing, said the Laoag school building is a typical structure from the American colonial era.
The city government acquired the school lot from the Roman Catholic Church through a donation in 1924.
The shopping mall project, signed in December last year, is covered by a 25-year lease agreement executed by the city government, the Laoag Catholic Diocese represented by Bishop Sergio Utleg and mall developer Bellagio Holdings Inc.
Under the agreement, the school will be relocated to a five-hectare lot fronting the Laoag bishop’s residence at the city’s northern section.
The mall developer will bear the cost of acquiring the lot and building the school and later donate the properties to the city government. It will also pay monthly rentals to the city and diocese.
The proposed school site will house three separate buildings with 24 classrooms and complete education facilities such as a library, music room, auditorium, computer room and facilities for nursery and kindergarten.
The school will also be provided with shuttle buses whose operation will be borne by the city government.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
UDPATE RE: Laoag Central Elementary School demolition
January 12:
I filed Draft Provincial Resolution No. 2009-01-122 declaring the Laoag Central Elementary School an Important Cultural Property.
It is said to be too controversial, so is referred to the committee on laws for further review.
February 3:
A new proposal is filed. This time, an ordinance (imposing a moratorium in any demolition and construction involving a cultural property), introduced by the Committees on Laws and Tourism AND covering not only LCES but the provincial capitol and other nearby buildings as well--thereby superceding my earlier resolution.
February 6:
A public hearing is called (see picture above). All stakeholders attend, including the principal, the parents, the business community, barangay chairmen, some city councilors, THE MAYOR, and the entire Farinas clan.
The National Historical Institute sent an architect and an engineer.
I asked them to verify if the LCES is indeed a Gabaldon school. They certify that it is.
Arguments in favor and against are voiced out by the stakeholders. The joint committee, under the leadership of BM Salenda and BM Lazo take not of all comments.
February 9:
After a few amendments, the Provincial Board passes the measure on 2nd Reading. IN FAVOR: Barba, Chua, Nalupta, Marcos, Salenda, Ranada, Ablan, Castro, Galano, Lazo. AGAINST: Farinas. ABSTAIN: Ong-Sin.
Later, the measure is passed on 3rd Reading. Same voting profile. 10-1-1.
Draft Provincial Ordinance No. 2009-02-083 is APPROVED.
Awaiting signature of the Governor. Then publication. After 15 days, the law takes effect.
Hopefully, that's enough to save the school.
Monday, February 02, 2009
I can't believe they hacked a live dog in front of me
Today, February 2, is the 191st Foundation Day of the Province of Ilocos Norte. As part of the day's celebration, all the municipalities and cities sent their respective delegation to perform.
Some towns sent their best dancers, others their best singers, and a few sent their best marching bands.
Four towns, sent their indigenous people to present their native rituals. Nueva Era presented a courtship dance. Dumalneg showcased their peace dance. While Adams and Carasi prepared a death ritual.
It was very educational. I was fascinated with their chants and dances. Imagine my horror then when right before our very eyes one of the itnegs grabbed a dog and hacked it to death! I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe they would slaughter a dog in front of us. It was a real, live dog! I saw it being pulled on stage and tied to a make-shift bahay kubo earlier in the presentation.
Out came its flesh and blood.
I wasn't the only one outraged (you know, that's against the law. It's animal cruelty). The other local officials also looked dumbfounded. When we confronted the town mayor, she explained that it was necessary. The itnegs believed if a dog is not killed, then the ritual is not complete and one of them might be harmed.
Okay, okay, okay, fine. If they insist. Pero warningan naman kami sana next time. Para naman mapaghandaan ko yung reaction ko.
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Our tricycles should be redesigned!
Sometimes I wonder why our culture is so different from our ASEAN/asian neighbors. It can't be because we're an archipelago. Indonesia is an archipelago, but they have more in common with other ASEAN/asian countries than we do.
Take for example the auto rickshaw--the taxicab of asia. Look all over the continent and most, if not all, auto rickshaws are designed the same way: long and narrow.
The obvious example is Thailand's tuktuk, shown here:
A typical road/car lane is 2,400 mm wide, enough space to accomodate a standard-sized sedan. The Toyota Vios is 1,700 mm wide while the Innova is 1,770 mm wide.
A typical tuktuk is 1,250 mm wide. Hence, there's still 1,150 mm of space available for another tuktuk, or for another car to overtake and pass it.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Our country is definitely a retail country
While driving from one end of the MRT to the other I noticed that most of the stations have a shopping mall.
Taft Station has Metropoint.
Magallanes Station will have the Southgate mall soon.
Ayala Station has Glorietta.
Buendia Station : none... yet. Although Rockwell's Powerplant is nearby.
Guadalupe Station has the Guadalupe Commercial Center.
Boni Station has Robinsons Pioneer.
Shaw Station has Shangrila Plaza.
Ortigas Station has Robinsons Galleria and SM Megamall.
Santolan Station: none... yet. Although Greenhills Shopping Center is nearby.
Cubao Station has Gateway.
GMA-Kamuning: none... yet.
Quezon Ave Station: none... yet.
North Ave. Station has Trinoma and SM North Edsa.
That's 13 shopping malls in a 17 km stretch. (or 1 mall for every 1.3 kilometers)
We don't need more factories. We'll just put up malls. That's it.
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