VOLUME 3NUMBER 154FRIDAYDECEMBER 4, 2009

P 8.P 8.P 8.P 8.P 8.0000000000

BY DING CERVANTES

ANGELES CITY- The congressionalcandidacy of Pres. Arroyo hasapparently widened the crack in the

Kapampangan clergy as one of the priestswho officiated the Mass before she filedher candidacy last Tuesday accused abishop of wrongly using the pulpit for“political statements” against thePresident.

PAGE 6 PLEASE

GMA’s candidacy widensgap in Pampanga clergy

David

Fr. Jun Mercado, parishpriest of Barangay Lourdes Surin this city, said some parishio-ners expressed to him their dis-appointment over alleged state-ments issued by Auxiliary Bish-op Pablo Virgilio David during

Masses at the Holy Rosarychurch downtown against thecandidacy of the President.

“Let us be fair to the peopleand to the teachings of the litur-gy,” said Mercado who, after the

Mercado

HUBAD na pagkondena sa Maguinadanao massacre ang isinagawa sa Bulacan StateUniversity ng mga miyembro APO fraternity. PHOTO BY ROMMEL RAMOS

NI ROMMEL RAMOS

MALOLOS CITY—Naked pro-test!

Ito ang buod ng isina-gawang oblation run ng mgakasapi ng Alpha Phi Omega(APO) fraternity sa BulacanState University (BulSU) salungsod na ito noongMiyerkoles bilang pagkondena PAGE 2 PLEASE

Hubo’t hubad na protestasa Maguindanao Massacre

sa Maguindanao Massacre atpanawagan para sa mapaya-pang halalan sa lalawigan sasusunod na taon.

Kabilang sa 20 kalalakihangtumakbo ng hubot-hubad saloob ng 20 minuto ay mga kasa-pi ng APO mula sa BulSU, FarEastern University (FEU) atPolytechnic University of thePhilippines (PUP) na matatag-

puan sa Maynila.Ang oblation run na sinak-

sihan ng libo-libong mgaestudyante ng BulSU aytaunang isinasagawa ng Epsi-lon Kappa BulSU Chapter ngAPO sa loob ng naturang pa-mantasan bilang bahagi ngpagkakatatag ng BulSU nangayon ay 105 taon na.

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -Gov. Eddie Panlilio sees paral-lelism between events in his andBulacan Gov. Joselito Mendo-za’s three-year gubernatorialcareers and he believes that theparallelism could go on furtheralso with his fate looming simi-lar to Mendoza’s electoral case.

Last Tuesday, the Commis-sion on Elections (Comelec)

LOSING IN RECOUNT

PAGE 6 PLEASE

Panlilio sees same fate asMendoza after joining LP

came out with a decision say-ing Roberto Pagdanganan wonin the 2007 gubernatorial elec-tions against Mendoza.

This, even as Edgardo Cer-vando of the Comelec’s electioncontroversies and electoral dis-putes (ECAD) division told Pun-to the electoral case filed byformer provincial board memberLilia Pineda against Panlilio is

expected to be resolved soon bythe poll body’s second division.

Panlilio noted that he andMendoza have been governor forthree years and were faced withelectoral protests filed by losingcandidates known to be closeto the Arroyo administration.

“Mendoza also recentlymoved to the Liberal Party which

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AYAng mga lumahok sa obla-tion run ay tumakbo ng walangsaplot mula sa tanggapan ng fra-ternity sa gitna ng tilian ang mgamag-aaral, pagkatapos ay tu-migil sila sa BulSU Heroes Parkkung saan ay inawit ang ka-nilang himno at nagbalik na mulisa kanilang tanggapan.

Ayon kay Adonis Paghu-nasan, grand chancellor ng Ep-silon Kappa ng APO sa BulSU,nais ipabatid sa gobyerno angkanilang panawagan para samadaliang pagresolba sa Magu-indanao Massacre kung saan ay57 katao ang pinaslang kabilangang 30 mamamahayag noongNobyembre 23.

Bukod dito, hiniling din ngmga mag-aaral na mabigyangkatarungan ang walang habasna pagpatay sa iba pang mgamamamahayag sa bansa.

FROM PAGE 1

Hubo’t hubad...Hinggil naman sa papalapit

na halalan, nanawagan din silapara sa patas, tapat at payapanghalalan.

Binigyang diin ni Paghu-nasan na hindi na dapat maulitang kontrobersiya tulad ng Hel-lo Garci scandal noong 2004elections.

Kaugnay nito, sinabi pa niPaghunasan na kaugnay ngika-30 anibersaryo ng APOmagsasagawa ng katulad naoblation run sa ibat-ibang pa-mantasan sa bansa ang ka-nilang mga kasapi sa ika-16ng Disyembre upang iparatingang kanilang mensahe ngpagkundena sa MaguindanoMassacre at patas na hala-lan.

Ang oblation run ay sinimu-lan sa University of the Philip-pines, at ginaya ng mga mag-aaral ng BulSU simula noong2006.

AFTER A successful Clark-Hongkongflight, Zest Air now launches its Kalibo-Incheon, Korea flight on December 4,2009. Manila-Kalibo flights are also avail-able to connect to the Kalibo-Incheonroute.

Zest Air will be utilizing its brand newl68/l62 seater Airbus 320 (A320). Amongthe privileges of this new route are: af-fordable introductory fares, baggage al-lowance of 20 kilos per person and freeinflight meals and refreshments.

According to Ambassador Alfredo M.Yao, Zest Air’s president and chief exec-utive officer. “the opening of the Incheon,Korea route, just like the Hongkongroute, is part of the airline’s expansionprogram to SouheastAsian regions. Af-ter these new routes, Zest Air is expect-ed to boost its market dominance byplanning to fly to Shanghai, Japan andSingapore.”

Flight schedules are as follows:Kalibo-Incheon- December 4 to De-

cember l9, 2009- expected time of de-

Zest Air launches Incheon, Korea flightsparture, l am; expected time of arrival,6:30 am, Mondays and Fridays.

Incheon-Kalibo- December 4 to De-cember l9, 2009, expected time of de-parture, 8:25 am; expected time of arriv-al, ll:55 am.

Kalibo-Incheon-December 20, 2009onwards- ETD, l am; ETA:6:30 am, Mon-day, Thursday, Friday, Sunday

Incheon-Kalibo-December 20 on-wards-ETD, 8:25 am; ETA, ll:55 am,Monday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday.

Incheon is officially known as the In-cheon Metropolitan City. It is South Ko-rea’s third largest metropolis after Seouland Busan. It is the largest seaport onthe west coast (its location on an estu-ary made it a good harbor) and home tothe country’s largest airport, Incheon In-ternational Airport. It is also South Ko-rea’s most important transport hub.

In the 2lst century, Incheon has be-come a global business hub centeredaround the high-tech and futuristic NewSongdo City which is home to South

Korea’s tallest building—the NortheastAsia Trade Tower.

Incheon is now home to over 2.5 mil-lion people and under the control of oneof the two free economic zone authori-ties in Korea, with an aim to attract for-eign investments and turn itself into a fi-nancial and corporate hub along with theBusan-Jinhae Free Economic Zone Au-thority.

Incheon is regarded as part of thegreater Seoul metropolitan area due tothe fact that it is bordering the capitaland that the Seoul Metropolitan Sub-way and the Incheon Subway systemsare linked. Incheon is, however, a majorcity in its own right and is a separatejurisdiction from Seoul.

Korea is home to many UNESCOWorld Heritage Sites because of its manyfortresses, temples and palaces sur-rounding this peninsula. Key tourist at-tractions are Gangwa Island, YeongjongIsland, Jayu (Freedom) Park, Wolmidoand Bupyeong Station. Incheon has also

won the bid to host the Asian Games in20l4.

On February 27, 2007, Incheon de-clared itself an “English City” and inau-gurated the “Incheon Free English Zone”program. The goal of the program is tomake Incheon as much an Englishspeaking city as Hong Kong and Sin-gapore are. The ultimate purpose is toestablish Incheon as a commercial andbusiness hub of Northeast Asia. The offi-cial slogan of the program is “Smile withEnglish”.

Presently, Zest Air flies to 19 desti-nations to and from Manila. These includeBoracay via Kalibo, Bacolod, Busuanga,Calbayog, Catarman, Clark, Cebu,Davao, Iloilo, Legaspi, Manila, Marindu-que, Naga, Puerto Princesa, San JoseMindoro, Tablas, Tacloban, Tagbilaranand Virac.

Bookings or flight information may becoursed through the Reservation Hotlineof Zest Air at 855-3333 or visitwww.zestair.com.ph for more updates.

BY ARMAND M. GALANG

CUYAPO, Nueva Ecija –Novo Ecijanos received theearly treat of having ashowbiz personality in thepolitical race.

Three days after SeniorBoard Member RommelPadilla, himself an actorwho is running for vicegovernor, filed his certifi-cate of candidacy alongwith gubernatorial tandem,Vice Gov. Edward ThomasJoson, his younger brotherRobin Padilla staged astar-studded birthday hereMonday night.

Their equally popularsibling, “BB Gandanghari”,also went up on stage anddeclared support for theJoson-Padilla tandem. TheHilera Band, a music groupcomposed of the boardmember’s siblings, alsoperformed numbers.

But both Joson andPadilla were smart todeclare before the thou-sands of people gatheredat the town’s auditoriumtheir readiness in effectivegovernance beyond looksand entertainment.

“Ang pinakamagandapong natanggap kong

regalo ay ang malaman kona magkakaroon na ngbagong pag-asa ang mgaNovo Ecijano,” the actorsaid referring to his brotherand Joson.

Joson and Padilla rerunning under BagongLakas ng Nueva Ecija orBalane, a party created bythe late Gov. EduardoJoson which brought himback to the Capitol in thefirst election after thenPresident Corazon Aquinounseated local executives.

They are facing incum-bent Gov. Aurelio Umaliand businessman GayPadiernos, a Lakas-Kampi-CMD member who ran andlost in Nueva Ecija’s fourthcongressional district in2007.

However, Umali’s Lakas-Kampi-CMD had its newNueva Ecija theme sung bycelebrity singer RonnieLiang. Liang himselfpresented the song to NovoEcija a couple of monthsago.

But Joson said thatbeyond personalities andlooks, candidates shouldbe judged based on theirability to govern andsincerity to serve.

Ecijanos tastepolitics and showbizBY JOHNNY REBLANDO

OLONGAPO CITY – A Jamaicannational allegedly involved in drugtrafficking was arrested by jointoperatives of the Zambales Crim-inal Investigation and DetectionTeam (ZCIDT) and OlongapoCity PNP in a buy-bust opera-tion in his rented hotel in Baran-gay West Bajac—Bajac, thiscity, dawn Wednesday.

Chief Inspector Rogelio

Jamaican nabbed on drugsPeñones, Jr., ZCIDT provincialofficer, identified suspect asPatrick Delos Sanros, 26, of No.61 Graham St., Barangay EastTapinac.

He was a member of the K-9dog association created byformer city councilor Brian Gor-don.

Peñones said at about 5:30a.m., the suspect was arrestedat Room 25 of Ideal Hotel inBarangay West Bajac-Bajac

selling sachet of marijuana fruit-ing tops to police assets worthP1,000.

The suspect told investiga-tors “ iniwan lamang ito ng isangkaibigan sa akin at dadaanan itong kanyang buyer,” but he wasthe one caught selling marijua-na during the drug operation.

Sanros is now in custody ofZCIDT, facing charges for viola-tion of RA 9165 before the CityPoresecutors Office here.

NI JOEY AGUILAR

LUNGSOD NG SANFERNANDO – “Si TonyMamac ay miyembro lang ngLiberal Party.”

Ito ang naging sagot niPampanga Gov. Eddie Panlil-io nang tanungin siya ng Pun-to kung sino ang opisyal nakandidato ng LP sa lungsod ngAngeles sa isang press con-ference na ginanap dito kama-kailan.

Hindi niya sinagot ng diret-so ang tanong ngunit sinabiniya na hindi siya ang magd-edesisyon sa kaso ng baran-gay captain ng Balibago dahilang Angeles umano ay isangchartered city at hindi na sa-kop ng probinsya.

Napabalitang ayawumanong i-endorso ni Panliliosi Mamac dahil sa lumabas naartikulo sa Punto at sa Philip-pine Star kamakailan. Ayon saartikulo, si Mamac umano ayisang “girlie bar operator” atang kinuha niyang vice mayoray isang dating pari na si CrisCadiang.

“Ang mga mataas na opi-syales ng LP ang magdedesi-syon sa kasong yan at hindiako,” ani Panlilio na hindi na-man nagpatutsada kay

Mamacinayawan

ni GovMamac.

Dagdag pa niya na idi-nadaan sa proseso ng mgamataas na opisyales ng LPang pagtanggap ng mgamiyembro at kung ang mga itoay i-eendorso para sa kanilangposisyong hahabulin sa 2010eleksyon.

Sa isang panayam namansa telepono kay Mamac, sin-abi niya na simula pa noongSetyembre 2 ay acting citychairman na siya ng LP.

At noong Nobyembre 28 aypinirmahan ni LP SecretaryGeneral Emilio AguinaldoAbaya ang kanyang appoint-ment bilang opisyal na citychairman at opisyal na kandi-dato sa pagka-mayor sa An-geles sa darating na eleksy-on.

Nakapirma din aniya siSen. Mar Roxas sa naturangdokumento.

“Bago pa maging provincialcoordinator si Panlilio ay nag-ing acting city chairman naako ng LP,” ani Mamac.

Sa darating na eleksyon aymaglalaban sina Mamac, Sub-ic Clark Alliance for Develop-ment Council Chairman Ed“EdPam” Pamintuan at MayorFrancis Nepomuceno para sapagka-alkalde.

CLARK FREEPORT—The ClarkDevelopment Corporation -Spe-cial Project for Resort Operation(CDC-SPRO) announced the“successful” conclusion of thenegotiations with the unionmembers of the Mimosa SPROon the group’s Collective Bar-gaining Agreement (CBA).

CDC President Benigno N.Ricafort said yesterday’s conclu-sion of the CBA negotiations “wasa result of months of hard work”as he cited the signing of a Mem-orandum of Agreement signed byCDC-SPRO officials and the As-sociation of Clark Mimosa Em-ployees on Dec. 1, 2009.

“All issues have been re-solved,” Ricafort said.

He added: “The CDC-SPROhas been generous, giving para-mount importance to the welfareof employees at the CDC-SPROwhen it decided to continue op-erating the tourism estate in1999 despite of the uncertaintiesin the business conditions atthat time.

In the MOA, both the CDC-SPRO and union officials agreedon 18 non-economic benefitsand four economic benefitswhich include, occupational,health and safety/miscellaneousbenefits; grievance machinery;

separation/gratuity pay; and sal-ary increase, among others.

“Among the other importantprovisions in the MOA,” Ricafortsaid, “is the endorsement of theSPRO employees to the newinvestor.”

Ricafort quoted the MOA say-ing “All employees shall be en-dorsed by the CDC-SPRO resortto the new investor, subject to thelatter’s management prerogative.”

To assure smooth and peace-ful operations of the 215-hectareMimosa Leisure Estate and pend-ing its transfer to a new operator,Ricafort said the MOA also includ-ed a “No strike/lockout clause.”

CDC concludes ‘successful’Mimosa CBA negotiations

ARE YOU in for an awesomeChristmas treat?

Make way for the brightestand the grandest Christmasevents this year at SM City Pam-panga. Christmas will truly bein the air as the longest mallbrings you the Grand ChristmasLight Up on December 5 ,6:00pm at the SM Pampanga mallgrounds, witness the grandestand longest line of lights filling theair with Christmas spirit. Watchas chandelier-like lanterns lightup the entire façade of the long-est mall in Pampanga!

For an awesome Christmascheer, be part of the unveiling ofthe Giant Christmas Tree andlisten to it as it sings joyousmelodies of the season, a first in

the region, a first in the hearts ofthe Kapampangans, come andwitness this event on December6, 6:00 pm at The Newest Wing.

For more of the most en-chanting Christmas melodies,come and watch the much-await-ed Caroling Cheers whereChristmas Carols will fill the airas the best Chorale group allover the region converge to bringyou songs of the holidays. Seethem perform live on December7 to 10, 14 to 17 and 21 to 24.

For an awesome Christmastreat, bring the entire family onDecember 19 and witness theSpectacular Christmas Pa-rade where your favorite Holidayornaments, gifts and Toys cometo life in a magical parade. Kids

will surely be delighted to seeeverything come alive and theirfairytales to come true! Time tocheck who’s naughty and who’snice as Santa Claus will cometo town! SM brings you “MeetSanta Claus”!

Time to share with him yourheart’s desires, meet him onDecember 18,19,24 & 25 at TheNewest Wing and get a chanceto have your photos taken , plus!get exclusive prints from PhotosDu Monde. What is a celebra-tion without a magical kaleido-scope of colors? The much await-ed Pyrotechnics light up the De-cember skies! Get a chance towitness the Spectacular Fire-works Display on December 5,13, 20 , 25, 30 and January 1!

An awesome Christmascelebration at SM City Pampanga

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Zona LibreBong Z. Lacson

E d i t o r i a l O p i n i o nO p i n i o n

acaesar.blogspot.com

Business & Editorial office at Unit B Essel Commercial Center,McArthur Highway, Telabastagan, City of San Fernando

Tel. No. (45) 636•6327 Cel. No. 0917•481•1416e-mail address: puntogitnangluzon@yahoo.com

pdf file at http://www.punto.com.phPunto! Central Luzon is a proud member ofThe Philippine Press Institute

General ManagerEditor

Editorial ConsultantMarketing Manager

Administrative StaffLayout

Circulation

Atty. Gener C. EndonaJoey R. AguilarCaesar “Bong” LacsonJoanna Niña V. CorderoMa. Teresa U. VillanuevaDondie B. VenturaGilbert Mendoza

LLL Trimedia CoordinatorsPublisher

EDGAR V. MOVIDOFounder

Napag-uusapanlangNi Felix M. Garcia

‘Maguindanaomassacre,’ gawa ngkampon ni Lucifer

SA KASAYSAYAN ng pamamamahayagNa “election related” na matatawag,Ito na tiyak ang pinaka-marahasNa insidente ng pagpatay at sukat

Sa limampu’t pito katao, kung saanKabilang diyan ang dalawampu’t limangMga periodista na ang intensyon langAy makapagbigay ng ulat sa bayan.

At ang tanging pakay lang ay delegasyonNg media para sa tatakbong governor,Sa pagsama nila sa pinaka-“convoy”Ni Mangudadatu nang mga oras na ‘yon;

Na maghahain lang sana sa ComelecNg C.O.C., pero hinarang ng suspek;Katulong ang kanyang umano ay “private”Na armadong tao – lahat ay sinalvage!

At pati ang iba, na hinihinalangPosibleng kasunod lang nila sa daanAy nadamay sa brutal na pamamaslangNg anila’y grupo ni Mayor Ampatuan;

Sa asawa at sa buong delegasyonNg karibal nito sa pagka-governor;Bilang kapalit ng ngayo’y gobernadorNa amang si Andal Ampatuan Senior.

Pero nang dahil sa marahas na hakbangNa ginawa nito ay posible pa bangMatupad ang hangad nitong mapalitanAng kanyang ama sa posisyong iiwan?

At nang dahil lamang sa pagiging sakimSa kapangyarihan ay makayang gawinNg angkan nila ang nakaririmarimNa krimeng ang kapwa ay pagpapatayin?

At kapwa muslim pa mandin ang asawaNi Mangudadatu, na hinalay munaKasama ang ibang mga babae pa,Bago walang awang pinatay din nila?

Kaya marapat lang na kundenahin dinPati na ng kapwa nila mga muslim,Pagkat ang ganitong klase ng gawain,Sa ‘Sharia Law’ ay dapat pagbibitayin!

At di lang pag-“expel” ng ating PanguloSa “ruling party” ang dapat gawin nito,Kundi madaliin ng kanyang gobyernoAng pagsisiyasat sa insidenteng ito.

Na pinaka-malagim sa kasaysayan,Ng pulitika sa ating Inang Bayan;Na naganap mandin sa kapanahunanNg mga kilalang ka-alyado ni Mam.

Na sinasabing nagpanalo sa kanyaNg malaki sa nasasakupan nila,(Kung saan ang ibang ‘presidential’ paAy na-zero o walang botong nakuha?)

Nang sa gayon ay di natin pagdudahanItong anila ay pagiging mabagalNg imbestigasyon sa suspek sa kasong yan,Na ngayo’y hawak na ating N.B.I.

Kung saan si Andal Ampatuan JuniorAng itinuturong suspek sa madugongPamamaslang ayon sa mga testigongNasa kustodia na ng D.O.J. ngayon.

(May karugtong)

TheBlue-SkyScenario

Atty. Bong Roque

THE RECENT study made by Dr. Michael Tomasello and containedin his book “Why We Cooperate,” is interesting as it reveals a lotabout those who filed their CoCs.

Dr. Tomasello, a developmental psychologist and co-director ofthe Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig,Germany, designed and conducted an experiment, with the end inview of finding out what is it in human beings that move them tohelp others.

Dr. Tomasello divided his subjects into two: young children, onone hand, and chimpanzees, on the other.

Experimenting on the first group, he dropped a clothespin infront of a two-year-old child. He was surprised that, without anyprompting, the child picked up the object. When an 18-month oldinfant saw an unrelated adult who wanted to go out of a door butcould not because his hands were full, the child immediately helpedto open the door.

He next conducted the same experiment on apes. What did Dr.Tomasello find out? Apes could also help, but choose not to.

Dr. Tomasello then concluded that being helpful in humans isnot a learned behavior. The helping behavior, he argues, is innatebecause it appears so early, even before many parents could startteaching their children the rules of polite behavior. Simply put, manis born with a natural inclination to help, and the willingness to helpothers is not something imposed by parents or culture.

2010 Wannabeesand Chimpanzees

But here is the catch. As children grow older,they become more selective in their helpfulness.Starting around age 3, they will share moregenerously with a child who was previously niceto them. When they later become a part of a group,their almost reflexive desire to help — withoutexpectation of reward — becomes shaped by thegroup. That’s when they learn either selflessnessor selfishness.

Significantly, this study comes out at theheels of the fevered 2010 Election preparationsin our country. If you watch 2010 wannabeeson TV, the standard, almost hackneyed, soundbite you’ll hear is this: “Tumatakbo po ako dahil

gusto kong makatulong sa ating mgakababayan.”

Although I am tempted to advise them to “tellthat to the Marines,” a big part of me is stillkeeping its hopes high that the candidates’avowed reason for seeking an elective post isreally borne out of their innately genuine desire tohelp their constituents.

If they have a hidden agenda somewhere –whether to reclaim their old elective post, to amassmore wealth, or whatever — then may God havemercy on their souls.

That is assuming, of course, that chimpanzeeshave souls.

ANG SUWERTE naman nitongnapagbigyan ng kontrata paragawing RESTORAN ang ADMI-RAL GUEST HOUSE na mata-gal ng ginamit ng mga sundal-ong Amerikano, panahon pa ngSUBIC NAVAL BASE at isa samga itinuturing na HISTORICALLANDMARK ng Subic Bay Met-ropolitan Authority (SBMA).

Kung hindi ako nagkakama-li, taong 2004 ng unang pagpl-anohan din itong gawing CaféBar and Restaurant at ang ip-apangalanan sana dito ay PI-GARRO CAFÉ, at nagpasa pang Resolution ang OlongapoCity Council para lamang matu-loy ito, subalit marami ang tu-mutol dito, kung kaya hindi nais-agawa ang plano. At ito na na-man at ayos na daw ang lahat,at wala ng makakapigil sa pl-ano. Talaga lang ha???

Batay sa impormasyon ngCASTIGADOR mga datingBOARD of DIRECTORS ngSBMA ang nag-aproba paramapasakamay ito ng isang nag-ngangalang “JAYLO” na mal-apit sa kusina na hindi umanomapapahindian ni SBMA Amin-istrator ARMAND ARREZA.

Ganun nga ba? Aba matindi,lahat ng hinihiling ibinibigay.

“DAPAT BIYASA kang mamasang balat candy. (You should knowhow to read candy wrappers).”

The allegory – perhaps localized from the idiom of readingbetween the lines – is a favorite of Senior Board Member Cris Garbowhen trying to divine the probable motives behind anypronouncement and every act of Gov. Eddie T. Panlilio. Yes, Garbofinds any candy wrapper more efficacious than tea leaves on thatscore.

So let me do a Garbo and read the candy wrapper on thegovernor’s latest pronouncements as they appeared in the papers.

“I will remain a priest because my ordination was divinelyinstituted, but then I will be deprived of my priestly powers, includingthe power to administer sacraments.”

Thus said Panlilio after disclosing that he has officially askedArchbishop Paciano Aniceto to grant him dispensation from thepriesthood, invoking there the Melchizedek clause of once-a-priest,forever-a-priest.

Misreading Panlilio

It would look now that aside from his priestlypowers, Panlilio has been deprived his direct lineto God. Yeah, the same God who, Panlilio said,called him to run for president but he spurned bygiving in to Noynoy. If this God called Panlilio torun again for governor, Panlilio did not say. Enoughproof that God is already out of coverage area orunavailable where Panlilio is concerned. Thisexplains why Panlilio had to take a reverend pastor– Marco Lazatin – for vice governor. If only to re-establish communication links with God.

“If I opt to get married later, I could not evenget married in church, although it can be done incivil courts.” Why the civil courts only? The altarat the His Life City Church can be just fine, solong as a most distinguished member of theircongregation is the not-so-blushing bride.

Yes, and while at it, why not bring back thosetarpaulins with images of the Capitol couple in-governance put up at the Arnedo Park by the then-striking Balas Boys. They looked like weddinginvitations, Garbo noted then.

On the business at hand, Panlilio said: “In2007, it was a three-cornered fight. But actually,at that time, the Pineda camp was focused onthe Lapid camp until I came in. But this time, itwill be me and Mrs. Pineda looking at the Capitolas I have decided to seek reelection and continueour programs of good governance, ethicalleadership and responsible citizenship.”

Yes, Gov, as it was in 2007, the Pineda campwas focused on the Lapid camp again this timearound – Senator Lito Lapid proclaiming in Octoberhis intent to seize the governorship anew until heopted (or was he co-opted?) to seek re-election.

Okay, so what does the candy wrapper sayabout the Panlilio mantra of “good governance,ethical leadership and responsible citizenship”?

Paying the His Life City Church P675,000 fora leadership and worship services seminar itsyouth arm conducted for the Capitol is goodgovernance and ethical. The separation of Churchand State be damned!

Attesting to the P13 million-plus net worth ofthe putative provincial administrator sans a singlecentavo for payment from the Capitol for all of2008. This, vis-a-vis an income tax payment ofP12,000 with a refund of over P3,000 is goodgovernance and ethical.

Defying court orders to reinstate the provincialhospital head who was dismissed allegedly onthe whim of the Office of the Governor is goodgovernance and ethical.

Dismissing from the service proven performerslike social welfare and development chief LuchieGutierrez and the Balas Boys, hailed as the realheroes behind the tremendous increase in thequarry collections, is good governance and ethicalleadership.

The list of instances of Panlilio’s brand of goodgovernance and ethical leadership dating from hisadmonition to then acting Gov. Yeng Guiao thathis was “only a caretaker government” anddemanding a stoppage to all scheduled bidding,to his request for “blanket authority” in all Capitoldeals that is good governance and ethicalleadership.

“Hindi kami papayag na ibigay na lamang ngganoon sa isang babaeng kandidata angnasimulan namin ng walang kalaban-laban (Wewill not surrender without a fight what we havestarted to a woman candidate).”

Wow, for all his deference to his putativeprovincial administrator, the dispensation-seekingsuspended priest is a certified male chauvinist.Women of Pampanga, unite!

CastigadorJohnny Reblando

Historical landmarkgagawing restoran

sa SBMAAng ADMIRAL GUEST

HOUSE noong panahon ng nan-dito pa sa Subic Bay ang mgaAmerikano ay ginagamit itonglugar para diyan magpulong angmga matataas na opisya ngNAVY hanngang sa tuluyan itonginiwan ng sila ay mag-pulloutnoong 1991 ng sumabog ang Mt.Pinatubo. At ginamit na rin yanglugar sa pagpupulong ng SBMAat alam niyo yan at sa isangiglap gagawin RESTORAN.

Sa lugar na yan diyan dinmatatagpuan ang TAPAN PARKat na siyang malimit na gawingpasyalan ng ating mga kababay-an.

Tanong ng taumbayan, anokayang hangin ang pumasok samga kukute ng mga nag-aprobang mga SBMA Board ofDirectors.

Hindi ba ang ADMIRALHOUSE ay inihahalintulad ito saMALACAÑANG PALACE natahanan ng Pangulo ng Repub-lika ng Pilipinas, at nag-iisa nalamang itong HISTORICALLANDMARK na natitira saSBMA anong klaseng mayroontayong pag-iisip, ha! Ha!

Tiyak kapag naging naRESTORAN na yan, mawawalana sa ayos at mababahura ang

lugar, sa una siguro at kapagtumagal na aywan ko lang.

Isa pa, naka-amba na rin anggagawing rally ng mga negosy-ante sa labas ng SBMA kapagipinagpatuloy sa susunod nataon ang gagawing AYALAMALL, Phase 1 and Phase 2,na siyang magpapabagsak sanegosyo sa labas ng Olongapo.

Abangan ang lahat ng iyanat hindi ito makakaligtas sagagawing pagbubunyag ng CAS-TIGADOR kung sino-sino nanaman ang mga nasa lokod nito.

Hindi tutol ang CASTIGA-DOR sa gagawing pagpapaun-lad lalo na kung ito ay may ki-nalaman sa kalakalan, perosana naman tingnan muna na-tin ang magiging epekto nito sataumbayan bago natin ito gawin.

Abangan ang lahat na iyan.

ON THIS DAY in 1991, Islamicmilitants in Lebanon release kid-napped American journalist Ter-ry Anderson after 2,454 days incaptivity.

As chief Middle East corre-spondent for the AssociatedPress, Anderson covered thelong-running civil war in Leba-non (1975-1990). On March 16,1985, he was kidnapped on awest Beirut street while leavinga tennis court. His captors tookhim to the southern suburbs ofthe city, where he was held pris-oner in an underground dun-geon for the next six-and-a-halfyears.

Anderson was one of 92 for-eigners (including 17 Ameri-cans) abducted during Leba-

Hostage Terry Andersonfreed in Lebanon

TODAY IN HISTORY

non's bitter civil war. The kidnap-pings were linked to Hezbollah,or the Party of God, a militantShiite Muslim organizationformed in 1982 in reaction toIsrael’s military presence inLebanon. They seized severalAmericans, including Anderson,soon after Kuwaiti courts jailed17 Shiites found guilty of bomb-ing the American and Frenchembassies there in 1983.Hezbollah in Lebanon receivedfinancial and spiritual supportfrom Iran, where prominentleaders praised the bombersand kidnappers for performingtheir duty to Islam.

U.S. relations with Iran--andwith Syria, the other major for-eign influence in Lebanon--

showed signs of improving by1990, when the civil war drewto a close, aided by Syria's in-tervention on behalf of the Leb-anese army. Eager to win favorfrom the U.S. in order to pro-mote its own economic goals,Iran used its influence in Leba-non to engineer the release ofnearly all the hostages over thecourse of 1991.

Anderson returned to theU.S. and was reunited with hisfamily, including his daughterSuleme, born three months af-ter his capture. In 1999, he suedthe Iranian government for $100million, accusing it of sponsor-ing his kidnappers; he receiveda multi-million dollar settlement.

Source: www.history.com

Jousting withthe windmill

“TO DREAM the impossible dreamTo fight the unbeatable foe

To bear with unbearable sorrowTo run where the brave dare not go

To right the unrightable wrongTo love pure and chaste from afar

To try when your arms are too wearyTo reach the unreachable star

This is my questTo follow that star

No matter how hopelessNo matter how far

To fight for the rightWithout question or pause

To be willing to march into HellFor a heavenly cause

And I know if I’ll only be trueTo this glorious quest

That my heart will lie peaceful and calmWhen I’m laid to my rest

And the world will be better for thisThat one man, scorned and covered with scars

Still strove with his last ounce of courageTo reach the unreachable star.”

WHERE UNIVERSITY of the Philippinesprofessor Randy David faltered, theysprang: To challenge the President of theRepublic herself for that little spot called2nd district of Pampanga.

For their sheer guts in facing up to themost formidable politician in the land,Feliciano Serrano and Adonis Simpao haveearned their niches in Kapampangan, if notPhilippine, history.

Don Quijote de la Mancha lives on.

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TheGossip-millerby Cesar Pambid

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINESREGIONAL TRIAL COURTTHIRD JUDICIAL REGION

BRANCH 44City of San Fernando, Pampanga

IN RE: PETITION FOR THECANCELLATION OF ENTRY INTHE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTHOF MINOR NICCA MARIE DAVID LALU,

FRIDA B. DAVIDPetitioner,

-versus- SP. PROC. NO. 5225

CITY CIVIL REGISTRY OF THE CITYOF SAN FERNANDO, PAMPANGA,

Respondent.x------------------------------------------------------------------------x

O R D E RThis is a verified petition filed by the petitioner, by counsel, praying

that after due notice, publication and hearing, an Order be issued directingthe City Civil Registrar of San Fernando, Pampanga, and theCivil Registrar General, National Statistics Office, Quezon City, tocorrect the erroneous entries in the Certificate of Live Birth of MinorNicca Marie David Lalu, under Local Civil Registry No. 98-6411 bydeleting the entry on the date and place of marriage of parents.

Finding the aforesaid petition to be sufficient in form and substance,the Court hereby sets the hearing thereof on February 1, 2010 at 8:30in the morning at the Session Hall of this Court, 2nd Floor, RTCBuilding, City of San Fernando, Pampanga, when and where allpersons who may have interest in the said petition may appear and toshow cause, if any, why the same should not be granted.

The petitioner is ordered to serve, within five (5) days from receiptof this Order, copies of the petition and its annexes to 1.) the Office of theSolicitor General, at 134 Amorsolo Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City;2). The City Civil Registrar of the City of San Fernando, Pampanga;and 3). The Civil Registrar General, National Statistics Office, QuezonCity, and to show proof of said service to this Court.

Let the petitioner at her expense, publish this Order for three (3)consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Provinceof Pampanga. Likewise, petitioner is directed to show proof to the Courtof payment of the sum of Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00) to theDepartment of Justice, City of San Fernando, Pampanga , asappearance fee.

Furnish copies hereof the petitioner; her counsel; the Office of theSolicitor General, Makati City; the Civil Registrar General, NationalStatistics Office, Quezon City and the City Civil Registrar of the City ofSan Fernando, Pampanga, through registered mail with return card.

SO ORDERED.City of San Fernando, (P), October 12, 2009

ESPERANZA S. PAGLINAWAN-ROZARIO Presiding Judge

Punto! Central Luzon: November 27, December 4 & 11, 2009

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unfortunately ay hindi raw ito pwede. Umayon naman si Anne at say niya, magka-text nga raw sila ni Angel atmay importanteng meeting daw ito.

“Huwag na nating bigyan ng kulay, bata pa lang kami, magkaibigan na kami ni Anne,” pagwawakas pa ni LuisManzano.

Marian Rivera, Katrina Halili may matinding gap pa rin?TOTOO KAYANG isnaban pa rin nang isnaban sa set ng Darna sina Katrina Halili at Marian Rivera? Mula rawnang magkairingan sila noon sa Marimar, plastikan lang sila’t ‘di na talaga bumalik ‘yung dating samahan nilangdalawa. That time, sinasabing insecure si Kat kay Marian dahil nasapawan nga siya sa kasikatan nito. Numberone young star noon si Katrina kaya natural lang na makaramdam ito ng insecurity noong mga panahong ‘yun.

Balik-kontrabida na naman si Katrina Halili kay Marian Rivera sa bagong season ng Darna. Siya si Serpina,anak nina Kobra at Babaeng Impakta at half-sister ni Valentina. Gumanap bilang Black Darna si Katrina saDarna ni Angel Locsin noon at naka-two-piece costume rin siya tulad ni Darna.

Ngayon bilang si Serpina, at least balot daw ang katawan niya sa kanyang body-hugging na snake costume.Inamin din niya na mas close siya kay Angel kaysa kay Marian kung saan nagkaroon pa sila ng gap noongMarimar days nila.

Hanggang ngayon daw ay nagte-textan pa sila ni Angel samantalang hindi raw sila nag-uusap ni Marian.Hangga’t maaari ay ayaw na rin niyang pag-usapan pa si Hayden Kho pero aminado siyang natutuwa siya na

ni-revoke na ng PRC ang medical license ni Hayden for life.Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa siya tumatanggap ng bagong suitors at aminado siyang na-trauma siya sa

mga lalaki dahil sa video scandal nila ni Hayden.“Hindi na hinahanap ng katawan ko ang lalaki,” pahayag ni Kat.

Gina Alajar gutom sa publisidad?NAGUGULUHAN NA ang publiko kay Gina Alajar. Napaka-conflicting na ng mga sinasabi niya dahil nga sarili naniya’ng sinasalungat niya.

Sa true lang, halata na talagang nagpapakontrobersyal lang sina Gina pati na’ng anak niya kaya nagdidiwarasila tungkol kay Krista Ranillo. Hindi ba, nakauuta nang pakinggan si Geoff na kalalaki niyang tao, panay dinang dakdak gayung hindi naman talaga siya kasali sa isyu. Kung bakit ‘di na lang ipinaubaya sa ina ‘yungpagkaklaro kung meron mang dapat klaruhin.

Anyway, nagsalitg nga si Gina na wala daw siyang dapat ipa-public apology sa kampo nio Krista. ‘Yungsinabi raw niya sa kanyang Facebook ay ‘yun ang nararamdama niya kaya wala siyang dapat na ikatakotkaninoman.

Sabi pa ni Gina, hindi naman daw siya pinakakain ng sinomankaya wala siyang dapat na kilalanin kanino mang tao. At sinabiniya ‘yan on national tv na may conviction pa.

Ang nakapagtataka lang, kung bakit putak pa siya nangputak sa The Buzz na kesyo idedemanda raw niya dahil ngapinakialaman ang kanyang Facebook.

Susme, hindi yata alam ni Ms. Alajar ang kanyang pi-nagsasabi.

Imagine, ‘yung hindi niya kayang gawin ay gusto niy-ang ipagawa sa ibang tao.

Anyway, heto ang mga pronouncements ni GinaAlajar na halatang promo ng kanyang tv project.

Ano ba itong si Gina Alajar, gutom sa publisidad?“This will be a solo battle, ang kasama ko lang

palagi riyan ay pamilya ko.” Ito naman ang paniniguro ng Sana Ngayong Pas-

ko co-star ni Susan na si Gina Alajar tungkol sakinasasangkutan gusot sa pamilya nina Mat atKrista Ranillo.

Ayon kay Gina, ikinagulat niya ang state-ment ng anak na si Geoff na ang pamilyanila ang matagal nang naghihintay ng apolo-gy, pero walang dumating.

“Nagulat din ako, eh, kung bakit luma-bas sa bibig niya ‘yun.

“I would feel bad kung hindi magpa-pub-lic apology ang The Buzz. I will feel sad,kasi, it just goes to show hindi sila pu-wedeng pagkatiwalaan. I’m sorry, I’msorry.

“This is not about Boy Abunda,this is not about Kris Aquino, thisis not about Ruffa Gutierrez. Alamko kung sino ang nagsulat ng ar-ticle, alam ko kung sino ang re-searcher, kilala ko. I hold themaccountable.

“Meron talagang mga taona hindi umaamin ngkasalanan. Meron talagangmga taong hindi umaamin ngpagkakamali nila, maybeisa rin ako roon, I do notknow. Pero ganu’n talaga’yon.”

Ang gulo ni Gina, hindipo ba?

Pakiusap sa press at publiko…“Wag nang lagyan ng kulay ang pagsasama

namin ni Anne” –LUIS MANZANO(Kay Angel Locsin pa rin kaya siya?)

NAKIKIUSAP SI Luis Manzano na ‘wag nang lagyan ng ibang kulay ‘yung pag-e-escort niya kay Anne Curtis nitong nakaraang StarAwards. Napansin nga kasi ng maraming nakasaksi na bagay na bagay ang dalawa that night na iisipin mong talagang silagn dalawana. But like Luis said, mabuting magkaibigan lang sila ni Anne at walang anumang ibig sabihin ‘yun.

Depensa pa niya, alam ni Angel na kasama niya ang young actress.“Sa akin pa nga ipinadala ni Angel ang pasalubong kay Anne kasi alam niyang magkikita kami,” sabi pa ni Luis.Kaya raw sila ang magkasama ay dahil magkausap sila earlier and they both found out na pareho silang pupuntang mag-isa sa affair.“So, sabi ko, mas maganda kung magkasama na lang kaming pupunta,” pagpapatuloy pa ni Luis.Sabi naman ng isang nakausap namin, bumabalik daw si Luis Manzano kay Angel Locsin at mukhang malapit na itong magtagum-

pay? Meaning, malapit na silang magkaayos muli?Hindi pa namin nakakausap si Angel kaya hindi namin alam kung totoo o hindi ang latest development na ito.Ayon naman kay Angel, inaayos ni Luis ang sitwasyon nila pero kuntento na raw muna siya na nag-uusap na silang dalawa.Ang kaso, nakita si Luis last Sunday sa Star Awards for TV na si Anne Curtis ang ka-date. Niyaya raw niya si Angel na dumalo but

Anne Curtis

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Mass attended by thePresident in Lubao beforeshe filed her candidacy,went on stage before a ral-ly at the church patio toappeal to Kapampangansin the second district to“support” the President.

This, even as David is-sued yet another state-ment saying “I have cometo the conclusion thatPGMA (Pres. Arroyo) is abig lawbreaker.”

“She breaks the spirit ofthe law but she has enoughpaid lawyers to justify herconduct as in keeping withthe letter of the law. This isprecisely what ails ourcountry,” he said.

David also said thePresident “is now giving avery bad example to ordi-nary citizens on how totreat the law. Hanapan mong butas ang batas paramakalusot (Seek a loop-hole in the law to get byit.”

“This behavior is sinful.We are all capable of it,humans as we are, butJesus has given us an ex-ample on how to riseabove it,” he added.

Even before Mrs. Ar-

FROM PAGE 1

GMA’s candidacy widens gap...royo announced her politi-cal plans, David alreadyissued a statement askingher not to run “in the nameof decency and for thesake of propriety.”

Mercado said thatwhile he respected theviews of David, whom heacknowledged as his supe-rior “in the same vicariate”,it would be wrong for thebishop to make politicalstatements during Mass.

Noting his experiencefor 12 years up to 2002 asdirector for the Commis-sion on the Liturgy of theArchdiocese of SanFernando, Mercado notedthat the Mass is “a liturgyof unity and love, and notone of protest and dissen-sion.”

Mercado noted that inLubao last Tuesday, heendorsed support for thePresident after the concel-ebrated Mass. He alsosaid that the homily of Fr.Roland Moraleja compar-ing the President’s deci-sion to run for a lower postwith Jesus Christ’s as-suming human form wasdevoid of political under-tones.

“Even Fr. Moraleja’sstatement that Kapampan-

gans would lift up the Pres-ident when other people tryto bring her down was inthe context of the gospel,”he said.

Mercado asked, “Ifsome Filipinos can ex-press opposition to thePresident, don’t we havethe right to also expresssupport for the President?”

Asked whether he hadtried to resolve his differ-ences with David over theissue, Mercado said hehad tried, but that Davidhad been absent in vicari-ate meetings of the localparish to attend to com-mitments elsewhere.

Replying to Mercado,David said “I don’t makepolitical statements inchurch. I am a pastor, nota politician. I only preachon God’s word and relateit to current spiritual andmoral issues.”

He also noted that thecomment of Fr. Moralejaon the similarity of themoves of the Presidentand Jesus Christ duringthe Mass in Lubao “washeard on national televi-sion and must be rectifiedaccordingly.”

David also urged Mer-cado to air his grievances

to higher Church authori-ties rather than the media.

The rift among 120 ac-tive Kapampangan priestsin this province firstshowed up in 2007 whenGov. Eddie Panlilio, formerparish priest of Betis inGuagua town, decided torun for governor. Somepriests, including thoseidentified with his rivalformer provincial boardmember Lilia Pineda, ob-jected to his entry intopolitics, while others sup-ported him.

Mercado has been per-ceived as the leader of atleast 12 of the priests who,at the height of variousscandals around the Ar-royo administration, decid-ed to go to Malacañang toshow support for her lead-ership and pray for her.

“Since then, we werelabeled Malacañangboys,” Mercado recalled.The same priests also con-celebrated the Mass inLubao last Tuesday.

David is then youngerbrother of University of thePhilippines professor Ran-dy David who earlier saidhe would oppose Ms. Ar-royo in the 2nd district butbacked out.

I also joined only recent-ly,” he said.

He also recalled thatboth of them were themain whistleblowers in theP500,000 payola scandalthat rocked Malacanang afew months after he as-sumed post in 2007.

Both of their electoralcases were brought beforethe Comelec’s second di-vision headed by Commis-sioner Nicodemo Ferrer.

Panlilio said it is pos-sible that recent develop-ments affecting him andMendoza could be “ven-detta” for their joining theLP and their past actsthat conflicted with the in-

FROM PAGE 1

Panlilio sees same fate as Mendoza...terests of the administra-tion.

In a three-page resolu-tion, the division directedMendoza to “immediatelyvacate the Office of theProvincial Governor of Bu-lacan; cease and desistfrom discharging the func-tions thereof; and peace-fully turn over the said of-fice to protestant Pagdan-ganan.”

It said the recount ofthe votes showed Pagdan-ganan obtaining a “winningmargin” of 4,321 votes.

Panlilio’s lawyerErnesto Francisco saidhe did not expect a “fairruling” from the Comelecon the case.

“Based on the actua-

tions of Commissioner(Nicodemo) Ferrer fromthe start, I believe that willnot get a fair ruling. I wasgoing along with the pro-cess because we had nochoice but I personallybelieve in its integrity,”Francisco told Punto in atext message.

Franciso said “it seemsto me that the objective ofthe whole thing is to un-seat Gov. Panlilio.”

The case was filed byPineda who ran under theadministration Kabalikatng Mamamayang Pilipino(Kampi) party but lost toPanlilio, who ran as inde-pendent candidate, by1,147 votes.

Pineda and Panlilio are

again opposing each oth-er in next year’s guberna-torial race. Pineda is run-ning under the Lakas-Ka-mpi-CMD, while Panlilio isnow with the Liberal Par-ty.

“We expect the threemembers of the 2nd divi-sion to come out with aconsensus and then de-cide who among them willbe the ponente. We ex-pect the resolution on thecase to be promulgatedany time after this,” Cer-vando said.

Apart from Ferrer, theother members of the 2nd

division are Commission-ers Lucenito Tagle andElias Yusoph.

–Ding Cervantes

Having grown up all mylife in the city, I had nevermissed joining the festivi-ties, and in those years,even as a boy, I felt asense of community, ca-maraderie, oneness andunflagging spirit to go on-ward, no matter how diffi-cult.

“Tigtigan Terakan” andlater, the “Sisig Festival”which was initiated duringthe time of then Mayor andnow Congressman of thefirst district, Carmelo “Tar-zan” Lazatin had been ea-gerly anticipated events,especially among theyoung, who took elaboratemeasures to make theirparticipation memorableand compelling.

Whole day-and-nightrevelry that lasted up thewee hours of the morning–dancing, singing, eating

in one’s best fineries—join-ing the mass of humanitythat poured onto main citystreets, moving and mer-ry-making as if followingthe beat and cadence ofthe baton of a single con-ductor. It had always beena spell-binding, over-whelming scene.

It is, therefore, quite aletdown for many An-geleños that there hadbeen clear signs that thetwo festivals, which hadbecome Department ofTour i sm-ca lendaredevents, had been trivial-ized, robbing them of theiroriginal allure and grand-ness as the centerpiece ofour fiesta celebrations.

“Sisig Festival” hasbeen completely droppedfrom the fiesta events.While “Tigtigan Terakan”had assumed a new term,as if it were but a footnoteof a package of programs

that failed to generate thrilland exhilaration that hadsuffused Angelenos in thepast years.

Consciousness of ourroots and pride in the his-tory and culture must begrandly expressed andcelebrated in the contextof our present-day reality,even as we grapple withemerging challenges. Inthis sense, the “Tigtigan”and the “Sisig” Festivalshave become a part of ouridentity as a people, a re-minder of our triumphs.

Our fiestas are not onlyabout lifestyle, politicaland social preferences, orhow we do business. It’sdeeper than that. The fes-tivities embody a people’sattitude, culture, thoughtsand values. Angeleños arefundamentally connected,traditionally fun-loving,warm and caring. Weshow this is our celebra-

tions that demonstratethat everyone, every citi-zen, whatever his status isan integral part of the trueAngeleño way.

Angeles had been oneof the earliest cities to in-troduce street celebra-tions, bringing in throngsof visitors and curiosityseekers, many of themforeigners. Now that thecity is a key part of the so-called global landscape ofthe region, we should allthe more institutionalizethe “Tigtigan” and “Sisig”festivities, similar to theAti-Atihan in Kalibo, Aklanwhich as been comparedto New Orleans’ “Mardi-Gras” and Brazil’s “Carni-val in Rio.”

Allowing such famousAngeles fiesta events todie for utter lack of inter-est or misplaced prioritiesis like losing a part of oursouls as true Angeleños.

FROM PAGE 1

Tigtigan, Terakan fest a vital part...

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BY ATTY. ANGELO “PINGGOY” LOPEZ

THE EMPIRICAL truth to thesaying worst times bring out thebest in man has something todo with the present-day realityof Angeleños.

In the aftermath of the cata-clysmic Mt. Pinatubo eruption in1991 Angeles City was virtuallyturned into a rubble of destruc-tion. Widespread desolation hadforced human enterprise into astandstill. Community life re-duced to a day-to-day strugglefor survival.

Horrible adversity had sparedno one, and the Angeles Cityleadership, saddled with theenormous burden of keepingalive whatever was left of the peo-ple’s flickering hope had to movefast, in resourceful ways.

First and foremost, to effectively mobilize the collective strengthof the community, the leadership must revive the broken spirit ofthe people, rallying them into action by invoking the old bayanihanspirit—the traditional resiliency of the Filipino.

Massive and herculean rebuilding work was paralleled by a cre-ative drive to stimulate the people’s enthusiasm, reminding An-geleños that they belonged to a proud race.

Thus was born such shibboleths as “Agyu Tamu” popularizedby the administration of then Angeles City Mayor Edgardo “Ed”Pamintuan.

But what had so far captured the imagination of the people andgained spirited response was the staging of the annual street fes-tivity called “Tigtigan Terakan” which were conceived and designedto lift the spirit of Angeleños as they recovered from the excruciat-ing pain of the Mt. Pinatubo devastations.

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Tigtigan, Terakanfest a vital part ofthe Angeles soul

Lopez