When nature strikes

November 7, 2018, 1:45 pm

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BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

When nature strikes, disaster preparedness may contribute in saving lives, but then, like a thief in the night, more often than not, it can still catch people by surprise.

Cordillera Disaster and local government officials may have thought they had it all figured out and were prepared enough for Typhoon Rosita. This, following lessons learned from deadly Typhoon Ompong which claimed more than a hundred lives in the region particularly in the mining town of Itogon, Benguet.

But then, Rosita unleashed her mayhem in Natonin, Mountain Province where more than 10 people died after being trapped inside a Dept. of Public Works and Highways building. In adjacent Ifugao members of a family were also killed.

***

No amount of disaster preparedness can really fully stop the Grim Reaper from claiming more lives when nature unleashes its wrath.

In Itogon, for example, with the fatal landslide due to “Ompong” in the town still fresh in their minds, people prepared for onslaught of “Rosita” and this time, there were lesser casualties.

Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan said on Monday locals started moving out of their places while the police and barangay officials told folks to evacuate to avoid getting harmed by the typhoon.

This time, those staying in areas identified as geologically hazardous voluntarily moved out, a report by the Philippine News Agency said.

Palangdan said the Itogon government had identified Aleho Pacalso Memorial High School as evacuation site for residents of Barangay Ucab, where the massive landslide killed at least 80 people, mostly small-scale miners, at the height of Typhoon Ompong in mid-September.

***

The mayor said other evacuation sites for the other villagers of Itogon were identified. The PNA report said after the fatal landslide, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau declared a major portion of Itogon town as geohazard or unstable, or highly susceptible to landslides and flooding due to cracks and hollow areas underground.

Meanwhile, provincial governments of Abra and Apayao announced as early as Oct. 28 suspension of classes in all levels in both public and private schools.

Abra Gov. Jocelyn Bernos also suspended work in government agencies and offices in the province from Oct. 29 to 31.

Bernos heads the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council of Abra.

She signed Advisory No. 15 on Oct. 28, suspending classes in all levels in both public and private schools in the entire province.

***

The advisory also suspended work in government offices and agencies for three days, from Monday to Wednesday, ahead of All Saints' Day (Nov. 1) and All Souls' Day (Nov. 2), which are special non-working holidays.

The advisory said it was “in consideration of the welfare and safety of the school children in Abra and in order to give ample time for government employees to prepare for the impact of another very strong typhoon (Rosita) that entered the Philippine area of responsibility on Oct. 27.”

It also mentioned that work suspension in private offices shall be at the discretion of their respective heads.

The same order raised the alert level in the whole province from “white” to “blue,” making all disaster risk reduction management councils and committees in the barangay level on guard, monitoring the weather for 24 hours.

***

Bernos has also ordered all offices and government agencies concerned with the delivery of disaster-related services to stay in operation to serve the public continuously.

Apayao’s order suspending classes was based on PDRRMC Memo 2018-031.

As of noontime of Monday, classes in pre-school, elementary, and high school in the provinces of Ifugao, Baguio-Benguet, Mountain Province, and Kalinga were also suspended, following the weather bureau’s announcement that the typhoon signal in the said provinces has been raised to Signal No. 2.

As early as last Friday, the Cordillera Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council raised the alert level in the entire Cordillera to “blue” and ordered the activation of all DRRM councils and committees of the barangays.

***

Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan also called for an emergency meeting on Friday of the CDRRMC and ordered the activation of all councils and the full monitoring of the weather situation in Baguio.

There were lesser casualties this time when Rosita struck, but being prepared for disasters helps a lot and Disaster and local government officials and volunteers deserve commendation for doing their jobs to mitigate the situation.

In the case of Natonin, another lesson is learned after the Itogon experience: buildings or houses should not be built in landslide or flood prone areas.

This, as families of casualties like those in Natonin and Ifugao grieve the passing of their loved ones. Our condolences.

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Cabinet reshuffling

November 7, 2018, 1:51 pm

≫ Next: EntaCool art fest set in Baguio Nov. 10-18

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EDITORIAL

President Rodrigo Duterte ordered drastic changes in the Office of the Cabinet Secretary by issuing Executive Order Number 67.

Signed on Oct. 31, the EO stripped off the Cabinet Secretary’s power over eight agencies and transferred them to other departments.

Under the new EO, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Cooperative Development Authority will now be under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI);

The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos and the Philippine Commission on Women will now be under the supervision of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG);

While the National Anti-Poverty Commission, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and the Presidential Commission on the Urban Poor will all be under the supervision of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The EO which takes immediate effect, aims to “avoid duplication of functions and enhance responsiveness” among government agencies particularly those under the Office of the President and to “strengthen the democratic and institutional framework of the executive department” towards the accomplishments of all government agenda.

The EO also reverted the Office of the Cabinet Secretary to its former name Cabinet Secretariat which “shall have the function of assisting the President in the establishments of agenda topics for Cabinet deliberations, or facilitate the discussion of Cabinet meetings.”

The Cabinet Secretariat still remains the head secretariat of the different Cabinet Cluster secretaries which means it “shall continue to participate in Cabinet Cluster meetings as well as in the National Economic and Development Authority Broad and committee meetings.”

Presidential Spokesperson and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo earlier announced that the President is eyeing Davao City First District Rep. Karlo Nograles to head the Cabinet Secretariat.

The President’s decision to revamp the Office of the Cabinet Secretary came after his trusted man for the position, former CabSec Leoncio Evasco resigned to seek election as governor of Bohol province

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EntaCool art fest set in Baguio Nov. 10-18

November 7, 2018, 1:54 pm

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Big firms pledge support

By Aileen P. Refuerzo and Pamela Mariz Geminiano

BAGUIO CITY – A city-wide guided tour of art hubs dubbed “Creative Crawl Tour” will spice up the 1st Baguio Creative Festival (“ENTAcool!”) slated on Nov. 10-18 in various venues.

City Tourism Operations Officer Aloysius Mapalo said the Creative Crawl tour to be headed by the Dept. of Tourism Cordillera will run throughout the festival and will feature a daily excursion to the various creative spaces which were grouped into five “circuits.”

Circuit 1 covers the BenCab Museum which features artworks exhibit and gallery by national artist Benedicto Cabrera and indigenous northern highland artifacts exhibits; Asin Woodcarvers Village (woodcarving and weaving and bamboo crafts); Dominican Hill Heritage Site (venue of the “Kulay ng Siglo” Visual and Media Arts Gallery and Workshop; and the Baguio City Museum;

Circuit 2: Tam-awan Village (An art and cultural village featuring Cordilleran folk art and cuisine, uniquely local solar and sand painting; Easter Weaving (Home of quality hand-woven products now with a wide array of other local handicrafts); Narda’s Weaving and Handicrafts (World-renowned hand-woven arts and crafts); and UP Museo Kordilyera (Ethnographic exhibits and gallery);

Circuit 3: Villa Romana (Venue of Tinatik Art Exhibits and Workshop); Hanan’chi Creations (An independent art space with installations and crafts made of metal and wood); Philippine Treasures (Locally designed and customized handicrafts and home decors); and OTOP Philippines Hub (Buyers’ showcase and gallery for local crafts products like weaving, silvercrafts and woodcarving);

Circuit 4: Bell House, Camp John Hay (Photo and Art Gallery Exhibition by BenCab in conjunction with the Forest Bathing project of DOTCAR); Pilak Silver Crafts (Locally designed and crafted sterling silver crafts and accessories); Aguinaldo Museum Park (Bamboo installations by Edgar Banasan); Baguio Media Newseum (Interactive edutainment center that focuses on media methods and techniques, emphasis on print, radio, television and the power of the new media; and Creative Brewery at St. Louis University (Metal Art Studio and Gallery by Archt. Dulthe Carlo Munar); and

Circuit 5: Mt. Cloud Bookshop (An independent bookshop and gallery); Vocas (Victor Oteyza Community Art Space) (A vegetarian café featuring organic cuisines and mini art gallery); Ili Likha Artist Village (An art hub conceptualized by Kidlat Tahimik, designed as a treehouse of various art experiences: gastronomy, independent cinema, art appreciation); Pasakalye Art Space; and Latag @ Malcolm Square (A fair featuring independent local handcraftsmen and street busking and performances).

Open to tourists and residents, the activity aims to drumbeat the city’s various art hubs as tourist attractions.

The Creative Crawl Map used in the tour will also serve as an avenue to build a “Creative Baguio” image and sustain it beyond the festival along with an active online portal among which the official Creative Baguio website www.creativebaguio.com .

The DOT-CAR said all five Creative Crawls will include transportation and tour guides at a package promo cost of P999 plus a raffle entry if availing of all the crawls although the crawls can be availed of separately.

Each circuit tour lasts for four hours. Assembly time for circuits 1 and 2 will be at 7:30 a.m. while circuits 3-5 will be at 12:30 p.m.

Daily raffle winners will be given special prizes, which can be claimed at the Latag Fair in Malcolm Square. Winners will be announced daily from Nov 14 to 18, 2018.

Major private corporations are throwing their all-out support to the Summer Capital's newest festival, "EntaCool," which is meant to highlight the city's creative populace from the grassroots.

Energy sector giant Petron Corp., for one, is getting reinforcement from its five-million customer base.

“Petron Corporation is assuring you that you have our support. In fact, in line with the city's objective, we also want to revive the city's old charm,” Jessamyn Clavio, Petron Corp.'s loyalty sales manager, told Baguio media in a recent conference here. “If you are familiar with the Petron Value Card, we have five million membership base and we will promote the festival to them.”

Last week, Baguio launched "EntaCool," a festival that the DOT in Cordillera hopes to match the Philippine Summer Capital's “Panagbenga” or Flower Festival in drawing in tourists.

Coined from the indigenous word “entaku” (meaning let's go) and cool referring to the cool weather in the city, will be a week-long festival held on Nov. 10-18 each year.

The festival aims to promote Baguio as a creative city, featuring art and cultural exhibits, cultural shows, live portrait sketching sessions, local crafts, talks on culture and the arts, and art demonstrations by renowned local artists.

The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio (HRAB) will also give perks and discounts to tourists, who will visit creative sites in the city during the festival.

The Private Infra Development Corp. (PIDC), a subsidiary of food and beverage giant San Miguel Corp., is also set to put up ads along the highway leading to Baguio, announcing to travelers that Baguio has remained a safe and fun haven for tourists.

PIDC operates the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX), which has made traveling to the northern Philippines a breeze for metropolitans.

“We are planning to install metal billboards promoting Baguio as a creative city,” Tony Reyes, a representative of PDIC, said at the press conference.

Davies Paints Philippines, Inc. and Pacific Paint (Boysen) Philippines are also painting the town red for the creative arts festival.

Specifically, Davies will sponsor murals on the roads of Baguio City, with the blessing of the DOT, said Jo Ann Viriña, a representative of the paint company.

Other companies that have committed to help promote the new festival are: Victory Liner, Northern Cement, Manila North Tollways Corp., “BEEP”, Max’s Restaurant, and Baguio-based Porta Vaga Mall. The Camp John Hay Development Corp. is also going to cooperate.

In November 2017, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) placed Baguio in its Creative Cities Network, for the city's distinguished crafts and folk art.

This made Baguio earn the tag “Creative City,” along with 64 other cities from 44 countries worldwide.

The city government takes the tag as an affirmation of Baguio's identity as a city of creative people.

Baguio City remains one the country's top tourist destinations.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in Cordillera said Baguio received a total of 1.5 million tourists in 2017, or 77 percent of the entire Cordillera region’s total tourist arrival of 1.96 million.

With its inclusion on the list of UNESCO creative cities network, the city hopes to draw more tourists, especially with the possible inclusion of “EntaCool” in the list of festivals of the UNESCO.

Councilor Elmer Datuin, chairman of Baguio City Council's committee on tourism, said that the city legislative body has approved the institutionalization of “EntaCool” as a regular activity of the City of Pines. – With a report from PNA

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Anime songs thrill millennials, Gen Z in SLU orchestra concert

November 7, 2018, 1:56 pm

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By Pigeon Lobien

BAGUIO CITY -- It started of course with the oldest. Voltes V, that set the tune for the Saint Louis University Concert Orchestra’s fifth staging of the O.V.A. – O.S.T. at the SLU Center for the Culture and the Arts Friday.

Generation X-ers were into the mecharobot who saved earth from the invading Bozanian empire at the twilight of the Marcos era.

It was followed with of course one of the earliest animes that hit the Philippine shores in the post-EDSA years, Dragonball Z’s original soundtrack which of course I’m familiar with.

“I think, we’re out of place here, “ said Dr. Mark Ventura, who called me to sit beside him when he saw me upon arrival at the SLU Center for the Culture and the Arts.

With Sailor Moon and Howl’s Flying Moving Castle, I already got lost. Fairytail is not my cup of tea and so was Pokemon, which is kind of juvenile (who says anime is not juvenile), which concluded the first half of the performance.

And the second half was more frustrating for us older peeps even if the crowd, a full house, we’re singing with the orchestra, with conductor Ethan Ventura goading them to sing along.

I kinda know Zelda, but the next, was outlandish for me.Yuyu Hakusho? Oh it’s Ghost Fighter which was a monster hit in the late 90. I watched the whole series in less than five days in the late 2000s, way after my niece, who is now an engineer, saw its conclusion.

And Naruto brought the tailend, the en core for the performance which came less than two months after Ventura re-cast the orchestra which was decimated with the graduation of more than half of the 60 or so members.

“Naubos,” cried Ventura after the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra show at the University of Baguio in early September, the first for the PPO after their 1988 show (which I saw with a friend).

But the PPO sortie here, that included a workshop, helped Ventura reboot the orchestra that barely two months, he was able to assemble 65 young musicians – most are from SLU’s Senior High School - for a show.

“Malupit ‘yan, kahit isang maling tono sa 65 na musicians alam niya. Kahit half tone,” murmured the proud father.

“The one on cello is Jomol’s kid,” he intimated. “Colleen?” I said quietly. I remember her as a little girl in 2004 when I was putting to bed the Cordillera Today which her dad, lawyer Jose Molintas, co-owns with uncle, the late Raul Molintas.

With Naruto as the final song after conductor Ventura’s short talk to thank those who made the show possible, and urging the viewer to watch more SLU performances in the future free or ticketed, because “it is much cheaper than movies at (SM).”

And for the second encore, Slam Dunk, which drew another applause from the hundreds, or more than a thousand, who came an braved the circuitous route to the SLU CCA, with the hospital and Chinese Temple entrances closed due to the construction of the hospital extension. PML

BRAVO! Conductor Ethan Ventura (with back against the camera, leads the new 65-strong Saint Louis University Concert Orchestra during the OVA OST 5 performance at the SLU – Center for the Culture and the Arts last Oct. 26.

Fronting the camera on cello is Colleen Molintas, a scion of one of the Ibaloy families in Baguio and Benguet.

↧

Anime songs thrill millennials, Gen Z in SLU orchestra concert

November 7, 2018, 1:56 pm

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By Pigeon Lobien

Generation X-ers were into the mecharobot who saved earth from the invading Bozanian empire at the twilight of the Marcos era.

It was followed with of course one of the earliest animes that hit the Philippine shores in the post-EDSA years, Dragonball Z’s original soundtrack which of course I’m familiar with.

“I think, we’re out of place here, “ said Dr. Mark Ventura, who called me to sit beside him when he saw me upon arrival at the SLU Center for the Culture and the Arts.

And the second half was more frustrating for us older peeps even if the crowd, a full house, we’re singing with the orchestra, with conductor Ethan Ventura goading them to sing along.

“Naubos,” cried Ventura after the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra show at the University of Baguio in early September, the first for the PPO after their 1988 show (which I saw with a friend).

“Malupit ‘yan, kahit isang maling tono sa 65 na musicians alam niya. Kahit half tone,” murmured the proud father.

Fronting the camera on cello is Colleen Molintas, a scion of one of the Ibaloy families in Baguio and Benguet.

↧

Anime songs thrill millennials, Gen Z in SLU orchestra concert

November 7, 2018, 1:57 pm

≫ Next: Anime songs thrill millennials, Gen Z in SLU orchestra concert

≪ Previous: Anime songs thrill millennials, Gen Z in SLU orchestra concert

By Pigeon Lobien

Generation X-ers were into the mecharobot who saved earth from the invading Bozanian empire at the twilight of the Marcos era.

It was followed with of course one of the earliest animes that hit the Philippine shores in the post-EDSA years, Dragonball Z’s original soundtrack which of course I’m familiar with.

“I think, we’re out of place here, “ said Dr. Mark Ventura, who called me to sit beside him when he saw me upon arrival at the SLU Center for the Culture and the Arts.

And the second half was more frustrating for us older peeps even if the crowd, a full house, we’re singing with the orchestra, with conductor Ethan Ventura goading them to sing along.

“Naubos,” cried Ventura after the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra show at the University of Baguio in early September, the first for the PPO after their 1988 show (which I saw with a friend).

“Malupit ‘yan, kahit isang maling tono sa 65 na musicians alam niya. Kahit half tone,” murmured the proud father.

Fronting the camera on cello is Colleen Molintas, a scion of one of the Ibaloy families in Baguio and Benguet.

↧

Anime songs thrill millennials, Gen Z in SLU orchestra concert

November 7, 2018, 1:57 pm

≫ Next: Anime songs thrill millennials, Gen Z in SLU orchestra concert

≪ Previous: Anime songs thrill millennials, Gen Z in SLU orchestra concert

By Pigeon Lobien

Generation X-ers were into the mecharobot who saved earth from the invading Bozanian empire at the twilight of the Marcos era.

It was followed with of course one of the earliest animes that hit the Philippine shores in the post-EDSA years, Dragonball Z’s original soundtrack which of course I’m familiar with.

“I think, we’re out of place here, “ said Dr. Mark Ventura, who called me to sit beside him when he saw me upon arrival at the SLU Center for the Culture and the Arts.

And the second half was more frustrating for us older peeps even if the crowd, a full house, we’re singing with the orchestra, with conductor Ethan Ventura goading them to sing along.

“Naubos,” cried Ventura after the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra show at the University of Baguio in early September, the first for the PPO after their 1988 show (which I saw with a friend).

“Malupit ‘yan, kahit isang maling tono sa 65 na musicians alam niya. Kahit half tone,” murmured the proud father.

Fronting the camera on cello is Colleen Molintas, a scion of one of the Ibaloy families in Baguio and Benguet.

↧

Anime songs thrill millennials, Gen Z in SLU orchestra concert

November 7, 2018, 1:57 pm

≫ Next: Anime songs thrill millennials, Gen Z in SLU orchestra concert

≪ Previous: Anime songs thrill millennials, Gen Z in SLU orchestra concert

By Pigeon Lobien

Generation X-ers were into the mecharobot who saved earth from the invading Bozanian empire at the twilight of the Marcos era.

It was followed with of course one of the earliest animes that hit the Philippine shores in the post-EDSA years, Dragonball Z’s original soundtrack which of course I’m familiar with.

“I think, we’re out of place here, “ said Dr. Mark Ventura, who called me to sit beside him when he saw me upon arrival at the SLU Center for the Culture and the Arts.

And the second half was more frustrating for us older peeps even if the crowd, a full house, we’re singing with the orchestra, with conductor Ethan Ventura goading them to sing along.

“Naubos,” cried Ventura after the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra show at the University of Baguio in early September, the first for the PPO after their 1988 show (which I saw with a friend).

“Malupit ‘yan, kahit isang maling tono sa 65 na musicians alam niya. Kahit half tone,” murmured the proud father.

Fronting the camera on cello is Colleen Molintas, a scion of one of the Ibaloy families in Baguio and Benguet.

↧

Anime songs thrill millennials, Gen Z in SLU orchestra concert

November 7, 2018, 1:57 pm

≫ Next: Anime songs thrill millennials, Gen Z in SLU orchestra concert

≪ Previous: Anime songs thrill millennials, Gen Z in SLU orchestra concert

By Pigeon Lobien

Generation X-ers were into the mecharobot who saved earth from the invading Bozanian empire at the twilight of the Marcos era.

It was followed with of course one of the earliest animes that hit the Philippine shores in the post-EDSA years, Dragonball Z’s original soundtrack which of course I’m familiar with.

“I think, we’re out of place here, “ said Dr. Mark Ventura, who called me to sit beside him when he saw me upon arrival at the SLU Center for the Culture and the Arts.

And the second half was more frustrating for us older peeps even if the crowd, a full house, we’re singing with the orchestra, with conductor Ethan Ventura goading them to sing along.

“Naubos,” cried Ventura after the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra show at the University of Baguio in early September, the first for the PPO after their 1988 show (which I saw with a friend).

“Malupit ‘yan, kahit isang maling tono sa 65 na musicians alam niya. Kahit half tone,” murmured the proud father.

Fronting the camera on cello is Colleen Molintas, a scion of one of the Ibaloy families in Baguio and Benguet.

↧

Anime songs thrill millennials, Gen Z in SLU orchestra concert

November 7, 2018, 1:58 pm

≫ Next: Anime songs thrill millennials, Gen Z in SLU orchestra concert

≪ Previous: Anime songs thrill millennials, Gen Z in SLU orchestra concert

By Pigeon Lobien

Generation X-ers were into the mecharobot who saved earth from the invading Bozanian empire at the twilight of the Marcos era.

It was followed with of course one of the earliest animes that hit the Philippine shores in the post-EDSA years, Dragonball Z’s original soundtrack which of course I’m familiar with.

“I think, we’re out of place here, “ said Dr. Mark Ventura, who called me to sit beside him when he saw me upon arrival at the SLU Center for the Culture and the Arts.

And the second half was more frustrating for us older peeps even if the crowd, a full house, we’re singing with the orchestra, with conductor Ethan Ventura goading them to sing along.

“Naubos,” cried Ventura after the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra show at the University of Baguio in early September, the first for the PPO after their 1988 show (which I saw with a friend).

“Malupit ‘yan, kahit isang maling tono sa 65 na musicians alam niya. Kahit half tone,” murmured the proud father.

Fronting the camera on cello is Colleen Molintas, a scion of one of the Ibaloy families in Baguio and Benguet.

↧

Anime songs thrill millennials, Gen Z in SLU orchestra concert

November 7, 2018, 1:58 pm

≫ Next: Anime songs thrill millennials, Gen Z in SLU orchestra concert

≪ Previous: Anime songs thrill millennials, Gen Z in SLU orchestra concert

By Pigeon Lobien

Generation X-ers were into the mecharobot who saved earth from the invading Bozanian empire at the twilight of the Marcos era.

It was followed with of course one of the earliest animes that hit the Philippine shores in the post-EDSA years, Dragonball Z’s original soundtrack which of course I’m familiar with.

“I think, we’re out of place here, “ said Dr. Mark Ventura, who called me to sit beside him when he saw me upon arrival at the SLU Center for the Culture and the Arts.

And the second half was more frustrating for us older peeps even if the crowd, a full house, we’re singing with the orchestra, with conductor Ethan Ventura goading them to sing along.

“Naubos,” cried Ventura after the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra show at the University of Baguio in early September, the first for the PPO after their 1988 show (which I saw with a friend).

“Malupit ‘yan, kahit isang maling tono sa 65 na musicians alam niya. Kahit half tone,” murmured the proud father.

Fronting the camera on cello is Colleen Molintas, a scion of one of the Ibaloy families in Baguio and Benguet.

↧

Anime songs thrill millennials, Gen Z in SLU orchestra concert

November 7, 2018, 1:58 pm

≫ Next: Baguio unveils ‘Silahis ng pasko’ events, treats

≪ Previous: Anime songs thrill millennials, Gen Z in SLU orchestra concert

By Pigeon Lobien

Generation X-ers were into the mecharobot who saved earth from the invading Bozanian empire at the twilight of the Marcos era.

It was followed with of course one of the earliest animes that hit the Philippine shores in the post-EDSA years, Dragonball Z’s original soundtrack which of course I’m familiar with.

“I think, we’re out of place here, “ said Dr. Mark Ventura, who called me to sit beside him when he saw me upon arrival at the SLU Center for the Culture and the Arts.

And the second half was more frustrating for us older peeps even if the crowd, a full house, we’re singing with the orchestra, with conductor Ethan Ventura goading them to sing along.

“Naubos,” cried Ventura after the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra show at the University of Baguio in early September, the first for the PPO after their 1988 show (which I saw with a friend).

“Malupit ‘yan, kahit isang maling tono sa 65 na musicians alam niya. Kahit half tone,” murmured the proud father.

Fronting the camera on cello is Colleen Molintas, a scion of one of the Ibaloy families in Baguio and Benguet.

↧

Baguio unveils ‘Silahis ng pasko’ events, treats

November 7, 2018, 2:40 pm

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≪ Previous: Anime songs thrill millennials, Gen Z in SLU orchestra concert

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – “Silahis ng Pasko,” the longest-running Christmas season offering in the city unveiled its list of yuletide treats as part of the Christmas in Baguio 2018 calendar of events.

Former councilor Narciso Padilla, head of the National Correspondents Club of Baguio which sponsors and coordinates the 45-year old event with the City Government through the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) said activities will begin with the Grand Opening Day Extravaganza on Dec. 1 featuring a string of children’s activities.

Thousands of Day Care children and parents garbed in Christmas costumes will once again spread cheer along Session Road for the annual Mardi Gras at 8 a.m.

The parade will end at the Melvin Jones for the Silahis ng Pasko opening program to be graced by Mayor Mauricio Domogan and Rep. Marquez Go.

At 2 p.m. the Miss and Mr. Little Silahis ng Pasko will be staged at the Malcolm Square featuring the awards ceremonies, children’s “kultora-o-rama,” and dancefest.

On Dec. 2, the Share-A-Joy Children’s Christmas Fun Alley and Raffle Joys will happen for Little Helping Hands, newspaper boys, shoeshine boys, baggage boys and bag sellers. A Palaro and raffle will also be conducted at 9 a.m. at the Malcolm Square.

Dec. 8 will be the Immaculate Conception Day festivities with a Thanksgiving Holy Mass at the NCCB Shrine of the Brown Madonna along Km. 7 Asin Road, Tuba, Benguet for peace and solidarity and progress.

On Dec. 9, the Philippine Military Academy cadets will hold their day at the Burnham Park by staging the traditional Silent Drill exhibition at the Melvin Jones at 10 a.m. .

At 2 p.m., the cadets will move to the People’s Park at 2 p.m. for Christmas concert of the PMA band.

The Quest for the Baguio Lucky Christmas Family will happen on Dec. 8-9 with the winning family to receive a red carpet reception, accommodation, sightseeing tours and courtesy calls on ranking government officials.

Simultaneously on Dec. 7-8, Silahis will revive the Quest for the Baguio Lucky Foreign Visitors, an international tourism promotions program, to be coordinated by mediamen Thom Picana and Primo Agatep.

The Baguio City National High School will stage the Dancing and Singing Christmas Tree at 2 p.m. at the Malcolm Square.

Dec. 15 will be reserved for the Special Day for Special People which will feature an amateur singing contest and instrumentals at 8:30 a.m., a chess tournament for the sightless special athletes and a children’s palaro for the blind, mentally challenged, hearing and speech impaired and the orthopedically impaired at the Malcolm Square.

On Christmas Day, Silahis will stage the Santa Claus on the Road and the Quest for Lucky Christmas Baby 2017 while the counterpart New Year Baby will be selected on Jan. 1.

On Dec. 27, Silahis ng Pasko will sponsor a Holy Mass at the at 4:30 a.m. to be officiated by St. Vincent parish priest Fr. Jeffrey. Habado at Malcolm Square.

The Baguio Lucky Balikbayan and the Cordillera Sportsmen Day will be held on Dec 29 9a.m. at the Sunshine Park.

Padilla said they will award the lucky balikbayans in the individual, family and couple categories and the Balik nang Balik Balikbayans during the event along with the 12 Outstanding Baguio-Benguet Elderly Luminaries.

The event will also serve as the Baguio-Cordillera International Athletes and Sportsmen “Mabuhay” get-together party.

A fellowship “salu-salo” over “Pinikpikan” fare will cap the event.

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Japan to help conserve Ifugao Rice Terraces

November 7, 2018, 2:41 pm

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LAGAWE, Ifugao -- The Japanese government has affirmed its support for the preservation of the Philippines' Ifugao Rice Terraces, as one of the world's globally important agriculture heritage sites.

Financial aid provider Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Japanese government-run Kanazawa University gave the assurance during the visit of Ifugao State University officials to Japan on Oct. 22.

“We are here to state our gratefulness for the partnership and reiterate our utmost desire to continue to strengthen our collaboration and bring to the next level our Memorandum of Understanding last April 2018,” IFSU president Eva Marie Codamon-Dugyon said in a statement released in Japan. “We are truly grateful for our partnership with the Kanazawa University and JICA in the conservation and protection efforts in the Ifugao Rice Terraces as the only Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Site recognized by the United Nations Food and Agriculture in 2007.”

In her meetings with Kanazawa University President Yamazaki Koetsu and JICA-Hokuriku Center Director in Kanazawa, Tomoki Nitta, Dugyon recognized the "invaluable contributions" of the two institutions for the welfare of the people of Ifugao.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Japanese government put up the Ifugao Satoyama Meister Training Program in the Philippines to train young people in the preservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces.

The training program is a joint program of the University of the Philippines Open University, the provincial government of Ifugao, JICA, Kanazawa University, and the IFSU.

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More students now prefer science, technology courses

November 7, 2018, 2:42 pm

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By Pamela Mariz Geminiano

LUNA, Apayao – Dept. of Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato dela Peña said more students are now taking up tracks in senior high school that are preparatory to Science and Technology courses.

“According to the report of the Department of Education, the number of students who became interested in Science and Technology has significantly increased to 60 percent all throughout the years," dela Peña said during a press briefing on the sidelines of the recent Regional Science and Technology Week (RSTW) here.

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) are intertwining disciplines when applied in the real world. The difference of the STEM curriculum with the other strands and tracks is the focus on advanced concepts and topics, he said.

Under the track, a graduate can become a pilot, an architect, an astrophysicist, a biologist, a chemist, an engineer, a dentist, a nutritionist, a nurse, a doctor, and a lot more. Those who are also interested in Marine Engineering should also take the track.

Dela Peña also said that many of the first batches of graduates of senior high had opted to take the preparatory subjects under the STEM track, ready for college.

With the secretary’s information, the ongoing RSTW is expected to help boost the promotion of the DOST in encouraging the youth of Apayao to participate in this years' event.

The RSTW is an annual event, which has become an avenue for the region’s scientists, investors, and micro, small and medium enterprises to promote their products. It is also an avenue for the department to find excellent ventures from the region, which they showcase in the national event.

Annually brought to the different provinces in the Cordillera, RSTW is also an avenue for the DOST to promote its programs, which aim to improve the lives of the people in far-flung communities like in Apayao.

Celebrating with a theme "Science for the people: Innovation for Collective Prosperity,” the RSTW is reflective of what the DOST hopes to achieve through science, technology, and innovation.

Providing the means to upgrade the technologies of local industries, and stakeholders, dela Peña also said that with the annual celebration of RSTW, small and medium enterprises are able to have better opportunities, thus encouraging other people to participate in RSTW.

The Secretary also pointed out the DOST is hoping to use science and technology innovations to address problems being encountered by people in the countryside, which can be addressed by existing inventions and discoveries, or which are possible subjects of inventions and innovations of Filipino scientists in the country. -- PNA

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RDC attributes cash transfer woes to unsuitable guidelines

November 7, 2018, 2:44 pm

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By Marlo T. Lubguban

BAGUIO CITY – Noting difficulty in the release of Unconditional Cash Transfer funds (CCT) particularly in remote Cordillera areas, the regional social development committee of the Regional Development Council, agreed Oct. 9 during its regular meeting to draft a resolution requesting the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) to relax its guidelines on the release of UCT to beneficiaries.

The UCT, a cash transfer project scheme to minimize the effects of the TRAIN Law, “seeks to provide cash grants to poor households or individuals who will not benefit from the lower income tax rates but maybe adversely affected by rising prices”. The UCT covers three existing cash transfer tracks which are the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Social Pension Program, and National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (Listahanan).

Latest data indicate that 7,652 4Ps beneficiaries and 19,767 Social Pension Program beneficiaries remain unpaid in the Cordillera. The large number of unpaid beneficiaries was attributed to the LBP guidelines restricting the travel time of LBP cash-delivering armored cars to only 2 hours. Further, the armored cars are limited in terms of the type of terrain they can traverse. The LBP central office in Manila holds biddings for cash transport services of conduits. RSDC chair and DSWD Regional Dir. Janet Armas notes that beneficiaries of the program in Apayao and Kalinga are being serviced by conduits from Abulog and Aparri in Cagayan, respectively.

Considering the rugged terrain of the Cordillera and the far-flung location of the municipalities where much of the beneficiaries are located, the committee observed that such restrictions caused delays in the implementation of the project.

This concern shall be submitted to the next RDC en banc meeting for discussion and proper disposition. The NEDA-CAR as the secretariat of the RSDC shall submit their concern to the upcoming national social development committee and RSDC consultative meeting in November 2018.

This is an example of misalignment of national polices and its implementation in the geographically and culturally unique region which Cordillera autonomy hopes to address.

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Gov’t sets demolition of 720 houses, shanties in Itogon

November 7, 2018, 2:45 pm

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By Jessica Jane Barriento

ITOGON, Benguet – Some 720 houses and shanties are now ready for demolition in 10 high-risk areas in his mining town following the recent landslide that buried alive around 100 folks at the height of Typhoon Ompong in Sept. 15.

Mayor Victorio Palangdan bared this saying some residents voluntarily demolished their houses to spare some materials which they can recycle such as roofs and woods.

Miners decided to leave the stockpile of mineral ores in their shanties as they deemed it unnecessary to bring them at this time of calamity.

Relief goods are now being distributed in evacuation centers for families who left their homes ahead of Typhoon Rosita.

Members of the Philippines National Police are closely monitoring the areas identified by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau as inhabitable in this mining town due to risk of landslides.

Authorities are also strictly screening residents entering Barangay Loacan. They are required to log in and log out when going in and out of the area to properly account residents.

The deadline for owners of shanties and small scale mines here to vacate and demolish these has lapsed.

These were earlier declared as "no build zones" and owners were given until Oct. 25 to voluntarily dismantle their structures before these would be issued demolition orders.

Based on advisory issued by alangdan dated Oct. 17, all concerned barangay officials and occupants of shanties must comply with the “no build zone” policy.

A report submitted by the local government to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau identified various areas such as barangays Ampucao, Loacan, Ucab, and Gumatdang as highly susceptible to landslide.

A meeting was held by the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in which they recommended the demolition of structures on high risk areas.

According to Palangdan, this will prevent reoccurrence of the tragedy that killed more than 80 people in this town due to landslide caused by Typhoon Ompong last month.

Based on advisory issued by the mayor, mandatory demolition will be implemented by concerned authorities in coordination with the Philippine National Police or other uniformed personnel.

Before the given deadline, all concerned barangay officials were advised to disseminate the notice to their constituents for compliance.

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Bomb threats hit P’sinan schools

November 7, 2018, 2:47 pm

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By Eva Visperas

DAGUPAN CITY -- Classes were suspended at the Pangasinan National High School yesterday due to a bomb threat.

School principal Elvira Viray sought police assistance after she received a message through her account on Messenger that a bomb would explode.

On Thursday and last Wednesday, classes were suspended at the University of Luzon campuses in Dagupan City and Pozorrubio also due to bomb threats.

The Pan Pacific University in Urdaneta City received a call on Wednesday that a bomb in one of the toilets for boys would explode.

All the bomb threats were found to be a hoax.

Senior Superintendent Wilson Lopez, Pangasinan police director, said they coordinated with the Anti-Cyber Crime Group in the investigation of the bomb threats.

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23 roads not passable in Region 2, Cordillera

November 7, 2018, 2:48 pm

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BAGUIO CITY -- A total of 23 road sections in Region 2 and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) were closed Wednesday due to damage brought by Typhoon Rosita.

According to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH, the road sections and bridges had to be closed due to scoured detour bridge approach, road slip, rock fall, road cut, soil collapse, slide, mudflow, debris flow, high water elevation, scoured bridge abutment and washed-out detour road.

Majority of the impassable roads were in CAR, the department’s Bureau of Maintenance said.

In Benguet, closed were: Kennon Road, a section of Baguio-Bontoc Road in Sabangan, Mt. Province, a section of Cong. Andres Acop Cosalan Road in Man-asok, Sebang, Buguias, and a section of Acop-Kapangan-Kibungan-Bakun Road in Bagtangan, Gambang, Bakun.

Motorists were advised to take Marcos Highway or Rosario-Pugo-Baguio Road, Naguilian Road or Bauang-Baguio Road, and Asin-Nangalisan-San Pascual Road via the Rosario-Pugo Road instead of Kennon Road going to Benguet.

A section of the Eastern Link Circumferential Road in Baguio, sections of Apayao-Ilocos Norte Road and Claveria-Calanasan-Kabugao Road in Apayao were also closed.

Sections of Banaue-Hungduan-Benguet Road, Kiangan – Tinoc – Buguias Road, and Julongan, Kiangan, in Ifugao were ordered closed as well as some road sections in Upper Kalinga and Mt. Province.

In Region 2, nine roads were closed which include three road sections in Cagayan, two road sections in Isabela, two in Nueva Vizcaya, and two road sections in Quirino.

Disaster response teams were already deployed in affected regions as well as other parts of Luzon to conduct clearing operations and road or bridge restoration for the immediate reopening of affected national road networks, the DPWH said.

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‘Rosita’ displaces 2,245 families in Central Luzon

November 7, 2018, 2:50 pm

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By Mar Supnad

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Approximately 2,245 families or about 5,891 individuals in 37 barangays in Central Luzon were displaced by as typhoon ‘Rosita’ which lashed the region on Tuesday.

“Per Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), about 1,244 families or 2,983 persons are currently in evacuation centers,” Office of Civil Defense Operations chief Robert P. Manalo said.

DSWD has activated its Regional and Provincial Quick Response Teams to monitor the current situation.

The agency is also continuously prepositioning goods in the province of Aurora to ensure adequate and steady supply of relief items in the area.

The Department of Health (DOH) has provided a total of P1,100,162.34 worth of basic and vital medicines in its regional offices.

“DOH received one casualty report from the province of Tarlac. However, upon our validation with Department of the Interior and Local Government, the case was declared not typhoon-related,” Manalo added.

Meanwhile, personnel and resources from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police and Bureau of Fire Protection are on standby for possible rescue and retrieval operations.

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