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Volume 9 Number 101Thu - SatJune 2 - 4, 2016

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Nothing justifies the murder of journalists!

IT IS appalling that President-elect Rodrigo Duterte should justify the murder of journalists in the country by playing the corruption card.

In his press conference in Davao City Tuesday, Mr. Duterte issued the broad assertion that “most journalists

E d i t o r i a l

killed are corrupt.”“Just because you’re a journalist

doesn’t mean you’re exempted from assassination if you’re a son of a bitch,” he said.

“Freedom of expression won’t

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By Ding Cervantes

ANGELES CITY- Organized farmers said yesterday the pending assumption into

office of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) chair Rafael Mariano as agrarian reform secretary has driven Pres. Aquino’s Cojuangco relatives to strengthen their hold on parts of Hacienda Luisita allegedly outside the coverage of land reform.

Cojuangcos hold on HL areas outside land reform coverage

Before DAR leadership shift

TRIPLE HAPPINESS. All three Carmelo Lazatins (L-R) -- first time Congressman Jonjon, former five-time congressman and three-term city mayor Tarzan, and re-elected city councilor Pogi -- field questions from the media at Talk Widus. Photo by Bong Lacson

ANGELES CITY- Political pa-triarch Carmelo “Tarzan” Laza-tin said he would assist two of his sons who won posts, one as first-time congressman and the

Tarzan vows to assist sons in local politics for 2 terms

other as reelected city councilor, for at least two terms before he fi-nally leaves them on their own.

At the Talk Widus forum held by the Pampanga Press Club at

the Widus Hotel and Casino at Clark Freeport last Wednesday, the elder Lazatin was with his sons congressman-elect Jonjon

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By Ashley Manabat

CLARK FREEPORT – Former five-time 1st Dis-trict representative and three-term city mayor Carmelo “Tarzan” Laza-tin declared said here on Wednesday that he will contest the chairman-ship of Balibago in the

FROM HOuSE TO CITY HALL, NOw…

Lazatin eyes barangay postcoming barangay polls in October.

Lazatin bared his plan during the media forum “Talk Widus” or-ganized by the Pampan-ga Press Club in coop-eration with Widus Hotel and Casino on Wednes-day.

The former multi-

term congressman and mayor of Angeles City said his main reason for running is to lend sup-port to his two sons, both named after him, but go by their nick-names Pogi and Jonjon, who were elected city councilor and congress-

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ANGELES CITY- The National Historical Com-mission of the Philip-pines (NHCP) officially corrected on June 3 a long-time historical claim

NHCP CORRECTS HISTORY

‘Brave Youth of Macabebe’ not Rajah Soliman is 1st martyr

that one Rajah Soliman was the first Filipino to die for freedom.

The NHCP has marked in front of the

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By Ding Cervantes

CLARK FREEPORT - The Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) has noted an eight per-cent increase in the volume of passengers at the Clark Inter-national Airport here in the first four months of this year.

CIAC president and CEO Emigdio Tanjuatco III cited figures indicating that a total of 316,656 passengers used Clark from January to April this year compared to 292,659

Clark airport passenger volume up by 8 percentpassengers over the same pe-riod last year.

“That eight percent in-crease in passenger traffic can be attributed to the fact that more and more people are be-ginning to realize the conve-nience and comfort of using Clark airport, especially those coming from Central and Northern Luzon regions which is Clark’s passenger catch ba-sin,” Tanjuatco said.

Tanjuatco noted “passen-gers who come from these

regions benefit from the fact that they need not travel all the way to Metro Manila, thus sav-ing time and money as they travel abroad especially our OFWs who are on their way to the Middle East.”

He said Clark airport hosts daily flights of two major inter-national carriers based in the Middle East: “Emirates and Qatar Airways that both fly seven days a week straight to Dubai and Doha, Qatar, re-spectively.”

“At least 75 percent of over-seas Filipino workers deployed in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Ku-wait and Qatar hail from Cen-tral and Northern Luzon. There are at least close to a million OFWs in UAE and another 2.5 million in the rest of the Gulf countries,” he also said.

Tanjuatco expressed opti-mism that “the next adminis-tration will see the potentials of Clark airport not only as the next major international gate-way in the country but also a means to help decongest Ni-noy Aquino International Air-port (NAIA) in Metro Manila.”

Badr Abbas, Emirates se-nior vice president for com-mercial operations in the Far East, expressed optimism, saying “Clark remains via-ble. Whenever we start any (new) destination, we look at the passenger and cargo de-mand and we believe there is enough passenger and cargo demand, and we believe it will be a successful operation.”

Using a Boeing 777-300ER that can fly as many as 400 passengers, the Emirates flights from Clark connect to some 150 destinations world-wide through its hub in Dubai International Airport (DXB).

“Efforts to entice the en-try of more international air-lines at CRK is coupled by a program to similarly attract the start of domestic airlines who will launch so-called ‘feeder flights’ that will help sustain the long-haul carriers,” Tan-juatco said.

At present, only Cebu Pa-cific Airways flies domestical-ly at Clark with flight services to Mactan-Cebu International Airport four times a week.

With Cebu Pacific also fly-ing to Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore, Clark airport is host to other airlines like Asiana Air-lines (Incheon, South Korea), Jin Air (Incheon and Busan, South Korea), Cathay Pacific/Dragonair (Hong Kong) and Tiger Air (Singapore).

FERNANDINO students who graduated with highest honors in the Academic Year 2015-2016 were recognized Tuesday by the Local Gov-ernment of San Fernando.

Through the effort of the Schools Division of San Fer-nando under the supervision of Schools Division Superin-tendent Dr. Imelda Macas-pac, some 115 grade 6 and grade 10 students from both public and private schools in the city received commenda-tion for their outstanding aca-demic performance.

AwARdINg. City Mayor Edwin Santiago leads the distribution of cash gifts to students with highest honors during the awarding ceremony held May 31 at the Heroes Hall. Contributed photo

San Fernando recognizes students with highest honors

Mayor Edwin ‘EdSa’ San-tiago and Vice Mayor Jimmy Lazatin led the distribution of Certificates to the parents and guardians for their unwavering support to their children. Each student also received cash gifts amounting to P2,000.

In his speech, Mayor EdSa expressed his deepest appre-ciation to the school principals, staffs and parents for collabo-rating towards the betterment and success of the students.

The city mayor furthered “sabi nga nila, kung gusto mong mamuhay at kumain

ng habang buhay ang iyong mga anak, bigyan mo sila ng binhi ng edukasyon.”

For his part, Vice Mayor Jimmy Lazatin challenged the students to continue do-ing their best and use their talents and potentials to the utmost.

“You are the future lead-ers of tomorrow. We are proud of you,” he added.

The recognition ceremo-ny for students with highest honors marks its second year this 2016.

–CSFP-CIO

CLARK FREEPORT— On its 2nd year of operations, one of the leading Australian-owned business process outsourcing firm in-side this Freeport already contributed ₱133 million to the local economy since its inception.

The Clark-based offshoring firm Beepo also now have more than 220 employees since it started operations in 2014 here.

The amount stated was in the form of salaries and taxes.Beepo CEO Aimee Engelmann, an Australian entrepreneur

and with the help of her ‘locally grown’ management team, has developed a state-of-the-art facility and skills-rich workforce that delivers premium BPO services to 70 clients not only in Austra-lia, but also in New Zealand, United Kingdom, Hong Kong and United States.

Engelmann said she saw the potential of providing a premi-um offshoring services to Western countries from the Philippines when she visited the country in 2013 prompting her to decide that the country will be her next business destination.

“I came to the Philippines looking for staff to help me with my previous business, and was blown away by just how much high-end talent there was in the country that wasn’t being accessed. I knew straight away I had to build a resourcing firm to nurture that talent, to export it to the world,” she said.

Engelmann said that in the country’s human capital has only grown stronger since that time which drives Beepo’s progressive approach to its training, development, and workplace culture.

“To fill that niche, to provide that premium service to our cus-tomers, we recruit talented people whose hearts are in the job, who really have a sense of purpose. That’s why we work very hard on creating a fun, positive environment and maintaining a healthy work/life balance – we want people who want to be their best selves,” the lady CEO added.

This philosophy is nowhere more evident than in the devel-opment programs that Beepo continues to provide for its staff. In the first two years of operation their Clark Headquarters deliv-ered close to ₱1 Million worth of training through their Australian training consultants, Engelmann furthered.

As well as undertaking programs such as leadership training and inbound marketing training, staff have also received training from their clients, with some heading overseas to learn about client businesses. In the last two years Beepo’s Clark facility has been visited by 70 clients to deliver training to the employees of the BPO firm here.

Because the clients confidence, Beepo has become g the workplace of choice for talented professionals in the BPO indus-try. A quick survey of workers across the industry reveals that Beepo is perceived as an ‘elite’ employer, and jobs with the com-pany are highly desired, she said.

She said that Beepo is more than a call center, because there are other employees who are either accountants, book-keepers, marketers and Web developers working on a diverse range of projects.

Given the trailblazing success of Beepo’s first two years in operation, Engelmann said there will be plenty more opportuni-ties for the country’s top talent to join their ranks.

“We’ve hired and trained the best English-speaking, tertia-ry-educated talent in the Philippines and as a result the compa-ny is really growing. We’re set to reach 700 employees in the next year, and are forecast to reach 5000 strong in 5 years,” En-gelmann said. –CDC CommDep

Beepo Clark celebrates 2nd year, contributes

P133-M in local economy

ANGELES CITY Mayor Ed-gardo Pamintuan will at-tend the Asia-Pacific Eco-nomic Cooperation (APEC) High-Level Urbanization Fo-rum 2016 set to be held in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China on June 2 and 3, 2016.

The forum, hosted by the China National Development and Reform Commission, in collaboration with the Minis-try of Foreign Affairs, is aimed at exploring opportunities for cooperation, promoting trade and investment, creating jobs, safeguarding social equality, with a view to achieving peo-ple-oriented urbanization and

Edpam to attendAPEC Forum in China

inclusive growth. Participants of this fo-

rum are high ranking govern-ment officials and agencies of APEC member economies, mayors, scholars and ex-perts, entrepreneurs and me-dia representatives and other major stakeholders and re-source speakers.

Pamintuan was invited to share his experience as a local chief executive and his efforts and achievements in making Angeles City a livable city and how he practice in-clusive growth as a policy in his administration.

In recent years, Pamintu-

an is among the few Philip-pine mayors invited by na-tional and international or-ganizations to share his ex-perience and good practices in governance. Among these fora and conferences include the World Cities Summit in Singapore and New York; As-sesses of Decentralized Co-operation for Development in Brussels, Belgium; APEC City Mayors’ Forum in Cebu, Philippines; Talk on Public Spaces, Manila Philippines and the South-South City Leaders Forum, organized by the Asian Development Bank.

–AC-CIO

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ANOTHER success came into sur-prise as 15 to 16 thousand Bulaken-yo’s attended the second leg of the Northern Lights Music Festival at SM City Baliwag.

Parokya ni Edgar, Silent Sanctuary, Sam Conception, Mr. Noel Cabangon, Kenyo, DJ Tom Taus, DJ Jenifer Lee, Six Part Invention MC Jams and many local bands rocked and jammed the parking grounds of the said mall.

The event was a collaboration with Globe Telecom and SM City Baliwag with a glowing giant globe made from 10 thousand used pet bottles and plas-tic cups donated by SM City Baliwag

Northern Lights Music Fest Year 2 jampacked

customers, tenants, affiliates, agency personnel and employees. This was mounted during the concert area to promote REDUCE REUSE AND RE-CYCLE campaign.

48 candidates of Ms. Earth also graced the party to represent the #Go-Green project and support the usage of the eco bags to save mother Earth.

The proceeds of this huge fete will go to build a new library for Camachin Elementary School in DRT Bulacan. Just to recall, the 1st Northern Lights Music Festival donated one house for the Yolanda Housing Project of SM Cares in Tacloban. –Press release

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E d i t o r i a l

LLL Trimedia Coordinators, Inc.Publisher

General ManagerEditor

Marketing ManagerLayout

Circulation

Atty. gener C. EndonaCaesar “Bong” LacsonJoanna Niña V. CorderoDondie B. VenturaLacson Macapagal

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

Tel. No. (45) 625•0244 Cel. No. 0917•481•1416puntogitnangluzon@yahoo.com or marketing@punto.com.ph

http://www.punto.com.ph

acaesar.blogspot.com

Zona Libre Bong Z. Lacson

Opinion

save you,” he added. “The Constitution cannot help you kapag binaboy mo ang isang tao.”

Mr. Duterte’s crass pronouncement not only sullies the names and memories of all 176 of our colleagues who have been murdered since 1986, he has also, in effect, declared open season to silence the media, both individual journalists and the institution, on the mere perception of corruption.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) does not gloss over the fact that corruption is among the most pressing problems faced by the media. Nor do we deny that this could be the reason for a number of media killings.

However, it is one thing to recognize a possible reason for murder; it is a totally different thing to present this as a justification for taking life.

Admittedly, this would not be the first time the perceived corruption of the media has been bandied as a justification for the murder of journalists. And Mr. Duterte tries to explain his thesis by claiming assassination is retribution from private individuals unjustly pilloried by errant journalists.

He could not be further from the truth.While there may be instances where private

individuals may have sought revenge against journalists for soiling their reputations, the data shows that, of the handful of media killings that have actually made it to the courts, the accused are invariably from government – elected officials, government executives or members of the security services – and invariably accused of corruption.

Let us just cite a few of the more prominent cases – the murders of Edgar Damalerio of Pagadian City, Marlene Esperat of Tacurong City, and Gerry Ortega of Puerto Princesa City, and, of course, the most heinous of all, the November 23, 2009 Ampatuan massacre, of which 32 of the 58 victims were media workers, making it not only the worst case of electoral violence in recent Philippine history but the single deadliest attack on journalists ever.

We wonder if the President-elect is willing to face the orphans and widows of the victims of these killings and tell them, “They were killed because they were corrupt.”

As we have pointed out before, leadership, or even its mere semblance, carries weight and what leaders say, right or wrong, seriously or in jest, will resound with their followers. Thus, even if this be jest, and we see no reason to believe this was the case, your words may well be interpreted as marching order by those with an axe to grind against a critical press.

In all honesty, Mr. President-elect, we were hopeful, following pronouncements by your spokesperson that you would push the enactment of the Freedom of Information (FOI) law and would constitute a special task force to investigate media killings, that we were on the cusp of a new era when freedom of the press and of expression would be respected, defended and promoted beyond lip service.

Alas, it seems we were wrong.Or are we to be again treated to the excuse that it

was all a joke and we need to be more discerning about your pronouncements?

Murder is no joke. Neither is press freedom.Be that as it may, the independent Philippine media

will not be cowed from fulfilling its duty to act as the people’s watchdog.(NUJP statement dated 31 May 2016 signed by Chairman Ryan Rosuaro)

Murder he wroughtTHE QUESTION asked of the President-elect was: “What is your policy about journalist killings that the Aquino government failed to act (on)?”

His answers: “Alam mo hija, ganito yan. Kung papatayin ka, papatayin ka talaga. (You know kid, it’s like this. If you’ll be killed, you’ll really be killed.) There is no way to know that the next victim will be a journalist.”

“Sa karamihan, pranka-pranka, may nagawa yan. Kasi hindi ka naman papatayin dyan kung wala kang ginawa, eh.” (Mostly, to be frank (about it), (the victims) did something. Because you won’t be killed if you did (nothing wrong).)

“Yung mga exposé, bad words against us, wala yan. Ako, I’ve been mayor…, okay yan… praktisado kami… pero may mga tao … you go private, tapos hiyain mo ang anak, babuyin mo, papatayin kang ka talaga.” (Exposé and bad words are nothing to us politicians. We’re used to that. But there are people…then you shame his child, abuse him, you will really get killed.)

“Pero karamihan dyan, alam nyo na, nabigyan na tapos (But most of them, you know it, they’ve accepted bribes, then) … especially if you want to take sides. Nabayaran mo na tapos you play. Yan ang karamihan namamatay. Or tumatanggap na sa mga sugarol, tapos bira pa rin (They are those usually killed. Or they receive money from gambling lords, yet go on attacking them). You really want the truth, yun ang truth.

“There is still corruption sa inyong side. Marami iyan. Hindi lang … ang binibigyan niyan, hindi lang police. Yun si Pala, binibigyan yan, kumokolek, harap-harapan kung sabihin, kumolekta kami. Tapos sa kabila, babanatan mo ako. Yun, that is the best example kung bakit namamatay itong mga journalists.

“Kasi kung journalist ka lang na tama, wala man gagalaw sa iyo. (If you are a good journalist, nobody will touch you.)

“Especially if it (exposé) is true. You cannot hide the truth, by the way I do not diminish memory but he (Pala) was a rotten son of a bitch. He deserved it.”

“That is the reason. You are asking why… that is the reason. Now, sinabi mo hindi dapat, you have to debate with the killer, not me. Of course I know who killed them. Kasi binastos nya yung tao eh.

“Most of you are clean. But do not expect that all journalists are clean.”

“It’s not because you’re a journalist, you are exempted from assassination. Ang premise mo kasi, journalist siya, bakit papatayin siya. (Your premise is, he’s a journalist so why should he be killed.) It’s all wrong.

“Kasi kung journalist ka lang na tama, walang gagalaw sa iyo (if you are a good journalist, nobody will touch you.) Yung freedom of expression will not save you if you have done something wrong to the guy. Do not believe it hook, line and sinker, that freedom of expression will save you.

“Just because you are a journalist you are not exempted from assassination. If you are a son of a bitch… ako praktisado. Humanap ka ng sundalo, sabihin mo ang asawa mo kaliwete, papatayin ka. Subukan mo, hindi madala ng free speech yan, hija. (I’m practised. Try to find a soldier and tell him his wife has cuckolded him, he will kill you. Try it, free speech won’t save you, kid) The Constitution can no longer help you pag binaboy mo ang ibang tao (if you humiliate other people.).”

THE QUESTION was clear enough.The answer, circuitous as it was, was no

answer. It was the expression of a mindset prejudiced to extremity against the working press.

Page 5 please

Discord he reapsMURDER IS no joke. Neither is press freedom. So reacted the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines to the statements of the President-elect.

“Mr. Duterte’s crass pronouncement not only sullies the names and memories of all 176 of our colleagues who have been murdered since 1986, he has also, in effect, declared open season to silence the media, both individual journalists and the institution, on the mere perception of corruption…

“It is one thing to recognize a possible reason for murder; it is a totally different thing to present this as a justification for taking life.”

From the College Editors Guild of the Philippines: “The pronouncement made by President-elect Duterte is a faulty generalization in which he failed to understand how the intensifying culture of impunity perpetuates the killing of journalists and media workers in their line of duty…

“It is without denial that as journalists, the job description to expose the truth behind the general scheme of things is above all else.”

The Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines said: “Duterte’s statement is a chilling reminder that journalists in the Philippines continue to live under threat, decades after (the association) was founded to fight for press freedom at the height of Ferdinand Marcos’s dictatorship.”

The Center for International Law: “As an incoming president and as a lawyer, you must surely know that the state has an obligation under international law and constitutional law to provide effective remedy to victims of human rights violations. Your remark is not only insensitive; by it you only show a cynical

attitude toward what is a serious concern to the international community and a scourge to any society founded on democratic ideals.

“You also implied … that journalists are often killed because they had been corrupt. That is an insult to the memory of many journalists whose only mistake was being faithful to their professional calling to a fault.”

The International Federation of Journalists: “The Philippines is the second deadliest country in the world for journalists… Duterte needs to take immediate action to end the culture of violence and impunity against the media in the Philippines and support press freedom and freedom of expression.”

The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility: “While corruption is undoubtedly a continuing problem in the press and media, journalists have been killed for other reasons, among them for exposing corruption in government…

“Because a significant number of those accused of killing journalists are local officials, as well as police and military personnel, the killings also suggest that the slain had been successful in exposing official wrongdoing and collusion with criminal groups.”

And from the Committee to Protect Journalists: “Duterte’s shocking remarks apparently excusing extrajudicial killings threaten to make the Philippines into a killing field for journalists. We strongly urge him to retract his comments and to signal that he intends to protect, not target, the press.”

Damaged control“TAKEN OUT of context, misinterpreted, and misunderstood.”

That was Duterte’s statement on media killings, according to his loudmouth Peter Lavina. “For instance, his example of most slain journalists as being corrupt or involved in

shady deals was based on his own assessment of those killed in Davao City and not on the national scale. Certainly, Duterte has no

From page 1

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Napag-uusapanLangFelix M. Garcia

(Unsolicited contributions here are unedited, unabridged, as is.Errors in grammar, syntax, etc, solely the writer’s. -- Editor)

personal knowledge on each and every single case of media killings in many parts of the country.”

No, Sir, your President did not make any distinction in his wholesale damnation of the media dead.

“When Duterte said last night that members of the media become vulnerable to killings, it was because they were no longer seen as fair and neutral members of the media but because they have become partisan propagandists, deliberately using their media outlets in attacking or defending one party or another and collecting pay offs on both.”

So, their killing is justifiable, as impacted by the statements of your President.

All in context, Sir. Precisely worded. Perfectly understood.

Seconding Lavina is Sen. Koko Pimentel: “Do not mistake or misinterpret the statement of the President. Ang sinabi lang naman ng Presidente, we have freedom of the press but we also have to be responsible in exercising it and given the nature of the Filipinos, sometimes they resort to violence and the Constitution can’t protect you from violence.”

Nice take, Sir, but it is you that is misinterpreting the statements of your President.

“But what has not been stated is that these people who violate the law by employing violence must be brought to justice. ‘Yan ang importante. So media killing man ‘yan, or killing of a business person, or killing of an innocent person, all of these killers must be brought to justice. That’s very important.”

Important, yes, but your President did not say anything about it. Sounds like this Koko just flew over the cuckoo’s nest.

From page 4Zona Libre

(Kaugne ning pamagmasusi king Aldo ning Pambansang Bandera (National Flag Day – May 28-June 12) a penimunan nang Mayor Edwin ‘EdSa’ D. Santiago para king Siyudad ning San Fernando, (P) iting poesia a makarikil king mesabing okasyun ya pamung ibie mi para king malugud yung pamamasa).

Ing Banderaning PilipinasITI e ya kabud kapirasong telaa pidait-dait banting mibubu yaIng tatangalan tang’ makule banderaa replica na ning tehi ra kanitakarin king Hongkong ding atlung Filipina;

At nu’ iti ya ing meging simbulu naning lipi… at deting maslag a kule naila ring malino sasagisag keta,karing kapuryan at tagle talindo rading memalen at ning balen tamung sinta!

Ing asul, simbulu ne ning kapayapan,katalarwan ampon dalise katutwan; Kabang ing malutu tanda na tepanganat ning malablab a lugud king balayan,a e na apasbu ning patak ning uran; Ing maputi, tanda niti kalinisanat alang musing a maslag nang larawan;Atlung batwin ila ring atlung kapulwanat ding walung aslag ning aldo masilang ilang simbulu ring walung lalawigan

A minunang diling tinikdo, mig-aklaslaban king Espanya ban milayang ganap;A nung nu’ bistaman ding kekatang armastalibung la’t pana, sumpak ampon tabakding ninunu tamu e la pepaysindak;

Lalam ning bandera a meging sagisagning balayan e re likwan makakasatkeng parang ning digma ing tatak nang maslagning pakamalan tang’ Indung Pilipinaslaban karing daywan a keti dinalpak!

Katungkulan tamu bilang Pilipinuing igalang taya ing Bandera tamu;Nung mipaintagun keng arap kapitolyu,munisipyu at/o gusaling publiku,tatas de ing Bandera neng dadalan tamu;

Mamandal ta’ pamu ban munye respetukabang paytas ya’t e pa miladlad ustu;Pablasang ing balang metung kekatamukatungkulan na ing tupad at mamintukaring saligan nang batas ning gubyernu.

Mangaintulid murin ing saludwan tayauling sagisag nia naman ning ligayaat tula ding sablang mepugtu inawabusal na ning parang keng mapaling gyera,laban karing liping masangil a pita.

Saludwan ya uling sandigan dia naman king ikatimawa ning Indung Balayanding kapatad tamu a e re tengalan mangsinlag ing dorado aldo king aslagana’yalang bitasang ulap a papampan!

Iti e mu bukud anting paganakakekatamu bilang memalen ning bansa,nune sana pin neng tatas tayang saryaiting simbulu ning masapsap dang tula,ding bayaning mibwal king parang ning digma,

King iti sukat yang suywan kabang-kaba,at busal ning salu karin idambana;Kambe ning adwan tang lubus kang Bathala,ing itamu ganap ta’nang mitimawa,lalam ning makule Bandera ning Bansa!

A CLOSE friend once asked me if I do teach colors to my students with visual impairment. I said yes. She inquired again, how? I said, it is the same with how regular teachers teach their students BUT with a dash of extra. She gave me a knotted eyebrow stare, questioning my vague response. Similar question was raised by a colleague of mine when he saw me teach-ing my pre-schoolers about colors.

Honestly, the same query was popping end-lessly in my thought balloon when I started spe-cial education. With that, there is no doubt that they will be intrigued on that matter. But, how do we really teach colors to blind students? One of my professors in a university when I was taking my master’s degree told us that we teach colors to blind students through association. Though it is only a concept, the importance is that they will not be at lost when the people around them are talking about colors and that there will be new learning added when teaching them oth-er lessons.She also made it clear to use real or concrete objects especially those having the permanent colors as examples to avoid vague-ness. For example, teaching the concept of red – use concrete materials having this color like apple or cherries. You can also use blood. In here, you can integrate Science and develop other skills. They can feel, touch, smell, and taste the objects given to them. For yellow – bananas, lemons, and sunflowers. As bright as these objects, for sure they will grasp the con-cept being taught. To teach blue –the ocean and the sky can be used. Very cool, relaxing, and wide.

There are also other ways to teach colors. Other blind people are relating color to their other senses. For example when somebody said pink they will think of the taste of strawber-ry ice cream. Red or orange would be related to fire and heat. If they are more interested, you can use symbolism like blue which means to be calming and intellectual; the meaning of the color to you and them; and digging deeper by talking about color combination.

And now, with the help of the modern tech-nology, a computer program was developed by

Teaching colors to students with visual impairment

Artur Rataj, a Polish researcher from the Insti-tute of Theoretical and Applied Computer Sci-ence at the Polish Academy of Sciences. As stated on the article written by Heather Catch-pole of ABC with the title Blind people to “see” colour by touch, Rataj discussed how his meth-od works and its progress.(http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2004/04/14/1086414.ht-m?site=science&topic=health).

“The computer program translates color im-ages to tactile graphics that blind people can see by touch. According to Rataj, the comput-er could assign different textures to colors. The program will detect the edge of the image and will assign textures to the different parts of the image. Each color is characterized by rows of dashes at different angles. For example, yellow is represented by rows of vertical dots and blue by rows of horizontal dots. Color is simplified so there is only one blue, not shades of light or dark blue.Combination of colors, like orange, are also made by using dashes angled at a di-rection halfway between red and yellow. The in-tensity of the color depends on the density of the raised dashes. More dashes mean bright-er colors.Rataj, who is testing his method with blind people, said that identifying the colors in an image may help people recognize the im-age.”

There are different methods presented that any teacher, parent, and caregiver can use. Don’t be afraid to try different methods until the children learn. As for me, association is the best and most convenient method for I have tried and used it multiple times to my students and it showed satisfactory result.

Though others may find it impossible, it is still possible to give them the appropriate and equal education similar with the regular stu-dents. As they grow, the list of objects and ideas will be added in their colorful color bank while discovering the beauty and rainbows of the world.

BIANCA F. DIMABUYUSPED Teacher I

Teacher for the Visually ImpairedAngeles Elementary School (SPED Center)

OLONGAPO AND ZAMBALES BEAUTIES. (L-R) Mutya ng Olongapo 2015 1st runner up and Bb. Zambales 2016 2nd runner up Natasha Galo, Bb. Zambales 2016 and Miss Bikini Phils. 2016 Christine Opiaza and Bb. Zambales 2015 and Mutya ng Olongapo 2016 Nicole Dichoso pose infront of basketful of “Kinalabaw” mangoes known to be exported to the Middle East by Dole during the opening ceremony of the Zambales Mango Exhibit at SM City Olongapo. Contributed photo

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From page 1

Republic of the PhilippinesOFFICE OF THE CITY CIVIL REGISTRAR

Province of PampangaMabalacat City

Publication NoticeR.A. 10172

NOTICE TO THE PuBLICIn Compliance with the publication requirement and pursuant to OCRG

Memorandum Circular No. 2013-1 Guidelines in the Implementation of the Administrative Order No. 1 Series of 2012 (IRR on R.A 10172) Notice is hereby served to the public that JOSHuA LACSON MANALASTAS has filed with this Office, a petition for correction of entry in the sex from “FEMALE” to “MALE” in the Certificate of Live of Birth of JOSHuA LACSON MANALASTAS at Mabalacat, Pampanga and whose parents are Armeldo P. Manalastas and Jocelyn P. Lacson.

Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his/her written opposition with this office not later than seven (7) days after the completion of the publication period. VICTOR TERRY A. MEDINA CITY CIVIL REGISTRAR

FOR THE CITY CIVIL REGISTRAR:

SGD. CAROLINA I. AQUINO Administrative Assistant VIPunto! Central Luzon: June 2 & 9, 2016

man respectively in the May 9 polls.

The elder Lazatin said he acts as an ad-viser to his two sons. He explained that due to his advance age (he will be turning 83 on June 29),

Lazatin eyes barangay posthe cannot be appoint-ed to a government post anymore but he can still serve the people in an elective post.

The elder Laza-tin’s name cropped up as possible candi-date for the presiden-cy of the Clark Devel-

opment Corp. after he had an audience with President-elect Rodrigo Duterte in Davao City last week.

Incumbent Balibago barangay chair Rodelio “Tony” Mamac who ran and lost in the city vice mayoralty race in the re-

cent polls is on his third and final term.

Asked of his proba-ble rivals as chief of An-geles City’s premier ba-rangay, Lazatin named a certain “Aguas” and city first lady Herminia de Guzman-Pamintuan as being floated.

Lazatin and councilor Pogi Lazatin, all in a vic-torious jovial mood de-spite the defeat of their allies Sen. Lito Lapid and lawyer Willie Rivera who lost in their respective mayoral and vice mayor-al bids in this city in the May 9 elections.

Beaming with ob-vious pride, the elder Lazatin, seated between his sons, said he would provide them with as-sistance for at least two terms and leave them to fend for themselves

Tarzan vows to assist sons...From page 1 during their third terms.

Jonjon is in his first political term after he de-feated 1st District Rep Jo-seller Guiao in the last polls, while Pogi is on his second term as city councilor.

The elder Lazatin, however, did not say he would fully retire from pol-itics, as he merely stayed in the political back-ground during the last May 9 elections. He has been five-time congress-man and three-term may-or here for several terms.

He said he initially had no plans for Jonjon

in the last polls, but after several persons, includ-ing Angeles Vice Mayor Vicky Vega who lost in her mayoral bid, declined his offer to run against in-cumbent Guiao, he final-ly fielded his son. “Jon-jon was the last option,” he said with a laugh.

The Lazatins are per-ceived as traditional po-litical nemesis of the Nepomuceno clan which apparently has no inten-tion to retire from local politics with the victory of lawyer Bryan Nepomu-ceno as Angeles vice mayor.

For his part, Jonjon vowed to meet with ba-rangay officials in the city to find out their leg-islative needs. He also said he would look into pending matters initiat-ed by Guiao, including a proposal to transform the Clark International Air-port Corp. (CIAC) into an authority to spare it from political interference. The CIAC is a state firm that manages and oper-ates the Clark Freeport but is under the Depart-ment of Transportation and Communications.

–Ding Cervantes

municipal hall of Maca-bebe, Pampanga the 445th anniversary of the martyrdom of the “first native to give up his life for independence,” one identified only as the “Brave Youth of Maca-bebe,” as he fought the conquering Spaniards.

Prof. Robby Tanting-co, Holy Angel University (HAU) vice president for external affairs and head of the university’s Center for Kapampangan Stud-ies, said the commemo-ration, to be led by NHCP

‘Brave Youth of Macabebe’...From page 1 chair Dr. Serena Diok-

no, has also launched a book titled “The Name-less Hero: Revisiting the Sources on the First Fil-ipino to Die Fighting for Freedom,” authored by Ian Christopher Alfon-so and published by the center. It is the first book on the nationalist martyr.

Tantingco cited two reasons for the June 3 commemoration.

“For the first time, the Philippine Govern-ment through the NHCP officially recognizes the ‘Brave Youth of Maca-bebe’ as the hero of the

Battle of Bangkusay and not Rajah Soliman, and first Filipino to die for freedom,” he said.

Tantingco said a Spanish chronicler de-scribed the hero as “brave youth.”

A bust on a pedes-tal marked “Brave Youth of Macabebe,” unveiled by the NHCP, HAU and Pampanga officials, now stands in front of the Ma-cabebe town hall.

“He was very nimble, he could leap over win-dows without using the stairs, and yes, the fact that he had many wives

proves his virility, not ad-vanced age,” Tàntingco noted of the hero.

Tantingco said “it was Pedro Paterno in the 19th century who named him Tarik, without any primary source to back him up. Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and one oth-er eyewitness gave him the name Bambalito, but some believe it’s a pejo-rative term with obvious-ly Spanish origin. So to skirt the debate, NHCP decided to just describe him as nameless” he ex-plained.

–Ding Cervantes

The Alyansang Manggagawang Bukid ng Asyenda Luisita (Am-bala) reported that po-licemen on board a pa-trol car arrived the other day in Barangay Balete “to prevent land prepara-tion activities of farmers for main crop planting season.”

The cops were re-portedly tasked to pre-vent farmers from ac-cess to hacienda lands claimed by the Cojuang-co-controlled Tarlac De-velopment Corp. (Tade-co) as being exempted

Cojuangcos hold on HL areas outside land reform coverageFrom page 1 from land reform, Amba-

la said.Ambala said the ha-

rassment of farmers started after Mariano was nominated to the post of secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

The group cited the case of farmer Charlito Catalan whose house in Barangay Mapalacsiao was demolished by per-sons identified with Ta-deco last May 30.

“We condemn this latest atrocity by the Co-juangco-Aquino family against the poor farmers of Hacienda Luisita. We

vow support to farmers led by Ambala to take back the lands grabbed by the Cojuangco-con-trolled firm Tadeco,” Anakpawis Rep. Fernan-do Hicap said in a state-ment.

The present govern-ment and Tadeco “seem to be working together to reduce the amount of ha-cienda lands subject to land reform, said Amba-la. In 2012, the Supreme Court ordered the distri-bution of Hacienda Luis-ita lands to farm workers after it earlier declared illegal the stock distribu-tion option already im-

plemented in the hacien-da during the term of for-mer president Corazon Aquino.

The DAR implement-ed the order of the High Court through the con-troversial “tambiolo” raf-fle.

But Ambala noted that from an original land area of 6,453 hectares, the Cojuangcos only de-clared 4,915 hectares to be agricultural in 1989.

“Of these, 500 hect-ares were approved for conversion into non-agri-cultural uses, thus mak-ing them exempt from agrarian reform. Another

80.5 hectares was sub-tracted to make way for the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx),” it said.

Hicap recalled that “Supreme Court’s final 2012 ruling thus ordered only 4,335 hectares for distribution. But this num-ber was again reduced. A survey conducted by FF Cruz Co., a company hired by the DAR, in ear-ly April further exempted more than 200 hectares of land from agrarian re-form.”

Ambala estimated that a total of 1,063.47 hectares of hacienda lands were illegally con-verted into non-agri-cultural uses. Some of these parcels of land are

now titled to Luisita Real-ty Corp., Luisita Golf and Country Club, and Las Haciendas Subdivision, the group added.

Anakpawis quoted Mariano as vowing “to en-sure that no farmers will be displaced from their farmland by strengthen-ing their security of ten-ure over the land.”

Mariano said “We will immediately review the sham ‘tambiolo’ land re-form implemented by the DAR in Hacienda Luis-ita. This review will also include the pending peti-tion by farmers for the re-vocation of the land-use conversion issued by the DAR in favor of the Co-juangcos of Hacienda Luisita.”

By Ernie B. Esconde

MARIVELES, Bataan- Four still un-identified gunmen in bonnet and rid-ing a car on Thursday in broad day-light shot and killed a man tagged by police as one of the top drug person-alities in this town.

Police identified the victim as Rey-naldo Javier, 41, of Upper Baland-

asan in Barangay Mountain View.He died on the spot from multiple

gunshot wounds. Police investigators found five empty shells and two slugs from .45 pistol.

The gunmen left near the body a folder bearing the words “Drug poser, ‘wag tularan. Ikaw na susunod.”

Relatives refused to comment but merely said “bahala na Diyos sa kanila.”

Police report showed that the victim and his wife left their house on board a new motorcycle. They stopped near a store in Mt. View to buy rugs at about 9:20 in the morning. Soon as the wife alighted, gunmen fired successive shots at Javier.

The gunshots left multiple holes on the motorcycle. A slug even inflicted a mark on the wall of a store nearby.

Witnesses who begged not to be identified said a gray car with no plate number was tailing the motorcycle of the couple along the Roman Super-highway in Mt. View. When the mo-torcycle stopped, men from the car alighted and shot the victim.

They said that gunmen kept on fir-ing at Javier even after victim already fell from his motorcycle.

Suspected pusher shot dead

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SpotlightRey Pineda

The City Tourism Office led by the vivacious Ms. Ching Pangilinan in partnership with SM City Pampanga held the Mutya at Lakan Ning San Fernando 2016 at the event Center of SM City Pampanga.

Camille Franco (Candidate No. 4) was proclaimed Mutya Ning San Fernando, while Edgar Panlilio (Candidate No. 1) bagged the title of Lakan Ning San Fernando, in the recent Mutya at Lakan Ning San Fernando 2016.

Runners up for Mutya were: 1st Arianne Deseree Viardo (Candidate No. 12) and 2nd Jhen Maica Valencia (Candidate No. 6).

Lakan runners up were: 1st Karl Kevin Tallorin (Candidate No. 11) and 2nd Joshua Nathaniel de Jesus (Candidate No. 4).

Other winners for special awards were (1st set)1. Punto Mutya Darling of the Press – Candidate No. 12 Arianne Deseree Viardo2. SunStar Lakan Darling of the Press – Candidate No. 1 Karl Kevin Tallorin3. Best in Filipiniana – Candidate No. 12 Arianne Deseree Viardo4. Best in Barong Tagalog – Candidate No. 6 Isaac Jacob de Leon5. Best Designer – Filipiniana – Frederick Policarpio for Arianne Deseree Viardo6. Best Designer – Barong Tagalog – Rex Nicdao for Kersey Manez7. Mr. Photogenic – Candidate No. 1 Karl Kevin Tallorin8. Ms. Photogenic – Candidate No. 12 Arianne Deseree Viardo9. Mr. Beauty Shot – Candidate No. 1 Karl Kevin Tallorin10. Ms. Beauty Shot – Candidate No. 11 Faye Gizelle Yco11. JAG Denim King – Candidate No. 4 Joshua Nathaniel de Jesus12. JAG Denim Queen – Candidate No. 12 Arianne Deseree Viardo

2nd set of awardees were:1. Best in Swimwear – Lakan – Candidate No. 1 Karl Kevin Tallorin2. Best in Swimwear – Mutya – Candidate No. 12 Arianne Deseree Viardo3. Mr. Congeniality – Candidate No. 2 Kersey Manez4. Ms. Congeniality – Candidate No. 4 Camille Franco5. Mutya Dermcare – Candidate No. 12 Arianne Deseree Viardo6. Mr. Black Beauty – Candidate No. 4 Joshua Nathaniel de Jesus7. Ms. Black Beauty – Candidate No. 12 Arianne Deseree Viardo8. Mutya ning PEPSI – Candidate No. 12 Arianne Deseree Viardo 9. Lakan ning STING – Candidate No. 4 Joshua Nathaniel de Jesus

3rd set of winners:1. Best in Long Gown – Candidate No. 12 Arianne Deseree Viardo2. Best in Formal Wear – Candidate No. 4 Joshua Nathaniel de Jesus3. Best in Casual Wear – Lakan – Candidate No. 4 Joshua Nathaniel de Jesus4. Best in Casual Wear – Mutya – Candidate No. 6 Jhen Maica Valencia5. Best in Talent – Lakan – Candidate No. 6 Isaac Jacob de Leon6. Best in Talent – Mutya – Candidate No. 12 Arianne Deseree Viardo7. Lakan ning Kalikasan – Candidate No. 1 Karl Kevin Tallorin8. Mutya ning Kalikasan – Candidate No. 4 Camille Franco9. Mr. SMART text polling – Candidate No. 5 Melvin Silvestre10. Ms. SMART text polling – Candidate No. 5 Jasmin Reeza Navarro

1. Mr. Theme Wear – Candidate No. 4 Joshua Nathaniel de Jesus2. Ms. Theme Wear – Candidate No. 12 Arianne Deseree Viardo

Winners with the committee on Mutya at Lakan ning San Fernando 2016.

Mutya at LakanNing San Fernando 2016

Winners of the Mutya at Lakan 2016.

Photos courtesy of Edwin Pangilinan

By Ashley ManabatANGELES CITY – The city mayor has lauded the successful operation of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in busting an illegal drugs laborato-ry in a plush subdivision in Barangay Sto. Domin-go where the confiscated contraband amounted to the biggest drug haul here worth P1.2 billion.

In a statement, Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan lauded the police and said “the authorities are on the right path in ridding of illegal drugs operation in our community.” Pamintuan stressed that “raids like those would be more effective if the suspects are also being apprehended.”

This developed as Councilor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. vowed to initiate an investigation in the sangguniang panlungsod on why this city has be-come a haven for illegal drugs’ factories and no suspects are arrested.

The discovery of the Sto. Domingo shabu lab came in the wake of an earlier police raid at a lab-oratory inside a house at Timog Park Subdivision in Barangay Cutcut here last March 16 where 10 kilos of shabu can be produced daily by the lab.

During the “Talk Widus” media forum organized by the Pampanga Press Club (PPC) on Wednes-day held at the Prism Lounge of the Widus Ho-tel and Casino in Clark, Lazatin said as soon as the city council convenes next month, “I will initiate an investigation on why big shabu labs are estab-lished in Angeles and how come no one is arrest-ed during these police raids.”

“Tayo po ay mag-iimbistiga pag bukas po ng 17th council at titingnan natin kung paano natin palalakasin at tutulungan pa ang ating kapulisan (We will start an investigation once the 17th council opens and find out how we can strengthen and help our policemen),” Lazatin said. “Yan po ang kaya nating gawin (This is what we can do),” he added.

Lazatin also said Mayor Pamintuan should ex-plain to the people why this is happening in our community.

“We will also invite the police and barangay of-ficials and ask them for an explanation,” he said.

On Tuesday, law enforcers seized some P1.2-billion worth of liquid methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) and finished products in a raid at a residence converted into a drugs factory/laboratory at Villa Dolores Subdivision in Baran-gay Sto. Domingo here.

Police described the seizure as “the biggest drugs haul so far in Central Luzon for this year.” But no arrests were made.

Newly-installed Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) director, Chief Supt. Aaron Aquino not-ed that this is the second illegal drugs laboratory busted by government authorities this year.

“The laboratory can produce more than 50 kilos of shabu per cycle” based on the equipment and precursors found inside the residence,” Aquino said, adding that such can be considered a “mega laboratory.”

EdPam hails drug bust but city dad

wants probe

3 nabbed in drug opsSUBIC, Zambales - Three drug personalities were arrested in separate drug operations here and in San Marcelino town.

Subic PNP Chief Inspector Leonardo Madrid, identified the suspects as Godofredo Carreon, Jr., 38, and Arnel Reyes, 34, both residents of Purok 3, Barangay Calapacuan, Subic.

The suspects were arrested in the act of selling shabu worth P500 to a police poseur-buyer.

Recovered from the possession were a total of five transparent plastic sachets containing sus-pected shabu, digital weighing scale and assorted drug paraphernalia.

At Sitio Maungot, Barangay La Paz, San Marcelino, police led by Senior Inspector Geoffrey Javier arrested suspect Christopher Corpus, 32 , resident of Barangay Lucero, while selling shabu worth P500 to a police poseur-buyer.

The suspect is listed as Number 9 among ille-gal drug personalities on Oplan Lambat Sibat in the San Marcelino Municipal Police Station.

Recovered from Corpus were two heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets of suspected shabu, a P500 bill as marked money and drug parapherna-lia. All the arrested suspects face charges for vio-lation of Section 5 &11, Article ll of RA 9165.

–Johnny R. Reblando

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