By Kit Bagaipo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
TAGBILARAN CITY – An anti-graft group has teamed up with the Department of Education (DepEd) to keep corruption as far away as possible from a DepEd project to buy P25 million worth of furniture for public schools in Bohol province.
Elpidio Jala, DepEd Bohol schools division superintendent, said the DepEd has coordinated with Procurement Watch Inc. (PWI) to keep watch over the process to purchase the pieces of school furniture.
The PWI is a civil society organization formed by a group of concerned citizens with the goal of reducing, if not eliminating, graft and corruption in government through procurement reforms.
The DepEd-PWI watch, also known nationwide as “Bantay Eskwela,” was launched at the Manga High School in Tagbilaran City.
Jala said the partnership was a “timely response” to a Commission on Audit report saying at least P33.8 million of public funds were laid to waste last year due to substandard pieces of furniture bought for public schools in several provinces.
Last year, the DepEd allotted P1 billion for school furniture nationwide. Many of the pieces of furniture were to be delivered this year.
The PWI will keep watch over the ongoing delivery of P10 million worth of furniture, mostly classroom desks and chairs, to different schools in Bohol.
The pieces of furniture were being bought with funds allotted last year and P15 million allotted for school year 2009-2010.
The ongoing procurement program for Bohol schools will buy 5,817 classroom tables, 11,534 chairs, 230 teachers’ tables and 230 teachers’ chairs.
DepEd officials and representatives of PWI and various other groups attended the launching of the monitoring team-up.
Jala said the DepEd welcomed the partnership with PWI as the government lost hundreds of millions of pesos in the past to substandard pieces of furniture made from inferior quality wood.
The Bantay Eskwela project also seeks to keep watch over the other procurement programs of the DepEd.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
Bohol police chief opposes STL entry
By Kit Bagaipo
Inquirer Visayas
TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines—Bohol’s top police officer opposed the entry of small town lottery (STL) in the province, saying it will just promote, not wipe out, illegal numbers games.
“I don’t honestly believe STL will help eliminate the existing illegal numbers game such as ‘swertres’,” said Senior Supt. Edgardo Inking, Bohol police chief. “Instead, this will only worsen illegal gambling.”
Ingking said he has submitted a position paper to the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) expressing opposition to the entry of STL here.
He said illegal gambling financiers and operators would only exploit the legalized STL and use this as a cover for an illegal version.
He said in Bohol, at least 27 financiers operate the illegal numbers game called ‘swertres.’
Winning numbers in swertres were once dictated by results of jai-alai, but with jai-alai gone, swertres was transformed into the Visayas version of jueteng, which bases its winning numbers on clandestine lottery draws.
On May 15, police arrested Barangay Captain Manolo Blanco of Barangay Mansasa, Tagbilaran City.
Blanco was caught in possession of illegal gambling paraphernalia and P534,880 in cash believed to be bets on swertres.
Police said Blanco was a “big fish” in illegal gambling in the city.
“We cannot succeed (against) these gambling financiers if the community does not cooperate and if STL outlets are allowed to operate,” Ingking said.
But town mayors in the province remain divided over whether to allow STL to operate in their towns.
Several mayors have already declared their support for STL citing its benefits to local government units (LGUs) which are entitled to shares in STL income.
Of total STL revenues, 55 percent are supposed to be for prizes, 30 percent for charity and 15 percent for operations.
Of the 30 percent for charity, 10 percent is for the LGU in the area where STL operates, 5 percent for the province and 5 percent for the congressional district.
Inquirer Visayas
TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines—Bohol’s top police officer opposed the entry of small town lottery (STL) in the province, saying it will just promote, not wipe out, illegal numbers games.
“I don’t honestly believe STL will help eliminate the existing illegal numbers game such as ‘swertres’,” said Senior Supt. Edgardo Inking, Bohol police chief. “Instead, this will only worsen illegal gambling.”
Ingking said he has submitted a position paper to the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) expressing opposition to the entry of STL here.
He said illegal gambling financiers and operators would only exploit the legalized STL and use this as a cover for an illegal version.
He said in Bohol, at least 27 financiers operate the illegal numbers game called ‘swertres.’
Winning numbers in swertres were once dictated by results of jai-alai, but with jai-alai gone, swertres was transformed into the Visayas version of jueteng, which bases its winning numbers on clandestine lottery draws.
On May 15, police arrested Barangay Captain Manolo Blanco of Barangay Mansasa, Tagbilaran City.
Blanco was caught in possession of illegal gambling paraphernalia and P534,880 in cash believed to be bets on swertres.
Police said Blanco was a “big fish” in illegal gambling in the city.
“We cannot succeed (against) these gambling financiers if the community does not cooperate and if STL outlets are allowed to operate,” Ingking said.
But town mayors in the province remain divided over whether to allow STL to operate in their towns.
Several mayors have already declared their support for STL citing its benefits to local government units (LGUs) which are entitled to shares in STL income.
Of total STL revenues, 55 percent are supposed to be for prizes, 30 percent for charity and 15 percent for operations.
Of the 30 percent for charity, 10 percent is for the LGU in the area where STL operates, 5 percent for the province and 5 percent for the congressional district.
Bohol town targets ‘longest’ handwoven raffia
By Kit Bagaipo, Chito A. Fuentes
Inquirer Visayas
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol—To gain recognition for its century-old raffia weaving tradition, the town of Inabanga, once the cradle of the Philippines’ longest revolt against the Spaniards, will soon roll out the longest handwoven raffia and secure its claim as the home of highly skilled and artistic raffia weavers.
Locally known as “buli,” raffia weaving was introduced to Inabanga in the early 1800s during the time of the revolutionary Francisco Dagohoy. The woven fabrics were then used as sleeping mats and guerrilla uniforms.
On May 19, Inabanga launched its bid for the world’s longest continuous woven raffia fabric—a project that costs P300,000. The completion of the 1.6-kilometer product is expected by June 29, a day before its annual feast, Mayor Jose Jono Jumamoy said.
Anatolio Hugo, 35, said the project unofficially began on February 9 when he started weaving the first three meters. The raffia spool now laid out at the gym is nearly 200 meters long.
Jumamoy said he felt confident that the weavers would beat the deadline although he acknowledged that the weaving had slowed down a bit because tourists and visitors had been allowed to try their hand at weaving.
Inabanga launched the project because the industry could help provide livelihood to its residents. With a population of 40,000, it is primarily agricultural, with its coastal and island villages dependent on fishing.
The launching also highlighted impressive designs, showing the creativity and unique craftsmanship of the weavers. Home and lifestyle products, such as personal accessories, place mats, table runners, pillow cases, decorative rolls, handbags, and fashion accessories were made from raffia.
Governor Erico Aumentado, Vice Governor Julius Caesar Herrera, Board Members Ma. Fe Lejos, Ester Corazon Galbreath, and Jumamoy attended the opening ceremony.
“Inabanga intends to inform the consumer sector—institutional buyers, exporters, and subcontractors—that we have the production capacity and variety of product lines of excellent quality,” Jumamoy said.
Last year, the town presented a fashion show with models sporting raffia fabrics.
Inabanga has been known as the loom weaving capital of Bohol as its inhabitants became proficient in raffia weaving with buli palms, which are abundant.
Inquirer Visayas
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol—To gain recognition for its century-old raffia weaving tradition, the town of Inabanga, once the cradle of the Philippines’ longest revolt against the Spaniards, will soon roll out the longest handwoven raffia and secure its claim as the home of highly skilled and artistic raffia weavers.
Locally known as “buli,” raffia weaving was introduced to Inabanga in the early 1800s during the time of the revolutionary Francisco Dagohoy. The woven fabrics were then used as sleeping mats and guerrilla uniforms.
On May 19, Inabanga launched its bid for the world’s longest continuous woven raffia fabric—a project that costs P300,000. The completion of the 1.6-kilometer product is expected by June 29, a day before its annual feast, Mayor Jose Jono Jumamoy said.
Anatolio Hugo, 35, said the project unofficially began on February 9 when he started weaving the first three meters. The raffia spool now laid out at the gym is nearly 200 meters long.
Jumamoy said he felt confident that the weavers would beat the deadline although he acknowledged that the weaving had slowed down a bit because tourists and visitors had been allowed to try their hand at weaving.
Inabanga launched the project because the industry could help provide livelihood to its residents. With a population of 40,000, it is primarily agricultural, with its coastal and island villages dependent on fishing.
The launching also highlighted impressive designs, showing the creativity and unique craftsmanship of the weavers. Home and lifestyle products, such as personal accessories, place mats, table runners, pillow cases, decorative rolls, handbags, and fashion accessories were made from raffia.
Governor Erico Aumentado, Vice Governor Julius Caesar Herrera, Board Members Ma. Fe Lejos, Ester Corazon Galbreath, and Jumamoy attended the opening ceremony.
“Inabanga intends to inform the consumer sector—institutional buyers, exporters, and subcontractors—that we have the production capacity and variety of product lines of excellent quality,” Jumamoy said.
Last year, the town presented a fashion show with models sporting raffia fabrics.
Inabanga has been known as the loom weaving capital of Bohol as its inhabitants became proficient in raffia weaving with buli palms, which are abundant.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Uniting a nation
On Sunday, our very own boxing hero Manny Pacquiao will once again take on the dreams and ambitions of a nation – a nation where millions of people wallow in utter poverty, a nation so divided, a nation beleaguered by corruption.
When the “Pacman” faces Ricky Hatton at the MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas this Sunday, he’s not just fighting for himself as a boxer, but for the Filipino people and the country as a whole.
As BBC News describes it: If Hatton loses, many thousands will sigh. If Pacquiao loses, a nation’s heart will break.
Millions of us Filipinos see in Pacquiao something to aspire to, because we see in him our hopes and dreams.
In his early years, Pacquiao toiled in the streets to earn a living and to survive. This is why people can relate with the boxing superstar.
As our “Pambansang Kamao” climbs the ring on Sunday, we will see once more the Army (the Philippine Army and the New Peoples Army) to lay down their arms and call for a truce, even the Muslim insurgents in Mindanao. Crime will almost cease in the towns and cities across the country.
Every human activity practically grinds to a halt as thousands gather around their television sets and movie houses to witness their hero carry their hopes and dreams. This phenomenon does not only occur in the Philippines. Filipinos all around the world always gather in anticipation of a big Pacquiao fight.
As promoter Bob Arum said, “Pacquiao is a symbol of his people”.
President Arroyo calls Pacquiao “truly one of our nation’s heroes who can unite us even in times of divisiveness”.
“The Filipino people are the real source of my strength. My utmost intention is to unite the Filipino people through my efforts in boxing,” Pacquiao proudly declared once.
Recently named one of the world’s 100 most influential people by Time magazine (officially outpolling US President Barack Obama), Pacquiao could become president of our country.
After the Pacquiao fight, however, can we stay united as a nation? Will the “great unifying force” personified by the “Pacman” dwell among us?
When the “Pacman” faces Ricky Hatton at the MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas this Sunday, he’s not just fighting for himself as a boxer, but for the Filipino people and the country as a whole.
As BBC News describes it: If Hatton loses, many thousands will sigh. If Pacquiao loses, a nation’s heart will break.
Millions of us Filipinos see in Pacquiao something to aspire to, because we see in him our hopes and dreams.
In his early years, Pacquiao toiled in the streets to earn a living and to survive. This is why people can relate with the boxing superstar.
As our “Pambansang Kamao” climbs the ring on Sunday, we will see once more the Army (the Philippine Army and the New Peoples Army) to lay down their arms and call for a truce, even the Muslim insurgents in Mindanao. Crime will almost cease in the towns and cities across the country.
Every human activity practically grinds to a halt as thousands gather around their television sets and movie houses to witness their hero carry their hopes and dreams. This phenomenon does not only occur in the Philippines. Filipinos all around the world always gather in anticipation of a big Pacquiao fight.
As promoter Bob Arum said, “Pacquiao is a symbol of his people”.
President Arroyo calls Pacquiao “truly one of our nation’s heroes who can unite us even in times of divisiveness”.
“The Filipino people are the real source of my strength. My utmost intention is to unite the Filipino people through my efforts in boxing,” Pacquiao proudly declared once.
Recently named one of the world’s 100 most influential people by Time magazine (officially outpolling US President Barack Obama), Pacquiao could become president of our country.
After the Pacquiao fight, however, can we stay united as a nation? Will the “great unifying force” personified by the “Pacman” dwell among us?
Truths that every Filipino should know
By Patricia Evangelista
Today I will write a manifesto. I would like to correct the perception that my generation is apathetic to the state of the nation. I am told we neither know nor care about issues of policy, of poverty, of the national economy. It is not true, but such is our inexperience that we look towards the obvious superiority of our elders to determine how to go about our lives, to set our moral and ethical standards, to fix upon our minds the path of truth and virtue in a society in constant battle with sin.
I am, after all, only twenty-three, and brought up to have the highest respect for authority and government. Let me tell you what I’ve learned, from the events of the past week, from headlines and interviews and the decisions made by men and women in power. Let me share with you the truths I have concluded from the wisdom of my elders.
I have learned, first, that a man accused of torture, perjury, and the wholesale murder of dozens—by no less than the Supreme Court and the United Nations—is precisely the sort of man fit to sit in the House of Representatives.
This is the man whom testimonies of escaped political prisoners Oscar Leuterio and Raymond Manalo held responsible for the disappearances and subsequent rapes of UP students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno, as decided by the Supreme Court in 2008. This is the man the Melo Commission-- established to look into the rash of political disappearances—recommended for investigation. This is the same man that Justice Jose Melo, of that same Commission, permitted to represent the party list group “Bantay”—also known as True Marcos Loyalists, whose sworn duty is to stand for “the marginalized and underrepresented sector” of the military in Congress “to implement the government’s national security program.” Bantay was accepted with knowledge that the military has never been more represented in government since martial law, with the administration actively distributing plum leadership positions to retired military men, and with the certain conviction that the group will be lead by the gentleman lovingly called Butcher by his men.
No matter the protests, the reams of investigative reports, the witnesses, the small girl named Sugar who lost her daddy—Jovito Palaparan’s inclusion into the House of Representatives establishes that killers—for as long as they have powerful friends—are not only excepted from the rule of law, they are ushered into Congress and are called Honorable.
I’ll tell what else I learned, this time from the behavior of the police over the death of Abs-cbn anchor Ted Failon’s wife. I have learned that it is unnecessary to have a warrant for arrest if there are enough members of the police to physically cart away whomever they consider a suspect. I have also learned that it is acceptable for police chiefs to feed false information to journalists to report to the public in order to establish that a man is guilty of killing his wife—as was in the case of Police Superintendent Mabanag in telling members of the Philippine media that Ted Failon was found with scratches on his person (to indicate a fight with his wife) and that there is evidence her body was moved from his car to the bathroom (now found without basis). I am also now aware that it is appropriate to drag possible witnesses from the deathbeds of relatives if the cause is justice—with support of the good secretary of Justice.
I’ll tell you the last lesson I learned, from the ladies of the Court of Appeals in their decision in favor of Lance Corporal Daniel Smith against the young woman we now know as “Nicole.” I have learned that rape is only rape if the woman is a “demure provinciana lass,” and not If she has engaged in “undecorous behavior,” which may include going away for a weekend “to enjoy” with two American friends, and accepting free hotel accommodations after knowing them for the shamefully short period of “only about three months.” And if she did protest, it is only due to sudden and delayed guilt over her behavior, not because she was actually raped.
I have also discovered, from the learned ladies of the CA, that a girl cannot possibly be too drunk to refuse sexual intercourse when “she danced non-stop to the urgent beat of rock and hip-hop music” for a total of 15 minutes “without stumbling clumsily on the floor.” The court of course referred to a previously unreferred-to nugget of jurisprudence: that it is a known fact that “when a woman is drunk, she can hardly rise, much more stand up and dance, or she would just drop. This is a common experience among Filipino girls.” And because of all this, it is logical to conclude that any vaginal contusions a young woman may have acquired consistent with rape are in all probability not due to rape but may in fact be due to “finger grabs.”
It is an important lesson to learn at this time, and one that every young Filipino woman should learn—that if one is raped, one must not speak of it unless one is a farmer’s virgin daughter, and one must not claim to have been drunk and taken advantage of if she has succumbed to the “urgent beat” of hip hop and rock and roll. I am not certain how this jurisprudence applies to reggae or house music, and will assume that R & B is an exception, because the beat is not urgent enough for a drunken girl to sprawl on the ground.
And so I express my gratitude to the men and women who determine law and order in this country, for leading by example and insisting on only what is right and proper. I am glad it was made clear that the gentlemen of this country are permitted to continue in the business of raping and murdering. I intend to take steps to ensure I am never in the presence of gentlemen, alcohol and hiphop music for more than fourteen minutes, on the off-chance I find myself suddenly involved in a “spontaneous romantic encounter.”
If it does happen that I am raped, disappeared, or invited for questioning, in spite of my diligence, it is a relief to know that I and the rest of my generation will be in good hands.
Today I will write a manifesto. I would like to correct the perception that my generation is apathetic to the state of the nation. I am told we neither know nor care about issues of policy, of poverty, of the national economy. It is not true, but such is our inexperience that we look towards the obvious superiority of our elders to determine how to go about our lives, to set our moral and ethical standards, to fix upon our minds the path of truth and virtue in a society in constant battle with sin.
I am, after all, only twenty-three, and brought up to have the highest respect for authority and government. Let me tell you what I’ve learned, from the events of the past week, from headlines and interviews and the decisions made by men and women in power. Let me share with you the truths I have concluded from the wisdom of my elders.
I have learned, first, that a man accused of torture, perjury, and the wholesale murder of dozens—by no less than the Supreme Court and the United Nations—is precisely the sort of man fit to sit in the House of Representatives.
This is the man whom testimonies of escaped political prisoners Oscar Leuterio and Raymond Manalo held responsible for the disappearances and subsequent rapes of UP students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno, as decided by the Supreme Court in 2008. This is the man the Melo Commission-- established to look into the rash of political disappearances—recommended for investigation. This is the same man that Justice Jose Melo, of that same Commission, permitted to represent the party list group “Bantay”—also known as True Marcos Loyalists, whose sworn duty is to stand for “the marginalized and underrepresented sector” of the military in Congress “to implement the government’s national security program.” Bantay was accepted with knowledge that the military has never been more represented in government since martial law, with the administration actively distributing plum leadership positions to retired military men, and with the certain conviction that the group will be lead by the gentleman lovingly called Butcher by his men.
No matter the protests, the reams of investigative reports, the witnesses, the small girl named Sugar who lost her daddy—Jovito Palaparan’s inclusion into the House of Representatives establishes that killers—for as long as they have powerful friends—are not only excepted from the rule of law, they are ushered into Congress and are called Honorable.
I’ll tell what else I learned, this time from the behavior of the police over the death of Abs-cbn anchor Ted Failon’s wife. I have learned that it is unnecessary to have a warrant for arrest if there are enough members of the police to physically cart away whomever they consider a suspect. I have also learned that it is acceptable for police chiefs to feed false information to journalists to report to the public in order to establish that a man is guilty of killing his wife—as was in the case of Police Superintendent Mabanag in telling members of the Philippine media that Ted Failon was found with scratches on his person (to indicate a fight with his wife) and that there is evidence her body was moved from his car to the bathroom (now found without basis). I am also now aware that it is appropriate to drag possible witnesses from the deathbeds of relatives if the cause is justice—with support of the good secretary of Justice.
I’ll tell you the last lesson I learned, from the ladies of the Court of Appeals in their decision in favor of Lance Corporal Daniel Smith against the young woman we now know as “Nicole.” I have learned that rape is only rape if the woman is a “demure provinciana lass,” and not If she has engaged in “undecorous behavior,” which may include going away for a weekend “to enjoy” with two American friends, and accepting free hotel accommodations after knowing them for the shamefully short period of “only about three months.” And if she did protest, it is only due to sudden and delayed guilt over her behavior, not because she was actually raped.
I have also discovered, from the learned ladies of the CA, that a girl cannot possibly be too drunk to refuse sexual intercourse when “she danced non-stop to the urgent beat of rock and hip-hop music” for a total of 15 minutes “without stumbling clumsily on the floor.” The court of course referred to a previously unreferred-to nugget of jurisprudence: that it is a known fact that “when a woman is drunk, she can hardly rise, much more stand up and dance, or she would just drop. This is a common experience among Filipino girls.” And because of all this, it is logical to conclude that any vaginal contusions a young woman may have acquired consistent with rape are in all probability not due to rape but may in fact be due to “finger grabs.”
It is an important lesson to learn at this time, and one that every young Filipino woman should learn—that if one is raped, one must not speak of it unless one is a farmer’s virgin daughter, and one must not claim to have been drunk and taken advantage of if she has succumbed to the “urgent beat” of hip hop and rock and roll. I am not certain how this jurisprudence applies to reggae or house music, and will assume that R & B is an exception, because the beat is not urgent enough for a drunken girl to sprawl on the ground.
And so I express my gratitude to the men and women who determine law and order in this country, for leading by example and insisting on only what is right and proper. I am glad it was made clear that the gentlemen of this country are permitted to continue in the business of raping and murdering. I intend to take steps to ensure I am never in the presence of gentlemen, alcohol and hiphop music for more than fourteen minutes, on the off-chance I find myself suddenly involved in a “spontaneous romantic encounter.”
If it does happen that I am raped, disappeared, or invited for questioning, in spite of my diligence, it is a relief to know that I and the rest of my generation will be in good hands.
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