“They were trying to bribe the bishops. . . Garapal!” Quoted by the Philippine Daily Inquirer recently, Bishop Jose Manguiran of the Diocese of Dipolog narrated how he personally witnessed the attempt of a Malacañang Staff to hand him an envelope containing P15,000.00.

This took place a day before the Bishop’s Conference which would treat the impeachment issue against President Gloria M. Arroyo. The bishop disclosed that he was given two envelopes at Pope Pius XII Catholic Center of Manila for no apparent reason at all.

He disclosed further that he was talking with Fatima Valdes, secretary of religious affairs at Malacañang when a Malacañang staff he could not name came from behind to hand him the envelopes. Although Valdes claimed the money was for livelihood assistance in the bishop’s diocese, Bishop Manguiran answered that he had never asked for livelihood assistance like cheap medicines and rice.

“If Malacañang was sincere, the money could have been given directly to hospitals which needed the money more than the bishops,” he pointed out. Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, CBCP Vice President told media that the money was his reimbursement of his trip to Manila but he refused to accept it.

Other bishops also claimed that they were given envelopes with money. In an interview with the National Daily, Bishop Manguiran was quoted to be angry with the Palace believing that if Malacañang could do it to them, how much more for ordinary citizens in the country. The 69-year old prelate said he immediately asked Fr. Juanito Figura, acting CBCP Secretary General to return to Malacañang the cash-filled envelopes together with an explanation why he refused the offer.

He said he had kept a copy of that letter. The bishop has been identified to be very vocal about issues affecting the patrimony of this country. Bishop Manguiran is considered one of the fightingest conservationists in this part of the country. He once led a prayer vigil in Siocon as a protest against the TVI Mining Operations which apparently displaced the Subanen land-owners and endangered the area.

As a member of Task Force Kalasangan, he denounced the relentless cutting of trees in Sirawai which will ultimately endanger the last forest reserves in the province. With his appearance in the front page of Philippine Daily Inquirer yesterday Dipolognons are proud that he has been cited in the bribery expose. (Press Freedom, Vol. XVIII No. 43)

The quotation “Poverty is not a hindrance to success” holds true to Anliza Gumamon Banquil, who, five years ago, was lucky to get a scholarship grant from the Alay Lakad Council of Dipolog.

It was in the year 2001 when Anliza underwent an evaluation by the Office of the City Social Welfare and Development Officer, after she expressed her desire to avail of the scholarship grant offered by the Alay Lakad Council of Dipolog, intended for poor but deserving out-of-school youths in the city.

After getting a favorable endorsement as requirement for final interview by the Education Committee of the council, Anliza finally got the scholarship and enrolled in a course leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Accountancy at St. Vincent’s College. During her younger years, Anliza was bent on acquiring and finishing a course to be of help to her family’s poverty. But the family’s inadequacy did not dampen Anliza’s dream of getting an education.

She finished her elementary education at Minaog Elementary School as class valedictorian and received several prestigious awards and recognitions.  And although a transferee at Angono High School, due to her father’s employment as steelman in Taytay, Rizal, she still made it as a qualifier to the DOST-SEI Undergraduate Scholarship. Since life in Metro Manila was not easy, with her father earning a meager income of P4,800.00 a month,   Anliza had to stop schooling at the National College of Business Administration in Taytay where she was able to enroll in her first level of college education, and decided to come home to Dipolog.

But the income of her mother as a laundrywoman and a cook in a canteen in Dipolog was not enough to support all the school needs of her brothers and sisters, and her education in college in particular. When she heard of the scholarship grant extended by the Alay Lakad Council of Dipolog, all her hopes lightened and immediately took the opportunity.

Of the 15 applicants for scholarship grant of the Alay Lakad Council in 2001, only 5 of them were able to make it, Anliza having been one of them. During her college days, she continued her studies with full devotion and gained numerous awards and recognitions namely: Best in Accounting, Best in Business Mathematics, Best in Law, Best in Taxation and a Silver Medalist of SGV Cup Accounting Quiz Bowl Regional Champion held in Ateneo De Zamboanga University, Zamboanga City.

Inspired by her dreams and accompanied by firmed determination and perseverance, she successfully fulfilled her ambition in becoming a professional, though beyond expectation then considering their living status, by graduating from the Accountancy Course as Dean’s Lister/Cum Laude at Saint Vincent’s College way back in the year 2003. She took her review class at CPA Review School of the Philippines (CPAR) in Manila and successfully passed, and took her oath as a Certified Public Accountant last June 23, 2006 held at the Plenary Hall of the Philippine International Convention Center, Manila.

Malacañang said today that the way the pastoral letter of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBC) is being twisted and allegations that the Palace had bribed the bishops only shows the desperation of some political quarters.

Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye said in a statement that the CBCP pastoral letter “comes as a fresh wind to a nation growing tired and weary of too much politics.”

“To us the message is crystal clear. We view the document as an instrument for healing the wounds of the land and moving forward in harmony and unity,” he said. Opposition politicians had claimed that the bishops’ rejection of impeachment as a way of removing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from office was a big letdown, with some claiming that the bishops had been bribed.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita categori-cally denied the malicious allegations. In his weekly press briefing in Malacañang, Ermita said donations in other forms may be given to the bishops but certainly not in the context and manner that some people are trying to project such donations- as bribes.

He lamented that the President’s detractors have gone to the extent of maliciously  claiming that somebody, presumably from the government, had distributed cash gifts to the bishops during their retreat last Sunday.

“Ang ating mga obispo ay mararangal na tao at sana naman hini nila pag-iisipan ng mga bagay na iyan (Our bishops are very decent people and we hope that the administration critics would refrain from accusing other people of bribing the bishops,” Ermita said.

He appealed to critics of the administration to leave the bishops alone ad not to drag them into political controversies to suit self-serving political agenda.

Mr. Cifriano “Sulfing” Jasmin, president of Zanorte Multi-Purpose Paglaum Cooperative recently thanked Gov. Rolando Yebes for his concern of the handicapped sector in the province.

Mr. Jasmin disclosed that the handicapped sector in the two cities and 25 municipalities in the province is 5,000-member group.

Ever since, he added, the handicapped sector was never given attention by the provincial government. The Republic Act 7277, Magna Carta for People with Disability required local government to allocate 1% share of the local government budget for the disabled.

Mr. Jasmin disclosed further that the law has been approved since 1992 but it is only now that they were informed that such fund for their sector is available. Atty. Franklin ‘Dodoy’ Ubay, Mrs. Jasmin added, helped their group interpret the law.

The fund release depends upon the prompt submission of the group’s project proposal, the provincial budget officer said. Mr. Jasmin could not believe that Deputy Provincial Agriculturist would call him for Special Projects, Mr. Vicente Sanchez, Jr. who was ordered by the Provincial Governor to help his group with the project proposal.

The DOST-Philipine Science High School (DOST-PSHS) is offering scholarships to deserving incoming high school students who will be trained under a curriculum designed to prepare them for careers in science and technology.

The DOST-PSHS will be conducting the first of its two-part screening for admission on 14 October 2006 in three (3) testing centers in the region: Zamboanga del Norte National High School, Dipolog City; Zamboanga del Sur National High School, Pagadian City; and Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology, Zamboanga City.

The first screening in the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) consisting of tests in Verba, Abstract Reasoning, and Mathematics. Qualifiers in the first screening will be taking the Science Math Aptitude Test (SMAT) consisting of tests in Science and Mathematics in December, this year.

Graduating elementary pupils for school year 2006 to 2007 who belong to the upper 10% of the Grade 5 ranking as certified by the school principal, or those with special aptitude in Science and Mathematics, as supported by a report card and letter of recommendation, are qualified to take the exam. The applicant must also not be more than 15 years old by June 2007 and must be a Filipino citizen with no pending application as immigrant in any foreign country. Moreover, the applicant must be in good health and is fit to undergo a rigorous academic program.

Gov. Rolando Yebes who is the Provincial Chairman of Alliance of Parties for Progress (APP) could not still believe Dipolog City Mayor Roberto Uy is out of the party’s umbrella.

Unless the City Mayor made a public statement declaring that he is out, or he personally tells the governor, the provincial governor had no reason to believe the rumors. Mayor Uy reportedly announced his intention to run for governor in 2007 elections during his visit to Mr. Rosendo ‘Dodoy’ Labadlabad who will run for congress in District II.

However, Gov. Yebes did not fear the City Mayor’s intention because he said it could not affect the strength of APP. “This is politics,” the provincial governor pointed out,” we can be brothers in the alliance but soon we part ways and become opponents.”

As regards the alleged reports that the City Mayor was pressuring coordinators and Chairmen of Barangay Indigent Beneficiaries Organization in Dipolog, Gov. Yebes denounced it as an ugly act.

Aside from making Zamboanga del Norte part of the Southern Philippines Tourism Complex, another good news that PGMA gave Gov. Rolando Yebes was her approval of P30M for the construction of Sibuco-Sirawai road.

The announcement was made during their meeting at Cebu City recently. However, the request for funding was first made by the governor in Davao during the meeting of all chairmen of Regional Development Councils of Mindanao last June.

The coastal road project was also requested by Congressman Cesar Jalosjos of District III and Mayor Norbi Edding who strongly pushed for its construction which could benefit many coastal towns and barangays.

Through the recommendation of Regional Development Council Chairman Gov. Rolando Yebes, the Port of Pulauan may be converted into a Port Management Office.

The Regional Chairman asked President Gloria M. Arroyo to act upon this request so that the port can possibly have its own budget for its operation including the empowerment to choose its projects for the improvement of the port.

The members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Dipolog City have worked seriously for the enactment of many ordinances, which will benefit a large number of Dipolognons. However they were saddened when they found out that City Mayor Roberto Uy did not implement them.

As they revised the Traffic Code, the SP intently studied how they could impose discipline upon drivers and operators in order to affect a healthy flow of traffic in the city. However, they thought that all the efforts they put into the amendatory works would only be useless since they saw the mayor not implementing them.

One example pointed was the provision of the operation of school buses in the city. In the old Traffic Ordinance, a fine of P100 was imposed upon operators who have violated some provisions.  The amendatory clause provides a penalty of P1,000.00 as recommended by Dipolog PNP.

However, the SP observed that even with the old ordinance, the Dipolog PNP had never caught any school bus operator who violated some provisions of the ordinance. The lawmakers pointed out that this alone proved that the law has never been implemented or lacks “teeth” for its implementation. 

Manila- Philippine Airlines will resume regular services to Laoag on July 7, 2006 ending a nearly five-month absence from Ilocos Norte Capital.

PAL suspended flights to Laoag last February 13, 2006 due to operational matters but now returns with an upgraded service that offers the most frequencies, the largest capacity (1, 248 seats weekly both ways), convenient international connections and the only business-class service in the market.

The flag carrier is likewise offering a promotional base fare of P568 for one-way, economy-class travel between Manila and Laoag to mark the resumption of service. The fare, among the lowest in the market, is exclusive of applicable surcharges and taxes. Reservation and ticketing must also be done at least five days before departure.

The service will operate four times weekly with both morning and afternoon departure. Flight PR 226 departs Manila every Tuesday and Thursday at 10:00 a.m., reaching Laoag at 10:55 a.m. The return flight, PR 229, leaves Laoag at 7:30 p.m and is back in Manila at 8:25 p.m.

On the other hand, flight PR 228 departs Manila every Friday and Sunday at 5:45 p.m. and arrives in Laoag at 6:40 p.m. The return flight PR 229 leaves Laoag at 7:30 p.m and is back in Manila at 8:25 p.m.

The afternoon service is tailored to connect with PAL’s Honolulu-to-Manila flights (PR 101) which arrive at NAIA Centennial Terminal 2 at 2:15 p.m. A significant portio of Hawaii’s ethnic Filipino population hails fom the Northern Ilocos region.

PAL will utilize Airbus A320-200 jets on the 55-minute flight. The new-generation aircraft seats 12 in Mabuhay (business) class and 144 in economy.

Apart from serving the Hawaiian-Ilocano market, the service is also designed to cater to the growing leisure market bound for the scienic Ilocos region-one of the country’s emerging destinations fro International Tourism.

To boost tourism to the region, PAL has designed holiday packages to Laoag under its popular “Palakbayan”domestic tours program. The packages include air fare, hotel accommodation, breakfasts and transfers, along with optional tours and golf.

The dream of most Filipino youths to obtain a college education is a lot easier to realize nowadays than ever before under the Ladderized Education System (LES) which President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo launched in simple ceremonies at the Rizal Hall of Malacañang on July 12, 2006.

A radical method of education, the LES is a form of learning that combines technical and vocational (tech-voc) courses that are creditable for a collegiate degree. Joining the President during the launch of the LES were the LES project proponents, namely, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairman Carlito Puno, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Augusto Syjuco, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Arturo Brion, and Presidential Management Staff and Presidential Adviser on Jobs Creation Arthur Yap.

Under the system, the tech-voc and college degree components are harmonized, thus allowing an individual to progress between and among tech-voc courses, college degree programs and progressively gainful employment.

TESDA and CHED have agreed on two implementation modes of the LES to help ease the transition from tech-voc to college courses: credit transfer and embedded technical-vocational education, and training (TVET) qualification in ladderized degree programs.    

Credit transfer is the recognition and carrying forward of overlapping learning from TVET to higher education embedded TVET qualification is the process by which a student in a ladderized degree program can earn full TVET qualifications should the student choose to exit from a college program and proceed to tech-voc career.

“You start with tech-voc modules and thereafter will require much less college courses to earn a college diploma,” Syjuco said. Elaborating further, Syjuco said that for instance, a nursing course under the LES will require students to undergo two years of tech-voc courses at TESDA-accredited LES schools followed by two more years in nursing proper.

On the other hand, an engineering course will require two years of tech-voc and three to four years in engineering proper.  Other courses that offer LES modules are in Marine Transportation, Information Technology, Hotel and Restaurant Management, Agriculture and Fisheries, Agricultural Technology, Criminology and Technical Teacher Education.

Syjuco lauded the LES, saying it empowers all Filipinos dreaming of a college degree “opportunities to take control of their lives, equip themselves with the skills competencies they need to get a job, earn an income, and liberate themselves from the shackles of poverty, helplessness and hopelessness.”

Also during the event, the President distributed PGMA-Training for Work Scholarship Certificates (PGMA-TWSC) to deserving students to avail themselves of ladderized college degree programs. She also distributed certificates of recognition to the initial 75 learning institutions authorized by TESDA and CHED to a offer ladderized programs.

These institutions include the Ilocos Sur Community College, Patria-Sabel-Corpuz College, National College of Science and Technology, STI College, La Consolacion College, Western Visayas College, Negros Oriental State University, Zamboanga State College of Marine Science and Technology, Technological University of the Philippines, Informatics College-Northgate, Inc., AMA Computer University and the Philippine Women University.

Motorcabs face extinction

The possibility that motorcabs operating in Dipolog City will soon be phased out is not remote

After the city failed to stop the operation of habal-habal, motorcab operators threatened to stage a general strike soon.

City Councilor Julius Napigquit recently suggested during the SP regular session the complete phasing out of motorcabs from Dipolog. Councilor Napigquit pointed out that the plan took place in 1998 yet when Filcabs started their operation.

However, he disclosed, motorcab operators and drivers urged the SP to extend their franchise up to the time when their motorcabs could no longer serve the riding public. At the moment, there are only 2,000 franchise holders, and there is no existing ordinance, which would completely phase out motorcabs.

On the other hand, motorcab operators and drivers griped over the rising cost of oil nowadays and were sad over the habal-habal operation. They stressed that these were their competitors in the business and it is to their (habal-habal) advantage since they are not paying any tax to the city.

SPO3 Alfredo Ordinaria, Chief Dipolog Traffic Division disclosed it was difficult for them to apprehend habal-habal since they could not really determine whether the vehicle is habal-habal or a private vehicle, especially if passengers would not cooperate. (Press Freedom, Vol. XVIII No. 43)

P20-M for Dapitan barangay projects

Each barangay in Dapitan City will receive P.5-M for its project, and the amount had already been forwarded to its treasury. Gov. Rolando Yebes explained to the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Dapitan City that the money was already “downloaded”.

The AP passed a resolution recently asking Gov. Yebes to release the amount. However, Gov. Yebes told them that the resolution already came later because he had already released the amount earlier which could benefit 50 barangays of Dapitan.

He disclosed that the release during the Hudyaka Festival together with Piñan’s money. The provincial governor disclosed that the Provincial Engineering Office couldn’t possibly implement all projects in the province. So he has asked local government to help it implement projects by extending financial assistance to municipalities. (Press Freedom, Vol. XVIII No. 43)

Zanorte athletes cheating at ‘Palaro’?
FIASCO IS CONDEMNED; INVESTIGATION ORDERED

Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Schools Division Superintendent Sharif Adzhar H. Sarahadil strongly condemned the alleged identity-switching of football athletes to the Palarong Pambansa from Sindangan Pilot Demonstration School in Sindangan town, as reported recently by the national television, ABS-CBN.

In his statement issued on Thursday through Education Supervisor Lourna Poculan, Sarahadil said he strongly condemned this dastard act of dishonesty as he would not condone any act of cheating by teachers. Last Tuesday night on its program “The Correspondents,” the ABS-CBN reported that identity-switching of athletes was employed by certain coaches in the recently concluded Palarong Pambansa and that football athletes from Sindangan Pilot Demonstration School were involved.

The coach was identified as a certain Rey Anthony H. Sorronda, a teacher assigned at Nato Elementary School of that town. To avoid the repeat of this fiasco, Sarahadil has recommended to DepEd 9 Regional Director Jesus Nieves to conduct a thorough investigation of the case and to mete out to the erring parties appropriate disciplinary action.

Although the Department of Education is sometimes mired with some controversies, Sarahadil has assured the taxpaying public that the entire organization remains committed to uphold integrity in carrying out its tasks and duties.  (PIA)

BIR urges WD to pay franchise tax

The Bureau of Internal Revenue urged all Water Districts (WD’s) in the two cities and in the province to pay the 2% franchise tax as mandated by the Supreme Court. However, they are exempted to pay their tax.

The BIR disclosed that all water districts in the province have not yet paid the franchise tax required by law. The office also warned the water districts to pay as early as possible since once the Revenue District Officer sends out a letter of Assessment, it will mean a penalty.

Earlier, the Dipolog City Water District has asked help from the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Dipolog City to help it by enacting an ordinance which will exempt water districts from any type of tax. (Press Freedom, Vol. XVIII No. 43)

Palace downplays favorable PGMA rating

Malacañang down-played today the favorable rise in the satisfaction rating of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, saying that whatever the surveys say, it will always be a signal for the administration to work harder for the public welfare. 

In a statement, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye said the President and the Cabinet will remain focused on the aggressive and strong-willed implementation of the government‘s political and economic reform agenda.

“Whether they agree with her or not, President Arroyo is bent on addressing the pressing issues of poverty, security and the rule of law with consistent vigor and determination. She is inspired by the Filipino people,” he explained.

Bunye was reacting to the latest Social Weather Stations survey showing President Arroyo’s net public satisfaction rating climbing several notches to –13 percent from –30percent in the December 2005 tally and –25 percent last March.

Nakadaug man sa gihimong national competition atol sa Palarong Pam-bansa didto sa Naga City ang mga atleta nga nagagikan sa Zamboanga del Norte sa duolang Baseball apan dako

usab ang kaulawon nga nasinati sa mga kadagkoan sa Departamento sa Edukas-yon ug mga opisyales sa probinsya tapos mabulgar nga ang edad sa mga batang magdudula ang

An improvement in ratings for Gloria is a swing from one negative spot to another, as shown by the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.

This is the country where the best its President can do is convince 34 percent of a sample population that she is doing satisfactory work, while nearly half believe she is not doing her job.  Gloria, who had been swept to her position through questionable means, not just once but twice, is condemned to become the most unpopular, if not the most, reviled President ever.

Center to the President’s acceptability to most of the nation remains the issue on her legitimacy, primarily lingering on charges of her stealing the vote in the 2004 elections. The latest figures show a mere phenomenon of a lessened degree of the deep distrust of the people of Gloria, or to describe it more bluntly, an increasing tolerance among Filipinos of a long-term malady.

It was not surprising for Malacañang to make little of the latest survey results. There was nothing, in fact, in it to crow about. There was, in reality, only a six percentage points drop in disapproval ratings, but clearly Metro Manila showed its high disapproval of her.

What was perplexing was the reaction of presidential mouthpiece Ignacio Bunye. It was both confusing and self-contradictory. He said: “Whether they agree with her or not, President Arroyo is bent on addressing the pressing issues of poverty, security and the rule of law with consistent vigor and determination. She is inspired by the Filipino people,” he said of the results of the survey.

They? Who?, the SWS or the respondents? It seems that a double-entendre was intended to cast aspersion on the pollster and the results of its survey, from which Gloria, whenever it suits her, quotes extensively. 

Polls were used to the hilt to oust popularly-elected President Joseph Estrada in 2001 and in Gloria’s first stolen term as one of the means to support the questionable manner in which she assumed office. Yet during his term, and even as he was being tried in an impeachment trial, Estrada continued to have the support of the majority, earning a high positive nine satisfaction rating.

Gloria, as Vice President, was way down in the polls, but obtained positive ratings albeit never high, months after, while she was in Malacañang. The rigged elections and an “I am sorry” later, Gloria is trying to debunk the polls by claiming the presidency is not a popularity contest.

If “they” would mean the people, Gloria and Bunye will not go far in “addressing poverty.” Funds that Gloria has supposedly earmarked to uplift social conditions diverted or not, are seen as being used for her political ends.

And one of the reasons there are less funds to go around including the continued floundering of tax collections is that people perceive that hard-earned money paid as taxes mostly go to line the pockets of Gloria and her supporters. The few that go to government projects are even manipulated to help bolster Gloria’s political survival.

The statement is loaded, what with Bunye saying Gloria will do what she wants to do in addressing security and the rule of law “with consistent vigor and determination.” This was yet another threat to those expressing dissatisfaction.

The strategy to manipulate the government and make it a political life-support apparatus for Gloria was brought to light when a group of Cabinet officials, or the so-called Hyatt 10, bolted and asked Gloria to step down.

All government programs then, according to the group, were being geared for Gloria to keep her hold on power. Going by the words of Bunye, nothing has changed since then. Whether they agree with her that is a thought.

It goes with the numerous observations here and abroad of the dictatorial tendencies of Gloria. Bunye’s parting shot was the most dumb-founding: “She is inspired by the Filipino people.” That makes one to want to sing Manny Pacquiao’s ditty Para Sayo. Who are these people? Those around her in Malacañang? Certainly with asslickers and carpetbaggers around, she would be inspired no end. Nothing would be in their interest than to see Gloria steady at her post.

What is definite is that such people are not the random ones that anybody talks to or from whom pollsters get their survey responses. Gloria is being inspired by those who mostly reject her.

Credits: The New Nandau is a member of the Publishers Association of the Philippines (PAPI). Editorial office is located at 076 Quezon Avenue, Dipolog City with Tel. No. (065) 212-3794; Cell No. +639205201041

Magic Johnson. Larry Bird. Michael Jordan. Bill Russell. These are the usual suspects. Add in John Havlicek, Jerry West, Bill Walton, Bill Laimbeer and Oscar Robertson then you have some old-school vibe. Cap the list off with names we (at least my genre can say so) can all relate to, Allen Iverson, Jason Kidd and Shaquille O’neal, then you have the Perfect Basketball Team.

The National Basketball Association recently published the book “The Perfect Team: The Best Players, Coach, and GM-Let the Debate Begin!” I bought a copy last month when I went to Cebu and the book captivated me so much that I didn’t have the courage to put the book down on my way home to the Orchid City.

This is probably the best basketball-related book I’ve ever read. This hardcover does not immortalize Air Jordan’s greatest aerial maneuvers, nor does it emphasize on the Johnson-Bird rivalry in the 80s unlike other notable basketball books. On the contrary, the book talks about “qualities every player must possess to form a winning team.” Magic has “leadership, Jordan has the “will to win”, Bird has “confidence”, so on and so forth. Every single player has a unique quality that can make the team better. The book laid emphasis on the ingredients of a championship-caliber, perfect team.

Every single NBA legend featured in the book are all winners (Iverson and Kidd came close to winning championships, but no thanks to Shaq, they both fell short). They all worked well with their teammates to achieve their goal of raising the Larry O’brein trophy. They had their time on the sunshine and they had their team to thank for that.

The book was definitely a great read. We all know how the rest of the world cuahgt up with the United States in the game of basketball – and that is by playing team ball. Manu Ginobili and the rest of the Argentinians can attest to that. I don’t know if they’ve read the book, but at least they perform teamwork that effortlessly.

And after watching delayed telecasts of two horrendous games of the RP Team in this year’s William Jones Cup tournament, I wonder if Coach Chot Reyes, and more importantly, the players have actually read, or even just heard of this book.

Calling them a team is an insult to the Bill Russell-led Boston Celtics team which won 11 NBA titles in his 13 seasons. It’s as if every single guy on the RP squad was gunning for MVP honors rather than catapulting the team to a win.

One play stuck on my mind on the RP squad’s second game, Ronald Tubid made a good defensive play to force a fastbreak opportunity for teammates Nino Canaleta and Arwind Santos. With practically no opponent between them and the goal, Canaleta inexplicably fumbled the ball. He then passed it at the last moment to Santos who was, by then, too deep under the basket and was bothered by the on rushing defense making him miss the shot.

If only Canaleta had the “we” mentality instead of the “I” thinking, he would have chosen to pass the ball to Santos who was a step or two ahead of him to make sure that RP Team scores. But Canaleta was hell-bent on making Nino Canaleta score rather than Santos thus making a huge blunder.

Then there’s John Arigo who played thinking like he’s Kobe Bryant, Yancy De Ocampo playing like Kwame Brown, I see a very long road ahead for Chot Reyes if he hopes to bring RP basketball back to the Olympics.

— oo000oo —

Speaking of perfect team, my squad would be composed of Russell at center, Dennis Rodman at power forward (5-time NBA champ, 2-time Defensive Player of the Year and 7-time rebounding king), Bird at small forward, Jordan at shooting guard, and Magic at pointguard. My role players (if you can call them that, players who can make the team better but not necessarily the best players) Shaquille O’neal (not just MVP, but MDE, Most Dominant Ever), Dirk Nowitzki (greatest shooting 7-footer), Scottie Pippen (can play four positions and one of the greatest defensive players in the game), Michael Cooper (the best defender in the 80s dynasty of the Los Angeles Lakers), and Steve Nash (better scorer than John Stockton).

Meanwhile, my Perfect RP Team would be a first five of Caloy Loyzaga (greatest Filipino basketball winner, our version of Bill Russell), Alvin Patrimonio (best post-up player ever), Ramon Fernandez (can play all five positions, most versatile Pinoy baller ever), Dondon Hontiveros (best defensive two-guard who can shoot the three ever, and he plays unselfish even too unselfish at times) and Johnny Abarrientos (shortest PBA MVP ever). My second five would be Benjie Paras, Eric Menk, Tony dela Cruz, Jojo Lastimosa and Hector Calma.

— oo000oo —

I would like to congratulate Team Extreme for becoming this year’s Mega Bulls Basketball Association Summer League Champions. Kudos to MBBA President Ritchel Acabal for staging a feud-free tourney. We hope to have another tournament next month. Keep up the good work.

— oo000oo —

Credits: Press Freedom is published every Saturday and entered as 3^rd class mail matter in Dipolog City. Printed by Young Printing Press with Editorial Office located at Upper Turno, Dipolog City. Tel. No. (065) 212-4343 or 212-6665

The entire country was shaken up when Dipolog Bishop Jose R. Manguiran gathered enough guts to expose bribery attempt of Malacañang Palace he personally witnessed.

Speaking up angrily, the 69-yearold prelate denounced Malacañang’s “garapal”-ism which never excused anyone it wanted to buy. Even the so-called servants of God were not left out. Even the Church was not respected for it was made as a dole-out area.

The Bishop returned the money without second thoughts even if he hails from a province identified as number one poorest in the country. Such bravura is something our local government officials must look up to.

The congressmen, the provincial governor down to barangay captains must show the same boldness to turn down temptations, money or what, in the interest of the Filipino people. They must refrain from dipping their craving hands into the government funds in order to bribe prople for their own vested lusty interests.

If there are more public officials like Bishop Manguiran’s fiber, this country will be a nation fit for our children.

Well, many of my friends asked me why I have to make the title of my column like this. I told them that I was just moved by the sagacious efforts of Governor Rolando E. Yebes of gradually changing our old political belief that those who have guns, goons and gold would surely win. This is a hard fact existing in few provinces whose voting public is still juvenile.

Atty. Lando Yebes has been and is continuously doing perfect on his assignment as governor of his people in this province. Unfazed by several below-the-belt criticisms from his immature political detractors, Lando relentlessly put in place many provincial government programs that he believed would lessen the ill-effect of dire poverty among his poor people. Agriculture-based livelihood projects like livestock and poultry dispersal, fish seeding and dispersal and cassava production, and also non-agricultural based livelihood projects have been and are constantly implemented.

Atty. Lando Yebes never forgets to focus on, and give importance to, the health of his people especially the sickly and needy. Besides the regular medical outreaches his leadership initiates, he put his wish of building a state-of-the-art provincial government-owned hospital into action. Now, its construction has just begun.

Building a modern hospital for our sickly, poor people has not been given top priority by many politicians before, more particularly our many past governors who did nothing except to do worse politicking, just like that! Lando is not a genuine politician, they claimed. But many of his political admirers who saw of his good works in field of health and social service assert that Lando Yebes is just an honest, dynamic politician- the fact he, perhaps, isn’t aware of. Good public service is good politics, his people argue.

To minimize the incidence of malnutrition among children in the hinterlands brought about by too much governmental neglect by past administrations, Atty. Lando Yebes summons the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian, and the Provincial Nutrition Office to address this serious social tragedy. Milk supplementation to malnourished children has become one of Lando’s priority agenda that benefited many of these children especially in the hinter’s barangay.

Atty. Lando Yebes always remember that upgrading and putting in place quality education, especially in the rural, far-flung barangays of his province, is one important key factor of removing his province from the list of the few poorest. During his two year stint as our governor, Lando was able to construct, renovate, and/or extend a lot of school buildings; the summation of their number even surpasses that done by ex-governor Gani Amatong who wasted his time for fifteen long years doing less to nothing for his help-needing poor people. Many more of these similar projects by Governor Lando are already on-going and some still in the pipeline ready for implementation.

Conscious of the economic importance of feeder roads linking the barangays in the remote hinterlands and markets in the low lands, Atty. Lando Yebes did construct and renovate a lot of them. Now, our farmers in these distant barangays are able to deliver with ease their products, whether agricultural or non-agricultural, to our markets, and to buy certain necessities their from back to their places.

There are a lot of good things that Lando may have unconsciously done to our people. The old political belief that only those who have 3 G’s— goons, guns and gold— will prevail in an election will be put to test by the Lando Yebes Code. Unlike the Da Vinci Code which many believed tells about pure fiction rather than facts about Jesus Christ’s alleged very intimate relationship with Mary Magdalene, the Lando Yebes Code tells about true facts of what he has been and is doing for his poor people —— the Code of facts that will certainly put to test our old political belief.

Critic’s Corner
By: Dilly Gl. Cuneta
Clito Has Transferred Opis?
 

The job order people are not happy at citadel nowadays. They are complaining about a certain Clito who keeps delaying the smooth flow of their payrolls by not acting on them during working hours. Instead, he is always seen going out of opis to go and chat at the legal opis.

That means there are also people at the legal opis who have lots of time to chat during opis hours? And Clito is also reported to block and disapprove documents and vouchers. Under what authority is he doing this? Is he the chief of opis? Does he have the memo designating him as auditor inside citadel? Tsk, tsk, tsk. The movement will not look approvingly at such kind of public servants. Why not go to his own resto and be the boss there? The underpaid cook and helpers, hot waitresses, might be willing to swallow indignities in the hands of Clito. But to do this at citadel might be dangerous, tsk, tsk, tsk. So young yet so arrogant. Is this the kind of training he got in law school? Is this the land of training he got at home? No discipline while still a small boy? Does he always want to rush in where wise mean fear to tread? Tsk, tsk, tsk. Such a waste of self-proclaimed talent. The taxpayers pay him salary to work 8 hours a day, even paying him for Saturdays and Sundays. Is this the kind of service he is rendering to the public? This type of public servants should be ashamed of their actuations. Resign!!!

— oo000oo —

Dipolog Chronicle Editorial
Irresponsible mouthpieces cause downfall of the bosses

History repeated itself in the past; it repeats itself now; it will repeat itself in the future. And in the past just like the recent past elections, it had been the experience that most if not all of the big bosses, mostly ambitious politicians and even the good ones, who met their downfall were caused by irresponsible mouthpieces or plain political jukeboxes.

Paid hacks as these irresponsible mouthpieces are commonly referred to, are only after of the money paid to them for their services regardless of whether they had done good or bad to the paying politicians.

They do not know about repercussions, or if they do, they could care less. Now that election time is near, this kind of mouthpieces or paid hacks are starting to surface and showing their color this early. To get the “pogi” points before their “amo” this early, they are starting to hit some perceived opponents of their bosses with even baseless issues or manufactured news or imagined scenario.