Kalutang Playing Preservation

Kalutang playing is unique to Marinduque. Originally used as auditory signal by farmers, it later came to be associated with the moriones in the town of Gasan. Then in the 70's Tirso Serdena, a farmer, developed a series of kalutang pairs and used them together with other players to play popular folk melodies. It is now considered part of the town's - and Marinduque's - cultural treasures.

The National Commission for Culture & the Arts (NCCA), municipal government of Gasan, Gasan DepEd and Serdena organized a project to teach the art of kalutang playing to elementary and high school students in Gasan town. All recognize the importance of handing down this skill to the next generation. Selected students from 15 elementary schools and 5 secondary schools were trained by Serdeno.

Bong and PA Abling

Bong Carrion, outgoing governor of Marinduque expressing his thanks to employees of the provincial government during the last flag raising-ceremony he attended at the capitol compound.

The exit of Carrion, Pizarro and their allies at the provincial board was marred with accusations of 'midnight re-allignment' for purchase of the day-care learning packages.





















The mild-mannered provincial administrator Juan Roberto L. Abling, whose term is co-terminus with the governor also took time out to express his thanks and personal thoughts on the issue.

"Putong" for Gov. Bong Carrion

Putong is Marinduque's traditional ritual normally sung and danced by local elderly folks to celebrate a person's milestone. In this video, employees of the provincial capitol perform this ritual on the occasion of Gov. Bong Carrion's 62nd birthday on June 19. Carrion also ends his term as Marinduque governor on June 30, 2010.

Video also features some of Marinduque's colors, tourist attractions, events, people and festivals.

Gov. Carrion's Day-Care Learning Program

About the provincial government of Marinduque's Day-Care Learning Program. IT company Pisces Publishing, Inc. provides the instructional software programs and services where day-care workers had to undergo a basic computer literacy program.

Research showed that fifty percent of a person's ability to learn is developed in the first four years of life according to research findings, and that another thirty percent is developed by the 8th birthday. As disclosed by DepEd only 12% of every 100 grade 1 pupils are ready for school.

For the volunteer day-care workers who teach the young kids, the program provides powerful but simple-to-use tools to diagnose, track and report on day-care children's knowledge and progress. The software allows children to learn independently with lively animation, vivid videos and photos.

The program is formulated to help children develop thinking skills, reading, listening and visual comprehension, analytical skills, grammar, spelling, pronunciation, memory development and problem-solving skills.

Pisces Publication's representative Elmer Dioquino explains to the day-care workers in this video the features of the instructional software learning program at their disposal.

Video on central Marinduque

The 82-year old former governor Aristeo Lecaroz' (left in photo below), dream of central Marinduque development continues to be cherished by some local leaders. Some see it as a future haven for eco-tourism where, because of its cool climate, could also serve as ideal location for retirees' villages. Others see it as a promising site where academic institutions could rise.

(Lecaroz with Carrion)

Yet, Marinduque remains at peace

Communities in Marinduque remain peaceful and insurgency-free nearly a year after the internal security operations of the Armed forces of the Philippines (AFP) was turned over to the province’s Peace and Order Council (PPOC). The continuing peaceful status is attributed to the effective maintenance of security by the local government as well as the PPOC's observance of the provisions embodied in the Memorandum of Agreement. Marinduque was the first province to be declared insurgency-free by the AFP.

(Gov. Carrion and AFP Southern Luzon Command Chief Roland Detabali after MOA signing)

One of the commitments made by the PPOC as stipulated in the MOA between PPOC chairman Governor Jose Antonio Carrion, the AFP, and of the PNP was for the province to “use reasonable resources to ensure that the CPP-NPA will not be able to influence any political subdivision of the province” as well as to “conduct activities designed to prevent resurgence of the communist terrorists in the province of Marinduque”.

Marinduque had 20 NPA affected barangays in 2004; this number reduced to zero by 2008. As for NPA’s strength, it had 47 armed members during the years 2004-2007 but had been reduced to zero by 2008.

(Village children in interior Boac at play with the Bulating)

To date, two of Region 14-B's, or MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) provinces, the other being Romblon, have been declared free of CPP-NPA influence. Romblon was declared free of NPA influence on December 2009.

“With the absence of NPA intimidation and terrorism in the province of Marinduque, the people began to experience progress as the business climate and tourist arrivals improve”, said Brig. Gen Francisco N. Cruz Jr, Civil Relations Service commander.

(Malbog Sulfuric Hot Spring, Buenavista)

“We appreciate the local executives in these insurgency free areas for having been our active partners in securing their respective communities. They can be assured that with the primary responsibility of internal security operations transferred to them, the AFP shall always support them. We hope for other provinces and locales to experience this as well, how it is to be free from fear and harassment”, said Cruz

(Maniwaya beach, Sta. Cruz. Boracay of the future)

Source: balita-dot-ph

Better days with Monte and day-care workers for instructional software training

The introduction of ECCD's Early Childhood Learning Development Program for local kids was met with excitement by day-care workers, parents and barangay leaders who'd eventually pass official resolutions addressed to the governor requesting that their day-care centers be included in the program.

On the part of the IT-company, Pisces Publishing, Inc. that provided the instructional software programs and services, day-care workers had to undergo a basic computer literacy program.

Shown in these photos is an earlier batch of day-care workers during their training. Board member Leticia Monte took up the cudgels to explain to the day-care workers how the new technology could address the learning requirements of young children.

Monte enjoying the exercise. Instructional software programs for kids is a pioneering program of the provincial government.

Monte stressing a point during the training program.

The program for pre-school and kindergarten children is designed to teach them in an entertaining way with the use of lively animation, vivid videos and photos.

Teachers through these software products are provided with simple-to-use tools to diagnose, track and report on day-care children’s knowledge and progress.

The learning package was formulated to help children develop thinking skills, reading, listening and visual comprehension, analytical skills, grammar, spelling, pronunciation, memory development and problem-solving skills.

Trainings and purchases conducted in 2007, 2008, and 2009 for computer-aided instructions, computer aided lessons and applications CD-ROMS. Early recipients were forty-two of Marinduque's day-care centers.

All that jazz and a TRO denial

...And so it came to pass that board members Raza, Monte and Nepomuceno filed a petition before the Regional Trial Court, Marinduque Branch, to declare null and void SP Resolution No. 822 that approved the request of Gov. Carrion for the re-alignment of the savings of the annual investment program 20% Development Fund of the province for the years 2007, 2008, 2009 and the first semester of 2010 involving funds for the day-care program for computer-aided insructional materials.

(Marinduque RTC, "Bulwagan ng Katarungan")

Presiding Judge Antonina M. Calderon-Magturo, of the Regional Trial Court Branch 94 in Marinduque, on June 22, 2010, issued an order denying the issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) filed by petitioners Raza, Monte and Nepomuceno against Gov. Carrion, Vice-Gov. Pizzarro, Board Members delos Santos, Zoleta, Querubin, Alvarez, Iturralde and de Leon. It was denied for lack of merit.

The Order is reproduced here in full:

Republic of the Philippines
REGIONAL TRIAL COURT
Fourth Judicial Region
Branch 94
Boac, Marinduque

Civil case no. 10-6 for DECLARATION OF NULLITY OF RESOLUTION NO. 822, SERIES OF 2010 PASSED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLALAWIGAN OF THE PROVINCE OF MARINDUQUE

ELEUTERIO RAZA, JR.,
LETICIA MONTE,
ALLAN NEPOMUCENO
Petitioners

Versus

JOSE ANTONIO N. CARRION,
TOMAS N. PIZARRO
ILDEFONSO DELOS SANTOS
CESARIA ZOLETA
YOLANDO R. QUERUBIN
JOSE F. ALVAREZ
NANCY ARCA-ITURRALDE
MARK JOSEPH R. DE LEON
Defendants

ORDER

For consideration is the prayer for the issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order filed by Petitioners Eleuterio R. Raza, Jr., Leticia Monte and Allan H. Nepomuceno as ancillary remedy to the principal action for the Declaration of Nullity of Resolution No. 822 Series of 2010 passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the Province of Marinduque. After the parties were given the opportunity to ventilate their respective positions, the incident was deemed submitted for resolution.

Petitioners pray for the issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order to restrain further acts of the Defendants which would result to improper and unauthorized re-alignment of public funds.

To be entitled to a Temporary Restraining Order, Petitioners must show that the non-issuance of the same would result in a great or irreparable injury to them. Injury is considered “irreparable” if it is of such constant and frequent recurrence that no fair or reasonable redress can be had therefore in a court of law or where there is no standard by which their amount can be measured with reasonable accuracy, that is, it is not susceptible of mathematical computation (SSC vs. Bayona et al., May 30, 1962; Regalado, J Florenz, Remedial Law Compendium, Volume I, 7th Revised Edition, p. 656 citing Ollendorf vs. Abrahamson, 38 Phil 585).

After evaluating the evidence presented by the parties, the Court opines and so holds that Petitioners failed to satisfy the above-quoted basic requirement. The evidence presented by petitioners dealt with the merits of the case. In fact, as early as when Petitioners' sole witness was called to testify, the offer of Petitioner’s counsel relates to the merits of the case. As borne out of records, the offer was: “Your Honor, I would like to offer the testimony of the witness to prove the following facts: 1) that there was indeed unauthorized and illegal session dated June 2, 2010 at 9:00 o’clock in the morning; 2) that as a result of such “illegal and invalid session”, there has been a Resolution No. 822, series of 2010 adopted in which funds were re-aligned and reprogrammed for the purchase of computers for Day Care-assisted projects. Your Honor” (page 8 of the TSN). Nonetheless, as the hearing progressed, Petitioners were given several chances over the objection of the Defendants to show that they are entitled thereto. Unfortunately, Petitioners showed none.

This Court will see and hear nothing except based on the evidence presented during the trial. Being guided by the principle enunciated by the Supreme Court in the case of Edgardo F. Lopez vs. Sandiganbayan et al., (G.R. No. 103911 October 13, 1995). Where it held that down the oft trodden path in our judicial system, by common sense, tradition and the law, the judge in trying a case sees only with judicial eyes as he ought to know nothing about the facts of the case except thru which have been adduced judicially in evidence. Thus, when the case is up for trial, the judicial head is empty as to the facts involved and it is incumbent upon the litigants to the action to establish by evidence the facts upon which they rely.

WHEREFORE, in view of the foregoing, the Court hereby resolves to DENY the prayer for the issuance of Temporary Restraining Order for lack of merit.

Let the applications for Preliminary Prohibitory Injunction be set for hearing on June 28, 2010 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon.

SO ORDERED.
Boac, Marinduque, June 22, 2010.

(Signed)

ANTONINA M. CALDERON-MAGTURO
Presiding Judge

(Ricardo Paras, Jr.. Branch 94 in Marinduque of the 4th Judicial Region of the Regional Trial Court is known here as "Bulwagan ng Katarungan". The building is guarded by a bust of the late Chief Justice Ricardo Paras, Jr. (his tenure was from 1951 to 1961), a Marinduqueno native). His father was Ricardo G. Paras, Sr., referred to as an ilustrado, who was a delegate to the 1898 Malolos Congress that drafted the first Philippine Constitution, the first republican constitution in Asia

What's that political jazz all about?

(Bong Raza)

Raza and Monte sponsored it in 2007.

Board member Eleuterio Raza, Jr., SP minority floor leader of the incumbent Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP), noted in 2007, that there were surplus funds from un-programmed appropriations from the 2004, 2005, and 2006 20% CDF budget. These were intended for projects and activities identified and enumerated in the Annual Investment Plans.

The funds, Raza noted, could be used “to operationalize the development thrusts and priorities of the present administration”. Raza, together with board member Leticia Monte thus proposed and convinced the other members of the SP to consolidate such unused funds “into a single fund” that could be “realigned to the different priority development projects of the Office of the Governor and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan”.

("social development initiatives...")

Raza justified that because of the province’s “dismal growth” there was a need to “spearhead social development initiatives and relevant pro-poor programs in order to regain its lost momentum”. He then stressed that “a careful re-examination and validation of the activities and projects previously funded in the preceding fiscal years under the province’s 20% CDF miserably failed to yield positive results that would substantially change... the social landscape of the province”. (Letty Monte & Allan Nepomuceno)

Thus, on October 15, 2007, after the first 100 days of Gov. Bong Carrion as the new chief executive of the province, was issued Resolution No. 133, adopted by the 11th Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

The resolution was co-authored by Raza and Monte and attested to by Nepomuceno.

It was directed at “consolidating the balances of all unprogrammed appropriations of the annual investment plans for the years 2004, 2005, and 2006, and realigning/re-programming the same or portion thereof to the different priority development projects/programs of the Office of the Provincial Governor and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, prescribing the guidelines for their disposition and utilization and for other purposes.”

(photo of provincial leaders in better times with VP Noli de Castro))

In part, the resolution reads:

“Whereas, in the midst of the multifarious problems and development concerns confronting the province of Marinduque owing to its dismal growth, high poverty incidents, a damaged environment and extensive devastation resulting from past natural and manmade disasters, there is pressing need to revive its moribund economy through substantial investments in infrastructure and agriculture and spearhead social development initiatives and relevant pro-poor programs in order to regain its lost momentum back to the path of self-sufficiency and sustainable development...

“Whereas, a careful re-examination and validation of the activities and projects previously funded in the preceding fiscal years under the province’s 20% CDF miserably failed to yield positive results that would substantially change the economic and social landscape of the province and thus resuscitate the hope of our people for a better life: hence, the need to re-align and re-program the balances of the appropriations of the Annual Investment Plans of the immediately preceding years in order to operationalize the development thrusts and priorities of the present administration.”

Raza-Monte specified ECCD instructional materials

The Raza-Monte-sponsored resolution stated that the consolidated fund should be re-aligned to some priority development projects “of the Office of the Governor and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan” specifically identifying the following:

Php 2.9-million for Legislative Development Initiatives Augmentation Fund for the Office of the Vice-Governor and SP members (Php 500,000 for the OVG and Php 300,000 each for SP members); Php 5-million for Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Programs (province-wide), for “purchase of instructional materials and other teaching aids” and Php 250,000 as incentives to day-care workers, among others.

(Jojo Alvarez)

Implemented in 2007, continued on in 2008 and 2009, following the same procedure of consolidating the balances of unprogrammed appropriations during the preceding year/s, and re-alignment through approved SP resolutions, with no less than the original minority sponsors and majority affixing their signatures, the ECCD project for purchase of instructional materials and teaching aids was implemented and everybody was happy.

Forty-two learning development packages were distributed to prioritized day-care centers in Marinduque based on assessment and barangay requests for inclusion in the program. Carrion included it as part of his SOPA 2009 address, also acknowledging additional financial assistance and support received from Sen. Loren Legarda and Sen. Lito Lapid, with funds coming from the two senator’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

(Nancy Arca-Iturralde)

Election changed the mood and caused great divide

Came election year this year, 2010, the mood then changed abruptly. Approval of the 20% CDF budget of the provincial government was delayed in the Sanggunian during the first quarter for various bureaucratic reasons. Then the dizzying election campaign and scorching heat wrought by black propaganda and mudslinging came to pass in the country’s first national and local automated polls.

At the same time, almost no projects could be pursued prior to the electoral exercise because of government restrictions on procurement activities during the election period from March 26 to June 10.

Raza, Monte and Nepomuceno on the opposite side of the fence did what they were expected to do in local partisan politics and played their roles to the hilt. Carrion lost in the elections, together with his Lakas-Kampi party allies consisting majority in the Sanggunian (with the exeption of Iturralde who ran for Gasan councilor). Incumbent congresswoman Carmencita Reyes of Liberal Party won over Carrion for the gubernatorial post, and allies Raza and Nepomuceno were re-elected as board members.

(Saria Zoleta & Yoli Querubin)

The term of all incumbent officials ends on June 30, 2010. On June 2, 2010 Resolution No. 822 was adopted by the SP approving the request of Gov. Carrion for the re-alignment of the savings on the annual investment program 20% development fund from the years 2007-2010 to the same day-care program.

(Tom Pizarro & Bong Carrion)

Majority of Sangguniang Panlalawigan supported it, led by presiding officer, Vice-Gov. Tomas N. Pizarro and board members, Ildefonso delos Santos, Yolando Querubin, Cesari Zoleta, Jose Alvarez, Nancy Arca-Iturralde and Mark Joseph de Leon.

It was seen as a continuation of what was already decided since 2007, one that merely repeated the same procedures applied in that year and the years thereafter on the conduct of procurement and distribution of the relevant learning development packages for the day-care centers. But the triumvirate of Raza, Monte and Nepomuceno (minority), would now in 2010, cry wolf and raise hell for "improper and unauthorized realignment of public funds" that they sponsored in the first place for the purchase of those learning development packages in question.

Right after a startling divide created by an election such as the one that transpired here, the scheming, mischievous and ugly side of local politics opted to reveal its gnashing fangs through the medium of those power-stricken. It was apparently aimed to deliver a coup de grace to those who have suffered and probably are still agonizing from defeat.

(cont'd)

Trip na Trip's intro to Marinduque

ABS-CBN Channel 2's "Trip na Trip" that promotes Philipine tourism by visiting interesting places did a special on Marinduque in Lent 2008, in cooperation with the provincial tourism team of Gerry Jamilla, Joven Lilles and Allan Velasco (former provincial administrator and now congressman-elect), and the office of Gov. Bong Carrion.



Hosted by KatKat de Castro, Jason Gainza, Franzen Fajardo, Kian Kazemi and Uma Khouny, part of the TV show's introduction to Marinduque is reproduced here.

The Trippers had a taste of local hospitality as they visited places like Balanacan, hiking to find the hidden marker known as Luzon Datum of 1911 that made the spot atop a mountain in Hinanggayon to be known as the geodetic center of the Philippines. They also visited the Boac Church, town center where they encountered the moriones, and many other places around the island, meeting and having fun with local mountain bikers, local lasses and ordinary folks.

Marinduque's Biodiversity

Natural growth samplings found at Mount Malindig, the island's highest peak at 1,157 meters. The first 952 meter ascent has been almost cleared of endemic plants and trees by original settlers and now planted to vegetable plants and coconuts.

Wild boar, monkeys and deer have been driven away in what was reputed to be the late President Manuel L. Quezon's favorite hunting ground. Only the final 200 meter challenging ascent is where biodiversity still thrives as shown here.


If by chance you make it there, be still and know that you have not come to destroy or take away anything, not the wild orchids especially.

This is Marinduque's last bastion of life and hope, and it is not uncommon to hear stories that local sorcerers travel there when the moon is full to rendezvous with underworld creatures. Therefore keep it sacred, leaving behind only thine footprints as true nature-lovers only do.

Growth along the roadside in Marinduque's interiors, such as Hinapulan.

Various species of ferns that spread by vegetative growth thrive in abandon. Certain fern types are said to tolerate high levels of arsenic and believed to be doing a natural good in the environment by sucking out toxicity out of some contaminated soils and waters.

Foliage jutting out of rocks at the exterior section of Bathala Caves in barangay Ipil, north of the island.

But inside the caves it is natural for spelunkers to encounter pythons jutting out of the rocks instead.

Early Care and Learning for Marinduque Kids

Studies show that the crucial stage of child development is from the time they are still in the womb up to the age of six when the brain is still developing. DepEd studies have proven that children with positive child development experience are the ones who persevere to obtain higher education, their capacity to learn and be trained having been developed.

ECCD Council Chairperson, Sec. Teresa Aquino-Oreta has championed the importance of early childhood care and development, stressing that fifty percent of a person’s ability to learn is developed in the first four years of life according to research findings, and that another thirty percent is developed by the 8th birthday.

Yet, nearly every country spends under 10% of its educational budget on the years where 50% of development takes place. As disclosed by DepEd only 12% of every 100 grade 1 pupils are ready for school.

It is a fact, however, that the number of available pre-school educators has shrunk particularly in rural areas. Barangays and municipalities have to rely on volunteer day-care workers who, more often than not, have not obtained college education. Day-care teaching is still not considered a prime occupation anywhere in the country.

The care of children is decidedly one of the priorities of the outgoing administration of Gov. Carrion.


One of the steps undertaken by Carrion is to strengthen the local councils for the protection of children from the provincial to the barangay level. Stakeholders DepEd, PSWD, DOH, NGO’s, LGUs, barangays, day-careworkers, nutrition scholars, parents and schools, thus joined hands to bring forward all issues and concerns pertaining to children’s protection, protection that includes right to development.

At present there are approximately 7,000 day-care children in 225 day-care centers in this province. Ways of addressing the needs of these children includes DSWD-assisted supplemental feeding programs, educational assistance by providing them with school bags and school supplies, donation of pairs of shoes for children in the poorest barangays.

Part of the provincial program for volunteer day-care workers require them to undergo training in integrated management of childhood diseases, knowledge in nutrition, training through an eight-week curriculum, and use of a revised day-care manual.

Early Childhood Learning Development Program

In 2007, the introduction of Early Childhood Learning Development Program, specifically designed to teach children in pre-school and kindergarten in an informative and entertaining way was undertaken by the provincial government. The program motivates the children to learn independently with lively animation, vivid videos and photos. The program is formulated to help children develop thinking skills, reading, listening and visual comprehension, analytical skills, grammar, spelling, pronunciation, memory development and problem-solving skills.

Most of all, the program provides teachers with powerful but simple-to-use tools to diagnose, track and report on day-care children’s knowledge and progress.

The package is distributed by Pisces Publishing, Inc., a pioneer in the conceptualization, implementation and establishment of IT projects in the Philippines through partnerships with DepEd, LGUs, DOST, state colleges and universities, technical and vocational schools and private schools. The package includes 8 computer book titles on reading and math, alphabet cards and puzzles, jumpstart to reading workbooks, sounds and starters workbooks, numerical and parts-of-the-body puzzles, teacher’s manual and comes with a desktop multi-media computer system.

Since 2007, forty-two (42) such learning development packages have been distributed and extensively used in local day-care centers in Marinduque with funding sourced from 20% CDF of the provincial government, re-aligned from CY-2004-2006 (ECCD) and CY-2007-2009 (Reprogrammed Information Technology for Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD), and from PDAF of Sen. Loren Legarda and Sen. Lito Lapid. Fifty-six learning development packages are set to be distributed to the day-care centers within the first-half of 2010. These altogether represents 43.5% of day-care centers served.

At present, there are about 17% of Marinduque’s population who are 0-6 years old. For the 3-year period from 2007-2010, 11% of the province’s budget devoted to community development projects (CDF) has been allocated for childhood education, considered as sound resource appropriation.


Increasing the chances of pupils not dropping out of school and increasing their chances to persevere through college may also be considered an important legacy of the Carrion administration to his constituents. Prioritizing early childhood care and development programs was expressly stated in Carrion’s 2007 executive agenda.

Cultural Festival in Marinduque

“Walang Sugat”, the well-loved sarswela masterpiece by Filipino librettist Severino Reyes was presented in Marinduque on February 18 & 19, 2010, only the second time it was seen on the island after more than a century. This zarzuela was first presented here in 1902 on the occasion of the Boac town fiesta with no less than then fiscal of Tayabas - and future Philipine president - Manuel L. Quezon as guest of honor.

That original production was mounted by Gran Compania de Zarzuela Tagala of Manila and was brought to Marinduque in that same year it was premiered to the world.

The 2010 production was staged by Barasoain Kalinangan Foundation, Inc. (BKFI), recipient of CCP’s Gawad para sa Sining as best theater group in the Philippines.

The project highlighted the 90th Anniversary of “Araw ng Marinduque” and Philippine International Arts Festival 2010 celebration on this island, spearheaded by the provincial government of Marinduque in cooperation with National Commission for Culture & the Arts (NCCA), CCP, BKFI and the island-province’s six municipalities.


The occasion also served as avenue to promote NCCA programs and partnership with LGUs in the MIMAROPA Region with the holding of “Gintong Binhi” the 1st Mimaropa Arts & Culture Forum.

At the Moriones Arena some municipal festivals developed by the six municipalities in recent years weres also showcased with Mogpog town coming in strong with "bulaklakan" moriones and its "Kangga Festival" dancers. (Above photo by Ian Rodas)

The Tuba Festival of the mountainous barangay Bagacay represented Buenavista.

During the last two years this troupe has also been invited by Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa to add color and sound when special guests are being welcomed to the exclusive resort.

Born on June 19

Says Astrology: "Geminis born June 19 adore being in the spotlight and will fight to stay there. They are goal-oriented and know their own worth and are eager to prove it. They are exuberant, creative people who light up a room when they enter it. They have personality to spare and are not shy about displaying it.

"They have a slightly idealized view of relationships. They are usually romantically linked with like-minded individuals. It may take a long time to find someone special to love, but when they do they are happy to hang up their dancing shoes forever." For more, click here.

Well, it's outgoing Governor Jose Antonio N. Carrion's birthday today, who ends his term at the end of this month. Happy Birthday Governor!

Also born on June 19 is the "Pride of the Malay Race" and "The Great Malayan,", Dr. Jose Rizal, our national hero. Rizal was also a polyglot, who mastered 22 languages including Catalan, Chinese, English, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Japanese, Latin, Malay, Sanskrit, Spanish, Tagalog, and other Philippine languages.

Central Marinduque Slowly but Surely Now

Marinduque's beaches and islets that you could own for a day are just waiting here to be conquered. Yet for some the mountains also beckon. But scarcely served by the familiar jeepney, interior mountain roads may be not as hard as before to reach now.

The development of central Marinduque that involves connecting Boac to the east and Torrijos to the west by an interior road that cuts through rivers and mountains was articulated by former governor Aristeo Lecaroz some forty years ago.

The administration of Marcos, Aquino, Ramos, Estrada, Arroyo - five presidents - have also come and gone during the last four decades with Marinduque remaining a predominantly lethargic fourth class province all the while.

The Lecaroz concept (he's 82 and has long retired from public service), is still a cherished dream, a dream being nurtured by many local leaders, thus the development of the Marinduque interiors, although decidedly protracted, is a continuing process.

For once, central Marinduque is being bruited about again by developers as a future garden city.

It must be stated that under the Strong Infrastructure Program of President Arroyo, with no hullabaloo, the province of Marinduque did receive support for national road programs implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), under Sec. Ebdane.

This included the Balimbing-Bantay Road, the Poblacion Torrijos-Maranlig Road,

and the construction of Hinapulan-Tumagabok Bridge.

The Yook-Libas-Lipata road that leads to Bellarocca Island Resort in Buenavista and intermittent sections of the circumferential road from Buenavista to Torrijos are part of DPWH's road improvement projects.

In 2008 a total of 300-million pesos has been released for these projects and 130-million pesos during the first half of 2009 by PGMA.