Boac and Brgy. Mainit are best in the Region for Orally Fit Children Program

Found this tarp in Brgy. Mainit at the outskirts of Boac. It shows that the Municipal Government of Boac was recently adjudged winner as Most Outstanding LGU in the MIMAROPA Region in the implementation of Orally Fit Children Program of the Department of Health (DOH). Brgy. Mainit, on the other hand, won as Best Barangay in the Region for its efforts in implementing the program in the barangay level.

DOH has reported that oral disease continues to be a serious public health concern in the country. The prevalence of dental caries on permanent teeth has apparently remained above 90% throughout the years. This means that about 92.4% of Filipinos have tooth decay and 78% have gum diseases that affect every Filipino at one point or another in his or her lifetime.

The Moriones invade the streets of Marinduque

The Holy Week celebration in Marinduque started yesterday, Palm Sunday, with the ubiquitous morions walking along the major streets of Boac, Gasan and Mogpog (joined in recent years by Sta. Cruz, Torrijos and Buenavista), in two's, in groups or individually. These masked and  Roman-centurion costumed men, women and children have made the island of Marinduque a must-see destination during the Lenten season. Nowhere else in the world is the miracle of the Roman soldier Longinus, the first Christian convert after the Resurrection, celebrated in this manner. Over time, his myth, Longinus' life and times are re-enacted in Marinduque's six towns in ways that these communities may wish.

Above video "Head to the Moriones Festival" is from OurPhilippinesTV.

Two Popes meet

CNN's report on the historic meeting yesterday between the two popes, the Pope Emeritus and Pope Francis.

"MORYONAN 2013 (BATTLE OF MORIONS)" March 28 in Sta. Cruz, Marinduque

"MORYONAN 2013" (Battle of Morions) is now on its firth year as a competition participated in by the various morion groups, old and new, male or female, province-wide. Conceptualized by now Congressman Lord Allan Velasco in 2009, this year's competition follows rituals associated with Marinduque's Moryonan in stylized form or choreographic movements. The rituals cover the miracle of Longinus, the Roman soldier who became Christianity's first convert after the Resurrection, the mock 'Habulan' and Capture of Longinus, "Pugutan" and a Moryonan Finale. These performances are accompanied by a drum and bugle/lyre band or native percussion instruments with accompanying festival drums.

To be held on Maundy Thursday at the Sta. Cruz Plaza, Sta. Cruz, Marinduque this competition organized by the District Offices of  Cong. Velasco in cooperation with the Municipality of Sta. Cruz and Mayor Percival Morales is sponsored by San Miguel Corporation and Petron.

The annual holding of "Moryonan' (Battle of Morions) has encouraged the municipalities and participating schools to conduct trainings in morion mask-making, and morion costume-making as an income-generating program for barangay residents and out-of-school youth. To sustain the program the expertise of local trainors have been tapped by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Marinduque State College (MSC). Previous projects in morion mask-making have likewise been supported by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in cooperation with DTI.

MORYONAN 2013 (Battle of the Morions). March 28, 2013, 4:00 p.m., at Sta. Cruz Plaza, Sta. Cruz, Marinduque. 

Lance of Longinus

"Nuwebe" a Joseph Israel Laban film shot in Marinduque.

"NUWEBE" filmed in the island of Marinduque

 The much-awaited, most-celebrated and most popular indie film festival in the Philippines is CINEMALAYA Philippine Independent Film Festival 2013.

In the New Breed Category, the film, “NUWEBE” has been included. “Nuwebe” is written and directed by Joseph Israel Laban of Boac, Marinduque. 

Inspired by the actual story of one of the youngest mothers in Philippine history, “Nuwebe” follows the story of Krista who at the tender age of 9 got pregnant from the sexual abuse perpetrated by her own father… 

Behind the scene.

Krista's story is complex. She refuses to see herself as a victim. With an almost documentary style, “Nuwebe” (Siyam) follows Krista’s story as she demonstrates a level of resilience uncommon to her age.  Her mother on the other hand is torn between her love for her child and her love for her husband.

With the Boac River as setting.

“Nuwebe” stars  Nadine Samonte, Jake Cuenca, Anita Linda, Manny Castañeda, Mikael Liwag, and Barbara Miguel.

“Nuwebe” was filmed in the island of Marinduque. Showing from July 26 to August 4, 2013, in CCP Theaters, Trinoma and Greenbelt Cinemas.

Director Laban and actor Jake Cuenca.

Actress Nadine Samonte.

Photo credits: Joseph Israel Laban

Another thick and tyrannical plot unfolding? Public Forum on the Marinduque lawsuit against Barrick Gold

Marcopper Mining Waste. Damage to Calancan Bay,
Mogpog River, Boac River and certain coastal areas.
Graphics: Kapatiran, 1998.

In filing a lawsuit in Nevada USA against Placer Dome/Barrick Gold, Marinduquenos in 2005 sought legal justice for the extensive environmental and social damages wrought by nearly three decades of irresponsible mining on this island.  Calancan Bay, Mogpog and Boac Rivers and surrounding coastal areas were polluted and human health problems were created.

In 2005, SP Resolution 264 yet to be ratified was passed by the provincial board authorizing Gov. Carmencita O. Reyes to enter into a Special Outside Appointment and Engagement Contract with legal counsel Walter J. Scott, pertinent  to the lawsuit against Placer Dome, Inc. “for the damage it caused to the people of Marinduque and the province’s ecosystems, specifically, the Boac and Mogpog Rivers, Calancan Bay and the surrounding coastal areas.”

Considered as the largest industrial disaster in the Philippines, the Marcopper Mining Disaster of 1996 resulted in the closure of Marcopper operations. In 2001 Placer Dome left the Philippines, leaving Marinduque’s polluted ecosystems behind.

Five years after the lawsuit was filed by the Provincial Government of Marinduque in a Nevada court in a long procedural battle that has reached the US Supreme Court, the US lawyers hired by the provincial government announced that a court hearing was finally scheduled in Nevada, one that could move the case toward a resolution. Nothing much has been heard by the people of Marinduque since then, even as a new provincial administration, sought critical information, such as details on the agreement earlier entered into with the lawyers involved by the provincial government, that remained unanswered. Read.

The U.S. lawyer Scott and Filipino lawyer Advincula at the forum.

Now comes the news that the US lawyer and his Filipino counterpart were in Marinduque recently for talks and a 'public forum' with some provincial government officials and stakeholders for ‘discussions on potential resolutions’ on the lawsuit that includes a “universal settlement”. A  universal settlement that involves the national government having to “eschew or forego any claims that were promised...”.

On a radio program hosted by the Marinduque LP Congressional candidate all at once came this daring 'epal-ine' announcement: “Dito sa Marcopper mining, ang Ate Gina po ang talaga namang nakikipagbalitaktakan sa mga dayuhang abogado…napakalaki ang ginampanan at gagampanan ng ating Ate Gina Reyes…isyu po ito e, hindi po ito pamumulitika…” 

How's that again? What new plots are unfolding then?

As regards this Nevada case, there were concerns about Marinduquenos having been “kept blind for so many years” due to the dearth of information that should have been supplied by the liaison officers, according to board member Melecio Go.  But, “It’s your liason officers! They have not been in the dark!”, answers the US lawyer.

Allan Nepomuceno of the so-called 'SP Liaison Committee'

“… Kabilin-bilinan ni Skip, ating abogado, ay huwag munang magbibigay… So, ako ay sumusunod lang sa pinag-uutos sa akin ng mga abogado.”, one liaison officer (Nepomuceno) replies to defend himself.

Then the US lawyer delivers a final statement: “…the President himself, none of those people will say I have kept them in the dark!” Shock waves, silence.

What’s the real score, what’s the truth? Inevitable questions come up like 'is the Marinduque governor still in command, what critical facts that the people should know are not being disclosed, why the seemingly brazen act of name-dropping that includes even the name of the President, is this a repetition of an old game where people involved in some conspiracy are hoodwinked by images of a 'magnitude of money', (to use the words of the US lawyer), while the rest of Marinduque falls in deep slumber amid hushed cries from others of a probable 'sellout'; what 'gag order'? Curiously timed during this election period (again), you wonder. And please reckon... 

BM Mel Go, Vice-Gov. Antonio Uy, Jr., BM Bong Raza and BM Allan Nepomuceno

 Excerpts from the ‘Public Forum’ held on January 21, 2012, at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Marinduque with Vice-Governor Antonio Uy, Jr., some members of the provincial board, Atty. Walter J. Scott, (US lawyer engaged by the provincial government) , Atty. Jack Advincula, (Filipino legal counterpart), some officers and members of Marinduque Council for Environmental Concerns (MACEC), plus a few local media practitioners. None of Marinduque's municipal officials to represent their constituents were invited:

MACEC executive director Myke Magalang and MACEC members

"MAGALANG: Hindi po kami nandito para makinig ng updates. Kasi alam na po namin yung updates. Ina-update po kami lagi ni Atty. Skip at Atty. Jack. Pumunta po kami para suportahan yung kaso at para sabihin sa inyo (board members), paulit-ulit, na puwede bang magka-isa na kayo..

MEL GO:  …Kami pa pala ang nakakagulo. Take note, for 10 years, nandito ka, walang lumabas. Ngayon lang na-open ito ah, you’re saying na ‘sige, study tayo, study’… tapos kami ang magulo?  My God!

BM JT Alino

JT ALINO: … at kami, kaya gusto naming mapag-usapan dito, transparent kami, gusto naming malaman ng taong-bayan na walang tinatago.. Hindi lang naman kayo ang apektado dito ah.. Pinagtutulungan natin itong lahat, sasabihin ninyong nagpapagulo kami, hinihingi lang namin ang katotohanan.

RAZA: … let us explore all avenue that will strengthen… any comment coming from the group, let us put that on hold… (introduces Atty. Scott ).

Atty. Skip Scott

SCOTT: … The purpose of this meeting is to update you on the events that took place on November 26 to November 29 in San Francisco… Before doing that though, given the nature of the dialogue at the outset here, I want to make it clear that… there may be disagreement as to the methodology, there may be disagreement as to disclosure…. The part of the difficulty, while I’m here, especially now, in any effort or endeavor like this is that we all operate with certain restrictions on us that we do not necessarily want, but have to live with…

But what we were successful in doing in the end of November is coming to a conclusion to agree, as the professionals believe, was a workable mutually agreeable framework for all the different constituents to sign off on….

…We operate under a certain ‘gag order’, a ‘gag order’ that tells us that we can’t disclose things. I know that there are some members of the press here with national means, and that ‘gag order’ becomes all that much tighter. And these are not necessarily self-imposed, they come from courts*.  A judge says thou shall not speak and, backed up by agreements that you have to enter into and agree, and promise that you shall not speak…

ATTY. ADVINCULA: …ang napag-agreehan kailangang sabihin ito, hindi sa pagbubuhat ng bangko, mahirap po yung ginawa namin na framework. Yung framework na ginawa ay isang universal settlement, isang dokumento na ang gusto ng kabila ay ina-address lahat ng mga constituency, lahat ng stakeholders.

RAZA:  ...We would like to inform the public na noong 2007 to 2010, halos hindi po tumakbo yung usapin sapagkat hindi po kami, hindi po sila, nakakuha ng suporta sa nakaraang administrasyon…. But our lawyers in the States are painstakingly working out… for the province of Marinduque despite the absence of support from the previous administration.

Old Marcopper Minesite 

 LYN ANGELES: ...When you said that the mediation process is almost nearing , in the next five months,  do you expect the mediation process to be reaching an end?

SCOTT:… I think that this mediation process is pretty mature…my comment is that the political environment here may force a high risk for extended discussions potentially…I don’t know… But between now and then,  I think that we will make more progress on the numbers affair…

MEL GO: … The Dams... I wonder if the Governor or if MACEC has related to Mr. Skip hanggang ngayon ay.. kasi dapat noon pa yan ay inaasikaso na natin considering yung mga ulan ngayon malalakas, yung bagyong tumatama… I think that’s the foremost na dapat nating ugatan at ipauna natin sa kanila… while they are discussing the settlement or mediation ay ilabas na natin. This is dangerous, Skip… those dams are 10 years old...this is very valuable information that was not voted during your negotiations…

SCOTT:  … You survived a year and a half and 10 years..

MEL GO:  The (USGS) study was for medium-term and longer mediation… there’s nothing (about it)!

SCOTT: … At the same it also has to be mentioned in terms unfortunately in the sense that, If you claim something is imminent and it does not happen for 10 years, some of you would openly say, how imminent is that… so I don’t want to rely on the USGS report over this…

Liaison Officers Raza and Nepomuceno

NEPOMUCENO: …Baka matanim sa isip ng mga tao na kami ay nagkukulang bilang liaison officers. Kami po ni Bokal Raza ay assigned talaga na magbibigay ng information sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan. Sa totoo lang po, may tali ang ating mga kamay dahil ang kabilin-bilinan ni Skip, ating abogado, ay huwag munang magbibigay kung maaari… kasi ang magbibigay talaga ng information sa SP ay ang liaison, hindi ang Governor. Ang information nagdadaan sa liaison …. So, ako ay sumusunod lang sa pinag-uutos sa akin ng mga abogado…

PETER MAGTURO: Can you give us an idea of the time frame? Election season now, how will the political climate affect (this issue)….

SCOTT: … As for the political timetable, I personally believe there is no person, no political party, whether you are in or out, it doesn’t matter as far as these issues are concerned…. Like it or not, the national government is a stakeholder…

MEL GO: Are you saying Skip that even the national government will set in?

SCOTT: I think that the national government has to be the signatory to endorse… thus far they are willing to eschew or forego any claims that then were promised with this resolution… But just a point to answer your question. If you will put the deal on the table, there is never enough, never enough…

…No, we’ve been in discussion with the national government all along. The national government is well aware and has participated in these (showing documents).

MEL GO: Exactly, that’s why we are in a situation that we have been kept blind for so many years… with the national government (involvement)…

SCOTT: It’s like this. You have the process and procedure in October. We have them here. It’s your liaison officers. They have not been in the dark. They are not blind. So for you to say that you’re blind is for you to ignore the very processes and protocols that you yourself have put to waste.

...Stop making claims. It is frustrating for somebody to sit and tell me that I am not keeping you informed … I may not be talking to you individually … My obligation is to speak to the Governor as the primary point with the concurrence of the liaison… Don’t make a statement that you are not being informed. I take that very seriously.

MEL GO:  Yes, it’s true. I have nothing! (documents)

SCOTT: … Secretary Acosta, or Secretary Paje or the President himself, none of those people will say I have kept them in the dark. This is a full-time, all-consuming engagement…"

*Issuances from the Court in connection with this case are available online. Based on said issuances no gag order is among them.

"In April and May 2008, indigenous leaders from four countries opposing large-scale gold mining on their lands described the adverse impacts of Barrick Gold Corporation. These leaders spoke of Barrick Gold's tactics in "suppressing dissident voices, dividing communities, and manipulating local and national politics".


 "They also related stories about "lack of free, prior and informed consent for local people". Barrick is party to a lawsuit originally filed against Placer Dome Inc. by the local government claiming compensation for the 1996 Marcopper Mining Disaster. Barrick Gold inherited the litigation after taking over Placer Dome, Inc".

Pope Francis' challenges

Pope Francis. Against the Roman Curia.
Photo: L'Osservatore Romano/Getty

A cautiously bold move. Or, perhaps, a boldly cautious move. In choosing the Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the cardinals of the Catholic Church are trying to indicate that they are open and listening to calls for change, while hewing carefully to their traditions and the conservative doctrine of the past two Popes. We will see in the coming months whether to put the accent on caution or boldness.

The choice of Cardinal Bergoglio does mark a series of firsts: the first non-European Pope in modern times (there were Middle Eastern and North African Popes in the first several hundred years of the Church); the first Latin-American Pope; the first Jesuit Pope—interesting, since the Jesuit order has been viewed with some suspicion in Vatican circles as excessively liberal and intellectual; the first Pope to take the name of Francis, in homage to St. Francis of Assisi, whose life of poverty and attention to the poor was a radical challenge to the monarchic papacy of his time. Bergoglio made a point of wearing simple vestments, even as he greeted the crowd in St. Peter’s Square. 

Rare among modern Popes, he has not served any time in one of the offices of the Vatican bureaucracy in Rome; indeed, he has made some sharp remarks about the vanity, self-infatuation, careerism, and pursuit of promotions in the Roman Curia. As Archbishop of Buenos Aires, he apparently preferred to be called Father Jorge, and was known for his preoccupation with the city’s poorest, reportedly washing and kissing the feet of patients suffering from AIDS.

Read more: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2013/03/pope-francis-against-the-roman-curia.html#ixzz2NZojSEQY

Habemus Papam: Pope Francis

Habemus Papam: Pope Francis 
From TimeWorld

Jorge Mario Bergoglio almost made history eight years ago. According to several accounts, he had been the only real contender against Joseph Ratzinger in the first round of balloting that led to the election of the German as Pope Benedict XVI in April 2005. That itself was history: Ratzinger became the second consecutive non-Italian as head of the Roman Catholic Church. Now Bergoglio has now made history twice over with his own election as Pope Francis. 

The Argentine is the first man from the Western Hemisphere to become Pontiff. And, as the son of Italian immigrants, he has won the Papacy back in the land of his ancestry. In his first address, the traditional Urbi et Orbi—to the city and the world—he chided his brother Cardinals for going “to the end of the earth” to find the new Bishop of Rome. But there was a kind of subtle, rounded—perhaps divine—justice to it all.

Read more: http://world.time.com/2013/03/13/habemus-papam-francisco-i-the-first-pope-from-western-hemisphere/#ixzz2NTVuzEgs

Fifth smoke was white

Harbinger of new Pope - seagull perched on the chapel chimney

His name after St. Francis of Assisi

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi*

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury,pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

(*Attributed to the 13th-century saint Francis of Assisi, although the prayer in its present form cannot be traced back further than 1912, when it was printed in France in French.)

Oath of Secrecy there, Candidates' Covenant here

Congressman Lord Allan Velasco signing the Covenant.

 Yesterday,  the very same day when the 115 cardinal-electors in the Sistine Chapel lined up to take their oath of secrecy prior to voting a new Pope, certain provincial candidates in Marinduque also entered into a covenant with each other and the Comelec. They affixed their signatures on what has been deemed a binding document held at Camp Maximo Abad in Santol (Boac), in connection with the forthcoming 2013 Elections. The document stated that the candidates would adhere to the rule of law, the non-utilization of guns, goons and gold and any form of fraud, among others.

Most Rev. Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista, Diocese of Boac

PNP Marinduque Provincial Director, P/Sr.Supt Edwin M. Capanzana.

Present during the signing were Bishop Reynaldo G. Evangelista of the Diocese of Boac, PNP provincial director, P/Sr. Supt Edwin M. Capanzana, PNP Marinduque key officers and local media. Signing the covenant were Cong. Lord Allan Velasco, Gov. Carmencita O. Reyes, Vice-Gov. Antonio Uy, Jr. and other provincial board candidates from different political parties. 

Cong. Velasco

Vice-Governor Antonio Uy, Jr.

"Jojo" Alvarez, now running as vice-governor. Covenant a futile exercise?

Former provincial board member Jose Alvarez, now running for vice-governor, declined to affix his signature after making a brief statement to the effect that similar past covenants turned out to be futile exercises that were never adhered to by those concerned. 

Conspicuously absent were gubernatorial candidate, former Gov. Jose Antonio N. Carrion and Liberal Party House bet, Atty. Regina O. Reyes, daughter of the governor.

Adeline "Lyn" Angeles, candidate as SP board member

Text of the Candidates' Covenant follows:

"WE, individually and collectively hereby enter into this COVENANT with one another and the Commission on Elections and signify our agreement to abide by the following:

 

THAT, we shall bind ourselves to the will that the exercise of the right of suffrage is a solemn act of sovereignty, and the ballot, being an expression of the sovereign will is sacred;

THAT, we shall not personally or through our supporters, directly or indirectly corrupt any voter with money, nor impose our will upon him by way of force or violence, threat or intimidation, or in any manner impair his power and freedom of choice;

THAT, we shall abide the rules and regulations on: The ban on bearing, carrying or transporting of firearms or other deadly weapons; and the employment, availment or engagement of the services security personnel or bodyguards enunciated under COMELEC Resolution No. 9561-A Promulgated on November 23, 2012 during the Election Period for the May 13, 2013, “Automated Synchronized National and Local Elections”;

THAT, we bind ourselves that should any of our supporters, security personnel or bodyguards be found violating any of the COMELEC Resolutions relative to the May 13, 2013 National and Local Elections and that of the Omnibus Election Code, we shall bind ourselves legally disqualified to continue our candidacy under the principle that act of the subordinate is the act of the principal;

THAT, we manifest our adherence to the rule of law, election and regulations and the maintenance of cordial relations with each other, and the non-utilization of guns, goons and gold, and any form of fraud. Above all, we commit ourselves to the observance of sportsmanship regardless of the result of the elections.

WE shall participate in the CANDIDATES FORUM to be called by non-partisan groups in the community with the support of the Commission on Elections and there present, explain and debate on our campaign platforms, programs and position and relevant national, regional and local issues, and allow our opponents equal opportunity to do the same and that violations of this commitment shall void our candidacy;

THAT, we shall accept the result of the elections, and shall not unnecessarily delay the proclamation of the winning candidates and concede in good faith the victory of the proclaimed candidates;

NOW, therefore, we affix our signature this 12^th day of March, 2013 at Marinduque Police Provincial Office, Boac, Marinduque."

Photos: PNP Marinduque

Ceramics and pottery techno transfer from Vigan to Marinduque

Barangay residents learn the art of ceramics and pottery making. Photo with barangay officials and trainees with MSC president Romulo H. Malvar and Cong. Lord Allan Velasco.

 Marinduque State College’s (MSC) Gender Advancement Unit (GAD), has identified ceramics and pottery making as one project that has potential to improve the economic condition of some local communities. It is also seen as a viable project that will encourage entrepreneurship especially among women.

MSC’s GAD has collaborated with the DOLE Mimaropa Regional Office and the Office of Cong. Lord Allan Velasco for such a project for the barangays of Anapog-Sibucao and Danao in Mogpog. Representatives from the University of Northern Philippines’ (UNP), ceramics development and research center in Vigan were on hand recently to conduct the project’s production technology transfer. 

Finished samples. Figurines, plant pots, ashtrays and others.

The introduction of a livelihood project in Marinduque. New decorative products.

 

Rudiments of the burnay craft transferred from Northern Philippines to Marinduque.

LAV Educational Assistance distributed to MSC Scholars

On February 27, 2013, 1,498 students from the MSC campus in Boac alone received their vouchers representing educational assistance from the Leaders and Achievers of Velasco Scholarship program. The number of recipients for the period 2010-2012 totals 5,752.

Student volunteers assist in the distribution.

Students gather at MSC's covered court and await their turn.

The Leaders and Achievers of Velasco Scholarship Program is funded through Cong. Lord Allan Velasco's Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). It provides educational assistance to poor but deserving students in participating Marinduque schools.

Participating schools include the Marinduque State College and its campuses throughout the province, Educational Systems Technological Institute (ESTI), Marinduque Midwest College (MMC), St. Mary's College of Marinduque (SMCM), and Sta. Cruz Institute. Funds are transferred directly to the colleges in accordance with a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), involving, in the case of private colleges, CHED, the relevant school and Cong. Velasco as Project Initiator. Other participating institutions are Torrijos Poblacion School of Arts and Trade (TPSAT) in Torrijos and Buyabod School of Arts and Trade (BSAT) in Sta. Cruz. Cash payments are paid directly by the school concerned to the students.

All cash payments are disbursed by the school.

Envelopes are properly labeled.

Students fall in line to receive the LAV educational assistance 
from MSC's accounting department..

Such cash distribution activities are undertaken on scheduled dates
that are posted in the bulletin board.

More students await their turn.