by Reina Beatriz Peralta

Quezon City - Flood in some places that reached almost six feet high which leave great number of casualties, damaged properties, washed-out houses and tons and tons of garbage scattered in roads and floating in bodies of water, were evident after the occurrence of the monsoon rains.

            The city is now strictly implementing the city ordinance Sangguniang Panglungsod (SP) 2103, popularly known as ”Bring Your Own Reusable Recyclable Bag” or plastic ban which ordered all business establishments in Quezon City since September 1, to avoid using plastic bags as a solution to the city’s longest and major environmental problem- garbage, which cause floods.

            Business establishments like Shoe Mart (SM) encourage their costumers to bring with them reusable or eco-bags.  If they don’t have that kind of bag, the company will provide them paper bags. But if it is really needed, the costumer will be paying two pesos for the plastic bag that will be given to them.  The payment for the plastic bags will be put to the environmental project fund of the company.

            Together with this city ordinance is the proper punishment for those who will violate the law, and this will be effective on the first of October.  In the first offense, the violator will be paying Php1000.  Php3000 will be the charge for the second offense and for the last offense is a payment of Php5000 plus cancellation of business permit.

            “Actually, matagal nang merong ganito (plastic ban) pero wala pang pangil ang batas no'n, at saka walang disiplina ‘yong tao.  Matitigas pa kasi ang ulo ng mga tao noon, at saka ‘di pa sila na-e-educate ng maayos ‘di tulad ngayon," Araceli F. Bañacia, the Project Development Officer of Quezon City’s Environment Protection and Waste Management Department (EPWMD) said.

            Aside from SP 2103, the city is also implementing other laws to help solve problems about garbage like “No Segregation, No Collection Skim” which orders the people to separate biodegradable waste from non-biodegradable before the door-to-door weekly collection, and the “Managing of the City’s Solid Waste” which encourages the people to practice proper waste disposal.

 

by Arriane Mae Tristan

BULACAN STATE UNIVERSITY – Matapos na magsagawa ang Partido-Pagkakaisa ng Demokrationg Mag-aaral (PDM) ng unity walk kontra development fee, Setyembre 21, agad na naglabasan ang opinyon ng mga mag-aaral ng unibersidad ukol sa mainit na isyu ng nasabing bayarin.

Isa sa mga nanguna sa naganap na unity walk ay si Senator Patrick Jan Carpio ng BulSU Student Government. Ayon sa kanya, malaking ginhawa para sa masang estudyante kung tuluyang makakaltasan ng Php600 ang bayarin ng mag-aaral sa kolehiyo kada semestre.

"Maraming 'di nakakapag-aral dahil sa taas ng matrikula natin, at may dagdag pang development fee. Kung mapapabasura natin ang dev-fee, Php600 per sem rin ang mawawala sa atin kaya malaking luwag sa’ting mga estudyante 'yon lalung-lalo na sa mga working students,” ani Carpio.

“Kailangan nating ipaglaban ang ating karapatan. Unti-unti na pala tayong inaalisan ng karapatan para mag-aral. Ang edukasyon ay karapatan ng mamamayan na dapat ay tinatamasa ng lahat ng kabataang Pilipino,” wika pa niya.

Kontra development fee rin ang ilang kasapi ng Alpha Phi Omega (APO) makaraang makiisa ang mga ito sa maikling programa na inihanda ng PDM. Para kay Raffy Resayaga, miyembro ng APO at founder ng ROMASU, personal na desisyon niya ang pagdalo sa unity walk upang maiparating sa mga nasa posisyon ang daing ng karamihan sa BulSUan.

“Unang-una lahat tayo dito ay involved. Different colleges, different students, pinaparating namin sa kanila (kinauukulan) kung ano 'yong hinaing ng mga estudyante,” ani Resayaga.

Marami rin sa karaniwang estudyante ng BulSU ang nagpahayag ng kanilang pagpabor na maibasura ang pasakit na bayarin.

“Tungkol 'yon sa binabayaran sa school na hindi alam kung saan napupunta o kung saang development ba. Against ako do'n (development fee) kasi babayaran mo 'yon tapos di mo naman alam kung saan napupunta 'yong binabayad mo,” pahayag ni Kathleen Baltazar ng College of Home Economics (CHE).

Kakampi rin ng PDM sa pagbura ng naturang fee ang 4th year Nursing student na si Hazelle Anne Caparas.

“Kasi malaki 'yong binabayad natin do'n sa development fee pero wala namang nangyayari parang nasasayang lang,” sambit niya.

"Para lang tayong tanga na nagbabayad sa wala,” tugon naman ng kapwa estudyante rin ng kursong Nursing na tumangging magpakilala.

“Pabor ako na maibasura (ang fee) kasi po dinadaos  lang po 'yong pang-araw-araw kong pambaon,” bungad ni Annalyn Bondoc, BSIT.

“Nagigipit kami lalo na 1st year pa lang ako, paano pa kaya pag nag 4th year na’ko,” dagdag niya.

Nagpakita rin ng suporta sa pagpapatanggal ng Php600 bayarin si Sonny Espiritu, isang Criminology student. Nabanggit ni Espiritu na magmula noon ay wala pang pagbabago o anumang development sa bilding ng pinagmulan niyang kurso bago siya mag-shift sa pagpupulis.

“CIT (College of Industrial Technology) rin kasi ako dati, nag-shift ako. 1st year pa lang ako dati gano'n na 'yong building na 'yon (CIT). Wala pa 'yong nursing, wala pa 'yong College of Law, wala pa 'yong AC (Activity Center). Ibig sabihin tatlong building na 'yong naitayo, CIT wla pa rin. Totoo naman 'yong sinasabi nila (wala pa ring pagbabago).”

 

Nakarating na rin kay Pres. Mariano de Jesus ang usapin tungkol dito. Sa ngayon ay patuloy pa rin sa paggawa ng hakbang ang mga nasa kinauukulan upang tuluyan na ngang maibasura ang kontrobersyal na development fee.


 

by Justine Marie Bernardo and Kattryn Erryc Sayo

University of the Philippines (UP) Pep Squad outperformed its rivals and grabbed its third straight hold of the title in the 75th UAAP Cheerdance Competition (CDC) yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Performing before a crowd of 19,509 with shaved heads that symbolize freedom and equality, the UP cheerdancers perfectly accomplished all their pyramids and stunts. Although a last-second fall stained their overall performance, they still got hold of the thumbs-up of the judges, mostly composed of international judges.

UP dancers' shaved heads stand for freedom, with their hair donated to the kids with cancer.

The UP Filipiniana Dance Troupe got the four out of five approval of the panel of judges with the final average of 92.26, which is just .9 away from the 1st Runner up Far Eastern University Cheering Squad with its jungle-inspired theme (91.36). National University hung on the third place with its royal-inspired performance.

The UST Salinggawi’s number, which was Brazilian-theme, only secured the fourth spot, failing for the second straight time to make it to the Top 3. De La Salle University (DLSU) Animo Squad completed fifth, followed by Ateneo Blue Babble Batallion, Adamson Pep Squad and University of the East Pep Squad.

Aside from bringing home the crown, UP also got the Stunner of the Year award in the name of Nicolette Erica Ambulo and excelled in the Group Stunts side event, Followed by FEU and NU.

Adding their trophy this year, the UP Pep Squad had mounted up an overall collection of eight cheerdance titles, the same with the University of Santo Tomas Salinggawi Dance Troupe (UST SDT). Now, both are considered as the universities with the most number of titles in the annual Pep Squad Competition.

The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Cheerdance Competition is an annual event wherein joining universities compete with their best stunts and routines. The said competition is being sponsored by Samsung for five consecutive years already.

 

by Isabelle dela Cruz

Hagonoy, Bulacan - A new Parish Priest has been inaugurated.

It was not an ordinary Sunday mass for the people of San Pedro, Hagonoy, Bulacan yesterday as it was also the day when a new Parish priest for their church was installed.

Bishop Jose Oliveros together with Mosignor Lon Balagtas (Sta. Ana Parish, Hagonoy), Fr. Prospero Tenorio (Paombong), Fr. Rey Rivera (Calumpit), Fr. Efren Basco ( Sta. Elena, Hagonoy), Fr. Eric Cruz (Malolos) and Fr. Norberto Ventura ( San Miguel,) led last evening's mass.

Fr. Sammuel Sunga was the first and former Parish priest of Ina ng Laging Saklolo who served for 14 years in the church.This year, Fr. Sunga’s term had ended and was replaced by Fr. Norberto Ventura.

Last July 29, Fr. Ventura arrived in San Pedro, Hagonoy. He was formerly the Parish priest of Kabanal-banalang Puso ni Hesus in the town of San Miguel, also in Bulacan, for 12 years.

Before the Liturgy of the Word, Bishop Oliveros blessed Fr. Norberto Ventura as part of the installation as the new and second Parish priest of Ina ng Laging Saklolo in barangay San Pedro.

Fr. Ventura answered with the Apostles’s Creed as he accepted the responsibilities such as administrative, financial and spiritual to the community he had been assigned.

Rev. Fr. Norberto delivered his thanksgiving message to all the people who attended the mass celebration.   

 

by Kattryn Erryc Sayo

City of Malolos, Bulacan – The simple yet weeklong celebration of the Singkaban Fiesta 2012 which will occur on September 8-15 is all set.

The celebration of the festivity for this year will be simpler compared to last year due to the devastation brought by the Southwest Monsoon last August. From 10 million, the budget was cut to 2.5 million.

Dahil po sa nakaraang trahedya na humagupit sa Bulacan, and selebrasyon po ng Singkaban ngayong taon ay payak, pero pananatilihin nating masaya,” said Michael Fermin, a Board Member and Provincial Committee on Education and Tourism Officer.

With this year’s theme “Lalawigang Huwaran ang Pamahalaan, Tahanan ng Dakilang Lahi, Sentro ng Kasaysayan ng Bansa – BULACAN, sa daigdig ay ibandila!”, the Provincial Government of Bulacan prepared for various events including the display of the province’s history and culture, as well as specialties on food, fashion and handicraft.

One of the highlights of the festival is the celebration of the 114th anniversary of the Malolos Congress which will be held on September 15, the last day of the festival at the Barasoain Church. The said event will be attended by two cabinet secretaries.

Though the celebration will start on September 8, the formal opening of the festivity will be on September 10, and will be aired on GMA7’s morning show Unang Hirit.

The events on September 8 are the Gawad Kalinga Barangay wherein chosen barangay officials will be rewarded for their exemplary service at the Capitol Gymnasium, and the Reyna ng Bulacan (Greet and Meet) wherein the candidates will be introduced at Robinson’s Pulilan. On September 9 will be the pre-pageant of the Reyna ng Bulacan which will happen at the Hiyas Pavilion.

The formal opening of the Singkaban Fiesta will be on September 10 at the Capitol Ground. The Kumpetisyong Bayan ng Singkaban or KBS Rewaynd Finals is on September 11 at the Hiyas Pavilion. The El Pueblo Soberano 200 and Reyna ng Bulacan Coronation Night will be held at the Capitol Gymnasium on September 13.

The Barong Bulakenyo Fashion Show will be on September 14 at the Hiyas Pavilion. The 114th commemoration of the Malolos Congress will be at the Barasoain Church; Graduate Education Association of Chapter Colleges and Universities of the Philippines (GEACCUP) Regional Assembly at the Capitol Gymnasium and Gawad Dangal ng Lipi at the Hiyas Pavilion, will occur on the last day of the celebration, September 15.

Aside from those, other events are the Trade Exhibit, Lakan Sining Exhibit, Dakilang Bulakenyo Series: Eusebio “Maestrong Sebio” Roque and the Kakarong Show. All will take place at the Capitol building.

-with reports from John paul Marquez

 

by Kattryn Erryc Sayo

The rescue and relief operations in Bulacan province improved, particularly during the surge of the powerful Southwest Monsoon (Hanging Habagat) on the second week of August 2012, a Provincial Special Operations Officer said yesterday.

The Southwest Monsoon was already being monitored on July 23 to 30 when tropical storm Ferdie entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility. It was being observed even before it gained strength from International storm Haiku on August 7.

July 23 pa lang binabantayan na ang Habagat, no’ng pumasok ang bagyong Ferdie,” said Bulacan Special Operations Officer Raul Agustin.

The number of municipalities affected by the monsoon rains and floods were 23, thus, Bulacan was declared under a state of calamity. The 23 towns were affected by flash flood, back flooding and immense dam releases.

A faster response and rescue was said to be done during the disaster by the Bulacan Rescue Teams, Local Government Unit Response Teams, Rescue 117, and the Philippine National Police. Military trucks, rubber boats and motor boats were dispatched and used in the rescue, coming from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) and District II Congressman Pedro Pancho.

On August 12 to 15, massive relief operations took place in the whole province as ordered by Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado, wherein a total of 216,000 packs of goods were provided to critically-affected residents.

 

By Deliza Maye Fernandez

An amphitheater was planned to be built in Bulacan State University, upgrading its Gymnasium or the so-called Valencia Hall.

According to Nicanor Dela Rama, the Dean of the College of Engineering, this amphitheater was proposed by the university’s president, Mariano De Jesus.

“Dream na niya talagang magkaroon ng amphitheater ang BSU bago man lang siya magretire,” said Dela Rama.

The amphitheater was supposed to end its construction in March 2013 but due to the many off-days given by the past calamities, the construction has not even started yet. Therefore, the desired building cannot happen early next year but Dela Rama assured that this dream will come true.

One of the reasons why the building of the amphitheater could not start was the waiting of the bidding procedure. After going through planning and fixing the budget, the invitation of the bidders that are capable of construction is set. The budget is from the income of the university.

Dela Rama said that having an amphitheater will be an advantage for the students especially in their activities. According to him, it is desired to be classy and air-conditioned.

“Pinag-aaralan na rin 'yong upuan kung panao gagawin para mas marami ang ma-accommodate,” he added.

The amphitheater will be a lot bigger than the gymnasium in BSU.

Dela Rama stated that this is also going to be opened for other schools if they are going to be invited in particular events hosted by the university.

 

By Deliza Maye Fernandez

Isa sa mga taun-taong kaganapan sa Bulacan State University ang singing competition na BulSU Pop Superstar.
 
Ayon kay Herminio Suarez, ang patnugot ng naturang paligsahan, ang pangunahing layunin ng programa ay ang madiskubre ang talento ng mga mag-aaral ng BSU at matukoy kung sino sa mga mag-aaral ang may inklinasyon sa musika. Ayon din sa kanya, nagsimula ang paghahanap ng superstar mula pa noong 1998.

Ang pondo ng BulSU pop ay nanggagaling sa Miscellaneous fee ng bawat mag-aaral ng BSU na nilalagay sa SocioCultural Fund.

“Binabalik naming sa estudyante in order to help their parents regarding the financial deficiency,” ani Suarez.

Ang BulSU Pop Superstar ay ginaganap kada taon at nagsisimula sa buwan ng Agosto at nagtatapos sa buwan ng Disyembre kasabay sa Foundation week ng unbersidad. May 20 na aspiring contestants na maglalaban-laban. Noong nakaraang mga taon, tatlo-tatlo ang tinatanggal kada elimination pero dahil sa maraming walang pasok nitong mga nakaraang buwan at mga araw, apat na ang tatanggalin hanggang sa maging walo na lang at maglalaban-laban sa grand finals.

May tatlong round ang naturang kumpetisyon. Sa unang elimination, maglalaban ang mga aspirants sa Original Pilipino Music (OPM). Ang apat na matatanggal ay mag-uuwi ng P1000 bawat isa. Sa pangalawang round, kakanta sila ng Danceable songs at mag-uuwi ng P1,200. Ang sunod at huling apat na matatangal sa 3rd round ay magkakaroon naman ng P1,500 bawat isa.

Pagdating ng Grand finals, ang walong natitira ay maglalaban-laban.  Ang 3rd prize ay mag-uuwi ng P4,000; ang 2nd naman ay P6,000; sa 1st naman ay P8,000 plus trophy at ang tatanghaling grand champion ay magkakaroon ng P10,000 with trophy. Ang apat na walang pwesto ay magkakaroon ng tigtu-2,500php.

“Siyempre once na nanalo siya, everytime na ma-i-invite tayo (BSU) na mag-represent, siya yung ita-top ko,” saad ni Suarez tungkol sa tatanghaling BulSU Pop Superstar.

Bukod sa BulSU pop, nakaplano na ring gawin ang Choral Competition sa naturang unibersidad.