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P7.00 http://www.thedailyguardian.net [emails: guardianiloilo@yahoo.com.ph l thedailyguardianwv@gmail.com] Entered as Second Class Mail at Iloilo City Post Office

FLO
Water nixes
MIWD
projects

Nava denies links with

By F. Allan L. Angelo vol. xiii No. 216 = Monday, December 22, 2014 Western Visayas, Philippines = 16 PAGES
2 Sections
A BULK water supplier of Met-
ro Iloilo Water District (MIWD)
opposed two major projects of
the water utility which aims to
improve supply and service to
consumers.
In two letters dated Decem-

convicted drug lord

ber 12 and 15, 2014, FLO Water
Resources, Inc. of businessman
Rogelio Florete Sr. nixed the
proposed installation of a trans-
mission line from Leganes to
Ungka (along Circumferential
Road area) and the new Bulk
Water Supply Project (BWSP)
of MIWD.
The transmission line and
the BSWP projects are up for
bidding after invitations to bid
were posted in the Philippine
Government Electronic Pro-
curement System (PhilGEPS)
portal.
FLO Water and the Villar-
led Iloilo Primewater Ventures
Corp. have an existing 10-year
bulk water supply agreement
(BWSA) with MIWD.
FLO Water is required to de-
liver 15,000 cubic meters daily
(CMD) but it could only deliver
5,000 CMD due to pipe restric-
tions on the part of MIWD.
MIWD and FLO Water are
locked in a dispute on whether
or not the water utility should
pay for the undelivered 10,000
CMD under the so-called take-
or-pay agreement.
FLO Water claims that MI-
WDs arrears on the undelivered
10,000 CMD total between P80
million to P100 million
The Office of the Govern-
ment Corporate Counsel and
Department of Justice issued
separate opinions on the issue.
While both opinions de-
scribed the BWSA to be akin
FLO Water/p7
By Louine Hope Conserva
GUIMARAS Lone District Rep. Joaquin Carlos Rah-
man A. Nava confirmed that he owns the handgun
recovered from the prison quarters of convicted drug
lord Peter Co but denied any links to the latter.
In an interview with Aksyon Radyo over the weekend, the con-
gressman said he was even surprised and puzzled as to how his
gun ended up in Cos quarters at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in
Muntinlupa.
He confirmed that he owns the Walther PPK (Serial No. 2004695)
caliber .22 pistol found in Cos room.
Nava said the gun was registered in his name in November or
December 2011. The gun permit was issued on Jan. 4, 2012 and will
expire on Nov. 19, 2015.
Nava said he returned the gun to Nashe Gun Store in Manila
in 2012 after he found a crack in its frame.
The gun store said the pistol will be sent to
Germany, where it was manufactured, for
replacement.
Nava said he has yet to recover the pistol
since July 2013.
When asked if he has an acknowledgment
receipt or claim document from the gun store,
Nava said he relied on good faith because a
Guimaras native works in the store.
Nava said immediately rushed to the store
upon learning that his gun was recovered
from Cos possession.
Nava said he will ask the assistance of
his legal counsel for possible actions against
GUIMARAS Rep. JC Rahman Nava drug lord/p7 Convicted drug lord Peter Co. (Courtesy of inquirer.net)

Capitol accountant hit for delayed PEI With or without ICC

By Louine Hope Conserva for one year due to conduct prejudicial to

ILOILO Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. lam-
basted the Provincial Accounting Office
for the delayed release of the P30,000
performance enhancement incentives (PEI)
of Capitol employees.
In a radio interview with RMN-Iloilo,
Defensor hit assistant accountant Sandra
Bionat for her refusal to sign the docu-
ments.
Defensor said Bionats act came after
the Office of the Ombudsman suspended
the best interest of the public and neglect
of duty.
The suspension stemmed from alleged
overpayment of a power supply contract
entered into by the administration of then
governor Niel Tupas Sr.
Bionat insisted on holding the payroll
and re-compute the tax to be imposed
using the Bureau of Internal Revenues
formula.
I already talked with Bionat and Tupas
regarding the first computation and they
pension came out, Bionat decided to hold
the release and said she will abide by the
computation of BIR, he said.
Defensor explained to Bionat that there
is no criminal or administrative offense for
an early release of PEI.
Kun kulang or sala wala man na ya
kaso. That is the nature of tax deficiency.
Ang kulang nga balayran sa tax sukton
lang na ang empleyado. Ngaa kun kulang
bayad mo sa BIR ginaakusar ka nila kag
ginapapreso? said Defensor.
Si Sandra Bionat nagapaistrikta kag
Jed: APEC hosting
will push through
By Wenceslao E. Mateo Jr.
THERE is nothing to worry if the Iloilo Convention Center (ICC)
is not completed in time for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) meetings in Iloilo City.
This was the assurance of Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog
last Saturday to City Hall reporters on the fate of the citys bid to
host two APEC ministerial meetings late next year.

C
her and provincial accountant Lyd Tupas agreed. But on the next day when the sus- Capitol/p7 APEC/p7

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 2 Monday, December 22, 2014
TopNews Guardian
the daily Western Visayas Most
Read and Respected

DPWH earmarks P13.9B

for Western Visayas
By Jennifer Ponsaran-Rendon
THE Department of Public Works and Highways
(DPWH) has allocated around P13.929 billion
for various infrastructure projects in Western
Visayas next year.
Engr. Edilberto Tayao, DPWH-6 regional di-
rector, said Iloilo will get the bulk of the budget
at P5.363 billion.
The four district engineering offices in
Iloilo province will get P3.793 billion while
Iloilo City has P1.569-billion budget.
Negros Occidentals share is P4.258 billion;
Aklan P773 million; Antique P660 million;
Capiz P1.788 billion; and Guimaras P1.025
billion.
Given the need for more infrastructure projects
that need to be implemented, Tayao said DPWH
might ask for a supplemental budget.
Last year, DPWH-6s allocation totaled P12.2
billion for the construction of different roads and
bridges all over the region.
Tayao clarified that the said release is on top
of the budgets for projects under the Department
of Education (DepEd), Department of Agricul-
ture, and Department of Health (DOH) that the
DPWH implemented.
Im happy to note that we have more than 85
percent physical accomplishment, Tayao said.
The nationwide target is set at 84 percent.
Among the big projects implemented in 2014
are the construction of a bridge in Janiuay, Iloilo
which got a P125-million funding; phase 1 of the
Muelle Loney bridge with P66 million; and the
P51-million Buhang bridge.
A parallel bridge in Kalibo got a P240 million
budget.
Tayao said the development of road networks
and construction of bridges would boost further
boost tourism in Western Visayas.

Slippery pusher nabbed at last Iloilo inmates warned

not to follow Bilibid
By Angelica L. Tapalla
THE alleged main distributor of shabu
in Molo, Iloilo City was arrested Satur-
day after repeatedly escaping the police
dragnet.
John Carl Montelebano, 26, of Brgy.
South Fundidor, Molo tried to escape but
this time he was not so luck.
Police Inspector Rio Maymay, Molo
PNP chief, said Montelebano has repeat-
edly eluded past police dragnets.
Seized from Montelebano were five
sachets of suspected shabu, P500 marked
money, a cell phone, and other drug para-
phernalia.
Maymay said Montelebano is on their
watch list of suspected drug personalities.
While Montelebano was arrested, his
alleged cohort identified as only Jomar
escaped.
Authorities believe that Montelebanos
main supply of shabu is also based here in
Iloilo City.
He will be charged for violation of
Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive
Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Man found dead inside own house
A 50-year old man allegedly committed
suicide inside his house Saturday in Passi
City, Iloilo.
The Passi City PNP identified the victim
as Benhur Paciente of Brgy. Gines, Passi
City.
Police said the victim was found hanging
on the ceiling of his room.
No signs of foul play were detected on
Pacientes body.
Police reports said the victim has been
depressed the past days after his wife left
him.
His relatives also claimed that Paciente
is facing financial problems.
Man shot dead
A man was shot dead in front his house at
Brgy. Lo-ong Concepcion, early Saturday
morning.
Police identified the victim as Lordito
Sayon of the said place.
The bloodied victim was found in a va-
cant lot in front of his house with three gun-
shot injuries to the body. He was brought
to the hospital where he was declared dead
on arrival.
Residents in the area claimed hear-
ing gun fire before Sayons body was
found.
The victims family claimed no knowl-
edge on who killed him but they confirmed
receiving information of his alleged in-
volvement in a criminal syndicate.
By Louine Hope Conserva
The inmates of the Iloilo District Jail in Nanga, Pototan were
warned against following the illegal activities inside the New
Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. issued the warning to more than
600 IDJ inmates to avoid illegal drugs, sexual activities and other
illegal acts.
Do not despair for there is hope when you go out of the prison.
What I am asking you is to just abide by the law, he said.
District Jail warden, Superintendent Felixberto Jagorin Jr. said
majority of the cases of inmates inside IDJ is related to illegal
drugs.
The National Bureau of Investigation and the Department of
Justice recently confiscated contrabands inside the New Bilibid
Prison.
The luxurious lifestyle of convicted drug lords such as stripper
bars and jacuzzis were also uncovered.
Guns owned by politicians and government officials were also
found inside the quarter of a convicted drug lord Peter Co.

Army to hand over internal

Metro Iloilo Water District
Bonifacio Drive, Iloilo City
security operations to Capiz
By Jennifer Ponsaran-Rendon the City Government of Roxas with Mayor Angel
Alan Celino and Senior Superintendent Julio
THE Philippine Armys 3rd Infantry Division Gustilo of the Roxas City Police Station.
(3ID) will turn over the Internal Peace and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin will wit-
INVITATION TO SUBMIT NOMINATIONS Security Operations (IPSO) in Roxas City and
Capiz province.
ness the IPSO turn over on Tuesday.
Tiongson said that the handing over of IPSO
Major Ray Tiongson, 3ID spokesperson, said responsibility does not mean that the area is
the AFPs IPSO responsibility in Roxas City insurgency-free.
Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) is in the process of will be handed over today, December 22, and Its just that based on our assessment, the
Capiz on December 23, to the respective local
selecting Directors to represent the following sectors: government units (LGU) and peace and order
New Peoples Armys armed capability has been
downgraded, he added.
a) Professional Associations councils (POC).
The move follows the joint signing of the han-
Tiongson noted that there have been no violent
incidents in the past involving the rebels.
b) Womens Organizations dover of the Internal Peace and Security Efforts Its a step towards our goal of making the
(IPSE) to the peace and order council of Roxas area insurgency-free, he said.
City between the 3ID represented by its division Even if the AFP will not be at the forefront
commander, Major Rey Leonardo Guerrero, and operations/p7
One Director for each of the above-enumerated organizations
will be appointed by the Governor of the Province of Iloilo to
represent the said sector in the Board of Directors of MIWD We will give their bonus, salaries
for the remainder of the term of office or until 31 December By Felipe V. Celino ment Code and the SPs internal prayed that the Sangguniang
rule and procedures, the vice Panlungsod will heed their
2016. Heads, or duly authorized representatives, of institutions, ROXAS City Dont, worry, mayor has no authority to call plight.
we will release all the salaries for a special session. Its the The casual employees are
organizations or associations falling within the said sectors are and bonuses of all casuals, mayor and majority of the city asking for the release of their
requested to submit the names of their respective nominees contractuals and consultants council can call for a special, salary for October to December
salaries and bonuses afforded Abela said. this year. Their pay had been
who must be residents of the City of Iloilo, or any of the to them. Rommel Lastimoso, city delayed after nine councilors
This was the assurance given community affairs chief, said declared loss of confidence in
Municipalities of Pavia, Sta. Barbara, Cabatuan, Maasin, by City Administrator Gilbert the nine city councilors identi- Vice Mayor Ronnie Dadivas.
Leganes, Oton or San Miguel, Province of Iloilo together with Gaurino-Tan and City Coun- fied with Celino approved the Marvin Nain, a park atten-
cilor Julius Abela Friday amidst budget for the salaries and bo- dant and head of the city street
the resume of the nominee, not later than 29 December 2014 in the debacle besetting the Roxas nuses of the regular and casual sweepers, told the media that
a sealed envelope to: THE CORPORATE SECRETARY, Metro City Council.
In a press conference, Abela
employees.
The nine councilors will
they have asked the city gov-
ernment to release their salaries
Iloilo Water District, Bonifacio Drive, Iloilo City. said Vice Mayor Ronnie Da-
divas has no authority to call
be given due recognition be- so they can buy food and other
cause of their effort to realize necessities in preparation for ty-
for a special session to discuss the salaries and bonuses our phoon Ruby, but their request
the budget requested by Mayor city employees, particularly fell on deaf ears.
For inquiries, please call telephone number (033) 335-0147. Angel Alan Celino as it was the casuals, contractual and Now how can we have a
already approved in another consultants be given at them, merry Christmas if we do not
special session last Dec. 20, Lastimoso added. receive our salaries? I hope they
THE CORPORATE SECRETARY 2014. Earlier, street sweepers em- will consider our misery. We
Under the Local Govern- ployed by the city government salaries/p7
4 Monday, December 22, 2014
Opinion Guardian
the daily Western Visayas Most
Read and Respected

A bridge too far

T
HE TITLE is not mine. It is the title
of a World War II movie of the fa-
mous battle of the Remagen Bridge
spanning the Rhine River between Cologne
and Koblenz that opened the way for the
Allies to cross to Germany.
I used this title due to the similarity of
the situation between the Allied attempt to
speed up the conquest of Germany and our
own struggle to get a bridge between Ne-
Modesto Palacios Sa-onoy
gros and Panay. This dream had been talked

Focus about for almost half a century so that the

news from Occidental Negros Governor
Alfredo Maraon, Jr. that the Regional De-
velopment Council has already taken concrete steps to build this
bridge revives hopes for its realization.
The bridge that is too far in the future is now here and within
lifetime of the 20th century generation. It is no longer a bridge in
a distant.
During the visit of Typhoon Ruby that stranded hundreds of
people both in Bacolod and Iloilo, people realized the value of
this bridge. While all sea vehicles were prohibited from sailing,
the fact was that the weather in Iloilo was very good. On Saturday
there was a slight drizzle for minute or so that I joked the Asperges
has more water than the spitting of the heavens.
It was the same on Sunday. There was wonderful weather except
for an early slight rain that lasted a few minutes.
On Monday afternoon as we waited for the first trip at 2:10, the
ports waiting area was filled with people with plenty of stories to
tell. I was seated beside a member of the Bureau of Jail Manage-
ment and Penology who got stranded with his other companions.
They needed to be in Bacolod on Saturday when there was good
weather. They thought of going to Dumangas to get on the RORO
but the ships were also ordered to stay on port.

The Liberating Truth They thought of hiring pump boat but the owner said they would

Perfecto R. Yasay Jr.

get caught by the Coast Guard. I told him that had they been caught
the Coast Guard would have thrown them to jail and they would
have a good experience on how it feels to be behind bars.

Why do we celebrate Christmas?

There was a group of teachers who attended a two-day seminar.
They were supposed to go home Saturday. They had not enough
money or clothes to stay for two days more in the pension house.
Fortunately for the public school teachers, they had a subsidized
identified as Christmas Day, purposely to

O
N DE-
CEM-
BER 25,
the whole world
will cap another
grand spectacle
marked by the
giving of gifts,
well-wishing,
partying, singing
of carols, gather-
ing around especially decorated trees and
enjoying their colorful lights.
This time-honored custom is adapted
from religious rituals expressing reverence
to the cycle of life and the veneration of
gods and animistic spirits through seasonal
festivals.
Notably, Christmas began to be observed
in order to undercut similar pagan practices
that were taking place all over the ancient
world. However, in todays modern times,
it seems that the exact opposite has been
achieved.
At the time, Christianity was starting
to gain wide recognition after Constantine
the Great decreed it to be the State religion
of the Empire. But even earlier, ancient
Romans had long set aside special days in
December to honor Saturnalia - the goddess
of sowing and harvest, when food and drink
were plentiful and during which people
were having fun with hedonistic frenzy.
Most of Europe considered the end of the
12th month as a fitting time to begin reduc-
ing the number of cattle by slaughtering
them for meat especially that the planting
season had ended. This reduced the need
to feed livestock during the winter months
when food was generally scarce. Further-
more, the fermentation and aging of wine
and beer were usually completed by around
the winter solstice that made the season ripe
for merry celebrations.
But Christmas has a deeper meaning
for all Christians. It is a consecrated event
widely believed to be the date chosen by
God for his only son to be born and become
flesh to save the world from wickedness
and captivity.
For this compelling justification, early
church bishops thought that a day should be
set aside to coincide with and supplant other
popular celebrations expressing gratitude
to deities of wealth, joy and peace through
gift giving, sharing of prosperity and abun-
dance where masters could be seen showing
kindness to their servants and oftentimes
liberating their slaves.
Thus, December 25 was arbitrarily
replace pagan holidays observed all over
the ancient world to foster the acceptance,
growth and propagation of Christianity.
The Bible does not mention any date
when Jesus Christ was born. In fact it is
likely that such event happened during
the month of June, when people normally
tended their flock in the fields when the
grass is healthier and greener than during
the cold months where sheep and other
cattle are corralled closely together as a
measure against freezing conditions.
Evidently, the authors of the Gospels
were not concerned about the trivial sig-
nificance of the exact date that Jesus was
born. After all, its omission did not negate
the fact of the Holy Birth witnessed by the
shepherds and the Magi and the truthful
account of the Crucifixion and Resurrection
which is at the core of the Christian Faith.
For years, the nativity scene served as
the exclusive iconic image depicting the
birth of Jesus until the 16th century when the
Christmas tree started to emerge. Legend
has it that the decorated fir tree evolved to
become the greatest symbol for the festive
season after the Protestant reformer, Martin
Luther, started adding lighted candles to a
The Liberating Truth/p5
dormitory. The wonder of the cell phone helped. The teachers
called for an SOS and somehow their dean sent them money for
their stay and food, but not for clothing. Let your imagination
play how they fared.
There was a woman who introduced herself to be my former
student. She said they spent some days in Boracay with her
grandchildren. They got stranded in Iloilo despite their having to
cut short their stay. While she was worried, the kids enjoyed the
experience.
At Sunday lunch at the hotel, a woman who asked whether I
was also stranded told me that she went to Dumangas to take the
RORO only to be told that all the vessels were sent to Iloilo to take
shelter. She was willing to pay anyone to bring her to Negros since
she had an important appointment with Bishop Gerry Alminaza in
San Carlos. But there were no takers.
I am sure that each of those stranded Negrosanons wanting to
go home and Ilonggos with appointments in Bacolod has a story
to tell. I learned one who was to be a speaker in a seminar and
another group that would join a shooting tournament.
They have one complaint: why did the Coast Guard cancel the
trips when the weather was still good? Was it a case of overzeal-
ousness or were they afraid of the warning of President Aquino
that mistakes would be unforgivable?
If there was a bridge, people could have taken a bus or a car
anytime. After all, the trip would just take an hour.
There was an opinion that if Negros was one region, they did
not have to come to Iloilo for regional seminars or meetings.
Whether the weather was good or there was a storm, people in
Negros would be able to go home.
Focus/p5

Lemuel T. Fernandez JOY A. CAON Sherryl Mallorca

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Guardian
the daily Western Visayas Most
Read and Respected

Opinion Monday, December 22, 2014 5

Torchlight
Have we ever wondered?
C
ONGRATULATIONS to the senior
citizens of PHHC housing project in
Mandurriao, Iloilo City, particularly Ba-
rangays 17 and 22 led by Mrs. Marilou Chit
Cava, for their successful Christmas activity last
Saturday Dec. 20.
It was gratifying to see young people helping
the elderly in conducting their activities. They
helped organize the games for their elders and even participated
in some of them. They also helped arrange and organize the chairs
and helped serve the snacks.
All together, it was a great ball of fire of fun and meaningful
activities for the elderly and about a dozen young people who
joined them in their Christmas party, including their guests.
Gracing their affair among the public and community officials
were Councilor Armand Parcon, chair, Committee on Elderly;
Dolores Dolly Laudenorio, council member, National Anti-
Poverty Council and focal person of Gender and Development
Council; Brgy. Captain SergioCausing; Tiger Shark rescue team
Supreme Commander Rudy Eslita; Brgy Kagawad Fe Miraflores;
and several other barangay officials.
These VIPs were honoured with certificates of appreciation.
Donors of prizes were also cited. The first prize of one sack of
rice was won by Mrs.Rebecca Sumbang, represented in the affair
by her husband, Engr. Loreto Sumbang.
Hope to be invited again in your next years Christmas party!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
***
Have we ever wondered why there so many poor among us?
Why many children, especially in far-flung barangays are illiterate?
Why there are only a few schools despite the booming population
of children? Why so many die for lack of medical care? Why the
business-minded among the poor could not avail of even a small
capital to start or expand their small businesses?
Have we also wondered why the rivers and creeks are polluted?
Why far-flung areas could not have farm-to-market roads? Why
there are no bridges where they ought to be? Why so many more
projects could not be realized? And why the challenge to our
established government is even growing?
If we have wondered why, I am sure we can all come to the con-
clusion that all these happened because our taxes that government
would squeeze out from us do not go to all these concerns.
Ask any Juan, and they would even tell you that almost half of
these taxes just go to the pockets of corrupt public officials and
their cohorts in the private sector.
Much, therefore, of the solutions of our problems in Philippine
society involve the reduction of corruption in government to the
least degree, as what other countries like the United States and
Great Britain have achieved.
Admittedly, in countries such as ours where corruption
is deeply ingrained in society the solutions will be hard to
come by. But it does not mean that we should give up and
just wallow in it, ourselves, who still fear Gods anger on the
reprobates.
Just like a Chinese merchant who can relish earning pennies
day after day til it fills the piggy bank, we can also continue to
pursue the crusade without let-up.
I am sure that if we do that, we shall have achieved slowly but
surely our dream for a clean and honest government, and, eventu-
ally a progressive community and nation because the peoples taxes
can all be channelled to public welfare projects and programs.
***
Heres a set of suggestions on how to rein in corruption by Ms.
Natasha Hamilton-Hart, an associate professor and deputy head in
the Southeast Asian Studies Programme of the National University
of Singapore, where she teaches in the areas of political economy
and international relations.
Corruption, she says, refers to the use of public office for private
gain in ways that contravene declared rules. Bribery, extortion and
fraud, for example, are classified as corruption when they involve
the use of public position.
She noted that corruption potentially occurs in all branches
of government the bureaucracy, the armed forces, law-making
institutions and even the courts. It can range from small-scale
transactions involving relatively low level officials to the whole-
sale plunder of public resources by those at the very top of the
political structure.
While, by definition, it involves those in official positions, it
also frequently involves members of society as victims or co-
beneficiaries.
Hart suggests certain strategies in reducing corruption in gov-
ernment. These strategies fall into three main categories: Reducing
the scope for corruption through policy change; Increasing the
costs of corruption through external monitoring and sanctioning;
and Devising systems to induce self-restraint within government
organisations.
Corruption can only occur, she pointed out, when government
actors have discretion over the use of resources.
If the policies and programs that give rise to this discretion are
themselves eliminated, the particular forms of corruption associ-
ated with them necessarily disappear.
Policy and institutional reforms aim at reducing opportuni-
Wenceslao E. Mateo Jr.
ties for corruption, make corrupt behaviour more costly to the
public officials, increase the likelihood of its detection and
positively reward non-corrupt behaviour.
The second major category into which anti-corruption strategies
fall is that of resolving the principal-agent (people-government)
problem that underlies corruption by imposing external constraints
on government actors.
If the problem is that principals lack information and sanction-
ing power, mechanisms that provide information and empower
principals should help resolve them.
Monitoring and auditing institutions such as free press and
independent audit boards, the incorporation of societal represen-
tatives in monitoring bodies, and laws that mandate transparency
are all mechanisms that increase the flow of information and make
corrupt behaviour more likely to be detected.
We wonder though why President Aquino, while espousing
Tuwid na Daan (Clean Government), has not until today signed
the Right to Information Bill into law, which will give the free
press full access to government records, except as regards national
security.
It is intriguing. It is like saying: I am clean, so you need not
check on my activities in government. Really? Cant be sure of
that until we really find out.
The third type of anti-corruption strategy, Hart says, aims
to reconstruct government organizations in ways that provide
internal discipline. Specific reforms include internal monitoring
and sanctioning mechanisms (internal and audit committees,
reporting requirements and disciplinary codes, for example), but
extend to a broader set of positive and negative incentives for cor-
rect behaviour. These range from increased official salaries and
selective recruitment, merit-based promotion and development
of organizational routines that reproduce habits of formalized,
rule-based behaviour.
I am sure that these suggestions of Prof. Hart could help us
reform Iloilo Citys public markets, which are now under investi-
gation for various cases of graft and corruption.
This may be done by limiting the discretion of collectors over
the use of market collections, the use of accountable forms, and
the imposition of costs on market vendors for conniving with cor-
rupt market employees.
There should also be internal monitoring and sanctioning
mechanisms in the market organization by adopting a monitor-
ing system and rejecting unlawful practices in favour of explicit
regulations, ordinances and laws.
Honesty and efficiency among market employees can also be
promoted by the giving of incentives and by employing and pro-
moting employees according to a merit-system.

On Whitsun Wings The Liberating Truth... from p.4

Lucell Larawan conifer plant, which started a new tradition.

Nevertheless, tree worship was already a
represent the heavenly host that heralded the
glorious birth with their beautiful chorus. In

Monuments of Injustice
common ritual in pagan Europe. In fact the
decoration of homes and barns with evergreens
started off as a Scandinavian ceremony to scare
off evil spirits. Even ancient Egyptians were
fact any other item hanging on the tree has a
special importance to the Christian devotee
who places them there.
The Philippines is known as the only

M
ONUMENTS remind
of honorable men and
women whothrough
gallantry and great sacrifice
vanquished a phalanx and re-
stored a peoples pride. Aside
from a civilizations penchant
for such monuments, societ-
ies are also capable of building
monuments of follya lagging economy due to
red tape and corruption, billion pesos donations
unaccounted for during typhoon Yolanda, and an
electorate system which indirectly encourages drug
lords/protectors; to name a droplet.
Then we are surprised about the report on New
Bilibid Resort based on Department of Justice
secretary Liela De Limas surprise visit. Investiga-
tors unearthed a privileged penology for heinous
crimes committed by inmates. No need to expand
your imagination: they found for VIPs-only re-
The only difference with this evolving criminal
magnum opus is that drug lords no longer need to
hide and the ones who used to bring them to justice
have become strategic partners. Perfect, indeed.
I guess they used their common sense to apply
PLDT-Smart tandem and other successful partner-
ships in the world of legitimate business. The public
was oblivious of such crime best-practice until the
recent discovery.
That hoodlums could bribe authorities and black-
mail them through various threats leading to the cre-
ation of the New Bilibid Drug Dealing Headquarters
is a monument of injustice that we cannot and should
not tolerate or just verbally condemn.
By all means, all netizens who believe in
justice and the rule of law must stop the shame-
ful dirty secrets that not only have lurked in the
Bureau of Corrections, but continues to plague
some offices mandated to deliver services to the
people.
known to have regularly used evergreens as
garland in their religious rites as a symbol of
eternal life.
As a religious emblem, the evergreen tree
reminds every Christian the Biblical promise
that by believing in Jesus Christ as the Son of
God, a person will have eternal life. Many of
the faithful also believe that the star on top of
the tree represent the star over Bethlehem that
guided the Magi to the place of the birth of
Jesus. The tree itself has developed to signify
the wooden cross on which Jesus died for the
sins of the world. The lights on the tree now
stand for the light of the world while the J
shaped peppermint candies stand for the name
of Jesus and the staff of the shepherds. The
other items on the tree, like angels and bells
Focus... from p.4
Christian nation in Asia. As such, celebrating
Christmas is supposed to be part of a solemn
duty of venerating and bearing witness to the
birth of the Son of God as personal Savior
who suffered and died on Calvarys tree as a
ransom for all sins. And yet, our observance
of this blessed occasion is often times reduced
to a mere habitual exercise that has lost its
essence. Gift giving continues to be practiced
simply as a compelling reciprocal obligation
between the giver and recipient. But strik-
ingly, like the pagans in ancient Rome, self-
gratifying parties and other irreverent and
petty activities characterize and motivate our
festive moods.
Oh well, merry Christmas and a happy
yuletide season to all!

cording studio, guns, air-conditioner-- amenities
of pampered criminals. Who says these resorts for
convicts are not also the most strategic headquarters
to run the drug trade with the aid of law enforcers
themselves?
Needless to say, what our society should worry
about have been given the upper hand in the vi-
cious game of destruction: this time, they not only
developed from cat-and-mouse chase operations
outside to a perfect law enforcers-drug dealers
partnership for more promising enterprise. In lieu
of hiding from authorities, the drug lords have
found a more viable modus operandi to run their
tradethis instance, they found better offices with
A-1 furniture, limitless cash and what a luxurious
life can pitch.
President Aquinos response to the discovery The NEDA has given a signal to start the process for the construction of this P60 billion
should end up to full execution of change if it is bridge. Its location does matter; just build it so nobody gets stranded. We cannot escape the
to reclaim the Bureau of Corrections. The govern- fact that there are typhoons every year.
ment can apply the private organizations paradigm
of business process reengineering where abrupt
changes are necessary to solve the disturbing man-
agement system for the inmates.
As exemplified by De Lima, other institutions
entrusted for public welfare should have MBWA
(management by walking around). They should
observe the real score around them rather just listen
to what subordinates say. If not, who knows they are
just made to believe that everything in their domain
is doing well?
Good citizens who believe in justice must unite
to destroy the appalling monument.
6 Monday, December 22, 2014 Negros Guardian
the daily Western Visayas Most
Read and Respected

No parking in downtown
Bacolod starting January
BACOLOD City Preparations for the
2015 Asia-Pacific Economic Forum has
started in this city as early as this month.
Mayor Monico Puentevella has ordered
a no parking policy along downtown area
and Lacson Street from the Bacolod City
Police Office up to Barangay Bata starting
January 1, 2015, from7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The mayor said the enforcement of the
No Parking Rule is in preparation for the
citys hosting of the APEC meeting on Open
Data Initiative on April 16-17, 2015.
It will likewise gear Bacolod for the
ocular visit of the APEC National Orga-
nizing Committee (APEC-NOC) led by
Deputy Director-General for Conference
Management and Services Ambassador
Ma. Angelina Sta. Catalina and Deputy
Director-General for Operations Anthony
Alcantara.
Bacolod will be on the spotlight next
year, and we have to put our best foot for-
ward, said Puentevella.
The mayor also sees the move as a step
that will eventually decongest the traffic
situation in the city, especially in business
areas like Lacson Street.
Meanwhile, the mayor disclosed that the
installation of Closed Circuit Televisions
(CCTV) cameras along the citys major
thoroughfares will begin this month.
The Command Center will be at the Old
City Hall in downtown Bacolod where
a team will be tasked to monitor traffic
conditions and accidents for immediate
assistance.
These cameras will also be useful during
natural or manmade calamities and that the
City Disaster Risk Reduction and Manage-
ment Council (CDRRMO) can deploy their
quick response teams to the location, he
added. (CMO-PIO)

Cops net suspect in pawnshop robbery Benitez as

BACOLOD City Bacolod City PNP arrested
one of the suspects in a pawnshop robbery here
about three hours after the heist with the help of
CCTV camera footages over the weekend.
Police from Station 1 headed by Senior Inspec-
tor Joefer Cabural arrested Fritz Deniza, 18, of
The three are the suspects in the robbery of
Cebuana Lhuiller Pawnshop located along Ga-
tuslao Street here.
next House COKALIONG
SHIPPING LINES, INC.
Denizas arrest came following the review
of closed circuit television camera (CCTV) in- Speaker? Tel. # (033) 335-8833; 5093333
stalled by the pawnshop and information given

ILOILO-CEBU
Purok Kaingin, Barangay Singcang-Airport last by police assets. By Dolly Yasa
Saturday. Deniza who admitted to have committed the
Bacolod City The 60-
CEBU-ILOILO
Denizas companions - Mac-Mac of Baran- crime, was arrested in his house. Police recov-
gay Sum-ag, and Kevin of Barangay Taculing, ered from his possession P65,000, cellphones, man strong Visayan Bloc in
are still in hiding. pawnshop/p7 Congress wants Negros Occi-

Revised GSI stress barangays

role in SWM implementation
By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD City The Ba-
colod City Council approved
the amendments to Garbage
Services Incentives Ordinance
that recognizes the important
role of barangays in the suc-
cessful implementation of the
Ecological Solid Waste Man-
agement Act.
Authored by Councilor Wil-
son Gamboa Sr., the 2014
Amendments to GSI provides
that barangays must have a 50
percent share from the proceeds
of garbage service charges col-
lected from business establish-
ments.
The barangay councils can
dental-3rd district Rep. Alfredo
Abelardo Benitez as the next ILOILO-CEBU CEBU-ILOILO
Speaker of the Lower House,
according to Capiz Rep. Anto-
Wed- Fri- Sun Tue- Thu Sat
Departure: 7pm Departure: 7pm
nio del Rosario.
The Capiz solon, who was Arrival: 7am Arrival: 7am
in Negros Occidental over the
get their share every quarter of
weekend to celebrate Benitezs
the year upon verification that One way / Economy Class
48th birthday, said it is the dream
the villages are indeed compli-
of Visayas solon to have a Prices and promos are subject to changes w/o prior notice.
ant to the segregating and com-
leader who will come from the
posting requirements of Section
central Philippines.
32 of Republic Act 9003.
It is our dream that some-
The Amendment specified
one from the Visayas can be
the need for a focal person
the next leader of Congress,
who will be accountable and
he said.
Revised/p7 Benitez/p7

NIR will be
a hot issue in
2016-solon
By Dolly Yasa

Victorias City A Negros

Oriental solon believes that the
contested Negros Island Region
proposal will be a hotly debated
issue this 2016 presidential
elections.
Rep. George Arnaiz, who
was here to attend the birth-
day celebration of Rep. Albee
Benitez, said majority of local
officials in NegOr are for the
NIR except their governor, Roel
Degamo.
Arnaiz claimed that almost
all local government officials in
Negros Oriental are for the NIR
except for Degamo, he said.
I can feel now that the
people understood what the
NIR is about, he said.
I hope that the President can
finally help us make this dream
of 20 years a reality for the time
is now for NIR, he added.
He said Degamos opposi-
Daily Promo Rates
tion is political.
He (Degamo) does not like ILOILO CEBU
it because we are for it. And
you know how politics works,
Arnaiz said.
CEBU ILOILO
He said when the idea was
first introduced, he was also ILOILO CEBU CEBU ILOILO
against it. But he realized its for Tue-Thu-Sat-Sun Mon-Wed-Fri-Sat
the good of the Negrenses. Departure: 6 pm Departure: 6 pm
I was hoping that that he
Arrival: 7 am Arrival: 7 am
will go for it because it will be
for the good of the people in this
hot issue/p7 335-8499;5099909 for details
Drug Lord... from p.1
Nashe.
The congressman insisted
that he does not know Co.
The National Bureau of
Investigation, Philippine Drug
Enforcement Agency and other
law enforcement agencies along
Operations... from p.2
of the IPSO, Tiongson said
that they will still play a sup-
port role.
The 3ID will also main-
tain its troops in the said
areas.
In Western Visayas, the prov-
Salaries...
from p.2
cannot afford to prepare some-
thing for our noche buena,
said Nain.
City hall department heads
reportedly refused to sign the
vouchers and other necessary
documents for the salaries and
Christmas incentives of em-
ployees for fear of committing
illegal acts in the light of the
city council debacle.
Dadivas and councilors Cora
Balgos-Tiangco and Powell del
Rosario told the media that they
Pawhnshop...
from p.6
undetermined amount of dollar,
one sachet of suspected shabu
and tooter.
Other items missing at the
pawnshop were laptop and
personal belongings of em-
ployees.
Police said Denizas group
Revised... from p.6
responsible in the implementa-
tion of solid waste management
program in the barangay.
The Amendment also speci-
fied that barangays must imple-
ment City Ordinance No. 479,
Series of 2009 in partnership
with the City Government with
regard to solid waste manage-
ment, the cleaning of their
respective areas and clean and
green projects, including the
following:
Apec... from p.1
The ICC is being rushed to
serve as main venue for the two
meetings.
Former Iloilo provincial
administrator Manuel Mejorada
filed a case before the Office of
the Ombudsman against Senate
President Franklin Drilon and
other top government officials
and the project contractor for
the alleged overpricing in the
ICC project.
With or without the Iloilo
Convention Center, our hosting
of the two ministerial meetings
of APEC by next year will
proceed as planned, the mayor
confidently said.
Mabilog assured the report-
Benitez... from p.6
If that happens, our needs in the Visayas will
also be given attention, del Rosario said.
He said many of his colleagues are urging
Benitez to be a candidate for the esteemed posi-
with Department of Justice
Secretary Leila De Lima con-
ducted a raid inside the NBP
last week.
The team discovered a
private gym, a band room,
Jacuzzis, among others, in
the maximum security com-
pound.
inces of Guimaras and Aklan
have already been declared
insurgency-free.
The AFP also turned over its
IPSO responsibility to the LGU
and POC of Antique and Negros
Oriental.
The 3ID is looking forward
to do the same to Iloilo and
will hold a special session to
discuss the supplemental bud-
get for the salaries and Christ-
mas bonuses of employees on
Dec. 20.
To the nine councilors and
Mayor Angel Alan Celino, have
a clear heart and mind to rethink
your positions and act immedi-
ately in the spirit of Christmas,
Dadivas said.
Del Rosario, meanwhile,
appealed to his colleagues to at-
tend the special session. Public
service means service above
self, he said.
passed at the back portion of the
pawnshop at Gaisano parking
lot and climbed the grill to gain
entry by destroying its padlock
using a scissor.
Deniza said they entered the
pawnshop about 12 a.m. Satur-
day and went out about 3 a.m.
While inside, the suspects
destroyed the administration of-
1. Collection of solid waste
thru manual pushcarts, trisikads
or motorized vehicles in the
residential areas and in the
commercial areas within the
jurisdiction of the barangay;
2.Implement garbage segre-
gation and composting through
the use of the Materials Recov-
ery Facility (MRF) established
within the barangay or shared
with other barangays. Shar-
ing of the Materials Recovery
Facility with other barangays
shall be required in a cluster of
ers that alternative venues for
the APEC meetings will be
available.
In fact, the executive direc-
tor (Junel Divinagracia) of the
local organizing committee is
now in Manila to assure the
APEC national organizing
committee that we are ready
for it with or without the Iloilo
Convention Center and to dis-
cuss further the details of our
preparations here, Mabilog
said.
The Royal Garden conven-
tion hall and Diversion 21 Hotel
here are more than enough
to host these two ministerial
meetings.
Some 2,000 delegates from
21 member states of APEC,
tion but it requires a tedious process.
We believe we have the edge because we are
a clannish people and will not allow others to rule
over us, he added.
Other contrabands found
were two air-conditioning units
in one of the villas belonging
to a high profile inmate, illegal
drugs, flat screen TVs and sex
toys.
Five inmates also tested
positive for human immunode-
ficiency virus (HIV).
Negros Occidental provinces
next year.
Tiongson said the said de-
velopment in the governments
anti-insurgency campaign will
boost socio-economic, agro-
industrial and infrastructure
development activities in Panay
and Negros islands.
Dadivas filed an injunction
case against the special session
conducted by Councilors Erwin
Sicad, Trina Marie Ignacio,
Cesar Yap Jr., Matthew James
Viterbo, Jennifer Poliran, Er-
lyn Lim, Jose Agdalipe, Julius
Abela and Virgilio Santos on
Nov. 20.
Since the sessions held by
the nine councilors without
the vice mayor are being ques-
tioned in the court, department
heads refused to sign the docu-
ments for fear of criminal and
administrative charges.
fice but failed to open the vault
where a huge cash and pawned
jewelries were stored.
Denizas group then went
to a place in Barangay Banago
and sniff shabu before going
home.
Deniza was ordered detained
while police re tracking down
the two other suspects. (PNA)
Barangays;
3.Conduct Information and
Education Campaign (IEC)
regarding solid waste manage-
ment assisted by the city and
IEC task force;
4. Cleaning of streets, ca-
nals, waterways, pathways,
shorelines, and illegal garbage
dumps; and 5.Propagation and
maintenance of the greening
projects which includes the
citys median islands, ecological
gardens for food security, tree
parks and public open spaces.
including the United States and
China are expected to attend the
meetings.
Iloilo City will host the
Small Medium Enterprises
(SMEs) ministerial meeting
on Sept. 21-25, 2015 and the
Food Security Week (High
Level Policy Dialogue on
Food Security and the Blue
Economy) on Sept. 28 to Nov.
6, 2015.
Two other places Boracay
and Bacolod City - are also
hosting other APEC ministerial
meetings.
Meanwhile, the Department
of Public Works and Highways
(DPWH) will conduct the sec-
ond bidding for the ICCs Phase
II in January 2015, when.
Guardian
the daily Western Visayas Most
Read and Respected
FLO Water...
from p.1
to a take-or-pay agreement,
the two offices warned MIWD
of government auditing rules
which prohibit payments for
undelivered or unconsumed
goods/supplies.
BAD FAITH?
In sum, FLO Water insists
that the 400-millimeter (mm)
transmission pipeline project
from Leganes town to Ungka,
Jaro, Iloilo City is not techni-
cally responsive to the aim of
accommodating the undeliv-
ered 10,000 CMD.
The water supplier cited the
small size of the transmission
pipe which is not enough to
accept 10,000 cubic meters of
water.
FLO Water also said it was
not consulted and has no par-
ticipation in the preparation
of the program of work of the
transmission line project.
Prudence requires that FLO
Water should have been con-
sulted in order to make its due
diligence particularly on the
technical side if said plan will
have no negative impact on its
system and with the present
Bulk Water Supply Agree-
ment between FLO Water and
MIWD, the water firm added.
As to the new bulk water
supply project of MIWD which
will inject an additional 5,000
CMD to the water district, FLO
Water said it will be prejudicial
to them given their contractual
disputes.
The water firm said MIWDs
move clearly manifest (sic)
the evident bad faith of MIWD
not to promptly comply, it not,
altogether avoid its contractual
obligations.
The new bulk water supply
project will also entail extraction
of groundwater sources which
is environmentally questionable
and will require consent of local
government units.
Capitol... from p.1
gapaalam-alam pero wala
man sa lugar. Matig-a ulo kag
ginainsistar nya gid ang iya
sang BIR, he added
Bionat also asked for an
executive order from Defensor
on the PEI.
Kun nag-insist pa gid siya
mangayo executive order i-akusa
ko siya insubordination. Indi na
ako maghulat sang suspension
sang Ombudsman. I-suspend ko
siya mismo, said Defensor.
Defensor also criticized ac-
hot issue...
from p.6
island, he said.
But Degamos opposition is
irrelevant if the President ap-
proves it, he said.
It is really the President that
matters. If the President decides
in favor of it then no provincial
executive can do anything,
Monday, December 22, 2014
FLO Water also said that
MIWDs P20 million budget
for the project should have
been used to pay the water dis-
tricts arrears to FLO Water and
Primewater which now exceeds
P100 million.
The Florete-led firm also
faulted MIWD for not heeding
its proposal to install a 600-mm
transmission line along Bangga
Mauring at Leganes town sans
cost to the water district. The
pipeline is meant to accommo-
date FLO Waters undelivered
10,000 CMD.
NON EXCLUSIVE
In their response dated De-
cember 15, 2014, MIWD board
chairman Danilo Encarnacion
said the BWSA with FLO
Water and Primewater is not
exclusive and will not prevent
the water district from initiating
projects which will improve its
service.
Encarnacion said the addi-
tional 5,000 CMD to be sourced
from other suppliers outside
FLO Water and Primewater is
part of MIWDs mandate to
continuously look for additional
sources.
With or without the water
supplies under the BWSA, the
water districts mandate to pro-
vide additional water supply
already exists, and the intended
bidding of the additional 5,000
CMD is in pursuance of such
mandate. Therefore, whether or
not the 15,000 CMD is able to be
delivered by FLO Water is beside
the point, precisely because the
water district will always have to
look and provide for additional
water supply for its water con-
cessionaires, he added.
The additional 5,000 CMD
will not affect FLO Water and
Primewater as it is intended
to address water shortage in
Oton, Pavia, San Miguel and
Mandurriao.
The supply from FLO Water
and Primewater (which has
countant Lyd Tupas for turning
over his responsibilities to
Bionat.
Ang indi ko maintindihan
nga siya ang head sang ac-
counting dapat siya madeci-
sion. Kun indi magsugot si
Bionat siya ma-insist, the
governor said.
He also hit Bionat for signing
the electricity supply contract
with Green Core Geothermal
Inc. during the incumbency of
former governor Niel Tupas, Sr.
which was disallowed by the
Commission on Audit.
against it, he said.
Arnaiz reiterated that the
NIR is good for the two prov-
inces for better management.
We should transcend and go
beyond politics as we will not be
in politics forever. The NIR will
go even beyond our children and
their children, he said.
NIR pushes for the unifica-
7
a required volume of 10,000
CMD) is concentrated mainly
in Leganes and Jaro.
As to the additional 400 mm
pipeline along the Circumfer-
ential Road, Encarnacion said
it will be connected to the two
200-mm pipelines at Injection
Point No. 3 which is the intake
point for FLO Water.
Per hydraulic study and
analysis, it will be more than
sufficient to receive the undeliv-
ered volume of water from FLO
Water. Thus, unless you do not
really intend at all to have the
10,000 CMD undelivered water
under the BWSA, the bidding
for the 400 mm pipeline is le-
gally and technically in order,
Encarnacion said.
PRICE ESCALATION
Encarnacion also debunked
FLO Waters claim that the
latters proposal to install a 600-
mm pipeline at Bangga Maur-
ing in Leganes will not entail
additional costs on MIWD.
He said that MIWD is await-
ing the funds offered by the
Local Water Utilities Admin-
istration (LWUA) for the said
purpose.
Besides, we dont agree that
your proposal would not entail
cost for the water district, as we
are aware that you would like
to ask for an increase in water
rate from the current P11.72/
cu. m. to P17.20/cu. m. plus an
extension of 15 years to the 10-
year original contract period,
in exchange for putting up the
pipeline. In other words, in the
final analysis, your proposal to
construct the pipeline would not
be totally without cost at all to
the water district.
Encarnacion said FLO Wa-
ters proposal to increase water
rates would be grossly disad-
vantageous to the water district
and its concessionaires as we
will be paying P17.20/cu. m. for
water that we sell for P15.90/
cu. m.
Si Sandra Bionat halin sang
una muna batasan niya. May
mga bagay nga dapat indi siya
magpira pero nagpirma siya.
Indi na siya team player. Bal-
ingag ina, he said.
The Ombudsman charged
Governor Tupas, Lyd Tupas
and Bionat, for violating Sec-
tion 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and
Corrupt Practices Act for the
P4-million overpayment to
Green Core for unconsumed
electricity.
Defensor said he expects the
PEI to be released today.
tion of Negros Occidental and
Negros Oriental under one
political region.
NegOcc belongs to Western
Visayas while NegOr belongs to
Central Visayas, with regional
centers located at Iloilo City
and Cebu City, respectively.
Arnaiz admitted that he will
run against Degamo in 2016.
8 Monday, December 22, 2014
Palami, Global FC relish
AFC Cup opportunity
GLOBAL chief executive Dan Palami was
all smiles after Global FC achieved another
important feat for Philippine football as it
became the first ever Filipino club to par-
ticipate in the prestigious AFC Cup, which
begins next year.
Global has played some fine football
this year, having won the FA Charity Club
as well as the 2014 league title in extraor-
dinary fashion.
We have managed to make a lot of firsts
for Philippine football, Palami said in a
statement. it is not just being crowned as
champions of the Philippines that matters
now, but it is also the chance to represent
Ellis lifts
Mavs past
Spurs second
unit in Rondos
debut
MONTA Ellis scored 38 points,
including 11 of his teams final
13 points for a come-from-
behind victory against the San
Antonio Spurs, 99-93.
The Spurs found them-
selves still ahead at the 3:52
mark after a Marco Bellineli BIKE TOURISM. Bikers from Iloilo and Guimaras join the 1st Fuerte Petron Mountain Bike Challenge on December 21 at Barangay Alaguisoc, Jordan, Guimaras. The
freethrow, but without usual biking event aims to promote the island province as the Bike Capital of the Philippines. In photos are event hosts Engr. Jungi and Mrs. Putli Fuerte, and organizers Tommy
options Tim Duncan, Manu C. Martir and Lenron Delumpa. (Ricky D. Alejo)
your club in the Asian region.
Palami is hoping that Globals chance to
play in the Asian stage will embolden other
clubs to step up as well.
This is a good opportunity, not just for
Global but for all the clubs as well, he
said. The door has been opened for our
participation in the AFC Cup.
We have the growth of clubs also to
complement (the success of the Azkals),
this will be the best formula for the im-
provement of Philippine football, he
added.
Global FC previous played in the 2013
AFC Presidents Club.
Guardian
the daily
Palami stressed that playing in Asian
competitions is a whole new level, and that
consistency in all competitions will be a
major factor for Global.
The Asian level is different, he said.
You cannot be complacent and be comfort-
able with your domestic achievements.
We just have to schedule (the games)
properly. The key is that the complete squad
must be at the level where the quality will
not suffer when you rotate the players,
he added.
The 2015 AFC Cup starts on February
10, 2015, and will run until October 31.
(ABS-CBNnews.com)
Floyd Sr.: Khan
fights like a woman
OUTSPOKEN boxing trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. dis-
missed British fighter Amir Khans recent achievement,
saying the former world light-welterweight champion fights
like a washerwoman.
Khan is coming off a dominant victory over American
Devon Alexander in Las Vegas, which put him in position to
challenge Floyd Mayweather Jr. to a fight.
The elder Mayweather, however, dismissed Khans perfor-
mance against Alexander, telling HustleBoss: He fights like a
washerwoman. That man throws punches all kinds of ways.
To stress his point, he imitated Khans fighting style
by throwing wild punches, swinging his arms and moving
awkwardly.
Im going to be honest with you, Mayweather said.
Aint nothing impress me about Amir Khan. Because
Amir Khan, he fights like a damn woman. He aint got no
control.
Mayweather did acknowledge that Khans wild style may
just make him a more credible threat to his son than Filipino
boxing legend Manny Pacquiao.
I think hes more of a threat, because Pacquiao aint going
to throw but one punch at a time, he said. This guy (Khan)
is throwing all kind of crazy a** punches.
The younger Mayweather earlier dismissed Khan as a
potential opponent, telling reporters last week that the Briton
doesnt have a big enough name to merit a fight against him.
(ABS-CBNnews.com)
 http://www.thedailyguardian.net [email: guardianiloilo@yahoo.com thedailyguardianwv@gmail.com]
B1
Monday, December 22, 2014

Oil firms
cut pump
prices anew
MANILA Seven oil companies
cut the prices of their fuel
products effective December
21.
Effective 12:01 a.m. Sunday,
Petron reduced gasoline prices
by P1.10 per liter, diesel prices
by P1.35 per liter and kerosene
CTO-LTD to accept payments
for RPT on weekends
BACOLOD City Residents of this city are encour-
aged to pay their real property taxes early as the City
Treasurers Office-Land Tax Division announced its
schedule for the holiday.
According to CTO-LTD, they are open on the morn-
ing of December 24, 26 and 30 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon
to accept payments for RPT for CY 2014.
Land Tax Division Chief Arlene Memoria disclosed that
her office will also accommodate taxpayers on two week-
ends this month - December 20 and 27 (Saturdays) and on
December 21 and 28 (Sundays) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Meanwhile, the public are advised that there will
be only one banking day from December 24 until
January 4.
In that period, banks will only be open on December
29 as all other dates either fall on a weekend or are
considered holidays.
Some credit card companies are also reminding
clients to pay their bills ahead of the holidays, since
processing of payments made during December 24 and
January 4 may be deferred to January 5. (CMO-PIO)

Russian billionaire worlds Tips on how to save

prices P1.40 per liter.
Shell and Seaoil reduced
their pump prices by the same

biggest financial loser

amounts effective midnight.
Caltex decreased the prices
of Gold and Silver gasoline by
P1.10 per liter, diesel by P1.35
per liter and kerosene by P1.40
per liter.
Eastern Petroleum also cut
its gasoline prices by P1.10 per
liter and diesel prices by P1.30
per liter, effective 12:01 a.m.
PTT Philippines also
decreased pump prices of
gasoline by P1.10 per liter and
of diesel by P1.35 per liter,
effective 12:01 a.m.
Phoenix Petroleum
Philippines decreased their
pump prices by the same
amount effective 6 a.m on
December 21.
Meanwhile, the Department
of Trade and Industry has
Oil /pB7
on holiday feasts
A billionaire earned an extra $18.5 billion
in 2014, making him the biggest financial gainer
of the year, according to Wealth-X. Another bil-
lionaire, on the other hand, lost $7 billion, making
him the biggest financial loser of 2014.
Wealth-X, a leading ultra high net worth
intelligence and prospecting firm, said Alibaba
founder and executive chairman Jack Ma added
$18.5 billion to his wealth this year, bringing his
total net worth to $29.2 billion. The 173 percent
increase in his fortune was attributed to Alibabas
blockbuster IPO in September, and its stocks
continued strong performance.
Highly-respected investor Warren Buffet
ranked second on Wealth-Xs list of top finan-
cial gainers, with a $13.5 billion increase in his
fortune to $72.6 billion in 2014.
Bill Gates, who is still the worlds richest man,
added another $10.5 billion to his wealth in 2014
to reach $83.1 billion.
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg saw his
fortune increase by $8.4 billion to reach $33.1
billion this year.
French-Israeli businessman Patrick Drahi
added $5.1 billion to his wealth to hit $12.9 bil-
lion in 2014. Drahi founded telecommunications
company Altice, which raised $1.8 billion from
an IPO in January.
Biggest loser
Wealth-X also compiled the years biggest
financial losers.
Russian billionaire Leonid Mikhelson lost $7
billion, more than 40 percent of his wealth, due
to the plunging Russian ruble, as well as weak oil
prices. Mikhelson, who is the biggest shareholder
of natural gas producer Novatek, is now worth
Russian /pB7
MANILA Expecting lots of guests this Christmas and New Year.
Here are some tips on how you can save on your food expenses yet
enjoy your time with your family and friends this holiday.
On ANCs On The Money, celebrity chefs Roland and Jackie
Laudico offered some tips on how you can have a great meal
with family and friends during the holidays, without breaking
the bank.
One growing trend is hiring chefs to cater private parties.
However, be sure to book a chef months in advance.
Whether youre a chef, caterer or restaurant owner, Christmas
season will always be peak season, Roland said.
Asked about the cost of hiring a private chef, Jackie said it would
depend on the caliber of the chef, the menu and the kind of service.
It may range from P1,000 to as much as P3,000 per head.
The menu will basically be the one to determine the costs
because of the ingredients, she said. If the ingredients are
imported, it could go up to P3,000 per head.
Roland suggested booking a chef, restaurant or caterer before
November, since Christmas is a peak season.
holiday feasts /pB7

You can sit back and relax after your hectic workday; well take care of everything else for you.
At Amigo Terrace Hotel, you may be a business traveler but youll feel right at home in any of our
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personalized service all come together to make your visit as smooth and enjoyable as possible.
Come and experience the difference in our boutique hotel today.
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A boutique hotel property of

B2 Monday, December 22, 2014 Business Guardian
the daily Western Visayas Most
Read and Respected

PHL manufacturing, agri big CAAP

winners in EU zero-tariff
THE COUNTRYS manufacturing and agriculture sec-
tors are the sectors expected to benefit most out of the
recent decision of the European Union (EU) to include
the country in its list of zero-tariff exports, according
to business groups.
Last Thursday night (PHL time), the European
Parliament granted the Philippines application for
the Generalized Scheme of Preference Plus (GSP+), a
trade tariff scheme for a 28-member bloc.
EU Ambassador Guy Ledoux said this will immedi-
ately translate into savings of tens of millions of euros
per year in foregone customs duties.
The Philippines can now export 6,200 tariff lines,
including processed fruit and foodstuffs, coconut oil,
footwear, fish and textiles.
The latest development will make the Philippines
more competitive in Europe, European Chamber of
Commerce of the Philippines president Michael Raeu-
ber told GMA New Online.
issues airport
guidelines
for papal visit
We expect trade, particularly exports, to grow benefits, Navarro added. MANILA Two runways
with beneficial effects for the Philippine economy, The new industrial investments include established at the Ninoy Aquino
he said. Filipino exports that are labour intensive such as International Airport (NAIA)
The Philippines already enjoys benefits from the pineapple juice (currently 28.5 percent); garments will be temporarily closed for
EUs GSP, wherein 2,442 products out of 6,209 are (currently 5 to 9 percent); preserved fruits (currently arriving flights to give way
subject to zero duty while the rest have lower tariffs. 6 to 9 percent); tuna (currently 20.5 percent); fruit for the arrival of Pope Francis
In 2013, Philippine exports to the EU eligible under jams and jellies (currently 20.5 percent) and footwear on January 15, 2015.
GSP were valued at 1.69 billion euros, or 33 percent (currently 11.9 percent). In a notice to airmen
of total exports to that area last year. With the new privilege, Philippine Chamber of Com- (NOTAM), the Civil Aviation
But with the inclusion in GSP+, the value of exports merce and Industry (PCCI) president Alfredo Yao said Authority of the Philippines
will further increase. the country should now work on helping firms in non- (CAAP) said the NAIA
The countrys agriculture and manufacturing sec- tariff requirements, especially in the agriculture sector. primary runway 06/24 and
tors will definitely reap most out of the EUs decision, There are some non-tariff issues we have to thresh secondary runway 13/31 will
Management Association of the Philippines president out. Like in the agriculture side, the EU requires a lot be closed for all arriving
Greg Navarro said in a separate text message. of certifications but we dont have existing laboratories flights while departing
Most to benefit are our agricultural products that or facilities for that, he said. flights will be allowed
still have high tariff rates, he said. Yao said the PCCI asked EU for a grant for that pur- to operate from 2 p.m. to
This should also spur more manufacturing locators pose, but the government should also do its part. We 5:15 p.m. on January 15.
to the Philippines as they could now avail of the GSP+ can work on that, we can push for that. (GMA News) A no-fly zone and no-air traffic
will also be implemented at the

BOP back to deficit in November Manila airport from 5:15 p.m.

MANILA - The Philippines posted a balance
of payments (BOP) deficit of $314 million in
November, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
(BSP) said.
The latest figure brought the BOP deficit in the
11 months to November to $3.72 billion.
The central bank expects the country to end the
year with a balance of payments deficit of $3.4
billion, as foreign investors shift funds overseas,
although it raised its forecast for this years cur-
rent account surplus to $6.6 billion, above the
previous estimate of $6 billion.
Last year, the country had a BOP surplus of
$5.1 billion and a current account surplus of
$9.4 billion.
The countrys BOP position has been affected
by the normalization of policy in the US since
this resulted in a reallocation of assets among
markets and economies, BSP Governor Amando
Tetangco Jr. earlier said.
The BOP is a summary of a countrys transac-
tions with the rest of the world based on trade,
foreign direct and portfolio investments, and
remittances from Filipinos overseas.
A surplus indicates that more money went into
the economy during the period, while a deficit
indicates otherwise.
The BSP, meanwhile, has lowered its estimate
for 2014 foreign reserves to $79 billion from
$85.3 billion.
The central bank expects cash remittances
from overseas Filipinos to rise 5 percent this year
after growth of 6.4 percent in 2013 when they hit
a record $22.97 billion.(ABS-CBNnews.com)
to 6:15 p.m. Pope Francis is
scheduled to arrive at 5:45 p.m.
The Daniel Z. Romualdez
airport in Tacloban City will
also be closed to all air traffic
from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on
January 17 to give way to
the aircraft that will carry the
papal entourage.
Also on January 17, the
NAIA runways will be closed
from 7:45 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.
and from 5:45 p.m. to 6:45 pm.
A no-fly zone will be in effect
from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30
a.m. as the Pope is scheduled
to leave via Philippine
Airlines (PAL) on January 19.
The runway at the Tacloban

Managing your finances

airport is undergoing repairs,
with about 1,800 meters
expected to be completed by
December 26, which is enough

during the holidays

MANILA Do you feel
that you are depleting your
resources due to large expenses
expected this Christmas?
Fret now, a registered
financial planner gave tips on
how to manage ones finances
during the holidays.
In an interview on radio
DepEd-Negros Occidental schools division superintendent Dr. Juliet
dzMM, Randell Tiongson,
Jeruta hands out the certificate of recognition for GSIS-Bacolod to branch a personal finance coach,
manager Vilma Fuentes during the Harvest of Excellence 2014 ceremonies explained that most people
at SMX Bacolod Convention Center, December 19.. DepEd recognized tend to look at their credit card
GSIS-Bacolod as one of its outstanding partners recently. as a source of power.
Majority sa atin, yan ang
problema. Kapag gumamit ka
ng credit card sa grocery, 10
to 20% more ang ilalabas mo,
Tiongson added.
He also warned that
credit card users should be
responsible as their credit
record can still affect them in
the future.
Kapag nasira ka na dahil
sa credit card, kapag dumating
yung time na mag-auto loan
ka na, or housing loan ka na,
say 8 years after o 10 years
after, yung iba dun, hindi na
nakakakuha ng loan. Masisira
ka talaga, Tiongson said.
Tiongson explained this is
because credit ratings in the
Philippines are not purged,
unlike in the US.
Sa Pilipinas, hindi nagpu-
purge ng bad debts, sa US
nagpu-purge sila after 7 years,
back to zero. Dito, permanent
record yan, he added.
Managing /pB7
to accommodate single aisles
jet aircraft like the Airbus
A320 and Boeing B737.
The CAAP issued NOTAM
CO910/14 on December 18
to lift aircraft restrictions,
allowing commercial
carriers to decide whether
they can use bigger planes
f o r Ta c l o b a n f l i g h t s .
CAAP added that aircraft type
restrictions at the Tacloban
airport have been lifted and
the Airbus A320 aircraft will
be allowed to land at the
airport starting December 26.
(ABS-CBNnews.com)

HV Julietas
So Nice To Come Home To

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Tel. No.: 6210810/6210-290 Philippines, 5800

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ROXAS CITY, CAPIZ, PHILIPPINES
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reservations@dayshotel.com.ph www.dayshotel.com.ph
B4

Monday, December 8, 2014

STANDARD OCS
LENDING, INC.
INSURANCE CO., INC. G/F Angeles Arcade Building,
Mabini St., Iloilo City
Tel. # (033) 503-2092/09989860911
Our customers trust in our services inspires us 09477430528/09106034032
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G/F Emmanuel Business Center, B. Aquino Ave., Molo Iloilo City
Tel. Nos. (033) 338-8880 to 85, Telefax: (033) 335-0889 OTHER LOANS
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ILOILO CLAIMS SERVICING OFFICE JETHRO
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CIRCLE COMPUBIZ NO AGE LIMIT
G/F/ Eugenia Arcade Building B. Aquino Ave., Molo Iloilo City
Tel. Nos.: 033-3386001 to 04
Telefax: 033-3212145
283 Iznart St., Iloilo City
AMERICAN SURPLUS Tel. No. (033) 336-3675 509-9895
Rm. 19 Capiz Provincial Business Center
Front of Capiz high
Tel. No. 336-3120/396-4034
0926-1159849
ROXAS AVE. KALIBO, AKLAN

P
ProSpec
Prospec Office Systems Products
45 D.B Ledesma Street, Jaro, I.C.
Tel Nos. (033) 509-7477
509 -3272 / 320-5106
email: prospecsystems@yahoo.com
RESTAURANT
(FINE DINING/FASTFOOD)
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DEPARTMENT STORE
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
SPECIALTY STORE
DRUGSTORE
WHOLESALE

PC/Based (Point of Sale Systems)

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(BIR ACCREDITED)

ADDRESS: DOOR #1, ASIAN LUMBER BLDG

M.H. DEL PILAR, MOLO, ILOILO CITY
TEL. NO.: ILOILO - 336-0535
ANTIQUE - 540-7765

http://www.thedailyguardian.net
[emails: guardianiloilo@yahoo.com.ph
l thedailyguardianwv@gmail.com]

39 Lopez Jaena Street, La Granja Lapaz, Iloilo City

Tel. No. 508-0365

SIMPLY RELIABLE
PURIFIED DRINKING WATER
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For Deliveries Call. 337-5645/5080365

 Iloilo Lucky Auto
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Ledesma Street Iloilo City Dra. RIZALINA V. BERNARDO
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Service: (033) 337-2083
Ave. Brgy San Rafael,
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E-mail: iloilolucky@gmail.com
Tel # (033) 3213413
Fax No. 508-9069

AUTO SALES
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SARABIA ( 335-8680
DIVERSION ( 508-7750
Come and Enjoy the Pleasure of Relaxation.
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Tel. No. 321-1012
Mr. RODOLFO L. BORRES
Repair Shop Studio Q. Abeto St., Mandurriao,
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Taft North, Mandurriao, Place Iloilo City 5083034

LJK
AXA
FISH DEALER
Iloilo City Tel. No. 338-0655 Mr. ROMEO G. CAHILGAN, JR.
Tel No. 321-3272 Cel. No. 0928-5019744
Philippines
Manager
B 14, L 11 Arguelles St., St. Joseph Subd. Phase 2
ILOILO Emerald
Brgy. Cubay Jaro, Iloilo City Immediate Hiring!
Tel # 320-9728 / 0917-3030597 / 0917-3050597

Dealer of High Quality Fry & Fingerlings

UNIT HEADS


monthly subsidy of P20,000,
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-30 to 50 years old MASTER plaza
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BANGUS l MANGROVE SNAPPER (Mangagat)
-At least two years sales experience,
with managerial background TRADERS

Salon

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Iznart St. Iloilo City
SEABASS (Bulgan) l PRAWN, CRABS ETC.
-People Oriented
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Second Level Plazuela de Iloilo Manduriao, Iloilo City Tel. # l 336-1840 336-9723
-Passion for Success Tel.# 335-1280 Landline (033) 5016521
We Also Supply And Deliver: Contact: Mr. Vic Mina, Jr.

c/o Asian Lumber Bldg. Door 5 & 6
We sell: MOBILE 0922.837.7868 For your Financing
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Quality: Fresh, Frozen & Live Seafoods Tel. No. 33-33399/
CP No. 0920-911-5708
Owned & Managed by:

Manicure 75

Haircut 100/130
Pedicure
Footspa
80
250
Accept Real Estate
Mr. Bonito L. Robiso Make Up 350

(Rates may Change without Prior Notice)
Haircolor 680 & Chattel Mortgage

HOLIDAY BOUND

Philippine
HOPE

Prudential


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Rm 148 Marymart Mall 3 Panaflex Sign Stailess Sign

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Tel No. (033) 396-4238
Neon Sign
Directional Sign
Brass Sign
Billboard Sign Life Insurance Company, Inc.

20 MH Del Pilar St., Molo, Iloilo City
Menu Board

Telefax ( 033) 338 -0747/
Contact Since 1963 Tel. No.: 338-3758 CORPORATION
508- 4399 ELEANOR P. BRITO Glory Cell No.:

Mobile No. 09189400980/ (Branch Manager) G/F SM City, Mandurriao,

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Quezon St.,
0917634799/09228558271 G/F CCC Finance Bldg.
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0909-1325849 Iloilo City
Email:
holidayboundiloilo@yahoo.com
Email: signrays_iloilobranch@yahoo.com
Tel# 300-11-78 / 0949-805-1870

Te l . N o .
320-4581 Email add.:
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sure-go FOOD WEALTH

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AGRO-VET

For men
Salon
travel & tours

TRADING and Women
educational services

TAPALES


OFFERS:
* Ticketing (Domestic & International) Stronghold
INSURANCE COMPANY, INC.
Mr. Gaspar Igona
G/F Marymart Mall Valeria St., Iloilo City

Tel# 301-14-00
VETERINARY CLINIC
* Educational Tours Proprietor Cell#. 09216392878


Your complete New-Life Insurance Company DR. REYNALDO S. TAPALES
* Lakbay Aral/Exploratory learnings ILOILO BRANCH: Services Offered:

(LGU Officials & Students) For More Information Text: Tabuc Suba, Jaro

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Telefax: (033) 329-5794 * (033) 396-7040
09173043777 l 09088954768 Iloilo City l Hair Cut l Facial l Cellophane l
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Pedicure l Hair and Make Up l Etc. Tel. No. 320-1383
urday Tel # (033) 396-5743 l 396-5744
Email: surego-traveltours@rocketmail.com
8:00am to 5:30pm



J.B. ERECRE DESIGN KRYZ CULINARY ARTS &


& CONSTRUCTION RESTAURANT SERVICES INSTITUTE

2F, Cischo Bldg., Brgy. Mabolo
Delgado, Iloilo City
NORKIS GROUP OF COMPANIES
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TEL NO. (033) 3297918

The relaxing touch

PASSI CITY, ILOILO
RJV
CAR TINT Customer Service TEL NO. (033) 3961325

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is our Pride
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STA BARBARA, ILOILO
TEL NO. (033) 3964939
BUILDERS, INC.
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Tel. Nos. (033) 501-6093 * (033) 857-7053 and Guimaras TEL NO. (033) 3967768

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HURORKON
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B6 Monday, December 22, 2014 community Guardian
the daily Western Visayas Most
Read and Respected

Cops
implement
Kapaskohan
2014
BACOLOD City Bacolod
City Police Office (BCPO) is
implementing Kapaskohan
2014 with intensive security
measures to public places in
celebration of holidays here.
Superintendent Noel Po-
lines, BCPO Operation chief
said that police personnel would
be detailed in ports, terminals,
churches, malls and public
plaza.
He said, Bacolod City Public
Safety Company would aug-
ment local police to safeguard
Central Negros Electric Coop-
erative (CENECO), Bacolod
City Water District (BACIWA),
pawnshops and depots the
public visit often during the
holiday.
The move aims to preempt Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. distributes gifts to the inmates of the Iloilo District Jail in Barangay Nanga, Pototan, Iloilo on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014. For 13 years now, the governor
criminal activities. (PNA) celebrates his December 25 birthday with a gift-giving activity at the jail. (ECGarcia)

P
Prayers new relevance
RAYER is al- current norms and practices in the Church to see Sigangao ES tops
Zarragas Pantat
ways relevant. if there are areas that can be improved, updated,
Its as indispens- purified of such tendencies as traditionalism,
able as breathing. Our legalism, rigorism, etc.
spiritual life would be Lets remember that the Church, while divine
and is therefore divinely guaranteed, is also hu-

Pasundayag fest
detached from its life-
source, exposing itself man and as such is subject to the vicissitudes of
to great dangers, when our human condition. It will always be in need
one stops to pray. But of growth and development, and along the way,
with todays confusing continuing conversion and purification.
Fr. Roy Cimagala developments, when The task to review and sort out is going to be

REFLECTIONS
we have to learn to
blend truth with char-
ity, justice with mercy,
prayer becomes even
more relevant and in-
dispensable.
To be sure, this task of blending competing
values properly is nothing new. This has been
both our challenge and our duty since time imme-
morial. But the new developments today require
us to be more skillful in it as we face more com-
plicated issues and situations and more difficult
questions that just cannot be ignored.
With the current papal thrust to have a Church
of mercy and compassion, there definitely will be
a more deliberate effort to review and sort out the
very delicate, and we have to expect a lot of discus-
sion in this regard. Thats why prayer is so much
needed these days so that these discussions would
be pursued always with the guidance of the Spirit
who can spring surprises and tackle anything, and
all within the truth of our faith, the confidence of
our hope and the warmth of our charity.
When we pray, we follow the example of
Christ who managed to go through his passion
and death calmly and with the confidence that
his passion and death was the way to go for the
salvation of mankind.
Prayer makes us see things better. It inclines us
to be more perceptive of the abiding promptings
of the Holy Spirit who always traces the path we
Reflections /pB7
By Ednalyn Belonio-Diamante
The Sigangao Elementary School bested eight
other competing groups in this years Pantat
Pasundayag Festival 2014 held in Zarraga, Iloilo
recently.
The SES was also awarded Best in Choreog-
raphy and Best in Costume.
First runner-up Sacred Heart Academy was
named Most Discipline and Best in Performance.
Balud II Elementary School was the second
runner-up.
The three schools are all from Zarraga.
Clad in colorful costumes, the eight groups
performed in the muddy and slippery festival
grounds, with performances highlighting the
towns agri-industrial economy.
The Pasundayag is part of the week-long
celebration of Pantat Festival that started last
December 14.
With the theme Larga Sustainable Zarraga,
the LGU aims to promote the towns agriculture
and industries with emphasis on pantat or catfish
production.
Zarraga is the Pantat Capital of Iloilo.
Mayor John Tarrosa said the festival is a
product of Zarragas best and the cooperation of
the Zarraganhons.
He said he believes that Zarragas economy
Sigangao ES /pB7
 Guardian B7
the daily Western Visayas Most
Read and Respected

Monday, December 22, 2014

Andi never getting back

together with Jake
MANILA Andi
Eigenmann had enough,
and this time, she said with
finality that shes not getting back
together with her ex-boyfriend, Jake
Ejercito.
In an interview with Philippine
Entertainment Portal published recently,
the 24-year-old actress spoke with finality
and admitted that she has no plans of ever
getting back together with Ejercito, after
the latter made public his relationship with
another woman.
The report identified the woman as KC
del Rosario.
Alam ko naman na walang masama
doon kasi hindi naman na kami eh. He has
his own life and if thats what he wants. Pero
definitely, we wont ever get back together
because of that, she was quoted in saying.
She also revealed that she knew
that Ejercito has been exchanging text
messages with Del Rosario even before
photos of the two kissing surfaced online.
She, however, quickly clarified that
Ejercitos relationship with Del Rosario
was not the reason the two broke up.
While we were still together, nakita ko
na kasi yung exchange of messages nila.
So, parang alam ko na. Meron na akong
ano [kutob]. Pero hindi ko in-expect na
pag naghiwalay kami, talaga palang
magiging sila. Hindi ko in-expect, she
said.
Eigenmann went on to say that she
deserves someone better.
For me, gugustuhin ko ba talaga
to para sa sarili ko? Mas gusto ko ba
na umupo na lang dito at masaktan at
tanggapin na lang lahat? [So I decided]
to not just let it get to me and move on,
because I know for a fact that I deserve
something and someone better, she said.
Eigenmann confirmed her break-up
with Ejercito late September. She said at
the time that she and Ejercito decided to
break up because of the personal struggles
that she went through following the death
of her father, Mark Gil.
She also cast doubt as to whether
Ejercito truly loved her throughout their
relationship. Ejercito is the son of former
President Joseph Estrada. (ABS-CBNnews.
com)

Palasyo, nagpahayag ng reaksyon sa

pagpapakasal nina Aiza Seguerra at Liza Dio
Nagpahayag ng reaksyon ang Malacaang sa pamamagitan ni
Presidential Communications Operations Office Sec. Sonny Coloma
hinggil sa pagpapakasal ng aktres at singer na si Aiza Seguerra at
ng kasintahan nito at dating beauty queen na si Liza Dio.
Matatandaang nagpakasal ang dalawa nitong ika-8 ng Disyembre
sa San Francisco, California, kasama ang pinakamalalapit
na kaibigan at mga kaanak. Magkakaroon din umano sila ng
seremonyang kagaya nito dito sa Pilipinas.
Bukod sa mga magulang nina Aiza at Liza na sina Mommy
Caring at Martin Dio, suportado rin ito ng actor-comedian at
TV host na si Vic Sotto na itinuturing na tatay-tatayan ni Aiza sa
showbiz.
Ayon kay Coloma, iginagalang ng Palasyo ang pagpapahayag
ng saloobin ng mag-asawa, gayundin ang lahat ng indibidwal at
mamamayan, at ang mga kaakibat nitong desisyon dahil kabilang
ito sa karapatang pantao.
Gayunpaman, ibang usapan na umano kung isasabatas ang
same-sex marriage sa bansa.
Kailangan po sigurong hintayin ang mga panukala sa Kongreso,
kung mayroon pong mambabatas na magpapanukala ng amyenda
sa Family Code of the Philippines, ani Coloma.
Kasalukuyang nakasaad sa Article I ng Family Code na ang
kasal ay sa pagitan lamang ng isang lalaki at isang babae. (GMA
News.com)

Oil.. from p.B1 Sigangao ES.. from p.B6 Managing.. from p.B2

repeatedly called the manufacturers to reduce the prices of their is bullish, but admitted that In order to prevent
products due to the significant decline in the prices of fuel. progress doesnt happen over- accumulating debt, Tiongson
Commuters, on the other hand, also asked the Land Transportation night. shared the golden rule in
You can enhance your job security today. Make an Office and the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Thus, he challenged stake- credit card use: avoid buying
investment for the future. Protect and consolidate your Board to reduce the fare for taxis, buses and UV Express. holders to continue working for something on credit if you
gains. Petitioners said the prices of oil products had significantly the best of Zarraga. cannot pay for it when the
declined. (ABS-CBNnews.com) Vice-mayor Joefel Soldevilla, payment is due.
Let loose! Footloose and fancy free activities are accented.
meanwhile, promised a grander In other words, gagamitin
Reflections..
Laugh, play and have a good time.
Pantat Festival next year as the mo lang ang credit card kung
from p.B6
Sangguniang Bayan increased may pambayad ka, at gagamitin
A note of appreciation goes over big. The simple act need to follow. At this point, we need to be strongly reminded that its budget allocation. mo lang siya for convenience,
of telling someone how theyve helped reaps great it is the Holy Spirit, more than us, no matter how bright and expe- The festival capped yester- Ti o n g s o n w a r n e d . ( A B S -
dividends. rienced we may be, who leads the way. We all have to go to him day with the tribe competition. CBNnews.com)
and refrain from getting too attached to our views and positions.
How you relate to colleagues has more impact than other
duties. If looking for a partner, you may meet someone
on the job.
Prayer helps to calm down our emotions that can easily get agi-
tated and that can blind us especially when sharp differences arise
in the discussion. We have to be wary of our tendency to easily get
Russian.. from p.B1
$10 billion. axy Entertainment Group.
inflamed by our passions that would just complicate matters. Japanese tycoon Masayoshi Amazon president, chairman
You may express a more supportive attitude on the job
today. Be sure you get some of the caring energy back
Prayer helps us to be more prudent in our judgments. It facilitates Son, who is the CEO of Soft and CEO Jeff Bezos wealth
our ability to listen to all sides, to study things thoroughly, to make Bank, saw a $5.9 billion re- was also reduced by $5.5 bill-
as well. consultations when necessary, and to make decisions. Prayer helps us to duction of his wealth this year, lion this year, leaving him with
Financial speculation appeals. Dont gamble more know when to stop and think, and when to move and execute things. bringing it to $13.2 billion. $28.9 billion.
than you can afford to lose. View money spent as Prayer broadens our mind, nourishes our patience, and keeps
Hong Kongs second richest Sheldon Adelson, who is
entertainment. us hopeful and optimistic despite unavoidable setbacks. It helps
man Lui Chee Woo lost $5.5 chairman and CEO of Las Ve-
us how to properly take the biases, opinions, assumptions that we
Time to catch up on the family news. Perhaps you can always carry with us when we enter into any discussion. billion of his fortune in 2014. gas Sands, lost $5.2 billion of
visit, or phone some other family members and hear the We need to see to it that we are truly praying, that is, convers- His wealth is now at $14.1 bil- his fortune this year. His wealth
latest. ing with God in a very intimate way and bringing up things that lion. He is the chairman of K. is now estimated at $30.1 bil-
really matter to us. We should avoid just going through the mo- Wah Group, which owns Gal- lion. (ABS-CBNnews.com)

holiday feasts..
Unwilling to accept surface appearances, you dig deeper. tions of praying but really without getting in contact with God
Your probing and questioning allows you to uncover a and taking up things that are not relevant, sort of just indulging from p.B1
secret. in some abstract exercise. Alas, this is a common bane to those Jackie noted many popular the Laudicos said it is important
You are likely to feel ambivalent about money today, as who claim they pray. venues would be reserved for to make sure everyone doesnt
one side of you wants to spend, spend, spend and the For this, we have to find the appropriate time and place, knowing Christmas parties as early as bring the same kind of dish.
other wants to hold back. how to distance ourselves from our usual activities so we can get September. Another tip when doing
into the proper mode of meditation and contemplation.
If hiring a private chef is out potluck parties is to have a
You could easily go to extremes today over food, We have to have the right dispositions, sharpening our act of faith,
of your budget, the Laudicos theme.
drink, sex or other physical pleasures. Strive for our humility and docility. We have to be wary of the wiles of our
flesh, the world and the devil that can nullify our efforts to pray. said another option is party Aside from assigning
moderation.
Obviously, we also have to prepare the topics well. This is very trays and food delivery. (dishes to guests), you can
crucial so that we avoid wasting time during our meditations. This If we are fully booked have a theme so its more fun.
You are ready to begin a project that will bring fortune but the client wants our food, Like its a fiesta, more Filipino
your way. Take that first step. preparation will put us in a better position to see the light that the
Holy Spirit will be shedding on us. we give them a full menu or dishes. It would be okay to ask
But its also important that we make a conscious effort to ap- some of their items and we can what they plan to bring... so you
Practical matters take precedence over emotional. peal to the Holy Spirit to enlighten us. This should not be taken deliver it to them or they can wont have three seafood dishes
Pay attention to the bottom line and do whats for granted. This conscious effort will make us more perceptive pick it up, Jackie said. and no meat dish, Jackie said.
necessary. of his promptings. (roycimagala@gmail.com) If you want to do potluck, (ABS-CBNnews.com)
B8 Monday, December 22, 2014 Health Guardian
the daily Western Visayas Most
Read and Respected

Air pollution ups The unfrantic

childs autism risk

Christmas letter
he annual Christmas letter has become the missive of

T the busyness of our lives. You know the one I mean

AIR pollution is also harmful to
unborn children, according to a
new study.
A study by researchers
from Harvard School of Public
Health (HSPH) has revealed
that women who are exposed
to high levels of fine particulate
matter specifically during
pregnancy-particularly during
the third trimester-may face
up to twice the risk of having a
child with autism than mothers
living in areas with low
particulate matter.
According to the study, the
greater the exposure the greater
the risk.
Marc Weisskopf, associate
professor of environmental
and occupational epidemiology
and senior author of the
study, said that they data add
additional important support
to the hypothesis that maternal
exposure to air pollution
contributes to the risk of
autism spectrum disorders and
the specificity of the study
for the pregnancy period, and
third trimester in particular,
rules out many other possible
explanations for these findings.
The study was published
online in Environmental Health
Perspectives. (ANI)
where you share with friends and family the annual
summation of the years accomplishments including the
action-packed kids activities, the work accomplishments and
the trips enjoyed. Some have dubbed it the brag sheet.
I think many of us realize that creating a world in which
we have more and more to do with less time for leisure, for
reflection, for family and community, is harmful to our health
and well-being. Just ask the stress experts who have coined
the phrase the dis-ease of being busy.
My favorite spiritual thinker and author wrote:
Rushing around smartly is no proof of accomplishing
much.

Blood type makes you more prone to diabetes

A new study has demonstrated that
people with blood groups A, B and AB
are at a higher risk of type 2 diabetes than
people with blood group O.
The study of more than 80,000 women
has uncovered different risks of developing
type 2 diabetes associated with different
blood groups, with the biggest difference a
35 percent increased risk of type 2 diabetes
found in those with group B, Rhesus factor
positive (R+) blood compared with the
universal donor group O, Rhesus factor
negative (R-).
Dr Guy Fagherazzi and his colleagues
took data from 82,104 women from the
large prospective E3N cohort in France
followed between 1990 and 2008. The
objective of this study was to evaluate
53 drugs may
the relationship of ABO blood type (A,
B, AB and O), Rhesus factor (positive
or negative) and a combination of the
two (ABOxRhesus) with type 2 diabetes
(T2D).
The results showed that, compared
with women with group O blood, women
with group A were 10 percent more likely
to develop T2D, and those with group B
21 percent more likely (both statistically
significant). The AB group was 17 percent
more likely to develop T2D, but this result
was not statistically significant. When
looking solely at R+ versus R- women,
neither group was at increased risk of
developing T2D compared with the other.
Fagherazzi said that the present
study shows for the first time in a large
There is nothing wrong with fulfilling your responsibilities
and obligations. I do understand that in the economy of the
age, most households have two working parents; so precious
time for stillness might be squeezed in amid a mad dash to
prospective cohort that specific ABO blood
hockey practices and music lessons.
groups are associated with an increased
But as we write our Christmas letter, lets take a moment
type 2 diabetes risk.
to think about why its important to find spiritual stillness at
Fagherazzi concludes that their
Christmas. The message
findings support a strong relationship
of the season comes to
between blood group and diabetes risk,
a consciousness that is
with participants with the O blood type
receptive and not too busy
having a lower risk of developing type 2
with materialism. Patience,
diabetes. Therefore, the effects of blood
contentment, freedom
groups should be investigated in future
from stress and pressure,
clinical and epidemiological studies on
a willingness to share love
diabetes. Further pathophysiological
and warmth unselfishly
research is also needed to determine why
the individuals with blood type O have a
lower risk of type 2 diabetes.
these are some of the
characteristics of spiritual
Health
stillness. Reflected in Love
The study is published in Diabetologia,
Marion writes of the
the journal of The European Association
for the Study of Diabetes. (ANI)
effect this stillness had By Wendy Margo lese
one Christmas when the
stress of holiday demands
left her with a severe headache. She took the time to shut

keep Ebola
infection at bay
Scientists have found 53
already approved drugs that
may block the Ebola virus
from entering human cells.
Researchers at the Icahn
School of Medicine at Mount
Sinai and the National Institutes
of Health (NIH), discovered
that several cancer drugs,
antihistamines and antibiotics
could hinder infection by an
Ebola virus.
Among the most effective
at keeping the virus out of
human cells is the microtubule
inhibitors used to treat cancer.
Lead author Dr. Adolfo
Garcia-Sastre, said that there
was an urgent need to rapidly
develop useful treatments
against Ebola infection, and
their study results argue that
repurposing existing drugs
might be among the fastest
ways to achieve this. Many of
the compounds identified in
this study promise to become
lead compounds in near-future
drug development efforts
studies targeting this virus.
Why drug addicts are more
prone to commit suicide
People who use cocaine and
amphetamines face almost two-fold greater
risk of suicidal behaviour between people
who inject drugs.
The groundbreaking study by researchers
at the University of Montreal and the
CHUM Research Centre could help develop
and evaluate more appropriate suicide
prevention efforts in this highly vulnerable
population.
The researchers were able to explore the
relationship between substance abuse and
risk of suicidal behavior by studying in
detail the different types of substances used
among more than 1,200 people who inject
drugs (PWIDs).
They used data from the HEPCO Cohort
to examine the individual and contextual
factors associated with hepatitis C infection.
The HEPCO cohort participants were 18 or
older and had injected drugs in the past six
months.
The findings indicated that suicide
attempts are most common among PWIDs.
At the beginning of the study, nearly 6
percent of participants had indeed reported
a suicide attempt in the previous six
months, a dramatically higher rate than the
general population. During follow-up, 143
participants experienced at least one episode
of attempted suicide. The researchers found
that chronic and occasional use of stimulant
drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines
was associated with nearly two-fold greater
odds of reporting an attempt than the use of
other drugs to report a suicide attempt.
Surprisingly, however, they did not
observe the same positive association with
other substances, including opiates, which
are nevertheless regarded as among the
most damaging to health and psycho-social
wellbeing.
According to the researchers, a set of
neurobiological, behavioural and social
differences between stimulant users and
opiate users could explain these findings.
Stimulant users were more vulnerable
because they were more impulsive
and characterized by changing moods.
The researchers also pointed out that
cocaine addiction treatments are virtually
nonexistent, and drug treatment programs
are often structured around opiates or
alcohol. (ANI)
the door on mental commotions and prayed to acknowledge
a spiritual connection, an unruffled quietness. She knew from
her Biblical study of the healing touch demonstrated by Jesus.
Her headache quickly disappeared.
In research at the University of Southern California, Dr.
Immordino-Yang found that
when we are resting, the brain is anything but idle and
that, far from being purposeless or unproductive, downtime
is in fact essential to mental processes that affirm our
identities
Moments of spiritual stillness enable us to align with our
identity as Gods beloved reflection. Affirming this halts the
frantic pace and impels our activity with quality of purpose.
Rather than identifying ourselves as super-busy, with an
action-packed life, we find our essence in moments of
connecting to the Divine that enrich our nature.
Then, our unfrantic Christmas letter next year will be filled
with joy and appreciation for the blessings in our lives, no
matter how large or small. Just think of it a spiritual stillness
throughout the year bringing health, peace and good-will to
all mankind.
To my readers, I wish you the blessings of a peaceful and
gentle Christmas season.
The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable,
gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits,
without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of
righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
(James 3:17, 18)
Wendy Margolese is a community blogger for Metroland
and writes regularly on the relationship between thought,
spirituality and health, and trends in that field. She is the
media liaison for Christian Science in Ontario. Contact her
at Ontario@compub.org. Follow on Twitter: @wmargolese

Yoga can help avoid

The estimated mortality
rate of the current Ebola
outbreak is nearly 70 percent

in many areas and there is no
approved treatment for Ebola
virus infection yet. Antibody-
based therapy (e.g. ZMapp)
has proven effective in animal
studies, and has been used for
the treatment of a few patients,
but has not been confirmed
in clinical trials. It is also
expensive to make and in short
supply. Ebola vaccine trials are
getting underway as well, but
vaccines will not be available
for some time.
The study is published in the
Nature Press journal Emerging
Microbes and Infections. (ANI)
cardiovascular disease
Yoga may help in
managing and improving
cardiovascular disease risk
factors, a new study found.
The investigators found
that yoga may provide the
same benefits in reducing
risk factors as traditional
physical activities such as
biking or brisk walking and
the finding is significant,
as individuals who cannot
or prefer not to perform
traditional aerobic exercise
might still achieve similar
benefits in cardiovascular
risk reduction, Fox News
reported.
The new analysis found
that risk factors improved
for those who did yoga,
compared to those who
did not exercise- body
weight fell by 2.32 kg, total
cholesterol by 18.48 mg/dl
and heart rate by .27 beats
per minute.
The studys findings
support the acceptability
of yoga for patients with
lower physical tolerance,
such as the elderly, those
with a pre-existing cardiac
condition or those with
musculoskeletal or joint
pain. (ANI)