Multibrand
disTribuTor
This photo is from the official facebook page of Naga City,
“Ciudad nin Naga: An Maogmang Lugar”.
For more photos on “Paskong Nagueño 2010”: visit,
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ciudad-nin-Naga-An-
Maogmang-Lugar-Naga-City-Bicol/110525158999311
LIGHT OF THE MARTYRS. Naga City’s Plaza Quince Martirez is suffused with multi-colored Christmas lights for the holidays, bringing cheer to passerby.
Buhi Mayor: No more fish cage permits
Lacoste orders non-
renewal of permits for
fish cage operator
Sonny SaleS
buhi, cAMAriNes sur (20 deceM-
ber) - - Determined to save this town’s
lake ecology, Buhi town Mayor Rey Lacoste
was reported to have finally ordered the
non- renewal of permits of an estimated 600
Tilapia fish cages now occupying some 70%
of the 1,618 hectares of Lake Buhi.
Sources at the Local Government here
disclosed that Lacoste’s action were among
the extreme measures proposed by an inter-
agency group who had studied the lake’s
BuHi / paGe 5
Bikol towns get P1M good
housekeeping incentive
from DILG
LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 22 – Two lowly
municipalities of Bikol have been awarded
an amount of P1 million each by the Depart-
ment of Interior and Local Government
(DILG) as Performance Challenge Funds
(PCF) for meeting the benchmark of good
local government housekeeping.
These municipalities are Sto. Domingo,
1m / paGe 5
fAciAl ● MAssAge
fre e co Ns ul T AT i o N
U n i t D , A r i s t o c ra t H o t e l B ld g . , E l i a s A n g el e s S t . ,
N a ga C i ty T e l . N o s . : ( 0 5 4) 8 1 1 .5 4 71 / 4 7 3.4 8 2 2
Lake Buhi, filled with wde, thick bed of water lilies in this photo, shall soon be free of fish cages
that smother the lake. Photo by Marissa Reorizo-Casillan
International agencies launch
health project in Bikol
NAgA ciTY, dec. 22 — The Philippine
Red Cross local chapter here, in coopera-
tion with the Agencia Española Cooperacion
Internacional para el Desarollo (AECID),
Spanish Red Cross, and Australian Red
Cross, has recently launched a new project
in the province of Camarines Sur to reduce
● spA
“Dealer of quality home appliances & furnitures”
MAiN: cor. p. burgos & geN. luNA sTs., NAgA ciTY Tel Nos.: (054) 473.72.62 / 478.34.58
brANches: IRIGA
the vulnerabilities of communities to health
risks and natural disasters
The project, dubbed as Convenio
10-C01-033 is a community-based health
development and disaster risk reduction
project, will soon be implemented in se-
HealtH / paGe 5
• LEGASPI • SORSOGON
Photo by: Paolo Suzara
Albay’s outstanding
educators, students feted
legAZpi ciTY, dec. 22 (piA) — Educa-
tors and students who have shown exem-
plary performance in their respective fields
manifesting the advancement of the educa-
tion system in the province were cited in Al-
bay’s Gawad Edukasyon awarding ceremo-
nies Friday (December 17) held at the Albay
Astrodome here
Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, who pio-
neered the education enhancement program
in the province in 2008 under the program
Education Quality for Albayanos (EQUAL),
alBay/ paGe 5
Sorsogon police officer
awarded
sorsogoN ciTY (deceMber 23)
-– police Senior Superintendent Victor
Pelota Deona, Deputy Regional Director for
Administration of the Philippine National
Police (PNP) Region V, yesterday, Decem-
ber 22, awarded “PNP Medalya ng Sug-
atang Magiting” (PNP Wounded Personnel
Medal) to Police Officer I Jose B. Caspe
who showed courage in hounding two armed
individuals suspected to be selling illegal
police/ paGe 4
2 Volume XXVIII | Issue no. 31|
Christmas Crimes
The disturbing report from
the Naga City Police Office (NCPO) is that
“December crimes” this year have shot up by
17% as compared to last year’s. In its report, the
NCPO cited data which showed that there were
111 known incidents of crime during the period
between December
Editorial 1 to 20 of this year,
while “only” 95 cases
were filed for the
same period last year. In addition, the statistics
that the NCPO presented is complemented by
anecdotal accounts of how crime seemed to be
not only currently more rampant, but also more
brazen and audacious.
For those residing in Naga’s peripheral
barangays, the fear of “riding-in-tandem” armed
robbers is quite palpable. Unfortunately, the
threats these marauders pose extend even to
those who live in Naga’s downtown or centro.
The news of a local contractor who had been
held-up and robbed while near his Dayangdang
residence sent ripples of apprehension across
what was erstwhile known as “an maogmang
lugar.”
To a certain extent, the spate of criminal
activity particularly that pertaining to property
is not at all surprising. People are largely more
moneyed during the last month of the year
owing to 13th month salaries and bonuses,
and hence become more liable to be targeted
by felons. Moreover, the holiday season has
spawned an attitude of excessive spending on
gifts, glitter, and gaiety which consequently
instills the urgent need to have more cash for
splurging, perhaps despite one’s dire situation.
Frequently—and quite sadly—this has urged
many towards crime.
Thus ironically, the “holy day” that is
Christmas becomes the very occasion for
felonies to be committed. Undoubtedly, they
are injurious to others; yet too, these crimes are
against the very substance of what Christmas is
all about.
There is much to be appreciated therefore
in efforts to return to a more austere and
meaningful celebration of Christmas and the
year-end holidays. These efforts can be seen—
again, unsurprisingly—in communities which
are not that proximate to commercial centers,
and hence, are not that disposed to associate
Christmas’s celebration with extravagance
and possession of consumer goods. For these
communities, the Christmas season is ostensibly
about family, friends, and faith sans the worries
of not having enough to spend.
Vox Bikol Viewpoints
Namulaan
Some people have New Year’s Resolutions and
some people buy round fruits. If I may borrow a classic
comment from Cristy Fermin who is consistent with her
abhorrence of Kris Aquino, which I share: Kris is someone
who, it seems does not have New Year’s resolutions. The
punch line is this: kaya si Kris inuulit niya ang sarili na
parang kasaysayan.
Now, who says, there is no gem in talk shows. That’s
classic. And I love it.
New Year’s resolutions, in my book, however, are too
middle-class. They reek of private-school upbringing. If one
traces one’s likelihood of making New Year’s resolution,
the path will bring you back guiltily to
parents whose notion of a smart kid is
one who can point to “leezards” and
who can imitate the mooing of cows
even if pasturelands are images in
coloring books.
My memory of making promises
not to do some things again, deemed
as bad or evil, is more provincial and has nothing to do with
resolutions written on paper or tucked in notebooks. My
memory of an impending change in the year has something
do to with taboos. Later in life as a student of anthropology,
I would obsess with its original spelling “Tabu.”And yet
again, that word exotic now tremulous and now whispery
in its raw nomenclature, will bring me to another domain,
that of scent. On the dresser of my aunts, I recall seeing that
word, Tabu, on the body of a perfume bottle. How would
my aunts react (Bless their souls) if they are living now if I
tell them that their favored scent was created by a man who
was instructed to make a perfume for a whore.
In my mind, there was nothing cheap about the
scent: jasmine, ylang-ylang and rose are never whorish.
But I guess the perfume was meant to be the scent of the
forbidden. That my aunts when they dabed “Tabu” on their
neck, and flicked a drop on their quivering pulse points, and
sprayed the space into which they walk with their tulle and
satin skirts, were really about to go to places – jam sessions,
barn dances, ballrooms – where the forbidden and the
seductive were a smile away.
So, the child who realizes the taboos and the tabu
and the perfume grows up recognizing that as the old year
Misa de Aguinaldo
Fr. Rex Andrew C. Alarcon
Sosog sa pag-adal ni Padre Fidel Villarroel OP, an
Misa de Aguinaldo saro sa mga suanoy, o iyo ngani gayod an
pinakasuanoy na tradisyon relihioyosa sa Filipinas. An enot
na prueba kaini makukua sa isinurat ni Padre Ignacio Alcina
SJ, sa saiyang Historia de las Islas e Indias de Bisayas kan
taon 1668. Si Padre Pedro Murillo Velarde SJ nagtao man
nin testimonio na ipinadagos an tradisyon sa saiyang isinurat
na Cursus Iuris Canonici Hispanici et Indici, na inimprenta
kan taon 1763. Sinda Padre Vicente Salazar OP, Padre Benito
Corominas OP asin Padre Serapio Tamayo OP nagsurat man
na an tradisyon buhay kan ika-18 asin ika 19 siglo. Naontok
sana ini sa panahon kan Arzobispo Felipe Pardo kan 1682.
Alagad sa saiyang pagkagadan kan 1689, nagpadagos liwat
ini.
An tradisyon kan Misa de Aguinaldo gikan sa España,
particularmente sa Sevilla asin Granada, asin Mexico.
Alagad sa ngonian, dai na ini ginigibo sa España asin Mexico,
huli ta binawi na an pribilehiyong ini. Alagad sa Filipinas
nagpadagos huli ta kan 1961 tinawan nin extension kan
Vaticano an Filipinas sa laog nin limang taon, alagad maski
natapos na an limang taon nagpadagos an pag-observar kaini
sagkod ngonian.
An dahelan kan pagtugot sa Misa de Aguinaldo para sa
pagpadanay kan mga katutubo (natives) sa pagtubod asin
pangataman kan relihiyon sa rona na ini sa kinaban.
An Misa de Aguinaldo sarong misa votiva, boot sabihon,
Misa na puedeng bakong sosog sa kalendaryo liturhiko alagad
igua nin espesyal na intensyon. An Misa de Aguinaldo para
sa kaomawan ni Santa Maria. Kaya an mga pangadie kaini
bako estriktamenteng pang-adviento, kundi para ki Santa
Maria. An Misang ini puede man gamiton sa mga Sabado sa
bilog na taon. Pati an kolor kan vestidura kan padi sa Misa
de Aguinaldo, bakong lila (violet) na iyo an pang-adviento,
kundi puti.
Alagad an espiritu kan Misa pag-andam para sa pasko.
Ini paghalat, siring ki Maria na naghahalat kan pangaki niya
20 - 26 december 2010
leaves this world and the new year swings in with the mighty
embrace, the duty of each person is not to promise not to do
anything again. Rather, that person should face the universe
and its territory of do’s and don’ts.
In our household, the resolutions do not come in the
form of lists but in the overwhelming fear of acts and
processes that could and should not be done when the first
day of the year alights with such candor. The taboos have
pre- and post-taboos. At the strike of midnight, we rush from
room to room, opening closets and cabinet doors. We open
all the doors to the house. We are allowing the good wind of
good will and happiness to come into our house. In doing
this, we throw all cautions to the new
Four Winds.
Fear is in the taboos not being
observed. The kitchen is vacated during
the First Day. No one cooks. No one
even buys matchstick. No one buys
anything at all. We are awake during the
New Year otherwise we will be asleep
always through the years. We caution ourselves from being
mamulaan, literally cursed to do that thing you are doing
when New Year comes. If you are angry when the clock hits
midnight, then you will be always angry through the new
year. Hadluk kami mamulaan.
The night before, linukay, a dish of glutinous rice heavy
with coconut milk and blessed with brown sugar has already
been cooked.
Sometimes, pancit is also prepared, the long noodles
promising long life.
Sometimes, we buy fruits but not for their roundness but
for their nutrients and their scent. When the clock strikes 1
in the morning, and we are convinced the old year is dead, it
is good to eat the fruits, savor their shape, be joyful of their
juice. Their shape, in our clan, has nothing to do with good
fortune but more about good memories.
Somehow, we sense some absence. Somehow, we do not
talk about those who are not anymore with us. We long for
them (but we are quiet about this longing).
We tear a bit. Some cry. We pray for a good life, just
good life for all from the forces of the Tender Universe
and not from a Tray of Overpriced Plants and their Fruits
condemned to be mystical and round.
ki Jesus. Kaya ngani dati sa España an Disyembre 18, fiesta
kan Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza (Mary, the expectant
mother).
Uya pa an mga karakter kan Misa de Aguinaldo: ini
‘novena-mass’, boot sabihon siyam na aldaw, poon Disyembre
16 sagkod Disyembre 24; ini ginigibo amay na aga (summo
mane – very early in the morning); o bago magbanaag an
liwanag (ad auroram – at dawn); o bago magsirang an
saldang (antequam dies illuxerit – before daybreak); poon pa
kaidto, dakul na tawo an mina-atender kaini asin maogma
(festive) an celebrasyon asin inaawit an Gloria.
An tataramon na Aguinaldo originalmente an boot
sabihon regalo sa panahon nin Pasko sagkod sa Epifania.
Dai inaapod na Aguinaldo an regalo sa ibang panahon. Kaya
an Misa de Aguinaldo, garo man regalo kan mga tawo sa
Dios. Inaapod man ini sa tataramon na Tagalog na Simbang
Gabi, huli ta an misa sine-celebrar madiklom pa.
An Misa de Gallo, sa España iyo an Misa pag-matangang
banggi (Midnight Mass) kan fecha 24 kan Disyembre. Kaya
an mga Misa de Aguinaldo minatapos sa Misa de Gallo.
Ngonian igua na nin mga nadagdag na bagong forma kan
Misa de Aguinaldo o Simbang Gabi iyo an misa pagkabanggi
– antisipada, arog baga kan Misa pagkabanggi nin Disyembre
15 – para duman sa mga dai makakasimba nin amay na aga.
Mahihiling na dakul na beses an paggamit kan mga
terminolohiya pinagriribay-ribay.
Linalaom na an pagpartisipar sa mga Misa de Aguinaldo
makapag-andam sa gabos para sa misteryo kan pagkamundag
kan Aki nin Dios sa kinaban. Ini sarong importanteng
pangyayari sa kasaysayan na maski an mga historiador na
bakong Cristiano, pinag-notaran. Kaya, pati an pagbilang kan
mga taon siring kaini: B.C. boot sabihon ‘Before Christ’,
bago kan panahon ni Cristo asin A.D. – ‘Anno Domini’ o ‘in
the year of the Lord’, sa panahon kan Kagurangnan.
Sa Misa de Aguinaldo ipinapangadie na magdanay lugod
an nasyon na Filipinas sa pagtubod sa Dios.
20 - 26 december 2010
Benedict XVI’s Christmas 2010 Message
“May the Birth of the Savior Open
Horizons of Lasting Peace”
Verbum caro factum est” – “The Word became flesh”
(Jn 1:14).
Dear brothers and sisters listening to me here in
Rome and throughout the world, I joyfully proclaim the
message of Christmas: God became man; he came to
dwell among us. God is not distant: he is “Emmanuel”,
God-with-us. He is no stranger: he has a face, the face of
Jesus.
This message is ever new, ever surprising, for it sur-
passes even our most daring hope. First of all, because it
is not merely a proclamation: it is an event, a happening,
which credible witnesses saw, heard and touched in the
person of Jesus of Nazareth! Being in his presence, ob-
serving his works and hearing his words, they recognized
in Jesus the Messiah; and seeing him risen, after his cru-
cifixion, they were certain that he was true man and true
God, the only-begotten Son come from the Father, full of
grace and truth (cf. Jn 1:14).
“The Word became flesh”. Before this revelation we
once more wonder: how can this be? The Word and the
flesh are mutually opposed realities; how can the eter-
nal and almighty Word become a frail and mortal man?
There is only one answer: Love. Those who love desire
to share with the beloved, they want to be one with the
beloved, and Sacred Scripture shows us the great love
story of God for his people which culminated in Jesus
Christ.
God in fact does not change: he is faithful to him-
self. He who created the world is the same one who
called Abraham and revealed his name to Moses: “I am
who I am … the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob …
a God merciful and gracious, abounding in steadfast
love and faithfulness (cf. Ex 3:14-15; 34:6). God does
not change; he is Love, ever and always. In himself he
is communion, unity in Trinity, and all his words and
works are directed to communion. The Incarnation is
the culmination of creation. When Jesus, the Son of God
incarnate, was formed in the womb of Mary by the will
of the Father and the working of the Holy Spirit, creation
reached its high point. The ordering principle of the uni-
verse, the Logos, began to exist in the world, in a certain
time and space.
“The Word became flesh”. The light of this truth is
revealed to those who receive it in faith, for it is a mys-
tery of love. Only those who are open to love are envel-
oped in the light of Christmas. So it was on that night in
Bethlehem, and so it is today. The Incarnation of the Son
of God is an event which occurred within history, while
at the same time transcending history. In the night of the
world a new light was kindled, one which lets itself be
seen by the simple eyes of faith, by the meek and humble
hearts of those who await the Saviour. If the truth were
a mere mathematical formula, in some sense it would
impose itself by its own power. But if Truth is Love, it
calls for faith, for the “yes” of our hearts.
And what do our hearts, in effect, seek, if not a Truth
which is also Love? Children seek it with their ques-
tions, so disarming and stimulating; young people seek
Things may not be so bad after all
By William Grimm
Each year, the pope gives Christmas greetings
to the leaders of the Roman Curia. This year, referring to
the expanding scandal of the sexual abuse of children by
clergy that was covered up and facilitated by bishops and
superiors and until recently pooh-poohed by Rome, Pope
Benedict told them, “We must ask ourselves what was
wrong in our proclamation, in our whole way of living
the Christian life, to allow such a thing to happen.”
My first thought on reading his speech was to won-
der if the self-appointed defenders of the faith who man
the ramparts at any criticism of the Church will now hurl
invective at the pope. Certainly, saying that something
has gone wrong “in our whole way of living the Chris-
tian life” is a damning indictment, especially since the
pope said “our whole way,” not “their way” or “some
people’s way” or “part of the way.”
On second thought, I realized that things might not
be as dire as the pope seems to think. His use of the past
tense, though probably not significant in itself, may be a
Vox Bikol Viewpoints
it in their eagerness to discover the deepest meaning of
their life; adults seek it in order to guide and sustain their
commitments in the family and the workplace; the el-
derly seek it in order to grant completion to their earthly
existence.
“The Word became flesh”. The proclamation of
Christmas is also a light for all peoples, for the collec-
tive journey of humanity. “Emmanuel”, God-with-us,
has come as King of justice and peace. We know that his
Kingdom is not of this world, and yet it is more impor-
tant than all the kingdoms of this world. It is like the
leaven of humanity: were it lacking, the energy to work
for true development would flag: the impulse to work to-
gether for the common good, in the disinterested service
of our neighbour, in the peaceful struggle for justice.
Belief in the God who desired to share in our history
constantly encourages us in our own commitment to that
history, for all its contradictions. It is a source of hope
for everyone whose dignity is offended and violated,
since the one born in Bethlehem came to set every man
and woman free from the source of all enslavement.
May the light of Christmas shine forth anew in the
Land where Jesus was born, and inspire Israelis and
Palestinians to strive for a just and peaceful coexistence.
May the comforting message of the coming of Em-
manuel ease the pain and bring consolation amid their
trials to the beloved Christian communities in Iraq and
throughout the Middle East; may it bring them comfort
and hope for the future and bring the leaders of nations
to show them effective solidarity. May it also be so for
those in Haiti who still suffer in the aftermath of the
devastating earthquake and the recent cholera epidemic.
May the same hold true not only for those in Colombia
and Venezuela, but also in Guatemala and Costa Rica,
who recently suffered natural disasters.
May the birth of the Savior open horizons of lasting
peace and authentic progress for the peoples of Somalia,
Darfur and Côte d’Ivoire; may it promote political and
social stability in Madagascar; may it bring security and
respect for human rights in Afghanistan and in Pakistan;
may it encourage dialogue between Nicaragua and Costa
Rica; and may it advance reconciliation on the Korean
peninsula.
May the birth of the Savior strengthen the spirit of
faith, patience and courage of the faithful of the Church
in mainland China, that they may not lose heart through
the limitations imposed on their freedom of religion and
conscience but, persevering in fidelity to Christ and his
Church, may keep alive the flame of hope. May the love
of “God-with-us” grant perseverance to all those Chris-
tian communities enduring discrimination and persecu-
tion, and inspire political and religious leaders to be
committed to full respect for the religious freedom of all.
Dear brothers and sisters, “the Word became flesh”;
he came to dwell among us; he is Emmanuel, the God
who became close to us. Together let us contemplate this
great mystery of love; let our hearts be filled with the
light which shines in the stable of Bethlehem! To every-
one, a Merry Christmas!
reminder that things can be headed in the right direction.
There are three reasons for my confidence. The first,
of course, is the resurrection of Christ, the proof that bad
news will never triumph in the end, regardless of the
painful way of the Cross we must travel.
The second is related to recent history. Though the
Vatican continues to say that priestly formation programs
must be examined and strengthened, and episcopal
visitations of seminaries have become the favored way
of imitating effective action, the fact is that the modern
training of priests and the men who have gone through
that training are not a major problem and are more likely
a solution.
While there have been, of course, priests who were
ordained since the 1970s who have abused, in fact stud-
ies show that post-Vatican II clergy are less likely to be
abusers than their seniors have been. The majority of
abusers and the bishops, superiors and curialists who put
continued page 6
Volume XXVIII | Issue no. 31 3
Bago
KADAKOL SATO an labi-labing namumuya
sa anuman na bago—bagong gamit, bagong bado, bagong
rogaring, bagong gawe-gawe, bagong kapalibutan, asin
kadakol pang ibang bago. Sa pag-abot kan bagong taon,
namumuya an kadaklan na paghorop-horopan an mga agi-
aging kaipuhan bagohon o mga gamit na kaipuhan baguhan.
Sa paglipas kan
panahon, may
mga kayumagging
Pinoy na boot
nang mag-bago nin
kublit. An konsepto
kan kagayonan
nabagohan naman.
Siring man an mga
balor asin mga pagtubod, nagkaigwa naman asin padagos
na nagkakaigwa sinda nin bagong pagpapakahulugan. An
pagbanyos sa mayhelang luma na asin an mga bagong
mediko masabing an kalinturado kaipuhan nang punasan
nin malipot. Bago naman an kadakol na metodolohiya;
siring man an nagkapirang mitolohiya. Sa pahingorag na
pagkakataon, sinasabi na kan tawo na nag-bago naman an
klima asin an dalagan kan natural na kinaban—nagbago na
an ruta kan mga bagyo, an kabihiraan kan mga linog, asin an
ponomenon kan mga ipo-ipo. Siring sa dating pagkamoot na
pirit linilingawan, siring ini sa sinasabing: nag-bago na an
gabos.
May mga pagbabago asin mga bagong bagay na
nagtutulay sana sa kapritso asin sa daing pakimanong
pagmawot. Siring sa pagmawot sa mga bago kan kataid—
bagong refrigerator o washing machine, bagong iron gate
o bagong lanai sa harong. Ini si mga bagong bagay na kun
daing makamtan, mayo man esensyal asin permanenteng
epekto. May mga bagong estado na labi-labing gayo an
paghimo alagad minsan suntok sa bulan dawa ngani minsan
marahayon man an katuyuhan, arog kan pagbabago nin
mga pananaw sa buhay, pagbabago sa tarom nin dila o
pagbabago sa mga tinutubudan na doktrina asin prinsipyo
sa buhay. Kanigoan na gayo an ibang pagba-bago. Igwang
subuot pagbago nin dalan na inaagihan, igwang boot mag-
bago nin katungdan. Alagad igwa man nin simpleng pag-
bago nin cellphone number kun dakol na an kaiwal, stalker,
tagahanga, o bata.
Halawig an riribayan kun temang bago an pinag-
uulayan. Minapoon sa mga bagay siring kan ambisyon,
pangatorogan, pamibion, o pangangaipo. Sa Bikol,
minapoon an pagrurip sa bago sa manlaen-laen na pagtaram
kaini—bago, bàgo, bag`o asin iba pa. Alagad minsan an
bago puwede man na luma. Igwa man nin mga bago na
siring sa parikala ni San Agustin sa pakikipag-olay niya
sa Kagurangnan, ‘suanoy na gayon alagad minadanay na
bago—presko o làbas’. Bago man an siring ki Platon na iyo
sana an natatadang permanenteng bagay sa kinaban.
Pirmi ta ining hinahanap—boot tang magdalan nin
bagong pelikula, muya tang magbakal nin bagong bag,
bako nang bago an diyaryo kasuudma, bako naman bago
an samyo kan olor na aroaldaw na napaparong. An mga
inarog na bagay bako nang bago. Siring sa sabi ni T.S. Eliot
asin kan saiyang mga pag-iriba: ‘Giboha an arinman na
bago!’ An rawitdawit, minsan bagong tataramon, bagong
porma, bagong lenggwahe, bagong parasurat, bagong ano
pa man, kun ini minapasabot nin sensibilidad na nasurat
na, bako naman ining bago. An pag-osip, minsan abang
gayon kan mga linya asin urulay kan mga karakter, kun an
naratibo nabasa na sa ibang libro o pahina, bako na ining
bago. Siring man kaini an sa ibang porma nin arte asin
humanidades.
Bako nang bago an baretang iyan—pirmi ta ining
nadadangog. An bagay na paliwat-liwat na sanang
nangyayari, bako naman bago. An bago ito subuot dai pa
nagigibo kan iba, o mayo pang entidad na nakakahaman.
Bago gayod kun mapuho na an korapsyon. Bago gayod
kun dai nang labi-labing pagtios asin kawaran. Bago an
kapanoan, siring sa kabalintunaan na an bagay na ini bago
sa gabos panahon.
Paglaog kaining bagong taon, ano pa daw na bago an
maninigo tang gibohon? Ano pa daw na pagpapakahulugan
sa tataramon na bago an puwede tang itao? Tibaad ini an
magpapa-bago sa paaboton na taon. Ta kun daing bagong
bagay, daing bagong mga pangyayari, daing bagong
karahayan, dai ini maninigong apodon nab ago. An bago sa
sunod na taon iyo sana na ini minatulay, minasulong asin
nabubuhay sa bagong panahon asin espasyo. Daing ibang
bago sa sunod na taon kundi an mga bilang sa kalendaryo,
an signos kan mga Tsino, asin an taon-taon na pasabong kan
mga palyadong manghuhula. An matatada sato gabos na
luma, daan, suanoy, kaidto pa.
Hanapon ta man logod an kun anong mga bago.
Maogmang bagong taon sa gabos!
Si Vic Nierva nagba-blog sa http://aponihandiong.
blogspot.com.
4 Volume XXVIII | Issue no. 31|
UNEP conducts
TAGGED-LGU
course in Iriga
irigA ciTY, dec. 23 (piA)
-- A three-day training on Good
Governance, Gender and En-
terprise Development for Lo-
cal Executives, also dubbed as
TAGGED-LGU will be spear-
headed by the University of
Northeastern Philippines’ (UNEP)
Graduate School from January
26-28 here.
Also an endeavor of UNEP’s
Political Science Department, the
confab will gather local members
of the local executive, includ-
ing administrative personnel and
staff whose lines of expertise is
centered on public service.
Atty. Remelisa Alfelor-
Moraleda, UNEP President said
that they decided to spearhead this
undertaking in the light of putting
the university in the forefront of
bringing good ideas and learning
to their constituents.
“This conference will not just
aid our local executives but will
also make them adept leaders in
their own fields of specialization.
Good governance reflects in the
kind of service that we give and
eventually manifests better conse-
quences, favoring among others,
our very own constituents.”
Joining the pool of resource
speakers are Ms. Crispina B.
Almonte, University Extension
Specialist from the University
of the Philippines Institute for
Small-Scale Industry (UPISSI),
Professor Nestor Rañeses, UP
ISSI Director and Small Enter-
prises Research and Development
Police...
drugs in the town of Irosin, Sor-
sogon on December 18, 2010.
Present during the conferment
were PNP Sorsogon Provincial
Director PSSupt. Heriberto O.
Olitoquit, family of PO1 Caspe,
Sorsogon Provincial Police Office
personnel and members of media
who covered the event, 10:00AM,
at the Sorsogon Medical Mis-
sion Group (popularly known as
SorDoc) Hospital in Sorsogon City
where Caspe was confined.
“The activity is tendered in
recognition of Caspe’s outstanding
courage displayed in responding
to his service in our fight against
Gospel...
From paGe 8
After Herod’s death, an
angel of the Lord appeared in a
dream to Joseph and said, “Get
up, take the child and his mother
and go back to the land of Israel,
because those who tried to kill the
child are dead.” So Joseph got
up, took the child and his mother
and went to the land of Israel.
But when Joseph heard that
Archilaus had succeeded his
father Herod as king of Judea, he
was afraid to go there. He was
given further instructions in a
dream, and went to the region of
Galilee.
There he settled in a town
called Nazareth. In this way
what was said by the prophets
was fulfilled: He shall be called a
Nazorean.
(SERDEF) Executive Director and
Ms. Edna Tejada, Provincial Di-
rector of the Department of Trade
and Industry (DTI) in Camarines
Sur.
Almonte will deliver her
lecture on Entrepreneurship and
Business Opportunities, includ-
ing Entrepreneurial Process and
Project Development Cycle. She
will also tackle issues concerning
Gender and development Perspec-
tives and mainstreaming in LGUs.
On the second day of the con-
fab, Almonte, through her lectures
will revisit the LGU mandate,
focusing on the nature, scope and
roles of LGU, concepts of good
governance with the LGUs as ini-
tiators of sustainable development.
Almonte will also discuss the
Good Governance Agenda of the
new administration being pushed
by His Excellency Benigno
Simeon Aquino III.
The Aquino administration
made it clear from the very start
of his mandate and even reiterat-
ing it during the historic event
witnessed by millions of Filipinos
and spectators all over the world-
that on top of his administration’s
agenda is to cut the culture of
bad governance by getting rid of
the red tape and rampant corrupt
practices committed by the past
administration.
P-Noy’s administration is
set on pursuing good governance
through transparency, accountabil-
ity and moral ascendancy. (Lizel
S. Macatangay)
From paGe 1
criminal elements,” PD Olitoquit
said.
It can be noted that PO1Caspe
sustained a gunshot wound during
a hot pursuit operation together
with members of the Police Intel-
ligence Service (PIS) of Sorsogon
Police Provincial Office (SPPO)
and Philippine Drug Enforcement
Agency (PDEA) in Brgy. Gabao,
Irosin town, Sorsogon, about 5:45
in the afternoon of Dec. 18.
The successful police op-
eration and the enormous cour-
age demonstrated by PO1Caspe
resulted to the arrest of the two
suspects identified as Corporal
Vox Bikol Bikol news
Runners promote wetlands conservation
legAZpi ciTY (20 deceM-
ber) -- usiNg the resurgence of
running as a booming sport nowa-
days, runners and environmentalists
alike campaigned for the conser-
vation of wetlands in Camarines
Sur pooling several hundreds of
advocates yesterday at SM Mall in
Naga City.
Mario Maglinao ruled the
Jingle Bell Run - Run to Save Our
Wetlands 13 K event with a time
of 40 minutes, trailing behind him
was Martin Balaybo both of Albay
Runners Club. Local duathlon ath-
lete Franklin Peñalosa managed to
outrun other runners which earned
him the third place.
“It’s good to run and promote
healthy lifestyle as well campaign
for environmental conservation,”
Maglinao said in the local dialect.
Maglinao accompanied by his team
mates, urged every runner to hit the
road and compete, and if it would
permit, join every fund raising
events for the environment.
Race director Andreco Primero
said Sunday’s run sought to raise
Rommel Gavino y Valdez of the
83rd Infantry Battalion, Philippine
Army based in Catanduanes and
one Rigoberto Atienza y Falcon,
resident of Nabua, Camarines Sur
as well as resulted to the recovery
of one (1) Cal.45, one (1) Cal.38
handguns and seven (7) sachets
believed to contain shabu.
“We believe that the sacrifices
fund and heighten awareness of the
public on the conservation of the re-
gion’s wetlands specifically Cagsao
in Calabanga, Camarines Sur.
Gail Cea, chief of the protected
areas wildlife and coastal zone
management section of the DENR -
Community Environment and Natu-
ral Resources (CENR) Office in
Naga City was deeply appreciative
of the Jingle Bell Run organized
by Junior Chamber International
Cariñosa chapter’s effort to adopt
the Cagsao Wetland.
“This will complement the
DENR and municipal government
of Calabanga’s thrust to protect,
rehabilitate and expand the man-
grove reforestation project along
the town’s coastal barangays,”
Cea said. She said the JCI Naga
Cariñosa will conduct a mangrove-
planting project at identified areas
fringing San Miguel Bay soon as
they acquire propagules.
Cagsao wetland is now ex-
panding its area with at least 10,000
hectares of mangrove reforesta-
tion site, planted with 170, 000 of
and valor shown by Caspe in doing
his duty to maintain and promote
peace and order in the community
will serve as inspiration to be emu-
lated not only by the police force
but by every civil servant with the
strong desire and sincerity to serve
the larger community,” said Oli-
toquit. (Bennie A. Recebido, PIA
Sorsogon/SPPO)
20 - 26 december 2010
propagules last year through Smart
Communications. Smart Commu-
nications estimated the mangrove
survival rate at 80-90 per cent.
Under the Ramsar Interna-
tional Wetland Conservation Treaty,
wetlands are defined as “areas
of marsh, fen, peatland or water,
whether natural or artificial, perma-
nent or temporary, with water that is
static or flowing, fresh, brackish or
salt, including areas of marine water
the depth of which at low tide does
not exceed six metres... also it may
incorporate riparian and coastal
zones adjacent to the wetlands, and
islands or bodies of marine water
deeper than six metres at low tide
lying within the wetlands”.
The winners for the 13 km
(male category) are: 1st place,
Mario Maglinao of Legazpi City,
Albay; 2nd, Martin Balaybo also
of Legazpi City; and 3rd, Franklin
Peñalosa of Camarines Sur.
For the 13 km (female cat-
egory): 1st place is Cindy Lopez
of Camarines Sur; 3rd is Lilibeth
Pepino also of Camarines Sur.
In the 6 km (male category),
the winners were: 1st, Jeffrey
Añonuevo of Legazpi City, Albay;
2nd, Ronaldo Añonuevo also of Le-
gazpi City; and 3rd, Marino Lagyap
of Camarines Sur.
Meanwhile in the 6 km female
category, the winners were: 1st,
Florence Florece of Camarines Sur;
2nd, Eleanor Llorente of Camarines
Sur; and 3rd, Susan Maravilla also
of Camarines Sur.
20 - 26 december 2010
Buhi...
pollution levels after a fishkill
incident in November this year had
devastated 80% of the Tilapia fish
stocks in the lake.
Earlier, the Buhi Lake Devel-
opment Office also disclosed that
among the estimated 600 fish cage
operators, it was not certain what
percentage had legal permits from
the local government.
In recent report titled, “Lake
Buhi Needs Capacity Manage-
ment” by the Bureau of Fisheries
and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)
Region-5, it was revealed that
since an 1998 enormous fishkill
in the lake which amounted to P
33-Million in losses, Tilapia grow-
ers in Buhi were already conduct-
ing “bad aquaculture practices”
such as overcapacity, overstocking,
and overfeeding which resulted
to negative impacts on the lake’s
environment.
1M...
Albay and Mobo, Masbate which,
along with 13 other considered
top ranked local government units
(LGUs) nationwide are being
esteemed by the DILG for their
good performance in internal
housekeeping focused on good
planning, sound fiscal manage-
ment, transparency and account-
ability and valuing of performance
information.
Sto. Domingo in Albay that
sits near the southeastern foot of
Mt. Mayon is a fourth class coastal
town of nearly 35,000 popula-
tion based on the 2007 official
count conducted by the National
Statistics Office (NSO). It has
23 barangays whose residents as
mostly farmers and fishermen.
This municipality under the
stewardship of its local chief
executive, Mayor Herbie Aguas
has been excellent in the House-
keeping area of good planning,
transparency and accountability,
valuing performance information
and sound fiscal management, ac-
cording to the DILG.
Mobo, Masbate under the
leadership of its lawyer-mayor,
Percival Castillo is also a fourth
class town located around six ki-
lometers next to Masbate city, the
provincial capital. It has a popula-
tion of about 33,000 during the
2007 census distributed among its
29 barangays whose economies are
mostly dependent on agriculture
and fishery.
This municipality has also
been showing exceptional perfor-
mances in planning, fiscal manage-
ment, transparency and account-
ability and valuing performance
information, the DILG said.
The 15 LGUs including Sto.
Domingo and Mobo that are
within the 4th to 6th class groups
were recently given formal rec-
ognition and awarded the Seal of
Good Housekeeping (SGH) in line
Vox Bikol is now accepting short stories, poems
and photo contributions.
Please submit your work to
voxbikol.ibfi@gmail.com
Don’t forget to include your name, age and occupation.
The report was authored by
Nonie P. Enolva, chief of the moni-
toring and evaluation section of
BFAR.
Also in the same report,
BFAR Bicol director Dennis V.
Del Rosario had recommended
to the Buhi local government to
strictly implement a lake capacity
management system to limit fish
cage occupancy to only 10% for
commercial fish production.
The report also noted that
overcapacity in the number of fish
cages have obstructed the free flow
of lake waters, while the exces-
sive aquaculture produced wastes
which resulted to the over-growth
of water hyacinths that blocked
sunlight in the lake waters.
The lack of sunlight, in turn,
resulted to very low dissolved oxy-
gen levels which was detrimental
in sustaining aqualife in the lake.
with the DILG’s commitment to
aggressively scale up interventions
to elevate the practice of gover-
nance that values transparency,
accountability, participation and
performance into an institutional-
ized status.
The other municipalities are
Anilao, Iloilo; Balete, Aklan;
Balilihan, Bohol; Catigbian, Bo-
hol; Clarin, Misamis Occidental;
Dumulog, Bukidnon; Datu Paglas,
Maguindanao; Leon B. Postigo,
Zamboanga del Norte; Naawan,
Misamis Oriental; Pitogo, Que-
zon; San Agustin, Surigao del Sur;
Santol, La Union; and Tampilisan,
Zamboanga del Norte.
Wearing the SGH also entitles
each LGU of the PCF that will
be utilized as a counterpart fund
to LGU’s allocation from the 20
percent development fund for the
implementation of projects that are
consistent with national objective
to achieve the United Nation’s
Millennium Development Goals
(MDG), DILG regional director
for Bikol Blandino Maceda on
Wednesday said.
These 15 LGUs were the
maiden batch of SGH awardees
and they will also be the first
grantees of the PCF that the DILG
under Sec. Jesse Robredo is insti-
tutionalizing based on the Per-
formance-Based Incentive Policy
approved by the Development
Budget Coordinating Committee
(DBCC).
This Policy, Maceda said pro-
vides for an incentive framework
to rationalize national govern-
ment intergovernmental transfers
to LGUs towards improving the
latter’s performance in governance
and delivery of basic services.
“By linking financial incen-
tives to the LGUs own perfor-
mance, the latter is motivated to
perform better and deliver quality
services to the people,” Maceda
Vox Bikol Bikol News
From PAGE 1
In a Sangguniang Panlala-
wigan session this week, Cama-
rines Sur Vice-Governor Fortunato
Peña said the provincial board will
support whatever course of action
the town council of Buhi will take
to preserve the endangered ecol-
ogy of the lake.
The Vice-Governor said they
have asked the help of Rincon-
ada District Congressman Salvio
Fortuno to pursue a previously
proposed Lake Authority Bill for
lakes Buhi and Bato, which had
been earlier marred by conflicting
political views among previous lo-
cal officials and Congressmen.
The Lake Bill seeks to protect
the ecology of both lakes and
sanction their commercial use,
through an annual budget ear-
marked by the national govern-
ment for its sustainability and
preservation, Peña said.
From PAGE 1
explained.
The PFC, he said is an incen-
tive fund to LGUs in the form of
counterpart funding to high-impact
capital investment projects in the
Annual Investment Program and
funded the 20 percent Develop-
ment Fund consistent with national
priorities.
It shall seek to rationalize
national government intergov-
ernmental transfers to LGUs and
encourage alignment of local de-
velopment initiatives with national
government development agenda
and priorities, Maceda said.
The Fund shall be open to all
provinces, cities and municipalities
awarded with the SGH provided
that the LGU shall allocate coun-
terpart fund to implement capital
investment projects aligned with
the national development agenda
and priorities, he added.
In a statement following the
release of cash grant to the two
Bicol towns last week, DILG
Secretary Jesse Robredo said that
“through the PCF, we are open-
ing the window for our LGUs to
manifest their competitive spirit
and high-octane performance so
that, hand in hand with us in the
national government, we can
ensure that economic development
sets in at the local level to help
eradicate or dramatically reduce
poverty incidence throughout the
country.”
The grants, according to Ro-
bredo may support capital invest-
ments from a menu of investment
projects that support national
priorities, particularly President
Benigno Aquino III’s priority
programs on improving social ser-
vices, providing public infrastruc-
ture, enhancing economic services,
climate change adaptation and
disaster risk reduction and promot-
ing good governance. (PNA)
Health...
lected communities in the province
to reinforce the capacity of the
communities and local structures
to improve their basic health man-
agement. Aside from the project’s
health component, it also aspires to
strengthen the community’s capac-
ity in disaster preparedness.
Target areas for project imple-
mentation are the municipalities
of Siruma, Lagonoy, and Garchi-
torena. The municipalities of Buhi
and Iriga were also added but the
direct beneficiaries would be the
Indigenous People in its respective
selected barangays.
IPs in the two aforementioned
municipalities are considered the
most vulnerable and tagged as
marginalized communities as they
live along the slopes of Mount
Asog and its many tributaries.
Nanette Rodrigazo, PRC
Camarines Sur chapter administra-
tor, said that the province is indeed
lucky for having been chosen as
the recipient of several projects
funded by AECID, particularly the
Spanish Red Cross.
“The Spanish Red Cross in
particular, and of course AECID
and now the Australian Red Cross
have been our constant ally in al-
leviating and uplifting the condi-
tion of our constituents here in
Camarines Sur, particularly those
Albay...
said that over 70 awardees and
qualifiers were nominated to this
year’s awards program making it
with the most number of partici-
pants since the program inception.
Salceda bared that some 27
awardees and 49 qualifiers re-
ceived each a certificate and plaque
of recognition as well as cash
incentives ranging from P3,000 to
P200,000 each, depending on the
categories, totaling to P2.1 million
cash incentives.
“With these numbers, both of
educators and students, our main
objective of providing Albayanos
with quality education is gradu-
ally gaining more support from
the various sectors of our society,”
Salceda said.
Dr. Rowena Ondiz, chief of
Albay’s Research and Planning
Division and Awards Committee
in-charge, said the awards program
has four categories, including Stu-
dent Excellence in Academics and
Leadership (SEAL); Ten Outstand-
ing Teachers of Albay (TOTAL);
Three Outstanding Principals in
the Countryside of Albay (TROPI-
CAL); and Kadunong LGU, for
LGUs with best practices in educa-
tion development.
Albay’s Gawad Edukasyon
has cited Rhod Jeran Sabater, of
Polangui Comprehensive High
School(PGCHS); John Eulo
Bas, of Tabaco National High
School(TNHS); Jessa Marie
Monzon, of Marcial O. Rañola
Memorial School (MORMS);
Micah Madrelejos, PGCHS; Andre
Nico Belen, of Ligao National
High School (LNHS); Kimberly
Rapirap, of St. Michael Academy;
Roland Francis Dacillo, TNHS;
Antonette Reburiano, PGCHS;
Shaira Orogo, MORMS; and
Aaron Castillo, of Legazpi City
Science High School LCSHS), in
the student category wherein each
received P20,000 and plaque of
recognition.
Volume XXVIII | Issue no. 31 5
From PAGE 1
communities which we consider
vulnerable and prone to natural di-
sasters. We are indeed thankful that
they never grow tired in supporting
our chapter’s endeavors.”
The project will have the
following components: capacity
building for the staff, volunteers
and local special bodies, organi-
zation, training and mobilization
of volunteers on Health, disaster,
water and sanitation , provision of
equipment and supplies to health
and disaster volunteers, repair and
rehabilitation of health and water
facilities including the provi-
sion of basic medical equipment
to BEMONC (Basic Emergency
Maternal, Obstetric and Neonatal
Care) including establishment of
Botika ng Barangay.
Information-education-
communication campaigns, drills
and collaboration meetings with
key stakeholders and other project
partners and the development of
mechanisms for project monitor-
ing, evaluation, and reporting will
also be undertaken.
The project is a partnership
between the provincial govern-
ment, the LGUs of the municipali-
ties aforementioned, the Philippine
Red Cross-Camarines Sur chapter,
Spanish Red Cross, and Australian
Red Cross. (PIA CamSur)
From PAGE 1
Michelle M. Damiel, LC-
SHS; Diana L. Desuyo, of Bicol
Regional Science High School
(BRSHS); Sixto O. Orzales, of
Albay Central School (ACS);
Leopoldo C. Brizuela Jr., LNHS;
Nora J. Laguda, MORMS; Shirley
M. Rustria, of Oas North Central
School (ONCS); Hazel C. Asejo,
of Aquinas University of Legazpi
Science High School (AUL-LSHS;
Ruben B. Cenita, AUL-LSHS;
Roger B. Bañal, TNHS; and Nancy
M. Aguda, ACS composed the
list of TOTAL who each received
P100,000.
Three school principals
namely Dr. Norma B. Orozco,
of Pagasa National High School
(PNHS); Rhodie H. Quirab, of
Ligao East Central Elementary
School (LECES); and Carmen J.
Beldad, ACS topped the list in the
TROPICAL awardees each also
receiving some P100,000.
Most outstanding LGU cited
was Tiwi, lead by Mayor Jaime
C. Villanueva; Outstanding LGU
was Libon, under the headship of
Mayor Agnes Dycoco and Tabaco
City Mayor Krisel Lagman-Lu-
istro. Manito Mayor Caesar Daep
was conferred with a special men-
tion award. Kadunong LGU’s most
outstanding bagged P200,000;
outstanding, P100,000; and special
recognition, P75,000.
Ondiz furthered that aside
from the major awards, at finalists
also received P5,000 to P10,000
each; and qualifiers P3,000 to
P5,000 each, depending on the
categories they were nominees.
“Gov. Salceda wants that all
those who signified interest in
joining the education enhancement
contests receive prize,” Ondiz said.
With its expanded education
programs and activities, Albay has
created the Provincial Education
Department (PET) and initially
funded it with some P170 million.
(MALoterte, PIA V/Albay)
6 Volume XXVIII | Issue no. 31| Vox Bikol 20 - 26 december 2010

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!

Farmacia Uy Multibrand
distributor
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Master Square Bigg’s

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Peñafrancia Basilica, Balatas Road, IBFI, Peñafrancia Basilica, Balatas Road,
Naga City Naga City

Things may not be so bad after all From paGe 3

reputation ahead of children’s welfare were men who
were trained before Vatican II. Apparently, something
about the screening of candidates back then and the im-
age of priesthood and Church that was taught to them
underlie or are at least linked to the problem we face
today.
In that case, so long as we continue to choose and
train our priests as we have been doing for four decades,
the problem of sexual abuse by clergy and its cover-up
will eventually become a matter of isolated cases. And
with effective procedures in place to handle those cases
the abuse, pain and scandal they cause will continue to
decrease.
The third reason for confidence is hinted at in the
fact that a major part of the pope’s comments rely upon
St. Hildegard of Bingen’s account of a vision she had in
1170. The saint describes the agony of the Church due to
corruption among the clergy.
In the nearly 2,000-year history of the Church, there
has been no shortage of reasons for such anguish. Nor
will there ever be a shortage of such reasons. Over the
centuries, though, many ordained men have made the
same complaint. Yet, the pope used the voice of a woman
to issue a call for reflection, repentance and reform.
Whether Pope Benedict intended it or not, relying
upon Hildegard intimates a major reason for hope in fac-
ing and healing our situation.
One of the encouraging signs of the continuing and
continuous work of the Holy Spirit in the Church is the
fact that people who have not traditionally been leaders
of the Church — lay and Religious women and laymen
— are taking on such leadership roles as theologians,
administrators, canon lawyers and parish ministers.
Their perspectives and professionalism are help-
ing us find “a new way of being Church,” as the FABC
(Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences) describes our
vocation today. They are breaking down the clergy-cen-
tered way of being Church that has abetted and exacer-
bated the abuse crisis.
The post-Vatican II clergy have shown an overall
level of integrity that is counteracting the actions of
some of their forebears. Laity and Religious in that same
period have taken roles in shaping the day-to-day life of
the Church in the world that are often overlooked and
sometimes opposed by those whose intellectual, theo-
logical, professional and emotional roots are in that older
world.
The pope’s message to the cardinals sitting around
him at the Vatican may be a worthwhile call to reflection
for those old men. But, if as they trooped out of the Sala
Regia, they looked through some of those windows that
Pope John XXIII opened to the world they may have
seen that there are rays of sunlight out there.
____
Father William Grimm is a Tokyo-based priest and
publisher of UCA News, and former editor-in-chief of
“Katorikku Shimbun,” Japan’s Catholic weekly.
20 - 26 december 2010
Republic of the Philippines
REGIONAL TRIAL
COURT
Fifth Judicial Region
Branch 23
Naga City
IN THE MATTER OF THE
CORRECTION
OF ERRONEOUS ENTRY
IN THE CERTIFICATE
OF LIVE BIRTH OF ABIG-
AEL MARCIAL
ANDAL BY CORRECTING
THE GENDER
FROM MALE TO FEMALE
AND TO DELETE
MARCIAL BESIDE HER
FIRST NAME,
ABIGAEL MARCIAL AN-
DAL,
Petitioner,
Spec Proc. No. 2010-0076
-versus-
THE LOCAL CIVIL REGIS-
TRAR OF
NAGA CITY, AND THE
NATIONAL
STATISTICS OFFICE,
Respondents.
x--------------------------------x
ORDER
Filed before this court is a
verified petition seeking the
correction of some erroneous
entries in the record of birth
of petitioner Abigael Marcial
Andal under Local Civil Reg-
istry No. 91-1629 of the Naga
City Civil Registry. These
entries are:
1. Petitioner’s gender which is
incorrectly recorded as male
instead of female; and
2. The name Marcial which
appears in petitioner’s record
of birth as part of her given
name is actually the family
name of her mother, Yolanda
Anyayahan Marcial, and thus
must be deleted so that her
true and correct name AB-
IGAEL MARCIAL ANDAL
may appear thereon.
Finding the petition to be suf-
ficient in form and substance,
Christmas...
can make rich and beautiful
hearts out of our own—
hearts who can love as He
loves; who can forgive as
He forgives; and generous
hearts who take joy in none
other than self-giving,” he
said.
The prelate noted that
situations of unpeace, such
as threats of war, political
unrest, and armed conflicts,
can sometimes blur the
people’s faith and hope in
God.
“In our country, ac-
quiring peace in Muslim
Mindanao seems almost
hopeless while insurgency,
coup attempts, and crimes
such as extrajudicial killing,
terrorism and the like con-
tinue to interrupt the smooth
progress of national affairs,”
he said.
“With the approval of
RH Bill, a woman’s womb
can be a ferocious threat
to those who are yet to be
born,” he added.
But despite difficult
situations, the prelate said,
still “many a great wonder-
the same shall be heard by
this court on January 25, 2010
at 8:30 o’clock in the morn-
ing, at which time and date,
all persons who have claim
any interest which would be
affected thereby may appear
and register their opposition
thereto.
Have this order published
once a week for three (3)
consecutive weeks in a news-
paper of general circulation
in the province of Camarines
Sur.
Furnish the Civil Registry Of-
fice of Naga City, the National
Statistics Office, the Office
of the Solicitor General, the
City Prosecution Office of
Naga City, and the parents of
the said petitioner with copies
of this order and the instant
petition.
SO ORDERED.
Given this 8th day of No-
vember, 2010 at Naga City,
Philippines.
(SGD.) VALENTIN E.
PURA, JR.
Presiding Judge
DEED OF EXTRAJUDI-
CIAL SETTLEMENT OF
ESTATE
WITH DONATION OF
SHARES
This is hereby given that the
estate of the late ESTELA
BERNISCA-VELOSO died
on February 13, 1979 at
Duran, Balatan, CSur left
parcel of agricultural land
located at San Antonio,
Minalabac, CSur with an area
of 4 hectares, covered by TD
No. 0180030. This Deed was
a subject of Extrajudicial
Settlement of Estate with Do-
nation of Shares, in favor to
Maribeth Bernisca Verdeflor.
Acknowledged before notary
public Tirso P. Mariano, per
doc. No. 3192, Page no. 40,
Book no. XXXXII, Series of
2010.
ful thing happens in this
most anticipated season of
the year.”
He said Christmas
brings cheer to people’s
hearts and lead people to
become good and generous
to one another.
“We marvel at how the
street children, the prison-
ers, the people in Payatas
and Smokey Mountain,
and the indigenous tribes
could sing their heart out
to the tune of Christmas
Jingles. Armed Forces
have their camps decorated
with Christmas trees and
lanterns; insurgents leave
their guns in the fox hole.
Conflicting parties seek
reconciliation and most
often, ceasefire and peace-
talks befall on Christmas,”
Odchimar said.
The prelate said the
transformation happens
because of “the irresistible
power of Christ to change
the face of the world ac-
cording to His own plan.”
“If we look at the stable
at Bethlehem in its utter
Vox Bikol Notices
Vox Bikol: Dec. 13, 20 and
27, 2010
Republic of the Philippines
REGIONAL TRIAL
COURT
5TH Judicial Region
Branch 25, Naga City
PETITION FOR COR-
RECTION OF ENTRY IN
THE CERTIFICATE OF
LIVE BIRTH OF MANUEL
NAPOD BERJA, MANUEL
NAPOD BERJA, Petitioner,
SPEC PROC. NO. 2010-0083
-versus-
THE LOCAL CIVIL REG-
ISTRAR OF CANAMAN,
CAMARINES SUR
Respondent.
x--------------------------------x
ORDER
A verified petition was
filed by petitioner MANUEL
NAPOD BERJA, through
counsel, praying that after
hearing, an Order be issued
directing the Local Civil Reg-
istrar of Canaman, Camarines
Sur to correct the entries in
his certificate of live birth as
follows:
Date of Parent’s Marriage
From: December 8, 1987 to
October 30, 2003
Place of Parent’s Marriage
From: Daet, Cam. Norte to
Caramoan, Cam. Sur
Notice is hereby given
that this petition will be heard
on FEB. 24, 2011 at 8:30 a.m.
before the sala of this Court at
which time, date and place, all
interested persons are cited to
appear and show cause, if any,
why this petition should not
be granted.
Let this Order be
published at the expense of
the petitioner in a newspaper
of general circulation in the
Province of Camarines Sur,
once a week for three (3) con-
secutive weeks. The Deputy
Sheriff of this Court is hereby
From page 8
ordinariness, it reflects the
same indigence, misery,
and confusion in the world;
but, the very presence of the
Holy Child laid in the man-
ger signifies the overwhelm-
ing transformation of that
empty place into a beautiful
belen,” he explained.
Christmas, Odchimar
said, should not lead us
merely to remember, but to
experience in our hearts the
deep joy in Bethlehem.
“We relive the ethereal
serenity and peace which
this holy night brings and
we are made witnesses to
the fulfillment of the prom-
ise of Hope,” he said.
“Jesus’ nativity must
not be seen as an event of
the past,” the prelate said.
“Rather, it is a new era
marked by the dawning of
the Great Light, which tran-
scends earthly reckoning of
time.”
“And this is the good
news: We are living in this
era of new expectation for
peace, joy, and prosperity!”
he furthered. (CBCPNews)
ordered to cause the posting
of this Order at the Bulletin
Boards of the Hall of Justice,
Naga City, at the Barangay
Hall of Sta. Lucia, Magarao,
Cam. Sur and at the Office
of the Local Civil Registrar,
Canaman. Cam. Sur at least
one month before the sched-
uled hearing. Furnish the Of-
fice of the Solicitor General,
the Provincial Prosecutor’s
Office, the National Statistics
Office and the Local Civil
Registrar of Canaman, Cam.
Sur with a copy of this Order,
together with the petition and
annexes.
SO ORDERED.
Given this 13th day of De-
cember 2010 at Naga City,
Philippines.
(Sgd.) JAIME E.
CONTRERAS
Presiding Judge
Copy furnished:
RTC-OCC Naga City (for
raffle publication)
Prov’l Prosecutor Office,
Naga City-with copy of peti-
tion & annexes
Solicitor General-Makati
City-with copy of petition &
annexes
Local Civil Registrar-Cana-
man, Cam Sur-with copy of
the petition & annexes
National Statistics Office-with
copy of petition & annexes
For posting (3)
Atty. Amador L. Simando Jr.
Manuel Napod Berja- Mari-
ner’s Village, Sta. Lucia,
Magarao, Cam Sur
Vox Bikol: Dec. 13, 20 and
27, 2010
Republic of the Philippines
REGIONAL TRIAL
COURT
5th Judicial Region
Branch 57
Libmanan, Camarines Sur
Pope...
San Diego’s resigna-
tion is in accordance with
Canon. 401, paragraph 1
of the Code of Canon Law
which requires bishops to
tender their resignation
upon reaching the manda-
tory age of 75.
The prelate has been
bishop of Pasig for the past
seven years.
Ordained bishop on
August 10, 1983, San Diego
served as Coadjutor Apos-
Volume XXVIII | Issue no. 31 7
PETITION FOR CORREC- This is hereby given that the
TION OF ENTRY UNDER estate of the late SEVERO C.
RULE 108 OF THE RE- PADILLO died on April 30,
VISED RULES OF COURT, 1980 at Goa, CSur left parcel
JUNE JIMENEZ AGRITO, of land located at Matacla,
Petitioner, Goa, CSur with an area of
324 sqm.; being a portion
SPEC PROC. NO. L-01707 of lot 768, Cad 339, Goa
-versus- Cadastre. This was a subject
THE LOCAL CIVIL REGIS- of Extrajudicial Settlement
TRAR OF among heirs and do Waive,
LIBMANAN, CAMARINES Transfer and Convey in favor
SUR, Respondent. to Lorena Salazar Padillo.
x--------------------------------x Acknowledged before notary
ORDER public Leoncio M. Clemente,
In this verified petition, per doc. No. 194, Page no. 46,
petitioner seeks the correc- Book no. 196, Series of 2010.
tion of the clerical error in
the record of birth of JUNE Vox Bikol: Dec. 20, 27 and
JIMENEZ AGRITO as ap- Jan. 3, 2011
pearing in the office of the
Local Civil Registrar of EXTRAJUDICIAL SET-
Ragay, Camarines Sur by TLEMENT OF ESTATE
changing his gender from WITH WAIVER OF
FEMALE to MALE. RIGHTS
Finding the petition to
be sufficient in form and This is hereby given that the
substance, let the same be set estate of the late SEVERO C.
for initial hearing on Febru- PADILLO died on April 30,
ary 14, 2011 at 8:30 a.m. All 1980 at Goa, CSur left parcel
interested persons may appear of land designated as lot
and show cause, if any, why 1833, Cad 339, Goa Cadastre,
the petition should not be located at Matacla, Goa, CSur
granted. with an area of 2,993 sqm.;
Let a copy of this Order being a portion of lot 768,
be published for three (3) Cad 339, Goa Cadastre. This
consecutive weeks in a news- was a subject of Extrajudi-
paper of general circulation in cial Settlement among heirs
the province. and do Waive, Transfer and
Convey in favor to 1) Lorena
SO ORDERED. Salazar Padillo, portion of lot
1833, bounded on the NE by
GIVEN this 25th day of lot 768, Cad 339 Goa Cadas-
November, 2010 at Libmanan, tre 2972., an area of 482sqm.,
Camarines Sur, Philippines and portion of lot 1833,
bounded on the NE & SE by
lot 2972, on the S by lot 2971,
(Sgd.) IRMA ISIDORA M. all of Cad 39 Goa cadastre, an
BONCODIN-ZAMUDIO area of 945sqm., 2) Yolanda
Judge Salazar Padillo portion of lot
1833, bounded on the NE
by lot 1833 port., an area of
Vox Bikol: Dec. 13, 20 and 1,427sqm. Acknowledged
27, 2010 before notary public Leoncio
M. Clemente, per doc. No.
EXTRAJUDICIAL SET- 193, Page no. 40, Book no.
TLEMENT OF ESTATE 196, Series of 2010.
WITH WAIVER OF
RIGHTS Vox Bikol: Dec. 20, 27 and
Jan. 3, 2011
From page 8 Coup...
From page 8
tolic Vicar of Palawan from to our people,” he said.
1983 to 1987 and Apostolic Garcia pleaded guilty
Vicar from 1987 to 1995. last week to a lesser offense
He was appointed in a deal with the Office of
second bishop of San Pablo the Ombudsman. The former
Diocese in 1995, succeeding general could not post bail
Bishop Pedro Bantigue. earlier because he was facing
In 2003, Pope John a plunder case. The anti-graft
Paul II named San Diego as court Sandiganbayan, how-
first bishop of Pasig when ever, allowed him bail after
the Archdiocese of Manila he pleaded guilty of bribery.
was subdivided to form the “One of the reasons why
three new dioceses of Pasig, I believe the president’s ap-
Kalookan and Cubao. proval rating has been going
down is that six months into
his administration his cam-
paign slogan against corrup-
tion is not realized,” Bishop
Bagaforo said.
INA NIN BIKOL FOUNDATION, INC.
Meanwhile, the presi-
dential palace said it is not
Peñafrancia Basilica,
Balatas, Naga City
happy with the deal with
Garcia even as the Depart-
Available at:
ment of Justice issued a
hold-departure order against
the former general.
“We can’t just let him
walk away. It’s unacceptable
to the administration. It will
again be a serious blow to its
anti-corruption efforts,” said
Justice Secretary Leila de
Lima. (UCAN)

Volume XXVIII | Issue no. 31| 20-26 december 2010
Vatican’s nativity scene with Filipino figures unveiled
Christmas
challenges people
to transform
society—CBCP
head
MANilA, dec. 25, 2010—iN
the face of poverty and difficult
situations, Christmas challenges
people to act in order to transform
the society they live in, a Church
leader said.
The core message of the
Christmas season “compels us to
accept our individual role in this
crucial and intricate work of trans-
forming the face of the earth,”
CBCP president and Tandag
Bishop Nereo Odchimar said.
Just as Jesus has transformed
the world at his Incarnation, so we
should begin it by receiving Jesus
in our hearts, Odchimar said in a
Christmas message.
“If we allow our hearts to be
mangers on which He lays, He
cHriStmaS / paGe 7
Pope names
Cardinal Rosales
Pasig Apostolic
administrator
MANilA, dec. 22, 2010—MA-
NilA Archbishop Gaudencio Car-
dinal Rosales has been appointed
Apostolic Administrator of the
Diocese of Pasig by Pope Benedict
XVI upon the resignation of Pasig
Bishop Francisco San Diego.
Cardinal Rosales’ appoint-
ment, which was announced on
December 21 at 12:00 noon in
Rome (7 p.m. local time), is con-
current with his being Archbishop
of Manila.
The pope has accepted the
resignation of Bishop San Diego
who turned 75 on October 10,
2010. pope / paGe 7
Bishop warns
of coup over
general’s deal
The releAse of forMer
philippiNe Armed Forces
comptroller Carlos Garcia after a
plea bargain agreement may lead
to a coup d’état by disgruntled
soldiers, a Filipino Catholic bishop
warned today.
“I don’t want it to happen but
that’s a possibility. You know, it
can create dissatisfaction, and at
the same time, others might take
the law into their own hands,” said
Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Jose
Colin Bagaforo.
“What I see in this decision by
the Ombudsman is its impact to so-
ciety. It sends out a wrong message
coup / paGe 7
GOSPEL (DECEMBER 26, 2010) MT 2:13–15, 19–23
After the wise men had left, an angel of the Lord Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and
appeared in a dream to Joseph and said, “Get up, take left that night for Egypt, where he stayed until the death
the child and his mother and flee to Egypt, and stay of Herod. In this way, what the Lord had said through
there until I tell you for Herod will soon be looking for the the prophet was fulfilled: I called my son out of Egypt.
child in order to kill him.” continued on paGe 4
roMe, dec. 25, 2010—The The attractive smiling figures At exactly 6:00 p.m., the Holy the 60th anniversary of diplomatic
nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square, dressed in colorful native attire Father Pope Benedict XVI lighted relations between the Republic of
featuring nine Filipino statues to and playing musical instruments, a candle for peace as he watched the Philippines and the Holy See”.
complement the traditional figures portray the joyful spirit of Philip- the unveiling ceremony from the The Philippines is the first
of the Holy Family, was unveiled pine Christmas which is known window of the papal apartments. country outside Italy to be given a
during a solemn evening ceremony as the “longest and most festive In the darkness, he blessed the major part in the Vatican nativity
on Dec. 24. celebration in the world”. assembled crowd with the light of scene, since this tradition was first
The Governorate of the Asked to comment about the the single candle. begun in 1982 under the pontifi-
Vatican City organized the event Vatican nativity scene, His Emi- In her message, Ambassador cate of John Paul II.
which was attended by ecclesiasti- nence Giovanni Cardinal Lajolo, Tuason thanked the Governorate Filipinos are honored as they
cal authorities of the Holy See and President of the Governorate of of the Vatican City State for giving join the hundreds of pilgrims who
civil authorities from the City and the Vatican City, recognized the the Philippines a special place in come to St. Peter’s Square at this
Province of Rome. special contribution of the Philip- the center of the Roman Catholic time of the year, to contemplate
Mercedes A. Tuason, Philip- pines. He also noted the dynamic Church’s celebration of the birth of the incarnation of our Lord Jesus
pine Ambassador to the Holy See, faith of Filipino Catholics and un- Christ this year. Christ, who came to call all peo-
with Josephine Bantug, led the derlined that the Philippines is the Tuason added that allowing ples into the one family of God.
Filipino community in Rome dur- largest Christian country in Asia. the Philippines to participate in (Fr. Jose V.C. Quilongquilong,
ing the unveiling. His Eminence Angelo Car- this event marked in a special way S.J.)
Filipino sculptor, Kublai dinal Comastri, Archpriest of the
Ponce-Millan, designed the statues Basilica of St. Peter led the prayer
to represent different indigenous service of the nativity scene. A
groups of the Philippines in a Tagalog Christmas carol sung
festive celebration of faith, music, by the Karilagan Filipino choir
food and family on the occasion of from Sentro Pilipino was a special
the birth of Jesus. highlight.
MESSAGE FOR CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR
It is often a spectacular scene to behold how the revered enemy to a friend.
Christmas season lightens up the souls of people, enabling each As we approach the holy crib with utter reverence and
one of us to sing a happy Christmas tune. For a time it helps us gratitude for the greatest gift that humankind has ever received,
forget the daily grind and complexities of life. But then again the
Christmas spirit is not simply a feeling to enjoy. It is an encoun-
the Holy Child wishes that He be born in the cradle of our own
souls.
ter with a person. Love which is the cause of this joyful season We will know if He is truly born in us, if we are able to look
ceases to be a vague idea or feeling but is now born in flesh, in
the person of Jesus.
forward for the coming New Year with great hope. Love is truly
powerful for it is “the greatest of them all” (Corinthians 13:13).
Our encounter with the love personified compels us to Let us fill this New Year with the love we learned from Jesus this
encounter our fellowmen too. Loyalty and sincere concern is the Christmas.
face of love within the family and among friends. It is commit- Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to one and all!
ment and understanding for married couples. It is holy perse-
verance and observance of vows for the religious. Love is also
spoken and lived in our government when great leaders tran-
scend the natural barrier of politics and decide to join forces to
serve the people better. Love has a sweeter face when we turn an
+Leonardo Z. Legaspi, O.P., D.D.
Archbishop of Caceres