Editorial: The SECE

ARTICLE XI, Section 1 of the Constitution states: "Public officers must at all times be accountable to the people." And according to the Laws and Rules Governing Election Finance published by the Lawyers' League for Liberty or Libertas iterates, "The accountability of elective public officers commences when they present themselves to the people during election campaigns. Candidates must be transparent as to the sources of their campaign money and the true extent of their election spending as this would impact directly on the candidates' governance upon their assumption to office."

Cariño: Baguio-Bengue Integrity initiative

THE Makati Business Club (MBC) breezed into town recently and challenged Baguio and Benguet businessmen to implement their own integrity initiative to support the growing clamor for ethical reforms in the private sector. Peter Perfecto, MBC executive director, urged members of the local chapter of the Phil. Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) to audit their business process and squeeze in their own brand of ethics.

Editorial: Disaster waiting

THE stench of Philippine Educational system is once again taking its ugly toll.

Students from the Philippine Science High School (PSHS)-Cordillera in Irisan barangay are living examples of this. And they are now up in arms because the school is just a few meters away from the city's garbage transfer and sorting station.

Panes: From 2002

UNTIL 1986, I was a stranger to Baguio, only hearing of its beauty and splendor from my father who was a PMAer. Until sometime in 2002, I had not been in the game of batted balls, particularly, baseball since I last pitched a baseball in the UAAP as a UP Fighting Maroon against the University of the East Warriors. That year was 1981 when UP baseball swept all its assignments during the UAAP season and earned its 1st grand slam.

De Leon: To the new graduate: Lessons on competitiveness and basic expectations

PROFESSIONAL success in the hospitality and tourism lie global competitiveness and paying attention to changing business environments.

This has been achieved by the industry in all corners of the world due to building a standard that also evolves, and makes it unique from other firms and hotels.

Domoguen: The jury in my mind

THE jury in my mind meets often in a day. How they got there and why they keep bothering me is a long story. Some are living, the rest are long dead. They left relevant imprints in my mind, ideas, opinions, models and ways that come alive in situations that call for judgement or a decision on my part.

Guinaran: The parable of the dead leaf

AUTOMATIC gliding doors are toys for kids. At the Brisbane airport, a boy around 3 years old must have enjoyed making the gliding door area a playground. He held his feeding bottle containing orange juice and was walking in and out of the lobby. I was wondering who his mom was and at one point he approached her. His ectomorphic mother was busy smoking outside. When mother was done with her many obnoxious puffs, they both got in. The automatic door slid open and the autumn breeze blew, wafting a dead leaf as they entered.

Cayading: Yamashita Treasure: Is it real or fiction?

BASED from documents and stories from reliable sources who have actual experiences of accumulating data during World War 2 on some important pointers/facts about the Yamashita treasure. For years, I have heard from numerous sources different stories about the Yamashita treasure that is buried here in the Philippines. I’ve heard from my very own father that somewhere near our Riceland in my hometown huge amount of gold bars were hidden there. Many treasure hunters from various places are so interested to find this treasure but most of the time failed.

Luzano: Mannabako Idiay Senado… Nabasnotan

DIPAY laeng limmamiis ti bara ti isyu iti panagsigsigarilyo ni Apo Pinoy, adda manen simmaruno nga ASUK. Daytoy ket idiay met senado wenno akingato a pagpandayan ti linteg. Bimmanaten ni Senadora Pia Cayetano gapu iti reklamo dagiti empleados mismo iti senado. Adda ngamin kano dagiti senador a sukir a sumurot iti annuroten ti RA 9211 wenno ti Tobacco Regulation Act of 2013 a mangiparparit iti panagsigarilyo kadagiti public places, confined areas kas dagiti ospital, eskuelaan, medical clinics, public terminals ken adu pay a disso.

Capili: Socialized condominium unit

HOW would you like to own your socialized residential condominium unit? If the pending bill in Congress filed by Bagong Henerasyon Party-list Representative Bernadette Herrera- Dy (House Bill No. 5446) will become a law, condominium developers will be required to allocate twenty percent (20%) of their developed condominium project for socialized condominium units. This means that a great majority of our middle class wage earners and self employed sectors can avail of this privilege.

Bomogao: Kalayaan 2013: Continuing our national consciousness and spirit

WE SHOULD have faith in our leaders and our leaders have faith in us. Giving our best to serve our country is what matters most. If a law is unfair our unjust, the people had the right to oppose. The reason for gaining our independence is Liberty –- “our freedom.” We have to do something, to give our best, no matter what the price is, to continue that great wave of patriotism our forefathers left in our hearts.

Dacawi: Losing Chelsea and Black

The youngest kidney patient undergoing hemodialysis treatment at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center has gone to the great play room in the sky.

Ten-year-old Chelsea Benito had yogurt for breakfast on her hospital bed early last Tuesday morning. After washing it down with water the kid told Billy, her 43-year-old dad, it was her last meal.

Cariño: D’ Cousins

WE USED to play this game, Jessica, her older brother Joey, and moi.  The point was for Joey to sing a song while he accompanied himself with a guitar and for Jessica and I to guess the title of the song he was singing.  Sometimes he would be just one or two lines into a song, and one or both of us guessers would already be screaming out the title.  “Close your eyes and I’ll kiss you, tomorrow I’ll miss you, remember...” All My Loving!  “It’s been...”  A Hard Day’s Night!

Dumaguing: Heart transplants fast facts

If you or a loved one has a damaged heart that can’t be fixed, a heart transplant may be needed. A heart transplant is a type of surgery wherein a damaged heart is replaced with a healthy heart from a donor who has died. Only people with very damaged hearts are likely to need a transplant, which means all other means of medical, non surgical treatment has failed to improve the heart's function. Transplantation is seriously considered when a person has high risk of dying from a heart disease within one or two years.

Padilla: Philippine – American Friendship Day Celebration just around the bend

ONE OF the most significant international event being celebrated in our country is the Philippine – American Friendship Day set on July 4. The red letter day is just around the bend, at least 18 days from today. We have all the reasons to observe the special day with joy, prayers and meaningful activities, especially so that Magandang Baguio was an American Dream City at the start of the 19th century.

Cayading: Effects of television on babies and toddlers’ lives

TODAY, so much television programming is aimed at young children. Much of it appears to be educational: teaching the ABCs and life skills.   When is it appropriate to introduce a baby to television, and what do parents need to know about this topic?    As one of the Responsible Parenting advocates, I usually mentioned and advised to parents not to overexpose their kids to TV watching.  But more often than not parents of today cannot avoid letting their toddlers stay in front of their TV.

Sungduan: Freedom

THE proclamation of the Philippine Independence Day is very important to all of us Filipinos for without it what will be us and our country today?

Yearly, the essence of the celebration becomes even more memorable with the help of the private sector who continuously help in the continuity of the commemoration of the country’s freedom day sustaining a sense of pride of our history.

Llanes: Media’s role in disaster preparedness

JUST got back from an out of town coverage in San Manuel, Pangasinan near the San Roque Multi Purpose Dam for the nationwide simultaneous earthquake drill last Monday and guess what, one observation at that time was media's role during such disasters.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Office of the Civil Defense and its local counterpart showed their part during such occurrences. But what was lacking was the role of media during this time.

Bayan: Best Performing Barangays and RA 10367

THE Search for Best Performing Barangays is now open to all interested barangays. This year’s search shall focus on the performance of the barangay for the calendar year 2012. The search has been officially announce during the June 7, 2013 PBs Meeting at the city Hall Multi-purpose Hall. The barangays will be judged collectively as a council and as a body in their performance with respect to governance and administration, infrastructure, peace and order, environment, health and sanitation, and social services.

Cajucom: Mothersmother Diaries E05: All in good time

TURNING the pages of my mothersmother diaries, I distinctly remember our heartache last year, a very painful experience we went through when our little diva Nadine was accelerated to Grade 1. Ok, let me take a step back as you might be wondering what “heartbreak” that was, and why it should be painful when promotion to a higher grade level should be cause for happiness (imagine one year’s worth of tuition saved) and pride, of course. We had that same feeling at first, because we thought the K-12 Program would be that beneficial to our youngest and to the family, as well.

Editorial: Education and freedom

AN ELEMENTARY school in Fairview barangay was found using the stage of the barangay hall as classrooms for grades 2 and 3 with only a curtain separating the two.

Their grades 4 and 5 students, on the other hand, occupy a 2x3 square meter classroom without windows again with only a curtain separating the two and a door as the lone entrance and exit point.

Cariño: Integrity initiative

BUSINESSMEN in the City and Benguet are expected to lead the charge on integrity initiative in the private sector for north Luzon following the Makati Business Club’s challenge for them to put in place their own ethics in business. The MBC, led by Peter Perfecto, the executive director, explained the integrity initiative before members of the Phil. Chamber of Commerce and Industry local chapter at the Tourism Complex last Saturday.

The MBC said it right – that even in business, there is corruption.

Domondon: Changes in the City Council and Tourism Issues

THE City Council is expected to have several changes in the membership composition of its various standing committees come July 2013 as the new set of city councilors, both comebacking and re-elected, forge a new and fresh direction in the city's policy making body.

Fernandez: The Kasambahay Law

FINALLY, a magna carta to promote and to protect the welfare of household helpers.

Republic Act 10361 or the “Kasambahay Law” has taken effect Tuesday last week with new regulations in the employment of millions of domestic workers in the country.

Editorial: Road safety

HOW road worthy are the vehicles plying our streets and major highways in the region?

The 13 deaths and the 19 injured during the weekend in separate accidents will just be another statistics for a region which ranks third when it comes to number of reported road accidents only behind Central Luzon and the National Capital Region, respectively, based on an earlier report.

Tibaldo: Culturally and Indigenously Yours and Mine (2nd of a series)

THE Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices (IKSPs) and Customary Laws of the Cordillera have been in practice since time immemorial but despite its historical and cultural significance, very few journals and studies have been written about it. 

Guinaran: The parable of overloading

I'VE BEEN watching a lot of cute commercials lately and I’ve seen the semblance between the Greenwich pizza and the buses we have.

Overload(ed)! The former, delightfully with cheese, and the latter, annoyingly with more bodies.

Domoguen: Broken man, broken symbols

MAN's ultimate concerns are symbolically expressed in time and space.

Symbols have one common characteristic with signs in that they point beyond themselves to something else. The red sign in the street, for instance, is a sign for cars to stop. The same is true with letters, numbers and partly even words that point beyond themselves to sounds and meanings. Signs can be replaced for reasons of expediency. Symbols cannot.

De Leon: Baguio City Council Tourism Chair: The Next Hot Seat

NOW that we finally have Baguio’s newly-elected local government officials, we are anticipating the upcoming assignments of chairmanship in the various City Council committees.

Bomogao: A talk show that gets you closer to home

TELEVISION has a great influence in the lives of people .If one looks at the different programs either in local or national television; one can find a talk show with a heart. Life offers variety of social activities that television programs provide.